Peanut supplementation affects compositions and functions of gut microbiome in Ugandan children.

Childhood malnutrition remains a serious global health concern, particularly in low-income nations like Uganda. This study investigated the impact of peanut supplementation on the compositions and functions of gut microbiome with nutritional improvement. School children aged 6-9 years from four rural communities were recruited, with half receiving roasted peanut snacks while the other half served as controls. Fecal samples were collected at the baseline (day 0), day 60, and day 90. Microbial DNA was extracted, and 16S rRNA sequencing was performed, followed by the measurement of SCFA concentration in fecal samples using UHPLC. Alpha and beta diversity analyses revealed significant differences between the control and supplemented groups after 90 days of supplementation. Leuconostoc lactis, Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus garvieae, Eubacterium ventriosum, and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, associated with the production of beneficial metabolites, increased significantly in the supplemented group. Acetic acid concentration also increased significantly. Notably, pathogenic bacteria, including Clostridium perfringens and Leuconostoc mesenteroides, were decreased in the supplemented group. The study indicates the potential of peanut supplementation to modulate the gut metabolome, enrich beneficial bacteria, and inhibit pathogens, suggesting a novel approach to mitigating child malnutrition and improving health status.

Intervention trial with calcium montmorillonite clay in a south Texas population exposed to aflatoxin.

South Texas currently has the highest incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the United States, a disease that disproportionately affects Latino populations in the region. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent liver carcinogen that has been shown to be present in a variety of foods in the United States, including corn and corn products. Importantly, it is a dietary risk factor contributing to a higher incidence of HCC in populations frequently consuming AFB1-contaminated diets. In a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial, we evaluated the effects of a 3-month administration of ACCS100 (refined calcium montmorillonite clay) on serum AFB1-lysine adduct (AFB-Lys) level and serum biochemistry in 234 healthy men and women residing in Bexar and Medina counties, Texas. Participants recruited from 2012 to 2014 received either a placebo, 1.5 g or 3 g ACCS100 each day for 3 months, and no treatment during the fourth month. Adverse event rates were similar across treatment groups and no significant differences were observed for serum biochemistry and haematology parameters. Differences in levels of AFB-Lys at 1, 3 and 4 months were compared between placebo and active treatment groups. Although serum AFB-Lys levels were decreased by month 3 for both treatment groups, the low dose was the only treatment that was significant (p = 0.0005). In conclusion, the observed effect in the low-dose treatment group suggests that the use of ACCS100 may be a viable strategy to reduce dietary AFB1 bioavailability during aflatoxin outbreaks and potentially in populations chronically exposed to this carcinogen.

Mitigation of Fumonisin Biomarkers by Green Tea Polyphenols in a High-Risk Population of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Green tea polyphenols (GTP) are highly effective in inhibiting a variety of tumorigenic effects induced by carcinogens. In this study we assessed GTP mitigation on biomarkers of fumonisin B1 (FB1), a class 2B carcinogen, in blood and urine samples collected from an intervention trial. A total of 124 exposed people were recruited and randomly assigned to low-dose (GTP 500 mg, n = 42), high-dose (GTP 1,000 mg, n = 41) or placebo (n = 41) for 3 months. After one-month of intervention, urinary FB1 was significantly decreased in high-dose group compared to that of placebo group (p = 0.045), with reduction rates of 18.95% in the low-dose group and 33.62% in the high-dose group. After three-month intervention, urinary FB1 showed significant decrease in both low-dose (p = 0.016) and the high-dose (p = 0.0005) groups compared to that of both placebo group and baseline levels, with reduction rates of 40.18% in the low-dose group and 52.6% in the high-dose group. GTP treatment also significantly reduced urinary excretion of sphinganine (Sa), sphingosine (So), and Sa/So ratio, but had no effect on serum Sa, So, and Sa/So ratio. Analysis with mixed-effect model revealed significant interactions between time and treatment effects of GTP on both urinary free FB1 levels and Sa/So ratios.

Mitigation of oxidative damage by green tea polyphenols and Tai Chi exercise in postmenopausal women with osteopenia.

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is a degenerative bone disease predominantly in postmenopausal women. Green tea polyphenols (GTP) and Tai Chi (TC) have been shown to be beneficial on human bone health. This study examined the efficacy of GTP and TC on mitigation of oxidative damage in postmenopausal women with osteopenia. METHODS: A 6-month randomized and placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted in 171 postmenopausal women with osteopenia, who were recruited from Lubbock County, Texas. These participants were treated with placebo, GTP (500 mg daily), placebo + TC (60-minute group exercise, 3 times/week), or GTP (500 mg daily) + TC (60-minute group exercise, 3 times/week), respectively. Their blood and urine samples were collected at the baseline, 1-, 3- and 6-months during intervention for assessing levels of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), an oxidative DNA damage biomarker, and concentrations of serum and urine GTP components. RESULTS: The elevated concentrations of serum and urinary GTP components demonstrated a good adherence for the trial. A significant reduction of urinary 8-OHdG concentrations was found in all three treated groups during 3-month (P<0.001) and 6-month (P<0.001) intervention, as compared to the placebo group. The significant time- and dose-effects on mitigation of the oxidative damage biomarker were also found for GTP, TC, and GTP+TC intervened groups. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that GTP and TC interventions were effective strategies of reducing the levels of oxidative stress, a putative mechanism for osteoporosis in postmenopausal women, and more importantly, working in an additive manner, which holds the potential as alternative tools to improve bone health in this population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00625391.