Long term betaine supplementation regulates genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism of two muscles from an obese pig breed.

This study evaluates the effects of betaine supplementation (1gkg-1 for 20weeks) on the regulation of genes involved in lipid and cholesterol metabolism of Longissimus lumborum and Biceps femoris from obese Alentejano pigs. Betaine supplementation led to an increase in total cholesterol in both muscles, complementing results previously published indicating a significant increase on the intramuscular lipid content. The expression of twelve genes involved in lipogenesis, lipolysis/FA oxidation, FA transport, and cholesterol metabolism, as well as two transcription factors were also evaluated. Genes related to lipid and cholesterol synthesis plus FA transport were consistently up-regulated in both muscles of betaine fed pigs. On the other hand, genes related to lipolysis/FA oxidation were not affected or down-regulated by betaine supplementation. Our data suggest that the underlying mechanism regulating IMF and cholesterol accumulation in Alentejano pigs supplemented with betaine is associated with the up-regulation of genes involved in lipid synthesis, FA transport, and cholesterol synthesis.

Effect of long-term betaine supplementation on chemical and physical characteristics of three muscles from the Alentejano pig.

BACKGROUND: The use of betaine as a dietary supplement to reduce fat deposition and increase lean muscle mass in pigs is increasing. However, there is no available information on its effect on the physical and chemical (i.e. fatty acid (FA) profile) characteristics of pork. RESULTS: The effects of long-term betaine intake (1 g betaine kg(-1) diet for 20 weeks) on the chemical and physical characteristics of Musculus longissimus dorsi, M. biceps femoris and M. semimembranosus from the Alentejano pig were investigated. The contents of total protein, intramuscular lipids (neutral and polar), myoglobin and total collagen as well as the water-holding capacity, physical colour characteristics and FA profile of the three muscles were determined. With the exception of a significant increase in the intramuscular lipid content of M. longissimus dorsi and M. biceps femoris, betaine supplementation did not influence muscle chemical and colour characteristics or body fat deposition. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that long-term betaine supplementation selectively increases intramuscular lipid deposition (a trait related to meat quality) while not affecting other chemical (including the atheroprotective FA profile) and physical characteristics of the Alentejano pig muscles studied.

Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy as a process analytical technology tool in Ginkgo biloba extract qualification.

Here, we describe the use of near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for qualification of Ginkgo biloba extract as raw material for use in pharmaceutical products. G. biloba extract shows unpredicted and uncontrolled variability in some of its quality specifications, intrinsic to its natural origin, which have influence on the manufacturing process of solid dosage forms (viz. granulation and compression). Some of these properties could not be determined by conventional quality control tests, so we investigated the use of NIR to qualify the batches of Ginkgo extract accordingly to its different features and establish a relationship with some of the manufacturing steps behaviour based on their qualification. Several approaches were evaluated, and the NIR method developed demonstrated to be sensitive to changes in important quality specifications and therefore adequate to qualify incoming batches of G. biloba extract. This could be considered a process analytical technology (PAT) application since it: (1) establishes the source of variability in a qualitative way, (2) explains its propagation to the final product quality attributes and (3) lays the basis for a control strategy to be applied in the manufacturing process.