A comprehensive review of medium chain monoglycerides on metabolic pathways, nutritional and functional properties, nanotechnology formulations and applications in food system.

A large and growing body of literature has investigated the broad antibacterial spectrum and strong synergistic antimicrobial activity of medium chain monoglycerides (MCMs) have been widely investigated. Recently, more and more researches have focused on the regulation of MCMs on metabolic health and gut microbiota both in vivo and in vitro. The current review summarizes the digestion, absorption and metabolism of MCMs. Subsequently, it focuses on the functional and nutritional properties of MCMs, including the antibacterial and antiviral characteristics, the modulation of metabolic balance, the regulation of gut microbiota, and the improvement in intestinal health. Additionally, we discuss the most recent developments and application of MCMs using nanotechnologies in food industry, poultry and pharmaceutical industry. Additionally, we analyze recent application examples of MCMs and their nanotechnology formation used in food. The development of nanotechnology platforms facilitating molecular encapsulation and functional presentation contribute to the application of hydrophobic fatty acids and monoglycerides in food preservation and their antibacterial effectiveness. This study emphasizes the metabolic mechanisms and biological activity of MCMs by summarizing the prevailing state of knowledge on this topic, as well as providing insights into prospective techniques for developing the beneficial applications of MCMs to realize the industrialized production.

Exposure to Imidacloprid under variable conditions disturbs the muscle fatty acid profile of a fresh water non target fish: Labeo rohita.

Economy of Pakistan is heavily dependent upon agriculture and extensive use of pesticide is quiet common to enhance the crop yield. Imidacloprid is among the first choice pesticides in Pakistan and it has been reported that through run off along with water it ends up in water bodies affecting non target aquatic fauna. Through the present investigation, we are reporting the effects of Imidacloprid on the fatty acids composition of a non-target, commercially important carp: Labeo rohita. Fish were exposed to sub lethal concentration of Imidacloprid (120 mgL1) for 2, 4 and 8 days (short term) as well as for 16, 32 and 64 days (long term experimental conditions). Pesticide untreated controls were also maintained for each treatment. Following the specific Imidacloprid exposure, fatty acid composition (%) was determined in the muscle of all experimental groups by using gas chromatography. Fish exposed to Imidacloprid for 8 days had reduced Palmitic acid (p = 0.02) and elevated muscle Arachidic acid (p < 0.001) than control group. Labeo rohita exposed to the pesticide for 32 days had elevated muscle Oleic (p = 0.02) and Linoleic acid (p = 0.02) while fish exposed to Imidacloprid to 64 days had reduced muscle Palmitic (p = 0.04) and Oleic acid (p = 0.03). In conclusion, we are reporting that the exposure to sub lethal concentration of Imidacloprid disturb the muscle fatty acid composition of Labeo rohita that may affect its food quality. The effects were more pronounced under long term experimental conditions and were probably due to potentiating lipid peroxidation and disturbed fish metabolism upon Imidacloprid exposure.

Effects of the Novel LaPLa-Enriched Medium- and Long-Chain Triacylglycerols on Body Weight, Glycolipid Metabolism, and Gut Microbiota Composition in High Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6J Mice.

The roles of medium- and long-chain triacylglycerols (MLCT) on health benefits under high fat diet (HFD) conditions remain in dispute. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of novel LaPLa-rich MLCT on the glycolipid metabolism and gut microbiota in HFD-fed mice when pork fat is half replaced with MLCT and palm stearin (PS). The results showed that although MLCT could increase the body weight in the mouse model, it can improve the energy utilization, regulate the glucose and lipid metabolism, and inhibit the occurrence of inflammation. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of gut microbiota indicated that PS and MLCT affected the overall structure of the gut microbiota to a varying extent and specifically changed the abundance of some operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Moreover, several OTUs belonging to the genera Dorea, Streptococcus, and g_Eryipelotrichaceae had a high correlation with obesity and obesity-related metabolic disorders of the host. Therefore, it can be seen that this new MLCT has different properties and functions from the previous traditional MLCT, and it can better combine the advantages of MLCT, lauric acid, and sn-2 palmitate, as well as the advantages of health function and metabolism. In summary, this study explored the effects of LaPLa-enriched lipids on glycolipid metabolism in mice, providing theoretical support for future studies on the efficacy of different types of conjugated lipids, intending to apply them to industrial production and subsequent development of related products.

The gut microbiota as a target to control hyperuricemia pathogenesis: Potential mechanisms and therapeutic strategies.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disorder caused by abnormal uric acid (UA) metabolism, which is a complex physiological process involving multiple organs (liver, kidney, and intestine). Although UA metabolism in the liver and kidneys has been elucidated, only a few studies have focused on the process in the intestine. With our growing knowledge of the effects of gut microorganisms on health, the gut microbiota has been identified as a new target for HUA treatment. In this review, the relationship between HUA and the gut microbiota is elucidated, and anti-hyperuricemia mechanisms targeting the intestine are discussed, such as the promotion of purine and UA catabolism by the gut microbiota, increases in UA excretion by the gut microbiota and its metabolites, regulation of UA absorption or secretion in the intestinal tract by certain transporters, and the intestinal inflammatory response to the gut microbiota. Additionally, probiotics (Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli) and prebiotics (polyphenols, peptides, and phytochemicals) with UA-lowering effects targeting the intestinal tract are summarized, providing reference and guidance for further research.

Dietary medium-chain 1-monoglycerides modulates the community and function of cecal microbiota of broilers.

BACKGROUND: Medium-chain monoglycerides (MGs) are a group of 1-monoglycerides of medium-chain fatty acids with strong antibacterial activity, which may influence the gut microbiota in the diet of broilers. The present study evaluated the effects of mixed MGs on the community and function of gut microbiota in broilers. A total of 528 newly hatched male yellow feathered broiler chicks were weighed and randomly assigned into four groups, including a basal diet (CON), a basal diet containing 300 mg kg-1 MG (MG300), 450 mg kg-1 MG (MG450), or 600 mg kg-1 MG (MG600). RESULTS: The cecal acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, isovaleric acid and total short-chain fatty acid of broilers in the MG-containing groups were notably increased compared with the CON group. Dietary MG selectively increased the relative abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae, Bacteroides and an unclassified genus of Lachnospiraceae family, but decreased the proportion of an unclassified genus of Barnesiellaceae and a norank genus of Flavobacteriaceae family in the cecum of broilers. Functional prediction revealed that MG supplementation enriched the microbial gene abundance of amino acid metabolism and carbohydrate metabolism, while depleted the gene abundance of fat metabolism and energy metabolism. Moreover, the modulation of gut microbiota by MG supplementation was closely correlated with the alteration of muscle amino acids. CONCLUSION: Dietary MGs altered the gut microbiota community structure and metabolites, and modulated the gene abundance of microbial metabolism pathways in the cecum of broilers, which may further influence the growth performance, nutrient utilization and meat quality of the host. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

A bridge for short-chain fatty acids to affect inflammatory bowel disease, type 1 diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease positively: by changing gut barrier.

PURPOSE: In previous studies, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been found to regulate gut microbiota and change gut barrier status, and the potential positive effects of SCFAs on inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have also been found, but the role of SCFAs in these three diseases is not clear. This review aims to summarize existing evidence on the effects of SCFAs on IBD, T1D, and NHFLD, and correlates them with gut barrier and gut microbiota (gut microbiota barrier). METHODS: A literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, and Wiley Online Library up to October 2020 was conducted for all relevant studies published. RESULTS: This is a retrospective review of 150 applied research articles or reviews. The destruction of gut barrier may promote the development of IBD, T1D, and NAFLD. SCFAs seem to maintain the gut barrier by promoting the growth of intestinal epithelial cells, strengthening the intestinal tight connection, and regulating the activities of gut microbiota and immune cells, which might result possible beneficial effects on the above three diseases at a certain dose. CONCLUSIONS: Influencing gut barrier health may be a bridge for SCFAs (especially butyrate) to have positive effects on IBD, T1D, and NAFLD. It is expected that this article can provide new ideas for the subsequent research on the treatment of diseases by SCFAs and help SCFAs be better applied to precise and personalized treatment.

Probiotics-fermented blueberry juices as potential antidiabetic product: antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic potentials.

BACKGROUND: Fermentation is a traditional food-preserving technique. It is an effective process, widely used to enrich the nutrients diversity and bioactivity of the fermented foods since ancient times. This study aimed at investigating the effects of various fermentation starters on the physicochemical, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic properties of blueberry juices. The blueberry juices were fermented by natural fermentation (NFBJ), self-made starters fermentation (SFBJ), and commercial starters fermentation (CFBJ); fresh blueberry juice (BBJ) was processed without fermentation for comparison. RESULTS: Probiotics-fermented blueberry juices (SFBJ and CFBJ) showed less total and reducing sugars, higher titratable acidity, and a wider variety and higher amounts of organic acids than non-fermented blueberry juice (BBJ) did. All the fermented blueberry juices (NFBJ, SFBJ, and CFBJ) showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher antioxidant potentials than that of BBJ measured by 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity, and ferric-reducing ability power assays. The SFBJ exhibited the highest antibacterial activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium, with inhibition zone diameters of 38.84 ± 1.74 mm, 34.91 ± 1.53 mm, and 36.18 ± 3.16 mm respectively. Compared with BBJ, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the SFBJ and CFBJ increased by two-to threefold. The α-amylase inhibitory activity of the SFBJ and CFBJ increased by 600%, whereas the spontaneous fermentation showed no improvement. The SFBJ and CFBJ promoted glucose consumption of HepG2 cell lines, indicating the promising potential for a higher glucose bio-utilization. CONCLUSIONS: The SFBJ and CFBJ showed remarkable improvements in the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities compared with non-fermented and spontaneous fermented juices, indicating their promising potentials as an antihyperglycemic agent. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Glycerol monolaurate improves performance, intestinal development, and muscle amino acids in yellow-feathered broilers via manipulating gut microbiota.

Recent studies reveal that glycerol monolaurate (GML) is regarded as an effective feed supplement in the production of broilers; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The current study aimed to investigate how GML affected production performance and meat quality in yellow-feathered broilers. A total of 528 chicks were randomly assigned into four groups for a 56-day feeding trial. The control group received a basal diet, and the treated groups fed basal diet containing 300 (GML300), 450 (GML450), and 600 (GML600) mg/kg GML. Results revealed that dietary GML notably increased the average daily feed intake (p < 0.05) and body weight in broilers during 28-56 days of age and improved the duodenum and jejunum morphology. Dietary GML increased the total cholesterol in broilers (p < 0.05), but the hepatic, abdominal, and muscular fat deposition, as well as muscle fatty acids, were not affected. The flavor amino acids and total amino acids in muscle of GML300 and GML 450 groups were notably (p < 0.05) increased. GML supplementation selectively increased the colonization of an unclassified genus of Lachnospiraceae family and Bifidobacteriaceae, which were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with the increase of muscle amino acids. Meanwhile, dietary GML notably increased short chain fatty acids content and the microbial DNA abundance of carbohydrate, amino acids and lipid metabolism pathway in cecum. These findings demonstrated that dietary GML improved performance, intestinal morphology, and muscle amino acids in broilers mainly by manipulating community, function and metabolites of gut microbiota. KEY POINTS: • GML improves performance, muscle composition, and feed efficiency in broilers. • GML alters gut microbiota community, function, and microbial metabolites in broilers. • Improvements of broilers by GML closely associated with gut microbiota alteration. Graphical abstract.

In vitro and in vivo investigations of probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Chinese traditional sourdough.

A total of 88 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains were isolated from Chinese traditional sourdough and five of them were selected based on their bile resistance. All the five strains were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In vitro probiotic properties of the L. plantarum strains including tolerance to simulated gastrointestinal conditions, aggregation activity, and cholesterol removal ability were assessed. Two representatives, L. plantarum ZJUFT34 and L. plantarum ZJUFT17, were intragastrically administered to male C57BL/6J mice of 4-week age for 6 weeks to evaluate their in vivo health-promoting effects. The results indicated that L. plantarum ZJUFT34, L. plantarum ZJUFHN9, and L. plantarum ZJUFAH5 could survive the 3-h incubation in simulated gastric juice with a pH value of 2.0, while L. plantarum ZJUFT32 and L. plantarum ZJUFT17 exhibited better autoaggregation activities and coaggregation activities with pathogens. All the strains showed a cholesterol removal ability in vitro. However, L. plantarum ZJUFT34 or L. plantarum ZJUFT17 administration did not significantly change the serum total cholesterol in vivo. But the ratio of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol to low-density lipoprotein cholesterol was significantly increased by the L. plantarum administration. Besides, L. plantarum ZJUFT17 significantly lowered serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations. Furthermore, the administration of the LAB strains showed significant influences on lipid metabolism-related gut microbiota. These findings suggested that the L. plantarum strains may benefit the prevention of metabolic syndrome.

Dietary glycerol monolaurate supplementation for the modification of functional properties of egg white protein.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the interactions between feed additives and the functional properties of egg white protein (EWP) may offer novel insights into the effects of feed additives on laying hens and may provide an alternative for modification of the functional properties of EWP by using laying hens as bioreactors. Glycerol monolaurate (GML) is widely used in the food industry as an effective antibacterial emulsifier. In this work, the effects of three doses of dietary GML supplementation (150, 300, and 450 mg kg-1 hen) on the functional properties of EWP were investigated. RESULTS: The hardness of EWP gels was significantly improved by 300 and 450 mg kg-1 GML supplementation. Foaming capacity (FC) and foaming stability (FS) were increased after GML treatment; 450 mg kg-1 GML supplementation showed the most significant improvements, with 44.82% in FC and 23.39% in FS. Stabilization of EWP-oil emulsions was also improved, supported by a slowed creaming process and the formation of smaller oil droplets. The heat denaturation temperature and rheological properties were also modified by dietary GML supplementation, implying improved thermal stability. CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that GML supplementation has the potential to modify the functional properties of EWP, broadening the application of GML and providing a new perspective for evaluation of the efficacy of feed additives. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mechanisms of Nα-lauroyl arginate ethyl ester against Penicillium digitatum and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity and mechanisms of Nα-lauroyl arginate ethyl ester (LAE) against Penicillium digitatum and Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum. The minim inhibitory concentrations of LAE against P. digitatum and P. carotovorum were found to be 400 and 25 µg/ml, respectively. Loss of intracellular protein and nucleic acid increased significantly, and membrane permeability reached 76.28, 54.29 and 85.20%, respectively, when 400 µg/ml of LAE was applied to the hyphae and spores of P. digitatum and to P. carotovorum. Flow cytometry showed that LAE reduced the membrane potential, and the depolarization ratios of P. digitatum and P. carotovorum were 98.19 and 97.25% (P < 0.05), respectively. Transmission electron microscopy photos revealed that LAE caused a rough surface, irregular cellular organelles, protoplast shrinkage, intracytoplasmic coagulation and empty cavities in all three cell types. These results showed that LAE had notable ability to damage the structure of fungal and bacterial cells, making it a possible alternative chemical for use in the preservation of fruits and vegetables.

Characterization of enzymatically prepared sugar medium-chain fatty acid monoesters.

BACKGROUND: Sugar medium-chain fatty acid esters are a new type of biodegradable, non-toxic, non-irritant and non-ionic surfactant with proven antimicrobial activity. Various sugar medium-chain fatty monoesters were prepared enzymatically using Lipozyme TLIM in organic solvent. Properties such as surface tension, antimicrobial activity, and ability to foam, emulsify and stabilize emulsions at room temperature were evaluated to conduct systematic studies on the structure-function relationships of these compounds. RESULTS: Results showed that all monoesters displayed good surface activity properties. In particular, sucrose monolaurate was the most excellent surfactant among 12 monoesters. Sugar monoesters containing C8 to C12 alkyl chains showed a broad spectrum of increasing antimicrobial activity. All tested monoesters were more effective against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram-positive bacterium) than Escherichia coli O157:H7 (Gram-negative bacterium). Methyl α-d-glycoside monoesters were the most effective, whereas raffinose monoesters possessed poor antimicrobial activity. CONCLUSIONS: Generally, the length of fatty acid chain (hydrophobic group) and sugar groups (hydrophilic group) for sugar medium-chain fatty acid monoesters both affected the surface properties and antimicrobial activities.

Novel Lauric Acid-Butyric Structural Lipid Inhibits Inflammation: Small Intestinal Microbes May Be Important Mediators.

SCOPE: Butyric acid (C4) and lauric acid (C12) are recognized as functional fatty acids, while the health benefits of the structural lipids they constitute remain unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this study, lauric acid-butyric structural lipid (SLBL ) is synthesized through ultrasound-assisted enzyme-catalyzed acidolysis and its health benefits are evaluated in a high-fat diet-induced obesity mouse model. SLBL and its physical mixture (MLBL ) do not significantly inhibit obesity in mice. However, SLBL treatment increases the ratio of n3/n6 fatty acids in the liver and improves obesity-induced hepatic lipid metabolism disorders. Furthermore, the expression of liver pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α) are significantly suppressed by SLBL , while the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) is increased. Moreover, SLBL ameliorates the dysbiosis of small intestinal microbes induced by high-fat diet and regulates microbial community structure to be close to the control group. Especially, SLBL significantly alleviates the high-fat diet-induced decrease in Dubosiella and Bifidobacterium abundance. Correlation analysis reveals that SLBL treatment increases the abundance of microorganisms with potential anti-inflammatory function and decreases the abundance of potentially pathogenic bacteria. CONCLUSION: In all, small intestinal microbes may be a significant bridge for the positive anti-inflammatory effects of SLBL , while the exact mechanism remains to be clarified.

Effects of potassium sorbate on systemic inflammation and gut microbiota in normal mice: A comparison of continuous intake and washout period.

Potassium sorbate (PS) is a widely used food preservative in the field of food industry. However, the effects of continuous intake and washout period of PS on host health are still unclear. In this study, to investigate long-term effect and after-effect of different concentrations and time points of PS, healthy mice were orally exposed to 150 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg of PS for 10 weeks, and washout treatment for another 5 weeks, respectively. The results indicated that PS intake for 10 weeks had no obvious effects on organs and adipose tissue, nor did it noteworthily interfere with glucolipid metabolism in the serum. However, it caused inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver, increased serum interleukin (IL)-1ß level, changed abundances of gut microbiota but failed to promote the production of short chain fatty acids in the gut. After washout period for 5 weeks, liver inflammation and IL-1ß level were decreased, and gut environment developed towards a healthier condition. Specifically, PS washout significantly increased abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and the production of isobutyric acid. This study confirmed washout period eliminated negative effects from continuous intake of PS, which provided positive evidence for its safety.

High-Fat Diet-Induced Decreased Circulating Bile Acids Contribute to Obesity Associated with Gut Microbiota in Mice.

The altered circulating bile acids (BAs) modulate gut microbiota, energy metabolism and various physiological functions. BA profiles in liver, serum, ileum and feces of HFD-fed mice were analyzed with normal chow diet (NCD)-fed mice after 16-week feeding. Furthermore, gut microbiota was analyzed and its correlation analysis with BA was performed. The result showed that long-term HFD feeding significantly decreased hepatic and serum BA levels, mainly attributed to the inhibition of hepatic BA synthesis and the reduced reabsorption efficiency of BAs in enterohepatic circulation. It also significantly impaired glucose and lipid homeostasis and gut microbiota in mice. We found significantly higher bile salt hydrolase activity in ileal microbes and a higher ratio of free BAs to conjugated BA content in ileal contents in HFD groups compared with NCD group mice, which might account for the activated intestinal farnesoid X receptor signaling on liver BA synthesis inhibition and reduced ileal reabsorption. The decreased circulating BAs were associated with the dysregulation of the lipid metabolism according to the decreased TGR5 signaling in the ileum and BAT. In addition, it is astonishing to find extremely high percentages of taurocholate and 12-OH BAs in liver and serum BA profiles of both groups, which was mainly attributed to the high substrate selectivity for 12-OH BAs of the intestinal BAs transporter during the ileal reabsorption of enterohepatic circulation. This study revealed a significant effect of long-term HFD feeding on the decreased circulating BA pool in mice, which impaired lipid homeostasis and gut microbiota, and collectively resulted in metabolic disorders and obesity.

Palmitoleic Acid Ameliorates Metabolic Disorders and Inflammation by Modulating Gut Microbiota and Serum Metabolites.

SCOPE: Palmitoleic acid (POA) is an omega-7 monounsaturated fatty acid that has been suggested to improve metabolic disorders. However, it remains unclear whether gut microbiota plays a role in the amelioration of metabolic disorders by POA. This study aims to investigate the regulation of POA on metabolism, as well as systemic inflammation in HFD-fed mice from the perspective of serum metabolome and gut microbiome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-six C57BL/6 male mice are randomly assigned to either a normal chow diet containing 1.9% w/w lard or an HFD containing 20.68% w/w lard or 20.68% w/w sea buckthorn pulp oil for 16 weeks. The study finds that POA significantly attenuated hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and inflammation in HFD-fed mice. POA supplementation significantly alters the composition of serum metabolites, particularly lipid metabolites in the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. POA obviously increases the abundance of Bifidobacterium and decreases the abundance of Allobaculum. Importantly, the study finds that glycerophosphocholine mediates the effect of Bifidobacterium on LDL-C, sphingomyelin mediates the effect of Bifidobacterium on IL-6, and maslinic acid mediates the effect of Allobaculum on IL-6. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that exogenous POA can improve metabolic disorders and inflammation in HFD-fed mice, potentially by modulating the serum metabolome and gut microbiome.

Ligilactobacillus acidipiscis YJ5 modulates the gut microbiota and produces beneficial metabolites to relieve constipation by enhancing the mucosal barrier.

Constipation is a prevalent gastrointestinal (GI) problem affecting a large number of individuals. This study aimed to investigate peristalsis-promoting potential characteristics of Ligilactobacillus acidipiscis YJ5 and the underlying molecular mechanism. The study demonstrated the relieving effect of L. acidipiscis YJ5 on constipation in both zebrafish and mouse models. L. acidipiscis YJ5 intervention significantly increased intestinal peristalsis by reducing the peak time and increasing the fluorescence disappearance rate in the zebrafish model. In the mouse model, the symptoms of constipation relief induced by L. acidipiscis YJ5 included a shortened first black stool time, an increased number of defecation particles, an accelerated propulsion rate of the small intestine, and an increase in fecal water content. L. acidipiscis YJ5 was found to reduce the expression of colonic aquaporins to normalize the colonic water transport system of constipated mice. Additionally, L. acidipiscis YJ5 reversed loperamide-induced morphological damage in the ileum and colon and increased the colonic mucosal barrier. The results of the 16S rRNA gene analysis indicated that L. acidipiscis YJ5 could reverse the structure of gut microbiota to a near-normal group, including levels of ß-diversity, phylum, family, and genus. Furthermore, the fermentation supernatant of L. acidipiscis YJ5 was shown to relieve constipation, and metabolomics analysis revealed that these positive effects were related to its metabolites like malic acid and heliangin.

The evaluation of sea cucumber (Acaudina leucoprocta) peptide on sex hormone regulation in normal and premature ovarian failure female mice.

Sea cucumber peptides (SCPs) have various functional activities. However, studies to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SCPs from the perspective of sex hormones are still lacking. In this study, normal and premature ovarian failure (POF) female mice were used to assess the effect of SCPs on the sex hormones. The ovarian and uterine indices were not influenced by SCP both in normal and POF mice. In normal mice, SCP showed no significant impact on the estrous cycle, ovarian, uterine morphology, sex hormone levels, and sex hormone synthesis-related genes of the ovary. However, 0.6 mg per g bw dosage of SCP (SCPH) statistically increased mapk1 expression on normal mice hypothalamus. In POF mice, SCPH played a more positive role than a low dosage of SCP (0.2 mg per g bw). SCP ameliorated POF-induced estrous cycle disturbances and significantly increased serum estradiol, testosterone, and AMH levels. Moreover, SCP increased the synthesis of the sex hormone by upregulating the expression of StAR, Fshr, and Cyp19a1 in the ovary, which might be due to the activation of the cAMP-related signaling pathways. The upregulation of mapk1, Esr1, and Gnrh was also observed in the hypothalamus. Together, SCP is safe for normal female mice and seems to have positive effects on POF mice from sex hormone regulation. However, the risk of excessive supplementation of sex hormones induced by the SCP intake in POF mice needs to be further explored.

The Effect of Sodium Benzoate on Host Health: Insight into Physiological Indexes and Gut Microbiota.

Sodium benzoate (SB) is a common food preservative widely used in the food industry. However, the effects of SB intake on host health at different stages were still unclear. Hence, we investigated the impact of SB with three concentrations (150 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg) and at three stages (intake for 5-weeks, intake for 10-weeks and removal for 5 weeks) on host health in normal mice. The results showed that SB intake for 5 weeks slightly changed gut microbiota composition, but it significantly increased TG (only 150 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg) and blood glucose levels (only 500 mg/kg) and promoted the secretion of interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6 (p < 0.01). However, SB intake for 10 weeks mostly maintained normal glucolipid metabolism; although, IL-1ß (p < 0.01) and IL-6 (p < 0.05) levels were also significantly increased and positively regulated the gut microbiota by significantly increasing the relative abundance of Lactobacillus and significantly decreasing the relative abundance of Ileibacterium. Meanwhile, the safety of SB for host metabolism and gut microbiota was also confirmed via a fecal microbiota transplantation experiment. In addition, we found that SB removal after 10 weeks of intake significantly increased the levels of blood glucose, insulin and HOMA-IR index, which might be attributed to gut microbiota dysbiosis. Mechanistically, these positive effects and negative effects had no close relationship with the concentration of short-chain fatty acids in the gut, which might be associated with metabolites of SB or special bacterial strains. In short, this work provided positive evidence for the safety of SB consumption within the recommended range.

Integrated Serum Metabolome and Gut Microbiome to Decipher Chicken Amino Acid Improvements Induced by Medium-Chain Monoglycerides.

Chicken muscle yield and amino acid composition improvements with medium-chain monoglyceride (MG) supplementation were reported by previous studies, but the underlying mechanism was uncertain. This study aimed to decipher chicken amino acid improvements induced by medium-chain monoglycerides in the views of metabolomics, gene expression, and the gut microbiome. Newly hatched chicks (12,000 chicks) were weighed and randomly divided into two flocks, each with six replicates (1000 chicks per replicate), and fed a basal diet (the control group, CON) or a basal diet enriched with 300 mg/kg MG (the treated group, MG). Results demonstrated that MGs significantly increased the chicken flavor and essential and total amino acids. The serum amino acids and derivatives (betaine, l-leucine, l-glutamine, 1-methylhistide), as well as amino acid metabolism pathways in chickens, were enhanced by MG supplementation. Gene expression analysis exhibited that dietary MGs could improve muscle protein synthesis and cell growth via the mTOR/S6K1 pathway. Dietary MGs enhanced the cecal amino acid metabolism by selectively increasing the proportion of genera Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Bacteroides. Conclusively, the present study demonstrated that dietary MGs improved chicken amino acid composition via increasing both gut amino acid utilization and muscle amino acid deposition.