Freshwater Macroalgae, Oedogonium, Grown in Wastewater Reduce Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats.

Macroalgae produce compounds with industrial, pharmaceutical and nutritional applications. In this study, biomass from the freshwater macroalgal genus Oedogonium was grown in either treated municipal wastewater (M) or ash dam water from a coal-fired power station (D). The biomass was investigated for its metabolic responses in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats, a model of human metabolic syndrome. The Oedogonium biomass cultured in M contained higher amounts of K, Mg, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), insoluble fibre and ß-carotene, while biomass grown in D contained higher amounts of Al, Fe, V, Zn, Mn and As. Biomass from M further increased body weight and inflammation in the heart and colon in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats. In contrast, biomass from D prevented changes in metabolic, cardiovascular and liver parameters without changing tissue histology. We suggest that increased intake of metals and metalloids through macroalgal biomass from D may decrease abdominal fat deposition while polysaccharides, PUFA and carotenoids from M may improve blood glucose responses in an obesogenic diet. Thus, macroalgal biomass grown in different wastewater sources could be acceptable for feed or food applications. This biomass could even provide potential health benefits in diet-induced metabolic syndrome.

Functional foods from the tropics to relieve chronic normobaric hypoxia.

Functional foods with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties are regarded as a complementary therapy to improve chronic diseases such as obesity and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Obesity is a chronic low-grade inflammatory state leading to organ damage with increased risk of common diseases including cardiovascular and metabolic disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers. IBD is a chronic intestinal inflammation categorised as Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis depending on the location of inflammation. These inflammatory states are characterised by normobaric hypoxia in adipose and intestinal tissues, respectively. Tropical foods especially from Australia and South America are discussed in this review to show their potential in attenuation of these chronic diseases. The phytochemicals from these foods have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities to reduce chronic normobaric hypoxia in the tissues. These health benefits of the tropical foods are relevant not only for health economy but also in providing a global solution by improving the sustainability of their cultivation and assisting the local economies.

An improved rat model for chronic inflammatory bowel disease.

BACKGROUND: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is an important cause of chronic disability in humans. METHODS: We characterized a model of chronic IBD in young male Wistar rats by administering dextran sodium sulfate (DSS: 0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, or 1% in drinking water) for six weeks, with 0.5% DSS for twelve weeks, following DSS cessation or together with treatment with sulfasalazine for the last 6 weeks. We measured gastrointestinal characteristics including stool consistency, blood in stools, small intestine and colon length, intestinal transit and permeability, and gut microbiota, as well as extra-intestinal parameters including oral glucose tolerance, systolic blood pressure, fat and lean mass, and left ventricular stiffness. RESULTS: At 6 weeks, 0.25-1% DSS produced gastrointestinal changes as diarrhea and blood in stools. At 12 weeks, 0.5% DSS produced chronic and sustained gastrointestinal changes, with marked infiltration of inflammatory cells throughout the gastrointestinal tract and crypt distortion. Firmicutes increased and Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria decreased in DSS-treated rats. Changes were reversed by DSS cessation or sulfasalazine treatment. Gastrointestinal permeability and extra-intestinal parameters did not change, so DSS changes were limited to the gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSION: Chronic 0.5% DSS produces selective and reversible gastrointestinal changes, providing an improved chronic model in rats that mimics human IBD for testing new interventions.

Nutraceuticals in rodent models as potential treatments for human Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract. Nutraceuticals include bioactive compounds such as polyphenols with anti-inflammatory activities, thus these products have the potential to treat chronic inflammatory diseases. We have emphasized the role of nutraceuticals in ameliorating the symptoms of IBD in rodent models of human IBD through modulation of key pathogenic mechanisms including dysbiosis, oxidative stress, increased inflammatory cytokines, immune system dysregulation, and inflammatory cell signaling pathways. Nutraceuticals have an important role in IBD patients as a preventive approach to extend remission phases and as a therapeutic intervention to suppress active IBD. Further clinical trials on nutraceuticals with positive results in rodent models are warranted.