The Effects on Immune Function and Digestive Health of Consuming the Skin and Flesh of Zespri® SunGold Kiwifruit (Actinidia Chinensis var. Chinensis 'Zesy002') in Healthy and IBS-Constipated Individuals.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder that results in constipation (IBS-C) or diarrhoea with abdominal pain, flatulence, nausea and bloating. Kiwifruit (Actinidia spp.) are nutrient-dense fruit with a number of reported health benefits that include lowering glycaemic response, improving cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers, and enhancing gut comfort and laxation. This study investigated the effect of consuming three whole Zespri® SunGold kiwifruit (Actinidia chinensis var. chinensis 'Zesy002') with or without skin on cytokine production and immune and gut health in healthy people and those with IBS-C symptoms. This study enrolled thirty-eight participants in a 16 week randomized cross-over study (19 healthy and 19 participants with IBS-C). Participants were randomized to consume either three kiwifruit without eating the skin or three kiwifruit including the skin for 4 weeks each, with a 4 week washout in between each intervention. There was a significant decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokine, TNF-α, for both the healthy and the IBS-C participants when they consumed whole kiwifruit and skin, and also for the healthy participants when they ate whole kiwifruit without the skin (p < 0.001). The kiwifruit interventions increased bowel frequency and significantly reduced the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale constipation and Birmingham IBS pain scores for both participant groups. We have demonstrated that consuming the skin of SunGold kiwifruit might have beneficial effects on gastrointestinal health that are not produced by consuming the flesh alone.

Short-term evaluation of immune levels and nutritional values of EN versus PN in gastric cancer: a systematic review and a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Postsurgical patients' oral feeding begins with clear fluids 1-3 days after surgery. This might not be sufficiently nutritious to boost the host immune system and provide sufficient energy in gastric neoplastic patients to achieve the goal of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Our objective was to analyze the significance of early postoperative feeding tubes in boosting patients' immunity and decreasing incidence of overall complications and hospital stay in gastric cancer patients' post-gastrectomy. METHODS: From January 2005 to May 24, 2019, PubMed and Cochrane databases were searched for studies involving enteral nutrition (EN) feeding tubes in comparison to parenteral nutrition (PN) in gastric cancer patients undergoing gastrectomy for gastric malignancies. Relative risk (RR), mean difference (MD), or standard mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to estimate the effect sizes, and heterogeneity was assessed by using Q and χ2 statistic with their corresponding P values. All the analyses were performed with Review Manager 5.3 and SPSS version 22. RESULTS: Nine randomized trials (n = 1437) and 5 retrospective studies (n = 421) comparing EN feeding tubes and PN were deemed eligible for the pooled analyses, with a categorized time frame of PODs ≥ 7 and PODs < 7. Ratio of CD4+/CD8+ in EN feeding tubes was the only outcome of PODs < 7, which showed significance (MD 0.22, 95% CI 0.18-0.25, P < 0.00001). Regarding other immune indicators, significant outcomes in favor of EN feeding tubes were measured on POD ≥ 7: CD3+ (SMD 1.71; 95% CI 0.70, 2.72; P = 0.0009), CD4+ (MD 5.84; 95% CI 4.19, 7.50; P < 0.00001), CD4+/CD8+ (MD 0.28; 95% CI 0.20; 0.36, P < 0.00001), NK cells (SMD 0.94; 95% CI 0.54, 1.30; P < 0.00001), nutrition values, albumin (SMD 0.63; 95% CI 0.34, 0.91; P < 0.001), prealbumin (SMD 1.00; 95% CI 0.52, 1.48; P < 0.00001), and overall complications (risk ratio 0.73 M-H; fixed; 95% CI 0.58, 0.92; P = 0.006). CONCLUSION: EN feeding tube support is an essential intervention to elevate patients' immunity, depress levels of inflammation, and reduce the risk of complications after gastrectomy for gastric cancer. Enteral nutrition improves the innate immune system and nutrition levels but has no marked significance on certain clinical outcomes. Also, EN reduces the duration of hospital stay and cost, significantly.

Convergent evolution of plant and animal embryo defences by hyperstable non-digestible storage proteins.

Plants have evolved sophisticated embryo defences by kinetically-stable non-digestible storage proteins that lower the nutritional value of seeds, a strategy that have not been reported in animals. To further understand antinutritive defences in animals, we analysed PmPV1, massively accumulated in the eggs of the gastropod Pomacea maculata, focusing on how its structure and structural stability features affected its capacity to withstand passage through predator guts. The native protein withstands >50 min boiling and resists the denaturing detergent sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), indicating an unusually high structural stability (i.e., kinetic stability). PmPV1 is highly resistant to in vitro proteinase digestion and displays structural stability between pH 2.0-12.0 and 25-85 °C. Furthermore, PmPV1 withstands in vitro and mice digestion and is recovered unchanged in faeces, supporting an antinutritive defensive function. Subunit sequence similarities suggest a common origin and tolerance to mutations. This is the first known animal genus that, like plant seeds, lowers the nutritional value of eggs by kinetically-stable non-digestible storage proteins that survive the gut of predators unaffected. The selective pressure of the harsh gastrointestinal environment would have favoured their appearance, extending by convergent evolution the presence of plant-like hyperstable antinutritive proteins to unattended reproductive stages in animals.

Soymilk enriched with green coffee phenolics - Antioxidant and nutritional properties in the light of phenolics-food matrix interactions.

This study investigated the effect of soymilk fortification with green coffee extract (GCE) on phenolic contents, antioxidant capacity, relative in vitro digestibility of proteins and starch, and consumer acceptance. Special attention was paid to the effect of phenolics-food matrix interactions on fortification efficiency. Soymilk was enriched with GCE extracts containing 0.025-1mg of phenolics per 1mL-samples M1-M6. Compared to control, an increase in phenolic contents of up to 70% (M6) was observed for potentially bioaccessible fractions (AD). The antiradical activity and reducing power were also about 1.9 and 10.1 times higher, respectively. However, the determined phenolic and antioxidant activities differed from those predicted. Fortification improved the digestibility of nutrients when higher doses of GCE was introduced (M4-M6). The addition of GCE at an adequate dose allowed the production of a beverage with elevated hedonic properties. In conclusion, fortification was a successful in improving the pro-health status of soymilk.

Programas para la prevención de la obesidad en escolares de 5 a 10 años: revisión de la literatura / Programs to prevent obesity in school children 5 to 10 years old: a review

Introducción y objetivo: en el presente trabajo se ha realizado una revisión sistemática durante los últimos 15 años de los estudios científicos que se han desarrollado con el objetivo de aumentar los niveles de actividad física, mejorar la salud y disminuir la prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad en escolares de entre 5 y 10 años. Material y métodos: se han encontrado un total de 28 estudios: 2 revisiones sistemáticas, 2 artículos descriptivos del proceso metodológico y 24 de intervención. Se pueden diferenciar dos tipos de intervenciones; por un lado, aquellas intervenciones centradas en aumentar los niveles de actividad física, y por otro, aquellas que introducen además una parte de educación y valoración nutricional. Resultados: el análisis de los resultados muestra mejoras estadísticamente significativas en el 47,3% de las intervenciones que evaluaron el IMC, en el 44,4% de las que evaluaron la composición corporal, en el 40% de las que evaluaron el índice cintura-cadera, en el 50% de las que evaluaron el sumatorio de pliegues cutáneos. En relación con los efectos sobre la condición física, destacar que en el 45,4% de las intervenciones que evaluaron la resistencia cardiovascular se observaron mejoras significativas, al igual que en el 66,6% de las que analizaron los efectos sobre la fuerza. Finalmente se observaron cambios en los hábitos alimentarios o en el conocimiento de los escolares en alimentación y nutrición en el 66,6% de los estudios que evaluaron dichos parámetros (AU)

Introduction and objetive: The aim of the present study was to conduct a systematic review over the previous 15 years of the scientific studies that have been published with the objective of increasing the levels of physical activity, improve health and reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school children between ranging between the ages of 5 to 10 years. Material and methods: 28 studies were found: 2 systematic reviews, 2 articles describing on the methodological processes and 24 articles on intervention. You can distinguish two types of interventions: on the one hand those interventions focused on increasing the levels of physical activity, and on other hand those interventions that also introduce some educational and nutrition assessment. Results: The analysis of the results shows that 47.3% of the interventions evaluated BMI and observed significant improvements, 44.4% of the programs that assessed body composition have also seen significant improvements, 40% of the interventions that evaluated the waist-to-hip index observed improvements and 50% of the interventions that evaluated the sum of folds noted also significant improvements. In relation to bettering the physical condition of the subjects, it was shown that 45% of the intervention that assessed the cardiovascular endurance found significant improvements and in 66.6% of the procedures that evaluated the effects on strength have also seen significant improvements. Finally, changes in eating habits or increased knowledge of food and nutrition was observed at 66.6% (AU)

Cereales de grano completo y sus beneficios sanitarios / Wholegrain cereals and sanitary benefits

Objetivos: las guías alimentarias para conseguir una alimentación correcta establecen como aconsejable tomar tres o más raciones de cereales integrales de grano completo al día. Sin embargo, la norma es poco conocida en nuestro entorno, afectando el incumplimiento a la práctica totalidad de la población. Por ello, el objetivo de la presente revisión es analizar los beneficios nutricionales y sanitarios asociados al consumo de cereales de grano completo y las posibles ventajas que podrían derivarse del cumplimiento con consumo aconsejado para estos alimentos. Métodos: búsqueda bibliográfica en relación con el tema. Resultados: los cereales de grano completo aportan cantidades elevadas de hidratos de carbono, fibra, vitaminas y minerales, cuya contribución a la dieta media ayuda a alcanzar las ingestas recomendadas y los objetivos nutricionales vigentes, por lo que su consumo en la cantidad aconsejada supone un beneficio nutricional. Por otra parte, diversos estudios señalan que un aumento en el consumo de cereales de grano completo se asocia con una protección frente al padecimiento de diversas enfermedades crónico-degenerativas (cardiovasculares, diabetes, síndrome metabólico y cáncer), ayudando en el mantenimiento de la salud digestiva y del peso corporal. Estos resultados pueden ser debidos al aporte de nutrientes, fibra y fitoquímicos, procedente de estos alimentos, así como al desplazamiento de la dieta de otros productos con un perfil nutricional menos conveniente, teniendo en cuenta la composición de la dieta media española. De hecho, el consumo de cereales de grano completo ha sido relacionado con una posible mejora en la microbiota intestinal y una mayor protección antioxidante. Pese a estas ventajas, el consumo de cereales es mirado con recelo por diversos individuos, especialmente por aquellas personas preocupadas por el control de peso, y los beneficios adicionales asociados al consumo de cereales de grano completo no son conocidos. Conclusiones: los cereales de grano completo deben ser consumidos diariamente en una cantidad de tres o más raciones/día, para conseguir los beneficios nutricionales y sanitarios descritos en numerosas investigaciones. Es necesario realizar una mayor labor de difusión para lograr que la pauta sea conocida y aplicada (AU)

Objectives: dietary guidelines indicate that to get a proper nutrition is recommended eating 3 or more servings per day of whole grain. However, the recommendation is little known in the Spanish population, and almost the entire population doesn’t fulfill it. Therefore, the aim of this review is to analyze the nutritional and health benefits associated with the consumption of whole grain cereals and the potential benefits related to the meeting of this guideline. Methods: literature search regarding the topic. Results: whole grain cereals are rich in carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins and minerals, and its contribution to the average diet helps to achieve current recommended intakes and nutritional goals, so its consumption in the recommended amount supposes a nutritional benefit. Moreover, several studies indicate that increased consumption of whole grain cereal is associated with protection against various chronic degenerative diseases (cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer and metabolic syndrome), assisting in the maintenance of digestive health and body weight. These results may be due to the contribution of nutrients, fiber and phytochemicals of these foods, as well as the displacement of the diet of other products with a less desirable nutritional profile, taking into account the composition of the average Spanish diet. In fact, the consumption of whole grain cereals has been linked with a possible improvement in the intestinal microbiota and antioxidant protection. In spite of these advantages, cereal consumption is looked with suspicion by many individuals, especially those concerned about weight control and additional benefits associated to consumption of whole grain cereals are not known. Conclusions: whole grain cereals should be daily consumed in amounts of 3 or more servings/day, to achieve the nutritional and health benefits described in numerous investigations. More outreach is needed to ensure that the guideline is known and it’s applied (AU)

Allergic reactions to pine nut: a review

Pine nut is a nutrient-rich food with a beneficial impact on human health. The many bioactive constituents of pine nut interact synergistically to affect human physiology in a favorable way. However, pine nut can trigger dangerous allergic reactions. Severe anaphylactic reactions to pine nut accounted for most of the 45 cases reported in the scientific literature. Pine nut allergy seems to be characterized by low IgE cross-reactivity with other commonly consumed nuts and a high monosensitization rate. The present review provides updated information on allergic reactions to pine nut, molecular characterization of its allergens, and potential homologies with other nut allergens (AU)

El piñón es un alimento rico en nutrientes con un impacto beneficioso en la salud. Los componentes bioactivos del piñón interaccionan de forma sinérgica para influir en la fisiología humana de una forma favorable. Sin embargo el piñón puede producir reacciones alérgicas graves. Del total de los casos publicados, las reacciones anafilácticas severas representan la mayoría de las reacciones descritas. La alergia a piñón, además, parece estar caracterizada por una baja reactividad cruzada a nivel de anticuerpos IgE con otros frutos secos consumidos habitualmente y por un elevado porcentaje de monosensibilización. El propósito de esta revisión es dar una visión actualizada de las reacciones alérgicas a piñón, la caracterización de sus alérgenos a nivel molecular y sus homologías con otros alérgenos de frutos secos (AU)

The impact of intestinal inflammation on the nutritional environment of the gut microbiota.

The intestinal epithelium is a single cell barrier separating a sterile mucosal tissue from a large microbial community dominated by obligate anaerobic bacteria, which inhabit the gut lumen. To maintain mucosal integrity, any breach in the epithelial barrier needs to be met with an inflammatory host response designed to repel microbial intruders from the tissue, protect the mucosal surface and repair injuries to the epithelium. In addition, inflammation induces mechanisms of nutritional immunity, which limit the availability of metals in the intestinal lumen, thereby imposing new selective forces on microbial growth. However, the inflammatory host response also has important side effects. A by-product of producing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species aimed at eradicating microbial intruders is the luminal generation of exogenous electron acceptors. The presence of these electron acceptors creates a new metabolic niche that is filled by facultative anaerobic bacteria. Here we review the changes in microbial nutrient utilization that accompany intestinal inflammation and the consequent changes in the composition of gut-associated microbial communities.