Exploring Breed-Specific Milk Coagulation in Spanish Dairy Sheep: A Canonical Correlation Approach.

The transformation of milk into cheese largely depends on the technological properties of the raw material, with breed being a crucial factor that influences both the composition and coagulation properties of the milk used for cheesemaking. This study uses canonical correlation analysis to explore the relationships between physicochemical traits and coagulation properties in milk from various Spanish breeds, aiming to identify both common and breed-specific patterns that impact milk technological aptitude. A total of 832 milk samples from Manchega, Assaf, Merino de Grazalema, and Merino de Los Pedroches breeds were analyzed. The milk characteristics investigated included pH, composition (fat, protein, lactose, total solids), and coagulation properties (curd firmness-A60, rennet clotting time-RCT, curd firming time-k20, and individual laboratory curd yield-ILCY). The results reveal a shared correlation structure across breeds and unique covariation patterns in some breeds that deviate from the general trend. While Assaf and Merino de Los Pedroches follow the common correlation pattern, Manchega and Merino de Grazalema exhibit distinct patterns. This research underscores the need for in-depth study and suggests that the dairy industry could benefit from shifting from the traditional focus on maximizing fat and protein for higher curd yields to considering technological traits for selective breeding.

A Stochastic Frontier Approach to Study the Relationship between the Hygienic Quality of Bulk Tank Sheep Milk and Technical Efficiency of the Coagulation Process.

Sheep milk from local breeds is important for the production of high-quality cheeses throughout the Mediterranean region, such as Manchego cheese in Spain. To maintain sustainable and efficient production, it is necessary to reach a better understanding of how the composition and hygiene of the milk affect the coagulation process, with the aim of optimizing production yield. This study implemented a stochastic production frontier function to estimate the potential production of curd and efficiency using data from the four seasons of a study of 77 Manchega sheep farms. The Cobb-Douglas production frontier model was estimated using the maximum likelihood estimation method. The results showed that the content of protein, lactose, and fat exhibited increasing returns to scale, with protein content being the most significant factor for curd production. Approximately half of the inefficiency was due to factors related to the technological properties and the hygiene of the milk. The pH, curd firmness, and concentration of lactic acid bacteria improved the efficiency of coagulation, while the concentration of spores of lactate-fermenting Clostridium spp., Pseudomonas spp., staphylococci, and catalase-negative gram-positive cocci favored the inefficiency of the coagulation process. To date, this is the first study to evaluate the effect of different factors, such as microbial groups, milk composition, and technological properties, on the efficiency of the coagulation process in dairy sheep.

Associations between Milk Coagulation Properties and Microbiological Quality in Sheep Bulk Tank Milk.

This study conducted a seasonal analysis of bulk tank milk from 77 sheep farms to establish relationships between the concentration of major microbial groups and milk coagulation properties. The investigated milk traits included composition (pH, fat, casein, lactose), coagulation properties (curd firmness: A60-, rennet clotting time: RCT-, curd firming time: k20-, curd yield: CY-), and somatic cell score (SCS). The main microbial groups analyzed were total mesophilic bacteria (SPC), thermodurics (THERMO), psychrotrophs (PSYCHRO), Pseudomonas spp. (PSEUDO), lactic acid bacteria (LAB), catalase-negative gram-positive cocci (GPCNC), Escherichia coli (ECOLI), coliforms other than Escherichia coli (COLI), coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS), coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), and spores of lactate-fermenting Clostridium (BAB). Mixed linear models were used to explore associations between coagulation properties and the aforementioned variables. Results demonstrated that incorporating microbial loads into the models improves their fit and the relative quality of the outcomes. An important seasonality is demonstrated by an increase in CY and A60, along with a decrease in RCT and k20 during autumn and winter, contrasting with spring and summer. BAB concentration resulted in a reduction of A60 and an increase in RCT, whereas SPC concentration led to an enhancement of A60 and a reduction in RCT. An increase in GPCNC concentration was associated with an increase in k20 and a decrease in CY.

Exploring Interrelationships between Colour, Composition, and Coagulation Traits of Milk from Cows, Goats, and Sheep.

This study explores the interrelationships between the composition, coagulation, and colour of sheep, goat, and cow milk to identify their similarities and differences and to assess whether the relationships between the variables are common to all species or whether they emerge from species-specific relationships. For this purpose, 2400 individual milk samples were analysed. The differences and similarities between the species were determined using discriminant analysis and cluster analysis. The results show a clear differentiation between species. Sheep milk stands out for its cheesemaking capacity and shows similarities with goat milk in composition and coagulation. Nonetheless, colorimetry highlights a greater similarity between sheep and cow milk. Composition and colorimetry were more discriminating than coagulation, and the variables that differed the most were fat, protein, curd yield, lightness, and red-green balance. Using canonical correlation, the interrelationships between the different sets of variables were explored, revealing patterns of common variation and species-specific relationships. Colorimetric variables were closely related to milk solids in all species, while in sheep milk, an inverse relationship with lactose was also identified. Furthermore, a strong relationship was revealed for all species between colour and curd yield. This could be modelled and applied to estimate the technological value of milk, proving colorimetry as a useful tool for the dairy industry.

Efficiency of Manchega Sheep Milk Intended for Cheesemaking and Determination of Factors Causing Inefficiency.

Understanding the factors that determine and regulate cheese yield would allow, through deterministic parametric efficiency models, the determination of the most appropriate milk characteristics for the industry, and the estimation of a technological value for these characteristics. The present study aims to evaluate coagulation performance of Manchega sheep milk intended for cheesemaking and explores two models to determine milk technological efficiency. For this purpose, 1200 Manchega sheep milk samples were collected, and analyses were performed for composition, milk coagulation properties (MCP), somatic cell count (SCC), and milk color values. A first model was built based on curd yield (CE) and a second one based on dry curd yield (DCE). GLM and MANCOVA analyses were used to identify the factors that determine curd yield efficiency, which mainly depended on pH, casein, and lactose content and, to a lesser extent, on the speed of coagulation and curd firmness. When comparing both models, differences were linked to the water retention capacity of the curd. Based on this, the DCE model was considered much more accurate for prediction of coagulation efficiency in a wider variety of cheeses, as it does not seem to be affected by moisture loss.

Sources of Dietary Sodium in Food and Beverages Consumed by Spanish Schoolchildren between 7 and 11 Years Old by the Degree of Processing and the Nutritional Profile.

Excessive salt intake has negative effects on health and persists as a dietary problem in Spanish children. However, the analysis of dietary sodium sources has not been extensively studied. A group of 321 children between 7 and 11 years old from five Spanish regional communities was studied. A three-day dietary record was used to determine the contribution of food and beverages to dietary sodium intake. The food consumed was classified based on the level of processing (NOVA classification) and the nutritional profile. Boys consumed more dietary sodium and sodium from ultra-processed food (UPF) than girls (p < 0.05). The main sources of dietary sodium from discretionary food were meat and meat products (25.1%), some ready-to-eat and pre-cooked dishes (7.4%) and sugars and sweets (6.3%). More than 4/5 of the total dietary sodium consumed came from processed foods (PF) and UPF. Ready-to-eat and pre-cooked dishes (14.4%), meat and meat products (10.6%), and cereals (10.2%) were the most relevant UPF. These results demonstrate that a key point for Spanish children is a reduction in the sodium content in PF and UPF, whether these foods are for basic or discretionary consumption. Furthermore, a decrease in the frequency and the quantity of discretionary food consumption should be encouraged.

Antioxidant status in a group of institutionalised elderly people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most important and prevalent diseases suffered by the elderly. Evidence exists that its onset and severity might be conditioned by antioxidant status. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between antioxidant status and COPD in institutionalised elderly people. In all, 183 elderly people aged >65 years (twenty-one had COPD and 160 healthy controls) were studied. The subjects' diets were investigated via the use of precise individual weighing for 7 d. Body weight, height, and biceps and triceps skinfold thickness were measured, and body fat (kg) and BMI (kg/m2) were calculated. Serum retinol, α-tocopherol, ß-carotene and vitamin C levels were determined. Subjects with COPD ate less fruits than healthy controls (117 (sd 52) v. 192 (sd 161) g/d), their coverage of the recommended intake of vitamin C was smaller (150 (sd 45) v. 191 (sd 88) %; note that both exceeded 100 %) and their diets had a lower antioxidant capacity (6558 (sd 2381) v. 9328 (sd 5367) mmol trolox equivalent/d). Those with COPD had lower serum vitamin C and α-tocopherol concentrations than healthy controls (32·4 (sd 15·3) v. 41·5 (sd 14·8) µmol/l and 12·1 (sd 3·2) v. 13·9 (sd 2·8) µmol/l, respectively). In addition, subjects with α-tocopherol <14·1µmol/l (50th percentile) were at 6·43 times greater risk of having COPD than those subjects with ≥14·1µmol/l (OR 6·43; 95 % CI 1·17, 35·24; P<0·05), taking sex, age, use of tobacco, body fat and vitamin E intake as covariables. Subjects with COPD had diets of poorer antioxidant quality, especially with respect to vitamins C and E, compared with healthy controls.

Sneddon syndrome presenting with unilateral third cranial nerve palsy.

Sneddon syndrome is a rare systemic vasculopathy affecting the skin as livedo racemosa and the central nervous system as stroke. A 31-year-old man with a history of livedo racemosa presented with a partial left third nerve palsy. Skin biopsy showed signs of endotheliitis with obliteration of dermal blood vessels due to intimal proliferation and fibrin thrombi consistent with Sneddon syndrome. The patient was treated with platelet antiaggregant therapy with complete resolution of his third nerve palsy. Clinicians should be aware of Sneddon syndrome because prompt diagnosis and treatment may prevent potential morbidity and mortality.

Estimation of salt intake by 24 h urinary sodium excretion in a representative sample of Spanish adults.

The present study reports the Na intake of a representative sample of Spanish young and middle-aged adults aged 18-60 years (n 418, 53·1 % women, selected from the capitals of fifteen provinces and the surrounding semi-urban/rural area), measured with a 24 h urinary Na excretion method. To validate the paper collection of 24 h urine, the correlation between fat-free mass determined by electrical bioimpedance (50·8 (sd 11·3) kg) and that determined via urinary creatinine excretion (51·5 (sd 18·8) kg) was calculated (r 0·633, P < 0·001). Urinary Na excretion correlated with systolic and dyastolic blood pressure data (r 0·243 and 0·153, respectively). Assuming that all urinary Na (168·0 (sd 78·6) mmol/d) comes from the diet, Na excretion would correspond with a dietary salt intake of 9·8 (sd 4·6) g/d, and it would mean that 88·2 % of the subjects had salt intakes above the recommended 5 g/d. Logistic regression analysis, adjusted for sex, age and BMI, showed male sex (OR 3·678, 95 % CI 2·336, 5·791) and increasing BMI (OR 1·069, 95 % CI 1·009, 1·132) (P < 0·001) to be associated with excreting >200 mmol/d urinary Na--a consequence of the higher salt intake in men and in participants with higher BMI. The present results help us to know the baseline salt intake in the Spanish young and middle-aged adult population, and can be used as the baseline to design policies to reduce salt consumption.

An adequate calcium intake could help achieve weight loss in overweight/obese women following hypocaloric diets.

AIM: To investigate the effect of calcium (Ca) intake and dairy product consumption modification on body composition in overweight/obese women following two types of hypocaloric diet. METHODS: Study subjects were 57 women who were randomly assigned to follow one of two hypocaloric diets: diet V, in which the relative consumption of vegetables was increased, and diet C, which involved increasing the relative consumption of cereals (especially breakfast cereals). Dietetic and anthropometric data were collected at the start and at the end of the 6-week intervention period. RESULTS: Ca density, Ca index of nutritional quality and Ca/protein improved with both diets. Dairy products, Ca intake, dairy Ca intake and Ca/protein were inversely correlated with body mass index at the end of the study. Among the women with an initial calcium intake below the 50th percentile, those who achieved a reduction in body mass index above the 50th percentile were those who most increased their total calcium intake, calcium intake from dairy sources, calcium density, calcium/protein ratio and the intake of total and skimmed dairy product consumption. CONCLUSION: Correcting an inadequate calcium intake could help improve weight loss in women following hypocaloric diets.

Folate status in young overweight and obese women: changes associated with weight reduction and increased folate intake.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze folate status changes in a group of overweight/obese young women following two different weight control programs. METHODS: Fifty-seven women (BMI=24-35 kg/m(2)) were randomly assigned to one of two slightly hypocaloric diets: diet V, in which the consumption of vegetables was increased, or diet C, in which the consumption of cereals (especially breakfast cereals) was increased. Dietetic, anthropometric and biochemical data were collected at the start of the study and again at 6 wk. RESULTS: At the beginning of the study, the obese women (BMI>or=30 kg/m(2)) were at greater risk of showing serum folic acid concentrations of <14.9 nmol/L, even though there were no differences in folate intake between them and the women with a lower BMI. Energy intake was reduced and folate intake increased with both the V and C diets. Weight was lost as a consequence of this lower energy intake. Serum folic acid concentration increased and the plasma homocysteine concentration diminished only in those who lost >2.5 kg; this was the case of the subjects as a whole and of those who followed the C diet. Among those who lost the most weight (>2.5 kg), the chances of having an increased serum folate concentration were higher, although no significant differences were seen in folate intake with respect to women who lost less weight. CONCLUSIONS: Following a hypocaloric diet could lead to a better folate status through increased intake, but especially among those who lose the most body weight.

Vitamin D status modification by two slightly hypocaloric diets in young overweight/obese women.

Obesity has been linked with poorer vitamin D status. The aim of this work was to analyze the changes in vitamin D status and body weight of 61 young, overweight/obese women following two different weight control programs. The study subjects were randomly assigned to one of two slightly hypocaloric diets: diet V, in which the consumption of greens and vegetables was increased, or diet C, in which the consumption of cereals (some of which were enriched with vitamin D) was increased. Dietary, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected at the start of the study and at 2 weeks. At the beginning of the study, when taking into account only those women with a vitamin D intake below that recommended, obese women had a significantly lower mean serum 25(OH)D concentration than those who were lighter. Dietary intervention led to a greater reduction in energy intake among group C subjects; their weight was also that which was most reduced. In addition, the vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D values were increased only in group C women. Excess body weight was associated with deterioration in vitamin D status, especially when the intake of this vitamin was lower than that recommended. Subjects with higher serum vitamin D at the beginning of the study lost more weight than those subjects with lower initial values. Diet C was associated with a greater weight loss than diet V, and led to a greater increase in vitamin D intake and serum 25(OH)D levels. This might be of interest in the improvement of health in people trying to lose weight.

Preliminary data about the influence of vitamin D status on the loss of body fat in young overweight/obese women following two types of hypocaloric diet.

The loss of weight was analysed in a group of sixty overweight/obese women of childbearing age (20-35 years) according to their initial vitamin D status. Subjects were randomly assigned to one of two slightly hypocaloric diets: Diet V, in which the consumption of vegetables was increased, or Diet C, in which the relative consumption of cereals (especially breakfast cereals) was increased. Dietetic, anthropometric and biochemical data were collected at the start of the study and again at 2 weeks after dividing the women into groups depending on their having an initial serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration of < 50 nmol/l (LD) or>or=50 nmol/l (HD). Dietary intervention led to a reduction in energy intake, body weight and BMI in all groups. The HD women showed greater body fat losses during the study than the LD women (1.7 (SD 1.8) kg compared to 0.5 (SD 0.8) kg). A better vitamin D status therefore aided the loss of body fat over the experimental period (OR 0.462; CI 0.271, 0.785; P < 0.001). However, when the dietary groups were analysed separately, this effect was only seen in the C subjects (OR 0.300; CI 0.121, 0.748; P < 0.001). The present results suggest that women with a better vitamin D status respond more positively to hypocaloric diets and lose more body fat; this was especially clear among the C subjects who had a greater vitamin D supply during the experimental period.

Cognitive function in elderly people is influenced by vitamin E status.

The aim of this study was to examine associations between vitamin E status and cognitive performance in elderly people. The study subjects were a group of 34 men and 86 women, aged 65-91 y, who were free of significant cognitive impairment. Dietary intake was monitored using a "weighed food record" for 5 consecutive days including a Sunday. Serum levels of alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol were determined by HPLC and colorimetric methods, respectively. The cognitive capacity of subjects was tested using the Pfeiffer's Mental Status Questionnaire (PMSQ). Subjects with vitamin E intakes lower than 50% of those recommended had higher PMSQ scores, demonstrating a greater number of errors in comparison to participants with a greater intake of the vitamin (0.91 +/- 1.22 vs. 0.47 +/- 0.60, respectively, P < 0.05). Subjects who made no errors in the PMSQ test had significantly higher serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations (19.7 +/- 8.6 micromol/L in men and 20.0 +/- 8.4 micromol/L in women) and alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol ratios (3.5 +/- 2.0 micromol/mmol in men 2.9 +/- 1.4 micromol/mmol in women) compared with those who made errors (alpha-tocopherol 15.1 +/- 5.6 micromol/L in men and 14.9 +/- 6.1 micromol/L in women; alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol ratio 2.4 +/- 0.8 and 2.3 +/- 1.3 micromol/mmol in men and women, respectively). This study shows there to be a relationship between vitamin E status and cognitive function, and that vitamin E status could be improved in this population of elderly individuals.