A study of the prebiotic-like effects of tomato juice consumption in rats with diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Gut microbiota may play a role in the pathogenesis of NAFLD. We investigated whether tomato juice consumption for 5 weeks could ameliorate high-fat diet-induced alterations in certain intestinal bacterial groups and products arising from their metabolism (short-chain fatty acids and microbial phenolic catabolites). For this, we used a rat model with NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet, involving four experimental groups: NA (standard diet and water), NL (standard diet and tomato juice), HA (high-fat diet and water) and HL (high-fat diet and tomato juice). The onset of NAFLD impacted the gut microbiota profile, reducing the abundance of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus and increasing that of Enterobacteriaceae. Also, reduced concentrations of propionate, butyrate and phenolic catabolites and an increased acetate to propionate (Ac : Pr) ratio were observed. Tomato juice intake partially ameliorated high-fat diet-induced disturbances, particularly by increasing Lactobacillus abundance and diminishing the Ac : Pr ratio, suggesting a potential improvement of the metabolic pattern of NAFLD.

Effect of the addition of tomato paste on the nutritional and sensory properties of mortadella.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of tomato paste (TP) to sausage mortadella in order to improve the nutritional properties and reduce the lipid oxidation associated with the content of lycopene. First, three different mortadellas without colourant were made with 2, 6 and 10% of TP, to optimise technologically the amount of this ingredient. Then, commercial product was compared with 10% of TP mortadella; both products were made with natural colourant. After a proximate analysis only total protein decreased due to the addition of TP. Lycopene content in mortadella and the total antioxidant activity were proportional to the amount of TP added. The presence of TP provided stability during meat grinding, cooking and storage of mortadella by reducing the lipid oxidation. In addition, TP provided yellowness and softness; however, when TP was added together with red colourant, the redness remained constant in the mortadella without effects on the consumer overall acceptance.

Efecto de la ingesta de zumo de tomate en el contenido de licopeno y ácidos grasos de cadena corta en heces de ratas Sprague Dawley / Effect of tomato juice intake on lycopene and short chain fatty acid content in faeces of Sprague Dawley rats

El consumo de vegetales proporciona a la dieta una amplia variedad de compuestos bioactivos que pueden ser absorbidos en el intestino durante la digestión, o llegar al intestino grueso donde son utilizados como sustratos fermentativos por la flora colónica o se mantienen intactos ejerciendo un efecto beneficioso protector sobre las células del colon. El objetivo del presente estudio ha sido evaluar la presencia de licopeno y ácidos grasos de cadena corta (AGCC) en las heces de ratas Sprague Dawley (SD) sometidas a distintas dietas. Se seleccionaron 24 ratas machos SD adultas de 12 semanas, clasificándose en tres grupos (control, grupo A y grupo B). Los animales se introdujeron en jaulas metabólicas y fueron alimentados durante 21 días con una dieta estándar y agua ad libitum (grupo control), zumo de tomate con bajo (2.7 mg/100 g) contenido en licopeno (grupo A) y zumo de tomate con alto (12 mg/100 g) contenido en licopeno (grupo B). Diariamente se recogió la orina y las heces. Se seleccionaron las muestras de heces correspondientes al inicio y fin del estudio, determinándose en ellas el contenido de licopeno colorimétricamente y los AGCC por cromatografía gaseosa. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el consumo de zumo de tomate producía un aumento del contenido de licopeno en heces proporcional a la cantidad de licopeno presente en el zumo. La presencia de licopeno en heces nos indica que no todo el licopeno presente en la dieta es absorbido. En relación al perfil de AGCC en heces se observa un cambio desde el inicio al final del estudio, destacando un aumento en el ácido butírico, consecuencia de la modificación en los substratos de fermentación asociada al cambio de alimentación de las ratas que tomaron zumo de tomate. La acción antioxidante del licopeno a su paso por el intestino grueso hasta su excreción en las heces y la formación de ácido butírico, podrían ejercer una acción beneficiosa en las células del colon, pudiéndose prevenir posibles procesos cancerígenos (AU)

A wide range of bioactive components are provided to the diet by vegetables intake, which can be absorbed by the intestinal cells during digestion process. Furthermore, some of these components are susceptible to be used as fermentative substrate by intestinal microbiota as well as playing a protective role on colon cells when maintain their original structure. The aim of this research was to evaluate the content of lycopene and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) in faeces of Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Twenty four 12 weeks old male SD rats, were selected and classified in three different groups (Control, Group A and Group B). The animals were introduced in metabolic cages and fed during a period of 21 days using a standard diet. Control Group was given ad libitum access to food and water, whereas Group B and Group A were given tomato juice with high (12 mg/100 g) and low (2.7 mg/100 g) lycopene content, respectively. Urine and faeces were picked up everyday. Both, faeces samples at the beginning and at the end of the research period were selected, analyzing lycopene content by colorimetric method and SCFA by gas-liquid chromatography. The results showed that tomato juice intake produces an increase in the amount of lycopene in faeces. This increment was directly proportional to the lycopene content in different juices. The presence of lycopene in faeces suggests that not all the lycopene ingested was absorbed. A change in the SCFA profile in faeces has been observed from the beginning to the end of the study. In this way, an increase in butyric acid level was detected in those rats which took tomato juice. This finding could be a consequence of the modification of substrates by fermentation. The antioxidant effect of lycopene through the large intestine until its excretion and the formation of butyric acid, could be able to make a positive effect on colon cells and, eventually, prevent carcinogenic processes(AU)

[Detection of hyponutrition risk in non-institutionalised elderly]. / Detección del riesgo de desnutrición en ancianos no institucionalizados.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: an inadequate food intake in the elderly increases immunological system vulnerability, the risk for infections, and it also leads to muscle atrophy, high sugar and fat plasma levels, fatigue, apathy, greater risk for bone fractures, and lower response to medication. Physiological and pathological changes related to aging bring about changes in dietary habits and organ body use of nutrients. The main consequence is an increase in the prevalence of individuals with global or nutrient-specific hyponutrition. The aim of this work was to detect the percentage of non-institutionalised malnourished elderly patients from Murcia with hyponutrition risk, in order to being able of preventively act on them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 360 elderly patients of both genders, non-institutionalised and residing in Murcia compose the population sample. Hyponutrition risk detection is based on performance of a test to each patient with nine questions relating to nutritional risk, which is a validated nutritional screening method, with a 95% positive predictive value and 81% negative predictive value. Besides, other factors that may affect hyponutrition risk were assessed in each patient (BMI, gender, age, persons living with him/her, marital status, educational level, and other conditions). Statistical analysis is done with the SPSS package, v. 12.0, using the Student's t test for comparison of independent variables with a normal distribution and Pearson's correlation to analyse the correlation level between variables. RESULTS: The population sample is composed by elder people aged 73.5 +/- 0.5 years (mean +/- SEM), with a BMI of 27.5 +/- 0.3 (Kg/m2), of which 41% are males and 59% females. Forty-six percent have incomplete primary education, and only 11% have university education. Seventy-five percent of these elder people live with somebody (with their spouse or other relatives), and 22% live alone. Sixty-percent are married, and 31% are widow. About age-related pathologies, we observe higher prevalence of diabetes (21%) and cardiovascular diseases, (21%), high cholesterol levels (32%), and high prevalence of arterial hypertension (42%). Seven percent have involuntarily lost weight for the last 3 months, and 11% find themselves thinner, 14% have difficulty eating. Seventeen percent of the studied elder people have a likely risk for malnutrition, with 3% of malnourished patients. When analysing gender differences we observe a greater percentage of women with arterial hypertension, as compared to men (p < 0.05) whereas men diagnosed with COPD outnumber women with COPD (p < 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.05) are seen in malnutrition risk by gender, being higher in females as compared to men. BMI and malnutrition risk are negatively correlated (p < 0.01). A direct correlation is seen between the patient's age and his/her malnutrition risk (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In Murcia 17% of analysed elderly people have a likely risk for malnutrition and 2% are malnourished. This malnutrition refers to deficient nutrition, so for these results suggest the need to perform: 1) further studies to determine qualitatively and quantitatively nutritional deficits. 22 A nutritional intervention in this population to prevent deficient states associated to the development of several pathologies.

Detección del riesgo de desnutrición en ancianos no institucionalizados / Detection of hyponutrition risk in non-institutionalised elderly

Antecedentes y Objetivo: Una alimentación inadecuada en ancianos incrementa la vulnerabilidad del sistema inmunológico, aumenta el riesgo de infecciones, también produce atrofia muscular, niveles altos de azúcar o grasas en sangre, debilidad,apatía, mayor riesgo de fracturas óseas y menor respuesta a la medicación. Los cambios fisiológicos y patológicos asociados al envejecimiento determinan modificaciones de los hábitos de consumo alimentario y del aprovechamiento orgánico de los nutrientes. La principal consecuencia de todo ello es un aumento en la frecuencia de individuos con malnutrición global o específica para algún nutriente concreto. El objetivo de este trabajo es detectar el porcentaje de ancianos no institucionalizados en Murcia con riesgo de malnutrición para poder intervenir de forma preventiva sobre ellos. Material y métodos: La muestra poblacional del estudio está constituida por 360 ancianos de ambos sexos, no institucionalizados y residentes en Murcia.La detección del riesgo de desnutrición se basa en la realización de un test a cada anciano con 9 preguntas asociadas con el riesgo nutricional, que es un método de screening nutricional validado, con un valor predictivo positivo del 95% y un valor predictivo negativo del 81%. Además en cada anciano se valoraron otros factores que pudieran afectar al riesgo de desnutrición (IMC, sexo, edad,personas con las que convive, estado civil, nivel de instrucción y patologías). El análisis estadístico se realiza con el programa informático SPSS, v. 12.0,utilizando la T-Student para comparar variables independientes que siguen una distribución normal y la Correlación de Pearson cuando se pretende analizar el grado de correlación entre variables. Resultados: La muestra poblacional está constituida por ancianos de 73,5 ± 0,5 años (media ± SEM), con un IMC de 27,5 ± 0,3 (Kg/m2), de los cuales un 41% son varones y un 59% mujeres. El 46% tienen estudios primarios incompletos y sólo el 11% son universitarios. El 75% de los ancianos viven acompañados (con su cónyuge u otros familiares) y el 22% viven solos. El 60% están casados y el 31% son viudos. Entre las patologías asociadas al envejecimiento se observa una mayor incidencia de diabetes (21%) y enfermedades cardiovasculares (21%) como demuestran los altos niveles de colesterol (32%) y la elevada incidencia de hipertensión (HTA) (42%). El 7% ha perdido peso involuntariamente en los últimos 3 meses y el 11% se encuentran más delgados, el 14% presenta dificultad para comer. El 17% de los ancianos analizados presenta un riesgo probable de malnutrición, con un 3% de ancianos malnutridos. Al analizar las diferencias entre sexos, se observa un mayor porcentaje de mujeres que presentan HTA respecto a los varones (p < 0,05); mientras que los varones diagnosticados con EPOC superan a las mujeres (p < 0,05). Se aprecian diferencias significativas (p < 0,05) en el riesgo de malnutrición entre sexos, siendo mayor el riesgo de malnutrición en mujeres que en varones ancianos. Están inversamente correlacionados el IMC con el Riesgo de malnutrición (p < 0,01). Se observa una correlación directa entre la edad del anciano y su riesgo de malnutrición (p < 0,05). Conclusiones: En Murcia el 17% de los ancianos analizados presenta un riesgo probable de malnutrición y el 2% están malnutridos. Esta malnutrición se refiere a una nutrición deficitaria, por lo que los resultados sugieren la necesidad de realizar: 1º) posteriores estudios para concretar los déficits nutricionales de forma cualitativa y cuantitativa. 2º) una intervención nutricional en este colectivo para prevenir estados carenciales asociados a la aparición de diversas patologías (AU)

Background and objective: an inadequate food intake in the elderly increases immunological system vulnerability, the risk for infections, and it also leads to muscle atrophy, high sugar and fat plasma levels, fatigue, apathy, greater risk for bone fractures, and lower response to medication. Physiological and pathological changes related to aging bring about changes in dietary habits and organ body use of nutrients. The main consequence is an increase in the prevalence of individuals with global or nutrient-specific hyponutrition. The aim of this work was to detect the percentage of non-instituti nalised malnourished elderly patients from Murcia with hyponutrition risk, in order to being able of preventively act on them. Material and methods: 360 elderly patients of both genders, non-institutionalised and residing in Murcia compose the population sample. Hyponutrition risk detection is based on performance of a test to each patient with nine questions relating to nutritional risk, which is a validated nutritional screening method, with a 95% positive predictive value and 81% negative predictive value. Besides, other factors that may affect hyponutrition risk were assessed in each patient (BMI, gender, age, persons living with him/her, marital status, educational level, and other conditions). Statistical analysis is done with the SPSS package, v. 12.0, using the Student's t test for comparison of independent variables with a normal distribution and Pearson's correlation to analyse the correlation level between variables. Results: The population sample is composed by elder people aged 73.5 ± 0.5 years (mean ± SEM), with a BMI of 27.5 ± 0.3 (Kg/m2), of which 41% are males and 59% females. Forty-six percent have incomplete primary education, and only 11% have university education. Seventy-five percent of these elder people live with somebody (with their spouse or other relatives), and 22% live alone. Sixty-percent are married, and 31% are widow. About age-related pathologies, we observe higher prevalence of diabetes (21%) and cardiovascular diseases, (21%), high cholesterol levels (32%), and high prevalence of arterial hypertension (42%). Seven percent have involuntarily lost weight for the last 3 months, and 11% find themselves thinner, 14% have difficulty eating. Seventeen percent of the studied elder people have a likely risk for malnutrition, with 3% of malnourished patients. When analysing gender differences we observe a greater percentage of women with arterial hypertension, as compared to men (p < 0.05) whereas men diagnosed with COPD outnumber women with COPD (p < 0.05). Significant differences (p < 0.05) are seen in malnutrition risk by gender, being higher in females as compared to men.BMI and malnutrition risk are negatively correlated (p < 0.01). A direct correlation is seen between the patient's age and his/her malnutrition risk (p < 0.05). Conclusions: In Murcia 17% of analysed elderly people have a likely risk for malnutrition and 2% are malnourished. This malnutrition refers to deficient nutrition, so for these results suggest the need to perform: 1º) further studies to determine qualitatively and quantitatively nutritional deficits. 2º) A nutritional intervention in this population to prevent deficient states associated to the development of several pathologies (AU)