Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption and Height Loss in Adults: A Longitudinal Analysis in the EPIC-Norfolk Study.

BACKGROUND: Height loss in aging has been recognized to reflect a decline in musculoskeletal health but not investigated in relation to dietary factors, such as sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), the consumption of which may deteriorate musculoskeletal health. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the longitudinal association of habitual consumption of total SSBs and its subtypes with height loss and examine effect-modification by age, sex, and anthropometry. METHODS: We evaluated 16,230 adults aged 40-79 y in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition-Norfolk cohort. At baseline (1993-1997), SSB consumption (soft drinks, squashes, sweetened milk beverages, sweetened coffee/tea, and sweetened alcoholic beverages) was assessed using 7-d food diaries. Height was objectively measured at the baseline, second (1997-2000), and third (2004-2011) health checks. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine baseline SSB consumption and the rate of height change over the follow-up. RESULTS: The median (IQR) height change was -1.07 (-2.09 to -0.28) cm/10 y. Adjusted for potential confounders including behavioral factors, medications, and baseline body mass index (BMI), total SSB consumption was associated with height loss (ß: -0.024; 95% CI: -0.046, -0.001 cm/10 y per 250 g/d of SSB), and similar results were seen for the individual beverages, except for sweetened milk beverages (ß: +0.07; 95% CI: -0.16, 0.30), with wide CIs. No effect-modification by prespecified factors was evident, except for baseline BMI (P-interaction = 0.037). Total SSB consumption was associated with height loss (-0.038; 95% CI: -0.073, -0.004) in participants with BMI ≤ 25 kg/m2 but not apparently in those with BMI > 25 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: SSB consumption was modestly associated with height loss, particularly in adults with normal weight status.

Evaluating the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages tax on overweight, obesity, and type 2 diabetes in an affluent Asian setting: A willingness-to-pay survey and simulation analysis.

BACKGROUND: The potential health effects of taxing sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) has been insufficiently examined in Asian contexts. This study aimed to assess the impact of SSB taxation on the prevalence of obesity/overweight and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Hong Kong using a willingness-to-pay (WTP) survey and simulation analysis. METHODS: A random telephone survey was conducted with 1000 adults from May to June 2020. We used a contingent valuation approach to assess individuals' WTP for SSBs under four tax payment scenarios (5%, 10%, 40%, and 50% of the current market price). Based on the WTP, a simulation analysis was conducted to project changes in SSB purchase and associated reductions in the prevalence of obesity/overweight and T2DM over a 10-year simulation period. FINDINGS: When 5% and 10% taxation rates were introduced, approximately one-third of the population were unwilling to maintain their SSB purchase. Our simulation demonstrated a gradual decline in the prevalence of obesity/overweight and diabetes with a more pronounced decrease when higher taxation rates were introduced. 10% taxation resulted in a mean reduction of 1532.7 cases of overweight/obesity per 100 thousand population at the sixth year, while T2DM prevalence decreased by 267.1 (0.3%). CONCLUSIONS: This study underscores the effects of an SSB tax on purchase behaviors and health outcomes in an affluent Asia setting, with a more pronounced influence on adult population. These findings are expected to inform policymakers in making decisions regarding an effective and equitable tax rate on SSBs.

The Beverage Quality Index and risk of cardiometabolic outcomes after a myocardial infarction: A prospective analysis in the Alpha Omega Cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Individual beverages have varying associations with cardiometabolic outcomes, but little is known about overall beverage quality and cardiometabolic risk after myocardial infarction (MI). We created the Beverage Quality Index (BQI) to assess beverage quality and examined its association with cardiometabolic outcomes after MI. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 4365 Dutch post-MI patients from the Alpha Omega Cohort, aged 60-80 years. Diet was assessed at baseline (2002-2006) with a 203-item FFQ. The BQI included eight components (coffee, tea, milk, juices, sugar-sweetened beverages, alcohol, added sugar to coffee and tea, and energy from beverages), and ranged from 0 to 80. Multivariable Cox models were used to estimate HRs for the BQI in relation to incident diabetes mellitus (DM), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), recurrent cardiovascular disease (CVD) and fatal CVD over 3.4 y of follow-up, with follow-up for fatal CVD extended through 2018 (12.4 y). The average BQI was 50.0 ± 12.5. During 3.4 y of follow-up, we identified 186 incident cases of DM, 601 of MACE, 310 of recurrent CVD and 140 of fatal CVD. In multivariable models, a higher BQI (T3 vs. T1) was associated with lower risk of MACE [HR: 0.73 (0.59-0.90)], and recurrent CVD [HR: 0.67 (0.50-0.91)], but not with DM or CVD mortality. After 12.4 y of follow-up, 903 CVD deaths occurred. A significant inverse association with CVD mortality during long-term follow-up was found [HR: 0.81 (0.68-0.96)]. CONCLUSION: Overall beverage intake quality, as assessed by the BQI, may represent an important target for the prevention of recurrent CVD.

Characterization and stabilization of GluLm and its application to deglycosylate dietary flavonoids and lignans.

This study describes the characterization of the recombinant GH3 aryl-ß-glucosidase "GluLm" from Limosilactobacillus mucosae INIA P508, followed by its immobilization on an agarose support with the aim of developing an efficient application to increase the availability and concentration of flavonoid and lignan aglycones in a vegetal beverage. In previous studies, heterologous GluLm-producing strains demonstrated a great capacity to deglycosylate flavonoids. Nevertheless, the physicochemical properties and substrate spectrum of the enzyme remained unknown up to now. A high production of purified GluLm was achieved (14 mg L-1). GluLm exhibited optimal activity at broad ranges of pH (5.0-8.0) and temperature (25-60°C), as well as high affinity (Km of 0.10 mmol L-1) and specific constant (86554.0 mmol L-1 s-1) against p-nitrophenyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside. Similar to other GH3 ß-glucosidases described in lactic acid bacteria, GluLm exhibited ß-xylosidase, ß-galactosidase, and ß-fucosidase activities. However, this study has revealed for the first time that a GH3 ß-glucosidase is capable to hydrolyze different families of glycosylated phenolics such as flavonoids and secoiridoids. Although it exhibited low thermal stability, immobilization of GluLm improved its thermostability and allowed the development of a beverage based on soybeans and flaxseed extract with high concentration of bioactive isoflavone (daidzein, genistein), lignan (secoisolariciresinol, pinoresinol, and matairesinol), and other flavonoid aglycones. KEY POINTS: • Limosilactobacillus mucosae INIA P508 GluLm was purified and biochemically characterized • Immobilized GluLm efficiently deglycosylated flavonoids and lignans from a vegetal beverage • A viable application to produce vegetal beverages with a high content of aglycones is described.

Effects of the active botanical blend "WKUP GT" on attention and cognitive functions after lunch in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVES: "WKUP GT", a low caffeine beverage consisting of carob, Guarana, Green Tea and Elderberry extracts was studied on attention and cognitive functions post-lunch in a pilot randomized double blind placebo controlled trial. METHODS: Thirty healthy volunteers were included in a crossover design trial, presenting five beverages randomly assigned to the following groups: placebo, "WKUP GT" (single, double or triple doses), or "caffeine" as an active control. Hemodynamic measurements were assessed as safety outcomes. The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB), was used to evaluate the patients when beverages were consumed 30 and 120 min after lunch (respectively Delta30 and Delta120 considering baseline). RESULTS: Drinking "caffeine" or "WKUP GT" after lunch, showed significant improvement (p < 0.05) in rapid visual information processing compared to placebo (Delta120 of "caffeine", "WKUP" single and double). In addition, improvement in Multitasking Test (Delta30 for "WKUP" double, and Delta120 for "caffeine" and "WKUP" triple compared to placebo) was observed. "WKUP" triple also showed significant improvement for "memory" when compared to placebo (Delta120). Compared to "caffeine", WKUP GT did not increase systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSION: "WKUP GT" showed improvements for attention, memory, psychomotor and executive function tasks after lunch without increase in pulse rate.

Non-beverage alcohol consumption in Russia: new evidence from Jewish Autonomous Oblast.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies in Izhevsk, Novosibirsk, and Kazan have found that non-beverage alcohol is a large part of alcohol consumption in Russia. Whereas those places are relatively high-income cities, there are no studies about such a problem in low-income regions of Russia. The aim of this study is to investigate correlates and factors associated with non-beverage alcohol consumption in eastern regions of Russia, e.g. the Jewish Autonomous Oblast and to assess effectiveness of implementing Russian policies to restrict consumption of non-beverage alcohol. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A survey of adults in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast of Russia was performed on workdays to assess non-beverage drinking patterns in summer 2022. The questionnaire included questions about socio-demographic status and alcohol use, including non-beverage alcohol consumption and drinking patterns. We use logistic regression to identify risk factors of consuming non-beverages. RESULTS: First, ~30% of individuals suffering from alcohol problems drink non-beverage alcohol. Second, those who regularly consume non-beverage alcohol compared with those who chronically drink legal strong alcohol are on average more likely to experience the negative effects of alcohol consumption. Third, income and marriage are the main factors negatively associated with surrogate alcohol consumption. Besides, age shows a curvilinear relationship with that. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that a modified anti-surrogate policy to increase the minimum price of pharmacy alcohol and to enforce restrictions on the sale of non-beverage alcohol is needed in Russia. Such measures could prevent an increase in non-beverage alcohol consumption in Russia against the backdrop of declining real incomes of the population.

A comparative analysis of unhealthy food and beverage television advertising to children in Thailand, between 2014 and 2022.

BACKGROUND: Food marketing is a key factor that influences children's dietary behaviors. This study assessed the nature and extent of food and beverage advertising on television (TV) in 2014 and 2022 in Thailand. METHODS: TV was recorded for one week in March 2014 and in May 2022 from 7-9am and 3-7 pm on weekends, and 3-7 pm on weekdays across two channels (64 h recorded each year). The nutrient profile model from Bureau of Nutrition, Ministry of Public Health Thailand was used to classify food and non-alcoholic beverages as: Group A ('healthy'), Group B ('less unhealthy') or Group C ('unhealthy'). RESULTS: In 2014, 475 food advertisements were identified, with on average of 6.3 unhealthy food advertisements per hour. In 2022, 659 food advertisements were identified, with an average of 9.2 unhealthy food advertisement per hour. In both time periods, the most frequently advertised food products were non-alcoholic beverages. The rate of unhealthy food advertising per hour of broadcast was significantly higher than for other moderately unhealthy and healthy foods, and was also significantly higher in 2022 than in 2014. CONCLUSIONS: Food and beverage advertising on Thai television is predominantly promotes unhealthy foods and, in particular, sugar-sweetened beverages. Therefore, Thai Government should enact new legislation to protect children from food TV ads in order to control both the frequency and nature of unhealthy TV food marketing to protect the health of Thai children.

Addressing nutritional issues and eating behaviours among university students: a narrative review.

University life is a critical period for establishing healthy eating habits and attitudes. However, university students are at risk of developing poor eating habits due to various factors, including economic conditions, academic stress and lack of information about nutritional concepts. Poor diet quality leads to malnutrition or overnutrition, increasing the risk of preventable diseases. Food environments on university campuses also play a significant role in shaping the dietary habits of students, with the availability of and accessibility to healthy food options being important factors influencing food choices and overall diet quality. Disordered eating habits and body dissatisfaction are prevalent among university students and can lead to eating disorders. Income and living arrangements also influence dietary habits, with low household income and living alone being associated with unhealthy eating habits. This study is a narrative review that aimed to address nutritional issues and eating behaviours, specifically among university students. We investigated the eating behaviours of university students, including their dietary patterns, food choices and food environments. The objective of this review was to provide insights into the nutritional issues and eating behaviours of university students, with the aim of identifying target areas for intervention to improve the overall health and wellbeing among college students. University food environments need to be restructured to promote healthy eating, including the availability, accessibility, affordability and labelling of healthy foods, and policies to limit the availability of unhealthy foods and drinks on campus.

Determination of organic acids for predicting sourness intensity of tea beverage by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and chemometrics methods.

The contents of organic acids (OAs) in tea beverage and their relationship with taste intensity have not been fully understood. In this work, a rapid (10 min for a single run) and sensitive (limits of quantification: 0.0044-0.4486 µg/mL) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of 17 OAs in four types of tea, based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with multiple reaction monitoring mode. The contents of 17 OAs in 96 tea samples were measured at levels between 0.01 and 11.80 g/kg (dried weight). Quinic acid, citric acid, and malic acid were determined as the major OAs in green, black, and raw pu-erh teas, while oxalic acid and tartaric acid exhibited the highest contents in ripe pu-erh tea. Taking the OAs composition as input features, a partial least squares regression model was proposed to predict the sourness intensity of tea beverages. The model achieved a root-mean-square error of 0.58 and a coefficient of determination of 0.84 for the testing set. The proposed model provides a theoretical way to evaluate the sensory quality of tea infusion based on its chemical composition.

Effects of traffic light labelling and increased healthy range on beverage choices from vending machines.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether traffic light labels and an increased range of healthy beverages, individually and in combination, can increase healthy beverage choices from vending machines. DESIGN: Two studies (n 558, 420) tested whether the provision of traffic light labels (green, amber and red) and an increased range of healthy beverages (from 20 % to 50 % green options), individually and in combination, could increase healthy beverage choices from a digital vending machine display. The studies used a between-subjects experimental design, and a hypothetical beverage choice, a limitation when considering real-world applicability. SETTING: Both studies utilised an online Qualtrics survey that featured a digital vending machine display. PARTICIPANTS: Both studies (n 558, 420) consisted of university students from Flinders University and individuals from a survey recruitment service. RESULTS: Featuring traffic lights did not significantly influence beverage choices (P = 0·074), while increasing the healthy range (P = 0·003, OR = 3·27), and the combination of both, did significantly increase healthier beverage choices (P < 0·001, OR = 4·83). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that the traffic light system and increased healthy range are not maximally effective when used on their own, and benefit greatly when combined, to increase healthy beverage choices. It was suggested that the provision of traffic light labels supplied the necessary nutritional information, and the increased healthy range offered greater opportunity to act in accordance with that information. In so doing, the present findings offer a promising pathway for reducing unhealthy beverage consumption.

The effects of health-related food taxes on the environmental impact of consumer food purchases: secondary analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial in a virtual supermarket.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the effects of health-related food taxes on the environmental impact of consumer food purchases in a virtual supermarket. DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of data from a randomised controlled trial in which participants were randomly assigned to a control condition with regular food prices (n 152), an experimental condition with a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) tax (n 131) or an experimental condition with a nutrient profiling tax based on Nutri-Score (n 112). Participants were instructed to undertake their typical weekly grocery shopping for their households. Primary outcome measures were three environmental impact indicators: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, land use and blue water use per household per week. Data were analysed using linear regression analyses. SETTING: Three-dimensional virtual supermarket. PARTICIPANTS: Dutch adults (≥ 18 years) who were responsible for grocery shopping in their household (n 395). RESULTS: GHG emissions (-7·6 kg CO2-eq; 95 % CI -12·7, -2·5) and land use (-3·9 m2/year; 95 % CI -7·7, -0·2) were lower for the food purchases of participants in the nutrient profiling tax condition than for those in the control condition. Blue water use was not affected by the nutrient profiling tax. Moreover, the SSB tax had no significant effect on any of the environmental impact indicators. CONCLUSIONS: A nutrient profiling tax based on Nutri-Score reduced the environmental impact of consumer food purchases. An SSB tax did not affect the environmental impact in this study.

Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages before 2 Years of Age and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

INTRODUCTION: This study examined the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption before the first 24 months of life and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: A population administrative cohort study was conducted in Korea (2008-2019) using linked national insurance data and a health screening survey. The cohort included 25,305 children in the exposed group with high sugar-sweetened beverage drinks (≥200 mL) and 339,931 in the reference groups (<200 mL) at 24 months of age. The primary outcome was the development of ADHD based on the International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes. Cox proportional model was used to identify the association between sugar-sweetened beverage consumption during early childhood and the later development of ADHD while controlling for multiple risk factors. RESULTS: Over a mean follow-up period of 9.2 years, the incidence rates of ADHD were 29.6 and 23.8 per 10,000 person-years in the exposed and reference groups, respectively. Compared with the reference group, children consuming high-sugar drinks were at an increased risk of ADHD (adjusted hazard ratio 1.17, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08-1.27). These associations remained significant even after applying alternative ADHD definitions or adjusting for confounding variables. CONCLUSION: Children who consume sweetened beverages during early childhood are at increased risk of developing ADHD later in life.

The association between healthy beverage index and sarcopenia in Iranian older adults: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Sarcopenia is a progressive disease with age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass, strength, and function. No study has investigated the association between healthy beverage index (HBI) and sarcopenia in older adults. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the association between HBI and sarcopenia in Iranian older adults. METHODS: In the present case-control study, 80 sarcopenic and 80 non-sarcopenic participants matched in sex were included. Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Handgrip strength (HGS), skeletal muscle mass index (SMI), and gait speed were utilized to confirm sarcopenia. Also, a food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate food intake. HBI score was calculated based on ten sub-components of the total beverages. Moreover, logistic regression was applied to assess the association between HBI and sarcopenia. RESULTS: In the crude model, we observed no significant association between HBI and the odds of sarcopenia. Still, after adjusting the confounders, the odds of developing sarcopenia decreased significantly in the second and last tertiles (T) (T2- odds ratio (OR) = 0.04, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01-0.25 and T3- OR = 0.10, 95% CI: 0.01-0.60). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that HBI is inversely related to the chance of sarcopenia. Therefore, to reduce the odds of sarcopenia, it is recommended to consume healthy drinks such as fruit juices and milk.

Fluid and electrolyte balance following consumption of skimmed milk and a plant-based soya beverage at rest in euhydrated males.

PURPOSE: Cow's milk is one of the most hydrating beverages, but many individuals choose not to consume dairy in their diet due to intolerance, allergy, or dietary preference. Milk is commonly replaced with plant-based beverages, including soya which has the most comparable protein content, but little is known about their hydration potential. This study compared fluid and electrolyte balance responses between a soya beverage and skimmed cow's milk. METHODS: Ten healthy males [age 27 (6) y; body mass index 24.6 (2.3) kg/m2] completed two randomised counterbalanced trials, involving consuming 1000 mL water from approximately isocaloric amounts of skimmed cow's milk (MILK) or a sweetened soya beverage (SOYA), in four aliquots over 30 min in a euhydrated fasted state. Volume, specific gravity, and electrolyte (sodium, potassium, chloride) concentrations were determined in total-void urine samples collected pre-/post-beverage ingestion, and hourly for 180 min thereafter. Hunger, thirst, nausea and stomach fullness were rated proximal to urine samples. RESULTS: Total urine mass (MILK, 986 ± 254 g; SOYA, 950 ± 248 g; P = 0.435) and urine specific gravity (P = 0.156) did not differ between trials. Potassium balance was greater in SOYA 0-180 min post-beverage (P ≤ 0.013), whilst chloride balance was greater in MILK 0-120 min post-beverage (P ≤ 0.036). Sodium balance (P = 0.258), total electrolyte balance (P = 0.258), and subjective measures (P ≥ 0.139) were not different between trials. CONCLUSION: Replacing cow's milk with a soya beverage did not negatively impact fluid balance in healthy young males, making it a viable option for those who choose not to consume dairy in their diet.

Consumer preferences for attributes in sweet beverages and market impacts of beverage innovation.

Consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) is considered as an important risk factor for the development of overweight and obesity in populations worldwide, with a particular focus on the risks in the younger parts of the population - children and adolescents. Together with fiscal measures and information tools, innovation-based approaches such as the development of sugar-free or sugar-reduced versions of established beverages and development of new beverage products have been used to reduce this challenge, but the effects of product innovation on sugar intake are not well understood from the literature, as previous studies have largely ignored substitution effects of product innovation in the beverage domain. The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential effectiveness of product innovation as a strategy to affect consumers' intake of energy from sweetened non-alcoholic beverages. Using household panel shopping data from approximately 3000 Danish households over the years 2006-2014, we developed a hedonic pricing approach to estimate the influence of product attributes on consumers' utility, based on observed data for Danish households' purchases of sweet drinks. Overall, the study found that beverages' degree of sweetness positively affected the satiation effect of beverage consumption and in turn made the demand for these beverages less sensitive to e.g. price changes or introduction of competing products, whereas the energy density of the beverages positively affected the demand sensitivity to market changes. Findings like these can be useful for assessing market effects as well as environmental and public health impacts of changes to the market environment.

The effect of childhood depression trajectories on sugar-sweetened beverage habit trajectories in adolescence: Exploring sleep problems as a mediator.

Although depression has been linked to the habit of consuming sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), little is known about their long-term relationships and the mediating role of sleep problems. This study examines the associations between childhood depressive symptoms trajectories and adolescent SSB-habit trajectories and whether these associations were mediated by sleep problems. Data came from 1560 adolescents participating in a longitudinal study across grades 1 through 12 in northern Taiwan. Group-based trajectory modeling was used to identify development of childhood depressive symptoms and an SSB habit in adolescence. Multinomial logistic regression was conducted to examine the influence of childhood depressive symptoms and adolescent SSB habit. Mediation analysis was conducted to test whether sleep problems mediated the associations examined. Four distinct trajectories of childhood depressive symptoms were identified: low-stable (30.79%), moderate-stable (42.32%), increasing (12.29%), and high-stable (11.60%). Three distinct trajectories of SSB habit in adolescence were identified: low-stable (44.32%), increasing (15.02%), and high-stable (40.65%). Children who had moderate-stable (aOR = 1.35; CI: 1.04-1.77), high-stable (aOR = 2.01; CI: 1.28-3.15), or increasing (aOR = 1.97; CI: 1.26-3.06) trajectories of depressive symptoms relative to those in the low-stable group were significantly more likely to belong to the high-stable trajectory of SSBs than to the low-stable SSBs group. The Z-mediation test showed that sleep problems significantly mediated the associations between trajectories of childhood depressive symptoms and trajectories of SSBs during adolescence (all p < 0.05). Childhood depressive symptoms conferred risks for adolescent SSB habits; and the effects were seen, in part, through increasing sleep problems.

Heat resistance of five spoilage microorganisms in a carbonated broth.

Despite their acidic pH, carbonated beverages can be contaminated by spoilage microorganisms. Thermal treatments, before and/or after carbonation, are usually applied to prevent the growth of these microorganisms. However, the impact of CO2 on the heat resistance of spoilage microorganisms has never been studied. A better understanding of the combined impact of CO2 and pH on the heat resistance of spoilage microorganisms commonly found in carbonated beverages might allow to optimize thermal treatment. Five microorganisms were selected for this study: Alicyclobacillus acidoterrestris (spores), Aspergillus niger (spores), Byssochlamys fulva (spores), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (vegetative cells), and Zygosaccharomyces parabailii (vegetative cells). A method was developed to assess the impact of heat treatments in carbonated media on microbial resistance. The heat resistances of the five studied species are coherent with the literature, when data were available. However, neither the dissolved CO2 concentration (from 0 to 7 g/L), nor the pH (from 2.8 to 4.1) have an impact on the heat resistance of the selected microorganisms, except for As. niger, for which the presence of dissolved CO2 reduced the heat resistance. This study improved our knowledge about the heat resistance of some spoilage microorganisms in presence of CO2.

Production of low-lactose and low-serum-protein milk protein beverages using microfiltration.

Our objective was to determine the effect of simultaneous removal of lactose plus low-molecular weight solutes and milk serum proteins from skim milk by microfiltration (MF) on the chemical, physical, and sensory properties of 3.4%, 7.5%, and 10.5% milk protein-based beverages before and after a direct steam injection thermal process. Skim milk was microfiltered at 50°C using 0.1-µm ceramic membranes with a diafiltration ratio of water to milk of about 2.5. Milk lactose, serum proteins, and soluble minerals were removed simultaneously to produce protein beverages containing from 3.4% to 10.5% true protein from skim milk and this process was replicated twice with different skim milks. The soluble mineral plus lactose content was very low and the aqueous phase of the beverages had a freezing point very close to water (i.e., -0.02°C). Beverage pH ranged from 7.19 to 7.41, with pH decreasing with increasing protein concentration. Overall, the beverages were whiter and blander than skim milk. When UHT processed with direct steam injection at a holding temp of 140°C for 2 to 3 s, there was some protein aggregation detected by particle size analysis (volume mean diameter of protein particles was 0.16 µm before and 22 µm after UHT). No sulfur or eggy flavor was detected, and no browning was observed, due to the UHT thermal treatment. Both apparent viscosity and sensory viscosity increased with increasing protein concentration and heat treatment.

Evaluation of kefir grain microbiota, grain viability, and bioactivity from fermenting dairy processing by-products.

Four dairy foods processing by-products (acid whey permeate [AWP], buttermilk [BM], sweet whey permeate [SWP], and sweet whey permeate with added milk fat globule ingredient [SWP+MFGM]) were fermented for 4 wk and compared with traditional kefir milks for production of novel kefir-like dairy products. Sweet whey permeates and SWP supplemented with 1.5% milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) proved to be the most viable by-products for kefir grain fermentation, exhibiting diverse abundance of traditional kefir microorganisms and positive indicators of bioactive properties. Grain viability was assessed with shotgun metagenomics, texture profile analysis, live cell counts, and scanning electron microscopy. Assessed bioactivities of the kefir-like products included antibacterial, antioxidant, potential anticancerogenic properties, and membrane barrier effects on human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells. All kefir grains were most abundant in Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens when analyzed with shotgun metagenomics. When analyzed with live cell counts on selective media, AWP kefir-like product had no countable Lactococcus spp., indicating suboptimal conditions for kefir grain microbiota survival and application for fermented dairy starter culture bacterium. Live cell counts were affirmed with kefir grain surface scanning electron microscopy images. The SWP treatment had the most adhesive kefir grain surface, and SWP+MFGM had the largest exopolysaccharide yield from grain extraction. All kefir and kefir-like products were able to achieve a 6-log reduction against Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli. Traditional milk kefirs had the highest antioxidant capacity for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid; ABTS) assay. The AWP formulation had a significantly higher DPPH antioxidant activity compared with the other kefir and kefir-like products, and SWP had the lowest Trolox equivalence concentration in the ABTS assay. Sweet whey and supplemented milk fat sweet whey had upregulation of Cldn-1 and Ocln-1 gene expression, which correspond with a significant increase in transepithelial electrical resistance.

Impact of Fermentation on the Phytochemical Content and Biological Properties of Moringa oleifera Lam. Shoot Teas.

This work examined the variation in chemical and biological properties of Moringa oleifera Lam. shoot (MOS) teas prepared under different degrees of fermentation, viz: non-fermented, semi-fermented and fermented. The chemical composition was ascertained via FTIR, GC-MS, total phenolic and total flavonoid content. Also determined were the biological properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial and alpha-amylase inhibitory activities. The data confirmed that MOS teas were rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds, with fermented MOS tea displaying the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents. With respect to antioxidant property, all tea extracts exhibited good radical scavenging activities against DPPH⋅, ABTS⋅+ and NO⋅, and the radical scavenging capacity was in the order of non-fermented>semi-fermented>fermented MOS teas. The same trend was also observed for the antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. In contrast, the fermented MOS tea exhibited better α-amylase inhibitory activity compared to the non-fermented and semi-fermented MOS teas.