Tailoring the Functional Potential of Red Beet Purées by Inoculation with Lactic Acid Bacteria and Drying.

This study was focused on a comparative analysis of two drying methods, such as convective and infrared drying, on the red beetroot purées with lactic acid bacteria, as a strategy for tailoring the health benefits of the selected plant. For both varieties, the total betalain contents varied from 13.95 ± 0.14 mg/g dry weight in Beta vulgaris var. cylindra when compared with 11.09 ± 0.03 mg/g dry weight in Beta vulgaris var. vulgaris, whereas significant differences were found in total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Significant drying induced changes were found in selected bioactives, in terms of total betalains, flavonoids, and polyphenols, which influenced the antioxidant activities of the purées, structure, and color parameters. In general, infrared technology was more protective, leading to an increase of 20% in flavonoids content. One logarithmic decrease in cell viability was observed in all powders samples. After the in vitro digestion, the betalains decreased, in both gastric and intestinal simulated juices, with a more pronounced profile in infrared processed purées. Textural and rheological analysis of the dried purées highlighted that the infrared drying is milder compared to the conventional one, allowing us to obtain powders with enhanced functional properties, in terms of bioactives content, cell viability, color, and structural and rheological behavior.

[What can we do with genetic screening of obesity in clinical practice?]. / Que faire de la génétique de l'obésité en pratique clinique?

The discovery of genetic abnormalities in obesity improves the knowledge on the physiology of energetic homeostasis, and demonstrates that it is a fully recognized disease and not only a behavioral problem. In cases of early obesity and very severe degree, with severely abnormal dietary behavior, endocrine abnormalities, and a ground of parental consanguinity, monogenic obesity or a syndromic obesity (in the case of a rare genetic disease) must be suspected. In that case, a genetic screening is necessary because it helps the global care of the patient and sometimes an effective specific therapeutics can be proposed. Except in the previous cases, oligogenic obesity (mutation of an important gene) or polygenic obesity (association of polymorphisms on various genes) are suspected. The genetic abnormalities express themselves only in association with deleterious environment. In these situations, it is not at the moment recommended to make a systematic screening in clinical practice.