Food & Function

The vital role of probiotics in the food field has been widely recognized, and at the same time, probiotics are gradually exhibiting surprising effects in the field of nutraceuticals, especially in regulating gut inflammation and the nutritional environment. As a dietary supplement in clinical nutrition, the coadministration of probiotics with antibiotics model has been applied to prevent intestinal infections caused by Clostridioides difficile . However, the mechanism behind this "bacteria-drug combination" model remains unclear...

This study evaluated the impact of the Milnutri Profutura® (MNP) dairy infant formula on the gut microbiota of early childhood children (three to five years) with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) using static fermentation (time zero, 24, and 48 h) and the Simulator of the Human Intestinal Microbiol Ecosystem (SHIME®) (time zero, 72 h, and 7 days). The relative abundance of selected intestinal bacterial groups, pH values, organic acids, and sugars were verified at time zero, 24, and 48 h using flow cytometry and measurements...

Background : Previous studies have shown the potential role of vitamin K supplementation in the prevention and treatment of many diseases. However, the effect of vitamin K supplementation on blood glucose remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of vitamin K supplementation on glycemia-related indicators, including Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Fasting Insulin (FINS) and Homeostasis Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). The potential association between vitamin K and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk was also evaluated...

The incidences of short-term or long-term adverse maternal and fetal outcomes caused by maternal diabetes are increasing. Due to toxicity or side effects, economic pressures, and other problems associated with injections or oral hypoglycemic drugs, many researchers have investigated natural treatment methods. Polyphenols can protect against chronic pathologies by regulating numerous physiological processes and provide many health benefits. Moreover, polyphenols have anti-diabetic properties and can be used to treat diabetic complications...

Nano-sized extracellular vesicles (EV) are essential for cell communication. Studies on EV from natural sources including edible plants are gaining momentum due to the biological implications. In this study, EV from tomato fruit were isolated by ultracentrifugation and their physical and morphological features along with their biocargo profiles were analyzed. We found that tomato EV promote the growth of probiotic Lactobacillus species, while inhibiting growth of the opportunistic intestinal pathogens Clostridioides difficile and Fusobacterium nucleatum ...

Agastache rugosa , commonly known as Korean mint (KM), is a medicinal plant renowned for its potential health-promoting properties. However, the lack of bioavailability studies has hindered the acquisition of conclusive evidence. In this study, we investigated the bioavailability of six key polyphenols present in KM, including rosmarinic acid (RA), acacetin (AC), and four glycosides of AC. Utilizing UPLC-MS/MS, we analyzed their presence in human plasma and Caco-2 monolayers grown in permeable filter supports...

Studies have shown that blue mussel lipid extract (BMLE) can improve the glycemic traits, inflammatory cytokines, and lipid profile of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China. Gut microbiota is closely related to T2DM. This study aims to explore whether BMLE can improve the glycemic status of T2DM patients by regulating gut microbiota in a 60-day double-blind randomized controlled trial. A total of 133 T2DM subjects were randomized into BMLE ( n = 44), fish oil (FO) ( n = 44), and corn oil (CO) ( n = 45) groups...

Nephrotic syndrome (NS) is characterized by proteinuria, hyperlipidemia, and hypoalbuminemia. Ulva pertusa , a green seaweed, is a nutritional supplement. In this study, the high-sulfated derivative of Ulva pertusa polysaccharide (HU) was prepared by combining U pertusa polysaccharide with chlorosulfonic acid. The NS rat model was established by tail vein single injection of Adriamycin (6.0 mg kg-1 ). Normal rats were used as the control group. NS rat models were treated with HU or U (173 mg kg-1 day-1 ). After treatment for 6 weeks, we assessed urine protein, renal function, and blood lipids, and observed morphology and histologic injury of the kidney and glomerular microstructure...

Correction for 'Muscle characteristics comparison and targeted metabolome analysis reveal differences in carcass traits and meat quality of three pig breeds' by Bo Song et al. , Food Funct. , 2023, 14 , 7603-7614, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO03709B.

Hazelnuts are reported as among the nuts that cause severe allergic reactions. However, few systematic studies exist on the changes in the gut microenvironment following hazelnut allergy. This study focused on the effects of hazelnut allergy on the duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon microenvironment in vivo . We established a hazelnut protein isolate (HPI)-allergic mouse model, which was distinguished by the visible allergy symptoms, dropped temperatures and enhanced allergic inflammatory factor levels in serum, such as HPI-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE), sIgG2a, interleukin-4, histamine, mouse mast cell protease-1, TNF-α, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and lipopolysaccharide...

Licorice, has a long history in China where it has various uses, including as a medicine, and is often widely consumed as a food ingredient. Licorice is rich in various active components, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, alkaloids, and nucleosides, among which licochalcone A (LicA) is an active component with multiple physiological effects. Previous studies from our research group have shown that LicA can significantly improve glucose and lipid metabolism and related complications in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mice...

Background : Evidence for the long-term health effect of low-carbohydrate diets (LCDs) is inconsistent. Herein, we aimed to examine the associations of LCDs with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Methods : We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Web of Science up to 26 July 2023 for eligible publications. Random-effect models were used to pool the summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results : A total of 44 studies (17 articles) were included in the systematic review and 38 in the meta-analysis, including 223 657 all-cause deaths (771 609 participants), 14 046 cardiovascular deaths (274 807 participants), 18 264 CVD cases (405 631 participants), and 3634 coronary heart disease (CHD) cases (151 023 participants)...

Increasing evidence suggests that dietary (poly)phenols and methylxanthines have neuroprotective effects; however, little is known about whether they can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and exert direct effects on the brain. We investigated the presence of (poly)phenol and methylxanthine metabolites in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from 90 individuals at risk of dementia using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and predicted their mechanism of transport across the BBB using in silico modelling techniques...

Curcumin has been proven to be an effective strategy for reducing inflammatory responses. However, low bioavailability and instability at the physiological pH have limited its anti-inflammatory activity in ulcerative colitis patients. In the present study, a complex of curcumin and konjac glucomannan (KGM) effectively inhibited intestinal inflammation and this effect was associated with KGM degradation degrees. Results demonstrated that treatment with the complex markedly mitigated colitis symptoms and decreased inflammatory cytokines levels, especially in the complex treatment groups with K110 (KGM treated in 110 °C) and konjac oligosaccharides (KOSs)...

Thinned peach fruit is a by-product with abundant yields. However, it is barely utilized. This study aimed to study the physicochemical properties and anti-diabetic ability of polysaccharides (PPSs) from a thinned peach fruit to investigate its application potential. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) characterizations were performed together with tests to determine rheology properties, monosaccharide composition, and molecular weight of the obtained polysaccharide...

Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes are obesity-related health alterations, featuring an ever-increasing prevalence. Besides inadequate feeding patterns, gut microbiota alterations stand out as potential contributors to these metabolic disturbances. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the administration of a probiotic ( Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG) effectively prevents diet-induced insulin resistance in rats and to compare these potential effects with those exerted by its heat-inactivated parabiotic...

Life expectancy has increased considerably in the last decades, clearing the way for preventive medicine. The ingestion of healthy foods or ingredients to improve health is gaining attention and edible flowers entail a promising source of bioactive compounds. The aim of this work was to study the anti-ageing and anti-obesity properties of an extract obtained from an edible flower Viola x wittrockiana though in vitro and in vivo methodologies with Caenorhabditis elegans as a model. The capacity to inhibit the enzymes α-glucosidase and lipase as well as to prevent advance glycation end-product (AGE) formation was tested in vitro ...

This study aimed to optimize the structure and efficacy of xylooligosaccharides (XOSs) from corn cobs in constipated mice. Structural analysis revealed that XOSs from corn cobs were composed of β-Xyl-(1 →4)-[β-Xyl-(1→4)] n -α/β-Xyl ( n = 0-5) without any other substituents. XOS administration significantly reduced the defecation time, increased the gastrointestinal transit rate, restored the gastrointestinal neurotransmitter imbalance, protected against oxidative stress, and reversed constipation-induced colonic inflammation...

Background : Berry fruits are recognized as a "superfood" due to their high content of bioactive compounds and health benefits. Scope and approach : Herein, extracts of Cornus sanguinea and Cornus mas fresh and dried fruits obtained by different extraction procedures (ethanolic and hydroalcoholic maceration, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and Soxhlet apparatus) were analysed using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-QTOF-MS) and compared to identify the main healthy compounds and their impact on the inhibition of key enzymes (pancreatic lipase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase) associated with metabolic disorders...

Mushroom is rich in protein, fiber, vitamins, and essential amino acids. A relationship between mushroom consumption and a lower all-cause mortality risk has been reported. This study aimed to examine the association of mushroom consumption with all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Data were extracted from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study cohort. Mortality outcomes were confirmed from 2001-2020 death records provided by the Korea National Statistical Office. Mushroom intake was assessed using food frequency questionnaires and categorized into four groups: none, <1 serving per week, 1-3 servings per week, and ≥3 servings per week...