Investigating the Modifications of Sugar Perception and Consumption in Cancer Patients.

The idea that sugar feeds the tumor cells is relayed by some health professionals and media alike. Patients may be torn between what they read in the media and their food preferences during and after treatment. With this survey, we aim at understanding the perception and overall consumption patterns of sugar in cancer patients together with possible physiological and psychological triggers. We decided not to include quantitative nutritional measures of the sugar consumption. The survey was distributed in a hospital setting and through a cancer support online network. Results have shown that opinion on sugar was globally "average". However, there were differences depending on sex and age. Half of the patients declared having a decreased consumption of sugar and sweet products while 26% declared an increased consumption. When looking at psychological triggers to consumption, the weight of fatigue and worry increased after cancer diagnosis compared to before. Environmental triggers such as mixed messages from health professionals or the media need to be further investigated. In line with ESPEN guidelines, we advise to maintain moderate sugar intake as part of a healthy diet to prevent malnutrition as a first line of defense against cancer-associated morbidity and mortality.

Incorporation of lutein and docosahexaenoic acid from dietary microalgae into the retina in quail.

Lutein and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) are associated with the prevention of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Since microalgae are potent natural sources of these nutrients, their nutritional value should be evaluated based on the bioavailability of lutein and DHA for the retina via the plasmatic compartment. In this study, quail were fed for 5 months either with a diet supplemented or deprived with microalgae rich in lutein and DHA. In the microalgae-fed group, the retinal concentrations of lutein and zeaxanthin gradually increased whereas in plasma, these compounds started to increase from the first month of supplementation. We also observed a significant increase in retinal and plasmatic levels of DHA in the microalgae-fed group. In conclusion, the plasmatic and retinal contents of lutein and DHA were significantly increased in quail fed with lutein- and DHA-rich microalgae. Food fortification with microalgae may be an innovative way to increase lutein and DHA consumption in humans.

Xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) in combination with inulin modulates both the intestinal environment and immune status in healthy subjects, while XOS alone only shows prebiotic properties.

The purpose of the present study was to establish the prebiotic effect of a new xylo-oligosaccharide (XOS) and of an inulin-and-XOS mixture (INU-XOS) and to determine their effect on endotoxaemia (lipopolysaccharides (LPS)) and immune parameters. In this randomised, parallel, placebo-controlled, double-blind study, sixty healthy volunteers were randomly assigned to three groups, receiving either 5 g XOS, INU-XOS (3 g inulin +1 g XOS) or an equivalent weight of wheat maltodextrin (placebo) during 4 weeks. Faecal samples were collected to assess the effects of these products on microbiota, as well as SCFA composition, enzymatic activities and secretory IgA production. Circulating LPS was measured in plasma samples, and whole blood was incubated with LPS to measure cytokine expression. Consumption of XOS alone increased the faecal concentrations of Bifidobacterium and butyrate and activities of α-glucosidase and ß-glucuronidase, while decreasing the concentrations of acetate and p-cresol. Consumption of XOS in combination with inulin did not decrease the concentrations of acetate and p-cresol, but increased in addition the faecal concentrations of total SCFA and propionate. Furthermore, consumption of XOS in combination with inulin decreased LPS concentrations in blood and attenuated LPS-induced increases in gene expression in IL-1ß and LPS-induced decreases in gene expression in IL-13 in blood. In conclusion, consumption of XOS alone or in combination with inulin results in beneficial albeit different changes in the intestinal microbiome on a high-fat diet. In addition, consumption of XOS in combination with inulin attenuates the proinflammatory effects of a high-fat diet in the blood of healthy subjects.

Nutriose, a prebiotic low-digestible carbohydrate, stimulates gut mucosal immunity and prevents TNBS-induced colitis in piglets.

BACKGROUND: We investigated a prebiotic low-digestible carbohydrate (LDC) as a possible food ingredient to stimulate bowel functions in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. The study aimed to assess a fermentable dextrin fiber (Nutriose) and its relationship to the immune management of the disease and the microbiota profile in colitis-bearing piglets. METHODS: In a randomized placebo-controlled parallel blind preclinical study, 32 male piglets were fed LDC (4% Nutriose) or dextrose placebo for 44 days before being challenged with trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) to induce colitis. We followed the microbiota profile using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeted to 9 bacterial genera. Secretory IgA was evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Inflammatory protein profiles were monitored in blood and colonic tissues. Both histological scoring of biopsy samples and live endoscopic scoring were used to measure colitis development. RESULTS: Prior and continuing LDC supplementation alleviated the symptoms of colitis (body weight loss, bloody stools) induced by a TNBS challenge. This effect was associated with an improvement in endoscopic and histological scores. LDC was shown to selectively downregulate some of the proinflammatory factors and their concomitant pyretic events and to stimulate the Th2-related immune pathway (IL-10 and s-IgA). CONCLUSIONS: At the dose tested, LDC is a well-tolerated prebiotic agent able to not only stimulate butyrogenic bacteria strains and reduce intestinal transit disorders and energy intake, but also to prevent chronic inflammatory intestinal injuries.

Strategy for the study of the health impact of dietary Maillard products in clinical studies: the example of the ICARE clinical study on healthy adults.

The study of the health impact of dietary Maillard products (MPs) in realistic clinical studies requires the design of nutritionally equivalent diets with high and low levels of MPs. This difficult challenge may be achieved by setting the high-MP diet at the regular daily level, where the common use of grilling, frying, and roasting processes allows significant amounts of carboxymethyllysine, hydroxymethylfurfural and acrylamide to be formed. In such conditions, we show that major lipid degradation does not occur, nor does degradation of vitamin E or thiamine. Based on this finding, the low-MP diet; must be constructed accordingly, by replacing all high-temperature techniques with steam cooking or the absence of cooking. The cooking fat must be replaced with similar raw fat as seasoning in the low-MP diet, the high caloric density resulting from water loss in the high-MP diet must be compensated by higher food quantities offered in the low-MP diet, and the vitamin loss in fruit and vegetables resulting from high temperatures in the high-MP diet can be circumvented by increasing the corresponding portion size. In the ICARE study, equilibrated diets were proposed, fulfilling all nutritional needs, but with a 3- to 45-fold difference in MP concentrations. Individual quantification of nutritional and MP intakes will ensure the nutritional equivalence of the two diets and allow for quantification of the specific impact of ingested MPs.