A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial in Healthy Older Adults to Determine Efficacy of Glycine and N-Acetylcysteine Supplementation on Glutathione Redox Status and Oxidative Damage.

Glycine and cysteine are non-essential amino acids that are required to generate glutathione, an intracellular tripeptide that neutralizes reactive oxygen species and prevents tissue damage. During aging glutathione demand is thought to increase, but whether additional dietary intake of glycine and cysteine contributes towards the generation of glutathione in healthy older adults is not well understood. We investigated supplementation with glycine and n-acetylcysteine (GlyNAC) at three different daily doses for 2 weeks (low dose: 2.4 g, medium dose: 4.8 g, or high dose: 7.2 g/day, 1:1 ratio) in a randomized, controlled clinical trial in 114 healthy volunteers. Despite representing a cohort of healthy older adults (age mean = 65 years), we found significantly higher baseline levels of markers of oxidative stress, including that of malondialdehyde (MDA, 0.158 vs. 0.136 µmol/L, p < 0.0001), total cysteine (Cysteine-T, 314.8 vs. 276 µM, p < 0.0001), oxidized glutathione (GSSG, 174.5 vs. 132.3 µmol/L, p < 0.0001), and a lower ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione (GSH-F:GSSG) (11.78 vs. 15.26, p = 0.0018) compared to a young reference group (age mean = 31.7 years, n = 20). GlyNAC supplementation was safe and well tolerated by the subjects, but did not increase levels of GSH-F:GSSG (end of study, placebo = 12.49 vs. 7.2 g = 12.65, p-value = 0.739) or that of total glutathione (GSH-T) (end of study, placebo = 903.5 vs. 7.2 g = 959.6 mg/L, p-value = 0.278), the primary endpoint of the study. Post-hoc analyses revealed that a subset of subjects characterized by high oxidative stress (above the median for MDA) and low baseline GSH-T status (below the median), who received the medium and high doses of GlyNAC, presented increased glutathione generation (end of study, placebo = 819.7 vs. 4.8g/7.2 g = 905.4 mg/L, p-value = 0.016). In summary GlyNAC supplementation is safe, well tolerated, and may increase glutathione levels in older adults with high glutathione demand. Clinical Trial Registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05041179, NCT05041179.

Solid phase wax coating of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to decrease its solubility profile as a ready to mix supplement.

N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) has health benefits attributed to its antioxidant properties and disulfide bond cleavage ability. Unfortunately, solutions of NAC are acidic with an undesirable taste and an unpleasant aftertaste. A method for slowing NAC release in water was developed using a solid phase wax coating. A coating of natural waxes, using food grade corn oil as the solvent and surfactants to facilitate the wax coating on the particles was used to decrease the solubility of NAC powder, crystals, and granules in water. A high NAC loading, between 55 and 91% for NAC granules and NAC crystals, was achieved as measured using LC-MS. The NAC wax-coated particles were fully characterized, and microscopy and SEM images revealed the shape, morphology, and size of the particles. Conductometry was used to study NAC release profile in water from wax-coated particles and the results indicate that solid phase wax coatings slowed the release of NAC into water.

Supplementation with Whey Protein, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Polyphenols Combined with Electrical Muscle Stimulation Increases Muscle Strength in Elderly Adults with Limited Mobility: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Age-related sarcopenia is a progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder associated with adverse outcomes. Herein, we evaluate the effects of a combination of electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) and a whey-based nutritional supplement (with or without polyphenols and fish oil-derived omega-3 fatty acids) on muscle function and size. Free-living elderly participants with mobility limitations were included in this study. They received 2 sessions of EMS per week and were randomly assigned to ingest an isocaloric beverage and capsules for 12 weeks: (1) carbohydrate + placebo capsules (CHO, n = 12), (2) whey protein isolate + placebo capsules (WPI, n = 15) and (3) whey protein isolate + bioactives (BIO) capsules containing omega-3 fatty acids, rutin, and curcumin (WPI + BIO, n = 10). The change in knee extension strength was significantly improved by 13% in the WPI + BIO group versus CHO on top of EMS, while WPI alone did not provide a significant benefit over CHO. On top of this, there was the largest improvement in gait speed (8%). The combination of EMS and this specific nutritional intervention could be considered as a new approach for the prevention of sarcopenia but more work is needed before this approach should be recommended. This trial was registered at the Japanese University Hospital Medical Information Network (UMIN) clinical trial registry (UMIN000008382).

[Micronutrients intake of pregnant women from 8 cities of China during 2011 to 2012].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate micronutrients intake of pregnant women in 8 cities. METHODS: The multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was applied in 8 cities( Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Lanzhou, Shenyang, Chengdu, Zhengzhou and Suzhou) from September 2011 to March 2012 to recruit healthy pregnant women, and then general information and dietary status were collected through face to face investigation. Nutrients intakes were calculated and analyzed then. RESULTS: There were 479 pregnantwomen in analysis, 58. 9% of whom were 25. 1 to 30 years old and the number of pregnant women in every trimester was approximately equal, counting for 1/3 respectively. Principal components analysis showed pregnant women in Lanzhou share poorest status of micronutrients. For pregnant women in Lanzhou, intakes of riboflavin, vitamin C, vitamin A, folacin and calcium were lowest compared with pregnant women from other 7 cities. The most B-vitamins intakes of pregnant women in Zhengzhou, and vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium intake of pregnant women in Shanghai were highest, respectively. CONCLUSION: Of all the participants, nutritional status of pregnant women in Lanzhou was poorest compare with those in other cities and more attention should be paid on their dietary nutrition. Compared with result of 2002, nutrients intakes of pregnant women were improved in this survey.

Association between breastfeeding duration and postpartum weight retention of lactating mothers: A meta-analysis of cohort studies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: To clarify the relationship between different breastfeeding duration and postpartum weight retention through meta-analysis. METHODS: In this study, all relevant studies that described the effect of breastfeeding duration on postpartum weight retention were identified from Pubmed, Cochrane, and WANGFANG databases and so on (1960-2016). This meta-analysis had been registered in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42016038409). RESULTS: Fourteen cohort studies involving 66 comparisons were included. Compared with bottle-feeding mothers, breastfeeding mothers had significantly lower postpartum weight retention of -0.38 kg (95% confidence interval: -0.64, -0.11 kg). Subgroup analysis showed that, mothers who were primipara, less than 30 years old or normal pre-pregnancy body mass index had lower postpartum weight retention. When breastfeeding duration were stratified into <12 weeks, 12 weeks-24 weeks, 24 weeks-48 weeks, and ≥48 weeks, postpartum weight retention in breastfeeding women presented a U-shaped trend: a decline during early breastfeeding duration (year 1) (from 0.23 kg at < 12 weeks to -1.58 kg at 24-48 weeks) and then an increase in the follow-up duration (from -1.58 kg at 24-48 weeks to -0.97 kg at more than 48 weeks). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicated that breastfeeding including exclusive breastfeeding and mixed breastfeeding were inversely related to postpartum weight retention. The decreasing influence of breastfeeding was more significant when the lactating mothers were less than 30 years old, primipara, normal pre-pregnant body mass index, or breastfeeding duration for 6-12 months.

Concentrations of Carotenoids and Tocopherols in Breast Milk from Urban Chinese Mothers and Their Associations with Maternal Characteristics: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Milk composition remains the best estimate of infant requirements. The aims of this study were to quantify carotenoids and tocopherols in human milk from healthy Chinese mothers, and to explore their associations with lactation stage, region, socio-economic and obstetric characteristics, and dietary intake. Human milk was obtained from 509 healthy mothers, and concentrations of carotenoids and tocopherols were analyzed by Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography. The mothers' socio-economic and obstetric characteristics and dietary intake through a single 24-h dietary recall were evaluated. The median concentrations (µg/100 mL) of each component of 0-4 days, 5-11 days, 12-30 days, 31-60 days, 61-120 days, and 121-240 days postpartum were respectively as follows: ß-carotene 8.0, 2.8, 2.1, 1.7, 1.9, 1.8; ß-cryptoxanthin 6.2, 3.4, 2.4, 1.7, 1.8, 2.1; lutein 5.7, 7.0, 2.2, 2.9, 2.8, 3.7; lycopene 6.3, 2.5, 1.8, 1.4, 1.4, 1.5; zeaxanthin 1.0, 1.4, 0.8, 0.8, 1.0, 1.1; α-tocopherol 645, 382, 239, 206, 212, 211; γ-tocopherol 68, 63, 70, 73, 68, 88. The levels of those components varied significantly among different lactation stages and presented regional differences. Associations of carotenoid contents with maternal education, delivery mode, and present body mass index were found in multivariate analyses. These results suggested that lactation stage, region, and socio-economic and obstetric factors were associated with human milk concentrations of carotenoids and tocopherols in healthy Chinese mothers.

Regional, socioeconomic, and dietary factors influencing B-vitamins in human milk of urban Chinese lactating women at different lactation stages.

BACKGROUND: Adequate B-vitamins concentrations in human milk are considered to be a prerequisite for healthy development of infants in early life. This study aims to determine the concentrations of B-vitamins in human milk from Chinese women and the relationships between their concentrations and different geographical origin, lactation stages, socioeconomic characteristics, and dietary intake. METHODS: Human milk was obtained from 443 healthy lactating women from Beijing (n = 150), Suzhou (n = 146), and Guangzhou (n = 147) cities. Thiamine, riboflavin, vitamin B3 (nicotinamide and nicotinic acid), and vitamin B6 (pyridoxal, pyridoxine, and pyridoxamine) in human milk were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Pantothenic acid, biotin, and folates in human milk were analyzed by microbiological assay. The information from one 24-h dietary recall and socioeconomic characteristics were collected by interview and structured questionnaire, respectively. RESULTS: B-vitamins concentrations in human milk varied greatly among individuals. The median concentrations of B-vitamins of postpartum 5-11 d, 12-30 d, 31-60 d, 61-120 d, and 121-240 d were respectively as follows: thiamine 3.13, 5.07, 4.28, 5.65, 6.28 (µg/100 g); riboflavin 20.8, 20.2, 11.9, 13.6, 15.6 (µg/100 g); vitamin B3 194.0, 300.0, 261.0, 212.5, 218.0 (µg/100 g); pantothenic acid 236.5, 291.0, 254.0, 179.0, 189.0 (µg/100 g); vitamin B6 6.34, 7.58, 8.60, 9.34, 10.20 (µg/100 g); biotin 0.462, 0.834, 0.606, 0.523, 0.464 (µg/100 g); folates 0.730, 2.390, 2.440, 2.420, 2.330 (µg/100 g). The levels of B-vitamins presented regional differences and varied significantly among different lactation stages. The inversely associations of thiamine, vitamin B6, and folates with maternal BMI were found in multivariate analyses (p < 0.05), as well as higher pantothenic acid, folates, and biotin concentrations in lactating women with supplement intake when compared with those without (p < 0.05). Riboflavin concentrations associated with regular exercise was found in multivariate analyses (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated regional and socioeconomic factors, lactation stage, and supplement intake may influence B-vitamins concentrations of human milk in healthy Chinese mothers. Further studies on accurate and complete analysis of all vitamin forms are crucial for giving a more comprehensive understanding of vitamin status in human milk. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01971671. Registered 13 October 2013.

Perceptions of food intake and weight status among parents of picky eating infants and toddlers in China: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested that children that are picky eaters may have a different and less varied diet than non-picky children, but the literature on picky eating in Chinese children is limited. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prevalence of picky eating in 6-35 month-old Chinese children, and to explore how parents' perceptions of picky eating relate to children's intake and body composition. METHODS: 1414 6-35 month-old infants and toddlers from 8 Chinese cities were included in this study. Questionnaires were used to collect information on family demographic factors, child picky eating behaviors, food group rejection, and parents' perception of child weight status. Dietary intake data was collected via 24-h recall. Children's length/height and weight were measured. RESULTS: The reported prevalence of picky eating was higher in 24-35 month-olds (36% of children) compared to 6-11 month-olds (12%). There were no consistent significant differences in dietary intakes of nutrients between picky and non-picky eaters. Picky eating children whose parents indicated that they avoided eggs had lower intake of this food group compared to non-picky eaters, whereas those reported to avoid grains or meat had higher intakes of those food groups. Weight status was underestimated by parents of both picky and non-picky children. CONCLUSIONS: Picky eating seems to occur at similar prevalence rates in China as has been reported in other countries. Parents' perceptions of food refusal do not reflect actual intakes, nor do nutrient intakes of picky eaters show additional gaps compared to non-picky eating children. In healthy children with typical growth patterns, picky eating seems to be a normal phase of development experienced by some children, without substantial consequences on their nutrient or food group intakes.

Amino Acid Composition of Breast Milk from Urban Chinese Mothers.

Human breast milk (BM) amino acid (AA) composition may be impacted by lactation stage or factors related to geographical location. The present cross-sectional study is aimed at assessing the temporal changes of BMAA over lactation stages in a large cohort of urban mothers in China. Four hundred fifty BM samples, collected in three Chinese cities covering eight months of lactation were analyzed for free (FAA) and total (TAA) AA by o-phthalaldehyde/ fluorenylmethylchloroformate (OPA/FMOC) derivatization. Concentrations and changes over lactation were aligned with previous reports. Both the sum and the individual TAA values significantly decreased during the first periods of lactation and then generally leveled off. Leucine and methionine were respectively the most and the least abundant indispensable amino acids across all the lactation stages, whereas glutamic acid + glutamine (Glx) was the most and cystine the least abundant dispensable AA. The contribution of FAA to TAA levels was less than 2%, except for free Glx, which was the most abundant FAA. In conclusion, the AA composition of the milk from our cohort of urban Chinese mothers was comparable to previous studies conducted in other parts of the world, suggesting that this is an evolutionary conserved trait largely independent of geographical, ethnic, or dietary factors.

Temporal Changes of Protein Composition in Breast Milk of Chinese Urban Mothers and Impact of Caesarean Section Delivery.

Human breast milk (BM) protein composition may be impacted by lactation stage or factors related to geographical location. The present study aimed at assessing the temporal changes of BM major proteins over lactation stages and the impact of mode of delivery on immune factors, in a large cohort of urban mothers in China. 450 BM samples, collected in three Chinese cities, covering 8 months of lactation were analyzed for α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, serum albumin, total caseins, immunoglobulins (IgA, IgM and IgG) and transforming growth factor (TGF) ß1 and ß2 content by microfluidic chip- or ELISA-based quantitative methods. Concentrations and changes over lactation were aligned with previous reports. α-lactalbumin, lactoferrin, IgA, IgM and TGF-ß1 contents followed similar variations characterized by highest concentrations in early lactation that rapidly decreased before remaining stable up to end of lactation. TGF-ß2 content displayed same early dynamics before increasing again. Total caseins followed a different pattern, showing initial increase before decreasing back to starting values. Serum albumin and IgG levels appeared stable throughout lactation. In conclusion, BM content in major proteins of urban mothers in China was comparable with previous studies carried out in other parts of the world and C-section delivery had only very limited impact on BM immune factors.

Microbiota in Breast Milk of Chinese Lactating Mothers.

The microbiota of breast milk from Chinese lactating mothers at different stages of lactation was examined in the framework of a Maternal Infant Nutrition Growth (MING) study investigating the dietary habits and breast milk composition in Chinese urban mothers. We used microbiota profiling based on the sequencing of fragments of 16S rRNA gene and specific qPCR for bifidobacteria, lactobacilli and total bacteria to study microbiota of the entire breast milk collected using standard protocol without aseptic cleansing (n = 60), and the microbiota of the milk collected aseptically (n = 30). We have also investigated the impact of the delivery mode and the stage of lactation on the microbiota composition. The microbiota of breast milk was dominated by streptococci and staphylococci for both collection protocols and, in the case of standard collection protocol, Acinetobacter sp. While the predominance of streptococci and staphylococci was consistently reported previously for other populations, the abundance of Acinetobacter sp. was reported only once before in a study where milk collection was done without aseptic cleansing of the breast and rejection of foremilk. Higher bacterial counts were found in the milk collected using standard protocol. Bifidobacteria and lactobacilli were present in few samples with low abundance. We observed no effect of the stage of lactation or the delivery mode on microbiota composition. Methodological and geographical differences likely explain the variability in microbiota composition reported to date.

Temporal Change of the Content of 10 Oligosaccharides in the Milk of Chinese Urban Mothers.

Breastfed infants tend to be less prone to infections and may have improved cognitive benefits compared to formula-fed infants. Human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) are the third most abundant component of human milk, but are absent from formulae. They may be partially responsible for the benefits of breastfeeding. In this cross-sectional observational study, the HMO composition of milk from Chinese mothers was studied to determine the impact of stage of lactation, mode of delivery and geographical location. The content of 10 HMO was measured by HPLC in 446 milk samples from mothers living in three different cities in China. Around 21% of the samples contained levels of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) below the limit of quantification, which is similar to the frequency of fucosyltransferase-2 non-secretors in other populations, but 2'-FL was detected in all samples. Levels of most of the HMO studied decreased during the course of lactation, but the level of 3-fucosyllactose increased. Levels of 2'-FL and 3-fucosyllactose seem to be strongly correlated, suggesting some sort of mechanism for co-regulation. Levels of 6'-sialyllactose were higher than those of 3'-sialyllactose at early stages of lactation, but beyond 2-4 months, 3'-sialyllactose was predominant. Neither mode of delivery nor geographical location had any impact on HMO composition.

Food groups consumed by infants and toddlers in urban areas of China.

BACKGROUND: Food consumption patterns of young children in China are not well known. OBJECTIVE: Characterised food groups consumed by infants and young children in urban China using data from the Maternal Infant Nutrition Growth (MING) study. DESIGN: One 24-h dietary recall was completed for 1,350 infants and young children (436 infants aged 6-11 months and 914 young children aged 12-35 months), who were recruited from maternal and child care centres in eight cities via face-to-face interviews with the primary caregiver. All foods, beverages and supplements reported were assigned to one of 64 food groups categorised into the following: milk and milk products, grains, vegetables, fruits, protein foods and desserts/sweets. The percentage of infants and young children consuming foods from specific food groups was calculated, regardless of the amount consumed. RESULTS: Less than half of infants consumed breast milk (47%), whereas 59% of infants consumed infant formula and 53-75% of young children consumed growing-up (fortified) milk. Rice was the number one grain food consumed after 6 months (up to 88%) and the consumption of infant cereal was low. About 50% of infants did not consume any fruits or vegetables, and 38% of young children did not consume any fruits on the day of the recall. Only 40% of all children consumed dark green leafy vegetables and even fewer consumed deep yellow vegetables. Eggs and pork were the most commonly consumed protein foods. CONCLUSIONS: The data provide important insight for developing detailed food consumption guidelines for this population group. Mothers of infants should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding after the first 6 months. Parents should be advised to offer a wide variety of vegetables and fruits daily, particularly dark green leafy and deep yellow vegetables and colourful fruits. The consumption of fortified infant cereal should be advocated to improve the iron intake of Chinese infants.

Differential expression analysis throughout the weaning period in the mouse cerebral cortex.

At weaning, mammals switch from drinking mother's milk to eating foods of environmental origin. These foods contain natural compounds with novel tastes and textures, which are provided to the young for the first time following the termination of breastfeeding. This novel eating experience may alter the cognitive brain function of mammalian babies, increasing their reactions to their food environments. Because the cerebral cortex is a central organ for cognition and learning, we investigated differences in whole-gene expression profiles in the mouse cerebral cortex using microarray analysis before and after weaning. Of 45,037 murine genes, 35 genes were upregulated and 31 genes were downregulated, in response to weaning. In particular, immediate early genes, molecular chaperones, and myelin-related genes were upregulated. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that the mRNA for an immediate early gene, Egr-2/KROX-20, was transported from the nucleus to the cell body at layer 5/6 of the somatosensory cortex during weaning. In contrast, in animals without any food supply other than mother's milk, Egr-2/KROX-20 mRNA was retained within the nucleus at the somatosensory cortex. These data suggest that the novel experience of food intake modulates gene expression profiles in the murine cerebral cortex at the weaning stage.