ß-Estradiol Supplementation Regulates Cholesterol Synthesis Independent of Unsaturated Fat Consumption in Adult Zebrafish.

Obesity is a public health concern resulting in a variety of health complications, including heart disease and insulin resistance. Estrogens have been associated with a reduced risk of obesity, but this relationship remains incompletely understood. We assessed the role of 17ß-estradiol (E2) in mitigating complications associated with obesity by supplementing E2 in the diets of overfed zebrafish. We report that dietary E2 supplementation protects against weight gain and modulates de novo cholesterol synthesis in a sex-specific manner. Our studies lead us to propose a model in which E2 regulates hmgcr expression independently of unsaturated fat consumption. These data can be used to develop sex-specific treatments for obesity-related health conditions.

A Healthy, Low-Carbohydrate Diet During Pregnancy Is Associated With a Reduced Risk of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.

CONTEXT: Evidence on the associations of low-carbohydrate diet (LCD) during pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has been limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to prospectively evaluate the risk of GDM associated with the LCD considering the quality of macronutrients. METHODS: All participants were from a prospective cohort in Wuhan, China. The overall, healthy LCD (emphasizing low-quality carbohydrates, plant protein, and unsaturated fat), and unhealthy LCD (emphasizing high-quality carbohydrates, animal protein, and saturated fat) scores were calculated according to the percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates, protein, and fat. GDM was screened by a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks. Poisson regression models were used to calculate relative risks (RRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Of 2337 pregnant women, 257 (11.0%) were diagnosed with GDM. Overall LCD score was not associated with risk of GDM, but the healthy and unhealthy LCD scores were associated with the risk of GDM. The multivariable-adjusted RRs (95% CI) were 0.68 (0.49-0.94) and 1.52 (1.11-2.08) for healthy and unhealthy LCD scores comparing the highest with the lowest quartile. Substituting high-quality carbohydrates for low-quality carbohydrates and animal protein, and substituting unsaturated fat for saturated fat, were associated with a 13% to 29% lower risk of GDM. CONCLUSION: A healthy LCD during pregnancy characterized by high-quality carbohydrates, plant protein, and unsaturated fat was associated with a lower risk of GDM, whereas an unhealthy LCD consisting of low-quality carbohydrates, animal protein, and saturated fat was associated with a higher risk of GDM.

Protein-glutaminase improves water-/oil-holding capacity and beany off-flavor profiles of plant-based meat analogs.

An unresolved challenge for plant-based meat analogs (PBMAs) is their lack of juiciness. Saturated fats significantly contribute to the juiciness of PBMAs, but there are concerns about the undesirable health effects related to saturated fats; thus, demand for their replacement with vegetable unsaturated oils has increased. Although many food additives are used to reduce the leakage of unsaturated oils, this solution cannot meet the clean-label requirements that have been trending in recent years. In this study, we aimed to develop better consumer-acceptable methods using protein-glutaminase (PG) to improve the juiciness of PBMA patties to meet clean-label trends. We found no significant difference between the visual surface of control and PG-treated textured vegetable proteins (TVPs). However, the microstructure of PG-treated TVP had a more rounded shape than that of the control TVP as observed under a scanning electron microscope. After grilling process, the PBMA patties composed of PG-treated TVP showed significantly higher liquid-holding capacities (a juiciness indicator) than the control patties. This suggested that PG treatment could potentially produce PBMA patties with increased juiciness. Interestingly, after the PG-treated TVP underwent the wash process, we found that PG treatment of TVP easily reduced the various beany off-flavor compounds by 58-85%. Moreover, the results of the in vitro protein digestion test showed that the amounts of free amino nitrogen released from PBMA patties composed of PG-treated TVP were 1.5- and 1.7-fold higher than those from control patties in the gastric and intestinal phases, respectively. These findings indicate that PG treatment of TVP could enhance the physical, sensory, and nutritional properties of PBMA patties and meet the clean-label requirements.

Healthy grocery delivery in the usual care for adults recovering from an acute coronary event: protocol for a three-arm randomised controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Coronary heart disease is a major contributor to the global burden of disease. Appropriate nutrition is a cornerstone of the prevention and treatment of coronary heart disease; however, barriers including cost and access to recommended foods limits long-term adherence for many. We are conducting, in adults with coronary heart disease, a randomised controlled trial comparing usual care with two dietary interventions in which usual care is augmented by 12 weeks free delivered groceries. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Three hundred adults recovering from an acute coronary event will be recruited from outpatient cardiovascular services in three regions of Aotearoa New Zealand. Participants will be randomly allocated to three arms: usual care (control group), usual care and the free delivery of foods high in dietary fibre or usual care and the free delivery of foods high in unsaturated fats. Interventions duration is 12 weeks, with a further 12 months follow-up. The primary outcome measures are change in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentration following the intervention, and a cost-effectiveness analysis of healthcare access and social costs in the year after the intervention. A broad range of secondary outcome measures include other blood lipids, anthropometry, glycaemia, inflammatory markers, gut microbiome, dietary biomarkers, food acceptability, dietary change and the facilitators and barriers to dietary change. The trial will determine whether the free provision of groceries known to reduce cardiovascular risk within usual care will be clinically beneficial and justify the cost of doing so. Results may also provide an indication of the relative benefit of foods rich in dietary fibre or unsaturated fats in coronary heart disease management. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This trial, The Healthy Heart Study, has Health and Disability Ethics Committee approval (20/NTB/121), underwent Maori consultation, and has locality authority to be conducted in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ACTRN12620000689976, U1111-1250-1499.

Saturated Fat-Mediated Upregulation of IL-32 and CCL20 in Hepatocytes Contributes to Higher Expression of These Fibrosis-Driving Molecules in MASLD.

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) comprises a spectrum of liver diseases, ranging from liver steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), increasing the risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Fibrosis within MASLD is critical for disease development; therefore, the identification of fibrosis-driving factors is indispensable. We analyzed the expression of interleukin 32 (IL-32) and chemokine CC ligand 20 (CCL20), which are known to be linked with inflammation and fibrosis, and for their expression in MASLD and hepatoma cells. RT-PCR, ELISA and Western blotting analyses were performed in both human liver samples and an in vitro steatosis model. IL-32 and CCL20 mRNA expression was increased in tissues of patients with NASH compared to normal liver tissue. Stratification for patatin-like phospholipase domain-containing protein 3 (PNPLA3) status revealed significance for IL-32 only in patients with I148M (rs738409, CG/GG) carrier status. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between IL-32 expression and steatosis grade, and between IL-32 as well as CCL20 expression and fibrosis grade. Treatment with the saturated fatty acid palmitic acid (PA) induced mRNA and protein expression of IL-32 and CCL20 in hepatoma cells. This induction was mitigated by the substitution of PA with monounsaturated oleic acid (OA), suggesting the involvement of oxidative stress. Consequently, analysis of stress-induced signaling pathways showed the activation of Erk1/2 and p38 MAPK, which led to an enhanced expression of IL-32 and CCL20. In conclusion, cellular stress in liver epithelial cells induced by PA enhances the expression of IL-32 and CCL20, both known to trigger inflammation and fibrosis.

Saturated fat, the estimated absolute risk and certainty of risk for mortality and major cancer and cardiometabolic outcomes: an overview of systematic reviews.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of reducing saturated fat or fatty foods, or replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat, carbohydrate or protein, on the risk of mortality and major cancer and cardiometabolic outcomes in adults. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and references of included studies for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (SRMAs) of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies in adults published in the past 10 years. Eligible reviews investigated reducing saturated fat or fatty foods or replacing saturated fat with unsaturated fat, carbohydrate or protein, on the risk of cancer and cardiometabolic outcomes and assessed the certainty of evidence for each outcome using, for example, the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations) approach. We assessed the quality of SRMAs using a modified version of AMSTAR-2. Results were summarized as absolute estimates of effect together with the certainty of effects using a narrative synthesis approach. RESULTS: We included 17 SRMAs (13 reviews of observational studies with follow-up 1 to 34 years; 4 reviews of RCTs with follow-up 1 to 17 years). The quality of two-thirds of the SRMAs was critically low to moderate; the main limitations included deficient reporting of study selection, absolute effect estimates, sources of funding, and a priori subgroups to explore heterogeneity. Our included reviews reported > 100 estimates of effect across 11 critically important cancer and cardiometabolic outcomes. High quality SRMAs consistently and predominantly reported low to very low certainty evidence that reducing or replacing saturated fat was associated with a very small risk reduction in cancer and cardiometabolic endpoints. The risk reductions where approximately divided, some being statistically significant and some being not statistically significant. However, based on 2 moderate to high quality reviews, we found moderate certainty evidence for a small but important effect that was statistically significant for two outcomes (total mortality events [20 fewer events per 1000 followed] and combined cardiovascular events [16 fewer per 1000 followed]). Conversely, 4 moderate to high quality reviews showed very small effects on total mortality, with 3 of these reviews showing non-statistically significant mortality effects. CONCLUSION: Systematic reviews investigating the impact of SFA on mortality and major cancer and cardiometabolic outcomes almost universally suggest very small absolute changes in risk, and the data is based primarily on low and very low certainty evidence. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020172141.

Lipid oxidation and flavor changes in saturated and unsaturated fat fractions from chicken fat during a thermal process.

Chicken fat, due to its rich fatty acids (FAs), is more prone to lipid oxidation and the production of volatile compounds. The aim of the present study was to investigate the oxidative characteristics and flavor changes of saturated (SFF) and unsaturated fat fractions (USFF) from chicken fat induced by heating (140 °C at 70 rpm min-1 for 1 h and 2 h: SFF1, USFF1, SFF2 and USFF2). The FAs and volatile compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and two-dimensional gas chromatography time of flight mass spectrometry (GC × GC-ToFMS), respectively. The results showed that higher contents of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) were found in USFF compared to that in SFF, whereas USFF showed lower levels of saturated fatty acids (SFAs). With the extension of heating time, the SFA/UFA ratio in USFF and SFF significantly increased (p < 0.05), and more aldehydes, alcohols, ketones, and lactones were formed. Moreover, the odor activity values of 23 important compounds in USFF1-2 were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those in SFF1-2. As revealed by principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA), it was obviously observed that all samples were divided into four clusters (USFF-SFF, USFF1-SFF1, USFF2, and SFF2). According to correlation analysis between FAs and volatile compounds, C18:2 ω6, C18:3 ω6 and C18:3 ω3 were significantly associated with dodecanal, (Z)-3-hexenal, (E)-2-decenal, 2-undecenal, (E)-2-dodecenal, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 2-decanone, γ-octalactone and γ-nonalactone. Our data elucidated that fat fractions from chicken fat with varying degrees of saturation could impart different flavor characteristics during a thermal process.

Unsaturated or saturated dietary fat-mediated steatosis impairs hepatic regeneration following partial hepatectomy in mice.

BACKGROUND: Partial hepatectomy is a preferred treatment option for many patients with hepatocellular carcinoma however, pre-existing pathological abnormalities originating from hepatic steatosis can alter the decision to perform surgery or postoperative outcomes as a consequence of the impact steatosis has on liver regeneration. AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of a saturated or unsaturated high fat diet-mediated steatosis on liver regeneration following partial hepatectomy. METHODS: Mice were fed a low-fat control diet (CD, 13% fat), lard-based unsaturated (LD, 60% fat) or milk-based saturated high fat diet (MD, 60% fat) for 16 weeks at which time partial hepatectomy (approx. 70% resection) was performed. At days-2 and 7 post hepatectomy, one hour prior to euthanization, mice were injected with 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine in order to monitor hepatic regeneration. Serum was collected and assessed for levels of ALT and AST. Resected and regenerated liver tissue were examined for inflammation-indicative markers employing RT-PCR, Western blots, and histological methods. RESULTS: Mice fed LD or MD exhibited higher NAFLD scores, increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, neutrophil infiltration, macrophage accumulation, increased apoptosis, and elevated levels of serum ALT and AST activities, a decrease in the number of BrdU-incorporated-hepatocytes in the regenerated livers compared to the mice fed CD. Mice fed MD showed significantly lower percent of BrdU-incorporated hepatocytes and a higher trend of inflammation compared to the mice fed LD. CONCLUSION: A diet rich in saturated or unsaturated fat results in NASH with decreased hepatic regeneration however unsaturated fat diet cause lower inflammation and higher regeneration than the saturated fat diet following partial hepatectomy in mice.

Aspectos de calidad de un chocolate oscuro elaborado con formulación óptima / Quality aspects of a dark chocolate made with optimal formulation

Introducción: Los chocolates son procesados en fábricasde alta, mediana y pequeña escala, donde el cacao pasa pordiferentes operaciones unitarias que brindan el valor agregado esperado; sin embargo, es importante controlar los ingredientes de la formulación: azucares totales y grasa saturada, que afecta el sobrepeso del consumidor de chocolates. Objetivo: Evaluar aspectos de calidad de un chocolate oscuro al 70% de cacao a partir de una fórmula optimizada (CO-70) en cuanto a aspectos energéticos, componentes antioxidantes, de inocuidad y sensoriales. Materiales y métodos: Se analizó valores nutricionales, componentes antioxidantes y alcaloides, valores microbiológicos y toxicológicos, así como la aceptabilidad sensorial conconsumidores de 20 a 40 años, utilizando métodos analíticos. Resultados y discusiones: Los resultados muestran aun CO-70 reducido en calorías con 555,9 ± 0,1 kcal; un nivel de azúcar de 35,45 g; un nivel de grasa de 35,12 g; contenido de ácidos grasos insaturados de 13,05 ± 0,03 g; uncontenido de proteínas de 11,88 g; una cantidad importantede polifenoles de 2,20 ± 0,15 g EAG en 100 g chocolate; libre de microorganismos patógenos y compuestos tóxicos;con una aceptabilidad sensorial de 70,80 % en consumidores peruanos. Conclusiones: Con el adecuado diseño y desarrollo deproductos se pueden obtener chocolates con calidad sensoria nutricional cada vez mejores, en beneficio de la salud del consumidor.(AU)

Introduction: The chocolates are processed in factoriesof high, medium, and small scale, where the cacao beansgo through different unit operations that provide the exected added value; however, it is important to control theingredients of the formulation: total sugars and saturatedfatty acids, which affects the overweight of the chocolateconsumer. Aim: To evaluate quality aspects of a dark chocolate 70 %cacao made from an optimized formula (CO-70) in terms ofenergy aspects, antioxidants components, safety and sensory. Materials and methods: The following were analyses nutritional values, antioxidant, and alkaloid components, microiological and toxicological, as well as sensory acceptabilitywith 20–40-year-old consumers, using analytical methods. Results and discussions: The CO-70 reduced in calorieswith 555.9 ± 0.1 kcal; a sugar level of 35.45 g; a fat level of35.12 g; unsaturated fatty acid content of 13.05 ± 0.03 g; aprotein content of 11.88 g; a significant number of polyphenols of 2.20 ± 0.15 g GAE in 100 g chocolate; free of pathogenic microorganisms and toxic compounds; with a sensoryacceptability of 70.80% in peruvian eaters. Conclusions: With the adequate design and developmentof products, chocolates with sensory and nutritional quality that are increasingly better for the health of the consumer canbe obtained.(AU)

Bio-diesel Fuel Material Supply in Vietnam and Its Current and Future Potentiality with a Focus on Rubber Seed Oil.

Diesel fuel usage in Vietnam is increasing rapidly, but most of it is imported from overseas. In this study, we investigated the possibility of popularizing bio-diesel fuel (BDF) made from Vietnamese origin resources as a sustainable energy solution. The world's energy cost fluctuates significantly depending on economic or political movements, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. This caused energy prices soar, attacking the global economy in a short period and requiring a wide range of energy supply sources. We aim to promote commercial BDF production in Vietnam for future energy security and contribution to the Vietnamese economy. Eight necessary factors were investigated to choose suitable material for BDF production. The factors are as follows: 1) material with Vietnamese origin, 2) sufficient and continuous supply volume, 3) sufficient quality to run diesel engines, including common-rail diesel engines, 4) inedibility, 5) low enough freezing point, 6) ease of collection, 7) affordability, and 8) availability of valuable elements in the material. If a suitable material candidate is not stable, it may be changed over time. In this study, the focus material was rubber seed oil. Because rubber production in Vietnam is quite stable with over 900,000 ha plantation area, and there is a potentiality to collect seeds and produce about 50,000 tons of BDF annually. In addition, the quality of rubber seeds based BDF is very high, such as low enough freezing point, etc. However, most of those rubber seeds are currently not collected and used.

Effect of unsaturated fat and protein intake on liver fat in people at risk of unhealthy aging: 1-year results of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Short-term trials indicate improvement of intrahepatic lipids (IHLs) and metabolism by dietary protein or unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs) beyond weight loss. OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the effect of a dietary intervention high in protein and UFAs on IHLs and metabolic outcome after 12 mo, as long-term effects of such a combined intervention are unknown. METHODS: Within a 36-mo randomized controlled trial, eligible subjects (aged 50 to 80 y, ≥1 risk factor for unhealthy aging) were randomly assigned to either intervention group (IG) with high intake of mono-/poly-UFAs [15-20 percent of total energy (%E)/10%-15%E, respectively], plant protein (15%-25%E), and fiber (≥30 g/d), or control group [CG, usual care, dietary recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (fat 30%E/carbohydrates 55%E/protein 15%E)]. Stratification criteria were sex, known cardiovascular disease, heart failure, arterial hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cognitive or physical impairment. Nutritional counseling and supplementation of foods mirroring the intended dietary pattern were performed in the IG. Diet-induced effects on IHLs, analyzed by magnetic resonance spectroscopy, as well as on lipid and glucose metabolism were predefined secondary endpoints. RESULTS: IHL content was analyzed in 346 subjects without significant alcohol consumption at baseline and in 258 subjects after 12 mo. Adjusted for weight loss, sex, and age, we observed a comparable decline of IHLs in IG and CG (-33.3%; 95% CI: -49.3, -12.3%; n = 128 compared with -21.8%; 95% CI: -39.7, 1.5%; n = 130; P = 0.179), an effect that became significant by comparing adherent IG subjects to adherent CG subjects (-42.1%; 95% CI: -58.1, -20.1%; n = 88 compared with -22.2%; 95% CI: -40.7, 2.0%; n = 121; P = 0.013). Compared with the CG, decline of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol (TC) was stronger in the IG (for LDL-C P = 0.019, for TC P = 0.010). Both groups decreased in triglycerides and insulin resistance (P for difference between groups P = 0.799 and P = 0.124, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Diets enriched with protein and UFAs have beneficial long-term effects on liver fat and lipid metabolism in adherent older subjects. This study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register, https://www.drks.de/drks_web/setLocale_EN.do, DRKS00010049. Am J Clin Nutr 20XX;xx:xx-xx.

Regional specific effect of saturated vs unsaturated fat on leptin receptor signalling in mice brain areas regulating feeding.

Leptin receptors (LepR) are expressed in brain areas controlling food intake homeostasis, such as the hypothalamus, the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. In a previous study we reported that long-term intake of saturated and monounsaturated fat alters hypothalamic LepR signalling. The current study aims at investigating the effect of foods high in either saturated (SOLF) or monounsaturated fat (UOLF) on LepR functionality in the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. Male mice were placed on SOLF/UOLF (eight weeks), then treated with recombinant murine leptin (1 mg/kg). After 60 min, brain regions were dissected and processed for western blot of phosphorylated STAT3 (pSTAT3), Akt (pAkt) and AMPK (pAMPK). Levels of SOCS3 were also quantified. SOLF itself increased basal levels of pSTAT3, while UOLF impaired leptin-induced phosphorylation of both Akt and AMPK. SOCS3 levels were specifically increased by UOLF within the prefrontal cortex. Our results show that SOLF and UOLF differently affect LepR signalling within the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex, which points to the complex effect of saturated and unsaturated fat on brain function, particularly in areas regulating food intake.

Dietary Macronutrients and Circulating Nonesterified Fatty Acids: A Secondary Analysis of the OMNI Heart Crossover Trial.

BACKGROUND: Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) play key roles in the pathophysiology of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether macronutrient content differences affect NEFA concentrations in a randomized crossover trial. METHODS: Total NEFAs were measured from postintervention specimens of participants in the OMNI Heart trial (Optimal Macronutrient Intake Trial to Prevent Heart Disease). OMNI Heart compared 3 healthful diets to evaluate their effect on systolic blood pressure and serum LDL cholesterol: carbohydrate-rich diet (58% carbohydrate); protein-rich diet (25% protein), about half from plant sources; and a diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids (21% unsaturated fat), predominantly monounsaturated. The trial included 164 participants who consumed the 3 diets, each for 6 wk. Data were analyzed from the 156 participants with unthawed serum available from the week 6 visit for all diet periods. We used ANCOVA and generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to compare serum NEFA concentrations across the 3 diet periods. RESULTS: The mean ± SD age of study participants was 52.9 ± 10.6 y and mean BMI was 30.3 ± 6.1 kg/m2. Fifty-five percent of participants were women and 55% were African American. Comparisons of adjusted mean serum NEFA concentrations after each diet intervention identified no statistically significant differences (58% carbohydrate: 0.144 ± 0.083 mEq/L; 25% protein: 0.143 ± 0.076 mEq/L; 21% unsaturated fat: 0.143 ± 0.084 mEq/L; ANCOVA, P = 0.99). Likewise, we observed no significant serum NEFA concentration difference by diet in adjusted GEE models. In adjusted models, serum NEFA concentrations were positively associated, as anticipated, with female sex and higher BMI. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized crossover trial, we observed nearly identical serum NEFA concentrations after each of 3 healthful diets, regardless of macronutrient content.

Towards healthier and more sustainable diets in the Australian context: comparison of current diets with the Australian Dietary Guidelines and the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing focus on moving populations towards healthier and more environmentally sustainable dietary patterns. The Australian Dietary Guidelines provide dietary patterns that promote health and wellbeing. It is unclear how these guidelines align with the more recently published global recommendations of the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Reference Diet, and how Australian diets compare to both sets of recommendations. METHODS: Data from one 24-h recall collected for the 2011-13 National Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were analysed for 5,920 adults aged 19-50 years. Subgroups of this population were identified by diet quality and lower or higher consumption of foods often considered to be environmentally intensive (higher animal meat and dairy foods) or associated with healthiness (higher vegetables and lower discretionary choices). Food group and nutrient composition of Australian diets were compared to diets modelled on the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Planetary Health Reference Diet. The environmental impacts of diets were estimated using an index of combined metrics. RESULTS: Compared with the Planetary Health Reference Diet, the Australian Dietary Guidelines contained more servings of the vegetable, dairy and alternatives, fruit, and discretionary choices. The amount of meat and alternatives was higher in the Planetary Health Reference Diet than Australian Dietary Guidelines due to the inclusion of more plant-based meat alternatives. The average Australian diet contained two to almost four times the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Planetary Health Reference Diet maximum recommended intake of discretionary choices, and provided inadequate amounts of the vegetables, cereals, unsaturated fats and meats and alternatives food groups, primarily due to lower intakes of plant-based alternatives. The average Australian diet also contained less dairy and alternatives than the Australian Dietary Guidelines. In the average Australian diet, red meat and poultry contributed 73% to the total servings of meat and alternatives compared to 33% and 10% for the Australian Dietary Guidelines and Planetary Health Reference Diet respectively. The modelled Australian Dietary Guidelines diet met the relevant nutrient reference value for all 22 nutrients examined, whereas the Planetary Health Reference Diet contained an inadequate amount of calcium. The environmental impact scores of the Planetary Health Reference Diet and Australian Dietary Guidelines were 31% and 46% lower than the average Australian diet. CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes are required for Australians' dietary intake to align more closely with national and global dietary recommendations for health and environmental sustainability.

Utilizing Nutritional and Polyphenolic Compounds in Underutilized Plant Seeds for Health Application.

Plants represent a significant part of the human diet. Humans have utilized every part of plants for survival, and seeds are no exception. Seeds offer high protein, unsaturated fats, fibre, essential vitamins, and minerals for various food applications. They are also a promising reservoir of bioactive compounds, where various phytochemicals, such as polyphenolic compounds, capable of maintaining and improving well-being, are present in abundant quantities. Plants from Malvaceae and Cannabaceae families are known for their fibre-rich stems that benefit humankind by serving numerous purposes. For many centuries they have been exploited extensively for various commercial and industrial uses. Their seeds, which are often regarded as a by-product of fibre processing, have been scientifically discovered to have an essential role in combating hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, cancer, and oxidative stress. Maximizing the use of these agricultural wastes can be a promising approach to creating a more sustainable world, in accordance with the concept of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Validation of a Smartphone Application for the Assessment of Dietary Compliance in an Intermittent Fasting Trial.

Accurate dietary analysis of energy, nutrient intake, and meal timing in human studies using traditional dietary assessment methods (e.g., food records) is challenging and time-consuming. The widespread use of smartphones, tablets, and nutrition applications (apps) can overcome some of these problems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the validity of an FDDB smartphone app and food database compared with PRODI®-a professional platform for nutritional counselling using the German Nutrient Database. Dietary records were collected from 10 subjects participating in the crossover intermittent fasting trial for 2 weeks at baseline and during the eating timeframe of 8 h (early or late in the course of the day). The FDDB app and database enabled a quicker and less sophisticated analysis of food composition and timing than the PRODI® software. Good agreement between the methods was found for energy and macronutrient intakes, while the FDDB data on most micronutrients and saturated/unsaturated fat intake were unreliable. In contrast to PRODI®, FDDB provided effective assessment of timely compliance, making it a promising tool for chrononutritional studies. Thus, the FDDB app is comparable to the traditional PRODI® dietary assessment method, and can be effectively used in human dietary trials and medical practice for specific goals.

Effects of starch-rich or fat-rich diets on metabolism, adiposity, and glycemia in immune-biased, C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice.

Diet maintains health by regulating host metabolism and immunity. The results revealed the consequence of starch-, unsaturated fat-, and saturated fat-rich diets on differentially immune-biased mice C57BL/6 and BALB/c. Time-course of various diets on differentially immune-biased mice revealed that starch-rich and unsaturated fat-rich diets reduced insulin resistance (IR) and visceral adiposity in BALB/c mice while a saturated fat-rich diet enhanced both parameters. In C57BL/6 mice, a fat-rich diet enhanced IR with time while visceral adiposity remained unchanged. Eight weeks' consumption of saturated fat-rich diet induced highest visceral adiposity in C57BL/6 mice, while the same diet resulted in the maximum IR in BALB/c mice. The current report presented a detailed metabolomic analysis of diets and evaluated differential index of each treatment for each mouse strain using a vector analysis of the multivariate linear discriminant data. The outcome identified metabolites that affected lipid and glucose metabolism to establish the inter-strain physiological differences.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Rubber Seed Oil in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW 267.4 Macrophages.

Rubber seed oil (RSO) is a typical PUFA-enriched plant oil, but it has not been widely used as a healthy edible oil resource due to the lack of understanding of its nutritional values, health biological effects, and action mechanisms. This work was conducted to characterize the basic physicochemical properties, evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and explore the involved mechanisms of RSO in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. In the present study, the basic physicochemical parameters of RSO indicated that RSO has good qualities as a potential edible plant oil resource. In LPS-induced macrophages, RSO supplementation displayed a significant antioxidant effect by decreasing ROS and MDA levels as well as elevating T-AOC. In addition, RSO supplementation showed an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing the production of NO, IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α while promoting the production of IL-10. Moreover, RSO supplementation decreased the mRNA expression of IL-6, IL-1ß, TNF-α, iNOS, and MCP-1 genes while increasing the mRNA expression of the IL-10 gene. Furthermore, RSO supplementation increased Nrf2 protein expression and up-regulated antioxidant genes (HO-1 and NQO-1), which was accompanied by the decrease in TLR4 protein expression and NF-κB p65 phosphorylation as well as IκBα phosphorylation. This study provided some insight into the applications of RSO as a healthy edible oil resource.

Assessing the impact of replacing foods high in saturated fats with foods high in unsaturated fats on dietary fat intake among Canadians.

BACKGROUND: The 2019 Canada's Food Guide (CFG) recommends that foods containing mostly unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) should replace foods that contain mostly SFA to reduce SFA intakes. OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to model the theoretical changes in intake of SFA at the population level if all Canadians adhered to that recommendation. METHODS: Dietary intakes from 24-h recalls in the nationally representative 2015 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition were used for these analyses. Foods identified as high in SFA based on Health Canada's criteria [≥2 g SFA per reference amount and/or ≥15% of energy (%E) of the food's content as SFA] were replaced by an equal amount (gram per gram) of substitution foods that were lower in SFA and had a higher UFA to SFA ratio. Distributions of SFA and other nutrients before and after substitutions were estimated using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) method based on dietary intakes data from a 24-h recall repeated in 37% of the population. RESULTS: The mean (95% CI) dietary SFA intake among Canadians 2 y or older would be theoretically reduced from 10.8%E (10.7, 11.0%E) to 5.8%E (5.7, 5.9%E) if all high-SFA foods consumed were replaced by the corresponding low-SFA/high-UFA foods. Modeled usual intake of SFA after substitution was <10%E in 100% of Canadians, irrespective of sex and age. Almost half (44%) of the modeled reduction in SFA intake was attributed to replacement of SFA-rich foods not recommended in the 2019 CFG. CONCLUSIONS: This food-based substitution modeling analysis suggests that consumption of SFA would be below 10%E in Canada if all Canadians adhered to the 2019 CFG recommendation that foods containing mostly UFA should replace foods that contain mostly SFA.

Reduced phasic dopamine release and slowed dopamine uptake occur in the nucleus accumbens after a diet high in saturated but not unsaturated fat.

High-fat diets are linked with obesity and changes in dopamine neurotransmission. Mounting evidence shows that saturated fat impacts dopamine neurons and their terminal fields, but little is known about the effect a diet high in unsaturated fat has on the dopamine system. This study sought to determine whether fat type, saturated vs. unsaturated, differentially affected body weight, blood glucose regulation, locomotor behavior, and control of dopamine release and uptake at dopamine neuron terminals in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). C57BL/6 mice were fed a control diet or a nutrient-matched diet high in saturated fat (SF), unsaturated flaxseed oil (Flax) or a blend of the two fats. After 6-weeks, mice from each high-fat diet group gained significantly more weight than Controls, but the group fed Flax gained less weight than the SF group and had fasting blood glucose levels similar to Controls. Ex-vivo fast scan cyclic voltammetry revealed the SF group also had significantly slower synaptic dopamine clearance and a reduced capacity for phasic dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), but the Flax and Blend groups resembled Controls. These data show that different types of dietary fat have substantially different effects on metabolic phenotype and influence how dopamine terminals in the NAc regulate dopamine neurotransmission. Our data also suggests that a diet high in unsaturated fat may preserve normal metabolic and behavioral parameters as well as dopamine signaling in the NAc.