Chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) effects and their molecular mechanisms on unbalanced diet experimental studies: A systematic review.

The aim of this review was to compile evidence and understand chia seed effects on unbalanced diet animal studies and the molecular mechanisms on metabolic biomarker modulation. A systematic review was conducted in electronic databases, following PRISMA recommendations. Risk of bias and quality was assessed using SYRCLE toll and ARRIVE guidelines. Seventeen articles were included. Throughout the studies, chia's main effects are associated with AMPK modulation: improvement of glucose and insulin tolerance, lipogenesis, antioxidant activity, and inflammation. Details about randomization and allocation concealment were insufficient, as well as information about blind protocols. Sample size, chia dose, and number of animals evaluated for each parameter were found to be lacking information among the studies. Based on experimental study data, chia has bioactive potential, and its daily consumption may reduce the risk of chronic disease development, mainly due to the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic effects of the seed. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The consumption of chia seeds may improve lipid profile, insulin and glucose tolerance, and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Whole seed or its oil presents positive effect, but the effects of chia oil can act faster than the seed.

Common bean protein hydrolysate modulates lipid metabolism and prevents endothelial dysfunction in BALB/c mice fed an atherogenic diet.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) protein hydrolysate is a source of bioactive peptides with known health benefits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of common bean protein hydrolysate on lipid metabolism and endothelial function in male adult BALB/c mice fed an atherogenic diet for nine weeks. METHODS AND RESULTS: Male adult mice were divided into three experimental groups (n = 12) and fed with normal control diet; atherogenic diet and atherogenic diet added with bean protein hydrolysate (700 mg/kg/day) for nine weeks. Food intake, weight gain, lipid profile, Atherogenic Index of Plasma, inflammation biomarkers and endothelial function were evaluated. APH group presented reduced feed intake, weight gain, lipid profile, tumor necrosis factor-α, angiotensin II (94% and 79%, respectively) and increased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (62%). CONCLUSIONS: Protein hydrolysate showed hypocholesterolemic activity preventing inflammation and dysfunction of vascular endothelium, in addition to decreasing oxidative stress, indicating an adjuvant effect on reducing atherogenic risk.

Diet Quality and Adequacy of Nutrients in Preschool Children: Should Rice Fortified with Micronutrients Be Included in School Meals?

Feeding is indicative of the nutritional status of children, however micronutrient deficiency is common in this age group. We evaluated the impact of inclusion of rice (Ultra Rice(®) (UR(®))) fortified with iron, zinc, thiamin and folic acid on laboratory measurements and the nutrient intake of children. Ninety-nine preschoolers (2-6 years; 42.6% male) from two preschools participated, one of which received UR(®) added to polished rice as part of school meals (test preschool) and the other received only polished rice (control preschool). Biochemical evaluations were performed before and after four months of intervention. Feeding was assessed by direct weighing of food, complemented by 24-h recalls, and the diet was assessed by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) adapted to the Brazilian reality. The fortified rice improved the levels of zinc (p < 0.001), thiamine (p < 0.001), folic acid (p = 0.003), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (p < 0.001) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (p < 0.001). The inadequacy percentages of thiamine, folic acid and iron were lower among preschoolers from the test preschool. This study demonstrated the effectiveness of using UR(®) on laboratory measurements of children. The inadequate intake of thiamine, folic acid and iron was also reduced, making the fortified rice an interesting strategy in school feeding programs.

Night milking adds value to cow's milk.

BACKGROUND: Melatonin is synthesized in greater concentration at night, and it plays an important role in sleep regulation. This study aimed to evaluate the melatonin concentration in milk collected by milking during the night and evaluates its effect, with or without tryptophan supplementation, in the sleep quality of adult Wistar rats. RESULTS: A difference (P < 0.05) was observed between the milking times, where the milk obtained at 02:00 presented a higher melatonin concentration (39.43 pg mL(-1) ) than that acquired at 15:00 (4.03 pg mL(-1) ). A biological assay was also performed on 32 male adult Wistar rats distributed among four groups (n = 8): those receiving an AIN-93M diet (control group) and three test groups [diets containing milk from milking at 02:00 (M2h ), milking at 15:00 (M15h ), and milking at 02:00 plus tryptophan supplementation (M2h T)] for 28 days. It was observed that the control group did not differ (P > 0.05) from the M15h group in terms of the levels of blood melatonin and urinary sulfatoxymelatonin, but differed from groups M2h and M2h T, whereas group M2h T presented higher blood melatonin and urinary sulfatoxymelatonin concentrations. CONCLUSION: Combining the techniques of night milking with tryptophan supplementation resulted in production of milk that improves sleep quality in rats.

Iron bioavailability in Wistar rats fed with fortified rice by Ultra Rice technology with or without addition of yacon flour (Smallanthus sonchifolius).

This study aimed to evaluate iron (Fe) bioavailability in Wistar rats fed with rice fortified with micronized ferric pyrophosphate (FP) by Ultra Rice (UR) technology with or without addition of yacon flour as a source of 7.5% of fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Diets were supplied with 12 mg iron/kg from the following sources: ferrous sulfate (FS - control diet), fortified rice with micronized ferric pyrophosphate (Ultra Rice) (UR diet), ferrous sulfate + yacon flour (FS + Y diet) or Ultra Rice + yacon flour (UR + Y diet). Blood samples were collected at the end of depletion and repletion stages for determination of hemoglobin concentration and calculation of the relative biological value (RBV). Also, the content of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (acetic, propionic and butyric acids) from animals' stools and caecum weight were determined. The UR diet showed high iron bioavailability (RBV = 84.7%). However, the addition of yacon flour in the diet containing fortified rice (UR + Y diet) decreased RBV (63.1%) significantly below the other three groups (p < 0.05). Groups that received yacon flour showed higher acetic acid values compared to those who did not. In conclusion, fortified UR with micronized ferric pyrophosphate showed high iron bioavailability but the addition of yacon flour at 7.5% FOS reduced iron bioavailability despite increased caecum weight and SCFA concentration.

Iron bioavailability in Wistar rats fed with fortified rice by Ultra Rice® technology with or without addition of yacon flour (Smallanthus sonchifolius) / Biodisponibilidad de hierro en ratas Wistar alimentadas con arroz fortificado por medio de la tecnología Ultra Rice® con o sin adición de harina de yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius).

This study aimed to evaluate iron (Fe) bioavailability in Wistar rats fed with rice fortified with micronized ferric pyrophosphate (FP) by Ultra Rice® (UR) technology with or without addition of yacon flour as a source of 7.5% of fructooligosaccharides (FOS). Diets were supplied with 12 mg iron/kg from the following sources: ferrous sulfate (FS - control diet), fortified rice with micronized ferric pyrophosphate (Ultra Rice®) (UR diet), ferrous sulfate + yacon flour (FS + Y diet) or Ultra Rice® + yacon flour (UR + Y diet). Blood samples were collected at the end of depletion and repletion stages for determination of hemoglobin concentration and calculation of the relative biological value (RBV). Also, the content of short chain fatty acids (SCFA) (acetic, propionic and butyric acids) from animals’ stools and caecum weight were determined. The UR diet showed high iron bioavailability (RBV = 84.7%). However, the addition of yacon flour in the diet containing fortified rice (UR + Y diet) decreased RBV (63.1%) significantly below the other three groups (p<0.05). Groups that received yacon flour showed higher acetic acid values compared to those who did not. In conclusion, fortified UR® with micronized ferric pyrophosphate showed high iron bioavailability but the addition of yacon flour at 7.5% FOS reduced iron bioavailability despite increased caecum weight and SCFA concentration.

Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar la biodisponibilidad de hierro (Fe) en ratas Wistar alimentadas con arroz fortificado con pirofosfato férrico micronizado por medio de la tecnología Ultra Rice® (UR®), con o sin adición de harina de yacón. Las dietas contenían 12 mg de hierro/kg a partir de las siguientes fuentes: sulfato ferroso (SF - dieta de control), Ultra Rice® (dieta UR®), sulfato ferroso + harina de yacón (dieta SF + Y) o Ultra Rice® + harina de yacón (dieta UR® + Y). Al final del estudio, se recogieron muestras de sangre para la determinación de la concentración de hemoglobina y el cálculo del valor biológico relativo (RBV). También se determinó el contenido de ácidos grasos de cadena corta (AGCC) (ácidos acético, propiónico y butírico) en las heces de los animales. La dieta UR® mostró alta biodisponibilidad de hierro (RBV = 84,7%). Sin embargo, la adición de harina de yacón en la dieta que contenía arroz fortificado (dieta UR® + Y) disminuyó el RBV (63,1%) (p <0,05). Los grupos que recibieron harina de yacón mostraron los valores más altos de ácido acético en comparación con aquellos que no recibieron. En conclusión, el arroz fortificado con pirofosfato férrico micronizado por medio de la tecnología UR® mostró alta biodisponibilidad de hierro. La adición de harina de yacón, con el fin de proporcionar 7,5% de fructooligosacáridos (FOS) en la dieta, causó aumento del peso del ciego y de la concentración de AGCC, aunque disminuyó la biodisponibilidad de hierro.

Modified soybean affects cholesterol metabolism in rats similarly to a commercial cultivar.

The consumption of soy protein lowers blood cholesterol in humans and animals. Breeding may alter the physiological effects of soybeans, such as its cholesterol-lowering property. Our hypothesis is that breeding affects the hypocholesterolemic effect of soy by modulating the expression of key hepatic enzymes related to cholesterol and bile acid biosynthesis, as well as altering fecal neutral and acidic steroid excretion. Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a new Brazilian soybean cultivar (UFV-116), lacking lipoxygenases 2 and 3, compared with a commercial cultivar (OCEPAR-19), on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) and cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A) mRNA expression and fecal steroid output in rats. Thirty-six male rats were fed UFV-116, OCEPAR-19, or casein as the protein source, with or without addition of dietary cholesterol (0.25%). Blood and liver cholesterol, HMGR and CYP7A mRNA abundance, and fecal excretion of steroids were measured. Blood and liver cholesterol levels were lowered by both soybean cultivars, with and without cholesterol, but UFV-116 was more effective when included in the cholesterol-free diet. Both soy diets promoted lower levels of HMGR mRNA, higher levels of CYP7A mRNA, and higher excretion of fecal secondary bile acids. There was higher fecal neutral steroid output when cholesterol was added to all diets. These data show that both soybean cultivars acted similarly in lowering serum and hepatic cholesterol; therefore, breeding did not affect the hypocholesterolemic effect of the new cultivar.