Impact of age, sex, and thyroid autoimmunity on the association between selenium intake and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND: The association between dietary selenium(Se) intake and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains controversial. The present study aimed to investigate this association using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database for the years 2007-2012. METHODS: Three thousand seventy three individuals aged 20 years and above were eligible for inclusion in this cross-sectional study. The average age of the participants was 50.74 years and the proportions of males and females were nearly equal (49.12% vs. 50.88%). The odds ratios (OR) of the association between dietary Se intake (log2-transformed) and T2DM were examined through the multivariate logistic regression model. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on age, sex, and thyroid autoimmunity to assess the potential impact of these variables on the relationship. Fitted smoothing curves and threshold effect analysis were conducted to describe the nonlinear relationship. RESULTS: In the fully adjusted model, a significant positive association between Se intake and T2DM was observed (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.16, 1.90, p = 0.0017). After stratifying the data by age, sex, and thyroid autoimmunity, a significant positive association between Se intake and T2DM was observed in individuals under 65 years of age, males, and those with negative thyroid autoimmunity. A two-segment linear regression model was analyzed for sex stratification, revealing a threshold effect in males with an inflection point of 90.51 µg, and an inverted U-shaped relationship in females with an inflection point of 109.90 µg, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The present study found a positive relationship between Se intake and the prevalence of T2DM. This association is particularly significant in younger individuals, males, and those with negative thyroid autoimmunity. Our results should be validated in future large prospective studies in different populations.

Dietary threonine improves muscle nutritional value and muscle hardness associated with collagen synthesis in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

To further explain the improvement effect of threonine (Thr) on the fillet quality of fish, a 9-week feeding experiment was conducted. After feeding graded levels of Thr (2.38, 5.38, 8.38, 11.38, 14.38 and 17.38 g/kg), the compositions of fillet hydrolyzed amino acid and fatty acid, and the muscle hardness associated with collagen biosynthesis were mainly analyzed in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella). The results showed that Thr increased the pH value, changed the amino acids and fatty acid composition of fillets, especially essential amino acid (EAA), C22:6n3 (DHA) and C20:5n3 (EPA). Furthermore, this study revealed for the first time that the improvement of muscle hardness by Thr was associated with collagen biosynthesis, and the TGF-ß1/Smads, LARP6a and Hsp47 regulate transcriptional processes, translation initiation and post-translational modifications in collagen biosynthesis, respectively. This study offered a basis for exploring the contribution of Thr in improving muscle quality in sub-adult grass carp.

Maternal energy insufficiency affects testicular development of the offspring in a swine model.

We determined the effects of insufficient maternal energy on testicular development in offspring in a swine model. Thirty-six sows were divided into control (CON) and low-energy diet (LE) groups during gestation. We observed that the number of Sertoli, germ, and Leydig cells in the offspring of the CON group were significantly higher than those in the LE group at 28 and 120 d after birth. Furthermore, the percentage of apoptotic testis cells was significantly higher in the offspring of the LE group than in the CON group. Transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed mRNAs and long noncoding RNAs in offspring testes indicated that these RNAs were mainly involved in lipid metabolism, apoptosis, cell proliferation, and some pivotal regulatory pathways. Results revealed that AMPK-PI3K-mTOR, MAPK, and oxidative phosphorylation signaling pathways play an important role in mediating the programming effect of insufficient maternal energy on testicular development, and that this effect occurs mainly at an early stage in life. mRNA and protein expression analyses confirmed the importance of certain signaling pathways in the regulation of testicular development. This study provides insights into the influence and possible mechanism underlying the effect of inadequate maternal energy intake on testicular development in the offspring.

Comparison of microRNA transcriptomes reveals differential regulation of microRNAs in different-aged boars.

To elucidate the role of microRNA (miRNA) during early testicular development, we constructed three small RNA libraries from boar testes at three timepoints. Utilizing Solexa deep sequencing technology, over 12 million reads were measured. Of a total of 263 known miRNAs, 159 were co-expressed in all libraries. Read counts of the top 20 most abundant miRNAs accounted for more than 75% of total known miRNAs, and in all libraries, miR-10b was the most abundant. Analysis of higher fold changes in miRNAs (|log2_fold changes| > 4) revealed seven miRNAs that were involved in testes development (miR-381, miR-205, miR-217, miR-146a-5p, miR-187, miR-215, and miR-195). Among these, miR-146a-5p and miR-195 played an important role in 0-day-old (N0) and 28-day-old (N28) boars; miR-187 and miR-205 primarily regulated reproductive processes in N28 and 120-day-old (N120) boars; and miR-381, miR-217, and miR-215 participated in the modulation of testes development during all three timepoints. These miRNAs regulated testes cell proliferation and apoptosis at different stages. Furthermore, the predicted miRNA targets from the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses revealed that these differentially expressed miRNAs likely regulated developmental processes via PI3K-AKT, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and other related signaling pathways. Our results present a genome-wide miRNA profile from the testes of different-aged boars and provide a useful theoretical basis for further studies on the role of miRNA regulation in testes development during early life.

Effect of dietary supplementation with amino acids on boar sperm quality and fertility.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with amino acids on sperm quality and fertility rates after insemination with boar semen. Twelve Yorkshire boars were paired by age and allocated to one of two dietary treatments composed of total lysine levels of 0.64% (T1) and 0.96% (T2), with the lysine: methionine: threonine: tryptophan: valine ratio in the diets set to 100:27:73:19:69 through the addition of synthetic amino acids. Semen was collected twice weekly (phase 1, 1-12 wk); every other day (phase 2, 13-16 wk); twice weekly (phase 3, 17-26 wk); and daily (phase 4, 27-28 wk). Semen was collected from boars during phase 3 and used to inseminate 64 multiparous sows. Our results showed that sperm concentration and total sperm cells were greater in boars in T2 than in boars in T1 in phases 2 and 4 (P<0.05). Sperm motility parameters, morphologically normal sperm, and acrosome integrity in T2 boars were greater than those in T1 boars (P<0.05) during the experiment. Free amino acid concentrations in seminal plasma increased in T2 boars (P<0.05). Furthermore, sows inseminated with semen collected from T2 boars gave birth to more live piglets than those inseminated with semen collected from T1 boars (P=0.04). In conclusion, supplementation of boar diet with amino acids improves sperm quality, and subsequently increases fertilization capacity and the number of live piglets.

Effects of different dietary n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratios on boar reproduction.

BACKGROUND: N-3 and N-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids are widely used in reproduction, yet few studies have addressed the effects of dietary n-6/n-3 ratios on boar reproduction. The present study aimed to determine the effects of different dietary n-6/n-3 ratios on the reproductive performance of breeding boars. Thirty-two boars with body weights of 15.0 ± 1.4 kg were divided into four treatments (C, T1, T2, T3) and fed diets with different n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios (29.06:1, 20.07:1, 1:1, 1:17.96, respectively) for 174 days. RESULTS: The highest testis index was observed for treatment T2. Sperm density and total sperm number per ejaculate in the T2 treatment were significantly higher than those in all other treatments, whereas the sperm deformity rate was the lowest. Interestingly, the fatty acid compositions and ratios of sperm were consistent with dietary treatments. Acid phosphatase and fructose concentration of seminal plasma, and the total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase of sperm in T2 were higher than those in other treatments. The concentration of testosterone and prostaglandin E2 increased in boars fed on diets supplemented with fatty acids as compared with boars subjected to the C group treatment, reaching a peak at n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratios of 1:1. Furthermore, higher expression of Δ(6)-fatty acid desaturase and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-α in spermatozoa of the T2 treatment were observed, indicating more vigorous metabolism and intensive hormonal regulation. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that the ideal n-6/n-3 ratio in the diet of breeding boars is 1:1, and proper balancing of n-6/n-3 fatty acids plays an important role in male reproduction.

Use of sodium butyrate as an alternative to dietary fiber: effects on the embryonic development and anti-oxidative capacity of rats.

In this study, we evaluated the effect of replacing dietary fiber with sodium butyrate on reproductive performance and antioxidant defense in a high fat diet during pregnancy by using a rat model. Eighty virgin female Sprague Dawley rats were fed one of four diets--(1) control diet (C group), (2) high fat + high fiber diet (HF group), (3) high-fat +5% sodium butyrate diet (SB group), and (4) HF diet + α-cyano-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid (CHC group)--intraperitoneally on days 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 of gestation. SB and dietary fiber had similar effects on improving fetal number and reducing the abortion rate; however, the anti-oxidant capacity of maternal serum, placenta, and fetus was superior in the HF group than in the SB group. In comparison, CHC injection decreased reproductive performance and antioxidant defense. Both dietary fiber (DF) and SB supplementation had a major but different effect on the expression of anti-oxidant related genes and nutrient transporters genes. In summary, our data indicate that SB and DF showed similar effect on reproductive performance, but SB cannot completely replace the DF towards with respect to redox regulation in high-fat diet; and SB might influence offspring metabolism and health differently to DF.

The beneficial effect of fiber supplementation in high- or low-fat diets on fetal development and antioxidant defense capacity in the rat.

BACKGROUND: There is mounting evidence that an imbalance in oxidant/antioxidant activities plays a pivotal role in fetal development. AIM OF THE STUDY: To determine the effects of maternal intake of fat and fiber on fetal intrauterine development and antioxidant defense systems of rats. METHODS: Virgin female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned to 4 groups according to diet: the low-fat, low-fiber group (LL); the low-fat, high-fiber group (LH); the high-fat, low-fiber group (HL); and the high-fat, high-fiber group (HH). The diets were fed 4 weeks prior to breeding through day 17.5 of pregnancy. Dietary intakes of fiber (wheat bran and oat) and fat were quantitatively varied, while intakes of energy and essential nutrients were kept constant among the diets. RESULTS: Rats fed a fiber-rich diet had significantly improved fetal numbers, as well as enhanced activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and capacity of scavenging free radicals (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the placental malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels were affected by the diet fat and fiber levels (p < 0.05). Compared with the LL group, the mRNA abundance of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and thioredoxin-2 (Trx2) in the maternal liver and glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPx1) in the placenta and fetus were significantly downregulated in the HL group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, rats fed a fiber-rich diet had significantly upregulated mRNA expressions of Cu,Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and HIF-1α in the maternal liver (p < 0.05); Cu,Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD in the placenta (p < 0.05); and Cu,Zn-SOD in the fetus (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: When energy intakes are equivalent, consumption of fiber in high- or low-fat diets benefits fetal development and growth, through improvements in maternal, placental, and fetal antioxidant defense capacities.