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Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) is a common condition affecting around 10–25% of the general adult population, 15% of children, and even > 50% of individuals who have type 2 diabetes mellitus. It is a major cause of liver-related morbidity, and cardiovascular (CV) mortality is a common cause of death. In addition to being the initial step of irreversible alterations of the liver parenchyma causing cirrhosis, about 1/6 of those who develop NASH are at risk also developing CV disease (CVD). More recently the acronym MAFLD (Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease) has been preferred by many European and US specialists, providing a clearer message on the metabolic etiology of the disease. The suggestions for the management of NAFLD are like those recommended by guidelines for CVD prevention. In this context, the general approach is to prescribe physical activity and dietary changes the effect weight loss. Lifestyle change in the NAFLD patient has been supplemented in some by the use of nutraceuticals, but the evidence based for these remains uncertain. The aim of this Position Paper was to summarize the clinical evidence relating to the effect of nutraceuticals on NAFLD-related parameters. Our reading of the data is that whilst many nutraceuticals have been studied in relation to NAFLD, none have sufficient evidence to recommend their routine use; robust trials are required to appropriately address efficacy and safety.

Inflammation is a marker of arterial disease stemming from cholesterol-dependent to -independent molecular mechanisms. In recent years, the role of inflammation in atherogenesis has been underpinned by pharmacological approaches targeting systemic inflammation that have led to a significant reduction in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Although the use of nutraceuticals to prevent CVD has largely focused on lipid-lowering (e.g, red-yeast rice and omega-3 fatty acids), there is growing interest and need, especially now in the time of coronavirus pandemic, in the use of nutraceuticals to reduce inflammatory markers, and potentially the inflammatory CVD burden, however, there is still not enough evidence to confirm this. Indeed, diet is an important lifestyle determinant of health and can influence both systemic and vascular inflammation, to varying extents, according to the individual nutraceutical constituents. Thus, the aim of this Position Paper is to provide the first attempt at recommendations on the use of nutraceuticals with effective anti-inflammatory properties.

Carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) is a naturally occurring endogenous dipeptide and an over-the-counter food supplement with a well-demonstrated multimodal mechanism of action that includes the detoxification of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, the down-regulation of the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, the inhibition of aberrant protein formation, and the modulation of cells in the peripheral (macrophages) and brain (microglia) immune systems. Since its discovery more than 100 years ago, a plethora of in vivo preclinical studies have been carried out; however, there is still substantial heterogeneity regarding the route of administration, the dosage, the duration of the treatment, and the animal model selected, underlining the urgent need for “coordinated/aligned” preclinical studies laying the foundations for well-defined future clinical trials. The main aim of the present position paper is to critically and concisely consider these key points and open a discussion on the possible “alignment” for future studies, with the goal of validating the full therapeutic potential of this intriguing molecule.

Les úlceres de peu diabètic (UPD) són un problema a l’alça degut a l’augment de la prevalença de diabetis mellitus. Per això la valoració de l'estat nutricional i el tractament de possibles deficiències nutricionals són de gran importància per als pacients amb ferides cròniques. L'objectiu d'aquesta revisió és conèixer els suplements dietètics utilitzats en la cura o prevenció de les úlceres de peu diabètic, descriure la influència de l’estat nutricional, esbrinar l’eficàcia i identificar la posologia dels aliments, dels nutrients i dels suplements dietètics recomanats. Las úlceras de pie diabético (UPD) son un problema al alza debido al aumento de la prevalencia de diabetes mellitus. Por eso la valoración del estado nutricional y el tratamiento de posibles deficiencias nutricionales son de gran importancia para los pacientes con heridas crónicas. El objetivo de esta revisión es conocer los suplementos dietéticos utilizados en la cura o prevención de las úlceras de pie diabético, describir la influencia del estado nutricional, averiguar la eficacia e identificar la posología de los alimentos, de los nutrientes y de los suplementos dietéticos recomendados. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are a growing problem due to the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, assessment of nutritional status and treatment of possible nutritional deficiencies are of great importance for patients with chronic wounds. The aim of this review is to know the dietary supplements used in the cure or prevention of diabetic foot ulcers, to describe the influence of nutritional status, to find out the efficacy and to identify the posology of food, nutrients and recommended dietary supplements.

Purpose of Review Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common forms of arthritis in the general population, accounting for more pain and functional disability than any other musculoskeletal disease. There are currently no approved disease modifying drugs for OA. In the absence of effective pharmacotherapy, many patients with OA turn to nutritional supplements and nutraceuticals, including collagen derivatives. Collagen hydrolyzates and ultrahydrolyzates are terms used to describe collagens that have been broken down into small peptides and amino acids in the presence of collagenases and high pressure. Recent Findings This article reviews the relevant literature and serves as a White Paper on collagen hydrolyzates and ultrahydrolyzates as emerging supplements often advertised to support joint health in OA. Collagen hydrolyzates have demonstrated some evidence of efficacy in a handful of small scale clinical trials, but their ability to treat and reverse advanced joint disease remains highly speculative, as is the case for other nutritional supplements. Summary The aim of this White Paper is to stimulate research and development of collagen-based supplements for patients with OA and other musculoskeletal diseases at academic and industrial levels. This White Paper does not make any treatment recommendations for OA patients in the clinical context, but simply aims to highlight opportunities for scientific innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, which are crucial for the development of novel products and nutritional interventions based on the best available and published evidence.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex clinical syndrome that represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Western countries. Several nutraceuticals have shown interesting clinical results in HF prevention as well as in the treatment of the early stages of the disease, alone or in combination with pharmacological therapy. The aim of the present expert opinion position paper is to summarise the available clinical evidence on the role of phytochemicals in HF prevention and/or treatment that might be considered in those patients not treated optimally as well as in those with low therapy adherence. The level of evidence and the strength of recommendation of particular HF treatment options were weighed up and graded according to predefined scales. A systematic search strategy was developed to identify trials in PubMed (January 1970 to June 2019). The terms ‘nutraceuticals’, ‘dietary supplements’, ‘herbal drug’ and ‘heart failure’ or ‘left verntricular dysfunction’ were used in the literature search. The experts discussed and agreed on the recommendation levels. Available clinical trials reported that the intake of some nutraceuticals (hawthorn, coenzyme Q10,l-carnitine,d-ribose, carnosine, vitamin D, probiotics,n-3 PUFA and beet nitrates) might be associated with improvements in self-perceived quality of life and/or functional parameters such as left ventricular ejection fraction, stroke volume and cardiac output in HF patients, with minimal or no side effects. Those benefits tended to be greater in earlier HF stages. Available clinical evidence supports the usefulness of supplementation with some nutraceuticals to improve HF management in addition to evidence-based pharmacological therapy.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a progressive joint disease, that occurs frequently in the aging population and is a major cause of disability worldwide. Both glucosamine and chondroitin are biologically active molecules that are substrates for proteoglycan, an essential component of the cartilage matrix. Evidence supports the use of glucosamine and chondroitin as symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs) with impact on OA symptoms and disease-modifying effects in the long term. Glucosamine and chondroitin are administered in exogenous form as a sulfate salt and multiple formulations of these agents are available, both as prescription-grade products and nutritional supplements. However, while all preparations may claim to deliver a therapeutic level of glucosamine or chondroitin not all are supported by clinical evidence. Only patented crystalline glucosamine sulfate (pCGS) is shown to deliver consistently high glucosamine bioavailability and plasma concentration in humans, which corresponds to demonstrated clinical efficacy. Similarly, clinical evidence supports only the pharmaceutical-grade chondroitin sulfate. The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) advocates, through careful consideration of the evidence base, that judicious choice of glucosamine and chondroitin formulation is essential to maximize clinical benefit, patient adherence and satisfaction with treatment. In future, the ESCEO recommends that complex molecules with biological activity such as pCGS may be treated as “biosimilars” akin to the European Medicines Agency guidance on biological medicinal products. It seems likely that for all other complex molecules classed as SYSADOAs, the recommendation to use only formulations clearly supported by the evidence-base should apply. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s40520-017-0861-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

It is evident from reviewing scientific literature that the quality of argumentation in some areas of medical research has deteriorated during the last decades. Publication of a series of questionable reliability has continued without making references to the published criticism; examples are discussed in this review. Another tendency is that drugs without proven efficiency are advertised, corresponding products patented and marketed as evidence-based medications. Professional publications are required to register drugs and dietary supplements to obtain permissions for the practical use; and such papers appeared, sometimes being of questionable reliability. Several examples are discussed in this review when substances without proven effects were patented and introduced into practice being supported by publications of questionable reliability. Some of the topics are not entirely clear; and the arguments provided here can induce a constructive discussion.

In the last few years, there are an increased number of families following a vegetarian diet, including their children. In order to guarantee child heath, paediatricians need to know the characteristics of this diet and the main foods that are used. There are few data on the medium and long-term health outcomes when removing all animal foods from the child's diet, especially at younger ages. Nevertheless, new tools have recently become available to facilitate following a vegetarian diet and decreasing the risk of deficiencies. In this document, the group of foods commonly used in vegetarian diets are reviewed, as well as recommendations for each age group. It also mentions the need to use B

Current evidence shows that cholesterol management either reduces the likelihood of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or slows down its progression. Hence, it is important that all health professionals make appropriate use of all the available intervention strategies to control risk factors: from dietary improvement and positive lifestyle changes to the use of functional foods, food supplements, and drugs. This review examines the effect of the most frequently occurring cholesterol-lowering substances in functional foods or in supplements across Europe, namely plant sterols and stanols, monacolin K found in red yeast rice, berberine and beta-glucans. We conclude that currently available supplements and functional foods can effectively reduce plasma LDL cholesterol levels by about 5 to 25%, either alone or in combination. Suitable candidates for these products are mainly individuals at low absolute cardiovascular risk at a young age or according to classic algorithms. Of note, despite being freely available for purchase, these products should be used following shared agreement between the caring physician and the patient ("concordance").

The prevalence of health foods is increasing in Japan, especially among elderly people. The internet is widely used as an information source, but it is not clear whether elderly people get information about health foods via the internet or not. To clarify this issue, we conducted two questionnaire surveys; one on a website (internet survey) and one in the local community (paper survey). The internet survey showed that a lot of elderly people use the internet to get information and also to purchase health foods. On the other hand, paper survey showed that a smaller proportion of elderly people used the internet, compared to the internet survey. Instead, they got information from their friends, health-care professionals, or various media sources, such as television, newspapers and magazines. Our results indicate that many elderly people don't use the internet to get information about health foods. Adequate ways to inform them about health foods are needed to reduce adverse events associated with health food use.

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the possible use of nutraceuticals to improve and optimize dyslipidemia control and therapy. Based on the data from available studies, nutraceuticals might help patients obtain theraputic lipid goals and reduce cardiovascular residual risk. Some nutraceuticals have essential lipid-lowering properties confirmed in studies; some might also have possible positive effects on nonlipid cardiovascular risk factors and have been shown to improve early markers of vascular health such as endothelial function and pulse wave velocity. However, the clinical evidence supporting the use of a single lipid-lowering nutraceutical or a combination of them is largely variable and, for many of the nutraceuticals, the evidence is very limited and, therefore, often debatable. The purpose of this position paper is to provide consensus-based recommendations for the optimal use of lipid-lowering nutraceuticals to manage dyslipidemia in patients who are still not on statin therapy, patients who are on statin or combination therapy but have not achieved lipid goals, and patients with statin intolerance. This statement is intended for physicians and other healthcare professionals engaged in the diagnosis and management of patients with lipid disorders, especially in the primary care setting.

The ability to rapidly identify and quantitate, over a wide range of concentrations, anthocyanins in food and therapeutic products is important to ensuring their presence at medicinally significant levels. Sensitive, yet mild, analysis conditions are required given their susceptibility to degradation and transformation. Paper spray ionization has been used to detect and quantify the levels of anthocyanin levels in extracts of fresh and dried elderberries, and elderberry stems, as well as 3 commercially available nutraceutical formulations. The component cyanidin glucosides, including cyanidin-3-sambubioside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin-3-sambubioside-5-glucoside, and the aglycone cyanidin, were readily detected in a range of sources. Quantitation was achieved by establishing a calibration plot from dilutions of a stock solution of cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside containing malvidin-3,5-diglucoside as an internal standard at a fixed concentration. The same standard was used to quantify the anthocyanin content in the fruit and nutraceutical formulations. Wide 5-fold variations in anthocyanin concentration were detected in the nutraceutical formulations from different suppliers ranging from 1050 to 5430 mg/100 g. These concentrations compared with 500 to 2370 mg/100 g measured in the dried stems and fruit, respectively.

This position paper considers different aspects of complementary feeding (CF), focussing on healthy term infants in Europe. After reviewing current knowledge and practices, we have formulated these recommendations: Timing: Exclusive or full breast-feeding should be promoted for at least 4 months (17 weeks, beginning of the 5th month of life) and exclusive or predominant breast-feeding for approximately 6 months (26 weeks, beginning of the 7th month) is a desirable goal. Complementary foods (solids and liquids other than breast milk or infant formula) should not be introduced before 4 months but should not be delayed beyond 6 months. Infants should be offered foods with a variety of flavours and textures including bitter tasting green vegetables. Continued breast-feeding is recommended alongside CF. Whole cows' milk should not be used as the main drink before 12 months of age. Allergenic foods may be introduced when CF is commenced any time after 4 months. Infants at high risk of peanut allergy (those with severe eczema, egg allergy, or both) should have peanut introduced between 4 and 11 months, following evaluation by an appropriately trained specialist. Gluten may be introduced between 4 and 12 months, but consumption of large quantities should be avoided during the first weeks after gluten introduction and later during infancy. All infants should receive iron-rich CF including meat products and/or iron-fortified foods. No sugar or salt should be added to CF and fruit juices or sugar-sweetened beverages should be avoided. Vegan diets should only be used under appropriate medical or dietetic supervision and parents should understand the serious consequences of failing to follow advice regarding supplementation of the diet. Parents should be encouraged to respond to their infant's hunger and satiety queues and to avoid feeding to comfort or as a reward.

Pickering high internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) are normally highly concentrated emulsions stabilized by colloidal particles with a minimum internal phase volume fraction of 0.74. They have received considerable attention in many fields, including pharmaceuticals, tissue engineering, foods, and personal care products. The aim of this perspective is to update the current knowledge on the field of protein-based Pickering HIPEs, emphasizing those aspects that need to be explored and clarified. Research progress in constructing HIPEs by protein-type colloid particles and promising research trends in basic research and potential applications were highlighted. Promising studies in this field include (1) clarifying bioavailability and evolution of activity of active ingredients in Pickering HIPEs by oral administration, (2) constructing a Pickering interfacial catalysis platform using protein colloidal particles, and (3) expanding the emerging applications of Pickering HIPEs in fields, such as partially hydrogenated oil replacers, probiotic encapsulation, and the template for porous materials.

Palm oil (PO) is used in infant formulas in order to achieve palmitic acid (PA) levels similar to those in human milk. PA in PO is esterified predominantly at the SN-1,3 position of triacylglycerol (TAG), and infant formulas are now available in which a greater proportion of PA is in the SN-2 position (typical configuration in human milk). As there are some concerns about the use of PO, we aimed to review literature on health effects of PO and SN-2-palmitate in infant formulas. PubMed and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were systematically searched for relevant studies on possible beneficial effects or harms of either PO or SN-2-palmitate in infant formula on various health outcomes. We identified 12 relevant studies using PO and 21 studies using SN-2-palmitate. Published studies have variable methodology, subject characteristics, and some are underpowered for the key outcomes. PO is associated with harder stools and SN-2-palmitate use may lead to softer stool consistency. Bone effects seem to be short-lasting. For some outcomes (infant colic, faecal microbiota, lipid metabolism), the number of studies is very limited and summary evidence inconclusive. Growth of infants is not influenced. There are no studies published on the effect on markers of later diseases. There is insufficient evidence to suggest that PO should be avoided as a source of fat in infant formulas for health reasons. Inclusion of high SN-2-palmitate fat blend in infant formulas may have short-term effects on stool consistency but cannot be considered essential.

The current study aimed to identify and analyze the 100 most cited papers on the topic of nutraceuticals and functional foods. Scopus database was searched to extract bibliometric data. Two-thirds of the 100 most cited papers were reviews. Papers were mostly published in food science and nutrition journals, and one-third were published in seven journals, namely: British Journal of Nutrition (6), Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition (6), Journal of Food Science (5), Trends in Food Science and Technology (5), American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (4), Food Chemistry (4) and Journal of Nutrition (4). Topics with high citation counts dealt with prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants and phenolic content. Hot topics with over 1000 citations per paper include bifidobacterium (1147), colon (1032) and lipid metabolism (1013). The United States and Europe were major places of origin. These results can serve as a quick benchmarking reference for researchers or general public members.

We developed a convenient method by coupling frontal elution paper chromatography with desorption corona beam ionization mass spectrometry (DCBI-MS) for rapid determination of chlorphenamine added in herbal medicines or dietary supplements. In this method, the ethanol extract of the herbal products was spotted directly onto an isosceles triangular filter paper sheet, and then the paper sheet was developed under strong elution condition with the sample zone migrating at the solvent front. The analyte was finally condensed at the V-shaped tip which could then be placed under the visible plasma beam of DCBI for ionization. The overall procedure took less than 5 min. The frontal elution paper chromatography on a triangular plate used in this work improved the signal intensity of chlorphenamine by 30-fold due to the analyte condensing at the tip and the reduction of the background suppression. Furthermore, the paper sheet also functioned as a filter in the analysis of solid or powder samples, which can increase the analytical throughput by omitting the step of centrifugation. The proposed method in current study was successfully applied in the determination of chlorphenamine in herbal medicines. Chlorphenamine was detected in four of the twelve types of herbal medicines examined in this study. The limit of detection was 200 ng/mL (2.0 ng absolute) in full-scan positive-ion mode and the linear range was from 5.0 μg/mL to 50 μg/mL with satisfactory linear coefficient (R(2) (the square of the correlation coefficient)=0.895). Good reproducibility was achieved with relative standard deviations (RSDs) less than 15.0% and the recoveries of chlorphenamine ranged from 84.3 to 90.6%.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the current state of nutrition of patients with rheumatic diseases in the Polish population. Material and methods : An anonymous questionnaire study was carried out among the patients of the Institute of Rheumatology in Warsaw in the fourth quarter of 2012. Five hundred questionnaires were distributed, and 397 questionnaires were collected and accepted for further analysis (response rate = 79%). Results: Overweight or obesity was present in more than half (53%) of the patients (overweight in 30.5% of respondents, obesity in 22.6%). Among obese subjects, 43% of men and 37% of women in the study think that their diet is correct. Sixty-eight percent of respondents declared that they do not follow any special diet and only 18% declared that they follow a diet with a reduced quantity of monosaccharides (no sweets). A milk-free diet was followed by 7% of respondents, a meat-free diet by 6%, and a fruit-and-vegetable diet by 5%. Dietary supplements were regularly used by 26.7% of respondents, whereas 33.8% did not use them at all. The average assessment of physical aptitude (Health Assessment Questionnaire – HAQ) in the group of respondents was 0.71. No statistically significant differences were found between higher level of disability (e.g. HAQ ≥ 1) and the type of diet followed (p = 0.678) or body mass index (BMI) value (p = 0.864) in relation to persons with the value of HAQ < 1. Conclusions : More than half of patients suffering from rheumatic diseases are overweight or obese, which corresponds to the body weight profile of the population of Poland. Most patients diagnosed with rheumatic diseases do not follow any special diet. In spite of the frequent use of dietary supplements, the patients do not consult a doctor or a dietician about it. The type of diet and BMI value do not differ according to the level of disability.

Background Interest in vegetarian diets is growing in Italy and elsewhere, as government agencies and health/nutrition organizations are emphasizing that regular consumption of plant foods may provide health benefits and help prevent certain diseases. Methods and results We conducted a Pubmed search, up to September, 2015, for studies on key nutrients (proteins, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and n-3 fatty acids) in vegetarian diets. From 295 eligible publications the following emerged: Vegetarians should be encouraged to supplement their diets with a reliable source of vitamin B12 (vitamin-fortified foods or supplements). Since the plant protein digestibility is lower than that of animal proteins it may be appropriate for vegetarians to consume more proteins than recommended for the general population. Vegetarians should also be encouraged to habitually consume good sources of calcium, iron and zinc – particularly vegetables that are low in oxalate and phytate (e.g. Brassicaceae), nuts and seeds, and calcium-rich mineral water. Calcium, iron, and zinc bioavailability can be improved by soaking, germination, and sour-dough leavening that lower the phytate content of pulses and cereals. Vegetarians can ensure good n-3 fatty acid status by habitually consuming good sources of a-linolenic acid (walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and their oils) and limiting linoleic acid intake (corn and sunflower oils). Conclusions Well-planned vegetarian diets that include a wide variety of plant foods, and a reliable source of vitamin B12, provide adequate nutrient intake. Government agencies and health/nutrition organizations should provide more educational resources to help Italians consume nutritionally adequate vegetarian diets.

Rice starch has been used in various agri-food products due to its hypoallergenic properties. However, rice starch has poor solubility, lower resistant starch content with reduced retrogradation and poor functional properties. Hence, its industrial applications are rather limited. The lack of comprehensive information and a holistic understanding of the interaction between rice starch and endo/exogenous constituents to improve physico-chemical properties is a prerequisite in designing industrial products with enhanced functional attributes. In this comprehensive review, we highlight the potentials of physically mixing of biopolymers in upgrading the functional characteristics of rice starch as a raw material for industrial applications. Specifically, this review tackles rice starch modifications by adding natural/synthetic polymers and plasticizers, leading to functional blends or composites in developing sustainable packaging materials, pharma- and nutraceutical products. Moreover, a brief discussion on rice starch chemical and genetic modifications to alter starch quality for the deployment of rice starch industrial application is also highlighted.

Iodine deficiency is an important nutritional deficiency, with more than 2 billion people worldwide estimated to be at risk. The developing fetus and young children are particularly at risk. During pregnancy and lactation, iodine requirements increase, whether in iodine-poor or iodine-sufficient countries, making the mother and the developing fetus vulnerable. The American Thyroid Association (ATA) recommends 250 micrograms per day of iodine intake for pregnant and lactating women. The thyroid gland is able to adapt to the changes associated with pregnancy as long as sufficient iodine is present. Dietary intake is the sole source of iodine, which is essential to the synthesis of thyroid hormones. Iodine is found in multiple dietary sources including iodized salt, dairy products, seaweed, and fish. Prenatal vitamins containing iodine are a good source of iodine, but iodine content in multivitamin supplements is highly variable. Congenital hypothyroidism is associated with cretinism. Clinical hypothyroidism has been associated with increased risk of poor perinatal outcome including prematurity, low birth weight, miscarriage, preeclampsia, fetal death, and impaired fetal neurocognitive development. Subclinical hypothyroidism is also associated with poor pregnancy outcomes and potential fetal neurocognitive deficits, but the data are more variable than those for clinical hypothyroidism. We concur with the ATA recommendation that all pregnant and lactating women should ingest (through diet and supplements) 250 micrograms of iodine daily. To achieve this goal, we recommend that all pregnant and lactating women take daily iodine supplementation of 150 micrograms. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 94:677–682, 2012. 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The present study investigated the effects of overripe pulp and green peel extract and powder of banana fruit (Musa. cavendish) on haematological, biochemical, immunological, health, and performance of Holstein dairy calves. In all, 40 newborn calves were randomly divided into four groups of 10 animals. In the control group, animals received no banana meal. In group 1, calves were supplemented with 2 g (dry matter)/kg body weight/day of overripe banana pulp extract. The calves in group 2 were supplemented with 1 g (dry matter) of overripe banana pulp extract/kg body weight/day and 1 g (dry matter) of green banana peel extract/kg body weight/day. The animals in group 3 were supplemented with 2 g/kg body weight/day of green banana peel powder. The feeding period of calves on the tested supplements was 5 days. Blood samples and other evaluations were taken on day 0 (at birth, before supplementation) and on days 7, 15 and 30. Just a trend towards better average daily weight gain was seen in groups 2 and 3 than others (p = 0.073). Significant group and sampling time interactions were seen for the quantities of RBC (group 1 was lower than other groups at day 30), MCV (group 3 was lower than other groups at day 30) and MCH (group 1 was higher than other groups at day 30) (p, In conclusion, banana supplementation in neonatal calves showed that it may has beneficial effects on the values of MCH, bilirubin and average daily weight gain.

Objective:The aims of this study were to examine the efficacy among various vitamin D supplementation regimens on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations and determine the minimal dose rate required to achieve sufficient serum concentrations (≥75 nmol/l) among older adults in long-term care (LTC).Design:A 1-year medical history was abstracted from medical records, and a one-time blood draw to measure serum 25(OH)D concentrations was obtained. Individuals were stratified into vitamin D-supplemented and non-supplemented groups. The supplemented group was further categorised into four treatment forms: single-ingredient vitamin D2or3, multivitamin, Ca with vitamin D or combination of the three, and by daily prescribed doses: 0–9·9, 10–19·9, 20–49·9, 50–99·9 and >100 μg/d.Setting:Five LTC communities in Austin, Texas.Participants:One hundred seventy-three older (≥65 years) adults.Results:Of the participants, 62% received a vitamin D supplement and 55% had insufficient (≤75 nmol/l) 25(OH)D serum concentrations. Individuals receiving single-ingredient vitamin D2or3 supplementation received the highest daily vitamin D mean dose (72·5 μg/d), while combination of forms was the most frequent treatment (44%) with the highest mean serum concentration (108 nmol/l). All supplementation doses were successful at reaching sufficient serum concentrations, except thoseConclusions:Based on the predictive equation, results suggest that supplementation of 37·5 μg/d of vitamin D2or3 or combination of vitamin D is most likely to achieve sufficient serum 25(OH)D concentrations in older adults in LTC.

Canine cancer has become more prevalent in recent years because of increased life expectancy and greater attention to the health of pets. The range of cancers seen in dogs is as diverse as that in human patients, and despite more intensive therapeutic interventions, fatality rates remain unacceptably high in both species. Chemoprevention is therefore an important means of confronting this disease. Because domestic pets share our environment, greater cross-application and study of the protumorigenic and antitumorigenic factors in our shared environment will benefit all species, leading to the development of new families of less toxic antitumorigenic compounds based on novel and established molecular targets. Currently, the most interesting cancer preventive agents are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ ligands, and dietary compounds. This article provides an overview of what is known about how these agents affect molecular signaling in neoplastic disease, with reference to reported application and/or study in dogs where available.

This review comments on and summarizes five expert presentations and reports made at a meeting hosted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Lyon, France, 12–14 June 2006, related to iron and folate supplementation and their interactions with infection. The meeting was called because of the mortality implications of the Pemba iron study and the possible need to change WHO policy as soon as possible. Six tabled presentations were reviewed. A majority of these expert reviews regarded the Pemba study as indicating a specific adverse interaction between iron supplementation and malaria. A majority regarded such an effect as already reviewed, demonstrated, and predicted in existing literature published prior to the Pemba study. A majority concluded that there was a risk of malarial morbidity associated with oral iron supplementation. A majority made recommendations for change, indicating either that the 1998 WHO/UNICEF recommendation for iron supplementation in malarious areas should be suspended pending further research or that it should be stopped. A majority felt that folate supplementation was a less likely cause of the Pemba result; two mentioned the interference of oral folate with antifolate antimalarials; a majority suggested suspension of folic acid supplementation to children in malarious areas. Only one presentation argued for net population benefits of folate and none for iron.

Commercial diets for tilapia juveniles contain high levels of plant protein sources. Soybean meal has been utilised due to its high protein content; however, soy-based diets are limited in methionine (Met) and require its supplementation to fulfil fish requirements. dl-Methinone (dl-Met) and Ca bis-methionine hydroxyl analogue (MHA-Ca) are synthetic Met sources supplemented in aquafeeds, which may differ in biological efficiency due to structural differences. The present study evaluated the effect of both methionine sources on metabolism and growth of Nile tilapia. A growth trial was performed using three isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets, containing plant ingredients as protein sources: DLM and MHA diets were supplemented on equimolar levels of Met, while REF diet was not supplemented. Hepatic free Met and one-carbon metabolites were determined in fish fed for 57 d. Metabolism of dl-Met and MHA was analysed by an in vivo time-course trial using 14C-labelled tracers. Only dl-Met supplementation significantly increased final body weight and improved feed conversion and protein efficiency ratios compared with the REF diet. Our findings indicate that Met in DLM fed fish follows the transsulphuration pathway, while in fish fed MHA and REF diets it is remethylated. The in vivo trial revealed that 14C-dl-Met is absorbed faster and more retained than 14C-MHA, resulting in a greater availability of free Met in the tissues when fish is fed with DLM diet. Our study indicates that dietary dl-Met supplementation improves growth performance and N retention, and that Met absorption and utilisation are influenced by the dietary source in tilapia juveniles.

With over 1·3 million Anganwadi centres (AWC) (meaning ‘courtyard shelter’), the Indian government runs a nationwide intervention providing nutrition supplement to pregnant mothers to improve the health of their children. Using two successive rounds of the nationally representative cross-sectional National Family Health Survey data (collected during 2005–2006 and 2015–2016) of India, we assessed whether nutrition supplements given to pregnant mothers through AWC were associated with select child health indicators – extremely low birth weight (ELBW), very low birth weight (VLBW), low birth weight (LBW) and neonatal mortality (death during day 0–27) stratified by death during day 0–1, day 2–6 and day 7–27. A total of 148 019 children and 205 593 children were eligible for analysing birth weight and neonatal mortality, respectively. OR with 95% CI, estimated from multivariate logistic regression models, suggest that receipt of nutrition supplements was associated with decreased risk of VLBW (OR: 0·73, 95% CI 0·63, 0·83, P < 0·001), LBW (OR: 0·92, 95% CI 0·88, 0·96, P < 0·001), but not ELBW (OR: 0·80, 95% CI 0·56, 1·15, P = 0·226). Women who always received nutrition supplements during their pregnancy saw lower risk of death of their neonates (OR: 0·67, 95% CI 0·61, 0·73, P < 0·001), including death on day 0–1 (OR: 0·66, 95% CI 0·58, 0·74, P < 0·001), day 2–6 (OR: 0·69, 95% CI 0·58, 0·82, P < 0·001) and day 7–27 (OR: 0·68, 95% CI 0·53, 0·87, P = 0·002). Therefore, nutritional supplementation to pregnant mothers appears to be helpful in deterring various stages of neonatal mortality, VLBW and LBW, though it might not be effective in mitigating ELBW. Findings were discussed considering possible limitations of the study.

Graphical abstract Industrial production of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) represents a recently growing interest since they serve as key ingredients in baby formulas and are also utilized as dietary supplements for all age groups. Despite their short oligosaccharide chain lengths, HMO analysis is challenging due to extensive positional and linkage variations. Capillary gel electrophoresis primarily separates analyte molecules based on their hydrodynamic volume to charge ratios, thus, offers excellent resolution for most of such otherwise difficult-to-separate isomers. In this work, two commercially available gel compositions were evaluated on the analysis of a mixture of ten synthetic HMOs. The relevant respective separation matrices were then applied to selected analytical in-process control examples. The conventionally used carbohydrate separation matrix was applied for the in-process analysis of bacteria-mediated production of 3-fucosyllactose, lacto-N-tetraose, and lacto-N-neotetraose. The other example showed the suitability of the method for the in vivo in-process control of a shake flask and fermentation approach of 2′-fucosyllactose production. In this latter instance, borate complexation was utilized to efficiently separate the 2′- and 3-fucosylated lactose positional isomers. In all instances, the analysis of the HMOs of interest required only a couple of minutes with high resolution and excellent migration time and peak area reproducibility (average RSD 0.26% and 3.56%, respectively), features representing high importance in food additive manufacturing in-process control.

Objective:We examined whether folic acid (FA) supplementation prevented congenital hydrocephalus (CH) in more than 200 000 births in China.Design:A large population-based cohort study.Setting:All births at 20 complete gestational weeks, including live births, stillbirths and pregnancy terminations, and all structural birth defects regardless of gestational week were recorded. The prevalence of births with CH was classified by maternal characteristics and FA supplementation. CH was diagnosed in accordance with code 742.3 of the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, while non-neural tube defect (NTD) CH refers to CH without anencephaly (740), spina bifida (741) or encephalocele (742·0).Participants:A total of 247 831 pregnant women who delivered with known outcomes were included.Results:A total of 206 cases of CH (0·83 per 1000 births) and 170 cases of non-NTD CH (0·69 per 1000 births) were recorded in the study. The prevalence of CH and non-NTD CH was higher in women in the no supplementation group than those in the FA supplementation group (0·92 and 0·72 v. 0·75 and 0·65 per 1000 births, respectively). FA supplementation during the periconceptional period significantly prevented CH (OR = 0·29, 95 % CI 0·12, 0·69) and non-NTD CH (OR = 0·34, 95 % CI 0·12, 0·97) in northern China, especially in a high-compliance group (≥ 80 %).Conclusions:Periconceptional FA supplementation did not significantly prevent CH overall in the current study. However, in the north of China with common maternal folate insufficiency, there was some evidence.

Vitamin D supplementation in infancy is recommended to prevent rickets. At the population level, its effects on bone mineralisation are largely unknown. We aimed to explore whether adherence to national vitamin D supplementation guidelines (10 µg/d up to the age of 2 years), supplementation at the ages of 5 and 7 years, and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (s-25(OH)D) at various time points associated with bone mineral density (BMD) at the age of 7 years in the Odense Child Cohort, Denmark (n 1194). High adherence was defined as supplementation with 10 µg of vitamin D 6–7 times per week during ≥80 % of the observation time. s-25(OH)D was analysed using LC-MS/MS. Total-body-less-head (TBLH) BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. At the median age of 18·1 months, 53·9 % (n 475/881) reported high adherence. The median s-25(OH)D was 64·7, 78·8, 46·0 and 71·8 nmol/l in early pregnancy, late pregnancy, cord blood and at 5 years, respectively. The mean TBLH BMD at the median age of 7·1 years was 0·613 (SD 0·049) g/cm2 (z-score +0·363 (SD 0·824)). In adjusted analyses, vitamin D supplementation up to 18 months, and at 5 and 7 years, was not associated with TBLH BMD. Similarly, no robust associations were found between TBLH BMD and s-25(OH)D at any time point. No associations were found for TBLH bone mineral concentration or bone area. In this population with relatively high s-25(OH)D concentrations, no consistent associations were found between adherence to vitamin D supplementation recommendations or vitamin D status in pregnancy or childhood, and bone mineralisation at the age of 7 years.

Antioxidants have multiple protective roles in a variety of cells and thus can be used to protect sperm against cryo-damage during freezing, which affects fertility. The antioxidant resveratrol (3,5,4-trihydroxytrans-stilbene; RSV) has been reported to protect the animal sperm during cryopreservation, including human sperm. In this study, we assessed the protective effects of RSV supplementation on dog sperm cryopreservation. Semen was collected from four dogs and the effect of different concentrations of RSV (0, 100, 200, and 400 µM) on post-thaw sperm quality was examined. After thawing, sperm motility was assessed using computer-aided sperm analysis, and the structural integrity of the plasma membrane, acrosome, and chromatin was examined. In addition, their mitochondrial activity and gene expression were also assessed. Dog sperm cryopreserved with 200 µM RSV showed significant improvement in post-thaw sperm motility and viability compared with that of the control group (P

© 2019 The Authors Health Expectations published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd Background: Little is known about women's decision-making processes regarding using complementary medicine products (CMPs) during pregnancy or lactation. Objectives: To explore the decision-making processes of women choosing to use CMPs in pregnancy and lactation; and to investigate how women's health literacy influences their decisions. Design, setting and participants: In-depth interviews and focus group discussions were held with twenty-five pregnant and/or breastfeeding women. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Key to women's decision making was the desire to establish a CMPs safety and to receive information from a trustworthy source, preferably their most trusted health-care practitioner. Women wanted positive therapeutic relationships with health-care practitioners and to be highly involved in the decisions they made for the health of themselves and their children. Two overarching components of the decision-making process were identified: (a) women's information needs and (b) a preference for CMP use. Women collated and assessed information from other health-care practitioners, other mothers and published research during their decision-making processes. They showed a strong preference for CMP use to support their pregnancy and breastfeeding health, and that of their unborn and breastfeeding babies. Discussion and Conclusions: Complex decision-making processes to use CMPs in pregnancy and lactation were identified. The participants showed high levels of communicative and critical health literacy skills in their decision-making processes. These skills supported women's complex decision-making processes.

Objective:The current study was conducted to evaluate the dietary habits of the dietitians who had a leading role in this regard during the pandemic and their use of dietary supplements, functional food and herbal medicines.Design:A cross-sectional study. An online questionnaire was used as a data collection tool to identify the participants’ socio-demographic characteristics, health statuses and dietary habits and their use of dietary supplements, functional foods and herbal medicines.Setting:Turkey.Participants:The study population was 550 dietitians.Results:In the current study, the participants’ average age was 30·6 ± 9·1 years, and most of them (88·2 %) were women. More than half of the participants (88·9 %) thought that adequate and balanced nutrition would positively affect the course of COVID-19. To avoid COVID-19, 94·5 % of the dietitians used dietary supplements, 46·1 % herbal medicines and 34·9 % functional foods during the pandemic. The most commonly used dietary supplement was fish oil (81·9 %), functional food was vegetables and fruits (80·5 %) and the herbal medicine was cinnamon (63·5 %). Women’s consumption of functional foods was approximately twice higher compared with men (95 % Cl: 1·048, 4·165; P < 0·05). The findings showed that the longer the dietitians were in their careers, the more functional foods and herbal medicines they used.Conclusion:During the pandemic, dietitians’ use of foods with protective effects against diseases increased depending on their academic knowledge and experience in nutrition. The findings obtained in the current study suggest that an expert’s opinion should be obtained before using dietary supplements and herbal medicines.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused an increased mortality in nursing homes due to its quick spread and the age-related high lethality. Results: We observed a two-month mortality of 40%, compared to 6.4% in the previous year. This increase was seen in both COVID-19 positive (43%) and negative (24%) residents, but 8 patients among those testing negative on the swab, tested positive on serological tests. Increased mortality was associated with male gender, older age, no previous vitamin D supplementation and worse “activities of daily living (ADL)” scores, such as Barthel index, Tinetti scale and S.OS.I.A. classification. Conclusion: Our data confirms a higher geriatric mortality due to COVID-19. Negative residents also had higher mortality, which we suspect is secondary to preanalytical error and a low sensitivity of the swab test in poorly compliant subjects. Male gender, older age and low scores on ADL scales (probably due to immobility) are risk factors for COVID-19 related mortality. Finally, mortality was inversely associated with vitamin D supplementation. Design: In this observational study, we described the two-month mortality among the 157 residents (age 60-100) of a nursing home after Sars-CoV-2 spreading, reporting the factors associated with the outcome. We also compared the diagnostic tests for Sars-CoV-2.

Objective:To determine whether a previously reported association between the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) food package change and reduced child obesity risk among WIC-participating children in Los Angeles County holds across levels of family income and neighbourhood poverty.Design:Analysis of prospectively collected WIC administrative data. The outcome was obesity at age 4 years (BMI-for-age ≥ 95th percentile). Poisson regression was applied to a matched sample (n 79 502) to determine if the association between the WIC food package change and child obesity was modified by family income (100 % but Setting:Los Angeles County, California.Participants:Children who participated in WIC in Los Angeles County between 2003 and 2016; children were grouped as receiving the old WIC food package (2003–2009) or the new WIC food package (2010–2016).Results:Receiving the new WIC food package (i.e., post-2009) was associated with 7–18 % lower obesity risk across all family income categories. Neither family income nor neighbourhood poverty significantly modified the association between the WIC food package and child obesity. However, certain sub-groups seemed to benefit more from the food package change than others. In particular, boys from families with income above poverty but residing in the poorest neighbourhoods experienced the greatest reductions in obesity risk (relative risk = 0·77; 95 % CI 0·66, 0·88).Conclusions:The WIC food package revisions were associated with reduced childhood obesity risk among all WIC-participating families in Los Angeles County, across levels of income eligibility and neighbourhood poverty.

Objective:To provide updated information about demographic variations and temporal trends in the prenatal use of multiple micronutrient (MMN) supplements in the metropolitan areas of China.Design:Descriptive analysis of routine prenatal healthcare data between 2013 and 2017.Setting:Chaoyang District, Beijing, China.Participants:A total of 197 346 pregnant women who attended their first prenatal care visit and provided information about MMN supplementation during the periconceptional period.Results:Of these pregnant women, 60·6 % reported consuming prenatal MMN supplements. In multivariate-adjusted models, there were significant gradients of age, education and parity in prenatal MMN supplementation, with the highest likelihood of MMN use among the oldest, the most highly educated and nulliparous women (Pfor trend < 0·001). Compared with that among unemployed women, prenatal MMN supplementation was more common among the employed, especially those engaged in business (adjusted relative risks (95 % CI): 1·08 (1·06, 1·10)) and management (1·10 (1·08, 1·12)). The proportion of prenatal MMN supplementation was 57·0 % in 2013, which increased to 63·5 % in 2017 (Pfor trend < 0·001). The trends varied by age, education and parity (Pfor heterogeneity < 0·001), whereas no significant difference was observed in trends across subgroups of ethnicity or occupation. The greatest magnitude increase in MMN supplement use occurred in women of age < 25 years (annual percent change: 5·7 %), less than high school education (9·6 %), parity ≥ 2 (6·8 %) or unemployment (6·1 %).Conclusion:Approximately two-thirds of women consumed prenatal MMN supplements during the periconceptional period in the central area of Beijing and the proportion increased over time, indicating a need to evaluate the effectiveness and safety and to develop a guideline for relatively well-nourished women.

Background Oral administration of probiotic bacteria to preterm neonates has been recommended to prevent the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The influence of probiotics on the endogenous microbiome, however, has remained incompletely understood. Study design & methods Here, we performed an observational study including 80 preterm neonates born at a gestational age

Background Previously, we showed that the intake of trans fatty acids during pregnancy and lactation triggers a pro-inflammatory status in the offspring. On the other hand, prebiotics can alter the intestinal environment, reducing serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS) concentrations. This study evaluated the effect of the oligofructose 10% diet supplementation in the presence or absence of hydrogenated vegetable fat during pregnancy and lactation on the development, endotoxemia and bacterial composition of 21-d-old offspring. Methods On the first day of pregnancy rats were divided into four groups: control diet (C), control diet supplemented with 10% oligofructose (CF), diet enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat, rich in TFA (T) or diet enriched with hydrogenated vegetable fat supplemented with 10% oligofructose (TF). Diets were maintained during pregnancy and lactation. At birth, 7th, 14th and 21th, pups were weighed and length was measured. Serum concentrations of LPS and free fatty acids (FFA) were performed by specific kits. Bacterial DNA present in faeces was determined by real-time PCR. Data were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean and the statistical analysis was realized by ANOVA two-way and ANOVA for repeated measures. p

Citrate is an essential substrate for energy metabolism that plays critical roles in regulating cell growth and survival. However, the action of citrate in regulating metabolism, cognition, and aging at the organismal level remains poorly understood. Here, we report that dietary supplementation with citrate significantly reduces energy status and extends lifespan in Drosophila melanogaster. Our genetic studies in fruit flies implicate a molecular mechanism associated with AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), target of rapamycin (TOR), and ketogenesis. Mice fed a high‐fat diet that supplemented with citrate or the ketone body β‐hydroxybutyrate (βOHB) also display improved metabolic health and memory. These results suggest that dietary citrate supplementation may prove to be a useful intervention in the future treatment of age‐related dysfunction., Dietary citrate supplementation can induce lifespan extension in fruit flies, as well as improve memory performance and metabolic health in mice under high‐calorie diets. Our experiments demonstrate that citrate‐induced benefits require Drosophila citrate transporter Indy and act through downstream AMPK and TOR signaling to enhance ketogenesis. These results are critical in implicating citrate as an anti‐aging intervention.

Objective:To analyse serum folate levels in women of childbearing age in the Metropolitan Region (MR) of Chile.Design:Cross-sectional design as part of the 2016–2017 National Health Survey (Encuesta Nacional de Salud, ENS 2016–2017), using a household-based multistage stratified random sample. Serum folate levels measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay in fasting venous blood samples were classified as deficient (20 ng/ml).Setting:The MR of Chile.Participants:Women of reproductive age (15–49 years, n 222) from the MR participated in the ENS 2016–2017.Results:The mean, median and range of serum folate were 14·2 (se 0·4), 13·9 and 2·1–32·2 ng/ml, respectively. Folate deficiency was detected in 0·9 % of women, while 7·0 % had supraphysiological levels of the vitamin. No significant effects of age, educational level, marital status, parity, smoking status or nutritional status on serum folate levels were detected by univariate or multivariate analyses. Intake of folic acid supplements showed a significant association with serum folate levels, but only 1·2 % of women used supplements.Conclusions:Folate deficiency in women of reproductive age living in the MR of Chile is almost inexistent according to the ENS 2016–2017, suggesting that the current population-wide mandatory folic acid fortification of flour is an effective and equitable measure to prevent folate deficiency. These results support the option of maintaining current folic acid fortification in Chile, particularly based on the low adherence to supplementation regimes evidenced in other populations.

Objective:To describe and analyse the sociodemographic, anthropometric, behavioural and dietary characteristics of different types of Swiss (no-)meat eaters.Design:No-, low-, medium- and high-meat eaters were compared with respect to energy and total protein intake and sociodemographic, anthropometric and behavioural characteristics.Setting:National Nutrition Survey menuCH, the first representative survey in Switzerland.Participants:2057 participants, aged 18–75 years old, who completed two 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDR) and a questionnaire on dietary habits, sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. Body weight and height were measured by trained interviewers. No-meat eaters were participants who reported meat avoidance in the questionnaire and did not report any meat consumption in the 24-HDR. Remaining study participants were assigned to the group of low-, medium- or high-meat eaters based on energy contributions of total meat intake to total energy intake (meat:energy ratio). Fifteen percentage of the participants were assigned to the low- and high-meat eating groups, and the remaining to the medium-meat eating group.Results:Overall, 4·4 % of the study participants did not consume meat. Compared with medium-meat eaters, no-meat eaters were more likely to be single and users of dietary supplements. Women and high-educated individuals were less likely to be high-meat eaters, whereas overweight and obese individuals were more likely to be high-meat eaters. Total energy intake was similar between the four different meat consumption groups, but no-meat eaters had lowest total protein intake.Conclusions:This study identified important differences in sociodemographic, anthropometric, behavioural and dietary factors between menuCH participants with different meat-eating habits.

The nutraceutical system of curcumin-piperine in 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin was prepared by using the kneading technique. Interactions between the components of the system were defined by X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Application of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as a carrier-solubiliser improved solubility of the curcumin–piperine system, its permeability through biological membranes (gastrointestinal tract, blood–brain barrier) as well as the antioxidant, antimicrobial and enzyme inhibitory activities against acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase., Graphical Abstract

The effects of formulating broiler diets that contain sources of either rapidly or slowly digestible protein and 2 different dietary fiber sources on growth performance were studied in broilers chickens from 0 to 36 d of age. A total of 1,920 one-day-old, male Ross 708 broiler chickens were randomly allocated and housed in 48 floor pens (40 birds/pen) to one of 4 dietary treatments. Birds were allotted according to a completely randomized block design using a factorial arrangement of treatments with 2 protein digestion rates (rapidly or slowly) and 2 dietary fiber sources [3% oat hulls (OH) or 3% sugar beet pulp (SBP)] from 0 to 36 d of age. All diets were formulated to be isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The pen was the experimental unit for all variables studied (12 replicates/treatment). Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS, and the model included the main effects of the protein digestion rate, dietary fiber source, and their interaction. There were 3 experimental feeding phases; starter (from day 0-14), grower (from day 14-28), and finisher (from day 28-36). Results indicated that broilers fed diets containing sources that supplied more rapidly digestible protein had 4% greater (P < 0.01) ADG and improved (P < 0.01) the feed conversion ratio (FCR) by 5% throughout the experiment, most notably after the starter phase. Diets containing 3% OH increased (P < 0.05) the ADFI and ADG (P < 0.05) in the starter phase compared with broilers fed diets containing 3% SBP, without affecting the FCR. The ADG and FCR of broilers fed diets containing sources of slowly digestible protein were improved (P < 0.05) to the level of broilers fed rapidly digestible protein containing diets with the addition of 3% OH. It is concluded that broiler diets should be formulated to contain a high concentration of ingredients that supply rapidly digestible protein, but if this is cost-prohibitive, then 3% OH could be used to increase the ADFI and ADG and potentially protein digestion rates to reduce the FCR.

Currently, no specific drug and vaccine are available for the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and nutritional supplementation should be helpful. This study tried to provide reference for protein supplementation. Specifically, in silico method was employed to simulate protein degradation by gastrointestinal enzymes and to produce a large number of active peptides, then, the binding ability of these peptides to SARS-CoV-2 spike protein receptor-binding domain (RBD) was evaluated. The results showed that wheat-derived alpha/beta-gliadin, oat-derived avenin, and ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase small chain of different origin could be good protein source in generating potent binders to SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD. In addition, some high-affinity oligopeptides (such as PISCR, VQVVN, PQQQF, etc.) were identified as potential binders of SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD. In summary, a number of plant proteins could be helpful for COVID-19 patients when supplemented with these proteins, the identified oligopeptides could be used as lead compound to design potential entry inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2.

Ginkgo biloba extract (GbE) is a dietary supplement derived from an ethanolic extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves. Unfinished bulk GbE is used to make finished products that are sold as dietary supplements. The variable, complex composition of GbE makes it difficult to obtain consistent toxicological assessments of potential risk. The National Toxicology Program (NTP) observed hepatotoxicity in its rodent studies of a commercially available, unfinished GbE product, but the application of these results to the broader GbE supplement market is unclear. Here, we use a combination of non-targeted and targeted chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods to obtain profiles of 24 commercially available finished GbE products and unfinished standardized and unstandardized extracts with and without hydrolysis, then used principal component analysis to group unfinished products according to their similarity to each other and to National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) standard reference materials (SRM), and the finished products. Unfinished products were grouped into those that were characteristic and uncharacteristic of standardized GbE. Our work demonstrates that different analytical approaches produced similar classifications of characteristic and uncharacteristic products in unhydrolyzed samples, but the distinctions largely disappeared once the samples were hydrolyzed. Using our approach, the NTP GbE was most similar to two unfinished GbE products classified as characteristic, finished products, and the NIST GbE SRM. We propose that a simple analysis for the presence, absence, or amounts of compounds unique to GbE in unhydrolyzed samples could be sufficient to determine a sample’s authenticity. Graphical abstract Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00216-020-02839-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background and objectives Using agro-industrial waste in animal diet became a new strategy in the animal feeding system to decrease the cost of nutrition. This study aimed to investigate the effects of usage tomato pomace, citrus and beet pulp in dried form in diets on the performance of lactating buffaloes and milk quality. Materials and methods Fifteen milking Egyptian buffaloes at the second and third seasons of lactation were divided into five groups (3 animals in each) to fed on five experimental rations. The experimental rations were: R1(control group) fed on Concentrate Feed Mixture (CFM1) contains 20% wheat bran+roughage, R2: CFM2 replacement wheat bran 10% Dried Tomato Pomace (DTP) and 10% Citrus Pulp Dried (CPD)+roughages, R3: fed CFM2 with 15 g fibrolytic enzyme/head/day+roughages, R4: Fed CFM3 replacement wheat bran 10% DTP and 10% Dried Beet Pulp (DBP)+roughages and R5: CFM3 with 15 g fibrolytic enzyme/head/day+roughages. Results Tested by-products observed different effects of nutrients digestibility and nutritive values comparing with control ration. There was no significant difference in fat corrected milk and milk fat among treatments. Polyunsaturated fatty acids especially C18:2c and C18:3n3 were recorded highly significant values with ration four. Rations 4 and 5 led to increased blood albumin, total protein. Conclusion It could be concluded that tomato pomace, citrus and beet pulp could be used as alternative sources to replace wheat bran in buffalo's rations without adverse effects on milk yield with positive effects on milk quality and fatty acids profile.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) markedly impairs human health. During T2DM development, some patients experience cognitive dysfunction and behavioral deficits, which are characterized by neuronal injury and memory loss. It has been reported that the incidence of dementia in middle-aged and elderly patients with diabetes is significantly higher than that in normal elderly patients. Currently, the pathogenesis of cognitive dysfunction in diabetes remains unknown, and there is no standard or specific method to diagnose the disease in clinical practice. Evidence has shown that fish oil (FO) can alleviate depressive-like behaviors by attenuating neuroinflammation in a rat model, and improve cognitive dysfunction by inhibiting apoptosis. Therefore, it is reasonable to speculate that FO may reduce cognitive impairment by attenuating neuroinflammation in diabetic rats. In the present study, we investigated the effects of FO supplementation on cognitive dysfunction in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. FO administration for 10 weeks improved spatial learning and memory as evaluated by performance in the Morris water maze (MWM). Besides, FO significantly improved the morphology of neurons in the hippocampus and cortex of diabetic rats and reduced the neuronal nuclear condensation. Moreover, FO decreased the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL -6, and TNF-α and increased the mRNA expression of IL-4 and IL-10 in the cortex and hippocampus. FO also attenuated the brain inflammatory cascade and simultaneously reduced diabetes-induced oxidative stress. In addition, FO increased the protein expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 in cortex and hippocampus of diabetic rats. These results provide a novel horizon for the study of neuroprotective effect of FO and further clarify the connections among inflammation, oxidative stress and diabetes-induced cognitive impairment.

Epidemiological data show a rise in the mean age of patients affected by heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery. Senescent myocardium reduces the tolerance to ischemic stress and there are indications about age-associated deficit in post-operative cardiac performance. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and more specifically its reduced form ubiquinol (QH), improve several conditions related to bioenergetic deficit or increased exposure to oxidative stress. This trial (Eudra-CT 2009-015826-13) evaluated the clinical and biochemical effects of ubiquinol in 50 elderly patients affected by severe aortic stenosis undergoing aortic valve replacement and randomized to either placebo or 400 mg/day ubiquinol from 7 days before to 5 days after surgery. Plasma and cardiac tissue CoQ10 levels and oxidative status, circulating troponin I, CK-MB (primary endpoints), IL-6 and S100B were assessed. Moreover, main cardiac adverse effects, NYHA class, contractility and myocardial hypertrophy (secondary endpoints) were evaluated during a 6-month follow-up visit. Ubiquinol treatment counteracted the post-operative plasma CoQ10 decline (p