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Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the changes in serum Anti-Müllerian Hormone (AMH) levels, sex hormone levels, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)/luteinizing hormone (LH) ratio in patients with celiac disease (CeD), and their correlation with clinical characteristics and nutrient levels., Methods: This cross-sectional study collected clinical and biochemical data from a total of 67 females diagnosed with CeD and 67 healthy females within the reproductive age range of 18-44 years. The study was conducted at a tertiary hospital between September 2016 and January 2024. Both groups underwent comprehensive clinical and laboratory assessments. Serum levels of AMH and sex hormones were quantified using chemiluminescence immunoassay, and their associations with CeD clinical features and nutrient levels were thoroughly analyzed., Results: The study included 67 patients and 67 controls with a mean age of 36.7±7.6 years. No statistically significant differences were found between the two groups in mean age, BMI, FSH, LH, E 2 , P levels, FSH/LH, menstrual irregularities, abortions history, parity, and gravidity (all P>0.05). However, AMH, T, FER, FA, Zn, and Se levels were significantly lower, and PRL levels were higher in the CeD group (all P<0.05). Spearman's correlation analysis showed that AMH levels were negatively correlated with age, tTG level, disease duration, and Marsh grading (P<0.05)., Conclusions: This study highlights the association between impaired ovarian function in CeD patients and disease severity and nutrient levels. Early detection and intervention for ovarian function abnormalities are imperative to enhance fertility potential in CeD patients., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Dietary interventions can change metabolite levels in the tumour microenvironment, which might then affect cancer cell metabolism to alter tumour growth 1-5 . Although caloric restriction (CR) and a ketogenic diet (KD) are often thought to limit tumour progression by lowering blood glucose and insulin levels 6-8 , we found that only CR inhibits the growth of select tumour allografts in mice, suggesting that other mechanisms contribute to tumour growth inhibition. A change in nutrient availability observed with CR, but not with KD, is lower lipid levels in the plasma and tumours. Upregulation of stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), which synthesises monounsaturated fatty acids, is required for cancer cells to proliferate in a lipid-depleted environment, and CR also impairs tumour SCD activity to cause an imbalance between unsaturated and saturated fatty acids to slow tumour growth. Enforcing cancer cell SCD expression or raising circulating lipid levels through a higher-fat CR diet confers resistance to the effects of CR. By contrast, although KD also impairs tumour SCD activity, KD-driven increases in lipid availability maintain the unsaturated to saturated fatty acid ratios in tumours, and changing the KD fat composition to increase tumour saturated fatty acid levels cooperates with decreased tumour SCD activity to slow tumour growth. These data suggest that diet-induced mismatches between tumour fatty acid desaturation activity and the availability of specific fatty acid species determine whether low glycaemic diets impair tumour growth., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Majority of Pakistani soils are deficient in phosphorus. Phosphorus is usually applied in form of synthetic fertilizer. However integrated use of P from synthetic and organic sources can be more profitable and beneficial on sustainable basis. Field trials were conducted at research farm University of Poonch, Rawalakot, AJK, Pakistan for two consecutive years to check the comparative effects of synthetic fertilizer and organic manures applied alone and in combinations on the phosphorus use efficiency (PUE), wheat yield and yield components. Shafaq-06 cultivar of wheat was used as test cultivar. Ten treatments were included: (I) Control (P0) without application of fertilizer; (II) SSP @ 60 kg/ha (P60SSP); (III) SSP @ 90 kg/ha (P90SSP); (IV) SSP @ 120 kg/ha (P120SSP); (V) PM @60 kg/ha (P60PM); (VI) PM @90 kg/ha (P90PM); (VII) PM @120 kg/ha (P120PM); (VIII) SSP @30 kg/ha + PM @30 kg/ha (P30SSP+30PM); (IX) SSP @45 kg/ha + PM @45 kg/ha (P45SSP+45PM); (X) SSP @60 kg/ha + PM @60 kg/ha (P60SSP+60PM) which were laid out under the Randomized Complete Block Design. Significantly higher values for yield of grain (2397 kg/ha) was recorded with PM + SSP @ 60 kg P2O5 ha-1 each. Likewise, FPUE, PIR of wheat and AFPUE was quite higher with combined use of PM and SSP i.e. P60SSP+60PM treatment. Additionally, increase in PUE, wheat yield and yield components associated with combined treated plot would help to minimize the use of high cost synthetic mineral fertilizers and represents an environmentally and agronomically sound management strategy., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Perinatal inflammation adversely affects health. Therefore, aims of this IRB-approved study are: (1) compare inflammatory compounds within and between maternal and umbilical cord blood samples at the time of delivery, (2) assess relationships between inflammatory compounds in maternal and cord blood with birth characteristics/outcomes, and (3) assess relationships between blood and placental fat-soluble nutrients with blood levels of individual inflammatory compounds., Methods: Mother-infant dyads were enrolled (n = 152) for collection of birth data and biological samples of maternal blood, umbilical cord blood, and placental tissue. Nutrient levels included: lutein + zeaxanthin; lycopene; α-, β-carotene; β-cryptoxanthin; retinol; α-, γ-, δ-tocopherol. Inflammatory compounds included: tumor necrosis factor-α, superoxide dismutase, interleukins (IL) 1β, 2, 6, 8, 10., Results: Median inflammatory compound levels were 1.2-2.3 times higher in cord vs. maternal blood, except IL2 (1.3 times lower). Multiple significant correlations existed between maternal vs. infant inflammatory compounds (range of r = 0.22-0.48). While relationships existed with blood nutrient levels, the most significant were identified in placenta where all nutrients (except δ-tocopherol) exhibited relationships with inflammatory compounds. Relationships between anti-inflammatory nutrients and proinflammatory compounds were primarily inverse., Conclusion: Inflammation is strongly correlated between mother-infant dyads. Fat-soluble nutrients have relationships with inflammatory compounds, suggesting nutrition is a modifiable factor., Impact: Mother and newborn inflammation status are strongly interrelated. Levels of fat-soluble nutrients in blood, but especially placenta, are associated with blood levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory compounds in both mother and newborn infant. As fat-soluble nutrient levels are associated with blood inflammatory compounds, nutrition is a modifiable factor to modulate inflammation and improve perinatal outcomes., (© 2020. International Pediatric Research Foundation, Inc.)

Purpose: Multiple risk factors have been implicated in the development of osteoporosis. This study examined potential associations between serum nutritional factors and bone mineral density (BMD)., Methods: Six nutritional factors were selected as exposures. Outcomes included total body BMD (n = 66 945); BMD at the forearm (FA), femoral neck (FN) and lumbar spine (LS) (n = 8143, n = 32 735, and n = 28 498, respectively); estimated heel BMD (HL eBMD) (n = 394 929); and HL eBMD stratified by sex (n = 206 496). A 2-sample Mendelian randomization approach was adopted to estimate the association between serum nutritional factors and BMD. The threshold for adjusted P value was 1.39 × 10-3., Results: Serum calcium levels were inversely associated with LS BMD (effect = -0.55; 95% CI, -0.86 to -0.24; P = 0.001), whereas serum selenium levels were positively correlated with HL eBMD (effect = 0.22; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.33; P = 1.70 × 10-4). Regarding nominal significance, there was a positive association between serum selenium levels and FA BMD. Nominally significant results were also obtained for serum retinol as well as vitamin E levels and HL eBMD. Moreover, sex-specific effects of serum retinol and vitamin E levels on BMD were observed in men., Conclusion: Serum calcium and selenium levels influence BMD at specific skeletal sites. This implies that these nutritional factors play crucial roles in bone metabolism., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Intermittent fasting and fasting mimetic diets ameliorate inflammation. Similarly, serum extracted from fasted healthy and asthmatic subjects' blunt inflammation in vitro, implicating serum components in this immunomodulation. To identify the proteins orchestrating these effects, SOMAScan technology was employed to evaluate serum protein levels in healthy subjects following an overnight, 24-h fast and 3 h after refeeding. Partial least square discriminant analysis identified several serum proteins as potential candidates to confer feeding status immunomodulation. The characterization of recombinant IGFBP1 (elevated following 24 h of fasting) and PYY (elevated following refeeding) in primary human CD4 + T cells found that they blunted and induced immune activation, respectively. Furthermore, integrated univariate serum protein analysis compared to RNA-seq analysis from peripheral blood mononuclear cells identified the induction of IL1RL1 and MFGE8 levels in refeeding compared to the 24-h fasting in the same study. Subsequent quantitation of these candidate proteins in lean versus obese individuals identified an inverse regulation of serum levels in the fasted subjects compared to the obese subjects. In parallel, IL1RL1 and MFGE8 supplementation promoted increased CD4 + T responsiveness to T cell receptor activation. Together, these data show that caloric load-linked conditions evoke serological protein changes, which in turn confer biological effects on circulating CD4 + T cell immune responsiveness.

Evidence for diet quality representing a modifiable risk factor for age-related cognitive decline and mood disturbances has typically come from retrospective, cross-sectional analyses. Here a diet screening tool (DST) was used to categorize healthy middle-aged volunteers ( n = 141, 40-65 years) into "optimal" or "sub-optimal" diet groups to investigate cross-sectional associations between diet quality, cognitive function, and mood. The DST distinguished levels of nutrient intake as assessed by Automated Self-Administered 24-h dietary recall and nutrient status, as assessed by blood biomarker measures. Compared with the "sub-optimal" group, the "optimal" diet group showed significantly higher intake of vitamin E ( p = 0.007), magnesium ( p = 0.001), zinc ( p = 0.043) and fiber ( p = 0.015), higher circulating levels of vitamin B6 ( p = 0.030) and red blood cell folate ( p = 0.026) and lower saturated fatty acids ( p = 0.012). Regarding psychological outcomes, the "optimal" diet group had significantly better Stroop processing than those with a "sub-optimal" diet ( p = 0.013). Regression analysis revealed that higher DST scores were associated with fewer mood disturbances ( p = 0.002) and lower perceived stress ( p = 0.031), although these differences were not significant when comparing "optimal" versus "sub-optimal" as discrete groups. This study demonstrates the potential of a 20-item diet screen to identify both nutritional and psychological status in an Australian setting.

Free-ranging Humboldt penguin (HP, Spheniscus humboldti) populations are under pressure from resource competition with industrial fisheries, habitat loss, and El Niño Southern Oscillation events. Foraging patterns for this top marine predator change during periods of aberrant oceanographic conditions and scarce fish stock numbers. These radical dietary fluctuations can lead to poor fertility, early embryonic death, poor hatchability, suppressed immune function, high chick mortality, and illness. To understand the variability of nutrient status in reproductive seasons, we measured select circulating nutrient concentrations (fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and carotenoids, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals, and electrolytes) of 105 HP at Punta San Juan, Peru during the first reproductive seasons of 2007 and 2008. We determined significant differences in nutrient status between sexes, years of sampling, and reproductive stages. Males (4.5 ± 0.38 kg) weighed more than females (4.0 ± 0.29 kg) and exhibited higher concentrations of vitamin A (0.71 ± 0.11 vs. 0.61 ± 0.12 µg/ml) and docosahexaenoic acid (6.70 ± 1.61 vs. 5.65 ± 1.59%). Males also displayed lower concentrations of β-carotene (0.01 ± 0.01 vs. 0.012 ± 0.001 µg/ml) and phosphorus (3.43 ± 0.83 vs. 4.40 ± 1.66 mg/dl). Comparison between the 2 years showed most circulating amino acid concentrations were higher in 2007. Significant differences in circulating amino acids and vitamins were also noted between different reproductive stages. These results demonstrate concentrations of nutrients can vary due to the physiological state of the animal, as well as the overall dynamics of their marine ecosystem habitat., (© 2020 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

To evaluate the effects of selenium (Se) and vitamin E (Vit E) on female sika deer. This study was conducted using a 3 × 2 + 1 factorial experiment. Depending on treatment design, the deer were fed with the basal diet supplemented with 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mg of selenium as well as 100 and 200 IU of vitamin E per kg of dry matter (DM). Accordingly, six groups named G1 to G6 are involved in this study. In addition, group G0 was available in the study, in which the deer were fed with only basal diet. The results show that the final body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and apparent digestibility of crude protein, ether extract, and neutral detergent fiber of the deer in G1 to G6 increased as the selenium level increased from 0.2 to 0.3 mg per kg of DM (P < 0.05). Higher IgG content of the deer was observed with the intake of selenium and vitamin E (P < 0.05). The total content of protein of the deer in G3 was higher than that in G0 (P < 0.05), and the activity of glutathione peroxidase increased following the increase in the supplementation levels of selenium and vitamin E (P < 0.05). Furthermore, selenium had significant effects on the concentration of T4 and T3 (P < 0.05). The optimum levels of selenium and vitamin E for 1-year-old female sika deer were 0.3 mg and 100 IU per kg of dietary DM, respectively.

Coffee consumption has been inversely associated with various diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms are not entirely clear. We used data of 17,752 Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants to investigate the association of 245 metabolites, nutrients, and lifestyle factors with coffee consumption. We used data from the first phase ( n = 8825) to identify factors with a false discovery rate of <5%. We then replicated our results using data from the second phase ( n = 8927). Regular coffee consumption was positively associated with active and passive smoking, serum lead and urinary cadmium concentrations, dietary intake of potassium and magnesium, and aspirin intake. In contrast, regular coffee consumption was inversely associated with serum folate and red blood cell folate levels, serum vitamin E and C, and beta-cryptoxanthin concentrations, Healthy Eating Index score, and total serum bilirubin. Most of the aforementioned associations were also observed for caffeinated beverage intake. In our assessment of the association between coffee consumption and selected metabolites, nutrients, and lifestyle factors, we observed that regular coffee and caffeinated beverage consumption was strongly associated with smoking, serum lead levels, and poorer dietary habits., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Objective: The present study aimed to elucidate the effect of switching from branched-chain amino acid granules to branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient in patients with cirrhosis with hypoalbuminemia., Methods: Twenty-six patients with cirrhosis with hypoalbuminemia despite treatment with branched-chain amino acid granules containing 12 g of branched-chain amino acid were enrolled in the prospective study. The branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient and control groups were composed of 16 and 10 patients, respectively. The patients in branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient group switched to branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient mixture containing 12.2 g of branched-chain amino acid and 410 kcal with a half of it consumed as a late evening snack, and the patients in the control group continued branched-chain amino acid granules. Laboratory data related to nutrition parameter were assessed at baseline, 3 months after baseline, and at 6 months after baseline., Results: Two patients were withdrawn; hence, nine and 15 patients in the branched-chain amino acid granules and branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient groups, respectively, were subjected to full analysis. Serum albumin levels and total lymphocyte counts in both groups did not change in the study period. The branched-chain amino acid-to-tyrosine ratio in the branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrient group significantly increased from baseline to 6 months after baseline (P = 0.030), whereas that in the control group did not increase., Conclusion: Switching from branched-chain amino acid granules to branched-chain amino acid-enriched nutrients improves branched-chain amino acid-to-tyrosine ratio in patients with cirrhosis with hypoalbuminemia.

Background: Sodium/glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors improve glycemic control and reduce body weight by increasing glycosuria. Although a compensatory increase of food intake has been reported, the long-term effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on food intake remains unclear. This study investigated the influence of canagliflozin on calorie and nutrient intake over 1 year. Materials and Methods: Patients with type 2 diabetes ( n  = 107) were enrolled and followed prospectively while receiving canagliflozin at 100 mg/day for 12 months. Intake of nutrients was investigated by using the food frequency questionnaire. Hemoglobin A1c, body weight, and satisfaction with diabetes treatment (assessed by the Diabetes Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire: DTSQ) were also investigated. Results: The baseline total energy intake was 1723 ± 525 kcal/day and it showed a persistent increase during treatment with canagliflozin, being 132 kcal higher at 6 months ( P  = 0.0058) and 113 kcal higher at 12 months ( P  = 0.0516). Intake of all three macronutrients (carbohydrate, protein, and fat) was significantly increased after 6 months of canagliflozin treatment ( P  = 0.0129, P  = 0.0160, and P  = 0.0314, respectively), but their ratio was unchanged. The DTSQ score improved significantly and both hemoglobin A1c and body weight showed a significant decrease throughout treatment (all P  < 0.0001). Conclusions: After patients with type 2 diabetes commenced canagliflozin, their calorie intake increased without changing the ratio of the three macronutrients. Despite elevation of the calorie intake, glycemic control improved and weight loss was achieved. Satisfaction with treatment of diabetes also increased.

In humans, chronic glucocorticoid use is associated with side effects like muscle wasting, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. Intermittent steroid dosing has been proposed in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients to mitigate the side effects seen with daily steroid intake. We evaluated biomarkers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patients, finding that, compared with chronic daily steroid use, weekend steroid use was associated with reduced serum insulin, free fatty acids, and branched chain amino acids, as well as reduction in fat mass despite having similar BMIs. We reasoned that intermittent prednisone administration in dystrophic mice would alter muscle epigenomic signatures, and we identified the coordinated action of the glucocorticoid receptor, KLF15 and MEF2C as mediators of a gene expression program driving metabolic reprogramming and enhanced nutrient utilization. Muscle lacking Klf15 failed to respond to intermittent steroids. Furthermore, coadministration of the histone acetyltransferase inhibitor anacardic acid with steroids in mdx mice eliminated steroid-specific epigenetic marks and abrogated the steroid response. Together, these findings indicate that intermittent, repeated exposure to glucocorticoids promotes performance in dystrophic muscle through an epigenetic program that enhances nutrient utilization.

Alu hypomethylation promotes genomic instability and is associated with aging and age-related diseases. Dietary factors affect global DNA methylation, leading to changes in genomic stability and gene expression with an impact on longevity and the risk of disease. This preliminary study aims to investigate the relationship between nutritional factors, such as circulating trace elements, lipids and antioxidants, and Alu methylation in elderly subjects and offspring of healthy nonagenarians. Alu DNA methylation was analyzed in sixty RASIG (randomly recruited age-stratified individuals from the general population) and thirty-two GO (GeHA offspring) enrolled in Italy in the framework of the MARK-AGE project. Factor analysis revealed a different clustering between Alu CpG1 and the other CpG sites. RASIG over 65 years showed lower Alu CpG1 methylation than those of GO subjects in the same age class. Moreover, Alu CpG1 methylation was associated with fruit and whole-grain bread consumption, LDL2-Cholesterol and plasma copper. The preserved Alu methylation status in GO, suggests Alu epigenetic changes as a potential marker of aging. Our preliminary investigation shows that Alu methylation may be affected by food rich in fibers and antioxidants, or circulating LDL subfractions and plasma copper.

The application of the isometric log-ratio (ilr) transformation to dietary data leads to the definition of nutrient balances that represent new variables which can be included in regression models as covariates. However, their effects on the response variable are not easy to quantify. We then propose borrowing the concept of elasticity from econometrics as an appealing means of improving the interpretability of the ilr-related coefficients. Using data from an Italian population-based study, a multiple linear regression model of the serum total-/HDL-cholesterol ratio on nutrient balances was fitted and the estimated coefficients were used to derive elasticities. The elasticities measure the relative changes in the cholesterol ratio in response to the relative changes in specific nutrient ratios, while keeping unchanged the proportional relationships between the other dietary elements. In a comprehensive overview of the diet, this alternative approach to dietary data analysis allows isocaloric analysis and may provide interesting new insights.

To avoid boar taint before slaughtering, late castration by immunisation against gonadotrophin releasing hormone or immunocastration has been developed. The current study aimed at determining whether differences in feed efficiency between castrated male (CM), immune castrated (IM) and entire male pigs (EM) can be explained by differences in nutrient plasma profiles after a meal. In this study, 24 male pigs ( n = 8/type) were enrolled between 14 to 19 weeks of age. Entire and IM pigs ate less and were more feed efficient than CM pigs ( p < 0.05). The postprandial plasma profiles of glucose, insulin, urea and amino acids (AA) were determined before (d -6), just after (d 8) and well after (d 16) the decrease in testicular hormones in IM pigs. For each test day, pigs were fasted overnight and subsequently fed a small meal (400 g). On d -6, postprandial profiles of plasma glucose of IM pigs did not differ from the two other types of pigs. On d 8, EM pigs had a greater average plasma glucose concentration than IM and CM pigs ( p < 0.05) but the profiles did not differ. On d 16, the differences between profiles of glucose suggest a lower clearance of glucose in EM compared with IM and CM pigs. Plasma insulin did not significantly differ between the three types. Plasma urea profiles did not differ between CM, EM and IC pigs on d -6 whereas CM pigs showed higher plasma urea concentrations than EM and IM thereafter ( p < 0.01). Among AA, Lys plasma concentrations were greater in CM than in EM and IM pigs on d -6, d 8 and d 16 ( p < 0.05), whereas on d 16 plasma Hypro concentrations were lower in CM than in EM and IM pigs ( p < 0.05). The finding that plasma glucose profiles were modified by immunocastration much faster and earlier than urea and AA profiles, suggest that the decrease in testicular hormones impacted energy metabolism more rapidly than protein metabolism.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the associated effects of ambient temperature and inflammation caused by repeated administration of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on insulin, energy, and AA metabolism. Twenty-eight pigs were assigned to one of the two thermal conditions: thermoneutral (24 °C) or high ambient temperature (30 °C). The experimental period lasted 17 d, which was divided into a 7-d period without LPS (days -7 to -1), and a subsequent 10-d LPS period (days 1 to 10) in which pigs were administered 5 repeated injections of LPS at 2-d intervals. Postprandial profiles of plasma insulin and nutrients were evaluated through serial blood samples taken on days -4 (P0), 4 (P1), and 8 (P2). Before the LPS-challenge (P0), postprandial concentrations of glucose, lactate, Gln, Ile, Leu, Phe, Tyr, and Val were greater in pigs kept at 24 °C than at 30 °C (P < 0.05). In contrast, Arg, Asp, Gly, His, and Met postprandial concentrations at P0 were lower at 24 °C than at 30 °C (P < 0.05). At both 24 and 30 °C conditions, pigs had greater postprandial concentrations of insulin (P < 0.01) and lower concentrations of NEFA (P < 0.01) and α-amino nitrogen (P < 0.05) at P1 and P2 than at P0. Compared with P0, postprandial concentrations of glucose were greater (P < 0.05) at P1 in pigs kept at 24 °C, and at P1 and P2 in pigs kept at 30 °C. At both ambient temperatures, pigs had lower (P < 0.05) postprandial concentrations of Ala, Gly, His, Ile, Leu, Pro, Ser, Thr, Trp, and Val at P1 and P2 than at P0. Arginine postprandial concentration at P1 was lower than at P0 in pigs kept at 24 °C (P < 0.05), whereas no difference was observed in pigs at 30 °C. Relative to P0, Gln and Tyr concentrations were lower at P1 and P2 in pigs kept at 24 °C (P < 0.01), whereas lower Gln concentration was observed only at P2 (P < 0.01) and lower Tyr only at P1 (P < 0.01) in pigs kept at 30 °C. Our study shows a hyperglycemic and hyperinsulinemic state in LPS-challenged pigs and a greater magnitude of this response in pigs kept at 30 °C. Furthermore, LPS caused important changes in BCAA, His, Thr, and Trp profiles, suggesting the role these AA in supporting the inflammatory response. Finally, our results suggest that LPS-induced effects on postprandial profiles of specific AA (Arg, Gln, Phe, and Tyr) may be modulated by ambient temperature., (© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society of Animal Science. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Low glycemic index (GI) and/or low glycemic load (GL) are associated with decreased risks of type-2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It is therefore relevant to consider GI and GL in the early phases of the development of packaged foods and beverages. This paper proposes a model that predicts GI and GL from macronutrient composition, by quantifying both the impact of glycemic carbohydrates and the GI-lowering effects of nutrients such as proteins, fats and fibers. The precision of the model is illustrated using data on 42 breakfast cereals. The predictions of GI ( r = 0.90, median residual = 2.0) and GL ( r = 0.96, median residual = 0.40 g) compete well with the precision of the underlying in-vivo data (Standard Error SE = 3.5 for GI). This model can guide product development towards lowering GI and GL, before final confirmation by in vivo testing.

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic strategy for embryo development and survival. The one-carbon metabolism can be disturbed by inadequate provision of dietary methyl donors. Because of the continuous selection for larger litters, it is relevant to explore if highly prolific sows might encounter periods of methyl donor deficiency throughout their reproductive cycles. This study, therefore, assesses the fluctuation(s) in methylation potential (MP) and aims to link possible methyl donor deficiencies to nutrient metabolism. In total, 15 hybrid sows were followed from weaning of the previous reproductive cycle (d-5) to weaning of the present cycle. Blood samples were taken at d-5, 0, 21, 42, 63, 84 and d108 of gestation, the day of parturition (d115), two weeks of lactation (d129) and at weaning (d143). Blood plasma samples were analysed for S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), free methionine, free glycine, acetylcarnitine and 3-hydroxybutyrylcarnitine. Serum samples were analysed for urea and creatinine. Generally, MP (i.e. ratio SAM:SAH) increased throughout gestation (p = 0.009), but strongly fluctuated in the period around parturition and weaning. From d108 to parturition, absolute plasma levels of SAM (p < 0.001), SAH (p = 0.031) and methionine (p = 0.001) increased. The first two weeks of lactation were characterised by an increase in MP (p = 0.039) due to a remaining high value of SAM and a distinct decrease in SAH (p = 0.008). During the last two weeks of lactation, MP decreased (p = 0.038) due to a decrease in SAM (p < 0.001) and a stable value for SAH. The methylation reactions seem to continue after weaning, a period crucial for the follicular and embryonic development of the subsequent litter. This study thus demonstrates that the methylation status fluctuates substantially throughout a sow's reproductive cycle, and further research is needed to identify the factors affecting methylation status., (© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Aims: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder and its prevalence is rapidly increasing worldwide. Patients with T2DM suffer from an increased risk of vascular complications. Of these, the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) causes the most mortality in patients with T2DM, however, its underlying molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. Nutrient sensing pathways which play a key role in sensing cellular energy and nutrients levels are reported to dysregulated in metabolic disease like T2DM. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression levels of nutrient sensing genes including SIRT1, PRKAB1, PRKAB2 and mTOR in CAD + versus CAD - T2DM patients., Methods: Sixty-five people with T2DM who referred to Tehran heart center were participated in this study. Based on coronary angiography data these individuals were classified into two groups: CAD + T2DM (n = 34) and CAD - T2DM (n = 31). Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from these patients and the expression levels of genes were evaluated by RT-qPCR., Results: Significant down-regulations of the SIRT1 (3.1-fold, p = 0.0013) and PRKAB1 (3.5-fold, p = 0.0001) mRNA expression were observed in CAD + T2DM group in comparison with CAD - T2DM patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that the area under the ROC curve was 0.8529 (p = 0.0001) and 0.7078 (p = 0.004) for PRKAB1 and SIRT1 respectively., Conclusion: Our results suggest that the dysregulation of genes involved in nutrient sensing pathway may be associated with the pathogenesis of CAD in patients with T2DM. Furthermore, the expression levels of these genes could be consider as potential biomarkers., (Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Purpose: We aimed to study whether macronutrient intake could modify the association between ApoB Ins/Del and lipid profile, and serum leptin and ghrelin in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients., Methods: In this study, 700 T2DM patients were recruited. Anthropometric, biochemical and molecular data were collected, and Diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. The interactions were tested using ANCOVA., Results: Del-allele carriers with high-MUFA and carbohydrate (≥ 12 and ≥ 54% of energy, respectively) had significantly higher TG (P = 0.04) and LDL-C (P = 0.02) compared to Ins/Ins homozygotes, and these were not significant in subjects with low-MUFA and -carbohydrate (< 12 and < 54%, respectively). A significant interaction was observed between ApoB Ins/Del and diet on TG in both unadjusted (P = 0.03) and adjusted models (model 2 and 3, P = 0.04 and P = 0.04, respectively), and on LDL-C only in adjusted models (model 2 and 3, P = 0.03 and P = 0.029, respectively). Besides, Del-allele carriers with protein, SFA, MUFA and n-3PUFA of ≥ 14, 9, 12 and 0.6%, respectively, had a significant increase in their serum leptin than Ins/Ins homozygotes (P < 0.05). However, these associations were not significant between the two genetic groups in subjects with low intakes of protein, SFA, MUFA and n-3PUFA. Moreover, Del-allele carriers with low carbohydrate (< 54%) had significantly higher leptin and ghrelin than Ins/Ins homozygotes (P < 0.05), however, in high-carbohydrate group, leptin and ghrelin were not significantly lower., Conclusions: These findings indicate that the interaction between ApoB Ins/Del and dietary intake of MUFA, SFA, n-3PUFA, carbohydrate and protein could modulate the serum levels of TG, LDL-C, leptin and ghrelin in T2DM patients.

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis may be involved in the development of type 2 diabetes. We examined the associations of IGF-I and IGF binding proteins (IGFBP)-1 and -3 with diabetes risk and evaluated macronutrient intakes related to the observed associations. In a nested case-control study of the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study of Finnish male smokers aged 50-69 years, the IGF variables were measured from baseline serum samples for a random sample of 310 men with diabetes diagnosed during a 12-year follow-up and for 310 controls matched by age, recruitment day and intervention group. Diet at baseline was assessed using a validated FFQ. The associations of IGF proteins with diabetes risk were estimated using conditional logistic regression and the associations with macronutrient intakes using linear regression. IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were not associated with the incidence of diabetes. Higher IGFBP-1 was associated with lower diabetes risk in an unadjusted crude model (OR 0·25; 95 % CI 0·15, 0·42 in the highest quartile compared with the lowest), but not after adjustment for BMI (corresponding OR 0·76; 95 % CI 0·41, 1·40). Intakes of carbohydrates, plant protein and milk protein associated positively and intake of meat protein and fat negatively with IGFBP-1 (P&lt;0·005). IGFBP-1 was inversely associated with diabetes risk, but the association was substantially dependent on BMI. The associations between macronutrient intakes and IGFBP-1 may reflect influences of nutrients or foods on insulin concentrations.

Trace nutrients have been shown to play important health roles in both domestic and wild animals, but there has been little investigation into their values and effects in giant pandas ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca ). The goal of this study was to obtain serum vitamin and mineral values in a group of healthy, captive giant pandas ( n = 4). Twenty-seven samples were obtained from the group from 2008 to 2012. Serum analytes measured included retinol, α-tocopherol, hydroxyvitamin D, cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn). The diet was evaluated for protein, fat, fiber, Ca, P, magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), sodium (Na), Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Mo. Comparison with other giant panda nutrient values were made. Further research with increased sample sizes and different populations are warranted., (© 2019 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.)

Objectives: To describe the nutritional profile and assess the National Dietary Survey on the Child and Adolescent Population project in Spain (ENALIA) regarding usual total energy and macronutrient intake., Methods: A cross-sectional nationally representative sample of 1862 children and adolescents (age 6 months to 17) was surveyed between 2013 and 2014 following European methodology recommendations. Dietary information was collected using two methods, dietary records (for children from age 6 months to 9 years) and 24-h dietary recall (participants age 10 and older). Usual intake was estimated by correcting for within-person intake variance using the Iowa State University (ISU) method. A probability analysis was used to assess compliance with dietary reference intakes in the target population., Results: Protein consumption in the age 1-3 group as a percentage of total energy exceeded the upper limit of the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range (AMDR) by 4.7% for boys and 12.1% for girls. 42.9% of girls age 4-8 were under the lower limit of the AMDR for carbohydrates. 43.4% of boys and 46.9% of girls between 4 and 17 exceeded the AMDR in total fat intake, saturated fatty acids (SFAs) accounting for 12.3% of total energy., Conclusions: The results suggest that Spanish children and adolescents could improve macronutrient distribution by reducing fat and increasing carbohydrate intake across all age groups, and decreasing protein intake, especially in young children.

Ill and anorectic captive sharks present a unique challenge for husbandry and veterinary staff. Providing adequate fluid and nutritional support to sharks while minimizing handling remains difficult. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of a nutrient enema to alter blood analyte concentrations. Thirty-six healthy, fasted white-spotted bamboo sharks ( Chiloscyllium plagiosum ) were enrolled in the study with 18 sharks receiving a nutrient enema and 18 sharks receiving a non-nutrient saline enema. The metabolic state of sharks was evaluated via measurement of blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and β-hydroxybutyrate as well as other serum biochemistry parameters. Changes in sodium, chloride, calcium, β-hydroxybutyrate, glucose, total protein, and triglyceride concentrations were seen across time in both groups. Blood glucose absolute concentrations and changes over time differed between the nutrient and nonnutrient groups. This pilot study indicates that it is possible to influence the glucose metabolism of healthy sharks via nutrient enema. Further study is needed to better understand potential therapeutics for ill and anorectic sharks., (© 2019 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.)

Introduction: Intensive care unit-acquired weakness (ICU-AW) is often observed in critically ill patients with prolonged intensive care unit (ICU) stay. We hypothesized that evolving metabolic abnormalities during prolonged ICU stay are reflected by changing nutrient patterns in blood, urine and skeletal muscle, and that these patterns differ in patients with/without ICU-AW and between patients with/without sepsis., Methods: In a prospective single-center observational trial, we aim to recruit 100 critically ill patients (ICU length of stay ≥ 5 days) with severe sepsis/septic shock ("sepsis group", n = 50) or severe head trauma/intracerebral hemorrhage ("CNS group", n = 50). Patients will be sub-grouped for presence or absence of ICU-AW as determined by the Medical Research Council sum score. Blood and urine samples will be collected and subjected to comprehensive nutrient analysis at different time points by targeted quantitative mass spectrometric methods. In addition, changes in muscular tissue (biopsy, when available), muscular architecture (ultrasound), electrophysiology, body composition analyses (bioimpedance, cerebral magnetic resonance imaging), along with clinical status will be assessed. Patients will be followed-up for 180 and 360 days including assessment of quality of life., Discussion: Key objective of this trial is to assess changes in nutrient pattern in blood and urine over time in critically ill patients with/without ICU-AW by using quantitative nutrient analysis techniques. Peer-reviewed published NAChO data will allow for a better understanding of metabolic changes in critically ill patients on standard liquid enteral nutrition and will likely open up new avenues for future therapeutic and nutritional interventions.

Background and Objectives: More than 20% of pregnant Japanese women regularly skip breakfast, thereby resulting in a low intake of several nutrients that are required for fetal development and prevention of pregnancy complications. However, whether skipping breakfast affects circulating levels of these nutrients remains unclear. We investigated whether skipping breakfast during pregnancy was associated with decreases in dietary intake and circulating and urinary levels of several nutrients, including fatty acids and vitamins., Methods and Study Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital in Tokyo, Japan, between June and October 2010. Nutrient intakes were assessed using a validated diet history questionnaire. Blood and 24-hour urinary samples were collected for assessing circulating and urinary excretion levels of nutrients. Skipping breakfast was defined as forgoing breakfast including a staple food, such as rice or bread, two or more times per week. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to compare nutrient levels between breakfast skippers and non-skippers after adjusting for confounders., Results: Of 97 healthy pregnant women in the second trimester, 37 (38.1%) skipped breakfast two or more times per week. In multiple linear regression analysis, breakfast skippers had significant lower energy-adjusted intakes of protein than non-skippers (p=0.019). In addition, breakfast skippers had significantly lower levels of plasma eicosapentaenoic acid (p=0.008), plasma docosahexaenoic acid (p=0.027), serum β- carotene (p=0.013), urinary urea nitrogen (p=0.027), and urinary potassium (p=0.006), compared to non-skippers., Conclusions: Healthcare professionals need to suggest effective strategies for encouraging breakfast skippers to have breakfast regularly and to increase the intake of these nutrients.

Periodontal disease damages tissues as a result of dysregulated host responses against the chronic bacterial biofilm insult and approximately 50% of US adults >30 years old exhibit periodontitis. The association of five blood nutrients and periodontitis were evaluated due to our previous findings regarding a potential protective effect for these nutrients in periodontal disease derived from the US population sampled as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999⁻2004). Data from over 15,000 subjects was analyzed for blood levels of cis-β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, folate, vitamin D, and vitamin E, linked with analysis of the presence and severity of periodontitis. Moderate/severe disease patients had lower cis-β-carotene levels across all racial/ethnic groups and these decreased levels in moderate/severe periodontitis were exacerbated with age. β-cryptoxanthin demonstrated lower levels in severe disease patients across the entire age range in all racial/ethnic groups. Folate differences were evident across the various age groups with consistently lower levels in periodontitis patients >30 years and most pronounced in females. Lower levels of vitamin D were consistently noted across the entire age range of patients with a greater difference seen in females with periodontitis. Finally, an analytical approach to identify interactions among these nutrients related to age and periodontitis showed interactions of vitamin D in females, and folate with race in the population. These findings suggest that improving specific nutrient intake leading to elevated blood levels of a combination of these protective factors may provide a novel strategy to affect the significant increase in periodontitis that occurs with aging.

Feed efficiency (FE) is a measure of the rate between feed intake and body weight gain and is subject to constant progress in pigs, based on extensive performance tests and analyses of physiological parameters. However, endocrine regulatory circuits that comprise the sensation and perception of intrinsic requirements and appropriate systemic responses have not yet been fully elucidated. It is hypothesized that the gut-brain axis, which is a network of hierarchical anterior regulatory tissues, contributes largely to variations in FE. Therefore, full-sib pigs with extreme residual feed intake values were assigned to experimental groups of high and low FE. Relevant hormones, minerals, and metabolites including fatty acid profiles were analyzed in serum to assess postprandial conditions. Transcriptome profiles were deduced from intestinal (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) and neuroendocrine tissues (hypothalamus). Serum analyses of feed-efficient animals showed an increased content of the incretin GIP, calcium, magnesium, β-hydroxybutyric acid, and fat compared with low-FE pigs. Complementary expression profiles in intestinal tissues indicate a modulated permeability and host-microbe interaction in FE-divergent pigs. Transcriptomic analyses of the hypothalamus showed that differences between the FE groups in appetite and satiety regulation are less pronounced. However, hypothalamic abundance of transcripts like ADCY7, LHCGR, and SLC2A7 and molecular signatures in local and systemic tissue sites indicate that increased allocation and circulation of energy equivalents, minerals, and hormones are promoted in feed-efficient animals. Overall, patterns of gastrointestinal hormones and gene expression profiles identified host-microbiota interaction, intestinal permeability, feed intake regulation, and energy expenditure as potential mechanisms affecting FE in pigs.

Advertisement displays often seem extravagant and expensive, and are thought to depend on the body condition of a signaller. Nevertheless, we know little about how signallers adjust effort based on condition, and few studies find a strong relationship between natural variation in condition and display. To examine the relationship between body condition and signal elaboration more fully, we characterized physiological condition and acoustic displays in a wild rodent with elaborate vocalizations, Alston's singing mouse, Scotinomys teguina We found two major axes of variation in condition-one defined by short-term fluctuations in caloric nutrients, and a second by longer-term variation in adiposity. Among acoustic parameters, song effort was characterized by high rates of display and longer songs. Song effort was highly correlated with measures of adiposity. We found that leptin was a particularly strong predictor of display effort. Leptin is known to influence investment in other costly traits, such as immune function and reproduction. Plasma hormone levels convey somatic state to a variety of tissues, and may govern trait investment across vertebrates. Such measures offer new insights into how animals translate body condition into behavioural and life-history decisions., (© 2018 The Author(s).)

Objective: To understand the contribution of regional differentials in dietary exposures to regional gradients in health, we examined 20-year trends in the association of US census region of residence with nutritional biomarkers and dietary intakes of American adults., Design: Observational., Setting: The biomarker and 24 h dietary recall data were from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) conducted during 1988-1994 and 1999-2010. The US census region was operationalized as Northeast, Midwest, South and West. Nutritional biomarker outcomes were serum folate, vitamins B6, B12, C, D and E, and carotenoids; dietary outcomes were intakes of nutrients, food groups and eating patterns., Subjects: US adults, n>8000-40 000 for biomarkers and >43 000 for dietary outcomes., Results: The interactions of survey time period and region were not significant for the examined biomarker and dietary outcomes, indicating similar secular trends among regions. The main effect of region was significant for all nutritional biomarkers except serum vitamin B6, most dietary micronutrients, food groups and eating patterns (P<0·001). The mean serum folate, vitamins B12, C and E, and all carotenoid (except lycopene) biomarker levels, and intakes of dietary fibre, vitamins A, E, C and B6, folate, K, Ca, Mg and Fe, fruits, vegetables and whole grains, were higher in the West and Northeast regions, relative to the South and Midwest regions., Conclusions: Overall, the regional gradients in dietary exposure, expressed objectively as biomarkers or as self-reported nutrient and food group intakes, paralleled trajectories reported for health outcomes and were remarkably persistent over time.

Background/objectives: This study was aimed to investigate the association of maternal serum and breast-milk levels of macronutrients, hormones, growth factors, and maternal body composition with infant's body weight., Subjects/methods: Eighty mother-infant pairs comprised 40 with overweight or obese infant and 40 with normal-weight infant were enrolled in this study. The level of ghrelin, Leptin, adiponectin, EGF, and IGF1 in plasma and breast milk were assessed. Daily breast milk intake and macronutrient concentration along with anthropometric indices of mother-infant pairs were also assessed., Results: No significant differences were observed in concentrations of serum hormones between two groups (p > 0.05). However, hormones levels in maternal serum were higher than those in breast milk. A significant positive correlation was found between serum EGF and ghrelin (r = 0.57, p = 0 < 0001). Higher IGF1 in serum showed a significant association with its milk counterpart (r = 0.37). Current mother's weight was associated with infant's weight at the 2nd and 6th month (B = 0.023 p = 0.04, B = 0.055 p = 0.005). The breast-milk macronutrient content was not comparable between two groups. However, the average daily breast milk consumption in obese infants was higher than normals (p = 0.001). Milk EGF and leptin were related to a decrease of 59% and 46% the odds of obese infant development, respectively. There was a significant association of milk EGF and ghrelin with birth weight (B = -0.19, p = 0.04 and B = -0.2, p = 0.04, respectively), and also serum leptin with infant's body weight at the 6th month., Conclusions: Our findings provide a positive association of maternal weight, daily breast milk intake, EGF, and ghrelin with infant's body weight.