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Abstract Dietary biomarkers in urine remain elusive when evaluating diet-induced oxidative stress and inflammation. In our previous study, we conducted a randomized controlled crossover trial to compare the short-term (4-weeks) effects of the balanced Korean diet (BKD) with Western diets, including the 2010 dietary guidelines for Americans (2010 DGA) and typical American diet (TAD), on various metabolic indices in obese Korean adults. Building on this work, the current research focuses on the impact of these dietary interventions on oxidative stress (d-ROMs and BAP) and inflammation (CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, MCP-1) biomarkers in serum, and the concurrent urine metabolomes. Each dietary regimen was in silico and experimentally examined for their antioxidant levels using ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays, as well as total flavonoid (TFC) and total phenolic (TPC) contents. We assessed post-intervention variations in oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers in serum, as well as the urine metabolite profiles for the participants (n = 48, average age: 41 years). Antioxidant contents and associated total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were significantly higher for the recommended diets (BKD and 2010 DGA) compared to TAD (p 0.7, p

Visual stimuli from green plants have positive effects on mental health. This study aimed to compare human responses to varying plant types [live, artificial, two-dimensional (2D), and three-dimensional (3D) plant models] as visual stimuli. Thirty adults (age, 29.9 ± 11.5 years) viewed each plant form while an electroencephalography (EEG) measured their brain activity. Psychological responses were assessed using the semantic differential method (SDM). No significant differences were observed among visual stimuli; however, brain activity differences varied between male and female participants. Males who observed live and artificial plants had a higher relative alpha (RA) spectrum (RAS) and relative fast alpha (RFA) spectrum frequencies at Fp1 and Fp2 (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01 vs. P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), indicating greater emotional stability. Similarly, male participants who viewed 2D models had higher RA and RFA frequencies at Fp1 (P < 0.01, P < 0.01) and Fp2 (P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Male participants who observed 3D models exhibited higher RA, RSA, and RFA frequencies at Fp1 (P < 0.01). Live and artificial plants were deemed the most calming (P < 0.01). Both sexes found live plants to be the most pleasant (males: P < 0.01; females: P < 0.05) and natural (males: P < 0.001; females: P < 0.01). Overall, alpha wave differences were not significant among plant types, and live plants elicited a trend toward emotional stability. These findings suggest that 3D plant models can be as effective as real plants in psychophysiological applications, indicating their potential benefits for enhancing mental health in urban environments.

BackgroundEzetimibe, which lowers cholesterol by blocking the intestinal cholesterol transporter Niemann-Pick C1 like 1, is reported to reduce hepatic steatosis in humans and animals. Here, we demonstrate the changes in hepatic metabolites and lipids and explain the underlying mechanism of ezetimibe in hepatic steatosis.MethodsWe fed Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty (OLETF) rats a high-fat diet (60 kcal % fat) with or vehicle (control) or ezetimibe (10 mg kg-1) via stomach gavage for 12 weeks and performed comprehensive metabolomic and lipidomic profiling of liver tissue. We used rat liver tissues, HepG2 hepatoma cell lines, and siRNA to explore the underlying mechanism.ResultsIn OLETF rats on a high-fat diet, ezetimibe showed improvements in metabolic parameters and reduction in hepatic fat accumulation. The comprehensive metabolomic and lipidomic profiling revealed significant changes in phospholipids, particularly phosphatidylcholines (PC), and alterations in the fatty acyl-chain composition in hepatic PCs. Further analyses involving gene expression and triglyceride assessments in rat liver tissues, HepG2 hepatoma cell lines, and siRNA experiments unveiled that ezetimibe’s mechanism involves the upregulation of key phospholipid biosynthesis genes, CTP:phosphocholine cytidylyltransferase alpha and phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyl-transferase, and the phospholipid remodeling gene lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 3.ConclusionThis study demonstrate that ezetimibe improves metabolic parameters and reduces hepatic fat accumulation by influencing the composition and levels of phospholipids, specifically phosphatidylcholines, and by upregulating genes related to phospholipid biosynthesis and remodeling. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular pathways through which ezetimibe mitigates hepatic fat accumulation, emphasizing the role of phospholipid metabolism.

Branched-chain hydroxy acids (BCHAs) as bioactive metabolites of Lactobacillaceae include 2-hydroxy isovaleric acid (HIVA), 2-hydroxy isocaproic acid (HICA), and 2-hydroxy-3-methyl isovaleric acid (HMVA). Combining targeted and untargeted metabolomics, this study elucidates differences in extracellular BCHA production in Limosilactobacillus fermentum, Ligilactobacillus salivarius, and Latilactobacillus sakei alongside comparing comprehensive metabolic changes. Through targeted metabolomics, BCHA production among 38 strains exhibited strain specificity, except for L. sakei, which showed significantly lower BCHA production. Explaining the lower production in L. sakei, which lacks the branched-chain amino acid (BCAA)-utilizing pathway, comparison of BCHA production by precursor reaction revealed that the pathway utilizing BCAAs is more dominant than the pathway utilizing pyruvate. Expanding upon the targeted approach, untargeted metabolomics revealed the effects of the reaction compound on other metabolic pathways besides BCHAs. Metabolism alterations induced by BCAA reactions varied among species. Significant differences were observed in glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, butanoate metabolism, and galactose metabolism (p < 0.05). These results emphasize the importance of the synergy between fermentation strains and substrates in influencing nutritional components of fermented foods. By uncovering novel aspects of BCAA metabolism pathways, this study could inform the selection of fermentation strains and support the targeted production of BCHAs.

Oxylipins, the metabolites of polyunsaturated fatty acids, are vital in regulating cell proliferation and inflammation. Among these oxylipins, specialized pro-resolving mediators notably contribute to inflammation resolution. Previously, we showed that the specialized pro-resolving mediators isomer 11,17dihydroxy docosapentaenoic acid (11,17diHDoPE) can be synthesized in bacterial cells and exhibits anti-inflammatory effects in mammalian cells. This study investigates the in vivo impact of 11,17diHDoPE in mice exposed to particulate matter 10 (PM10). Our results indicate that 11,17diHDoPE significantly mitigates PM10-induced lung inflammation in mice, as evidenced by reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines and pulmonary inflammation-related gene expression. Metabolomic analysis reveals that 11,17diHDoPE modulates inflammation-related metabolites such as threonine, 2-keto gluconic acid, butanoic acid, and methyl oleate in lung tissues. In addition, 11,17diHDoPE upregulates the LA-derived oxylipin pathway and downregulates arachidonic acid- and docosahexaenoic acid-derived oxylipin pathways in serum. Correlation analyses between gene expression and metabolite changes suggest that 11,17diHDoPE alleviates inflammation by interfering with macrophage differentiation. These findings underscore the in vivo role of 11,17diHDoPE in reducing pulmonary inflammation, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for respiratory diseases.

Fertilizers are widely used to improve the quality of fruits and vegetables. However, the overuse of fertilizers has become an issue because it causes environmental problems and negatively affects productivity and fruit quality. In this study, we examined the effects of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) fertilizer levels on the metabolism of cucumber fruit in low- and high-nutrient soils using mass-spectrometry-based metabolomics approaches. Cucumber metabolite content was notably different depending on the initial soil nutrient status. Most amino acids and phenylpropanoids were abundant in the cucumbers raised in low-nutrient soil, whereas organic acids, some amino acids (aspartate, glutamate, and ornithine), and carbohydrates were comparatively higher in fruits from high-nutrient soil. The fertilizer supply resulted in an alteration in the metabolite profile, while no change in fruit yield was observed in either low- or high-nutrient soils. Fertilizer treatment perturbed the metabolite contents in cucumbers from low-nutrient soil. In contrast, treatment with higher concentrations of fertilizer in high-nutrient soil increased phenylpropanoid content in the cucumbers, while most metabolites decreased. In conclusion, fertilization levels should be carefully determined, considering culture conditions such as the original soil status, to increase product yield and fruit quality and avoid environmental problems.

With increasing interest in Korean foods and beverages, Korean traditional alcoholic beverages need to be studied. To characterize Korean traditional alcoholic beverages, we analyzed the metabolites of Takju, Yakju, and Traditional-Soju using 48 commercial products. We performed non-targeted metabolite profiling using gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCTOF-MS) and identified 33 significantly discriminant metabolites, including nine organic acids, three amino acids, and seven fatty acids, in the three types of alcoholic beverage. Subsequently, we quantified the profiled metabolites in each product and compared their contents to identify alcoholic beverage type-specific metabolites. Thus, we figured out seven metabolites using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. The results revealed that octadecanoic acid (limit of detection (LOD) to 168.72 mg/L), nonanoic acid (LOD to 112.54 mg/L), and octanoic acid (8.00 to 145.08 mg/L) in Takju; succinic acid (LOD to 1.90 mg/mL), heptanoic acid (LOD to 343.23 mg/L), and hexadecanoic acid (20.28 to 126.45 mg/L) in Yakju; and malonic acid (LOD to 19.13 mg/mL) in Traditional-Soju, with an area under the curve (AUC) > 0.7, are important metabolites that can distinguish the type of alcoholic beverage. Our results provide qualitative and quantitative metabolite information about Korean traditional alcoholic beverages that can be used by consumers and manufacturers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, facemasks played a pivotal role in preventing person-person droplet transmission of viral particles. However, prolonged facemask wearing causes skin irritations colloquially referred to as ‘maskne’ (mask + acne), which manifests as acne and contact dermatitis and is mostly caused by pathogenic skin microbes. Previous studies revealed that the putative causal microbes were anaerobic bacteria, but the pathogenesis of facemask-associated skin conditions remains poorly defined. We therefore characterized the role of the facemask-associated skin microbiota in the development of maskne using culture-dependent and -independent methodologies. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the majority of the facemask microbiota were anaerobic bacteria that originated from the skin rather than saliva. Previous work demonstrated direct interaction between pathogenic bacteria and antagonistic strains in the microbiome. We expanded this analysis to include indirect interaction between pathogenic bacteria and other indigenous bacteria classified as either ‘pathogen helper (PH)’ or ‘pathogen inhibitor (PIn)’ strains. In vitro screening of bacteria isolated from facemasks identified both strains that antagonized and promoted pathogen growth. These data were validated using a mouse skin infection model, where we observed attenuation of symptoms following pathogen infection. Moreover, the inhibitor of pathogen helper (IPH) strain, which did not directly attenuate pathogen growth in vitro and in vivo, functioned to suppress symptom development and pathogen growth indirectly through PH inhibitory antibacterial products such as phenyl lactic acid. Taken together, our study is the first to define a mechanism by which indirect microbiota interactions under facemasks can control symptoms of maskne by suppressing a skin pathogen.

Probiotic fermentation of plant-based materials can lead to the generation of various bioactive substances via bacterial metabolites and the biotransformation of phenolic compounds. We compared the metabolic differences between fermentation by Limosilactobacillus fermentum KCTC15072BP (LFG) and fermentation by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum KGMB00831 (LPG) in guava leaf extract (0%, 0.5%, and 2% (w/v))-supplemented medium via non-targeted metabolite profiling. By performing multivariate statistical analysis and comparing the different guava leaf extract groups, 21 guava-derived and 30 bacterial metabolites were identified. The contents of guava-derived glucogallin, gallic acid, and sugar alcohols were significantly higher in LFG than they were in LPG. Similarly, significantly higher contents of guava-derived pyrogallol, vanillic acid, naringenin, phloretin, and aromatic amino acid catabolites were obtained with LPG than with LFG. LFG led to significantly higher antioxidant activities than LPG, while LPG led to significantly higher antiglycation activity than LFG. Interestingly, the fermentation-induced increase in the guava-leaf-extract-supplemented group was significantly higher than that in the control group. Thus, the increased bioactivity induced by guava fermentation with the Lactobacillaceae strain may be influenced by the synergistic effects between microbial metabolites and plant-derived compounds. Overall, examining the metabolic changes in plant-based food fermentation by differentiating the origin of metabolites provides a better understanding of food fermentation.