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Simple Summary Gastric emptying is the release of nutrients from the stomach into the small intestine. The rate at which gastric emptying occurs may be associated with diabetes and obesity risk in humans and could help prevent weight gain in dogs. The largest portion of carbohydrates in pet diets is provided by various starches that are digested and absorbed at different rates. This study investigated the effects of common starch ingredients found in commercial dog foods on the gastric emptying rate in dogs. Dogs received each test diet once (4 total) and a glucose control twice in a randomized order, along with acetaminophen. Blood samples were taken once prior to meal consumption and at multiple time points after to determine acetaminophen concentrations. A mathematical model was used to estimate the rate of gastric emptying using postprandial acetaminophen concentrations. Overall, more gastric emptying occurred at a faster rate in dogs when fed the diet containing the highest fraction of starch ingredients resistant to canine digestion. These findings suggest that the inclusion of different starch sources may be associated with altered digestion and absorption of nutrients, which consequently affects gastric emptying rate. The link between carbohydrate sources and gastric emptying may provide a mechanism to prevent weight gain in dogs. Abstract Gastric emptying rate (GER) may impact diabetes and obesity in humans and could provide a method to reduce canine weight gain. Starch, the most common source of carbohydrates (CHOs) in pet food, is classified as rapidly or slowly digestible, or resistant to digestion. This study investigated starch source effects in commercial extruded dog foods on the GER of 11 healthy adult Siberian Huskies. Test diets were classified as traditional, grain-free, whole-grain, and vegan. Dogs received each diet once, a glucose control twice, and acetaminophen (Ac) as a marker for GER in a randomized, partially replicated, 6 × 6 Latin square design. Pre- and post-prandial blood samples were collected at 16 timepoints from −15 to 480 min. Serum Ac concentrations were assessed via standard spectrophotometric assays and fitted with a mathematical model to estimate parameters of GER. Parameter values were subjected to ANOVA, with period and treatment as fixed effects and dog as a random effect. More total emptying (p = 0.074) occurred at a faster rate (p = 0.028) in dogs fed the grain-free diet, which contained the lowest total starch (34.03 ± 0.23%) and highest resistant starch (0.52 ± 0.007%). This research may benefit future diet formulations to reduce the prevalence of canine weight gain.

Background Practical risk reduction strategies are needed to address cardiovascular disease. Beans can decrease LDL cholesterol; however, research into different daily amounts and varieties is warranted. Objectives To examine the effects of canned beans (daily rotation of black, navy, pinto, dark red kidney, white kidney) in 1-cup (1CB, 180 g) and ½-cup (½CB, 90 g) daily amounts compared with a 1-cup white rice (WR) control on serum lipid and glycemic biomarkers in adults with elevated LDL cholesterol. Methods Adults [n = 73, mean ± SD age: 48.1 ± 14.2 y; BMI (in kg/m2): 25.9 ± 4.22; fasting serum LDL cholesterol: 3.0-5.0 mmol/L] consumed 1CB, ½CB, and WR for 4-wk treatment periods separated by ≥4-wk washouts in a multicenter, randomized, crossover study. Fasting serum LDL cholesterol (primary outcome) and other lipids and glycemic biomarkers (secondary outcomes) were measured on study days 1 and 29 of each treatment period with study day 29 values compared using repeated-measures ANCOVA, including study day 1 values as covariates. Results Treatment completion was n = 66 for 1CB, n = 68 for ½CB, and n = 64 for WR. Total cholesterol on study day 29 was lower for 1CB (P = 0.04) but not ½CB (P = 0.77) compared with WR (-5.46%, -2.74%, -0.65% changes from study day 1, respectively) and did not differ between 1CB and ½CB (P = 0.17). LDL cholesterol on study day 29 was also lower for 1CB (P = 0.002) but not ½CB (P = 0.30) compared with WR (-8.08%, -3.84%, +0.49% changes from study day 1, respectively) and did not differ between 1CB and ½CB (P = 0.11). Other lipids and glycemic biomarkers did not differ among treatments. Conclusions Consumption of 1 cup (180 g) of canned beans of multiple varieties decreased total and LDL cholesterol in adults with elevated LDL cholesterol, supporting a practical strategy for cardiovascular disease risk reduction. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03830970.

ContextRare sugars are monosaccharides and disaccharides (found in small quantities in nature) that have slight differences in their chemical structure compared with traditional sugars. Little is known about their unique physiological and cardiometabolic effects in humans.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review and synthesis of controlled intervention studies of rare sugars in humans, using PRISMA guidelines.Data SourcesMEDLINE and EMBASE were searched through October 1, 2020. Studies included both post-prandial (acute) and longer-term (≥1 week duration) human feeding studies that examined the effect of rare sugars (including allulose, arabinose, tagatose, trehalose, and isomaltulose) on cardiometabolic and physiological risk factors.Data extractionIn all, 50 studies in humans focusing on the 5 selected rare sugars were found. A narrative synthesis of the selected literature was conducted, without formal quality assessment or quantitative synthesis.Data synthesisThe narrative summary included the food source of each rare sugar, its effect in humans, and the possible mechanism of effect. Overall, these rare sugars were found to offer both short- and long-term benefits for glycemic control and weight loss, with effects differing between healthy individuals, overweight/obese individuals, and those with type 2 diabetes. Most studies were of small size and there was a lack of large randomized controlled trials that could confirm the beneficial effects of these rare sugars.ConclusionRare sugars could offer an opportunity for commercialization as an alternative sweetener, especially for those who are at high cardiometabolic risk.Systematic Review RegistrationOSF registration no. 10.17605/OSF.IO/FW43D.

The mechanism by which high fat-diet induced obesity affects cardiac protein expression is unclear, and the extent to which this is modulated by prebiotic treatment is not known. These outcomes were assessed in rats initially fed a high-fat diet, then the top 40% weight gain group were randomly allocated to control (CON), high-fat (HF) and HF supplemented with fructooligosaccharide (32 g, HF-FOS) treatments for 12 weeks (n = 10/group). At sacrifice, left ventricles were either frozen or preserved in formalin. Serum was stored for glucose and insulin measurements. Protein spectra was obtained using an Orbitrap analyzer, processed with Sequest and fold changes assessed with Scaffold Q +. Treatment effects for body weights, glucose and insulin were assessed using one-way ANOVA, and the differential protein expression was assessed by a Mann&ndash, Whitney U test. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes identified pathways containing overrepresented proteins. Hematoxylin and eosin sections were graded for hypertrophy and also quantified, differences were identified using Chi-square analyses and Mann-Whitney U tests. HF diet fed rats were significantly (p &lt, 0.05) heavier than CON, and 23 proteins involved in mitochondrial function and lipid metabolism were differentially expressed between HF and CON. Between HF-FOS and HF, 117 proteins involved in contractility, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism were differentially expressed. HF cardiomyocytes were significantly (p &lt, 0.05) more hypertrophic than CON. We conclude that high-fat feeding and FOS are associated with subcellular deviations in cardiac metabolism and contractility, which may influence myocardial function and alter the risk of cardiovascular disease.

BACKGROUND Plant-based foods, including pulses (dry beans, lentils, chickpeas, and peas), have gained worldwide attention owing to their health and environmental benefits. Despite high production, the consumption of pulses is low in Canada. Behavior change interventions systematically designed to promote the consumption of pulse-based foods are scarce. OBJECTIVE We describe the utilization of intervention mapping (IM) in the development of a multicomponent nutrition intervention aimed at promoting consumption of pulse-based foods among preschool children in childcare centers in Saskatchewan, Canada. METHODS The Pulse Discovery Toolkit intervention was developed following the six steps of the IM protocol. Decisions at each step were either based upon literature review, expert consultation, pretesting, or a combination of these. Following the initial phase of the study, which focused on intervention development, phases II and III of the study were concerned with pilot testing and roll-out of the intervention, respectively. In total, one, two, and four childcare centers participated in phases I, II, and III, respectively. A multimethod approach was designed to evaluate the intervention during pilot testing and roll-out. RESULTS The application of IM steps 1 to 3 in phase I resulted in the creation of performance objectives at different levels, including at the individual level (preschool children), and the social and environmental levels (parents, early childhood educators, and cooks). These objectives were then used to create a matrix of objectives matching the constructs of the social cognitive theory while taking Piaget cognitive development into consideration. This step was followed by defining program components, implementation, adoption, and evaluation strategies, which were utilized in phases II and III. Data have been collected from 2015 to 2018 and analyzed. The results will be reported elsewhere. CONCLUSIONS The IM protocol provided a rigorous framework for the development of a multicomponent evidence-based intervention to promote pulse-based foods in childcare centers. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR1-10.2196/22775

This study adapted the established glycemic index (GI) methodology used in human research to perform two studies in sled dogs in order to assess the blood glucose-raising potential of pulse-based dog foods. The first was a pilot study (n = 6 dogs) to determine the GI of single starch sources (white bread, cooked white rice, and cooked green lentils) using a glucose solution as control. Next, the effect on glycemic and insulinemic meal responses and GI of commercial extruded dog foods containing different categories of starch sources (traditional grain, whole grain, grain-free, and vegan) were investigated on 11 dogs using a glucose control. Results were compared using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). Consumption of 10 g of available carbohydrate (Av CHO) was insufficient to elicit a measurable response in blood glucose for GI determination, and as such, the amount was increased to 25 g for the second study. The GI (±SE) of the single starch sources and dog foods was: white bread: 47 ± 11, cooked white rice: 71 ± 14, cooked green lentils: 60 ± 20 (P = 0.569), traditional grain: 83 ± 17, whole grain: 56 ± 8, grain-free: 41 ± 6, and vegan: 65 ± 15 (P = 0.154). No statistical differences in glycemic response over time were observed between the single starch sources or the extruded diets tested (P = 0.1412; P = 0.2651). The insulinemic response elicited by the extruded diets was also not different (P = 0.079); however, the traditional grain diet did have the slowest time to peak for insulin (P = 0.0078). Among single starch sources and extruded dog foods, there were no differences in the glycemic indices measured in this study. The GI methodology has not been validated for use in canine species, and it is likely that our results were due to higher interindividual variation or inadequate study power. Regardless, this study will serve to better define future studies to investigate the potential physiological benefits of low GI foods for dogs.

Proximate composition and starch nutritional properties of twenty cooked lentils were assessed to identify unique varieties that could be used in value added foods. Significant variations exist among the lentil varieties (p &lt, 0.05) with respect to their energy, fat, protein, carbohydrate, and dietary fiber content, and these are related to lentil type and seed size. Dazil and Greenstar were unique for their high resistant starch content (RS) and lower area under the starch hydrolysis curve (SHAUC) while Proclaim was opposite. SHAUC was positively correlated (p &lt, 0.001) with rapidly digestible starch (RDS) content (r = 0.626) but negatively correlated with RS content (r = &minus, 0.635). Principal component analysis showed that the first three principal components accounted for 62.8% of the total variance and the contribution of SHAUC was 33.2%. These results confirm that in vitro SHAUC and a combination of RDS and RS may be predictive of the digestibility profile of cooked lentils.

Background The postprandial blood glucose response (PBGR) following carbohydrate replacement of high-glycemic index (GI) foods with pulses, in a mixed meal, has not been accurately defined. Objective We aimed to determine the extent to which PBGR and relative glycemic response (RGR) are lowered when half of the available carbohydrate (AC) from rice or potato is replaced with cooked lentils. Methods Using a crossover design, 2 groups of 24 healthy adults randomly consumed 50 g AC from control white rice alone [mean ± SD body mass index (BMI, in kg/m2): 24.3 ± 0.5; mean ± SD age: 27.7 ± 1.2 y], instant potato alone (BMI: 24.0 ± 0.5; age: 27.4 ± 1.2 y), or the same starch source in a 50:50 AC combination with each of 3 types of commercially available lentils (large green, small green, split red). Fasting and postprandial blood samples were analyzed for glucose and insulin, and used to derive incremental area under the curve (iAUC), RGR, and maximum concentration (Cmax). Treatment effects were assessed with the use of repeated-measures ANOVA within the rice and potato treatments. Results In comparison to rice alone, blood glucose iAUC and Cmax (P

To quantitate bioactive compounds in cooked cultivars of commercially available Canadian pulses, 14 peas, lentils, beans, and chickpeas were analyzed for total polyphenol content (TPC), antioxidant activity (DPPH, FRAP and ORAC) and fatty acid, carotenoid and tocopherol content. On a dry weight (DW) basis, cooked pulses contained (mean ± SD) 1.65 ± 0.10–8.39 ± 0.03% lipids; 22.5 ± 0.6–170.5 ± 2.0 μg/g total tocopherols, primarily γ-tocopherols (80–96%); 4.21 ± 0.40–20.26 ± 2.43 μg/g total carotenoids with lutein being the primary carotenoid (78–87%) then zeaxanthin (6–17%). TPC ranged from 1.16 ± 0.07 to 7.45 ± 0.69 mg gallic acid equivalents/g DW. TPC was significantly correlated with DPPH (r = 0.688, p = 0.006), FRAP (r = 0.881, p

A maternal high-fat, high-sucrose (HFS) diet alters offspring glucose and lipid homoeostasis through unknown mechanisms and may be modulated by folic acid. We investigated the effect of a maternal HFS diet on glucose homoeostasis, expression of genes and proteins associated with insulin signalling and lipid metabolism and the effect of prenatal folic acid supplementation (HFS/F) in male rat offspring. Pregnant Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly fed control (CON), HFS or HFS/F diets. Offspring were weaned on CON; at postnatal day 70, fasting plasma insulin and glucose and liver and skeletal muscle gene and protein expression were measured. Treatment effects were assessed by one-way ANOVA. Maternal HFS diet induced higher fasting glucose in offspringv. HFS/F (P=0·027) and down-regulation (PRaf1) in offspring skeletal muscle and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (Acaca), fatty acid synthase and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunitβin offspring liver. Skeletal muscle neuropeptide Y and hepatic Kruppel-like factor 10 were up-regulated in HFSv. CON offspring (PAcacaandRaf1protein expression levels were significantly lower in HFS offspring. Maternal HFS induced higher homoeostasis model of assessment index of insulin resistancev. CON (P=0·030) and HFS/F was associated with higher insulin (P=0·016) and lower glucose (P=0·025). Maternal HFS diet alters offspring insulin sensitivity andde novohepatic lipogenesis via altered gene and protein expression, which appears to be potentiated by folate supplementation.

Celiac disease and gluten sensitivities, as well as obesity and overweight-related disorders, have led to the investigation of gluten-free grains and development of new food products. To address this, refined proso millet and refined corn (control), both gluten-free grains, were used to produce four different product types (muffin, couscous, extruded snack, and porridge). The products contained four different grain combinations (100% proso millet, 75% proso millet/25% corn, 25% proso millet/75% corn, and 100% corn). All products were evaluated for their nutritional composition, in vitro starch digestibility, and expected glycemic index (eGI). Products made with refined proso millet had increased protein (7.6–11.3%), lipid (1.2–6.1%), fiber (7.0–8.8%), and phenolic content (323.5–425 μg/g) compared with those incorporating corn flour (2.5–9.0%, 0.8–4.0%, 2.1–4.1%, and 213–315 μg/g, respectively). As the proso millet content increased, the eGI decreased significantly (P < 0.05). Products made from refined p...

Consumption of pulses is associated with many health benefits by mechanisms that are not fully understood. This study sought to identify the starch component(s) in cooked lentils responsible for lowering postprandial glycemic response (PPGR). Rapidly digestible (RDS), slowly digestible (SDS) and resistant starch (RS) content of 20 varieties of cooked lentil were determined by in vitro methods and 8 varieties, representing a linear range of SDS, were chosen for a human trial with 10 participants to determine PPGR and glycemic index (GI). Among the 20 lentil varieties, RS accounted for 35% of the variation of in vitro area under the starch hydrolysis curve (SHAUC) (r = −0.587; p < 0.01), but RDS (r = 0.401; p = 0.080) and SDS (r = −0.022; p = 0.927) were not significantly related to SHAUC. Multiple linear regression of in vitro data resulted in an equation [SHAUCest = 30.9RDS − 63.6RS + 9680] that accounted for 70% of the variance in SHAUC, with SDS excluded due to collinearity. In the human trial all 8 lentils had low GI values (10 to 23). Neither GI nor area under the glucose response curve (AUC) was significantly related to RDS, SDS or RS (minimum p = 0.24). However, SHAUC and SHAUCest, respectively, were related to both GI (r = 0.704, p = 0.051; r = 0.773, p = 0.024) and AUC (r = 0.765, p = 0.027; r = 0.822, p = 0.012). These results confirm that lentils have low GI values, which is not reliably predicted by their RDS, SDS and RS contents when considered individually. However, in vitro SHAUC and a combination of RDS and RS may be predictive of the PPGR of lentils.

The glycemic index (GI) impacts blood glucose levels, insulin sensitivity, and weight management in humans. This study investigated the GI, postprandial glycemic and insulinemic response, and satiety hormones in sled dogs consuming four commercial extruded dog foods containing different carbohydrate sources. The four test diets were classified based on carbohydrate sources: traditional grains (corn, wheat), whole grains (oats, rye), grain-free (peas, lentils) or vegan (no animal ingredients). Each diet was tested once and the control (50% w/vol glucose solution) was tested twice in 11 healthy adult Siberian Huskies in a randomized cross-over design. Each meal and control provided 25g of available carbohydrate. Pre- and postprandial (15, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 360, 420 & 480 minutes) blood samples were collected to measure whole blood glucose concentrations using a handheld blood glucose monitor. Serum insulin, ghrelin, gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP), glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1), leptin, total peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY), and pancreatic polypeptide (PP) concentrations were analysed using a magnetic bead multiplex assay. This study was approved by the University of Guelph Animal Care Committee (AUP#3650). No differences were detected in GI when compared using an ANOVA with a Turkey-Kramer post-hoc test (p>0.05). The calculated GI for traditional grains was 76.9 ± 18.3 (mean±SEM) while the grain-free diet presented the lowest GI of 50.5 ± 13.1. The whole grain diet and vegan diet had GI values of 60.8 ± 7.4 and 71.4 ± 17.3, respectively. Additionally, there was no effect of diet on postprandial insulinemic response, or any satiety hormones (p>0.05). The lack of observed differences could be related to the gelatinization of starch during extrusion processing. These results suggest that different carbohydrate sources in extruded diets may not have a significant effect on GI or satiety in dogs.

Pulses are highly nutritious foods that are included as part of Canada's Food Guide to promote healthful eating, and they have established health benefits that can contribute to the dietary management of diabetes. A review of studies that have examined the effects of pulse consumption on health outcomes, integral to the management of diabetes, provides credible evidence for improvements in glycemic control, reduction of blood lipids and regulation of body weight. Results from acute feeding trials suggest that postprandial blood glucose response is significantly attenuated by a single pulse serving of between three-quarters and 1 cup. At lower doses, pulses attenuate postprandial blood glucose response more than similar amounts of starchy foods. Long-term pulse consumption of 5 cups per week appears to result consistently in improvements in glycemic control. There is high-quality evidence that supports a role for pulse consumption in the reduction of risk for cardiovascular disease; this provides a sound rationale for the regular incorporation of pulses at about two-thirds of a cup daily in the management of hyperlipidemia in persons with type 2 diabetes. Pulse consumption can contribute to improving satiety, reducing food intake and regulating body weight, which can reduce obesity risk and, in turn, improve diabetes management. Collectively, available evidence provides very good support for a role of regular pulse consumption in the prevention and management of diabetes.

Information on changes in soy isoflavones during processing is needed to better understand the relationship between isoforms, food matrix, bioavailability and health. The abundance and transformation of isoflavones were tracked in soy flour, a baked soy muffin and plasma of hypercholesterolaemic adults (n = 142) who consumed muffins daily for 6 weeks. Isoflavones were identified and quantified in soy flour and muffins by HPLC-UV and in plasma by LC-MS/MS. Equol status was determined and used to assess the relationship between plasma isoflavones and dietary factors. Baking soy flour altered the relative proportion of isoflavone isoforms by promoting a conversion of malonyl- to β-glucosides in soy muffins ( P 0.001). Daily soy consumption resulted in >3-fold increase in plasma isoflavones with a doubling of dose ( P 0.001). Dietary factors did not correlate with plasma isoflavones. These findings may be used to guide the development of soy-based functional foods.

There is an increasing push by consumers for new food products that can provide health benefits. To develop these products, sometimes it is necessary to look to alternative crops, 1 of which is millet. For millet to be successfully adopted by consumers, it is necessary to identify and develop product types that are acceptable to North Americans. Biscuits and extruded snacks were produced using varying amounts of refined proso millet flour (0%, 25%, 75%, and 100%). Sensory analysis was conducted on 8 products (4 types of biscuits and 4 types of extruded snack) in 2 separate tests (1 for biscuits and 1 for snacks). Preferred Attribute Elicitation (PAE), a relatively new sensory method, was used to determine attributes affecting liking of the products. Results indicated that as the amount of millet in the biscuits and extruded snacks increased, the liking of the flavor, texture and overall liking decreased. Millet contributed to a bitter taste and bitter aftertaste, and resulted in gritty and dry food products. Further work is required to refine the products tested as well as to identify further products that can be added to the diet in order to take advantage of the health benefits that millet provides.

Background: Soy protein may reduce coronary heart disease (CHD) risk by lowering LDL cholesterol, but few studies have assessed whether whole soy flour displays a similar effect. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the dose effect of whole soy flour incorporated into muffins on plasma LDL cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic adults. Methods: Adults aged 30–70 y (n = 243) with elevated LDL cholesterol (≥3.0 and ≤5.0 mmol/L) were stratified by LDL cholesterol and randomly assigned to consume 2 soy muffins containing 25 g soy protein [high-dose soy (HDS)], 1 soy and 1 wheat muffin containing 12.5 g soy protein and 12.5 g whey protein [low-dose soy (LDS)], or 2 wheat muffins containing 25 g whey protein (control) daily for 6 wk while consuming a self-selected diet. Fasting blood samples were collected at weeks 0, 3, and 6 for analysis of plasma lipids [total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol and triglycerides (TGs)], glucose, insulin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and isoflavones. Blood pressures also were measured. Dietary intake was assessed at weeks 0 and 4 with the use of 3 d food records. Treatment effects were assessed with the use of intention-to-treat analysis with multiple imputation and LDL cholesterol as the primary outcome. Results: In total, 213 (87.6%) participants completed the trial. Participants were primarily Caucasian (83%) and mostly female (63%), with a mean ± SD body mass index (in kg/m2) of 28.0 ± 4.6 and systolic and diastolic blood pressures of 122 ± 16 and 77 ± 11 mm Hg, respectively. Despite a dose-dependent increase in plasma isoflavones (P < 0.001), neither HDS nor LDS had a significant effect on LDL cholesterol compared with control (mean ± SEM changes: control, −0.04 ± 0.05 mmol/L; HDS, 0.01 ± 0.05 mmol/L; and LDS, −0.04 ± 0.06 mmol/L). There were no significant treatment effects on total or HDL cholesterol, TGs, CRP, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance, blood pressure, or the Framingham 10-y CHD risk score. Conclusion: Consuming 12.5 or 25 g protein from defatted soy flour incorporated into muffins does not reduce LDL cholesterol or other CHD risk factors in hypercholesterolemic adults. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as {"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01547585","term_id":"NCT01547585"}}NCT01547585.

Current evidence suggests a link between red and processed meat consumption and the risk of various cancers and other health outcomes. Using national survey data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS)-Nutrition 2015, we aimed to model a dietary scenario to assess the potential effects of increasing the intake of currently consumed plant-based meat alternatives by 100% and decreasing the consumption of red and processed meat by 50% on the diet quality and nutrient intakes of Canadians (&ge, 1 year). This dietary scenario had no significant impact on dietary energy intake (p &gt, 0.05), but resulted in a significant increase in the dietary intakes of fibre, polyunsaturated fatty acids, magnesium, and dietary folate equivalents (p &lt, 0.05). On the other hand, this dietary scenario was accompanied by a significant decrease in protein (from 77.8 &plusmn, 0.6 g to 73.4 &plusmn, 0.6 g), cholesterol, zinc, and vitamin B12 intake (p &lt, 0.05). Further, based on Nutrient Rich Food (NRF) scores, the overall nutritional value of the simulated diet was higher than the baseline diet. Our modeling showed that the partial replacement of red and processed meat with plant-based alternatives improves overall diet quality but may adversely affect the intake of some micronutrients, especially zinc and vitamin B12.

Increased dietary intake of soy is associated with improved health outcomes, making soy a suitable ingredient for functional foods. However, consumer acceptability of soy-based functional foods is not well understood. This study examined consumer liking of soy flour muffins during repeated exposure and evaluated the impact of a health claim on willingness to consume. Participants (n = 116) consumed two soy or wheat flour muffins daily for 6 weeks and completed weekly questionnaires on sensory liking qualities (overall liking and liking of appearance, aroma, flavor, taste, texture) using 9-point hedonic scales; feeling of fullness using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS); and, adverse symptoms using a checklist. A Food Action (FACT) rating scale was also administered with and without an approved health claim relating soy to a reduction in blood cholesterol, to evaluate its impact on willingness to consume the soy muffins. Results showed that overall liking, liking of appearance, aroma, flavor, taste, texture, and feeling of fullness were significantly higher in the soy muffin compared to wheat muffin group and did not significantly differ among weeks 1–6 within either group. Presence of a health claim significantly increased willingness to consume the soy muffins. This study demonstrates that muffins made from soy flour are acceptable to consumers and that a therapeutic health claim would enhance their acceptability.

Phenolic extracts from 20 Canadian lentil cultivars (Lens culinaris) were evaluated for total phenolic contents and composition, antioxidant activities (DPPH, FRAP, ORAC), and inhibitory properties against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Twenty one phenolic compounds were identified in the present study, with the majority being flavonoids, including kaempeferol glycosides, catechin/epicatechin glucosides and procyanidins. These phenolic compounds not only contributed significantly to the antioxidant activities, but they were also good inhibitors of α-glucosidase and lipase, two enzymes, respectively, associated with glucose and lipid digestion in the human intestine, thus contributing significantly to the control of blood glucose levels and obesity. More interestingly, it was the flavonols, not the flavanols, which showed the inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase. Our result provides supporting information for developing lentil cultivars and functional foods with improved health benefits and suggests a potential role of lentil consumption in managing weight and control of blood glucose.

The phytochemicals and antioxidant activity in lipophilic and hydrophilic (extractable and bound) fractions of lentils before and after domestic cooking were investigated. The hydrophilic fractions in lentils contributed much more to the antioxidant activity than the lipophilic fraction. The phenolic content of lentils was mainly composed of extractable compounds. Significant changes (P < 0.05) in carotenoid, tocopherol, total phenolic, and condensed tannin contents of both extractable and bound phenolics fractions, as well as in antioxidant activities, were found in lentils before and after cooking. More specifically, cooking was found to favor the release of carotenoids and tocopherols and flavonols (kaempferol glycosides), but led to losses of flavanols (monomeric and condensed tannin). Whereas reduced flavanols and other phenolic compounds may have negatively affected the antioxidant activity, other components, especially the lipophilic antioxidants, were increased. The present study suggests that incorporation of cooked lentils into the diet will not cause significant loss to the phytochemical antioxidants and thus will retain the potential health benefits.

Healthy adults (n30) participated in a placebo-controlled, randomised, double-blinded, cross-over study consisting of two 28 d treatments (β2-1 fructan or maltodextrin; 3×5 g/d) separated by a 14-d washout. Subjects provided 1 d faecal collections at days 0 and 28 of each treatment. The ability of faecal bacteria to metaboliseβ2-1 fructan was common; eighty-seven species (thirty genera, and four phyla) were isolated using anaerobic medium containingβ2-1 fructan as the sole carbohydrate source.β2-1 fructan altered the faecal community as determined through analysis of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms and 16S rRNA genes. Supplementation withβ2-1 fructan reduced faecal community richness, and two patterns of community change were observed. In most subjects,β2-1 fructan reduced the content of phylotypes aligning within theBacteroides, whereas increasing those aligning within bifidobacteria,Faecalibacteriumand the family Lachnospiraceae. In the remaining subjects, supplementation increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and to a lesser extent bifidobacteria, accompanied by decreases within theFaecalibacteriumand family Lachnospiraceae.β2-1 Fructan had no impact on the metagenome or glycoside hydrolase profiles in faeces from four subjects. Few relationships were found between the faecal bacterial community and various host parameters; Bacteroidetes content correlated with faecal propionate, subjects whose faecal community contained higher Bacteroidetes produced more caproic acid independent of treatment, and subjects having lower faecal Bacteroidetes exhibited increased concentrations of serum lipopolysaccharide and lipopolysaccharide binding protein independent of treatment. We found no evidence to support a defined health benefit for the use ofβ2-1 fructans in healthy subjects.

The glycaemic response of millet foods and the effect of processing are not known. Therefore, decorticated proso millet was used to produce four types of common food products (biscuits, couscous, porridge and an extruded snack). Postprandial blood glucose response of these products (all containing 50 g of total starch) was compared to the same foods produced with refined corn, in a crossover human study with 12 healthy male participants (age 26.3 ± 3.8 yr; BMI 23.3 ± 2.8 kg/m2). Capillary blood samples were collected and glycaemic response was determined; differences were assessed using repeat measures ANOVA. Overall, the mean (±SEM) incremental area under the blood glucose response curve (mmol min/l) of the proso millet products was different from the corn products, but individual products (couscous = 66.7 ± 11.6, biscuit = 82.6 ± 13.7, extrudate = 198.7 ± 20.9, porridge = 40.1 ± 5.8) were not significantly lower (couscous = 43.5 ± 5.8, biscuit = 102.0 ± 10.3, extrudate = 198.7 ± 20.9, porridge = 52.2 ± 8.1) (p > .05). Glycaemic response of the products was not dependent on the grain type, but rather product matrix.

The hypocholesterolemic effect of soy is well-documented and this has led to the regulatory approval of a health claim relating soy protein to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, soybeans contain additional components, such as isoflavones, lecithins, saponins and fiber that may improve cardiovascular health through independent mechanisms. This review summarizes the evidence on the cardiovascular benefits of non-protein soy components in relation to known CVD risk factors such as hypertension, hyperglycemia, inflammation, and obesity beyond cholesterol lowering. Overall, the available evidence suggests non-protein soy constituents improve markers of cardiovascular health; however, additional carefully designed studies are required to independently elucidate these effects. Further, work is also needed to clarify the role of isoflavone-metabolizing phenotype and gut microbiota composition on biological effect.

Understanding the profile of lipophilic phytochemicals in lentils is necessary to better understand the health benefits of lentils. The fatty acid, carotenoid and tocopherol compositions and antioxidant activities of the lipophilic extracts of 20 lentil cultivars (10 red and 10 green) were therefore examined. Lentils contained 1.52–2.95% lipids, of which 77.5–81.7% were unsaturated essential fatty acids. Total tocopherols ranged from 37 to 64 μg/g DW, predominantly γ-tocopherol (96–98% of the tocopherol content), followed by δ- and α-tocopherol. trans -Lutein was the primary and major carotenoid (64–78%) followed by trans -zeaxanthin (5–13%). Carotenoids and tocopherols showed weak correlation with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity ( r = 0.4893 and 0.3259, respectively), but good correlation when combined ( r = 0.6688), suggesting they may act synergistically. Carotenoids were found to contribute the most to the strong antioxidant activity measured by photochemiluminescence (PCL) assay. Results from this study contribute to the development of lentil cultivars and related functional foods with increased health benefits.

This study examined a pilot participatory needs assessment that was conducted with nine senior high school students from Port of Spain, Trinidad. Photovoice was used to engage these students in critical dialogue about their perceptions of issues affecting their health. Trained graduate students facilitated a 3-day training session in photovoice technique/ethics, writing narratives, critical reflection and dialogue with these students. Once trained, they were given disposable cameras and asked to photograph their school environment and document their thoughts on what they had photographed. After collation of photos and dialogue, seven health themes emerged. The most recurring themes included quality of the food served at schools, need for safe, clean and well-maintained school facilities, and role modeling by teachers, parents and community. Recommendations to address the concerns identified were discussed by the participants. The study concluded that conducting needs assessment, which concentrates on the voices of those affected, can be a first step in creating successful and cost-efficient programs and interventions tailored to specific groups. A needs assessment using photovoice should be a technique considered by school staff, government leaders, health professionals, and NGOs.

The CD45 antigen is essential for normal antigen receptor-mediated signalling in lymphocytes, and different patterns of splicing of CD45 are associated with distinct functions in lymphocytes. Abnormal CD45 splicing has been recognized in humans, caused by a C77G transversion in the gene encoding CD45 (PTPRC). Recently the C77G polymorphism has been associated with multiple sclerosis and increased susceptibility to HIV-1 infection. These studies suggest that the regulation of CD45 splicing may be critical for the proper function of the immune system. Because of these data we examined the frequency of the C77G allele in African and Asian populations from countries with high or low prevalence of HIV infection. Here we report that the variant CD45 C77G allele is absent in African populations. We further show that populations living in the Pamir mountains of Central Asia have a very high prevalence of the C77G variant.

β2-1 Fructans are purported to improve health by stimulating growth of colonic bifidobacteria, increasing host resistance to pathogens and stimulating the immune system. However, in healthy adults, the benefits of supplementation remain undefined. Adults (thirteen men, seventeen women) participated in a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, cross-over study consisting of two 28-d treatments separated by a 14-d washout period. Subjects’ regular diets were supplemented withβ2-1 fructan or placebo (maltodextrin) at 3×5 g/d. Fasting blood and 1-d faecal collections were obtained at the beginning and at the end of each phase. Blood was analysed for clinical, biochemical and immunological variables. Determinations of well-being and general health, gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, regularity, faecal SCFA content, residual faecalβ2-1 fructans and faecal bifidobacteria content were undertaken.β2-1 Fructan supplementation had no effect on blood lipid or cholesterol concentrations or on circulating lymphocyte and macrophage numbers, but significantly increased serum lipopolysaccharide, faecal SCFA, faecal bifidobacteria and indigestion. With respect to immune function,β2-1 fructan supplementation increased serum IL-4, circulating percentages of CD282+/TLR2+myeloid dendritic cells andex vivoresponsiveness to a toll-like receptor 2 agonist.β2-1 Fructans also decreased serum IL-10, but did not affect C-reactive protein or serum/faecal Ig concentrations. No differences in host well-being were associated with either treatment, although the self-reported incidence of GI symptoms and headaches increased during theβ2-1 fructan phase. Althoughβ2-1 fructan supplementation increased faecal bifidobacteria, this change was not directly related to any of the determined host parameters.

Scope Insulin resistance is associated with impaired cardiac function, but the underlying molecular abnormalities are largely unexplained. Bilberry anthocyanin (BAcn) may be protective, as it appears to potentiate insulin action. Methods Rats were randomly allocated to control, sucrose-fed (SF) or sucrose-fed + BAcn diets (SF-A) for 15 weeks. Cardiac insulin signalling genes and proteins were quantified using reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blots. Results Glucose tolerance was not different with treatment. SF showed lower (p