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Plant sterols (PSs) have reported benefits in alleviating colitis in mice, but the mechanisms involved require further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a dietary supplement containing PSs (PS-DS) on inflammation biomarkers in a mice model of chronic ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). C57BL/6J mice (n = 34) were exposed to 1.5% DSS in drinking water for three 5-day periods, with 10-day rest intervals in between. The mice received daily PS-DS (35 mg PS/kg) or placebo by oral gavage, either simultaneously (treatment) or 30 days prior (pre-treatment) to DSS exposition. After euthanasia, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and the levels of pro- (TNF-α and IL-6) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10) in the colonic tissue were analyzed. PS-DS treatment reduced (vs. DSS + placebo) myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (2.6 ± 0.2 vs. 2.1 ± 0.1-fold change) and levels of TNF-α (85 ± 11 vs. 39 ± 7 pg/mg protein) and IL-6 (214 ± 26 vs. 128 ± 18 pg/mg protein), increasing the levels of IL-10 (46 ± 5 vs. 136 ± 16 pg/mg protein). PS-DS pre-treatment provided a greater inhibition (vs. treatment) of MPO activity (2.1 ± 0.3 vs. 1.3 ± 0.1-fold change) and a greater increase in IL-10 levels (50 ± 9 vs. 178 ± 30 pg/mg protein). These findings suggest that PS-DS has the potential to alleviate colitis in mice by modulating the inflammatory response and reducing oxidative stress. However, studies in humans are required to validate and fully understand its anti-inflammatory effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bread is one of the staple foods of many countries, and its enrichment with bioactive compounds is trending. This phenomenon is focused on breads with a good nutritional profile, such as wholemeal rye bread (WRB), in which enrichment with plant sterols (PSs) is allowed in accordance with European regulations. The objective of the present study was to optimize the production of a WRB enriched with PS (PS-WRB) and to evaluate the proximate composition and starch digestibility as an indicator of nutritional quality. The rheological analysis showed that the bread dough presents satisfactory farinographic properties (dough development time 6 min; stability 4 min; degree of softening 100 Brabender units) but high water absorption (67%). The PS-WRB is high in dietary fiber and low in protein (20.4 and 7.7% w/w, dry basis, respectively) compared with other cereals reported in the scientific literature. In turn, a low starch proportion was hydrolyzed during the simulated digestion (59.9% of total starch), being also slowly hydrolyzed, as deduced from the rapidly digestible starch value (56.5% of total starch). In conclusion, WRB is a suitable matrix for PS enrichment, which allows for obtaining a product with a good nutritional profile and potential health benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inclusion of lipidic enzymes provides a more physiological in vitro digestion scenario. • Sterols provided by bile salts and pancreatin must be subtracted from digested samples. • Increasing concentration of bile salts decreased plant sterol bioaccessibility. • Gastric lipase and cholesterol esterase reduced plant sterol bioaccessibility. • Cholesterol cannot be quantified when only cholesterol esterase is used. This study evaluates the influence of increasing bile salts and the addition of key enzymes of the lipidic metabolism in the INFOGEST digestion method on sterol bioaccessibility from a plant sterol (PS)-enriched beverage. The assayed modifications were increasing concentration of bovine bile salts (10 vs. 17.5 mM), and addition of gastric lipase (GL) (60U/mL), cholesterol esterase (CE) (0.075 or 2U/mL) or both. Compared to the original method (10 mM bile salts without enzymes), the assayed conditions significantly reduced bioaccessibility of individual (from 11.3 to 19.7 to 5.1–16.6%) and total PS (13.7 to 6.9–8.0%), and cholesterol (52.8 to 20.9–26.1%), except only when CE is added not allowing cholesterol quantification. The bioaccessibility achieved when lipolytic enzymes were tested was similar for all sterols. For a more physiological approach to in vivo conditions, incorporation of bile salts (10 mM), GL (60U/mL) and CE (0.075U/mL) to the INFOGEST method is proposed, although it increases the cost compared to the established method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]