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Background and aims Post-prandial glycemic response (PPGR) depends on the intrinsic characteristic of the carbohydrate-rich foods as well as on the amount and type of other nutrients. This study aimed to explore whether the addition of condiments can affect the difference in PPGR between a low and a medium–high Glycemic Index (GI) food. Methods and results Spaghetti (S) and rice ® were consumed plain and after adding tomato sauce and extra virgin olive oil (TEVOO), or pesto sauce (P). The GI of R (63 ± 3) was statistically higher than that of S (44 ± 7) (p = 0.003). The Incremental Area Under the Curve (IAUC) for R was significantly greater than S (124.2 ± 12.1 and 82.1 ± 12.9 mmol∗min/L respectively) (p = 0.016) for blood glucose but not for insulin (1192.6 ± 183.6 and 905.2 ± 208.9 mU∗min/L, respectively) (p = 0.076). There were no significant differences after the addition of either TEVOO or P. The postprandial peaks of blood glucose and insulin for R (6.7 ± 0.3 mmol/L and 36.4 ± 4.9 mU/L, respectively) were significantly higher compared to S (6.0 ± 0.2 mmol/L and 26.7 ± 3.6 mU/L, respectively) (p = 0.033 and p = 0.025). The postprandial peak for insulin remained significantly higher with P (36.8 ± 3.7 and 28.6 ± 2.9 mU/L for R + P and S + P, p = 0.045) but not with EVOO (p = 0.963). Postprandial peaks for blood glucose were not significantly different with condiment. Conclusions The differences in PPGR were significant between spaghetti and rice consumed plain, they reduced or disappeared with fat adding, depending on the type of condiment used. Registration number ( www.clinicaltrial.gov ):NCT03104712

Development of gluten-free (GF) pasta with improved nutritional attributes is one of the main trends in the gluten-free pasta industry. Considerable interest lays in introducing legume-based ingredients into traditional corn/rice GF formulations. This work aims to fortify multi-cereal (corn-rice) GF pasta with chickpea to investigate how different chickpea addition levels affect its quality and

Cyclopropane fatty acids (CPFAs), such as dihydrosterculic acid (DHSA), are secondary fatty acids of microbial origin recently identified in foods and human plasma. Their plasmatic concentration is suggested to be affected by consumption of CPFA-rich foods, especially dairy products. However, very little is known about the occurrence of CPFAs in human tissues and their nutritional value. This preliminary screening aims to investigate the presence of CPFAs in breastmilk obtained from lactating Spanish women following a free-living diet by performing the GC–MS method previously applied for CPFA determination in dairy products. For the first time, DHSA was detected in human breast milk fat (at about 0.4 mg/ 100 mL breastmilk), supporting the importance of better understanding its occurrence in vivo that may be related to the dietary habits followed by the lactating mother. Future studies are needed to determine its biological role both in adults and infants, who would be exposed to this CPFA during the breastfeeding., Pilar Gómez-Cortés gratefully acknowledges the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the Ramón y Cajal research contract (RYC2019-027933-I).

The consumption of wholegrains (WG) is encouraged worldwide, but the lack of a common legal definition of such products leads to an unclear classification and identification on the grocery store shelf. In Italy, several products are generally sold as WG, but it cannot be determined if they are made entirely with all WG cereal(s) or if they are partially produced with WG ingredients (PWG). The aims of this study were to (a) survey the number of cereal-based food items formulated with WG, PWG, or refined (RG) present on the Italian market; and (b) analyse the nutritional quality, intended as nutrition facts, of WG products in comparison to PWG and RG. Nutritional information and declarations were retrieved from packs of 3040 products belonging to five different categories: breakfast cereals, biscuits, sweet snacks, bread, and bread substitutes. A descriptive analysis of the products and comparison of energy, macronutrients, fibre and salt among RG, PWG and WG products within each category was performed. In all categories, a major portion of the products did not contain WG ingredients. Results showed that the nutritional quality of RG, PWG, and WG products varied in relation to the product category and that WG inclusion cannot be always considered a marker of the overall nutritional quality of foods. Instead, it is necessary to evaluate the global product characteristics, and it is important to pay attention to differences between WG and PWG products that can be perceived by consumers as equivalent.

In sub-Saharan Africa, malnutrition occurs in various forms going from micronutrient deficiency (MND) to severe malnutrition. In this scenario, African indigenous leafy vegetables (AILVs) could help in alleviating hunger and food insecurity. Principally used by smallholder farmers as subsistence crops thanks to the ease of growing, AILVs have been reported to have valuable nutrient content. Nevertheless, rough handling coupled with microbial activities could lead to phyllosphere deterioration, hence leading to spoilage events that make the sustainable supply and consumption of AILVs difficult. Reviewing the literature regarding AILVs' phyllosphere microbiota, some bacteria such as Pseudomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were commonly found. Their ability to deteriorate vegetables is known, thus stressing the necessity to valorize these commodities. In this review, fermentation was deepened as an inexpensive form of food processing to valorize AILVs, modulating the phyllosphere microbiota in favor of fermenting microorganisms. The literature review revealed that traditional methods implying alkaline fermentation lower the levels of toxigenic compounds in AILVs such as cyanhydric acid. Methods involving lactic acid bacteria (LAB) fermentation with beneficial LAB were able to control the fermentation, hindering the proliferation of spoilage (i.e. Pseudomonadaceae) and potentially pathogenic bacteria (i.e. Enterobacteriaceae). Aside, the improvement of nutritional content is achieved, obtaining increased levels of B-group vitamins, carotenoids, and the reduction of antinutrient and toxic compounds for certain AILVs. Furthermore, the AILVs' shelf life is also prolonged, thus further confirming that the final products are valorized by the fermentation processes. Howbeit, this review also points out some weaknesses in the methods. Indeed, alkaline fermentation can allow the growth of toxin-producing Bacillus spp. that can jeopardize the consumers' health. While the unpredictability of spontaneous LAB fermentation caused in some cases the resilience of certain pathogens such as Enterobacteriaceae. More studies involving alternative ways to inoculate LAB starters such as back slopping might be useful to perfect the fermentation methods and finally valorize AILVs.

BACKGROUND: Structure and protein-starch interactions in pasta products can be responsible for lower postprandial glycemic responses compared with other cereal foods.OBJECTIVES: We tested the effect on postprandial glucose metabolism induced by 2 pasta products, couscous, and bread, through their structural changes during mastication and simulated gastric digestion.METHODS: Two randomized controlled trials (n = 30/trial) in healthy, normal-weight adults (mean BMI of 23.9 kg/m2 (study 1) and 23.0 kg/m2 (study 2)) evaluated postprandial glucose metabolism modulation to portions of durum wheat semolina spaghetti, penne, couscous, and bread each containing 50 g available carbohydrate. A mastication trial involving 26 normal-weight adults was conducted to investigate mastication processes and changes in particle size distribution and microstructure (light microscopy) of boluses after mastication and in vitro gastric digestion.RESULTS: Both pasta products resulted in lower areas under the 2-h curve for blood glucose (-40% for spaghetti and -22% for penne compared with couscous; -41% for spaghetti and -30% for penne compared with bread), compared with the other grain products (P < 0.05). Pasta products required more chews (spaghetti: 34 ± 18; penne: 38 ± 20; bread: 27 ± 13; couscous: 24 ± 17) and longer oral processing (spaghetti: 21 ± 13 s; penne: 23 ± 14 s; bread: 18 ± 9 s; couscous: 14 ± 10 s) compared with bread or couscous (P < 0.01). Pastas contained more large particles (46-67% of total particle area) compared with bread (0-30%) and couscous (1%) after mastication and in vitro gastric digestion. After in vitro gastric digestion, pasta samples still contained large areas of nonhydrolyzed starch embedded within the protein network; the protein in bread and couscous was almost entirely digested, and the starch was hydrolyzed.CONCLUSIONS: Preservation of the pasta structure during mastication and gastric digestion explains slower starch hydrolysis and, consequently, lower postprandial glycemia compared with bread or couscous prepared from the same durum wheat semolina flour in healthy adults.The postprandial in vivo trials were registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03098017 and NCT03104686.

Amaranth (Amaranthus sp.) is a promising indigenous leafy vegetable plant capable of contributing to food security in sub-Saharan Africa, thanks to its adaptability to diverse soils and its drought tolerance. Its edible parts such as leaves are characterized by high nutrient content. Food losses along the supply chain due to spoilage, however, especially of fresh produce is a challenge facing most of the sub-Saharan African countries in tackling food insecurity in the region. This calls for innovative yet inexpensive solutions such as natural fermentation to preserve the quality and safety of the commodity. To demonstrate the feasibility of natural fermentation in the preservation of vegetable amaranth, leaves were submerged (1:0.5 w/v) in distilled water with 3% sucrose and 3% NaCl dissolved. Control batches were prepared using only distilled water (1:0.5 w/v) with amaranth leaves. Samplings of both treated leaves and controls occurred at 0, 24, 48, 72, and 168 h to measure the pH and determine microbial population changes using culture and molecular-based techniques. Furthermore, the effects of treatment on nutritional content were assayed at the end of the process to determine the levels of B-group vitamins, β-carotene, lutein, and anti-nutrient phytic acid from unfermented fresh air-dried and 3% sucrose and 3% NaCl treated amaranth leaves. Finally, a visive and olfactive analysis was carried out to evaluate the acceptability of the final product. The significant drop of pH and the correct growth of Lactobacillaceae occurred only in treated batches, although Lactococcus was found in both treated and control samples. Furthermore, mean counts observed on selective media for controls and molecular high-throughput sequencing (HTS) analyses confirmed that in control samples, the undesired bacteria represented more than 60% of the microbial population. In treated amaranth leaves the amount of thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, β-carotene and lutein content were higher compared to the fresh unfermented air-dried leaves, and phytic acid content diminished after 7-days treatment. These findings suggest that treatment of amaranth leaves using 3% sucrose and 3% NaCl does not only preserve the commodity by arresting the growth of undesired microorganisms involved in spoilage and fosters the lactic acid bacteria but also improves the nutritional content of the fermented end product that has been warmly welcomed by panelists.

Pasta is a carbohydrate-rich food with a low glycemic index (GI) and is one of the main sources of slowly digestible starch (SDS). The presence of bran fractions (BFs) in pasta may enhance its health potential, owing to the content of fiber, micronutrients, and bioactive compounds, however, at the same time, BF may affect starch digestibility. In this study, the bioaccessibility of starch in pasta made with BF-enriched semolina (BF pasta), or only with micronized debranned kernel (DK pasta), and a control pasta made with traditional semolina was evaluated by applying two different in vitro models. The control pasta showed a percentage of SDS about four-fold higher than that of the BF pasta and 1.5-fold higher than that of the DK pasta (p &lt, 0.05). The amount of starch released during simulated gastrointestinal digestion was slightly lower, but not significantly different, for the control pasta than for both the BF and DK pasta. These results suggest that the presence of a higher amount of dietary fiber in BF pasta can affect the structure of the food matrix, interfering with the formation of the gluten network, water absorption, and starch granule accessibility, while micronization could enhance starch digestibility due to starch gelatinization. These findings emphasize the need to optimize the process for producing fiber-rich pasta without affecting its low starch digestibility and, consequently, its GI.

Cyclopropane fatty acids (CPFAs) are an investigated class of secondary fatty acids of microbial origin recently identified in foods. Even though the dietary daily intake of this class of compounds it has been recently estimated as not negligible, to date, no studies specifically have investigated their presence in human plasma after consumption of CPFA-rich sources. Therefore, the aims of this study were (i) to test CPFAs concentration in human plasma, thus demonstrating their in vivo bioaccessibility and potential bioavailability, (ii) to investigate a dose-response relationship between medium term chronic intake of CPFAs-rich foods and both CPFAs and plasma total fatty acid profiles in healthy subjects. Ten healthy normal weight adults were enrolled for conducting an in vivo study. Participants were asked to follow a CPFA-controlled diet for 3 weeks, consuming 50 g of Grana Padano cheese (GP) and 250 mL of whole cow milk, which correspond to a total of 22.1 mg of CPFAs. Fasting CPFAs concentration were monitored for eight timepoints during the whole study and plasma total fatty acids composition was determined by GC-MS. CPFAs, mainly dihydrosterculic acid (DHSA), were identified in plasma total fatty acids profile at the beginning of the study and after dietary treatment. A significant (p &lt, 0.05) increase of CPFAs mean plasma concentration (n = 10) were observed at the end of the dietary intervention. Contrarily, the total fatty acids composition of the general plasma fatty acids profile did not significantly change (p &ge, 0.05) during the dietary intervention period. This is the first investigation demonstrating that CPFAs are bioaccessible in vivo and, as expected, their plasmatic concentration may be affected by consumption of CPFAs-rich foods. This research will open the door to further detailed research, which may better elucidate the role of these compounds in human health.

The market for organic products is growing rapidly, probably attributable to the general customer perception that they are healthier foods, with a better nutritional profile than conventional ones. Despite this, the available studies show limited differences in the nutrient profile of organically and conventionally primary food products. Apart from this literature, no studies have focused on the nutrition profile of commercially prepacked foods. Thus, the aim of the present survey was to compare the nutritional quality intended as nutrition facts of organic and conventional prepacked foods sold in Italy. A total of 569 pairs of prepacked products (organic and their conventional counterparts) were selected from nine food categories sold by online retailers. By comparing organic and conventional products in the &ldquo, pasta, rice and other cereals&rdquo, category, the former were lower in energy, protein, and higher in saturates compared to the latter. Organic &ldquo, jams, chocolate spreads and honey&rdquo, products were lower in energy, carbohydrates, sugars and higher in protein than their regular counterparts. No differences were found for energy, macronutrients and salt for other categories. Therefore, based on the mandatory information printed on their packaging, prepacked organic products are not of a superior nutritional quality than conventional ones, with just a few exceptions. Consequently, the present study suggests that organic certification cannot be considered an indication of better overall nutritional quality. Further studies examining the nutritional quality of organic foods, taking into account the ingredients used, might better explain the results obtained.

The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and their related complications is increasing worldwide. The purpose of this umbrella review was to summarize and critically evaluate the effects of different diets on anthropometric parameters and cardiometabolic risk factors. Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science, from inception to April 2019, were used as data sources to select meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of different diets on anthropometric parameters and cardiometabolic risk factors. Strength and validity of the evidence were assessed through a set of predefined criteria. Eighty articles reporting 495 unique meta-analyses were examined, covering a wide range of popular diets: low-carbohydrate (n = 21 articles), high-protein (n = 8), low-fat (n = 9), paleolithic (n = 2), low-glycemic-index/load (n = 12), intermittent energy restriction (n = 6), Mediterranean (n = 11), Nordic (n = 2), vegetarian (n = 9), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) (n = 6), and portfolio dietary pattern (n = 1). Great variability in terms of definition of the intervention and control diets was observed. The methodological quality of most articles (n = 65; 81%), evaluated using the "A MeaSurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews-2" questionnaire, was low or critically low. The strength of evidence was generally weak. The most consistent evidence was reported for the Mediterranean diet, with suggestive evidence of an improvement in weight, BMI, total cholesterol, glucose, and blood pressure. Suggestive evidence of an improvement in weight and blood pressure was also reported for the DASH diet. Low-carbohydrate, high-protein, low-fat, and low-glycemic-index/load diets showed suggestive and/or weak evidence of a reduction in weight and BMI, but contrasting evidence for lipid, glycemic, and blood pressure parameters, suggesting potential risks of unfavorable effects. Evidence for paleolithic, intermittent energy restriction, Nordic, vegetarian, and portfolio dietary patterns was graded as weak. Among all the diets evaluated, the Mediterranean diet had the strongest and most consistent evidence of a beneficial effect on both anthropometric parameters and cardiometabolic risk factors. This review protocol was registered at www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ as CRD42019126103.

Introduction:The prevalence of overweight, obesity, and their related complications is increasing worldwide. We aimed to summarise and critically evaluate the effects of different popular diets on anthropometric parameters and metabolic risk factors.Material and methods:An umbrella review of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials was conducted according to the Joanna Briggs Institute Umbrella Review Methodology. The review protocol has been registered on PROSPERO (ID: CRD42019126103). Medline, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Web of Science were searched from inception to April 2019 to identify meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials that examined the effects of different diets on anthropometric parameters and metabolic risk factors. For each association, we estimated the summary effect size by random-effects and fixed-effects models, the 95% confidence interval, and the 95% prediction interval. We also assessed the between-study heterogeneity and evidence for small-study effects. We further applied standardized methodological criteria to evaluate the epidemiological credibility of the statistically significant associations.Results:Overall, 80 articles reporting 495 unique meta-analyses were examined, covering a wide range of popular diets: low-carbohydrate (n = 21 articles), high-protein (n = 8), low-fat (n = 9), palaeolithic (n = 2), low glycaemic index/load (n = 12), intermittent energy restriction (n = 6), Mediterranean (n = 11), Nordic (n = 2), vegetarian (n = 9), Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension or DASH (n = 6), and portfolio dietary pattern (n = 1). The methodological quality of most articles (n = 65; 81%), evaluated using the AMSTAR-2 questionnaire, was low or critically low. The strength of evidence was generally weak. The most consistent evidence was reported for Mediterranean diet, with suggestive evidence of an improvement in weight, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, glucose and blood pressure. Suggestive evidence of an improvement in weight and blood pressure was also reported for DASH diet. Low-carbohydrate, high-protein, low-fat and low-glycaemic index/load diets showed suggestive and/or weak evidence of a reduction in weight and BMI, but contrasting evidence for lipid, glycaemic and blood pressure parameters, suggesting potential risks of unfavourable effects. Finally, evidence for palaeolithic, intermittent energy restriction, Nordic, vegetarian and portfolio dietary patterns was graded as weak or not statistically significant.Discussion:Most meta-analyses showed low methodological quality and the strength of evidence, assessed using evidence classification criteria, was generally weak. Among all the diets evaluated, Mediterranean diet had the strongest and most consistent evidence of a positive effect on both anthropometric parameters and metabolic risk factors.

Coffee is an important source of bioactive compounds, including caffeine, trigonelline, and phenolic compounds. Several studies have highlighted the preventive effects of coffee consumption on major cardiometabolic (CM) diseases, but the impact of different coffee dosages on markers of CM risk in a real-life setting has not been fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effect of coffee and cocoa-based confectionery containing coffee consumption on several CM risk factors in healthy subjects., info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Triticum heritage varieties and ancient species are gaining interest of consumers due to the perception of a healthier nutrition profile than other modern wheat. Although still limited, several findings highlighted the real potential beneficial role of ancient wheat-based products consumption on several cardiometabolic factors(1). However, a lack of information is still present, especially for their effect on postprandial glycaemia. Evolutionary populations (EPs) are plants within the same species in one field characterized by a high level of genetic diversity(2). EPs are evolving as a function of several environmental variables and in turn characterized by a high level of adaptability and biodiversity. EPs can drive agronomic advantages, especially under organic and low-input agricultural conditions, or in less favourable growing conditions(3). The aim of the present study, which is a part of a more comprehensive project called “BIO2”(4), was to evaluate the impact of breads made with EPs of heritage varieties and a modern variety, all produced under organic farming in mountain areas of Emilia Romagna Region (Italy), on postprandial glycaemic and insulin responses. The study is a randomized controlled trial in which 13 healthy subjects were enrolled for consuming 8 non-commercial breads made either with EPs (EPs named “BIO2” and “GROSSI” – of local heritage varieties, and EP “Solibam”) or with a modern variety (Bologna) produced with a standard recipe, but 2 different leavening techniques (S. Cerevisiae and sourdough). Subjects consumed breads in a portion containing 50 g of available carbohydrates and blood was collected for quantifying glycaemia and insulin during 2 hours. Incremental area under curves (IAUCs) and maximum peaks were compared among treatments. No differences were found in IAUCs and peaks for both the markers, showing that none of the tested EPs was effective in lowering glycaemic and insulin responses compared to the modern variety. Moreover, sourdough did not determine a lower blood glucose and insulin within the same type of flour, which is in contrast with previous studies describing the role of sourdough in lowering glycaemic response. Future studies will better elucidate the possible implication of consuming ancient wheat-based products on the modulation of post-prandial glucose metabolism.This study has been funded by Measure 16.1.01 of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 of the Emilia-Romagna Region (Italy).

Coffee is an important source of bioactive compounds, including caffeine, trigonelline, and phenolic compounds. Several studies have highlighted the preventive effects of coffee consumption on major cardiometabolic diseases, but the impact of coffee dosage on markers of cardiometabolic risk is not well understood. Moreover, the pool of coffee-derived circulating metabolites in real-life settings is unknown. This study evaluated the bioavailability and effects on recognised cardiometabolic markers of coffee bioactives, considering different levels of consumption. An innovative experimental design, including both a chronic and an acute sub-study, and a comprehensive analytical approach were used.A 3-arm, randomised, crossover trial was conducted in 21 healthy volunteers (age, 23 ± 2 y; BMI, 22.3 ± 2.5 kg/m2) (Mena et al., Trials 2017, 18, 527). Volunteers were assigned to consume 3 treatments for 4 weeks, including 1 cup of espresso coffee/day, 3 cups of espresso coffee/day, and 1 cup of espresso coffee plus 2 cocoa-based confectionary products containing-coffee twice per day. The last day of each treatment, blood and urine samples were collected at specific time points for 24 hours. Dietary intake, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting glucose, insulin, LDL- and HDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, nitric oxide, inflammatory markers (IL-8, TNFα, VEGF), trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), DNA damage, DNA catabolites, and eicosanoids were assessed. The pool of coffee-derived circulating metabolites was also assessed in acute conditions. Untargeted metabolomics was performed.Energy intake did not change among treatments after 4 weeks, while significant differences were observed in the intake of saturated fatty acids and carbohydrates. The effect of different coffee dosages on the set of cardiometabolic markers assessed was negligible. Plasma and urinary pharmacokinetic profiles were evaluated for 6 caffeine metabolites, 3 trigonelline derivatives, and up to 40 phenolic metabolites. Pharmacokinetics highlighted the different “waves” of circulating metabolites occurring upon repeated coffee consumption. Differences in several pharmacokinetic parameters were observed among treatments, which may support the long-term cardiometabolic benefits of certain patterns of coffee consumption. Multivariate analyses clearly differentiated treatments on the basis of the urinary metabolome.This work provided a comprehensive picture of the impact of different coffee dosages on the pool of coffee-derived circulating metabolites, the urinary metabolome, and a wide number of cardiometabolic markers. Multivariate analyses focused on inter-individual differences are ongoing to better understand the effect of coffee on cardiometabolic health.

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of breads made with two different wheat evolutionary populations (EPs), in comparison with a modern variety, on postprandial blood glucose and insulin responses. A randomized controlled crossover postprandial study involving twelve healthy subjects was conducted. Seven non-commercial breads produced with flours from two different bread wheat (T. aestivum L.) EPs (Bio2, ICARDA) and a modern bread wheat variety (Bologna) considered as control, and with two different bread-making processes (S. cerevisiae and sourdough), were specifically formulated for the study. Postprandial incremental curves, Incremental Area Under the Curve (IAUC), maximum postprandial peaks for blood glucose and plasma insulin over 2 hours after administration of isoglucidic portions of breads (50 g of available carbohydrates) were evaluated. The comparison of incremental curves, IAUC, and maximum postprandial peaks after consumption of breads formulated with EPs and control breads showed no differences among samples. Neither the flour nor the leavening technic used for the baking were effective in inducing a different postprandial response compared to the Bologna variety. EPs, being characterized by higher degree of crop genetic diversity, may have a relevant agronomic role to guarantee good and stable yields and quality under low input management in a changing climate, however, future studies are needed to better investigate their potential positive effect on human health.

Cyclopropane fatty acids (CPFAs) are the most abundant cyclic fatty acids in microorganisms with unknown role(s) regarding their dietary relevance and biological effects in humans. This work was aimed to draw up a list of CPFAs-containing foods for estimating their dietary intake in the Italian population to provide a basis for evaluating their nutritional relevance and potential health-related effects. The CPFAs content of more than 500 food items was investigated and a preliminary dietary intake was assessed (12.0 ± 6.0 mg/day), based on the data reported by the Italian National Food Consumption Survey INRAN-SCAI 2005-06. CPFAs should be considered of dietary relevance in view of their potential physiological activity in humans and their presence in significant amounts in dairy products, as Grana Padano cheese (9.0-30.0 mg/100 g), and in bovine meat (0.7-4.0 mg/100 g). Future studies should elucidate whether this uncommon class of fatty acids has a biological role in human health.

In the last decades, the consumption of whole wheat has increased because consumers’ awareness has increased toward healthy food. However, breeders’ focus was always attributed to the major components of wheat, but less attention was paid to micronutrients. The aim of this study was to provide new insights on the influence of breeding on total polyphenol content (TPC), phenolic profile, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) using a set of Tunisian durum wheat landraces, old and modern varieties. Ultra-liquid chromatography multi-stage mass spectrometry (UHPLC–MSn) allowed the identification of eight phenolic acids, which were found in the bound form, while only p-coumaric acid was found in the free form. A significant genotype effect on the TPC (bound, free and total), TAC, and phenolic acid profile was observed. Regarding breeding effect, TPC concentrations were in the order modern > landraces > old. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed that the phenolic profile of the studied varieties was mainly conditioned by their genotypic characteristics, and no trend was observed as a function of breeding history. Likewise, clustering analysis highlighted an important genetic diversity, suggesting that the modern variety ‘‘Om Rabia’’ possesses the most interesting phenolic profile. These findings might be useful to breed genetically different and phenolic-rich new varieties.

Durum wheat pasta is considered a low-glycemic index (GI) food. In recent years, the interest in developing enriched pasta has increased. Since both the formulation and processing technologies may affect the GI, this study aimed to investigate the GI values of pasta products (pp) reported in the literature until 2020. GI values of pp analyzed following the ISO guidelines were included in this survey. A total of 95 pp were identified and, according to their formulation, classified into 10 categories (n, mean GI): category n 1: 100% refined wheat (35, 55); category n 2: 100% whole wheat (6, 52); category n 3: other cereal-based products (8, 52); category n 4: containing egg (5, 52); category n 5: gluten free (11, 60); category n 6: containing legumes (9, 46); category n 7: noodles and vermicelli (9, 56); category n 8: containing vegetable or algae (6, 51); category n 9: containing other ingredients (5, 37); category n 10: stuffed (1, 58). Overall, pasta is confirmed to be a medium–low-GI food, even if a high variability among or within each category emerged. The formulation of enriched pp able to elicit a controlled glycemic response could represent a strategy to improve the nutritional value of pasta.

Sub-Saharan region is often characterized by food and nutrition insecurity especially “hidden hunger” which results from inadequate micronutrients in diets. African indigenous leafy vegetables (AILVs) can represent a valid food source of micronutrients, but they often go to waste resulting in post-harvest losses. In an attempt to prolong AILVs shelf-life while enhancing their nutritional quality, fermentation was studied from a microbiological and nutritional point of view. Pumpkin leaves (Cucurbita sp.) were spontaneously fermented using the submerged method with 3% NaCl and 3% sucrose. Controls were set up, consisting of leaves with no additions. During fermentation, samples of both treatments were taken at 0, 24, 48, 72 and 168 h to monitor pH and characterize the microbial population through culture-based and molecular-based analyses. Variations between fresh and treated leaves in B-group vitamins, carotenoids, polyphenols, and phytic acid were evaluated. Data revealed that the treatment with addition of NaCl and sucrose hindered the growth of undesired microorganisms; in controls, unwanted microorganisms dominated the bacterial community until 168 h, while in treated samples Lactobacillaceae predominated. Furthermore, the content in folate, β-carotene and lutein increased in treated leaves compared to the fresh ones, while phytic acid diminished indicating an amelioration in the nutritional value of the final product. Thus, fermentation could help in preserving Cucurbita sp. leaves, avoiding contamination of spoilage microorganisms and enhancing the nutritional values.

A total of 21 (poly)phenolic compounds (free and bound) were quantified in raw, olive oil fried, sunflower oil fried and griddled green pepper before and after a simulated gastrointestinal digestion. Flavonoids, particularly quercetin rhamnoside, were the main compounds. The bioaccessibility of (poly)phenolic compounds after gastrointestinal digestion was higher in cooked (>82%) than in raw (48%) samples, showing a positive effect of heat treatment on the release of (poly)phenols from the vegetal matrix. Additionally, a faecal fermentation was carried out for 24h. A time-dependent microbial metabolic activity was observed, which resulted firstly (

Plant-based diets rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols have been shown to positively modulate the risk of cardiometabolic (CM) diseases. The inter-individual variability in the response to these bioactives may affect the findings. This systematic review aimed to summarize findings from existing randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effect of hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) on markers of CM health in humans. Literature searches were performed in PubMed and the Web of Science. RCTs on acute and chronic supplementation of HCA-rich foods/extracts on CM biomarkers were included. Forty-four RCTs (21 acute and 23 chronic) met inclusion criteria. Comparisons were made between RCTs, including assessments based on population health status. Of the 44 RCTs, only seven performed analyses on a factor exploring inter-individual response to HCA consumption. Results demonstrated that health status is a potentially important effect modifier as RCTs with higher baseline cholesterol, blood pressure and glycaemia demonstrated greater overall effectiveness, which was also found in studies where specific subgroup analyses were performed. Thus, the effect of HCAs on CM risk factors may be greater in individuals at higher CM risk, although future studies in these populations are needed, including those on other potential determinants of inter-individual variability. PROSPERO, registration number CRD42016050790., This article is based upon work from COST Action FA1403—POSITIVe “Interindividual variation in response to consumption of plant food bioactives and determinants involved” supported by COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology, http://www.cost.eu/).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The pharmacology of polyphenol metabolites on beta‐cell function is largely undetermined. We sought to identify polyphenol metabolites that enhance the insulin‐secreting function of beta‐cells and to explore the underlying mechanisms. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: INS‐1 beta‐cells and rat isolated islets of Langerhans or perfused pancreas preparations were used for insulin secretion experiments. Molecular modelling, intracellular Ca(2+) monitoring, and whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings were used for mechanistic studies. KEY RESULTS: Among a set of polyphenol metabolites, we found that exposure of INS‐1 beta‐cells to urolithins A and C enhanced glucose‐stimulated insulin secretion. We further characterized the activity of urolithin C and its pharmacological mechanism. Urolithin C glucose‐dependently enhanced insulin secretion in isolated islets of Langerhans and perfused pancreas preparations. In the latter, enhancement was reversible when glucose was lowered from a stimulating to a non‐stimulating concentration. Molecular modelling suggested that urolithin C could dock into the Ca(v)1.2 L‐type Ca(2+) channel. Calcium monitoring indicated that urolithin C had no effect on basal intracellular Ca(2+) but enhanced depolarization‐induced increase in intracellular Ca(2+) in INS‐1 cells and dispersed cells isolated from islets. Electrophysiology studies indicated that urolithin C dose‐dependently enhanced the L‐type Ca(2+) current for levels of depolarization above threshold and shifted its voltage‐dependent activation towards more negative potentials in INS‐1 cells. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Urolithin C is a glucose‐dependent activator of insulin secretion acting by facilitating L‐type Ca(2+) channel opening and Ca(2+) influx into pancreatic beta‐cells. Our work paves the way for the design of polyphenol metabolite‐inspired compounds aimed at ameliorating beta‐cell function.

Multiple factors may affect the metabolic fate of carbohydrates. Today, well-standardised and accepted methods may allow for the definitions of the changes in the glucose and insulin curves following the ingestion of either carbohydrate-based and other foods. More debate is still raised on the clinical meaning of these classifications when used at a population level, while emphasis is raised on the approach to carbohydrate metabolism on an individual basis. Within these ranges of applications, other compounds, such as plant polyphenols, may favourably add synergic effects through the modulation of carbohydrate digestion and glucose metabolic steps, resulting in lowering postprandial glucose and insulin levels. Finally, a growing knowledge suggests that the balance of dietary fructose and individual physical activity represent the key point to address the compound towards either positive, energy sparing effects, or a degenerative metabolic burden. The carbohydrate quality within a whole dietary and lifestyle pattern may therefore challenge the individual balance towards health or disease.

Purpose The quality of the study design and data reporting in human trials dealing with the inter-individual variability in response to the consumption of plant bioactives is, in general, low. There is a lack of recommendations supporting the scientific community on this topic. This study aimed at developing a quality index to assist the assessment of the reporting quality of intervention trials addressing the inter-individual variability in response to plant bioactive consumption. Recommendations for better designing and reporting studies were discussed. Methods The selection of the parameters used for the development of the quality index was carried out in agreement with the scientific community through a survey. Parameters were defined, grouped into categories, and scored for different quality levels. The applicability of the scoring system was tested in terms of consistency and effort, and its validity was assessed by comparison with a simultaneous evaluation by experts’ criteria. Results The “POSITIVe quality index” included 11 reporting criteria grouped into four categories (Statistics, Reporting, Data presentation, and Individual data availability). It was supported by detailed definitions and guidance for their scoring. The quality index score was tested, and the index demonstrated to be valid, reliable, and responsive. Conclusions The evaluation of the reporting quality of studies addressing inter-individual variability in response to plant bioactives highlighted the aspects requiring major improvements. Specific tools and recommendations favoring a complete and transparent reporting on inter-individual variability have been provided to support the scientific community on this field. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00394-019-02069-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users., Key messages The reporting quality of human studies on inter-individual variation in response to plant bioactives is generally low and should be significantly improved.There is no specific guidance for reporting studies on inter-individual variation in response to plant bioactives.The assessment of reporting quality using a scale approach is considered a valuable tool in assessing compliance with the recommendations in the submission phase or during the reviewing process. It also provides a quantitative measure of the quality of studies to be used in meta-analysis.Eleven reporting criteria were developed and supported by detailed definitions and guidance for their scoring.The POSITIVe quality index was tested and demonstrated to be valid, reliable, and responsive.The use of the quality index and its supporting explanatory material (dictionary) as a guide for researchers, peer-reviewers, and journal editors will foster further complete and transparent reporting of data on inter-individual variability.The criteria used in the quality index can serve as additional guidance to inform the design and conduction of further studies on inter-individual variations in response to plant bioactives.Better reporting is expected to lead to a better understanding of the mechanisms and factors involved and thus better study designs with greater impact on policies and practice. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s00394-019-02069-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Introduction The aim of this study was evaluating if the presence of a humanoid robot could improve the efficacy of a game-based, nutritional education intervention. Study design This was a controlled, school-based pilot intervention carried out on fourth-grade school children (8–10 years old). A total of 112 children underwent a game-based nutritional educational lesson on the importance of carbohydrates. For one group ( n = 58), the lesson was carried out by a nutritional educator, the Master of Taste (MT), whereas for another group, ( n = 54) the Master of Taste was supported by a humanoid robot (MT + NAO). A third group of children ( n = 33) served as control not receiving any lesson. Methods The intervention efficacy was evaluated by questionnaires administered at the beginning and at the end of each intervention. The nutritional knowledge level was evaluated by the cultural-nutritional awareness factor (AF) score. Results A total of 290 questionnaires were analyzed. Both MT and MT + NAO interventions significantly increased nutritional knowledge. At the end of the study, children in the MT and MT + NAO group showed similar AF scores, and the AF scores of both intervention groups were significantly higher than the AF score of the control group. Conclusions This study showed a significant increase in the nutritional knowledge of children involved in a game-based, single-lesson, educational intervention performed by a figure that has a background in food science. However, the presence of a humanoid robot to support this figure's teaching activity did not result in any significant learning improvement.

In Europe, the label information on food is regulated by the Reg. (EU) n.1169/2011 but many other regulated declarations (e.g. nutrition or heath claims (NHC), presence of gluten) can be provided on the pack. All this information could influence the perception of food quality and thus the consumers’ intention-to-buy. However, whether the nutritional quality of food products is comparable among products with different characteristics (e.g. presence/absence of NHC, gluten free (GF) declaration, brand) has been barely studied.Based on these premises, the Food Labelling of Italian Products (FLIP) Study aims to systematically investigate the overall nutritional quality of the main food categories sold on the Italian market. The present work focused on sweet cereal-based products (biscuits, breakfast cereals, and sweet snacks).Products were selected from the website of thirteen retailers present on the Italian market and data were collected from the complete images of all the sides of the pack. Then, biscuits, breakfast cereals, and sweet snacks were further sub-grouped for specific comparisons considering i) descriptive name reported, ii) presence/absence of GF declaration, iii) presence/absence of NHC declaration, iv) brand/own label. Data of energy, nutrient and salt contents per 100 grams of product for each product category were considered and comparisons among the sub-groups were performed (Mann Whitney test or Kruskal Wallis one-way ANOVA based on two or multiple independent samples, respectively) (ver. 25.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). In addition, a Principal Component Analysis was performed for all products and for each product sub-category by considering energy and nutrient contents per 100 grams of product to better describe the inter-product nutritional variability.A total of 814 biscuits, 371 breakfast cereals and 476 sweet snacks were included. Limited differences were found between branded and own label products and between GF and gluten-containing products. Conversely, interesting differences were observed between products with and without NHC. For instance, biscuits with nutrition claims resulted with an overall lower content of total energy, total fats and sugars compared to product without these claims, in agreement with previous investigations. Finally, a high inter-product variability was observed among the different sub-categories for the three product categories.Future researches performed within the FLIP study will allow to have a clearer picture about the nutritional quality of food products sold in Italy and to understand if specific food characteristics might be considered as a “marker” of the overall quality of food products