Search Results (1,740)

Aurantiochytrium is a well-known long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) producer, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). In order to reduce the cost or improve the productivity of DHA, many researchers are focusing on exploring the high-yield strain, reducing production costs, changing culture conditions, and other measures. In this study, DHA production was improved by a two-stage fermentation. In the first stage, efficient and cheap soybean powder was used instead of conventional peptone, and the optimization of fermentation conditions (optimal fermentation conditions: temperature 28.7 °C, salinity 10.7‰, nitrogen source concentration 1.01 g/L, and two-nitrogen ratio of yeast extract to soybean powder 2:1) based on response surface methodology resulted in a 1.68-fold increase in biomass concentration. In the second stage, the addition of 2.5 mM sesamol increased the production of fatty acid and DHA by 93.49% and 98.22%, respectively, as compared to the optimal culture condition with unadded sesamol. Transcriptome analyses revealed that the addition of sesamol resulted in the upregulation of some genes related to fatty acid synthesis and antioxidant enzymes in Aurantiochytrium. This research provides a low-cost and effective culture method for the commercial production of DHA by Aurantiochytrium sp. Full article

Nutrient quality of plant-based meat and fish alternative (MFA) products has been reported as variable. The present objective was to compare the nutrient density of raw meat and fish with MFA products and to examine MFA ingredients and fortification patterns. Nutrient composition data for raw beef, pork, and chicken (n = 450) came from the USDA Standard Reference Legacy Reselase (SR28) nutrient composition database (n = 450). Data for plant-based meat alternatives (n = 118) came from the USDA Branded Food Products Database (BFPDB). Data for fish and seafood (n = 68) and alternatives (n = 12) came from the Danish Frida Database and Mintel (n = 503). Analyses compared macronutrient content and selected micronutrients per 100 g and percentage of US Daily Values. Nutrient density scores were based on the NRF5.3 algorithm. NRF5.3 scores were significantly lower for MFA products as compared to meat or fish. Saturated fat content was lower, but the mean MFA sodium content was 660 mg/100 g compared to 60 mg/100 g for beef. Mean protein content (17 g) was lower than for beef and pork (20 g). A search of ingredient lists found that fortification with most nutrients associated with animal source proteins (such as B vitamins, vitamin D, iodine, zinc, and omega-3 EPA and DHA) was minimal. Plant-based MFA products would benefit from nutrient standards and fortification guidelines to ensure that these products are not nutritionally inferior to the originals. Full article

A phenylalanine-restricted diet, supplemented with protein substitutes (PSs), remains the cornerstone of phenylketonuria (PKU) management. However, adherence is challenging in adulthood, and data on the nutritional status of early and continuously treated adults with PKU (ETAwPKU) are scarce. A total of 34 ETAwPKU (16 females; mean ± SD, age: 28 ± 9 years, phenylalanine concentration: 847 ± 285 µmol/L) and 34 age- and sex-matched control subjects were compared regarding their blood nutrient status, self-reported dietary intake, and cognitive wellbeing. Though diet adherence varied, all ETAwPKU were taking a PS. No significant differences were found for blood DHA, calcium, ferritin, transferrin, and zinc concentrations. However, selenium and ubiquinone concentrations were 16% and 29% lower in ETAwPKU, respectively (p < 0.01 and <0.0001). Vitamin concentrations (D, B12, B6, and folic acid) were significantly higher in ETAwPKU except for alpha-tocopherol. Amino acid (AA) concentrations differed between ETAwPKU and controls: they were significantly lower for 12 AAs and higher for phenylalanine and glycine. ETAwPKU had a significantly higher intake of most minerals and vitamins, except for niacin and phosphorus (no difference). Depending on the nutrient, PSs represented 52–100% of patients’ daily intake and 19% of total daily energy intake. Compared with controls, ETAwPKU scored significantly lower in three of the four subscales of the cognitive wellbeing questionnaire. Overall, the blood DHA and micronutrient status of ETAwPKU was adequate, except for selenium, with higher intakes than controls for most micronutrients. Patients relied heavily on PSs to meet the recommended intakes for protein, DHA, and micronutrients. The potential clinical impact of differences found in AA status should be further studied. Full article

Fish oil, renowned for its high content of omega-3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), has gained considerable attention for its potential health benefits. EPA and DHA exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by promoting the production of specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), such as resolvins and protectins. Fish oil has been studied for its potential to reduce bronchial inflammation, a key feature of respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD. This study investigates the cellular mechanisms of fish oil in an in vitro model of lung inflammation using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on a healthy human bronchial epithelium cell line. LPS exposure for 24 h reduced cell viability, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS), depleted glutathione (GSH), and induced mitochondrial depolarization, indicating oxidative stress and inflammation. Fish oil administration significantly mitigated ROS production, prevented GSH depletion, and reduced mitochondrial depolarization. This was associated with the upregulation of the endogenous antioxidant system, evidenced by restored GSH levels and the increased gene expression of glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), and superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2). Fish oil also suppressed IL-6 and IL-1β expression and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 expression. Furthermore, fish oil upregulated the expression of pro-resolving mediator receptors, suggesting a role in inflammation resolution. These findings highlight the potential of fish oil supplementation as a preventive measure against pulmonary diseases characterized by unresolved inflammation such as lung inflammation. Full article

Research on dietary fatty acids (FAs) and lung health has reported skeptical findings. This study aims to examine the causal relationship between circulating FAs and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) onset and exacerbation, using a two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis. Strong and independent genetic variants of FAs were obtained from the UK Biobank of European ancestry. The exposure traits included saturated FA (SFA), poly- and mono-unsaturated FA (PUFA and MUFA), omega-3 and omega-6 PUFA, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and linoleic acid (LA), all expressed as total FA (TFA) percentages. Summary statistics for COPD outcomes were obtained from the FinnGen consortium including COPD, COPD hospitalization, COPD/asthma-related infections, COPD-related respiratory insufficiency, and COPD/asthma/interstitial lung disease (ILD)-related pneumonia. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) was the primary MR approach. MR-Egger regression and MR-PRESSO were utilized to evaluate heterogeneity and pleiotropy. MR-PRESSO tests suggested no obvious horizontal pleiotropy. MR results by the IVW approach indicated that the genetically high SFA/TFA levels were associated with an increased risk of COPD/asthma/ILD-related pneumonia (OR: 1.275, 95%CI: 1.103–1.474, p for FDR = 0.002). No significant relationship was observed between other types of FAs and COPD outcomes. Our MR analysis suggests that there is weak evidence that the genetically predicted high SFA/TFA was associated with an increased risk of pneumonia. Full article

This study was conducted to evaluate the potential anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancement properties of lipids derived from Aptocyclus ventricosus eggs on RAW264.7 cells. Firstly, we determined the fatty acid compositions of A. ventricosus lipids by performing gas chromatography analysis. The results showed that A. ventricosus lipids contained saturated fatty acids (24.37%), monounsaturated fatty acids (20.90%), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (54.73%). They also contained notably high levels of DHA (25.91%) and EPA (22.05%) among the total fatty acids. Our results for the immune-associated biomarkers showed that A. ventricosus lipids had immune-enhancing effects on RAW264.7 cells. At the maximum dose of 300 µg/mL, A. ventricosus lipids generated NO (119.53%) and showed greater phagocytosis (63.69%) ability as compared with untreated cells. A. ventricosus lipids also upregulated the expression of iNOS, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α genes and effectively upregulated the phosphorylation of MAPK (JNK, p38, and ERK) and NF-κB p65, indicating that these lipids could activate the MAPK and NF-κB pathways to stimulate macrophages in the immune system. Besides their immune-enhancing abilities, A. ventricosus lipids significantly inhibited LPS-induced RAW264.7 inflammatory responses via the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. The results indicated that these lipids significantly reduced LPS-induced NO production, showing a decrease from 86.95% to 38.89%. Additionally, these lipids downregulated the expression of genes associated with the immune response and strongly suppressed the CD86 molecule on the cell surface, which reduced from 39.25% to 33.80%. Collectively, these findings imply that lipids extracted from A. ventricosus eggs might have biological immunoregulatory effects. Thus, they might be considered promising immunomodulatory drugs and functional foods. Full article

This study explores the potential of Cucumaria frondosa (C. frondosa) viscera as a natural source of omega-3 FAs using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO₂) extraction. The extraction conditions were optimized using a response surface design, and the optimal parameters were identified as 75 °C and 45 MPa, with a 20 min static and a 30 min dynamic extraction, and a 2:1 ethanol to feedstock mass ratio. Under these conditions, the scCO₂ extraction yielded higher FAs than the solvent-based Bligh and Dyer method. The comparative analysis demonstrated that scCO₂ extraction (16.30 g of FAs/100 g of dried samples) yielded more fatty acids than the conventional Bligh and Dyer method (9.02 g, or 13.59 g of FAs/100 g of dried samples with ultrasonic assistance), indicating that scCO₂ extraction is a viable, green alternative to traditional solvent-based techniques for recovering fatty acids. The pre-treatment effects, including drying methods and ethanol-soaking, were investigated. Freeze-drying significantly enhanced FA yields to almost 100% recovery, while ethanol-soaked viscera tripled the FA yields compared to fresh samples, achieving similar EPA and DHA levels to hot-air-dried samples. These findings highlight the potential of sea cucumber viscera as an efficient source of omega-3 FA extraction and offer an alternative to traditional extraction procedures. Full article

In this study, proteins were prepared from Schizochytrium pombe residue after oil extraction using isoelectric point precipitation, and their physicochemical and emulsifying properties were investigated. Our objective was to assess the suitability of these proteins for functional ingredient applications. Through a one-way experiment and optimization using response surface design, the effects of time, temperature, pH, and the material–liquid ratio of NaOH alkaline extraction were explored. The isoelectric point is verified by isoelectric point precipitation; the results revealed that crude protein from Schizochytrium (SCP) is minimally soluble at pH 4.2. Compared with whey protein (WP), it promotes better emulsion stability through the emulsification test. This study suggests that Schizochytrium oil-processing byproducts represent a promising source of protein, with potential applications as functional ingredients, offering implications for the usage of these byproducts in various industries. Full article

The objective of this study was to investigate the nutrient composition of low-grade New Zealand commercial fish (Gemfish and Hoki) roe and to investigate the effects of delipidation and freeze-drying processes on roe hydrolysis and antioxidant activities of their protein hydrolysates. Enzymatic hydrolysis of the Hoki and Gemfish roe homogenates was carried out using three commercial proteases: Alcalase, bacterial protease HT, and fungal protease FP-II. The protein and lipid contents of Gemfish and Hoki roes were 23.8% and 7.6%; and 17.9% and 10.1%, respectively. The lipid fraction consisted mainly of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) in both Gemfish roe (41.5%) and Hoki roe (40.2%), and docosahexaenoic (DHA) was the dominant polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) in Gemfish roe (21.4%) and Hoki roe (18.6%). Phosphatidylcholine was the main phospholipid in Gemfish roe (34.6%) and Hoki roe (28.7%). Alcalase achieved the most extensive hydrolysis, and its hydrolysate displayed the highest 2,2-dipheny1-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)˙ and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The combination of defatting and freeze-drying treatments reduced DPPH˙ scavenging activity (by 38%), ABTS˙ scavenging activity (by 40%) and ferric (Fe³⁺) reducing power by18% (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that pre-processing treatments of delipidation and freeze-drying could negatively impact the effectiveness of enzymatic hydrolysis in extracting valuable compounds from low grade roe. Full article

Lard is highly appreciated for its flavor. However, it has not been elucidated how to consume lard while at the same time eliminating its adverse effects on postpartum cognitive function. Female mice were divided into three groups (n = 10): soybean oil (SO), lard oil (LO), and a mixture of soybean oil and lard at a ratio of 1:1 (LS). No significant difference was observed between the SO and LS groups in behavioral testing of the maternal mice, but the LO group was significantly worse compared with these two groups. Moreover, the SO and LS supplementation increased docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) levels in the brain and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing bacteria in feces, thereby mitigating neuroinflammation and lowering the p-ERK(1/2)/ERK(1/2), p-CREB/CREB, and BDNF levels in the brain compared to the LO group. Collectively, the LS group inhibited postpartum cognitive impairment by regulating the brain fatty acid composition, neuroinflammation, gut microbiota, and the SCFA/ERK(1/2)/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway compared to lard. Full article

To investigate difference in the quality of the different parts (back, tail muscles, and fish skin) of Opsariichthys bidens from pond and rice field cultures, a comparative study was conducted in terms of nutritional composition, volatile flavor profiles and gut microbiota. In detail, the texture, free amino acids, fatty acids were further assessed. The results suggested that the moisture content, crude protein and crude fat content in the skin of O. bidens are higher than those in the back and tail muscles, regardless of breeding modes. The fish cultured in the rice field had a higher protein content than those from the pond culture, while the fat content of the rice field-cultured fish was significantly low compared to the fish from the pond culture, especially in the back and tail parts. A total of 43 volatile components were detected by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), with a maximum of 18 types of aldehydes and the highest concentration being nonanal. Compared to pond cultures, the fish from the rice field cultures showed more abundant flavor composition and odor-active compounds. The total content of DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) and EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) in the rice field-cultured fish was higher than that of the pond group, while no significant disparity in amino acid composition was observed (p > 0.05). Comparative and clustering analyses of gut microbiota revealed notable discrepancies in the gut microbiota of O. bidens from two aquaculture systems. However, an inherent correlation between the gut microbiome and meat quality would be further emphasized in further studies. This study can offer a theoretical reference for the development of high-quality aquatic products by selecting the appropriate aquaculture models. Full article

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids have received considerable attention in the field of mental health, in particular regarding the treatment of depression. This review presents an overview of current research on the role of omega-3 fatty acids in the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders. The existing body of evidence demonstrates that omega-3 fatty acids, in particular eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have antidepressant effects that can be attributed to their modulation of neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter function, and neuroplasticity. Nevertheless, clinical trials of omega-3 supplementation have yielded inconsistent results. Some studies have demonstrated significant reductions in depressive symptoms following omega-3 treatment, whereas others have shown minimal to no beneficial impact. A range of factors, encompassing dosage, the ratio of EPA to DHA, and baseline nutritional status, have been identified as having a potential impact on the noted results. Furthermore, it has been suggested that omega-3 fatty acids may act as an adjunctive treatment for those undergoing antidepressant treatment. Notwithstanding these encouraging findings, discrepancies in study designs and variability in individual responses underscore the necessity of further research in order to establish uniform, standardized guidelines for the use of omega-3 fatty acids in the management of depressive disorders. Full article

The objectives of this study were to explore the role that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) plays in heart failure (HF), highlighting the potential connection to oxidative stress pathways. Following PRISMA guidelines, we conducted electronic searches of the literature in MEDLINE and EMBASE focusing on serum EPA and/or DHA and EPA and/or DHA supplementation in adult patients with heart failure or who had heart failure as an outcome of this study. We screened 254 studies, encompassing RCTs, observational studies, and cohort studies that examined HF outcomes in relation to either serum concentrations or dietary supplementation of EPA and/or DHA. The exclusion criteria were pediatric patients, non-HF studies, abstracts, editorials, case reports, and reviews. Eleven studies met our criteria. In meta-analyses, high serum concentrations of DHA were associated with a lower rate of heart failure with a hazard ratio of 0.74 (CI = 0.59–0.94). High serum concentrations of EPA also were associated with an overall reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events with a hazard ratio of 0.60 (CI = 0.46–0.77). EPA and DHA, or n3-PUFA administration, were associated with an increased LVEF with a mean difference of 1.55 (CI = 0.07–3.03)%. A potential explanation for these findings is the ability of EPA and DHA to inhibit pathways by which oxidative stress damages the heart or impairs cardiac systolic or diastolic function producing heart failure. Specifically, EPA may lower oxidative stress within the heart by reducing the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cardiac tissue by (i) upregulating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), which increases the expression of antioxidant enzyme activity, including heme oxygenase-1, thioredoxin reductase 1, ferritin light chain, ferritin heavy chain, and manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD), (ii) increasing the expression of copper–zinc superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and glutathione peroxidase, (iii) targeting Free Fatty Acid Receptor 4 (Ffar4), (iv) upregulating expression of heme-oxygenase-1, (v) lowering arachidonic acid levels, and (vi) inhibiting the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway. DHA may lower oxidative stress within the heart by (i) reducing levels of mitochondrial-fission-related protein DRP-1(ser-63), (ii) promoting the incorporation of cardiolipin within the mitochondrial membrane, (iii) reducing myocardial fibrosis, which leads to diastolic heart failure, (iv) reducing the expression of genes such as Appa, Myh7, and Agtr1α, and (v) reducing inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6, TNF-α. In conclusion, EPA and/or DHA have the potential to improve heart failure, perhaps mediated by their ability to modulate oxidative stress. Full article

Scientific evidence shows that dietary patterns are a key environmental determinant of mental health. Dietary constituents can modify epigenetic patterns and thus the gene expression of relevant genetic variants in various mental health conditions. In the present work, we describe some nutrigenomic effects of dietary fiber, phenolic compounds (plant secondary metabolites), and fatty acids on mental health outcomes, with emphasis on their possible interactions with genetic and epigenetic aspects. Prebiotics, through their effects on the gut microbiota, have been associated with modulation in the neuroendocrine response to stress and the facilitation of the processing of positive emotions. Some of the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms include the serotonin neurotransmitter system (TPH1 gene) and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (inhibition of histone deacetylases). The consumption of phenolic compounds exerts a positive role in neurocognitive domains. The evidence showing the involvement of genetic and epigenetic factors comes mainly from animal models, highlighting the role of epigenetic mechanisms through miRNAs and methyltransferases as well as the effect on the expression of apoptotic-related genes. Long-chain n-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) have been mainly related to psychotic and mood disorders, but the genetic and epigenetic evidence is scarce. Studies on the genetic and epigenetic basis of these interactions need to be promoted to move towards a precision and personalized approach to medicine. Full article

Children carrying Staphylococcus aureus in their nasopharynx are at a higher risk of contracting systemic infection. Due to lack of sufficient information regarding such carriage, this study was conducted to explore the prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility, and genomic profiles of S. aureus isolated from nasopharyngeal samples of 163 randomly selected asymptomatic Bangladeshi children aged from 5–<15 years. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern and genomic analysis of the samples were conducted using standard microbiological methods and genomic tools. The carriage was confirmed in 44 (27%) children who were mostly well nourished without respiratory symptoms in the last 3 months. Higher carriage was observed among the younger age group (5–<10 years) who completed vaccines for pneumonia (p = 0.002) and influenza (p = 0.004). Among the isolates, 84.1% were multidrug-resistant and 47.5% (n = 40) were methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). All the isolates (100%) were resistant to cefixime with higher resistance to ampicillin (95.5%) and penicillin (90.9%). Among the three investigated isolates, two were ST80 (ID-1 and ID-52) and one was a novel strain (ID-19) with the presence of aph-Stph, blaI, blaZ, dha1, fosB, lmrS, mepA, norA, and tet38 genes. The current research demonstrates a high incidence of multidrug-resistant S. aureus and reports the first instance of ST80 in asymptomatic children in Bangladesh. Full article