Consumption of pasteurized human lysozyme transgenic goats’ milk alters serum metabolite profile in young pigs

Nutrition, bacterial composition of the gastrointestinal tract, and general health status can all influence the metabolic profile of an organism. We previously demonstrated that feeding pasteurized transgenic goats’ milk expressing human lysozyme (hLZ) can positively impact intestinal morphology and modulate intestinal microbiota composition in young pigs. The objective of this study was to further examine the effect of consuming hLZ-containing milk on young pigs by profiling serum metabolites. Pigs were placed into two groups and fed a diet of solid food and either control (non-transgenic) goats’ milk or milk from hLZ-transgenic goats for 6 weeks. Serum samples were collected at the end of the feeding period and global metabolite profiling was performed. For a total of 225 metabolites (160 known, 65 unknown) semi-quantitative data was obtained. Levels of 18 known and 4 unknown metabolites differed significantly between the two groups with the direction of change in 13 of the 18 known metabolites being almost entirely congruent with improved health status, particularly in terms of the gastrointestinal tract health and immune response, with the effects of the other five being neutral or unknown. These results further support our hypothesis that consumption of hLZ-containing milk is beneficial to health

Curcumin and resveratrol inhibit nuclear factor-kappaB-mediated cytokine expression in adipocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adipocytes express inflammatory mediators that contribute to the low-level, chronic inflammation found in obese subjects and have been linked to the onset of cardiovascular disorders and insulin resistance associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A reduction in inflammatory gene expression in adipocytes would be expected to reverse this low-level, inflammatory state and improve cardiovascular function and insulin sensitivity. The natural products, curcumin and resveratrol, are established anti-inflammatory compounds that mediate their effects by inhibiting activation of NF-κB signaling. In the present study, we examined if these natural products can inhibit NF-κB activation in adipocytes and in doing so reduce cytokine expression.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and COX-2 gene expression in 3T3-L1-derived adipocytes was measured by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) with or without TNFα-stimulation. Cytokine protein and prostaglandin E₂(PGE₂) expression were measured by ELISA. Effects of curcumin and resveratrol were evaluated by treating TNFα-stimulated adipocytes with each compound and 1) assessing the activation state of the NF-κB signaling pathway and 2) measuring inflammatory gene expression by qRT-PCR and ELISA.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Both preadipocytes and differentiated adipocytes express the genes for TNF-α, IL-6, and COX-2, key mediators of the inflammatory response. Preadipocytes were also found to express IL-1β; however, IL-1β expression was absent in differentiated adipocytes. TNF-α treatment activated NF-κB signaling in differentiated adipocytes by inducing IκB degradation and NF-κB translocation to the nucleus, and as a result increased IL-6 (6-fold) and COX-2 (2.5-fold) mRNA levels. TNF-α also activated IL-1β gene expression in differentiated adipocytes, but had no effect on endogenous TNF-α mRNA levels. No detectable TNFα or IL-1β was secreted by adipocytes. Curcumin and resveratrol treatment inhibited NF-κB activation and resulted in a reduction of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and COX-2 gene expression (IC₅₀= 2 μM) and a reduction of secreted IL-6 and PGE₂(IC₅₀~ 20 μM).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Curcumin and resveratrol are able to inhibit TNFα-activated NF-κB signaling in adipocytes and as a result significantly reduce cytokine expression. These data suggest that curcumin and resveratrol may provide a novel and safe approach to reduce or inhibit the chronic inflammatory properties of adipose tissue.</p

Balanço entre ácidos graxos ômega-3 e 6 na resposta inflamatória em pacientes com câncer e caquexia Omega-3 and 6 fatty acids balance in inflammatory response in patients with cancer and cachexia

O emagrecimento, associado à perda de massa magra, é um fenômeno observado com freqüência em pacientes com câncer. Tal condição predispõe o paciente ao maior risco de infecções, pior resposta aos tratamentos implantados e, como conseqüência, desfavorece o prognóstico de cura. Além disso, a desnutrição também está associada à pior qualidade de vida. Dessa forma, algumas terapias têm sido propostas na tentativa de reverter o catabolismo, por meio da atenuação da resposta inflamatória, observado em grande porcentagem de pacientes com câncer e caquexia. Entre elas, a suplementação com ácidos graxos da família ômega-3 pode representar uma estratégia na redução da formação de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, favorecendo a tolerância metabólica dos substratos energéticos e atenuando o catabolismo protéico, com o intuito de melhorar o prognóstico de cura de pacientes com câncer. Entretanto, os estudos mostram alguns resultados conflitantes da suplementação com ômega-3 na resposta imunológica. Por outro lado, em pacientes com câncer, os ensaios clínicos mostraram atenuar a resposta inflamatória e melhorar o estado nutricional. O objetivo deste artigo é realizar uma revisão criteriosa do assunto.<br>Emaciation and loss of lean body mass is a frequent phenomenon observed in cancer patients. This condition leads to infection risk and a poor response to treatment, thus reducing the chances of cure. Furthermore, malnutrition is also associated with a poor quality of life. Therefore, therapies have been proposed in attempt to revert the catabolism observed in most of these patients by attenuating the inflammatory response. Among them, omega-3 fatty acid supplementation may be a strategy to reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and improve metabolic substrate tolerance, decreasing protein catabolism in order to ameliorate the prognosis of cure in cancer patients. However, studies demonstrate some conflicting results of ômega-3 supplementation on immune response. On the other hand, clinical trials in cancer patients demonstrate that the inflammatory response decreases and the nutritional status improves. The aim of this paper is to elaborate a strict review of the subject

Preoperative immunonutrition and its effect on postoperative outcomes in well-nourished and malnourished gastrointestinal surgery patients: a randomised controlled trial

Background/Objectives:Invasive procedures such as surgery cause immunosuppression, leading to increased risk of complications, infections and extended hospital stay. Emerging research around immune-enhancing nutrition supplements and their ability to reduce postoperative complications and reduce treatment costs is promising. This randomised controlled trial aims to examine the effect of preoperative immunonutrition supplementation on length of hospital stay (LOS), complications and treatment costs in both well-nourished and malnourished gastrointestinal surgery patients.Subjects/Methods:Ninety-five patients undergoing elective upper and lower gastrointestinal surgery were recruited. The treatment group (n=46) received a commercial immuno-enhancing supplement 5 days preoperatively. The control group (n=49) received no supplements. The primary outcome measure was LOS, and secondary outcome measures included complications and cost.Results:A nonsignificant trend towards a shorter LOS within the treatment group was observed (7.1&plusmn;4.1 compared with 8.8&plusmn;6.5 days; P=0.11). For malnourished patients, this trend was greater with hospital stay reduced by 4 days (8.3&plusmn;3.5 vs 12.3&plusmn;9.5 days; P=0.21). Complications and unplanned intensive care admission rates were very low in both the groups. The average admission cost was reduced by AUD1576 in the treatment group compared with the control group (P=0.37).Conclusions:Preoperative immunonutrition therapy in gastrointestinal surgery has the potential to reduce the LOS and cost, with greater treatment benefit seen in malnourished patients; however, there is a need for additional research with greater patient numbers.</span

Efeito de um hidrolisado de proteínas de soro de leite e de seus peptídeos na proteção de lesões ulcerativas da mucosa gástrica de ratos Effects of a whey protein concentrate and it's peptides in the protection of ulcerative lesions at rat gastric mucosa

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a atividade do hidrolisado das proteínas de soro de leite bovino e uma fração de peptídeos de baixo peso molecular (peso molecular <1kDa), na proteção do epitélio da mucosa do estômago de ratos Wistar adultos contra o processo ulcerativo, induzidos por três diferentes agentes. MÉTODOS: Nesse estudo foram utilizados os modelos de indução de úlcera pelo antiinflamatório indometacina (30mg/kg de peso), por etanol absoluto (1ml/animal) e por estresse causado por imobilização e frio (4ºC/2h) em ratos Wistar adultos. RESULTADO: O hidrolisado protéico de soro de leite foi obtido por tratamento com pancreatina, ao grau de hidrólise de 20%, e fracionado em membrana de fluxo tangencial com faixa de corte de 1kDa, para obtenção de uma fração contendo peptídeos de baixo peso molecular denominada peptídeos do hidrolisado protéico de soro (<1kDa). A administração aguda do hidrolisado protéico de soro, de acordo com o modelo etanol, resultou em 65,5% de redução dos índices de lesões ulcerativas, sendo obtida 77,4% de inibição em dose dupla. CONCLUSÃO: O efeito citoprotetor dos peptídeos de baixo peso molecular foi mais elevado para o modelo de indução por antiinflamatório, em relação ao hidrolisado integral, tanto em dose única como em dupla (53,1% e 71,6% de redução dos índices de lesões ulcerativas, respectivamente). Não foi constatada atividade protetora em modelos de úlcera induzidos por estresse.<br>OBJECTIVE: To assess the ability of bovine whey protein hydrolysate and its low molecular weight fraction (molecular weight <1kDa) to protect the gastric mucosa of rats against ulcerative process induced by three different agents. METHODS: Adult Wistar rats were subjected to the indomethacin-induced ulcer (30mg/kg body weigh), absolute ethanol (1ml/animal) and immobilization and cold stress (4(0)C/2h), models. RESULTS: Whey protein hydrolysate was obtained by treatment with pancreatin to a degree of hydrolysis of 20% and fractionated using a tangential flow membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 1kDa to obtain the fraction containing low molecular weight peptides (<1kDa). In the ethanol-induced acute ulcer model (single dose), whey protein hydrolysate inhibited the gastric lesion index by 65.5% and the double dose resulted in a 77.4% inhibition. CONCLUSION: For the anti-inflammatory model, the cytoprotective effect of low molecular weight peptides was stronger than that of total hydrolysate (53.1 and 71.6%, ulcerative lesion index) for single and double dose, respectively. No mucosa cytoprotective activity was found for whey protein concentrate, whey protein hydrolysate or WPHP in the immobilization and cold stress model

A double-blind, randomized, controlled crossover trial of glutamine supplementation in home parenteral nutrition

Objective: Studies suggest clinical benefit of glutamine-supplemented parenteral nutrition. The aim was to determine if the inclusion of 10 g of glutamine as part of the nitrogen source of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) reduces infectious complications. Subjects/Methods: Thirty-five patients on HPN were recruited and 22 completed the study. Patients were randomized to receive either standard HPN or glutamine-supplemented HPN. Patients were assessed at randomization, 3 and 6 months later then they were crossed over to the alternative HPN and reassessed at 3 and 6 months. Assessments included plasma amino acid concentrations, intestinal permeability and absorption, nutritional status, oral and parenteral intake, quality of life, routine biochemistry and haematology. Results: No difference was seen between the groups at randomization. No difference was detected between the treatment phases for infective complications (55% in the standard treatment phase and 36% in the glutamine-supplemented phase P 0.67). There were no differences in nutritional status, intestinal permeability, plasma glutamine concentrations or quality of life. Conclusion: Although limited by the sample size, the study has shown that glutamine as part of the nitrogen source of parenteral nutrition can be given to patients on HPN for 6 months without any adverse effects

Glutamine supplementation in multiple trauma of critical care

Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid in the body and has been considered nonessential in the past because it can be synthesized de novo. However, during stress and catabolic conditions such as multiple trauma and critical illness, the demand for glutamine increases and its concentration in plasma and muscle falls dramatically. Therefore, glutamine has been reclassified as an essential amino acid under such conditions. Parenteral glutamine supplementation in multiple trauma patients has been associated with reduced infectious complications, mortality, costs, and hospital length of stay. However, glutamine supplementation in multiple trauma patients receiving enteral nutrition and its best route are still controversial.Although glutamine supplementation is recommended, further well-designed multicenter trials are needed to provide a confirmed conclusion