Effetti della somministrazione di latte di vacca, latte di asina e latte umano su efficienza metabolica, stato infiammatorio e microbiota intestinale

Scientific studies provide evidence that intake of milk and milk products is related to improved bone health and lower risk of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. On the other hand, especially in the western societies, humans continue to consume milk beyond infancy, using the milk of other animals as a food product and its growing consumption has raised some concerns. Cow milk (CM) consumption has been indeed recognized the leading cause for allergy and the role played by the intake of saturated fatty acids (from milk and dairy foods) on the development of several human pathologies is still debated. Benefits of breastfeeding are widely recognized. Human milk (HM) composition provides the standard for human infant nutrition and the beneficial effects produced by its bioactive/immunomodulatory factors (oligosaccharides, lactose, glycosaminoglycans) have been evidenced. In recent years there was a growing interest in donkey milk (DM). Several studies have clearly indicated that DM, owing to its remarkable nutritional value and probiotic properties coupled to reduced allergenicity and excellent palatability, is one of the best substitutes for allergic newborn if human milk (HM) is not available and cow milk (CM) administration is contraindicated. In this contest, the present study aims to highlight and to compare the changes in the regulation of energy balance, lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammatory status, antioxidant/detoxifying defences and gut microbiota composition in rats treated with raw HM supplementation as compared to rats treated with an iso-energetic amount of raw CM or DM. Male Wistar rats, divided into 4 groups, were individually caged in a temperature controlled room at 24°C under a 12-h light/dark cycle with free access to food and water. Three groups were supplemented with iso-energetic amount of raw CM, DM or HM (21, 48 or 22 mL/day, respectively) for 4 weeks. Another group, receiving only standard diet, was used as control. At the end of the treatment, energy balance and body composition were determined. Triglycerides, cholesterol and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1 and TNF-α) levels and HOMA index were measured in blood serum. At hepatic level, redox status (GSH/GSSG), antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes (glutathione-S transferase, GST; NADH quinone oxidoreductase, NQO1), mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, energy efficiency and oxidative stress were evaluated. Finally, gut microbiota composition was analyzed by pyrosequencing of DNA extracted from cecal content. Metabolisable energy intake was increased by CM, DM and HM treatment and improved animal energy expenditure resulted from HM and DM intake without any measurable effect on body weight gain, as compared to CM-treated or to control rats. Moreover HM treatment significantly increases body protein content. Serum glucose level in HM and DM-treated rats was significantly lower than that measured in other animals; in particular, HM-treated rats showed the lowest insulin concentration whereas the progressive reduction of HOMA index was evidenced in differently treated animals (Controllo>CM>DM>HM). Significantly lower levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in liver samples of HM and DM-treated rats, associated to decreased body weight, lipid gain and liver lipids. Moreover, the hypolipidemic effect produced by DM or HM intake paralleled with enhanced mitochondrial proton leakage. In addition, the association of decreased energy efficiency with reduced pro-inflammatory signs and the improved redox status or detoxifying enzyme activities in HM or DM-treated animals, indicated that anti-inflammatory effects were attributable, at least in part, to improved cyto-protection. Gut microbiota composition analyses showed, at phyla level, only minor differences among the groups, whereas, 10 genera were identified whose abundance was significantly affected by milk treatments. The maximum difference in genera-wide shift was observed between N and DM-treated groups, while DM and HM promoted similar effect on gut microbiota genera. HM and DM administration reduces inflammatory status and mitochondrial efficiency, improves glucose metabolism and increases antioxidant/detoxifying defences and mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation compared to CM

The Potential Immunonutritional Role of Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese in Children with Food Allergy

Parmigiano Reggiano (PR) is a ripened cheese with high nutritional value. Throughout ripening the bacteria contained in PR promote an extensive hydrolysis of cow’s milk proteins resulting in peptides that exhibit positive immunoregulatory activities. Additional modulatory activities on immune system are induced by butyrate, a short chain fatty acid widely expressed in PR. These findings suggest a possible immunonutritional role for PR able to stimulate oral tolerance in children with food allergy (FA)

Social isolation triggers oxidative status and impairs systemic and hepatic insulin sensitivity in normoglycemic rats

Drug-naïve psychotic patients show metabolic and hepatic dysfunctions. The rat social isolation model of psychosis allows to investigate mechanisms leading to these disturbances to which oxidative stress crucially contributes. Here, we investigated isolation-induced central and peripheral dysfunctions in glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity, along with redox dysregulation. Social isolation did not affect basal glycemic levels and the response to glucose and insulin loads in the glucose and insulin tolerance tests. However, HOMA-Index value were increased in isolated (ISO) rats. A hypothalamic reduction of AKT phosphorylation and a trend toward an increase in AMPK phosphorylation were observed following social isolation, accompanied by reduced GLUT-4 levels. Social isolation also induced a reduction of phosphorylation of the insulin receptor, of AKT and GLUT-2, and a decreased phosphorylation of AMPK in the liver. Furthermore, a significant reduction in hepatic CPT1 and PPAR-α levels was detected. ISO rats also showed significant elevations in hepatic ROS amount, lipid peroxidation and NOX4 expression, whereas no differences were detected in NOX2 and NOX1 levels. Expression of SOD2 in the mitochondrial fraction and SOD1 in the cytosolic fraction was not altered following social isolation, whereas SOD activity was increased. Furthermore, a decrease of hepatic CAT and GSH amount was observed in ISO rats compared to GRP animals. Our data suggest that the increased oxidant status and antioxidant capacity modifications may trigger hepatic and systemic insulin resistance, by altering signal hormone pathway and sustaining subsequent alteration of glucose homeostasis and metabolic impairment observed in the social isolation model of psychosis

Impedance Analysis to Evaluate Nutritional Status in Physiological and Pathological Conditions

: A thorough knowledge of body composition assessment techniques is the cornerstone for initiating a customized nutritional program. The second step is to consider the potential of their application in different physiological and pathological conditions and their effectiveness in the management of a monitoring pathway during dietary interventions. To date, bioimpedance analysis is the most effective and reliable method for assessing body composition due to its advantages in terms of speed of execution, non-invasiveness and low cost. Therefore, this review article aims to analyze the main concepts and application areas of bioimpedance measurement techniques, in particular vector frequency-based analysis (BIVA) systems, in order to assess their validity in both physiological and pathological conditions

Mitochondria: the gatekeepers between metabolism and immunity

Metabolism and immunity are crucial monitors of the whole-body homeodynamics. All cells require energy to perform their basic functions. One of the most important metabolic skills of the cell is the ability to optimally adapt metabolism according to demand or availability, known as metabolic flexibility. The immune cells, first line of host defense that circulate in the body and migrate between tissues, need to function also in environments in which nutrients are not always available. The resilience of immune cells consists precisely in their high adaptive capacity, a challenge that arises especially in the framework of sustained immune responses. Pubmed and Scopus databases were consulted to construct the extensive background explored in this review, from the Kennedy and Lehninger studies on mitochondrial biochemistry of the 1950s to the most recent findings on immunometabolism. In detail, we first focus on how metabolic reconfiguration influences the action steps of the immune system and modulates immune cell fate and function. Then, we highlighted the evidence for considering mitochondria, besides conventional cellular energy suppliers, as the powerhouses of immunometabolism. Finally, we explored the main immunometabolic hubs in the organism emphasizing in them the reciprocal impact between metabolic and immune components in both physiological and pathological conditions

Effects of an high-fat diet enriched in lard or in fish oil on the hypothalamic amp-activated protein kinase and inflammatory mediators

The high fat diet (HFD) rich in lard induces obesity, inflammation and oxidative stress, and the deregulation of hypothalamic nuclei plays an important role in this mechanism. One important factor involved in the food intake and inflammation is adenosine monophosphate-dependent kinase (AMPK), a serine/threonine kinase activated by phosphorylation. Omega (&)3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are dietary compounds known to attenuate the obesity-related diseases, although the molecular mechanisms underlying their actions in the hypothalamus are not completely understood. We hypothesized that the beneficial effects of PUFA may be mediated by AMPK in the hypothalamus. To this aim, rats were fed a control diet (CD), or isocaloric HFD containing either fish oil (FD; rich in &3-PUFA) or lard (LD) for 6 weeks, and the activation of AMPK, inflammatory state (IKKb, TNF-a) and oxidative stress were analyzed in the hypothalamus. In addition, we also studied serum lipid profile, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index, and pro-inflammatory parameters. Our results showed, at the hypothalamic level of LD-fed rats, an increase of AMPK activation, inflammation and oxidative stress, while no modifications were detected in FD-fed animals compared to CD. In addition body weight gain, serum lipid profile, pro-inflammatory parameters and insulin resistance were reduced in FD animals compared to LD. In conclusion, our data indicate that the substitution of saturated by unsaturated fatty acids in the diet has beneficial effects on modulation of hypothalamic inflammation and function in obesity, underlying, at hypothalamic level, the interaction among insulin and/or leptin resistance, AMPK activation and hyperphagia

Effects of an high-fat diet enriched in lard or in fish oil on the hypothalamic amp-activated protein kinase and inflammatory mediators.

The high fat diet (HFD) rich in lard induces obesity, inflammation and oxidative stress, and the deregulation of hypothalamic nuclei plays an important role in this mechanism. One important factor involved in the food intake and inflammation is adenosine monophosphate-dependent kinase (AMPK), a serine/threonine kinase activated by phosphorylation. Omega (ω)3-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are dietary compounds known to attenuate the obesity-related diseases, although the molecular mechanisms underlying their actions in the hypothalamus are not completely understood. We hypothesized that the beneficial effects of PUFA may be mediated by AMPK in the hypothalamus. To this aim, rats were fed a control diet (CD), or isocaloric HFD containing either fish oil (FD; rich in ω3-PUFA) or lard for 6 weeks, and the activation of AMPK, inflammatory state (IKKβ, TNF-α) and oxidative stress were analyzed in the hypothalamus. In addition, we also studied serum lipid profile, homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index, and pro-inflammatory parameters. Our results showed, at the hypothalamic level of LD-fed rats, an increase of AMPK activation, inflammation and oxidative stress, while no modifications were detected in FD-fed animals compared to CD. In addition body weight gain, serum lipid profile, pro-inflammatory parameters and insulin resistance were reduced in FD animals compared to LD. In conclusion, our data indicate that the substitution of saturated by unsaturated fatty acids in the diet has beneficial effects on modulation of hypothalamic inflammation and function in obesity, underlying, at hypothalamic level, the interaction among insulin and/or leptin resistance, AMPK activation and hyperphagia

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Attenuate Diet Induced Obesity and Insulin Resistance, Modulating Mitochondrial Respiratory Uncoupling in Rat Skeletal Muscle

Omega (ω)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are dietary compounds able to attenuate insulin resistance. Anyway, the precise actions of ω-3PUFAs in skeletal muscle are overlooked. We hypothesized that PUFAs, modulating mitochondrial function and efficiency, would ameliorate pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant signs of nutritionally induced obesity

Gut Microbiota as a Target for Preventive and Therapeutic Intervention against Food Allergy

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in immune system development and function. Modification in the gut microbiota composition (dysbiosis) early in life is a critical factor affecting the development of food allergy. Many environmental factors including caesarean delivery, lack of breast milk, drugs, antiseptic agents, and a low-fiber/high-fat diet can induce gut microbiota dysbiosis, and have been associated with the occurrence of food allergy. New technologies and experimental tools have provided information regarding the importance of select bacteria on immune tolerance mechanisms. Short-chain fatty acids are crucial metabolic products of gut microbiota responsible for many protective effects against food allergy. These compounds are involved in epigenetic regulation of the immune system. These evidences provide a foundation for developing innovative strategies to prevent and treat food allergy. Here, we present an overview on the potential role of gut microbiota as the target of intervention against food allergy

Human, donkey and cow milk differently affects energy efficiency and inflammatory state by modulating mitochondrial function and gut microbiota

n/