Greater dietary variety is associated with better biochemical nutritional status in Spanish children: the Four Provinces Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Although dietary variety has been associated with a better nutritional profile, its possible role in obesity raises doubts about its overall health benefits. In this study, we examined the association between dietary variety and anthropometric variables, food intake and various food intake biomarkers in Spanish children. METHODS AND RESULTS: This was a cross-sectional study of 1112 children aged 6-7 years from Cadiz, Murcia, Orense and Madrid, who were selected by means of the random cluster-sampling of schools. Information concerning food and nutrient intake was obtained using a food frequency questionnaire, and a dietary variety index (DVI) was calculated on the basis of the number of different foods consumed more than once a month. The anthropometric variables (weight and height), and plasma lipid and vitamin levels were determined using standardised methods. Our results show that the body mass index (BMI) did not vary substantially as a function of DVI: it was 16.9 in the lowest DVI tertile and 17.2 in the highest (p=0.20). Unlike BMI, the DVI positively correlated (p<0.05) with the plasma levels of alpha and beta-carotene, lycopene, retinol, alpha-tocopherol and vitamin E, with energy intake, and with most of the foods, particularly vegetables, fruit and sausages (respective correlation coefficients of 0.43, 0.26 and 0.23). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary variety is associated with a better food and nutritional profile in Spanish children. Nevertheless, the presence of a positive association between the DVI and energy intake, and the consumption of sausages and pre-cooked products calls for the recommendation of a varied diet of healthy foods, such as cereals (especially whole grains), fruits and vegetables

Squalene through its post-squalene metabolites is a modulator of hepatic transcriptome in rabbits

Squalene is a natural bioactive triterpene and an important intermediate in the biosynthesis of sterols. To assess the effect of this compound on the hepatic transcriptome, RNA-sequencing was carried out in two groups of male New Zealand rabbits fed either a diet enriched with 1% sunflower oil or the same diet with 0.5% squalene for 4 weeks. Hepatic lipids, lipid droplet area, squalene, and sterols were also monitored. The Squalene administration downregulated 9 transcripts and upregulated 13 transcripts. The gene ontology of transcripts fitted into the following main categories: transporter of proteins and sterols, lipid metabolism, lipogenesis, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. When the results were confirmed by RT-qPCR, rabbits receiving squalene displayed significant hepatic expression changes of LOC100344884 (PNPLA3), GCK, TFCP2L1, ASCL1, ACSS2, OST4, FAM91A1, MYH6, LRRC39, LOC108176846, GLT1D1 and TREH. A squalene-enriched diet increased hepatic levels of squalene, lanosterol, dihydrolanosterol, lathosterol, zymostenol and desmosterol. Strong correlations were found among specific sterols and some squalene-changed transcripts. Incubation of the murine AML12 hepatic cell line in the presence of lanosterol, dihydrolanosterol, zymostenol and desmosterol reproduced the observed changes in the expressions of Acss2, Fam91a1 and Pnpla3. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the squalene and post-squalene metabolites play important roles in hepatic transcriptional changes required to protect the liver against malfunction. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Response of rats to intake of tofu treated under high-pressure

As searching continues for an answer as to how products treated under HP could affect the health of human beings, this work has focused on the differences between three types of diets (control, untreated and treated tofu under HP) on a total of 30, 12-week-old, Wistar Hannover female rats. Different assays were carried out and the results showed that the increase in body-weight in the rats fed with tofu diets was significantly lower (P ≤ 0.05) than control, but no significant differences were found between both tofu diets. The weights of the organs of rats (liver, spleen and kidneys) fed with both tofu diets were lower than control rats, but were lowest in those fed with a treated tofu diet. The concentration of metal ions (Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Zn2+ and Fe2) in the serum in both tofu diets showed an increase in magnesium, potassium and iron, but iron increased more in the treated tofu diet. No differences were found in the shear-force of shinbone. The concentration of glucose, total proteins and albumin decreased and uric acid, bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase increased in rats fed with tofu diets as compared to control rats. Alkaline phosphatase activity was significantly elevated in both tofu diets and a significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) was found between both tofu diets. Cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol were lower in animals fed with tofu diets and significant differences were found in total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol between control and tofu diets. The triglycerides and HDL-phospholipids were also lower in the tofu diets. The final results revealed that, in general, it seems that tofu treated under high pressure is not harmful to health. However, some significant differences occurred in rats fed with both tofu diets in comparison to the control diet, but only the activity of alkaline phosphatase presented significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between untreated and treated tofu diets. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

Maternal factors modulating nutrient transfer to fetus

Current knowledge of the modulation of maternal-fetal transfer of metabolites is reviewed and new data on the actual placental transport of D-glucose, L-alanine and glycerol in the rat are presented. Twenty-one day pregnant rats were infused with the 14C-labelled substrates throughout the left uterine artery. Radioactivity appearing in fetuses was corrected by the specific dilution of the tracer at maternal arterial plasma and the uterine artery blood flow to estimate placental transfer. This parameter appeared to be 127 mumol X kg-1 fetal b.w. X min-1 for D-glucose, 23 for L-alanine, and 1 for glycerol--values which are much higher than those described for larger species. There is a parallelism between the magnitude of transfer to fetus and arterial concentration in mother for each studied metabolite and actually variations in their plasmatic levels affect this transport process. This is clearly seen in the case of glucose where placental transfer is reduced during fasting hypoglycemia and greatly increased in diabetes. Placental transfer of L-alanine and blood flow to the placenta were reduced in both 48-hour starved and streptozotocin-induced diabetic late pregnant rats. Results show the main role of maternal nutrient concentration as a modulator of their transfer to fetus, the deleterious effect of reductions of uterine blood flow on placental transport of amino acids as well as the small placental transfer of glycerol as compared to either glucose or alanine.Peer reviewe

Role of buckwheat diet on rats as prebiotic and healthy food

The objective of this research is to assess if the buckwheat (BW) could behaves as a prebiotic and be considered as healthy food. Buckwheat is a nutritional food, rich in essential aminoacids, fatty acids, vitamins B1 and B2 and also a good source of minerals, which may produce beneficial effects on health. For our investigation, a total of twenty, 12-week-old Wistar Hannover rats was used and the animals were fed for 30 days. The body-weight was lower in the BW diet than control with significant differences (P ≤ 0.05). No significant differences were found in the weight of the organs (liver, spleen, kidney and heart). Microbial analysis and detection were carded out on Enterobacteria, Enterococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacilus and Bifidobacteria in the rat's intestine. The results showed an increase of aerobic mesophilic and lactic acid bacteria content in the BW diet when compared to control, with significant differences (P ≤ 0.05). In the BW diet, we also observed a slight decrease of Enterobectaria and less pathogenic bacteria. Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus salivarius and Bifidobacterium infantis were found in both diets, but only Lactobacillus plantarum, Bifidobacterium spp and Bifidobacterium lactis were found in addition in the buckwheat diet. All these results confirm that BW could possibly be considered as a prebiotic product. Glucose content was measured in the blood. Uric acid, total protein, HDL and LDL lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase and mineral content were also measured in the serum. The glucose and uric acid content were similar in both diets and no significant differences were observed for the total proteins, albumin and mineral content. The alkaline phosphatase decreased in the BW diet, but no significant difference (P ≥ 0.05) was found when compared to control. Buckwheat could as well be considered as a healthy food due to the diminution on total cholesterol with significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) when compared to control. © 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

The effects of okara on rat growth, cecal fermentation, and serum lipids

Okara, a soymilk residue, was characterized and used as a supplement to enrich dietary fiber in rats. Okara comprised 49% total dietary fiber, of which only 0.55% was soluble, protein (33.4%), fat (19.8%), and ash (3.5%). Okara as a diet supplement had no influence on food intake, but the growth rate and feeding efficiency were lower in the okara-fed group than in the control group. Okara increased fecal weight and moisture. In okara-fed rats, in vivo colonic fermentation of okara resulted in a lower pH, but a higher cecal weight and higher total short chain fatty acid production, compared to controls. There were no significant differences (P≥0.05) between groups in albumin, protein, uric acid, bilirubin, or glucose content in rat serum. The okara-supplemented diet produced a nonsignificant reduction in HDL-lipids and triglycerides. Okara, a rich source of low-cost dietary fiber and protein, might be effective as a dietary weight-loss supplement with potential prebiotic effect. © 2006 Springer-Verlag.Peer Reviewe

Liver growth factor induces testicular regeneration in EDS-treated rats and increases protein levels of class B scavenger receptors

Liver growth factor induces testicular regeneration in EDS-treated rats and increases protein levels of class B scavenger receptors. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab 308 E111-E121, 2015. First published November 11, 2014; doi10.1152/ajpendo.00329.2014.-The aim of the present work was to determine the effects of liver growth factor (LGF) on the regeneration process of rat testes after chemical castration induced by ethane dimethanesulfonate (EDS) by analyzing some of the most relevant proteins involved in cholesterol metabolism, such as hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), 3(3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3(3-HSD), scavenger receptor SR-BI, and other components of the SR family that could contribute to the recovery of steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in the testis. Sixty male rats were randomized to nontreated (controls) and LGF-treated, EDS-treated, and EDS + LGF-treated groups. Testes were obtained on days 10 (T1), 21 (T2), and 35 (T3) after EDS treatment, embedded in paraffin, and analyzed by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. LGF improved the recovery of the seminiferous epithelia, the appearance of the mature pattern of Leydig cell interstitial distribution, and the expression of mature SR-BI. Moreover, LGF treatment resulted in partial recovery of HSL expression in Leydig cells and spermatogonia. No changes in serum testosterone were observed in control or LGF-treated rats, but in EDS-castrated animals LGF treatment induced a progressive increase in serum testosterone levels and 3(3-HSD expression. Based on the pivotal role of SR-BI in the uptake of cholesteryl esters from HDL, it is suggested that the observed effects of LGF would facilitate the provision of cholesterol for sperm cell growth and Leydig cell recovery. © 2015 American Physiological Society. All rights reserved