Einfluss der Sorte auf den Rohproteingehalt und auf die Gehalte der Aminosäuren Cystein, Methionin und Lysin in ökologisch angebauten Futtererbsen und Ackerbohnen

Peas and field beans as feeds for monogastric animals in organic farming have a high feeding quality particularly in consideration of protein content and amino acid profile. Beside this the native contents of crude protein and amino acids cystine, methionine and lysine in organic peas and field beans vary considerably related to genetic and environmental factors. 20 peas and 12 field beans cultivars from different locations in Germany were selected to analyse the variance of the factor variety on contents of protein and amino acids. Significant effects of variety in peas were noticed on crude protein and methionine while cysteine and lysine were not or only marginally influenced. In field beans only crude protein was affected by variety. In both crops a weak positive correlation between crude protein and amino acids were observed. Increasing crude protein content by selection of varieties can lead to a decrease of protein quality in terms of amino acid profile. For calculating the diet of organic livestock it may be helpful to analyse and communicate in addition to crude nutrients the content of amino acids in feedstuffs

Effects of the thyroid hormone metabolite 3,5-T2 on energy metabolism and the thyroid hormone axis in mice on normal diet and high-fat diet

Das komplexe Krankheitsbild Adipositas betrifft alle Bevölkerungsschichten und Altersgruppen und die Prävalenz nimmt kontinuierlich zu. Mit Ausnahme von operativen Methoden existieren kaum wirksame Interventionsstrategien zur langanhaltenden Gewichtsreduktion und zufriedenstellenden Behandlung von Adipositas und assoziierten Begleiterkrankungen. Der Schilddrüsenhormonmetabolit 3,5-Diiodthyronin (3,5-T2) gilt als metabolisch aktiv, beeinflusst den Energie- und Fettstoffwechsel und reduziert das Körpergewicht nach exogener Applikation in Nagetieren. Negative Effekte auf die Hypothalamus-Hypophysen-Schilddrüsen-Achse (HPT-Achse) und auf das kardiovaskuläre System, wie sie für Schilddrüsenhormone (TH) bekannt sind, wurden in zahlreichen Rattenstudien nicht beobachtet. Als endogen vorkommender Metabolit stellt 3,5-T2 demnach ein interessantes Zielmolekül für die therapeutische Behandlung der Adipositas dar. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde untersucht, ob die chronische 3,5-T2-Behandlung in einem Mausmodell mit Diät- induzierter Adipositas das Körpergewicht reduziert und den Energie- und Fettstoffwechsel positiv beeinflusst. Die zwei bzw. vierwöchige Behandlung mit 0,25 oder 2,5 µg/g Körpergewicht 3,5-T2 hatte keinen Einfluss auf das Körpergewicht der adipösen, männlichen Mäuse. Vergleichbar mit einer 83-fach geringeren T3-Konzentration verbesserte die hohe Dosis 3,5-T2 den Lipidstatus im Serum, beeinflusste hepatische Parameter des Fettstoffwechsels und der mitochondrialen Funktion in Richtung kataboler Stoffwechsellage und wirkte folglich anti-lipidämisch und hypocholesterinämisch. Entgegen den Erwartungen führte 3,5-T2 sowohl in adipösen als auch in normalgewichtigen Mäusen zu einer Suppression der HPT-Achse einhergehend mit Änderung hypophysärer Genexpressionsmuster, Reduktion der TH-Gehalte in Serum und Leber sowie Induktion der hepatischen Deiodase 1. Ferner wurde eine Zunahme des Herzgewichts festgestellt. Untersuchungen des Herzgewebes und in Kardiomyozyten ergaben, dass 3,5-T2 die Expression klassischer, kardialer TH- responsiver Gene modulierte, jedoch auch Expressions-marker des fetalen Genprogramms veränderte. Die Ergebnisse der Transkriptomanalyse in der Leber lassen schlussfolgern, dass 3,5-T2 entgegen der klassischen Wirkung von TH und partiell vermittelt durch den konstitutiven Androstanrezeptor spezifisch auf Genexpressions-profile des Fremdstoff-metabolisierenden Enzymsystems Einfluss nimmt. In Mäusen unter Hochfettdiät führte 3,5-T2 zur Induktion des hepatischen Cholesterinbiosyntheseweges. Darüber hinaus konnte eine Diät- abhängige Beeinflussung des Sexualsteroidstoffwechsels in der Leber nach 3,5-T2-Behandlung festgestellt werden. Die propagierte Verwendung von 3,5-T2 als therapeutisches Gewichts-reduktionsmittel und anti-steatotische Substanz sollte angesichts der 3,5-T2-vermittelten Wirkung auf die HPT-Achse, das Herz und den hepatischen Fremdstoff- und Steroidstoffwechsel in der Leber kritisch bewertet werden.Obesity as a complex disorder affects all classes of population and age groups and the prevalence continues to increase. With the exception of surgical methods, there are hardly any effective intervention strategies for long-term weight reduction and satisfactory control of obesity and its associated comorbidities. The thyroid hormone metabolite 3,5-diiodothyronine (3,5-T2) is considered to be metabolically active, influences energy and lipid metabolism and reduces body weight after exogenous application in rodents. Negative effects on the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis (HPT axis) and on the cardiovascular system, as known for thyroid hormones (TH), have not been observed in numerous rat studies. As an endogenous metabolite 3,5-T2 represents an interesting target molecule for the therapeutic treatment of obesity. The aim of this work was to investigate whether chronic treatment of 3,5-T2 in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity reduces body weight and positively influences energy and lipid metabolism. Treatment with 0.25 or 2.5 μg/g body weight 3,5-T2 for two or four weeks had no effect on body weight of the obese male mice. Comparable to a 83-fold lower T3 concentration, the high dose of 3,5-T2 improved serum lipid status, influenced hepatic parameters of the lipid metabolism and mitochondrial function towards catabolic metabolic status and consequently exerted anti-lipidemic and hypocholesterolemic effects. Contrary to expectations, 3,5-T2 in both obese and normal-weight mice led to suppression of the HPT axis with changes in gene expression patterns in the pituitary, reduction of TH concentration in serum and liver as well as induction of hepatic deiodinase 1. Furthermore, an increase in heart weight has been observed. Studies of heart tissue and cardiomyocytes revealed that 3,5-T2 modulated expression of classical, cardiac TH-responsive genes, but also altered expression markers of the fetal gene program. Results of the transcriptome analysis in the liver suggest that 3,5-T2, contrary to classical TH action and partially mediated by the constitutive androstane receptor, specifically influences gene expression profiles of the drug-metabolizing enzyme system. 3,5-T2 induced the hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis pathway in mice under high-fat diet. In addition, a diet-dependent effect on the sexual steroid metabolism in the liver after 3,5-T2 treatment was observed. Based on the obtained results showing 3,5-T2-mediated effects on the HPT-axis, heart and hepatic drug and steroid metabolism in the liver, the proposed use of 3,5-T2 as a therapeutic weight-reducing agent and anti-steatotic substance should be critically assessed

Biologically Active Compounds in Mustard Seeds: A Toxicological Perspective

Mustard plants have been widely cultivated and used as spice, medicine and as source of edible oils. Currently, the use of the seeds of the mustard species Sinapis alba (white mustard or yellow mustard), Brassica juncea (brown mustard) and Brassica nigra (black mustard) in the food and beverage industry is immensely growing due to their nutritional and functional properties. The seeds serve as a source for a wide range of biologically active components including isothiocyanates that are responsible for the specific flavor of mustard, and tend to reveal conflicting results regarding possible health effects. Other potentially undesirable or toxic compounds, such as bisphenol F, erucic acid or allergens, may also occur in the seeds and in mustard products intended for human consumption. The aim of this article is to provide comprehensive information about potentially harmful compounds in mustard seeds and to evaluate potential health risks as an increasing use of mustard seeds is expected in the upcoming years

Usage and health perception of cannabidiol-containing products among the population in Germany: a descriptive study conducted in 2020 and 2021

Abstract Background Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating substance of Cannabis sativa L., is gaining consumer attention. Yet, legal regulations in the EU are complex and questions of potential health risks remain partly unanswered. In Germany, little is known about people who use CBD products. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to gain insight into the user group of CBD, reasons for consumption and risk perception towards CBD-containing products. Methods The study consisted of two parts: In the first part of the study, the prevalence of CBD awareness and usage in Germany was estimated using a telephone survey and a population-representative sample of n = 1,011 respondents. Based on these results, n = 2,000 participants being aware of CBD were surveyed with an online questionnaire in the second part of the study to examine usage and perception of CBD in users and non-users. Results When the study was conducted at the end of 2020 and beginning of 2021, 40.2% of the German participants had already heard of products containing CBD, and 11.4% had actually used them. 42.1% of the users consumed such products regularly, at least once a week, primarily orally via oils or tinctures, and purchased them mainly online. Besides curiosity – addressed especially in young adults – anticipated health benefits including pain and stress relief were main reasons for use. More than half of the study participants perceived the health benefits of CBD use as high or very high. In contrast, the health risks were rated as low or very low by most respondents. Assumptions about official testing for safety as well as physical effects of CBD-containing products varied between users and non-users. Conclusion About one in nine people in Germany uses CBD-containing products. Given reasons for consumption and perception of potential health risks and benefits suggest that people are insufficiently informed about CBD-containing products. The results of the study indicate that risk communication is needed to raise awareness for the topic and to inform (potential) users

3,5-Diiodo-L-Thyronine (3,5-T2) Exerts Thyromimetic Effects on Hypothalamus-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis, Body Composition, and Energy Metabolism in Male Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Effective and safe antiobesity drugs are still needed in face of the obesity pandemic worldwide. Recent interventions in rodents revealed 3,5-diiodo-L-thyronine (3,5-T2) as a metabolically active iodothyronine affecting energy and lipid metabolism without thyromimetic side effects typically associated with T3 administration. Accordingly, 3,5-T2 has been proposed as a potential hypolipidemic agent for treatment of obesity and hepatic steatosis. In contrast to other observations, our experiments revealed dose-dependent thyromimetic effects of 3,5-T2 akin to those of T3 in diet-induced obese male C57BL/6J mice. 3,5-T2 treatment exerted a negative feedback regulation on the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis, similar to T3. This is demonstrated by decreased expression of genes responsive to thyroid hormones (TH) in pituitary resulting in a suppressed thyroid function with lower T4 and T3 concentrations in serum and liver of 3,5-T2-treated mice. Analyses of hepatic TH target genes involved in lipid metabolism revealed T3-like changes in gene expression and increased type I-deiodinase activity after application of 3,5-T2 (2.5 μg/g body weight). Reduced hepatic triglyceride and serum cholesterol concentrations reflected enhanced lipid metabolism. Desired increased metabolic rate and reduction of different fat depots were, however, compromised by increased food intake preventing significant body weight loss. Moreover, enlarged heart weights indicate potential cardiac side effects of 3,5-T2 beyond hepatic thyromimetic actions. Altogether, the observed thyromimetic effects of 3,5-T2 in several mouse TH target tissues raise concern about indiscriminate administration of 3,5-T2 as powerful natural hormone for the treatment of hyperlipidemia and pandemic obesity