Abstract
The impaired ability to feed properly, evident in oncologic, elderly, and dysphagic patients, may result in malnutrition and sarcopenia. Increasing the consumption of dietary proteins by functional foods and enriching their composition by adding beneficial nutrients may represent an adjuvant therapy. We aimed to evaluate the safety and the positive effects of a standard diet (SD) supplemented with whey-derived protein puddings (WDPP), with appropriate rheological properties, and hemp seed oil (HSO), rich in polyphenols. Rats were assigned to SD, WDPP, WDPP plus hemp seed oil (HSOP), and HSO supplemented diets for eight weeks. “Anthropometric”, metabolic, and biochemical variables, oxidative stress, tissue injury, liver histology, and cardiac susceptibility to ischemia/reperfusion were analyzed. All the supplementations did not induce significant changes in biochemical and metabolic variables, also in relation to glucose tolerance, and livers did not undergo morphological alteration and injury. An improvement of cardiac post-ischemic function in the Langendorff perfused heart model and a reduction of infarct size were observed in WDPP and HSOP groups, thanks to their antioxidant effects and the activation of Akt- and AMPK-dependent protective pathways. Data suggest that (i) functional foods enriched with WDPP and HSOP may be used to approach malnutrition and sarcopenia successfully under disabling conditions, also conferring cardioprotection, and that (ii) adequate rheological properties could positively impact dysphagia-related problems.
Highlights
Chronic diseases and severe illness are commonly associated with malnutrition and sarcopenia [1]
The test is based on electron transfer and the redox reaction occurring between Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and polyphenols results in the formation of a blue phosphotungstic-phosphomolybdenum complex, which is quantified by visible-light spectrophotometry
The total phenolic content of the tested samples was expressed as mg equivalent of catechin per gram of sample for whey-derived protein puddings (WDPP), HSOP and hemp seed oil (HSO) these values were equal to 0.92 ± 0.20 mg eq CA/g, 1.18 ± 0.18 mg eq CA/g and 0.34 ± 0.05 mg eq CA/g, respectively
Summary
Chronic diseases and severe illness are commonly associated with malnutrition and sarcopenia [1]. Sarcopenia is defined as a state in which, in a human being of a specific age, gender and race, a less-than-expected muscle mass can be detected [4]. It is a clinical syndrome characterized by a decline in physical function, since the decreased skeletal muscle mass produces an impaired muscle strength [5]. A sign of malnutrition is represented by the unintentional loss of weight that, in turn, causes a loss of muscle mass resulting in an increased risk of functional impairment [1] Both negatively affect the outcome in clinical healthcare and are strongly related to an increased risk for cardiometabolic diseases [7]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
