Dietary Antioxidant Supplementation Research Articles

The Effects of Ubiquinol Intake and Sociophysical Training on the Activation of Psychological and Infrared Camera-Measured Body Temperature Physiology and Blood Molecular Markers: A Pilot Study among Healthy Female Older Adults

A combination of existing treatments with sensing technology may be the most appropriate approach for incurable neuropsychiatric disorders. Dietary antioxidant supplementation, exercise, and cognitive training are individually well-established treatments for neurodegeneration, Alzheimer’s disease, and other dementias. Therefore, in a double-blind randomized controlled trial, we evaluated the response of normal healthy older female subjects to coenzyme Q10 supplementation and simultaneous sociophysical training that was undertaken in a non-contact environment using infrared cameras. The current pilot study reports the results from a multivariate analysis of blood biomarkers, body surface temperature measured with infrared thermal cameras, and psychological questionnaire scores from this trial, in which 100 mg/day of supplemental ubiquinol (the reduced form of coenzyme Q10) was administered daily for one month. We found a significant positive correlation between ubiquinol supplementation and positive mood scores in the State–Trait Anxiety Inventory test (STAI-positive) and a weak inverse correlation between ubiquinol supplementation and serum interleukin 4 (IL-4), a systemic inflammatory marker. We also found a significant positive correlation between the standard deviation of body surface temperatures, detected with non-contact infrared image sensors, and both STAI-positive and serum antidiuretic hormone (ADH). The results from this small pilot study indicate the potential synergistic effects of oral ubiquinol intake and sociophysical training on neuropsychiatric health in healthy female older adults.

The effect of antioxidant supplementation on dysmenorrhea and endometriosis-associated painful symptoms: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

This study aimed to review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effects of dietary antioxidant supplements on the severity of endometriosis-related pain symptoms. The PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched until April 2022. Additionally, we manually searched the reference lists. Endpoints were summarized as standardized mean difference (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in a random-effects model. The I2 statistic was used to assess heterogeneity. Ten RCTs were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, 10 studies were related to dysmenorrhea, four to dyspareunia, and four to pelvic pain. Antioxidants significantly reduced dysmenorrhea (SMD, -0.48; 95% CI, -0.82 to -0.13; I2=75.14%). In a subgroup analysis, a significant reduction of dysmenorrhea was observed only in a subset of trials that administered vitamin D (SMD, -0.59; 95% CI, -1.13 to -0.06; I2=69.59%) and melatonin (SMD, -1.40; 95% CI, -2.47 to -0.32; I2=79.15%). Meta-analysis results also suggested that antioxidant supplementation significantly improved pelvic pain (SMD, -1.51; 95% CI, -2.74 to -0.29; I2=93.96%), although they seem not to have a significant beneficial impact on the severity of dyspareunia. Dietary antioxidant supplementation seems to beneficially impact the severity of endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea (with an emphasis on vitamin D and melatonin) and pelvic pain. However, due to the relatively small sample size and high heterogeneity, the findings should be interpreted cautiously, and the importance of further well-designed clinical studies cannot be overstated.

The effect of antioxidant dietary supplements and diet-derived circulating antioxidants on vitiligo outcome: evidence from genetic association and comprehensive Mendelian randomization.

Previous studies have indicated that antioxidant diets may have a positive impact on vitiligo by interfering with oxidative stress mechanisms. However, there has been a lack of research utilizing the Mendelian randomization (MR) method to analyze the relationship between antioxidant diet intake and vitiligo. In this study, we employed both univariate Mendelian randomization (UVMR) and multivariate Mendelian randomization (MVMR) approaches. The specific antioxidant dietary supplements (such as coffee intake, green tea intake, herbal tea intake, standard tea intake, and average weekly red wine intake) as well as diet-derived circulating antioxidants, including Vit. C (ascorbate), Vit. E (α-tocopherol), Vit. E (γ-tocopherol), Carotene, Vit. A (retinol), Zinc, and Selenium (N = 2,603-428,860) were significantly associated with independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). We obtained pooled statistics on vitiligo from a meta-analysis of three genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of European ancestry, including 4,680 cases and 39,586 controls. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was employed as the primary analytical method, and sensitivity analysis was conducted to assess the robustness of the main findings. Genetically, coffee intake [odds ratio (OR) = 0.17, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-0.37, p = 1.57 × 10-5], average weekly red wine intake (OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08-1.00, p = 0.049), and standard tea intake (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98-0.99, p = 5.66 × 10-7) were identified as protective factors against vitiligo. However, no causal effect between the intake of other antioxidant diets and vitiligo was found. Moreover, no instances of pleiotropy or heterogeneity were observed in this study. Our study indicates that coffee, standard tea, and red wine consumption can potentially reduce the risk of vitiligo. However, there is insufficient evidence to support that other antioxidant diets have a significant effect on vitiligo.

Beta-Carotene Supplementation for Sows: Reproductive Parameters and Productive Performance of Piglets

The rapid fetal development and the increased demand for milk result in a catabolic state and oxidative stress in hyperprolific sows. Despite animal defense mechanisms, the dietary supplementation of antioxidants is being evaluated to reduce the impacts of excess free radicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of beta-carotene supplementation for sows on the reproductive response and performance of suckling piglets. A total of 120 sows were distributed in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement of three supplementation levels (B0–no supplementation, B200–200 mg beta-carotene/day and B400–400 mg beta-carotene/day) and four groups of parity order (1st, 2nd, 3rd, above 4th). Beta-carotene supplementation during lactation resulted in a higher litter weight at weaning. A higher average weight of piglets and litter weight at birth were observed, as well as a greater number of piglets weaned and litter weight at weaning in sows supplemented with 400 mg of beta-carotene during gestation and lactation periods. Supplementation with 200 and 400 mg of beta-carotene resulted in a greater weight at weaning and daily weight gain in piglets. Daily supplementation with 400 mg of beta-carotene in the prepartum and lactation phases provides a greater litter weight at weaning and, when supplemented in the pre-gestation and gestation periods, results in a greater litter weight at birth and at weaning.

Diet-derived antioxidants and osteoporosis: A Mendelian randomization study.

Antioxidants can prevent osteoporosis, but the association between serum antioxidants and the cause of osteoporosis remains unknown. We aimed to utilize Mendelian randomization (MR) to determine whether genetically predicted serum levels of diet-derived antioxidants can affect the risk of osteoporosis, to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of antioxidants. Genetic variants associated with diet-derived antioxidants were selected from the genome-wide association studies. A total of 12,946 osteoporosis cases and 506,624 healthy controls were obtained from UK Biobank (UKB) and Genetic Factors of Osteoporosis (GEFOS) consortia. We implemented a two-sample MR design and performed several sensitivity analyses to evaluate the causal relationship. In UKB, the genetically predicted higher β-carotene (OR = 0.863, p = 7.37 × 10-6, power = 100%) and γ-tocopherol (OR = 0.701, p = 0.021, power = 5%) had an inverse relationship with osteoporosis. However, only the association of serum β-carotene passed FDR correction. In GEFOS, there were no significant diet-derived antioxidants. The direction of the association of β-carotene with osteoporosis (OR = 0.844, p = 0.106, power = 87%) was consistent with that in the UKB dataset. A fixed-effects meta-analysis confirmed that β-carotene (OR = 0.862, p = 2.21 × 10-6) and γ-tocopherol (OR = 0.701, p = 2.31 × 10-2) could decrease the risk of osteoporosis. To reduce exclusion limit bias, we used total body bone mineral density, lumbar spine bone mineral density and femoral neck bone mineral density as surrogates and found that the genetically elevated circulating β-carotene level could increase total body BMD (beta = 0.043, p-value = 8.26 x 10-5, power = 100%), lumbar spine BMD (beta = 0.226, p-value = 0.001, power = 100%) and femoral neck BMD(beta = 0.118, p-value = 0.016, power = 100%). We observed that genetically predicted serum β-carotene could elevate BMD and prevent osteoporosis.

Preparation, Characterization, and Antioxidant Properties of Selenium-Enriched Tea Peptides.

The research on the activity of selenium (Se)-enriched agricultural products is receiving increasing attention since Se was recognized for its antioxidant activities and for its enhancement of immunity in trace elements. In this study, antioxidant Se-containing peptides, namely, Se-TAPepI-1 and Se-TAPepI-2, were optimally separated and prepared from Se-enriched tea protein hydrolysates by ultrafiltration and Sephadex G-25 purification, and subsequently, their physicochemical properties, oligopeptide sequence, and potential antioxidant mechanism were analyzed. Through the optimization of enzymatic hydrolysis conditions, the Se-enriched tea protein hydrolyzed by papain exhibited a better free radical scavenging activity. After separation and purification of hydrolysates, the two peptide fractions obtained showed significant differences in selenium content, amino acid composition, apparent morphology, peptide sequence, and free radical scavenging activity. Therein, two peptides from Se-TAPepI-1 included LPMFG (563.27 Da) and YPQSFIR (909.47 Da), and three peptides from Se-TAPepI-2 included GVNVPYK (775.42 Da), KGGPGG (552.24 Da), and GDEPPIVK (853.45 Da). Se-TAPepI-1 and Se-TAPepI-2 could ameliorate the cell peroxidation damage and inflammation by regulating NRF2/ARE pathway expression. Comparably, Se-TAPepI-1 showed a better regulatory effect than Se-TAPepI-2 due to their higher Se content, typical amino acid composition and sequence, higher surface roughness, and a looser arrangement in their apparent morphology. These results expanded the functional activities of tea peptide and provided the theoretical basis for the development of Se-containing peptides from Se-enriched tea as a potential natural source of antioxidant dietary supplements.

Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant activity of edible Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi

Introduction: Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi have been known for their nutritional values they can be considered as functional foods which can provide health benefits beyond the traditional nutrients. They are the excellent source of natural antioxidants because some synthetic antioxidants are now suspected to be potentially harmful to human health. As free radicals can cause inflammatory diseases, cancer, atherosclerosis, and aging, Consuming dietary antioxidant supplements can inhibit oxidative chain reactions. Materials and Methods: The antioxidant potential of the basidiomycetes mushroom fungal strains was established by total flavonoid content, FRAP assay, ABTS assay, Metal chelating activity, Phosphomolybdenum assay, Assay of superoxide radical scavenging activity, Free radical scavenging activity on DPPH along with the determination of total phenolic and tannin contents in the mushroom mycelial extracts. Results: Different Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi extracts (Hot water, Acetone and Hexane) were tested for antioxidant activities. Among these different extracts of Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi the hexane extract of Pleurotus pulmonarius showed potential antioxidant activity. Discusion and Conclusion: The results of this study suggest the possibility of using Basidiomycetes mushroom fungi as a natural antioxidant source for the pharmaceutical industry and could act as safe and cost-effective with potential antioxidant activities. These findings encourage studying these fungal strains further for their potential biological applications.
 Keywords: Flavonoid, Tannin, FRAP, ABTS, DPPH and Free Radical

Restored retinal physiology after administration of niacin with citicoline in a mouse model of hypertensive glaucoma.

Much interest has been addressed to antioxidant dietary supplements that are known to lower the risk of developing glaucoma or delay its progression. Among them, niacin and citicoline protect retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) from degeneration by targeting mitochondria, though at different levels. A well-established mouse model of RGC degeneration induced by experimental intraocular pressure (IOP) elevation was used to investigate whether a novel combination of niacin/citicoline has better efficacy over each single component in preserving RGC health in response to IOP increase. Ocular hypertension was induced by an intracameral injection of methylcellulose that clogs the trabecular meshwork. Electroretinography and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate RGC function and density. Oxidative, inflammatory and apoptotic markers were evaluated by Western blot analysis. The present results support an optimal efficacy of niacin with citicoline at their best dosage in preventing RGC loss. In fact, about 50% of RGCs were spared from death leading to improved electroretinographic responses to flash and pattern stimulation. Upregulated levels of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers were also consistently reduced by almost 50% after niacin with citicoline thus providing a significant strength to the validity of their combination. Niacin combined with citicoline is highly effective in restoring RGC physiology but its therapeutic potential needs to be further explored. In fact, the translation of the present compound to humans is limited by several factors including the mouse modeling, the higher doses of the supplements that are necessary to demonstrate their efficacy over a short follow up period and the scarce knowledge of their transport to the bloodstream and to the eventual target tissues in the eye.

Comprehensive Comparison of Effects of Antioxidant (Astaxanthin) Supplementation from Different Sources in Haliotis discus hannai Diet.

Dietary antioxidant supplementation, especially astaxanthin, has shown great results on reproductive aspects, egg quality, growth, survival, immunity, stress tolerance, and disease resistance in aquatic animals. However, the effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation from different sources are still unknown. A comprehensive comparison of survival, growth, immune response, antioxidant activity, thermal resistance, disease resistance, and intestinal microbial structure was conducted in dietary antioxidant supplementation from the sources of Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GL), industrial synthetic astaxanthin (80 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group 'SA80'), Phaffia rhodozyma (80 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group 'PR80') and Haematococcus pluvialis (120 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group 'HP120') at their optimal supplementation amounts. Furthermore, the SA80, PR80, and HP120 groups performed better in all aspects, including survival, growth, immune response, antioxidant activity, thermal resistance, and disease resistance, compared with the GL group. The PR80 and HP120 group also had a better growth performance than the SA80 group. In terms of heat stress and bacterial challenge, abalone in the PR80 group showed the strongest resistance. Overall, 80 mg/kg astaxanthin supplementation from Phaffia rhodozyma was recommended to obtain a more effective and comprehensive outcome. This study contributes to the discovery of the optimum dietary astaxanthin supplementation source for abalone, which is helpful to improve the production efficiency and economic benefits of abalone. Future research can further explore the action mechanism and the method of application of astaxanthin to better exploit its antioxidant role.

Hyperoside Prevents Aβ42-Induced Neurotoxicity in PC12 Cells and Caenorhabditis elegans.

Traditional Chinese medicines such as hyperoside-rich Acanthopanax senticosus and Crataegus pinnatifida have been confirmed to exhibit anti-oxidative stress properties. Hyperoside, the main ingredient of numerous antioxidant herbs, may have the ability to postpone the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. This study investigates the possible therapeutic mechanism of hyperoside as a natural antioxidant against Alzheimer's disease (AD) in Caenorhabditis elegans and PC12 cells. Specifically, hyperoside reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and Aβ42-induced neurotoxicity in C. elegans worms. Meanwhile, hyperoside reduced ROS production and increased mitochondrial membrane potentialin Aβ42-induced PC12 cells, which possibly due to the increase of antioxidant enzymes activity and the diminution of malondialdehyde levels. Hoechst 33,342 staining and flow cytometry analysis results suggested that hyperoside reverses cell apoptosis. Network pharmacology predicts potentially relevant hyperoside targets and pathways in AD therapy. As anticipated, hyperoside reversed Aβ42-stimulated downregulation of the PI3K/Akt/Nrf2/HO-1. The PI3K inhibitor LY294002 partially abolished the protective capability of hyperoside. The results of molecular docking further indicated that the PI3K/Akt pathways may be involved in the protection of Aβ42-induced PC12 cells by hyperoside treatment. The study provides theoretical information for research and development of hyperoside as an antioxidant dietary supplement.

Ameliorative Effects of Luteolin and Activated Charcoal on Growth Performance, Immunity Function, and Antioxidant Capacity in Broiler Chickens Exposed to Deoxynivalenol.

Deoxynivalenol (DON, Vomitoxin) is a threatening mycotoxin that mainly produces oxidative stress and leads to hepatotoxicity in poultry. Antioxidant dietary supplements dramatically boost immunity, safeguarding animals from DON poisoning. Luteolin (LUT) is an active plant-derived compound that poses influential antioxidants. This study explored the effectiveness of LUT in combination with activated charcoal (AC) in detoxifying DON in broilers. The 180 one-day broiler chickens were allocated into five different groups having six replicates in each group, provided with ad libitum feed during the trial period (28 days) as follows: in the control group, basal diet (feed with no supplementation of LUT, AC or DON); in group 2, a basal diet added with 10 mg/kg DON from contaminated culture (DON); in group 3, a basal diet augmented by 350 mg/kg LUT and DON 10 mg/kg (DON + LUT); in group 4, a basal diet supplemented by DON 10 mg/kg + AC 200 mg/kg (DON + AC); and in group 5, a basal diet supplemented by 10 mg/kg DON + 350 mg/kg LUT + 200 mg/kg AC (DON + LUT + AC). Concerning the control group, the DON-treated broilers demonstrated a significant decrease in growth performance (p < 0.05) and serum immunoglobulin (p < 0.05) contents, negatively changing the serum biochemical contents and enzymatic activities and an increase in histopathological liver lesions. Furthermore, DON substantially increased (p < 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration and decreased total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in the serum and liver. The intake of AC and LUT to the DON-contaminated diet decreased DON residue in the liver and potentially reduced the adverse effects of DON. Considering the results, supplementation of LUT with mycotoxin adsorbent has protective effects against mycotoxicosis caused by DON. It could be helpful for the development of novel treatments to combat liver diseases in poultry birds. Our findings may provide important information for applying LUT and AC in poultry production.

Antioxidant-Mediated Modulation of Bacterial Antibiotic Susceptibility

Background: Fluoroquinolones like Ciprofloxacin are broad-spectrum antibiotics. They act on targeted bacteria by interfering with DNA replication, leading to the generation of free radicals which ultimately contribute to bacterial death. Conversely, dietary antioxidant supplements are commonly prescribed during the course of infection treatment. Co-administration of a multivitamin preparation alongside fluoroquinolones might play a role in fluoroquinolone treatment failure. Objectives: Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidants like vitamin E, vitamin C, and vitamin B12 on the action of ciprofloxacin against various standard bacterial strains and ciprofloxacin-sensitive clinical isolates. Methods: The antibacterial activity of ciprofloxacin in the absence and presence of these antioxidants was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration. Results: All strains tested in the study demonstrated sensitivity to ciprofloxacin alone. However, when vitamin C, E, or B12 was incorporated into the test medium, all strains exhibited significantly smaller zones of inhibition and elevated MIC ranges compared to ciprofloxacin alone. Conclusion: The generation of reactive oxygen species during the antibacterial action of ciprofloxacin on bacterial cells was either diminished or attenuated after supplementing the media with vitamin C, E, or B12. These antioxidants acted as free radical scavengers, protecting bacterial cells from the effects of generated free radicals. As the presence of antioxidants in the environment modulates the action of ciprofloxacin, the ingestion of these antioxidants should be closely monitored during the treatment course.

Effects of heat stress and high dietary antioxidant supplementation on the ileal digestibility of nutrients and certain minerals in pigs

Heat stress (HS) can impair the pigs' intestinal integrity, jeopardizing nutrient and mineral digestibility. Our study aimed to investigate HSs' impact on the ileal digestibility of nutrients and minerals in pigs and whether high dietary antioxidants (vitamins C and E, and micro-minerals Se and Zn) supplementation can improve their digestibility. A total of 24 Danbred barrows weighing 65.1 ± 2.81kg were distributed into four different groups, which were placed in thermo-neutral (TN) (19.5 ± 0.9°C, RH- 85.9±7.3%) and HS (28.9 ± 0.9°C, RH- 60.4 ± 4.3%) condition and fed with their respective dietary treatment. Pigs in the TN room only received the basal feed (B) (TC), and in the HS room, B (HC), elevated 1 (elevated dietary antioxidants) (HT1), and elevated 2 (dietary antioxidants doubled) (HT2) diets were given in ad libitum. Pigs were euthanized at the end of the trial for the collection of digesta from the ileum. Nutrient (crude protein (CP), fat, fiber, ash, organic matter, and nitrogen free extract (NFE)) and mineral (Ca, P, Zn, Se, and Na) content were measured from diets and digesta. Aside from crude ash (P &amp;lt; 0.05), HS did not significantly affect the ileal digestibility of other nutrients and minerals in pigs (P &amp;gt; 0.05). However, pigs fed the elevated 1 diet (HT1) had significantly greater digestibility (P &amp;lt; 0.05) of CP, crude ash, Zn, Se, and Na than HC. Further increase in vitamin and micro-mineral supplementation (HT2) did not improve the pigs' ileal digestibility of the measured nutrients and minerals. In conclusion, pigs can be resilient to HS adverse effects on the parameters studied. Antioxidant-fortified diet at elevated 1 level could improve pigs' nutrient and mineral digestibility under the HS challenge.

Impact of heat stress length and dietary antioxidant supplementation on the nutrient digestibility, metabolism and immune response of fattening pigs

Study aimed to investigate the impact of long-term high ambient temperature (HAT) exposure and dietary antioxidant supplementation (elevated levels and in combination) on nutrient digestibility, metabolism and immune response of pigs. A total of 36 Danbred barrows (65.1 ± 2.81 kg) were allotted to four treatments: Trm1: HAT (28.9 ± 0.9 °C) + control diet (CD); Trm2: HAT + elevated vitamin C and E and Se and Zn; Trm3: HAT + further elevated vitamin C and E and Se and Zn; and Trm4: thermo-neutral ambient temperature (19.5 ± 0.9 °C) + CD. Nutrients (DM, CP, Cfat, CF, CA, GE) and minerals (Ca, P, Na, Zn, Se) digestibility were determined. Plasma metabolite and cytokine concentrations were investigated from the blood samples collected on d 15 and 28. Heat shock proteins (HSP 70 and 90) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expressions were investigated from jejunum samples of pigs. HAT did not significantly affect pigs' nutrient digestibility and retention (P > 0.05). However, Trm2 pigs had greater digestibility in terms of DM, CF, Ca, Zn, Se and retention of Ca, Zn, Na, and Se than Trm1 and Trm4 groups. Trm3 pigs had significantly higher (P < 0.05) creatinine concentrations than Trm4 pigs. HAT did not significantly affect the expression of cytokines; however, vitamins and micro-minerals supplementation in the diet significantly (P < 0.05) improved interleukin (IL) 10 expression, reduced TNF-α, and HSP70 expressions. Vitamin and micro-mineral fortified diet can improve pigs' nutrient and mineral digestibility and could alleviate inflammatory response in pigs exposed to HAT.

Effect of a dietary antioxidant supplementation on semen characteristics of the Colombian horse

Cooling equine semen increases production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Elevated concentrations of ROS have detrimental consequences by causing changes in membrane permeability. Although there are reports of antioxidant supplementation to improve sperm quality in horses, there are few reports on the Colombian breed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nutritional supplementation with a variety of antioxidants on semen characteristics of Colombian horses. Six (n=6) Colombian Creole stallions aged between 5 and 15 years were collected 3 times a week using a Missouri artificial vagina for 20 weeks. Stallions were randomly allocated into a control (C) or a supplementation group (SG) with Natural Fertility®. Cobalamin 0.36 mg/day; pyridoxin 16 mg/day; retinoic acid 366799 IU/day; alpha tocopherol 1600 IU/day; ascorbic acid 4000 mg/day; folic acid 1200 mg/day; lysine 640 mg/day; methionine 960 mg/day; threonine 400 mg/day; arginine 400 mg/day; L-Carnitine 10000 mg/day; omega 3 3200 mg/day; zinc 1200 mg/day; copper 44 mg/day, chromium 6 mg/day and selenium 8 mg/day, was added to the basal diet (hay, mineralized salt, 2 kg of grain and water). Repeated measures design with a wash-out period of 2 weeks between treatments was used. During a periodof 8 weeks, semen was analyzed twice a week for motility and kinetics using a Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA®) system; sperm vitality (SV) and acrosomal Integrity (AI) by fluorescent microscopy, abnormal morphology (AM) by supravital stain, and plasmatic membrane Integrity by hypoosmotic test (HOST). Reactive oxygen species and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by ferric reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP) were assessed by spectrofluorimetry. Comparison of means was performed using Tukey's test with p≤0.05; using SAS program 3.81. SG increased the beat cross frequency of semen with 36.68 Hz ± 0.89 vs. 32.67 Hz ± 0.73 (C). In addition, a higher AI was found for SG (82.92 ± 0.72 %) compared to C (78.51% ± 0.83). SG also increased the TAC of seminal plasma (15.35± 0.92 μmol Trolox/L) compared to C (18.86± 1.75 μmol Trolox/L). In the individual analysis it was found that SG increased the total and progressive motility of the semen of two horses, however it reduced both parameters for two other individuals, compared to C. In conclusion, supplementation of the diet of horses with a supplement that provides vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and omega 3 can increase the antioxidant capacity of seminal plasma, as well as sperm quality, however this may be subject to a differential effect on each horse.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Exponentially Emerging Imminent Threat of Visual Impairment and Irreversible Blindness.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant cause of blindness globally. With the exponential rise in the aging population, AMD is the third leading cause of visual impairment worldwide. Neovascular AMD (nAMD; Wet AMD) and geographical atrophy (GA, late-stage dry AMD) are the advanced AMD accountable for substantial cases of visual deterioration among the elderly. Our review of the literature depicted that notable risk factors include cigarette smoking, nutritional elements, cardiovascular disorders, and genetic markers, including genes regulating complement, lipid, and angiogenic pathways. Some studies have suggested a relative decline in the proportion of AMD cases in the last two decades attributable to novel diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Accurate diagnosis is the result of a combination of clinical examination and imaging techniques, including retinal photography, angiography, and optical coherence tomography. The incorporation of dietary antioxidant supplements, explicitly lutein, slows the progression of the disease in advanced stages. The induction of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) inhibitors in the treatment of neovascular AMD, often combined with other modalities, has shown an immensely favorable prognosis. Research to integrate gene therapy and regenerative techniques using stem cells is underway to further mitigate AMD-associated morbidity. It is imperative to establish screening and therapeutic guidelines for AMD to curtail the future social and financial burden and improve the diminishing quality of life among the elderly.

SYNBIO® Probiotic and Antioxidant Dietary Supplementation: Clinical Trial Evaluation of Potential Effects on Airline Flight Crew Members' Well-Being.

The irregular lifestyle of airline crew members, wide/adverse job-related exposures, and the impact of temporary hypoxia on gut microbiota well-being have increased concern about the daily recommended dose of certain nutrients among flight crew. The aim of this study was to determine if daily consumption of a SYNBIO® probiotics-elderberry extract supplement (ACTIVE) may contribute to the well-being of flight attendants. Forty healthy crew members enrolled in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study consumed one ACTIVE capsule/day or placebo for 30 days. Bowel well-being, health-related quality of life, and gastrointestinal tolerance were assessed by validated questionnaires. Saliva and fecal samples were analyzed to determine secretory immunoglobulin-A (sIgA) levels and to characterize gut microbiota composition, respectively. ACTIVE subjects presented a physiological improvement and a statistically significant higher Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) global score compared to PLACEBO subjects. The ACTIVE subjects showed significantly increased levels of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria compared to the PLACEBO group, while a significant increase in lactobacilli and a significant reduction in Enterobacteriaceae were registered when compared with the beginning of supplementation, confirming the persistence of probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract and the direct antagonism and competitive exclusion effects. Additionally, sIgA levels were significantly higher in the ACTIVE group compared to the baseline and to the PLACEBO group at the end of supplementation. The ACTIVE supplementation might be beneficial to airline crew members, improving their physiological state, their immune defenses, and the strength and efficiency of their gastrointestinal tract when responding to stressful conditions.

Optimization studies for extraction of antioxidants from Mucuna sanjappae seeds: A promising natural drug for oxidative stress management

Introduction and Aim: Cellular oxidative stress is responsible for various human diseases. Dietary antioxidant supplements from natural plants have good potential to reduce increased oxidative stress thus protecting from further medical complications. Genus Mucuna is well known for its promising health benefits. A common species of Mucuna, M. pruriens is being used for oxidative stress related diseases treatment. However, many species of this genus are not scientifically explored for their health-related beneficial properties. In the present study, we have made effort to investigate secondary metabolites composition and antioxidant potential in a Mucuna species namely M. sanjappae. In this work, we tried to understand superior system for secondary metabolites (total phenolics and flavonoids content) extraction and antioxidant activity in M. sanjappae seeds was demonstrated. Methodology: Four different solvents viz., water, methanol, ethanol, and acetone in combination with four different extraction conditions (static, shaking, microwave and sonication) each with three different times have been studied. Total 48 extract samples were generated which were used for total phenolics, total flavonoids content along with antioxidant activity (DPPH, DMPD and FRAP) determination. Further major phenolics were identified using HPLC system. Results: Water showed highest TPC and TFC level during microwave method for 120 seconds (81.627±0.728 mg GAE g-1 and 648.06±4.37 mg RUE g-1 respectively). The highest antioxidant activity was also found in M. sanjappae seeds extracted in water. RP-HPLC quantification of phenolics revealed tannic acid and gallic acid as predominant compounds. Correlation analysis indicated that the antioxidant of different extracted samples demonstrated a good positive relationship with TPC and TFC. Conclusion: Present attempt indicated that, simple solvent water along with microwave method can be used for maximum antioxidants extraction from M. sanjappae seeds. This Mucuna species may be further studied to exploit as a natural antioxidant source in medicine and food etc.

Milk Fat Globule Membrane Relieves Fatigue via Regulation of Oxidative Stress and Gut Microbiota in BALB/c Mice.

Milk fat globule membranes (MFGMs) are complex structures that incorporate bioactive proteins and lipids to assist in infant development. However, the antifatigue and antioxidant potentials of MFGM have not been investigated. In this study, repeated force swimming measured fatigue in male BALB/c mice fed MFGM and saline for 18 weeks. The MFGM supplementation increased the time to exhaustion by 42.7% at 6 weeks and 30.6% at 14 weeks (p < 0.05). Fatigue and injury-related biomarkers, including blood glucose, lactic acid, and lactate dehydrogenase, were ameliorated after free swimming (p < 0.05). The activity of antioxidant enzymes in blood serum increased at 18 weeks, while malondialdehyde (MDA) content decreased by 45.0% after the MFGM supplementation (p < 0.05). The Pearson correlation analysis showed a high correlation between fatigue-related indices and antioxidant levels. The increased protein expression of hepatic Nrf2 reduced the protein expression of Caspase-3 in the gastrocnemius muscle (p < 0.05). Moreover, the MFGM supplementation increased the relative abundance of Bacteroides, Butyricimonas, and Anaerostipes. Our results demonstrate that MFGM may maintain redox homeostasis to relieve fatigue, suggesting the potential application of MFGM as an antifatigue and antioxidant dietary supplement.

고온 환경에서 카테킨 및 비타민 C 첨가가 육계의 생산성, 계육품질, 혈액성분 및 스트레스 지표에 미치는 영향

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of dietary combined supplementation of antioxidants as catechin and vitamin C on growth performance, meat quality, blood profiles and stress responses of broilers exposed to high temperature. For this experiment, a total of 360 21-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were used. Treatments were assigned with 6 replicates per treatment and 10 birds per replicate in a 2 × 3 factorial design with vitamin C (0, 250 mg/kg) and catechin (0, 600, 1,200 mg/kg). The heat stress environment was maintained at temperature 32±1°C and relative humidity 60±5% for 24 hours until the end of the experiment. The supplemented antioxidants had no significant difference in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio (<i>P</i>&gt;0.05). The content of total cholesterol in blood had no interaction, but decrease (<i>P</i>&lt;0.01) in the supplemented catechin group. Also, the supplementation with catechin showed increase in the SOD activity of blood, and lower corticosterone and IgM levels of broilers. The contents of HSP70 and MDA in liver decrease (<i>P</i>&lt;0.05) with the supplementation of antioxidants, and HSP70 showed an interaction between groups. DPPH radical scavenging ability in breast meat increased (<i>P</i>&lt;0.01) in catechin, but meat quality did not show difference according to treatments. Respiratory rate decreased (<i>P</i>&lt;0.05) in catechin, but no interaction with vitamin C. In conclusion, the combination of vitamin C and catechin can alleviate stress under high temperature, such as HSP70 and MDA, but further study on the optimal supplemental level is needed.