Dietary Elements Research Articles

Determination of macro, essential trace elements, toxic heavy metal concentrations, crude oil extracts and ash composition from Saudi Arabian fruits and vegetables having medicinal values

The concentrations of essential elements (Mg, Ca, Na, K, Fe, Zn, Se, Al, Ni, and Cu) and toxic heavy metals (Pb, As, Cr, Cd, and Cr) from Saudi Arabian fruits and vegetables were determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometry (ICP/OES). Two types of butters, Caralluma munbayana and Caralluma hesperidum, Vigna (Vigna unguiculata), common fig (Ficus carica), Annona seeds (Annonaceae seeds), Annona fruits (Annonaceae fruits), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and Fennel flowers (Nigella sativa) were investigated, because they are used by indigenous groups as traditional medicines with Soxhlet-extraction and dry-ashing protocol. The estimated daily dietary element intake in food samples was further calculated in order to evaluate the element dietary intake and fruit and vegetable consumption pattern of the indigenes of Saudi Arabia. The crude oil and ash compositions varied widely, but suggested that most of the foods were good sources of oils and minerals. The figures-of-merit of the ICP-OES calibration curves were excellent with good linearity (R2>0.9921). The use of ICP-OES in this study allowed the accurate analysis and the detection of the elements at low levels. Essential elements (K, Ca, Na, and Mg) had the highest concentrations while toxic heavy metals (As, Pb, and Cd) had the lowest in the foods. Essential element pairs (Mg-Na, Mg-Ca, Fe-Al) were highly correlated, suggesting that these foods are sources of multiple nutrients. Toxic element pairs (Pb-Cd, Pb-As, and Cd-As), however, were poorly correlated in the foods, suggesting that these elements do not have a common source in these foods. Average consumption of these foods should provide the recommended daily allowances of essential elements, but will not expose consumers to toxic heavy metals. The ICP-OES method was validated by determining method detection limits and percent recoveries of laboratory-fortified blanks, which were generally 90–100%.

Mediating effects of dietary intake on associations of TV viewing, body mass index and metabolic syndrome in adolescents.

SummaryObjectiveEvidence suggests that TV viewing is associated with body mass index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescents. However, it is unclear whether dietary intake mediates these relationships.MethodsA cross‐sectional analysis was conducted in adolescents (12–19 years) participating in the 2003–2006 United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. BMI z scores (zBMI) (n = 3,161) and MetS (n = 1,379) were calculated using age‐ and sex‐specific criteria for adolescents. TV viewing (h/day) was measured via a self‐reported questionnaire, and dietary intake was assessed using two 24‐h recalls. Using the MacKinnon method, a series of mediation analyses were conducted examining five dietary mediators (total energy intake, fruit and vegetable intake, discretionary snacks, sugar‐sweetened beverages and diet quality) of the relationships between TV viewing and zBMI and MetS.ResultsSmall positive relationships were observed between TV viewing and zBMI (β = 0.99, p < 0.001) and TV viewing and MetS (OR = 1.18, p = 0.046). No dietary element appeared to mediate the relationship between TV viewing and zBMI. However, sugar‐sweetened beverage consumption and fruit and vegetable intake partially mediated the relationship between TV viewing and MetS, explaining 8.7% and 4.1% of the relationship, respectively.ConclusionsThese findings highlight the complexity of the relationships between TV viewing, dietary intake and cardiometabolic health outcomes, and that TV viewing should remain a target for interventions.

Elemental composition of green coffee and its contribution to dietary intake

The concentration of twenty-seven elements (Li, Be, B, Mg, Al, P, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Sr, Mo, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, Hg, Pb, Bi, Th, and U) in green coffee samples and their infusions were determined by using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Prior to analysis, green coffee samples were prepared by microwave digestion, while infusions were analyzed without any pre-treatment. The accuracy and precision of the proposed methods were verified by recovery experiments. Considering samples; K, Cu, and Al had the highest mean concentrations with 6714.5μgg−1, 12.1μgg−1, and 25.9μgg−1 among major, trace and toxic elements, respectively. The impact of brewing type on leachability of elements was also studied and the results outlined that mean leachability of elements to Turkish coffee were greater than to mud coffee. Furthermore, dietary element intakes through green coffee consumption were also estimated. This is the first study presenting wide range of elements in green coffee brews and calculating dietary intakes.

Abstract 5262: Chemopreventive and angiopreventive activity of a purified polyphenol-rich extract from olive mill wastewaters

Abstract The presence of diverse phenolic molecules in dietary elements, has been shown to prevent the occurrence of a variety of chronic and inflammatory diseases. Olives and extra virgin oil, a basic component of mediterranean diet represent an important source of these poliphenols, including hydroxytyrosol. While the strong antioxidant potential of these molecules has extensively investigated, their anti-angiogenic and chemopreventive activities remain unknown. Here we assessed the anti-angiogenic and chemopreventive activities exerted by an extracts from olive mill wastewaters (OMWWs), termed A009, which represent a waste product from olive oil industry, in vitro and in vivo on endothelial and different tumour cell lines, as compared with hydroxytyrosol alone The ability of A009 to affect cell proliferation and survival was evaluated on human umbelical endothelial vein cells (HUVECs), six different tumor cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 (breast), HT-29 and HCT-116 (colon) PC-3 and DU-145 (prostate) and the murine CT26 CRC cells by MTT assay, while the induction of apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were assessed by flow cytometry. Functional studies evaluated the capacity of OMWWs to interfere with endothelial cell tube formation, migration and invasion by morphogenesis and Boyden chamber assays, respectively. Finally, the inhibition of angiogenesis and tumor cell growth was evaluated in vivo, by the matrigel sponge assay and tumor xenograft. The A009 extract was able to inhibit both HUVECs and tumor cell lines growth in a dose dependent manner, exerting a stronger inhibitory effect as compared to the pure hydroxytyrosol alone. This effect was directly associated with the induction of apoptosis and ROS on HUVECs. HT-29 anc HCT-116 CRC cell lines exposed to A009 decreased thei ability to release VEGF and IL-8. Functional studies of HUVECs exposed to A009 demostrated impaired migratory and invasive abilities as far as reduced capability to form capillary-lile-structure in a dose dependent manner. Finally, A009s interfered with angiogenesis and CT26 tumor cell growth in vivo. Our results suggest that the polyphenol enriched extracts from olive oil processing (OMWWs) A009, show promising angio-preventive and chemo-preventive potentials. In particular, our data demonstrate that a pool of specific polyphenols are characterized by stronger anti-angiogenic/anti-tumor properties compared to hydroxytyrosol alone, a well known polyphenol with anti-tumor activity. Citation Format: Adriana Albini, Antonino Bruno, Barbara Bassani, Nicoletta Macrì, Francesca Caudano, Paola Corradino, Teresa Rossi, Douglas M. Noonan. Chemopreventive and angiopreventive activity of a purified polyphenol-rich extract from olive mill wastewaters. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 5262.

Multifunctional selenium nanoparticles as carriers of HSP70 siRNA to induce apoptosis of HepG2 cells.

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) as a new therapeutic modality holds promise for cancer treatment, but it is unable to cross cell membrane. To overcome this limitation, nanotechnology has been proposed for mediation of siRNA transfection. Selenium (Se) is a vital dietary trace element for mammalian life and plays an essential role in the growth and functioning of humans. As a novel Se species, Se nanoparticles have attracted more and more attention for their higher anticancer efficacy. In the present study, siRNAs with polyethylenimine (PEI)-modified Se nanoparticles (Se@PEI@siRNA) have been demonstrated to enhance the apoptosis of HepG2 cells. Heat shock protein (HSP)-70 is overexpressed in many types of human cancer and plays a significant role in several biological processes including the regulation of apoptosis. The objective of this study was to silence inducible HSP70 and promote the apoptosis of Se-induced HepG2 cells. Se@PEI@siRNA were successfully prepared and characterized by various microscopic methods. Se@PEI@siRNA showed satisfactory size distribution, high stability, and selectivity between cancer and normal cells. The cytotoxicity of Se@PEI@siRNA was lower for normal cells than tumor cells, indicating that these compounds may have fewer side effects. The gene-silencing efficiency of Se@PEI@siRNA was significantly much higher than Lipofectamine 2000@siRNA and resulted in a significantly reduced HSP70 mRNA and protein expression in cancer cells. When the expression of HSP70 was diminished, the function of cell protection was also removed and cancer cells became more sensitive to Se@PEI@siRNA. Moreover, Se@PEI@siRNA exhibited enhanced cytotoxic effects on cancer cells and triggered intracellular reactive oxygen species, and the signaling pathways of p53 and AKT were activated to advance cell apoptosis. Taken together, this study provides a strategy for the design of an anticancer nanosystem as a carrier of HSP70 siRNA to achieve synergistic cancer therapy.

Dietary, Nutrient Patterns and Blood Essential Elements in Chinese Children with ADHD.

Dietary or nutrient patterns represent the combined effects of foods or nutrients, and elucidate efficaciously the impact of diet on diseases. Because the pharmacotherapy on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was reported be associated with certain side effects, and the etiology of ADHD is multifactorial, this study investigated the association of dietary and nutrient patterns with the risk of ADHD. We conducted a case-control study with 592 Chinese children including ADHD (n = 296) and non-ADHD (n = 296) aged 6–14 years old, matched by age and sex. Dietary and nutrient patterns were identified using factor analysis and a food frequency questionnaire. Blood essential elements levels were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry. A fish-white meat dietary pattern rich in shellfish, deep water fish, white meat, freshwater fish, organ meat and fungi and algae was inversely associated with ADHD (p = 0.006). Further analysis found that a mineral-protein nutrient pattern rich in zinc, protein, phosphorus, selenium, calcium and riboflavin was inversely associated with ADHD (p = 0.014). Additionally, the blood zinc was also negatively related to ADHD (p = 0.003). In conclusion, the fish-white meat dietary pattern and mineral-protein nutrient pattern may have beneficial effects on ADHD in Chinese children, and blood zinc may be helpful in distinguishing ADHD in Chinese children.

Dietary Fiber and Bacterial SCFA Enhance Oral Tolerance and Protect against Food Allergy through Diverse Cellular Pathways.

The incidence of food allergies in western countries has increased dramatically in recent decades. Tolerance to food antigens relies on mucosal CD103(+) dendritic cells (DCs), which promote differentiation of regulatory T (Treg) cells. We show that high-fiber feeding in mice improved oral tolerance and protected from food allergy. High-fiber feeding reshaped gut microbial ecology and increased the release of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly acetate and butyrate. High-fiber feeding enhanced oral tolerance and protected against food allergy by enhancing retinal dehydrogenase activity in CD103(+) DC. This protection depended on vitamin A in the diet. This feeding regimen also boosted IgA production and enhanced T follicular helper and mucosal germinal center responses. Mice lacking GPR43 or GPR109A, receptors for SCFAs, showed exacerbated food allergy and fewer CD103(+) DCs. Dietary elements, including fiber and vitamin A, therefore regulate numerous protective pathways in the gastrointestinal tract, necessary for immune non-responsiveness to food antigens.

Assessing the effects of a short-term green tea intervention in skin microvascular function and oxygen tension in older and younger adults

Green tea consumption has been associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease risk factors. However, there is little evidence examining its potential differing effect between younger and older populations, whilst little is known on its effect on the circulatory system when oxygen demand is higher.Therefore the aim of this study was to evaluate the short-term effects of green tea consumption on microvascular functioning in both an older and younger population.Fifteen young [24 (4.0)] and fifteen older [61 (4.0)] participants, consumed two cups of green tea daily for 14days. We used Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) to assess cutaneous microvascular function and Transcutaneous Oxygen monitoring (TcPO2) to assess skin oxygen tension. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also assessed on both visits.We observed significant improvements in axon-mediated microvascular vasodilation for the younger group [1.6 (0.59) vs 2.05 (0.72), p<0.05] and the older group [1.25 (0.58) vs 1.65 (0.5) p<0.05]. Improvements in skin oxygen tension were also noted for both groups in both noted TcPO2 measures (i.e. 1.25 (0.58) vs 1.65 (0.5) (p<0.05), for ΔTcPO2max for the older group, between visits) respectively. Improvements were also observed for systolic blood pressure in both the younger [120 (10) vs 112 (10), p<0.05] and older group [129 (12) v 124 (11), p<0.001].In conclusion, we observed statistically-significant improvements in microvascular function and skin oxygen tension. Our results suggest that green tea may prove beneficial as a dietary element in lifestyle interventions aiming to lower cardiovascular disease risk, in both older and younger populations.

Confectionery consumption and overweight, obesity, and related outcomes in children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Many calorie-rich dietary components contribute to obesity. However, the contribution of confectionery to obesity in children and adolescents has not been well established. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we hypothesized that higher total, chocolate, and nonchocolate confectionery consumption would be associated with higher odds of overweight, obesity, and other obesity-related outcomes [body mass index (BMI), BMI z score, body composition, waist circumference, and percentage body fat] in children and adolescents. We searched Scopus, PubMed, and reference lists of pertinent reviews, supplemented by expert contact, for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies published between 1990 and 31 March 2015, and we conducted separate meta-analyses for categorical and continuous ORs and for total, chocolate, and nonchocolate confectioneries with the use of a random-effects model. A total of 19 studies were included in the systematic review, and the cross-sectional results of 11 studies (∼177,260 participants) were included in the meta-analysis. In the meta-analysis, which examined the combined outcome of overweight and obesity, the odds of overweight or obesity were 18% lower (OR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.69, 0.97) for subjects in the highest category of consumption than for a reference category of consumption. Thus, a 1-time/wk or a 1-U increase in consumption was associated with a 13% (OR: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.88) decrease in the odds of overweight or obesity. Associations were similarly inverse for chocolate and nonchocolate confectioneries. In the longitudinal studies and the RCT included in the review, no associations were observed between confectionery consumption and overweight, obesity, or obesity-related outcomes. Instead of overweight and obese children and adolescents having higher confectionery intakes, this review shows the reverse effect. This result might reflect a true inverse association, reverse causality, or differential underreporting in heavier individuals. Interventions may need to focus on dietary elements other than confectionery to tackle obesity.

Readability and content analysis of lifestyle education resources for weight management in Australian general practice

BackgroundWeight management education is one of the key strategies to assist patients to manage their weight. Educational resources provide an important adjunct in the chain of communication between practitioners and patients. However, one in five Australian adults has low health literacy. The purpose of this study was to assess the readability and analyse the content of weight management resources.MethodsThis study is based on the analysis of 23 resources found in the waiting rooms of ten Sydney-based general practices and downloaded from two clinical software packages used at these practices. The reading grade level of these resources was calculated using the Flesch Reading Ease, Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level, Fry Readability Graph, and the Simplified Measure of Gobbledygook. Resources’ content was analysed for the presence of dietary, physical activity, and behaviour change elements, as recommended by the Clinical practice guidelines for the management of overweight and obesity in adults, adolescents, and children in Australia.ResultsThe resources’ average reading grade level was for a 10th grader (9.5 ± 1.8). These findings highlight that the average reading grade level was two grades higher than the recommended reading grade level for health education resources of 8th grade level or below. Seventy percent of resources contained dietary and behaviour change elements. Physical activity was included in half of the resources. Two messages were identified to be inconsistent with the guidelines and three messages had no scientific basis.ConclusionA body of evidence now exists that supports the need to develop evidence-based education resources for weight management that place low demand on literacy, without compromising content accuracy. The findings from this study suggest that there is significant room for improvement in the educational resources provided in general practices.

Iron and cancer: recent insights.

Iron is an essential dietary element. However, the ability of iron to cycle between oxidized and reduced forms also renders it capable of contributing to free radical formation, which can have deleterious effects, including promutagenic effects that can potentiate tumor formation. Dysregulation of iron metabolism can increase cancer risk and promote tumor growth. Cancer cells exhibit an enhanced dependence on iron relative to their normal counterparts, a phenomenon we have termed iron addiction. Work conducted in the past few years has revealed new cellular processes and mechanisms that deepen our understanding of the link between iron and cancer. Control of iron efflux through the combined action of ferroportin, an iron efflux pump, and its regulator hepcidin appears to play an important role in tumorigenesis. Ferroptosis is a form of iron-dependent cell death involving the production of reactive oxygen species. Specific mechanisms involved in ferroptosis, including depletion of glutathione and inhibition of glutathione peroxidase 4, have been uncovered. Ferritinophagy is a newly identified mechanism for degradation of the iron storage protein ferritin. Perturbations of mechanisms that control transcripts encoding proteins that regulate iron have been observed in cancer cells, including differences in miRNA, methylation, and acetylation. These new insights may ultimately provide new therapeutic opportunities for treating cancer.

Key influence of sex on urine volume and osmolality.

BackgroundDemographics influence kidney stone risk and the type of stone that is more likely to form. Common kidney stone risk factors include having a low urine volume and a high urine concentration. The goal of the current study was to evaluate the effect of demographics on urinary concentration and osmole excretion.MethodsTwenty-four-hour urine samples were collected from non-Hispanic white sibships in Rochester, MN. Height, weight, blood pressure, serum creatinine, and cystatin C were measured. Diet was assessed using the Viocare food frequency questionnaire. Effects of demographics and dietary elements on urine osmolality and volume were evaluated in bivariate and multivariable models, as well as models that included dietary interactions with age, sex, and weight.ResultsSamples were available from 709 individuals (mean age 66 ± 9 years, 59 % female). Across the age spectrum, males had higher urine osmolality (~140 mOsm/kg, p < 0.0001) and total osmole excretion (~270 mOsm, p < 0.0001) compared to females. For any given urine volume, males had a consistently higher urine osmolality (~140 mOsm/kg, p < 0.0001). In multivariable models, urine osmolality declined with age and water intake and remained higher in males than females. Urine osmolality positively associated with weight and animal protein intake. Higher urine volume associated with larger water intake. An interaction revealed that greater body weight was associated with larger changes in urine osmolality as oxalate intake increased (p = 0.04).ConclusionData from this study support the hypothesis that there are sex differences in thirst and vasopressin action. This trend in urine concentration is also consistent with known epidemiologic patterns of urinary stone disease risk.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13293-016-0063-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Dietary Intake at 9 Years and Subsequent Body Mass Index in Adolescent Boys and Girls: A Study of Monozygotic Twin Pairs.

There is a lack of evidence pointing to specific dietary elements related to weight gain and obesity prevention in childhood and adulthood. Dietary intake and obesity are both inherited and culturally transmitted, but most prospective studies on the association between diet and weight status do not take genetics into consideration. The objective of this study was to document the association between dietary intake at 9 years and subsequent Body Mass Index (BMI) in adolescent monozygotic boy and girl twin pairs. This research used data from 152 twin pairs. Dietary data were collected from two 24-hour-recall interviews with a parent and the child aged 9 years. Height and weight were obtained when the twins were aged 9, 12, 13, and 14 years. Intrapair variability analysis was performed to identify dietary elements related to BMI changes in subsequent years. BMI-discordant monozygotic twin pairs were also identified to analyze the dietary constituents that may have generated the discordance. After eliminating potential confounding genetic factors, pre-adolescent boys who ate fewer grain products and fruit and consumed more high-fat meat and milk had higher BMIs during adolescence; pre-adolescent girls who consumed more grain products and high-fat meat and milk had higher BMIs during adolescence. Energy intake (EI) at 9 years was not related to BMI in subsequent years. Our study suggests that messages and interventions directed at obesity prevention could take advantage of sex-specific designs and' eventually' genetic information.

Characterization of protein fractions and antioxidant activity of Chia seeds (Salvia hispanica L.)

Chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) is an annual herbaceous plant categorized under Lamiaceae family. Chia seeds were investigated as a source of proteins and natural antioxidants. It is a potential alternative source of high quality protein, fats, carbohydrates, high dietary fibre, vitamins and mineral elements. The objective of this study was to evaluate chia seed from protein content and antioxidant acivity and highlight the quality of this pseudocereal. A crude protein, moisture content, content of protein fractions, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase activity of chia seeds and food products containing chia seeds were determined. The protein content of chia seeds ranged from 2.9% to 4.6% dry matter from that albumins and globulins ranged from 54.6% to 62.8%. Chia is poor in a prolamines (&lt;15%). Various chia seeds showed differences in their SOD activity and exhibited the high antiradical activity against 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS). The highest antioxidant capacity was found in sample chia seeds from Bolivia (1.46 mM TEAC.g-1 in the dry matter) and the lowest values of antioxidant activity was estimated in sample chia seeds from Argentina (1.05 mM TEAC.g-1 in the dry matter). The highest SOD activity was determined in sample chia from Argentina (2191.8 U.g-1 in the dry matter). The lowest SOD activity was found in sample chia-bio from Argentina (754.0 U.g-1 in the dry matter.). It makes them potentially suitable for use in the gluten-free diet of coeliac people and it can be used as a potential ingredient in health food because of its high antioxidant activity.

Endothelial dysfunction in inflammatory bowel diseases: Pathogenesis, assessment and implications.

Endothelial dysfunction is considered one of the etiological factors of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). An inflammatory process leads to functional and structural changes in the vascular endothelium. An increase of leukocyte adhesiveness and leukocyte diapedesis, as well as an increased vascular smooth muscle tone and procoagulant activity is observed. Structural changes of the vascular endothelium comprise as well capillary and venule remodeling and proliferation of endothelial cells. Hypoxia in the inflammatory area stimulates angiogenesis by up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor, fibroblast growth factor and tumor necrosis factor-α. Inflammatory mediators also alter the lymphatic vessel function and impair lymph flow, exacerbating tissue edema and accumulation of dead cells and bacteria. The endothelial dysfunction might be diagnosed by the use of two main methods: physical and biochemical. Physical methods are based on the assessment of large arteries vasodilatation in response to an increased flow and receptors stimulation. Flow-mediated vasodilatation (FMD) is the method that is the most widely used; however, it is less sensitive in detecting early changes of the endothelium function. Most of the studies demonstrated a decrease of FMD in IBD patients but no changes in the carotic intima-media thickness. Biochemical methods of detecting the endothelial dysfunction are based on the assessment of the synthesis of compounds produced both by the normal and damaged endothelium. The endothelial dysfunction is considered an initial step in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in the general population. In IBD patients, the risk of cardiovascular diseases is controversial. Large, prospective studies are needed to establish the role of particular medications or dietary elements in the endothelial dysfunction as well to determine the real risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Intestinal inflammation and the diet: Is food friend or foe?

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal illness of autoimmune origin affecting millions across the globe. The most common subtypes include ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease. While many medical treatments for IBD exist, none come without the risk of significant immunosuppression and in general do not have benign side effect profiles. Surgical intervention exists only as radical resection for medically refractory UC. There exists a dire need for novel treatments that target the inherent pathophysiologic disturbances of IBD, rather than global immune suppression. One avenue of investigation that could provide such an agent is the interaction between certain dietary elements and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). The AHR is a cytosolic transcription factor with a rich history in environmental toxicant handling, however, recently a role has emerged for the AHR as a modulator of the gastrointestinal immune system. Studies have come to elucidate these effects to include the enhancement of Th cell subset differentiation, interactions between enteric flora and the luminal wall, and modulation of inflammatory interleukin and cytokine signaling. This review highlights advancements in our understanding of AHR activity in the digestive tract and how this stimulation may be wrought by certain dietary "micronutriceuticals", namely indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and its derivatives. Greater clarity surrounding these dynamics could lead to a novel diet-derived agonist of the AHR which is not only non-toxic, but also efficacious in the amelioration of clinical IBD.

Lipid and fucoxanthin production in mixed cultures of Isochrysis galbana and Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Event Abstract Back to Event Lipid and fucoxanthin production in mixed cultures of Isochrysis galbana and Saccharomyces cerevisiae Catarina R. Correia1*, Catarina Barraca1*, Catarina R. Mendes1, Joao Chambel1, 2 and Sergio M. Leandro1* 1 MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, Portugal 2 AQUASPROSEA, Lda, Santuário Nossa Senhora dos Remédios, Portugal The future of aquaculture is correlated with the development, among other aspects, of the dietary elements. Feed applied in this field are in constant evolution, in order to provide a more nutritional and chemical-free solution. One of the new key-elements for the novel feeds in aquaculture is the addition of high quality lipids and natural pigments. Fucoxanthin is one of the most relevant carotenoids in brown microalgae, with several appliances, as antioxidant compound and feed addictive in aquaculture. Since lipids and this pigment have high applications in aquaculture dietary, a more economically feasible approaches for their production are in need. Pure and mixed cultures of Isochrysis galbana and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (dietary strain) were grown autotrophically in batch. Three combinations were tested: (A) Isochrysis galbana + F/2 medium, (B) Isochrysis galbana + half F/2 medium + Saccharomyces cerevisiae and (C) Isochrysis galbana + Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cultures growth pattern was followed until second day of stationary phase was achieved, by cell manual counting and by dry weight determination. Total lipid content was performed according to modified Bligh and Dyer, total carotenoid content by spectrophotometry UV-VIS and fucoxanthin content by High Pressure Liquid Chromatography. Results attained suggest that the tested growth media did not statistically influenced biomass production, even though specific growth rate and doubling time were biologically different. Combination (A) had a µ=0.2647 d-1, (B) presented µ=0.2089 d-1 and (C) µ=0.1316 d-1. Despite having a lower specific growth-rate, combination (C) began logarithmic phase a day earlier than the other combinations tested, leading to believe that this treatment would require a fed-batch grown. Regarding total carotenoid content, combination (B) achieved higher values (1%), followed by combination (A) (0.44%) and combination (C) (0.04%). For lipid production, the combination (B) presented higher lipid productivity. This outcomes also suggest that mixed cultures of Isochrysis galbana + Saccharomyces cerevisiae, when provided with F/2 medium, are a suitable approach for lipid and fucoxanthin production. Keywords: Microalgae, Mixotrophic growth, Microalgae mass cultivation, Growth Substances, Isochrysis galbana Conference: IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016, Peniche, Portugal, 14 Jul - 15 Jul, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster presentation Topic: Blue Biotechnology Citation: Correia CR, Barraca C, Mendes CR, Chambel J and Leandro SM (2016). Lipid and fucoxanthin production in mixed cultures of Isochrysis galbana and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Front. Mar. Sci. Conference Abstract: IMMR | International Meeting on Marine Research 2016. doi: 10.3389/conf.FMARS.2016.04.00056 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 14 May 2016; Published Online: 13 Jul 2016. * Correspondence: Dr. Catarina R Correia, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641, Portugal, catarinasrcorreia@gmail.com Dr. Catarina Barraca, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641, Portugal, catarinabarraca6@gmail.com PhD. Sergio M Leandro, MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre, ESTM, Instituto Politécnico de Leiria, 2520-641, Portugal, sleandro@ipleiria.pt Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Catarina R Correia Catarina Barraca Catarina R Mendes Joao Chambel Sergio M Leandro Google Catarina R Correia Catarina Barraca Catarina R Mendes Joao Chambel Sergio M Leandro Google Scholar Catarina R Correia Catarina Barraca Catarina R Mendes Joao Chambel Sergio M Leandro PubMed Catarina R Correia Catarina Barraca Catarina R Mendes Joao Chambel Sergio M Leandro Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.

The Role of Zinc, Manganse and Copper in Rumen Metabolism and Immune Function: A Review Article

Trace minerals are dietary elements required by the body in minute amounts, ranging from 0.10 to 50.0 mg/kg dry matter in beef cattle diets [1]. These trace minerals are all necessary for the biochemical processes of the body that support proper growth and maintenance. For example, Cu is necessary for the function of superoxide dismutase and its removal of toxic byproducts from metabolic pathways [2]. The removal of these toxic byproducts allows for metabolism to proceed efficiently, uninhibited by damaging oxygen free radicals. Zinc, an important trace mineral for enzyme function, aides in the regulation of nucleic acid production, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein synthesis, thus providing a stable framework for development [3]. The immune system is part of the host’s defense against destructive forces from outside the body, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, or from within, such as malignant cells or those that produce autoantibodies [4]. This system is composed of two branches: the innate or non-specific immune system, and the adaptive or specific immune system [5]. In this review paper, an attempt has been made to review effects of mineral supplements in Rumen Metabolism, effects on Immune Function in different species of animals.

Carotenoids and Cardiovascular Prevention: an Update

Oxidative stress is a key contributor to the development of cardiovascular diseases. In this respect, phytochemicals, such as bioactive dietary elements and in particular carotenoids displayed an antioxidant effect with a substantial reduction in oxidative stress markers. Recent scientific evidence supported the beneficial role of carotenoids in preventing several chronic disorders, such as cardiovascular diseases. Clinical trials displayed a decrement in inflammatory disease risk after carotenoids supplementation, mainly due to their antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. This commentary aims to describe how both traditional carotenoids and novel rare ones could be exploited in the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Natural variation of selenium concentration in diverse tea plant (Camellia sinensis) accessions at seedling stage

Selenium (Se) is a dietary essential trace element for humans and animals. Owing to Se being obtained from food or other source of supplementation, Se-enriched tea is a possible source of supplemental Se and thus has been drawing much attention. This study aimed to identify the variation of the Se concentrations among 14 elite Camellia sinensis cultivars against two-Se-levels supplementation at seedling stage. In the present study, the genetic diversity was assessed by 93 alleles revealed by 12 SSR primers in the C. sinensis accessions. Among the scored 93 alleles, 81 (87.10%) were polymorphic, and the average Nei's gene diversity (He) was 0.253 and average shannon information index (I) was 0.394, indicating a relatively high genetic variation. Significant variations were observed for the Se concentration among the accessions in both treatments (P<0.01), ranging from 0.300–0.445mgkg−1 and 0.357–0.537mgkg−1 in control (0) and Se-supplied (4mgkg−1) treatments respectively. The quality components content, tea polyphenols and amino acid, were sensitive to Se-supplement in a few of accessions, whereas soluble sugar and aqueous extract content appeared unchanged between the contrast treatments. In addition, the genetic variation among the tea plant cultivars was not well correlated with the Se concentration. Even then, the genetic variation in Se concentration across the 14 accessions indicated the possibility of utilizing tea plant accessions to develop optimized cultivars for Se-enriched tea. For the relative high Se concentration in the tea, tea plant is supposed to be a Se-enriched species. These results may enhance our understanding the genetic variation in tea plant.