Fat Content Research Articles

PROXIMATE COMPOSITION, AMINO ACID PROFILING, AND SAFETY ASSESSMENT OF PROCESSED NATURAL VEGETATION OF THARPARKAR

Some processing techniques tend to advance the overall nutritional quality of food commodities and thus may contribute to counter malnutrition in regions like Tharparkar. For scanning the efficacy of some selected processing treatments, the natural vegetation of Tharparkar (NVT) i.e., mung beans (MB), sesame seeds (SS), and pearl millet (PM), were sprouted, roasted, and blanched, respectively, and milled to flour after thermal drying.  All fresh and processed NVT, i.e., sprouted mung bean flour (SMBF), roasted sesame seed powder (RSSP), and blanched pearl millet flour (BPMF), were analyzed for proximate composition, profiling of amino acids (AAs), and safety assessment. The results demonstrated statistically different (P<0.05) mean values of fresh and processed NVT for most of the analyzed parameters. It was found that processing significantly increased (P<0.05) ash, protein, fat, and fiber content whereas significantly decreased (P<0.05) phytic and oxalic acid in the NVT. In addition, some essential AAs significantly (P<0.05) enhanced in SMBF i.e., histidine (0.45g/100g), isoleucine (0.59g/100g), lysine (0.71g/100), methionine (0.23g/100g), phenylalanine (1.54g/100g), and valine (0.32g/100g); RSSP i.e., isoleucine (1.63g/100g), leucine (4.57g/100g), lysine (0.75g/100g), phenylalanine (3.14g/100g), tryptophan (0.81g/100g), and tyrosine (2.15g/100g); and in BPMF i.e., threonine (0.55g/100g), isoleucine (0.28g/100g), leucine (1.70g/100g), methionine (0.21g/100), tryptophan (0.11g/100g), and valine(0.17g/100g). Among non-essential AAs, the alanine and glycine remained significantly higher (P<0.05) in all processed NVT i.e., 1.56, 1.29, and1.43g/100g alanine in SMBF, RSSP, and BPMF, respectively. However, glycine remained at 0.56, 0.59, and 0.23g/100g in SMBF, RSSP, and BPMF, respectively. It is therefore concluded that processing techniques exerted a significant role in enhancing nutritional profile while mitigating the antinutrient load from the NVT. Consequently, it is recommended that SMBF, RSSP, and BPMF be utilized for developing various food products to counter malnutrition in regions like Tharparkar.

The Replacement of Fish Meal with Poultry By-Product Meal and Insect Exuviae: Effects on Growth Performance, Gut Health and Microbiota of the European Seabass, Dicentrarchus labrax.

This study addressed the urgent need for sustainable protein sources in aquaculture due to the depletion of marine resources and rising costs. Animal protein sources, particularly poultry by-product meal (PBM) and insect exuviae meal, were investigated as viable alternatives to fishmeal (FM). The research study confirmed the successful replacement of FM with a combination of PBM and insect exuviae meal (up to 50%) in the diet of European seabass without compromising growth, feed conversion, gut health, and liver fat content. In particular, growth was robust with both PBM formulations, with the 25% PBM diet showing better results. Histological examinations showed good gut and liver health, contradicting the concerns of previous studies. This paper emphasizes the importance of holistic analyzes that go beyond growth parameters and include histomorphological investigations. The results show that PBM in combination with insect/exuviae meal is well tolerated by seabass, which is consistent with reports in the literature of it mitigating negative effects on gut health. A detailed analysis of the microbiota revealed a decrease in the Firmicutes/Proteobacteria ratio due to an increase in potentially pathogenic bacteria. However, the formulation containing insect exuviae partially counteracted this effect by preserving the beneficial Lactobacillus and promoting the synthesis of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), particularly butyrate. Chitin-rich components from insect exuviae were associated with improved gut health, which was supported by the increased production of SCFAs, which are known for their anti-inflammatory properties. This paper concludes that a combination of PBM and insect/exuviae meal can replace up to 50% of FM in the diet of seabass, supporting sustainable aquaculture practices. Despite some changes in the microbiota, the negative effects are mitigated by the addition of insect exuviae, highlighting their potential as a prebiotic to increase fish productivity and contribute to a circular economy in aquaculture.

Associations between the rumen microbiota and carcass merit and meat quality in beef cattle

The rumen microbiota is important for energy and nutrient acquisition in cattle, and therefore its composition may also affect carcass merit and meat quality attributes. In this study, we examined the associations between archaeal and bacterial taxa in the rumen microbiota of beef cattle and 12 different attributes, including hot carcass weight (HCW), dressing percentage, ribeye area (REA), intramuscular fat content, marbling score, fat thickness, yield grade, moisture content, purge loss, and shear force. There were significant correlations between the relative abundance of certain archaeal and bacterial genera and these attributes. Notably, Selenomonas spp. were positively correlated with live weight and HCW, while also being negatively correlated with purge loss. Members of the Christensenellaceae R-7, Moryella, and Prevotella genera exhibited positive and significant correlations with various attributes, such as dressing percentage and intramuscular fat content. Ruminococcaceae UCG-001 was negatively correlated with live weight, HCW, and dressing percentage, while Acidaminococcus and Succinivibrionaceae UCG-001 were negatively correlated with intramuscular fat content, moisture content, and marbling score. Overall, our findings suggest that specific changes in the rumen microbiota could be a valuable tool to improve beef carcass merit and meat quality attributes. Additional research is required to better understand the relationship between the rumen microbiota and these attributes, with the potential to develop microbiome-targeted strategies for enhancing beef production.Key points• Certain rumen bacteria were associated with carcass merit and meat quality• Moryella was positively correlated with intramuscular fat in beef carcasses• Acidaminococcus spp. was negatively correlated with marbling and intramuscular fat

Production of new functional coconut milk kefir with blueberry extract and microalgae: the comparison of the prebiotic potentials on lactic acid bacteria of kefir grain and biochemical characteristics

AbstractProbiotic foods are recognized for their importance on human health. Kefir is a versatile probiotic food that can be made from non-dairy sources for vegan diet. This study evaluated the addition of microalga Haematococcus pluvialis (0.50% w/v) and blueberry Vaccinium myrtillus (0.50% w/v) extracts to compare their influence on the biochemical properties and the bacterial community of coconut milk kefir through Nanopore-based DNA sequencing. Results revealed that the V. myrtillus increased the microbial diversity in coconut milk kefir with more abundant Proteobacteria species such as Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (22%) and Lactococcus lactis (6.3%). Microalga demonstrated the opposite effect on C, making Firmicutes represent the whole of the microbiota. Biochemical analysis revealed increased fat content in the kefir samples, with the C1 registering 1.62% and the 1.07% in C2, in contrast to the control group’s 0.87% fat content. The crude protein content exhibited a decrease in both samples compared to the control group (0.00% and 0.88% versus 1.07%). These findings suggest that fortifying vegan kefir with prebiotics has the potential to induce significant alterations in the kefir microbiota. Graphical abstract

Study on Sensory Evaluation and Chemical Changes Occurred in Mahua (Madhuca longifolia) Flower Burfi during the Storage

In the present study, the cow milk was standardized to 4% fat. The Burfi was prepared by addition of crushed dried Mahua flowers in the proportion of 100:0 (T₁), 90:10 (T₂), 85:15 (T3), 80:20 (T4) and 75:25 (T5) with 30 % sugar was added. The objectives of the present investigations were to study the chemical and sensory changes during storage of the selected treatment i.e. T4 (80% khoa: 20% crushed dried Mahua flower) at room temperature and refrigerated temperature at the interval of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 days. The study aimed to investigate the quality of the burfi during storage. The data obtained was statistically analyzed by Factorial Randomized Block Design. Sensory evaluation studies were conducted by a panel of judges and it was found that the burfi prepared by using 20 parts of crushed dried Mahua flowers and 80 parts of khoa was having the highest overall acceptability scores. The overall acceptability scores of selected treatment were decreased from 5th days onwards. But burfi was acceptable up to 15 days and 25 days onwards at room temperature and refrigerated temperature, respectively. The results regarding the chemical analysis revealed that the fat, protein, lactose, ash, titratable acidity and total solids content of burfi was increased after 0th day to 25th day in both room and refrigerated condition. While, moisture and solids not fat content reported decrease in trend in both room and refrigerated temperature. The rate of changes was found more in room temperature conditions.

Abstract SY38-02: Clinical investigations of obesity in cancer: BMI and other confounders

Abstract Obesity has been linked with increased incidence and worse outcomes of at least 13 human cancers. For other cancers, our understanding of their relationship with obesity is more nebulous, with contradictory observations from different studies. An example is lung cancer. Central or visceral obesity is defined as accumulation of excess or abnormal fat in body that is harmful to its health. But in lung cancer, overweight and obesity, as defined by body mass index (BMI), is associated with reduced cancer risk and longer survival after treatment by surgery. In addition, some studies suggest that lung cancer in obese patients responds better to treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) than in the non-obese. Apart from interesting biological questions, this “obesity paradox” presents practical issues in cancer prevention and clinical management, starting with the fundamental question of whether weight loss should be recommended in these contexts. Our investigations suggest that the incongruence between the observed benefits of obesity and its expected detrimental nature is likely the result of two main confounding factors in lung cancer studies. The first major confounding factor which we noticed is that certain commonly used medications have a secondary anti-cancer effect that is obesity-dependent. This is exemplified by the anti-diabetic metformin, which was prescribed 90 million times in 2021 in the US. We found that metformin use was associated with decreased likelihood of recurrence of early-stage lung cancer after resection, but only in overweight/obese patients (BMI > 25). Additionally, in late-stage cancer, metformin use by such patients correlated with a decrease in immune checkpoint molecules in their tumors, whereas an opposite effect of metformin use was seen in patients with lower BMI (< 25) - findings replicable in pre-clinical mouse models. In immunocompetent mice challenged with either subcutaneous or orthotopic tumors, metformin had a strong anti-cancer effect, but only in animals with obesity (induced with a high-fat diet). Furthermore, we observed that metformin sensitized the lung carcinoma tumors to immune checkpoint inhibition only if the animal was obese. In these experiments, enhanced control of tumor growth achieved by combined metformin-ICI treatment coincided with favorable shifts in the relative proportions of effector and suppressor T cells in the tumor microenvironment that were also obesity specific. Bringing this observation back to the bedside, we examined if similar sensitization was operative in patients with adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma, the subtypes of > 90% of lung cancer. A retrospective analysis of more than 500 such patients who were treated with ICIs in our institution showed that this is indeed the case. Consistent with our mouse studies, disease progression among the ICI-treated patients was slowed by metformin in only overweight/obese patients. This set of observations raises the possibility that obesity-dependent anti-cancer effects similar to metformin's may exist for other commonly used drugs, especially those impacting cellular metabolism. Indeed, we found this to be the case for statins. In one study of approximately 600 early-stage non-small cell lung cancer patients who had resective surgery at our institution, use of statins was associated with longer recurrence-free survival in overweight/obese but not other patients. Our observations on confounding by metformin and statins show that the use of such medications has to be accounted for if the effect of obesity on cancer behavior is to be estimated in clinical or epidemiological studies. The other major confounding factor is the use of BMI as a measure of obesity. The validity of BMI as a sole measure of obesity is increasingly being questioned because it does not accurately capture body fat content or its heterogeneity and distribution, which are also biologically relevant. We find this to be the case in lung cancer as well. In a case-control study for which we used routine computerized tomographic (CT) images to accurately measure the body's fat content, we found that patients with early-stage lung cancer have more fat, but not higher BMI, than subjects without lung cancer but at high risk for the disease. Correspondingly, in mice, we and others have found that diet-induced obesity increases lung carcinogenesis by urethane and oncogenic Kras. This accelerated tumor growth is accompanied by enhanced suppressor leukocyte pools in the lung. To test if compromised immune surveillance could underpin the increased risk of cancer seen in obese patients, we characterized the leukocytes recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage fluids of subjects determined obese and non-obese by CT image analysis. Consistent with our hypothesis, and with our assessment of the lung immune cells of obese and non-obese mice, obese subjects had a predominantly immunosuppressive lung microenvironment that is perhaps permissive for cancer survival and growth. Similarly, we found that among patients who had surgical resection for lung cancer, those with higher visceral fat, but not BMI, were more likely to suffer recurrence than others. In summary, the unappreciated obesity-specific effects of commonly used medications and the limitations of BMI as obesity metric are two important factors that can confound clinical and epidemiological studies of obesity's impact on cancer. These confounders must be accounted for in study design and analysis. The examples that we presented on the inadequacy of BMI in representing obesity show that it is worthwhile for the research community to expend the effort to develop accurate measures of obesity by establishing reference levels and cut-offs. Also, devising new measurement methods such as blood tests based on proteomic and clinically important metabolomic markers like those associated with visceral obesity will help move the field forward. Citation Format: Santosh Patnaik, Joseph Barbi, Sai Yendamuri. Clinical investigations of obesity in cancer: BMI and other confounders [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr SY38-02.

ENERGY TECHNOLOGY OF DAIRY PRODUCTS QUALITY ASSESSMENT USING IMPEDANCEMETRY

The article examines the peculiarities of milk quality research using the impedance method. Impedance is a complex parameter that characterises the interaction of the electric current with milk. The authors have developed a methodology based on the specified method to assess the quality of dairy products and have created a hardware and software complex that makes it possible to analyse the quality of dairy products. The research, conducted using the developed hardware and software complex, revealed several regularities characterising different types of milk. These regularities demonstrate the relationship between the impedance signal and the milk fat index. Analysis of the obtained data allowed us to identify differences in impedance between samples with varying fat content and origin from different manufacturers. The developed experimental setup prototype enabled the following research stages: checking the change in voltage during the passage of an alternating electric current through milk. This work used the AFS Sensor DAQ data acquisition system, designed for sensor control projects and which runs with NI LabVIEW software, for data output. The authors tested the installation while investigating the impedance of dairy products with different fat content and from multiple manufacturers. During the experiment, we measured the impedance and capacitance of the samples, and the obtained data became available on a PC for further analysis. The aim was to study the electrical properties of dairy products and their dependence on the composition and manufacturer. The obtained results represent valuable information for dairy product production and quality control. It is possible to use them to optimise production processes, ensure stable product quality, and improve consumer characteristics of dairy products. The obtained data contribute to a deeper understanding of the relationship between the impedance signal and the composition of dairy products, which can lead to the development of new methods of analysis and evaluation of the quality of food products. In addition, these studies have implications for food science and nutrition. Keywords: dairy products, milk quality, impedancemetry, electrical measurements, hardware and software complex.

Comparison of Inclusion of Skimmed Milk and Edible Insects on the Nutritional, Sensory and Microbial Qualities of Enriched High Energy Rice Biscuits

Aims: The growing world population, carbon foot prints of rearing conventional protein sources, issues of protein malnutrition (particularly in developing nations) and the urgent needs of protein-rich food relief materials in crisis situations may necessitate the utilisation of underutilised sustainable, nutritious protein sources. The study was conducted to investigate the possibility of using indigenous food crops and substituting milk powder with edible insects’ powder as a sustainable alternative protein source in high energy rice biscuits.
 Study Design: Biscuits were produced following the standard USAID recipe for HEB and comparisons were made with the insect biscuits and STD.
 Place and Duration of Study: Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria, between January 2018 and August 2018.
 Methodology: The high energy biscuits was evaluated for proximate composition, total sugars using Anthrone reagent, micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), physical properties such as spread ratio, weight, width etc. Microbial and sensory quality of the biscuits were also determined using standard methods.
 Results: From the findings of the study, rice biscuits with silkworm pupae had outstanding protein (12.76 g/100 g), fat (15.78 g/100 g) and energy (451.38 Kcal/100 g) contents while biscuit with migratory locust powder had slightly higher total ash and CHO. The spread ratios of the biscuits were within acceptable range. In terms of mineral composition, all the insect biscuits were significantly superior to the milk biscuit except for calcium. However, all the rice HEB exceeded the minimum USAID specifications for nutritive elements. The insect biscuits had more than quadruple the recommended pro-vitamin A content (1200. 67 and 2390.05 μg/100 g) and impressive amounts of vitamin C (94.19 and 52.39 mg/100 g). The microbial assessment revealed HEB with remarkable quality signifying wholesome raw materials and hygienic sample preparation. All samples received good sensorial ranking, but HEB with migratory locust was preferred.
 Conclusion: The results demonstrated that edible insects could serve as alternative protein source in the production of a nutritious high energy biscuit with good organoleptic and microbiological qualities.

Normal fat intake with high MUFA content and an appropriate SFA/MUFA/PUFA ratio improved the health of rats

AbstractThe quantity and quality of dietary fats have a significant impact on human health. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different cooking oils (olive oil (OO), soybean oil (SO), and blended oil (BO)) on growth, glucolipid metabolism, inflammation, and oxidative stress of rats fed normal and high‐fat diets. The results showed that the OO‐fed group had lower concentrations of serum triglyceride (TG), low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized LDL‐C (ox‐LDL‐C), and serum total cholesterol (TC) than the normal‐fat SO‐fed group, and rats in the BO‐fed group had lower values of serum interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP), tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) than the normal‐fat SO‐fed groups. However, higher serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity was observed in the OO‐fed group, while those fed with BO had higher serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and GSH‐Px activities. Generally, most health‐beneficial fatty acid profiles have a high content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), an appropriate saturated fatty acid (SFA)/MUFA/poly unsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio, and a low n‐6/n‐3 PUFA ratio, while diets contained a high content of fat is detrimental to health.

Impact of Fish Feed Formulated with Microalgae Biomass in Experimental Tanks with (Oreochromis Niloticus) Tilapia Culture

This project aims to evaluate a fish feed developed in CIATEJ with little modification, which included algal biomass and vegetal protein. This product was tested at the laboratory scale and the pilot-scale upscaling was needed for use with impact assessment studies in real ambient conditions. This food has antioxidant capacity due to the inclusion of microalgae. Additionally, it is nutritionally balanced with plant-based protein sources, partially replacing fishmeal. The feed, compared to commercial feed, has a higher protein content (5%) and lower fat content (3%). Evaluating this feed was of great importance to corroborate its consumption, which can reduce oxidative stress, reduce water contamination, and improve the growth rate and quality of the meat in fish. FCR values of almost 1 were reported here, indicating the more efficient utilization of formulated feed by Oreochromis niloticus. The main component of tilapia meat was moisture 74.31%, followed by protein 14.44%, lipids 6.24%, carbohydrates 0.10%, fibre 1.39%, and ash 3.62%. in experimental feed. In our results in fish filate, we found a 12% increase in protein percentage and a 29% decrease in fat percentage compared to the commercial feed, as expected from the higher protein and lower fat formulated feed. The amount of protein increment in fish filet we achieved in 2 months, the experimental diets significantly influenced the content of polyunsaturated fatty acids at 2.4% while saturated fatty acids were 1.3%. Omega 6 and Omega 9 were 2.33% and 1.73% respectively. The polyunsaturated fatty acid/saturated fatty acid ratio was also higher.

The first MASH drug therapy on the horizon: Current perspectives of resmetirom.

The rising prevalence of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) poses a significant global health challenge, affecting over 30% of adults worldwide. MASLD is linked to increased mortality rates and substantial healthcare costs, primarily driven by its progression to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which can lead to severe liver complications including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite its growing burden, effective pharmacotherapy for MASLD/MASH has been lacking until the recent conditional approval of resmetirom by the FDA. Resmetirom, a liver-targeted thyroid hormone receptor-β selective drug, has shown promise in clinical trials for treating non-cirrhotic MASH with moderate to advanced fibrosis. It has demonstrated efficacy in reducing hepatic fat content, improving liver histology (both MASH resolution and fibrosis improvement), and ameliorating biomarkers of liver damage without significant effects on body weight or glucose metabolism. Notably, resmetirom also exhibits favourable effects on circulating lipids, potentially reducing cardiovascular risk in MASLD/MASH patients. The safety profile of resmetirom appears acceptable, with gastrointestinal adverse events being the most common, though generally mild or moderate. However, long-term surveillance is warranted to monitor for potential risks related to thyroid, gonadal, or bone diseases. Clinical implementation of resmetirom faces challenges in patient selection and monitoring treatment response, and will heavily rely on non-invasive tests for liver fibrosis assessment. Nonetheless, resmetirom represents a landmark breakthrough in MASLD/MASH treatment, paving the way for future therapeutic strategies aiming to mitigate the multifaceted risks associated with this complex metabolic liver disease.

Impact of different drying methods on physicochemical characteristics and nutritional compositions of bee larvae

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of three distinct drying methods, namely hot air drying (HAD), microwave oven drying (MD), and vacuum freeze drying (VFD), applied to bee larvae. Through rigorous experimentation and analysis, we evaluated various parameters, including moisture content, color, fat, protein, fatty acid composition, aroma components, and protein secondary structure. Our findings reveal distinctive characteristics of bee larvae aroma, notably including E-2-curenal, palmitic acid and 10-undecenal, with palmitic, linolenic, and oleic acids being the dominant fatty acids. Among the drying methods, MD at 10 W/g demonstrated significantly higher levels of volatile components. Noteworthy, VFD-assisted drying closely resembled the composition of fresh bee larvae, with fat and protein contents of 26% and 57%, respectively. Analysis of protein secondary structure unveiled that MD at 10 W/g exhibited the highest β-folding content, 80%, followed closely by VFD at 45 °C, 73%. Remarkably, VFD at 45 °C exhibited as the superior method, yielding dried bee larvae of unparalleled quality among the three techniques investigated. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of different drying methods on the composition and quality of bee larvae, offering significant implications for the processing, preservation and utilization of this valuable resource.

The analysis of lamb and beef fatty acids with a 30 m BPX70 column is comparable with a 120 m column

Gas chromatography (GC) analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) typically uses long capillary columns (≥ 100 m) which can be expensive and time consuming. The current study determined whether the major FAME of interest for human health in lamb and beef can be quantified using a 30 m compared with 120 m moderately polar capillary (BPX70) column. Lamb and beef samples with a range of intramuscular fat content from either grass- or grain-fed animals were analysed. All major FAME of human health importance, including omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers, could be identified on the 30 m BPX70 column. The correlation (r2) for fatty acid percentage between columns was > 0.98 for all major n–3PUFA and > 0.86 for all major CLAs. When animals were fed a grain-based diet, C18:1n–7t (vaccenic acid) could not be resolved from C18:1n-8t when analysed on the 30 m column. The FAME profile of lamb and beef, particularly those important for nutritional composition tables, can be determined using a 30 m BPX70 column, thereby saving time and expense compared with longer columns. Particular care should be employed when analysing samples from grain-fed animals due to co-eluting of C18:1n–8t.

Influence of Heat Treatment on Flow Behaviour Index of Dairy Cream

The objective of the experiment was to gather data on the flow behaviour index of dairy cream under different heat treatments and subsequent temperature changes. Dairy cream samples with fat content of 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% & 60% was subjected to different heat treatments i.e., 80°C/No hold, 85°C/No hold, 90°C/No hold & 95C°/No hold. The flow behaviour index of such heat-treated samples was evaluated at every 10°C upon cooling from 80°C or 70°C as the case may be till 10°C at 250 S-1 shear rate using rheometer. It was observed that at 10°C, 20°C, 30°C and 40°C temperature of measurement, the fat content of cream and the heat treatment applied to the cream demonstrated a significant impact (p<0.05) on the flow behavior index, while their interaction effect was found to be not significant (p>0.05). Conversely, at sample temperature between 50°C to 80°C, the fat content of the cream exhibited a significant (p<0.05) effect on the flow behavior index, while the heat treatment applied to the cream and the interaction effect were not significant (p>0.05). These data are useful to dairy equipment designer for selection of proper sizing of equipment.

Feeding Balanced Ration for Improving Dairy Cattle Productivity: A Review

In India and similar subtropical regions, dairy livestock primarily consume various by-products derived from locally cultivated crops, fodder, and oilseeds. Approximately 65-70 per cent of the total milk production cost is attributed to feed expenses. Ensuring a balanced diet is pivotal for the success of dairy development initiatives across India. The optimal productivity of dairy animals is achieved when they are provided with a nutritionally balanced diet that matches their genetic potential. To enhance the productivity of livestock owned by small-scale farmers, a balanced ration program was introduced. Under this program, animals are categorized based on their milk production levels: low (<8 kg/day), medium (8–12 kg/day), and high (>12 kg/day) yielders. The program assessed milk yield, milk fat content, and the net daily income of milk producers before and after implementing a balanced diet regimen. The nutritional assessment revealed that 71 per cent of the animals consumed excessive amounts of crude protein and metabolizable energy, while 65 per cent exhibited lower intake levels of calcium and phosphorus than required. Implementing a balanced ration resulted in an improvement in milk production ranging from 2 to 14 per cent, along with a 0.2 to 0.15 per cent increase in milk fat content.

Unexpected omega-3 activities in intracellular lipolysis and macrophage foaming revealed by fluorescence lifetime imaging

Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) found primarily in fish oil have been a popular supplement for cardiovascular health because they can substantially reduce circulating triglyceride levels in the bloodstream to prevent atherosclerosis. Beyond this established extracellular activity, here, we report a mode of action of PUFA, regulating intracellular triglyceride metabolism and lipid droplet (LD) dynamics. Real-time imaging of the subtle and highly dynamic changes of intracellular lipid metabolism was enabled by a fluorescence lifetime probe that addressed the limitations of intensity-based fluorescence quantifications. Surprisingly, we found that among omega-3 PUFA, only docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) promoted the lipolysis in LDs and reduced the overall fat content by approximately 50%, and consequently helped suppress macrophage differentiation into foam cells, one of the early steps responsible for atherosclerosis. Eicosapentaenoic acid, another omega-3 FA in fish oil, however, counteracted the beneficial effects of DHA on lipolysis promotion and cell foaming prevention. These in vitro findings warrant future validation in vivo.

The content of aflatoxin M1 in the milk of cows from Turkish farms: the effect on milk quality and the effectiveness of mycotoxin binding by a claybased adsorbent

The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in milk from Holstein-Friesian cows on local farms located in two different cities in Turkey, to investigate the effect of this mycotoxin on milk quality and seasonal variation, and to investigate the efficacy of a commercial clay-based binder. As part of the study, milk samples from 144 dairy cows were analyzed for the presence of AFM1 prior to the use of a clay-based toxin binder. As a result of this analysis, 26.9% of milk samples from individual animals had AFM1 levels exceeding the U.S. permissible limit of 0.5 µg/kg. In addition, AFM1 was detected in 36.5% of winter and 18.6% of summer milk samples. The presence of AFM1 caused a decrease in milk fat, dry matter, and protein levels. The affected animals were further divided into two groups: control group (n = 14) and experimental group (n = 26). The animals of the experimental group were fed 25 g/animal of clay-based binder toxin daily. The treatment group showed a gradual decrease in AFM1 levels by 24.4% on day 4 and 48.9% on day 7. In addition, the fat, non-fat solids, and protein content of milk increased significantly. As a result, a high level of AFM1 contamination in milk was detected, which can be assumed to negatively affect the quality of milk production. The use of clay-based toxin binders may be an effective method to improve milk quality and protect animal and consumer health.

A Cross-Sectional Pilot Study on Association of Ready-to-Eat and Processed Food Intakes with Metabolic Factors, Serum Trans Fat and Phospholipid Fatty Acid Compositions in Healthy Japanese Adults.

Frequently consuming processed and ready-to-eat (RTE) foods is regarded as unhealthy, but evidence on the relationships with circulating metabolic parameters is lacking. Japanese residents of a metropolitan area, 20 to 50 years of age, were studied in terms of anthropometric and biochemical parameters, including circulating trans fat and serum phospholipid fatty acid levels. Processed foods, except drinks and dairy items, were categorized according to requirements for additional ingredients and cooking before eating. Processed and RTE foods were divided according to fat and/or oil content into non-fatty or fatty foods. The participants were grouped into tertiles based on the energy percent (En%) derived from fatty-RTE foods. Fatty-RTE En% showed negative associations with fish, soybean and soybean products, dairy, eggs, vegetables, seaweed/mushrooms/konjac, fruit and non-oily seasonings reflecting lower dietary fiber, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and mineral and vitamin intakes, while the associations with fat/oil, confectionaries, and sweet beverages were positive. Fatty-RTE En% consumption was positively associated with alkaline phosphatase, leucine aminopeptidase, direct bilirubin, elaidic acid, and C18:2 but inversely associated with HDL cholesterol, C15:0, C17:0, EPA, and DHA. A higher fatty-RTE food intake was suggested to contribute to unbalanced nutrient intakes, as reflected in lipid metabolic parameters. Further large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the quality and impacts of RTE foods.

Genomic evidence for human-mediated introgressive hybridization and selection in the developed breed

BackgroundThe pig (Sus Scrofa) is one of the oldest domesticated livestock species that has undergone extensive improvement through modern breeding. European breeds have advantages in lean meat development and highly-productive body type, whereas Asian breeds possess extraordinary fat deposition and reproductive performance. Consequently, Eurasian breeds have been extensively used to develop modern commercial breeds for fast-growing and high prolificacy. However, limited by the sequencing technology, the genome architecture of some nascent developed breeds and the human-mediated impact on their genomes are still unknown.ResultsThrough whole-genome analysis of 178 individuals from an Asian locally developed pig breed, Beijing Black pig, and its two ancestors from two different continents, we found the pervasive inconsistent gene trees and species trees across the genome of Beijing Black pig, which suggests its introgressive hybrid origin. Interestingly, we discovered that this developed breed has more genetic relationships with European pigs and an unexpected introgression from Asian pigs to this breed, which indicated that human-mediated introgression could form the porcine genome architecture in a completely different type compared to native introgression. We identified 554 genomic regions occupied 63.30 Mb with signals of introgression from the Asian ancestry to Beijing Black pig, and the genes in these regions enriched in pathways associated with meat quality, fertility, and disease-resistant. Additionally, a proportion of 7.77% of genomic regions were recognized as regions that have been under selection. Moreover, combined with the results of a genome-wide association study for meat quality traits in the 1537 Beijing Black pig population, two important candidate genes related to meat quality traits were identified. DNAJC6 is related to intramuscular fat content and fat deposition, and RUFY4 is related to meat pH and tenderness.ConclusionsOur research provides insight for analyzing the origins of nascent developed breeds and genome-wide selection remaining in the developed breeds mediated by humans during modern breeding.

Capsaicin as a Dietary Additive for Dairy Cows: A Meta-Analysis on Performance, Milk Composition, Digestibility, Rumen Fermentation, and Serum Metabolites.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with capsaicin (CAP) on productive performance, milk composition, nutrient digestibility, ruminal fermentation, and serum metabolites of dairy cows using a meta-analytical approach. The database included 13 studies, from which the response variables of interest were obtained. Data were analyzed using a random effects model, and results were expressed as weighted mean differences between treatments supplemented with and without CAP. Dietary supplementation with CAP increased (p < 0.05) dry matter intake, milk yield, feed efficiency, milk fat yield, and milk fat content. However, CAP supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) milk protein and lactose yield, milk urea nitrogen, or milk somatic cell count. Greater (p < 0.05) apparent digestibility of dry matter and crude protein was observed in response to the dietary inclusion of CAP. Likewise, supplementation with CAP increased (p < 0.05) the rumen concentration of total volatile fatty acids. In contrast, CAP supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) ruminal pH or the ruminal concentration of ammonia nitrogen, acetate, propionate, and butyrate. In blood serum, CAP supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the glucose concentration and decreased (p < 0.05) the concentration of non-esterified fatty acids. However, CAP supplementation did not affect (p > 0.05) the serum concentration of urea and beta-hydroxybutyrate. In conclusion, capsaicin can be used as a dietary additive to improve the productive performance, milk composition, and nutrient digestibility in dairy cows and, at the same time, improve the ruminal concentration of total volatile fatty acids and serum levels of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids.