Food Efficiency Research Articles

Effects of Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia) Consumption on Serum Lipid Profiles in Albino Rats.

Dyslipidemia is an important cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), which are the most prevalent causes of morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of cinnamon on body weight gain, food intake, and serum lipid profiles of albino rats. This study was conducted on 30 healthy male albino rats weighing approximately 130 ± 5 g. The study was divided into the following two experiments: experiment (1), wherein rats were fed a laboratory diet; and experiment (2), wherein rats were fed a high-fat diet. In experiment 1, a total of 15 rats were divided into three groups. Group A (n = 5, untreated control) was fed laboratory diet, Group B (n = 5) was fed laboratory diet and cinnamon powder (2 g/kg body weight), and Group C (n = 5) was fed laboratory diet and cinnamon powder (4 g/kg body weight) for 30 days. In experiment (2), a total of 15 rats were similarly divided into three groups. Group D (n = 5, treated control) was fed laboratory diet plus high-fat diet, Group E (n = 5) was fed cinnamon powder (2 g/kg body weight) mixed with laboratory diet plus high-fat diet, and Group F (n = 5) was fed cinnamon powder (4 g/kg body weight) mixed with laboratory diet plus high-fat diet daily for 30 days. An administration of 4 g/kg body weight of cinnamon extract powder decreased the final weight by 4.4%, body weight gains by 31.41%, food intake by 1.7%, and food efficiency ratio by 22.38% in hypercholesterolemic adult male rats as well as serum total cholesterol by 31.22%, triglyceride by 24.05%, and LDL-C by 43.49%, with an increase in the levels of HDL-C by 30.16%, furthermore, a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, and LDL-C levels and increasing serum HDL-C on day 30 were observed (P < 0.001). This finding provides scientific evidence to substantiate the traditional use of cinnamon to treat hyperlipidemia.

Obesity can alter energetic responses to food restriction

Reduction in energy expenditure during fasting and chronic food restriction is well known and represents a mechanism of energy conservation, sparing energy, and preventing excessive weight and energy loss. The present study aimed to investigate if obesity can alter the reduction in energy expenditure that occurs in response to chronic food restriction, using two different experimental models that promote distinct types of obesity. Female Wistar rats were submitted to two models of obesity: hypercaloric diet ingestion (HD) and bilateral lesion of ventromedial hypothalamus (VMHL). Thirty days after the beginning of each treatment (HD and VMHL), the control and obese animals were subdivided in two groups that ingested for 30 days ad libitum diet or 50% of food ingested by the respective ad libitum group (control or obese). At the end of this period, the animals were euthanized, and the energy balance and body composition were determined. Obese animals (HD and VMHL) showed increase on their body fat, confirming the effectiveness of the models in obesity development. When submitted to food restriction, control and obese animals showed a significant reduction in body weight and energy, metabolizable energy intake, energy expenditure, gross food efficiency, and body fat content, when compared with their respective ad libitum groups. Energy expenditure reduction shown by obese food-restricted animals for both models was significantly lower than the one shown by non-obese food-restricted groups. Obesity reduces the “sparing of energy” in food-restricted animals, suggesting that fat availability is one of the modulators of this mechanism; moreover, this physiologic adaptation should be considered in clinical nutrition protocols.

Mesoporous silica with precisely controlled pores reduces food efficiency and suppresses weight gain in mice.

Aim: Obesity is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. We aimed to elucidate the effects of distinct mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) supplemented in food on metabolic parameters in obesity. Materials & methods: MSPs with precisely controlled pore size were synthesized, characterized and compared with a control in a C57Bl/6 mouse diet-induced obesity model, studying weight, adiposity, metabolic regulation and food efficiency. Results: The most effective MSPs reduced adipose tissue formation to 6.5±0.5g compared with 9.4±1.2g, leptin levels nearly halved from 32.8±7.4 to 16.9±1.9ng/ml and a 33% reduction of food efficiency. Control MSP showed no effects. Conclusion: Results demonstrate potential of distinct MSPs to improve metabolic risk factors. Further studies investigating mechanism of action and confirming human safety are needed.

Analyzing financial performances and efficiency of the retail food in Serbia by using the AHP-TOPSIS method

The aim and purpose of this paper is to point out to the quality of financial performance and efficiency of food retailers in Serbia, as well as measures for improvement in the future, based on theoretical knowledge and empirical analysis using AHP-TOPSIS methods. The problem of analyzing the financial performance of all companies, which includes trading companies, is very topical, significant and complex. Consequently, mathematical methods and models have lately been increasingly used. With this insight in mind, this paper investigates the financial performance and efficiency of food retailers in Serbia using AHP and TOPSIS methods. Of all the observed optimization criteria (cost of goods sold, operating costs, gross margin and net profit), the most significant was the cost of goods sold. The most efficient food retailer in Serbia is Aman. The Mercator-S Company is inefficient. In order to improve the efficiency of food retailers in Serbia, it is necessary to apply the Western business models (private brand, multichannel sales, organic food sales and others), the concepts of strategic management accounting and to strengthen the digitalization of business.

Digestible tryptophan requirement for tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) fingerlings

The objective of this study was to determine the digestible tryptophan requirement of tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) fingerlings and its relationship with digestible lysine. A total of 300 tambaqui fingerlings with three initial weights (2.12 ± 1.19, 8.13 ± 0.75, and 15.18 ± 1.91 g) were distributed in a randomized complete block design, consisting of six treatments (0.225, 0.256, 0.288, 0.319, 0.350, and 0.381% of digestible tryptophan) and five replicates of 10 fish per plot. The tryptophan to lysine ratio was estimated using a 1.78% level of digestible lysine. Variables regarding performance, food efficiency, and body deposition of protein, fat, and ashes, and nitrogen retention efficiency were evaluated. Feed intake and nitrogen retention efficiency did not vary. For the digestible tryptophan intake, feed conversion and body deposition of ashes, the model that best fit was the Linear Response Plateau, with these variables improving with the elevation of digestible tryptophan concentration up to the levels of 0.335, 0.276 and 0.259%, respectively. Weight gain, specific growth rate, digestible tryptophan efficiency for weight gain, and body deposition of protein and fat increased in a quadratic manner with elevated digestible tryptophan levels; the estimated optimal levels were 0.320, 0.310, 0.280, 0.323 and 0.299%, respectively. The recommended digestible tryptophan level in rations for tambaqui fingerlings is 0.323%, corresponding to 0.108%/Mcal of digestible energy with a digestible tryptophan to lysine ratio of 18%.

The Potential Use of Salted Marine By-Catches and Fish Viscera Meal Mixture as A Replacement for Conventional Fishmeal in the Diet of Indonesian River Catfish (Hemibagrus nemurus)

The research was conducted to investigate the substitution effect of dietary salted marine by-catches and fish viscera meal mixtures for conventional fishmeal on physicochemical and sensory quality of Indonesian river catfish. Four experimental diets containing 34% crude protein and 3.20 kcal g−1 digestible energy were formulated. A control diet (FM) contains 54% fishmeal and no salted marine bycatch - fish viscera mixture (SMBFVM). In the other diets, the fishmeal was reduced and proportionally replaced with SMBFVM, 50% (SMBFVM-50), 75% (SMBFVM-75) and 100% (SMBFVM-100). A commercial diet (CD) containing 32 % crude protein and 2,94 kcal g−1 digestible energy was used as the reference. Feeding trial was performed with 1500 fish (4.79±0.38 g in weight) which was distributed in 2x2x1.5 m triplicate net cages, and the fish was fed the experimental diets at satiation twice daily at 07:00 AM and 05:00 PM for 8 weeks. There was no substitution effect of fishmeal by SMBFVM on the survival rate of the fish (P>0.05). Substitution of fishmeal by SMBFVM in the diet up to 75% (SMBFVM-75) increased weight gain, specific growth rate, food efficiency ratio, protein efficiency ratio and protein retention (p<0,05) better than control diet; and complete substitution of fishmeal with SMBFVM (SMBFVM-100) gave similar growth performance to control diet (P>0.05). Total replacement of fishmeal with SMBFVM in the diets also gave comparable body fish proximate and amino acid profile to control diet. Compared to CD, fish fed SMBFVM diets had similar growth performance, body proximate, and amino acid profile. The SMBFVM, therefore, could completely replace conventional fishmeal in the diet for Indonesian river catfish without negative effects on fish growth, body proximate, and amino acid profile.

Food efficiency of livestock in organic farming and competition with human nutrition

Livestock are always intended to provide animal protein for human consumption. In the context of worldpopulation growth and a decrease in the agricultural area (SDES, 2015), livestock farming is implicatedin its consumption of agricultural land and cereals that could be directly used for human consumption.This study, based on a sample of farms in organic farming, aimed at i) characterizing the differentfeeding systems, ii) identifying and quantifying the different types of animal feed in competition withhuman food, and iii) measuring feed use efficiency as proposed by Laisse et al. (2017) and Mottet et al.(2017). The efficiency of areas used for human consumption is based on a fixed assumption that onlypermanent grassland is non-competitive, the other areas being likely to be edible for human. Theanalysis of feed rations and production of 743 organic dairy farms and 411 organic beef farms led to the estimate of an average 95m² required to produce one kilogram of animal protein in the dairy system and508m² in the beef system. Beef farms are less efficient and use 2.73 kg of vegetable protein incompetition with human nutrition to produce 1 kilogram of animal protein, while dairy farms use anaverage of only 1.61 kg. The most efficient farms in terms of converting plant protein are using moregrass and pastures in the livestock ration. The use of grassland in the systems often requires a largerarea than in farms using concentrates. The analysis carried out did not take into account the ecosystemservices of the grassland (biodiversity, carbon sequestration, water quality, quality of products).

ANALISIS KINERJA KEUANGAN PERUSAHAAN MAKANAN DAN MINUMAN YANG TERDAFTAR DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA (BEI) PADA MASA KABINET INDONESIA BERSATU JILID I DAN II

Financial performance is the determination of certain measures that can measure the success of a company in generating profits. Efficient company performance, one of wich can be seen from the increase in profits earned by the company, so that in the end will bring a positive impact on government revenue from the taxation sector. The purpose of this study was to obtain empirical evidence about the efficiency of food and beverage companies on the IDX during the United Indonesia Cabinet I and II. The population of this research is the manufacturing companies since 2005 -201 which amounted to 19 companies, after the purpose of purposive sampling method with the aim of getting samples in accordance with the research objectives, there are 17 companies that fit the criteria set for the sample. The results of this study prove that there are significant differences for the variables CR, DER, NPM, ROA and EPS, food and beverage companies in the period of KIB I and KIB II, this means that company managers and investors generally responded in the governance period of KIB I and KIB II

Effect of Different Levels of Saponin on Growth Performance and Food Efficiency in Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)

Effect of Different Levels of Saponin on Growth Performance and Food Efficiency in Convict Cichlid (Amatitlania nigrofasciata)

Anti-obesity effects of enzyme-treated celery extract in mice fed with high-fat diet.

The present study demonstrated the anti-obesity effects of enzyme-treated celery extract (ECE) in mice on high-fat diet (HFD). In vitro studies showed that ECE has anti-adipogenic properties by inhibiting lipid accumulations in adipose cells. In vivo studies indicated that the administration of ECE markedly prevented HFD-induced body weight gain, food efficiency ratio, and epididymal fat and liver weights. ECE reduced lipid parameters, cardiac risk factor, and atherogenic index in obese mice. ECE prevented a diabetes state by improving adipokines levels, reducing glucose levels, and preventing insulin resistance. Moreover, ECE prevented HFD-induced liver damage by preventing hepatic steatosis and upregulation of liver antioxidant enzymes. The mechanism of ECE was partially investigated to involve the activation of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase and hence the downregulation of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ by ECE. Our results suggest that ECE could be used as functional food materials for the prevention of obesity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Apium graveolens is a popular plant with nutritive and medicinal benefits. It contains bioactive compounds such as apiin, apigenin, and luteolin. However, these compounds are rendered insoluble due to their interaction with polysaccharides in the cell wall thus making them less bioavailable. Hydrolyzing them could increase the yield of bioactive compounds in celery. This pilot study demonstrates that pectinase-treated celery extract has anti-obesity effects. The results of this research demonstrate the use of enzymes in improving the biological activities of plant extracts and suggest the use of enzyme-assisted extraction techniques in the industrial production of health functional food from celery.

Growth and physiological responses in largemouth bass populations to environmental warming: Effects of inhabiting chronically heated environments.

Ectotherms are susceptible to increasing environmental temperatures associated with anthropogenic warming. Supra-optimum temperatures lead to declining aerobic capacity and can increase exposure to lethal temperatures, resulting in reduced performance. Although the capacity of phenotypic plasticity to minimize the effects of temperature on physiological processes is well studied, evidence of generational changes (e.g. transgenerational plasticity and rapid adaptation) in response to environmental warming is limited in natural populations. We investigated metabolism, growth, and thermal tolerance of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) populations inhabiting thermally altered lakes (i.e. power plant cooling lakes) which have year-round elevated temperature regimes and exhibit supra-optimum temperatures on a yearly basis, and compared these traits with those in largemouth bass populations from ambient lakes. Largemouth bass from ambient and heated groups (n=3 populations per group) were spawned in an ambient, common garden pond environment, then acclimated to either a normal summertime temperature (24°C) or a supra-optimum temperature (30°C). Fish from heated populations had significant reductions in the resting metabolic rate at both temperatures and markedly increased growth rates at 30°C. By comparing pond-raised fish to fish removed directly from heated lakes, we showed that developmental plasticity played little role in establishing the metabolic rate. A lower resting metabolic rate contributed to an increase in the conversion efficiency of food to biomass of largemouth bass from heated lakes, regardless of temperature. Despite inhabiting heated lakes for many decades, neither critical thermal maximum nor minimum were altered in heated populations when raised in a common garden environment. These results suggest that largemouth bass can lessen sub-lethal effects of warming by altering physiological processes to reduce the impact of warming on aerobic scope and that these changes are generationally transient, but changes in maximum thermal tolerance in response to warming is limited to phenotypic plasticity.

Dietary administration of β-caryophyllene and its epoxide to Sprague-Dawley rats for 90 days

Two independent 90-day GLP-compliant studies were conducted in Sprague-Dawley rats with β-caryophyllene or β-caryophyllene epoxide, two common flavoring and fragrance materials. Dietary concentrations of β-caryophyllene were 3500; 7000; and 21,000 ppm for males and 3500; 14,000; and 56,000 ppm for females. Dietary concentrations of β-caryophyllene epoxide were 1750; 10,500; and 21,000 ppm. There were no deaths or clinical toxicity attributable to either substance administration. Statistically significant, dose-dependent reductions in body weight, body weight gain, food consumption, and food efficiency at the highest dietary concentrations of β-caryophyllene, but not of β-caryophyllene epoxide, were attributed to palatability issues. Neither β-caryophyllene nor β-caryophyllene epoxide influenced estrus cyclicity or sperm parameters. Macroscopic and microscopic findings were primarily related to changes in the kidneys of male rats, consistent with α2u-globulin nephropathy, and in the liver of male and female rats, including hepatocyte hypertrophy at the middle and high intake levels. These changes correlated with increased absolute and relative organ weights. Since the kidney findings were a species- and sex-specific effect, the NOAEL in each study was based on hepatocyte hypertrophy at the two highest dietary concentrations and were determined to be 222 mg/kg bw/day for β-caryophyllene and 109 mg/kg bw/day for β-caryophyllene epoxide.

Anti-obesity effect of Yangkyuksanwha-tang in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

BackgroundYangkyuksanwha-tang (YST) is an herbal medicine based on Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) and is widely used in Korean traditional medicine. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of YST on obesity in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice.MethodsWe induced obesity in C57bl/6 J mice using a HFD, and then orally administered 300 mg/kg YST for 6 weeks. We measured body weight, food efficiency, organ and fat weight, serum biochemical parameters, and obesity-related gene expression, and carried out histological analysis at the end of the experimental period.ResultsYST significantly reduced the absolute body weight and food efficiency ratio. The serum, aminotransferase, glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels were significantly lower in the YST-treated group than in the control group, whereas the high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol level in the YST-treated group was significantly higher. The YST-treated group also showed a significant reduction in regional fatty tissues and the absolute weight of various organs. We also observed a significantly reduced expression of AP2/FABP4, C/EBP-β, leptin, and SREBP1c/ADD1 mRNA, and significantly increased expression of UCP-2 and adiponectin mRNA in adipose tissue in the YST-treated group. YST also decreased the lipid droplet size and lipid accumulation in the liver, as well as adipocyte size in epididymal adipose tissue. At the dose tested, YST was non-toxic to the liver and kidneys of the mice.ConclusionThe results imply that YST has anti-obesity effects in obesity-induced mice. Although the number of experimental animals was limited and the drug effects concern mice, rather than humans, which have different constitutions, the study has valuable implications with respect to the general effects of YST.

Effect Different Level of Fructo-Oligosaccharide (FOS) on Growth Parameters and Feed Utilization in Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

The recent research was managed to make an inquiry about influencing dietary fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS) on providing food supplements and growing procedure of common carp Cyprinus carpio fingerlings. The fingerlings were adapted for 3 weeks and then reared in triplicate groups in 15 tanks (n = 4 fish per tank with average initial weights of (40 ± 3.00 gm). The fish fed on experimental diets containing different levels of fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS); (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10 gm FOS /kg diet) for apparent satiation twice a day for 10 weeks. Results showed that final weight, weight gain, daily growth rate, relative growth rate, and specific growth rate were significantly (P<0.05) increased with 10 gm FOS /kg diet compared to the other groups. While, food efficiency ratio and protein efficiency ratio were significantly higher (P<0.05) especially in group fed 10 gm FOS /kg diet (1.13 and 295.16) respectively compared to the other treated and control group. However, food conversion ratio in 0 gm FOS /kg diet (control) group was higher significantly (P<0.05) among other groups (1.63).

산업단지 생산 품목 유형에 따른 비점오염원 유출특성 분석

The purpose of this study is to establish treatment direction of non - point pollutant source in production item type industrial complex by analyzing treatment efficiency and characteristics according to characteristics of industrial complex during non - point pollution source treatment. As a result, the treatment efficiency of the field suspended solid(SS) material producing food and polyvinyl chloride(PVC) type is more than 90 %, and the treatment efficiency is less than 80 % in the remaining polyvinyl chloride(PVC) production, metal production, and chemical manufacturing production area. It is considered that the efficiency of treatment of suspended solids is low due to low industrial pollution of influent water. It is considered that the efficiency of treatment of suspended solids is low due to low industrial pollution of influent water. The efficiency of biochemical oxygen demand(BOD) treatment seems to be relatively high in an industrial complex area that deals with an inorganic component rather than an area that deals with an organic substance or a chemical substance, and it is confirmed that a place using a high specific gravity material such as a metal has a treatment efficiency of 90 % or more There is a number. The treatment efficiency of total nitrogen(T-N) showed more than 50 % efficiency in most areas, but the treatment efficiency of food producing area was 2.4 %. The results of this experiment show that the method of water quality improvement should be applied differently according to the product production characteristics of each industrial complex.

Antiobesity, Regulation of Lipid Metabolism, and Attenuation of Liver Oxidative Stress Effects of Hydroxy-α-sanshool Isolated from Zanthoxylum bungeanum on High-Fat Diet-Induced Hyperlipidemic Rats.

Zanthoxylum bungeanum is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to relieve pain, dispel dampness, stop diarrhea, and prevent itching. The aim of this study was to investigate the antiobesity and hypolipidemic effects of hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS) isolated from Z. bungeanum on hyperlipidemic rats. Wistar rats (n = 48) were randomly divided into six groups: (1) normal diet rats (ND), (2) high-fat diet- (HFD-) treated rats, (3) HFD+fenofibrate-treated rats (HFD+FNB), (4) HFD+low dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+LD, 9 mg/kg), (5) HFD+middle dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+MD, 18 mg/kg), and (6) HFD+high dose of HAS-treated rats (HFD+HD, 36 mg/kg). The body weight and food intake of the rats were recorded during the treatment period. After 4 weeks of HAS treatment, abdominal adipose tissues were observed and total cholesterol (T-CHO), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol (LDL-C) of serum and liver tissues were determined. Furthermore, histochemical examinations using oil red O and hematoxylin-eosin staining (H&E) were carried out and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the liver were determined. After HFD feeding, the body weight gain and food efficiency ratio of HFD rats were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05vs. ND rats) and HAS treatment (18 and 36 mg/kg) significantly decreased the body weight gain and food efficiency ratio (p < 0.05vs. HFD rats). In addition, HAS treatment could decrease the abdominal adipose tissues and liver adipocytes. Furthermore, HAS treatment significantly decreased the T-CHO, TG, and LDL-C, whereas it increased HDL-C (p < 0.05vs. HFD rats) in serum and the liver. HAS treatment increased the GSH level and SOD activity in the liver (p < 0.05vs. HFD rats), whereas it decreased the levels of MDA (p < 0.05vs. HFD rats). mRNA analyses suggested that HAS treatment increases the expression of Pparg (proliferator-activated receptor γ) and Apoe (peroxisome apolipoprotein E). Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting indicated that HAS stimulation increased the levels of PPARγ and APOE in the liver, as a stress response of the body defense system. These results revealed that HAS exerts antiobesity and hypolipidemic activities in HFD rats by reducing liver oxidative stress and thus could be considered as a potential candidate drug to cure or prevent obesity and hyperlipidemia.

The Gut Microbiome Derived From Anorexia Nervosa Patients Impairs Weight Gain and Behavioral Performance in Female Mice.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) results in gut dysbiosis, but whether the dysbiosis contributes to AN-specific pathologies such as poor weight gain and neuropsychiatric abnormalities remains unclear. To address this, germ-free mice were reconstituted with the microbiota of four patients with restricting-type AN (gAN mice) and four healthy control individuals (gHC mice). The effects of gut microbes on weight gain and behavioral characteristics were examined. Fecal microbial profiles in recipient gnotobiotic mice were clustered with those of the human donors. Compared with gHC mice, gAN mice showed a decrease in body weight gain, concomitant with reduced food intake. Food efficiency ratio (body weight gain/food intake) was also significantly lower in gAN mice than in gHC mice, suggesting that decreased appetite as well as the capacity to convert ingested food to unit of body substance may contribute to poor weight gain. Both anxiety-related behavior measured by open-field tests and compulsive behavior measured by a marble-burying test were increased only in gAN mice but not in gHC mice. Serotonin levels in the brain stem of gAN mice were lower than those in the brain stem of gHC mice. Moreover, the genus Bacteroides showed the highest correlation with the number of buried marbles among all genera identified. Administration of Bacteroides vulgatus reversed compulsive behavior but failed to exert any substantial effect on body weight. Collectively, these results indicate that AN-specific dysbiosis may contribute to both poor weight gain and mental disorders in patients with AN.

Rfx6 promotes the differentiation of peptide-secreting enteroendocrine cells while repressing genetic programs controlling serotonin production

ObjectiveEnteroendocrine cells (EECs) of the gastro-intestinal tract sense gut luminal factors and release peptide hormones or serotonin (5-HT) to coordinate energy uptake and storage. Our goal is to decipher the gene regulatory networks controlling EECs specification from enteroendocrine progenitors. In this context, we studied the role of the transcription factor Rfx6 which had been identified as the cause of Mitchell–Riley syndrome, characterized by neonatal diabetes and congenital malabsorptive diarrhea. We previously reported that Rfx6 was essential for pancreatic beta cell development and function; however, the role of Rfx6 in EECs differentiation remained to be elucidated. MethodsWe examined the molecular, cellular, and metabolic consequences of constitutive and conditional deletion of Rfx6 in the embryonic and adult mouse intestine. We performed single cell and bulk RNA-Seq to characterize EECs diversity and identify Rfx6-regulated genes. ResultsRfx6 is expressed in the gut endoderm; later, it is turned on in, and restricted to, enteroendocrine progenitors and persists in hormone-positive EECs. In the embryonic intestine, the constitutive lack of Rfx6 leads to gastric heterotopia, suggesting a role in the maintenance of intestinal identity. In the absence of intestinal Rfx6, EECs differentiation is severely impaired both in the embryo and adult. However, the number of serotonin-producing enterochromaffin cells and mucosal 5-HT content are increased. Concomitantly, Neurog3-positive enteroendocrine progenitors accumulate. Combined analysis of single-cell and bulk RNA-Seq data revealed that enteroendocrine progenitors differentiate in two main cell trajectories, the enterochromaffin (EC) cells and the Peptidergic Enteroendocrine (PE) cells, the differentiation programs of which are differentially regulated by Rfx6. Rfx6 operates upstream of Arx, Pax6 and Isl1 to trigger the differentiation of peptidergic EECs such as GIP-, GLP-1-, or CCK-secreting cells. On the contrary, Rfx6 represses Lmx1a and Tph1, two genes essential for serotonin biosynthesis. Finally, we identified transcriptional changes uncovering adaptive responses to the prolonged lack of enteroendocrine hormones and leading to malabsorption and lower food efficiency ratio in Rfx6-deficient mouse intestine. ConclusionThese studies identify Rfx6 as an essential transcriptional regulator of EECs specification and shed light on the molecular mechanisms of intestinal failures in human RFX6-deficiencies such as Mitchell–Riley syndrome.

Unripe banana flour (Musa cavendishii) promotes decrease in weight gain and elimination of fecal cholesterol in Wistar rats

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the chemical composition of unripe banana flour from Southeast Brazil and verify its nutritional, physiological and biochemical properties in adult Wistar rats.Design/methodology/approachAnalysis of soluble solids, titratable acidity, pH, moisture, ash, lipids, proteins, carbohydrate, resistant and total starch and energy was obtained. In all, 18 male Wistar rats were given different concentrations of unripe banana flour (0, 10 and 20 per cent) and these assessments were performed: feed, caloric and water intake; weight gain; coefficient of food efficiency; weight of organs; body, tibia and femur length; total mineral of bones; and biochemistry of blood, hepatic fluids and feces.FindingsUnripe banana flour showed a potential for weight control as well as increased fecal cholesterol excretion. These results showed the potential of unripe banana flour for obesity treatment and lipid excretion. Nevertheless, plasma triacylglycerol levels increased in the animals that received the largest amount of banana flour (20 per cent w/w), possibly because of the large amount of resistant starch in the flour, indicating the need for additional studies to confirm the mechanisms responsible for this increase.Originality/valueUnripe banana flour may promote beneficial health effects (such as weight control and increased elimination of cholesterol in feces); however, the large amount of resistant starch present may be responsible for an increase in blood triacyglycerol.

Carbon footprint of pesantren: the role of pesantren manager determining the food consumption

Indonesia is a country with a large part of the population being Muslim with the characteristics of Islamic boarding schools. Islamic boarding schools are the oldest informal education institutions in Indonesia that influence the development of Indonesia. Santri, including pesantren people who have a higher mindset in understanding life than non-santri. The spiritual provision of the santri will be applied in the actions and behaviour of daily life starting from the smallest things like eating. Food consumption activities affect the environmental damage with carbon emissions produced. Carbon footprint can be used as a concept to calculate santri’s daily food consumption habits. The analytical method used to read data is the One-way Anova analysis program. Respondents of this research were Semarang Darul Falah Besongo’s Pesantren, who are 100% students of Walisongo State Islamic University Semarang. The spiritual knowledge of santri is the basis for optimally managing food. Pesantren with good food management principles, like food efficiency can minimize carbon emissions that damage the environment. The achievement of food safety will safeguard natural resources so that they remain sustainable.