High Fructose Corn Syrup Research Articles

Discrimination between real and fake honey using portable fluorescence spectroscopy and simca

In the commercial market, real honey and fake honey could not easily be differentiated. For this reason, recently there has been an increasing demand for honey authentication. In this work, we apply portable fluorescence spectroscopy and soft independent modeling of class analogy (SIMCA) method to discriminate real and fake honey available in the commercial market. To afford the price of authentication, an LED-based spectrometer at 365 nm excitation was developed. Three types of samples were used: 100 samples of real honey (Heterotrigona itama), 40 samples of fake honey, and 40 samples of HFCS-55 (high fructose corn syrup). Samples were diluted five times with distilled water. The fluorescence or emission spectra from 357 nm to 725.5 nm were obtained by exciting the samples at 365 nm LED lamps. The resolution of 0.5 nm was used. Identification of real honey, fake honey, and HFCS-55 could be well achieved using two principal components (PC1 and PC2). Real honey of Heterotrigona itama was clustered on the left of PC1. SIMCA was applied and the classification between real honey, fake honey, and HFCS-55 was well established with 100% accuracy could be obtained.

Determination of carbohydrate content in soft drinks. Methodological aspects and results of research using various methods

An important component of the programs to prevent type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, and other chronic noncommunicable diseases is limiting the intake of added sugars. Information about the composition of the product and its nutritional value contained in the labeling contributes to the informed choice of consumers when forming a diet. On July 1, 2023, new provisions of the Tax Code of the Russian Federation came into force, providing for the imposition of an excise tax on "sugar-containing drinks" - soft drinks made with added sugar and containing carbohydrates in quantities of more than 5 g/100 ml. The stated goal of the new excise regulation is to reduce sugar consumption by the population. Currently, information on the carbohydrate content in soft drinks is provided by manufacturers based on calculated values according to the recipe, which makes it possible to take into account as much as possible all the carbohydrate components of the product. There is no standardized method for analytically assessing the carbohydrate content of soft drinks (including "sugar-sweetened beverages" for excise tax purposes). The purpose of the work was the comparative analysis of existing analytical methods for determining the content of sugars and carbohydrates in general in foods, including beverages; and determination of the most correct analytical approach to assessing the content of carbohydrates in soft drinks. Material and methods. The existing methods for determining sugars and carbohydrates in foods, including beverages, have been analyzed. The objects of research were samples of model aqueous solutions with different sugar concentrations (30 samples) and 17 samples of industrially produced soft drinks (including tonic and tonic energy drinks) made using sugar or sugars (glucose-fructose syrup), sweeteners, and a mixture of sugar and sweeteners. The total content of sugars/carbohydrates in beverages was determined: in accordance with MU 10-05031531-372-93 as the difference between the total dry matter content and the dry matter from acids; by the Bertrand method; by the Bertrand-Schorl method. The obtained values were compared with the calculated data specified in the labeling of consumer packaging of the products. Results. The determination of sugars in model solutions showed sufficient accuracy of the Bertrand-Schorl method: deviations of the obtained values from the amount of sugars added to the model solution were observed only at their high concentration (over 10 g/100 ml) and amounted to ±0.1 g/100 ml. The carbohydrate content in industrial soft drinks estimated by various methods differed slightly from that indicated in the labeling (obtained by calculation). The differences were at the level from - 0.2 to +0.4 g/100 ml when using the method from MU 10-05031531-372-93, at the level from -2.6 to +0.8 g/100 ml when using the Bertrand method and at the level from -2.7 to +0.1 g/100 ml when using the Bertrand-Schorl method. The greatest differences were observed for tonic drinks (including energy drinks) - from -2.7 to +0.3 g /100 ml, depending on the method. Conclusion. The research data showed that the Bertrand-Schorl method can be used as a basis for developing a state standard for determining the total sugar content in soft drinks and for assessing their carbohydrate content in general. At the same time, the method needs to be refined for tonic drinks. At present, the most acceptable method is to assess the carbohydrate content using the analytical method given in MU 10-05031531-372-93, but it should be taken into account that deviations from the carbohydrate content values determined by this method from the values obtained by calculation can be up to +10%. At the same time, the calculation method for determining the carbohydrate content in drinks remains a priority, including for the purposes of excise regulation.

Evaluation of Cariogenic and Erosive Potential of Anti-tussive Lozenges: An In Vitro Study

Objectives To evaluate the cariogenic and erosive potential of commonly available anti- tussive lozenges.Methods Six anti-tussive lozenges Strepsilsreg Cofsilsreg Tus-Qreg Alexreg Vicksreg Kofletreg were selected. The lozenges were dissolved in deionized water. Their endogenous pH was measured using a digital pH meter. The titratable acidity was determined using 0.02N sodium hydroxide solution and titrated until pH was neutralized. Analysis of sugars glucose fructose sucrose and sorbitol was performed using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. For saccharin the Indian standard method for analysis of food grade described by Bureau of Indian Standard Food additives was used. Results The pH ranged from 3.17 Strepsilsreg to 5.84 Kofletreg. The titratable acidity was lowest for Kofletreg 0.02 and highest for Strepsilsreg 0.28. The content of total fermentable sugars was highest in Kofletreg 74.78 g. Saccharin concentration was highest in Cofsilsreg 3.46 g and sorbitol concentration was highest in Alexreg 5.64 g. Conclusion All the lozenges showed properties that were potentially cariogenic and erosive to dental structures.

Evaluation of energy and nutrient content of fruit juices and similar beverages in Türkiye and their investigation in terms of sustainability

This study aims to evaluate the contents of fruit juices and similar beverages in the Turkish market and to examine them in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. Within the scope of the study, the researchers examined the label information of 187 fruit juices and similar beverages from 26 different brands in four different product types. It was determined that all fruit nectars (100%) and almost all fruit and flavored beverages contain added sugar (92.8% for fruit beverages and 70.0% for flavored beverages). It was further detected that 17.5% of fruit nectars and 20.3% of fruit beverages contain sweeteners. Moreover, more than 100% of the daily sodium requirement is met by consuming 100 ml of fruit juice, nectar, or beverages. It was determined that orange and apple juices, apricot, peach, and cherry fruit nectars, and peach, sour cherry, and orange fruit beverages contain more sugar than freshly squeezed fruit juices (p<0.05). The high-fructose syrup manufacturing industry produces large volumes of waste liquid containing various waste carbohydrates, which has a significant environmental impact. Greenhouse gas emission sources are also released to the environment in sugar production processes. On the other hand, it was determined that most of the products examined were packaged in Tetra Pak® packaging. More sustainable product supply chains are those that optimize the use of materials, water, and energy throughout their lifecycle while minimizing waste from products and used packaging. In light of the data obtained from this study, it would be useful for the fruit juice industry to make regulations to ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns in order to ensure a healthy and quality life at all ages.

Western diet-induced obesity results in brain mitochondrial dysfunction in female Ossabaw swine.

Diet-induced obesity is implicated in the development of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders. Concurrently, the loss of mitochondrial Complex I protein or function is emerging as a key phenotype across an array of neurodegenerative disorders. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine if Western diet (WD) feeding in swine [carbohydrate = 40.8% kCal (17.8% of total calories from high fructose corn syrup), protein = 16.2% kcal, fat = 42.9% kCal, and 2% cholesterol] would result in Complex I syndrome pathology. To characterize the effects of WD-induced obesity on brain mitochondria in swine, high resolution respirometry measurements from isolated brain mitochondria, oxidative phosphorylation Complex expression, and indices of oxidative stress and mitochondrial biogenesis were assessed in female Ossabaw swine fed a WD for 6-months. In line with Complex I syndrome, WD feeding severely reduced State 3 Complex I, State 3 Complex I and II, and uncoupled mitochondrial respiration in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC). State 3 Complex I mitochondrial respiration in the PFC inversely correlated with serum total cholesterol. WD feeding also significantly reduced protein expression of oxidative phosphorylation Complexes I-V in the PFC. WD feeding significantly increased markers of antioxidant defense and mitochondrial biogenesis in the hippocampi and PFC. These data suggest WD-induced obesity may contribute to Complex I syndrome pathology by increasing oxidative stress, decreasing oxidative phosphorylation Complex protein expression, and reducing brain mitochondrial respiration. Furthermore, these findings provide mechanistic insight into the clinical link between obesity and mitochondrial Complex I related neurodegenerative disorders.

Impact of maternal fructose intake on liver stem/progenitor cells in offspring: Insights into developmental origins of health and disease

AimsThe developmental origin of health and disease (DOHaD) theory postulates that poor nutrition during fetal life increases the risk of disease later in life. Excessive fructose intake has been associated with obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and maternal fructose intake during pregnancy has been shown to affect offspring health. In this study, we investigated the effects of high maternal fructose intake on the liver stem/progenitor cells of offspring. Main methodA fructose-based DOHaD model was established using Sprague-Dawley rats. Small hepatocytes (SHs), which play an important role in liver development and regeneration, were isolated from the offspring of dams that were fed a high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) diet. The gene expression and DNA methylation patterns were analyzed on postnatal day (PD) 21 and 60. Key findingsMaternal HFCS intake did not affect body weight or caloric intake, but differences in gene expression and DNA methylation patterns were observed in the SHs of offspring. Functional analysis revealed an association between metabolic processes and ion transport. SignificanceThese results suggest that maternal fructose intake affects DNA methylation and gene expression in the liver stem/progenitor cells of offspring. Furthermore, the prolonged retention of these changes in gene expression and DNA methylation in adulthood (PD 60) suggests that maternal fructose intake may exert lifelong effects. These findings provide insights into the DOHaD for liver-related disorders and highlight the importance of maternal nutrition for the health of the next generation.

Oxidative DNA damage: Induction by fructose, in vitro, and its enhancement by hydrogen peroxide

Sucrose and high-fructose corn syrup comprise nearly equal amounts of glucose and fructose. With the use of high-fructose corn syrup in the food industry, consumption of fructose, which may be a tumor promoter, has increased dramatically. We examined fructose-induced oxidative DNA damage in the presence of Cu(II), with or without the addition of H2O2. With isolated DNA, fructose induced Cu(II)-mediated DNA damage, including formation of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), to a greater extent than did glucose, and H2O2 enhanced the damage. In cultured human cells, 8-oxodG formation increased significantly following treatment with fructose and the H2O2-generating enzyme glucose oxidase. Fructose may play an important role in oxidative DNA damage, suggesting a possible mechanism for involvement of fructose in carcinogenesis.

Protective Effect of Vitamin D on Learning and Memory Impairment in Rats Induced by High Fructose Corn Syrup

In our study, we aimed to investigate the negative effects of the prefrontal cortex (PFC)-associated impairment of cholinergic activity on memory and learning caused by high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and the protective role of vitamin D in adolescent rats.Twenty-four animals were divided into three groups as control, HFCS group (11% HFCS-55 solution, ad libitum) and HFCS+ Vit D (42μg/kg/day). Elevated Plus Maze (EPM), Forced Swim Test (FST), and Morris Water Maze (MWM, performed from day 23) tests were applied to all animals. Fluid intake consumption of the rats was measured daily, weight gain and blood glucose were measured weekly. After 31 days of treatment, the rats were sacrificed and PFC tissue was removed for biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses.In HFCS group, fluid consumption, blood glucose, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, degenerative neuron count and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) expression were significantly increased; superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) enzyme activity and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression were significantly decreased. In addition, the time spent in the enclosed arm in EPM was increased, the immobility time in FST was, and the time spent in the target quadrant in MWM was significantly decreased. Vitamin D treatment reversed all these parameters. In conclusion, HFCS caused an increase in the number of degenerative neurons in the PFC, disrupted cholinergic activity and negatively affected learning-memory functions. Vitamin D, decreased the number of degenerative neurons, increased cholinergic activity and positively affected learning and memory performance. Brief SynopsisIn this study, prefrontal cortex damage was investigated in adolescent rats fed high fructose corn syrup. The effect of vitamin D on prefrontal cortex damage was evaluated.

Carbohydrate nutrition associated with health of overwintering honey bees.

In temperate climates, honey bees rely on stored carbohydrates to sustain them throughout the winter. In nature, honey serves as the bees' source of carbohydrates, but when managed, beekeepers often harvest honey and replace it with cheaper, artificial feed. The effects of alternative carbohydrate sources on colony survival, strength, and individual bee metabolic health are poorly understood. We assessed the impacts of carbohydrate diets (honey, sucrose syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, and invert syrup) on colony winter survival, population size, and worker bee nutritional state (i.e., fat content and gene expression of overwintered bees and emerging callow bees). We observed a nonsignificant trend for greater survival and larger adult population size among colonies overwintered on honey compared to the artificial feeds, with colonies fed high-fructose corn syrup performing particularly poorly. These trends were mirrored in individual bee physiology, with bees from colonies fed honey having significantly larger fat bodies than those from colonies fed high-fructose corn syrup. For bees fed honey or sucrose, we also observed gene expression profiles consistent with a higher nutritional state, associated with physiologically younger individuals. That is, there was significantly higher expression of vitellogenin and insulin-like peptide 2 and lower expression of insulin-like peptide 1 and juvenile hormone acid methyltransferase in the brains of bees that consumed honey or sucrose syrup relative to those that consumed invert syrup or high-fructose corn syrup. These findings further our understanding of the physiological implications of carbohydrate nutrition in honey bees and have applied implications for colony management.

GLUT5, GLUT7, and GLUT11 expression and Bcl-2/Bax ratio on Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7 Treated with Fructose and Glucose.

Fructose and glucose are types of sugars commonly found in the diet that have been linked to cancer development. Glucose transporters (GLUTs) are facilitating the uptake of these hexoses. Expression of GLUT5 is higher in cancer cells than in healthy tissue. GLUT7 and GLUT11 facilitate the transport of glucose and fructose; however, their expression in breast cancer has not been extensively studied. The Bcl-2 family has been known as a regulator of the cell's survival and death. Here, we investigated the effect of the fructose-glucose combination in MCF-7 breast cancer cells on the viability, migration, and expression of GLUT5, GLUT7, GLUT11, and Bcl-2/Bax ratio. Breast cancer cells MCF-7 were treated with fructose, glucose, and combinations of fructose:glucose (75%:25%, 50%:50%, 25%:75%). Cell viability was assessed using an MTT test. Cell migration was examined with a wound-healing assay. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to evaluate the mRNA expression of GLUT5, GLUT7, GLUT11, and Bcl-2/Bax. The viability and migration of MCF-7 breast cancer cells elevated when treated with a combination of fructose and glucose, and glucose alone, compared to fructose alone. The expression levels of GLUT5 and GLUT7 were highest in combination of fructose:glucose (75%:25%). Conversely, the expression of GLUT11 was consistently low across all treated media. The highest Bcl-2/Bax ratio was shown in fructose:glucose combination (25%:75%). The viability, migration, and Bcl-2/Bax ratio are enhanced in the combination media with higher glucose. In contrast, when the fructose composition was higher in the media, expression of GLUT5 and GLUT7 increased.

High-fructosecornsyrup aggravates colitis via microbiota dysbiosis-mediated Th17/Treg imbalance.

Dietary fructose is widely used in beverages, processed foods, and Western diets as food additives, and is closely related to the increased prevalence of multiple diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, the detailed mechanism by which high fructose disrupts intestinal homeostasis remains elusive. This study showed that highfructosecorn syrup (HFCS) administration exacerbated intestinal inflammation and deteriorated barrier integrity. Several in vivo experimental models were utilized to verify the importance of gut microbiota and immune cells in HFCS-mediated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. In addition, untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed the imbalance between primary bile acids (PBAs) and secondary bile acids (SBAs) in feces. Hence, high fructose was speculated to modulate gut microbiota community and reduced the relative abundanceof Clostridium and Clostridium scindens at genus and species level respectively, followed by a decrease in SBAs, especially isoalloLCA, thereby affecting Th17/Treg cells equilibrium and promoting intestinal inflammation. These findings provide novel insights into the crosstalk between gut flora, bile acids, and mucosal immunity, and highlight potential strategies for precise treatment of IBD.

Exploring Potential of Gellan Gum for Enhanced Oil Recovery.

Extensive laboratory and field tests have shown that the gelation response of gellan gum to saline water makes it a promising candidate for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). The objective of this mini-review is to evaluate the applicability of gellan gum in EOR and compare its efficiency to other precursors, in particular, hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAM). At first, the "sol-gel" phase transitions of gellan gum in aqueous-salt solutions containing mono- and divalent cations are considered. Then the rheological and mechanical properties of gellan in diluted aqueous solutions and gel state are outlined. The main attention is paid to laboratory core flooding and field pilot tests. The plugging behavior of gellan in laboratory conditions due to "sol-gel" phase transition is discussed in the context of conformance control and water shut-off. Due to its higher strength, gellan gum gel provided ~6 times greater resistance to the flow of brine in a 1 mm-width fracture compared to HPAM gel. The field trials carried out in the injection and production wells of the Kumkol oilfield, situated in Kazakhstan, demonstrated that over 6 and 11 months, there was an incremental oil recovery of 3790 and 5890 tons, respectively. To put it into perspective, using 1 kg of dry gellan resulted in the incremental production of 3.52 m3 (or 22 bbls) of oil. The treatment of the production well with 1 wt.% gellan solution resulted in a considerable decrease in the water cut up to 10-20% without affecting the oil flow rate. The advantages and disadvantages of gellan compared to HPAM are analyzed together with the economic feasibility of gellan over HPAM. The potential for establishing gellan production in Kazakhstan is emphasized. It is anticipated that gellan gum, manufactured through fermentation using glucose-fructose syrup from Zharkent and Burunday corn starch plants, could be expanded in the future for applications in both the food industry and oil recovery.

29 Evaluation of Diet Composition on Early Post-Weaned Feed Intake and Intestinal Health

Abstract Weaning is an inevitable early life stressor in commercial production that can cause an immediate reduction in voluntary feed intake and growth during a critical period of gastrointestinal development. Further, the reduction in voluntary feed intake is strongly correlated with the risk of disease during that period. Therefore, our objective was to test the effect of different dietary interventions on early nursery pig feed intake, performance, fecal consistency, and histological parameters. Over 2 repetitions, a total of 90 newly weaned gilts (19-21 d of age, BW 5.62 ± 1.1 kg) were selected, individually penned and randomly assigned to 1 of 5 dietary treatments (n = 18 pigs/treatment) that included: 1) Control diet (CON), 2) CON + 5% sugar beet pulp (BP), 3) CON + 10% high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), 4) CON + 5% soyhulls (SH), or 5) CON + 3,000 ppm Zn and 200 ppm Cu (d 0-7), and 2,000 ppm Zn and 200 ppm Cu (d 8-14; ZC). Each repetition was conducted over a 14-d period consisting of 2 phases (Phase 1: d 0-7, phase 2: d 8-14). Pigs were all sourced from a natural endemic enteric pathogen positive nursery flow and confirmed positive for rotavirus, coccidia and F18 E. coli. Fecal consistency was scored and feed disappearance was recorded daily. On d 0, 7 and 14, pig BW were collected. Weekly feed disappearance and BW were used to calculate ADG, ADFI and feed efficiency (G:F) within phase and overall. On d 14, all pigs were euthanized, and fixed sections of ileum and colon were collected to assess histopathology including incidence of villus atrophy and colitis. Pig was the experimental unit, and performance and histology data were analyzed by dietary treatment. Daily measures of feed intake were analyzed by repeated measures with the fixed effects of diet, day, and their interaction. Starting BW did not differ across dietary treatments (P = 0.845). Over the 14-d test period, HFCS and ZC treatments tended to increase ADG (0.20 and 0.15 kg/d, respectively) compared with CON, BP and SH (0.09, 0.12, and 0.13 kg/d, respectively; P = 0.076). Further, the addition of a sweetener (HFCS) did not improve daily feed intake, while SH reduced daily feed intakes by 32% compared with all other treatments (P < 0.001). Although all pigs had some degree of diarrhea, fecal consistency did not differ between dietary treatments (P = 0.618). Histopathology scoring for intestinal atrophy (ileum) and colitis (colon) were not different (P = 0.645 and 0.440, respectively). In conclusion, the addition of BP, HFCS, SH and ZC had an effect on growth and feed intake but there was no benefit in atrophy, colitis, and fecal scores when encountering a natural enteric pathogen burden.

High Conversion of Concentrated Sugars to 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural over a Metal-free Carbon Catalyst: Role of Glucose-Fructose Dimers.

To reduce the production cost of chemicals from renewable resources, the feedstock loading must be high and the catalyst must be of low cost and efficient. In this study, at a very short reaction time of 10 min at 125 °C, concentrated sugar solutions (20 wt %, 101 wt % on solvent) were converted to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) over a cotton gin trash (CGT)-derived sulfonated carbon catalyst in a 1-butyl-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride ([BMIM]Cl) and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF) biphasic system. We report, for the first time, that the presence of glucose either as a covalently bonded monomer in sucrose or in a mixture with fructose achieved yields of HMF up to 62 mol % compared to a value of only 39 mol % obtained with fructose on its own. In the concentrated reaction medium, glucose, fructose, and sucrose molecules produce difructose anhydrides, dimers/reversion products, and sucrose isomers. The glucose-fructose dimers formed in sucrose and glucose/fructose reaction systems play a critical role in the transformation of the sugars to a higher-than-expected HMF yield. Thus, a strategy of using cellulosic glucose, where it is partially converted to fructose content and the high sugar concentration sugar mixture is then converted to HMF, should be exploited for future biorefineries.

Bioactive dipeptides mitigate high-fat and high-fructose corn syrup diet-induced metabolic-associated fatty liver disease via upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 expressions in C57BL/6J mice

Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), formerly referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), is a common liver disease characterized by an abnormal buildup of fat in liver. This study aimed to investigate whether bioactive dipeptides mitigate high-fat and high-fructose corn syrup diet (HFFD)-induced MAFLD in C57BL/6J mice. Sixty male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into six groups. The naïve group (untreated) was fed a standard chow diet and other groups were fed with HFFD along with vehicle and bioactive dipeptides treatment throughout experiment period. The control group received vehicle, YF10 and YF50 groups received Tyr-Phe, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day, FY10 and FY50 groups received Phe-Tyr, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day. At the end of experiment, body weight was recorded, and glucose homeostasis was assessed. Mice were sacrificed and blood samples were collected to measure biochemical parameters. Further, liver, visceral fat pads, and other organs were acutely dissected, weighed, and processed. Histopathological and immunohistochemical changes were analyzed. Long-term HFFD feeding resulted in elevated body weight gain, liver weight, visceral adiposity, liver injury, fasting hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and hyperlipidemia. It also increased severe hepatic steatosis, chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and lipid peroxidation. However, bioactive dipeptides dose-dependently alleviated these complications which are associated with MAFLD by modulating adipokines secretion and antioxidant defense system via upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 expressions. This study highlights potential of bioactive dipeptides as a promising approach for prevention and/or treatment of MAFLD induced by HFFD, providing novel insights into alternative therapeutic strategies.

The Effect of High Fructose Corn Syrup on SCC-9 Cells Regulated by G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest via Apoptosis Induction

The Effect of High Fructose Corn Syrup on SCC-9 Cells Regulated by G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest via Apoptosis Induction

Chronic sugar exposure increases daily intake of sugars but decreases avidity for sweeteners in mice

Little is known about how chronic sugar consumption impacts avidity for and daily intake of sugars. This issue is topical because modern humans exhibit high daily intakes of sugar. Here, we exposed sugar-naïve C57BL/6 mice (across two 28-day exposure periods, EP1 and EP2) to a control (chow and water) or experimental (chow, water and a 11 or 34% sugar solution) diet. The sugar solutions contained sucrose, glucose syrups, or high-fructose syrups. We used brief-access tests to measure appetitive responses to sucralose and sucrose solutions at three time points: baseline (before EP1), after EP1, and after EP2. We used lick rates to infer palatability, and number of trials initiated/test to infer motivation. Exposure to the control diet had no impact on lick rates or number of trials initiated for sucralose and sucrose. In contrast, exposure to the experimental diets reduced licking for the sweeteners to varying degrees. Lick rates were reduced by exposure to sugar solutions containing the 11% glucose syrups, 34% sucrose, 34% glucose syrups and 34% high-fructose syrups. The number of trials initiated was reduced by exposure to all of the sugar solutions. Despite the exposure-induced reductions in avidity for the sweetener solutions, daily intakes of virtually all of the sugar solutions increased across the exposure periods. We conclude that (i) chronic consumption of sugar solutions reduced avidity for the sweetened solutions, (ii) the extent of this effect depended on the concentration and type of sugar, and (iii) avidity for sweet-tasting solutions could not explain the persistently high daily intake of sugar solutions in mice.

Gut Microbiome and Lipidome Signatures in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Patients from a Low-Income, Food-Desert Area: A Pilot Study.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastroenterological disorder with triggers such as fructose. We showed that our IBS patients suffering from socioeconomic challenges have a significantly high consumption of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Here, we characterize gut microbial dysbiosis and fatty acid changes, with respect to IBS, HFCS consumption, and socioeconomic factors. Fecal samples from IBS patients and healthy controls were subjected to microbiome and lipidome analyses. We assessed phylogenetic diversity and community composition of the microbiomes, and used linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe), analysis of compositions of microbiomes (ANCOM) on highly co-occurring subcommunities (modules), least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) on phylogenetic isometric log-ratio transformed (PhILR) taxon abundances to identify differentially abundant taxa. Based on a Procrustes randomization test, the microbiome and lipidome datasets correlated significantly (p = 0.002). Alpha diversity correlated with economic factors (p < 0.001). Multiple subsets of the phylogenetic tree were associated with HFCS consumption (p < 0.001). In IBS patients, relative abundances of potentially beneficial bacteria such as Monoglobaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Ruminococcaceae were lower (p = 0.007), and Eisenbergiella, associated with inflammatory disorders, was higher. In IBS patients, certain saturated fatty acids were higher and unsaturated fatty acids were lower (p < 0.05). Our study aims first to underscore the influence of HFCS consumption and socioeconomic factors on IBS pathophysiology, and provides new insights that inform patient care.

Stabilization of elements of secondary structure in Aspergillus awamori exo-inulinase for thermostability improvement

Enzymes with high thermostability provide bioconversion under elevated temperatures during industrial processes. Additional improvement in the enzyme thermostability allows further increasing the temperature for cost reduction. Aspergillus awamori exo-inulinase is sufficiently thermostable to hydrolyze inulin at temperatures up to 70 °C during the industrial process of bioconversion of the polysaccharide inulin into high-fructose syrup. Amino acid substitutions S322P and T521P were designed to improve the thermostability of A. awamori exo-inulinase and increase the temperature of the hydrolysis. The substitutions provided stabilization of α-helix and β-sheet as detected with molecular dynamics simulations at 70 °C. The substitution S322P also provided stabilization of the cleft of the active center, which correlated with the improvement in the thermostability of the enzyme. The variant S322P demonstrated a 1.5-fold increase in thermostability at 70 °C and a 2 °C increase in the temperature of inulin hydrolysis.

Bioproduction of high-allulose-fructose syrup from d-glucose catalyzed by recombinant E. coli co-expressing glucose isomerase and d-allulose 3-epimerase

High-fructose syrup (HFS) is a sugar substitute widely used in food and beverages and can also be used as an inexpensive substrate for production of rare sugars, such as d-allulose (or d-psicose) etc. Biotransformation of HFS to produce d-allulose contained HFS, called High-allulose-fructose syrup (HAFS), can be used as a value added sweetener with healthy functions. The recombinant Escherichia coli expressing glucose isomerase (GI) from Caldicellulosiruptor bescii DSM 6725 was constructed and used for production of HFS from d-glucose. A dual enzyme expression system for expressing above GI and d-allulose 3-epimerase (DAE or d-psicose 3-epimerase, DPE) from Ruminococcus sp. 5_1_39BFAA was constructed for production of HAFS from d-glucose. The recombinant strains developed had strong substrate tolerance and high capacity in production of HFS and HAFS. The cultivation conditions of above strains were made, and the biotransformation conditions of HAFS catalyzed by the cells of two recombinant strains expressing GI and DAE, respectively, or by the cells of the single strain co-expressing GI and DAE were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, about 18.6, 110.4 and 163.8 g/L d-allulose can be obtained from 100, 600 and 900 g/L d-glucose respectively. The HAFS containing about 18.2% (163.8 g/L) d-allulose, 36.3% (326.7 g/L) d-fructose and 45.5% (409.5 g/L) d-glucose was obtained at the initial d-glucose concentration of 900 g/L catalyzed by the cells of the single strain co-expressing GI and DAE. The production process developed in this study was simple, highly efficient, and can provide reference for the production of HAFS.