High Fatty Acid Research Articles

Surfactant-modified ZnFe2O4/CaOPS porous acid-base bifunctional catalysts for biodiesel production from waste cooking oil and process optimization

Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil (WCO) with high acid value is useful for clean energy development and utilization. In this work, ZnFe2O4(5)/CaOPS porous bifunctional catalysts were prepared for catalytic production of biodiesel with the help of surfactants such as PVP, SDS and citric acid, using a sol-gel method. The ZnFe2O4(5)/CaOPS catalysts were characterized using XRD, SEM, EDX, NH3-TPD, and BET. The parameters (reaction temperature, catalyst dosage, methanol-oil ratio and reaction time) for the transesterification reaction to produce fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) were optimized for the optimal materials using a one-variable method. Experiments were designed using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) for global optimization to obtain the best process parameters. The final average yield of FAMEs was 96.89% under the optimum reaction parameter of catalyst dosage of 5.06wt%, reaction temperature of 63.69°C, reaction time of 212.22min and methanol-oil ratio of 12.96:1. The prepared biodiesel was characterized using FT-IR, 1H NMR as well as 13C NMR and compared with international standard ASTM D6751. The ZnFe2O4(5)/CaOPS catalyst has excellent stability in biodiesel production and has some free fatty acid tolerance. In addition, a cost analysis and sensitivity analysis were done for the production of WCO biodiesel. It is hoped that the research results in this paper can provide a theoretical basis for biodiesel production from WCO with high free fatty acid content.

Temperature-Based Extraction, Characterization by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy with Prospective Antibacterial Properties of Eri (Philosamia ricini) Pupal Oil.

Lepidopteran insects are novel source of omega-3 fatty acids as revealed by the studies recently. In the current study, we assessed the effects of four different drying temperatures (50, 60, 70, and80 ºC) of eri silkworm (Philosamia ricini) pupal oil (EPO)abbreviated asEPO50, 60, 70, and 80 followed by conducting the characterization and antibacterial efficacy studies. Gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) were used for chemical profiling of EPOs. The agar-well diffusion method was performed to evaluate the antibacterial activities. The trend of this study clearly revealed that enhanced drying percentage of temperatures showed raising saturated fats and reduced unsaturated fats. However, the best suitable temperature was found at 60 ºC with high unsaturated fatty acids, including Omega-3. Further, at higher temperature, FTIR analysis revealed an increasing complexity of functional groups with potential bioactive compounds. EPOs were found to have significant antibacterial activity against S. typhi and S. aureus at all tested (10, 20, 30, and 40 µL) volumes used in the study.

Does fat identity matter? The effect of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids on bumble bee consumption and fitness

Abstract Different animal species have specific nutrient needs, guiding their foraging preferences towards particular food properties, such as specific nutrient content or ratios, and thus their ecological interactions. Bumble bees, for instance, can assess pollen fatty acid content, impacting their foraging choices and reproductive success. While they avoid high fatty acid concentrations, certain fatty acids can enhance cognitive abilities and potentially benefit bee fitness. However, the effects of specific fatty acids on bees remain unclear, even though unsaturated fatty acids are generally considered more beneficial than saturated ones. To investigate this further, we conducted feeding experiments with pollen enriched with six fatty acids at varying concentrations fed to bumble bees. Our findings reveal that bees mostly preferred pure pollen over high fatty acid concentrations. Additionally, high fatty acid concentrations negatively affected reproduction, while lower concentrations, resembling pure pollen, had no such effect. Notably, pollen enriched with stearic acid was consistently consumed regardless of concentration without adverse effects on reproduction, even at high concentrations. Conversely, low palmitic acid concentrations boosted survival and reproduction, but this benefit vanished at higher concentrations. Overall, our results emphasise the importance of fatty acid concentration for bee nutrition and fitness, while also demonstrating that individual fatty acids can have differing effects on bee behaviour and health. Pollen fatty acid composition may therefore strongly affect the bees' foraging choices and hence plant–bee interactions.

Evaluating the Environmental and Economic Benefits of New Technologies in Low-Salt Olive Fermentation

The evolving modern lifestyle influences consumer dietary habits, driving the demand for new food products rooted in traditional healthy foods with greater health benefits. The Mediterranean diet, characterized by low animal fat intake and high vegetable consumption, has been shown to protect against heart disease, cancer, and obesity. Fermented olives, integral to this diet, are known for their high phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and beneficial unsaturated fatty acids. This study evaluates the environmental and economic benefits of integrating alternative/effective technologies, such as osmotic dehydration and edible coating, into conventional olive production processes, aiming to develop traditional Greek table olives with reduced salt content, enhanced nutritional characteristics, and extended shelf life. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis was conducted following the ISO 14040 and 14044 guidelines, adopting the ReCiPe 2016 (H) impact assessment methodology. Additionally, a preliminary economic evaluation including detailed planning, cost estimation, and process simulation was conducted. The results indicate significant environmental and economic advantages of the studied methods, despite more resources being required, making it a sustainable and promising approach for the production of high-quality fermented olives.

Nutritional Composition of Marine Water Fishes of Bangladesh: A Review

Marine fishes have been recognized for high quality protein and essential fatty acids which play a vital role in human being for nutrition and disease prevention. This review focuses on the nutrient composition of marine fishes in Bangladesh. Nutrient composition data was collected through literature searching in databases and source, including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Science Direct, World Fish, and Bangladesh-based database Banglajol. Published articles contained proximate composition, vitamins, minerals and fatty acids profiles of marine fishes. The highest energy, protein, fat and ash content in 100 g edible raw marine fish was 926 kJ, 50 g, 24.2 g, and 8.4 g, respectively. The maximum amount of minerals such as 8.6 mg iron, 29.3 mg zinc, 1900 mg calcium, 160 µg iodine, 120 µg selenium, 1000 mg phosphorus, 187.98 mg magnesium, 497.4 mg sodium, 764 mg potassium, 1.1 mg manganese, 300 mg sulphur and 0.5 mg copper found in 100 gram edible raw marine fishes. The highest quantity of vitamins was 288.7 µg vitamin A, 0.9 mg vitamin B6, 15 µg vitamin B12, 13 µg vitamin D, 2.4 mg vitamin E, 17 µg folate, 0.2 mg thiamine, 0.2 mg riboflavin and 19.3 mg niacin in 100 gram edible raw marine fishes. According to available data, marine fish are good sources of protein, vitamins, zinc, calcium, phosphorus and fatty acids. This illustrates the diversity in nutrient content of fish species which should guide policy and programs to improve food and nutrition security in Bangladesh.

Utilizing High Melting Point Long-Chain Fatty Acid Based CO2 Response ILs for Suppression of CO2 Gas Channeling and Clay Swelling

Utilizing High Melting Point Long-Chain Fatty Acid Based CO₂ Response ILs for Suppression of CO₂ Gas Channeling and Clay Swelling

EPCO-11. BIASES IN HEALTHY BRAIN SINGLE-CELL DATASETS: FINDING THE BEST COMPARISON FOR GLIOBLASTOMA STUDIES

Abstract Tumor cells undergo metabolic alterations that support their proliferation and simultaneously modify immune populations, resulting in an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. This study aims to compare the metabolic expression of immune cells within the tumor microenvironment to those in a healthy environment. However, there is a lack of single-cell transcriptomic data for normal brain cells, necessitating an analysis of different methods to compare immune cells in tumors with those in a healthy brain. To address this, we explored cell-to-cell metabolic variability using public single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) data of glioblastoma (n=338564), and from immune cells in the brains of post-mortem individuals (n=14177), fetuses (n=40000), and epilepsy patients (n=466), as well as from immune blood cells (n=329762). We employed ssGSEA to generate activity scores for 70 key metabolic pathways from KEGG for each individual cell. Known marker genes were utilized to identify normal cell populations (macrophages, T cells, oligodendrocytes) in datasets lacking cell type annotations. Our results revealed that blood cells exhibited high metabolic activity in macrophages but showed moderate activity in other cell types. Immune blood cells also demonstrated high oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) but low fatty acid activity. Fetal brain cells displayed a lack of heterogeneity and showed high fatty acid activity with low OXPHOS activity. Brain cells from post-mortem individuals displayed heterogeneity but exhibited low metabolic activity across nearly all cells and pathways. Additionally, the hierarchy of pathway activity differed from the other datasets. Epilepsy data revealed a metabolic activity pattern similar to tumor-infiltrating immune cells, with comparable activity hierarchy and heterogeneity, although the sample size was limited for detailed comparison. Understanding the differences between types of datasets is important to choose the most appropriate comparison, allowing us to observe the metabolic alterations in immune cells caused by glioblastoma and to develop better immunotherapy strategies.

Antioxidants, ACE I Inhibitory Peptides, and Physicochemical Composition, with a Special Focus on Trace Elements and Pollutants, of SPRING Spawning Atlantic Herring (Clupea harengus) Milt and Hydrolysates for Functional Food Applications

Norwegian spring spawning (NVG) herring milt is a raw material with high nutritional and functional values. However, its incorporation into food presents physicochemical and sensory challenges. Its high DNA content, the presence of TMA/TMAO and possibly heavy metal and/or environmental pollutants, and its bitter taste due to amino acids or peptides requires a careful approach to food development. Hydrolysis with food-grade enzymes enable an improvement in both the functional and sensory properties of the substrate and the increased stability of the raw materials and end products. HLPC, GC-MS, and in vitro protocols were used for the characterisation of manually extracted material (sample code: HMC) and milt from a fish-filleting line from early spring/late autumn catches. Three different food-grade protein hydrolysates were prepared from these raw materials (sample codes: H1, H2, and H3) as a means to estimate their functional food development potential. Combinations of three commercial enzymatic preparations were applied, targeting specific sensory properties. Parameters related to consumer safety (e.g., the presence of heavy metals and TMA/TMAO); beneficial health effects, such as antioxidant or antihypertensive bioactivities (measured using in vitro TAC, ORAC, DPPH, and ACE I inhibitory activity assays); the presence of beneficial fatty acids and micronutrients; and the protein quality were studied. On the basis of their total amino acid compositions, freeze-dried herring milt and hydrolysates could provide high-quality protein with most of the essential amino acids and taurine. Powdered milt has a particularly high fatty acid profile of bioavailable omega-3 fatty acids (2024.06 mg/100 g docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n-3) and 884 mg/100 g eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n-3)). The experimentally measured levels of arsenic (3.9 ± 1.2 mg/kg) and cadmium (0.15 ± 0.05 mg/kg) were higher than the levels of the other two heavy metals (mercury and lead). The bioactivity is concentration-dependent. Overall, this work presents complementary information for the future utilisation of C. harengus powdered milt (possibly obtained directly from a fish-filleting line) and some of its protein hydrolysates as food ingredients.

Co-hydrothermal carbonisation of sewage sludge and kitchen waste: Influence of process parameters

This study assessed the impact of process temperature and time on the co-hydrothermal carbonisation (co-HTC) of kitchen waste and sewage sludge. To address the limitations of using a single feedstock and to circumvent the energy costs associated with pre-drying, the two organic feedstocks were mixed at a 1:1 ratio (wet basis). Co-HTC experimental runs were conducted in the temperature range of 180 °C–260 °C for 1, 3, and 5h durations. Co-HTC for sewage sludge and kitchen waste (1:1 ratio) at 260 °C temperature for 3h duration demonstrated optimal energy enrichment with a maximum energy and carbon densification of 1.50 and 1.47, respectively. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) revealed that the hydrochar (HC) produced at 260 °C temperature for 3h duration underwent multistage decomposition with stable intermediates due to the formation of more stable aromatic structures and a heat energy of 21.29 kJ g−1 at 292.87 °C. At the optimal reaction conditions, the process water (PW) exhibited a high volatile fatty acids (VFA) and total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) concentration of 1420 mg L−1 and 431.2 mg L−1, indicating its potential for simultaneous energy recovery through anaerobic digestion and nutrient recovery.

Biological Activities and Chemical Contents of Edible Hohenbuehelia petaloides (Bull.) Schulzer.

Mushrooms are a good diet with high protein and polyunsaturated fatty acid contents in health, food, and industry from past to present. Mushrooms have attracted a lot of attention in terms of the bioavailability of natural products. Hohenbuehelia petaloides, a member of the Pleuroteceae family, is an edible wood fungus that grows naturally on the trunks of old and decayed trees. In this study, the cytotoxic activities of hexane, methanol, and water extracts of H. petaloides against various cancer cell lines A549, MCF-7, PC-3, and HT-29 were investigated with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-dipenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. In addition, the apoptotic, inflammatory, angiogenic, and antimicrobial effects of the extracts were examined by flow cytometry, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and well diffusion assays, respectively. Moreover, the antioxidant activity and phenolic and lipid components of H. petaloides were determined. The hexane extract showed the highest cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 26.48 ± 0.02 μg/mL) against A549 cells, while water and methanol extracts exhibited the highest cytotoxicity (IC50 = 83.18 ± 0.05 μg/mL and IC50 = 90.95 ± 0.05 μg/mL, respectively) against PC-3 cells. The hexane extract killed A549 cells via apoptosis. The methanol extract, at the IC50 level, was the most effective in decreasing both tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) release. In antioxidant activity tests performed with 5 different methods, the methanol extract had higher antioxidant activity than the others, followed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical (IC50 = 82.61 ± 0.90 μg/mL) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) cation radical removal (IC50 = 55.20 ± 0.65 μg/mL) and CUPRAC-reducing power (IC50 = 76.41 ± 0.73 μg/mL). Among the extracts studied, the hexane extract showed antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Micrococcus luteus with different inhibition zones. The major lipid components of H. petaloides analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were elaidic acid (38.22%), palmitic acid (30.59%), stearic acid (13.21%), linoleic acid (4.35%), and azelaic acid (4.29%). The phenolic compounds determined by the high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode-array detection (HPLC-DAD) system were p-hydroxybenzoic acid (7.42 μg/g extract), cinnamic acid (6.83 μg/g extract), gallic acid (5.36 μg/g extract), and protocatechuic acid (1.83 μg/g extract). The results showed that H. petaloides has the potential to be a natural source for the development of novel anticancer and antimicrobial agents as well as a beneficial food supplement for the prevention of cancer.

Synthesis and microencapsulation of acylglycerols rich in omega-3 PUFAs by glycerolysis using lipase immobilized on activated carbon

This work aimed to explore the potential of immobilized lipase (Rhizomucor miehei) on activated carbon to convert the high Free Fatty Acid (FFA) content of squid waste oil into acylglycerols (Mono-diacylglycerols (MDG)) rich in n-3 PUFAs in a solvent-free system. The product was microencapsulated by complex coacervation, and stability studies were investigated. The effect of glycerolysis conditions was evaluated according to enzyme concentration, derivative (immobilized lipase) concentration, substrate molar ratio, and reaction time, with the conversion of Free Fatty Acid as the response variable. The optimal parameters were 15 mg g−1 support, 8 % of derivative (w/v of the reaction mixture), 1:5 of glycerol:oil, and 24 h. The lipid class of squid waste oil in the optimal conditions was Ethyl ester (EE) = 2.63 %, Triacylglycerol (TAG) = 17.91 %, FFA = 8.08 %, and MDG = 71.38 %. The fatty acid composition analysis confirmed that squid waste oil had a high content of omega-3 PUFAs (ω-3 = 42.28 %). The enzyme-treated oil was microencapsulated through complex coacervation to protect the oil against oxidation. Microscope and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed the microcapsule formation. The microcapsules showed unexpectedly high oxidative stability (OSI = 52.35 h) compared to untreated (OSI = 0.04 h) and lipase-treated oil (OSI = 2.46 h). Therefore, immobilized lipase on activated carbon has the potential to efficiently synthesize acylglycerol without solvents, making it a fast and reusable enzyme technology for creating omega-3-rich functional ingredients. Furthermore, microencapsulation by complex coacervation can stabilize the omega-3 oil structure against oxidation for food and pharmaceutical distribution.

Treatment of acidic crude palm oil using supported benzenesulfonic acid-based deep eutectic solvents in trickle bed reactor

In this study, a deep eutectic solvent (DES) from benzenesulfonic acid and choline chloride (BZSA-ChCl-DES) was prepared for the treatment of high free fatty acids (FFA) in acidic crude palm oil (ACPO). The DES was impregnated into activated carbon (AC-DES) to produce a supported catalyst used in a trickle bed reactor (TBR) for FFA esterification. Under optimal conditions, using 8 g of AC-DES at 60 °C, with ACPO and methanol flow rates of 1 mL/min and 4 mL/min, respectively, the TBR successfully treated 3.5 L of ACPO. A batch reactor, used for comparison, showed that the continuous TBR process required less catalyst per gram of treated oil (2.87 mg catalyst/g) which can enhance the recyclability. Moreover, the continuous process could sustain up to five recycle runs that can treat 1.5 L under optimal conditions (3.5 wt% catalyst dosage, 10:1 M ratio, 60 °C reaction temperature, and 30 min). This approach presents a promising continuous approach for converting high FFA to fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) for biodiesel production.

Sirt1-mediated deacetylation of PGC-1α alleviated hepatic steatosis in type 2 diabetes mellitus via improving mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation

Being activated by deacetylation, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) has become an important regulator of metabolic-related diseases. The activation of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) by resveratrol was likely to deacetylate PGC-1α. However, the role of deacetylated PGC-1α in the alleviation of activated Sirt1 on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)-related fatty liver disease (FLD) remained unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential impact of Sirt1-mediated deacetylation of PGC-1α on T2DM-associated FLD and its underlying mechanisms. Our findings revealed that, along with the decreased Sirt1, the levels of acetylated PGC-1α were up-regulated in hepatocytes co-stimulated with high glucose (HG) and free fatty acids (FFA). Down-regulated Sirt1 inactivated PGC-1α by inhibiting its deacetylation, while activating Sirt1 improved hepatic injury by reducing lipid droplet accumulation through the deacetylation of PGC-1α. However, the beneficial effects of Sirt1 activation on hepatic steatosis were inhibited by PGC-1α antagonist in vitro. Mechanistically, activating Sirt1 enhanced mitochondrial function by promoting PGC-1α activity, thereby facilitating hepatic fatty acid oxidation (FAO). In conclusion, Sirt1-mediated deacetylation of PGC-1α mitigated hepatic lipotoxicity by enhancing mitochondrial FAO, which contributed to the restoration of mitochondrial function in T2DM. The activation of Sirt1-mediated PGC-1α deacetylation might represent a promising therapeutic approach for T2DM-associated FLD.

Reconfiguring the Escherichia coli Electron Transport Chain to Enhance trans-2-Decenoic Acid Production.

trans-2-Decenoic acid is a pivotal α,β-medium-chain unsaturated fatty acid that serves as an essential intermediary in the synthesis of 10-hydroxy-2-decenoic acid and various pharmaceutical compounds. Biosynthesis yield of trans-2-decenoic acid by decanoic acid has significantly improved in recent years; however, the oxidative stress of Escherichia coli at high fatty acid concentrations restricts the conversion rate. Here, we introduced a combination of rational design and metabolic rewiring of the E. coli electron transport chain (ETC) to improve trans-2-decenoic acid production. Overexpressing ubiquinone (UbQ) biosynthesis genes enhanced the expression of ETC complex III: UbQ to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Furthermore, applying rotenone to inhibit ETC complex I improved the electron transfer efficiency of complex II. The integration of Vitamin B5 and B2 into the fermentation process increased the activities of fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (MaMACS) and fatty acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (PpfadE). Finally, the constructed E. coli BL21(DE3)(ΔfadBJR/pCDFDuet-1-PpfadE-MaMACS/pRSFDuet-1-sumo-CtydiI-ubiI) strain exhibited a 51.50% decrease in ROS and a 93.33% enhancement in trans-2-decenoic acid yield, reaching 1.45 g/L after 66 h, which is the highest yield reported for flask fermentation. This study reports the feasibility of rewiring the ETC regulation and energy metabolism to improve α,β-UCA biosynthesis efficiency.

Presence of mucilage and low omega-3 fatty acid contents in phytoplankton impair the quality of phytoplankton diet for zooplankton

Phytoplankton are a crucial basal dietary source for consumers in lake ecosystems. The dietary quality of phytoplankton for zooplankton has been investigated in terms of molecules (e.g., fatty acids) and stoichiometry. However, little is known on the effects of algal mucilage on the dietary quality of phytoplankton. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of mucilage and fatty acid contents in phytoplankton on dietary quality. Zooplankton (Daphnia pulicaria) were reared with a single species of phytoplankton as the diet. Eighteen phytoplankton types were used. Algal dietary quality was evaluated based on the growth, reproduction, and survival rates of D. pulicaria for each dietary algal species during the feeding experiments. The results demonstrated that the dietary quality of phytoplankton with mucilage decreased significantly among the green algae. Green algae without mucilage had high omega-3 fatty acid contents, which increased its dietary quality. The quality of cyanobacteria diet was low for D. pulicaria regardless of the absence or presence of mucilage and fatty acid contents. The results show that the presence of mucilage may have reduced ingestion and digestion by zooplankton and indicate that this algal succession will have a negative impact on lake ecosystems.

Defatted Flaxseed Flour as a New Ingredient for Foodstuffs: Comparative Analysis with Whole Flaxseeds and Updated Composition of Cold-Pressed Oil.

Flaxseeds are functional foods popular in current diets. Cold-pressing is a solvent-free method to extract flaxseed oil, resulting in a by-product-defatted flour. This study compared whole flaxseeds and defatted flour (proximate composition, fatty acids, vitamin E, total phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant activity, amino acids, and protein quality) and updated the composition of cold-pressed oil (oxidative stability, peroxide value, UV absorbance, colour, fatty acids, vitamin E, total phenolics and flavonoids, and antioxidant activity) to assess the nutritional relevance and potential for food applications of these samples. The flour had higher ash (6% vs. 4%), fibre (36% vs. 34%), protein (28% vs. 16%), phenolics (205 vs. 143 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g), and antioxidant activity than seeds (p < 0.05), so it should be valued as a novel high-fibre food ingredient with high-quality plant-based protein, as it contains all essential amino acids (106 mg/g) and a high essential amino acids index (112%), with L-tryptophan as the limiting amino acid. The oil, while low in oxidative stability (1.3 h), due to its high polyunsaturated fatty acids sum (75%), mostly α-linolenic acid (57%), contains a significant amount of vitamin E (444 mg/kg), making it a specialty oil best consumed raw. The exploration of the flour as a minimally processed food ingredient highlights its role in supporting food security, circular economy, and sustainability goals, aligning with consumer preferences for natural, low-fat foods. Future research should investigate the bioactivity and shelf-life of the samples, as well as the bioavailability of compounds after digestion.

Omega-3 fatty acids mitigate histological changes and modulate the expression of ACACA, PFK1 and ET-1 genes in broiler chickens under environmental stress: a pulmonary artery, cardiomyocyte and liver study

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on blood biochemical parameters, histological changes in pulmonary artery, cardiomyocytes, and liver, as well as the expression of ACACA, PFK1, and ET-1 genes in broiler chickens under environmental stress (high stoking density). A total of 420 one-day-old male Ross broilers were used in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangements, with 2 levels of environmental stress (without and with stress; 9 and 17 birds/m2, respectively) and 2 levels of omega-3 fatty acids (low and high; 0.057 and 0.5% of the diet, respectively) in a completely randomized design comprising 4 treatments and 5 replicates per each. The body weight decreased at d 40 because of environmental stress (P ≤ 0.05). The ascites heart index (AHI) in broilers fed high omega-3 fatty acids diets was lower (P = 0.062) than broiler fed low omega-3 fatty acids diet (0.279 vs. 0.316). Stressed birds showed a higher neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio compared to non-stressed birds (P ≤ 0.05). Broiler chickens receiving high omega-3 fatty acids diets exhibited elevated levels of hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (HGB), and lymphocytes (P ≤ 0.05). The neutrophil: lymphocyte ratio, and serum concentration of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) decreased in broilers fed high omega-3 fatty acids diets (P ≤ 0.05). In stressed broilers on a high omega-3 diet, pulmonary artery wall thickness decreased (P ≤ 0.05). Additionally, under stress, myocardial cell diameter, hepatocyte and cell nucleus diameter significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05). Stressed broilers showed an increased relative fold change in PFK1 enzyme activity but reduced ET-1 mRNA expression in the liver compared to stressed birds on a high omega-3 diet (P ≤0.05). In conclusion, the results indicate that dietary omega-3 fatty acids have the potential to alleviate the adverse histological changes in the pulmonary artery, cardiomyocytes, and liver, while also modulating the expression of genes ACACA, PFK1, and ET-1 that are influenced by environmental stress in broiler chickens.

Assessment of dietary intake in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease using the Ukrainian version of the EPIC-Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire: A cross-sectional study

Metabolic dysfunction‑associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is prevalent worldwide. Studies demonstrate a possible association between diet and MASLD. However, data regarding patients in Ukraine are lacking. Objective — to study dietary habits and meeting recommended dietary intake in patients with MASLD. Materials and methods. Adults with MASLD aged 18 years and older (n=29) receiving care in outpatient settings who fully completed the adapted and validated Ukrainian version of the EPIC‑Norfolk Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) were included in the analysis. Liver steatosis was confirmed by ultrasound examination, and diagnosis of MASLD was based on the criteria defined by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. As a reference for recommended dietary intake, data from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020—2025 years were used. FETA software was used to calculate nutrient data from the FFQ. The one‑sample t‑test, t‑test, the one‑sample signed rank sum test, and Mann‑Whitney test were used to assess the differences between the sample and the reference data. The chi‑squared test was used to analyse categorical data. Results. The mean age of participants was 41.4±12 years, 69% of participants being female. The mean body mass index was 35.4±7.9 kg/m2. Participants consumed more protein, than recommended by current dietary recommendations. Women also tended to have higher energy intake and consume more fat, saturated fatty acids, and carbohydrates than recommended. The median fibre intake was 19.36 g (Q1; Q3 : 13.29; 26.45), which is lower than the recommended 14 g per 1000 kcal (p=0.0015). Dietary intake of most vitamins and micronutrients was met. However, women and men consumed less than 600 IU of vitamin D daily. Among all patients with MASLD, sodium intake (3829.5±1559.3 mg) was significantly higher than recommended (2300 mg, p&lt;0.0001). Approximately 62% of participants take dietary supplements, with vitamin D being the most popular choice. Conclusions. Our study showed that patients with MASLD in Ukraine tend to exceed recommended protein and sodium intake and, at the same time, have low fibre and Vitamin D consumption. High energy intake and saturated fatty acids consumption are also of concern.

Sphingomyelin-enriched milk phospholipids offer superior benefits in improving the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and surface characteristics of infant formula

Phospholipids from different sources have varying chemical compositions, but how they contribute to different properties of infant formula is unclear. In this study, four types of phospholipids, milk phospholipids (MPLs), soybean phospholipids (SBPLs), sunflower phospholipids (SFPLs), and egg yolk phospholipids (EYPLs), were added to infant formula to investigate their physicochemical properties, microstructure, and surface characteristics. MPLs uniquely offer high sphingomyelin and saturated fatty acid levels. The MPL-based emulsion had the smallest particle size (334.50 nm), lowest stability constant (0.30), and highest viscosity among all groups tested. Furthermore, the abundance of sphingomyelin in MPLs allowed for a denser interfacial film and the complete phospholipid-coated structure of lipid droplets in infant formula emulsion. This consequently improved the microstructure and fat encapsulation of the powder, leading to significantly lower surface fat content in the MPL group. Therefore, the proper selection of phospholipids is crucial for modulating the stability and surface characteristics of infant formula.

Effects of single-dose ruminal infusions of high or low short-chain fatty acid concentrations and high or low pH on apparent total tract digestibility and hindgut fermentation of pre-weaned dairy calves

While the importance of pH and short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) on rumen development are well-known, their impact on the small and large intestine are unclear. This study investigated how single-dose ruminal infusions with high or low short-chain fatty acid concentrations and high or low pH affect calves' productivity as well as physiological parameters associated with hindgut acidosis at 3-time points in 49 d. Holstein bull calves (n = 32) were individually housed and fed milk replacer (900 g/d) twice daily and calf starter and water ad libitum. At d 10 ± 3 of life, the rumens were fistulated and cannulated. At d 14 of life, calves were grouped by body weight and assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: high or low SCFA concentration (285 vs. 10 mM) and high or low pH (6.2 vs. 5.2), creating 4 treatment groups: high SCFA concentration, high pH (HS-HP); high SCFA concentration, low pH (HS-LP); low SCFA concentration, high pH (LS-HP); and low SCFA concentration, low pH (LS-LP). On d 21, 35, 49, feces were sampled to calculate apparent total-tract digestibility, determinate organic acid concentrations (i.e., SCFA, BCFA and lactic acid), and pH. Afterward, the rumen was evacuated and underwent a single-dose infusion for 4 h with one of 4 treatment buffers. After completion of rumen infusion on d 49, calves were harvested, and the tissue weight and length, and digesta pH of the rumen, cecum, colon, and rectum were recorded along with the digesta pH of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum only at d 49 after dissection. Data were analyzed with main factors as fixed effects and repeated measures for weekly measurements. Treatments did not affect performance parameters such as feed intake, ADG, apparent total-tract digestibility and gut measurements. In the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum, HS-HP had a greater digesta pH than LS-HP, while the hindgut digesta pH was only affected by the SCFA concentration. High SCFA concentration increased the concentration of colonic isovaleric acid and fecal BCFA, while only colonic acetic acid and fecal lactic acid concentrations were affected by treatment. Fecal SCFA and BCFA concentrations increased mainly on d 35. In summary, 4 h of physiological buffer infusion in the rumen does not change apparent total-tract digestibility and gut measurements but does affect hindgut fermentation parameters (i.e., organic acid concentrations and digesta pH). In addition, calves can experience increased risks of hindgut acidosis around 35 d of life.