Low Diet Research Articles

PSLBI-24 Optimizing crop byproduct inclusion in beef cattle diets: Utilization of wheat straw to improve operational economics and oilseed screenings as protein supplements

Abstract Inclusion of crop residues and byproducts in beef cattle diets has become a significant practice in beef cattle production as producers are faced with conventional feed shortages, increased prices, and disrupted supply chains. Wheat straw is a widely available crop byproduct in the western Canadian prairies whose inclusion in beef cattle diets has been prevented by its low nutritional content, necessitating supplementation strategies to enhance its nutritional value. The present study explored the effect of incorporating wheat straw in backgrounding cattle diets with canola or flax screening supplementation to improve the nutritional profile of the diet and determine the sustainability of such inclusion through cattle performance measurements. The experiment was a completely randomized design. Steers [n = 300; initial body weight (BW): 297 ± 18 kg] were randomly assigned to 5 treatment diets, each diet having 4 pen replicates (15 steers/pen); control (CTL), low straw canola (LSC), low straw flax (LSF), high straw canola (HSC) and high straw flax (HSF). The CTL diet was a conventional Western Canadian backgrounding diet (60% barley silage:40% dry rolled barley grain-based concentrate). Low straw diets had a 25% wheat straw inclusion and high straw diets had 50% wheat straw inclusion on a dry matter (DM) basis. Respective screenings were included at 12.50% inclusion of diet DM. The steers were fed for a total of 84 d divided into four periods of 21 d. Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of SAS 9.4 with diet treatment included as a fixed effect and pen within diet as a random effect. Treatment means were compared using the LSMEANS statement adjusted for the Tukey-Kramer method. Final BW, total BW gain, average daily gain (ADG) and gain:feed were greater (P < 0.001) for the CTL steers (Table 1). Dry matter intake (DMI) was greatest for CTL steers and decreased with increasing straw inclusion in the diet (P < 0.001). The type of screenings (canola or flax) did not affect (P > 0.05) steers final BW, total BW gain, ADG and gain:feed. Increasing the inclusion of wheat straw in backgrounding diets decreased growth performance parameters. The high level of neutral digestible fiber in wheat straw limited DMI and reduced growth performance compared with CTL steers. The addition of screenings to the diet provided protein content to offset the low nutritional value of the wheat straw; however, the different types of screenings did not result in a cattle performance advantage over the other. Although these findings demonstrate the challenges of including low nutritional crop byproducts, further research is needed to analyze the effects different diets have on operational economics, rumen fermentation parameters and greenhouse gas emissions to further outline any advantages or disadvantages.

52 Differences in body composition measurements for developing Angus heifers

Abstract The profitability of beef cow-calf operations relies on the reproductive ability of females to calve at 2 yr of age and provide a calf each subsequent year for her lifetime. The management of replacement heifers could affect her ability to conceive early, calve, and rebreed. Common management practices use heifer body weight (BW) (and body condition score (BCS) as indicators of puberty onset but do not indicate body composition and fat deposition. The objective of this study was to use ultrasound measurements of carcass traits to compare the effect of different diet management practices on muscle development and fat deposition of post-weaning heifers. The heifers placed on a higher energy diet are expected to have greater mean carcass trait measurements than the lower energy diet heifers. A total of 124 purebred Angus heifers from the Iowa State University McNay Memorial Research and Demonstration Farm were used for this study. Two diets were administered in this study. One group of heifers (G1; n = 61) was developed on a low-energy roughage diet to reach a target BW of 55% of mature BW at the time of breeding. The second group (G2; n = 63) was developed on a grain diet to reach the target BW of 65% mature BW at breeding. Body weight and ultrasound measurements for backfat (BFAT), ribeye area (REA), and intramuscular fat (IMF) were collected over three time points (0-d, 55-d, and 123-d) during the study to quantify the development of body composition characteristics. The initial measurements were collected 1 wk post-weaning. Significant mean differences between the two groups were observed for BW, BFAT, and REA at 55-d (P = 0.027, P = 0.008, and P < 0.0001, respectively), and 123-d (P < 0.001). The mean differences for BW, BFAT, and REA at 123-d between G1 and G2 were 30.98 kg, 0.10 cm, and 7.81 cm2, respectively No significant difference was found between the groups for IMF measurements at 55-d (P = 0.927) or 123-d (P = 0.169). This suggests IMF is not significantly influenced by diet during the early, post-weaning heifer developmental stage. Although further research is needed, the results from this study suggest the development of weight, BFAT, and REA in early post-weaning beef heifers is influenced by the energy concentration of the diet.

Different dietary branched-chain amino acid ratios, crude protein levels, and protein sources can affect the growth performance and meat yield in broilers

Balanced ratios of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) can enhance chicken growth, immunity, and muscle synthesis. However, these ratios can be affected by changes in crude protein (CP) levels or the substitution of protein sources, leading to BCAA antagonism. This, in turn, can have a negative impact on chicken growth. In Experiment 1, a total of 960 0-d-old male Cobb 500 broilers were divided into 6 treatments with 8 replicates. Three different BCAA ratios were used in High or Low CP diets as follows: 1) Low Leu group (Low level of leucine with increased valine and isoleucine levels), 2) Med Leu group, and 3) High Leu group (High level of leucine with reduced valine and isoleucine levels) for a total of 6 diets. In Experiment 2, a total of 640 0-d-old male Cobb 500 broilers were divided into 4 treatments with 8 replicates. The four diets had either High or Low CP and one of two protein sources with the same medium levels of BCAAs: 1) the soybean meal (SBM) group, which had SBM as the main protein source (protein bound AA), and 2) the wheat middlings with non-bound AAs (WM+AA) group (non-bound AA), which had additional non-bound AAs to replace SBM. The High Leu diet had a negative effect on overall growth performance, carcass weight, breast muscle weight, and body mineral composition compared to the Low Leu and Med Leu groups, particularly in the High CP diet (P < 0.05). The SBM group showed increased growth performance, breast muscle weight, expression levels of genes promoting muscle growth, and improved bone mineral composition compared to the WM+AA group, and the High CP group intensified the negative effect of the WM+AA diet (P < 0.05). In summary, balanced BCAA ratios and SBM-based diets have positive effects on chicken growth and muscle accretion, whereas excessive leucine and non-bound AA levels in the diets may negatively affect growth performance and meat yield in chickens.

Adesão ao uso da estratégia NutriSUS para fortificação alimentar infantil em municípios de Goiás

Introduction: The high demand for nutrients in children under five years of age, added to low nutritious diets, makes them vulnerable to micronutrient deficiencies. The NutriSUS Strategy, launched as part of the School Health Program (PSE) in 2014, aims to combat these deficiencies through the distribution of micronutrient sachets. The effectiveness of this strategy in Goiás, considering the weaknesses in the municipalities, needs to be evaluated. The objective of this study was to verify adherence to the NutriSUS Strategy in municipalities in the state of Goiás and the list of sachets used by agreed and added day care centers. Methods: A retrospective observational study analyzed data on micronutrient supplementation provided by the NutriSUS Strategy in the state of Goiás, between 2017 and 2019. The database available on the Ministry of Health website was used to identify adherence and coverage of the program in 10 regional health departments. The inclusion criteria were municipalities that implemented the strategy during the period studied, while those that did not adhere or did not show interest were excluded. The analysis was performed using absolute and relative frequencies in the EPI Info 7.2.6.0 program. Results: The NutriSUS Strategy was implemented in 35 (14.23%) of the total municipalities (n=246). Micronutrient supplementation targets were constant throughout the period from 2017 to 2019, with some cities, such as Araguapaz, Britânia, and Santa Helena de Goiás, exceeding their supplementation targets in some of the periods, while others, such as Aragarças, Hidrolândia, Piracanjuba, São Luís de Montes Belos, and Buriti Alegre, did not reach the expected targets. The analysis, by semester of supplementation coverage in daycare centers, showed significant fluctuations: a drop in 2017 from 45.44% to 32.60% from the first to the second semester. In 2018, the percentage was 34.43% in the first half of the year, but there was a significant increase to 52.37% in the second half of the year. In 2019, coverage rose to an average of 61.63% in the first half, followed by a drop to 35.74% in the second half. The data also revealed variations in standard deviation, reflecting fluctuations in program adherence. Conclusion: The NutriSUS Strategy showed a variable implementation in the municipalities of Goiás in the period studied, with fluctuations in supplementation coverage over time. The analysis highlighted both success in some locations and difficulties in others, highlighting the importance of continuously monitoring and adjusting supplementation strategies to ensure that all counties adequately benefit children from micronutrient supplementation.

The effects of iron deficient and high iron diets on SARS-CoV-2 lung infection and disease.

The severity of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is often dictated by a range of comorbidities. A considerable literature suggests iron deficiency and iron overload may contribute to increased infection, inflammation and disease severity, although direct causal relationships have been difficult to establish. Here we generate iron deficient and iron loaded C57BL/6 J mice by feeding standard low and high iron diets, with mice on a normal iron diet representing controls. All mice were infected with a primary SARS-CoV-2 omicron XBB isolate and lung inflammatory responses were analyzed by histology, immunohistochemistry and RNA-Seq. Compared with controls, iron deficient mice showed no significant changes in lung viral loads or histopathology, whereas, iron loaded mice showed slightly, but significantly, reduced lung viral loads and histopathology. Transcriptional changes were modest, but illustrated widespread dysregulation of inflammation signatures for both iron deficient vs. controls, and iron loaded vs. controls. Some of these changes could be associated with detrimental outcomes, whereas others would be viewed as beneficial. Diet-associated iron deficiency or overload thus induced modest modulations of inflammatory signatures, but no significant histopathologically detectable disease exacerbations.

Low sucrose diets protect long-term memory and EPA & DHA enriched diets alter insulin resistance in a mouse model of chemotherapy

Chemotherapy-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) and affective symptoms negatively impact quality of life in breast cancer survivors. The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of high eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) and low sucrose diets to alleviate these symptoms in a mouse model of chemotherapy. Potential mechanisms involving insulin resistance were explored. We hypothesized that diets enriched in EPA+DHA and low amounts of sucrose would protect against the impact of chemotherapy on measures of CRCI. Female C57Bl/6 mice were randomized to 1 of 4 diets (2% kcal eicosapentaenoic acid + docosahexaenoic acid [EPA+DHA]/high or low sucrose, low omega-3/high or low sucrose) for 6 weeks and treated with two injections of doxorubicin-based chemotherapy or vehicle during week 2 and 4. Behavioral tests were performed 7 days after second injection. Chemotherapy increased serum insulin and decreased body weight, locomotion and exploratory behavior (all p < .05). Low sucrose consumption resulted in better long-term memory regardless of chemotherapy or vehicle injection (p < .05). 2% EPA+DHA consumption lessened insulin resistance (p < .05); however, controlling for body weight attenuated this effect (p = .08). There were no significant differences by diet or injection on liver lipid content; however, liver lipid content was positively correlated with insulin resistance scores (p < .05). Low sucrose diets may protect long-term memory during chemotherapy. The effect of EPA+DHA on insulin resistance and affective side effects during chemotherapy requires further investigation.

Mediterranean diet and exercise are associated with better disease control in psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is associated with obesity and other related comorbidities, which impose an additional burden on disease activity and response to treatment. We investigated the impact of Mediterranean diet, and exercise on the presentation and severity of PsA. Three hundred fifty-five patients with PsA (n = 279) and psoriasis (PsO) (n = 76) were included in a cross-sectional study. Demographic and clinical characteristics and dietary and exercise patterns were recorded. Patients were grouped into (i) high, moderate, and low Mediterranean diet adherence and (ii) high, medium, and low activity level. Levels of diet and exercise were correlated with disease activity indices. PsA patients had more comorbidities than their PsO counterparts (42.7% vs. 26.3%, p = .038). The majority showed a low exercise pattern (total = 71.3%, PsA = 72.4%, PsO = 67.1%). Approximately half (total = 44.2%, PsA = 43.4%, PsO = 47.4%) did not follow a Mediterranean diet. Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis Score (DAPSA) (p = .004), tender (p = .003) and swollen (p = .015) joint counts, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (p = .001), and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) (p = .015) had an inverse correlation with exercise. Higher Mediterranean diet adherence was associated with reduced ESR (p = .056), PASI (p = .011), and body surface area (BSA) (p = .009) indices. After adjusting for body mass index (BMI), exercise retained its positive correlation with PsA disease activity, but diet showed significant correlation only with enthesitis (p = 0.015). Uptake of a Mediterranean diet and exercise have positive effects on PsA activity, independently of BMI. These findings support lifestyle recommendations to supplement conventional treatment for improvement in disease outcomes. Key points • Diet and lifestyle are important influencers of health-related outcomes in PsA. • In this cross-sectional study of 355 patients with psoriatic disease, we found that Med Diet and exercise improve outcomes in PsA independently of weight loss. • Our results suggest that diet and lifestyle modifications should supplement conventional medical treatments.

Dietary Sugar and Saturated Fat Consumption Associated with the Gastrointestinal Microbiome during Pregnancy

BackgroundGrowing evidence supports changes in the gastrointestinal microbiome over the course of pregnancy may have an impact on the short- and long-term health of both the mother and the child. ObjectiveOur objective was to explore the association of diet quality, as measured by the Healthy Eating Index (HEI), with the composition and gene ontology (GO) representation of microbial function in the maternal gastrointestinal microbiome during pregnancy. MethodsWe conducted a retrospective, observational analysis of n = 185 pregnant participants in the Pregnancy Eating Attributes Study. Maternal dietary intake was assessed in the first trimester using the automated self-administered 24-h recall method, from which the HEI 2015 was calculated. Rectal swabs were obtained in the second trimester and sequenced using the NovaSeq 6000 system shotgun platform. We used unsupervised clustering to identify microbial enterotypes representative of maternal taxa and GO functional term composition. Multivariable linear models were used to identify associations between taxa, functional terms, and food components while controlling for relevant covariates. Multinomial regression was then used to predict enterotype membership based on a participant’s HEI food component score. ResultsThose in the high diet quality tertile had a lower early pregnancy BMI [mean (M) = 23.48 kg/m2, SD = 3.38] compared with the middle (M = 27.35, SD = 6.01) and low (M = 27.49, SD = 6.99) diet quality tertiles (P < 0.01). There were no statistically significant associations between the HEI components or the total HEI score and the 4 alpha diversity measures. Differences in taxa and GO term enterotypes were found in participants with, but not limited to, a higher saturated fat component score (β = 1.35, P = 0.01), added sugar HEI component (β = 0.07, P < 0.001), and higher total dairy score (β = 1.58, P = 0.01). ConclusionsSpecific dietary components are associated with microbial composition and function in the second trimester of pregnancy. These findings provide a foundation for future testable hypotheses.

Systems Approach to Investigate the Role of Fruit and Vegetable Types on Vascular Function in Pre-Hypertensive Participants: Protocol and Baseline Characteristics of a Randomised Crossover Dietary Intervention.

The evidence on the impact of fruits and vegetable types on cardiovascular risk factors remains limited. Specifically, the utilisation of biomarkers to objectively measure dietary compliance and metabolic responses is emerging. This protocol and baseline characteristics of a pilot randomised controlled, crossover, dietary intervention study aimed to examine the effects of citrus fruits, cruciferous vegetables, or common fruits and vegetables on cardiovascular risk factors. A total of 39 volunteers with untreated prehypertension was recruited and consumed a standardised, provided diet with eight daily portions of citrus fruits and cruciferous vegetables, common fruits and vegetables, or a low fruit and vegetable diet (two portions/d, control diet) in a random order for 2 weeks each, separated by a wash-out week. A targeted cohort-based recruitment strategy was utilised and resulted in 74% of participants recruited by re-contacting preselected individuals from two cohort studies with a 15% average enrolment rate. Participants had an average age of 54.4 years (±6.1 years), BMI of 27.9 kg/m2, and BP of 135/81 mmHg and were mainly male (67%). The primary outcome was office blood pressure; secondary outcomes included arterial stiffness, lipid profiles, inflammation, cognitive function, and subjective mood. Biofluids, i.e., 24 h urine, stool, and blood samples, were collected for biomarker measurements with multiple metabolomic platforms and the gut microbial composition, together with traditional dietary biomarkers.

Effect of feed containing fermented catfish waste by Lactobacillus paracasei, Bacillus subtilis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae on microflora intestine in super native chicken

This study aimed to determine the effect of fermented catfish waste (FCW) Lactobacillus paracasei, Bacillus subtilis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (LBS) microbes in diets on microflora intestine on nativ super chicken. The study used 24 nativ super chickens aged 14 weeks, which were reared for 14 days. The method used was a completely randomized design with six treatments (R0 = Lower control diets without the use of FCW (15% CP and 2750 kcal/kg ME); R1 = Diets containing 5% FCW (15% CP and 2750 kcal/kg ME); R2 = Diets Containing 10% FCW (15% CP and 2750 kcal/kg ME); R3 = Diets containing 15% FCW (15% CP and 2750 kcal/kg ME); R4 = Diets containing 20% FCW (15% CP and 2750 kcal/kg ME); dan RS = Upper control diets without the use of FCW (CP 18% CP and 2750 kcal/kg ME)) and four replicates. The results showed that the use of FCW by LBS microbes did not have a significant effect (P&gt;0,05) on total intestine microbe and total Escherichia coli and had a considerable impact (P&lt;0.05) on Staphylococcus aureus. Using as much as 5% in the diet formula gave the best Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus value with the lowest value microflora intestine for nativ super chicken.

A mixed animal and plant protein source replacing fishmeal affects bile acid metabolism and apoptosis in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides).

Chicken meal, shrimp meal, blood meal, and soybean protein concentrate (SPC) are common alternatives to fishmeal. This study used them to prepare three diets with different levels of fishmeal (FM48, FM40, FM32) for largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). The results found no significant difference in the growth performance of largemouth bass fed different diets. Mixed protein increased the total cholesterol (T-CHO) content in plasma, and reduced the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) activity in plasma and liver. Targeted metabolomics analysis found that the low fishmeal diets affected the cholesterol and bile acid metabolism of largemouth bass. Mixed protein inhibited cyp7a1 and enhanced hmgcr and pparγ mRNA levels, as well as enhanced the expression levels of FXR in the liver. The fish fed FM32 diet showed inhibited fxr, rxrα and cyp7a1 mRNA levels in the intestine. The results of TUNEL fluorescence staining showed that mixed protein induced apoptosis in largemouth bass. The caspase 3 and caspase 9 mRNA levels in the fish fed FM40 and FM32 diet significantly increased, as well as the expression levels of CASPASE 3. The experiment also found that it could induce oxidative stress and endoplasmic reticulum stress. In conclusion, replacement of fishmeal with mixed animal and plant protein diets did not affect the growth performance, but the health and bile acid metabolism of largemouth bass was affected when the fishmeal level was reduced to 32 %.

The effects of shift work on sleep quality, diet quality, and obesity-related factors: A male population study

ABSTRACT Recent studies suggest that shift working may trigger health issues through disrupted circadian rhythms and altered eating habits. This study aimed to examine the possible associations of shift work with sleep quality, diet quality and obesity-related parameters. This study was conducted with 150 males (75 shift and daytime workers) aged 24–50 years. Dietary intake was determined using the 24-hour recall method, and dietary quality was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010). Anthropometrical measurements and body composition were assessed. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to evaluate sleep quality. Fasting and postprandial glucose and insulin, and fasting lipid levels were analyzed. HOMA-IR was calculated, and blood pressure was measured. The total HEI-2010 score of shift workers (52.6 [45.4–58.8]) was lower than the daytime workers (55.9 [49.1–64.9]) (p = 0.016). Among individuals with good sleep quality, the total HEI-2010 score, seafood and plant proteins, fatty acids, and sodium scores were lower in shift workers compared to others (p < 0.05 for each). Non-obese shift workers had higher body weight, waist circumference, waist/hip ratio, VLDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, postprandial glucose, and insulin levels compared to daytime workers (p < 0.05 for each). This study demonstrates that shift working is associated with lower diet quality independent of sleep quality.

Effects of hydroxyproline supplementation in low fish meal diet on growth, immunity and intestinal health of Litopenaeus vannamei

This experiment investigated the impacts of hydroxyproline (Hyp) supplementation in low fish meal diets on growth, antioxidant capacity, immunity and intestinal health of Litopenaeus vannamei. Six diets were formulated for the experiment, with the high fish meal diet containing 25 % fish meal (HF) and the remaining diets incorporating a mixture of soybean protein concentrate (SPC) and Clostridium autoethanogenum protein (CAP) replacing 15 % fish meal. These diets were supplemented with varying levels of Hyp (0 %, 0.2 %, 0.4 %, 0.6 %, and 0.8 %, designated as LF, H1, H2, H3, and H4, respectively). A total of 960 healthy shrimp (0.32±0.00 g) were divided into 6 groups at random; each group had 4 duplicates, each containing 40 shrimp. The shrimp were fed four times a day for a period of 51 days. The results indicated that dietary Hyp supplementation had no significant effects on growth performance and whole body composition of L. vannamei (P > 0.05). The antioxidant enzyme activities of hemolymph and hepatopancreas were significantly decreased after fish meal was replaced, and were significantly increased after dietary Hyp supplementation (P < 0.05). The expression of antioxidant-related genes in intestinal and hepatopancreas was significantly increased after dietary Hyp supplementation (P < 0.05). In the intestine, the gene expression of penaeidins 3 (pen3), dorsal, anti-lipopolysaccharide factor (alf) and crustins (cru) in the H2 group is the highest, and the gene expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (bcl2) in the H3 group is the highest (P < 0.05). The genes expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (tnf-a), Bcl-2-assoxicated x protein (bax) and cytochrome c (cyc-t) in LF group reached the maximum (P < 0.05). Intestinal H&E stained sections showed that low-fish meal diet reduced the mucosal folds height of shrimp, and H2 and H3 groups significantly increased the mucosal fold height of shrimp (P < 0.05). Therefore, adding Hyp to the diet can improve the antioxidant capacity, immunity and intestinal health of L. vannamei.

Manipulation impacts of jack mackerel meal in low fish meal diets on growth, feed availability, and biochemical composition of olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) and economic analysis

AbstractManipulation effects of jack mackerel meal (JMM) in the low fish meal (FM) diets substituting 50% FM with meat meal (MM) on growth performance of olive flounder and economic analysis were determined. Seven experimental diets were created. The control (Con) diet contained 60% FM. In the other diets, 50% of the FM level used for the Con diet was substituted with MM, and then graded levels (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50%) of JMM were included at the expense of FM, named the MJ0, MJ10, MJ20, MJ30, MJ40, and MJ50 diets, respectively. The experimental diets were distributed to triplicate groups of fish. A total of 525 fish was divided into 21 flow‐through tanks. Fish were hand‐fed to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. Weight gain, specific growth rate (SGR), and feed consumption of fish fed the Con diet were comparable with fish fed the MJ20, MJ30, MJ40, and MJ50 diets. Weight gain, SGR, and feed consumption of fish linearly improved with JMM inclusion levels in the low FM diets replacing 50% FM with MM. The strong correlation between isoleucine and lysine content among essential amino acids in the experimental diets versus weight gain, SGR, and feed consumption of olive flounder were observed. Dietary treatments did not influence feed utilization, chemical composition, and amino acid profiles of fish. Incorporated 20%–50% JMM as an effective feed attractant and enhancer in the low FM diets replacing 50% FM with MM achieved comparable weight gain, SGR, and feed consumption to fish fed a 60% FM‐based diet. Finally, the MJ50 diet led to the highest economic profit index (EPI) for farmers.

Sex differences in the association between social frailty and diet quality among older adults in Spain

ObjectiveThe aim was to examine the association between social frailty and diet quality in adults over 65 years of age, and whether results differed by sex. DesignPopulation-based cross-sectional study using data from the Spanish National Health Survey. Participants5,071 community-dwelling people ≥65 years from Spain. MeasurementsSocial frailty was deemed to exist when the person both lived alone and had low social support, measured with the Duke-UNC scale. Diet was assessed with the Spanish Healthy Eating Index (S-HEI), ranging from 0 to 100 points (highest diet quality). Means and 95% confidence intervals of the S-HEI score for each social frailty group were calculated using linear regressions, with socially robust people as reference. Analyses were adjusted for main confounders, including sociodemographic, lifestyle and morbidity variables. ResultsThere were no differences in the S-HEI adjusted mean of socially frail (74.3 points, 95%CI: 73.4−75.2) compared to socially robust older adults (75.4 points; 95%CI: 75.1−75.7). In sex-stratified analyses, the S-HEI adjusted mean of socially frail men (71.9 points; 95%CI: 70.6−73.2) was lower than robust men (74.8 points; 95%CI: 74.4−75.3). Specifically, social frailty was associated with lower consumption of vegetables, fruits, dairy and lower diet variety in men. Differences were not observed according to social frailty among older women. ConclusionsSocial frailty was associated with poor diet quality in community-dwelling older men, but not in women in Spain. Gender differences in self-care could partly explain this association. Sex-specific interventions are required to minimize the impact of social frailty on diet quality.

Tolerance and toxicity assessment of a novel methionine source, dipeptide Met-Met on common carp Cyprinus carpio

Methionine is the first-limiting essential amino acid in plant-based diet, and also is the most toxic amino acid. The study aimed to evaluate the tolerance and toxicity of a dipeptide DL-methionyl-DL-methionine (Met-Met) in the diet of common carp Cyprinus carpio. Five iso‑nitrogenous (∼ 380 g kg−1) and isoenergetic (∼185 MJ kg−1) diets were formulated including a positive control diet (100 g kg−1 fish meal, FM) supplemented with 3 g kg−1DL-Met and four low fish meal diets (40 g kg−1 fish meal), with 0 (M0), 3 (M3), 6 (M6), and 15 (M15) g kg−1 Met-Met being supplemented. The Met-Met supplementation levels of 6 and 15 g kg−1 were designed as the 2- and 5-fold of the optimal level (3 g kg−1) for the tolerance and toxicity assessment, respectively. After 10 weeks of feeding, the lowest growth performance was observed in the M0 group, as evidenced by the lowest weight gain rate and specific growth rate. Contents of protein and amino acid in whole-body, and retentions of nitrogen and amino acid were highest in the M6 group, while these values decreased in M15 group. Fish fed diet M15 showed lower levels of albumin, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL), total cholesterol, alkaline phosphatase, and higher alanine aminotransferase, total bile acid, total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) compared with M3. Fish fed diet M15 had lower levels of glucose, HDL, and higher T-AOC and malonaldehyde compared to M6. Genes related to bile acid metabolism (cyp8b1, rxrα, fxr), anti-inflammatory (tgfβ1, tgfβ2, il10), proinflammatory (tnfα, il1β, il17) were significantly down-regulated in the M15 group compared to M3. However, caspase-3 expression significantly up-regulated in the M15 group compared with M6. Increased signals of hepatic vacuolation and fibrosis were observed in the M0 and M15 groups. Besides M15 group showed higher expression of apoptosis signal marker, cleaved caspase-3 in hepatopancreas. This study clarified the safety margin of Met-Met was 2× dosage as 6 g kg−1, while 15 g kg−1 Met-Met caused deleterious consequences, manifested as the highly occurred of cholestatic liver disease.

Comparison analysis of the burden and attributable risk factors of early-onset and late-onset colorectal cancer in China from 1990 to 2019.

The project intended to analyze the impact of burden and related risk factors of late-onset colorectal cancer (LOCRC) and early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) in China, thus offering essential references for optimizing prevention and control strategies. Global Burden of Disease Study was employed to describe burden changes of EOCRC and LOCRC in China during 1990-2019, containing the numbers of incidence, deaths, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and to compare attributable deaths and DALYs risk factors in varying age and sex segments. The numbers and corresponding crude rates of incidence, deaths, prevalence, and DALYs of EOCRC and LOCRC in China during 1990-2019 demonstrated an upward trend across all age categories, with males being dramatically predominant. Overall, over time, the impact of a low-calcium diet and a low-fiber diet on mortality and DALY rates decreased, while the impact of other risk factors increased. In terms of gender, the risk factors affecting males changed greatly, with smoking, inadequate milk intake, and the low whole-grain diet being the main factors in 2019, while in 1990, the main factors were the low-calcium diet, smoking, and inadequate milk intake. The burden of colorectal cancer in China is concerning. Patients grouped by diagnostic age exhibit different characteristics, indicating the need for high-quality research in the future to achieve personalized medicine tailored to different population characteristics.

Effect of Dietary Patterns on Human Gut Microbiota: a narrative review

Introduction: Diet plays a crucial role in shaping the human gut microbiota (GM), but studies investigating the effects of dietary patterns on the GM are still limited. Objective: This study aimed to review the effects of different dietary patterns on the human GM. Methods: This review included observational and clinical studies published in PubMed/MEDLINE between 2019 and 2023. Results: Initially, 1,148 articles were identified and 12 articles were included. Studies were conducted in various countries, predominantly in the USA (n=3), and most evaluated the effects of the Mediterranean diet (n=3) and vegetarian/vegan diet (n=3). No included study evaluated the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet. The Western diet showed negative effects on the GM, characterized by an increase in Firmicutes bacteria and a reduction in bacterial diversity and richness. These effects are associated with cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. The low carb diet showed conflicting results among studies. The ketogenic diet appears to be associated with a decrease in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, especially when whey protein or plant proteins are the main protein sources in the diet. Mediterranean and vegetarian/vegan diets had beneficial effects on the GM, mainly associated with high fiber intake from fruits, vegetables, and legumes, leading to a reduction in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, an increase in Akkermansia bacteria, and higher production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Conclusion: Dietary pattern exerts distinct effects on the GM, influencing bacterial richness and diversity differently. Further studies are recommended in this area, including investigation of the DASH diet’s impact on the GM. Keywords: Gastrointestinal microbiome; dietary patterns.

Evaluation of university students’ Mediterranean diet quality and sustainable eating behaviors: a cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT The study aimed to evaluate University Students’ diet quality and sustainable eating behaviors, with the intention of developing strategies to promote healthy eating habits. We questioned the sociodemographic characteristics and general eating habits of the students. We administered Mediterranean diet quality scale (KIDMED) and Behaviors Scale Towards Sustainable Nutrition (BSTSN) to 300 Turkish students. We found that 163 of the students’ diet quality was moderate level. KIDMED score positively correlated with the BSTSN score (r=0.306, p<0.001). When higher night eating habits predicted lower diet quality (β=-0.117, p=0.038), higher main meals and sustainable eating behavior predicted higher diet quality (β=0.145, p=0.009 and β=0.258, p<0.001, respectively). The results indicate that students generally have moderate diet quality, which sustainable eating behaviors can enhance. Night eating habits and dietary patterns impact diet quality, highlighting the importance of meal planning. To promote healthy eating, universities should incorporate sustainability into curricula and provide supportive facilities.

Inhibiting methanogenesis by targeting thermodynamics and enzymatic reactions in mixed cultures of rumen microbes in vitro.

Mitigation of enteric methane (CH4) emissions from ruminant livestock represents an opportunity to improve the sustainability, productivity, and profitability of beef and dairy production. Ruminal methanogenesis can be mitigated via two primary strategies: (1) alternative electron acceptors and (2) enzymatic inhibition of methanogenic pathways. The former utilizes the thermodynamic favorability of certain reactions such as nitrate/nitrite reduction to ammonia (NH3) while the latter targets specific enzymes using structural analogs of CH4 and methanogenic cofactors such as bromochloromethane (BCM). In this study, we investigated the effects of four additives and their combinations on CH4 production by rumen microbes in batch culture. Sodium nitrate (NaNO3), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), and 3-nitro-1-propionate (3NPA) were included as thermodynamic inhibitors, whereas BCM was included as a enzymatic inhibitor. Individual additives were evaluated at three levels of inclusion in experiments 1 and 2. Highest level of each additive was used to determine the combined effect of NaNO3 + Na2SO4 (NS), NS + 3NPA (NSP), and NSP + BCM (NSPB) in experiments 3 and 4. Experimental diets were high, medium, and low forage diets (HF, MF, and LF, respectively) and consisted of alfalfa hay and a concentrate mix formulated to obtain the following forage to concentrate ratios: 70:30, 50:50, and 30:70, respectively. Diets with additives were placed in fermentation culture bottles and incubated in a water bath (39°C) for 6, 12, or 24h. Microbial DNA was extracted for 16S rRNA and ITS gene amplicon sequencing. In experiments 1 and 2, CH4 concentrations in control cultures decreased in the order of LF, MF, and HF diets, whereas in experiments 3 and 4, CH4 was highest in MF diet followed by HF and LF diets. Culture pH and NH3 in the control decreased in the order of HF, MF, to LF as expected. NaNO3 decreased (p < 0.001) CH4 and butyrate and increased acetate and propionate (p < 0.03 and 0.003, respectively). Cultures receiving NaNO3 had an enrichment of microorganisms capable of nitrate and nitrite reduction. 3NPA also decreased CH4 at 6h with no further decrease at 24 h (p < 0.001). BCM significantly inhibited methanogenesis regardless of inclusion levels as well as in the presence of the thermodynamic inhibitors (p < 0.001) while enriching succinate producers and assimilators as well as propionate producers (p adj < 0.05). However, individual inclusion of BCM decreased total short chain fatty acid (SCFA) concentrations (p < 0.002). Inhibition of methanogenesis with BCM individually and in combination with the other additives increased gaseous H2 concentrations (p < 0.001 individually and 0.028 in combination) while decreasing acetate to propionate ratio (p < 0.001). Only the cultures treated with BCM in combination with other additives significantly (padj < 0.05) decreased the abundance of Methanobrevibacter expressed as log fold change. Overall, the combination of thermodynamic and enzymatic inhibitors presented a promising effect on ruminal fermentation in-vitro, inhibiting methanogenesis while optimizing the other fermentation parameters such as pH, NH3, and SCFAs. Here, we provide a proof of concept that the combination of an electron acceptor and a methane analog may be exploited to improve microbial efficiency via methanogenesis inhibition.