Protein Supplementation Research Articles

Performance of laying hens fed diets incorporated with feather-based feed additive

A comprehensive and in-depth understanding of modern industrial poultry production technology is a vital condition for the development of poultry enterprises. Among the factors that determine poultry farming's development, the state and development of the feed base are of paramount importance. One of the promising directions for organizing rational poultry feeding based on self-produced feed is the use of new feed sources in compound feeds that have a multifaceted positive impact on poultry health. This study aimed to determine whether feeding feather meal induces changes in the body weight of laying hens, feed consumption, and egg production. The experiment was conducted on laying hens of the Hy-Line Brown W-36 breed without beak trimming, aged from 21 to 34 weeks at an industrial poultry farm. The chickens were placed in standard cages arranged in 6 tiers (with eight chickens per cage) and were distributed into five randomized groups. Four diets were formulated with the inclusion of feather-based feed additives in the base diet at levels of 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, or 3.5 kg per ton, while the control group was maintained on the standard diet. Research results using feather meal as part of the compound feed for laying hens have revealed that the inclusion of this additive had a positive impact on the live weight dynamics of Hy-Line Brown laying hens. Positive trends in absolute live weight gains were observed in the experimental groups compared to the control group, with EG1 showing an increase of 56.78 g (4.8%), EG2 with 43.66 g (3.7%), EG3 with 33.26 g (2.8%), and EG4 with 25.75 g (2.1%). The highest retention rate of laying hens was recorded in the first (EG 1) and second (EG 2) experimental groups: 98.9% and 97.9% respectively. The difference in retention between the first experimental group and the control group was 4.1%, while between the second experimental and control groups, it was 3.1%. The feather meal feed additive is an effective protein supplement, and research has revealed its positive influence on live weight gains and the survival of laying hens. The most effective level is 2 kg per ton of compound feed, which can be explained by the data observed in EG1.

Effectiveness of adequate chicken egg white consumption on dyspnea degree and exacerbation incidence in stable COPD patients practicing strength and endurance exercises.

Lack of physical exercise and inadequate nutritional intake in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients could lead to low muscle mass and function, which causes reduced respiratory function, increased incidence of exacerbations, exercise intolerance, increased visits to health facilities, and low health status. Therefore, physical exercise and good nutritional intake are the main foundations of a comprehensive pulmonary rehabilitation program for COPD patients. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of chicken egg white supplementation on dyspnea degree and the incidence of exacerbations in stable COPD patients who perform physical exercise independently at home. A quasi-experimental study was conducted in 38 stable COPD patients based on the Global Initiative for Chronic Lung Disease (GOLD) 2021 classification criteria. The patients were divided into two groups: the control group who did smartphone application-assisted physical exercises and the intervention group who did the same physical exercises plus chicken egg white supplementation for 12 weeks. Performed physical exercises included both strength and endurance training. The degree of dyspnea was assessed with modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale and the incidence of exacerbations was assessed by direct interviews at the beginning and at the end of the intervention. A Fisher's exact test was used to assess the association between the intervention with dyspnea degree and exacerbation incidence. In the intervention group, chicken egg white supplementation for 12 weeks lowered the dyspnea degree by 3.16 times than the control (relative risk 3.16 with p=0.001). Furthermore, the incidence of exacerbations was also reduced by 1.8 times compared to the control group (relative risk 1.8, p=0.001). This study highlights a significant improvement in dyspnea degree and exacerbation incidence in COPD patients with the combination of protein supplementation and physical exercise. Therefore, adding chicken egg white intake could be beneficial for stable COPD patients practicing physical exercises.

Optimization of Industrial-Scale Cultivation Conditions to Enhance the Nutritional Composition of Nontoxic Cyanobacterium Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1

Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 has been proposed as a candidate species for use as a protein supplement due to its high protein content and absence of cytotoxicity. The species has also garnered attention due to the photosynthetic pigments it possesses. However, limited information is available on its cultivation. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the optimal culture medium and fundamental physiological properties of Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 under various culture conditions. In this study, SOT (Society of Toxicology) medium was confirmed as the optimal culture medium for Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 growth. The biomass production, protein content, and photosynthetic pigment content of Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 were significantly higher in SOT medium. The use of this medium allowed for scaling up from laboratory (10 mL) to pilot (200 L) conditions and industrial-scale outdoor conditions (10,000 L), with the biomass containing over 66% protein. The phytochemical composition of Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 cultured at laboratory and industrial-scales was discovered in this study. Furthermore, we observed that reducing the carbon and nitrogen sources to 1/5 of those supplied by the optimal medium did not significantly affect biomass production, and Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 demonstrated favorable growth capabilities in a salinity range of 10–50 psu and at pH levels of 8.3 to 10.3. The results of this study demonstrate the suitability of Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 for various industrial applications and its adaptability to large-scale cultivation.

Bckdk-Mediated Branch Chain Amino Acid Metabolism Reprogramming Contributes to Muscle Atrophy during Cancer Cachexia.

Branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) are essential amino acids and important nutrient signals for energy and protein supplementation. The study uses muscle-specific branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase kinase (Bckdk) conditional knockout (cKO) mice to reveal the contribution of BCAA metabolic dysfunction to muscle wasting. Muscle-specific Bckdk-cKO mice are generated through crossbreeding of Bckdkf/f mice with Myf5Cre mice. Lewis lung cancer (LLC) tumor transplantation is used to establish the cancer cachexia model. The occurrence of cancer cachexia is accelerated in the muscle-specific Bckdk-cKO mice after bearing LLC tumor. Wasting skeletal muscle is characterized by increased protein ubiquitination degradation and impaired protein synthesis. The wasting muscle gastrocnemius is mechanized as a distinct BCAA metabolic dysfunction. Based on the atrophy phenotype resulting from BCAA metabolism dysfunction, the optimized BCAA supplementation improves the survival of cancer cachexia in muscle-specific Bckdk-cKO mice bearing LLC tumors, and improves the occurrence of cancer cachexia. The mechanism of BCAA supplementation on muscle mass preservation is based on the promotion of protein synthesis and the inhibition of protein ubiquitination degradation. Dysfunctional BCAA metabolism contributes to the inhibition of protein synthesis and increases protein degradation in the cancer cachexia model of muscle-specific Bckdk-cKO mice bearing LLC tumors. The reprogramming of BCAA catabolism exerts therapeutic effects by stimulating protein synthesis and inhibiting protein degradation in skeletal muscle.

Gut microbiome composition: link between sports performance and protein absorption?

Sufficient protein intake is essential for adequate physical condition and athletic performance. However, numerous factors can influence the absorption of consumed protein, including timing, type of protein intake, and gut microbiota. In the present study, elite male water polo players consumed a plant-based, vegan protein supplement with (n = 10) or without (n = 10) pre- and probiotics daily during the 31-day study period. We determined the anthropometric characteristics and body composition, dietary habits, gut microbiota composition, and blood parameters of the players at the beginning and at the end of the study. Body composition parameters were analyzed using the InBody 970 bioimpedance analyzer. Gut microbiome composition was determined from stool samples by metagenome sequencing. Paired and unpaired t-tests were used to determine differences between body composition and blood parameters within the groups and between the two groups at the two different sampling times. The Wilcoxon test was used to determine the change in bacterial composition during the study. Correlations between changes in body composition, blood parameters, and taxonomic groups were analyzed using a linear correlation calculation. Skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.001), body cell mass (p = 0.002), arm circumference (p = 0.003), and protein mass (p < 0.001) increased, while body fat mass (p = 0.004) decreased significantly in the intervention group which consumed pre- and probiotics in addition to protein supplement. Activated acetate (reductive TCA cycle I) and propionate (pyruvate fermentation to propanoate I) pathways correlated positively with increased skeletal muscle mass (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05), and the relative abundance of butyrate-producing species showed a significant positive correlation with changes in body fat mass in the intervention group (p < 0.05). These correlations were not observed in the control group without the intake of pre- and probiotics. The composition of the gut microbiota may influence protein absorption and therefore body composition and consequently physical condition and sports performance.

The influence of increased protein intake and L-carnitine supply on the outcomes of term newborns in intensive therapy

We studied the possibilities of increased protein and L-carnitine supplementation in full-term newborns with perinatal diseases to improve the results of intensive care. Aim: to assess the impact of short-term increased protein consumption and L-carnitine supplementation by full-term newborns on the main indicators of treatment effectiveness in the intensive care unit. Materials and methods. To check the impact of the proposed method of feeding newborns, the life indicators of 59 full-term children, who were randomly divided into two groups, were studied. The first group (n = 30) received standard nutrition with mother’s milk or formula, the second group (n = 29) received a food product fortified with a protein supplement and a subsidy of L-carnitine during hospital stay. Results. Infants of both groups had statistically equivalent anthropometric characteristics at the beginning of the study. The proportions of infants of both sexes were within the 50 % percentile. Starting from the third week, caloric intake for the standard diet group (SG) and the enrichment group (FG), respectively, was 111.83 ± 7.19 kcal/kg/day, against 113.44 ± 5.61 kcal/kg/day, p = 0.0667. Per 1 g of protein, children in the FG group had amount of non-protein calories as 28.68 (27.50; 29.80) kcal/kg/day, compared to the indicator in the SG group of 42.37 (41.60; 38.00) kcal/kg/day, with U = 28.0000; p = 0.0001. Carnitine supplementation in the FG group led to an increase in the level of free carnitine in the last blood plasma samples, before the children were discharged home. In general, the proposed nutrition strategy was accompanied by better indicators of the physical development of children, and a statistically probable faster recovery of body weight in the fortification group. Thus, the generalized indicator of body weight of children of the SG group was 3966.90 ± 439.08 g, compared to the FG group of 3554.62 ± 452.28 g, with p = 0.0033. In general, children who consumed more protein were transferred from the intensive care unit earlier – 12.00 (11.00; 16.00) days, against 10.00 (8.00; 12.00) days, with U = 235,00; p = 0.0024; previously discharged from the hospital – 26.50 (22.00; 31.00) days, against 21.00 (19.00; 27.00) days, with U = 267.00, p = 0.0109. This strategy proved to be safe, as confirmed by normal levels of phenylalanine and urea at all stages of the examination of children. Conclusions. Short-term increased protein consumption against the background of carnitine supplementation improves the results of physical development of newborns and indicators of hospitalization and intensive care unit stay. Larger studies and catamnestic observation of children are needed.

Variation in individual milk production responses to supplementary protein feeding with two types of forages

The objectives of the present experiment were to investigate the effects of forage type and protein supplementation on feed intake and milk production, and between-cow variability in responses to protein supplementation. The experiment was conducted using 40 cows (28 Holstein, 12 Nordic Red, 25 multiparous, 15 primiparous). Experiment started with a covariate period of 14 d when cows received TMR (concentrate:forage, 40:60). After the covariate period four experimental diets were arranged in 2 × 2 factorial design with two forages and two concentrate CP levels. The forage treatment included grass silage (GS) and a mixture of whole-crop wheat/oats silage and grass silage (MIX; 40:60) on DM basis. The concentrate treatment included two concentrate CP levels [low CP (115 g CP/kg DM) and medium CP (166 g CP/kg DM)]. Concentrate CP concentration was increased by replacing barley and oats with rapeseed meal. The cows were fed the same forage throughout the 63-d experiment, whereas the CP treatments were compared in a switch-back design including three 21 d periods. Individual protein supplementation response was calculated based on switch-back periods. Feeding the MIX forage increased total DM intake by 1.3 kg/d compared with the GS diets but milk production was not influenced by forage type. Dry matter and nutrient intake increased with CP level similarly with forages. The production of milk components and milk urea concentration increased with CP level, whereas milk N efficiency decreased. Energy corrected milk (ECM) yield response to protein supplementation was not related to ECM yield measured during the covariate period whereas the ECM response was negatively related to calculated energy balance during covariate period. It is concluded that intake and production responses to moderate level of protein supplementation were highly variable, but the extent of variation could not be predicted from animal characteristics available in farm conditions. When the supply of metabolizable protein (MP) was simulated by the Karoline model for each animal, predicted MP concentration increased 0.8 g/kg increase in DM intake. This is compatible to increased MP requirement on DM basis with enhanced production level. Both the lack of the effects of initial production level on CP response and the higher predicted MP concentration with increased intake suggest that high yielding cows can deal with the higher MP requirement (on DM basis) without increasing dietary CP concentration.

BIOCHEMICAL PROFILE OF FULL-TERM NEWBORNS WITH DIFFERENT PROTEIN SUPPLY ON THE BACKGROUND OF THE TREATMENT OF CRITICAL DISEASES OF THE PERINATAL PERIOD

Study of the effect of increased protein and L-carnitine supplementation in term neonates with critical illnesses on the biochemical profile and improvement of intensive care outcomes.&#x0D; Objective: assessment of the impact of increased L-carnitine and protein supplementation on the physical development and biochemical profile of newborns who were in a critical condition.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The life indicators of 59 full-term children, who were randomly divided into two groups, were studied. The first group (n = 30) received standard nutrition with mother's milk or formula, the second group (n = 29) received protein-fortified food and L-carnitine supplementation during the hospital stay.&#x0D; The results. Babies of both groups had statistically equivalent characteristics at the beginning of the study. Against the background of higher consumption of proteins, the number of non-protein calories per 1 g of protein in the study group was 28.68 kcal/kg/day (27.50; 29.80), against the indicator of the standard diet group of 42.37 kcal/kg/day (41 .60; 38.00), with U = 28.0000; p = 0.000001. Carnitine supplementation in the GZ group led to an increase in the level of free carnitine in the last blood plasma samples of newborns. In general, the proposed nutrition strategy was accompanied by better indicators of physical development of children. Children who consumed more protein were transferred from the intensive care unit earlier – 10.00 (8.00; 12.00) days, against 12.00 (11.00; 16.00) days, with U = 235.00; p = 0.0024; previously discharged from the hospital -21.00 (19.00; 27.00) days, against 26.50 (22.00; 31.00) days at U = 267.00, p = 0.0109. This strategy proved to be safe, as confirmed by normal levels of phenylalanine and blood biochemical indicators at all stages of the examination of children, including urea nitrogen and creatinine.&#x0D; Conclusions. Short-term increased consumption of protein against the background of carnitine supplementation improves the results of the physical development of newborns, does not lead to deviations in the biochemical profile, and is safe.

Lucerne meal in the diet of indigenous chickens: a review

Indigenous chicken production consists of an array of activities important to smallholder poultry farmers in Africa. One of the many factors influencing their production and threating the local food security is in the area of nutrition, particularly, that related to protein supplementation. The available feed resources to farmers are not enough to sustain the productivity of the chickens. Hence, the chickens’ diets often require nutritional supplementation. There is therefore an urgent need for the validation of locally grown feed ingredients to improve the sustainability of poultry production in sub-Saharan Africa. A dietary ingredient that may be used in the diets of chickens is lucerne (Medicago sativa), which is also known as alfalfa. In South Africa, lucerne is the most cultivated forage legume and approximately 1.3 million metric tonnes of lucerne are produced per year. Lucerne has high nutritional value, as it is a source of protein, amino acids, vitamins, and fatty acids. The potential of lucerne as a feed resource for indigenous chickens should, therefore, be investigated so that strategies to improve the nutrition of such chickens can be developed. The purpose of this review was to highlight lucerne as a potential dietary ingredient for indigenous chickens and discuss its effects on the productivity of broilers, egg-layers, and dual-purpose chickens.

Approach to the epidemiology of varroosis in apiaries of Central Chile

Varroosis is a parasitic disease affecting honeybees caused by Varroa destructor mite. Its epidemiology is associated with several factors. Its control depends not only on environmental or genetic aspects but also on good beekeeping sanitary management. To identify some epidemiological aspects associated with varroosis in colonies from the Central Region of Chile and to establish possible relationships between them, 58 apiaries located in the Region of Valparaíso, Metropolitana, and O’Higgins were studied. The apiaries were monitored five times in different seasons. Factors related to management practices by beekeepers were incorporated through a qualitative survey. Infestation rates by Varroa sp. and the honeybee colony strength were measured in each case. Results indicated that infestation rates by Varroa sp. are variable in relation to management practices, especially in additional feeding (energy and protein supplements), and also, with the varroicidal treatment options. Despite beekeepers’ efforts to treat their colonies, the global prevalence of varroosis was close to 53%. This indicates that to effectively control this parasitosis, additional and standardized methodologies must be included, taking a holistic point of view, including selection, genetic improvement, biotechniques to control the mites, and in specific cases, coordinated territorial treatments.

Strategies of virginiamycin supplementation in the postweaning phase on growth performance and carcass quality of beef cattle.

The present study evaluated the effects of supplementing VM in grazing cattle during the rearing phase on performance and carcass quality of beef cattle in the finishing phase. Two experiments with a randomized block design were conducted in consecutive years to contrast two post-weaning supplementation strategies using VM at 45 mg/100 kg body weight (BW). In the first year, treatments were protein supplement in the dry season and mineral supplement in the rainy season versus the addition of VM both in the protein and mineral supplements. In the second year, was contrasted with protein supplement in the dry season and protein-energy supplement in the rainy season. Performance, carcass traits, and carcass quality were evaluated at the end of both phases. In Year 1, adding VM in mineral supplement increased final backfat thickness (P=0.05), backfat gain (P=0.06), final rump fat thickness (P=0.02), and rump fat gain (P=0.01). In the finishing phase, VM-treated cattle had a greater dry matter intake (P=0.03) and tended to show a greater backfat thickness than non-treated cattle (P=0.07). In Year 2, no VM effects were observed on post-weaning phase performance and carcass traits. However, cattle-fed VM during the post-weaning phase tended to show a lower feed conversion ratio (P=0.09) and had a significantly higher gross feed efficiency (P=0.03) than non-treated cattle at slaughter. Virginiamycin supplementation during rearing on pasture improves performance and carcass fattening in the growth phase and has a residual effect in the finishing phase that may reflect greater backfat thickness and gross feed efficiency.

Biochemical Study of maize (Zea mays L.) genotypes through total seed protein by SDS - PAGE

Maize (Zea mays L.) is one of the world's most important cereals, serving as a primary source of subsistence and industrial products. The remarkable phenotypic diversity exhibited by different maize genotypes depends on their complex biochemical compositions. In pursuit of a deeper understanding of the genetics and biochemistry of maize, this research explores the overall seed protein profiles of diverse maize genotypes using Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Primary objectives include comprehensive analysis and comparison of total seed protein composition between distinct maize genotypes, identification of protein differences associated with phenotypic differences, and insight into the genetic and environmental determinants of maize seed protein composition. Through state-of-the-art analytical techniques, including SDS-PAGE, This research examined protein supplements found in corn seeds. The results promise to reveal the genetic and environmental factors that shape the biochemistry of corn. The patterns of the total protein gave a number of 12 main bands, whose weights ranged between 17 kDa and 245 kDa. The total number of bands reached 108 bands, including 8 homogeneous bands and 6 heterogeneous bands. . The percentage of variation (difference) between the compositions was 32%, which indicates that the percentage of similarity (similarity) was 68%. The level of similarity is higher than the level of dissimilarity between the studied structures and this is due to the geographical origin of the structures and their genetic material, or that the plant is the result of hybridization between species, which ultimately benefits humanity’s quest to achieve sustainable agriculture and improved nutrition.

Assessing implementation outcomes for launching balanced energy protein supplementation: A formative study in rural Bangladesh

AbstractBalanced energy protein (BEP) supplementation is an efficacious intervention in pregnancy for improving birthweight and is recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) in countries with high maternal undernutrition. Few countries have implemented BEP programmes due in part to high cost, lack of data on acceptability and feasibility, and complexity of delivery. We sought to address implementation gaps in BEP interventions through a formative study designed to understand implementation outcomes. We conducted 52 in‐depth interviews and 8 focus‐group discussions with married women of reproductive age, family members, health care providers and pharmacists in three unions of the Gaibandha district in rural Bangladesh. Interviews were translated and transcribed in English and analysed using an analytic framework for implementation science in nutrition. BEP was viewed as an acceptable and appropriate intervention to combat undernutrition in this setting. There was a lack of clarity on who should or could be responsible for providing/distributing BEP in a way convenient to mothers. Many participants preferred door‐to‐door delivery and thought this approach could address social and gender inequities, but providers mentioned already being overworked and worried about adding new tasks. Participants were concerned about the affordability of BEP and opportunity costs associated with travel to proposed distribution sites such as ANC or pharmacies. Women in these communities do not always have the agency to travel without supervision or make purchasing decisions. BEP supplementation is a complex intervention; future trials seek to assess ways to overcome these implementation challenges and inform a long‐term systems‐owned BEP intervention.

Protein Supplements and Exercise for Sarcopenic Obesity: Benefits and Negative Effects

Background Protein supplements are commonly utilized by elderly persons who are suffering from sarcopenic obesity. Despite its popularity, however, there is currently a paucity of clear evidence on the possible benefits and negative effects of protein supplements and exercise on sarcopenic obesity (SO). Objective Thus, we wanted to see how protein supplementation and exercise affected older persons with sarcopenic obesity. Method A thorough database search was carried out to look for randomised controlled trials, quasi experimental studies, and pre-post research designs addressing the effects of protein supplementation on reducing sarcopenic obesity in older persons. This scoping review was carried out via PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases using PRISMA-Scr protocols. Two independent reviewers conducted a thorough systematic screening approach to determine record eligibility. Results Seven papers met the inclusion criteria out of the 1,811 citations found. Six of the investigations were randomized controlled trials, while one was a pre-post test study. The majority of research addressed the usage of protein supplements as well as exercise training. The protein intake for the intervention group in the included trials ranged from 1.0 to 1.8 g/kg/BW/day, while the duration of exercise conducted ranged from 2 to 3 times per week, with each session lasting 1 hour. Whey protein supplementation has been demonstrated to improve sarcopenic symptoms and weight status in SO people. The combination of resistance training and protein supplementation produced additional benefits in terms of lean muscle mass as well as biomarkers. The study also discovered a lack of uniformity in exercise design among sarcopenic obesity therapies. Conclusion Overall, the combination of resistance training and whey protein supplementation appears to be a good alternative for SO persons seeking to enhance their sarcopenic state and weight status. It does, however, underline the need for prudence when it comes to high protein consumption prescription. Given the scarcity of studies in this area, more research into the appropriate exercise plan for this demographic is necessary.

Looking for a Novel Vegan Protein Supplement from Faba Bean, Lupine, and Soybean: a Dietary and Industrial Standpoint

Global population growth poses a threat to sustainable development. Meanwhile, the use of plant proteins as healthy and sustainable alternatives to animal proteins needs further research. Therefore, this investigation was designed to study the nutritive, structural, and thermal properties of isolated protein fractions from different legumes, i.e., faba bean (FPI), soybean (SPI), and lupine (LPI). As a prospective plant-based protein powder, an equal mixture (MPI) of the three prior legume samples was formulated to study its properties compared to each sole sample. The alkaline extraction and isoelectric precipitation (AE-IP) technique was used for protein isolation. Results showed that all protein isolates had reasonable levels of protein with maximum protein content in SPI (96.15%). The MPI sample, however, came out on top in terms of amino acid profile followed by FBI. Compared to SPI and LPI, it had the highest isoleucine content and higher methionine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, and lysine. Moreover, MPI showed a median particle charge (−37.1 mV) compared to FPI, SPI, and LPI samples. MPI sample peak showed resistance to heat denaturation at a temperature greater than 200 °C when the DSC test was conducted. With respect to its rheological characteristics, it outperformed the other three protein isolates and exhibited the highest values of storage modulus G’ and loss modulus G”. Consequently, our study suggests that pulse-derived protein isolate mixture can be used as a unique type of nutritious dietary protein supplement. It could be a good nutritional alternative to proteins derived from animals.

D-galactose might mediate some of the skeletal muscle hypertrophy-promoting effects of milk-A nutrient to consider for sarcopenia?

Sarcopenia is a process of progressive aging-associated loss of skeletal muscle mass (SMM) recognized as a serious global health issue contributing to frailty and increased all-cause mortality. Exercise and nutritional interventions (particularly intake of dairy products and milk) demonstrate good efficacy, safety, and broad applicability. Here, we propose that at least some of the well-documented favorable effects of milk and milk-derived protein supplements on SMM might be mediated by D-galactose, a monosaccharide present in large quantities in milk in the form of disaccharide lactose (milk sugar). We suggest that ingestion of dairy products results in exposure to D-galactose in concentrations metabolized primarily via the Leloir pathway with the potential to (i) promote anabolic signaling via maintenance of growth factor (e.g., insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1]) receptor mature glycosylation patterns; and (ii) provide extracellular (liver glycogen) and intracellular substrates for short (muscle glycolysis) and long-term (muscle glycogen, intramyocellular lipids) energy availability. Additionally, D-galactose might optimize the metabolic function of skeletal muscles by increasing mitochondrial content and stimulating glucose and fatty acid utilization. The proposed potential of D-galactose to promote the accretion of SMM is discussed in the context of its therapeutic potential in sarcopenia.

Protein and Exercise to Reverse Frailty in Older Men and Women Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Design of the PERFORM-TAVR Trial

Despite the high procedural success of transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), 2 out of 5 older adults report poor physical performance and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in the ensuing months, particularly those with frailty. There has yet to be a trial examining the synergistic effects of exercise and protein supplementation to counteract frailty and improve patient-centred outcomes following TAVR. The PERFORM-TAVR trial is a multicentre parallel-group randomised clinical trial that is enrolling 200 frail older adults ≥ 70 years of age undergoing TAVR. Patients will be randomly allocated to 1 of 2 treatment groups: standard-of-care lifestyle education (control group) or protein-rich oral nutritional supplement for 4 weeks before TAVR with the addition of home-based supervised exercise sessions for 12 weeks after TAVR (intervention group). The primary outcome will be physical performance as measured by a blinded observer using the Short Physical Performance Battery at 3 months. Secondary outcomes at 3, 6, and 12 months will include HRQOL, as measured by the Short-Form 36 Physical and Mental Component summary scores, and a composite safety end point. The PERFORM-TAVR trial is testing a novel frailty intervention in older adults undergoing TAVR to optimise recovery and downstream HRQOL. This represents a potential paradigm shift that highlights the value of assessing and treating patients’ frailty in parallel with their underlying heart valve disease. Clinical Trial RegistrationURL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT03522454.

Protein supplement intake by non-athlete gym attendees in Jazan region: misconceptions and gender differences.

Protein supplements (PSs) have gained widespread popularity among non-athlete gym attendees, who often perceive them as essential tools for muscle growth and recovery. However, misinformation surrounding PSs may lead to inappropriate use and negative health consequences. This study aimed to assess whether non-athlete gym attendees using PSs have greater misconceptions than non-users while also examining the prevalence of PS consumption and gender differences. A cross-sectional study of 387 participants in the Jazan region was conducted. Customers of 10 fitness centers were screened with a questionnaire comprising questions to measure PS misconceptions. Participants were divided into PS users and non-users. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test to assess the associations between variables. An independent t-test was used to compare the PS Misconception Index Score between the two groups. A total of 82.4% of non-athlete gym attendees consumed at least one PS. Our findings revealed a significant association between gender and PS utilization (P<0.001), with a higher proportion of females (90.8%) consuming PS than males (77.6%). PS users had a significantly lower PS Misconception Index Score than non-users (26.8 vs. 28.3; P=0.006), indicating that PS users had a higher number of misconceptions. The internet (41.37%) and coaches (gym instructors/trainers) (34.48%) were the most common sources of information about PSs, with muscle gain being the primary reason for consumption (82.75%). PS consumption is highly prevalent among non-athlete gym attendees in the Jazan region, with many individuals having misconceptions about their benefits and potential risks. Targeted educational interventions are needed to promote evidence-based knowledge about PSs for gym attendees, as well as for coaches, given that they were among the primary sources of information on supplements.

English

The current experiment aimed to determine the effects of the growing site on the chemical composition and fermentation parameters of carob pods. Carob pods from ten different trees were hand harvested from seven different growing sites namely; Silifke, Akdeniz, Tarsus, Aydincik, Taşucu, Toroslar and Gülnar in Mersin, Turkey in 2019 and oven dried at 50°C for three days. After drying, the carob pods were ground through a 1 mm-wide sieve for analysis and in vitro gas production (GP) testing. The growing site had a significant effect on the chemical composition, GP, and digestion values of carob pods. The crude ash (CA), crude protein (CP), ether extracts (EE), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and condensed tannin (CT) contents of carob pods ranged from 2.49 to 3.51%, 5.58 to 9.14%, 2.88 to 3.38%, 17.67 to 28.03%, 11.17 to 17.94%, and 1.98 to 5.05%, respectively. The GP, methane (CH4 (mL), percentage of CH4, metabolizable energy (ME), and organic matter digestibility (OMD) ranged from 95.66 to 123.0 mL g-1 DM, 16.23 to 20.12 mL g-1 DM, 15.69 to 16.96%, 8.24 to 9.72 MJ kg-1 DM, and 54.53 to 63.40%, respectively. The GP, CH4 production, and ME contents of carob pods obtained from Silifke, Akdeniz, Tarsus, and Tasucu were significantly higher than those from the other growing sites, whereas the OMD of carob pods from Silifke and Tarsus was significantly higher than that from the other sites. The true digestible substrate (TDS), microbial protein yield (MPY), efficiency of microbial protein yield (EMPY), and true substrate digestibility (TSD) of carob pods ranged from 319.54 to 469.62 mg, 109.07 to 207.09 mg, 32.34 to 44.10%, and 68.43 to 96.11%, respectively. The TDS, MPY, EMPY, and TSD of carob pods from Tasucu were significantly higher than those from the other sites. The current study revealed valuable insight regarding the chemical composition and fermentation parameters of carob pods grown at different sites. Carop pods can be used in sheep diets to meet the energy requirement of mature sheep for maintenance and lactation whereas protein supplementation is essential when incorporating carob pods into the diets of lactating sheep to fulfill their dietary requirements.

The Protein Gap: The Rise and Fall of a Charismatic Nutrient in International Public Health.

From the early 1950s to the early 1970s, international nutritionists considered childhood protein malnutrition the world's most serious public health threat. By 1974, many believed that this "protein gap" had been exaggerated. Two questions remain: why protein, and why this period? Four converging developments created a network that maintained protein's "charisma": new food technology, a growing international health infrastructure, the nominal demise of eugenics, and new geopolitical priorities in a world shaped by both the Cold War and decolonization struggles. A transnational network of nutrition experts argued that protein deficiencies could explain bodily and population differences that would have, in an earlier era, been attributed to race or inheritance. Protein malnutrition could help explain "backward" economies and cultures, they claimed, and protein supplementation would help spur development. The protein gap theory thus framed difference in the language of modernization theory, but left intact older hierarchies of bodies, nations, and races.