Medium-chain Saturated Fatty Acids Research Articles

Obesity during pregnancy in the horse: effect on term placental structure and gene expression, as well as colostrum and milk fatty acid concentrations

In horses, the prevalence of obesity is high and associated with serious metabolic pathologies. Being a brood mare has been identified as a risk factor of obesity. In other species, maternal obesity is known to affect offspring development. This article is a follow-up study of previous work that showed that Obese mares (O, n=10, body condition score >4.25 at insemination) were more insulin resistant and presented increased systemic inflammation during pregnancy compared to Normal mares (N, n=14, body condition score <4 at insemination). Foals born to obese mares were more insulin resistant, presented increased systemic inflammation and were more affected by osteoarticular lesions. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of maternal obesity on placental structure and function, as well as fatty acid profile in plasma of mares and foals, colostrum, and milk until 90 days of lactation. Mares of both groups were fed the same diet during pregnancy and lactation. During lactation, mares were kept at pasture. A strong heat wave, followed by a drought, occurred during their 2nd and 3rd months of lactation. Term placental morphometry, structure (stereology) and gene expression (RT-qPCR, genes involved in nutrient transport, growth, and development, as well as vascularization) were studied. Plasma of mares and their foals, as well as colostrumand milk were sampled at birth, 30 days, and 90 days of lactation. The fatty acid composition of these samples was measured using gas chromatography. No differences between N and O groups were observed for term placental morphometry, structure and gene expression. No difference of plasma fatty acid composition was observed between groups in mares. The plasma fatty acid profile of O foals was more pro-inflammatory and indicated an altered placental lipid metabolism between birth and 90 days of age. These results are in line with the increased systemic inflammation and altered glucose metabolism observed later in this group. The colostrum fatty acid profile of O mares was more pro-inflammatory and indicated an increased transfer and/or desaturation of long-chain fatty acids. Moreover, O foals received a colostrum poorer in medium-chain saturated fatty acid, a source of immediate energy for the newborn, that also can play a role in immunity and gut microbiota development. Differences in milk fatty acid composition indicated a decreased ability to adapt to heat stress in O mares. In conclusion, maternal obesity affected the fatty acid composition of milk and plasma of foals, likely participating in the developmental programming observed in growing foals.

Effect of processing method on chemical composition, physicochemical property, antioxidant activity and volatile compound of Cinnamomum camphora seed kernel oil

The study aimed to investigate the effects of processing methods on oil yield, chemical composition, physicochemical properties, antioxidant activity and volatile compounds of Cinnamomum camphora seed kernel oil (CCSKO). The processing methods used were hot pressing (HP), cold pressing (CP), solvent extraction (SE), aqueous extraction (AE), sub-critical fluid extraction (SCFE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). The results showed that the extraction efficiencies from different processing methods ranged from 44.48% to 97.93%, with the highest efficiency from SCFE. All CCSKO samples were found to be rich in medium-chain saturated fatty acids (> 96%), and capric acid-capric acid-lauric acid accounting for the largest proportion of triacylglycerols (77.54%−78.74%). However, the total polyphenol content, δ-tocopherol content and antioxidant activity of AE, α-tocopherol and γ-tocopherol content of CP, and squalene content of SCFE were all significantly higher than those of the other samples. Additionally, the thermal behaviors and spectral profiles of all samples were similar. Furthermore, there were significant differences in the volatile compounds of CCSKO with different processing methods (p < 0.05). Linalool, 2-nonanol, and ethyl caprate were determined to be the key aroma compounds of CCSKO. Overall, the results provide a theoretical reference for further processing of CCSKO.

Fatty Acids Abolish Shigella Virulence by Inhibiting Its Master Regulator, VirF.

The pathogenicity of Shigella, the intracellular pathogen responsible for human bacillary dysentery, depends on a coordinated and tightly regulated expression of its virulence determinants. This is the result of a cascade organization of its positive regulators, with VirF, a transcriptional activator belonging to the AraC-XylS family, in a pivotal position. VirF itself is submitted to several well-known regulations at the transcriptional level. In this work, we present evidence for a novel posttranslational regulatory mechanism of VirF mediated by the inhibitory interaction with specific fatty acids. By homology modeling and molecular docking analyses, we identify a jelly roll motif in the structure of ViF capable of interacting with medium-chain saturated and long-chain unsaturated fatty acids. In vitro and in vivo assays show that capric, lauric, myristoleic, palmitoleic, and sapienic acids interact effectively with the VirF protein, abolishing its transcription-promoting activity. This silences the virulence system of Shigella, leading to a drastic reduction in its ability to invade epithelial cells and proliferate in their cytoplasm. IMPORTANCE In the absence of a valid vaccine, the main therapeutic approach currently used to treat shigellosis is based on the use of antibiotics. The emergence of antibiotic resistance jeopardizes the future effectiveness of this approach. The importance of the present work resides both in the identification of a new level of posttranslational regulation of the Shigella virulence system and in the characterization of a mechanism offering new opportunities for the design of antivirulence compounds, which may change the treatment paradigm of Shigella infections by limiting the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

The role of fatty acids in disturbance of energy processes in the early placenta with cytomegalovirus infection

Introduction. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection directly and indirectly can cause placental dysfunction. One of the reasons for its development may be a deficiency of energy supply due to changes in the level of fatty acids (FA) – the main sources of energy in the cell.Aim. Analysis of the fatty acids concentration and causes of its changes in the placenta during exacerbation of CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy.Materials and methods. Biosamples (venous blood, epithelium from the inner surface of the cheek, mucous membrane of the cervical canal, villous chorion) of 32 CMV-seropositive women with an exacerbation of CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy (main group) and 30 CMV-seronegative women (control group) were studied. Exacerbation of CMV infection was diagnosed by ELISA to detect IgM and IgG with avidity of 65% or more, PCR to detect CMV DNA. The profile and relative concentration of individual FA in villous chorion lipid extracts were studied by gas-liquid chromatography. The activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was determined by a histochemical method on sections of freshly frozen villous chorion tissues.Results. In the main group placentas, the concentration of medium-chain saturated fatty acids was statistically significantly lower: capric by 50%, lauric by 51%, unsaturated myristoleic by 44%; long-chain unsaturated acids: palmitoleic, oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic fatty acids by 52%, 55%, 57% and 64%, respectively; of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a very long chain: eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic by 44% and 41%, respectively. The activity of enzymes: succinate dehydrogenase, pyruvate dehydrogenase, NADP-dependent malate dehydrogenase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase decreased.Conclusion. Thus, we found a decrease in energy supply in the placenta during exacerbation of chronic CMV infection in the first trimester of pregnancy. Disorders of placental energy metabolism can cause placental insufficiency, which has adverse consequences for fetal development.

Solid lipid nanoparticles of lauric Acid: A prospective drug carrier for oral drug delivery

Lauric acid, a naturally occurring medium-chain saturated fatty acid, is known to exhibit high intestinal absorption and a higher propensity for lymphatic absorption. To tap these advantages for nanoparticle-mediated sustained drug delivery, solid lipid nanoparticles of lauric acid (LA-SLN) were prepared by the hot homogenization method. A fluorescent lipophilic dye, Rhodamine B (RhB), was incorporated into the LA-SLN (R-LA-SLN) as a model drug. The particle size and the zeta potential of the LA-SLN were 21.42 ± 1.83 nm and −3.17 ± 0.21 mV, respectively, in phosphate buffer. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading capacity achieved by R-LA-SLN were about 80.31 ± 0.18 % and 1.02 ± 0.02 %, respectively. In vitro studies revealed a biphasic drug release pattern and were found to follow a Fickian diffusion model. It was found that 52 % RhB was released from R-LA-SLN in the initial 4 h and 71 % in 10 h. The cytotoxic response of LA-SLN was tested on colorectal cancer cells and it elicited only mild cytotoxicity. The cellular uptake studies conducted with colon cancer cells revealed that R-LA-SLN uptake by the cells was twice that of free RhB. The confocal microscopy and Raman mapping showed localization of R-LA-SLN in the cytoplasm on cellular uptake. R-LA-SLN was found to mediate tight junction opening and increased the paracellular permeability by 6 times over free RhB. Mucoadhesion of LA-SLN to the rat intestinal colon mucosa was 1.7 times higher than that of chitosan control, indicating the probability of a longer-duration drug release in the colon.

Nutrients, Physical Activity, and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Setting of Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic risk factors for diabetes, coronary heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and some tumors. It includes insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. MetS is primarily linked to lipotoxicity, with ectopic fat deposition from fat storage exhaustion, more than obesity per se. Excessive intake of long-chain saturated fatty acid and sugar closely relates to lipotoxicity and MetS through several pathways, including toll-like receptor 4 activation, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma regulation (PPARγ), sphingolipids remodeling, and protein kinase C activation. These mechanisms prompt mitochondrial dysfunction, which plays a key role in disrupting the metabolism of fatty acids and proteins and in developing insulin resistance. By contrast, the intake of monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and medium-chain saturated (low-dose) fatty acids, as well as plant-based proteins and whey protein, favors an improvement in sphingolipid composition and metabolic profile. Along with dietary modification, regular exercises including aerobic, resistance, or combined training can target sphingolipid metabolism and improve mitochondrial function and MetS components. This review aimed to summarize the main dietary and biochemical aspects related to the physiopathology of MetS and its implications for mitochondrial machinery while discussing the potential role of diet and exercise in counteracting this complex clustering of metabolic dysfunctions.

Lipidomic analysis of brain and hippocampus from mice fed with high-fat diet and treated with fecal microbiota transplantation

BackgroundDietary fat intake affects brain composition and function. Different types of dietary fatty acids alter species and abundance of brain lipids in mice. The aim of this study is to explore whether the changes are effective through gut microbiota.MethodsIn our study, 8-week-old male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 7 groups and fed with high-fat diet (HFD) with different fatty acid compositions, control (CON) group, long-chain saturated fatty acid (LCSFA) group, medium-chain saturated fatty acid (MCSFA) group, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) group, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-6 PUFA) group, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) group and trans fatty acid (TFA) group. Then, the fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) was performed in other pseudo germ-free mice after antibiotic treatment. The experimental groups were orally perfused with gut microbiota that induced by HFD with different types of dietary fatty acids. The mice were fed with regular fodder before and after FMT. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to analysis the composition of fatty acids in the brain of HFD-fed mice and hippocampus of mice treated with FMT which was collected from HFD-fed mice.ResultsThe content of acyl-carnitines (AcCa) increased and lysophosphatidylgylcerol (LPG) decreased in all kinds of HFD groups. phosphatidic acids (PA), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and sphingomyelin (SM) contents were significantly increased in the n-6 PUFA-fed HFD group. The HFD elevated the saturation of brain fatty acyl (FA). Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), lysodi-methylphosphatidylethanolamine (LdMePE), monolysocardiolipin (MLCL), dihexosylceramides (Hex2Cer), and wax ester (WE) significantly increased after LCSFA-fed FMT. MLCL reduced and cardiolipin (CL) raised significantly after n-3 PUFA-fed FMT.ConclusionsThe study revealed, HFD and FMT in mice had certain effects on the content and composition of fatty acids in the brain, especially on glycerol phospholipid (GP). The change of AcCa content in FA was a good indicator of dietary fatty acid intake. By altering the fecal microbiota, dietary fatty acids might affect brain lipids.

Dietary Fats and Depressive Symptoms in Italian Adults.

Depression represents one of the major causes of disability worldwide, with an important socioeconomic cost. Although many risk factors have been considered in its pathogenesis, nutrition seems to play a determinant role in its prevention. With regard to individual macronutrients, dietary fats and especially n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) are the most studied. However, previous data about other dietary fatty acids, such as n-6 PUFA, are conflicting, and little is known about saturated fatty acids (SFA), especially when considering carbon chain length. Thus, we investigated whether single types and subtypes of dietary fats are related to depressive symptoms in Italian individuals living in the Mediterranean area. Dietary and socio-demographic data of 1572 individuals were analyzed. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were used to determine the consumption of total dietary fat and each specific class of dietary fat, such as SFA, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), and PUFA. The intake of fatty acids was also assessed according to the carbon-chain length of each single class. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used as a screening tool for depressive symptoms. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, a significant inverse association between low/moderate levels of PUFA intake and depressive symptoms (Q2 vs. Q1, odds ratio (OR) = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.84) was found. On the other hand, moderate saturated fat consumption was associated with depressive symptoms (Q3 vs. Q1, OR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.02, 2.04). However, when considering carbon chain length, individuals with a lower to moderate intake of short-chain saturated fatty acids (SCSFA) and medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MCSFA) were less likely to have depressive symptoms (Q3 vs. Q1, OR = 0.48, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.75), while moderate intake of arachidic acid (C20:0) was directly associated with depressive symptoms (Q3 vs. Q1, OR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.26, 2.77). Among single MUFAs, higher myristoleic acid (C14:1) intake was directly associated with depressive symptoms (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.12, 2.61), while moderate intake of erucic acid (C22:1) was associated with lower odds of having depressive symptoms (Q3 vs. Q1, OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.33, 0.86). When considering individual PUFAs, individuals with moderate and higher intakes of arachidonic acid (C20:4) were less likely to have depressive symptoms (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.91; OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.91, respectively). Similarly, higher eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5) intake was inversely associated with depressive symptoms (Q4 vs. Q1, OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.98), while a significant association for docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6) was retrieved only for low intakes (Q2 vs. Q1, OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.12, 0.88). Dietary fat intake may be associated with depressive symptoms, underlying the importance of distinguishing between different fat types. This study confirms the pivotal role of PUFAs and reopens the debate on the role of saturated fatty acids, suggesting plausible effects of moderate intakes of short-chain fatty acids.

Evaluation of Fatty Acid Distributions and Triacylglycerol Species in Sow Milk and Commercial Piglet Formulas: A Comparative Study Based on Fat Sources and Lactation Stages

Total fatty acid and sn-2 fatty acid compositions, and triacylglycerol (TAG) species in 130 sow colostrum, 100 sow milk, and 22 piglet formula samples were analyzed in the present study. Significant differences were found in concentrations of medium chain-saturated fatty acids (MC-SFAs) and distributions of palmitic acid (P) and oleic (O)/linoleic (L) acid. The levels of MC-SFAs in sow colostrum and sow milk fats (2.4-3.1%) were significantly lower than those in piglet formulas (7.9-27.2%). Approximately 63% of palmitic acid was located at the sn-2 position in both sow colostrum and milk fats, which was significantly higher than in piglet formula fats (21.1-39.1%). Correspondingly, only 17.8-28.3% of oleic and linoleic acids were at the sn-2 position in sow milk fats, contributing to their typical triacylglycerol structure in sow colostrum and milk, whose palmitic acid connected to the sn-2 position and unsaturated fatty acids located at the sn-1,3 positions. Sow colostrum, milk, and piglet formulas were notably distinguished into three groups based on their fatty acids and TAGs, among which triacylglycerols were the most differentiated index. A total of 51 TAG species (including their isomers) differed significantly between sow colostrum and milk and piglet formulas. OPL and OPO were the most important differentiating TAGs. The large amount of sn-2 esterified palmitic acid plays a key role in improving the absorption of fat and calcium. The results provide suggestions for design of sow milk fat equivalents.

Saturated Fatty Acid Chain Length and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Systematic Review.

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of saturated fatty acid chain lengths on the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The importance of replacement macronutrients is also discussed. PubMed, CINAHL, and Cochrane library were searched for relevant prospective cohort studies that measured SFA chain length via diet analysis through October of 2020. A second updated PubMed search was conducted from October 2020 to 7 August 2022. Five prospective cohort studies were added. All studies used food frequency questionnaires to assess dietary intake. For all five added studies, the main sources of saturated fat were palmitic and steric acid from meat and cheese. Most studies discovered an association with increased risk of CVD and long-chain saturated fatty acid intake, as well as a neutral (potentially beneficial) association with short- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids. Isocaloric substitutions were associated with a higher risk for CVD when saturated fats were replaced with refined carbohydrates and protein from meat, but a reduced or neutral impact when relaced with plant-based protein, unsaturated fat, or complex carbohydrates. When examining the impact of diet on CVD risk, it is critical to consider the macronutrient replacing saturated fat as well as the saturated fat chain length, whole foods, and diet patterns on CVD risk. The studies included in this review suggest that LCSFA (C12-18) may increase the risk for CVD development, while SCFA and MCFA (C4--C10) may be more beneficial or neutral.

Inflammatory crosstalk between saturated fatty acids and gut microbiota-white adipose tissue axis.

High-fat diets have different metabolic responses via gut dysbiosis. In this review, we discuss the complex interaction between the intake of long- and medium-chain saturated fatty acids (SFAs), gut microbiota, and white adipose tissue (WAT) dysfunction, particularly focusing on the type of fat. The evidence for the impact of dietary SFAs on the gut microbiota-WAT axis has been mostly derived from in vitro and animal models, but there is now also evidence emerging from human studies. Most current reports show that, in response to high long- and medium-chain SFA diets, WAT functions are altered and can be modulated from microbial metabolites in several manners; and it appears to be also modified under conditions of obesity. SFAs overconsumption can reduce bacterial content and disrupt the gut environment. Both long- and medium-chain SFAs may contribute to proinflammatory cytokines release and TLR4 cascade signaling, either by regulation of endotoxemia markers or myristoylated protein. Palmitic and stearic acids have pathological effects on the intestinal epithelium, microbes, and inflammatory and lipogenic WAT profiles. While myristic and lauric acids display somewhat controversial outcomes, from probiotic effects and contribution to weight loss to cardiometabolic alterations from WAT inflammation. Identifying an interference of distinct types of SFA in the binomial gut microbiota-WAT may elucidate essential mechanisms of metabolic endotoxemia, which may be the key to triggering obesity, innovating the therapeutic tools for this disease.

Vascular dodecanoic acid of Arabidopsis mediates an insect resistance against Myzuspersicae.

The present study explores the compatible interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana and Myzus persicae to reduce host resistance from the previous aphid herbivore-mediated priming. The resumption of host resistance from the "reduced host resistance" was also recorded in due time when aphid herbivore was removed from leaf foliage. The vascular sap, isolated from the midpoint timing from the "reduced host resistance" to the "resumed host resistance" phase resolved in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis that identified an enrichment of dodecanoic acid (DA), an antibacterial metabolite and a saturated medium-chain fatty acid with a 12-carbon backbone. DA infiltration into leaf foliage revealed a significant reduction of aphid clonal proliferation on leaf foliage with concomitant reduction of the vascular microbiota titer as well as aphid body. The "resumed host resistance" from "reduced host resistance" also showed a comparable microbiota titer in comparison to control but the "reduced host resistance" evidenced a significant higher microbiota titer which was correlated with an enhanced aphid clonal proliferation on the leaf foliage. The DA infiltrated leaf foliage had no effect on total vascular sap ingestion by the aphid herbivore but induced RNA level of GUS expression under the control of promoter of pad-4, mpl-1, and sag-13. A similar pattern of gus expression was recorded from aphid herbivore. Thus, DA mediates aphid resistance towardaphid clonal proliferation in the host plant by manipulating vascular and aphid body microbiota titer.

Preparation of pelargonic acid vesicles and sustained drug release

This study has selected the medium-chain saturated fatty acid pelargonic acid as the raw material for the first time, and added the surface catalyst Tween 80 to the aqueous solution to form pelargonic acid–Tween 80 composite vesicles by a surface tension method. The compound vesicle was used to encapsulate five heterocyclic drugs (cefazolin sodium, chlorpromazine hydrochloride, gemcitabine hydrochloride, metronidazole, and isoniazid), all of which have disadvantages when used directly, and the effects of the vesicles on the five kinds of drugs were evaluated in terms of encapsulation rate and the in vitro sustained release in a simulated artificial intestinal fluid environment. The results revealed that the pelargonic acid–Tween 80 composite vesicles exhibit an encapsulation efficiency above 45%, and that the encapsulated drugs achieve a cumulative release effect of 6–10 h in a simulated artificial intestinal fluid environment, and the cumulative release rate is above 35%. This study proves that pelargonic acid–Tween 80 composite vesicles can be used as a carrier for encapsulated drugs, and this can extend the time of action of the drugs. This research illustrates the potential for application of pelargonic acid in the field of medicine.

Comparison of fatty acid composition of milk from Holstein and local breed cows in two breeding systems

&#x0D; Milk production and quality are influenced by many factors, including nutrition, management practices and breed. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of farming management system and breed on the milk yield, and fatty acid composition of the milk from 50 confinement-fed cows that were fed a total mixed ration, and 52 pasture-fed cows grazed together in rangeland. Individual milk samples (N = 102) were collected once in February. Milk from local breed was characterized by a significantly lower milk yield, and somatic cell count, and a higher protein content than the Holstein breed. The fatty acid composition was relatively the same in both breeds. The result showed that farming management system has no significant effect on the milk yield, somatic cell count, and fat contents, while there was a significant effect on protein content and fatty acid composition. The milk of Holstein cows from extensive system was characterized by more favorable fat fractions with significantly lower concentrations of C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, the sum of short and medium chain saturated fatty acids and n-6: n-3 ratio, and also by higher concentration of unsaturated fatty acids and the sum of n-3 than the milk of Holstein from intensive system.&#x0D;

Association between Dietary Fatty Acid Patterns and Colorectal Cancer Risk: A Large-Scale Case-Control Study in China.

Associations of dietary fatty acids with the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) remain controversial. The objective of this study was to examine whether dietary-derived fatty acid patterns were related to CRC risk among Chinese people. A total of 2806 CRC patients and 2806 frequency-matched controls were interviewed in this case-control study between July 2010 and May 2021. A food frequency questionnaire was used to gather information on dietary intake. Four fatty acid patterns were identified using factor analysis. The even-long-chain fatty acid pattern had no statistically significant association with CRC risk (adjusted Odds ratio (aOR), 1.16; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.97–1.39; ptrend = 0.129). However, significant inverse associations were found between the medium-chain and long-chain saturated fatty acid (SFA) pattern (aOR, 0.34; 95%CI, 0.27–0.42), the highly unsaturated fatty acid pattern (aOR, 0.73; 95%CI, 0.60–0.88), the odd-chain fatty acid pattern (aOR, 0.69; 95%CI, 0.57–0.83), and CRC risk. The interaction between fatty acid patterns and sex was observed, and the association between the highly unsaturated fatty acid pattern and CRC risk differed by subsite. In conclusion, increasing the intakes of foods rich in medium-chain SFAs, highly unsaturated fatty acids, and odd-chain fatty acids may be related to a lower risk of CRC.

Dietary Fats and Cardio-Metabolic Outcomes in a Cohort of Italian Adults.

Background: Dietary fats, and especially saturated fatty acid (SFA), have been blamed for being the culprit in the dramatic increase in obesity and its associated diseases. However multiple systematic reviews and recent meta-analyses do not support the association between SFA and cardiovascular diseases. Thus, the objective of this study was to test whether specific types and subtypes of dietary fats are associated with metabolic outcomes in a cohort of Italian adults. Methods: Nutritional and demographic data of 1936 adults living in the south of Italy were examined. Food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) were administered to assess the intake of total dietary fat and each specific class of dietary fat, such as SFA, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). The intake of fatty acids was also examined according to the carbon-chain length of each individual class. Cases of hypertension, type-2 diabetes and dyslipidemias were collected from previous doctor-confirmed diagnosis records (or direct measurement of blood pressure). Results: After adjustment for potential confounding factors, individuals reporting higher intakes of total and saturated fats were associated with lower likelihood of having hypertension (odds ratio (OR) = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.91 and OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.89, respectively). Moreover, higher intake of short-chain saturated fatty acids (SCSFAs) and medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MCSFAs) was inversely associated with dyslipidemia and diabetes (OR = 0.43, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.82 and OR = 0.25, 95% CI: 0.09, 0.72, respectively). Among MUFAs, C18:1 was inversely associated with hypertension and diabetes (OR = 0.52, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.92 and OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.07, 0.67, respectively), while C14:1 intake was inversely associated only with hypertension (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.37, 0.88). In contrast, C20:1 intake was associated with dyslipidemia (OR = 3.35, 95% CI: 1.33, 8.42). Regarding PUFA, C18:2 and 20:5 were inversely associated with hypertension (OR = 0.33, 95% CI: 0.18, 0.60 and OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.10, 0.89, respectively). Conclusions: The consumption of SFA does not seem to be harmful to cardio-metabolic health and, on the contrary, SCSFA may exert beneficial effects. Further studies are needed to clearly validate the results of the present study.

Mechanistic insight into the role of mevalonate kinase by a natural fatty acid-mediated killing of Leishmania donovani

We evaluated the anti-leishmanial efficacy of different saturated medium-chain fatty acids (FAs, C8–C18) where FA containing C8 chain, caprylic acid (CA), was found to be most potent against Leishmania donovani, the causative agent for visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Different analogs of CA with C8 linear chain, but not higher, along with a carboxyl/ester group showed a similar anti-leishmanial effect. Ergosterol depletion was the major cause of CA-mediated cell death. Molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation studies indicated the enzyme mevalonate kinase (MevK) of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway as a possible target of CA. Enzyme assays with purified recombinant MevK and CA/CA analogs confirmed the target with a competitive inhibition pattern. Using biochemical and biophysical studies; strong binding interaction between MevK and CA/CA analogs was established. Further, using parasites with overexpressed MevK and proteomics studies of CA-treated parasites the direct role of MevK as the target was validated. We established the mechanism of the antileishmanial effect of CA, a natural product, against VL where toxicity and drug resistance with current chemotherapeutics demand an alternative. This is the first report on the identification of an enzymatic target with kinetic parameters and mechanistic insights against any organism for a natural medium-chain FA.

Recovery of valuable compounds from orange processing wastes using supercritical carbon dioxide extraction

Citrus processing industries produce high volumes of wastewater containing significant polluting loads for the environment, many of which are functional bioactive compounds. In this study, it was aimed to recover valuable bioactive components by supercritical CO2 extraction from orange processing wastes. For this purpose, an optimization study was carried out using the response surface methodology (RSM) in terms of pressure and temperature. The optimum experimental conditions were found to be 28.7 MPa and 60 °C for maximum extract yield, total phenolics content, total flavonoids content and antioxidant activity values. It was determined that some valuable phenolic compounds such as hesperetin, quercetin, apigenin, cyanidin, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, sinapic acid, isorhamnetin and their derivatives have been increased between 2 and 260 times in the extracts by supercritical CO2 extraction. Another important finding of this study was that short and medium chain saturated fatty acids were detected in the wastewater extracts while longer chain fatty acids were detected in the orange peel extracts. This may be due to the fact that more soluble short-chain fatty acids are transferred from the fruit to the juice during fruit processing.

Triacylglycerol composition and thermodynamic profiles of fractions from dry fractionation of anhydrous milk fat

This research provided a more in-depth look at the physiochemical properties of milk fat. The milk fat was fractionated between 30 and 15 °C into eight fractions with different melting points, the cooling step were successively 30, 25, 20 and 15 ℃. Physiochemical properties of different fractions, which include fatty acids, triacylglycerols, thermodynamics, and crystallization behavior, also were analyzed by using GC, UPLC-ESI MS, DSC and XRD. The results showed that the melting point of 30 S could reach 38.2 ℃ compared with the native milk fat (31 ℃) after fractionation. As the fractionation temperature decreased, the content of long-chain saturated fatty acids decreased. However, the content of short and medium-chain saturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids showed an increasing trend, and the corresponding saturated triacylglycerols were also reduced. Besides, the high melting point fractions were mixed dominantly by β' crystal form at room temperature. The crystallization or melting temperature was relatively high, and the latent heat of phase change also was large. Therefore, these results demonstrated that the milk fat quality could be improved by dry fractionation and its application was expanded in production.

Predictors of Human Milk Fatty Acids and Associations with Infant Growth in a Norwegian Birth Cohort.

Triglyceride-bound fatty acids constitute the majority of lipids in human milk and may affect infant growth. We describe the composition of fatty acids in human milk, identify predictors, and investigate associations between fatty acids and infant growth using data from the Norwegian Human Milk Study birth cohort. In a subset of participants (n = 789, 30% of cohort), oversampled for overweight and obesity, we analyzed milk concentrations of detectable fatty acids. We modelled percent composition of fatty acids in relation to maternal body mass index, pregnancy weight gain, parity, smoking, delivery mode, gestational age, fish intake, and cod liver oil intake. We assessed the relation between fatty acids and infant growth from 0 to 6 months. Of the factors tested, excess pregnancy weight gain was positively associated with monounsaturated fatty acids and inversely associated with stearic acid. Multiparity was negatively associated with monounsaturated fatty acids and n-3 fatty acids while positively associated with stearic acid. Gestational age was inversely associated with myristic acid. Medium-chain saturated fatty acids were inversely associated with infant growth, and mono-unsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic acid, were associated with an increased odds of rapid growth. Notably, excessive maternal weight gain was associated with cis-vaccenic acid, which was further associated with a threefold increased risk of rapid infant growth (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 1.2–6.6), suggesting that monounsaturated fatty acids in milk may play a role in the intergenerational transmission of obesity.