JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2010
A. PUNEETH KUMAR
ABSTRACT Reactive oxygen metabolites, which are constant products of normal aerobic cell metabolism, play a key role in worsening the pathophysiological complications of diabetes. The present investigation was aimed at understanding the effect of butyric acid supplementation along with wheatbran and guar gum on serum and renal antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase were evaluated in serum and kidney of control and experimental rats. Results clearly showed that the altered activity of the enzymes during diabetes was significantly ameliorated by butyric acid (500 mg/kg body weight/day) supplementation compared with other experimental groups. Further, the increased lipid peroxidation in serum and kidney of diabetic rats was also significantly reduced in butyric acid-supplemented diabetic rats. The study led us to conclude that butyric acid exert antioxidant property, thereby minimizing oxidative stress induced diabetes and its related complications. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Butyric acid , a product of dietary fiber fermentation , is a four-carbon fatty acid, which has wide range of application in disease management. This product is involved in various physiological functions of body like cell differentiation, apoptosis, colonic homeostasis, histone acetylation, etc. It is also known to decrease the incidence of bowel cancer and some of its analogues are shown to selectively improve glucose-stimulated insulin release and glucose tolerance in both normal and diabetic rats. This study aims to evaluate the beneficial effects of butyric acid supplementation on oxidative stress-induced diabetic complications in rats. [source]

LIPID PEROXIDATION IN SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM AND MUSCLE OF TILAPIA IS INHIBITED BY DIETARY VITAMIN E SUPPLEMENTATION

JOURNAL OF FOOD BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2004
SUE-LAN HUANG
Lipid peroxidation was analyzed in muscle and sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) of hybrid tilapia fed diets containing 0, 100, 200, and 300 IU vitamin E/kg for 8 months. Iron-catalyzed NADH-dependent lipid peroxidation in SR of tilapia fed diet containing no supplemented vitamin E was significantly greater than that of fish fed other diets (P < 0.05). No difference was observed in SR lipid peroxidation between fish fed 200 and 300 IU vitamin E/kg. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) produced in muscle stored at either 4C or -40C for 7 days and 8 weeks, respectively, increased when storage time increased. When muscle TBARS were plotted against storage time, the lag phases were longer for fish fed high vitamin E (, 200 IU/kg) diets than those from fish fed low vitamin E diets. [source]

Fish Oil Supplementation Improves Left Ventricular Function in Children With Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 6 2007
Seref Olgar MD
Fish oil has a cardioprotective effect in adults with ischemic heart disease. The authors examined the effects of fish oil in children with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Eighteen DCM patients (group I) and 12 healthy children (group III) were given fish oil (10 mL/d). Their cardiac findings were compared with those of 11 patients with DCM who did not receive fish oil (group II). After 6.62±1.70 months, left ventricular ejection fraction had increased by 8.44%±3.80% (P<.05), in group I; 2.48%±3.85% (not statistically significant) in group II; and 0.84%±2.34% (not statistically significant) in group III. Left ventricular internal diastolic diameter (mm) was reduced by 4.36±4.86 (P=.001) in group I and 1.92±5.37 (P=.263) in group II, but increased by 0.22±2.54 (not statistically significant) in group III. The results suggest that fish oil leads to accelerated improvement of left ventricular function. The authors believe that if these results are confirmed in larger studies, fish oil should be added to the standard anticongestive therapy of children with DCM. [source]

Acute and Chronic Oral Magnesium Supplementation: Effects on Endothelial Function, Exercise Capacity, and Quality of Life in Patients With Symptomatic Heart Failure

CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, Issue 1 2006
Johanna C. Fuentes MD
Endothelial dysfunction is an important pathophysiologic mechanism in the progression of heart failure. The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of acute and chronic oral magnesium supplementation on endothelial function in patients with symptomatic heart failure. Twenty-two symptomatic chronic heart failure patients were randomized to receive 800 mg oral magnesium oxide daily or placebo for 3 months. Data collected included large and small arterial elasticity/compliance, hemodynamic parameters, exercise capacity, and quality-of-life score at baseline, 1 week, and 3 months. Patients who received magnesium had improved small arterial compliance at 3 months from baseline compared with placebo. This study suggests that chronic supplementation with oral magnesium is well tolerated and could improve endothelial function in symptomatic heart failure patients. [source]

Recombinant EDA or Sonic Hedgehog rescue the branching defect in Ectodysplasin A pathway mutant salivary glands in vitro

DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS, Issue 10 2010
K.L. Wells
Abstract Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is characterized by defective ectodermal organ development. This includes the salivary glands (SGs), which have an important role in lubricating the oral cavity. In humans and mice, HED is caused by mutations in Ectodysplasin A (Eda) pathway genes. Various phenotypes of the mutant mouse EdaTa/Ta, which lacks the ligand Eda, can be rescued by maternal injection or in vitro culture supplementation with recombinant EDA. However, the response of the SGs to this treatment has not been investigated. Here, we show that the submandibular glands (SMGs) of EdaTa/Ta mice exhibit impaired branching morphogenesis, and that supplementation of EdaTa/Ta SMG explants with recombinant EDA rescues the defect. Supplementation of EdardlJ/dlJ SMGs with recombinant Sonic hedgehog (Shh) also rescues the defect, whereas treatment with recombinant Fgf8 does not. This work is the first to test the ability of putative Eda target molecules to rescue Eda pathway mutant SMGs. Developmental Dynamics 239:2674,2684, 2010. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation, monocyte adhesion molecule expression and pro-inflammatory mediators in Type 2 diabetes mellitus

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 1 2001
M. J. Sampson
SUMMARY Aims To examine the effect of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements on the monocyte surface expression of adhesion molecules involved in pro-atherogenic monocyte,endothelial interactions, and on pro-inflammatory mediators in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods Twenty-nine subjects with Type 2 diabetes and 21 controls without diabetes were studied. Monocyte expression of leucocyte function-associated antigens 1 and 3, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and the major histocompatibility complex class II molecule HLA-DR were measured using a laser flow cytometric method. Supplementation with 2.08 g n-3 fatty acids for 21 days was undertaken and measurements repeated. Plasma soluble adhesion molecule concentrations, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 activity and antigen and pro-inflammatory mediators (cysteinyl leukotriene and monocyte leukotriene B4) were also measured. Results Groups did not differ in monocyte expression of adhesion molecules or HLA-DR, or in leukotriene production although plasma soluble adhesion molecule concentrations were higher in the diabetes groups (P < 0.05). n-3 fatty acid supplementation influenced neither the expression of these molecules nor plasma soluble adhesion molecule concentrations or leukotriene production. Conclusions This study does not support increased monocyte adhesion molecule expression or abnormal monocyte production of pro-inflammatory mediators as mechanisms for increased atherogenic risk in Type 2 diabetes. Cardioprotective actions of n-3 fatty acids may not be mediated through these mechanisms. [source]

Production of paramylon, a ,-1,3-glucan, by heterotrophic cultivation of Euglena gracilis on potato liquor

ENGINEERING IN LIFE SCIENCES (ELECTRONIC), Issue 2 2010
Bozidar, antek
Abstract Euglena gracilis is shown to be able to grow on potato liquor as the main medium component leading to an interesting biotechnological product represented by paramylon , a ,-1,3-glucan , and, at the same time, revaluating an otherwise annoying waste stream of the potato-starch industry. Paramylon mass fractions of about 75% are obtained for biomass concentrations of 15,g/L during simple batch cultivation under heterotrophic conditions. Supplementation of the growth medium with glucose and the vitamins B1 and B12 are shown to improve growth rate as well as paramylon content. E. gracilis grows best at about 27.5°C without requiring pH control. [source]

Enhancement of the NAD(P)(H) Pool in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ENGINEERING IN LIFE SCIENCES (ELECTRONIC), Issue 4 2008
A. Knepper
Abstract Asymmetric biosyntheses allow for an efficient production of chiral building blocks. The application of whole cells as biocatalysts for asymmetric syntheses is advantageous because they already contain the essential coenzymes NAD(H) or NADP(H), which additionally can be regenerated in the cells. Unfortunately, reduced catalytic activity compared to the oxidoreductase activity is observed in many cases during whole-cell biotransformation. This may be caused by low intracellular coenzyme pool sizes and/or a decline in intracellular coenzyme concentrations. To enhance the intracellular coenzyme pool sizes, the effects of the precursor metabolites adenine and nicotinic acid on the intracellular accumulation of NAD(H) and NADP(H) were studied in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Based on the results of simple batch experiments with different precursor additions, fed-batch processes for the production of yeast cells with enhanced NAD(H) or enhanced NADP(H) pool sizes were developed. Supplementation of the feed medium with 95,mM adenine and 9.5,mM nicotinic acid resulted in an increase of the intracellular NAD(H) concentration by a factor of 10 at the end of the fed-batch process compared to the reference process. The final NAD(H) concentration remains unchanged if the feed medium was solely supplemented with 95,mM adenine, but intracellular NADP(H) was increased by a factor of 4. The effects of NADP(H) pool sizes on the asymmetric reduction of ethyl-4-chloro acetoacetate (CAAE) to the corresponding (S)-4-chloro-3-hydroxybutanoate (S-CHBE) was evaluated with S.,cerevisiae,FasB,His6 as an example. An intracellular threshold concentration above 0.07,mM NADP(H) was sufficient to increase the biocatalytic S-CHBE productivity by 25,% compared to lower intracellular NADP(H) concentrations. [source]

Improved ,-Glucanase Production by a Recombinant Escherichia coli Strain using Zinc-Ion Supplemented Medium

ENGINEERING IN LIFE SCIENCES (ELECTRONIC), Issue 3 2007
U. Beshay
Abstract In order to investigate the suitability of different metal chelates for affinity chromatography, an expression vector was constructed. It contained a hybrid ,-glucanase as a model protein fused with a His6 -tag and a secretion cassette providing the ability to secrete ,-glucanase into the culture medium. Supplementation of zinc to the medium led to a rapidly increased expression and release of the target protein into the cultivation medium. Results in respect to the supplementation of the commonly used Terrific Broth "TB-medium" with different metal ions are reported with special emphasis on the influence of zinc ions. A concentration of zinc ions in the order of about 0.175 mM led to optimal results. Batch cultivation under well-controlled conditions showed that the growth behavior did not change significantly by adding zinc ions. Growth in a stirred tank bioreactor was much faster in unsupplemented TB-medium compared to shake flask experiments leading to a much higher biomass concentration (15,g/L instead of 3,g/L). The secretion of ,-glucanase under theses conditions started at the transition into the stationary phase and increased to yield an extracellular activity of 1350,U/mL at the end of the fermentation process. An even higher yield of extracellular ,-glucanase (2800,U/mL) was reached when the fermentation was carried out with TB-medium supplemented with 0.175,mM ZnSO4. [source]

Hyperhomocysteinemia in Children Treated with Antiepileptic Drugs Is Normalized by Folic Acid Supplementation

EPILEPSIA, Issue 10 2005
Martina Huemer
Summary:,Purpose: To assess the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia in pediatric patients treated with antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) and to evaluate the effect of folic acid supplementation on plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations in hyperhomocysteinemic patients. Methods: 123 patients from three regional hospitals participated in the study. Patients with hyperhomocysteinemia were included in a 3-month double-blind randomized trial testing oral folic acid supplementation (1 mg/day) versus placebo. Results: Hyperhomocysteinemia (tHcy >10.4 ,mol/L) was present in 19 of 123 patients. Patients with hyperhomocysteinemia were older (13.7 ± 4 vs. 11.0 ± 3.9 years) and had significantly lower folate and cobalamin concentrations. Multidrug (two or more) AED treatment and duration of therapy correlated significantly with elevated total homocysteine (tHcy) and low folate. In contrast, polymorphisms in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR 677 C,T, 1298 A,C, 1793 G,A) had no significant impact on tHcy. Nine of 19 patients with hyperhomocysteinemia were randomized to placebo, whereas the remaining 10 patients received folic acid supplementation. Folic acid supplementation resulted in a significant increase of folate and decrease of tHcy, whereas both parameters remained unchanged in the placebo group. Conclusions: Hyperhomocysteinemia is present in 15.5% of children receiving long-term AED treatment. Multidrug treatment and long duration of therapy enhance the risk for hyperhomocysteinemia. Folic acid supplementation significantly reduces tHcy. We recommend assessment of serum folate and plasma tHcy in children receiving AEDs. [source]

Oral vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress, vitamin and antioxidant status in intensely exercised horses

EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue S36 2006
C. A. WILLIAMS
Summary Reasons for performing study: Vitamin E is the most commonly supplemented antioxidant in horses; however, previous research is not conclusive as to the recommended level for exercising horses. Objective: To evaluate the effects of 3 levels of vitamin E supplementation on oxidative stress and vitamin/antioxidant status in intensely exercised horses to determine the optimal level of vitamin E supplementation. Methods: Twelve unfit Standardbreds were divided into 3 groups, supplemented orally with 0 (CON), 5000 (MOD), or 10,000 (HI) iu/day of DL-,-tocopheryl acetate. The 3 times 3 Latin square design consisted of three 4 week supplementation periods with 4 week wash out periods between. After each period, horses underwent a treadmill interval exercise test. Blood samples were collected and heart rate (HR) measured before, during and after exercise. Data were analysed using ANOVA with repeated measures in SAS. Results: The CON group had lower HR throughout the test compared to the MOD and HI groups (P<0.05). There was an increase in plasma retinol (RET), ,-carotene (BC), red blood cell total glutathione and glutathione peroxidase with exercise (P<0.05), but all groups returned to baseline after 24 h. Plasma ,-tocopherol (TOC) increased from baseline with exercise (P<0.0001) in all groups; treatment differences were observed at 24 h (P<0.05). The HI and CON groups had lower BC compared to the MOD group (P = 0.05). Conclusions: Horses supplemented with vitamin E, at nearly 10-times the 1989 NRC recommended level, did not experience lower oxidative stress compared to control horses. Additionally, lower plasma BC levels observed in the HI group, which may indicate that vitamin E has an inhibitory effect on BC metabolism. Potential relevance: Supplementation above control levels is not more beneficial to oxidative stress and antioxidant status in intensely exercising horses; indeed, levels 10 times in excess may be detrimental to BC and should be avoided. [source]

Conversion of vitamin D3 to 1,,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in human skin equivalents

EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 2 2000
B. Lehmann
Abstract: These results demonstrate for the first time that human keratinocytes under in vivo -like conditions have the capacity of the enzymatic hydroxylation of vitamin D3 to hormonally active calcitriol (1,,25(OH)2D3). Supplementation of the culture medium with bovine serum albumin (BSA) up to 1.5% (w/v) amplifies the conversion of vitamin D3 to 1,,25(OH)2D3. The maximum turnover rate of this reaction at 780 nM vitamin D3 in presence of 1.0% (w/v) BSA amounts to approximately 3 pmol 1,,25(OH)2D3 per 106 cells after 6 h of incubation. The hydroxylation of vitamin D3 to 1,,25(OH)2D3 is inhibited by the P-450 oxidase inhibitor ketoconazole. The generation of 1,,25(OH)2D3 from vitamin D3 has an apparent Michaelis constant (Km) of 2.3×10,6 M. The intrinsic conversion of vitamin D3 to biologically active 1,,25(OH)2D3 may be of importance for the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes. [source]

Contractile Properties, Fatigue and Recovery are not Influenced by Short-Term Creatine Supplementation in Human Muscle

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 4 2000
J. M. Jakobi
There have been several studies on the effect of short-term creatine (Cr) supplementation on exercise performance, but none have investigated both voluntary and stimulated muscle contractions in the same experiment. Fourteen moderately active young men (19-28 years) were randomly assigned, in a double blind manner, to either a creatine (Cr) or placebo (P) group. The subjects supplemented their regular diet 4 times a day for 5 days with either 5 g Cr + 5 g maltodextrin (Cr group), or 5 g maltodextrin (P group). Isometric maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), muscle activation, as assessed using the modified twitch interpolation technique, electrically stimulated contractile properties, electromyography (EMG), endurance time and recovery from fatigue were measured in the elbow flexors. The fatigue protocol involved both voluntary and stimulated contractions. Following supplementation there was a significant weight gain in the Cr group (1.0 kg), whereas the P group did not change. For each group, pre-supplementation measures were not significantly different from post-supplementation for MVC, twitch and tetanic tensions at rest, time to peak tension, half-relaxation time and contraction duration. Prior to Cr supplementation time to fatigue was 10 ± 4 min (mean ± S.E.M.) for both groups, and following supplementation there was a non-significant increase of 1 min in each group. MVC force, muscle activation, EMG, stimulated tensions and durations were similar for the Cr and P groups over the course of the fatigue protocol and did not change after supplementation. Furthermore, recovery of MVC, stimulated tensions and contractile speeds did not differ as a result of Cr supplementation. These results indicate that short-term Cr supplementation does not influence isometric elbow flexion force, muscle activation, stimulated contractile properties, or delay time to fatigue or improve recovery. [source]

Discrepancy in glucose and fructose utilisation during fermentation by Saccharomyces cerevisiae wine yeast strains

FEMS YEAST RESEARCH, Issue 7 2004
N.J. Berthels
Abstract While unfermented grape must contains approximately equal amounts of the two hexoses glucose and fructose, wine producers worldwide often have to contend with high residual fructose levels (>2 g l,1) that may account for undesirable sweetness in finished dry wine. Here, we investigate the fermentation kinetics of glucose and fructose and the influence of certain environmental parameters on hexose utilisation by wine yeast. Seventeen Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains, including commercial wine yeast strains, were evaluated in laboratory-scale wine fermentations using natural Colombard grape must that contained similar amounts of glucose and fructose (approximately 110 g l,1 each). All strains showed preference for glucose, but to varying degrees. The discrepancy between glucose and fructose utilisation increased during the course of fermentation in a strain-dependent manner. We ranked the S. cerevisiae strains according to their rate of increase in GF discrepancy and we showed that this rate of increase is not correlated with the fermentation capacity of the strains. We also investigated the effect of ethanol and nitrogen addition on hexose utilisation during wine fermentation in both natural and synthetic grape must. Addition of ethanol had a stronger inhibitory effect on fructose than on glucose utilisation. Supplementation of must with assimilable nitrogen stimulated fructose utilisation more than glucose utilisation. These results show that the discrepancy between glucose and fructose utilisation during fermentation is not a fixed parameter but is dependent on the inherent properties of the yeast strain and on the external conditions. [source]

Influence of factor IX on overall plasma coagulability and fibrinolytic potential as measured by global assay: monitoring in haemophilia B

HAEMOPHILIA, Issue 1 2008
N. A. GOLDENBERG
Summary., We sought to determine the influence of factor IX (FIX) deficiency upon overall coagulative and fibrinolytic capacities in plasma using the clot formation and lysis (CloFAL) assay, and to investigate the role of this global assay as an adjunctive monitoring tool in haemophilia B. CloFAL assay parameters were measured in vitro in platelet-poor plasma in relation to FIX activity and antigen (FIX:Ag), and were determined ex vivo among FIX-deficient patients (n = 41) in comparison to healthy individuals (n = 48). Supplementation of FIX-deficient plasma with FIX in vitro demonstrated a non-linear concentration dependence of FIX upon overall plasma coagulability. Ex vivo, coagulability was significantly decreased in FIX-deficient vs. healthy subjects among adults [median coagulation index (CI): 4% vs. 104% respectively; P < 0.001] and children (median CI: 9% vs. 63%; P < 0.001). Fibrinolytic capacity was increased in adult FIX-deficient vs. healthy subjects (median fibrinolytic index: 216% vs. 125%, respectively, P < 0.001), and was supported by a trend in shortened euglobulin lysis time (ELT). Severe haemophilia B patients showed heterogeneity in aberrant CloFAL assay waveforms, influenced partly by FIX:Ag levels. Patients with relatively preserved FIX:Ag (i.e. dysfunctional FIX) exhibited a shorter time to maximal amplitude in clot formation than those with type I deficiency. During patient treatment monitoring, markedly hypocoagulable CloFAL assay waveforms normalized following 100% correction with infused FIX. The CloFAL global assay detects FIX deficiency, demonstrates differences in coagulability between dysfunctional FIX and type I deficiency, and appears useful as an adjunctive test to routine FIX measurement in monitoring haemophilia B treatment. [source]

Testing Community Empowerment Strategies in Zimbabwe: Examples from Nutrition Supplementation, and Water Supply and Sanitation Programmes

IDS BULLETIN, Issue 1 2000
Mungai Lenneiye
Summary This article provides a brief overview and examples of how communities were involved in feeding programmes during years of drought in Zimbabwe, and in the management of rural water supply and sanitation programmes throughout the 1980s. The balance between political and technical demands in the implementation of these programmes indicates that they started off with community interests at the centre, but gradually gave way to the needs of the bureaucracy (both political and administrative). The main lessons to be learnt from these programmes is that information on entitlements and obligations (on the part of communities and external agencies) is a prerequisite for successful community development projects. Furthermore, the extent of accountability to communities is directly proportional to progress made towards the devolution of power to democratic development structures, be they directly or indirectly elected. [source]

Nutritional quality of protein-enriched mumu, a traditional cereal food product

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2007
Emmanuel K. Ingbian
Summary Protein-enriched mumu was produced using maize supplemented with soybeans or groundnut. Supplementation of maize with groundnut or soybeans at the ratios of 85:15, 80:20, 75:25 and 70:30, respectively to produce maize:groundnut or maize:soybean blends was carried out. Proximate compositions and sensory evaluation of the blends were determined. The rat-based protein efficiency ratio (PER) and body-weight changes were used to assay the protein nutritive quality. Chemical compositions indicated significant increases (P < 0.05) in the protein and fat contents of the supplemented products. Soybean supplemented products had significantly (P < 0.05) higher positive body-weight changes than groundnut supplemented products. The PER of 1.6,2.19 for the soybean supplemented products were also significantly higher (P < 0.05) than the corresponding PER of ,0.2 to ,1.5 for the groundnut supplemented products. Supplementation with soybeans beyond 25% did not further improve the protein quality. [source]

Dietary supplementation of ,-tocopheryl acetate on ,-tocopherol levels in duck tissues and its influence on meat storage stability

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2004
Elizabeth Anne Russell
Summary The effect of feeding three levels of ,-tocopheryl acetate on quality and stability of duck meat was studied. Day-old white Peking ducklings (n = 75) were assigned to three dietary treatments (n = 25) 20 mg , -tocopheryl acetate per kg feed (E20, control), 400 mg , -tocopheryl acetate per kg feed (E400) and 1000 mg , -tocopheryl acetate per kg feed (E1000). , -Tocopherol concentrations in breast, thigh, liver and heart tissues were significantly (P < 0.05) increased, in a dose-dependent manner. Supplementation also enhanced oxidative stability of duck muscle. Breast muscle was more susceptible to lipid oxidation than thigh muscle for all groups studied, even though breast muscle contained higher , -tocopherol levels than thigh muscle. These findings are significant because previous studies using chickens and turkeys showed that breast meat was always more stable than thigh meat and that thigh meat always had higher , -tocopherol levels than breast meat. Supplementation with , -tocopheryl acetate did not improve the colour stability of duck meat. [source]

Effect of glutenin subfractions on bread-making quality of wheat

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2001
Sudesh Jood
Five glutenin subfractions (R2,R6) were extracted by sequential centrifugation and addition of sodium chloride, from defatted flours of three wheat cultivars viz. Aubaine (extra-strong), Hereward (strong) and Riband (weak). Seven minutes mixing time was used to carry out fractionation on the basis of depolymerization of glutenin macropolymers (GMP) by using a 2-g Mixograph traces. Depolymerization of GMP occurred at much higher rates in dough of weak cultivars compared with strong and extra-strong cultivars. Protein content was also estimated in GMP (SDS-unextractable) and supernatant (SDS-extractable). Extra-strong cv. Aubaine contained maximum amount of all the glutenin fractions (R2,R6) followed by strong cv. Hereward and weak cv. Riband. Polypeptide compositions of different glutenin fractions were determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS,PAGE) under reduced and unreduced conditions, followed by densitometric scanning of stained patterns. The pattern areas of reduced fractions were divided into subareas representative of three main protein classes: high molecular weight (HMW) glutenin subunits; ,-gliadins and a mixture of low molecular (LMW) glutenin subunits and ,, , and ,-gliadins. The amounts of various subunits were proportionate according to the molecular weight of the fractions in each cultivar. The ratio of HMW-glutenin subunits to the LMW-glutenin subunits in each cultivar were found to decrease with the fractionation from R2 to R6. Bread-making quality of three cultivars was also assessed by adding various fractions to a base flour and measuring mixograph peak development time and loaf volume in an optimized baking test. The quality of bread prepared from flour of weak cv. Riband was improved significantly by the addition of HMW fraction (R2) when measured in terms of loaf volume. However, the addition of LMW fraction (R5 + R6) did not cause any appreciable improvement in bread quality over control. On the other hand, addition of HMW fraction (R2) in the flour of good bread wheat cv. Hereward caused adverse effects on the bread-making quality by disturbing the viscoelastic properties. Supplementation of R2 fractions in extra strong wheat cv. Aubaine caused marginal reduction in loaf volume over control. Therefore, the precise proportion present of the two classes of subunit is essential to achieving a proper balance between elastic and viscous properties. [source]

Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation on Quality of Life in a General Population of Older Dutch Subjects: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 8 2009
Ondine Van De Rest MSc
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plus docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on quality of life (QOL). DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. SETTING: Independently living individuals from the general older Dutch population. PARTICIPANTS: Three hundred two individuals aged 65 and older without depression or dementia. INTERVENTION: 1,800 mg/d EPA-DHA (n=96), 400 mg/d EPA-DHA (n=100), or placebo capsules (n=106) for 26 weeks. MEASUREMENTS: QOL was assessed using the short version of the World Health Organization QOL questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF). The WHOQOL-BREF covers four domains: physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and satisfaction with environment. The total score range is 26 to 130, with higher scores indicating a more favorable condition. RESULTS: Mean age of the participants was 70, and 55% were male. Plasma concentrations of EPA-DHA increased 238% in the high-dose and 51% in the low-dose EPA-DHA group, reflecting excellent adherence. Median baseline total WHOQOL scores ranged from 107 to 110 in the three groups and were not significantly different from each other. After 26 weeks, the mean difference from placebo was ,1.42 (95% confidence interval (CI)=,3.40,0.57) for the high-dose and 0.02 (95% CI=,1.95,1.99) for the low-dose fish oil group. Treatment with 1,800 mg or 400 mg EPA-DHA did not affect total QOL or any of the separate domains after 13 or 26 weeks of intervention. CONCLUSION: Supplementation with high or low doses of fish oil for 26 weeks did not influence the QOL of healthy older individuals. [source]

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Effects of dietary supplementation of synbiotics and phytobiotics on performance, caecal coliform population and some oxidant/antioxidant parameters of broilers

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 5 2010
Z. Erdo
Summary The current study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of synbiotics and phytobiotics on performance, small intestine weight, pH and caecal coliform counts of broilers. The influences of synbiotics and phytobiotics on oxidant/antioxidant status in the blood of broilers were also assessed. A total of 200 broiler chicks were randomly allotted to four dietary treatments, either fed a basal diet or the same diet supplemented with 1 g/kg synbiotic, 1 g/kg phytobiotic or 1 g/kg synbiotic plus 1 g/kg phytobiotic. The diet supplemented with both synbiotic and phytobiotic had no effect on body weight, body weight gain, feed intake and feed efficiency of broilers at the end of the study (p > 0.05). Neither small intestine weight nor pH was affected by any of the treatments. Supplementation of both synbiotic and phytobiotic to diet decreased the caecal coliform count (p < 0.01). Addition of synbiotics and phytobiotics in combination significantly increased plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (p , 0.05), whereasphytobiotic addition alone showed only a slight increase. Similarly, elevated nitric oxide (NO) level was recorded in the synbiotic- and phytobiotic-fed group and in the phytobiotic-fed group (p , 0.001). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities did not differ between the groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation of synbiotic and phytobiotic improved the gut health by decreasing the caecal total coliform count, but growth performance was not affected by the supplementations. Further investigations are needed to determine the effects of phytobiotics on oxidative/antioxidative metabolism as regards their compositional analysis. [source]

Supplementation of diets for lactating sows with zinc amino acid complex and gastric nutriment-intubation of suckling pigs with zinc methionine on mineral status, intestinal morphology and bacterial translocation in lipopolysaccharide-challenged weaned pigs

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 2 2010
B. U. Metzler-Zebeli
Summary Sixty-four pigs from 16 sows were used to evaluate addition of zinc amino acid complex (ZnAA) to lactating sows and gastric nutriment-intubation of zinc methionine (ZnMet) to suckling pigs on mineral status, intestinal morphology and bacterial translocation after weaning. Sows were fed a barley-based diet supplying 120 ppm zinc (Zn; control) or the control diet supplemented with 240 ppm Zn from ZnAA. At birth, day-10 and day-21 (weaning) of age, pigs from each litter were nutriment-intubated with 5 ml of an electrolyte solution without or with 40 mg Zn from ZnMet. At weaning, 24 h prior to the collection of small and large intestinal lymph nodes and sections of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum, the pigs received an intramuscular injection of saline without or with 150 ,g/kg body weight of Escherichia coli O26:B6 lipopolysaccharide (LPS). With the exception of a tendency (p = 0.09) for lower serum concentration of copper in pigs at weaning from ZnAA-supplemented sows, there were no differences (p > 0.1) than for pigs from control-fed sows for mineral status or intestinal morphology. Nutriment-intubation of ZnMet increased serum (p = 0.001) and liver (p = 0.003) Zn concentrations, number of goblet cells per 250 ,m length of jejunal villous epithelium (p = 0.001) and tended (p = 0.06) to enhance jejunum mucosa thickness. Interactive effects (p < 0.05) for higher jejunal villi height and villi:crypt ratio and increased ileal goblet cell counts were apparent for pigs from ZnAA-supplemented sows that also received nutriment-intubation of ZnMet. Challenge with LPS increased (p = 0.05) ileal villous width. Nutriment-intubation of ZnMet decreased (p = 0.05) anaerobic bacteria colony forming unit counts in the large intestinal mesenteric lymph nodes. In conclusion, nutriment-intubation of ZnMet increased serum and liver tissue concentrations of Zn and resulted in limited improvement to intestinal morphology of weaned pigs. [source]

Effect of an organic acid blend and phytase added to a rapeseed cake-containing diet on performance, intestinal morphology, caecal microflora activity and thyroid status of broiler chickens

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 1 2010
S. Smulikowska
Summary The experiment was carried out on 96 female broilers, allocated to eight groups of 12 birds kept in individual cages. Two basal wheat- and soyabean meal-based diets containing 150 g/kg of rapeseed expeller cake were formulated, differing in the level of P: 7.1 g/kg in diet H or 5.9 g/kg in diet L. Rapeseed cake supplied 3.15 ,mol alkenyl glucosinolates per gram of diet. The eight treatments were: basal diets only, basal diets + phytase (1000 U/kg), basal diets + organic acid blend (OA, 6 g/kg), or basal diets + both additives. Diets were fed from day 8 to 28 of life. The results showed that the lower dietary P content and OA supplementation did not significantly affect feed intake or BWG, while both increased (p < 0.001) after phytase supplementation. Tibia ash content as well as tibia ultimate strength were lower (p < 0.001) in birds fed diets L compared with diets H, and increased (p < 0.01) with phytase supplementation of diet L, while OA had no influence on either parameter. Dietary P levels and OA supplementation had no influence on the pH of gut digesta, but the pH of jejunal digesta increased following phytase supplementation (p < 0.01). Morphological measurements of the small intestinal mucosa of chicks indicated that OA added to diet L depressed villi height (p < 0.001) and crypt depth (p < 0.001); both parameters increased after phytase supplementation (p < 0.01). The lower total SCFA as well as acetic, propionic and butyric acid concentrations in caecal digesta indicated lower activity of caecal microflora in birds fed diets L compared with H. OA supplementation had no influence, while phytase supplementation increased the concentration of acetic acid in caecal digesta. Supplementation of diets with either phytase or OA increased thyroid weight by 16% (p < 0.01) and 11% (p < 0.05) respectively. The increase in thyroid weight because of phytase supplementation was greater at the lower dietary P level, and the greatest when both phytase and OA were added to the diet. [source]

Effect of different liquid cultures of live yeast strains on performance, ruminal fermentation and microbial protein synthesis in lambs

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 6 2008
M. K. Tripathi
Summary Three yeast strains, Kluyveromyces marximanus NRRL-3234 (KM), Saccharomyces cerevisiae NCDC-42 (SC) and Saccharomyces uvarum ATCC-9080 (SU), and a mixed culture (1:1:1 ratio) were evaluated for their value as probiotics in lamb feeding in two experiment. In experiment I and II, 20 and 30 pre-weaner lambs were fed for 63 and 60 days in two and three equal groups respectively. All lambs were offered ad libitum a creep mixture and Zizyphus nummularia leaves, and yeasts were dosed orally. In experiment I, one group received no yeast, the other of the mixed culture (1.5,2 × 1010 live cells/ml). In experiment II, yeast cultivation was modified yielding 1.5,2 × 1013 live cells/ml. Lambs of the three experimental groups received 1 ml/kg live weight of one of the individual yeasts. Feed intake did not differ among groups of both experiments with the exception of SC-supplemented lambs in experiment II which showed a trend to higher intakes per kg metabolic body weight and in percentage of body weight when compared with KM- and SU-supplemented lambs. Supplementation of the mixed yeast culture had no effect on intakes of digestible crude protein and metabolisable energy, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen balance and rumen fermentation characteristics (pH, ammonia, volatile fatty acid concentration, protozoa count) and urinary allantoin as an indicator of microbial protein synthesis. The same was true for comparisons in experiment II except ciliate protozoa counts, which showed a trend to be the highest with SU and the lowest with SC. The results of present study show that the response of lambs to supplemented live yeast cultures is inconsistent, as it lacked to have an effect in the present study, and that differences among strains were small, even when supplemented at a much higher live cell count. [source]

Supplementation of xylanase and phospholipase to wheat-based diets for weaner pigs

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 9-10 2005
G. Diebold
Summary The effects of supplementing a wheat-based diet for weaner pigs with exogenous xylanase and phospholipase on ileal and faecal nutrient digestibilities and on the level of microbial metabolites in ileal digesta were examined. Fourteen piglets, weaned at 11 days, were fitted with a simple T-cannula at the distal ileum. The pigs were offered a control diet or diets supplemented with xylanase and phospholipase individually or in combination, in a two period crossover design. The combination of xylanase and phospholipase tended to increase the ileal recovery of the amino sugar galactosamine, whereas the concentration expressed in mg/kg dry matter intake of glucosamine was slightly decreased (p < 0.10). There was neither an effect of enzyme supplementation on ileal and faecal digestibility of the other nutrients and energy, nor was there an effect on pH and on the level of microbial metabolites in ileal digesta. However, an increase in ileal and faecal nutrient and energy digestibility with increasing age was observed. The ileal and faecal digestibility coefficients (except for ether extract) were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in experimental period I than in period II. These higher values may be attributed to a lower feed intake during period I. Since a lower level of feed intake is generally associated with a slower rate of passage and a longer retention time of digesta, a positive impact on digestion and absorption of nutrients can be assumed, which, on the other hand, limits the potential of additional enzyme effects. [source]

Effects of rumen-protected methionine in a low protein ration on metabolic traits and performance of early lactating cows as opposed to rations with elevated crude protein content

JOURNAL OF ANIMAL PHYSIOLOGY AND NUTRITION, Issue 5 2000
T. F. Kröber
Summary A 5-week experiment with 24 multiparous early lactating Brown Swiss cows was conducted to investigate the effects of supplementary rumen-protected methionine in conjunction with dietary protein reduction on metabolism and performance after 1 week of control measurement. Three rations containing 175, 150 and 125 g of crude protein/kg feed dry matter were supplemented with methionine. The fourth ration, also only containing 125 g of crude protein/kg dry matter, remained unsupplemented. The four treatment groups had a similar metabolic supply of other essential amino acids, protein and energy, as calculated by various approaches. The two low protein rations were, however, slightly deficient in ruminally degraded protein. Treatment effects remained low on feed intake, forage meal pattern, milk yield and fat as well as lactose content. In contrast, the content and yield of milk protein significantly declined only in the unsupplemented low protein ration relative to the initial value. Compared with this ration, the decline in milk protein yield was clearly delayed in the supplemented low protein ration. Blood plasma methionine tended to be reduced without supplementation and to be increased with additional methionine. Supplementation of methionine reduced other plasma amino acids. Plasma insulin, glucose, lactate, ketone bodies and aspartate amino transferase activity indicated a certain liver stress and a somewhat elevated energy requirement with high and particularly with low protein content (when unsupplemented). Methionine improved metabolic protein utilization, followed by the lowest plasma, urine and milk urea levels in the supplemented low protein diet. In conclusion, no major adverse effects were assessed under the conditions tested. Supplementation of methionine may nevertheless be useful in rations with particularly low protein content fed to early lactating cows in order to prevent negative long-term effects which were only visible here as trends. Zusammenfassung Auswirkungen von pansengeschütztem Methionin in einer Niedrigproteinration im Vergleich zu Rationen mit erhöhtem Rohproteingehalt auf Stoffwechselmerkmale und Leistung von frischlaktierenden Milchkühen In einem fünfwöchigen Experiment mit 24 frischlaktierenden Braunviehkühen wurden die Auswirkungen einer Ergänzung mit pansengeschütztem Methionin bei gleichzeitiger Reduktion der Proteinzufuhr nach einer einwöchigen Kontrollphase geprüft. Drei Rationen mit 175, 150 und 125 g Rohprotein/kg T wurden mit Methionin ergänzt. Eine weitere Variante, ebenfalls nur mit 125 g Rohprotein/kg T, wurde nicht supplementiert. Die vier Varianten stellten gemäß verschiedener Futterbewertungsysteme eine vergleichbare metabolische Versorgung mit den übrigen essentiellen Aminosäuren, Protein und Energie sicher. Die Niedrigproteinvarianten enthielten allerdings etwas zu wenig pansenabbaubares Protein. Futteraufnahme, Muster des Grundfutterverzehrs, Milchleistung sowie Fett-und Laktosegehalt der Milch zeigten nur geringe Reaktion auf die Behandlungen. Milchproteingehalt und -menge waren nur in der nicht ergänzten Niedrigproteinvariante relativ zum Ausgangswert signifikant verringert. Im Vergleich zur unsupplementierten Niedrigproteinration war dagegen der Abfall mit Ergänzung deutlich verzögert. Gegenüber dem Ausgangswert war die Methioninkonzentration im Blutplasma ohne Ergänzung tendenziell erniedrigt, mit Ergänzung erhöht. Es erfolgte eine Verringerung der Plasmakonzentration anderer Aminosäuren durch die Methioninergänzung der Niedrigproteinration. Die Plasmaniveaus von Insulin, Glucose, Laktat, Ketonkörpern und Aspartataminotransferase-Aktivität lassen auf eine gewisse Leberbelastung und einen etwas höheren Energiebedarf mit hohem und besonders mit niedrigem Proteingehalt (unsupplementiert) schließen. Die Zulage an Methionin verbesserte die metabolische Proteinverwertung, so dass die Harnstoffgehalte in Blut, Milch und Harn in dieser Niedrigproteinvariante am niedrigsten waren. Insgesamt ergaben sich keine grösseren ungünstigen Effekte unter den getesteten Bedingungen. Dennoch könnte die Ergänzung von Rationen mit besonders niedrigem Rohproteingehalt mit Methionin beim Einsatz an frischlaktierende Kühe hilfreich sein, um negative Langzeitwirkungen zu verhindern, die sich hier lediglich andeuteten. [source]

Effect of methylxanthines on production of cellulases by Penicillium echinulatum

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
M. Camassola
Abstract Aim:, In this work, the effect of supplementing liquid cellulase production media (CPM) with methylxanthines (aminophylline, caffeine and theophylline), with and without the addition of glucose, on the secretion of cellulases by Penicillium echinulatum strain 2HH (wild-type) and the derived mutant strain 9A02S1 was studied. Methods and Results:, When compared with unsupplemented CPM, both strains produced higher , -glucosidase and filter paper activities (FPAs) in CPM supplemented with 1 ,mol l,1 of caffeine but lower activities with 5 ,mol l,1 of caffeine. With theophylline only, strain 9A02S1 produced higher , -glucosidase and FPAs, while aminophylline produced no effect on the cellulase activity of either strain. Supplementation of CPM with 0·5% (w/v) of glucose plus caffeine resulted in higher , -glucosidase and FPAs being produced by strain 2HH, but not strain 9A02S1, than in CPM supplemented with 0·5% (w/v) of glucose only. Conclusions:, These results indicate that different concentrations of caffeine and theophylline can increase the , -glucosidase and FPAs produced by P. echinulatum strains 2HH and 9A02S1. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The results suggest that some methylxanthines, in adequate concentration, can be used as media components to increase cellulase production. [source]

Enrichment and identification of bacteria capable of reducing chemical oxygen demand of anaerobically treated molasses spent wash

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2004
M. Ghosh
Abstract Aims:, The aim of this study was to isolate and identify bacterial strains capable of using recalcitrant compounds of molasses spent wash as sole carbon source from the soils of abandoned sites of distillery effluent discharge and characterize their ability of reducing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the spent wash. Methods and Results:, The isolates were grouped into six haplotypes by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA) and BOX-PCR. The phylogenetic position of the representatives of the six main haplotypes strains was determined by 16S rDNA sequencing. They showed maximum similarity to six genera viz. Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Aeromonas, Acinetobacter and Klebsiella. The extent of COD (44%) reduced collectively by the six strains was equal to that reduced individually by Aeromonas, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas and Enterobacter. With spent wash as sole carbon source, the COD reducing strains grew faster at 37°C than 30°C. Conclusions:, Bacterial strains capable of degrading some of the recalcitrant compounds of anaerobically digested molasses spent wash can be isolated from the soils of abandoned sites of distillery effluent discharge. Biostimulation of these bacteria, which can degrade 44% of the carbon compounds of anaerobically digested molasses spent wash can be achieved by nitrogen fertilization and relatively higher temperature. Significance and Impact of the Study:, Supplementation of nitrogen source and controlling the temperature can be used in evolving strategies for in situ bioremediation of anaerobically digested spent wash from distilleries. [source]

Wintertime Vitamin D Supplementation Inhibits Seasonal Variation of Calcitropic Hormones and Maintains Bone Turnover in Healthy Men,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 2 2009
Heli T Viljakainen
Abstract Vitamin D is suggested to have a role in the coupling of bone resorption and formation. Compared with women, men are believed to have more stable bone remodeling, and thus, are considered less susceptible to the seasonal variation of calcitropic hormones. We examined whether seasonal variation exists in calcitropic hormones, bone remodeling markers, and BMD in healthy men. Furthermore, we determined which vitamin D intake is required to prevent this variation. Subjects (N = 48) were healthy white men 21,49 yr of age from the Helsinki area with a mean habitual dietary intake of vitamin D of 6.6 ± 5.1 (SD) ,g/d. This was a 6-mo double-blinded vitamin D intervention study, in which subjects were allocated to three groups of 20 ,g (800 IU), 10 ,g (400 IU), or placebo. Fasting blood samplings were collected six times for analyses of serum (S-)25(OH)D, iPTH, bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BALP), and TRACP. Radial volumetric BMD (vBMD) was measured at the beginning and end of the study with pQCT. Wintertime variation was noted in S-25(OH)D, S-PTH, and S-TRACP (p < 0.001, p = 0.012, and p < 0.05, respectively) but not in S-BALP or vBMD in the placebo group. Supplementation inhibited the winter elevation of PTH (p = 0.035), decreased the S-BALP concentration (p < 0.05), but benefited cortical BMD (p = 0.09) only slightly. Healthy men are exposed to wintertime decrease in vitamin D status that impacts PTH concentration. Vitamin D supplementation improved vitamin D status and inhibited the winter elevation of PTH and also decreased BALP concentration. The ratio of TRACP to BALP shows the coupling of bone remodeling in a robust way. A stable ratio was observed among those retaining a stable PTH throughout the study. A daily intake of vitamin D in the range of 17.5,20 ,g (700,800 IU) seems to be required to prevent winter seasonal increases in PTH and maintain stable bone turnover in young, healthy white men. [source]

Negative effects of the amino acids Lys, His, and Thr on S6K1 phosphorylation in mammary epithelial cells

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2008
Rotem Ladovsky Prizant
Abstract The role of essential amino acids (AA) on protein synthesis via the mTOR pathway was studied in murine mammary epithelial cells cultured under lactogenic conditions. Leu, Ile, and Val increased S6K1 phosphorylation compared to that measured in AA-deprived cells. Trp, Phe, and Met had no effect. Surprisingly, Lys, His, and Thr inhibited S6K1 phosphorylation in both murine and bovine mammary cells. Thr exhibited the most potent inhibition, being the only amino acid that competed with Leu's positive role. In non-deprived cells, there was no observable effect of Lys, His, or Thr on S6K1 phosphorylation at concentrations up to five times those in the medium. However, their addition as a mix revealed a synergistic negative effect. Supplementation of Lys, His, and Thr abrogated mTOR Ser 2448 phosphorylation, with no effect on Akt Ser 473,an mTORC2 target. This confirms specific mTORC1 regulation of S6K1 phosphorylation. The individual supplementation of Lys, His, and Thr maintained a low level of IRS-1 phosphorylation, which was dose-dependently increased by their combined addition. Thus, in parallel to inhibiting S6K1 activity, these AA may act synergistically to activate an additional kinase, phosphorylating IRS-1 via an S6K1-independent pathway. In cultures supplemented by Lys, His, and Thr, cellular protein synthesis decreased by up to 65%. A more pronounced effect was observed on ,-casein synthesis. These findings indicate that positive and negative signaling from AA to the mTOR pathway, combined with modulation of insulin sensitization, mediate the synthesis rates of total and specific milk proteins in mammary epithelial cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 105: 1038,1047, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]