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Breastfeeding Medicine : the Official... May 2024Human milk fatty acids derive from maternal diet, body stores, and mammary synthesis and may reflect women's underlying cardiometabolic health. We explored whether...
Human milk fatty acids derive from maternal diet, body stores, and mammary synthesis and may reflect women's underlying cardiometabolic health. We explored whether human milk fatty acid composition was associated with maternal cardiometabolic disease (CMD) during pregnancy and up to 5 years postpartum. We analyzed data from the prospective CHILD Cohort Study on 1,018 women with no preexisting CMD who provided breast milk samples at 3-4 months postpartum. Milk fatty acid composition was measured using gas-liquid chromatography. Maternal CMD (diabetes or hypertension) was classified using questionnaires and birth records as no CMD (reference outcome group; 81.1%), perinatal CMD (developed and resolved during the perinatal period; 14.9%), persistent CMD (developed during, and persisted beyond, the perinatal period; 2.9%), and incident CMD (developed after the perinatal period; 1.1%). Multinomial logistic regression was used to model associations between milk fatty acid composition (individual, summary, ratios, and patterns identified using principal component analysis) and maternal CMD, adjusting for pre-pregnancy anthropometry and race/ethnicity. Medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MC-SFA), lauric (C12:0; odds ratio [OR] = 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.60-0.89) and myristic acid (C14:0; OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.66-0.97), and the high MC-SFA principal component pattern (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.76-0.96) were inversely associated with perinatal CMD. Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids adrenic acid (C22:4n-6) was positively associated with perinatal (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.01-1.44) and persistent CMD (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.08-2.25). The arachidonic (C20:4n-6)-to-docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6n-3) ratio was inversely associated with incident CMD (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.28-0.96). These exploratory findings highlight a potential novel utility of breast milk for understanding women's cardiometabolic health.
Topics: Humans; Female; Milk, Human; Prospective Studies; Adult; Fatty Acids; Pregnancy; Breast Feeding; Postpartum Period; Cardiovascular Diseases; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 38501380
DOI: 10.1089/bfm.2024.0019 -
Current Drug Delivery Mar 2024Quercetin (QTN) is a flavonol antioxidant found in foods, medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, and beverages. QTN oral consumption produces several biological effects,...
BACKGROUND
Quercetin (QTN) is a flavonol antioxidant found in foods, medicinal plants, fruits, vegetables, and beverages. QTN oral consumption produces several biological effects, including antioxidant, cardioprotective, anti-apoptotic, anti-cancer, neuroprotection, anti-hypertensive, and chemo preventive.
OBJECTIVE
The study aimed to prepare Pluronic®F127/chitosan-myristic acid copolymer (PF127/C-MAc)-based mixed micelles (QTN MM) to improve the biopharmaceutical and hepatoprotective potential of QTN.
METHODS
QTN MM was developed employing thin-film hydration and optimized using full factorial design (FFD). Optimized QTN MM was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder x-ray diffractometry (PXRD), in vitro dissolution, ex vivo permeation, and in vivo antioxidant activity in carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced albino rats.
RESULTS
PF127/C-MAc ratio (1:1) with CMC value ~ 5 μg/mL showed the suitability for MM. Characterization supported the formation of MM. QTN MM revealed prominent encapsulation efficiency and drug loading of about ~ 95.10% and ~ 12.28% w/w, respectively. MM spherical shape of QTN with a smaller particle size of ~ 34.08 nm and a higher zeta potential of ~ 36.24 nm indicated excellent physical stability. Dissolution and ex vivo permeation results revealed higher dissolution and permeation of QTN MM compared to QTN and PM. In vivo antioxidant activity suggested that QTN MM at (~ 20 mg/kg, p.o.) restored the enhanced marker enzyme level compared to QTN.
CONCLUSION
The findings demonstrate that developed QTN MM could be used as an alternative nanocarrier to increase the biopharmaceutical and hepatoprotective potential of QTN and other flavonoids.
PubMed: 38500282
DOI: 10.2174/0115672018278618240304054731 -
Heliyon Mar 2024Previous studies offer inconclusive results on the association between diet-derived circulating antioxidants and epilepsy.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies offer inconclusive results on the association between diet-derived circulating antioxidants and epilepsy.
OBJECTIVE
This study aims to assess oxidative stress presence in epilepsy patients' circulation and investigate the causal link between diet-derived circulating antioxidants and epilepsy.
METHODS
Untargeted metabolomics analysis was conducted on plasma samples from 62 epileptic patients and 20 healthy individuals to evaluate oxidative stress based on metabolite alterations in epilepsy patients' circulation. Two-sample Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis examined the causation between diet-derived circulating antioxidants (measured by absolute levels and relative metabolite concentrations) and epilepsy, utilizing the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method as the primary outcome, with complementary MR analysis methods (MR Egger, weighted median, weighted mode, and simple mode).
RESULTS
Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed elevated circulating oxidizing metabolites (palmitic acid, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and myristic acid) and reduced reducing metabolites (glutamine) in epilepsy patients, providing robust evidence of oxidative stress. The IVW analysis indicated significantly reduced epilepsy risk (odds ratio: 0.552; 95% confidence interval: 0.335-0.905, = 0.018) with genetically determined higher absolute circulating β-carotene. However, other diet-derived circulating antioxidants (lycopene, retinol, ascorbic acid, and selenium) and antioxidant metabolites (α-tocopherol, γ-tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and retinol) did not significantly associate with epilepsy risk. Additional MR analysis methods and heterogeneity assessments confirmed the results' robustness.
CONCLUSION
This study provides compelling evidence of oxidative stress in epilepsy patients' circulation. However, the majority of diet-derived circulating antioxidants (lycopene, retinol, ascorbic acid, vitamin E, and selenium) are unlikely to causally associate with reduced epilepsy risk, except for β-carotene.
PubMed: 38463786
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e26813 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024Plants represents a huge source of bioactive materials that have been used since the old times in the treatment of many diseases. Balanites aegyptiaca, known as desert...
Plants represents a huge source of bioactive materials that have been used since the old times in the treatment of many diseases. Balanites aegyptiaca, known as desert date, has been used in treatment of fever, diabetes and bacterial infection. Desert dates contains a hard seed that resembles 50-60% of the fruit. The seed extract contains many fatty acids, amino acids and other bioactive materials that gives the extract its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The study aimed to use Balanites seed extract-loaded chitosan nanoparticles (SeEx-C NPs) for the treatment of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in male Sprague Dawley rats. Animals were divided into two main divisions (healthy and diabetic rats). Each division contained seven groups (5 rats/group): control untreated group I, SeEx treated group II and group III (10 and 20 mg/kg b.w., respectively), C NPs treated group IV and group V (10 and 20 mg/kg b.w., respectively) and SeEx-C NPs treated group VI and group VII (10 and 20 mg/kg b.w., respectively). The therapeutical effects of SeEx-C NPs were evaluated through biochemical and immunological assessments in rats' pancreases. The results showed that SeEx-C NPs (10 and 20 mg/kg b.w.) reduced the oxidative stress and inflammation in rats' pancreases allowing the islets neogenesis. The loading of SeEx on C NPs allowed the delivery of fatty acids (oleic, lauric and myristic acid), amino acids (lysine, leucine, phenylalanine and valine) and minerals to pancreatic beta-cells in a sustainable manner. SeEx-C NPs administration successfully increased insulin secretion, allowed pancreatic islets neogenesis and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Insulin; Chitosan; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental; Hypoglycemic Agents; Plant Extracts; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Hyperglycemia; Oxidative Stress; Seeds; Inflammation; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 38461158
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56352-3 -
Neuroscience Research Mar 2024Herein, we investigated the effects of Camembert cheese (CC) and its fatty acid contents on cognitive function in mice by employing the object recognition test to...
Herein, we investigated the effects of Camembert cheese (CC) and its fatty acid contents on cognitive function in mice by employing the object recognition test to evaluate hippocampus-dependent memory. Orally administered CC improved the cognitive decline induced by a high-fat diet. Next, we focused on myristamide (MA), oleamide, and stearamide, which are fatty acid amides produced during the fermentation process of CC. We found that oral administration of MA improved cognitive decline. Notably, an improvement was not observed using myristic acid, a free fatty acid that is not amidated. Thus, fatty acid amidation may contribute to the physiological activity. Moreover, we investigated changes in gene expression related to neurogenesis in the hippocampus. After MA administration, mRNA expression analysis indicated that MA increased hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression.
PubMed: 38458493
DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2024.03.002 -
Heliyon Mar 2024The extracts of offer promising potential as renewable resources for various chemical derivative products aimed at addressing antibiotic resistance. These extracts...
The extracts of offer promising potential as renewable resources for various chemical derivative products aimed at addressing antibiotic resistance. These extracts exhibited significant activity against methicillin-resistant (MRSA), a strain known for its resistance to multiple antibiotics. The extracts were found to be effective against several common antibiotics, including Imipenem, Ampicillin, Penicillin G, Oxacillin, and Amoxicillin-clavulanate. GC-MS analysis revealed that the phytoconstituents of extracts, obtained using both methanol and ethyl acetate, consist of a diverse range of 83 and 160 phytocompounds, respectively. These organic compounds serve as important biochemical precursors for the synthesis of vitamins E and K1, and exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties in both plants and microorganisms. Notable compounds identified include fatty acids (such as palmitic acid, dodecanoic acid, sebacic acid, pentadecanoic acid, myristic acid, stearic acid, behenic acid, and linoelaidic acid), phytosterols (Campesterol, β-sitosterol, Stigmast-5-ene), sugars (D-fructose, Fructofuranans), terpenoids (Phytol, citronellol), and phenolic acids (Protocatechoic acid, shikimic acid). The antimicrobial activity of all extracts was found to be superior to that of mupirocin and ciprofloxacin, as observed in susceptibility testing against MRSA ATCC 43300 and other pathogenic bacteria and fungi. It is likely that the combined action of the antimicrobial components within the extract bypasses the mechanisms employed by MRSA to protect itself from antibiotics. Further experiments are needed to investigate the individual effects of each pure compound and their potential synergistic interactions, which may enhance their overall performance.
PubMed: 38444505
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e27051 -
Plant & Cell Physiology May 2024Cyanobacteria inhabit areas with a broad range of light, temperature and nutrient conditions. The robustness of cyanobacterial cells, which can survive under different...
Cyanobacteria inhabit areas with a broad range of light, temperature and nutrient conditions. The robustness of cyanobacterial cells, which can survive under different conditions, may depend on the resilience of photosynthetic activity. Cyanothece sp. PCC 8801 (Cyanothece), a freshwater cyanobacterium isolated from a Taiwanese rice field, had a higher repair activity of photodamaged photosystem II (PSII) under intense light than Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (Synechocystis), another freshwater cyanobacterium. Cyanothece contains myristic acid (14:0) as the major fatty acid at the sn-2 position of the glycerolipids. To investigate the role of 14:0 in the repair of photodamaged PSII, we used a Synechocystis transformant expressing a T-1274 encoding a lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferase (LPAAT) from Cyanothece. The wild-type and transformant cells contained 0.2 and 20.1 mol% of 14:0 in glycerolipids, respectively. The higher content of 14:0 in the transformants increased the fluidity of the thylakoid membrane. In the transformants, PSII repair was accelerated due to an enhancement in the de novo synthesis of D1 protein, and the production of singlet oxygen (1O2), which inhibited protein synthesis, was suppressed. The high content of 14:0 increased transfer of light energy received by phycobilisomes to PSI and CP47 in PSII and the content of carotenoids. These results indicated that an increase in 14:0 reduced 1O2 formation and enhanced PSII repair. The higher content of 14:0 in the glycerolipids may be required as a survival strategy for Cyanothece inhabiting a rice field under direct sunlight.
Topics: Photosystem II Protein Complex; Light; Synechocystis; Myristic Acid; Thylakoids; Photosynthesis; Acyltransferases; Singlet Oxygen
PubMed: 38441322
DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcae021 -
Clinica Chimica Acta; International... Mar 2024Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most important complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the leading cause of death. Identifying the risk of CHD in T2DM...
Machine learning reveals serum myristic acid, palmitic acid and heptanoylcarnitine as biomarkers of coronary artery disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
BACKGROUND
Coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most important complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and the leading cause of death. Identifying the risk of CHD in T2DM patients is important for early clinical intervention.
METHODS
A total of 213 participants, including 81 healthy controls (HCs), 69 T2DM patients and 63 T2DM patients complicated with CHD were recruited in this study. Serum metabolomics were conducted by using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). Demographic information and clinical laboratory test results were also collected.
RESULTS
Metabolic phenotypes were significantly altered among HC, T2DM and T2DM-CHD. Acylcarnitines were the most disturbed metabolites between T2DM patients and HCs. Lower levels of bile acids and higher levels of fatty acids in serum were closely associated with CHD risk in T2DM patients. Artificial neural network model was constructed for the discrimination of T2DM and T2DM complicated with CHD based on myristic acid, palmitic acid and heptanoylcarnitine, with accuracy larger than 0.95 in both training set and testing set.
CONCLUSION
Altogether, these findings suggest that myristic acid, palmitic acid and heptanoylcarnitine have a good prospect for the warning of CHD complications in T2DM patients, and are superior to traditional lipid, blood glucose and blood pressure indicators.
Topics: Humans; Coronary Artery Disease; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Palmitic Acid; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Myristic Acid; Arteries; Biomarkers; Machine Learning; Carnitine
PubMed: 38438006
DOI: 10.1016/j.cca.2024.117852 -
Journal of Materials Chemistry. B Mar 2024The membrane lipid compositions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are inherently different in many aspects, although some similarities exist in their structure and...
The membrane lipid compositions of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells are inherently different in many aspects, although some similarities exist in their structure and composition. Therefore, selective targeting of membrane lipids with a compound of therapeutic value, such as an antibacterial copolymer, is often challenging. Hence, developing an ideal copolymer with antibacterial properties demands hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity balance with a high biosafety profile. To integrate hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance and cationic charge in an alternating antibacterial copolymer with enzyme and pH-responsiveness, a lysine appended styrenic monomer was copolymerized with a fatty acid (octanoic acid (OA) or myristic acid (MA)) tethered maleimide monomer reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. A range of microscopic analyses, including dynamic light scattering (DLS), confirmed the formation of nanoaggregates (size ∼30-40 nm) by these polymers in aqueous solution with positive zeta potential (cationic surface charge). Hydrophobic Nile red (NR) dye was successfully encapsulated in the nanoaggregates, and the release kinetics of the NR dye were monitored at different pHs and in the presence or absence of esterase/lipase. The release kinetics of NR revealed ∼85% dye release in the presence of pH 5.5 and lipase, suggesting their suitability for pH/enzyme-triggered therapeutic payload delivery. The standard broth microdilution assay showed significant bactericidal activity against both Gram-positive () and Gram-negative () bacteria with an MIC value <30 μg mL. The effect of polymeric nanoaggregates on bacterial morphology and survival was further confirmed by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), agar gel disk diffusion assay, and bacterial live/dead cell count. The significantly low hemolytic activity against red blood cells (RBCs) (HC >10 μg mL) and nontoxic effect on human intestinal epithelial cells (INT 407) (EC >500 μg mL) ensure that the polymer nanoaggregates are safe for use and can serve as a potent antibacterial polymer.
Topics: Humans; Polymers; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Polymerization; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Lipase
PubMed: 38436419
DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02801a -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024With growing restrictions on the use of antibiotics in animal feed, plant extracts are increasingly favored as natural feed additive sources. Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide...
With growing restrictions on the use of antibiotics in animal feed, plant extracts are increasingly favored as natural feed additive sources. Glycyrrhiza polysaccharide (GP), known for its multifaceted biological benefits including growth promotion, immune enhancement, and antioxidative properties, has been the focus of recent studies. Yet, the effects and mechanisms of GP on broiler growth and meat quality remain to be fully elucidated. This study aimed to investigate the effects of GP on growth, serum biochemistry, meat quality, and gene expression in broilers. The broilers were divided into five groups, each consisting of five replicates with six birds. These groups were supplemented with 0, 500, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 mg/kg of GP in their basal diets, respectively, for a period of 42 days. The results indicated that from day 22 to day 42, and throughout the entire experimental period from day 1 to day 42, the groups receiving 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg of GP showed a significant reduction in the feed-to-gain ratio (F:G) compared to the control group. On day 42, an increase in serum growth hormone (GH) levels was shown in groups supplemented with 1,000 mg/kg GP or higher, along with a significant linear increase in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentration. Additionally, significant upregulation of and mRNA expression levels was noted in the 1,000 and 1,500 mg/kg GP groups. Furthermore, GP significantly elevated serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase (AKP) and globulin (GLB) while reducing blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. In terms of meat quality, the 1,500 and 2,000 mg/kg GP groups significantly increased fiber density in pectoral muscles and reduced thiobarbituric acid (TBA) content. GP also significantly decreased cooking loss rate in both pectoral and leg muscles and the drip loss rate in leg muscles. It increased levels of linoleic acid and oleic acid, while decreasing concentrations of stearic acid, myristic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid. Finally, the study demonstrated that the 1,500 mg/kg GP group significantly enhanced the expression of () and () mRNA in leg muscles. Overall, the study determined that the optimal dosage of GP in broiler feed is 1,500 mg/kg.
PubMed: 38435364
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1357491