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Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024High temperatures have detrimental effects on the performance and physiology of broiler chickens. Medicinal plants have various biological activities and may enhance the...
High temperatures have detrimental effects on the performance and physiology of broiler chickens. Medicinal plants have various biological activities and may enhance the heat resistance of chickens during heat waves. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential roles of using specific local medicinal plants to alleviate the negative impacts of heat stress (HS) in broilers. In this study, 180 day-old chicks were used to investigate the effects of HS and dietary indigenous medicinal plants on growth performance, antioxidant biomarkers, and intestinal health. The chicks were assigned to six groups (18 pens with 10 chicks per pen) with three replicates each. In the first group, the chicks were kept under thermoneutral conditions (CON) and fed a basal diet. The other five groups were exposed to recurrent heat stress and fed a basal diet (T1, HS group) or supplemented with Artemisia Sieberi (1.25 g/kg of feed; T2), Achillea Fragrantissima (15 g/kg of feed; T3), (10 g/kg of feed; T4), and all the previous additives (all-in-one) combined at the same dose levels mentioned above (T5). At 21 days of age, the chicks from each group were exposed to two phases of heat stress: phase 1 from days 21 to 34 (34 ± 1°C) followed by phase 2 from days 35 to 39 (37 ± 1°C). The results indicate that HS significantly increased rectal temperature and respiration rate in broiler chickens. Feed intake and body weight gain were improved in all supplemented groups, while the feed conversion ratio was decreased in response to the dietary inclusion of medicinal plants. Additionally, glutathione peroxidase and immunoglobulin G levels were increased in the T3, T4, and T5 groups compared to the other groups. HS induced significant upregulated in the mRNA levels of heat shock protein 70 and interleukin-8, while the mRNA of occludin was decreased. The T3, T4, and T5 showed significantly decreased expression of hepatic HSP70 and ileum IL-8 genes and increased ileum mRNA occludin levels relative to the CON and T1 groups. In conclusion, supplementation with these plants enhances growth performance and maintains intestinal health sustaining the productivity of broiler chickens under HS conditions.
PubMed: 38952804
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1410580 -
Current Developments in Nutrition Jun 2024Fruits and vegetables (FV) are a critical source of nutrients, yet children in the United States are not meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The monthly...
Evaluating the Association of the Increase in the WIC Cash Value Benefit on the Diversity of MyPlate Fruits and Vegetables Redeemed and Consumed By Children in Low-Income Households.
BACKGROUND
Fruits and vegetables (FV) are a critical source of nutrients, yet children in the United States are not meeting the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA). The monthly FV cash value benefit (CVB) included in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)'s food package to support child FV intake (FVI) received a substantial increase for economic relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate how an expansion of the monthly WIC CVB to purchase FV for WIC children ages 1-4 y is associated with diversity in FV redeemed, and how changes in redeemed FV are related to FVI.
METHODS
Caregivers representing 1463 WIC-participating children recruited from Los Angeles County, California, completed surveys during the CVB augmentation (T1: CVB = $9/mo; T2 = $35/mo; T3 = $24/mo). Redeemed price look-up codes (PLUs), corresponding to a food item, were assigned to its corresponding MyPlate FV group. Multivariable generalized estimating equation regression models assessed changes in amount and diversity of FV redemption across MyPlate groups and associations between changes in FV diversity and changes in FVI.
RESULTS
Slightly over half of all households were food insecure (55%), half of the children were female (52%), and most were Hispanic (78%). Compared with T1, significant increases in the number of PLUs and dollars redeemed were observed in most MyPlate FV groups. From T1 to T2, significant increases in diversity scores were observed for total fruit (β: 1.6 pts; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4, 1.7), total vegetable (β: 3.6 pts; 95%CI: 3.4, 3.9), and total FV (β:7.8 pts; 95%CI: 7.4, 8.2). Similarly, increases in diversity score were observed at T3 compared with T1. Changes in FV diversity redeemed were not associated with changes in FVI.
CONCLUSIONS
During the CVB augmentation, WIC participants redeemed a greater amount and variety of FV according to DGA MyPlate recommendations, supporting its permanent increase.
PubMed: 38952351
DOI: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.103778 -
Journal of the Science of Food and... Jul 2024This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of oleuropein (OLE) ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying mechanisms.
BACKGROUND
This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism of oleuropein (OLE) ameliorates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its underlying mechanisms.
RESULTS
Male C57BL/6J mice were fed either a low-fat diet (LFD), a high-fat diet (HFD), or a HFD supplemented with 0.03% (w/w) OLE for 16 weeks. OLE supplementation decreased body weight and liver weight, improved serum lipid profiles, and ameliorated HFD-induced hepatic dysfunction. Liver metabolomics analysis revealed that OLE increased the levels of nicotinamide, tauroursodeoxycholic acid, taurine, and docosahexaenoic acid, which were beneficial for lipid homeostasis and inflammation regulation. OLE exerted its protective effects by activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), a key transcription factor that regulates fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) expression and modulates lipid oxidation, lipogenesis and inflammation pathways. Importantly, OLE supplementation did not significantly affect body weight or liver weight in PPARα knockout (PPARα KO) mice, indicating that PPARα is essential for OLE-mediated NAFLD prevention.
CONCLUSION
Our results suggest that OLE alleviates NAFLD in mice by activating PPARα and modulating liver metabolites. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
PubMed: 38952322
DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.13691 -
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine Jul 2024Plasma total magnesium concentration (tMg) is a prognostic indicator in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD), shorter survival time being associated with...
BACKGROUND
Plasma total magnesium concentration (tMg) is a prognostic indicator in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD), shorter survival time being associated with hypomagnesemia. Whether this risk factor is modifiable with dietary magnesium supplementation remains unexplored.
OBJECTIVES
Evaluate effects of a magnesium-enriched phosphate-restricted diet (PRD) on CKD-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) variables.
ANIMALS
Sixty euthyroid client-owned cats with azotemic CKD, with 27 and 33 allocated to magnesium-enriched PRD or control PRD, respectively.
METHODS
Prospective double-blind, parallel-group randomized trial. Cats with CKD, stabilized on a PRD, without hypermagnesemia (tMg >2.43 mg/dL) or hypercalcemia (plasma ionized calcium concentration, (iCa) >6 mg/dL), were recruited. Both intention-to-treat and per-protocol (eating ≥50% of study diet) analyses were performed; effects of dietary magnesium supplementation on clinicopathological variables were evaluated using linear mixed effects models.
RESULTS
In the per-protocol analysis, tMg increased in cats consuming a magnesium-enriched PRD (β, 0.25 ± .07 mg/dL/month; P < .001). Five magnesium supplemented cats had tMg >2.92 mg/dL, but none experienced adverse effects. Rate of change in iCa differed between groups (P = .01), with decreasing and increasing trends observed in cats fed magnesium-enriched PRD and control PRD, respectively. Four control cats developed ionized hypercalcemia versus none in the magnesium supplemented group. Log-transformed plasma fibroblast growth factor-23 concentration (FGF23) increased significantly in controls (β, 0.14 ± .05 pg/mL/month; P = .01), but remained stable in the magnesium supplemented group (β, 0.05±.06 pg/mL/month; P =.37).
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE
Magnesium-enriched PRD is a novel therapeutic strategy for managing feline CKD-MBD in cats, further stabilizing plasma FGF23 and preventing hypercalcemia.
PubMed: 38952053
DOI: 10.1111/jvim.17134 -
European Journal of Pharmacology Jun 2024Neurodegenerative disorders are diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of neurons and associated structures and are a major global issue growing more... (Review)
Review
Neurodegenerative disorders are diseases characterized by progressive degeneration of neurons and associated structures and are a major global issue growing more widespread as the global population's average age increases. Despite several investigations on their etiology, the specific cause of these disorders remains unknown. However, there are few symptomatic therapies to treat these disorders. Polyamines (PAs) (putrescine, spermidine, and spermine) are being studied for their role in neuroprotection, aging and cognitive impairment. They are ubiquitous polycations which have relatively higher concentrations in the brain and possess pleiotropic biochemical activities, including regulation of gene expression, ion channels, mitochondria Ca transport, autophagy induction, programmed cell death, and many more. Their cellular content is tightly regulated, and substantial evidence indicates that their altered levels and metabolism are strongly implicated in aging, stress, cognitive dysfunction, and neurodegenerative disorders. In addition, dietary polyamine supplementation has been reported to induce anti-aging effects, anti-oxidant effects, and improve locomotor abnormalities, and cognitive dysfunction. Thus, restoring the polyamine level is considered a promising pharmacological strategy to counteract neurodegeneration. This review highlights PAs' physiological role and the molecular mechanism underpinning their proposed neuroprotective effect in aging and neurodegenerative disorders.
PubMed: 38950837
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176804 -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... Jul 2024In recent years, the role of microbial tryptophan (Trp) catabolism in host-microbiota crosstalk has become a major area of scientific interest. Microbiota-derived Trp...
In recent years, the role of microbial tryptophan (Trp) catabolism in host-microbiota crosstalk has become a major area of scientific interest. Microbiota-derived Trp catabolites positively contribute to intestinal and systemic homeostasis by acting as ligands of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and pregnane X receptor, and as signaling molecules in microbial communities. Accumulating evidence suggests that microbial Trp catabolism could be therapeutic targets in treating human diseases. A number of bacteria and metabolic pathways have been identified to be responsible for the conversion of Trp in the intestine. Interestingly, many Trp-degrading bacteria can benefit from the supplementation of specific dietary fibers and polyphenols, which in turn increase the microbial production of beneficial Trp catabolites. Thus, this review aims to highlight the emerging role of diets and food components, i.e., food matrix, fiber, and polyphenol, in modulating the microbial catabolism of Trp and discuss the opportunities for potential therapeutic interventions specifically designed diets targeting the Trp-microbiome axis.
PubMed: 38950607
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2024.2369947 -
PloS One 2024Polyamines (PAs), including putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm), are essential polycations with wide-ranging roles in cellular functions. PA levels...
Polyamines (PAs), including putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm), are essential polycations with wide-ranging roles in cellular functions. PA levels decline with age, making exogenous PA supplementation, particularly Spd, an intriguing prospect. Previous research in honey bees demonstrated that millimolar Spd added to their diet increased lifespan and reinforced oxidative resilience. The present study is aimed to assess the anti-aging effects of spermidine supplementation at concentrations of 0.1 and 1 mM in honey bees, focusing on autophagy and associated epigenetic changes. Results showed a more pronounced effect at the lower Spd concentration, primarily in the abdomen. Spd induced site-specific histone 3 hypoacetylation at sites K18 and 27, hyperacetylation at K9, with no change at K14 in the entire body. Additionally, autophagy-related genes (ATG3, 5, 9, 13) and genes associated with epigenetic changes (HDAC1, HDAC3, SIRT1, KAT2A, KAT6B, P300, DNMT1A, DNMT1B) were upregulated in the abdomens of honey bees. In conclusion, our findings highlight profound epigenetic changes and autophagy promotion due to spermidine supplementation, contributing to increased honey bee longevity. Further research is needed to fully understand the precise mechanisms and the interplay between epigenetic alterations and autophagy in honey bees, underscoring the significance of autophagy as a geroprotective mechanism.
Topics: Animals; Spermidine; Bees; Autophagy; Epigenesis, Genetic; Dietary Supplements; Histones; Acetylation
PubMed: 38950057
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306430 -
Journal of Medicinal Food Jul 2024Excessive fat deposition leads to obesity and cardiovascular diseases with abnormal metabolism. Pantothenic acid (PA) is a major B vitamin required for energy...
Excessive fat deposition leads to obesity and cardiovascular diseases with abnormal metabolism. Pantothenic acid (PA) is a major B vitamin required for energy metabolism. However, the effect of PA on lipid metabolism and obesity has not been explored. We investigated the effects and molecular mechanism of PA on fat accumulation as well as the influence of adipogenic marker genes in both adult male mice and primary adipocytes. First, we demonstrated that PA attenuates weight gain in mice fed high-fat diet (HFD). Besides, PA supplementation substantially improved glucose tolerance and lipid metabolic disorder in obese mice. Furthermore, PA significantly inhibited white adipose tissue (WAT) deposition as well as fat droplets visualized by magnification in both chow and HFD group. More importantly, PA obviously suppressed the mRNA levels of , , and to alleviate inflammation and reduced the levels of , , and genes that are related to lipid metabolism in inguinal white adipose tissue (ing-WAT) and epididymal white adipose tissue (ei-WAT). In vitro, PA supplementation showed a lower lipid droplet aggregation as well as reduced expression levels of adipogentic genes. Finally, we identified that PA inhibits the phosphorylation levels of p38 and JNK in murine primary adipocytes. Collectively, our data demonstrated for the first time that PA attenuates lipid metabolic disorder as well as fat deposition by JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway.
PubMed: 38949913
DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2023.k.0292 -
Journal of Medicinal Food Jul 2024Imbalances in gut microbiota and subsequent destabilization of intestinal barrier equilibrium have been related to the evolution of metabolic disorders. Goji berries...
Imbalances in gut microbiota and subsequent destabilization of intestinal barrier equilibrium have been related to the evolution of metabolic disorders. Goji berries (Lycium barbarum; GB) and their fermented counterpart (FGB) have been identified for their prebiotic capacity in managing intestinal barrier functions and inflammatory profiles Consequently, this research was designed to investigate the effects of supplementing GB and FGB on intestinal integrity, inflammation, and changes in the composition of gut microbiota in high-fat (HF)-fed rats. Thirty-two male Sprague-Dawley rats (6 weeks old, 8 per group) were divided into four categories based on their weight and provided with either respective diets over a 6-week period: low-fat (LF; 10% of calories from fat), HF (45% of calories from fat), and HF diets supplemented with either GB or FGB at a 2% (w/w). Supplementation of GB and FGB resulted in compositional changes in the gut microbiota, denoted by a distinct abundance of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii with GB and Akkermansia muciniphila species with FGB, which have been linked to ameliorated obesity phenotypes and metabolic parameters. These alterations were correlated with enhancements in gut barrier integrity, thereby protecting against local and systemic inflammation induced by a HF diet. Supplementation with GB and FGB also mitigated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation through inhibition of its downstream pathway. These findings indicate that both GB and FGB supplementation can improve gut barrier function and inflammatory profiles in HF-fed rats via modulation of the microbial composition of the gut, supporting the potential application of GB and FGB in improving gut barrier function and managing inflammation amid metabolic challenges.
PubMed: 38949912
DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2024.k.0031 -
Tropical Animal Health and Production Jun 2024This study aimed to evaluate and analyze the effects of a flushing diet containing Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from Lemuru (Sardinella sp)...
The benefits of flushing with Lemuru fish oil as a source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) on the performance of reproductive parameters in Garut ewes.
This study aimed to evaluate and analyze the effects of a flushing diet containing Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) from Lemuru (Sardinella sp) fish oil on the reproductive performance parameters of Garut ewes. Forty (n = 40) primiparous Garut ewes aged 12-14 months with an average body weight of 28.92 ± 4.94 kg were assigned into four experimental treatment groups. The experimental diets contained roughage: concentrate (30:70%) designated as control concentrate (CNT), flushing concentrate with 6% palm oil (PO), flushing concentrate with 3% palm oil mixed with 3% lemuru oil as DHA and EPA sources (PFO), and flushing concentrate with the addition of 6% lemuru oil (FO). Treatment animals were fed two weeks before and after conception and parturition (8 weeks of total flushing treatment). The addition of fish oil at either 3% (PFO) or 6% (FO) resulted in significantly higher reproductive performance of ewes by increasing the litter size, as reflected by the birth of multiple kids (P < 0.05) compared to CNT and PO. Adding fish oil (PFO and FO) also maintains gestation, resulting in increased lamb yield, especially in the FO treatment, which yields the highest lamb yield (0% single lamb birth). The lamb male ratio was also higher with fish oil supplementation (PFO and PO) (P < 0.05). This research revealed a positive effect of 6% Lemuru oil on decreasing embryo loss and increasing the proportion of twin births. These findings thus support the hypothesis that ration flushing with double the required DHA and EPA from 6% Lemuru fish oil (FO) resulted in significantly higher reproductive performance in Garut sheep.
Topics: Animals; Female; Eicosapentaenoic Acid; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Fish Oils; Animal Feed; Dietary Supplements; Reproduction; Diet; Sheep, Domestic; Pregnancy
PubMed: 38949740
DOI: 10.1007/s11250-024-04060-5