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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Hemp ( L.) has experienced a significant resurgence in popularity, and global interest in diversifying its use in various industries, including the food industry, is... (Review)
Review
Hemp ( L.) has experienced a significant resurgence in popularity, and global interest in diversifying its use in various industries, including the food industry, is growing. Therefore, due to their exceptional nutritional value, hemp seeds have recently gained increasing interest as a valuable ingredient for obtaining high-quality foods and dietary supplements. Hemp seeds stand out for their remarkable content of quality proteins, including edestin and albumin, two distinct types of proteins that contribute to exceptional nutritional value. Hemp seeds are also rich in healthy lipids with a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as linoleic acid (omega-6), alpha-linolenic acid (omega-3), and some vitamins (vitamins E, D, and A). Polyphenols and terpenoids, in particular, present in hemp seeds, provide antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. This review examines the scientific literature regarding hemp seeds' physicochemical and nutritional characteristics. The focus is on those characteristics that allow for their use in the food industry, aiming to transform ordinary food products into functional foods, offering additional benefits for the body's health. Innovating opportunities to develop healthy, nutritionally superior food products are explored by integrating hemp seeds into food processes, promoting a balanced and sustainable diet.
Topics: Cannabis; Seeds; Functional Food; Nutritive Value; Antioxidants; Humans; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38731588
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092097 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024Fatty acids are essential for human health. Currently, there is a search for alternative sources of fatty acids that could supplement such sources as staple crops or...
BACKGROUND
Fatty acids are essential for human health. Currently, there is a search for alternative sources of fatty acids that could supplement such sources as staple crops or fishes. Turions of aquatic plants accumulate a variety of substances such as starch, free sugars, amino acids, reserve proteins and lipids. Our aim is to see if turions can be a valuable source of fatty acids.
METHODS
Overwintering shoots and turions of aquatic carnivorous plants were collected. The plant material was extracted with hexane. The oils were analyzed using a gas chromatograph with mass spectrometer.
RESULTS
The dominant compound in all samples was linolenic acid. The oil content was different in turions and shoots. The oil content of the shoots was higher than that of the turions, but the proportion of fatty acids in the oils from the shoots was low in contrast to the oils from the turions. The turions of species were shown to be composed of about 50% fatty acids.
CONCLUSIONS
The turions of species can be used to obtain oil with unsaturated fatty acids. In addition, the high fatty acid content of turions may explain their ability to survive at low temperatures.
Topics: Fatty Acids; Plant Shoots; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Plant Oils
PubMed: 38731554
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092062 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2024The quality of fat in infant milk is determined by the fatty acid profile and selected indices describing nutritional value. The aim of this study was to analyze the...
The quality of fat in infant milk is determined by the fatty acid profile and selected indices describing nutritional value. The aim of this study was to analyze the fatty acid profile and lipid quality indices of infant formulas and compare these data with breast milk. The study material included seven types of cow's milk-based follow-on infant formulas and samples of mature breast milk. The determination of fatty acids was performed using the gas chromatography (GC) technique. Lipid quality indices were calculated based on the relevant equations. Infant formulas contained more medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) and oleic acid. Moreover, they contained more than 30% more linoleic acid and more than twice as much α-linolenic acid and docosahexaenoic acid. In contrast, significant amounts of trans fatty acids (TFAs) were noted in breast milk, while infant formulas contained trace amounts. Infant formulas were characterized by a lower AI (Index of Atherogenicity) (0.49-0.98) and TI (Index of Thrombogenicity) (0.48-0.60) and a higher H/H (hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic) ratio (1.93-2.30) compared with breast milk (1.47, 1.60, and 1.21, respectively). The composition of infant formulas depended on the type of fat added at the production stage and differed significantly from breast milk, particularly in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipid quality indices.
Topics: Infant Formula; Humans; Fatty Acids; Milk, Human; Infant; Lipids; Female; Nutritive Value; Animals
PubMed: 38731536
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092044 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024The aim of this study was to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of chicken droppings (n = 73), which were collected during different age periods and...
The aim of this study was to analyze the physical and chemical characteristics of chicken droppings (n = 73), which were collected during different age periods and classified by visual inspection into normal (N) and abnormal (A). Significant differences were found in the texture, pH, dry matter (DM), fatty acids (FAs), short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and volatile compounds (VCs) between the tested dropping groups ( ≤ 0.05). The age period of the chicken had a significant influence on the color coordinates, texture, pH, DM, and SCFA contents in N and A as well as on all FAs content in N ( ≤ 0.05). Droppings from the N group had a harder texture, lower values of a* and b* color coordinates, higher DM content, higher level of linoleic FA, and lower level of α-linolenic FA than the droppings from the A group in each age period ( ≤ 0.05). The predominant SCFA was acetic acid, the content of which was significantly lower in the N group compared to that of the A group. The alcohol and organic acid contents were the highest in most of the A group at different age periods, while ketones dominated in the N and A groups. In conclusion, the majority of the tested dropping characteristics were influenced by the age period. While certain characteristics demonstrate differences between N and A, a likely broader range of droppings is required to provide more distinct trends regarding the distribution of characteristics across different droppings.
PubMed: 38731394
DOI: 10.3390/ani14091389 -
Medicine May 2024Observational research suggests that the evidence linking dietary nutrient intake (encompassing minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and unsaturated fatty acids) to type 2...
Observational research suggests that the evidence linking dietary nutrient intake (encompassing minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and unsaturated fatty acids) to type 2 diabetes (T2D) is both inconsistent and limited. This study aims to explore the potential causal relationship between dietary nutrients and T2D. Causal estimation utilized Mendelian randomization techniques. Single nucleotide polymorphisms linked to dietary nutrients were identified from existing genome-wide association studies and used as instrumental variables. Genome-wide association studies data pertinent to T2D were sourced from the DIMANTE consortium and the FinnGen database. Techniques including inverse variance weighting (IVW), weighted mode, weighted median, and Mendelian randomization-Egger were employed for causal inference, complemented by sensitivity analysis. Genetically predicted higher phenylalanine (IVW: odds ratio = 1.10 95% confidence interval 1.04-1.17, P = 1.5 × 10-3, q_pval = 3.4 × 10-2) and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (IVW: odds ratio = 1.001 95% confidence interval 1.0006-1.003, P = 3.7 × 10-3, q_pval = 4.1 × 10-2) levels were directly associated with T2D risk. Conversely, no causal relationships between other nutrients and T2D were established. We hypothesize that phenylalanine and dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid contribute to the pathogenesis of T2D. Clinically, the use of foods with high phenylalanine content may pose potential risks for patients with a heightened risk of T2D. Our study provides evidence supporting a causal link between dietary nutrient intake and the development of T2D.
Topics: Humans; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Genome-Wide Association Study; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Nutrients; Diet; Phenylalanine
PubMed: 38728475
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000038090 -
Food Science & Nutrition May 2024Flaxseed oil has a high amount of α-linolenic acid (an ω3 essential fatty acid), but it is very prone to oxidation. Therefore, olive leaves were used as a rich source...
Flaxseed oil has a high amount of α-linolenic acid (an ω3 essential fatty acid), but it is very prone to oxidation. Therefore, olive leaves were used as a rich source of phenolic compounds with flaxseeds upon oil extraction by cold press to enhance the oxidative stability of extracted oils. Oil from flaxseeds with unblanched leaves and blanched leaves at level of (0 [control sample], 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10% w/w) was extracted by cold press. Quality of extracted oils was evaluated for 90 days of storage at room condition. Incorporation of unblanched olive leaves could increase the acid value of the extracted oils up to 2.0 (mg KOH/g oil) compared to the other samples. Oxidation of the flaxseed oil could be delayed by the addition of blanched olive leaves up to 5%. Oil extracted from flaxseeds incorporated with blanched olive leaves had higher content of carotenoids (up to 33.7 mg/kg oil), chlorophylls (up to 35.7 mg/kg oil), and phenolic compounds (up to 200 mg/kg oil). Also, oxidative stability of extracted oils was higher up to 7.5% of blanched olive leaves (11.4 h) compared to control sample (7.2 h) and other oil samples. Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the oil samples were well preserved by the incorporation of blanched olive leaves. Based on the obtained results, incorporation of suitable amount of blanched olive leaves (up to 7.5%) with flaxseeds before oil extraction by press can be an appropriate procedure to produce oils with high content of bioactive components and suitable oxidative stability.
PubMed: 38726418
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4044 -
Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal May 2024Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a condition that occurs when individuals under the age of 16 develop arthritis that lasts for more than six weeks, and the cause...
BACKGROUND
Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) is a condition that occurs when individuals under the age of 16 develop arthritis that lasts for more than six weeks, and the cause is unknown. The development of JIA may be linked to serum metabolites. Nevertheless, the association between JIA pathogenesis and serum metabolites is unclear, and there are discrepancies in the findings across studies.
METHODS
In this research, the association between JIA in humans and 486 serum metabolites was assessed using genetic variation data and genome-wide association study. The identification of causal relationships was accomplished through the application of univariate Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Various statistical methods, including inverse variance weighted and MR-Egger, were applied to achieve this objective. To ensure that the findings from the MR analysis were trustworthy, a number of assessments were carried out. To ensure the accuracy of the obtained results, a range of techniques were utilised including the Cochran Q test, examination of the MR-Egger intercept, implementation of the leave-one-out strategy, and regression analysis of linkage disequilibrium scores. In order to identify the specific metabolic pathways associated with JIA, our primary objective was to perform pathway enrichment analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes.
RESULTS
Two-sample summary data MR analyses and sensitivity analyses showed that five metabolites were significantly causally associated with JIA, including two risk factors-kynurenine (odds ratio [OR]: 16.39, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.07-129.63, p = 5.11 × 10) and linolenate (OR: 16.48, 95% CI: 1.32-206.22, p = 0.030)-and three protective factors-3-dehydrocarnitine (OR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.14-0.72, p = 0.007), levulinate (4-oxovalerate) (OR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.20-0.80, p = 0.010), and X-14,208 (phenylalanylserine) (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.51-0.92, p = 0.010). Furthermore, seven metabolic pathways, including α-linolenic acid metabolism and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis, are potentially associated with the onset and progression of JIA.
CONCLUSION
Five serum metabolites, including kynurenine and 3-dehydrocarnitine, may be causally associated with JIA. These results provide a theoretical framework for developing effective JIA prevention and screening strategies.
Topics: Humans; Arthritis, Juvenile; Mendelian Randomization Analysis; Genome-Wide Association Study; Child; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Kynurenine
PubMed: 38724970
DOI: 10.1186/s12969-024-00986-0 -
Frontiers in Microbiology 2024Valsa canker, caused by , is a destructive disease in apple production. However, the mechanism by which apple defend against infection remains unclear.
INTRODUCTION
Valsa canker, caused by , is a destructive disease in apple production. However, the mechanism by which apple defend against infection remains unclear.
METHODS
In this study, the integrative transcriptional and metabolic analysis were used to investigate the responses of the 'Jin Hong' apple branches to the invasion of .
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Results showed that the differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the pathways of carbon metabolism, photosynthesis-antenna proteins, and biosynthesis of amino acids pathways. Additionally, the differentially accumulated metabolites were significantly enriched in aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, fructose and mannose metabolism, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism pathways. Conjoint analysis revealed that infection significantly altered 5 metabolic pathways, 8 highly relevant metabolites and 15 genes of apples. Among which the transcription factors WRKY and basic domain leucine zipper transcription family were induced, the α-linolenic acid and betaine were significantly accumulated in infected apple stems. This work presents an overview of the changes in gene expression and metabolic profiles in apple under the inoculation of , which may help to further screen out the mechanism of plant-pathogen interaction at the molecular level.
PubMed: 38721601
DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1394447 -
Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and... 2024To investigate the association between the dietary intake of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha linolenic acid (ALA) with mortality outcomes in patients with diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between the dietary intake of linoleic acid (LA) and alpha linolenic acid (ALA) with mortality outcomes in patients with diabetes.
PARTICIPANTS
3,112 U.S. adults aged≥20 years.
SETTING
Basic information was collected at baseline of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Serum CRP (mg/dL), total protein (g/L), waist circumference (cm), fasting blood glucose (mmol/L), white blood cell count, serum LDL-C, and serum HDL-C were also measured. Daily diets were also recorded using a 24-hour dietary review to produce the individuals' intake of LA and ALA. The association between tertiles of LA and ALA intake with mortality was analyzed by weighted Cox models adjusted for the main confounders.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
The study included 3,112 adults with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2008. Death outcomes were ascertained by linkage to the database records through 31 December 2015.
RESULTS
Subjects with a high intake of LA (T3) had 17% [hazard ratio (HR) 0.83, 95% CI 0.70 to 0.99) and 48% (HR=0.52, 0.35 to 0.80)] reductions in all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality, respectively, compared with subjects with lowest intake (T1). Similar results were observed for ALA, HR of cardiovascular mortality was 0.55 (0.38 to 0.81) and for all-cause mortality was 0.85 (0.69 to 1.04) comparing the highest to lowest intake tertiles.
CONCLUSION
Higher intakes of LA and ALA were inversely associated with CVD and all-cause deaths in patients with diabetes. Proper dietary intakes of LA and ALA could contribute to the cardiovascular health and the long-term survival of patients with diabetes.
PubMed: 38721345
DOI: 10.3389/fcdhc.2024.1318578 -
Scientific Reports May 2024Umbelliferous (Apiaceae) vegetables are widely consumed worldwide for their nutritive and health benefits. The main goal of the current study is to explore the...
Umbelliferous (Apiaceae) vegetables are widely consumed worldwide for their nutritive and health benefits. The main goal of the current study is to explore the compositional heterogeneity in four dried umbelliferous vegetables viz, celery, coriander, dill, and parsley targeting their volatile profile using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). A total of 133 volatile metabolites were detected belonging to 12 classes. Aromatic hydrocarbons were detected as the major components of the analyzed vegetables accounting ca. 64.0, 62.4, 59.5, and 47.8% in parsley, dill, celery, and coriander, respectively. Aliphatic hydrocarbons were detected at ca. 6.39, 8.21, 6.16, and 6.79% in parsley, dill, celery, and coriander, respectively. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of various health benefits were detected in parsley and represented by roughanic acid and α-linolenic acid at 4.99 and 0.47%, respectively. Myristicin and frambinone were detected only in parsley at 0.45 and 0.56%. Investigation of antibacterial activity of umbelliferous vegetables n-hexane extract revealed a moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria with higher activity for celery and dill against Staphylococcus aureus with inhibition zone 20.3 mm compared to 24.3 mm of the standard antibacterial drug.
Topics: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Vegetables; Phytochemicals; Hexanes; Apiaceae; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Allylbenzene Derivatives; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Oils, Volatile; Plant Oils; Plant Extracts; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Staphylococcus aureus; Dioxolanes
PubMed: 38719900
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60631-4