An A2 β-casein infant formula with high sn-2 palmitate and casein phosphopeptides supports adequate growth, improved stool consistency, and bone strength in healthy, term Chinese infants: a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial.

The aim of this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial was to examine the effects of infant formula on the growth, stool consistency, and bone strength of infants ( = 120) over a period of 4 months. The investigational group was fed an A2 β-casein cow's milk infant formula containing casein phosphopeptides (CPP) and high sn-2 palmitate (54% of total palmitate at sn-2). The control group was fed a standard cow's milk formula without CPP and with low sn-2 palmitate (29% of total palmitate at sn-2).

The Impact of Linoleic Acid on Infant Health in the Absence or Presence of DHA in Infant Formulas.

Both linoleic acid (LA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) are essential dietary fatty acids, and a balanced dietary supply of these is of the utmost importance for health. In many countries across the globe, the LA level and LA/ALA ratio in breast milk (BM) are high. For infant formula (IF), the maximum LA level set by authorities (e.

Can Lactoferrin, a Natural Mammalian Milk Protein, Assist in the Battle against COVID-19?

Notwithstanding mass vaccination against specific SARS-CoV-2 variants, there is still a demand for complementary nutritional intervention strategies to fight COVID-19. The bovine milk protein lactoferrin (LF) has attracted interest of nutraceutical, food and dairy industries for its numerous properties-ranging from anti-viral and anti-microbial to immunological-making it a potential functional ingredient in a wide variety of food applications to maintain health. Importantly, bovine LF was found to exert anti-viral activities against several types of viruses, including certain SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Gastric protein digestion of goat and cow milk infant formula and human milk under simulated infant conditions.

The protein digestion kinetics of goat milk infant formula (GMF) is previously shown to be more comparable to that of human milk (HM) than cow milk infant formula (CMF). To evaluate whether gastric behaviour contributes to differences in protein digestion kinetics, fresh HM, a GMF and a CMF were subjected to gastric digestion simulating infant conditions. Coagulation behaviour, particle size distribution and viscosity of the digesta were evaluated.

Abscisic Acid: A Novel Nutraceutical for Glycemic Control.

Abscisic acid is naturally present in fruits and vegetables, and it plays an important role in managing glucose homeostasis in humans. According to the latest U.S.

Harnessing microbiome and probiotic research in sub-Saharan Africa: recommendations from an African workshop.

To augment capacity-building for microbiome and probiotic research in Africa, a workshop was held in Nairobi, Kenya, at which researchers discussed human, animal, insect, and agricultural microbiome and probiotics/prebiotics topics. Five recommendations were made to promote future basic and translational research that benefits Africans.

Evaluation of digestive tolerance of a soluble corn fibre.

Background: To assess consumers' acceptance of a new fibre, it is essential to evaluate its digestive tolerance after ingestion. We aimed to determine the tolerance of increasing dosages of Promitor™ Soluble Gluco Fibre (SGF; Tate&Lyle, Hoffman Estates, IL, USA) up to 70 g fibre per day using a validated gastrointestinal composite score.

Methods: A composite score of gastrointestinal tolerance integrating gastrointestinal symptoms, stool frequency and consistency was applied.

In vitro neutralisation of rotavirus infection by two broadly specific recombinant monovalent llama-derived antibody fragments.

Rotavirus is the main cause of viral gastroenteritis in young children. Therefore, the development of inexpensive antiviral products for the prevention and/or treatment of rotavirus disease remains a priority. Previously we have shown that a recombinant monovalent antibody fragment (referred to as Anti-Rotavirus Proteins or ARP1) derived from a heavy chain antibody of a llama immunised with rotavirus was able to neutralise rotavirus infection in a mouse model system.

Activation of PPARγ and δ by dietary punicic acid ameliorates intestinal inflammation in mice.

The goal of the present study was to elucidate the mechanisms of immunoregulation by which dietary punicic acid (PUA) prevents or ameliorates experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The expression of PPARγ and δ, their responsive genes and pro-inflammatory cytokines was assayed in the colonic mucosa. Immune cell-specific PPARγ null, PPARδ knockout and wild-type mice were treated with PUA and challenged with 2·5 % dextran sodium sulphate (DSS).

In vitro fermentation of linear and alpha-1,2-branched dextrans by the human fecal microbiota.

The role of structure and molecular weight in fermentation selectivity in linear α-1,6 dextrans and dextrans with α-1,2 branching was investigated. Fermentation by gut bacteria was determined in anaerobic, pH-controlled fecal batch cultures after 36 h. Inulin (1%, wt/vol), which is a known prebiotic, was used as a control.

Soluble fibers and resistant starch ameliorate disease activity in interleukin-10-deficient mice with inflammatory bowel disease.

Our goal in this study was to determine the potential for dietary fibers to prevent gut inflammation in IL-10-deficient (IL-10(-/-)) mice. C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice (n = 90) and IL-10(-/-) mice (n = 185) were assigned to a control diet or diets supplemented with PROMITOR soluble corn fiber (SCF), STA-LITE III polydextrose (PDX), Biogum (BG), Pullulan (PI-20), PROMITOR resistant starch-75 (RS-75), SCF&BG, RS-75&BG, and inulin (4 g fiber/100 g diet). On d 47, spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon were macroscopically and histologically evaluated.

Activation of PPAR gamma and alpha by punicic acid ameliorates glucose tolerance and suppresses obesity-related inflammation.

Objective: Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR gamma) is the molecular target for thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of synthetic antidiabetic agents. However, the naturally occurring agonists of PPARs remain largely unknown. Punicic acid (PUA) is a conjugated linolenic acid isomer found in pomegrante.

Combined defects in epithelial and immunoregulatory factors exacerbate the pathogenesis of inflammation: mucin 2-interleukin 10-deficient mice.

Expression of the mucin MUC2, the structural component of the colonic mucus layer, is lowered in ulcerative colitis. Furthermore, interleukin (IL)-10 knockout (IL-10-/-) mice develop colitis and have reduced Muc2 levels. Our aim was to obtain insight into the role of Muc2 and IL-10 in epithelial protection.

The effect of Korean pine nut oil on in vitro CCK release, on appetite sensations and on gut hormones in post-menopausal overweight women.

Appetite suppressants may be one strategy in the fight against obesity. This study evaluated whether Korean pine nut free fatty acids (FFA) and triglycerides (TG) work as an appetite suppressant. Korean pine nut FFA were evaluated in STC-1 cell culture for their ability to increase cholecystokinin (CCK-8) secretion vs.

Cyclooxygenase activity is important for efficient replication of mouse hepatitis virus at an early stage of infection.

Cyclooxygenases (COXs) play a significant role in many different viral infections with respect to replication and pathogenesis. Here we investigated the role of COXs in the mouse hepatitis coronavirus (MHV) infection cycle. Blocking COX activity by different inhibitors or by RNA interference affected MHV infection in different cells.

Alterations in epithelial and mesenchymal intestinal gene expression during doxorubicin-induced mucositis in mice.

In the current study we aimed to gain insight into epithelial-mesenchymal cross-talk and progenitor compartment modulation during doxorubicin (DOX)-induced mucositis in mice. Intestinal segments were collected on various days after DOX treatment. DOX-induced damage at day 1-2 was characterized by increased epithelial proliferation and apoptosis and a decrease in the expression of epithelial differentiation markers.

Six months supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid induces regional-specific fat mass decreases in overweight and obese.

Long-term supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) reduces body fat mass (BFM) and increases or maintains lean body mass (LBM). However, the regional effect of CLA was not studied. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of CLA per region and safety in healthy, overweight and obese adults.

Does small intestinal atresia affect epithelial protein expression in human newborns?

Objectives: Bowel segments distal to a congenital intestinal obstruction have been suggested to be immature. In other words, luminal components such as amniotic fluid (before birth) and/or enteral nutrition (after birth) may be required to activate intestinal epithelial protein expression, thereby influencing epithelial differentiation. We investigated cell-type-specific protein expression proximal and distal to jejunal and ileal atresias in human newborns.

The effect of 6 months supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid on insulin resistance in overweight and obese.

Background: Contradicting results have been published regarding the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on insulin resistance. However, only a few studies have used the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp method, which is considered the standard for measuring insulin resistance.

Objective: To evaluate if CLA as a mixture of the main isomers trans-10 cis-12 and cis-9 trans-11 affects the insulin resistance in healthy overweight and obese male and female adults.

Methotrexate-induced mucositis in mucin 2-deficient mice.

The mucin Muc2 or Mycin2 (Muc2), which is the main structural component of the protective mucus layer, has shown to be upregulated during chemotherapy-induced mucositis. As Muc2 has shown to have protective capacities, upregulation of Muc2 may be a counter reaction of the intestine protecting against mucositis. Therefore, increasing Muc2 protein levels could be a therapeutic target in mucositis prevention or reduction.

Muc2-deficient mice spontaneously develop colitis, indicating that MUC2 is critical for colonic protection.

Background & Aims: Expression of mucin MUC2, the structural component of the colonic mucus layer, is lowered in inflammatory bowel disease. Our aim was to obtain insight in the role of Muc2 in epithelial protection.

Methods: Muc2 knockout (Muc2(-/-)) and Muc2 heterozygous (Muc2(+/-)) mice were characterized and challenged by a colitis-inducing agent, dextran sulfate sodium (DSS).

Conjugated linoleic acid and hepatic lipogenesis in mouse: role of the mitochondrial citrate carrier.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is able to reduce adiposity by affecting lipid metabolism. In particular, CLA administration to mice reduces body fat mass with a concomitant lipid accumulation in the liver. We investigated the effects of CLA on the activity of the mitochondrial citrate carrier (CIC), which is implicated in hepatic lipogenesis.

Contributions of mucosal immune cells to methotrexate-induced mucositis.

The use of high doses of the anti-cancer drug methotrexate (MTX) is associated with intestinal damage. As a result, mucosal immune cells become increasingly exposed to a vast amount of microbial stimuli. We aimed at determining whether these cells are still functional during MTX treatment.

The effect of cytostatic drug treatment on intestine-specific transcription factors Cdx2, GATA-4 and HNF-1alpha in mice.

Chemotherapy-induced intestinal damage is a very important dose-limiting side effect for which there is no definitive prophylaxis or treatment. This is in part due to the lack of understanding of its pathophysiology and impact on intestinal differentiation. The objective of this study was to investigate the gene expression of the small intestinal transcription factors HNF-1alpha, Cdx2, GATA-4 in an experimental model of methotrexate (MTX)-induced intestinal damage, and to correlate these alterations with histological damage, epithelial proliferation and differentiation.