Beneficial Effects of Lactobacilli Species on Intestinal Homeostasis in Low-Grade Inflammation and Stress Rodent Models and Their Implication in the Modulation of the Adhesive Junctional Complex.

Intestinal barrier integrity is essential in order to maintain the homeostasis of mucosal functions and efficient defensive reactions against chemical and microbial challenges. An impairment of the intestinal barrier has been observed in several chronic diseases. The gut microbiota and its impact on intestinal homeostasis is well described and numerous studies suggest the ability of some probiotic strains to protect the intestinal epithelial integrity and host homeostasis.

Increased Survival of Strains Subjected to Freeze-Drying after Cultivation in an Acid Medium: Involvement of Membrane Fluidity Cultivation in Acid Medium to Improve Bacterial Survival of Freeze-Drying.

Research Background: Freeze-drying is the most widely used dehydration process in the food industry for the stabilization of bacteria. Studies have shown the effectiveness of an acid prestress in increasing the resistance of lactic acid bacteria to freeze-drying. Adaptation of bacteria to an acid stress is based on maintaining the properties of the plasma membrane.

Design of a new lyoprotectant increasing freeze-dried Lactobacillus strain survival to long-term storage.

Background: Stabilization of freeze-dried lactic acid bacteria during long-term storage is challenging for the food industry. Water activity of the lyophilizates is clearly related to the water availability and maintaining a low a during storage allows to increase bacteria viability. The aim of this study was to achieve a low water activity after freeze-drying and subsequently during long-term storage through the design of a lyoprotectant.

Evaluation of the Probiotic Properties and the Capacity to Form Biofilms of Various Strains.

Over the last 20 years, species inhabiting the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) have received much attention, and their health-promoting properties are now well-described. Probiotic effects cannot be generalized, and their uses cover a wide range of applications. It is thus important to proceed to an accurate selection and evaluation of probiotic candidates.

How Safe Is Ginger Rhizome for Decreasing Nausea and Vomiting in Women during Early Pregnancy?

Ginger, Roscoe, is increasingly consumed as a food or in food supplements. It is also recognized as a popular nonpharmacological treatment for nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP). However, its consumption is not recommended by all countries for pregnant women.

Acute effects of Fraxinus excelsior L. seed extract on postprandial glycemia and insulin secretion on healthy volunteers.

Aim Of The Study: Fraxinus excelsior L. (Family: Oleaceae) seeds are consumed as a food, condiment, and folk medicine. The seeds are traditionally used as a potent hypoglycemic agent, but no clinical evidence exists in as to this regard.

Grape extract improves antioxidant status and physical performance in elite male athletes.

Excessive physical exercise overproduces reactive oxygen species. Even if elite sportsmen increase their antioxidant status by regular physical training, during the competition period, this improvement is not sufficient to limit free radical production which could be detrimental to the body. The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled, and crossover study on 20 elite sportsmen (handball = 10, basketball = 5, sprint = 4, and volleyball = 1) during the competition period was to determine if the consumption of a grape extract (GE; Vitis vinifera L.

Chlorogenic acids from green coffee extract are highly bioavailable in humans.

Chlorogenic acids (CGA) are cinnamic acid derivatives with biological effects mostly related to their antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities. Caffeoylquinic acids (CQA) and dicaffeoylquinic acids (diCQA) are the main CGA found in nature. Because green coffee is a major source of CGA, it has been used for production of nutraceuticals.

Absorption and metabolism of caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid in the small intestine of rats.

The absorption and metabolism in the small intestine of chlorogenic acid (5-O-caffeoylquinic acid), the main phenolic acid in the human diet, and of caffeic acid were studied in rats in order to determine whether chlorogenic acid is directly absorbed or hydrolysed in the small intestine. Chlorogenic and caffeic acids were perfused into a segment of ileum plus jejunum during 45 min (50 microm, 0.75 ml/min) using an in situ intestinal perfusion rat model with cannulation of the biliary duct, and were quantified together with their metabolites in perfusion effluent, bile and plasma.

Chlorogenic acid is absorbed in its intact form in the stomach of rats.

The bioavailability of chlorogenic acid, a major polyphenol of the human diet that is particularly abundant in coffee and various fruits, was explored in rats. To identify the form under which it is absorbed through the gut mucosa and the site of absorption along the gastrointestinal tract, rats were fed a diet supplemented with chlorogenic acid (0.25%, wt:wt).

Caffeic acid inhibits oxidative Stress and reduces hypercholesterolemia induced by iron overload in rats.

The effects of caffeic acid, a major phenolic compound of the diet, on oxidative stress and cholesterolemia are studied in rats submitted to oxidative stress by iron overload. Male Wistar rats were fed semi-synthetic diets containing regular (50 mg/kg diet) or high (2000 mg/kg) doses of iron with and without caffeic acid (6460 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. The high doses of iron induced an increase of lipid oxidation in the liver, as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and an increase of cholesterolemia.

Effects of sulphate- and bicarbonate-rich mineral waters on net and fractional intestinal absorption and urinary excretion of magnesium in rats.

Magnesium (Mg) intake is below the recommended daily allowances in many developed countries. Mg-rich mineral waters can provide significant amounts of energy-free Mg and thus help to meet Mg requirements. We assessed the effects of different Mg-rich mineral waters on overall intestinal Mg absorption and urinary Mg excretion in 40 rats split into four groups: one received distilled water, another a solution of MgCl(2) and the others two different mineral waters, sulphated water (Hépar) and carbonated water (Badoit) mixed with the diet and as drinking water, for four weeks.