Effect of milk fat globules on growth and metabolism in rats fed an unbalanced diet.

We assessed the effects of supplementing milk fat globules (MFG) on the growth and development of the skeleton in rats fed a Western unbalanced diet (UBD). The UBD is high in sugar and fat, low in protein, fiber, and micronutrients, and negatively impacts health. The MFG-a complex lipid-protein assembly secreted into milk-has a unique structure and composition, which differs significantly from isolated and processed dietary ingredients.

Mmp2 Deficiency Leads to Defective Parturition and High Dystocia Rates in Mice.

Parturition is the final and essential step for mammalian reproduction. While the uterus is quiescent during pregnancy, fundamental changes arise in the myometrial contractility, inducing fetal expulsion. Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is fundamental for these events.

The Use of Post-Natal Skeleton Development as Sensitive Preclinical Model to Test the Quality of Alternative Protein Sources in the Diet.

Dietary protein is necessary throughout all life stages. Adequate intake of protein during juvenile years is essential to enable appropriate synthesis of bone matrix and achieve the full peak bone mass (PBM). Due to socio-demographic changes, accompanied by environmental damage and ethical problems, a transition to the consumption of different and alternative protein sources in the human diet must occur.

Nutritional Approaches as a Treatment for Impaired Bone Growth and Quality Following the Consumption of Ultra-Processed Food.

The severe impairment of bone development and quality was recently described as a new target for unbalanced ultra-processed food (UPF). Here, we describe nutritional approaches to repair this skeletal impairment in rats: supplementation with micro-nutrients and a rescue approach and switching the UPF to balanced nutrition during the growth period. The positive effect of supplementation with multi-vitamins and minerals on bone growth and quality was followed by the formation of mineral deposits on the rats' kidneys and modifications in the expression of genes involved in inflammation and vitamin-D metabolism, demonstrating the cost of supplementation.

The Use of Mushrooms and Spirulina Algae as Supplements to Prevent Growth Inhibition in a Pre-Clinical Model for an Unbalanced Diet.

Today's eating patterns are characterized by the consumption of unbalanced diets (UBDs) resulting in a variety of health consequences on the one hand, and the consumption of dietary supplements in order to achieve overall health and wellness on the other. Balanced nutrition is especially crucial during childhood and adolescence as these time periods are characterized by rapid growth and development of the skeleton. We show the harmful effect of UBD on longitudinal bone growth, trabecular and cortical bone micro-architecture and bone mineral density; which were analyzed by micro-CT scanning.

Ultra-processed food targets bone quality via endochondral ossification.

Ultra-processed foods have known negative implications for health; however, their effect on skeletal development has never been explored. Here, we show that young rats fed ultra-processed food rich in fat and sugar suffer from growth retardation due to lesions in their tibial growth plates. The bone mineral density decreases significantly, and the structural parameters of the bone deteriorate, presenting a sieve-like appearance in the cortices and poor trabecular parameters in long bones and vertebrae.

The Role of Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids from Different Sources in Bone Development.

N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential nutrients that must be obtained from the diet. We have previously showed that endogenous n-3 PUFAs contribute to skeletal development and bone quality in fat-1 mice. Unlike other mammals, these transgenic mice, carry the n-3 desaturase gene and thus can convert n-6 to n-3 PUFAs endogenously.