The Hygienic Significance of Microbiota and Probiotics for Human Wellbeing.

The human body can be viewed as a combination of ecological niches inhabited by trillions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, all united by the microbiota concept. Human health largely depends on the nature of these relationships and how they are built and maintained. However, personal hygiene practices have historically been focused on the wholesale elimination of pathogens and "hygiene-challenging microorganisms" without considering the collateral damage to beneficial and commensal species.

Food rejection is associated with tactile sensitivity and tactile appreciation in three-year-old children.

Food rejections are common in young children and often include healthy foods, hereby impairing the quality of their diet. Previous studies indicate that food texture may play a role in children's food preferences and intake. Building on these findings, as part of an ongoing longitudinal project, the present study investigated whether food rejection is related to tactile sensitivity and tactile appreciation in three-year-old children.

Tactile tastes: Testing the relation between tactile thresholds, liking of textures and pickiness in eating.

The texture of foods plays an important role in the liking of foods. Especially for picky eaters, texture can be a reason to reject foods. Previous studies showed that picky eaters in general dislike tactile stimulation more, which can include the feel of sand in their hands and specific food textures in their mouth.

Taste and smell are associated with dietary intake, eating behavior, nutritional status, and health-related quality of life in children with cancer.

Background & Aims: Smell and taste changes are frequently reported bothersome treatment symptoms during treatment for childhood cancer and assumed to influence outcomes such as food intake. Since nutritional status of children with cancer is already vulnerable, any detrimental effects on food intake should be prevented. Therefore, understanding the exact relationship between chemosensory changes and dietary intake, eating behavior, and other domains such as health-related quality of life (HRQoL), is important for improving outcomes.

Hesperetin but not ellagic acid increases myosin heavy chain expression and cell fusion in C2C12 myoblasts in the presence of oxidative stress.

Introduction: Skeletal muscle regeneration is impaired in elderly. An oxidative stress-induced decrease in differentiation capacity of muscle satellite cells is a key factor in this process. The aim of this study is to investigate whether orange polyphenol hesperetin and pomegranate polyphenol ellagic acid enhance myoblast differentiation in the presence and absence of oxidative stress, and to explore underlying mechanisms.

Modulation of Poultry Cecal Microbiota by a Phytogenic Blend and High Concentrations of Casein in a Validated In Vitro Cecal Chicken Alimentary Tract Model.

Phytogenic blends (PBs) consist of various bioactive plant-derived compounds that are used as growth promoters for farm animals. Feed additives based on PBs have beneficial effects on farm animals' production performance, health, and overall well-being, as well as positive modulating effects on gut microbiota. In this study, we used a validated in vitro cecal chicken alimentary tract model (CALIMERO-2) to evaluate the effects of a PB (a mix of components found in rosemary, cinnamon, curcuma, oregano oil, and red pepper), alone or in combination with casein (control), on poultry cecal microbiota.

Examination of sex-specific interactions between gut microbiota and host metabolism after 12-week combined polyphenol supplementation in individuals with overweight or obesity.

Polyphenols exert beneficial effects on host metabolism, which may be mediated by the gut microbiota. We investigated sex-specific differences in microbiota composition and interactions with cardiometabolic parameters after polyphenol supplementation in individuals with overweight/obesity. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 19 women and 18 men with normal glucose tolerance and body mass index >25 kg/m received epigallocatechin-3-gallate and resveratrol (EGCG+RES, 282 + 80 mg/d) or placebo supplements for 12 weeks.

Personalization in mitigating food waste and costs in hospitalization.

Background: Organization of food services within hospitals has been identified as a determinant of hospitalized patients' nutritional intake and associated food waste. Whereas hospital food service systems in the Netherlands traditionally consist of 3 fixed mealtimes each day, we recently implemented a new 3-channel concept that provides patients the opportunity to order extra meals or snacks in-between their 3 main mealtimes or even have dinner with their visitors in a bistro located on their ward.

Aim: This study investigates the impact of transitioning from a traditional paper-based to a patient-centered, digital hospital food service system on food waste production patterns and its associated financial implications.

Analyzing the gut microbiota and microbial-associated metabolites of tomato-based sauces.

Red Cooked Sauce (RCS) and Red Raw Sauce (RRS) are a mixture of natural crops that have a promising content of bioactive compounds (BC). The aim was to determine the effect of the indigestible fraction (IF) during the colonic fermentation in RCS and RRS by studying the two-way relationship between gut microbiota composition and microbial metabolites produced from BC fermented in the TNO in vitro dynamic model of the human colon (TIM-2). Total BC in undigested and predigested RRS, 957 and 715 mg/100 g DW, respectively, was significantly higher (p < 0.

Glycation reactions of methylglyoxal during digestion in a dynamic, in vitro model of the upper gastrointestinal tract (TIM-1).

The 1,2-dicarbonyl compound methylglyoxal (MGO) can react with and thereby impair the function of proteins and DNA, leading to pathophysiological pathways in vivo. However, studies on the bioavailability of dietary MGO and its reactions during digestion have diverging results. Therefore, simulated digestion experiments of MGO, protein, and creatine were performed in the dynamic, in vitro model of the upper gastrointestinal tract (TIM-1).

Modulation of human gut microbiota by linear and branched fructooligosaccharides in an in vitro colon model (TIM-2).

Aims: This study aimed to compare the effects of linear and branched fructooligosaccharides (FOS) extracted from chicory and grass (Lolium perenne), respectively on human microbiota composition, diversity, and metabolism.

Methods And Results: To test the effects of linear and branched FOS on human microbiota we used the artificial in vitro human colon model (TIM-2). Microbiota composition and diversity were assessed by V3-V4 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing, followed by differential taxa abundance and alpha/beta diversity analyses.

Assessment of protein and phospholipid bioaccessibility in ultrafiltered buttermilk cheese using TIM-1 in vitro gastrointestinal methods.

To meet the high consumer demand, butter production has increased over the last few years. As a result, the buttermilk (BM) co-produced volumes require new ways of adding value, such as in cheese manufacturing. However, BM use in cheese milk negatively influences the cheesemaking process (e.

Prebiotic fibre mixtures counteract the manifestation of gut microbial dysbiosis induced by the chemotherapeutic 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) in a validated in vitro model of the colon.

Background: 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is used as an antineoplastic agent in distinct cancer types. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota might modulate 5-FU efficacy and toxicity, potentially affecting the patient's prognosis. The current experimental study investigated 5-FU-induced microbiota alterations, as well as the potential of prebiotic fibre mixtures (M1-M4) to counteract these shifts.

Lactobacillus acidophilus VB1 co-aggregates and inhibits biofilm formation of chronic otitis media-associated pathogens.

This study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus acidophilus, alone and in combination with ciprofloxacin, against otitis media-associated bacteria. L. acidophilus cells were isolated from Vitalactic B (VB), a commercially available probiotic product containing two lactobacilli species, L.

Factors affecting public acceptance of healthy lifestyle nudges.

In two online vignette studies, we investigated the effects of healthy lifestyle nudging and pricing interventions in two different contexts: a supermarket (Study 1) and a train station (Study 2). In Study 1 (N = 318) participants were randomly assigned to evaluate one of eight interventions described in a vignette and designed to either encourage healthier food choices or discourage unhealthy food choices in a supermarket setting. Two interventions comprised a small financial incentive to either encourage a healthy food choice or discourage an unhealthy food choice, but the other six interventions were nudges conceived to specifically impact agency, self-constitution or freedom of choice (three different aspects of autonomy).

Gut microbiota differences in stunted and normal-lenght children aged 36-45 months in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

The role of the gut microbiota in energy metabolism of the host has been established, both in overweight/obesity, as well as in undernutrition/stunting. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota may predispose to stunting. The aim of this study was to compare the gut microbiota composition of stunted Indonesian children and non-stunted children between 36 and 45 months from two sites on the East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) islands.

Exploring within-meal variety to promote appeal of home-cooked meals in older adults.

Undernutrition is highly prevalent in older adults and poses a major threat to physical and mental wellbeing. To foster healthy eating (and healthy aging), strategies are needed to improve dietary quality of older adults. In this study, the feasibility of increasing food variety in home-cooked meals is explored as strategy to promote meat and vegetable consumption in community dwelling older adults.

Gut Microbiota Composition of Insectivorous Synanthropic and Fructivorous Zoo Bats: A Direct Metagenomic Comparison.

Bats are natural reservoirs for many emerging viral diseases. That is why their virome is widely studied. But at the same time, studies of their bacterial gut microbiota are limited, creating a degree of uncertainty about the role of bats in global microbial ecology.

Modulation of Swine Gut Microbiota by Phytogenic Blends and High Concentrations of Casein in a Validated Swine Large Intestinal In Vitro Model.

Phytogenic feed additives are gaining popularity in livestock as a replacement for antibiotic growth promotors. Some phytogenic blends (PB) positively affect the production performance, inhibit pathogens within the gut microbiota, and improve the overall health of farm animals. In this study, a swine large intestine in vitro model was used to evaluate the effect of two PBs, alone or in combination with casein, on swine gut microbiota.

A longitudinal evaluation of smell and taste function in children with cancer during and after treatment with chemotherapy.

Smell and taste changes are bothersome treatment symptoms interfering with food intake. It remains unclear how and when children with cancer experience such changes during chemotherapy, and if the symptoms resolve after treatment. In this longitudinal study, we measured smell and taste function of 94 childhood cancer patients treated for hematological, solid, or brain malignancies.

Chemosensory function and food perception is affected in COPD, but unrelated to sarcopenia risk.

Background & Aims: Patients with advanced COPD often have difficulty maintaining sufficient dietary intake. Chemosensory function influences food choice and intake but is often overlooked in dietary assessment and intervention strategies. This study aimed to assess differences in chemosensory function and hedonic evaluation of food between patients with COPD and age- and gender-matched healthy controls.

Cultivable Gut Microbiota in Synanthropic Bats: Shifts of Its Composition and Diversity Associated with Hibernation.

The role of bats in the global microbial ecology no doubt is significant due to their unique immune responses, ability to fly, and long lifespan, all contributing to pathogen spread. Some of these animals hibernate during winter, which results in the altering of their physiology. However, gut microbiota shifts during hibernation is little studied.

Citrus Extract High in Flavonoids Beneficially Alters Intestinal Metabolic Responses in Subjects with Features of Metabolic Syndrome.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of a citrus extract rich in citrus flavonoids on intestinal metabolic responses in subjects with features of metabolic syndrome, in an in vitro colon fermentation system (TIM-2) and fecal samples obtained from human subjects in an in vivo trial. In the TIM-2 system inoculated with fecal samples of volunteers with features of metabolic syndrome, continuous citrus extract supplementation (500 mg/day) resulted in increased cumulative short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels compared to the control condition, which was mainly due to increased production of butyrate, acetate, and valerate. In human volunteers, 12 weeks of daily supplementation with 500 mg citrus extract resulted in a significant shift in the SCFA profile towards more butyrate ( = 0.

Association of the gut microbiota with clinical variables in obese and lean Emirati subjects.

Background: Growing evidence supports the role of gut microbiota in obesity, yet exact associations remain largely unknown. Specifically, very little is known about this association in the Emirati population.

Methods: We explored differences in gut microbiota composition, particularly the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (F/B) ratio, between 43 obese and 31 lean adult Emirate counterparts, and its association with obesity markers, by using V3-V4 regions of 16 S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing data.