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تغذیه، رژیمدرمانی، ایمنی و فناوری غذا
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مقالهها، منابع و پژوهشهای تازه حوزه تغذیه جامعه
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مقالهها، منابع و پژوهشهای تازه حوزه ایمنی غذا
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ورود به زیرشاخهتازهترین رکوردها
شواهد تغذیه و صنایع غذایی
PubMed2026
Britanin improved high-fat diet-induced obesity by regulating the MAPK signaling pathway.
BACKGROUND: The escalating prevalence of obesity has made it a critical public health concern. There is an urgent need to identify naturally derived compounds with anti-obesity potential. Britanin (BRI), a bioactive sesquiterpene lactone derived from Inula species, has shown promise in metabolic disorder management, but its anti-obesity mechanisms remain uncharacterized. OBJECTIVES: Combining animal experiments and network pharmacology analysis to explore the effect of BRI in high-fat diet-induced obesity. METHODS: C57BL/6J male mice were used for experiment. A high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model was treated with BRI (5/15 mg/kg, i.p.) to validate lipid metabolism and weight loss. Network pharmacology identified potential targets via SwissTargetPrediction, GeneCards and OMIM databases, with molecular docking (CB-DOCK) and PPI network analysis (STRING/Cytoscape). Relevant validations were conducted based on the screened targets. Additionally, a biosafety assessment was performed. RESULTS: In-vivo, 15 mg/kg BRI reduced body weight by 18%, decreased serum TG (-45%, p<0.001), TC (-37%, p<0.001) and LDL-C (-32%, p<0.01) and reversed adipocyte hypertrophy. Thirty-nine intersection targets were identified, with MAPK1, EGFR, PTGS2, MAP2K1 and MAPK8 as top hubs (degree centrality >15). BRI exhibited strong binding affinity (-7.7 to -10.3 kcal/mol) to these targets. Mechanistically, BRI exerts its anti-obesity effects by regulating key targets within the MAPK signaling pathway, particularly MAPK1 and inhibited the PPARγ, thereby blocking adipogenesis and promoting the transition of adipose tissue. CONCLUSION: BRI may alleviate obesity by regulating the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase signaling pathway, providing a rationale for natural compound-based obesity therapy.
PubMed2026
Interleukin-17A Links Obesity-Induced Inflammation to Behavioral Disorders and Autonomic Imbalance.
Obesity is increasingly recognized as a chronic inflammatory condition, often driven by prolonged high-fat diet (HFD) consumption. Beyond causing metabolic dysregulation, obesity can disrupt immune-brain communication, contributing to the development of emotional disorders. During the early stages of HFD exposure, proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1β (IL-1β), Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and IL-6 are markedly elevated, but their levels typically return to baseline over time. Despite this normalization, persistent neuroinflammation and gliosis are observed, suggesting that adaptive immune mediators may play a role in chronic neuropathology. In our study using male C57BL/6 mice, 12 and 16 weeks of HFD-induced obesity increased plasma IL-17A levels, a key cytokine produced by CD4+ T helper 17 (Th17) cells, and upregulated IL-17A mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. Peripheral administration of recombinant IL-17A via intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection every 2 days for 4 weeks induced depressive and anxiety-like behaviors, accompanied by enhanced microgliosis in emotion-related brain regions and infiltration of CD4+/IL-17A+ cells in the meninges. Peripheral IL-17A administration also reduced heart rate variability (HRV), accompanied by altered HRV-derived indices, suggesting disruption of autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation. Systemic administration of plasma derived from mice with 12-week HFD-induced obesity (OB plasma) evoked depressive and anxiety-like phenotypes, as well as ANS dysfunction. Neutralizing anti-IL-17A in the OB plasma effectively blocked these emotional and physiological impairments induced by OB plasma administration. Thus, our findings identify IL-17A as a critical mediator linking metabolic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and emotional disorders, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target for obesity-associated depression and anxiety.
PubMed2026
Refining Genetic Instruments for Dietary Intake Mendelian Randomization Using Phenome-Wide Association Studies.
Most Mendelian randomization (MR) of dietary intake use the full set of genome-wide significant (GWS) variants in the instrumental variable (IV), likely biasing causal estimates due to pleiotropy. To characterize the common methods to handle pleiotropy in dietary intake MR, we conducted a scoping review of the literature on dietary intake MR studies. We extracted information on IV construction, assessment of pleiotropy, and sensitivity analyzes revealing that only 20% of studies used an IV with functional plausibility. In the absence of functionally-informed IVs, we tested if two-sample MR using GWS variants filtered for pleiotropic associations through phenome-wide association studies (PheWAS) could identify diet-health relationships supported by existing nutrition science, focusing on oily fish and alcohol intake, the latter of which has a functionally-informed IV for comparison (rs1229984 in the ADH1B gene). To further explore this question, we performed multivariable MR and employed MR-CAUSE. The numerous models consistently supported that oily fish reduced triglycerides. In contrast, GWS and PheWAS-filtered IVs suggested that alcohol decreased alanine aminotransferase levels, whereas the functional IV (rs1229984) found the opposite expected relationship. Isolating the direct effect of dietary intake from GWS IV remains challenging. Future work should focus on identifying functional variants impacting dietary behavior.
PubMed2026
Beyond Bactericidal: Plasma Surface Engineering to Defeat Food Matrix-Conditioning Layers.
The persistence of foodborne pathogens on industrial food contact surfaces continues to challenge global food safety despite advances in sanitation technologies. A central limitation of current antimicrobial strategies lies in their validation under simplified laboratory conditions that overlook the physicochemically driven formation of food matrix conditioning films. Upon contact with food residues, organic macromolecules reorganize at the solid‒liquid interface, forming conditioning layers that mask engineered surface functionalities and facilitate microbial attachment. This review examines how such interfacial transformations constrain conventional bactericidal approaches and contribute to sanitization failures in industrial environments. Plasma surface engineering is evaluated as a matrix-aware strategy capable of tailoring surface energy, hydration behavior, and nanoscale architecture through plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition and magnetron sputtering. These approaches may mitigate organic fouling and modulate bacterial surface sensing under controlled conditions. Particular attention is given to mechanotransduction pathways implicated in early biofilm formation, highlighting how nanoscale surface cues influence c-di-GMP signaling and biofilm commitment in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. Significant translational gaps remain, including long-term durability under repeated cleaning-in-place cycles, antimicrobial transport through complex conditioning films, and adaptive tolerance under chronic exposure. This review situates plasma surface engineering within a preventive interfacial design framework, offering an evidence-based rationale for the development of food contact materials capable of meeting the durability, safety, and regulatory demands of modern processing environments.
PubMed2026
Choosing Not to Eat Meat: What Characterizes Independently Vegetarian Children?
A growing body of research has aimed to map the characteristics of extraordinary altruists-such as those who have donated a kidney to a stranger. However, this research has primarily focused on adults, and we know little about the development of extraordinary altruism. While children cannot donate their organs to strangers nor large portions of their income to charity, they can choose not to eat animals. In this study we examine independent vegetarians (i.e., children who become vegetarian while being raised in meat eating families) as a potential case-study of extraordinarily altruistic motivation. In retrospective adult (Study 1) and developmental samples (Study 2) of American participants, we compare independently vegetarian children to family vegetarians and non-vegetarians on measures of empathy/compassion, disgust sensitivity, cognitive reflection, fearful facial recognition, social dominance orientation, and speciesism. We find that both independent and family vegetarians were lower in speciesism and SDO, and higher in disgust sensitivity and empathy/compassion, with these differences emerging almost exclusively in the retrospective adult sample. Crucially, and contrary to our hypotheses, we find no differences between independent and family vegetarians, and discuss potential interpretations of this null result. These data offer new insight into a small body of literature about independent vegetarians and show that similar traits are associated with both family and independent vegetarianism.
PubMed2026
Covalent Organic Frameworks in Smart Food Packaging: Advances, Challenges, and Future Prospects.
Food preservation challenges have positioned packaging as a rapidly evolving, innovation-driven field, with smart packaging offering transformative solutions. Among advanced materials, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have attracted growing attention due to their permanent porosity, structural tunability, high surface area, and chemical stability. These features allow COFs to address critical needs in food packaging, including active barrier protection, antimicrobial action, and smart sensing of food freshness and spoilage. This review examines recent progress in applying COFs to food packaging, with particular focus on their ability to prolong shelf life and enable smart functionalities for real-time monitoring of food quality. Safety aspects, biocompatibility, recyclability, and biodegradability are also critically evaluated, as these remain key considerations for regulatory approval and industrial translation. Although current studies report minimal cytotoxicity, long-term toxicological assessments are still limited, underscoring the need for more comprehensive investigations. Looking forward, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) provide powerful tools for accelerating COF discovery and optimization. Their integration into COF design could streamline synthesis, improve scalability, and guide application-specific material development. COFs represent a promising new class of materials poised to advance the next generation of sustainable, functional, and smart food-packaging systems.
PubMed2026
Dietary Echinacea purpurea Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Alters Cytokine Gene Expression Among Heat-Stressed Broiler Chickens at High Altitude.
OBJECTIVES: The combination of high-altitude and heat stress promotes oxidative damage and immune dysfunction in broiler chickens. This study investigated the potential of dietary Echinacea purpurea to mitigate these detrimental effects. METHODS: In a 42-day trial, 108 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly assigned to one of three dietary regimens: an unsupplemented basal diet (Control), or the basal diet supplemented with 0.25% (E0.25) or 0.75% (E0.75) hydroalcoholic E. purpurea extract. Birds were reared at 2100 m altitude and exposed to chronic heat stress. On Day 42, serum was analysed for nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Hepatic relative telomere length was quantified via qPCR, and the expression of cytokine genes (IL10, IL1β, TNFα and IFNγ) was assessed by RT-qPCR. RESULTS: Dietary E. purpurea at both levels significantly lowered serum NO and MDA concentrations compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Relative telomere length was unaffected by treatment. Gene expression analysis revealed that the E0.75 group had significantly elevated transcripts of IL-10 (900% increase) and IFN-γ (351% increase), while IL-1β and TNF-α remained unchanged. Consequently, the composite pro-/anti-inflammatory cytokine ratio [(IFNγ + IL-1β + TNFα)/IL-10] was reduced in both supplemented groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Supplementation with E. purpurea alleviated systemic oxidative stress and induced a distinct immunomodulatory response, upregulating key cytokines IL-10 and IFN-γ in broilers under dual environmental stress. Telomere length in liver tissue was not preserved under these conditions. These results indicate that E. purpurea is a promising phytogenic feed additive for enhancing broiler resilience in challenging environments.
PubMed2026
Essential Oral Single Nutritional Therapy Products for Inherited Metabolic Diseases: Evidence and Consensus Assessment Using a Modified Delphi Method.
Nutritional therapy is critical in managing inherited metabolic diseases (IMDs), and includes specialized diets and single nutritional therapy products (sNTPs) such as vitamins, cofactors, and amino acids. Many sNTPs function as medicines, but are regulated as food (e.g., food supplements), which can limit access, reimbursement, and consistent supply. Essential medicines, as defined by World Health Organization (WHO), meet key healthcare needs and must be available, affordable, and quality-assured. Some sNTPs might meet this threshold, supporting their potential inclusion in the WHO essential medicines list. A modified Delphi process was conducted with a panel of 36 experts from 18 European countries to identify which sNTPs are essential for IMD treatment. Ninety-six sNTPs and their target IMDs were assessed using a literature-informed five-criteria framework, that included evaluation of the level of scientific evidence for usefulness and effectiveness. Overall, 31 sNTPs were deemed essential in the management of 55 IMDs, consisting of vitamins (n = 12), minerals (n = 4), amino acids (n = 6), sugars (n = 2), and other nutrients (n = 7). Evidence supporting their use ranged from levels 3 to 4 of the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM), reflecting the limited clinical trial data inherent to rare diseases. Seven of these are already included in the WHO essential medicines list. Recognition of the remaining 24 essential sNTPs could improve their availability and reimbursement, and in some cases, may warrant formal authorization as medicines. Subsequent research should focus on access inequities, cost barriers, and incorporate patient perspectives to optimize the use and impact of sNTPs in IMD management.
PubMed2026
Growth, Carcass Quality and Gut Microbiota Responses to Extruded Rapeseed Meal With Protease in Broiler Chickens.
BACKGROUND: Soybean meal (SBM) is a major protein source in broiler diets, but its cost and dependence on a limited number of protein sources have increased interest in alternative feed ingredients. Rapeseed meal has considerable potential as an alternative protein source; however, its utilisation is constrained by antinutritional factors that can limit nutrient availability and broiler performance. Extrusion processing and exogenous enzyme supplementation may improve the nutritional value of rapeseed meal. We hypothesised that replacing part of dietary SBM with extruded rapeseed meal (ERSM), in combination with protease and non-starch polysaccharide (NSP)-degrading enzymes, would improve or maintain broiler performance and nutrient utilisation while supporting intestinal health. METHODS: A total of 320 day-old Ross 308 male broiler chickens were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomised design. During the finisher period (22-35 days), birds received a corn-SBM control diet or diets in which 5%, 7.5%, or 10% of SBM protein was replaced with ERSM. All diets contained identical levels of protease and NSP-degrading enzymes. Growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology and caecal microbial populations were evaluated to determine the effects of increasing ERSM inclusion. RESULTS: Dietary ERSM affected feed intake (p = 0.029), final body weight (p = 0.017), feed conversion ratio (p = 0.009) and mortality (p = 0.041), with the 5% and 7.5% ERSM treatments generally producing the most favourable performance. Apparent digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, crude fibre, fat and ash was improved in ERSM-fed birds (p < 0.05). Carcass yield, breast weight and thigh weight increased with ERSM inclusion (p ≤ 0.025), whereas liver weight decreased at the highest inclusion level (p = 0.034). ERSM also improved intestinal morphology by increasing villus height and the villus height-to-crypt depth ratio and reducing crypt depth (p ≤ 0.016). In addition, ERSM increased beneficial caecal bacterial populations and reduced Escherichia coli and Clostridium counts (p ≤ 0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Replacing SBM protein with 5%-7.5% ERSM in diets supplemented with protease and NSP-degrading enzymes improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility, carcass characteristics, intestinal morphology and caecal microbial balance in broilers. The findings indicate that appropriately processed rapeseed meal can partially substitute for SBM while maintaining or improving important productive and intestinal health outcomes.
PubMed2026
Lachnospiraceae in the Food-Gut Axis: A Critical Review of Dietary Modulation, Immune Regulation, and Translational Barriers.
The interplay between diet, gut microbiota, and host immunity is central to food science. The Lachnospiraceae family ferments dietary fibers to produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), notably butyrate and propionate, with immunomodulatory potential. This critical review distinguishes established findings from hypotheses. Strain-level functional heterogeneity is substantial; findings from one genus cannot be generalized. Specific substrates (inulin, pectin, resistant starch, and arabinoxylan) and food processing methods shape SCFA profiles. Mechanistically, SCFAs regulate immunity via histone deacetylase inhibition, G-protein-coupled receptor activation, and Treg/Th17 modulation. However, most mechanistic data derive from rodent models; human evidence remains largely correlational and cross-sectional. Three major knowledge gaps exist: the lack of strain-level functional characterization, the absence of causal human intervention trials for the vast majority of Lachnospiraceae strains (with Anaerobutyricum soehngenii being the sole exception, tested only in metabolic disease), and limited translation into food systems. Regulatory barriers (generally recognized as safe [GRAS] status exists only for A. soehngenii CH106 and strictly for food use; no other strain has GRAS or qualified presumption of safety [QPS]), safety concerns (rare opportunistic pathogenicity), and technological challenges (oxygen sensitivity and viability in food matrices) further hinder development. Postbiotics (preparations of inactivated microbial cells or their components) and metabolite-based preparations (e.g., purified SCFAs or fermentation supernatants), alongside synbiotic formulations, offer practical near-term alternatives. Importantly, under the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) definition, purified metabolites without cellular biomass do not qualify as postbiotics. We conclude that although Lachnospiraceae hold promise for immunomodulatory functional foods, current evidence does not support clinical or commercial claims. Priority research directions include longitudinal human cohorts, strain-level culturomics, and multi-omics integration. This review provides a realistic, food science-centered framework for future investigations.
PubMed2026
Lysine Requirements in Starter-Phase Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) Through Dose-Response Modelling: Interactions With Dietary Protein Level.
BACKGROUND: The diet of Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) during the critical post-hatching period (0-14 days) provides a basis for long-term productivity, but the exact lysine requirements are not well characterized in modern high-yield strains. Precision poultry nutrition requires updated amino acid (AA) recommendations that account for interactions between dietary crude protein (CP) and lysine, the reference AA for ideal protein specification. OBJECTIVES: To determine optimal lysine requirements for growing Japanese quail (0-14 days) at three CP levels (22%, 24%, 26%) using a dose-response method, and to compare linear versus quadratic broken-line models for estimating lysine thresholds. METHODS: A fully randomized factorial design used 900 Japanese quail chicks allocated to 15 dietary treatments (3 CP × 5 lysine levels: 0.95%, 1.1%, 1.25%, 1.4 %and 1.55 %). Growth performance, feed efficiency and carcass characteristics were evaluated. Lysine requirements were estimated by linear and quadratic broken-line regression using the non-linear least squares (NLIN) procedure in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) software version 9.4. RESULTS: Dietary CP and lysine levels significantly (p < 0.01) affected all growth parameters. Optimal lysine (1.4%) maximized body weight (73.93 g), weight gain (66.50 g) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) (2.70). Significant interactions (p < 0.05) occurred between CP and lysine for feed intake (FI), feed conversion ratio (FCR) and PER. Lysine requirements for weight gain using the linear broken-line model were 1.20%, 1.32% and 1.4% for 22%, 24% and 26% CP, respectively, showing superior fit (R2 = 66.24%-94.45%) compared to quadratic models. CONCLUSIONS: Lysine requirements of Japanese quail depend on dietary CP level. The linear broken-line model is more reliable than the quadratic approach. Producers should use 1.32%-1.42% lysine in starter diets, adjusting according to CP content. Future research should confirm these requirements under commercial production conditions and explore interactions with other key AAs in reduced formulae.
PubMed2026
Meal-Induced Proton Density Fat Fraction and T 2 ∗ Decrease in Supraclavicular Adipose Tissue.
Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a metabolically active tissue in humans, located primarily within the supraclavicular adipose tissue (scAT), that can be activated by cold or high-caloric meal consumption. While the changes of proton density fat fraction (PDFF) upon cold activation are well investigated, there is a knowledge gap regarding PDFF and T 2 ∗ dynamics upon meal-induced BAT activation. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to establish a robust pipeline to quantify PDFF and T 2 ∗ changes in scAT in fasting control and meal intervention experiments. To that end, a motion-robust radial stack-of-stars trajectory has been employed with a regularized iterative reconstruction algorithm, graph-cut-based water-fat separation, affine image registration and automatic neural-network-based region of interest (ROI) segmentation. Next to scAT, ROIs of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and muscle have been created to compare the results to reference tissues. Multi-echo gradient echo acquisitions were repeated in a total of ten volunteers before a break, in which the volunteers consumed an iso-caloric meal in the meal intervention experiment. After the break, repeated multi-echo gradient echo measurements were used to dynamically track the changes of both PDFF and T 2 ∗ . In the meal intervention experiment, scAT PDFF showed a stronger decrease of ∼ 1 % PDFF compared to the fasting control experiment, in which the decrease below baseline was similar to that in SAT. Furthermore, scAT T 2 ∗ exhibited a strong decrease to - 3 . 2 ms below baseline after meal intervention, while no decrease was observed in the fasting control experiment or in SAT. Considering the observed dynamic effects and their differences to the fasting control experiment, a PDFF decrease of ∼ 1 % PDFF and a T 2 ∗ decrease of ∼ 3 ms could be attributed to meal-induced activation of scAT.
PubMed2026
Molecular Characterisation and Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of Listeria monocytogenes From Dairy Sources.
INTRODUCTION AND AIM: Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a major food pathogen that causes severe infections, especially in the susceptible population. Dairy products and milk are some of the possible vehicles through which it can be transmitted both as a threat to the health of people and as an economic issue. The study conducted was to explore the prevalence, virulence characteristics, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of L. monocytogenes along the supply chain of milk in Yazd Province, Iran. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Collection of 370 samples (raw milk, pasteurised milk, dairy equipment, transport containers and hands and gowns of workers) was done between 2022 and 2023. Identification and isolation of L. monocytogenes was done using standard biochemical, bacteriological and molecular tests. The assessment of antimicrobial susceptibility was done using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion, and the multi-antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was determined. The presence of important virulence genes and resistance determinants was identified by PCR. RESULTS: Overall, 10 isolates (2.7%) were confirmed as L. monocytogenes. Raw milk had the highest contamination rate (5.29%), while pasteurised milk and worker samples were negative. High-level resistance was observed against nalidixic acid, penicillin G, ceftazidime (100%), cefepime and ceftriaxone (90%), whereas first-line clinical drugs such as gentamicin, amikacin, levofloxacin, vancomycin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin showed full susceptibility. Virulence genes prfA, inlA and iap were universally present, with high prevalence of resistance genes including lnuA/B, ermA/B and tetA/M. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that raw milk may be a significant reservoir of multi-drug-resistant L. monocytogenes in this region and the studied supply chain. Therefore, hygiene measures and continuous monitoring are key to preventing contamination and protecting public health.
PubMed2026
Probiotic Intervention With Bacillus coagulans and Lactobacillus acidophilus in Small Animals Experimental Ulcerative Colitis: Insights From a Small Animal Model.
Inflammatory bowel disease is a significant health concern not only in humans but also in companion animals and livestock, where it manifests as chronic diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and mucosal injury. Probiotics have gained increasing attention as potential therapeutic agents due to their immunomodulatory effects and ability to restore intestinal homeostasis. This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Bacillus coagulans and Lactobacillus acidophilus in an acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis model in Wistar rats. Forty male rats were randomly assigned to control, colitis, mesalazine, B. coagulans, and L. acidophilus treatment groups. Disease severity was evaluated by macroscopic and histopathological scoring, colon length and weight, pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-17), and inflammasome-associated gene expression (NLRP3, Caspase-1, IL-18, TNF-α). The results showed that colitis induction significantly increased pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and histological damage compared with controls. Both probiotics markedly reduced inflammatory markers, improved colon morphology, and attenuated inflammasome activation. Their protective effects were comparable to mesalazine, the standard treatment. These findings suggest that B. coagulans and L. acidophilus can serve as effective adjunct therapies for ulcerative colitis in veterinary practice, with potential translational applications for companion animals and livestock.
PubMed2026
Protease and Phytase Alleviate Digestive Limitations of Canola Seed in Broiler Chickens.
BACKGROUND: While canola seed is a valuable protein and energy source in poultry nutrition, its use is often limited by antinutritional factors that impair nutrient utilisation and bird performance. OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effects of phytase and protease enzymes in diets containing canola seed on performance, nutrient digestibility, digestive enzyme activity, intestinal morphology, ileal microbial populations, intestinal viscosity and tibia bone mineralisation in broiler chickens. METHODS: A total of 300 male Ross 308 one-day-old chicks were used in a completely randomised design with 5 treatments, 5 replicates and 12 chicks per replicate. The experimental treatments included: control: a corn-soybean meal-based control diet without canola seed; CS-10: a diet containing 10% canola seed; CS-PRO: a diet containing 10% canola seed supplemented with protease; CS-PHY: a diet containing 10% canola seed supplemented with phytase and CS-PRO-PHY: a diet containing 10% canola seed supplemented with a combination of protease and phytase. RESULTS: Feed intake and body weight gain were significantly higher in the control and CS-PRO-PHY treatments at different experimental periods compared to the CS-10 diet (P < 0.05). Apparent metabolisable energy and the digestibility of crude fibre and ash were higher in the control group and in broilers fed CS-PHY and CS-PRO-PHY compared with birds fed the CS-10 and CS-PRO diets (P < 0.05). At Day 10, amylase and lipase activity were highest in broilers fed the CS-PRO-PHY (P = 0.001). The villus height and villus height-to-crypt depth ratio on Days 10 and 42 were significantly higher in broilers fed the control diet, the CS-PRO-PHY and CS-PHY compared to the CS-10 (P < 0.01). At Day 10, Lactobacillus populations were highest in broilers fed the CS-PRO-PHY and the control diet, and lowest in the CS-10 (P = 0.03). Duodenal and jejunal digesta viscosity was significantly higher in broilers fed the CS-10 diet compared with all other treatments (P < 0.01). Tibia weight, length and weight-to-length index of the bone in the CS-PRO-PHY treatment were significantly greater than those in the CS-10 and CS-PRO treatments (P < 0.05). Moreover, bone strength in the control, CS-PRO-PHY and CS-PHY treatments was higher than in the CS-10 treatment (P = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of broiler diets containing 10% canola seed with protease and phytase, particularly in combination, effectively mitigated the negative effects of canola on nutrient digestibility, intestinal morphology, microbial balance, digesta viscosity and bone quality, leading to restoration of performance.
PubMed2026
Protective Effects of Lactobacillus-Derived Probiotics and Postbiotics on Renal and Reproductive Function in Escherichia coli-Infected Rats.
BACKGROUND: Escherichia coli infections of the genitourinary tract are a major cause of renal and reproductive dysfunction in males, often impairing spermatogenesis and fertility. Probiotics and postbiotics have emerged as microbiota‑based interventions with strain‑specific immunomodulatory and antioxidant properties. OBJECTIVES: This experimental study evaluated the effects of a probiotic or postbiotic supplementation containing Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus casei on renal and testicular tissues, as well as sperm parameters, in male Wistar rats infected with E. coli. METHODS: Twenty-eight male Wistar rats (200-220 g) were randomly assigned to four groups: control, E. coli-infected, E. coli + probiotic (109 CFU/mL), and E. coli + postbiotic (109 CFU/mL). Probiotic or postbiotic supplementation was administered orally (gavage) once daily for 35 consecutive days, starting immediately after the final day of bacterial challenge. Biochemical markers (urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium), histological changes, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), gene expression (IL‑6, TNF‑α, Bax, Bcl‑2), and sperm quality were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using one‑way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test (p < 0.05). RESULTS: E. coli infection significantly impaired renal and testicular histology, elevated pro‑inflammatory and pro‑apoptotic gene expression, reduced TAC, and deteriorated sperm parameters. Probiotic and postbiotic supplementation mitigated these effects, restoring antioxidant capacity, enhancing Bcl‑2 expression, reducing IL‑6 and TNF‑α levels, and improving sperm viability and morphology. Histological evaluation confirmed partial recovery of kidney and testicular structures in treated groups. CONCLUSION: Multi‑strain probiotic-postbiotic mixtures confer protective effects against infection‑induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation in renal and testicular tissues, while improving sperm quality. These findings highlight their translational potential as adjunctive therapies for infection‑associated male infertility and renal impairment.
PubMed2026
Vitamin D Supplementation and Mortality in the Elderly: A Review of a Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials Using the REB Method.
BACKGROUND: The results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the effect of vitamin D supplementation on mortality reduction are conflicting. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the level of evidence through a sensitivity analysis of the meta-analysis by Shah et al. (2024) using the Rebuilt the Evidence Base (REB) method. METHODS: The main inclusion criterion was a double-blind, placebo-controlled RCT design. The exclusion criteria were trials combining vitamin D with other nutrients and unpublished RCTs. The main outcome was all-cause mortality. A bias analysis was performed, followed by a hypothetico-deductive analysis to determine the confirmatory or exploratory nature of each RCT. The REB method was used to interpret the results and assess the level of evidence. RESULTS: Among the 25 RCTs included in the meta-analysis by Shah et al., the analysis was performed on 8 RCTs at low risk of bias including 30 320 participants. Seven RCTs raised some concerns, and two RCTs were at high risk of bias according to ROB2. Bias arose from the randomization process, deviations from intended interventions, missing outcome data, and selection of the reported results. The results were statistically significant, in favor of vitamin D supplementation: RR = 0.96 (95% CI [0.92, 1.00]), p = 0.04. No RCT was conclusive. CONCLUSION: According to the REB method, there is an evidence signal regarding the benefit of vitamin D supplementation in the population aged 75 and older, which remains to be confirmed.
PubMed2026
Akkermansia muciniphila HHAKKα Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice via Gut Microbiota Modulation and Regulation of Hepatic Lipid Metabolism.
Obesity and its associated metabolic disorders pose significant global health challenges. This study investigated the anti-obesity effects of Akkermansia muciniphila HHAKKα in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. C57BL/6J mice were administered HHAKKα orally for 8 weeks while maintained on HFD. Results demonstrated that HHAKKα significantly inhibited weight gain (5.76 g vs. 10.79 g in HFD group), with efficacy comparable to orlistat. HHAKKα intervention effectively maintained glucose homeostasis, decreased serum triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol levels, and elevated adiponectin and GLP-1 levels. Furthermore, HHAKKα significantly reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, MCP-1) and alleviated hepatic steatosis and adipocyte hypertrophy. Mechanistically, HHAKKα modulated gut microbiota composition, increasing beneficial bacteria (Akkermansia, Roseburia, Eubacterium) while decreasing the Bacillota/Bacteroidota ratio by 55.35%. Notably, the HHAKKα intervention significantly enhanced fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production-particularly butyrate, which was restored to approximately 1.5 times its normal level-and this effect correlated negatively with serum lipid levels and inflammatory markers. Molecular analysis revealed that HHAKKα regulated hepatic lipid metabolism by inhibiting FASN expression and upregulating PGC-1α. These findings suggest that A. muciniphila HHAKKα ameliorates HFD-induced obesity through a multi-faceted mechanism involving gut microbiota modulation, SCFA production enhancement, inflammation suppression, and hepatic lipid metabolism regulation, highlighting its therapeutic potential for obesity management.
PubMed2026
Combination of Empagliflozin and Resveratrol Mitigates Hepatic Steatosis via Attenuation of Inflammation and Promotion of Adipose Tissue Browning in High-Fat Diet-Fed C57BL/6J Mice.
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a major hepatic complication of obesity with a complex pathogenesis. This study aims to investigate the combined effects of empagliflozin (EMPA) and resveratrol (RSV) treatment on obesity-associated MASLD in a high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mouse model. C57BL/6J mice were fed by HFD for 23 weeks, along with treatment with EMPA (0.01% w/w), RSV (0.4% w/w), and their combination. Metabolic parameters, glucose tolerance, hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and adipose tissue morphology and function were evaluated using biochemical assays, histology, immunofluorescence, qPCR, western blotting, and 18F-FDG PET scan. Combination therapy reduced body weight gain and improved glucose tolerance more effectively than monotherapies. It significantly alleviated hepatic steatosis, as shown by decreased liver weight, triglyceride content, MASLD activity score (MAS), and serum ALT/AST levels. Co-treatment also reduced hepatic inflammation by suppressing macrophage infiltration, shifting macrophages toward an M2 anti-inflammatory phenotype, inhibiting NF-κB activation, and enhancing AMPK phosphorylation. Furthermore, the combination more effectively activated brown adipose tissue thermogenesis and induced browning in subcutaneous white adipose tissue, evidenced by upregulation of UCP1, PGC-1α, TFAM, and TMEM26, increased mitochondrial biogenesis, and enhanced cold tolerance. The combination of EMPA and RSV exerts a multi-targeted therapeutic effect against HFD-induced MASLD. This combination represents a promising novel strategy for MASLD prevention.
PubMed2026
Hepatic Sialylation Defects Increase Susceptibility to Obesity and Steatosis in Mice.
Sialic acid is a well-characterized monosaccharide known to regulate early development and lifelong health, and its aberrant metabolism has been closely linked to multiple pathologies including cancer, cardiovascular disease, and neurological disorders. However, its role in early-life metabolic programming and adult metabolic homeostasis remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated Cmp-Neu5Ac synthase (CMAS), a key enzyme in the sialylation pathway, using two complementary mouse models to address this gap. In a mammary-specific Cmas knockout model, reduced milk sialyllactose levels significantly altered offspring metabolic development. Offspring nursed by CMAS-deficient dams displayed increased body weight and impaired glucose and insulin tolerance at weaning. When challenged with a high-fat diet, these offspring developed exaggerated weight gain, enhanced adipose expansion, and more severe hepatic ballooning degeneration, indicating that early-life sialylation deficiency disrupts metabolic programming and increases susceptibility to metabolic stress in adulthood. To determine whether sialylation is also essential for maintaining hepatic metabolic stability later in life, we generated a liver-specific Cmas knockout model. Deletion of Cmas markedly reduced serum sialylation and hepatic Neu5Gc-containing glycopeptides, leading to hepatomegaly, steatosis, and fibrosis, which was accompanied by activated lipogenic axis, impaired mitochondrial respiratory complex activity, increased mitochondrial fission and triggered compensatory AMPK-PGC1α signaling. Notably, CMAS deficiency sensitized hepatocytes to inflammatory stress, as evidenced by exacerbated lipid accumulation, elevated ROS production, and reduced ATP content upon LPS challenge. Together, our results demonstrate that sialylation is indispensable for both developmental metabolic programming and adult hepatic metabolic homeostasis, establishing a critical link between sialylation status and lifelong metabolic health.
PubMed2026
NR4A1-Driven Granulosa Cell Ferroptosis Contributes to Obesity-Related Ovarian Dysfunction and Metformin-Mediated Ovarian Protection.
Obesity triggers ovarian dysfunction and female infertility accompanied by granulosa cell damage. Ferroptosis, iron-dependent lipid peroxidation-mediated cell death, participates in multiple reproductive diseases, yet the molecular cascade linking metabolic obesity to granulosa ferroptosis remains undefined. Using high-fat diet obese mice, primary human granulosa cells from obese infertile patients, and KGN cell lines, we identified the nuclear receptor NR4A1 as a key mediator of obesity-induced ferroptosis downstream of PI3K/AKT signaling. Elevated NR4A1 was associated with upregulated ACSL4 and suppressed GPX4, accompanied by iron overload, lipid peroxidation, and mitochondrial collapse, impairing folliculogenesis and oocyte quality. Metformin reduced NR4A1 activation in association with PI3K/AKT signaling modulation, thereby attenuating ferroptotic injury and contributing to the restoration of ovarian function. In vivo NR4A1 agonist administration attenuated the protective effects of metformin, while ovarian-specific NR4A1 knockdown alleviated HFD-triggered ovarian ferroptosis. Single-cell RNA-seq further suggested that metformin remodels oocyte redox and folliculogenic transcriptional networks. These findings support a role for the PI3K/AKT-NR4A1 signaling pathway in driving ferroptosis during obesity-related ovarian dysfunction and suggest a potential anti-ferroptotic mechanism of metformin in this context.
PubMed2026
Radiological impact of radionuclides in Moroccan food crops under semiarid conditions.
Internal exposure to ionising radiation occurs predominantly through the consumption of contaminated crops, and evaluating soil-to-plant radionuclide transfer is essential for radiological risk assessment. This study investigated radionuclide activity concentrations, soil-to-plant concentration ratios (CRs), and the potential annual effective dose from food ingestion in a semiarid agricultural region. High-resolution alpha- and gamma-spectrometry (HPGe) was used to quantify 210Po, 234Th, 226Ra, 228Th, 228Ra, 210Pb, 40 K, and 137Cs in soil and in commonly consumed crops, including coriander, red pepper, potato, onion, pomegranate, cardoon, beet, tomato, and eggplant. The soil activities ranged from 16.37 to 39.59, 6.21 to 29.15, 4.84 to 26.26, 9.37 to 46.04, 10.10 to 51.04, 5.92 to 31.39, 107.21 to 434.20, and 1.15 to 2.98 Bq/kg for 210Po,234Th, 226Ra, 228Th, 228Ra, 210Pb, 40 K, and 137Cs, respectively. In plants, activity concentrations were generally lower, varying between 0.12-4.76 Bq/kg for 210Po, 0.36-5.89 Bq/kg for 226Ra, 0.22-1.61 Bq/kg for 228Th, and 386.33-3265.53 Bq/kg for 40 K, whereas 234Th, 228Ra, 210Pb, and 137Cs were mostly below the detection limits. The concentration ratios ranged from 0.01-0.14 for 210Po, 0.02-0.43 for 226Ra, 0.01-0.17 for 228Th, and 1.02-20.03 for 40 K, with elevated values observed in cardoon and eggplant. Correlation analysis highlighted strong interrelationships among radionuclides and demonstrated that transfer processes are controlled by soil physicochemical properties, particularly organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable cations. In contrast, carbonate content and salinity tend to restrict radionuclide mobility. These findings enhance understanding of radionuclide behaviour under semiarid climatic conditions and support improved radiological risk assessment and environmental protection strategies.
PubMed2026
A Cross-Domain Framework for the Dual Nature of Geotrichum and Magnusiomyces Across Plant, Food, and Clinical Systems.
The arthroconidial yeast genera Geotrichum and Magnusiomyces exhibit a striking dual nature, simultaneously acting as destructive postharvest pathogens, essential agents in dairy fermentation, and life-threatening opportunistic pathogens in immunocompromised hosts. Despite extensive domain-specific research, the mechanistic basis of this functional divergence remains poorly integrated across taxonomy, plant pathology, food microbiology, and clinical mycology. This review proposes a cross-domain framework that integrates taxonomic uncertainty, conserved molecular mechanisms, ecological plasticity, and exposure dynamics to explain this functional divergence. Here, "cross-domain" is used in a non-taxonomic sense and refers to integration across disciplinary and ecological/application contexts-plant pathology, food and dairy microbiology, and clinical mycology-rather than to the formal biological taxonomic rank Domain. The functional versatility of these yeasts can be partly interpreted through the context-dependent deployment of broadly conserved fungal mechanisms-including cell wall-degrading enzymes, CYP51-mediated sterol metabolism, secreted proteins/effectors, and stress-response pathways-operating under contrasting ecological and selective pressures, rather than by fundamentally distinct biological systems. Critically, this framework distinguishes unidirectional exposure pathways linking agricultural, food, and clinical environments from bidirectional feedback systems that may contribute to the emergence and circulation of adaptive traits. Within this perspective, we identify three cross-domain connections: a putative antifungal resistance cycle driven by converging agricultural and clinical azole selection, a dairy-clinical interface shaped by host-associated transmission and strain recombination, and a diagnostic blind spot linked to cross-reactivity in fungal detection systems. These insights are translated into testable hypotheses on genome-based species delimitation, resistance evolution, and domestication stability, providing a structured research agenda for coordinated risk assessment and resistance management within a One Health framework.
PubMed2026
Betaine supplementation modulates mitochondrial and redox-related adaptations in premenopausal women with overweight: a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of betaine supplementation on mitochondrial and redox-associated parameters in premenopausal women with overweight or obesity. We hypothesized that betaine enhances selected mitochondrial enzyme content and improves antioxidant defense. METHODS: In this randomized controlled trial, premenopausal women with overweight or obesity were assigned to receive anhydrous betaine supplementation (3 g/d) or a placebo condition for eight weeks. Mitochondrial enzyme content was assessed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), including citrate synthase (CS) and cytochrome c oxidase (COX). Redox-related parameters were evaluated in plasma; these included the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as oxidized glutathione (GSSG) concentration. Preintervention and postintervention measurements were compared between groups. RESULTS: A significant treatment × time interaction was observed for CS concentration in PBMCs (p = 0.043). The pre-to-post change differed significantly between the betaine and placebo groups (between-group difference in change: 102.3 μg/mg protein, 95% CI 3.19 to 201.4), although the within-group pre-post changes were not statistically significant. No significant treatment × time interaction was observed for COX (p = 0.326). Plasma CAT activity showed a significant treatment × time interaction (p = 0.003, ηp2 = 0.213) and increased significantly only in the betaine group. No significant effects were observed for SOD (p = 0.825), GPx (p = 0.359), or GSSG (p = 0.693). CONCLUSIONS: Betaine supplementation may selectively influence PBMC mitochondrial-associated parameters and circulating antioxidant enzyme activities in premenopausal women with overweight or obesity. The differential change in CS between the betaine and placebo groups and the increase in plasma CAT activity warrant further investigation, particularly to determine their physiological significance and underlying mechanisms. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06344377.
PubMed2026
Co-supplementation of zinc and probiotic on oxidative stress markers and sleep quality index in irritable bowel syndrome patients: a double-blind randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorder that is related to impaired gut microbiota (GM) composition and sleep disorders. Zinc and probiotics play key roles in gut barrier integrity maintenance and microbiota modulation. Therefore, the current study investigated the effect of zinc and probiotic co-supplementation on oxidative stress biomarkers and sleep quality in IBS patients. METHODS: In this parallel, randomized clinical trial, 84 participants with IBS were randomly allocated to three groups and received: 1- a zinc gluconate tablet (20 mg elemental zinc) and a probiotic placebo; 2- a zinc gluconate tablet and a probiotic capsule; 3- two placebos for a period of 90 days. After 10-12 h overnight fasting, serum zinc, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as well as sleep quality were assessed by validated methods. Oxidative stress index (OSI) was also calculated. RESULTS: Supplementation with zinc, without or with probiotic, enhanced serum zinc (mean change: 6.36 ± 0.80 and 13.03 ± 3.82, vs. -1.76 ± 1.82 µg/dL; p = 0.008) compared to placebo. Zinc supplement alone and in combination with probiotics significantly decreased serum TOS level (mean change: - 1.47 ± 0.38 and - 1.67 ± 0.60, respectively, p = 0.001) and OSI (mean change: -1.70 ± 0.28 and - 2.05 ± 0.63, respectively, p = 0.004) in comparison to the placebo group. However, no significant between-group effects were observed for serum MDA, TAC, SOD activity, and sleep quality. CONCLUSION: Zinc supplementation, alone or with probiotics, may improve serum zinc and TOS levels, and OSI in IBS patients. Future studies are warranted to confirm these findings and their clinical relevance. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered on January 29, 2024, at the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials ( https://www.irct.ir ) (registration number: IRCT20180818040827N5).
PubMed2026
Cross-cultural adaptation of the Athlete Diet Index, a web-based dietary assessment tool for athletes.
BACKGROUND: The literature suggests that many athletes fail to meet health and sport-specific dietary recommendations which may negatively impact their overall health and performance. Moreover, completing a proper assessment of an athlete's diet is complex; the quality and validity of assessment tools are lacking in this population and resources to conduct these evaluations are limited. The Athlete Diet Index (ADI) is a validated dietary assessment tool that evaluates dietary intake and patterns of Australian athletes. However, the ADI does not consider Canadian nutrition recommendations or country-specific dietary patterns in language relevant to the population. METHODS: The cross-cultural adaptation initially began with a revision of the ADI by three experienced sport dietitians. This Canadian version was then reviewed using a modified Delphi process involving a panel of eight experienced Canadian sport dietitians. Next, the forward-backward translation method was applied to obtain the French language version. Lastly, as recommended in the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement Instruments (COSMIN) methodology, a pilot study with a convenience sample of Canadian athletes (n = 49) was conducted. RESULTS: The initial revision stage led to the adaptation of 67 of the 112 questions and text elements (i.e. 97 questions and 15 instructional statements) for reasons such as language (65), Canadian dietary context (35), and relevance to Canadian athletes (4). After two rounds of Delphi interspersed with a roundtable meeting, the panelists agreed to modify 56, add five, and delete four questions. The forward-backward translation process resulted in a total of 48 changes to improve terminology (32), syntax errors (9), and align with decisions of the modified Delphi panel (7). The pilot study indicated the tool was relevant/very relevant (n = 44) and easy/very easy to understand (n = 39). English and French versions were judged equivalent by a majority (80%) of the bilingual athlete participants (n = 11). CONCLUSION: The cross-cultural adaptation of the ADI resulted in a 98-question Canadian version of the dietary assessment tool supported by evidence of face and content validity and available in the language of their choice.
PubMed2026
Culled sweet potato can effectively replace cassava chips for lactating dairy cows in tropical dairy production.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing cassava chips with culled organic sweet potato in concentrate diets on feed intake, rumen fermentation characteristics, estimated methane production, milk yield, and milk composition in dairy cows. Four multiparous Holstein Friesian cows (4 years of age; 325 ± 15 kg initial body weight) were assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design. The concentrate diets were formulated by progressively replacing the cassava chip fraction with culled organic sweet potato at levels of 0%, 33.3%, 66.6%, and 100%. Cows were fed concentrate twice daily (05:00 and 16:00 h) according to a concentrate-to-milk ratio of 1:2, while rice straw, minerals, and water were offered ad libitum. The experiment consisted of four 21-day periods. Feed intake was not affected by dietary treatments. Likewise, ruminal pH, temperature, ammonia-N, and blood urea nitrogen were not influenced by treatments. Total volatile fatty acid concentration decreased linearly at the highest replacement level (P < 0.05), whereas acetate, propionate, butyrate, and the acetate-to-propionate ratio were not affected. Estimated methane production decreased linearly with increasing levels of sweet potato inclusion (P < 0.05). Milk yield, fat-corrected milk, energy-corrected milk, protein, and solids-not-fat were not affected by dietary treatments. However, milk fat, total solids, and lactose increased with increasing sweet potato inclusion (P < 0.05). In conclusion, replacing cassava chips with culled organic sweet potato had no adverse effects on feed intake, rumen fermentation, or milk production, while reducing estimated methane production and improving selected milk composition parameters in lactating dairy cows.
PubMed2026
Dietary Supplementation with Omega-3 Fatty Acids Rescues Neurodevelopmental Deficits in a Combined Exposure Paradigm of Maternal Oxycodone Exposure and Chronic Stress.
In recent years, opioid abuse has become a major public health crisis affecting millions of individuals throughout the world. This widespread abuse of prescription opioids and dramatic increase in their availability have created the opioid epidemic. Further, oxycodone (oxy), which is prescribed for multiple types of pain, is gaining momentum as a pain reliever in pregnant women. Whilst successful in inducing analgesia, oxy freely passes through the placenta and can impact the overall development of the fetus in major ways. Currently, mechanisms that lead to impairment in the exposed offspring, including identification of biomarkers, are not well described. To fill this gap, our study utilizes a preclinical rodent model to test the therapeutic efficacy of omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) in attenuating neurodevelopmental deficits in offspring exposed to chronic stress (CS) and oxy in utero which mirrors real-world cases of opioid use during pregnancy co-occurring with chronic psychosocial stress. Our results show that O3FA supplementation partially rescues phenotypic, biochemical, molecular, and behavioral endpoints. Notably, our proteomic study identified distinct key synaptic signatures, including functional pathways impacted in different treatment groups. Furthermore, RT-qPCR results identified key inflammatory markers whose expression was ameliorated by O3FA supplementation. Together, this study bridges an important knowledge gap pertinent to maternal-fetal health that reflects a combined exposure of oxy and CS that is clinically relevant and enumerates the therapeutic efficacy of O3FA in mitigating neurodevelopmental deficits in offspring exposed to in utero oxy and CS.
PubMed2026
Does nicotinamide riboside supplementation increase milk production in postpartum women with infants admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit? Protocol for the MOONRISE randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot feasibility trial.
INTRODUCTION: An adequate supply of a mother's own milk plays a critical role in optimising health outcomes for at-risk hospitalised infants. Insufficient milk production disproportionately affects the mothers of these infants. In the USA, metoclopramide is the only approved drug available for off-label use as a galactagogue. Nicotinamide riboside (NR), a direct precursor to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), has been shown in a murine model to augment high-quality milk production and enhance cognitive and physical development of pups. Human testing with NR has been limited, and studies in lactating individuals have not been performed. The aim of this study is to assess the feasibility of NR supplementation in mothers whose infants are admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) for at least 4 weeks. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: This double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled pilot feasibility trial aims to investigate NR supplementation in mothers of infants who are anticipated to be hospitalised in the NICU for at least 4 weeks. We plan to enroll 40 mother-infant pairs with the expectation that 30 will complete the study (n=15 in each group). The intervention period with maternal NR supplementation or placebo supplementation and maternal milk, urine and blood sampling will be 19 days, including an enrollment day.The primary endpoint of the study includes feasibility of enrolling ≥50% of eligible mothers. Secondary endpoints include compliance, adherence or withdrawal from the protocol. Similarly, the study will assess the difference in mean milk volume, macronutrient and micronutrient content, human milk glycans, milk and urine metabolites and infant feeding practice between the two groups. Optional secondary endpoints include differences in serum prolactin, liver function, plasma lipidome, serum metabolites, serum cellular communication network factor 3 concentrations, serum NAD+-related precursors and intermediates between mothers of the two groups. Exploratory outcomes include changes in mothers' weight and infants' developmental and NICU outcomes. Safety endpoints include the frequency of adverse events. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: The Institutional Review Board (IRB) protocol version date is 1 June 2026, approved by the IRB at the University of California Davis Medical Center (approval number: 1557473). Study investigators will communicate trial results to participants, healthcare professionals and the public through peer-reviewed publications and presentations at scientific conferences. Trial results will also be reported on ClinicalTrials.gov and made available through PubMed Central, in accordance with regulatory requirements. Deidentified participant data will be available to qualified researchers upon request after publication. Approved requests will be granted access within 12 months and are subject to study team and IRB approval and a data use agreement. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04614714.
PubMed2026
Effect of tangeretin supplements on simulated precompetition weight loss in female combat sports athletes.
BACKGROUND: Weight reduction before competition has long been a major challenge for combat-sports athletes. Unscientific weight-loss practices not only increase the risk of hormonal imbalance, electrolyte disturbance, and impaired immune function but also compromise athletic capacities such as aerobic and anaerobic performance and explosive power. This study investigated the potential benefits of tangeretin, a natural citrus extract, on athletic performance. These benefits include the regulation of hormone secretion, the optimization of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and the promotion of muscle synthesis and lipid utilization, which may help athletes reach their target weight. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of tangeretin supplementation on body-composition and sports-performance indicators in female combat-sports athletes, and to evaluate its efficacy for simulated precompetition weight loss. METHODS: Thirty female combat-sports athletes (4 wrestlers, 3 boxers, 9 sanda athletes, 3 judokas, and 11 taekwondo athletes) were recruited. A paired, randomized, double-blind design was used. All 30 participants were first paired according to sport and competitive level, then randomly allocated to either a tangeretin group or a placebo group (15 per group). The 30-day intervention comprised a double-blind nutritional supplement, a dietary questionnaire, blood sampling and analysis, body-composition assessment, isokinetic muscle-strength testing, and aerobic-capacity testing, to evaluate the effects of tangeretin (400 mg/day) on performance and health-related outcomes. These outcomes included body-composition indicators (e.g. body-fat percentage, fat mass, lean-body mass), fat-distribution indicators (e.g. limb and regional fat mass, gynoid fat mass), glucose and lipid-metabolism indicators (e.g. LDL-C, total cholesterol, free fatty acids), hormone indicators (e.g. cortisol, testosterone), muscle-strength indicators (e.g. peak torque of hip, knee, and ankle flexors and extensors), and maximal-oxygen-uptake-derived indicators (e.g. VO2max heart rate, time to exhaustion). Statistical significance was assessed using two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). RESULTS: (1) Body weight: 80.0% of athletes in the tangeretin group lost weight to varying degrees, and 33.3% (5 athletes) reached their competition weight class. (2) Body fat: body-fat percentage in the tangeretin group decreased from 23.92 ± 0.87% to 22.92 ± 0.89%; trunk, upper-limb, lower-limb, and android-region fat mass decreased by 6.77%, 8.77%, 4.43%, and 8.09%, respectively. (3) Glucose and lipid metabolism: HDL-C increased by 8.86% (P = 0.002), whereas triglycerides decreased by 25.00% (P = 0.048). (4) Sports performance: peak torque during hip, knee, and ankle flexion and extension increased significantly in the tangeretin group. VO2max also improved from 42.80 ± 1.13 to 43.46 ± 1.32 ml/kg/min. CONCLUSION: Tangeretin supplementation effectively reduced body weight and fat mass (both overall and regionally) in female combat-sports athletes. Among the participants, 80.0% lost weight to varying degrees, and 33.3% reached their competition weight class, indicating a strong effect on precompetition weight loss. Moreover, tangeretin improved aerobic capacity and lower-limb joint muscle strength, thereby enhancing competitive performance.