The maltitol-induced increase in intestinal calcium transport increases the calcium content and breaking force of femoral bone in weanling rats

Assessing the effects of probiotic supplementation, single strain versus mixed strains, on femoral mineral density and osteoblastic gene mRNA expression in rats

INTRODUCTION

Osteoporosis is a significant health concern characterized by weak and porous bones, particularly affecting menopausal women aged 50 and above, leading to increased risk of hip fractures and associated morbidity and mortality.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a study to assess the efficacy of single-strain versus mixed-strain probiotic supplementation on bone health using an ovariectomy (OVX) rat model of induced bone loss. The probiotics evaluated were Lactobacillus helveticus (L. helveticus), Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum), and a combination of both. Rats were divided into five groups: SHAM (Control negative), OVX (Control positive), OVX +L. helveticus, OVX + B. longum, and OVX + mixed L. helveticus and B. longum. Daily oral administration of probiotics at 10^8-10^9 CFU/mL began two weeks post-surgery and continued for 16 weeks.

RESULTS

Both single-strain and mixed-strain probiotic supplementation upregulated expression of osteoblastic genes (BMP- 2, RUNX-2, OSX), increased serum osteocalcin (OC) levels, and improved bone formation parameters. Serum C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) levels and bone resorption parameters were reduced. However, the single-strain supplementation demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the mixed-strain approach.

CONCLUSION

Supplementation with B. longum and L. helveticus significantly reduces bone resorption and improves bone health in OVX rats, with single-strain supplementation showing greater efficacy compared to a mixed-strain combination. These findings highlight the potential of probiotics as a therapeutic intervention for osteoporosis, warranting further investigation in human studies.

Lactobacillus helveticus-Derived Whey-Calcium Chelate Promotes Calcium Absorption and Bone Health of Rats Fed a Low-Calcium Diet

This study investigated the characteristics of Lactobacillus helveticus-derived whey-calcium chelate (LHWCC) and its effect on the calcium absorption and bone health of rats. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy showed that carboxyl oxygen atoms, amino nitrogen atoms, and phosphate ions were the major binding sites with calcium in LHWCC, which has a sustained release effect in simulated in vitro digestion. LHWCC had beneficial effects on serum biochemical parameters, bone biomechanics, and the morphological indexes of the bones of calcium-deficient rats when fed at a dose of 40 mg Ca/kg BW for 7 weeks. In contrast to the inorganic calcium supplement, LHWCC significantly upregulated the gene expression of transient receptor potential cation V5 (TRPV5), TRPV6, PepT1, calcium-binding protein-D9k (Calbindin-D9k), and a calcium pump (plasma membrane Ca-ATPase, PMCA1b), leading to promotion of the calcium absorption rate, whereas Ca3(PO4)2 only upregulated the TRPV6 channel in vivo. These findings illustrate the potential of LHWCC as an organic calcium supplement.

Potential serum metabolites and long-chain noncoding RNA biomarkers for endometrial cancer tissue

BACKGROUND

Endometrial carcinoma (EC) is one of the most common tumors in the female reproductive system. There are nearly 200 000 new cases every year. It is the third most common gynecological malignant tumor leading to female death. The incidence rate is closely related to lifestyle, and the incidence rate varies in different regions. The incidence rate of EC is ranking the first in the female reproductive system cancer just second only to breast, lung, and colorectal cancer in North America and Europe and the incidence rate of EC is only second, followed by breast cancer and cervical cancer in China.

PURPOSE

The potential metabolic markers of endometrial cancer were screened by liquid chromatograph mass spectrometer (LC-MS), and the tissues of patients with hysteromyoma and endometrial cancer were sequenced to explore the relationship between the disease and change in the content of long-chain noncoding RNA (lncRNA).

METHODS

Serum and tissue samples were collected from patients with endometrial dysplasia, endometrial cancer stage I, and endometrial cancer stage III. The metabolites in all serum samples were extracted, and the metabolites in all samples were detected by LC-MS/MS technology. The Pareto-scaling method was used for normalization, and the MetaboAnalyst 4.0 software was used for different analyses. The T test between groups showed that p ≤ 0.05 was regarded as the metabolite with a difference. Further, the function of differential metabolites was determined by metabolite function enrichment and co-expression analysis. Meanwhile, the differentially expressed lncRNA was detected by Illumina second-generation high-throughput sequencing technology, and the expression was analyzed by DEGseq software. Different lncRNA were screened according to p < 0.05. LncRNA with significant differences were screened by p < 0.01, q < 0.001, fold change ≥2, and false discovery rate (FDR) ≤0.001.

RESULTS

Through synthesis of T test, cluster heatmap, and ROC curve analysis, five biomarkers with potential diagnostic ability were obtained, including 2,3-Pyridinedicarboxylic acid (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.69), Hematommic acid, ethyl ester (AUC = 0.69), Maltitol (AUC = 0.69), 13(S)-HODE (AUC = 0.88), and D-Mannitol (AUC = 0.69) had potential diagnostic ability between EC phase I versus EC phase III. At the same time, lncRNA sequencing results showed that when endometrial atypical hyperplasia continued to change, including LINC00511, PVT1, and IQCH-AS1 (downregulated), and only changed significantly in the endometrial dysplasia group, including MALAT1, CARMN (downregulated) and LINC00648, BISPR, LINC01534, and LINC00930 (upregulated). Moreover, both differential metabolites and differential lncRNA were annotated to the lipid metabolism pathway, suggesting that this pathway played an important role in the occurrence and development of endometrial carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

It can combine the results of metabolomics and lncRNA sequencing to assist in the early diagnosis of endometrial precancerous lesions and endometrial cancer patients, to enhance the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis, which has a certain clinical application prospect.

Metabonomic analysis of human and 12 kinds of livestock mature milk

Mature milk, as a nutrient-rich endogenous metabolite, has various beneficial effects on the human body. In order to investigate the specific nutrients provided by different dairy products to humans, we used UHPLC-Q-TOF MS to analyze the highly significantly differentially expressed metabolites in 13 species of mammalian mature milk, which were grouped into 17 major metabolite classes with 1992 metabolites based on chemical classification. KEGG shows that 5 pathways in which differentially significant metabolites are actively involved are ABC transporters, Purine metabolism, Pyrimidine metabolism, Phosphotransferase system, Galactose metabolism. The study found that pig milk and goat milk are closer to human milk and contain more nutrients that are beneficial to human health, followed by camel milk and cow milk. In the context of dairy production, the development of goat milk is more likely to meet human needs and health.

Lactobacillus helveticus (ATCC 27558) upregulates Runx2 and Bmp2 and modulates bone mineral density in ovariectomy-induced bone loss rats

Purpose

Osteoporosis is one of the major health concerns among the elderly population, especially in postmenopausal women. Many menopausal women over 50 years of age lose their bone density and suffer bone fractures. In addition, many mortality and morbidity cases among the elderly are related to hip fracture. This study aims to investigate the effect of Lactobacillus helveticus (L. helveticus) on bone health status among ovariectomized (OVX) bone loss-induced rats.

Methods

The rats were either OVX or sham OVX (sham), then were randomly assigned into three groups, G1: sham, G2: OVX and G3: OVX+L. helveticus (1 mL of 10⁸–10⁹ colony forming units). The supplementation was force-fed to the rats once a day for 16 weeks while control groups were force-fed with demineralized water.

Results

L. helveticus upregulated the expression of Runx2 and Bmp2, increased serum osteocalcin, bone volume/total volume and trabecular thickness, and decreased serum C-terminal telopeptide and total porosity percentage. It also altered bone microstructure, as a result increasing bone mineral density and bone strength.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that L. helveticus attenuates bone remodeling and consequently improves bone health in OVX rats by increasing bone formation along with bone resorption reduction. This study suggests a potential therapeutic effect of L. helveticus (ATCC 27558) on postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Gastrointestinal Disturbances Associated with the Consumption of Sugar Alcohols with Special Consideration of Xylitol: Scientific Review and Instructions for Dentists and Other Health-Care Professionals

Sugar alcohols (polyols) are used in food manufacturing and in medical tests and examinations. d-Glucitol (sorbitol) and d-mannitol were previously the most common alditols used for these purposes. After the 1960s, xylitol became a common ingredient in noncariogenic confectioneries, oral hygiene products, and diabetic food. Erythritol, a polyol of the tetritol type, can be regarded as the sweetener of the "next generation." The disaccharide polyols maltitol, lactitol, and isomalt have also been used in food manufacturing and in medical tests. Consumption of pentitol- and hexitol-type polyols and disaccharide polyols may cause gastrointestinal disturbances at least in unaccustomed subjects. The occurrence of disturbances depends on consumer properties and on the molecular size and configuration of the polyol molecule. Adaptation may take place as a result of enzyme induction in the intestinal flora. Some of the literature on xylitol has been difficult to access by health-care professionals and will be reviewed here. Research and clinical field experience have found no pathology in polyol-associated osmotic diarrhea-the intestinal mucosa having normal basic structure, except in extreme instances. Xylitol is better tolerated than hexitols or the disaccharide polyols. Erythritol, owing to its smaller molecular weight and configuration that differ from other alditols, normally avoids the gastrointestinal reactions encountered with other polyols. This review will also touch upon the FODMAPs diet concept.

Gut Function-Enhancing Properties and Metabolic Effects of Dietary Indigestible Sugars in Rodents and Rabbits

Indigestible sugars (iS) have received particular interest in food and nutrition research due to their prebiotic properties and other health benefits in humans and animals. The main aim of this review article is to summarize the current knowledge regarding digestive and health-enhancing properties of iS such as sugar alcohols, oligosacharides, and polysaccharides, in rodents and rabbits. Besides ameliorating gut health, iS ingestion also elicits laxative effects and stimulate intestinal permeability and fluid secretions, thereby shortening digesta transit time and increasing stool mass and quality. In rodents and rabbits, as hindgut fermenters, consumption of iS leads to an improved nutrient digestibility, too. Cecal fermentation of iS reduces luminal pH and extends wall tissue facilitating absorption of key dietary minerals across hindgut. The microbial fermentation of iS also enhances excessive blood nitrogen (N) flowing into the cecum to be used as N source for bacterial growth, enhancing N retention in cecotrophic animals. This review also highlights the impact of iS on improving lipid metabolism, mainly by lowering cholesterol and triglycerides levels in the blood. The paper serves as an index of the current knowledge of iS effects in rodents and rabbits and also identifies gaps of knowledge that need to be addressed by future research.

Probiotics (Bifidobacterium longum) Increase Bone Mass Density and Upregulate Sparc and Bmp-2 Genes in Rats with Bone Loss Resulting from Ovariectomy

Probiotics are live microorganisms that exert beneficial effects on the host, when administered in adequate amounts. Mostly, probiotics affect the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of the host and alter the composition of gut microbiota. Nowadays, the incidence of hip fractures due to osteoporosis is increasing worldwide. Ovariectomized (OVX) rats have fragile bone due to estrogen deficiency and mimic the menopausal conditions in women. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the effects of Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum) on bone mass density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), bone remodeling, bone structure, and gene expression in OVX rats. The rats were randomly assigned into 3 groups (sham, OVX, and the OVX group supplemented with 1 mL of B. longum 10⁸–10⁹ colony forming units (CFU)/mL). B. longum was given once daily for 16 weeks, starting from 2 weeks after the surgery. The B. longum supplementation increased (p < 0.05) serum osteocalcin (OC) and osteoblasts, bone formation parameters, and decreased serum C-terminal telopeptide (CTX) and osteoclasts, bone resorption parameters. It also altered the microstructure of the femur. Consequently, it increased BMD by increasing (p < 0.05) the expression of Sparc and Bmp-2 genes. B. longum alleviated bone loss in OVX rats and enhanced BMD by decreasing bone resorption and increasing bone formation.

The genotoxic and teratogenic effects of maltitol in rats

In the present study, the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of the low-caloric artificial sweetener maltitol, which is a sugar alcohol (polyol), were investigated in the bone marrow cells of rats using the chromosome aberration (CA) test. In addition, the teratogenicity and embryotoxicity of maltitol was also investigated in rats. To reveal the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of maltitol, rats were intraperitoneally administered 2.5, 5 and 10 g/kg body weight (bw) concentrations of maltitol for 6, 12 and 24 h treatment period. The pregnant females were intraperitoneally treated with 1, 2 and 4 g/kg bw/day concentrations of maltitol during the first 7 days of gestation (first trimester) to investigate the teratogenicity of maltitol. The embryos were collected after killing the dams by cervical dislocation under ether anaesthesia on gestation day 19. Maltitol did not induce the CA and did not decrease the mitotic index in bone marrow cells of rats at all concentrations and treatment periods. In addition, maltitol was not teratogenic; however, it decreased the foetuses weight and at the highest dose (4 g/kg bw) caused growth retardation.

Optimized extraction of calcium malate from eggshell treated by PEF and an absorption assessment in vitro

Under optimized pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment for production of eggshell calcium malate (ESCM) by one-factor-at-a-time test and ternary quadratic regression orthogonal combination design (TQROCD), an absorption assessment of ESCM treated by the best conditions of PEF were performed in male mice with apparent calcium absorption rate (ACAR), serum alkalinity phosphatase (ALP), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), serum calcium and serum phosphorus, length of femurs and skeletal calcium content were studied. The highest dissoluble calcium malate content (7.075 mg/mL) was obtained with the 6.0% malic acid, the electric field intensity of 20 kV/cm, and pulse duration of 24 μs. In vitro, ESCM prepared by the best conditions of PEF at doses of 133.0 mg kg(-1) d(-1) for 70 d not only significantly improve the ALP activity, the femur length and calcium content of bone of the mice (P<0.05) but also decreased the levels of TRAP (P<0.05). The ratio of calcium and phosphorus was in the normal range. PEF could be taken as a highly effective, environmentally friendly and energy-saving method for preparation of ESCM, which treated by PEF could promote the absorption of calcium in vitro, extraordinary can promote bone development and a healthy bone.

Two-week feeding of difructose anhydride III enhances calcium absorptive activity with epithelial cell proliferation in isolated rat cecal mucosa

OBJECTIVE

Ingestion of difructose anhydride III (DFAIII) enhances calcium (Ca) absorption in rats. The present study investigated the mechanism involved in increased Ca transport by DFAIII ingestion. The short-term and long-term effects of DFAIII feeding on Ca transport were determined by using isolated epithelium from the small and large intestine in rats.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed an 8% cellulose or 5% cellulose plus 3% DFAIII diet for 14 d. Net epithelial Ca transport in the small intestine, cecum, and colon was compared between the two diet groups by using an Ussing chamber. The contents and epithelial tissues in the cecum were analyzed.

RESULTS

There were no differences in basal and luminal DFAIII-induced Ca transport in the isolated small intestinal and colonic mucosa between the two diet groups. Basal and lumen DFAIII-induced Ca transport in the cecum in the DFAIII-fed group was higher than that in the control group. A decrease in pH and an increase in Ca pools, short-chain fatty acids, or organic acids in the cecal contents and in the depth and number of cells in crypts in cecal tissue were observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase in Ca transport involved two mechanisms: the presence of DFAIII in the small intestine directly affected the epithelial tissue and caused increased Ca absorption as a short-term effect, and the degradation of DFAIII by microbial fermentation produced short-chain fatty acids and subsequently enhanced Ca absorption in the large intestine as a long-term effect.

Combining Insulin-Like Growth Factor Derivatives Plus Caffeinol Produces Robust Neuroprotection After Stroke in Rats

Background and Purpose— Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and caffeinol are both neuroprotective and probably have different mechanisms of action; therefore, they may be more effective in combination.

Methods— We tested the N-terminal tripeptide of IGF-1, Gly-Pro-Glu (GPE), and its analogue, G2MePE, alone and with caffeinol in a rat middle cerebral artery (MCA) suture occlusion model. We randomly assigned rats to 6 groups of 8 to 12 animals: (1) control; (2) GPE, 3 mg/kg per hour; (3) G2MePE, 0.3 mg/kg per hour; (4) caffeinol, a mixture of caffeine (10 mg/kg) with ethanol (0.32 g/kg); (5) GPE with caffeinol (combination of group 2 with 4); and (6) G2MePE with caffeinol (combination of group 3 with 4). Drugs were started 75 minutes after suture occlusion, at the start of reperfusion. Three days after MCA occlusion, neurological deficit (Neurological Deficit Score [NDS]) and lesion volume were measured.

Results— GPE and caffeinol improved NDS by 34% and 36%, respectively ( P <0.01), and also decreased cortical but not striatal lesion volume compared with control (GPE cortex, 121 mm 3 ; caffeinol cortex, 134 mm 3 ; and control, 221 mm 3 ; P <0.01). GPE plus caffeinol did not have more efficacy than either GPE or caffeinol alone. G2MePE slightly improved NDS (19.7%, P =0.05) but not lesion volume. However, G2MePE plus caffeinol very significantly improved NDS (64%) and lesion volume in both cortex (combination 95 mm 3 versus control 221 mm 3 ) and striatum (combination 74 mm 3 versus control 110 mm 3 ) ( P <0.001), and was significantly more effective than either caffeinol or G2MePE alone.

Conclusion— Both GPE and caffeinol significantly protect cortex after MCA occlusion. At the doses used in this study, the GPE analogue G2MePE by itself had minimal protective effects, but when combined with caffeinol, it demonstrated robust beneficial effects on cortical and subcortical lesion size and behavioral deficit. Further study of this combination appears justified.

Ash Content Modulation of Torsionally Derived Effective Material Properties in Cortical Mouse Bone

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of isolated alterations in mineral content on mouse bone torsional properties. The femora and tibiae from 25 eight-week-old male A/J strain mice were divided into five groups and selectively decalcified from 5% to 20%. The right femora were then tested to failure in torsion while the tibiae were ashed to determine final mineral content of the decalcified bones. Contralateral femora were serially cross-sectioned to determine geometric properties, and effective material properties were then calculated from the geometric and structural properties of each femoral pair. We found that the relationship between ash content and effective shear modulus or maximum effective shear stress could best be characterized through a power law, with an exponential factor of 6.79 R2=0.85 and 4.04 R2=0.67, respectively. This indicates that in a murine model, as with other species, small changes in ash content significantly influence effective material properties. Furthermore, it appears that (in adolescent A/J strain mice) effective shear modulus is more heavily affected by changes in mineralization than is maximum effective shear stress when these properties are derived from whole bone torsional tests to failure.

Melibiose, difructose anhydride III and difructose anhydride IV enhance net calcium absorption in rat small and large intestinal epithelium by increasing the passage of tight junctions in vitro

An Ussing chamber technique was used to determine the effects of three indigestible disaccharides on net Ca transport from the luminal side to the basolateral side of isolated preparations of jejunal, ileal, cecal and colonic epithelium in rats. Permeability of Lucifer Yellow (LY) and transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), which are indicators of intercellular passage of the intestinal mucosa, were also determined. The concentrations of Ca in the serosal and mucosal media were 1.25 mmol/L and 10 mmol/L, respectively. After a 30-min incubation, the net Ca transport, LY passage and TEER were determined. In the control experiment, LY permeability was lowest, and TEER value was highest in the colon. The addition of 1-100 mmol/L melibiose, difructose anhydride (DFA)III, or DFAIV to the mucosal medium increased the net Ca absorption and LY permeability dose-dependently in the jejunum, ileum, cecum and colon preparations. Melibiose decreased TEER dose-dependently in the jejunum and cecum, but not in the ileum and colon. DFAIII decreased TEER dose-dependently in the jejunum, cecum and colon, but not in the ileum. DFAIV decreased TEER dose-dependently in all four intestinal portions. Positive linear relationships were found between net Ca transport and LY passage in all portions of the intestine, whereas negative linear relationships were found between net Ca absorption and TEER. We concluded that the three indigestible saccharides directly affect the epithelial tissue and activate the passage of tight junctions, thereby promoting Ca absorption in the small and large intestine in vitro.

Various indigestible saccharides enhance net calcium transport from the epithelium of the small and large intestine of rats in vitro

An Ussing chamber technique was used to determine the effects of six indigestible saccharides on net Ca absorption from the luminal side to the basolateral side of isolated preparations of rat jejunal, ileal, cecal and colonic epithelium in vitro. The concentrations of Ca in the Tris buffer solution on the serosal side and on the mucosal side were 1.25 and 10 mmol/L, respectively. After a 30-min incubation, the Ca concentration in the serosal medium was determined and the net transepithelial Ca transport was calculated. The addition of 0.1-200 mmol/L maltitol, difructose anhydride (DFA)III, DFAIV, raffinose, fructooligosaccharide (FOS) or polydextrose (PD) to the mucosal medium increased the net Ca absorption dose-dependently in the jejunum, ileum, cecum and colon preparations. The threshold concentration required to enhance Ca transport and the extent of enhancement of Ca transport differed among the saccharides tested and among the portions of the intestine examined. Among the saccharides tested, DFA IV had the strongest effect on Ca absorption in the jejunum and cecum. We conclude that indigestible carbohydrates directly affect the epithelial tissue and promote Ca absorption in both the small and large intestine in vitro.