Dietary Fiber: An Opportunity for a Global Control of Hyperlipidemia

In vitro digestion and fermentation characteristics of soluble dietary fiber from adlay (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Staft) bran modified by steam explosion

Adlay bran is known for its nutrient-rich profile and multifunctional properties, and steam explosion (SE) is an emerging physical modification technique. However, the specific effects of SE on the activity composition and antioxidant capacity of adlay bran soluble dietary fiber (SDF) during in vitro digestion, as well as its influence on gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation, remain inadequately understood. This paper reports the in vitro digestion and fermentation characteristics of soluble dietary fiber from adlay bran modified by SE (SE-SDF). Compared with the untreated samples (0-SDF), most of the phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity were significantly increased in the SE-SDF digests. Additionally, SE was beneficial for adlay bran SDF to increase the content of acetic acid, propionic acid and total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in fermentation broth during in vitro fermentation. SE-SDF could promote the growth of beneficial bacteria while inhibiting the proliferation of pathogenic microbes. Our research indicates that SE-SDF shows strong antioxidant properties after in vitro digestion and plays a pivotal role in regulating gut microbiota during in vitro fermentation, ultimately enhancing human intestinal health.

Type 3 resistant starch from Canna edulis reduce lipid levels in patients with mild hyperlipidemia through altering gut microbiome: A double- blind randomized controlled trial

Type 3 resistant starch from Canna edulis (Ce-RS3) is an insoluble dietary fiber which could improve blood lipids in animals, but clinically robust evidence is still lacking. We performed a double-blind randomized controlled trial to assess the effects of Ce-RS3 on lipids in mild hyperlipidemia. One hundred and fifteen patients were included followed the recruitment criteria, and were randomly allocated to receive Ce-RS3 or placebo (native starch from Canna edulis) for 12 weeks (20 g/day). In addition to serum lipids, complete blood counts, serum inflammatory factors, antioxidant indexes, and dietary survey, 16 S rRNA sequencing technique was utilized to analyze the gut microbiota alterations. Targeted quantitative metabolomics (TQM) was used to detect metabolite changes. Compared with the placebo, Ce- RS3 significantly decreased levels of total cholesterol, lowdensity lipoprotein cholesterol, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and increased the glutathione peroxidase. Based on the 16 S rRNA sequencing, TQM, the correlation analysis, as well as the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes (KEGG) and Genomes and Human Metabolome Database (HMDB) analysis, we found that Ce-RS3 could increase the abundances of genera Faecalibacterium and Agathobacter, while reduce the abundances of genera norank_f_Ruminococcaceae and Christensenellaceae_R-7_ group to regulate phenylalanine metabolism, which could reduce the fatty acid biosynthesis and fatty acid elongation in the mitochondria to lower blood lipids. Conclusively, we firstly confirmed the feasibility of Ce-RS3 for clinical application, which presents a novel, effective therapy for the mild hyperlipidemia. (Chictr. org. cn. Clinical study on anti-mild hyperlipidemia of Canna edulis RS3 resistant starch, ID Number: ChiCTR2200062871).

Current Research on the Role of Isomaltooligosaccharides in Gastrointestinal Health and Metabolic Diseases

The intestinal epithelium plays an important role in maintaining the intestinal barrier and facilitating nutrient absorption. It also serves as a critical physical barrier against the infiltration of foreign substances from the intestinal lumen into the circulation. Intestinal barrier dysfunction has been implicated in the development of several diseases. Isomaltooligosaccharides (IMOs), which are a type of dietary fiber, possess multiple health benefits. However, there is limited information regarding their efficacy against gastrointestinal diseases. This review explores the therapeutic potential of IMOs in obesity, diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), hyperlipidemia, and constipation. High-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity models have shown that IMOs, administered alone or in combination with other compounds, exhibit potent antiobesity effects, making them promising agents in the treatment of obesity and its associated complications. Moreover, IMOs exhibit preventive effects against HFD-induced metabolic dysfunction by modulating gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acid levels, thereby ameliorating symptoms. Furthermore, IMOs can reduce IBD and alleviate hyperlipidemia, as indicated by the reduced histological colitis scores and improved lipid profiles observed in clinical trials and animal studies. This review highlights IMOs as a versatile intervention strategy that can improve gastrointestinal health by modulating gut microbiota, immune responses, and metabolic parameters, providing a multifaceted approach to address the complex nature of gastrointestinal disorders.

Lipid metabolism regulation by dietary polysaccharides with different structural properties

Lipid metabolism plays an important role in energy homeostasis maintenance in response to stress. Nowadays, hyperlipidemia-related chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and fatty liver pose significant health challenges. Dietary polysaccharides (DPs) have gained attention for their effective lipid-lowering properties. This review examines the multifaceted mechanisms that DPs employ to lower lipid levels in subjects with hyperlipidemia. DPs could directly inhibit lipid intake and absorption, promote lipid excretion, and regulate key enzymes involved in lipid metabolism pathways, including triglyceride and cholesterol anabolism and catabolism, fatty acid oxidation, and bile acid synthesis. Additionally, DPs indirectly improve lipid homeostasis by modulating gut microbiota composition and alleviating oxidative stress. Moreover, the lipid-lowering mechanisms of particular structural DPs (including β-glucan, pectin, glucomannan, inulin, arabinoxylan, and fucoidan) are summarized. The relationship between the structure and lipid-lowering activity of DPs is also discussed based on current researches. Finally, potential breakthroughs and future directions in the development of DPs in lipid-lowering activity are discussed. The paper could provide a reference for further exploring the mechanism of DPs for lipid regulations and utilizing DPs as lipid-lowering dietary ingredients.

Dietary fiber as a wide pillar of colorectal cancer prevention and adjuvant therapy

Colorectal cancer is the third most incident and second most lethal type of cancer worldwide. Lifestyle and dietary patterns are the key factors for higher disease development risk. The dietary fiber intake from fruits and vegetables, mainly formed by food hydrocolloids, can help to lower the incidence of this type of neoplasia. Different food polysaccharides have applications in anti-tumoral therapy, such as coadjuvant to mainstream drugs, carriage-like properties, or direct influence on tumoral cells. Some classes include inulin, β-glucans, pectins, fucoidans, alginates, mucilages, and gums. Therefore, it is fundamental to discuss colorectal cancer mechanisms and the roles played by different polysaccharides in intestinal health. Genetic, environmental, and immunological modulation of mutated pathways regarding colorectal cancer has been explored before. Microbial diversity, byproduct formation (primarily short-chain fatty acids), inflammatory profile control, and tumoral mutated pathways regulation are thoroughly explored mechanisms by which dietary fiber sources influence a healthy gut ambiance.

Nutritional and antioxidant potential of Pleurotus djamor (Rumph. ex Fr.) Boedijn produced on agronomic wastes banana leaves and sugarcane bagasse substrates

Global food production faces challenges concerning access to nutritious and sustainably produced food. Pleurotus djamor, however, is an edible mushroom that can be cultivated on agricultural waste. Considering that nutritional and functional potential of mushrooms can change based on cultivation conditions, we examined the influence of substrates with different compositions of banana leaf and sugarcane bagasse on the nutritional, mycochemical, and antioxidant properties of P. djamor. The mushrooms were grown for 120 days and dried in a circulating air oven at 45 °C for three days. We conducted bromatological analyses and mycochemical characterization (1H-NMR, total phenolics, and flavonoids) of the mushrooms and assayed the antioxidant activity of extracts from the dried mushrooms using an ethanol/water solution (70:30 v/v). In general, the substrates produced mushrooms with high protein (18.77 ± 0.24% to 17.80 ± 0.34%) and dietary fiber content (18.02 ± 0.05% to 19.32 ± 0.39%), and with low lipid (0.28 + 0.08% to 0.4 + 0.6%), and caloric content (maximum value: 258.42 + 8.49), with no significant differences between the groups (p ≥ 0.05). The mushrooms also exhibited high levels of total phenolics and flavonoids. The mushrooms cultivated on sugarcane bagasse substrates presented the highest values (p < 0.05). Analysis of the 1H-NMR spectra indicates an abundant presence of heteropolysaccharides, β-glucans, α-glucans, and oligosaccharides, and all the mushroom extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that agricultural residues permit sustainable production of edible mushrooms while maintaining nutritional and functional properties.

Can Daily Dietary Choices Have a Cardioprotective Effect? Food Compounds in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiometabolic Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases accompanying metabolic syndrome comprise one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The medical community undertakes attempts to improve treatment options and minimize cardiovascular diseases' numerous consequences and exacerbations. In parallel with pharmacotherapies provided by physicians, nutritionists are developing strategies for diet therapy and prevention based on lifestyle changes, with high success rates. Consumption of specified food compounds included in various products with proven protective properties can be helpful in this regard. Due to the wide possibilities of diet in metabolic health promotion, it seems necessary to systematize information about the metabolically protective and cardioprotective properties of fiber, probiotic bacteria, plant sterols, folic acid, vitamins B12, C, and E, PUFAs, lycopene, polyphenols, arginine, CoQ10, and allicin. The aim of this review was to present the food compounds with potential use in cardiometabolic prevention and diet therapy based on the latest available literature.

Autoclaving-treated germinated brown rice relieves hyperlipidemia by modulating gut microbiota in humans

Introduction

Germinated brown rice is a functional food with a promising potential for alleviating metabolic diseases. This study aimed to explore the hypolipidemic effects of autoclaving-treated germinated brown rice (AGBR) and the underlying mechanisms involving gut microbiota.

Methods

Dietary intervention with AGBR or polished rice (PR) was implemented in patients with hyperlipidemia for 3 months, and blood lipids were analyzed. Nutritional characteristics of AGBR and PR were measured and compared. Additionally, 16S rDNA sequencing was performed to reveal the differences in gut microbiota between the AGBR and PR groups.

Results

AGBR relieves hyperlipidemia in patients, as evidenced by reduced levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein-B, and elevated levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and apolipoprotein-A1. In terms of nutrition, AGBR had significantly higher concentrations of free amino acids (10/16 species), γ-aminobutyric acid, resistant starch, soluble dietary fiber, and flavonoids (11/13 species) than PR. In addition, higher microbial abundance, diversity, and uniformity were observed in the AGBR group than in the PR group. At the phylum level, AGBR reduced Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Desulfobacterota, and Synergistota, and elevated Bacteroidota and Verrucomicrobiota. At the genus level, AGBR elevated Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Dialister, Prevotella, and Bifidobacterium, and reduced Escherichia-Shigella, Blautia, Romboutsia, and Turicibacter.

Discussion

AGBR contributes to the remission of hyperlipidemia by modulating the gut microbiota.

Caenorhabditis elegans endorse bacterial nanocellulose fibers as functional dietary Fiber reducing lipid markers

Bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) is a promising dietary fiber with potential as a functional food additive. We evaluated BNC fibers (BNCf) in the Caenorhabditis elegans model to obtain insight into the BNCf's biointeraction with its gastrointestinal tract while reducing the variables of higher complex animals. BNCf were uptaken and excreted by worms without crossing the intestinal barrier, confirming its biosafety regarding survival rate, reproduction, and aging for concentrations up to 34 μg/ml BNCf. However, a slight decrease in the worms' length was detected. A possible nutrient shortage or stress produced by BNCf was discarded by measuring stress and chemotactic response pathways. Besides, we detected a lipid-lowering effect of BNCf in N2 C. elegans in normal and high-caloric diets. Oxidative damage was computed in N2 worms and Rac1/ced-10 mutants. The GTPase Rac1 is involved in neurological diseases, where its dysregulation enhances ROS production and neuronal damage. BNCf reduced the lipid oxidative markers produced by ROS species in this worm strain. Finally, we detected that BNCf activated the genetic expression of the immunological response and lipid catabolic process. These results strengthen the use of BNCf as a functional dietary fiber and encourage the potential treatment of neurological disease by modulating diet.

A Comparative Analysis between Whole Chinese Yam and Peeled Chinese Yam: Their Hypolipidemic Effects via Modulation of Gut Microbiome in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice

Chinese yam is a "medicine food homology" food with medical properties, but little is known about its health benefits on hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, the effect of peeling processing on the efficacy of Chinese yam is still unclear. In this study, the improvement effects of whole Chinese yam (WY) and peeled Chinese yam (PY) on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic mice were explored by evaluating the changes in physiological, biochemical, and histological parameters, and their modulatory effects on gut microbiota were further illustrated. The results show that both WY and PY could significantly attenuate the HFD-induced obesity phenotype, accompanied by the mitigative effect on epididymis adipose damage and hepatic tissue injury. Except for the ameliorative effect on TG, PY retained the beneficial effects of WY on hyperlipemia. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that WY and PY reshaped the gut microbiota composition, especially the bloom of several beneficial bacterial strains (Akkermansia, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibaculum) and the reduction in some HFD-dependent taxa (Mucispirillum, Coriobacteriaceae_UCG-002, and Candidatus_Saccharimonas). PICRUSt analysis showed that WY and PY could significantly regulate lipid transport and metabolism-related pathways. These findings suggest that Chinese yam can alleviate hyperlipidemia via the modulation of the gut microbiome, and peeling treatment had less of an effect on the lipid-lowering efficacy of yam.

Whole grain germinated brown rice intake modulates the gut microbiota and alleviates hypertriglyceridemia and hypercholesterolemia in high fat diet-fed mice

Hyperlipidemia is a common clinical disorder of lipid metabolism in modern society and is considered to be one of the major risk factors leading to cardiovascular-related diseases. Germinated brown rice (GBR) is a typical whole grain food. The lipid-lowering effect of GBR has received increasing attention, but its mechanism of action is not fully understood. The gut microbiota has been proposed as a novel target for the treatment of hyperlipidemia. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of GBR on the gut microbiota and lipid metabolism in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed C57BL/6J mice. The effect of GBR on hyperlipidemia was evaluated by measuring blood lipid levels and by pathological examination. The gut microbiota was detected by 16S rRNA sequencing, and the protein and mRNA expression levels involved in cholesterol metabolism were detected by western blotting and RT-qPCR to find potential correlations. The results showed that GBR supplementation could effectively reduce the levels of TC, TG, LDL-C and HDL-C in the serum and alleviate the excessive accumulation of fat droplets caused by HFD. Moreover, GBR intervention improved HFD-fed gut microbiota disorder via increasing the diversity of the gut microbiota, reducing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and improving gut barrier damage. In addition, GBR could inhibit endogenous cholesterol synthesis and promote cholesterol transport and excretion. These findings suggest that GBR may be a competitive candidate for the development of functional foods to prevent abnormal lipid metabolism.

Metabolomics reveals the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum dy-1 fermentation on the lipid-lowering capacity of barley β-glucans in an in vitro model of gut-liver axis

Bioactive polysaccharides known as the biological response modifiers, can directly interact with intestinal epithelium cells (IEC) and regulate key metabolic processes such as lipid metabolism. Here, the coculture of Caco-2/HT29 monolayer (>400 Ω × cm2) and HepG2 cells was developed to mimic the gut-liver interactions. This system was used to investigate the effects of raw and fermented barley β-glucans (RBG and FBG) on lipid metabolism by directly interacting with IEC. Both RBG and FBG significantly and consistently reduced the lipid droplets and triacylglycerol levels in monoculture and coculture of HepG2 overloaded with oleic acid. Notably, FBG significantly and distinctly elevated PPARα (p < 0.05) and PPARα-responsive ACOX-1 (p < 0.01) gene expressions, promoting lipid degradation in cocultured HepG2. Moreover, the metabolomics analyses revealed that FBG had a unique impact on extracellular metabolites, among them, the differential metabolite thiomorpholine 3-carboxylate was significantly and strongly correlated with PPARα (r = -0.68, p < 0.01) and ACOX-1 (r = -0.76, p < 0.01) expression levels. Taken together, our findings suggest that FBG-mediated gut-liver interactions play a key role in its lipid-lowering effects that are superior to those of RBG. These results support the application of Lactiplantibacillus fermentation for improving hypolipidemic outcomes.

Pomelo peel dietary fiber ameliorates alterations in obesity-related features and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice fed on a high-fat diet

Pomelo peel has abundance of dietary fiber and various biological activities but is often discarded as waste. This study evaluated the biological activities of pomelo peel dietary fiber (PPDF) in preventing obesity and regulating intestinal microbiota in obese mouse model induced using a high-fat diet (HFD). As for the composition, the prepared PPDF contained 89.64% of total dietary fiber, 53.27% of insoluble dietary fiber, and 36.37% of soluble dietary fiber. PPDF treatment significantly reduced weight gain and fat accumulation in the liver and epididymal tissues of obese mice; significantly alleviated HFD-induced dyslipidemia; and restored the levels of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein--cholesterol to control levels, and the PPDF 5% dose restored total cholesterol to the control level. Furthermore, PPDF ameliorated HFD-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis by increasing intestinal microbial diversity, decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, increasing beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacterium, Alloprevotella, and Lactobacillus), and decreasing harmful bacteria (Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium_1). This study provided a new idea to use PPDF as functional food to prevent obesity, alleviate dyslipidemia, or a potential probiotic to ameliorate gut microbiota dysbiosis.

The therapeutic value of bifidobacteria in cardiovascular disease

There has been an increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality over the past few decades, making cardiovascular disease (CVD) the leading cause of death worldwide. However, the pathogenesis of CVD is multi-factorial, complex, and not fully understood. The gut microbiome has long been recognized to play a critical role in maintaining the physiological and metabolic health of the host. Recent scientific advances have provided evidence that alterations in the gut microbiome and its metabolites have a profound influence on the development and progression of CVD. Among the trillions of microorganisms in the gut, bifidobacteria, which, interestingly, were found through the literature to play a key role not only in regulating gut microbiota function and metabolism, but also in reducing classical risk factors for CVD (e.g., obesity, hyperlipidemia, diabetes) by suppressing oxidative stress, improving immunomodulation, and correcting lipid, glucose, and cholesterol metabolism. This review explores the direct and indirect effects of bifidobacteria on the development of CVD and highlights its potential therapeutic value in hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and heart failure. By describing the key role of Bifidobacterium in the link between gut microbiology and CVD, we aim to provide a theoretical basis for improving the subsequent clinical applications of Bifidobacterium and for the development of Bifidobacterium nutritional products.

Dietary intake of total vegetable, fruit, cereal, soluble and insoluble fiber and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer mortality: systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies

Objectives

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to investigate the association between total, vegetable, fruit, cereal, soluble and insoluble fiber intake and risk of all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality and quantitatively assess the dose-response relation.

Methods

Eligible studies were identified by searching PubMed, Embase and Web of science before August 2023. Random effects models were used to calculate summary relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) and restricted cubic splines to model the linear/non-linear association.

Results

The summary RR for all-cause, CVD and cancer mortality of dietary fiber was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.86,0.93), 0.87 (0.84,0.91), 0.91 (0.88,0.93), respectively. Significant association was observed for all-cause and CVD mortality with fruit, vegetable cereal and soluble fiber intake and cancer mortality with cereal fiber intake. No significant association was found for insoluble fiber, vegetable or fruit fiber intake and cancer mortality. Dose-response analysis showed a significant non-linear relation of dietary fiber intake with all-cause mortality, and linear relation for others.

Conclusions

Higher dietary fiber including different type and food sources of fiber intake were associated with lower risk of mortality. Our findings provide more comprehensive evidence on dietary fiber intake with mortality.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero, identifier: CRD42022338837.

Oat bran prevents high-fat-diet induced muscular dysfunction, systemic inflammation and oxidative stress through reconstructing gut microbiome and circulating metabolome

Western-type diet characterized by high fat emerges a promoter of skeletal muscle dysfunctions. Oat bran was typically considered a healthy food of premium quality for its abundant dietary fiber. The present study comprehensively explored the effects of a diet rich in oat bran on skeletal muscle disfunctions in high-fat diet (HFD) fed mice. Dietary-fiber-rich oat bran significantly ameliorated HFD-induced skeletal muscle function abnormalities, as evidenced by a phenotype improvement in mice grip strength and endurance treadmill running distance, accompanied with the regulation of muscle functions related gene expressions, namely Fis1, Cytc, Mhy2 and Mhy4. Oat bran suppressed the production of systemic inflammatory cytokines while promoted superoxide dismutase and glutathione. Furthermore, oat bran significantly impacted gut microbiota composition by promoting short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) producers and certain probiotic genera, along with the enhancement of SCFAs. Oat bran also significantly decreased the circulating levels of inflammation-related metabolites and played roles in MAPK signaling, thereafter influencing skeletal muscle functions. Collectively, benefits from integration of biomedical indicators, microbiomics, and metabolomics demonstrates the benefits of oat bran consumption on prevention of HFD-related muscular dysfunctions via alleviating HFD-induced inflammation, gut dysbiosis, and systemic metabolism, pinpointing a novel mechanism underlying the muscle-promoting property of oat bran.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri consumption significantly reduces the total cholesterol concentration without affecting other cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis

As one of the most significant probiotics, Limosilactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri) has been exploited as a nutritional supplement. We hypothesized that L. reuteri consumption might improve the significant risk factors of cardiovascular disease, including blood pressure, blood lipid, and blood glucose. However, previous clinical studies have shown controversial results. This study aims to explore the effect of L. reuteri consumption on these risk factors. PubMed, Embase, Scopus, the Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for eligible randomized controlled trials published before May 2022. A total of 6 studies with 4 different L. reuteri strains and including 512 participants were included. The results showed that L. reuteri consumption significantly reduced total cholesterol (TC) by -0.26 mmol/L compared with the control group. In contrast, it did not affect systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), or triglycerides. Subgroup analysis showed a significant reduction in TC when participants were <55 years old, had a body mass index between 25 and 30, or had hypercholesterolemia. In addition, TC decreased significantly when L. reuteri supplementation was >5 × 109 colony-forming unit or the length of the intervention was <12 weeks. Strain subgroup analysis showed that L. reuteri NCIMB 30242 significantly reduced TC and LDL-C. In conclusion, L. reuteri consumption has a significant TC-lowering effect, which can effectively reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease associated with hypercholesterolemia. However, the results do not support the effectiveness of L. reuteri consumption on other metabolic outcomes. Further examination of larger sample sizes is needed to confirm these findings.

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between the dietary inflammatory index and hyperlipidemia based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005-2018)

BACKGROUND

Hyperlipidemia is closely associated with dietary patterns and inflammation. However, the relationship between hyperlipidemia and the inflammatory potential of diets remains unexplored. The research was conducted to examine the relationship between hyperlipidemia and dietary inflammatory index (DII).

METHODS

The data utilized in the research were acquired from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2005 to 2018. The information on dietary intake was gathered by conducting 24-h dietary recall interviews. Restricted cubic spline (RCS) and Survey-weighted logistic regression were utilized to determine the association between DII and hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, stratification analysis was carried out.

RESULTS

This study included 8982 individuals with and 3458 without hyperlipidemia. Participants with hyperlipidemia exhibited higher DII scores than those without hyperlipidemia. Following adjustment for gender, age, race, education level, marital status, poverty, drinking status, diabetes, hypertension, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), cardiovascular disease (CVD), and hemoglobin (Hb), the association between the prevalence of hyperlipidemia and DII remained significant. The RCS data demonstrated that the hyperlipidemia prevalence did not exhibit an increase until the DII score was approximately 2.78. Stratification analysis revealed that the association between DII and hyperlipidemia persisted in all subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

DII was associated with hyperlipidemia, and the threshold DII score for the risk of hyperlipidemia was 2.78.

Soluble Dietary Fibers as Antihyperlipidemic Agents: A Comprehensive Review to Maximize Their Health Benefits

The number of hypercholesterolemic people is increasing rapidly worldwide, with elevated lipid profiles representing a major risk factor of coronary heart diseases. Dietary intervention was shown to improve the lipid profile, thus enhancing the quality of life. Dietary fiber is a nondigestible form of carbohydrates, due to the lack of the digestive enzyme in humans required to digest fiber, and is classified according to its water solubility properties as either soluble (SDF) or insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). Consumption of SDF is associated with several health benefits such as reduced lipid levels, lower blood pressure, improved blood glucose control, improved immune function, and reduced inflammation. SDF has been shown to lower blood cholesterol by several action mechanisms including directly due to the gelling, mucilaginous, and viscous fiber nature, and indirectly due to its fermented products and modulation of the gut microbiome. This review aims to provide a holistic overview on how SDF impacts the lipid profile. We start by providing an overview of the chemical structure of the major SDFs including mucilage, gums (gum arabic and guar gum), pectin, and inulin.

Nutrition interventions for adults with dyslipidemia: A Clinical Perspective from the National Lipid Association

Lifestyle habits can have a profound impact on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. The National Lipid Association previously published recommendations for lifestyle therapies to manage dyslipidemia. This Clinical Perspective provides an update with a focus on nutrition interventions for the three most common dyslipidemias in adults: 1) low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) elevation; 2) triglyceride (TG) elevation, including severe hypertriglyceridemia with chylomicronemia; and 3) combined dyslipidemia, with elevations in both LDL-C and TG levels. Lowering LDL-C and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol are the primary objectives for reducing ASCVD risk. With severe TG elevation (≥500 mg/dL), the primary objective is to prevent pancreatitis and ASCVD risk reduction is secondary. Nutrition interventions that lower LDL-C levels include reducing cholesterol-raising fatty acids and dietary cholesterol, as well as increasing intakes of unsaturated fatty acids, plant proteins, viscous fibers, and reducing adiposity for patients with overweight or obesity. Selected dietary supplements may be employed as dietary adjuncts. Nutrition interventions for all patients with elevated TG levels include restricting intakes of alcohol, added sugars, and refined starches. Additional lifestyle factors that reduce TG levels are participating in daily physical activity and reducing adiposity in patients with overweight or obesity. For patients with severe hypertriglyceridemia, an individualized approach is essential. Nutrition interventions for addressing concurrent elevations in LDL-C and TG include a combination of the strategies described for lowering LDL-C and TG. A multidisciplinary approach is recommended to facilitate success in making and sustaining dietary changes and the assistance of a registered dietitian nutritionist is highly recommended.

Bean Leaves Ameliorate Lipotoxicity in Fatty Liver Disease

Bioactive compounds in plant-based food have protective effects against metabolic alterations, including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Bean leaves are widely cultivated in the world and are a source of dietary fiber and polyphenols. High fat/high fructose diet animal models promote deleterious effects in adipose and non-adipose tissues (lipotoxicity), leading to obesity and its comorbidities. Short-term supplementation of bean leaves exhibited anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemic, and anti-obesity effects in high-fat/high-fructose diet animal models. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of bean leaves supplementation in the prevention of lipotoxicity in NAFLD and contribute to elucidating the possible mechanism involved for a longer period of time. During thirteen weeks, male Wistar rats (n = 9/group) were fed with: (1) S: Rodent Laboratory Chow 5001^® (RLC); (2) SBL: 90% RLC+ 10% dry bean leaves; (3) H: high-fat/high-fructose diet; (4) HBL: H+ 10% of dry bean leaves. Overall, a HBL diet enhanced impaired glucose tolerance and ameliorated obesity, risk factors in NAFLD development. Additionally, bean leaves exerted antioxidant (↑serum GSH) and anti-inflammatory (↓mRNA TNFα in the liver) effects, prevented hepatic fat accumulation by enhanced ↑mRNA PPARα (β oxidation), and enhanced lipid peroxidation (↓liver MDA). These findings suggest that bean leaves ameliorated hepatic lipotoxicity derived from the consumption of a deleterious diet.

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside and anethole ameliorate lipid abnormalities, oxidative injury, hypercholesterolemia, heart, and liver conditions

Fennel seeds and flaxseed have been traditionally used against many medical ailments due to their medicinal characteristics. The aim of the study was to investigate the health properties of secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) and anethole from flaxseed and fennel seeds in rats fed with high-fat diet. Histopathological changes in the heart and liver were also examined. Sixty rats were divided into two main groups. Group I (10 rats) was used as a negative control group and fed on the basal diet only. Group II (50 rats) was fed a hypercholesterolemic diet but not given any drugs during the trial for 2 weeks. This group was further divided into five subgroups (10 rats each). One of them was fed on the basal diet and used as a positive control group. However, the other four subgroups were fed on basal diets and anethole (20 mg/kg/day, orally), SDG (20 mg/kg/day, orally), a mixture of anethole + SDG (10 + 10 mg/kg/day, orally), and atorvastatin (10 mg/kg/day, orally) for 6 weeks. Compared to control, treatment with a combination of anethole + SDG showed a significant (p ≤ .05) improvement in serum levels of triglyceride (TG) (137.88 ± 1.61 mg/dL), total cholesterol-(TC) (180.12 ± 8.99 mg/dL), LDL-C (46.40 ± 6.67 mg/dL), VLDL-C (11.81 ± 1.07 mg/dL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (75.97 ± 6.92 U/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (34.83 ± 2.17 U/L), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (130.65 ± 1.05 U/L), and malondialdehyde (MDA) (30.12 ± 1.89 mmol/g), and improved activities of catalase (70.99 ± 3.29 U/g) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) (35.13 ± 2.53 U/dL) enzymes while SDG and anethole group had relatively less impact. Atorvastatin also improved serum levels of triglyceride, total cholesterol, LDL-C, and VLDL-C significantly and rose serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels considerably meanwhile it had a minor but negative impact on AST, ALT, and ALP, and negligible impact on activities of MDA, CAT, and SOD enzymes compared to the positive control group. The study revealed that combining anethole and SDG may improve dyslipidemia, improve lipid profile, decrease risks of chronic heart diseases, increase HDL-C, and enhance antioxidant enzymes' activities.

Dietary fiber intake and mortality among survivors of liver cirrhosis: A prospective cohort study

Background

Liver cirrhosis is associated with significant nutritional risks and poor survival rates. Little is known about the impact of dietary factors on metabolic complications and mortality from cirrhosis.

Aim

The present study investigated the potential associations between dietary fibers and the risk of cirrhosis-related mortality.

Methods

In this prospective study, 121 ambulatory cirrhotic patients with more than six months of cirrhosis diagnosis were followed-up for 4 years. Dietary intakes were assessed using a 168-item semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire. Crude and multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated through cox proportional hazards regression models.

Results

Comparing the highest versus the lowest tertile, soluble and insoluble fiber intake was associated with 62% (HR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.045-3.5, p trend = 0.047) and 73% (HR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.06-1.2, p trend = 0.021) lower mortality risk, respectively, after full adjustment for potential confounders. Higher intakes of total fiber were inversely but non-significantly associated with mortality risk.

Conclusion

Comprehensive assessment of dietary fiber intake associations with cirrhosis-related mortality showed that higher intakes of soluble and insoluble fiber were significantly associated with reduced mortality risk.

Konjac glucomannan-dihydromyricetin complex improves viscosity and hydration capacity of konjac glucomannan as well as the thermal stability of dihydromyricetin

The nutritional benefits of soluble dietary fiber were mainly attributed to its viscosity and hydration capacity. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of the interaction between konjac glucomannan (KGM) and dihydromyricetin (DMY) on the viscosity and hydration capacity of KGM and the thermal stability of DMY. In contrary to most reports, the addition of DMY to KGM resulted in an increase of viscosity and hydration capacity determined via rheology and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy characterization. Meanwhile the prototype retention of DMY in the presence of heating condition at 60 °C and 100 °C were improved. The radical scavenging capacity of DMY under heating condition was improved at 100 °C via the quantification of ABTS⁺ and DPPH. KGM-DMY complex was a non-covalent compound connected by hydrogen bonds which was characterized with particle size analyses, zeta potential analyses, transmission electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and isothermal titration calorimetry. This study was beneficial to the development of polyphenol-enriched nutrition based on KGM, especially in the aspects of satiety, appetite regulation and glucose regulation.

The effects of rice bran supplementation for management of blood lipids: A GRADE-assessed systematic review, dose-response meta-analysis, and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the effects of rice bran supplementation on serum lipid profile levels.

METHODS

We searched PubMed/Medline, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Google Scholar using related keywords. Published RCTs exploring the effects of rice bran consumption on lipid profile were searched up to June 2022. Evidence certainty was assessed on the basis of the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. The data were pooled using a random-effects model and reported as weighted mean difference (WMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for each outcome.

RESULTS

Meta-analysis of eight RCTs (with 11 effect sizes) showed no significant effect of rice bran supplementation on serum levels of triglyceride (WMD: -11.38 mg/dl; 95% CI: -27.73, 4.96; P = 0.17), total cholesterol (WMD: -0.68 mg/dl; 95% CI: -7.25, 5.88; P = 0.834), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD: -1.68 mg/dl; 95% CI: -8.46, 5.09; P = 0.627) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (WMD: 0.16 mg/dl; 95% CI: -1.52, 1.85; P = 0.848) compared to control group.

CONCLUSION

Our meta-analysis suggests that rice bran supplementation has no significant effects on serum levels of lipid profile components. However, larger studies with longer durations and improved methodological quality are needed before firm conclusions can be reached.

Effect of Grape Pomace Flour in Savory Crackers: Technological, Nutritional and Sensory Properties

The wine industry generates large amounts of by-products that are usually destined as waste. Grape pomace is the residue of the winemaking process and is rich in compounds with functional properties, such as dietary fiber and phenolic compounds. The aim of this research was to study the influence of white and red grape pomace flour (GPF) addition in the enhancement of functional properties of savory crackers. Different levels of incorporation were tested (5%, 10% and 15% (w/w)). Analysis of physical properties, nutritional composition and sensory acceptability were conducted to evaluate the effect of GPF incorporation. GPF cracker stability throughout a four-week period was achieved with regard to firmness and color. These products presented distinctive and appealing colors, ranging from a violet (GPF of Touriga Nacional variety) to a brown hue (GPF of Arinto variety). Concerning nutritional composition, both crackers incorporated with 10% GPF of Arinto or Touriga Nacional varieties could be considered “high in fiber”, as per the Regulation (EC) No. 1924/2006, suggesting a functional food. GPF crackers demonstrated an overall great acceptance of this kind of innovative foods, with the majority indicating that they would certainly/probably buy them. Moreover, the cracker with 10% Arinto GPF achieved the most balanced and overall preference.

Effect of Agave Fructan Bioconjugates on Metabolic Syndrome Parameters in a Murine Model

Metabolic syndrome is a complex disorder that combines abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and insulin resistance. Metabolic syndrome affects 25% of the world's population. Agave fructans have shown positive effects on alterations related to metabolic syndrome, so some investigations have focused on their bioconjugation with fatty acids to increase their biological activity. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of agave fructan bioconjugates in a rat model with metabolic syndrome. Agave fructans enzymatically bioconjugated (acylated via food-grade lipase catalysis) with propionate or laurate were administered orally for 8 weeks in rats fed a hypercaloric diet. Animals without treatment were used as the control group, as well as animals fed with a standard diet. The data indicate that the group of animals treated with laurate bioconjugates showed a significant decrease in glucose levels, systolic pressure, weight gain, and visceral adipose tissue, as well as a positive effect of pancreatic lipase inhibition. These results allow us to demonstrate the potential of agave bioconjugates, particularly laurate bioconjugates, for the prevention of diseases associated with metabolic syndrome.

Structure characterization of pectin from the pollen of Typha angustifolia L. and the inhibition activity of lipid accumulation in oleic acid induced L02 cells

The pollen of Typha angustifolia L. decoction was clinically used to treat hyperlipidemia in China. A pectin polysaccharide (PTPS-2-2) was obtained from T. angustifolia pollen through water extraction, ion-exchange chromatography, and gel chromatography. Structural characterization showed that PTPS-2-2 had a molecular weight of 54 kDa and was composed of rhamnose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, and galacturonic acid with a molar ratio of 11.5: 36.5: 4.1: 36.7: 11.2. PTPS-2-2 consisted of rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) and arabinogalactan II (AG-II) domains. Its backbone was predominantly composed of →4-α-D-GalpA-(1 → 2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, with branches of 1,3-Galp, 1,6-Galp, 1,3,6-Galp, T-Araf, 1.5-Araf and T-Xylp, connected to the 4-position of 1,2-Rhap and the 3-position of 1,4-GalpA. The inhibitory effect of PTPS-2-2 on lipid accumulation was studied in vitro, using L02 cells induced by oleic acid. This experiment shows that PTPS-2-2 treatment at 100-400 μg/mL dose-dependently reduce cellular triglycerides (TG), cholesterol (TC), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. This indicated that PTPS-2-2 potentially ameliorated oleic acid-induced hepatic steatosis by inhibiting lipid accumulation and oxidative stress.

Salecan confers anti-inflammatory effects in liver injury via regulating gut microbiota and its metabolites

Salecan, a natural β-glucan and one of the novel food ingredients approved in China, has been shown a variety of positive health effects, yet the mechanism of liver injury remains poorly understood. In addition, β-glucan could induce the shifts in gut microbiota, however, whether modulation of gut microbiota by β-glucan is associated with their positive health effects remain elusive. Here, the anti-inflammatory effects and the underlying mechanism of Salecan supplementation in CCl4-induced liver injury were investigated. After 8 weeks of treatment, we observed that Salecan alleviated liver injury by regulating inflammatory response and M2 macrophage polarization. In addition, Salecan treatment modulated the composition of gut microbiota and antibiotic cocktail treatment indicated that the hepatoprotective effect of Salecan was dependent on the gut microbiota. Fecal microbiota transplantation was used to further verify the mechanism, and we confirmed that microbial colonization partially alleviated liver injury. Besides, microbiota-derived metabolites of Salecan also contributed to the hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory effect of Salecan against liver injury. These findings supported that Salecan intervention attenuated liver injury by regulating gut microbiota and its metabolites.

Hyperlipidemia impacts osteogenesis via lipophagy

The mechanism of the impact of hyperlipidemia on bone tissue homeostasis is unclear, and the role of lipophagy is yet to be investigated. This study investigated changes in lipophagy and osteogenesis levels under hyperlipemic conditions and explored the effects of lipophagy on bone regeneration. In vivo, femurs of mice with diet-induced moderate hyperlipidemia were ground out with a ball drill to create defects. In vitro, mouse osteoblast cell lines were grown in two different concentrations of the high-fat medium. We found that at hyperphysiological of lipid conditions, activation of lipophagy restored osteoblast function in a way, and similar results were observed in mice with diet-induced hyperlipidemia. Still, at suprahyperphysiological concentrations of lipid culture, the activation of lipophagy further inhibited osteogenesis, and inhibition of autophagy instead promoted osteogenesis to a small extent. These results demonstrate that lipophagy functions differently in diverse high-fat environments, suggesting that cellular and organismal changes in response to high-fat stimuli are dynamic. This may provide new ideas for improving bone dysfunction caused by lipid metabolism disorders.

Physicochemical Characterizations, Digestibility, and Lipolysis Inhibitory Effects of Highland Barley Resistant Starches Prepared by Physical and Enzymatic Methods

This study aimed to investigate the differences in the physicochemical and structural characteristics, digestibility, and lipolysis inhibitory potential in vitro of highland barley resistant starches (HBRSs) prepared by autoclaving (HBSA), microwave-assisted autoclaving (HBSM), isoamylase (HBSI) and pullulanase (HBSP) debranching modifications. Results revealed that the resistant starch content of native starch was significantly elevated after modifications. HBSA and HBSM showed distinctly higher swelling power and water-binding capacities along with lower amylose amounts and solubilities than those of HBSI and HBSP (p < 0.05). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction exhibited that HBSP displayed the highest degree of the ordered crystalline region and crystallinity with a mixture of C_B- and V-type polymorphs. Meanwhile, HBSA and HBSM were characterized by their high degree of the amorphous region with a mixture of B- and V-type polymorphs. Physical and enzymatic modifications resulted in different functionalities of HBRSs, among which HBSP showed the lowest digestibility and HBSM exhibited the highest inhibitory activity on lipolysis due to their structure and structure-based morphology and particle size. This study provided significant insights into the development of native starch from highland barley as an alternative functional food.

Food for our future: the nutritional science behind the sustainable fungal protein - mycoprotein. A symposium review

Mycoprotein is a well-established and sustainably produced, protein-rich, high-fibre, whole food source derived from the fermentation of fungus. The present publication is based on a symposium held during the Nutrition Society Summer Conference 2022 in Sheffield that explored 'Food for our Future: The Science Behind Sustainable Fungal Proteins'. A growing body of science links mycoprotein consumption with muscle/myofibrillar protein synthesis and improved cardiometabolic (principally lipid) markers. As described at this event, given the accumulating health and sustainability credentials of mycoprotein, there is great scope for fungal-derived mycoprotein to sit more prominently within future, updated food-based dietary guidelines.

The lipid-lowering effects of fenugreek gum, hawthorn pectin, and burdock inulin

Objective

The present study aimed to investigate the lipid-lowering effects and mechanisms of fenugreek gum (FG), hawthorn pectin (HP), and burdock inulin (BI) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic rats.

Methods

In this study, high-fat diet (HFD) together with fat emulsion administration were used to establish hyperlipidemia model. The biochemical indices were assayed after administration of FG, HP, and BI. Their effects were evaluated by factor analysis. Alterations of gut microbiota and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the cecal were assessed to illustrate the mechanism of lipid lowering.

Results

The supplementation of FG, HP, and BI on HFD-fed rats decreased the levels of serum lipid and reduced the HFD-related liver and testicle damage. In the scatter plot of factor analysis, HP and BI were closer to normal fat diet (NFD) group in restoring the severity of hyperlipidemia, while FG and HP enhanced the excretion of cholesterol and bile acids (BAs). The levels of total SCFAs, especially butyric acid reduced by HFD were increased by HP. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes increased by HFD was reduced by HP and BI. FG, HP, and BI enriched intestinal probiotics, which were related to bile acid excretion or lipid-lowering.

Conclusions

FG inhibited the absorption of cholesterol and enhanced the excretion of it, as well as increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria. While BI restored the imbalance of intestinal microbiota. HP enhanced the excretion of cholesterol and BAs, and restored the imbalance of intestinal microbiota. It was also utilized by intestinal microorganisms to yield SCFAs. This study suggested that FG, HP, and BI possessed the potential to be utilized as dietary supplements for obesity management.

Components of the Fiber Diet in the Prevention and Treatment of IBD-An Update

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of diseases with a chronic course, characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission. One of the elements that could potentially predispose to IBD is, among others, a low-fiber diet. Dietary fiber has many functions in the human body. One of the most important is its influence on the composition of the intestinal microflora. Intestinal dysbiosis, as well as chronic inflammation that occurs, are hallmarks of IBD. Individual components of dietary fiber, such as β-glucan, pectin, starch, inulin, fructooligosaccharides, or hemicellulose, can significantly affect preventive effects in IBD by modulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota or sealing the intestinal barrier, among other things. The main objective of the review is to provide information on the effects of individual fiber components of the diet on the risk of IBD, including, among other things, altering the composition of the intestinal microbiota.

Mushroom polysaccharides with potential in anti-diabetes: Biological mechanisms, extraction, and future perspectives: A review

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health threat. Searching for anti-diabetic components from natural resources is of intense interest to scientists. Mushroom polysaccharides have received growing attention in anti-diabetes fields due to their advantages in broad resources, structure diversity, and multiple bioactivities, which are considered an unlimited source of healthy active components potentially applied in functional foods and nutraceuticals. In this review, the current knowledge about the roles of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of DM, the extraction method of mushroom polysaccharides, and their potential biological mechanisms associated with anti-diabetes, including antioxidant, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and gut microbiota modulatory actions, were summarized based on a variety of in vitro and in vivo studies, with aiming at better understanding the roles of mushroom polysaccharides in the prevention and management of DM and its complications. Finally, future perspectives including bridging the gap between the intervention of mushroom polysaccharides and the modulation of insulin signaling pathway, revealing structure-bioactivity of mushroom polysaccharides, developing synergistic foods, conducting well-controlled clinical trials that may be very helpful in discovering valuable mushroom polysaccharides and better applications of mushroom polysaccharides in diabetic control were proposed.

The promotion mechanism of prebiotics for probiotics: A review

Prebiotics and probiotics play a positive role in promoting human nutrition and health. Prebiotics are compounds that cannot be digested by the host, but can be used and fermented by probiotics, so as to promote the reproduction and metabolism of intestinal probiotics for the health of body. It has been confirmed that probiotics have clinical or health care functions in preventing or controlling intestinal, respiratory, and urogenital infections, allergic reaction, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome and other aspects. However, there are few systematic summaries of these types, mechanisms of action and the promotion relationship between prebiotics and probiotic. Therefore, we summarized the various types of prebiotics and probiotics, their individual action mechanisms, and the mechanism of prebiotics promoting probiotics in the intestinal tract. It is hoped this review can provide new ideas for the application of prebiotics and probiotics in the future.

Modulation of Intestinal Flora by Dietary Polysaccharides: A Novel Approach for the Treatment and Prevention of Metabolic Disorders

Intestinal flora is numerous and diverse, and play a key role in maintaining human health. Dietary polysaccharides are widely present in the daily diet and have a moderating effect on the intestinal flora. Past studies have confirmed that intestinal flora is involved in the metabolic process in the human body, and the change in intestinal flora structure is closely related to the metabolic disorders in the human body. Therefore, regulating intestinal flora through dietary polysaccharides is an effective way to treat and prevent common metabolic diseases and has great research value. However, this area has not received enough attention. In this review, we provide an overview of the modulatory effects of dietary polysaccharides on intestinal flora and the key role of intestinal flora in improving metabolic disorders in humans. In addition, we highlight the therapeutic and preventive effects of intestinal flora modulation through dietary polysaccharides on metabolic disorders, aiming to find new ways to treat metabolic disorders and facilitate future exploration in this field.

Inonotus hispidus Protects against Hyperlipidemia by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation through Nrf2/NF-κB Signaling in High Fat Diet Fed Mice

Obesity is frequently associated with dysregulated lipid metabolism and lipotoxicity. Inonotus hispidus (Bull.: Fr.) P. Karst (IH) is an edible and medicinal parasitic mushroom. In this study, after a systematic analysis of its nutritional ingredients, the regulatory effects of IH on lipid metabolism were investigated in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). In HFD-fed mice, IH reversed the pathological state of the liver and the three types of fat and significantly decreased the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and leptin (LEP) and increased the level of high-density liptein cholesterol (HDL-C) in serum. Meanwhile, IH ameliorated liver damage by reducing alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels in the liver and serum. Compared with HFD-fed mice, IH significantly modulated the gut microbiota, changed the relative abundances of microflora at different taxonomic levels, and regulated lipid levels. The results showed that 30 differential lipids were found. Results from Western blotting confirmed that IH regulated the nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2)/nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway and oxidative stress. This study aimed to provide experimental evidence for the applicability of IH in obesity treatment.

Association of Dietary Fiber Intake with All-Cause Mortality and Cardiovascular Disease Mortality: A 10-Year Prospective Cohort Study

Although previous studies have established that dietary fiber (DF) intake reduces the total cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in general populations, limited studies have been conducted in individuals with pre-existing chronic conditions, especially in Asian countries. We aimed to investigate the association of DF intake with all-cause and CVD mortality in the general population and in the subpopulation with hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We examined the relationship between DF intake and all-cause and CVD mortality using the Korean genome and epidemiology study. Diet was assessed using a food-frequency questionnaire at baseline. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) after adjusting for confounders. During the mean 10.1 years of follow-up, higher DF intake was significantly associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality after adjusting for confounders (HR and 95% CIs for Q5 vs. Q1: 0.84 (0.76−0.93); p < 0.001). DF intake was inversely associated with a lower risk of CVD mortality after adjusting for the same confounders (HR and 95% CIs for Q5 vs. Q1: 0.61 (0.47−0.78); p < 0.001). Total DF intake was inversely associated with all-cause and CVD mortality in middle-aged and older adults.

Phyto-Enrichment of Yogurt to Control Hypercholesterolemia: A Functional Approach

Cholesterol is essential for normal human health, but elevations in its serum levels have led to the development of various complications, including hypercholesterolemia (HC). Cholesterol accumulation in blood circulation formsplaques on artery walls and worsens the individuals’ health. To overcome this complication, different pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches are employed to reduce elevated blood cholesterol levels. Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are the most commonly used drugs, but their prolonged use leads to several acute side effects. In recent decades, the potential benefit of ingesting yogurt on lipid profile has attracted the interest of researchers and medical professionals worldwide. This review aims to give an overview of the current knowledge about HC and the different therapeutic approaches. It also discusses the health benefits of yogurt consumption and highlights the overlooked phyto-enrichment option to enhance the yogurt’s quality. Finally, clinical studies using different phyto-enriched yogurts for HC management are also reviewed. Yogurt has a rich nutritional value, but its processing degrades the content of minerals, vitamins, and other vital constituents with beneficial health effects. The option of enriching yogurt with phytoconstituents has drawn a lot of attention. Different pre-clinical and clinical studies have provided new insights on their benefits on gut microbiota and human health. Thus, the yogurtphyto-enrichment with stanol and β-glucan have opened new paths in functional food industries and found healthy andeffective alternatives for HC all along with conventional treatment approaches.

Oligosaccharides production from coprophilous fungi: An emerging functional food with potential health-promoting properties

Functional foods are essential food products that possess health-promoting properties for the treatment of infectious diseases. In addition, they provide energy and nutrients, which are required for growth and survival. They occur as prebiotics or dietary supplements, including oligosaccharides, processed foods, and herbal products. However, oligosaccharides are more efficiently recognized and utilized, as they play a fundamental role as functional ingredients with great potential to improve health in comparison to other dietary supplements. They are low molecular weight carbohydrates with a low degree of polymerization. They occur as fructooligosaccharide (FOS), inulooligosaccharadie (IOS), and xylooligosaccahride (XOS), depending on their monosaccharide units. Oligosaccharides are produced by acid or chemical hydrolysis. However, this technique is liable to several drawbacks, including inulin precipitation, high processing temperature, low yields, and high production costs. As a consequence, the application of microbial enzymes for oligosaccharide production is recognized as a promising strategy. Microbial enzymatic production of FOS and IOS occurs by submerged or solid-state fermentation in the presence of suitable substrates (sucrose, inulin) and catalyzed by fructosyltransferases and inulinases. Incorporation of FOS and IOS enriches the rheological and physiological characteristics of foods. They are used as low cariogenic sugar substitutes, suitable for diabetics, and as prebiotics, probiotics and nutraceutical compounds. In addition, these oligosaccharides are employed as anticancer, antioxidant agents and aid in mineral absorption, lipid metabolism, immune regulation etc. This review, therefore, focuses on the occurrence, physico-chemical characteristics, and microbial enzymatic synthesis of FOS and IOS from coprophilous fungi. In addition, the potential health benefits of these oligosaccharides were discussed in detail.

Management of Hypercholesterolemia Through Dietary ß-glucans–Insights From a Zebrafish Model

Consumption of lipid-rich foods can increase the blood cholesterol content. β-glucans have hypocholesterolemic effect. However, subtle changes in their molecular branching can influence bioactivity. Therefore, a comparative investigation of the cholesterol-lowering potential of two β-glucans with different branching patterns and a cholesterol-lowering drug, namely simvastatin was undertaken employing the zebrafish (Danio rerio) model of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia. Fish were allocated to 5 dietary treatments; a control group, a high cholesterol group, two β-glucan groups, and a simvastatin group. We investigated plasma total cholesterol, LDL and HDL cholesterol levels, histological changes in the tissues, and explored intestinal transcriptomic changes induced by the experimental diets. Dietary cholesterol likely caused the suppression of endogenous cholesterol biosynthesis, induced dysfunction of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and altered the histomorphology of the intestine. The two β-glucans and simvastatin significantly abated the rise in plasma cholesterol levels and restored the expression of specific genes to alleviate the endoplasmic reticulum-related effects induced by the dietary cholesterol. Furthermore, the distinct patterns of transcriptomic changes in the intestine elicited by the oat and microalga β-glucans impacted processes such as fatty acid metabolism, protein catabolic processes, and nuclear division. Oat and microalgal β-glucans also altered the pattern of lipid deposition in the liver. Our study provides insights into the effectiveness of different β-glucans to alleviate dysfunctions in lipid metabolism caused by dietary cholesterol.

Structure, properties and potential bioactivities of high-purity insoluble fibre from soybean dregs (Okara)

High-purity insoluble dietary fibre (HPIDF) was obtained from low-purity dietary fibre (LPDF) of Okara using a combined-enzyme method. For exploring the value of HPIDF as a functional food material, the structure, physicochemical properties, adsorption properties, potential bioactivities of HPIDF and their changes in different stages of digestion were explored in vitro. The results show that HPIDF shows a high perfect oil-holding capacity, higher viscosity, better cation exchange capacity, α-amylase activity ratio due to smaller particle size and larger specific surface area. The heavy metals-adsorption (Cd2+, Pb2+, Zn2+) shows the same, especially in simulated gastric fluid, which is similar to the adsorbability of glucose, cholesterol and acrylamide. Beyond the structure, the dissociation degree of some functional groups result from different digestive environments is the possible cause. Okara is an ideal material for the recovery of HPIDF, which has the potential to be processed into functional food materials.

Roles of interacting stress-related genes in lifespan regulation: insights for translating experimental findings to humans

AIM

Experimental studies provided numerous evidence that caloric/dietary restriction may improve health and increase the lifespan of laboratory animals, and that the interplay among molecules that sense cellular stress signals and those regulating cell survival can play a crucial role in cell response to nutritional stressors. However, it is unclear whether the interplay among corresponding genes also plays a role in human health and lifespan.

METHODS

Literature about roles of cellular stressors have been reviewed, such as amino acid deprivation, and the integrated stress response (ISR) pathway in health and aging. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in two candidate genes (GCN2/EIF2AK4 and CHOP/DDIT3) that are closely involved in the cellular stress response to amino acid starvation, have been selected using information from experimental studies. Associations of these SNPs and their interactions with human survival in the Health and Retirement Study data have been estimated. The impact of collective associations of multiple interacting SNP pairs on survival has been evaluated, using a recently developed composite index: the SNP-specific Interaction Polygenic Risk Score (SIPRS).

RESULTS

Significant interactions have been found between SNPs from GCN2/EIF2AK4 and CHOP/DDI3T genes that were associated with survival 85+ compared to survival between ages 75 and 85 in the total sample (males and females combined) and in females only. This may reflect sex differences in genetic regulation of the human lifespan. Highly statistically significant associations of SIPRS [constructed for the rs16970024 (GCN2/EIF2AK4) and rs697221 (CHOP/DDIT3)] with survival in both sexes also been found in this study.

CONCLUSION

Identifying associations of the genetic interactions with human survival is an important step in translating the knowledge from experimental to human aging research. Significant associations of multiple SNPxSNP interactions in ISR genes with survival to the oldest old age that have been found in this study, can help uncover mechanisms of multifactorial regulation of human lifespan and its heterogeneity.