Nutrition in Cardioskeletal Health

Determination of phosphate in food based on molybdenum yellow derivatization coupled with resonance Rayleigh scattering method

This paper proposed a rapid, selective and sensitive molybdenum yellow derivatization coupled with Resonance Rayleigh scattering (MYD-RRS) method for detection of phosphate. Under the acidic condition, phosphate can be selectively transformed to Keggin type of phosphomolybdic acid (PMA, i.e., PMo12O403-) through molybdenum yellow derivatization reaction prior to RRS detection. The PMA can further react with cationic methyl violet (MV) to form larger PMA-MV ion association complexes, generating significant RRS signal. The concentration of phosphate was linearly related to the RRS signal in the range of 8-200 ng/mL, with the determining coefficient (R2) of 0.9973 and the detection limit of 4 ng/mL. The analytical procedure can be completed within 10 min and the RRS signal intensity can remain stable more than 4 h. The method showed good stability toward temperature and time, and good anti-interference capability. The method was applied to the determination of phosphate in real food samples with the recovery of 85-117% and RSD of 1-5.2%. With the advantages of rapidness, high sensitivity and good selectivity, the MYD-RRS method exhibits great potential to the determination of phosphate in food. It also provides an instructive strategy for detection of analytes with weak RRS signal.

Comparison of the Health Status of Vegetarians and Omnivores Based on Biochemical Blood Tests, Body Composition Analysis and Quality of Nutrition

Many vegetarians are motivated by the health aspect of starting a plant-based diet. This diet can offer many health benefits. The study aimed to check whether people on a vegetarian diet are in good health, have a good nutritional intake, and follow the principles of healthy eating compared with omnivores. Twenty-two vegetarians on a vegetarian diet for more than five years and 22 omnivores aged 18-45 were interviewed. Each of them was given a food questionnaire, body composition analysis (BIA), and biochemical blood analysis, and their 7-day diet was analyzed. Polish vegetarians exhibit similar health statuses and tend towards better health than omnivores. They have an adequate body composition. Biochemical blood analysis showed no significant differences in blood parameters between vegetarians and omnivores, despite specific deficiencies such as vitamin B₁₂, vitamin D and elevated homocysteine levels in vegetarians. They have a better nutritional status and follow good dietary principles. However, they were more likely to consume alcohol, add salt to their meals and sweeten hot drinks. In addition, the lifestyle of vegetarians can be described as healthier, as they are more likely to engage in leisure-time physical activity and get enough sleep.

Kefir peptides attenuate atherosclerotic vascular calcification and osteoporosis in atherogenic diet-fed ApoE−/− knockout mice

Aims: Vascular calcification (VC) and osteoporosis were previously considered two distinct diseases. However, current understanding indicates that they share common pathogenetic mechanisms. The available medicines for treating VC and osteoporosis are limited. We previously demonstrated that kefir peptides (KPs) alleviated atherosclerosis in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE−/−) mice. The present study further addressed the preventive effects of KPs on VC and osteoporosis in ApoE−/− mice fed a high-cholesterol atherogenic diet (AD).

Main methods: Seven-week-old ApoE−/− and wild-type C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into five groups (n = 6). The development of VC and osteoporosis was evaluated after AD feeding for 13 weeks in KP-treated ApoE−/− mice and compared to C57BL/6 and ApoE−/− mice fed a standard chow diet (CD).

Key findings: The results indicated that KP-treated ApoE−/− mice exhibited lower serum total cholesterol, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK) activities, which suggested that KPs prevented hyperlipidemia and possible damages to the liver and muscle in ApoE−/− mice. KPs reduced serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and the local expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and macrophage-specific CD68 markers in aortic tissues, which suggested that KPs inhibited inflammatory responses in AD-fed ApoE−/− mice. KPs reduced the deposition of lipid, collagen, and calcium minerals in the aortic roots of AD-fed ApoE−/− mice, which suggested that KPs inhibited the calcific progression of atherosclerotic plaques. KPs exerted osteoprotective effects in AD-fed ApoE−/− mice, which was evidenced by lower levels of the bone resorption marker CTX-1 and higher levels of the bone formation marker P1NP. KPs improved cortical bone mineral density and bone volume and reduced trabecular bone loss in femurs.

Significance: The present data suggested that KPs attenuated VC and osteoporosis by reducing oxidative stress and inflammatory responses in AD-fed ApoE−/− mice. Our findings contribute to the application of KPs as preventive medicines for the treatment of hyperlipidemia-induced vascular and bone degeneration.

Current Status of the Diagnosis and Management of Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis has been defined as the silent disease of the 21st century, becoming a public health risk due to its severity, chronicity and progression and affecting mainly postmenopausal women and older adults. Osteoporosis is characterized by an imbalance between bone resorption and bone production. It is diagnosed through different methods such as bone densitometry and dual X-rays. The treatment of this pathology focuses on different aspects. On the one hand, pharmacological treatments are characterized by the use of anti-resorptive drugs, as well as emerging regenerative medicine treatments such as cell therapies and the use of bioactive hydrogels. On the other hand, non-pharmacological treatments are associated with lifestyle habits that should be incorporated, such as physical activity, diet and the cessation of harmful habits such as a high consumption of alcohol or smoking. This review seeks to provide an overview of the theoretical basis in relation to bone biology, the existing methods for diagnosis and the treatments of osteoporosis, including the development of new strategies.

Dietary Phytase and Lactic Acid-Treated CerealGrains Differently Affected Calcium and PhosphorusHomeostasis from Intestinal Uptake to SystemicMetabolism in a Pig Model

High intestinal availability of dietary phosphorus (P) may impair calcium (Ca)homeostasis and bone integrity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of phytasesupplementation in comparison to the soaking of cereal grains in 2.5% lactic acid (LA) on intestinalCa and P absorption; intestinal, renal, and bone gene expression regarding Ca and P homeostasis;bone parameters; and serum levels of regulatory hormones in growing pigs. Thirty-two pigs wererandomly assigned to one of four diets in a 2 × 2 factorial design in four replicate batches for 19days. The diets comprised either untreated or LA-treated wheat and maize without and withphytase supplementation (500 phytase units/kg). Although both treatments improved the Pbalance, phytase and LA-treated cereals differently modulated gene expression related to intestinalabsorption, and renal and bone metabolism of Ca and P, thereby altering homeostatic regulatorymechanisms as indicated by serum Ca, P, vitamin D, and fibroblast growth factor 23 levels.Moreover, phytase increased the gene expression related to reabsorption of Ca in the kidney,whereas LA-treated cereals decreased the expression of genes for osteoclastogenesis in bones,indicating an unbalanced systemic availability of minerals. In conclusion, high intestinalavailability of dietary P may impair Ca homeostasis and bone integrity.

Taurine May Modulate Bone in Cholesterol Fed Estrogen Deficiency-Induced Rats

Taurine is thought to affect bone in rats favorably. However, studies on the actions of this estrogen deficiency and high cholesterol diet factors on the bone metabolism are limited. In this study, the protective effect of taurine on bone was determined. Thirty-two 42 days old female SD rats were placed in individual stainless cages. Given to rats was fed to chow (Samyang Corporation, South Korea) and deionized water for a 4 days adaptation period. After the period of adaptation, Half of the rats were induced estrogen deficiency model by ovariectomy (OVX), and the left rats with sham-operated were used control (SHAM). For six weeks, the OVX and SHAM rats had separately a 2% taurine supplemented diet with ad libitum in both the water and the food. DEXA for small animals (PIXImus, GE Lunar co, Wisconsin) was used to determine spinal and femoral bone. The concentrations of serum calcium and phosphorus were also measured. The monitoring of bone formation was done by determining the serum ALP and osteocalcin. Urinary DPD the values were determined as index of bone resorption. Statistical measure was done with SAS (version 9.3). A lower overall intake of the daily food was observed in non-ovariectomized rats than in the OVX rats. At sacrifice, a much greater body weight was observed in ovariectomized group compare to non-operated group. That difference was absent in both fed taurine SHAM and OVX rats. Serum calcium and phosphorus were not statistically different by taurine supplementation. Urinary excretion of calcium was not effected by taurine supplementation. Serum ALP and was significantly decreased by taurine in OVX rats (p < 0.05). For the spine BMD and BMC, there was no difference among SHAM and OVX rats by taurine. Spine BMC per body weight of taurine groups were higher than control groups (p < 0.1). No significant difference was observed after taurine supplementation in femur BMD and BMC. The analysis of the results suggest that taurine supplementation modulates the bone mineral contents in postmenopausal model rats fed with high cholesterol diet.

Intestinal Phosphorus Absorption in Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 10% of adults worldwide. Dysregulation of phosphorus homeostasis which occurs in CKD leads to development of CKD-Mineral Bone Disorder (CKD-MBD) and contributes to increased morbidity and mortality in these patients. Phosphorus is regulated by multiple hormones (parathyroid hormone (PTH), 1,25-dihyxdroxyvitamin D (1,25D), and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)) and tissues (kidney, intestine, parathyroid glands, and bone) to maintain homeostasis. In health, the kidneys are the major site of regulation for phosphorus homeostasis. However, as kidney function declines, the ability of the kidneys to adequately excrete phosphorus is reduced. The hormonal changes that occur with CKD would suggest that the intestine should compensate for impaired renal phosphorus excretion by reducing fractional intestinal phosphorus absorption. However, limited studies in CKD animal models and patients with CKD suggest that there may be a break in this homeostatic response where the intestine fails to compensate. As many existing therapies for phosphate management in CKD are aimed at reducing absolute intestinal phosphorus absorption, better understanding of the factors that influence fractional and absolute absorption, the mechanism by which intestinal phosphate absorption occurs, and how CKD modifies these is a much-needed area of study.

Arterial Calcification in Diabetes Mellitus: Preclinical Models and Translational Implications

Diabetes mellitus increasingly afflicts our aging and dysmetabolic population. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and the antecedent metabolic syndrome represent the vast majority of the disease burden-increasingly prevalent in children and older adults. However, type 1 diabetes mellitus is also advancing in preadolescent children. As such, a crushing wave of cardiometabolic disease burden now faces our society. Arteriosclerotic calcification is increased in metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and type 1 diabetes mellitus-impairing conduit vessel compliance and function, thereby increasing the risk for dementia, stroke, heart attack, limb ischemia, renal insufficiency, and lower extremity amputation. Preclinical models of these dysmetabolic settings have provided insights into the pathobiology of arterial calcification. Osteochondrogenic morphogens in the BMP-Wnt signaling relay and transcriptional regulatory programs driven by Msx and Runx gene families are entrained to innate immune responses-responses activated by the dysmetabolic state-to direct arterial matrix deposition and mineralization. Recent studies implicate the endothelial-mesenchymal transition in contributing to the phenotypic drift of mineralizing vascular progenitors. In this brief overview, we discuss preclinical disease models that provide mechanistic insights-and point to challenges and opportunities to translate these insights into new therapeutic strategies for our patients afflicted with diabetes mellitus and its arteriosclerotic complications.