High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry-Based Chemical Fingerprinting of Baijiu, a Traditional Chinese Liquor

Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry, coupled with electrospray ionization (ESI) or atmospheric-pressure photoionization (APPI), was employed for chemical fingerprinting of baijiu, a traditional Chinese liquor. Baijiu is the most consumed distilled alcoholic beverage globally, with over 10 billion liters sold annually. It is a white (transparent) spirit that exhibits similarities to dark spirits such as whisky or rum in terms of aroma and mouthfeel. In this study, direct-infusion FT-ICR mass spectrometry was used to analyze 10 commercially available baijiu liquors, enabling the examination of both volatile and nonvolatile constituents without the need for tedious sample extractions or compound derivatizations. The chemical fingerprints obtained by FT-ICR MS revealed substantial compositional diversity among different baijiu liquors, reflecting variations in the raw materials and production methods. The main compounds identified included a variety of acids, esters, aldehydes, lactones, terpenes, and phenolic compounds. The use of ESI and APPI provided complementary compositional information; while ESI demonstrated greater selectivity toward polar, aliphatic sample constituents, APPI also ionized semipolar and nonpolar (aromatic) ones.

Comparison of actigraphy-measured and parent-reported sleep in association with weight status among preschool children

This study compared weekday and weekend actigraphy-measured and parent-reported sleep in relation to weight status among preschool-aged children. Participants were 3-6 years old preschoolers from the cross-sectional DAGIS-study with sleep data for ≥2 weekday and ≥2 weekend nights. Parents-reported sleep onset and wake-up times were gathered alongside 24 h hip-worn actigraphy. An unsupervised Hidden-Markov Model algorithm provided actigraphy-measured night time sleep without the guidance of reported sleep times. Waist-to-height ratio and age-and-sex-specific body mass index characterised weight status. Comparison of methods were assessed with consistency in quintile divisions and Spearman correlations. Associations between sleep and weight status were assessed with adjusted regression models. Participants included 638 children (49% girls) with a mean ± SD age of 4.76 ± 0.89. On weekdays, 98%-99% of actigraphy-measured and parent-reported sleep estimates were classified in the same or adjacent quintile and were strongly correlated (rs  = 0.79-0.85, p < 0.001). On weekends, 84%-98% of actigraphy-measured and parent-reported sleep estimates were respectively classified and correlations were moderate to strong (rs  = 0.62-0.86, p < 0.001). Compared with actigraphy-measured sleep, parent-reported sleep had consistently earlier onset, later wake-up, and greater duration. Earlier actigraphy-measured weekday sleep onset and midpoint were associated with a higher body mass index (respective β-estimates: -0.63, p < 0.01 and -0.75, p < 0.01) and waist-to-height ratio (-0.004, p = 0.03 and -0.01, p = 0.02). Though the sleep estimation methods were consistent and correlated, actigraphy measures should be favoured as they are more objective and sensitive to identifying associations between sleep timing and weight status compared with parent reports.

Anthocyanins as Promising Molecules Affecting Energy Homeostasis, Inflammation, and Gut Microbiota in Type 2 Diabetes with Special Reference to Impact of Acylation

Anthocyanins, the red-orange to blue-violet colorants present in fruits, vegetables, and tubers, have antidiabetic properties expressed via modulating energy metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota. Acylation of the glycosyl moieties of anthocyanins alters the physicochemical properties of anthocyanins and improves their stability. Thus, acylated anthocyanins with probiotic-like property and lower bioavailability are likely to have different biological effects from nonacylated anthocyanins on diabetes. This work highlights recent findings on the antidiabetic effects of acylated anthocyanins from the perspectives of energy metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota compared to the nonacylated anthocyanins and particularly emphasizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms associated with the beneficial effects of these bioactive molecules, providing a new perspective to explore the different biological effects induced by structurally different anthocyanins. Acylated anthocyanins may have greater modulating effects on energy metabolism, inflammation, and gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes compared to nonacylated anthocyanins.

Effect of Acylated and Nonacylated Anthocyanins on Urine Metabolic Profile during the Development of Type 2 Diabetes in Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats

The effect of nonacylated and acylated anthocyanins on urinary metabolites in diabetic rats was investigated. Nonacylated anthocyanins extract from bilberries (NAAB) or acylated anthocyanins extract from purple potatoes (AAPP) was given to Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats for 8 weeks at daily doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight. ¹H NMR metabolomics was applied to study alterations in urinary metabolites from three time points (weeks 1, 4, and 8). Both types of anthocyanins modulated the metabolites associated with the tricarboxylic acid cycle, gut microbiota metabolism, and renal function at weeks 1 and 4, such as 2-oxoglutarate, fumarate, alanine, trigonelline, and hippurate. In addition, only a high dose of AAPP decreased monosaccharides, formate, lactate, and glucose levels at week 4, suggesting improvement in energy production in mitochondria, glucose homeostasis, and oxidative stress. This study suggested different impacts of AAPP and NAAB on the metabolic profile of urine in diabetes.

5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Is a Crucial Factor in Determining the Bioaccessibility of Folate in Bread

This study investigated the bioaccessibility of folate in wheat bread baked with different ingredients and processing methods. Next, different matrices were spiked with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, gallic acid (GA), or both to investigate the stability of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate during in vitro digestion. The folate bioaccessibility in bread varied from 44 to 96%. The inclusion of whole-grain or faba bean flour significantly improved both folate content and bioaccessibility. Baking with yeast increased the folate content by 145% in bread but decreased folate bioaccessibility compared to the bread without added yeast because of the instability of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate. Spiking experiments confirmed oxidation as a critical reason for 5-methyltetrahydrofolate loss during digestion. However, GA protected this vitamer from degradation. Additionally, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate was less stable in whole-grain wheat matrices than other matrices. This study demonstrated that the stability of 5-methyltetrahydrofolate is crucial for folate bioaccessibility in bread, and methods for stabilizing this vitamer should be further studied.

Tissue-Specific Content of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in (n-3) Deficiency State of Rats

The dietary intake of fatty acids (FAs) affects the composition and distribution of FAs in the body. Here, a first-generation (n-3)-deficiency study was conducted by keeping young (age 21 ± 2 days) Sprague-Dawley male rats on a peanut-oil-based diet for 33 days after weaning in order to compare the effect of mild (n-3)-deficiency on the lipid composition of different organs and feces. Soybean-oil-based diet was used as a control. The plasma FA levels corresponded to FAs levels in the organs. Lower docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content was detected in the plasma, brain, testis, visceral fat, heart, and lungs of the (n-3)-deficient group, whereas the DHA content of the eye and feces did not differ between the experimental groups. The DHA content of the brains of the (n-3)-deficient group was 86% of the DHA content of the brains of the (n-3)-adequate group. The DHA level of the organs was affected in the order of visceral fat > liver triacylglycerols > lung > heart > liver phospholipids > testis > eye > brain, with brain being least affected. The low levels of (n-3) FAs in the liver, brain, eye, heart, and lung were offset by an increase in the (n-6) FAs, mainly arachidonic acid. These results indicate that, in rats, adequate maternal nutrition during pregnancy and weaning does not provide enough (n-3) FAs for 33 days of an (n-3)-deficient diet. Results of this study can be used also to evaluate the conditions needed to reach mild (n-3) deficiency in the first generation of rats and to evaluate the feasibility to collect data from a variety of organs or only selected ones.

The plant-based by-product diets for the mass-rearing of Acheta domesticus and Gryllus bimaculatus

Edible insect rearing could provide one alternative for protein production by having a smaller environmental impact than traditional livestock farming due to insects' ability to convert organic side streams. Currently, the insect rearing industry utilizes soybeans as a major source of protein in the feeds. Protein-rich by-products of food industry could be used to replace them in insect feeds, but it is not known if they also meet the insects' nutritional requirements. Our study evaluated the growth performance of two widely used edible cricket species, Acheta domesticus and Gryllus bimaculatus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae), on 18 experimental diets. The experimental diets included commercial chicken feeds and cricket diets, where soybean was partly and completely replaced with by-products from food industry: potato protein, barley mash, barley feed, compressed leftover of turnip rape and mix of broad bean and pea on three levels of protein. We found that the high- and medium-protein turnip rape and barley mash diets produced the highest yield and an increase in all performance variables. Overall, the high- and medium-protein diets produced the highest yield, growth and fastest development. Our results showed that by-products of food industry could be utilized as a part of the cricket feeds and thus advance the goals of circular economy.