Blueberry anthocyanins in health promotion: A metabolic overview

Diet has gained scientific community attention due to the crucial role in health maintenance, but also in disease treatment, and essential in disease prevention. Several food and food components, particularly phenolic rich foods, have been investigated as they present themselves as putative functional foods. In the past decades, obesity has reached epidemic proportions and consequently, metabolic syndrome (a set of disorders as impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia and high blood pressure, which increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes) incidence is increasing worldwide at an alarming rate and this phenolic rich foods, specially berries have been investigated to their potential beneficial effect in this disorders.In the present work the chemistry of blueberries (BB) (fruits of some Vaccinium species) was summarised as well as the knowledge about bioavailability and biokinetic of anthocyanins from blueberries with particular emphasis on its implications in metabolic disorders.     

Natural red pigments from plants and their health benefits: A review

Carotenoids (specifically lycopene), anthocyanins, and betacyanins are natural red pigments found in fruits and vegetables. They possess antioxidant properties beneficial in the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, natural colouring agents have attracted increasing attention from the food industry as a substitute to the artificial colouring compounds, which have been discovered to cause negative impact to human’s health upon consumption. There is a growing interest in the natural red pigments in food science, due to their preventive effects on chronic diseases. Stability of the natural pigments should be concerned, as it might affect the saturation of the colour.     

蛋白质组学技术在吸烟与健康研究中的应用

蛋白质组学在吸烟与健康研究中的应用主要包括两个方面:一是作用机制研究,即从蛋白质角度研究卷烟烟气对机体可能毒性的分子作用机制;二是筛选与预测卷烟烟气的毒性作用靶标,即筛选特定的蛋白质作为卷烟烟气危害性评价的生物标志物。蛋白质组学技术结合其他化学生物方法有望在吸烟与健康研究中发挥重要作用。     

Dietary resistant starch improves selected brain and behavioral functions in adult and aged rodents

Resistant starch (RS) is a dietary fiber that exerts multiple beneficial effects. The current study explored the effects of dietary RS on selected brain and behavioral functions in adult and aged rodents. Because glucokinase (GK) expression in hypothalamic arcuate nucleus and area postrema of the brainstem is important for brain glucose sensing, GK mRNA was measured by brain nuclei microdissection and PCR. Adult RS‐fed rats had a higher GK mRNA than controls in both brain nuclei, an indicator of improved brain glucose sensing. Next, we tested whether dietary RS improve selected behaviors in aged mice. RS‐fed aged mice exhibited (i) an increased eating responses to fasting, a behavioral indicator of improvement in aged brain glucose sensing; (ii) a longer latency to fall from an accelerating rotarod, a behavioral indicator of improved motor coordination; and (iii) a higher serum active glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1). Then, GLP‐1 receptor null (GLP‐1RKO) mice were used to test the role of GLP‐1 in brain glucose sensing, and they exhibited impaired eating responses to fasting. We conclude that in rodents (i) dietary RS improves two important indicators of brain function: glucose sensing and motor coordination, and (ii) GLP‐1 is important in the optimal feeding response to a fast.     

紫色马铃薯保健功效及其利用研究进展

紫色马铃薯除具备普通马铃薯所含的基本营养成分外,还富含天然水溶性色素花青素,因此具有广阔的开发前景。该文分析了紫色马铃薯的主要营养成分和保健作用,综述了紫色马铃薯及其副产物的开发利用现状及研究进展,以期为紫色马铃薯的精深加工、综合利用提供参考。     

蜂花粉保健功能及产品开发研究进展

文章综述了蜂花粉增强免疫、抗氧化、抗肿瘤、降血糖、防治前列腺增生、对肝细胞损伤的保护、抗炎症、抑制褐色素产生等保健功能,分析蜂花粉开发中存在的破壁、致敏等主要问题,简述了以蜂花粉为原料的食品、保健品及药品等产品的开发现状及技术储备状况。     

分蘖洋葱营养成分的保健作用与药用价值研究进展

本文综述了分蘖洋葱的分布情况、化学成分、营养保健功能和药用价值等方面的研究进展,着重阐述了其在医药保健方面的研究概况,以期为分蘖洋葱在食用和医疗方面的研究和综合开发应用提供依据。      

蚕蛹的功能活性及其在保健食品中的应用进展

蚕蛹作为食材拥有高营养价值和保健功能,自古以来被用作滋补强身的食品。目前,蚕蛹作为食品原料被广泛用于普通食品和保健食品。随着现代科学的深入研究,蚕蛹中的活性成分与功能作用正在逐渐被揭示。研究已经证实了蚕蛹具有免疫调节、辅助降血糖、辅助降血脂、辅助降血压、抗疲劳、抗氧化等保健功能,这为开发以蚕蛹为原料的保健食品提供了理论基础。本文介绍了蚕蛹的营养价值,并结合国内外文献的相关研究综述了蚕蛹的保健功能与作用机制。进一步通过对国家“特殊食品信息查询平台”和“药智网”数据库的信息检索,汇总分析了已经获批的使用蚕蛹及其活性成分为原料的保健食品现状。结果发现,在已获批的蚕蛹相关保健食品中,主要声称功能是增强免疫力,主要剂型是胶囊。并且,近几年获批的蚕蛹相关保健食品数量剧增。本文为蚕蛹及其成分在保健食品中的应用和发展提供了一定建议,以期为蚕蛹保健功能的深入探究和开发利用提供参考。     

牛磺酸的功效及其在保健食品中的应用研究进展

牛磺酸作为人体条件必需氨基酸,广泛存在于心脏、视网膜等组织中,其在体内发挥着非常关键的作用。近些年,随着对牛磺酸的研究逐渐深入,发现其主要存在于肉类和海产品中,并有多种生物功效,因此作为添加原料已经被广泛应用于保健食品中。本文介绍了牛磺酸的主要来源,并结合国内外文献总结了其增强免疫力、缓解疲劳、保护神经系统、改善记忆等多种生物学功能与作用机制,以及安全性评价。通过“特殊食品信息查询平台”和“药智网”数据库对保健食品数据进行检索和提取,汇总分析已获批牛磺酸类保健食品的保健功能、剂型、获批时间、地区分布等,总结了牛磺酸在我国保健食品市场中的应用现状,旨在为牛磺酸保健功能的深入探究及相关保健食品的开发利用提供参考。     

Acacia(sen) SUPERGUM™ (Gum arabic): An evaluation of potential health benefits in human subjects

This study evaluated the cardiovascular and renal effects of dietary fibre supplementation with Acacia(sen) SUPERGUM™ (gum arabic) in normal individuals and a group of diabetic nephropaths. The normal diet was supplemented with 25 g of SUPERGUM™ daily for a period of 8–12 weeks.For the whole cohort dietary supplementation with SUPERGUM™ resulted in a fall in mean systolic blood pressure [SBP] (138.4 ± 18.9 mmHg to 132.83 ± 15.9 mmHg p = 0.01). Of note was a significant fall in SBP seen in normal individuals who neither had hypertension nor diabetes (129.1 ± 8.3 mmHg vs 123.6 ± 11.5 mmHg, n = 10 p = 0.02).Parameters of arterial stiffness were examined in patients with diabetic nephropathy and a fall in MAP. In this subgroup there was a significant fall in both central systolic and diastolic blood pressures, with no alterations in AI, AI @75 or PWV. This suggests that the beneficial effects of SUPERGUM™ on blood pressure are not the result of alterations in arterial stiffness.There were no effects of SUPERGUM™ on renal function and haemodynamics in patients with diabetic nephropathy. In contrast a reversible change in GFR (113.0 ml min vs 99.4 ml/min, p = 0.02) and ERPF (489.7 ml/min vs 463.0 ml/min, p = 0.04) was shown in the population of healthy volunteers.The key finding of this study is the a significant beneficial effect of dietary supplementation with SUPERGUM™ on blood pressure which is seen in both a patient group with diabetes and mild renal involvement as well as in a normal healthy normotensive cohort.     

The role of sugars and sweeteners in food,diet and health: Alternatives for the future

BackgroundThere is currently great interest in reducing the sugar content of foods to control dietary intake and curb obesity rates. Despite a lack of consensus from the scientific literature about the adverse effects of sugars on health, many health professionals and new dietary guidelines place pressure on industry to seek alternative sweetening solutions.Scope and approachWe discuss the nutritional characteristics and health implications of nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners. The role of traditional sweeteners, which are often overlooked in the debate about sugars and health, is emphasised.Key findings and conclusionsTrends in future sweetener use will likely be influenced by increasing obesity prevalence and consumer demand; however, it is not yet clear which sweetener provides the best solution for this purpose. Given the main concern about sugars is their disproportionate contribution to dietary energy intake, non-nutritive sweeteners (e.g., aspartame, stevia), which provide intense sweetness but minimal caloric value, are increasing in popularity. However, their assumed role in facilitating body weight management is far from established, and many questions remain about their long term effects on energy metabolism and safety. Traditional sweeteners (e.g., maple syrup, honey, carob, and agave) have been safely consumed for generations, and although they contribute to energy intake, these sweeteners tend to have lower glycaemic potency than refined sugars. Moreover, traditional sweeteners contain a plethora of nutrients and bioactive compounds (e.g., polyphenolics) that may be of potential benefit to health.     

Functional compounds in dragon fruit peels and their potential health benefits: a review

Recovery of bioactive or functional compounds from fruit wastes is a current research trend, not only to lessen the waste disposal burden, but also to meet the increasing demand from the public for health-beneficial plant-based products. In this review, the main groups of functional compounds from dragon fruit peels including betalains, phenolics and dietary fibres are comprehensively scrutinised. The potential health benefits of these phytochemicals in individuals or in matrices are discussed, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenic, prebiotic, antibacterial, antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities, and blood lipid profile improvement. These analyses provide insights in the development of the products and bioactive compounds derived from dragon fruit peels for human consumption to prevent chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.     

Hempseed in food industry: Nutritional value,health benefits,and industrial applications

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) seeds have been consumed in Asian communities since prehistoric times. Recently, Australia, Canada, and the United States have legalized the cultivation and consumption of hempseed at low (<0.3%) tetrahydrocannabinol levels, and there's a growing interest in hempseed due to its nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential. This review aims to summarize the chemical composition, nutritional value, and potential health benefits of hempseed, as researched via in vitro and in vivo trials. The application of hempseed in the food industry is limited due to its poor performance on some functional properties, so the latest processing methods developed to improve these properties were compared. Additionally, manufacturing technologies incorporating hemp seeds into existing food products are also elaborated. This review would promote further in‐depth research on this recently approved food resources and maximize its utilization in new food product development.     

Bioactive compounds in bamboo shoots: health benefits and prospects for developing functional foods

Juvenile bamboo shoots have long been used as food and in traditional medicine in many Asian countries, but scientific evidences of its health benefits have been highlighted recently. According to ancient Chinese medicinal books, the consumption of young shoots helps in improving digestion, relieving hypertension, sweating, preventing cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The young shoots are delicious and rich in nutrient components such as proteins, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins and bioactive compounds. The health benefits of the young shoots are attributed to the presence of bioactive compounds mainly phenols, phytosterols and dietary fibres, which play a potential role in health promotion and providing protection against many chronic and degenerative diseases. Phenolic compounds in bamboos have multiple biological effects such as antioxidation, anti‐ageing, antifatigue, antimicrobial and prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Dietary fibres and phytosterols have a beneficial effect on lipid profile and bowel function and reduce total serum cholesterol and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol level. This study discusses the bioactive compounds in bamboo shoots and how, due to its nutritive value and health benefits, the shoots can be utilised as an ingredient in the development of functional foods.     

安化黑茶加工过程中的微生物关系及保健功能 研究进展

近年来随着科技的进步,不论是安化黑毛茶还是成品安化黑茶的生产工艺都在不断创新与突破,产品越来越丰富,品质越来越优质,促进了安化黑茶的极大发展。现代研究表明,安化黑茶品质的形成与加工过程中的微生物作用息息相关,不论是黑毛茶的渥堆过程还是茯砖茶的"发花"工艺,都是以微生物的活动为基础,微生物在利用茶叶中的营养成分供自身生长的同时还分泌多种水解酶类,促进茶叶中内含成分的转化,从而形成安化黑茶优良的品质。由于安化黑茶独特的保健功能,特别是其降脂减肥、改善消化道、防癌抗癌等作用,适应现代需求,深受消费者喜爱。本文综述了安化黑茶中的关键工艺及其创新、微生物相互关系以及其保健功能的研究概况,并对今后安化黑茶中的研究发展方向进行了展望。     

赤小豆活性成分的提取及保健功能研究进展

赤小豆营养丰富,其中含有五环三萜皂苷类、黄酮类、鞣质等化合物。目前赤小豆主要作为普通食品供人们食用,其多种功效还未能充分认识与应用。通过对近年来赤小豆活性成分的提取与保健功能的研究进行综述,以期为赤小豆作为保健食品新资源的开发和应用提供依据。      

Infant skin physiology and development during the first years of life: a review of recent findings based on in vivo studies

Infant skin is often presented as the cosmetic ideal for adults. However, compared to adult skin it seems to be more prone to develop certain pathological conditions, such as atopic dermatitis and irritant contact dermatitis. Therefore, understanding the physiology of healthy infant skin as a point of reference is of interest both from the cosmetic as well as from the clinical point of view. Clinical research on healthy infants is, however, limited because of ethical considerations of using invasive methods and therefore until recently data has been scarce. Technical innovations and the availability of non‐invasive in vivo techniques, such as evaporimetry, electrical impedance measurement, in vivo video and confocal microscopy, and in vivo fibre‐optic based spectroscopy, opened up the field of in vivo infant skin physiology research. Studies incorporating such methods have demonstrated that compared to adult, infant skin continues to develop during the first years of life. Specifically, infant skin appears to have thinner epidermis and stratum corneum (SC) as well as smaller corneocytes at least until the second year of life. The water‐handling properties are not fully developed before the end of the first year and infant SC contains more water and less amounts of natural moisturizing factors. Such findings re‐evaluate the old notions that skin is fully matured at birth. Armed with this knowledge, we are in a position not only to better understand infant dermatological conditions but also to design better skin care products respecting the distinct qualities of infant skin.     

Selenium in health and disease: A review

Selenium (Se) was discovered 180 years ago. The toxicological properties of Se in livestock were recognized first; its essential nutritional role for animals was discovered in the 1950s and for humans in 1973. Only one reductive metabolic pathway of Se is well characterized in biological systems, although several naturally occurring inorganic and organic forms of the element exist. The amount of Se available for assimilation by the tissues is dependent on the form and concentration of the element. Se is incorporated into a number of functionally active selenoproteins, including the enzyme glutathione peroxidase, which acts as a cellular protector against free radical oxidative damage and type 1 iodothyronine 5'‐deiodinase which interacts with iodine to prevent abnormal hormone metabolism. Se deficiency has been linked with numerous diseases, including endemic cardiomyopathy in Se‐deficient regions of China; cancer, muscular dystrophy, malaria, and cardiovascular disease have also been implicated, but evidence for the association is often tenuous. Information on Se levels in foods and dietary intake is limited, and an average requirement for Se in the U.K. has no been established. Available data suggest that intake in the U.K. is adequate for all, except for a few risk groups such as patients on total parenteral nutrition or restrictive diets.     

发酵乳制品与中老年人群健康相关性研究进展：来自队列研究的证据

发酵乳制品因发酵而发生结构和质地改变,并产生独特营养物质,且具有特殊的风味和营养特点,对中老年人健康具有较多健康益处。基于全球队列研究的相关证据,本文综述了发酵乳制品摄入与中老年人群超重/肥胖、心脑血管疾病、糖尿病前期和糖尿病、认知、肿瘤发生间的相关性,以及发酵乳制品潜在健康作用机制的研究进展。