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Aim: Egg is a major food allergen in childhood. Recent studies suggest that early introduction of allergenic foods can decrease the risk of developing egg allergy. The impact of early egg introduction in the general population is unclear. We examined associations between age of infant egg introduction and childhood egg allergy outcomes in a general population. Methods: The study population consisted of 1217 neonates from Project Viva, a longitudinal pre‐birth cohort in eastern Massachusetts area, USA. Mothers reported age of infant egg introduction and child egg allergy using questionnaires and specific IgE to egg white was assayed. We estimated associations between age of infant egg introduction and egg allergy outcomes using Log‐binomial regression models, adjusting for socio‐demographics and health confounders. Results: Egg allergy at 2 years was significantly higher (8.0% vs. 1.4%, P < 0.0001) in children who had delayed egg introduction beyond infancy, compared with children who were introduced to egg during infancy (adjusted relative risk or aRR 7.58; 95% CI 3.08, 18.61). At 12 years, the risk of egg allergy remained significantly higher (3.9% vs. 1.1%, P = 0.048) in children with delayed egg introduction compared with children introduced to egg during infancy (aRR 4.07; 95% CI 1.20, 13.87). Conclusions: Infants with delayed introduction of eggs after 12 months had increased risk of egg allergy in childhood (2 years) and the relationship persisted in early adolescence (12 years). Our findings suggest that introduction to eggs before 12 months could contribute to the prevention of egg allergy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the relationship between infant age of egg introduction and malnutrition‐related growth outcomes in the United States, we analysed secondary data of 1716 mother–child dyads in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II and its Year 6 Follow‐Up Study. Malnutrition‐related growth outcomes included body mass index z‐score (BMIZ), obesity (weight‐for‐height z‐score [WHZ] ≥3 or BMIZ ≥ 2), WHZ, wasting (WHZ < −2), height‐for‐age z‐score (HAZ), and stunting (HAZ < –2). Infant age at egg introduction was analysed as a continuous variable. We used generalised estimating equations to estimate the mean difference in continuous outcomes and relative risk [RR]) for binary outcomes, adjusting for related maternal and child confounders. We also explored interactions with child sex, maternal race/ethnicity, maternal educational level, ever breastfeeding, and formula feeding. In the total sample, a later infant age at egg introduction was associated with a lower mean difference in HAZ (confounder‐adjusted mean difference = −0.08, 95% confidence interval [CI]: −0.12 to −0.03 per month) and a higher risk of stunting (confounder‐adjusted RR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.03–1.33 per month) at 6 years. The associations between infant age at egg introduction and 12‐month growth outcomes differed by child sex. Among females but not among males, later introduction of eggs was associated with a lower mean WHZ (−0.06 [−0.12 to 0.00] per month) at 12 months. Later egg introduction during infancy was associated with a lower mean HAZ and a higher risk of stunting in 6‐year‐old children. Besides this, it was associated with a lower WHZ among females at 12 months. Key messages: This secondary data analysis evaluated the relationship between infant age at egg introduction and malnutrition‐related growth outcomes among young US children within the Infant Feeding Practices Study II and its Year 6 Follow‐up Study.In the total sample, a later infant age at egg introduction was associated with a lower mean 6‐year height‐for‐age z‐score and a higher risk of stunting at 6 years.The associations between infant age at egg introduction and 12‐month growth outcomes differed by child sex. Later introduction of eggs was associated with a lower mean weight‐for‐height z‐score among females. However, this association was not observed among males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDC), a key enzyme in glucose metabolism, catalyzes an irreversible oxidative decarboxylation reaction of pyruvate to acetyl- CoA, linking the cytosolic glycolytic pathway to mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid cycle and oxidative phosphorylation. Earlier we reported a down-regulation of several key hepatic lipogenic enzymes and their upstream regulators in liver-specific PDC-deficient mouse (L-PDCKO model by deleting the Pdha1 gene). In this study we investigated gene expression profiles of key glycolytic enzymes and other proteins that respond to various metabolic stresses in liver from L-PDCKO mice. Transcripts of several, such as hexokinase 2, phosphoglycerate kinase 1, pyruvate kinase muscletype 2, and lactate dehydrogenase B as well as those for the nonglycolysis-related proteins, CD-36, C/EBP homologous protein, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, were up-regulated in L-PDCKO liver whereas hypoxia-induced factor-1α, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 and Sirtuin 1 transcripts were down-regulated. The protein levels of pyruvate kinase muscle-type 2 and lactate dehydrogenase B were increased whereas that of lactate dehydrogenase A was decreased in PDC-deficient mouse liver. Analysis of endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress indicators suggests that the L-PDCKO liver showed evidence of the former but not the latter. These findings indicate that (i) liver-specific PDC deficiency is sufficient to induce "aerobic glycolysis characteristic" in mouse liver, and (ii) the mechanism(s) responsible for these changes appears distinct from that which induces the Warburg effect in some cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is hyperactive in liver, adipose and skeletal muscle tissues of obese rodents. Alpha-lipoic acid (αLA) has been well accepted as a weight-loss treatment, though there are limited studies on its effect on mTOR signaling in high-fat fed, obese rodents. Therefore, the goal of this study was to determine mTOR signaling and oxidative protein alterations in skeletal muscle of high-fat fed, obese rats after αLA supplementation. Phosphorylation of the mTOR substrate, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) and eIF4B were significantly reduced ( p < 0.05) in muscle from αLA supplemented rats. Activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an mTOR inhibitory kinase, was higher ( p < 0.05) in the αLA group. Protein expression of markers of oxidative metabolism, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC), cytochrome c oxidase IV (COX IV), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR), and PPAR gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) were significantly higher ( p < 0.05) after αLA supplementation compared to non-supplemented group. Our findings show that αLA supplementation limits the negative ramifications of consuming a high fat diet on skeletal muscle markers of oxidative metabolism and mTORC1 signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the article "Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 6 regulates lipid synthesis and mitochondrial oxidative capacity in human and rat skeletal muscle," by B. G. Teodoro and colleagues. Topics discussed include the conversion of long chain fatty acids (LCFAs) into acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL), synthesis of skeletal muscle lipids, and the role of intramyocellular lipid concentration in the induction of insulin resistance.

It is increasingly clear that North Americans prefer dietary approaches to enhance health in favour of pharmaceutical approaches. Although the incorporation of phytosterols (PS) into various food matrices has been effective in lowering cholesterol, the lipid-lowering potential of PS-enriched soymilk has not been investigated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to examine the lipid-lowering efficacy of a PS-enriched soymilk beverage in comparison to a 1% dairy milk control. Twenty-three hypercholesterolemic subjects consumed 3 tetrapacks per day of a PS-enriched soy beverage (1.95g PS/d) or a 1% dairy milk control. The study was conducted as a 28 d controlled dietary intervention according to a two-period cross-over design. Total cholesterol was reduced by 12% (P< 0.0001) in the PS-enriched soymilk group (5.59±0.27 mmol/L) in comparison to the milk control (6.28±0.27 mmol/L). PS-enriched soymilk consumption did not affect HDL cholesterol concentrations but did reduce (P<0.0001) LDL cholesterol by 16% compared to the control group (3.60 vs. 4.20 mmol/L). Plasma triglyceride concentration was reduced (P =0.02) by 9.4% in response to the PS-enriched soy beverage in comparison to the milk control. We conclude that consumption of a PS-enriched soy beverage is an effective dietary strategy to reduce circulating lipid levels in hypercholesterolemic individuals. Supported by WhiteWave Foods Company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between the thermal-physical properties of resistant starch and the efficiency of nutrient utilization and intestinal fermentation was examined in pigs fed resistant corn starch, granular resistant potato starch or retrograded resistant corn starch for 30 d according to a completely randomized block design. Nutrient utilization and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations were measured with mass balance and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, respectively. Thermal physical analyses of the selected starches, including onset and peak temperatures and enthalpy changes, were measured with differential scanning calorimetry. Apparent crude protein digestibility values associated with the RS varieties were negatively correlated (P=0.05; r=-0.45) with enthalpy change while Ca and P digestibility values were positively correlated (P<0.05; r=0.44-0.66) with onset and peak temperatures. Cecal butyrate concentrations were positively correlated (P<0.05; r = 0.63-0.83) with onset and peak temperatures and enthalpy changes in the RS varieties. Thermal physical properties associated with the RS varieties, including onset and peak temperatures and enthalpy change, may be useful markers for developing future RS products with specific physiological functions and nutritional roles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mRNA and protein expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr) were examined in pigs fed an atherogenic control diet or the control diet supplemented with 10% guar gum (GG). Compared to the control group, GG consumption reduced (P<0.05) plasma total cholesterol (27%), LDL cholesterol (37%), and hepatic free cholesterol concentrations. GG consumption increased hepatic LDLr mRNA (1.8 fold, P=0.09) and protein (2 fold, P<0.05) expression in comparison to the control group. Hepatic SREBP2 mRNA expression was not altered (P>0.05) in response to GG consumption. While expression of the cytoplasmic mature form of SREBP2 was similar (P>0.05) between the two groups, GG consumption increased (P<0.05) the expression of the cytoplasmic precursor (3 fold) and nuclear active forms (1.5 fold) of the SREBP2. We conclude that a reduction in hepatic free cholesterol concentration in response to GG consumption enhances nuclear SREBP2 expression by post-transcriptional events that are independent of the proteolytic release of the mature protein from the golgi apparatus. Furthermore, accumulation of nuclear SREBP2 increases the expression of hepatic LDLr and mediates the hypocholesterolemic effects associated with GG consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]