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Background and Aim: The effects of phycocyanin (PC) on pigmentation have been extensively studied in fish; however, its specific impact on crustaceans, particularly Procambarus clarkii, remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of PCs extracted from Arthrospira platensis BUUC1503 on the color enhancement of P. clarkii crayfish when added to food pellets. Materials and Methods: The following five dietary treatments were prepared: a control (without PC) and four experimental diets with PC supplementation at concentrations of 10, 50, 100, and 500 mg/kg. The stability of the pellets in water was ensured for 180 min. P. clarkii crayfish were fed these diets at 5% of their body weight daily for 10 weeks. Body weight and total length were measured. Color changes in P. clarkii were also assessed. After the experiments, we treated the samples according to Animal Welfare Technical Information No.16.8 Correct euthanasia of decapods. Results: Although PC supplementation did not significantly affect the yellowness (b* value) of P. clarkii, it significantly enhanced the redness (a* value) and lightness (L* value) pigmentation compared with the control. At week 10, crayfish fed a diet containing 100 mg/kg PC exhibited the highest L* value (36.51 ± 1.59) (p < 0.001). Diet with 500 mg/kg PCs had the highest a* value (26.96 ± 0.64) (p < 0.001). Crayfish fed 50, 100, or 500 mg/kg PC had the highest survival rate (100%). PCs appear to positively affect weight gain in P. clarkii crayfish during weeks 8, 9, and 10 (p = 0.013, 0.003, and 0.034, respectively). However, statistical analysis revealed no significant differences in length among the dietary treatments. Conclusion: PCs effectively weight-gain and enhance red pigment deposition in the epidermal layer of P. clarkii. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. more...

Introduction and Objective. Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed in sufficient quantities, have gained attention in the sports community. The surge in popularity of long-distance athletic competitions such as marathons, triathlons, and cycling races has led to heightened rivalry and a rising curiosity in strategies to improve sports performance. Studies have suggested that probiotics could be a valuable aid for athletes looking to improve their well-being and overall progress. Methods. A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar with search terms like "probiotics", "gut microflora", "probiotics in sport", "human microbiome", "athletic performance", "human microbiome", "diet supplementation" and related variations. Articles published within the last five years were prioritized. Brief description of the state of Knowledge. Probiotic supplementation has been shown to positively impact the health and performance of athletes, primarily through modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This review examines the influence of probiotic supplements on athletic performance, focusing on their effects on gut microbiota, immune support, mental health, anti-inflammatory properties, and overall performance enhancement. Conclusions. Probiotics have been found to have numerous health benefits within the microbiota-gut-brain axis, making them an emerging area of research in athletes. The aim of this research is to understand the potential impacts on athletes experiencing health issues such as gastrointestinal symptoms, lowered immune system, mental disorders, excessive inflammation, or those looking to improve endurance and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background/Objectives: Down syndrome (DS) is the most common cause of early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Dietary choline has been proposed as a modifiable factor to improve the cognitive and pathological outcomes of AD and DS, especially as many do not reach adequate daily intake levels of choline. While lower circulating choline levels correlate with worse pathological measures in AD patients, choline status and intake in DS is widely understudied. Perinatal choline supplementation (Ch+) in the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS protects offspring against AD-relevant pathology and improves cognition. Further, dietary Ch+ in adult AD models also ameliorates pathology and improves cognition. However, dietary Ch+ in adult Ts65Dn mice has not yet been explored; thus, this study aimed to supply Ch+ throughout adulthood to determine the effects on cognition and DS co-morbidities. Methods: We fed trisomic Ts65Dn mice and disomic littermate controls either a choline normal (ChN; 1.1 g/kg) or a Ch+ (5 g/kg) diet from 4.5 to 14 months of age. Results: We found that Ch+ in adulthood failed to improve genotype-specific deficits in spatial learning. However, in both genotypes of female mice, Ch+ significantly improved cognitive flexibility in a reverse place preference task in the IntelliCage behavioral phenotyping system. Further, Ch+ significantly reduced weight gain and peripheral inflammation in female mice of both genotypes, and significantly improved glucose metabolism in male mice of both genotypes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that adulthood choline supplementation benefits behavioral and biological factors important for general well-being in DS and related to AD risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

One of the key goals the feed industry emphasizes when exploring the incorporation of novel substances into animal diets is to enhance feed utilization efficiency, to bolster animal health and well-being. Fermented seaweed powder holds promise as a valuable and sustainable component of animal feed, owing to its rich nutrient profile and purported benefits for livestock and aquaculture species. This study provides some interesting and original preliminary data regarding the benefits of supplementing cats' diets with fermented dried seaweed. Using a broad investigative approach to measure and analyse multiple health benefits of feeding fermented dried macroalgae to cats as a nutritional supplement, the results of this 8-week study identified several positive health attributes related to body coat quality, nutrient digestibility, behavioural changes, a healthy gut microbiota ratio, and enhanced immunity. There were no adverse effects observed in the cats after supplementation with the fermented seaweed powder. The sample size in this study with cats should be increased, but this preliminary work showed that the seaweed-supplemented cats exhibited improvements in the measured health parameters over the control cats. As a result of this 8-week trial, key information has been provided regarding future research direction focusing on skin health application which is essential to the overall animal wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Abstract To improve the growth of genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT), the supplementation of Schizochytrium limacinum and Lactococcus lactis was sequentially optimized by a single‐factor method and central composite design combined with response surface methodology (CCD‐RSM) using a developed desirability function (Df) as the response value. The optimum supplementary prescriptions obtained by the single‐factor method and CCD‐RSM were alone 1.5% S. limacinum, alone 1 × 107 CFU/g L. lactis, and 1.22% S. limacinum + 4.01 × 107 CFU/g L. lactis respectively. The Df of the tilapia fed with the diets supplemented with these optimum prescriptions were 0.53, 0.54, and 0.61, respectively. The Df, weight gain rate (WGR), and feed conversion rate (FCR) of the tilapia fed with the optimum prescriptions obtained by CCD‐RSM were significantly higher than those of the tilapia fed with the diets obtained by single‐factor experiments and the basic diet for 28 days. Furthermore, the results of CCD‐RSM can show that there were significant interactive effects between S. limacinum and L. lactis on trypsin, α‐amylase, lipase, total cholesterol (TC)−1 and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C)−1, and Df, but those of single‐factor method cannot. more...

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), one of the leading causes of vision loss among the elderly, poses a significant global health issue. This is a retinal condition that causes the loss of central vision. The demographic shift towards an aging population contributes to the increasing number of individuals affected by this condition, presenting a challenge to the medical and scientific community in developing effective prevention and treatment methods. In recent years, considerable attention has been given to the role of a proper diet and the supplementation of vitamins and antioxidants in inhibiting the progression of AMD. more...

The current study aimed to determine the impact of adding fried green lentil powder (FGLP) into date paste on the nutritive and sensory aspects of date bars. Date paste was partially substituted by 0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5% FGLP. DSB samples enriched with 10.0 and 12.5% FGLP exhibited the highest amounts of protein (4.78 and 5.36/100 g, respectively). Total fat content was 2.2, 2.08, and 1.94 times greater in DSB samples fortified with 12.5, 10.0, and 7.5% FGLP, respectively, than in the control sample. The highest ash levels (3.06, 3.11, and 3.14/100 g, respectively) were found in DSB samples that were enriched with FGLP at 7.5, 10, and 12.5%. The crude fiber content of FGLP-fortified date samples jumped significantly, from 10.10 g/100 g for the control sample to 11.16, 11.45, and 11.74 g/100 g for date bar samples fortified with 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, and 12.5% FGLP. Compared to the control sample, the carbohydrate content of date bars significantly decreased when FGLP was added. Date bars supplemented with 12.5% FGLP covered the isoleucine, leucine, lysine, total sulfur amino acids, total aromatic amino acids, threonine, and valine needs by 78.20, 100.00, 55.10, 70.40, 91.70, 46.1, and 67.7%, respectively. The content of saturated fatty acids decreased as FGLP inclusion levels increased. The mineral concentration of Mg, P, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Zn in supplemented date bars increased significantly as the FGLP replacement amount increased. Overall acceptability was not statistically different among all date bars containing up to 7.5% FGLP. more...

Introduction and Objective. Probiotics, defined as live microorganisms that provide health benefits when consumed in sufficient quantities, have gained attention in the sports community. The surge in popularity of long-distance athletic competitions such as marathons, triathlons, and cycling races has led to heightened rivalry and a rising curiosity in strategies to improve sports performance. Studies have suggested that probiotics could be a valuable aid for athletes looking to improve their well-being and overall progress. Methods. A literature review was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar with search terms like "probiotics", "gut microflora", "probiotics in sport", "human microbiome", "athletic performance", "human microbiome", “diet supplementation” and related variations. Articles published within the last five years were prioritized. Brief description of the state of Knowledge. Probiotic supplementation has been shown to positively impact the health and performance of athletes, primarily through modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This review examines the influence of probiotic supplements on athletic performance, focusing on their effects on gut microbiota, immune support, mental health, anti-inflammatory properties, and overall performance enhancement. Conclusions. ​​Probiotics have been found to have numerous health benefits within the microbiota-gut-brain axis, making them an emerging area of research in athletes. The aim of this research is to understand the potential impacts on athletes experiencing health issues such as gastrointestinal symptoms, lowered immune system, mental disorders, excessive inflammation, or those looking to improve endurance and performance. more...

Mucuna pruriens, a rich source of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, commonly known as L-DOPA and a precursor to dopamine, holds potential as a natural nutritional supplement. This study aimed to delve into the impact of incorporating M. pruriens seed powder (MpSP) into the feed on growth parameters and gonadal development of mono-sex common molly (Poecilia sphenops). The fish population was divided into three experimental groups, such as G1, G2, and G3, and a control group (C), each comprising 20 individuals. Over 45 days, the experimental groups were nourished with a commercial diet bolstered by MpSP in different concentrations (5, 7 and 10g/kg of feed, respectively). In contrast, the control group was provided with a regular diet devoid of the supplement. At the end of the experiment, MpSP demonstrated significant modulation (p more...

Abstract The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of animals. It is especially critical for ruminants that depend on this bacterial community for digesting their food. In this study, we investigated the effects of management conditions and supplemental feeding on the gut bacterial microbiota of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany. Fecal samples were collected from free-ranging deer, deer within winter enclosures, and deer in permanent enclosures. The samples were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. The results showed that the gut bacterial microbiota differed in diversity, abundance, and heterogeneity within and between the various management groups. Free-ranging deer exhibited lower alpha diversity compared with deer in enclosures, probably because of the food supplementation available to the animals within the enclosures. Free-living individuals also showed the highest beta diversity, indicating greater variability in foraging grounds and plant species selection. Moreover, free-ranging deer had the lowest abundance of potentially pathogenic bacterial taxa, suggesting a healthier gut microbiome. Winter-gated deer, which spent some time in enclosures, exhibited intermediate characteristics between free-ranging and all-year-gated deer. These findings suggest that the winter enclosure management strategy, including supplementary feeding with processed plants and crops, has a significant impact on the gut microbiome composition of red deer. Overall, this study provides important insights into the effects of management conditions, particularly winter enclosure practices, on the gut microbiome of red deer. Understanding these effects is crucial for assessing the potential health implications of management strategies and highlights the value of microbiota investigations as health marker. more...

Simple Summary: Betaine, a natural by-product of the sugar beet industry, can improve growth performance when fed to production animals, particularly under increased environmental temperatures. While the positive effects of betaine in monogastric species like pigs and poultry are well investigated, efficacy in ruminants is less clear. The increasing severity and frequency of heat events will impact livestock production, and dietary betaine offers a management tool to mitigate these events. This meta-analysis examined the effects of betaine supplementation on milk production, growth performance, and carcass traits of ruminants. The results showed a positive effect of dietary betaine supplementation in lactating dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep. These promising results show that dietary betaine supplementation can be utilized to improve productivity in ruminants under both ambient and hot conditions. Betaine improves growth performance and health in monogastric animals under both thermoneutral and heat stress conditions, but results in ruminants have been more equivocal. This meta-analysis investigated the effects of betaine supplementation on productive performance, milk production and composition, and carcass traits of ruminants due to betaine supplementation. A comprehensive search for published studies investigating the effect of betaine was performed using Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Effect size analysis, random effects models, I2 statistics, and meta-regression analysis were utilized to assess differences in production parameters. Dietary betaine supplementation increased milk yield (+1.0 kg/d (weighted mean differences presented in this abstract), p < 0.001), dry matter intake (+0.15 kg/d, p < 0.001), and milk lactose (+0.05%, p = 0.010) in dairy cows housed under thermoneutral conditions. In the few studies conducted on small ruminants, there was an increase in milk yield in response to dietary betaine (0.45 kg/d, p = 0.040). Under heat stress conditions or grazing pasture during summer, dietary betaine increased milk yield (+1.0 kg/d, p < 0.001) and dry matter intake (+0.21 kg/d, p = 0.020). Dietary betaine increased final liveweight (+2.33 kg, p = 0.050) and back fat thickness (+0.74 cm, p < 0.001) in beef cattle. Dietary betaine increased final liveweight (0.14 kg, p = 0.010), daily gain (+0.019 kg/d, p < 0.001), and carcass weight (+0.80 kg, p < 0.001) but not backfat in small ruminants. These meta-analyses showed that dietary betaine increases liveweight in small ruminants and beef cattle and increases feed intake and milk yield in dairy cattle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Mucuna pruriens, a rich source of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine, commonly known as L-DOPA and a precursor to dopamine, holds potential as a natural nutritional supplement. This study aimed to delve into the impact of incorporating M. pruriens seed powder (MpSP) into the feed on growth parameters and gonadal development of mono-sex common molly (Poecilia sphenops). The fish population was divided into three experimental groups, such as G1, G2, and G3, and a control group (C), each comprising 20 individuals. Over 45 days, the experimental groups were nourished with a commercial diet bolstered by MpSP in different concentrations (5, 7 and 10g/kg of feed, respectively). In contrast, the control group was provided with a regular diet devoid of the supplement. At the end of the experiment, MpSP demonstrated significant modulation (p<0.05) of growth performance metrics, including specific growth rate (SGR), length gain rate (LGR), body mass gain (BMG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Impressively, even the lower concentration of MpSP (5g/kg diet) yielded substantial increments in sperm count (p <0.05) and gonadosomatic index (GSI). These findings were corroborated by histological changes that reflected enhanced testicular development, consistently outperforming the control group. These outcomes collectively suggest the potential of velvet bean seed powder as a feasible, natural, and costeffective dietary supplement for enhancing growth and testicular development in mono-sex P. sphenops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in the health and well-being of animals. It is especially critical for ruminants that depend on this bacterial community for digesting their food. In this study, we investigated the effects of management conditions and supplemental feeding on the gut bacterial microbiota of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in the Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany. Fecal samples were collected from free-ranging deer, deer within winter enclosures, and deer in permanent enclosures. The samples were analyzed by high-throughput sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene. The results showed that the gut bacterial microbiota differed in diversity, abundance, and heterogeneity within and between the various management groups. Free-ranging deer exhibited lower alpha diversity compared with deer in enclosures, probably because of the food supplementation available to the animals within the enclosures. Free-living individuals also showed the highest beta diversity, indicating greater variability in foraging grounds and plant species selection. Moreover, free-ranging deer had the lowest abundance of potentially pathogenic bacterial taxa, suggesting a healthier gut microbiome. Winter-gated deer, which spent some time in enclosures, exhibited intermediate characteristics between free-ranging and all-year-gated deer. These findings suggest that the winter enclosure management strategy, including supplementary feeding with processed plants and crops, has a significant impact on the gut microbiome composition of red deer. Overall, this study provides important insights into the effects of management conditions, particularly winter enclosure practices, on the gut microbiome of red deer. Understanding these effects is crucial for assessing the potential health implications of management strategies and highlights the value of microbiota investigations as health marker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

SUMMARY: Because of the side effects of growth stimulant antibiotics employed for poultry nutrition the poultry industry attempts to substitute them with a safer one like as phytogenic or organic acids. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the influence of single and double supplementation of broiler chickens diet with eugenol (0, 500, and 1,000 ppm) and butyric acid glycerides (BAG) (0 and 0.2% w/w) on the chemical, technological and sensory traits of the chicken breast during 60 d of storage. The biological trial was carried out on a total of 300 mixed-sex one-day-old Ross 308 chicks, which were randomly distributed into 6 dietary treatments, with 5 replicates and 10 birds each. The results revealed that L* and b* color values of the fillet samples changed significantly (p < 0.05). The pH values reduced significantly from 5.79 to 5.69 as an effect of eugenol supplementation in the diet (p < 0.05). Water binding ability of the fillet samples evaluated by drip loss, cooking loss and water holding capacity assays was not influenced by addition of BAG and eugenol to the diet of broilers. Sensorial traits of the meat samples were not negatively affected by the dietary supplementation process. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) values of the fillets were not influenced meaningfully by treatments. Overall, dietary supplementation of broiler chickens by eugenol and BAG did not result in important modifications of the physicochemical characteristics of chicken's breast. more...

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder that has a high global health burden and causes high mortality and morbidity in humans. Medicinal herbs and plants offer a promising alternative to conventional therapies for the management of diabetes. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a traditional medicinal herb that has been used for the management of several diseases. Therefore, the present study investigates the antidiabetic properties of diets supplemented with R. officinalis leaf powder on streptozotocin-induced diabetic Wistar rats. First, the phytochemicals and 2,2-dephenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free-radical scavenging activity of aqueous R. officinalis leaf extract were determined. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic male Wistar rats were fed a diet supplemented with R. officinalis leaf powder (ROP) at 3%, 6%, and 12%, respectively, for 6 weeks. Investigations of food intake, body weight, rat relative organ weights, blood glucose, lipid profiles, creatinine, bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were estimated according to standard procedures. The results show that ROP aqueous extract contains significant amounts of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins, which exhibit in vitro DPPH free-radical scavenging activity. Based on an in vivo study, ROP reduced blood glucose levels in streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with ROP in diabetic rats significantly (p < 0.05) lowered ALT, AST, bilirubin, creatinine, total triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels while increasing high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) when compared with the diabetic control group. Our findings demonstrate that a diet supplemented with R. officinalis leaf powder exhibits an antidiabetic potential with improved health outcomes, as demonstrated by the improved lipid and liver profile enzymes in our animal model. more...

Huge amounts of vegetable wastes are generated by the food industry. Their bioconversion into valuable products (e.g., insect flours or biofertilizer) through insect farming is a promising solution to reduce their negative environmental and economic impacts. This study evaluates the growth of Tenebrio molitor larvae and their nutritional profile after supplementing their diets with vegetable wastes. Over a 6-week period, 45-day larvae were fed a diet comprising wheat bran supplemented (1:1) with cucumber or tomato wastes from both conventional and ecological crops. The control diet consisted of wheat bran and an equivalent amount of water to compensate for the waste moisture. Larval weight was measured weekly, and length measures were taken fortnightly. Nutritional composition and fatty acid profile were analyzed at the end of the study in 90-day larvae. Regardless of using vegetable waste from conventional or ecological harvesting, the weight of 6-week supplemented larvae almost doubled that of larvae fed with just wheat bran, and their length was 15% higher. Supplementation also increased larval polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage by 22–37%, with linoleic acid being the most abundant. Likewise, larval protein content reached 50% after supplementation. This study demonstrates that both cucumber and tomato wastes from conventional or ecological crops are excellent supplements for T. molitor's diet, improving their nutritional value and reducing the time necessary for larvae growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

T. molitor larvae were fed with wheat bran (W) and supplemented (1:1) with cucumber (C + W) or tomato (T + W) agricultural wastes, from conventional or ecological farming, for 6 weeks. Weekly and fortnightly measurements of larvae weight/tray and length were taken, respectively. At the end of the study, the fatty acid composition of the larvae was analyzed using GC-MS. On day 43, the weight of larvae supplemented with wastes almost doubled that reached by the control larvae (647–720 vs. 370 g/tray), which were 15% smaller. Supplementation decreased the larval fat content and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acids between 22–37%, with linoleic acid being the most abundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

AbstractThe present research investigation sought to learn more about the impact of various quantities of Mentha longifolia leaves powder (MLLP) on the content of phenolics, antioxidant effectiveness, consumer approval, as well as lowering lipid peroxidation in roasted coffee (RC) powder. MLLP was added at 0%, 0.25%, 0.50%, 0.75, 1.00%, and 1.25% of the roasted coffee (RC) weight. Total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF), as well as the antioxidant activity which was assessed using a 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical of green coffee (GC), RC, MLLP, and binary blends of RC and MLLP were assessed. The oxidative indices of coffee oil samples have been investigated during storage intervals. Furthermore, the sensory qualities of RC fortified with various dosages of MLLP were investigated. Findings MLLP showed TP contents (TPC, 2600.15 mg/100 g DWb) which was 1.83 fold greater than those reported in roasted coffee (RC) powder. The results also revealed that when the MLLP quantity increased, TPC of the investigated coffee samples significantly increased. TPC of the produced coffee increased from 1417.30 to 1432.18 mg GAE/100 g DW when MLLP inclusion incremented from 0% to 1.25%. TFC of RC supplemented with 0.5%, 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25% MLLP was found to be around 1.04, 1.04, 1.05, and 1.06 times greater than that of control coffee samples without MLLP addition, respectively. DPPH radical-scavenging activity increased significantly from 67.74% in control samples (without MLLP enrichment) to 69.59, 69.74, 70.32, and 71.45 (percent DPPH inhibition) in RC samples enriched with 0.50%, 0.75%, 1.00%, and 1.25% MLLP, respectively. The acid, peroxide, P-Anisidine, and Totox values of RC enriched with 1.25 MLLP were around 2.08, 1.76, 1.64, and 1.70 fold lower, respectively, than in the control sample without MLLP addition. The sensory scores of RC containing 0.50% and 0.75% MLLP were significantly higher (p ≤ 0.05) than control samples. more...

Dietary antioxidant supplementation, especially astaxanthin, has shown great results on reproductive aspects, egg quality, growth, survival, immunity, stress tolerance, and disease resistance in aquatic animals. However, the effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation from different sources are still unknown. A comprehensive comparison of survival, growth, immune response, antioxidant activity, thermal resistance, disease resistance, and intestinal microbial structure was conducted in dietary antioxidant supplementation from the sources of Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GL), industrial synthetic astaxanthin (80 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group 'SA80'), Phaffia rhodozyma (80 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group 'PR80') and Haematococcus pluvialis (120 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group 'HP120') at their optimal supplementation amounts. Furthermore, the SA80, PR80, and HP120 groups performed better in all aspects, including survival, growth, immune response, antioxidant activity, thermal resistance, and disease resistance, compared with the GL group. The PR80 and HP120 group also had a better growth performance than the SA80 group. In terms of heat stress and bacterial challenge, abalone in the PR80 group showed the strongest resistance. Overall, 80 mg/kg astaxanthin supplementation from Phaffia rhodozyma was recommended to obtain a more effective and comprehensive outcome. This study contributes to the discovery of the optimum dietary astaxanthin supplementation source for abalone, which is helpful to improve the production efficiency and economic benefits of abalone. Future research can further explore the action mechanism and the method of application of astaxanthin to better exploit its antioxidant role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and the marbled crayfish, Procambarus virginalis, are invasive species expanding their ranges on a global scale. Their spread is favored by the fact that these crayfish are also aquaculture species of great economic importance (P. clarkii) or promising prospects in this regard (P. virginalis). This study represents the first attempt to assess the impact of diet supplementation with fatty acids on growth, survival, and fatty acid content in these crayfish species, as well as the first record of fatty acid patterns in the obligate parthenogenetic marbled crayfish. Our results showed that supplementation with saturated palmitic acid increased P. clarkii survival, which has not previously been reported for crustaceans. This positive effect on the part of palmitic acid supplementation was not observed for P. virginalis individuals. Marbled crayfish had significantly higher survival rates than red swamp crayfish regardless of the diet used. The growth of both species was not affected by fatty acid supplementation. Our study indicated that young marbled crayfish had a poorer fatty acid profile than juvenile conspecifics and red swamp crayfish. Fatty acid supplementation and type of diet significantly affected the fatty acid composition in the crayfish tissues. There was an increase in unsaturated α-linolenic acid for P. clarkii and palmitic acid for P. virginalis. Palmitic acid quantitatively dominated in both species regardless of the experimental treatment, with the exception of juvenile P. virginalis, which was fed an oligochaete diet rich in EPA. more...

Simple Summary: As it is the first limiting amino acid, the use of DL-methionine in poultry diet formulation is critical for poultry growth, yet its mode of action is not fully defined. In this study, we conducted two peripheral and central feeding trials to determine the effect of DL-methionine and its analog HMTBa on growth performance, plasma metabolites, and the gene expression of feeding-related hypothalamic neuropeptides in broilers raised to market age (35 d). The study shows for the first time that both sources of methionine share some pathways, but each one has a unique pathway. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of DL-methionine (DL-Met) 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio) butanoic acid (HMTBa), or S-(5′-Adenosyl)-L-methionine chloride (SAM), using feeding trial and central administration, on live performance, plasma metabolites, and the expression of feeding-related hypothalamic neuropeptides in broilers raised to a market age (35 d). Final average body weight (BW) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) from the feeding trial exceeded the performance measurements published by the primary breeder. At d35, the MTBHa group had better BW and lower feed intake, which resulted in a better FCR than the DL-Met group at 87 TSAA to lysine. At the molecular levels, the expression of hypothalamic neuropeptide (NPY) and monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) 2 did not differ between all treated groups; however, the mRNA abundances of hypothalamic MCT1 and orexin (ORX) were significantly upregulated in DL-Met- treated groups compared to the control. The ICV administration of SAM significantly reduced feed intake at all tested periods (from 30 to 180 min post injection) compared to the aCSF-treated group (control). The central administration of HMTBa increased feed intake, which reached a significant level only 60 min post administration, compared to the control group. ICV administration of DL-Met slightly increased feed intake compared to the control group, but the difference was not statistically discernable. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis showed that the hypothalamic expression of NPY, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, MCT1, and MCT2 was significantly upregulated in the ICV-HMTBa group compared to the aCSF birds. The hypothalamic expression of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPKα1), D-amino acid oxidase, and hydroxyacid oxidase was significantly upregulated in DL-Met compared to the control group. The mRNA abundances of ORX were significantly increased in the hypothalamus of both DL-Met and HMTBa groups compared to the aCSF birds; however, mTOR gene expression was significantly downregulated in the SAM compared to the control group. Taken together, these data show, for the first time, that DL-Met and HMTBa have a common downstream (ORX) pathway, but also a differential central pathway, typically NPY-MCT for HMTBa and mTOR-AMPK for methionine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Huge amounts of vegetable wastes are generated by the food industry. Their bioconversion into valuable products (e.g., insect flours or biofertilizer) through insect farming is a promising solution to reduce their negative environmental and economic impacts. This study evaluates the growth of Tenebrio molitor larvae and their nutritional profile after supplementing their diets with vegetable wastes. Over a 6-week period, 45-day larvae were fed a diet comprising wheat bran supplemented (1:1) with cucumber or tomato wastes from both conventional and ecological crops. The control diet consisted of wheat bran and an equivalent amount of water to compensate for the waste moisture. Larval weight was measured weekly, and length measures were taken fortnightly. Nutritional composition and fatty acid profile were analyzed at the end of the study in 90-day larvae. Regardless of using vegetable waste from conventional or ecological harvesting, the weight of 6-week supplemented larvae almost doubled that of larvae fed with just wheat bran, and their length was 15% higher. Supplementation also increased larval polyunsaturated fatty acid percentage by 22–37%, with linoleic acid being the most abundant. Likewise, larval protein content reached 50% after supplementation. This study demonstrates that both cucumber and tomato wastes from conventional or ecological crops are excellent supplements for T. molitor’s diet, improving their nutritional value and reducing the time necessary for larvae growth. more...

Simple Summary: The incidence of prostate cancer is increasing because of the aging population. Evidence suggests that diets rich in bioactive polyphenols can reduce the incidence of prostate cancer. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential of gnetin C, a compound found in the melinjo plant and commonly used in Indonesian foods, to block prostate cancer progression. To this end, we evaluated the anticancer efficacy of gnetin C-supplemented diets in a unique and adequate high-risk premalignant prostate cancer transgenic mouse model. Our results indicate that a gnetin C-supplemented diet reduces the progression of prostate cancer by reducing the proliferation of cells, inflammation, and the formation of blood vessels. The finding that a gnetin C-supplemented diet effectively blocks tumor progression in a preclinical mouse model may be exploited to initiate chemoprevention trials for novel nutritional interception for untreated patients under active surveillance. Nutritional chemoprevention is particularly suitable for prostate cancer. Gnetin C, a resveratrol dimer found abundantly in the melinjo plant (Gnetum gnemon), may possess more potent biological properties compared to other stilbenes. We examined the effects of gnetin C in a high-risk premalignant transgenic mouse model overexpressing tumor-promoting metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) on the background of Pten heterozygosity (R26MTA1; Pten+/f; Pb-Cre+). Mice were fed diets supplemented with the following compounds: pterostilbene (70 mg/kg diet); gnetin C, high dose (70 mg/kg diet); and gnetin C, low dose (35 mg/kg diet). Prostate tissues were isolated after 17 weeks and examined for histopathology and molecular markers. Serum was analyzed for cytokine expression. Gnetin C-supplemented diets substantially delayed the progression of preneoplastic lesions compared to other groups. Prostate tissues from gnetin C-fed mice showed favorable histopathology, with decreased severity and number of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) foci, reduced proliferation, and angiogenesis. A decreased level of MTA1, concurrent with the trend of increasing phosphatase and tensin homolog expression and reduced interleukin 2 (IL-2) levels in sera, were also detected in gnetin C-fed mice. Importantly, gnetin C did not exert any visible toxicity in mice. Our findings demonstrate that a gnetin C-supplemented diet effectively blocks MTA1-promoted tumor progression activity in high-risk premalignant prostate cancer, which indicates its potential as a novel form of nutritional interception for prostate cancer chemoprevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii, and the marbled crayfish, Procambarus virginalis, are invasive species expanding their ranges on a global scale. Their spread is favored by the fact that these crayfish are also aquaculture species of great economic importance (P. clarkii) or promising prospects in this regard (P. virginalis). This study represents the first attempt to assess the impact of diet supplementation with fatty acids on growth, survival, and fatty acid content in these crayfish species, as well as the first record of fatty acid patterns in the obligate parthenogenetic marbled crayfish. Our results showed that supplementation with saturated palmitic acid increased P. clarkii survival, which has not previously been reported for crustaceans. This positive effect on the part of palmitic acid supplementation was not observed for P. virginalis individuals. Marbled crayfish had significantly higher survival rates than red swamp crayfish regardless of the diet used. The growth of both species was not affected by fatty acid supplementation. Our study indicated that young marbled crayfish had a poorer fatty acid profile than juvenile conspecifics and red swamp crayfish. Fatty acid supplementation and type of diet significantly affected the fatty acid composition in the crayfish tissues. There was an increase in unsaturated α-linolenic acid for P. clarkii and palmitic acid for P. virginalis. Palmitic acid quantitatively dominated in both species regardless of the experimental treatment, with the exception of juvenile P. virginalis, which was fed an oligochaete diet rich in EPA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Dietary antioxidant supplementation, especially astaxanthin, has shown great results on reproductive aspects, egg quality, growth, survival, immunity, stress tolerance, and disease resistance in aquatic animals. However, the effects of dietary astaxanthin supplementation from different sources are still unknown. A comprehensive comparison of survival, growth, immune response, antioxidant activity, thermal resistance, disease resistance, and intestinal microbial structure was conducted in dietary antioxidant supplementation from the sources of Gracilaria lemaneiformis (GL), industrial synthetic astaxanthin (80 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group ‘SA80’), Phaffia rhodozyma (80 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group ‘PR80’) and Haematococcus pluvialis (120 mg/kg astaxanthin actual weight, named as group ‘HP120’) at their optimal supplementation amounts. Furthermore, the SA80, PR80, and HP120 groups performed better in all aspects, including survival, growth, immune response, antioxidant activity, thermal resistance, and disease resistance, compared with the GL group. The PR80 and HP120 group also had a better growth performance than the SA80 group. In terms of heat stress and bacterial challenge, abalone in the PR80 group showed the strongest resistance. Overall, 80 mg/kg astaxanthin supplementation from Phaffia rhodozyma was recommended to obtain a more effective and comprehensive outcome. This study contributes to the discovery of the optimum dietary astaxanthin supplementation source for abalone, which is helpful to improve the production efficiency and economic benefits of abalone. Future research can further explore the action mechanism and the method of application of astaxanthin to better exploit its antioxidant role. more...

Myalgia and new-onset of type 2 diabetes have been associated with statin treatment, which both could be linked to reduced coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in skeletal muscle and impaired mitochondrial function. Supplementation with CoQ10 focusing on levels of CoQ10 in skeletal muscle and mitochondrial function has not been investigated in patients treated with statins. To investigate whether concomitant administration of CoQ10 with statins increases the muscle CoQ10 levels and improves the mitochondrial function, and if changes in muscle CoQ10 levels correlate with changes in the intensity of myalgia. 37 men and women in simvastatin therapy with and without myalgia were randomized to receive 400 mg CoQ10 daily or matched placebo tablets for eight weeks. Muscle CoQ10 levels, mitochondrial respiratory capacity, mitochondrial content (using citrate synthase activity as a biomarker), and production of reactive oxygen species were measured before and after CoQ10 supplementation, and intensity of myalgia was determined using the 10 cm visual analogue scale. Muscle CoQ10 content and mitochondrial function were unaltered by CoQ10 supplementation. Individual changes in muscle CoQ10 levels were not correlated with changes in intensity of myalgia. CoQ10 supplementation had no effect on muscle CoQ10 levels or mitochondrial function and did not affect symptoms of myalgia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Copyright of Indonesian Journal of Animal & Veterinary Sciences / Jurnal Ilmu Ternak dan Veteriner is the property of Indonesian Center for Animal Science Research & Development and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) more...

Simple Summary: Ruminants under grazing conditions play an important role, especially in developing countries. Enteric methane emissions from ruminants are greater with pasture-based diets; however, it is not clear which abatement practices are effective to reduce methane emissions under grazing conditions. The objective of this review was to identify and describe enteric methane abatement practices for ruminants that are applicable under grazing conditions. Decreasing the pre-grazing herbage mass reduced methane emissions per unit of product. Other grazing management practices such as increased stocking rate, decreased forage maturity, rotational stocking, and incorporating tannin-containing or non-tannin-containing legumes showed inconsistent results. Nitrogen fertilization or silvopastoral systems did not modify methane emissions, although they may alter carbon sequestration in a system. Supplementation in grazing conditions shows inconsistent responses on methane emissions. However, lipid supplementation showed promising results. Identifying and implementing grazing strategies and supplementation practices under grazing conditions is required to increase efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of these systems. Ruminants produce approximately 30% of total anthropogenic methane emissions globally. The objective of this manuscript was to review nutritional enteric methane abatement practices for ruminants that are applicable under grazing conditions. A total of 1548 peer-reviewed research articles related to the abatement of enteric methane emissions were retrieved and classified into four categories: non-experimental, in vitro, in vivo confined, and in vivo grazing. The methane abatement strategies for grazing systems were arranged into grazing management and supplementation practices. Only 9% of the retrieved papers have been conducted under grazing conditions. Eight grazing management practices have been evaluated to reduce methane emissions. Decreasing the pre-grazing herbage mass reduced the methane emission per unit of product. Other grazing management practices such as increased stocking rate, decreased forage maturity, rotational stocking, and incorporating tannin-containing or non-tannin-containing feeds showed contradictory results. Nitrogen fertilization or silvopastoral systems did not modify methane emissions. Conversely, supplementation practices in grazing conditions showed contradictory responses on methane emissions. Lipid supplementation showed promising results and suggests applicability under grazing conditions. Identifying and implementing grazing strategies and supplementation practices under grazing conditions is required to increase efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Due to its association with several other stress factors (poultry house gases, inadequate ventilation, heat, cold and poor hygiene), the high stocking density is a major stress factor that adversely affects the health and performance of poultry and the quality of the poultry products. Therefore, this experimental study was aimed at analysing the impact of different doses of dietary tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) on the serum apelin, plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p-BDNF), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations, and the correlation between these indicators in laying hens housed at different stocking densities. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of adding tarragon in different ratios to laying hen rations in the 2nd ovulation period on the cTnI, apelin, and BDNF hormone concentrations and the liver histopathology. The experiment was carried out over a period of eight weeks, with 192 Lohman Brown commercial hybrids at 50 weeks of age. Eight groups (four replicates each), composed of laying hens of equal body weight, which were housed at stocking densities of 580 cm2/hen and 810 cm2/hen and received 0, 1, 5 and 10 mmol/kg of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) in the feed, were established. At the end of the trial, 96 of the housed egg-laying hens (3 birds in each subgroup, a total of 12 birds in each group) were randomly selected and blood samples were taken from the vena subcutanea ulnaris. The samples collected were analysed for the apelin, p-BDNF, and cTnI contents. The analysis results demonstrated that tarragon supplementation had no effect on the serum apelin, p-BDNF and cTnI concentrations (P > 0.05). The Sub-Groups ST1, ST1.2, and ST6 presented with severe hyperaemia of the sinusoidal, portal and acinar blood vessels, whilst the hyperaemia of these blood vessels was moderate in Sub-Group ST12. Apelin, BDNF, and cTnI can act as protective factors against negative consequences of stress (e.g., stocking density or heat stress). more...

There has been a massive surge in the intake of dietary supplements in recent years, with millions of people taking the "magic pills" worldwide, either with the hope of achieving general well-being, treat specific disease, or retard the aging process. Supplementing the diet with multivitamins and minerals (MVMs) has revolutionized modern healthcare, with many "experts" claiming such drugs have a critical role to play in the prevention and treatment of many health conditions. Many are of the opinion that since dietary supplements are mere extracts from certain foods and herbs, so unlike drugs, have no significant side effects, are "all natural," and are therefore "safe" for a non-medical prescription. The association of the deficiency of some MVMs, such as vitamins C, D, and Zinc, with the increased incidence and progression of COVID-19, has also strengthened the argument in favor of routine diet supplementation. The objectives of this article are to investigate the health and therapeutic claims attributed to some dietary supplements, their safety concerns, and their possible role in modern healthcare. A review of related online free-full articles written in the English language published from 2000 to 2021 was done. While the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of some dietary supplements are clearly understood and established, others are still shrouded in serious confusions and safety concerns, especially for long-term use. Until more evidence is available, routine intake of dietary supplements should be discouraged, except there are clear medical indications. Rather, all people should ensure they get their required nutrients from whole foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Background: The cost of feed in fish farming can exceed 70% of the total costs. Thus, the feed industry have sought to formulate balanced diets including low-cost by-products. Objective: To evaluate sunflower meal as a partial substitute (0, 10, and 20%) for soybean meal, with or without phytase supplementation (1,500 FTU/kg) in isoproteic (27% crude protein (CP)) and isoenergetic diets (3,400 kcal/ED/kg of feed) for silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen) juveniles. Methods: A total of 360 fish (weight: 15.77 ± 0.56 g) were randomly distributed in 24 tanks in a completely randomized design following a factorial scheme (3x2) with 4 replicates. The fish were evaluated on the following variables after 90 days: productive performance, hematological variables, histology of intestinal tissue, bromatological composition of carcass, and composition of bone mineral matter. Results: 20% dietary inclusion of sunflower meal improved weight gain and protein efficiency. No difference was observed in the other treatments and no interactions were observed between the other factors. Conclusion: 20% sunflower meal can be included in the feed of silver catfish as a substitute for soybean meal. Phytase inclusion (1,500 FTU/kg) did not improve the nutritional value of the treatments. more...

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked neuromuscular condition causing progressive muscle weakness and premature death. Whilst effective treatments such as gene therapy are developed, families often seek complementary therapies such as nutrition supplements to help their son maintain function; however, there is limited evidence supporting the use of nutritional supplements in DMD. This study aimed to compare the effect of a Standard nutritional supplement with an Enhanced nutritional supplement combining three nutriceuticals on functional outcomes in ambulatory boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A 50-week double blinded, randomized, controlled crossover trial was conducted in four Australian neuromuscular centres. Primary outcome measures were 6-min walk distance (6MWD) and community ambulation (StepWatch™ Activity Monitoring). Secondary outcome measures included body composition and quality of life. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured. Twenty-seven boys completed the intervention. Traditional crossover analysis demonstrated the Enhanced supplement compared to the Standard supplement was associated with a difference of +12 (95% CI: −16, 40) metres in 6MWD, +0.5 (95% CI: −53, 54) inactive minutes per day and −95 (95% CI: −887, 696) steps per day. A mixed effect model indicated a potentially clinically important effect of the Enhanced supplement on the 6MWD of +31 (95% CI: −19, 81) metres. Mean serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D levels at week 50 was 94 (95% CI: 84, 104) nmol/L. There was no observable effect of either supplement regime on body composition or quality of life. Whilst a positive effect of the Enhanced supplement on functional outcomes was observed, this finding was inconclusive due to the small sample size. The results do not support the use of combined nutritional supplements to improve body composition or quality of life in DMD. A dose of 2000 IU vitamin D was an adequate dose to raise serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D over 50 weeks. Registry #: ACTRN12610000462088, http://www.anzctr.org.au/Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?ACTRN=12610000462088. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Myalgia and new-onset of type 2 diabetes have been associated with statin treatment, which both could be linked to reduced coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in skeletal muscle and impaired mitochondrial function. Supplementation with CoQ10 focusing on levels of CoQ10 in skeletal muscle and mitochondrial function has not been investigated in patients treated with statins. To investigate whether concomitant administration of CoQ10 with statins increases the muscle CoQ10 levels and improves the mitochondrial function, and if changes in muscle CoQ10 levels correlate with changes in the intensity of myalgia. 37 men and women in simvastatin therapy with and without myalgia were randomized to receive 400 mg CoQ10 daily or matched placebo tablets for eight weeks. Muscle CoQ10 levels, mitochondrial respiratory capacity, mitochondrial content (using citrate synthase activity as a biomarker), and production of reactive oxygen species were measured before and after CoQ10 supplementation, and intensity of myalgia was determined using the 10 cm visual analogue scale. Muscle CoQ10 content and mitochondrial function were unaltered by CoQ10 supplementation. Individual changes in muscle CoQ10 levels were not correlated with changes in intensity of myalgia. CoQ10 supplementation had no effect on muscle CoQ10 levels or mitochondrial function and did not affect symptoms of myalgia. more...

The objective of this study was to determine the impact of dihydroquercetin from Siberian larch and dry distilled rose petals (DDRP) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and blood parameters of lambs from the Bulgarian dairy synthetic population sheep. For the purpose of the study 30 clinically healthy male lambs aged 65 days, levelled by live weight were used. One control group (C) fed 50 days with ground alfalfa + granulated compound feed and two experimental groups (D) and (R) fed on the same diet supplemented either with 7.5 mg dihydroquercetin/kg/day or with 545 mg DDRP/kg/day respectively, were studied. The dihydroquercetin feeding increases the fat content (P=0.01) of lamb carcasses but adversely affects their conformation. No significant differences (P>0.05) were found between 1st h and 24th h post-mortem pH of control group C and experimental group D. Compared to them the pH values of the experimental group R were by 0.14-0.15 pH units lower (P=0.05). No significant differences (P>0.05) were found in the blood count of the three studied groups of lambs. Exceptions were made for haemoglobin (HGL) in the experimental group D which were with 6-7 g/L higher (P=0.05) than these in control group C and experimental group R and the blood glucose (GLU) in the experimental group R which is with 0.25-0.28 mmol/L lower than determined in control group C and experimental group D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The inclusion of corn-dried distillers’ grains (DDG) could be an alternative supplement to increase animal performance, nitrogen efficiency usage (NEU), and decrease enteric methane (CH4) emissions. Our goal was to determine whether DDG could replace a traditional supplement (cottonseed meal) without affecting animal performance, N balance, and CH4 emissions. The experiment was conducted during the forage growing season (December to April), with 15 d adaptation, and a 112 d experimental period. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments: a mineral supplement (MS), cottonseed meal supplement (CS), 50% replacement of CS by DDG (50DDG), and 100% replacement of CS by DDG (100DDG). Cottonseed meal and DDG were used as protein supplement. A total of 12 paddocks, 3 per treatment, were used to measure forage mass: morphological and chemical composition of forage, forage allowance, and animal performance. Six animals per treatment were used to evaluate DM intake, digestibility, CH4 emissions, microbial protein production (MCP), and NEU of each treatment. Eighty-one Young Nellore bulls (48 testers, 12 per treatments and 33 adjusters) with initial BW of 255 ± 5 kg (10–12 months old) were supplemented with each supplement type at a level of 0.3% of BW. Pasture management was continuous stocking with a variable stocking rate (put-and-take). Enteric CH4 was measured using the gas tracer technique. The MCP was quantified using purine derivatives and the NEU mass balance. No differences were found in nutrient intake (P > 0.228). Individual animal performance and gain per area were higher in the treatments with concentrates compared with that of MS; however, there was no difference among treatments CS, 50DDG, and 100DDG. The ADG was 0.83 for MS and 1.08 kg/animal/d when supplemented (P more...

Traditional medicine which is based on the observations of the patient’s condition after administration of herbal remedies describes a vast number of plant species with potential application in Tuberculosis (TB) treatment. However, only a small number of plant derived secondary metabolites were shown to influence Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) in mico- or nanomolar concentrations. Nevertheless, plant-based food products were proven to be useful in tuberculosis treatment, including eradication of Mtb, boosting natural immunity, managing disease symptoms and side effects of tuberculostatic drugs, as well as providing proper nutrition and diet supplementation. This review describes natural products, with a focus on plant-based food products, useful in antimycobacterial therapy. It summarizes the antituberculous potential of ethnopharmacologically selected medicinal plants, herbs, spices and fruits. Moreover, the use of plant-based food products as supportive treatment of TB therapy is discussed. Proper diet supplementation in tuberculosis treatment is also considered. more...

Abstract Background Supplementing farm animals diet with functional ingredients may improve the nutritional quality of meat products. Diet composition has been also demonstrated to influence the gene expression with effect on biological processes and pathways. However, the knowledge on the effect of nutrients at the molecular level is scant. In particular, studies on the effects of antioxidants and polyphenols dietary supplementation have been investigated mainly in rodents, and only scarcely in farm animals so far. RNA-Seq with next-generation sequencing is increasingly the method of choice for studying changes in the transcriptome and it has been recently employed also in pig nutrigenomics studies to identify diet-induced changes in gene expression. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of diets enriched with functional ingredients (linseed, vitamin E and plant extracts) on the transcriptome of pig Longissimus thoracis to elucidate the role of these compounds in influencing genes involved in muscle physiology and metabolism compared to a standard diet. Results Eight hundred ninety-three significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) (FDR adjusted P-value ≤ 0.05) were detected by RNA-Seq analysis in the three diet comparisons (D2-D1, D3-D1, D4-D1). The functional analysis of DEGs showed that the diet enriched with n-3 PUFA from linseed (D2) mostly downregulated genes in pathways and biological processes (BPs) related to muscle development, contraction, and glycogen metabolism compared to the standard diet. The diet supplemented with linseed and vitamin E/Selenium (D3) showed to mostly downregulate genes linked to oxidative phosphorylation. Only few genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) organization were upregulated by the D3. Finally, the comparison D4-D1 showed that the diet supplemented with linseed and plant extracts (D4) upregulated the majority of genes compared to D1 that were involved in a complex network of pathways and BPs all connected by hub genes. In particular, IGF2 was a hub gene connecting protein metabolism, ECM organization, immune system and lipid biosynthesis pathways. Conclusion The supplementation of pig diet with n-3 PUFA from linseed, antioxidants and plant-derived polyphenols can influence the expression of a relevant number of genes in Longissimus thoracis muscle that are involved in a variety of biochemical pathways linked to muscle function and metabolism. more...

To date, rehabilitative good practices that analyze all aspects of the rehabilitation management of the patient with sarcopenia are absent in the literature. The purpose of this article is to carry out research and evaluation of the evidence, good practice, and recommendations in the literature relating to the rehabilitative treatment of disabilities associated with sarcopenia. Bibliographic research was conducted on Medline, PEDro, Cochrane Database, and Google Scholar. All articles published in the last 10 yrs were analyzed. The results of this research generated three guidelines, eight meta-analyses, five systematic reviews, a Cochrane review, 17 reviews, and seven consensus conferences. From the analysis of the literature, it seems that most of the works agree in affirming that exercise and diet supplementation are the cornerstones of rehabilitation treatment of patients with sarcopenia. The practice of an adequate lifestyle received numerous high-grade recommendations in the included guidelines. Based on the data obtained, the rehabilitation management of the patient with sarcopenia must be personalized and must include exercise and nutritional supplementation. These factors are important in increasing the autonomy of the elderly essential for safe walking without neglecting stretching exercises that are important for flexibility and balance and coordination exercises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Due to its association with several other stress factors (poultry house gases, inadequate ventilation, heat, cold and poor hygiene), the high stocking density is a major stress factor that adversely affects the health and performance of poultry and the quality of the poultry products. Therefore, this experimental study was aimed at analysing the impact of different doses of dietary tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) on the serum apelin, plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (p-BDNF), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations, and the correlation between these indicators in laying hens housed at different stocking densities. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of adding tarragon in different ratios to laying hen rations in the 2nd ovulation period on the cTnI, apelin, and BDNF hormone concentrations and the liver histopathology. The experiment was carried out over a period of eight weeks, with 192 Lohman Brown commercial hybrids at 50 weeks of age. Eight groups (four replicates each), composed of laying hens of equal body weight, which were housed at stocking densities of 580 cm2/hen and 810 cm2/hen and received 0, 1, 5 and 10 mmol/kg of tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) in the feed, were established. At the end of the trial, 96 of the housed egg-laying hens (3 birds in each subgroup, a total of 12 birds in each group) were randomly selected and blood samples were taken from the vena subcutanea ulnaris. The samples collected were analysed for the apelin, p-BDNF, and cTnI contents. The analysis results demonstrated that tarragon supplementation had no effect on the serum apelin, p-BDNF and cTnI concentrations (P > 0.05). The Sub-Groups ST1, ST1.2, and ST6 presented with severe hyperaemia of the sinusoidal, portal and acinar blood vessels, whilst the hyperaemia of these blood vessels was moderate in Sub-Group ST12. Apelin, BDNF, and cTnI can act as protective factors against negative consequences of stress (e.g., stocking density or heat stress). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Sheep keepers need suitable strategies to improve animal immunity and the quality of their products. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of nano-selenium (nano-Se) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on an antioxidant statue, trace minerals, and mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and selenoprotein W1 (SEPW1) genes in the liver and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) and stearoyl COA desaturase 1 (SCD1) genes in fat-tail of male Moghani lambs. Thirty male Moghani lambs, three months old and average weight 30.00 ± 0.25 kg, were assigned to a completely randomized design in a 2×3 factorial arrangement with dietary supplementation of nano-Se (0, 1.00 and 2.00 mg kg-1 dry matter) and CLA (0.00 and 15.00 g kg-1 dry matter). The lambs were slaughtered at the end of the experiment, on day 90 of the experiment. Results showed that dietary inclusion of nano-Se significantly improved antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in blood, however, did not show any differences in trace mineral treatments. The analysis of qPCR showed that nano-Se inclusion at the highest level (2.00 g kg-1 dry matter) enhanced gene expression of GPX1 (0.64 vs 0.34) and SEPW1 (0.72 vs 0.35) in the liver. Dietary inclusion of CLA increased the expression of PPARγ (0.63 vs 0.38) and decreased SCD1 (0.63 vs 0.33) genes in fat-tail. It could be concluded that selenium inclusion in the growing lamb's diet could improve antioxidant status, however, no synergistic interaction was observed along with CLA on the mentioned parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This study was conducted to investigate whether dietary supplementation of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens Linnaeus) pulp (BSFP) affects growth performance, antioxidant capacity and intestinal health of juvenile mirror carp (Cyprinus carpio var. specularis). A total of 270 juvenile mirror carp (13.68 ± 0.02 g) were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments, BSFP0, BSFP25, BSFP50, BSFP75 and BSFP100, in which BSFP was included in the basal diet at 0, 43.7, 87.3, 131 and 174.7 g/kg, respectively. Then, fish were fed to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. Fish growth performance and nutrient utilization were not different among the five groups (p >.05). Increasing BSFP dietary content significantly decreased whole‐body lipid content but increased kidney index (p <.05). The general relative intestine length was significantly higher in the BSFP100 group than the BSFP0 group (p <.05). Increasing BSFP dietary content significantly increased serum catalase activity and decreased malonaldehyde content (p <.05). The intestinal villus height, villus area and muscle layer thickness were significantly lower in the BSFP100 group than the BSFP0 group (p <.05). No significant differences in the activity of intestinal trypsin, lipase and amylase were observed among all groups (p >.05). In conclusion, this study indicated that BSFP at the level below 131 g/kg could be added in diet of juvenile mirror carp without any negative effect on growth performance and intestinal health. Dietary BSFP inclusion at low levels decreased the whole‐body lipid content and increased the antioxidant activity of juvenile mirror carp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Although the use of nutritional supplements by professional athletes and the benefits thereof have been extensively studied, information on recreational athletes' use of supplements is limited. This study investigated the consumption of nutritional supplements, source of information and supply of supplements, and level of awareness with regard to the relevant legislation among individuals who undertake regular exercise in Athens, Greece. A closed-ended, anonymous questionnaire was answered by 329 subjects (180 men, 149 women), age 30.6 ± 12.1 yr, from 11 randomly selected gym centers. Preparations declared as anabolic agents by the users were submitted to a gas chromatographic analyzer coupled to a mass spectrometric detector. Consumption of nutritional supplements was reported by 41% of the study population, with proteins/amino acids and vitamins being the most popular. Age (r = .456, p = .035), sex (xs = 14.1, df = 1, p < .001), level of education (xs = 14.1, df = 3, p < .001), and profession (xs = 11.4, df = 4, p = .022) were associated with the subjects' decision to consume nutritional supplements. Most (67.1%) purchased products from health food stores. Only 17.1% had consulted a physician or nutritionist, and one third were aware of the relevant legislation. Two preparations were detected containing synthetic anabolic steroids not stated on the label. In conclusion, use of nutritional supplements was common among recreational athletes in Athens, Greece. A low level of awareness and low involvement of health care professionals as sources of information and supply were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

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ABSTRACT Although diet supplementation is a well‐established tool for managing livestock distributions and improving vegetation, the principle is less commonly applied to wild ungulates. One reason for this is that it is not known whether wildlife species, such as elk (Cervus elaphus), will habituate to novel supplements and feeders in the landscape. We, therefore, performed a pilot study during winters of 2013 and 2014 to test Rocky Mountain elk (C. e. nelsoni) preferences for 4 diet supplements—2 high in energy (beet pulp and molasses) and 2 high in protein (soybean meal and canola meal)—at a feeding ground in northern Utah, USA. We also tested elk preference for 2 types of feeders that differed in shape, size, and color. We measured the amounts of supplement consumed by elk and used observational techniques (scan sampling) to determine supplement and feeder preference. The weights of refused supplements showed that elk discriminated among supplements, showing greater preferences for high‐energy supplements during periods of low ambient temperatures (P more...

Mollicutes, a widespread class of bacteria associated with animals and plants, were recently identified as abundant abdominal endosymbionts in healthy workers of attine fungus-farming leaf-cutting ants. We obtained draft genomes of the two most common strains harbored by Panamanian fungus-growing ants. Reconstructions of their functional significance showed that they are independently acquired symbionts, most likely to decompose excess arginine consistent with the farmed fungal cultivars providing this nitrogen-rich amino-acid in variable quantities. Across the attine lineages, the relative abundances of the two Mollicutes strains are associated with the substrate types that foraging workers offer to fungus gardens. One of the symbionts is specific to the leaf-cutting ants and has special genomic machinery to catabolize citrate/glucose into acetate, which appears to deliver direct metabolic energy to the ant workers. Unlike other Mollicutes associated with insect hosts, both attine ant strains have complete phage-defense systems, underlining that they are actively maintained as mutualistic symbionts. more...

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of the chilled storage under an anoxic, high-CO 2 atmosphere (80% CO 2 /20% N 2) for 12 days on oxidation processes in pork from pigs fed with rapeseed oil and antioxidants. Pork necks were derived from animals fed a control fodder (C); a fodder with rapeseed oil (R); a fodder with rapeseed oil, selenium and vitamin E (R + Se + E); a fodder with rapeseed oil and selenium (R + Se); a fodder with rapeseed oil and vitamin E (R + E). The storage in the high-CO 2 modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) had an effect on lipid oxidation, related to the diet of animals. The protein oxidation increased during the storage, regardless of animals' diet. The highest increase of protein oxidation (>60%) measured by the free thiol content was found in group R + Se + E. Activity of superoxide dismutase after the storage increased in all groups beyond R + Se + E. The oxidation processes of stored pork meat occurred despite anoxic atmosphere. Probably oxidation was initiated by oxygen present in muscle or by absorbed CO 2 from surrounding atmosphere. The clustering data showed that storage of meat even in anoxic MAP cause undesirable changes in pork quality as a result of oxidation processes and prevail over dietary factors. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • The oxidation processes of stored pork meat occurred despite anoxic atmosphere. • Fodder supplementation with rapeseed oil and antioxidants impact on quality of pork. • The anoxic storage had higher impact on oxidation than animal fodder supplementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Abstract: Hydra, as sit‐and‐wait predators with limited food selectivity, could serve as model organisms for the analysis of the effect of a particular dietary component on growth and reproduction. We investigated the effect of food quality and of diets enriched with palmitic (PAM) or α‐linolenic acid (ALA) on the life history traits of two hydra species: Hydra oligactis and Hydra vulgaris. We tested the hypothesis that a diet enriched with polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can stimulate growth and reproduction in simple metazoans with a sit‐and‐wait type of predatory strategy. Our results revealed that a diet based on Artemia nauplii, which are not a natural food for freshwater hydra, stimulated growth, asexual reproduction, and survival in hydra. Artemia nauplii were characterized by the highest lipid content of all used food sources. The analysis of the fatty acid content of hydra indicated the domination the n‐6 fatty acids over n‐3 (eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA], docosahexaenoic acid [DHA], and ALA). Arachidonic acid appeared to be the dominant PUFA in Hydra, irrespective of diet supplementation with palmitic acid or ALA. The dietary supplementation of ALA negatively affected the survival, asexual reproductive rate, and size of clonal offspring of H. oligactis and had no effect on the life history traits of H. vulgaris. Our results also suggest that the hydras are not able to efficiently convert ALA into other essential fatty acids, such as EPA and DHA. To our knowledge, this is the first report about the adverse effects of n‐3 fatty acid supplementation in primitive metazoans such as hydra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Silymarin is a complex of plant-derived compounds obtained from the seed shells of the milk thistle (Silybum marianum). It is used in medicine primarily to protect the liver. The mixture contains mainly flavonolignans, with silybin as a paramount bioactive component of the extract. This article presents the potential health benefits for silymarin as an antifungal drug against five references strains: C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei with MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) values ranging from 30 to 300 µg/mL. Additionally, this study revealed that the compound suppressed the growth of cells of most of the tested clinical Candida albicans strains with MIC values between 30 and 1200 µg/mL. Based on the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI), the combination of silymarin with antifungal drugs caspofungin, fluconazole, and amphotericin B did not significantly change the MIC values for the tested Candida strains. Furthermore, no antagonistic reactions were observed in any combination of drugs. In addition, this substance shows anti-virulence properties including the destabilization of mature biofilm and the inhibition of the secretion of hydrolases. qRT-PCR-based experiments demonstrated that the SAP4 gene involved in virulence was downregulated by silymarin. These results indicate completely new advantages of dietary supplementation with this natural plant extract. more...