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Background Defining reference intervals in experimental animal models plays a crucial role in pre-clinical studies. The hepatic parameters in healthy animals provide useful information about type and extension of hepatic damage. However, in the majority of the cases, to obtain them require an invasive techniques. Our study combines these determinations with dynamic functional test and imaging techniques to implement a non-invasive protocol for liver evaluation. The aim of the study was to determine reference intervals for hepatic function, perfusion and parenchyma attenuation with analytical and biochemical blood parameters, indocyanine green, ultrasound and computed tomography in six healthy SD rats. Methods Six males healthy SD rats were followed for 4 weeks. To determine hepatic function, perfusion and parenchyma attenuation analytical and biochemical blood parameters, indocyanine green, ultrasound and computed tomography were studied. Results were expressed as Means ± standard error of mean (SEM). The significance of differences was calculated by using student t-test, p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Indocyanine green clearance 5 and 10 minutes after its injection was 80.12% and 96.59%, respectively. Approximate rate of decay during the first 5 minutes after injection was 38% per minute. Hepatic perfusion evaluation with the high-frequency ultrasound was related to cardiovascular hemodynamic and renal perfusion. Portal area, hepatic artery resistance index, hepatic artery and portal peak systolic velocity and average between hepatic artery and porta was 3.41 ± 0.62 mm2, 0.57 ± 0.04 mm2/s, 693.24±102.53 mm2/s, 150.72 ± 17.80 mm2/s and 4.82 ± 0.96 mm2/s, respectively. Heart rate, cardiac output, left renal artery diammetre and renal blood flow were 331.01 ± 22.22 bpm, 75.58 ± 8.72 mL/min, 0.88 ± 0.04 mm2 and 13.65 ± 1.95 mm2/s. CT-scan hepatic average volume for each rat were 21.08±3.32, 17.57±2.76, 14.87±2.83 and 13.67±2.45 cm3 with an average attenuation coefficient of 113.51±18.08, 129,19±7.18, 141,47±1.95 y 151,67±1.2 HU. Conclusion Indocyanine green and high-frequency ultrasound could be used in rats as a suitable marker of liver function. Computed tomography, through the study of raw data, help to characterize liver parenchyma, and could be a potential tool for early detection of liver parenchymal alterations and linear follow-up of patients. Further studies in rats with liver disease are necessary to verify the usefulness of these parameters.

Seaweeds are an ideal food-safe natural source of minerals with a potential use in human nutrition. However, the presence of phytate and different treatments before consumption could modify mineral availability. The content and in vitro mineral availability after a simulated gastrointestinal digestion of wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), nori (Porphyra spp.), sea salad (Ulva lactuca, Palmaria palmata, Undaria pinnatifida, Porphyra spp., Laminaria spp.), and sea spaghetti (Himanthalia elongata) were studied. Experiments were assessed after a soaking treatment of seaweeds with cold (20 °C) or hot (70 °C) water, as usually processing before eating. Moreover, inositol phosphate content was determined in the edible macroalgae and the molar ratio phytate/mineral was used as a predictor of the relative availability of minerals. Overall, edible analyzed seaweeds showed a high Ca, Fe, P, and K contents, highlighting wakame for all the studied minerals. In all cases, soaking in cold water showed the highest soluble and dialyzable mineral fractions. High content of phytic acid (IP6) was observed in sea salad (≈ 25 mg (100 g)−1); meanwhile, sea spaghetti showed the lowest IP6 content (3.9 mg (100 g)−1). The low molar ratios Phy/Ca and Phy/Zn obtained in seaweeds could indicate an adequate availability. However, ratios Phy/Fe could compromise the iron availability in wakame, nori, and sea spaghetti. Results obtained confirm that external factor such as soaking, gastrointestinal digestion, and inositol phosphates can affect the mineral availability. Consumption of edible seaweeds can be recommended for the necessary intake of available minerals and trace elements.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a global crop and by far the most important non-cereal crop in the world. Therefore, it is necessary to assure its safe consumption. This is especially relevant in the case of its cultivation in abandoned mining areas, where the population tends to return to agriculture. In the present work, the objective is to evaluate the contribution to the diet of nutrients and contaminants of potato grown in soils from the Almaden area (mining district) by studying the intestinal absorption (in vitro) of the tuber, taking into account the preparation methods for its consumption.; Results: The results of contaminant and nutrient contents show that the potato peel retains significantly more elements (mainly in the case of toxic elements) than the flesh. Furthermore, potato (peel and flesh) is a good source of iron.; Conclusion: It is recommended to boil potatoes with the peel in order to minimize nutrient loss and, before consumption, peeling them to eliminate possible risks due to contaminants. In addition, to minimize the risk due of mercury and to improve the levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, it is recommended to add salt during the boiling process. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.; © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Plant extract activity can be modified by the digestion process. In order to assess the satiety effect of green tea and turmeric extracts, an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion process was performed and the STC-1 cell line was used. The enteroendocrine cell line was incubated (for 30, 60 and 120 minutes) with the digested and non-digested extracts measuring the secretion of cholecystokinin (CCK) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The release of satiety hormones by the STC-1 cells showed similar or higher results for plant extracts compared to the positive controls reported as satiatogenic (proteins and short chain fatty acids). For the non-digested samples, the largest amount of CCK and GLP-1 was found for turmeric, with 379 ± 46 pg ml-1 (60 min) and 347 ± 125 pg ml-1 (120 min) respectively. For the digested samples, the highest level of CCK was found for turmeric at 30 minutes (43.3 ± 11) and for GLP-1 by green tea at 120 minutes (165.7 ± 52). The in vitro gastrointestinal digestion process affects the satiety of plant extracts, increasing for green tea and decreasing for turmeric. Green tea showed the most stable satiating capacity after the in vitro digestion process and this may be useful for using it as a stable food supplement to reduce hunger associated with overweight and obesity.

Infant microbiota has to progress from an almost sterile to a complex and varied community, so the main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of three thickening ingredients on infant microbiota, as well as their in vitro gut fermentability. Experiments were performed using fresh faecal samples from healthy donors of 2–3 months of age. Stabilised stool samples were injected into Wheaton serum bottles containing pre-reduced MBM and 1% (w/v) fermentation substrates (locust bean gum, LBG; maize hydroxypropylated distarch phosphate, Mhdp; and pre-gelatinized rice starch, gRS). Samples were taken during fermentation, and pH, gas pressure, SCFA and bacterial population were analysed. The addition of thickeners resulted in a significant negative correlation (p < 0.05) between time and pH, showing significantly lower (p < 0.01) pH values for Mhdp and gRS than for LBG. Modified starches showed significantly higher values (p < 0.05) of total gas production than did LBG. Total SCFA molar concentrations for LBG, as well as propionate production, were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than for Mhdp and gRS. Regarding bacterial population, LBG promoted a more varied microbiota enhancing the growth of Atopobium and Bacteroidetes, whereas Mhdp and gRS induced higher Lactobacillus and Bifidobacteria at the beginning of fermentation. LBG induced moderate gas production and a slow drop of pH, and caused a decreasing acetate : propionate ratio, enhancing the development of a varied faecal microbiota. In contrast, Mhdp and gRS induced high gas production, a sudden drop of pH and a greater production of acetate, which promoted a less varied faecal microbiota.

Locust bean gum (LBG) and modified starches are commonly used as thickeners in food products for infants. However, there is no consensus on their possible effects on infant nutrition, especially on mineral availability. The aim of the present work was to characterize the effect of LBG, cross-linked, hydroxypropylated maize starch (Mhdp) and pre-gelatinized rice starch (gRS) on Ca, Fe and Zn availability during a gastric and intestinal in vitro digestion assay in relation to their physicochemical properties in solution (apparent viscosity, solubility, molar mass (M) and conformational properties) through the simulated digestion process. LBG gave the highest decrease in Ca and Fe gastric (17.96% and 17.6% respectively) and intestinal (19.5% and 13.5%) solubility with respect to the reference without thickeners. Ca (11.1%±1.1), Fe (2.77%±0.3) and Zn (7.78%±0.6) dialyzability was also lower than for the reference (23.4%±2.9; 19.65%±3.53 and 27.74%±3.3 respectively). LBG solubility remained stable during gastric digestion, decreasing significantly from a range of 65-69% to 61.1% after intestinal digestion. LBG viscosity remained stable during the digestion process, being these findings attributable to its resistance to enzymes. On the other hand, the addition to Mhdp or gRS slightly affected Ca and Fe solubility or Ca dialyzability, decreasing after gastric digestion and then increasing after intestinal digestion with respect to the reference. These results correlated to the changes in their viscosity enhancing properties, which increased during gastric digestion and decreased after intestinal digestion, being attributable to their digestion by pancreatic enzymes. Gastric digestion resulted in an increase in M for the modified starches (more pronounced for gRS). The increase in mineral solubility and dialyzability after intestinal digestion with respect to the gastric stage was explained by the degradation of starches by intestinal enzymes, which resulted in a decrease in apparent shear viscosity (from 1.2 to 1Pas, measured in a shear rate range 0.00-50s-1) and an increase in solubility (from 3 to 6% to approximately 70%) after intestinal digestion. In conclusion, LBG could be more effective than Mhdp and gRS as thickener, providing higher viscosity and resistance to digestive process. However, its negative effect on mineral solubility and dialyzability should be taken into account. On the contrary, Mhdp and gRS showed to be degraded after intestinal digestion.

Spices and herbs are gaining importance in recent years as potential sources of natural food preservatives due to the growing interest in the development of safe and effective natural food preservation. The amounts of phenolic compounds play a major role in their antimicrobial effects but it also depends of a wide variety of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, that must be characterized before the use of herbs and spices as ingredients. This fact leads to require a high concentration of these plant extracts to inhibit the microbial growth in foods causing negative organoleptic effects and limiting their use. The synergistic interaction with physical treatments or different natural additives may increase their antibacterial efficacy at sufficiently low concentration, which may reduce their adverse effects and facilitate their use in food preservation system.

Iron (Fe) deficiency anemia in young children is a global health concern which can be reduced by Fe fortification of foods. Cereal is often one of the first foods given to infants, providing adequate quantities of Fe during weaning. In this work, we have compared iron bioavailability and iron status of four iron sources used to fortify infant cereals, employing piglets as an animal model. The study was conducted on 36 piglets, 30 of them with induced anemia. From day 28 of life, the weaned piglets were fed with four experimental diets (n = 6) each fortified with 120 mg Fe/kg by ferrous sulfate heptahydrate (FSH), electrolytic iron (EI), ferrous fumarate (FF), or micronized dispersible ferric pyrophosphate (MDFP) for another 21 days. In addition, one group of six anemic piglets fed with the basal diet with no iron added (Control−) and a Control+ group of non-anemic piglets (n = 6) were also studied. Blood indicators of iron status were measured after depletion and during the repletion period. The Fe content in organs, hemoglobin regeneration efficiency, and relative bioavailability (RBV) was also determined. The Fe salts adequately treated anemia in the piglets, allowing the animals to recover from the anemic state, although EI was less efficient with regard to replenishing Fe stores giving lower concentrations of plasma ferritin and iron in the spleen, liver, lung, and kidney. In addition, the RBV of EI was 88.27% with respect to the reference iron salt (FSH). Ferrous fumarate and MDFP were equally as bioavailable as the reference salt, and were used significantly better than EI in piglets. These results contribute to extend the evidence-based results for recommending the most suitable fortificant for infant cereals.

The effect of several types of whey milk – cow, sheep, goat and a mixture of them (60 : 20 : 20, respectively) – was assessed in the human gut microbiota. The prebiotic potential of these substrates was evaluated through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion following faecal batch culture fermentations (mimicking colonic fermentation) for 48 hours, using faeces from normal-weight (NW) and obese (OB) donors. Throughout the fermentation process, pH, gas production, short chain and branched fatty acids (SCFA-BCFA) were measured, as well as the changes of microbiota using qPCR. The pH decreased in all whey samples during the fermentation process. Gas production was higher in all whey samples than in controls, especially at 12 hours (p < 0.05). The diversity of SCFA and BCFA production was significantly different between the donors, in particular cow and mixed whey. Whey milk had a strong prebiotic effect on the gut microbiota of NW and OB donors, showing a significant increase of Bifidobacterium (p < 0.05) with cow, sheep and mixed whey and increase in the Lactobacillus group, particularly in OB donors. Bacteria associated with obesity did not show an increase in any of the groups of donors. Therefore, supplementing a diet with these types of whey can selectively stimulate the growth of probiotic bacteria, enhancing SCFA production, which could improve intestinal disorders. In addition, it may be an interesting approach to the prevention of overweight and obesity and related diseases. Whey milk has a potent prebiotic effect. It can selectively stimulate desirable bacteria and SCFA profile, in both OB and NW donors, contributing to improved intestinal health and reducing obesity.

The effect of adding different thickening agents (locust bean gum (LBG), modified corn and rice starches (MCS, MRS)) to an infant formula on both in vitro mineral availability (Ca, Fe and Zn), quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and formula viscosity, after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, was investigated. LBG was the most effective agent to increase formula thickness. However, it showed a negative effect on Ca, Fe and Zn in vitro solubility and dialysability. MCS and MRS only affected calcium solubility and dialysability when they were used at ⩾50% of the maximum legal limit. No negative effect was observed for Fe and Zn when modified starches were added at the different concentrations assessed. The phytate content in the thickening ingredients was also analysed. Despite finding a considerable amount of phytic acid in the raw ingredients, its final concentration in the infant formula was insufficient to decrease in vitro mineral availability.

The selective antimicrobial effect of fruit juices enriched with pine bark extract (PBE) (0.5 g/L) has been studied before and after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. PBE (a concentrate of water-soluble bioflavonoids, mainly including phenolic compounds) has been proven to have high stability to the digestion process. Pure phenolic compounds such as gallic acid had a high antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, maintaining the lactic acid bacteria population (≈100%). Otherwise, E. coli O157:H7 only growth 50% when PBE was added to the culture media, while a slight increase on the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria was observed after exposition to the bark extract. Fresh fruit juices enriched with PBE showed the highest inhibitory effect on pathogenic intestinal bacterial growth, mainly E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis. The in vitro digestion process reduced the antibacterial effect of juices against most pathogenic bacteria in approximately 10%. However, the beneficial effect of fruit juices enriched with PBE (0.5 g/L) on gut microbiota is still considerable after digestion.

The aim of the study is to determine the existing correlation between high-resolution 3D imaging technique obtained through Micro Computed Tomography (mCT) and histological-histomorphometric images to determine in vivo bone osteogenic behavior of bioceramic scaffolds. A Ca-Si-P scaffold ceramic doped and non-doped (control) with a natural demineralized bone matrix (DBM) were implanted in rabbit tibias for 1, 3, and 5 months. A progressive disorganization and disintegration of scaffolds and bone neoformation occurs, from the periphery to the center of the implants, without any differences between histomorphometric and radiological analysis. However, significant differences (p &lt, 0.05) between DMB-doped and non-doped materials where only detected through mathematical analysis of mCT. In this way, average attenuation coefficient for DMB-doped decreased from 0.99 &plusmn, 0.23 Hounsfield Unit (HU) (3 months) to 0.86 &plusmn, 0.32 HU (5 months). Average values for non-doped decreased from 0.86 &plusmn, 0.25 HU (3 months) to 0.66 &plusmn, 0.33 HU. Combination of radiological analysis and mathematical mCT seems to provide an adequate in vivo analysis of bone-implanted biomaterials after surgery, obtaining similar results to the one provided by histomorphometric analysis. Mathematical analysis of Computed Tomography (CT) would allow the conducting of long-term duration in vivo studies, without the need for animal sacrifice, and the subsequent reduction in variability.

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion on the antioxidant and antiproliferative effect of fruit juices enriched with Pycnogenol® (0.5 g/L) on a colon carcinoma cell line (Caco-2). The total phenolic concentration (TPC), antioxidant activity and inhibition cell growth were studied in fresh and digested pineapple juice and red fruits juice (both enriched with pine bark extract and not). After in vitro digestion the level of detectable phenolic compounds (expressed as gallic acid equivalent) was higher in both pineapple and red fruits juices enriched with Pycnogenol® than in non-enriched commercial juices (155.6 mg/100 mL vs 94.6 mg/100 mL and 478.5 mg/100 mL vs 406.9 mg/100 mL, respectively). Increased antioxidant activity (measured by 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay (ORAC) methods) was observed in digested enriched juices with respect to the same samples before digestion. Pycnogenol® enrichment led to a high antiproliferative effect between 24 and 72 h of incubation with undigested pineapple juice compared with the non-enriched juice. It can be concluded that enrichment of fruit juices with Pycnogenol® provides a source of phenolic compounds with high stability to in vitro gastrointestinal conditions; however, the antioxidant properties of fruit juices were affected to a different extent. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a global crop and by far the most important non-cereal crop in the world. Therefore, it is necessary to assure its safe consumption. This is especially relevant in the case of its cultivation in abandoned mining areas, where the population tends to return to agriculture. In the present work, the objective is to evaluate the contribution to the diet of nutrients and contaminants of potato grown in soils from the Almadén area (mining district) by studying the intestinal absorption (in vitro) of the tuber, taking into account the preparation methods for its consumption.The results of contaminant and nutrient contents show that the potato peel retains significantly more elements (mainly in the case of toxic elements) than the flesh. Furthermore, potato (peel and flesh) is a good source of iron.It is recommended to boil potatoes with the peel in order to minimize nutrient loss and, before consumption, peeling them to eliminate possible risks due to contaminants. In addition, to minimize the risk due of mercury and to improve the levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, it is recommended to add salt during the boiling process. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

El uso excesivo de antimicrobianos en acuicultura puede seleccionar bacterias resistentes que puede suponer a un riesgo para la salud pública. Por esta razón, actualmente se buscan alternativas al uso de estos compuestos. Recientes estudios indican que el uso de ingredientes funcionales en acuicultura marina, como ciertos polisacáridos derivados de algas, puede estar relacionado con una mejora del sistema inmunológico de los organismos en cultivo, disminuyendo el riesgo de infecciones y por lo tanto, el uso de antimicrobianos. Las algas marinas son ricas en polisacáridos que poseen diversos efectos beneficiosos como actividad inmunoestimulante y prebiótica, que los convierten en compuestos funcionales prometedores y en una buena alternativa a la utilización de antibióticos. El objetivo de la presente revisión ha sido realizar una descripción de tres polisacáridos algales: alginato, carragenato y ulvano, capaces de mejorar el estado de salud de los organismos cultivados en acuicultura marina, así como recopilar estudios recientes que relacionan estos compuestos con diferentes efectos beneficiosos producidos en piscicultura marina.

Enrichment of fruit juices with pine bark extract (PBE) could be a strategy to compensate for phenolic losses during the gastrointestinal digestion. A coculture system with Caco-2 cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages was established as an in vitro model of inflamed human intestinal epithelium for evaluating the anti-inflammatory capacity of fruit juices enriched with PBE (0.5 g L(-1)) before and after in vitro digestion. The digestion of both PBE-enriched pineapple and red fruit juice led to significant changes in most of the analysed phenolic compounds. The in vitro inflammatory state showed cell barrier dysfunction and overproduction of IL-8, nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the inflamed cells, incubation with nondigested samples reduced (P

Las regurgitaciones gastroesofágicas en el lactante constituyen un proceso frecuente en los primeros meses de vida, fruto de la inmadurez de algunos mecanismos fisiológicos que regulan este proceso, con tendencia a desaparecer conforme avanza el desarrollo. Constituyen un motivo de consulta pediátrica frecuente, sobre todo cuando se acompañan de vómitos. En ocasiones, las recomendaciones posturales a adoptar durante la alimentación son suficientes para contribuir a mejorar la sintomatología. Cuando esto es insuficiente, existen protocolos de intervención en nutrición infantil como el diseño de fórmulas antirregurgitación, que contienen sustancias espesantes y/o modificaciones en la relación suero:caseína. Las fórmulas antirregurgitación se encuentran disponibles en farmacias y otros establecimientos de venta autorizados, sin que sea necesaria una prescripción médica para su adquisición. Estudios realizados sobre el empleo de fórmulas infantiles para el manejo pediátrico del reflujo gastroesofágico muestran ciertas contradicciones respecto a una recomendación sobre su uso. Algunos autores destacan que puede aparecer un efecto negativo sobre la biodis-ponibilidad mineral y de otros micronutrientes como consecuencia de los agentes espesantes utilizados como ingredientes. En la presente revisión se abordan los aspectos que, sobre el empleo de fórmulas infantiles antiregurgitación, precisan de mayor investigación para permitir elaborar fórmulas antirregurgitación eficaces y totalmente seguras para una población que es especialmente vulnerable, y en la que una correcta alimentación permite un adecuado desarrollo y buen estado de salud en la etapa adulta.

En este estudio se ha evaluado la eficacia de dos ácidos orgánicos contemplados en la lista positiva de aditivos alimentarios, el lactato sódico (E-325) y el diacetato sódico (E-262), sobre el crecimiento de Listeria monocytogenes. Estos aditivos se adicionaron en diferentes concentraciones a un medio de cultivo líquido, determinando el incremento de densidad óptica del medio a 600 nm durante 24 horas a 37 0C, con respecto al medio sin inocular que se tomó como blanco, realizando la medida cada hora. El incremento de absorbancia se midió con respecto al tiempo, evaluando el crecimiento de la bacteria a través de la interpretación de la tasa máxima de incremento de absorbancia (μ) y el tiempo mínimo requerido para detectar un incremento en la densidad óptica del medio (λ). Este último parámetro se puede equiparar al tiempo de latencia o tiempo de adaptación al medio. Así, para el lactato sódico, se observó que ejerce un efecto negativo dosis dependiente sobre el crecimiento de L. monocytogenes, prolongando el tiempo que necesitó la bacteria para adaptarse al medio de cultivo (λ), sin afectar a la tasa de crecimiento (μ) una vez que esta comenzó a crecer. El diacetato sódico mostró ser más efectivo que el lactato sódico frente al crecimiento de la bacteria, incrementando el tiempo de adaptación al medio, así como disminuyendo la tasa de crecimiento. Además, el diacetato sódico consiguió inhibir de forma completa el crecimiento de la bacteria a concentraciones iguales o superiores a 0.2%. The effectiveness of two organic acids included in the positive list for additives, sodium lactate (E-325) and sodium diacetate (E-262), was evaluated against Listeria monocytogenes growth. Different concentrations of these additives were added to the liquid culture medium. The optical density increments at 600 nm was measured for a 24 hours period under 37 0C, using non-inoculated medium as blank. The measurements were taken every hour in sterile 96 wells plates each. After this analysis, a graphical representation of absorbance increment against time was done, extrapolating the maximum absorbance increment rate (μ) and the minimum time required to detect an absorbance increment (λ) from the graphic. These two parameters made possible to evaluate the bacterial growth. After the analysis of λ and μ for lactate concentrations, a negative effect in bacterial growth was observed, extending λ value. Nevertheless, once the bacterial growth started, any effect on μ value was detected. A higher inhibitory effect was observed after the analysis of these parameters for diacetate concentrations, an extension on λ value as well as a μ value descent was found. In this way, a total inhibition of growth occurred when diacetate concentration was 0,2% or higher.