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Introduction: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of substituting fish meal with pork meal in feed on the growth performance, feed utilization, intestinal morphology, and immune function of Penaeus monodon. Methods: A total of 600 uniformly sized juvenile shrimp with an initial weight of 1.20 ± 0.03 g were randomly assigned to four groups, with each group consisting of six replicates of 25 shrimp each. Fish meal protein was replaced with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% pork meal, and crystalline amino acids and fish oil were supplemented accordingly. The groups were designated as P0, P5, P10, and P15, and the study duration was 70 days. Results: Results indicated no significant difference in specific growth rate (SGR) between the P5 and P10 groups compared to the P0 group. However, the SGR in the P15 group was significantly lower than that in the P5 and P10 groups. Feed conversion rates (FCRs) for the P5 and P10 groups were comparable to the P0 group, whereas the P15 group showed a significantly higher FCR than the other groups. There were no significant differences in whole body composition among all the groups. Apart from alanine, the amino acid composition of muscles did not differ significantly among all the groups. Results of enzyme activity in plasma revealed that the replacement of fish meal with pork meal reduced levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Specifically, levels of AST in the P5 and P15 groups were significantly lower compared to the P0 and P10 groups. Histological examination of midgut tissues showed that villus height initially increased and then decreased with higher replacement ratios. The P5 group had the highest villus height, while the P15 group had the lowest villus height. Analysis of gene expression related to liver immune functions indicated that genes in TLR signaling pathway were significantly elevated in the P15 group compared to the other groups. Discussion: In conclusion, even with the supplementation of crystalline amino acids and fish oil, pork meal should not replace more than 10% of fish meal in the feed of P. monodon to maintain optimal growth and feed efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To support the growth of China's breeding chicken industry, many enterprises seek to enhance the safety and efficiency of chicken nutrition through advanced nutrition regulation technology. This is aimed at addressing issues such as low fertilization rates and slow weight gain among newborn chicks. One promising solution is β-carotene, a natural compound that is widely available and cost-effective. Once converted into vitamin A, β-carotene can provide vital nutrients for the body while offering valuable antioxidant and immune regulating properties. By reducing the harmful effects of free radicals, β -carotene can enhance animal health and disease resistance. This review explores the nutritional value and physiological benefits of β-carotene and recent research into its role in boosting the reproductive performance and economic benefits of breeding chickens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) is an important economic fish in China, and its production ranks first in mariculture fish. The quality of farmed large yellow croaker has attracted more and more attention, and it is also an important factor determining the market value of this fish species. Many factors determine the quality of farmed fish, including genetic background, aquaculture model, environment and feed nutrition. As an essential nutrient and energy carrier for farmed animals, feed is one of the important means to regulate the growth, development and quality of large yellow croaker, which has attracted more and more attention from researchers and farmers. In the present study, the quality regulation of farmed large yellow croaker by feed nutrition was comprehensively sorted out and summarized. The establishment of the quality evaluation index system of farmed large yellow croaker and the nutritional regulation of feed on the quality of large yellow croaker were reviewed. The future development direction of large yellow croaker formulated feed was prospected, which provided theoretical support for the sustainable development of large yellow croaker farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposure to and health hazards of phthalates have received abundant attention. However, reducing phthalate exposure and further decreasing the associated health risks are difficult. Nonetheless, it is important to actively seek relevant measures. Recently, antioxidant vitamins have been frequently mentioned to improve phthalate-related issues. This scoping review summarizes the existing epidemiological and experimental studies on the interaction of phthalates with antioxidant vitamins. Through a systematic search, sparse epidemiological studies explored the effects of interaction between phthalates and vitamins on reproduction, the endocrine, respiratory, and nervous system and human aging. Four prospective studies were conducted in China, the United States, Canada and Netherlands. Only one study from Netherlands focused on the female reproductive system.The other three studies focused on neurological damage to fetuses caused by phthalate exposure, and its mitigation by vitamin supplementation during pregnancy. Four cross-sectional studies were conducted based on the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. These studies involved hazards in different systems and interactions with different vitamins. Overall, epidemiological evidence suggests that antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, B, D, and folic acid probably may alter the health hazards induced by phthalate exposure. Current animal studies often focus on three phthalates, DBP, DEHP and DIDP,22 DBP, dibutyl phthalate; DEHP, diethylhexyl phthalate; DIDP, diisodecyl phthalate and most commonly, the first two phthalates. These chemicals cause reproductive, urinary, digestive and neurodevelopmental damage; the antioxidant vitamin C, E and B could mitigate the harm caused by phthalates. Possible mechanisms involve reducing oxidative stress, removing methylation,etc. Determining whether these mechanisms are similar to those in humans requires a rigorous experimental study.

IntroductionThe present study aimed to evaluate the effects of substituting fish meal with pork meal in feed on the growth performance, feed utilization, intestinal morphology, and immune function of Penaeus monodon.MethodsA total of 600 uniformly sized juvenile shrimp with an initial weight of 1.20 ± 0.03 g were randomly assigned to four groups, with each group consisting of six replicates of 25 shrimp each. Fish meal protein was replaced with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 15% pork meal, and crystalline amino acids and fish oil were supplemented accordingly. The groups were designated as P0, P5, P10, and P15, and the study duration was 70 days.ResultsResults indicated no significant difference in specific growth rate (SGR) between the P5 and P10 groups compared to the P0 group. However, the SGR in the P15 group was significantly lower than that in the P5 and P10 groups. Feed conversion rates (FCRs) for the P5 and P10 groups were comparable to the P0 group, whereas the P15 group showed a significantly higher FCR than the other groups. There were no significant differences in whole body composition among all the groups. Apart from alanine, the amino acid composition of muscles did not differ significantly among all the groups. Results of enzyme activity in plasma revealed that the replacement of fish meal with pork meal reduced levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Specifically, levels of AST in the P5 and P15 groups were significantly lower compared to the P0 and P10 groups. Histological examination of midgut tissues showed that villus height initially increased and then decreased with higher replacement ratios. The P5 group had the highest villus height, while the P15 group had the lowest villus height. Analysis of gene expression related to liver immune functions indicated that genes in TLR signaling pathway were significantly elevated in the P15 group compared to the other groups.DiscussionIn conclusion, even with the supplementation of crystalline amino acids and fish oil, pork meal should not replace more than 10% of fish meal in the feed of P. monodon to maintain optimal growth and feed efficiency.

Honeysuckle, as an important medicinal and edible plant, contains a variety of chemical active components, mainly including volatile oils, flavonoids, organic acids and iridoid glycosides, etc., which have antibacterial, antiinflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, antipyretic, and immunomodulatory effects. Honeysuckle and its extract can improve the digestion, absorption and utilization rate of feed, promote the growth and development of livestock and poultry and meat quality, regulate the metabolism of energy, protein, lipids and sugar of livestock and poultry, and improve the immune function and antioxidant capacity of livestock and poultry. In the paper, the main active components, physiological functions, and application status of honeysuckle and its extracts in livestock and poultry production were summarized, in order to provide a reference for honeysuckle and its extracts to improve the production efficiency and product quality of livestock and poultry, and to replace antibiotics in livestock and poultry production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to explore the effects of three medicinal plant (Perilla frutescens, Illicium verum, and Artemisia annua) extracts on growth, immune function and microflora of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated: basic feed (control, CON), 0.075% extracts of Perilla frutescens (PFE), Illicium verum (IVE), or Artemisia annua (AAE) feed. Apparently healthy fish (initial body weight of 8.20 ± 0.03 g; total number of 300) were randomly assigned into four groups in triplicate 25 fish tanks, and fish were fed with each of the four experiment feeds for 80 days. Compared with the CON group, groups IVE and AAE fish significantly improved growth performance (final weight, weight gain rate, and specific growth rates; P < 0.05) and decreased hepatic lipid content and hepatopancreas somatic index. Groups IVE and AAE significantly enhanced the hepatic antioxidant capacity (Catalase, Glutathione peroxidase dismutase, and Superoxide dismutase), and up-regulated the mRNA levels of hepatic tight junction protein (Occluding-1 and Claudin-1; P < 0.05) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-10 and transforming growth factor-β; P < 0.05). In addition, groups IVE and AAE decreased the transaminase activity and the contents of D-lactic acid in serum (P < 0.05). Groups PFE and AAE significantly improved albumin and globulin contents in serum immunity (P < 0.05). In addition, IVE and AAE groups significantly increased the α-diversity of intestinal flora, reduced the abundance of underlying harmful bacteria (Plesiomonas and Aeromonas), and increased the abundance of probiotics bacteria (Lactobacillus and Weissella; P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that supplementation of feed with IVE and AAE can improve the immune function and change the abundance of intestinal flora, ultimately increasing growth of largemouth bass. Overall, PFE group did not perform well compare with the IVE and AAE groups.

The intramuscular fat content in ruminant fat has an important impact on meat quality of animals. The intramuscular fat content can be adjusted through balanced nutrition feeding and management, so as to effectively improve the meat quality of animals. Fatty acids determine the characteristics of fat in animal body,so exploring the formation process of fatty acids is of great significance for the study of fat deposition. Fat deposition is affected by animal breed,sex,age, feeding pattern,environment,nutrition and other factors. By changing the fat deposition in yak muscle,the quality and taste of yak meat can be improved. Yak is a special breed of animal in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and its adjacent areas and is the main source of production and living materials for local herdsmen. In this paper, the influencing factors of yak fat deposition were summarized from various aspects to promote the subsequent research on yak fat deposition and yak beef quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress caused by high temperature environment in summer has become one of the important factors restricting the healthy development of beef cattle breeding industry. Heat stress can lead to decreased feed intake, behavioral changes, endocrine hormone disorders, immune function decline, gastrointestinal flora structure and metabolism disorders in beef cattle. The heat stress of beef cattle can be alleviated by adjusting the nutrition level of daily food and adding Chinese herbs. The paper reviews the effect of heat stress on physiological indexes, behavioral changes, endocrine system, heat shock protein, immune function, antioxidant function and gastrointestinal flora of beef cattle, as well as nutritional regulation measures to alleviate heat stress in beef cattle, aiming to provide reference for reducing the harm of heat stress to beef cattle and promoting the efficient and healthy development of the industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of circadian rhythm on rumen nutrient digestibility using the nylon bag method and the digestibility characteristics of dietary nutrients during the daytime and at night. It also presents modification suggestions for evaluating the nutritional value of raw feed materials. The rumen nutrient digestibility was measured and investigated for correlation with circadian rhythm using the nylon bag method. We established a sheep-feeding program to determine the differences in rumen nutrient digestibility between the daytime and nighttime. The digestibility of 18 standard feed samples was investigated in 6 Hu sheep with ruminal fistulas (body weight: 33.59 ± 0.39 kg, 12 months old). Samples were incubated in the rumen for three periods: daytime (12 h, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM), night (12 h, 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM), and the entire day (24 h, 6:00 AM to 6:00 AM). The activities of enzymes amylase, lipase and cellulase were higher during the day than at night. The rumen digestibility of organic matter was significantly higher during the daytime than at night compared to the digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and ether extract (EE). Among them, the rumen digestibility of DM and CP was higher, but the digestibility of EE was lower during the daytime than at night in cereal feed fed sheep. The rumen digestibility of DM was higher in roughage-fed sheep but lower in rice straw- and corn silage-fed sheep during the day than at night. Circadian rhythms correlate strongly with the activities of major digestive enzymes in the rumen and the rumen digestibility of nutrients. Moreover, the nylon bag method needs to be modified and improved to ascertain the appropriate time for placing the nylon bag in the rumen and thus establish a unified procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial protease is obtained by microbial culture and fermentation, which has the characteristics of strong specificity, simple production process, low cost, safety and efficiency. Adding microbial protease in feed can promote the absorption and utilization of protein by animals, improve animal growth performance, reduce the inhibition of anti nutritional factors in feed, improve intestinal health, and improve body immunity. The paper introduces the classification and characteristics of microbial protease, discusses the screening and optimization of feed protease producing microorganisms, and analyzes the animal nutrition regulation technology of microbial protease, to provide reference for the application of microbial protease in animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), is an important natural enemy in agricultural ecosystems. In spite of being a carnivore consuming protein‐rich preys, the lady beetles often consume carbohydrate‐rich food like nectar or honeydew. However, most studies on nutrition regulation of carnivores mainly focus on protein and lipid, two major macronutrients in preys. In this study, nutrition regulation of protein and carbohydrate has been investigated in the 4th instar larvae of H. axyridis using Geometric Framework. We provided the insects two pairs of foods, one a protein‐biased one and the second carbohydrate‐biased, to determine the intake target. We then confined them to nutritionally imbalanced foods to examine how they regulated food intake to achieve maximal performance. The larvae performed well on the 2 foods that containing the closest P : C ratios to the intake target, but, surprisingly, the lipid content was much lower than that in the choice experiment. The lady beetles seemed to maintain the optimal lipid content by consuming carbohydrate‐rich food. Moreover, consuming the carbohydrate‐rich food was less metabolically expensive than the protein‐rich food. Therefore, switching behavior between plant and animal foods actually reflects their nutritive needs. These findings extended our understanding of predator forage behavior and its influence on food web in ecosystems, and shed light on the role of agri‐environment schemes in meeting the nutritional need of predators in field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exposure to and health hazards of phthalates have received abundant attention. However, reducing phthalate exposure and further decreasing the associated health risks are difficult. Nonetheless, it is important to actively seek relevant measures. Recently, antioxidant vitamins have been frequently mentioned to improve phthalate-related issues. This scoping review summarizes the existing epidemiological and experimental studies on the interaction of phthalates with antioxidant vitamins. Through a systematic search, sparse epidemiological studies explored the effects of interaction between phthalates and vitamins on reproduction, the endocrine, respiratory, and nervous system and human aging. Four prospective studies were conducted in China, the United States, Canada and Netherlands. Only one study from Netherlands focused on the female reproductive system.The other three studies focused on neurological damage to fetuses caused by phthalate exposure, and its mitigation by vitamin supplementation during pregnancy. Four cross-sectional studies were conducted based on the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. These studies involved hazards in different systems and interactions with different vitamins. Overall, epidemiological evidence suggests that antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin A, B, D, and folic acid probably may alter the health hazards induced by phthalate exposure. Current animal studies often focus on three phthalates, DBP, DEHP and DIDP, 2 2 DBP, dibutyl phthalate; DEHP, diethylhexyl phthalate; DIDP, diisodecyl phthalate and most commonly, the first two phthalates. These chemicals cause reproductive, urinary, digestive and neurodevelopmental damage; the antioxidant vitamin C, E and B could mitigate the harm caused by phthalates. Possible mechanisms involve reducing oxidative stress, removing methylation,etc. Determining whether these mechanisms are similar to those in humans requires a rigorous experimental study. [Display omitted] • The first review explored vitamins' modification on phthalate-induced health effects. • Antioxidant vitamins mitigate PAEs-induced reproductive toxicity and neurotoxicity. • More research is on modulating effects of vitamin C and E on PAEs hazards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress can affect the physiological status and production performance of waterfowl through effect on genes and proteins of the neurohumoral regulation, gut microbiota and lipid oxidation, leading to economic losses. Common stress in waterfowl includes heat stress and cold stress. In production, the cold and heat stress of waterfowl can be alleviated by controlling ambient temperature and adding nutrients in diets. In the paper, ducks and geese are taken as representatives of waterfowl and the main influencing mechanisms and nutritional regulation measures of cold and heat stress in winter and summer water-saving poultry production are reviewed, to provide reference for waterfowl breeding and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Okara (soybean curd residue) has a wide range of sources, but its high content of anti-nutritional factors and crude fiber. Microbial fermentation can improve the nutritional properties of okara and increase the content of active substances. Fermented okara has physiological functions such as improving intestinal health, promoting the digestion and absorption of nutrients, improving the body's antioxidant capacity and regulating fat metabolism. The article reviews the research progress on nutritional properties of fermented okara, the mechanism of active substances and its application in aquatic products, in order to provide a reference for the rational application of fermented okara in aquatic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of circadian rhythm on rumen nutrient digestibility using the nylon bag method and the digestibility characteristics of dietary nutrients during the daytime and at night. It also presents modification suggestions for evaluating the nutritional value of raw feed materials. The rumen nutrient digestibility was measured and investigated for correlation with circadian rhythm using the nylon bag method. We established a sheep-feeding program to determine the differences in rumen nutrient digestibility between the daytime and nighttime. The digestibility of 18 standard feed samples was investigated in 6 Hu sheep with ruminal fistulas (body weight: 33.59 ± 0.39 kg, 12 months old). Samples were incubated in the rumen for three periods: daytime (12 h, 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM), night (12 h, 6:00 PM to 6:00 AM), and the entire day (24 h, 6:00 AM to 6:00 AM). The activities of enzymes amylase, lipase and cellulase were higher during the day than at night. The rumen digestibility of organic matter was significantly higher during the daytime than at night compared to the digestibilities of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), and ether extract (EE). Among them, the rumen digestibility of DM and CP was higher, but the digestibility of EE was lower during the daytime than at night in cereal feed fed sheep. The rumen digestibility of DM was higher in roughage-fed sheep but lower in rice straw- and corn silage-fed sheep during the day than at night. Circadian rhythms correlate strongly with the activities of major digestive enzymes in the rumen and the rumen digestibility of nutrients. Moreover, the nylon bag method needs to be modified and improved to ascertain the appropriate time for placing the nylon bag in the rumen and thus establish a unified procedure.

Animal antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), known as broad-spectrum and high-efficiency antibacterial activity, are important effector molecules in innate immune system. AMPs not only have antimicrobial, antiviral and antitumor effects but also exhibit important effects in vivo, such as anti-inflammatory response, recruiting immune cells, promoting epithelial damage repair, and promoting phagocytosis of bacteria. However, research on the application of AMPs is incomplete and controversial. This review mainly introduces the classification of AMPs, biological functions, as well as the mechanisms of action, expression rules, and nutrition regulation from three perspectives, aiming to provide important information for the application of AMPs.

This paper examines the changes to procurement for school food environments in Canada as a response to changes to nutrition regulations at the provincial level. Interviews with those working in school food environments across Canada revealed how changes to the nutrition requirements of foods and beverages sold in schools presented opportunities to not only improve the nutrient content of the items made available in school food environments, but also to include local producers and/or school gardens in procuring for the school food environment. At the same time, some schools struggle to procure nutritionally compliant foods due to increased costs associated with transporting produce to rural, remote, or northern communities as well as logistic difficulties like spoilage. Although the nutrition regulations have facilitated improvements to food environments in some schools, others require more support to improve the overall nutritional quality of the foods and beverages available to students at school.

• Plastic film mulch (PFM) increased the yield but reduced the grain protein content. • PFM increased grain structural protein content but reduced its gluten content. • For each 100 kg ha−1 increase in N fertilizer, the globulin content increased by 0.1%. • The optimal N rates were 167 kg ha−1 for albumin and 100 kg ha−1 for glutenin under PFM. High crop yield and high quality are the primarily targets in intensive crop production. Although the plastic film mulch (PFM) approach has been well established for high-yielding wheat production in dryland, effects of PFM on wheat grain quality is still poorly understood. Therefore, multi–site and fixed location field experiments were conducted to investigate effects of PFM on grain yield, protein content and its components content of dryland winter wheat in 2014–2016 in the Loess Plateau of China. Compared with no mulch (NM), PFM increased the grain yield, structural protein contents and the ratio of gliadin/glutenin by 634 kg ha−1, 11.3%–30.8% and 15.1%, respectively, but reduced the total protein and its gluten contents by 7.8% and 3.4%–15.1%. Furthermore, PFM significantly increased the proportion of albumin, globulin and gliadin to total protein by 22.3%, 44.2% and 5.5%, respectively, but decreased the proportion of glutenin by 7.4%, compared to NM. The highest grain yield, albumin and glutenin content were attained when the critical N rates were 146 kg N ha−1, 167 kg N ha−1 and 100 kg N ha−1, respectively. Moreover, for every 100 kg ha−1 increase in N fertilizer, the globulin content increased by 0.11%, but the ratio of gliadin/glutenin decreased by 0.12%. In summary, PFM did not show any benefit for gluten, while precise N fertilizer management provided an opportunity for improving grain processing quality of dryland wheat. In order to tradeoff between grain yield and its processing quality, the optimal N application rate (146–167 kg N ha−1) should be considered under PFM. These findings suggest that optimal N management serves as a basis for further investigation and regulation of grain protein components of wheat under PFM in the semiarid area of China and similar cropping system around the world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elongase of very long-chain fatty acids (Elovl) 4 probably plays a crucial role in marine fish species, where lack of Elovl2 has been considered as one possible reason for their low long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids' (LC-PUFAs) biosynthetic capability. Elongase of very long-chain fatty acids 4 is the most recent member of the Elovl family that has been investigated in fish. Here, we report the molecular cloning and functional characterization of putative elovl4 cDNA isolated from marine teleost, Epinephelus coioides, and its expression in response to dietary n-3 LC-PUFA and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) ratio. The elovl4 cDNA of grouper was 2341 bp including 301 bp of 5′-untranslated region (UTR), 918 bp of the coding region that encodes 305 amino acids (AA) and 1122 bp of 3′UTR. Heterologous expression in yeast demonstrated that grouper Elovl4 could elongate saturated fatty acids (FA), especially 24:0 and 26:0, up to 36:0. Also, grouper Elovl4 effectively converted C20 and C22 polyunsaturated FAs to elongated polyenoic products up to C36. Tissue distribution analysis revealed that Elovl4 were widely transcribed in various tissues with the highest level in eye, brain and testis as described in other teleosts. The transcript level of elovl4 was significantly affected by dietary n-3 LC-PUFA and high LC-PUFA level repressess its expression. However, the ratio of DHA to EPA had no significant influence on its expression. These results may contribute to better understanding the LC-PUFA biosynthetic pathway in this fish species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although research on the role of genetically engineered antibodies and liposomes in the immunology or the nutrition field is extensive, there is no case for immunoliposome to nutrient target regulation. It is known that liposomes are spherical particles that encapsulate a fraction of the solvent, in which they freely diffuse (float) into their interior. Therefore, identification of immunoliposomes in hypothalamic site or intestinal epithelial cells that are differentially regulated by liposomes encapsulating nutrients or drugs will be an important step toward understanding the role of immunoliposomes in nutrition regulation progression and ingredient stability. Consequently, a useful model (immunoliposomal nutrient delivery system, ILNDS) of nutrient target regulation via immunoliposomes is designed to regulate the endocrine system effectively. This review focuses on antibody libraries' construction, display and selection, a brief introduction of immunoliposome, and how to use ILNDS for nutrient target regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of REGULATION (EC) No 1924/2006 has led to the formation of a list of health claims that can be used in food supplements (EU 432/2012). However, such supplements are often composed of plant preparations with claims omitted from this list. The peculiarity of plants is related to their long history of use, that could allow claims based on traditionally recognized health effects. In addition, the scientific literature has been enriched over the years through clinical studies that have assessed the bioavailability and efficacy of bioactive components, and investigated their mechanisms of action. Based on existing recognized models which aim to classify research according to the level of scientific evidence, Synadiet developed a three-grade model (A, B or C) for assessing plants health claims. In this paper, the applicability of the model is illustrated through an example for which a Grade B health claim attesting the possible contribution of red clover isoflavones to the improvement of blood lipid levels in postmenopausal women has been attributed. The model appears able to be easily extrapolated to claims pertaining to other plants. If adopted by consensus at European level, this model could initiate the implementation of a positive list of health claims on plant preparations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intestinal epithelial barrier plays a crucial role in the health and growth of weaned piglets. Proper epithelial function mainly depends on tight junctions (TJs), which act as both ion channels and a barrier against noxious molecules. TJs are multiprotein complexes consisting of transmembrane and membrane-associated proteins. Because the intestine in piglets is immature and incomplete, its structure and function are easily impaired by various stresses, infections, and food-related factors. Certain nutrients have been demonstrated to participate in intestinal TJ regulation. Probiotics, amino acids, fibers, oligosaccharide, and certain micronutrients can enhance barrier integrity and counteract infections through elevated TJ protein expression and distribution. In this review, the distribution and classification of intestinal TJs is described, the factors influencing TJs after weaning are summarized, and the regulation of weaning piglet intestinal TJs by nutrients is discussed., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)