Sources of omega-6 fatty acids do not alter the rumen degradation and transit of fibre from dairy cow diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the behaviour of fibre in the digestive tract on the basis of the passage kinetics of forage and concentrate particles in cows fed different omega-6 fatty-acid sources. The scientific hypothesis of this study was that omega-6 fatty acids do not interfere with the digestion of fibre in the diets of dairy cows. Five primiparous lactating Holstein cows were used in the experiment. The experimental diets were: control (C), ground soyabean (GS), cottonseed (CS), soyabean oil (SO), calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA). The global mean estimates for the parameters of passage rate (gamma) were 0.038 and 0.055 h(-1) for forage and concentrate, respectively. The only significant effect with respect to the passage rate was a high negative correlation between the concentrate passage rate and dry matter intake. There was less undegradable neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in treatments without added lipid. Dietary supplementation with lipid sources does not alter the kinetic parameters of roughage and concentrate particle passage or in vitro NDF degradation. Sources of omega-6 fatty acids do not alter the rumen degradation and transit of fibre.

Effect of lipid sources with different fatty acid profiles on the intake, performance, and methane emissions of feedlot Nellore steers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Sources and levels of selenium on breast meat quality of broilers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Different true-protein sources do not modify the metabolism of crossbred Bos taurus x Bos indicus growing heifers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Lipid sources with different fatty acid profile alters the fatty acid profile and quality of beef from confined nellore steers

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Lipid and selenium sources on fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat and muscle selenium concentration of Nellore steers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of lipid and selenium sources in diets for finishing Nellore steers on the fatty acid composition and selenium concentration of the longissimus muscle. Fifty Nellore steers (body weight = 458 +/- 39 kg) were assigned to one of six dietary treatments: 1) diet containing sunflower seed and inorganic selenium; 2) sunflower seed and organic selenium; 3) whole cottonseed and inorganic selenium; 4) whole cottonseed and organic selenium; 5) soybeans and inorganic selenium; and 6) soybeans and organic selenium. Diets were formulated with the same amount of nitrogen and calories and supplied once daily to steers in collective pens, with three animals per pen, for 120 d. At the end of the trial, steers were slaughtered and samples of the longissimus muscle were collected for fatty acid and selenium analysis. Effect of selenium sources was detected for selenium concentration in the longissimus muscle. Organic selenium had higher concentrations in the meat compared with inorganic selenium. The total saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids did not differ between the sources of lipids and selenium. For selenium sources, no differences were observed between the concentrations of polyunsaturated fat. Also, no differences in C18:2 cis-9 trans-11 concentrations were noted; however, steers fed sunflower seed presented greater proportions of this fatty acid in the meat. The results indicated that the use of sunflower seed, cottonseed or soybeans and organic or inorganic selenium in feedlot diets to Nellore cattle does not alter the great part of the fatty acid profile of the longissimus muscle. However, the inclusion of sunflower seed in the diet increases the meat CLA cis-9, trans-11, which is desirable and beneficial for the health of consumers.

Effect of supplementation of two sources and two levels of copper on lipid metabolism in Nellore beef cattle

This study was conducted with 35 Nellore beef cattle to determine the effect of supplementation of two levels and two copper sources (organic and inorganic) on metabolism of lipids and cholesterol of meat. The five treatments used were: Control: without copper supplementation, 110 or 140: 10 or 40 mg/kg DM (as Cu sulfate), O10 or O40: 10 or 40 mg/kg DM (as Cu proteinate). In general, the copper supplementation changed the fatty acid profile of meat (p < 0.05), with a higher proportion of unsaturated fatty acids and reduction of saturated fatty acids. There was no effect of supplementation on blood cholesterol and triglycerides, however; in general, there was a reduction in cholesterol concentration in the L dorsi (p < 0.05) compared to the control treatment through the reduction (p < 0.05) in the concentrations of GSH and GSH/GSSG ratio. The Cu supplementation did have an influence on metabolism of lipids. The production of healthier meat is beneficial to public health by reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Norm and difference : Stone Age dietary practice in the Baltic region

Stone Age research on Northern Europe frequently makes gross generalizations about the Mesolithic and Neolithic, although we still lack much basic knowledge on how the people lived. The transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic in Europe has been described as a radical shift from an economy dominated by marine resources to one solely dependent on farming. Both the occurrence and the geographical extent of such a drastic shift can be questioned, however. It is therefore important to start out at a more detailed level of evidence in order to present the overall picture, and to account for the variability even in such regional or chronological overviews. Fifteen Stone Age sites were included in this study, ranging chronologically from the Early Mesolithic to the Middle or Late Neolithic, c. 8300–2500 BC, and stretching geographically from the westernmost coast of Sweden to the easternmost part of Latvia within the confines of latitudes 55–59° N. The most prominent sites in terms of the number of human and faunal samples analysed are Zvejnieki, Västerbjers and Skateholm I–II. Human and faunal skeletal remains were subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to study diet and ecology at the sites. Stable isotope analyses of human remains provide quantitative information on the relative importance of various food sources, an important addition to the qualitative data supplied by certain artefacts and structures or by faunal or botanical remains. A vast number of new radiocarbon dates were also obtained. In conclusion, a rich diversity in Stone Age dietary practice in the Baltic Region was demonstrated. Evidence ranging from the Early Mesolithic to the Late Neolithic show that neither chronology nor location alone can account for this variety, but that there are inevitably cultural factors as well. Food habits are culturally governed, and therefore we cannot automatically assume that people at similar sites will have the same diet. Stable isotope studies are very important here, since they tell us what people actually consumed, not only what was available, or what one single meal contained. We should not be deceived in inferring diet from ritually deposited remains, since things that were mentally important were not always important in daily life. Thus, although a ritual and symbolic norm may emphasize certain food categories, these may in fact contribute very little to the diet. By the progress of analysis of intra-individual variation, new data on life history changes have been produced, revealing mobility patterns, breastfeeding behaviour and certain dietary transitions. The inclusion of faunal data has proved invaluable for understanding the stable isotope ecology of a site, and thereby improve the precision of the interpretations of human stable isotope data. The special case of dogs, though, demonstrates that these animals are not useful for inferring human diet, since, due to the number of roles they possess in human society, dogs could deviate significantly from humans in their diet, and in several cases have been proved to do so. When evaluating radiocarbon data derived from human and animal remains from the Pitted-Ware site of Västerbjers on Gotland, the importance of establishing the stable isotope ecology of the site before making deductions on reservoir effects was further demonstrated. The main aim of this thesis has been to demonstrate the variation and diversity in human practices, challenging the view of a “monolithic” Stone Age. By looking at individuals and not only at populations, the whole range of human behaviour has been accounted for, also revealing discrepancies between norm and practice, which are frequently visible both in the archaeological record and in present-day human behaviour.

Dietary intake of environmentally persistent plaguicides in the european population

[EN] Global pollution has become one of the most important problems of the modern societies and pesticides play a major role among the chemical contaminants that are released to the environment every year. Organochlorine compounds have been widely used in the past all over the world as pesticides and some of them are still used for the control of vectors of infectious diseases. Due to their high lipophilicity, stability and resistance to degradation, most of them have been banned or strictly regulated but their levels remain high in the environment as persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Their presence in the environment leads to their introduction into the food chain, especially affecting food of animal origin with higher fat content. Due to their liposolubility, these substances tend to be bioaccumulated into the fat tissues of living beings along their entire lives, and to be biomagnificated across trophic levels in the food chain. Thus, the main human source of these pesticides comes from the daily intake of contaminated food from environmental sources. It has been established the role of many of the POPs as endocrine disruptors and even as carcinogenic agents, being thus considered as important risk factors for health. Moreover, chronic exposure to pesticides, even at very low levels, has been related with cancer, fertility problems, immunosuppression and other diseases. For this reason, it is important to know the level of POPs contamination and to identify the main sources contributing to it. Fish, meat and dairy products are the food groups with the highest levels of pollution. However, the residue levels vary by geographic area, and are influenced by several factors as food security policies, local pesticide use patterns, environmental practices, or the time when the study is conducted. Food habits, conditioned by different social and economic factors, as well as several biological factors (i.e. gender, sex and age), determine the levels of POPs exposure in the population. The purpose of this chapter is to give an overview of the dietary intake of environmentally persistent pesticides by the European population, and the potential adverse consequences of this exposure on human health.

PepT1 mRNA expression levels in sea bream (Sparus aurata) fed different plant protein sources

[EN] The expression and regulation of intestinal oligopeptide transporter (PepT)-1 when vegetable sources are used as a substitute for fish meal in the diet of marine fish has not yet been explored. In the present study, as part of our ongoing work on elucidating PepT1 gene expression in relation to different dietary treatments, we have now isolated and deposited in Genbank database (accession no. GU733710) a cDNA sequence representing the PepT1 in the sea bream (Sparus aurata). The ?de novo? prediction of the three-dimensional structure of PepT1 protein is presented. We also analyzed diet-induced changes in the expression of PepT1 mRNA via real-time RT-PCR using the standard curve method. Sea bream were fed for 140 days with one of the following four diet formulations (43% protein/21% lipid): a control fast growth-promoting diet (C), and three diets with the same formulation but in which 15% of the fish meal was substituted by protein concentrates either from lupine (LPC), chick pea (CPC), or green pea (PPC). Fish fed PPC had significantly (p < 0.05) lower levels of PepT1 transcripts in the proximal intestine than the controls, whereas PepT1 transcript levels in fish fed LPC or CPC were not significantly different from the controls. Although growth was similar between fish fed with different diets during the first 72 days of feeding, growth of the fish fed with PPC was reduced during the second part of the trial and was significantly (p < 0.05) lower than fish fed LPC and CPC diets by the end of the experiment. Correlation between these results and fish growth performances highlights that the intestinal PepT1 mRNA level may serve as a useful marker of the dietary protein quality and absorption efficiency.

Effect of feeding gilthead seabream ("Sparus aurata") with vegetable lipid sources on two potential inmunomodulator products : prostanoids and leptins

Máster Universitario International en Acuicultura. Trabajo presentado como requisito parcial para la obtención del Título de Máster Universitario Internacional en Acuicultura, otorgado por la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (ULPGC), el Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas (ICCM), y el Centro Internacional de Altos Estudios Agronómicos Mediterráneos de Zaragoza (CIHEAM)

Dietary factors in the modulation of inflammatory bowel disease activity.

CONTEXT: As patients look to complementary therapies for management of their diseases, it is important that the physician know the effectiveness and/or lack of effectiveness of a variety of dietary approaches/interventions. Although the pathogenesis of the inflammatory bowel diseases (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) is not fully understood, many suspect that diet and various dietary factors may play a modulating role in the disease process. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The purpose of this article is to present some of what is known about various dietary/nutritional factors in inflammatory bowel disease, with inclusion of evidence from various studies regarding their putative effect. MedLINE was searched (1965-present) using combinations of the following search terms: diet, inflammatory bowel disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis. Additionally, references of the articles obtained were searched to identify further potential sources of information. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: While much information is available regarding various dietary interventions/supplements in regard to inflammatory bowel disease, the lack of controlled trials limits broad applicability. Probiotics are one of the few interventions with promising results and controlled trials. CONCLUSION: While there are many potential and promising dietary factors that may play a role in the modulation of inflammatory bowel disease, it is prudent to await further controlled studies before broad application/physician recommendation in the noted patient population.

Nutrient Uptake by a Deposit-Feeding Enteropneust: Nitrogenous Sources

We measured carbon, nitrogen, protein, bacterial and microalgal abundance, and mineral-specific surface area in sediments from the feeding zone of undisturbed Saccoglossus kowalewskyi, as well as in their fresh egesta. Comparison of results using surficial material 1 mm) and the top 3 mm of sediments indicated ingestion of surficial material by the enteropneusts. Assuming the surficial sediment as a food source results in apparent absorption efficiencies of 15% for TOC, 35% for TON, 60% for protein and 86% for microalgae. The C:N ratio of the apparently absorbed material was 4.2, consistent with an amino acid-rich diet. Protein- nitrogen uptake, however, accounted for only about 28% of total nitrogen absorption, indicating a dominant use of non-protein nitrogen . Bacterial and microalgal contributions to dietary nitrogen uptake were no more than 3% and 4% respectively. Active worms maintain 2 foraging areas with an average total foraging volume of 0.9 cm3 and a volume ingestion rate of 0.06 to 0.12 cm3 ind.-1 h-1. If the preferred feeding zone of these enteropneusts is the nitrogen -enriched surficial layer, we estimate that their feeding activities will deplete the available food resources every 8 to 16 h and they may rely on biological and tidal redistribution of surface material.

Dietary intake patterns and relationships to polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) and phthalate body burden

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and phthalates are chemicals of concern because of high levels measured in people and the environment as well as the demonstrated toxicity in animal studies and limited epidemiological studies. Exposure to these chemicals has been associated with a range of toxicological outcomes, including developmental effects, behavioral changes, endocrine disruption, effects on sexual health, and cancer. Previous research has shown that both of these classes of chemicals contaminate food in the United States and worldwide. However, how large a role diet plays in exposure to these chemicals is currently unknown. To address this question, an exploratory analysis of data collected as part of the 2003-04 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) was conducted. Associations between dietary intake (assessed by 24-hour dietary recalls) for a range of food types (meat, poultry, fish, and dairy) and levels PBDEs and phthalate metabolites were analyzed using multiple linear regression modeling. Levels of individual PBDE congeners 28, 47, 99, 100 as well as total PBDEs were found to be significantly associated with the consumption of poultry. Metabolites of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) were found to be associated with the consumption of poultry, as well as with an increased consumption of fat of animal origin. These results, combined with results from previous studies, suggest that diet is an important route of intake for both PBDEs and phthalates. Further research needs to be conducted to determine the sources of food contamination with these toxic chemicals as well as to describe the levels of contamination of US food in a large, representative sample.^

Development of a food composition database for the estimation of dietary intakes of glucosinolates, the biologically active constituents of cruciferous vegetables

Evidence indicates that cruciferous vegetables are protective against a range of cancers with glucosinolates and their breakdown products considered the biologically active constituents. To date, epidemiological studies have not investigated the intakes of these constituents due to a lack of food composition databases. The aim of the present study was to develop a database for the glucosinolate content of cruciferous vegetables that can be used to quantify dietary exposure for use in epidemiological studies of diet-disease relationships. Published food composition data sources for the glucosinolate content of cruciferous vegetables were identified and assessed for data quality using established criteria. Adequate data for the total glucosinolate content were available from eighteen published studies providing 140 estimates for forty-two items. The highest glucosinolate values were for cress (389 mg/100 g) while the lowest values were for Pe-tsai chinese cabbage (20 mg/100 g). There is considerable variation in the values reported for the same vegetable by different studies, with a median difference between the minimum and maximum values of 5.8-fold. Limited analysis of cooked cruciferous vegetables has been conducted; however, the available data show that average losses during cooking are approximately 36 %. This is the first attempt to collate the available literature on the glucosinolate content of cruciferous vegetables. These data will allow quantification of intakes of the glucosinolates, which can be used in epidemiological studies to investigate the role of cruciferous vegetables in cancer aetiology and prevention.