Co-Encapsulated Synbiotics and Immobilized Probiotics in Human Health and Gut Microbiota Modulation

Growing interest in the development of innovative functional products as ideal carriers for synbiotics, e.g., nutrient bars, yogurt, chocolate, juice, ice cream, and cheese, to ensure the daily intake of probiotics and prebiotics, which are needed to maintain a healthy gut microbiota and overall well-being, is undeniable and inevitable. This review focuses on the modern approaches that are currently being developed to modulate the gut microbiota, with an emphasis on the health benefits mediated by co-encapsulated synbiotics and immobilized probiotics. The impact of processing, storage, and simulated gastrointestinal conditions on the viability and bioactivity of probiotics together with prebiotics such as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, phytochemicals, and dietary fibers using various delivery systems are considered. Despite the proven biological properties of synbiotics, research in this area needs to be focused on the proper selection of probiotic strains, their prebiotic counterparts, and delivery systems to avoid suppression of their synergistic or complementary effect on human health. Future directions should lead to the development of functional food products containing stable synbiotics tailored for different age groups or specifically designed to fulfill the needs of adjuvant therapy.

Download Full-text

Impact of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Pregnant Women: A Review

Coronaviruses ◽

10.2174/2666796701999201116123457 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 01 ◽

Author(s):

Saima Habeeb ◽

Manju Chugani

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Vertical Transmission ◽

Respiratory Infections ◽

Age Groups ◽

Well Being ◽

Fetal Outcome ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Coronavirus Infection ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The Impact

: The novel coronavirus infection (COVID‐19) is a global public health emergency.Since its outbreak in Wuhan, China in December 2019, the infection has spread at an alarming rate across the globe and humans have been locked down to their countries, cities and homes. As of now, the virus has affected over 20million people globally and has inflicted over 7 lac deaths. Nevertheless, the recovery rate is improving with each passing day and over 14 million people have recuperated so far. The statistics indicate that nobody is immune to the disease as the virus continues to spread among all age groups; newborns to the elders, and all compartmentsincluding pregnant women. However, pregnant women may be more susceptible to this infection as they are, in general, highly vulnerable to respiratory infections. There is no evidence for vertical transmission of the COVID-19 virus among pregnant women, but an increased prevalence of preterm deliveries. Besides this, the COVID-19 may alter immune response at the maternal-fetal interface and affect the well-being of mothers as well as infants. Unfortunately, there is limited evidence available in the open literature regarding coronavirus infection during pregnancy and it now appears that certain pregnant women have infected during the present 2019-nCoV pandemic. In this short communication, we study the impact of the COVID-19 infection on vertical transmission and fetal outcome among pregnant women.

Download Full-text

Milk Fatty Acid Profiles in Different Animal Species: Focus on the Potential Effect of Selected PUFAs on Metabolism and Brain Functions

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu13041111 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (4) ◽

pp. 1111

Author(s):

Maria P. Mollica ◽

Giovanna Trinchese ◽

Fabiano Cimmino ◽

Eduardo Penna ◽

Gina Cavaliere ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Human Health ◽

Milk Fat ◽

Animal Species ◽

Essential Fatty Acids ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Milk Fatty Acids ◽

Brain Functions ◽

The Impact

Milk contains several important nutrients that are beneficial for human health. This review considers the nutritional qualities of essential fatty acids (FAs), especially omega-3 (ω-3) and omega-6 (ω-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) present in milk from ruminant and non-ruminant species. In particular, the impact of milk fatty acids on metabolism is discussed, including its effects on the central nervous system. In addition, we presented data indicating how animal feeding—the main way to modify milk fat composition—may have a potential impact on human health, and how rearing and feeding systems strongly affect milk quality within the same animal species. Finally, we have presented the results of in vivo studies aimed at supporting the beneficial effects of milk FA intake in animal models, and the factors limiting their transferability to humans were discussed.

Download Full-text

An approach to assess stress in response to drive hunts using cortisol levels of wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-95927-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Justine Güldenpfennig ◽

Marion Schmicke ◽

Martina Hoedemaker ◽

Ursula Siebert ◽

Oliver Keuling

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Stress Hormones ◽

Age Groups ◽

Group Living ◽

Well Being ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

Negative Impacts ◽

The Impact ◽

Effect Of Age

AbstractHunting can easily be linked to stress in wildlife. Drive hunts performed two to three times in one area during the respective hunting period, are thought to decrease the pressure hunting places on wildlife. Nevertheless, the expression of cortisol—one of the main mammalian stress hormones—is considered to have negative impacts on animals’ well-being if expressed excessively, which may occur during some (especially repeated) hunting events. We explored the effect of drive hunts on cortisol levels in wild boar in Lower Saxony, Germany, compared these cortisol levels to reference values given by a similar study, and investigated the effect of age, sex, and pregnancy. Blood collected from wild boar shot on drive hunts was analysed using a radioimmunoassay. As expected, we observed elevated cortisol levels in all samples, however, we still found significant differences between age groups and sexes, as well as an influence of pregnancy on cortisol levels. The effect of drive hunts on cortisol levels appears to be weaker than predicted, while the effects of other variables, such as sex, are distinct. Only half of the evaluated samples showed explicitly increased cortisol levels and no significant differences were found between sampling months and locations. Group living animals and pregnant females showed significantly higher cortisol levels. The impact of hunting is measurable but is masked by natural effects such as pregnancy. Thus, we need more information on stress levels in game species.

Download Full-text

One Health, Fermented Foods, and Gut Microbiota

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods7120195 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (12) ◽

pp. 195 ◽

Cited By ~ 26

Author(s):

Victoria Bell ◽

Jorge Ferrão ◽

Lígia Pimentel ◽

Manuela Pintado ◽

Tito Fernandes

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

One Health ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Animal Health ◽

Saturated Fat ◽

Well Being ◽

Fermented Foods ◽

Being There ◽

The Impact

Changes in present-day society such as diets with more sugar, salt, and saturated fat, bad habits and unhealthy lifestyles contribute to the likelihood of the involvement of the microbiota in inflammatory diseases, which contribute to global epidemics of obesity, depression, and mental health concerns. The microbiota is presently one of the hottest areas of scientific and medical research, and exerts a marked influence on the host during homeostasis and disease. Fermented foods and beverages are generally defined as products made by microbial organisms and enzymatic conversions of major and minor food components. Further to the commonly-recognized effects of nutrition on the digestive health (e.g., dysbiosis) and well-being, there is now strong evidence for the impact of fermented foods and beverages (e.g., yoghurt, pickles, bread, kefir, beers, wines, mead), produced or preserved by the action of microorganisms, on general health, namely their significance on the gut microbiota balance and brain functionality. Fermented products require microorganisms, i.e., Saccharomyces yeasts and lactic acid bacteria, yielding alcohol and lactic acid. Ingestion of vibrant probiotics, especially those contained in fermented foods, is found to cause significant positive improvements in balancing intestinal permeability and barrier function. Our guts control and deal with every aspect of our health. How we digest our food and even the food sensitivities we have is linked with our mood, behavior, energy, weight, food cravings, hormone balance, immunity, and overall wellness. We highlight some impacts in this domain and debate calls for the convergence of interdisciplinary research fields from the United Nations’ initiative. Worldwide human and animal medicine are practiced separately; veterinary science and animal health are generally neither considered nor inserted within national or international Health discussions. The absence of a clear definition and subsequent vision for the future of One Health may act as a barrier to transdisciplinary collaboration. The point of this mini review is to highlight the role of fermented foods and beverages on gut microbiota and debate if the need for confluence of transdisciplinary fields of One Health is feasible and achievable, since they are managed by separate sectors with limited communication.

Download Full-text

An approach to stress assessment during hunting: Cortisol levels of wild boar (Sus scrofa) during drive hunts

10.1101/2020.03.11.987628 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Justine Güldenpfennig ◽

Marion Schmicke ◽

Martina Hoedemaker ◽

Ursula Siebert ◽

Oliver Keuling

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Cortisol Level ◽

Age Groups ◽

Serum Cortisol ◽

Well Being ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

Pregnant Females ◽

Wildlife Species ◽

Cortisol Levels ◽

The Impact

AbstractOnly little is known about the effect of stress (both short-term and long-term) on wildlife species. To get an idea of stress in wildlife, we investigated the cortisol level of wild boar during drive hunts in Lower Saxony, Germany. Cortisol as one of the main stress hormone in mammals is considered to have negative impacts on the animal’s well-being if expressed excessively (repeatedly over a longer period). We analysed serum cortisol levels of 115 samples using a radioimmunoassay and compared sampling month, hunting grounds, age classes and sexes, as well as possible correlations between cortisol level and weight and pregnancy status of female wild boar. We found that cortisol levels during these drive hunts exhibit wide variation. The mean cortisol level was 411.16 nmol/L with levels ranging from 30.60 nmol/L (minimum) to 1,457.92 nmol/L (maximum). Comparing age groups and sexes, we found significant differences between the sexes, with females having a higher cortisol levels than males. After grouping age groups and sexes together, we also found significant differences based on the age-sex group. We found no correlation between cortisol levels and weight, but significantly higher cortisol levels in pregnant females compared to non-pregnant females. No differences were found between sampling months and locations, respectively. These results show the impact of drive hunts on stress in wild boar; nevertheless, this impact of drive hunts as performed in most parts of Central Europe seems to be not as high as imagined. Still, we need more information about cortisol levels and stress in (hunted) wildlife species.

Download Full-text

Assessing and managing fluorosis risk in children and adults in rural Madhya Pradesh, India

Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development ◽

10.2166/washdev.2011.101 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 1 (2) ◽

pp. 136-143 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sam Godfrey ◽

Pawan Labhasetwar ◽

Tapas Chakma ◽

Satish Wate ◽

Aditya Swami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Age Groups ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Madhya Pradesh ◽

Fluoride Content ◽

Baseline Survey ◽

Nutritional Interventions ◽

Chemical Risk Assessment ◽

Guideline Value ◽

Guideline Values ◽

The Impact

This paper presents the application of quantitative chemical risk assessment for assessing and managing fluorosis in 19 schools and 6 villages in Madhya Pradesh, India. A longitudinal study was undertaken with a baseline survey in 2005 and an endline in 2007. Household surveys, water quality and food analysis were undertaken to measure the impact of an Integrated Fluorosis Mitigation programme that included water and nutritional interventions. The baseline survey indicated a maximum fluoride content of 7.8 mg/l in food and 3.7 mg/l in water, equating to a maximum fluoride uptake of 4.8 and 3.7 mg/l in food and water respectively. Mean (actual) daily intake of fluoride for all exposure routes was 0.4 mg/kg of combined adult and child body weight. Intake of fluoride through food was more than 40% of total intake. Calculated guideline values for age groups <18 years and >18 years were 1.7 and 1.9 mg/l respectively. Using WHO methodology, the Guideline Value would be 1.7 mg/l. Fluoride dilution was implemented to reduce the fluoride content to below this level. The endline survey indicated reduction in the prevalence of grade 1 fluorosis of 86%, of grade 2 of 77%, of grade 4 of 60% in all children examined.

Download Full-text

The impact of early gut microbiota modulation on the risk of child disease: alert to accuracy in probiotic studies

Beneficial Microbes ◽

10.3920/bm2014.0114 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (2) ◽

pp. 167-171 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

E. Isolauri ◽

S. Salminen

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Allergic Inflammation ◽

Clinical Intervention ◽

Probiotic Potential ◽

Inflammatory State ◽

Probiotic Strains ◽

Risk Of Disease ◽

Different Populations ◽

The Impact ◽

And Storage

The composition of the gut microbiota, and thus also the modification of the gut microbiota by specific probiotics or prebiotics early in life, may have an impact on the risk of disease in the child. Above the impact on gut microecology, probiotic effects have been attributed to restoration to normal of increased intestinal permeability, improvement of the intestine's immunological barrier functions, alleviation of the intestinal inflammatory response, and reduced generation of proinflammatory cytokines characteristic of local and systemic allergic inflammation. Recent demonstrations from experimental and clinical studies suggest that the gut microbiota is also involved in the control of body weight and energy metabolism, affecting the two main causes of obesity: energy acquisition and storage, and contributing to insulin resistance and the inflammatory state characterising obesity. Current research focuses both on characterising specific probiotic strains and on how the food matrix and the dietary content interacts with the most efficient probiotic strains. It is important to characterise each probiotic to species and strain level and to select strains with documented properties, the probiotic potential being strain-specific. As any proof of causality requires clinical intervention studies in humans in different populations, rigorous and detailed documentation will enhance reproducibility and circumvent confusion.

Download Full-text

Probiotics as Human Health Promoters

RADS Journal of Biological Research & Applied Sciences ◽

10.37962/jbas.v9i2.152 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 102-105

Author(s):

Shiekh Ajaz Rasool ◽

Fehmida Mirza ◽

Hera Waheed ◽

Muhammad Munir

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Proteolytic Enzymes ◽

Streptococcus Thermophilus ◽

Well Being ◽

Micro Rna ◽

Signal Pathways ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Probiotic Strains ◽

H Pylori ◽

Microbial Groups

Probiotics (Pro-life live entities) provide the health and well being with multitude of beneficial effects on humans and animals (and relief against varied disorders). Probiotics may manage lactose intolerance, elevate immune profile, prevent colorectal cancers, reduce cholesterol and triglyceride profile, lowering blood pressure and inflammatory process. They also prevent osteoporosis, allergic reactions and help suppress H. pylori infections and other pathological manifestations. Microbial metabolites (even in the absence of live entities) may exert (analogous) effects on signal pathways and barrier functions. Such substances are referred as â€˜Postbioticsâ€™ (the plain metabolic byproduct of probiotics, bioactive manifestations in the host). Generally, postbiotics include secondary metabolites such as bacteriocins, organic acids, ethanol, acetaldehyde, reactive oxygen species (ROS). Such metabolites are inhibitory against pathogenic strains of different broad spectrum drug resistant microbial groups (MDR, XDR etc). Postbiotics are safe, apathogenic which may resist hydrolysis by enzymes of mammalian origin. It has been described that micro-RNA profile of human milk may exert the inhibitory effects of probiotics. Our research group has been investigating the merits of mammalian milk as a viable source of probiotics that secrete bioactive peptides against MDR/biofilm producing strains (ref. Streptococcus thermophilus and Enterococcus faecalis, a GIT probiont). These peptides are in the range of 10-16KDa molecular mass (sensitive to proteolytic enzymes as well). Genes coding for these peptides are plasmid associated. Mode of action of these peptides is bacteriostatic. Molecular identification of these Probiotic strains is being followed. This, on the whole marks an emphasis on biological operation of novel strains of Probiotic and their applications in medico-clinical areas to improve the human health and wellness.

Download Full-text

Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Inhibit the Function of Human URAT1, a Renal Urate Re-Absorber

Nutrients ◽

10.3390/nu12061601 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 1601 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hiroki Saito ◽

Yu Toyoda ◽

Tappei Takada ◽

Hiroshi Hirata ◽

Ami Ota-Kontani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fatty Acids ◽

Human Health ◽

Serum Urate ◽

The Body ◽

Omega 3 ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Uricosuric Agents ◽

Transport Assay ◽

The Impact

The beneficial effects of fatty acids (FAs) on human health have attracted widespread interest. However, little is known about the impact of FAs on the handling of urate, the end-product of human purine metabolism, in the body. Increased serum urate levels occur in hyperuricemia, a disease that can lead to gout. In humans, urate filtered by the glomerulus of the kidney is majorly re-absorbed from primary urine into the blood via the urate transporter 1 (URAT1)-mediated pathway. URAT1 inhibition, thus, contributes to decreasing serum urate concentration by increasing net renal urate excretion. Here, we investigated the URAT1-inhibitory effects of 25 FAs that are commonly contained in foods or produced in the body. For this purpose, we conducted an in vitro transport assay using cells transiently expressing URAT1. Our results showed that unsaturated FAs, especially long-chain unsaturated FAs, inhibited URAT1 more strongly than saturated FAs. Among the tested unsaturated FAs, eicosapentaenoic acid, α-linolenic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid exhibited substantial URAT1-inhibitory activities, with half maximal inhibitory concentration values of 6.0, 14.2, and 15.2 μM, respectively. Although further studies are required to investigate whether the ω-3 polyunsaturated FAs can be employed as uricosuric agents, our findings further confirm FAs as nutritionally important substances influencing human health.

Download Full-text

Metabolic Signatures of the Exposome—Quantifying the Impact of Exposure to Environmental Chemicals on Human Health

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo10110454 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 454

Author(s):

Matej Orešič ◽

Aidan McGlinchey ◽

Craig E. Wheelock ◽

Tuulia Hyötyläinen

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Well Being ◽

Adverse Outcomes ◽

Environmental Chemicals ◽

Chemical Exposures ◽

Intermediate Phenotypes ◽

Disease Risks ◽

External Exposures ◽

The Impact ◽

Made In

Human health and well-being are intricately linked to environmental quality. Environmental exposures can have lifelong consequences. In particular, exposures during the vulnerable fetal or early development period can affect structure, physiology and metabolism, causing potential adverse, often permanent, health effects at any point in life. External exposures, such as the “chemical exposome” (exposures to environmental chemicals), affect the host’s metabolism and immune system, which, in turn, mediate the risk of various diseases. Linking such exposures to adverse outcomes, via intermediate phenotypes such as the metabolome, is one of the central themes of exposome research. Much progress has been made in this line of research, including addressing some key challenges such as analytical coverage of the exposome and metabolome, as well as the integration of heterogeneous, multi-omics data. There is strong evidence that chemical exposures have a marked impact on the metabolome, associating with specific disease risks. Herein, we review recent progress in the field of exposome research as related to human health as well as selected metabolic and autoimmune diseases, with specific emphasis on the impacts of chemical exposures on the host metabolome.

Download Full-text