Functional Properties and Metabolic Profile of National Fermented Products of Russia and South Africa

. Both Russia and South Africa have a long-standing history of fermented milk product consumption. Along with the products widely distributed around the world, such as yoghurts, in each of these countries there are a number of national products. An example of a widely demanded fermented milk product in Russia is Kefir.This productis used not only as a food source in the diet of children and adults, but also in medical institutions, since ithasa positive effect onhuman health when consumed regularly. South Africa is characterized by the consumption of products such as Amasi,which is produced commercially. Its consumption has also been shown to have beneficial effects on the digestive system. In this research, the metabolic profiles(fatty acid composition and volatile compounds) of these fermented milk products were analyzed and these showed significant differences. The results indicated that this metabolite composition reflected the different production protocols and microbial complexity of these dairy products. The functional properties of the studied drinks were also considered.The average content of L-leucine equivalents in Amasi was slightly higher (6.5-8.9mMol×L −1) than in Kefir (4.9-6.7mMol×L −1). Antioxidant and antihypertensive activity of the fermented products correlated with the depth of hydrolysis of the milk proteins. Amasishowed higher antioxidant and antihypertensive activities (600- 796µМolТE/ml and 1.3-1.5mg/ml, respectively) than Kefir (246-574µМolТE/ml and 2.0-4.3mg/ml, respectively). Keywords: fermented products, Kefir, Amasi,metabolic profile, antioxidant potential, antihypertensive properties

Maternal first trimester metabolic profile in TGA pregnancies - a case-control study

Objective: To evaluate the association between maternal first trimester metabolic profile and transposition of the great arteries (TGA) in the offspring. Design: A matched case-control study using national register data and maternal first trimester blood samples. Settings: Finland Patients: A total of 100 mothers with TGA in their offspring and 200 controls matched by the year of birth and sex of the child, and the age and the body mass index (BMI) of the mother. Interventions: None. Main outcome measures: To identify the impact of 73 metabolic measure concentrations on the likelihood that a child would be born with TGA. Results: A higher concentration of four subtypes in extremely large very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles and one in large VLDL particles were observed in mothers with TGA in their offspring. This finding did not reach statistical significance after multiple testing correction. In the analysis of the subgroups of maternal BMI over 25 and 30 only, the odds ratios (OR) of the metabolic variables were higher compared to the original population. In the group with a BMI over 25 the mean OR was 1.3 (N= 111, total) and in the group with a BMI over 30 was 2.1 (N= 42, total). Conclusions: We found no statistically significant difference between the metabolic profiles of mothers with TGA in their offspring, and their controls. However, the trend in our BMI-matched study potentially indicates that the likelihood of TGA development associates with maternal early-pregnancy metabolic profile, and the association is more pronounced in the subgroups of BMI over 25 and 30. Further studies are needed especially in the higher BMI groups.

Energetics of Floor Gymnastics: Aerobic and Anaerobic Share in Male and Female Sub-elite Gymnasts

Background Artistic gymnastics is a popular Olympic discipline where female athletes compete in four and male athletes in six events with floor exercise having the longest competition duration in Women’s and Men’s artistic gymnastics (WAG, MAG). To date no valid information on the energetics of floor gymnastics is available although this may be important for specific conditioning programming. This study evaluated the metabolic profile of a simulated floor competition in sub-elite gymnasts. Methods 17 (9 male, 8 female) sub-elite gymnasts aged 22.5 ± 2.6y took part in a floor-training-competition where oxygen uptake was measured during and until 15 min post-exercise. Additionally, resting and peak blood lactate concentration after exercise were obtained. The PCr-LA-O2 method was used to calculate the metabolic energy and the relative aerobic (WAER), anaerobic alactic (WPCr) and anaerobic lactic (WBLC) energy contribution. Further, the athletes completed a 30 s Bosco-jumping test, a countermovement jump and a drop jump. Results The competition scores were 9.2 (CI:8.9–9.3) in WAG and 10.6 (CI:10.4–10.9) in MAG. The metabolic profile of the floor routine was mainly aerobic (58.9%, CI: 56.0–61.8%) followed by the anaerobic alactic (24.2%, CI: 21.3–27.1%) and anaerobic lactic shares (16.9%, CI:14.9–18.8%). While sex had a significant (p = .010, d = 1.207) large effect on energy contribution, this was not the case for competition duration (p = .728, d = 0.061). Relative energy contribution of WAG and MAG differed in WAER (64.0 ± 4.7% vs. 54.4 ± 6.8%, p = .004, d = 1.739) but not in WPCr (21.3 ± 6.1% vs. 26.7 ± 8.0%, p = .144, d = 0.801) and WBLC (14.7 ± 5.4% vs. 18.9 ± 4.2%, p = .085, d = 0.954). Further no correlation between any energy share and performance was found but between WPCr and training experience (r = .680, p = .044) and WBLC and competition level (r = .668, p = .049). Conclusion The results show a predominant aerobic energy contribution and a considerable anaerobic contribution with no significant difference between anaerobic shares. Consequently, gymnastic specific aerobic training should not be neglected, while a different aerobic share in WAG and MAG strengthens sex-specific conditioning. All in all, the specific metabolic share must secure adequate energy provision, while relative proportions of the two anaerobic pathways seem to depend on training and competition history.

Metabolic Profile Characterization of Different Thyroid Nodules Using FTIR Spectroscopy: A Review

Thyroid cancer’s incidence has increased in the last decades, and its diagnosis can be a challenge. Further and complementary testing based in biochemical alterations may be important to correctly identify thyroid cancer and prevent unnecessary surgery. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a metabolomic technique that has already shown promising results in cancer metabolome analysis of neoplastic thyroid tissue, in the identification and classification of prostate tumor tissues and of breast carcinoma, among others. This work aims to gather and discuss published information on the ability of FTIR spectroscopy to be used in metabolomic studies of the thyroid, including discriminating between benign and malignant thyroid samples and grading and classifying different types of thyroid tumors.

Maternal high-fat diet programs white and brown adipose tissue lipidome and transcriptome in offspring in a sex- and tissue-dependent manner in mice

Objective The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children has drastically increased during the last decades and maternal obesity has been demonstrated as one of the ultimate factors. Nutrition-stimulated transgenerational regulation of key metabolic genes is fundamental to the developmental origins of the metabolic syndrome. Fetal nutrition may differently influence female and male offspring. Methods Mice dam were fed either a control diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 6-week prior mating and continued their respective diet during gestation and lactation. At weaning, female and male offspring were fed the HFD until sacrifice. White (WAT) and brown (BAT) adipose tissues were investigated in vivo by nuclear magnetic resonance at two different timepoints in life (midterm and endterm) and tissues were collected at endterm for lipidomic analysis and RNA sequencing. We explored the sex-dependent metabolic adaptation and gene programming changes by maternal HFD in visceral AT (VAT), subcutaneous AT (SAT) and BAT of offspring. Results We show that the triglyceride profile varies between adipose depots, sexes and maternal diet. In female offspring, maternal HFD remodels the triglycerides profile in SAT and BAT, and increases thermogenesis and cell differentiation in BAT, which may prevent metabolic complication later in life. Male offspring exhibit whitening of BAT and hyperplasia in VAT when born from high-fat mothers, with impaired metabolic profile. Maternal HFD differentially programs gene expression in WAT and BAT of female and male offspring. Conclusion Maternal HFD modulates metabolic profile in offspring in a sex-dependent manner. A sex- and maternal diet-dependent gene programming exists in VAT, SAT, and BAT which may be key player in the sexual dimorphism in the metabolic adaptation later in life.

Intestinal Microbiota and Serum Metabolic Profile Responded to Two Nutritional Different Diets in Mice

There is an interaction and bidirectional selection between dietary intake and gut microbiota due to the different efficiency of nutrients in the gut. The nutritional composition of germ-free (GF) diets differs significantly from specific pathogen-free (SPF) diets. There is, however, no data revealing how SPF animals from the same microbial background respond to them and if they affect the host. We examined the growth of SPF mice on the GF diet and found that it reduced body weight, intestinal length and intestinal morphology. Interestingly, the GF diet increased the level of pro-inflammatory bacteria in the gut of SPF mice, including Proteobacteria, Burkholderiaceae, Alloprevotella and Parasutterella. Furthermore, GF diets caused significant increases in malondialdehyde (MDA), IL-1β, IL-6, and D-lactate levels in the serum of SPF mice and significantly altered their serum metabolic profile, especially amino acid metabolism. In conclusion, GF diets are not suitable for the growth and development of SPF mice. These findings, based on the role of gut microbiota in diet selection, provide new insights into the scientific and rational use of experimental animal diets.

Body composition, physical capacity, and immuno-metabolic profile in community-acquired pneumonia caused by COVID-19, influenza, and bacteria: a prospective cohort study

Background Different pathogens can cause community-acquired pneumonia (CAP); however, the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has re-emphasized the vital role of respiratory viruses as a cause of CAP. The aim was to explore differences in metabolic profile, body composition, physical capacity, and inflammation between patients hospitalized with CAP caused by different etiology. Methods A prospective study of Danish patients hospitalized with CAP caused by SARS-CoV-2, influenza, or bacteria. Fat (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) were assessed with bioelectrical impedance analysis. Physical activity and capacity were assessed using questionnaires and handgrip strength. Plasma (p)-glucose, p-lipids, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), p-adiponectin, and cytokines were measured. Results Among 164 patients with CAP, etiology did not affect admission levels of glucose, HbA1c, adiponectin, or lipids. Overall, 15.2% had known diabetes, 6.1% had undiagnosed diabetes, 51.3% had pre-diabetes, 81% had hyperglycemia, and 60% had low HDL-cholesterol, with no difference between groups. Body mass index, FM, and FFM were similar between groups, with 73% of the patients being characterized with abdominal obesity, although waist circumference was lower in patients with COVID-19. Physical capacity was similar between groups. More than 80% had low handgrip strength and low physical activity levels. Compared to patients with influenza, patients with COVID-19 had increased levels of interferon (IFN)-γ (mean difference (MD) 4.14; 95% CI 1.36–12.58; p = 0.008), interleukin (IL)-4 (MD 1.82; 95% CI 1.12–2.97; p = 0.012), IL-5 (MD 2.22; 95% CI 1.09–4.52; p = 0.024), and IL-6 (MD 2.41; 95% CI 1.02–5.68; p = 0.044) and increased IFN-γ (MD 6.10; 95% CI 2.53–14.71; p < 0.001) and IL-10 (MD 2.68; 95% CI 1.53–4.69; p < 0.001) compared to patients with bacterial CAP, but no difference in IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-8, IL-18, IL-12p70, C-reactive protein, and adiponectin. Conclusion Despite higher inflammatory response in patients with COVID-19, metabolic profile, body composition, and physical capacity were similar to patients with influenza and bacterial CAP.