An in vitro study to assess bioaccessibility and bioavailability of calcium from blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou) fish bone powder

The aim of this study was to determine how well calcium-rich mineral extracts derived from blue whiting fish bone powders compare with existing calcium sources (commercially available fish bone supplement, calcium carbonate and milk powder) in terms of physicochemical properties, in vitro bioaccessibility and bioavailability using simulated gastrointestinal tract treatment and a Caco-2 cell culture model. Blue whiting calcium-rich fish bone powders (A to E) were supplied by Bio-marine Ingredients Ireland (BII) and a commercial calcium-rich fish bone powder was used as the positive control F. The BII calcium-rich fish bone powders analysed through atomic emission spectrometry were shown to have similar levels of mineral content in comparison with powder F. Solubility and rheology tests were performed on the rehydrated powders. The pH of BII calcium-rich fish bone powders in water solution (10% w/v) ranged from 6.96 to 9.09 compared to control F (pH 7.33). Following simulated oral, gastric and duodenal in vitro digestion using the COST INFOGEST standardised static adult digestion method, the fish powders A, E and F showed higher values of soluble ionic calcium than rehydrated milk powder. We compared in vitro bioavailability of the powders using the Caco-2 cell line to test the effects of calcium on human colonic epithelial cells, which confirmed that calcium from blue whiting fish bone was more bioavailable than calcium from milk and calcium carbonate. These data indicate that calcium-rich blue whiting fish bone powder compares well with existing calcium sources, in terms of physicochemical properties, bioaccessibility and bioavailability.

Pleistophora finisterrensis. [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria].

A description is provided for Pleistophora finisterrensis, the only microsporidian recorded from Micromesistius poutassou, the blue whiting, a North Atlantic fish of the order Gadiformes, and known from no other host. Some information on its morphology, dispersal and transmission and conservation status is given, along with details of its geographical distribution (Europe (Spain and UK)) and host (M. poutassou).

A Multiplex PCR Assay Combined with Capillary Electrophoresis for the Simultaneous Identification of Atlantic Cod, Pacific Cod, Blue Whiting, Haddock, and Alaska Pollock

With an increased consumption of seafood products, food fraud with fish resources has been continuously reported. In particular, codfish has been exploited worldwide as a processed product in fresh, frozen, smoked, canned, or ready-to-eat dish forms. However, it is challenging to identify processed fish products after processing because of their similar morphological characteristics. Substitution and mislabeling of codfish among different species are also happening deliberately or unintentionally. Thus, it is necessary to distinguish cod species to prevent fish adulteration and food fraud. In this study, we developed a multiplex PCR for simultaneously identifying five cod species within Gadidae using capillary electrophoresis. Then, their species-specific primer sets were designed by targeting the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Subsequently, the amplicon sizes obtained were 237 bp, 204 bp, 164 bp, 138 bp, and 98 bp for Atlantic cod, Pacific cod, blue whiting, haddock, and Alaska pollock, respectively. The specificity of each primer was further tested using 19 fish species, and no cross-reactivity was observed. The limit of detection of this multiplex PCR assay was 1 pg. The developed multiplex PCR assay can be applied to 40 commercial food products successfully. This detection method will be efficient for managing seafood authentication by simultaneously analyzing multiple cod species.

Blue Whiting Protein Hydrolysates Exhibit Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Activities in Stimulated Murine RAW264.7 Cells

This study investigated the antioxidant and immunomodulatory potential of six blue whiting soluble protein hydrolysates (BWSPHs, BW-SPH-A to -F) and their simulated gastrointestinal digests (SGID, BW-SPH-A-GI to -F-GI) in murine RAW264.7 macrophages. Hydrolysate BW-SPH-A, both pre- and post-SGID, increased endogenous antioxidant glutathione (GSH) in tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH)-treated cells and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) in H2O2-challenged RAW264.7 cells compared with treated controls in the absence of BWSPHs (p < 0.05). BW-SPH-A-GI also exhibited higher ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) activities than the other BWSPHs tested (p < 0.05). All BWSPHs and SGID BWSPH samples induced immunostimulating effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW264.7 macrophages through the upregulation of NO production. BW-SPH-F-GI increased IL-6 and TNF-α levels compared with the LPS controls indicating the liberation of immunomodulatory peptide/amino acids during the SGID process. Therefore, BW-SPH-A and BW-SPH-F may have potential use against oxidative stress and immunosuppression-related diseases, respectively.

Antioxidant Potentials of Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) Oil Extracts in Streptozotocin Induced Diabetic Rats

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the antioxidant potentials of Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) oil extracts in streptozotocin induced diabetic rats. Study Design: An experimental study. Place and Duration of Study: Animal House, Department of Applied and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University, Port Harcourt and University of Port Harcourt Rivers State, Nigeria, between February 2020 and August 2020. Methodology: Thirty Six (36) albino rats were purchased and allowed to acclimatize for two (2) weeks in the laboratory at the animal farm house of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Rivers State University. They were fed the normal rat feed (Chow feed) and water was allowed ad libitum. The rats were weighed and randomly grouped into six (6) groups with six rats in each group. Group 1 (Negative control) was placed on normal diet while groups 2 to 6 were placed on a high fat diet (HFD) prior to the induction with Streptozotocin to achieve diabetes and the animals were treated according to their groupings for four weeks by means of oral gavage. The dose of Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) oil extracts administered to the rats was extrapolated from human doses. The high fat diet was prepared by mixing the animal feed (Chow diet) with margarine in a ratio of 3:1. After each period of treatments, blood samples were collected from the rats at the end of the treatments via cardiac puncture by anaesthetizing the rats with chloroform after a six (6) hour fast. Fasting blood glucose was determined using the Glucose Oxidase method, total antioxidant capacity, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase and glutathione were analysed quantitatively and measured spectrophotometrically and the GC–MS analysis of bioactive compounds from Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) oil was done using Agilent Technologies GC systems with GC-7890A/MS-5975C model. Data generated were analysed using SPSS version 22.0 of windows statistical package. Results were considered statistically significant at 95% confidence interval (p < 0.05). Results: After week 1 - 4 of exposure, the mean SOD (Superoxide dismutase) value of the Negative control group (NC), Positive control (PC) group, diabetic groups exposed for weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 expressed in U/ml were 299.41 ± 5.49, 217.38 ± 5.33, 220.56 ± 4.14, 240.45 ± 1.21, 258.19 ± 1.73 and 278.03 ± 1.98 respectively. The mean TAC (Total antioxidant capacity) value expressed in U/ml were 2.97 ± 0.10, 1.84 ± 0.04, 1.97 ± 0.04, 2.16 ± 0.02, 2.26 ± 0.02 and 2.46 ± 0.02 respectively. The mean GSH (Glutathione) expressed in µg/ml were 56.05 ± 0.60, 47.37 ±1.04, 47.94 ± 0.87, 50.80 ± 0.35, 53.07 ± 0.36 and 55.38 ± 0.33 respectively. The mean MDA (Malondialdehyde) expressed in nmol/l were 2.40 ± 0.13, 4.56 ± 0.28, 4.66 ± 0.06, 4.39 ± 0.01, 4.16 ± 0.03 and 3.70 ± 0.06 respectively. Comparison of different groups showed varying significant differences across groups. Conclusion: Hyperglycaemia induced in rats studied led to an increase in oxidative stress, depletion of antioxidant parameters was observed. However, after treatment with Blue Whiting Fish (Micromesistus poutassous) Oil extracts, it was observed that there was improvement in the overall antioxidant status of the rats.

Effectiveness of Gutting Blue Whiting (Micromesistius poutassou, Risso, 1827), in Spanish Supermarkets as an Anisakidosis Safety Measure

Anisakidosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease which can cause gastroallergic reactions in humans. In 2010, the European Food Safety Agency estimated that approximately 20,000 cases of anisakiasis had been reported across the world, with Spain having the highest number of infections in Europe. The blue whiting (Micromesistius poutassou, Risso, 1827) is one of the most widely fished species worldwide and represents around 25% of the white fish eaten in Spain. The Spanish Food Safety Authority requires obligatory evisceration of certain fish species before commercialization, but not for blue whiting. Nevertheless, some supermarkets carry this out themselves to prevent human infections and negative customer reactions deriving from the presence of ascaridoid larvae. To assess the effectiveness of eviscerations at supermarkets, a total of 320 blue whiting specimens were examined. The risk of larval migration from the visceral cavity to the musculature in gutted and ungutted fish was also assessed. Our results showed a total prevalence (25%) of ascaridoids in fish gutted at the supermarket, and a direct relationship was found between the presence of larvae in the muscle and time until evisceration. In ungutted fish, the standard length and weight were higher for infected than for non-infected fish. Also, massive infections had a higher prevalence in these larger specimens, in which the viability of larvae was also high. Larval viability was not found to be affected by a 24-h refrigeration period. Anisakis was the most prevalent genus identified in the fish examined. The results indicate that gutting at the supermarket is not an effective method for the total removal of ascaridoid larvae and that additional safety measures are advisable.