Comprehensive assessment of functional effects of commonly used sweeteners on ex vivo human gut microbiome

The gut microbiome composition and function are associated with health and diseases. Sweeten-ers are widely used food additives, although many studies using animal models have linked sweetener consumption to gut microbial changes and health issues. Whether sweeteners directly change the human gut microbiome functionality remains largely unknown. In this study, we sys-tematically investigated the responses of five human gut microbiomes to 21 common sweeteners, using an approach combining high-throughput ex vivo microbiome culturing and metaproteomics to quantify functional changes in different taxa. Hierarchical clustering based on metaproteomic responses of individual microbiomes resulted in two clusters. The first cluster was composed of non-caloric artificial sweeteners (NAS) and two sugar alcohols with shorter carbon backbones (4-5 carbon atoms), and the second cluster was composed of sugar alcohols with longer carbon backbones. The metaproteomic functional responses of the second cluster were similar to the prebiotic fructooligosaccharides and kestose, indicating that these sugar alcohol-type sweeteners have potential prebiotic functions. This study provides a comprehensive evaluation of the direct effects of commonly used sweeteners on the functions of the human gut microbiome using a func-tional metaproteomics approach, improving our understanding of the roles of sweeteners on mi-crobiome-associated human health and disease issues.

False Additives in Canned Meats as a Source of Food Allergens

The introduction of undeclared ingredients into a food product formulation can lead to serious health problems, especially in people with allergic diseases. Identification of the composition of a food product helps to prevent possible negative consequences of the influence of allergic additives. The present study was carried out by the histological method using the example of canned meat as the most frequently falsified product. Plant-based protein products and thickening food additives were found in many samples. Conclusions are made about a high level of counterfeiting of this type of product, including allergens, which is a risk factor for human health.

Food Additives, a Key Environmental Factor in the Development of IBD through Gut Dysbiosis

Diet is a key environmental factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and, at the same time, represents one of the most promising therapies for IBD. Our daily diet often contains food additives present in numerous processed foods and even in dietary supplements. Recently, researchers and national authorities have been paying much attention to their toxicity and effects on gut microbiota and health. This review aims to gather the latest data focusing on the potential role of food additives in the pathogenesis of IBDs through gut microbiota modulation. Some artificial emulsifiers and sweeteners can induce the dysbiosis associated with an alteration of the intestinal barrier, an activation of chronic inflammation, and abnormal immune response accelerating the onset of IBD. Even if most of these results are retrieved from in vivo and in vitro studies, many artificial food additives can represent a potential hidden driver of gut chronic inflammation through gut microbiota alterations, especially in a population with IBD predisposition. In this context, pending the confirmation of these results by large human studies, it would be advisable that IBD patients avoid the consumption of processed food containing artificial food additives and follow a personalized nutritional therapy prescribed by a clinical nutritionist.

The GC-MS analysis of methanolic extract of Chlorophytum borivilianum and compounds’ activities validation at standard databases

Chlorophytum borivilianum (Safed Musli), a member of the Liliaceae family is a well-known plant in India for its aphrodisiac and adaptogenic activities. The present study was carried out to identify the novel compounds based new medicinal properties of the plant. The preliminary phytochemical screening and GC-MS based chromatographic analysis of a methanolic extract of C. borivilianum (MECB) tubors resulted the detection of Phenol, Tannins, Flavo-noids, Alkaloids, Saponins, and Glycosides in the plant. In GC-MS analysis of the MECB, more than 200 compounds were identified in different peak are-as. All of them were crosschecked at various online compound databses like PubChem, Drugbank, etc. for the identification of their known biological ac-tivities, if any. Out of them, mainly 21 compounds (falling in 70.74% peak area) like 4-mercaptophenol, 1,4-Benzenediol, 2-methoxy-, Octadecanal, Pentadecanal, 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, Betulin, Levomenthol, etc. were characterized in this study. As per their reported medicinal activities at standard databases the plant tubor is hereby reported to have anti-microbial, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-neoplastic, anti-pruritic, anti-tussive and anti-spasmodic activites. Moreover, the compounds like Cyclo-hexanol, 5-methyl-2-(1-methylethyl), Palmitoyl Chloride, Triarachine, Phytol, 4-mercaptophenol with their mentholating, food additives and other valua-ble effects have underlined the industrial value of the plant.

Biopotential of collagen-containing hydrolysates obtained from fish raw materials for protein sports nutrition

Low-molecular peptides of collagen origin are of crucial importance for the body metabolism. This work aims to substantiate the use of the hydrolysates of collagen-containing fish raw materials (scale) for protein sports nutrition. Sublimated low-molecular weight peptide water-soluble and dried water-insoluble protein-mineral supplements from the sardine scale were obtained by enzymatic thermal hydrolysis. The biopotential of scale and auxiliary food additives (apple pomace, flaxseed cake, pine nuts) was investigated using standard methods. The protein content and amino acid composition of the peptide supplement and the mineral composition of the protein-mineral supplement were analysed; their high biopotential according to the above criteria was shown. The peptide supplement contains all essential amino acids having a biological value of 59.9%. The protein-mineral supplement contains no tryptophan but a high amount of calcium (22.2 g/100 g) and phosphorus (12.0 g/100 g). The high content of functional food ingredients (protein, pectin, cellulose, polyphenols, minerals, vitamin C) in auxiliary vegetable raw materials was shown. The shape of a sports nutrition product (chocolate glazed protein bar) was substantiated. The basic recipe of a 60 g protein bar having the required protein content, a given structure and high consumer properties was established. Having a protein content of 23.5%, the bar provides a 24.1% calorific value, which corresponds to the "protein-rich food" for sports nutrition according to GOST 34006-2016. The biological protein value in the bar increased relative to the peptide supplement by 12% and amounted to 71.38%. The developed protein sports nutrition bar is dietary balanced by the content of amino acids (isoleucine, leucine, valine, methionine and cystine, phenylalanine and tyrosine, tryptophan, lysine, threonine, alanine, arginine, histidine, glycine, carnosine, taurine, ornithine, citrulline), fibre, polyphenols, calcium and phosphorus and is recommended for athletes and people having an active lifestyle.

Next-Generation Genetic and Fermentation Technologies for Safe and Sustainable Production of Food Ingredients: Colors and Flavorings

A growing human population is a significant issue in food security owing to the limited land and resources available for agricultural food production. To solve these problems, sustainable food manufacturing processes and the development of alternative foods and ingredients are needed. Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology can help solve the food security issue and satisfy the demand for alternative food production. Bioproduction of food ingredients by microbial fermentation is a promising method to replace current manufacturing processes, such as extraction from natural materials and chemical synthesis, with more ecofriendly and sustainable operations. This review highlights successful examples of bioproduction for food additives by engineered microorganisms, with an emphasis on colorants and flavors that are extensively used in the food industry. Recent strain engineering developments and fermentation strategies for producing selected food colorants and flavors are introduced with discussions on the current status and future perspectives. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, Volume 13 is March 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Specialized nutrition for athletes: evaluation of ergogenic action using the principles of evidence-based medicine

The aim is to form a balanced position regarding the ergogenic characteristics of new sports food products in the modern practice of training highly qualified athletes on the basis of clinical-experimental evaluation of the effectiveness of special purpose real food additives. Materials and methods. Studies were carried out on laboratory animals (36 Wistar rats at the age of 3 months weighing 150–200 g and 16 Svetlogorsk mini-pigs) as well as on 102 high-qualified representatives of cyclic sports (all men aged 19–26) − members of national teams such as swimming (25), cross-country athletics (53), and skiing (24). As a control group, we studied 25 athletes of the same gender (all men), age and qualifications who received a placebo (starch capsules) for a long time during exercise. Placebo-controlled studies have been conducted on laboratory animals and athletes in compliance with the principles of bioethics. Results. It has been established that in the experiment the application of a new specialized food product MioActiv has a positive effect on the physical performance of animals and delays the onset of fatigue, which significantly exceeds the corresponding characteristics in the placebo group. Athletes also showed an increase in speed when passing competitive distances by 18.7–21.4% (p < 0,05), as well as a significant increase in mental endurance indicators (p < 0,05). The approbation of the innovative pre-workout pharmacological nutrient complex Pre-Fuse also showed the high efficacy and safety of this product with a positive effect of increasing the performance and endurance of animals, as well as the parameters of mental performance of athletes in the main groups, in contrast to the data in the placebo control groups. Conclusions. An analysis of the prescription components of new types of ergogenic sports nutrition and the presented results of preclinical and clinical studies conducted on the basis of the evidence-based medicine paradigm regarding the effectiveness of specialized products indicate the complex action of these funds on various aspects of both physical and mental performance. From the materials presented in the article, it can be seen that specialized sports nutrition products of an ergogenic orientation can provide significant assistance in increasing sports results.

Analysis of the Effects of Food Additives on Porphyromonas gingivalis

This study aims to investigate six food additives (octanoic acid, decanoic acid, acesulfame K, aspartame, saccharin, and sucralose) used in foods for the elderly or people with dysphagia because of the effect of these food additives on Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), which is a keystone pathogen of periodontal diseases. The growth of P. gingivalis was inhibited by 5 mM octanoic acid, 1.25 mM decanoic acid, 1.25% acesulfame K, 0.0625% aspartame, 0.03125% saccharin, and 0.625% sucralose. In addition, these food additives showed bactericidal activity for planktonic P. gingivalis (5 mM octanoic acid, 5 mM decanoic acid, 0.25% aspartame, 0.25% saccharin, and 5% sucralose). Moreover, biofilm formation was inhibited by 10 mM octanoic acid, 10 mM decanoic acid, 10% acesulfame K, 0.35% aspartame, 0.5% saccharin, and 7.5% sucralose. Moreover, the same concentration of these food additives without aspartame killed P. gingivalis in the biofilm. Aspartame and sucralose did not show cytotoxicity to human cell lines at concentrations that affected P. gingivalis. These findings may be useful in clarifying the effects of food additives on periodontopathogenic bacteria.

Branded Foods Databases as a Tool to Support Nutrition Research and Monitoring of the Food Supply: Insights From the Slovenian Composition and Labeling Information System

Branded foods databases are becoming very valuable not only in nutrition research but also for clinical practice, policymakers, businesses, and general population. In contrast to generic foods, branded foods are marked by rapid changes in the food supply because of reformulations, the introduction of new foods, and the removal of existing ones from the market. Also, different branded foods are available in different countries. This not only complicates the compilation of branded foods datasets but also causes such datasets to become out of date quickly. In this review, we present different approaches to the compilation of branded foods datasets, describe the history and progress of building and updating such datasets in Slovenia, and present data to support nutrition research and monitoring of the food supply. Manufacturers are key sources of information for the compilation of branded foods databases, most commonly through food labels. In Slovenia, the branded food dataset is compiled using standard food monitoring studies conducted at all major retailers. Cross-sectional studies are conducted every few years, in which the food labels of all available branded foods are photographed. Studies are conducted using the Composition and Labeling Information System (CLAS) infrastructure, composed of a smartphone application for data collection and online data extraction and management tool. We reviewed various uses of branded foods datasets. Datasets can be used to assess the nutritional composition of food in the food supply (i.e., salt, sugar content), the use of specific ingredients, for example, food additives, for nutrient profiling, and assessment of marketing techniques on food labels. Such datasets are also valuable for other studies, for example, assessing nutrient intakes in dietary surveys. Additional approaches are also being tested to keep datasets updated between food monitoring studies. A promising approach is the exploitation of crowdsourcing through the mobile application VešKajJeš, which was launched in Slovenia to support consumers in making healthier dietary choices.