Intergroup attitudes between meat-eaters and meat-avoiders: The role of dietary ingroup identification

Why might some meat-eaters and meat-avoiders express negative attitudes toward each other? We investigated intergroup attitudes and potential underpinnings of these attitudes across three different dietary groups—veg*ans (vegetarians and vegans), flexitarians (people who restrict their meat intake partially), and meat-eaters—in Turkey ( NStudy 1 = 366; NStudy 2 = 450). In both studies, veg*ans showed the greatest ingroup favouritism and reported the highest ingroup identification and perceived discrimination. Meat enjoyment, moral consideration, and perceived veg*an threat (among meat-eaters) predicted dietary ingroup identification in Study 1, whereas perceived discrimination towards one’s dietary group was the strongest predictor of identification among all dietary groups in Study 2. Among meat-avoiders, but not among meat-eaters, stronger dietary ingroup identification was associated with more negative outgroup attitudes. Findings are discussed in light of social identity theories and intergroup perspectives.

Smallholder duck farming: a potential source of livelihood in haor women in Bangladesh

An experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of feed supplementation on growth performance of Jinding duckling in Haor Household. Nine hundred unsexed day old ducklings were considered for the feeding trial. Duckling were divided into three dietary treatments having 3 replications (50 duckling per replication) and reared on littered floor in an open sided house by providing 0.14 m² floor space per bird. Dietary treatments Group 0 was considered as control or full scavenging group, fed mash feed to the other group 25 g and 50 g per duck per day. Body weight and body weight gain were improved significantly (p<0.05) with the increasing levels of feed supplementation compared to no feed supplementation group during the period of 4-12 weeks. The average net return of per duckling of 25 g dietary group was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of no supplementation group and 50 g dietary group throughout the experimental period. Net return per batch were 1924 BDT in 25 g feed supplementation group at 12 weeks and yearly net profit was 6735 BDT by rearing of 50 ducklings. Benefit–cost ratio was 1:1.30. The result revealed that duck intervention increased duck production, reduce duckling mortality and improved haor women’s source of income and significantly contributes to rural livelihoods. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. March 2020, 6(1): 73-80

The Influence of Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplementation on the Brain Lipidome After Chemotherapy (P15-024-19)

Objectives Solid tumor chemotherapy produces long-term cognitive side effects well beyond treatment, but the structural changes on brain chemistry are unknown. A diet supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids (EPA + DHA) before and during chemotherapy partially protects the cerebral tissue against some of the chemo-induced modifications. We hypothesize that EPA + DHA supplementation results in a greater neuroinflammation-resolving response mediated by specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs i.e., omega-3 derived metabolites which attenuate inflammation), and reduces oxidation of structural brain lipids. Methods For four weeks, ovariectomized mice were fed a 2% kcal EPA + DHA supplemented (n = 60) or control diet (n = 60), followed by two treatments with vehicle (n = 30 per dietary group) or doxorubicin (n = 30 per dietary group). Animals were sacrificed at 4, 7, and 14 days post-treatment, and samples extracted and purified with SPE. Targeted analyses (LC-MS/MS) were performed on extracts, using stable isotope internal standards for SPM quantitation (i.e., resolvin E1, D1, D2, D3, D5, maresin 1, protectin D1). Untargeted LC-HRMS metabolomics analyses were performed on the hippocampal extracts of follow-up set of animals, to determine changes in the brain lipidome. Results Resolvin D1 was quantifiable in all samples regardless of dietary or treatment group, and correlations were observed with orthogonal measures of inflammation in chemo-treated animals. Resolvin D3, maresin 1, and protectin D1 were detected in a subset of animals. A cluster of lipid-based metabolites differentiated animals receiving chemotherapy with omega-3 fatty acid supplementation from those not receiving the supplementation. Conclusions The protective effects of EPA + DHA supplementation on chemo-induced cerebral damage appear to be only partially correlated with SPM synthesis over the time course observed. Funding Sources This research was supported by an OSU Foods for Health Discovery Themes Initiative SEEDS grant. The mouse samples were collected under NIH R01CA189947. The sample analyses were partially supported by NIH Award Number Grant P30 CA016058, OSU, and OSUCCC.

Soya proteinβ-conglycinin ameliorates fatty liver and obesity in diet-induced obese mice through the down-regulation of PPARγ

Diets high in fat can result in obesity and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The improvement of obesity and NAFLD is an important issue.β-Conglycinin, one of the soya proteins, is known to prevent hyperlipidaemia, obesity and NAFLD. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effects ofβ-conglycinin on the improvement of obesity and NAFLD in high-fat (HF) diet-induced obese (DIO) mice and clarify the mechanism underlying these effects in liver and white adipose tissue (WAT). DIO male ddY mice were divided into six groups: HF, medium-fat (MF) and low-fat (LF) groups fed casein, and HF, MF and LF groups in all of which the casein was replaced byβ-conglycinin. A period of 5 weeks later, theβ-conglycinin-supplemented group resulted in lower body weight, relative weight of subcutaneous WAT, and hepatic TAG content (P=0·001). Furthermore,β-conglycinin suppressed the hepatic expression ofPparγ2in the HF dietary group, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and the target genes. The expressions of inflammation-related genes were significantly low in the epididymal and subcutaneous WAT from the mice fedβ-conglycinin compared with those fed casein in the HF dietary group. Moreover, the expressions ofPparγ1andPparγ2mRNA were suppressed in subcutaneous WAT in the HF dietary group but not in epididymal WAT. The concentrations of insulin and leptin were low in the serum of the mice fedβ-conglycinin. In conclusion,β-conglycinin effectively improved obesity and NAFLD in DIO mice, and it appears to be a promising dietary protein for the amelioration of NAFLD and obesity.

Low-Fat Dietary Pattern and Breast Cancer Mortality in the Women’s Health Initiative Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose Earlier Women’s Health Initiative Dietary Modification trial findings suggested that a low-fat eating pattern may reduce breast cancers with greater mortality. Therefore, as a primary outcome-related analysis from a randomized prevention trial, we examined the long-term influence of this intervention on deaths as a result of and after breast cancer during 8.5 years (median) of dietary intervention and cumulatively for all breast cancers diagnosed during 16.1 years (median) of follow-up. Patients and Methods The trial randomly assigned 48,835 postmenopausal women with normal mammograms and without prior breast cancer from 1993 to 1998 at 40 US clinical centers to a dietary intervention with goals of a reduction of fat intake to 20% of energy and an increased intake of fruits, vegetables, and grains (40%; n = 19,541) or to a usual diet comparison (60%; n = 29,294). Results In the dietary group, fat intake and body weight decreased (all P < .001). During the 8.5-year dietary intervention, with 1,764 incident breast cancers, fewer deaths occurred as a result of breast cancer in the dietary group, which was not statistically significant (27 deaths [0.016% per year] v 61 deaths [0.024% per year]; hazard ratio [HR], 0.67; 95% CI, 0.43 to 1.06; P = .08). During the same period, deaths after breast cancer (n = 134) were significantly reduced (40 deaths [0.025% per year] v 94 deaths [0.038% per year]; HR, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.45 to 0.94; P = .02) by the dietary intervention. During the 16.1-year follow-up, with 3,030 incident breast cancers, deaths after breast cancer also were significantly reduced (234 deaths [0.085% per year] v 443 deaths [0.11% per year]; HR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.70 to 0.96; P = .01) in the dietary group. Conclusion Compared with a usual diet comparison group, a low-fat dietary pattern led to a lower incidence of deaths after breast cancer.

Performance of broiler fed on diet containing deoiled Koroch (Pongamia Pinnata) seed cake treated with NaOH and HCl

The study was conducted to investigate whether the productive performances and meat yield characteristics of broiler would be improved by feeding diet containing koroch (Pongamia Pinnata) seed cake (KSC) treated with NaOH and HCl. A total number of 160 day-old straight run broiler chicks were fed on 4 iso-energetic and iso-nitrogenous diets containing either basal diet with no KSC or basal diet containing 2% KSC treated with or without 1% NaOH or 1% HCl for a period of 28 days. These diets were considered as 4 different treatments. Each treatment was replicated 4 times, each having 10 birds. Inclusion of 2% KSC treated with NaOH or HCl in the diet resulted in lower live weight, live weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency of broilers at all ages compared to inclusion of dietary 2% KSC alone (P<0.01). However, broilers, irrespective of age, fed on diet containing 2% KSC treated with 1% HCl exhibited better productive performances than those fed on 1% NaOH treated 2% KSC incorporated diet. The amount of feed intake of broilers on either KSC alone or HCl treated KSC was almost similar to that on control diet. The meat yield parameters showed a non-significant treatment effect except for the percentage of dressing yield, liver, gizzard, head and skin weight. Dressing percentage of broilers fed on HCl treated KSC at 2% level was significantly (P<0.05) lower compared to any other dietary treatment, whereas broilers in 2% KSC dietary group showed similar results to the control group. Percentage of head and skin weight relative to body weight were higher in treated (NaOH or HCl) KSC dietary group compared to either KSC alone or control group. However, the highest liver and gizzard weights were obtained from the broilers fed on diet containing 2% KSC treated with 1% HCl, followed by diet with 1% NaOH treated KSC, KSC alone diet and the control diet. The results of the present study clearly indicated that neither the 1% NaOH treated nor 1% HCl treated KSC alliviated the depressed productive performances and meat yield characteristics of broilers. It is concluded that the poor productive performances of broilers fed on KSC incorporated diet cannot be improved by treating KSC with either NaOH or HCl, and the oil extracted KSC may contain leftover oil which might have a potential toxic effect on growth and meat yield of broilers.Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.3(2): 323-329, August 2016

Effects of dietary protein and glycaemic index on biomarkers of bone turnover in children

For decades, it has been debated whether high protein intake compromises bone mineralisation, but no long-term randomised trial has investigated this in children. In the family-based, randomised controlled trial DiOGenes (Diet, Obesity and Genes), we examined the effects of dietary protein and glycaemic index (GI) on biomarkers of bone turnover and height in children aged 5–18 years. In two study centres, families with overweight parents were randomly assigned to one of five ad libitum-energy, low-fat (25–30 % energy (E%)) diets for 6 months: low protein/low GI; low protein/high GI; high protein/low GI; high protein/high GI; control. They received dietary instructions and were provided all foods for free. Children, who were eligible and willing to participate, were included in the study. In the present analyses, we included children with data on plasma osteocalcin or urinary N-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I (U-NTx) from baseline and at least one later visit (month 1 or month 6) (n 191 in total, n 67 with data on osteocalcin and n 180 with data on U-NTx). The level of osteocalcin was lower (29·1 ng/ml) in the high-protein/high-GI dietary group than in the low-protein/high-GI dietary group after 6 months of intervention (95 % CI 2·2, 56·1 ng/ml, P= 0·034). The dietary intervention did not affect U-NTx (P= 0·96) or height (P= 0·80). Baseline levels of U-NTx and osteocalcin correlated with changes in height at month 6 across the dietary groups (P< 0·001 and P= 0·001, respectively). The present study does not show any effect of increased protein intake on height or bone resorption in children. However, the difference in the change in the level of osteocalcin between the high-protein/high-GI group and the low-protein/high-GI group warrants further investigation and should be confirmed in other studies.

Corn baked by burning coal triggered overexpression of osteopontin in hepatocytes of rats following fluorosis

Objective: To observe the expression of osteopontin (OPN) in hepatocytes of rats fed with corn baked by burning coal from fluorosis areas and a deficiency of calcium/protein intake following fluorosis. Methods: A total of 48 Wistar rats as objects were randomly assorted into four groups: dose-free fluorine group, which were mainly fed with fluorine-free corn (56% structurally), dose-free fluorine with biased dietary group, which were fed with lower contents of protein (119.41 g/kg) and calcium (0.68 g/kg), high-dose fluorine group (fluorine contents: 104.2 mg/kg), and high-dose fluorine with biased dietary group. After 180 days of cultivation, the contents of fluorine in the bones of rats were tested for the assessment of construction of fluorosis animal model. And the expression of OPN in hepatocytes of rats in different groups was detected with immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: The present study validated the result that OPN was overexpressed in hepatocytes following fluorosis after oral intake of burning coal-baked corn. OPN was expressed most significantly in high fluorine with biased dietary group, and the high-fluorine group ranked the second most; and dose-free fluorine with biased dietary group ranked the third. The dose-free fluorine group expressed the least OPN. Conclusion: Overexpression of OPN in hepatocytes following fluorosis after excess fluorine intake was involved in liver damage process, which was enhanced by deficiency of calcium and protein intake. The results also demonstrated that the development of fluorosis in Guizhou province was correlated with local baking staple corn as a way of excess intake of fluorine and deficiency of calcium/protein intake.

Biomechanical properties of insects in relation to insectivory: cuticle thickness as an indicator of insect 'hardness' and 'intractability'

The concept of ‘hardness’ has long been used to describe the biomechanical properties of the diet of many animals. However, due to the lack of a consistent definition, and the multitude of uses to which the term has been put, the use of the term ‘intractability’ has been advocated here to represent the extent to which the structural strength, stiffness and toughness are increased in a foodstuff. The thickness of the cuticle of an insect was a good measure of the intractability of cuticle. The tremendous advantage of the use of cuticle thickness as a measure of the biomechanical properties of invertebrates means that the dietary properties of a living insectivore can be directly quantified according to the thickness of the cuticle in its faeces. The quantitative measurement of intractability obtained through this technique can be used in correlations with adaptations of the masticatory apparatus, including tooth and skull morphology, as well as more general considerations of ecology. This is a major advance on previous measures of the biomechanical properties of insectivore diets, and may represent the best technique of any dietary group in assessing the properties of its diet.

Fatty and defatted herring scrap fed to mink (Mustela vison) in the reproduction and nursing periods

The use of fatty herring scrap and defatted herring scrap products for female mink in the reproduction and nursing periods was investigated in two experiments. In exp. 1, diets with 27% fatty herring scrap with 60 vs. 120 mg vitamin E kg−1 feed, and 10 vs. 19% defatted herring scrap ensiled with formic and acetic acids were compared with a control diet without fatty herring scrap or defatted herring scrap silage. Each dietary group consisted of 137 females. In exp. 2, diets with 20% fatty herring scrap with 63 vs. 78% of the dietary fat originating from fish, and diets containing 20 vs. 29% defatted herring scrap were compared with a control diet without fatty herring scrap or defatted herring scrap. Each dietary group consisted of 90 females. The results showed that fatty herring scrap, defatted herring scrap and defatted herring scrap silage can be used at these levels during the winter and reproduction periods until parturition, without any negative effects on the number of kits per female at parturition and weaning. However, use of defatted herring scrap silage in the nursing period resulted in lower kit weights at weaning. There were also some indications that high amounts of dietary fat from herring led to reduced kit weights at weaning; therefore, reducing the fat content in herring seemed to be appropriate in order to reduce the content of fish fat in the diet in the nursing period. The recommended addition of 60 mg vitamin E kg−1 wet feed, with an energy density of 5–6 MJ kg−1 during winter, reproduction and nursing periods, was sufficient according to the plasma content of α -tocopherol. Furthermore, there were no negative effects in the nursing period of feeding fatty or defatted herring scrap during the preceding rearing season of the females. Key words: Mink, marine lipid, polyunsaturated fatty acid, haematology, α -tocopherol, acid silage