High-fat diets are detrimental of the lipid profile, glucose metabolism and body composition of Wistar rats: the role of fatty acid type and consumption duration

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the nutritional effects in Wistar rats of supplementation with stand-alone saturated fatty acid (SFA) or monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA), the replacement of SFA by MUFA and the combination of both (SFA + MUFA) over a long period of time (13 weeks). Design/methodology/approach In total, 30 Wistar rats were used and randomly assigned to receive (n = 6): control – lab chow; lard (L20%) – lab chow with added lard (20%); olive oil (O20%) – lab chow with added olive oil (20%); lard replacement with olive oil (L20% –O20%) – during six weeks lab chow with added lard (20%) replaced by lab chow with added olive oil (20%) given during the past seven weeks of the trial; lard combination with olive oil (L10% + O10%) – lab chow with added lard (10%) and olive oil (10%). Food and caloric intake, weight gain, food and energy efficiency, body mass index, bone mineral composition and blood biochemistry were evaluated. Findings All diets with added fatty acids showed higher energy intake (p < 0.001), weight gain (p = 0.01), accumulation of adipose tissue (p = 0.02) and food and energy efficiency (p = 0.01) compared to the control group. All groups exhibited higher levels of blood triglycerides compared to the control group (p = 0.02). In addition, the L10% + O10% group developed hyperglycemia (p < 0.001); the L group showed higher amounts of non- high density lipoprotein (HDL-c) (p = 0.04); and the L20%−O20% group exhibited high levels of the triglyceride/HDL-c ratio (p = 0.04) in relation to the control. Originality/value These results indicate that regardless of the fatty acid type, consumption in large quantities of fatty acids for long periods of time can cause obesity and dyslipidemia.

Effect of monopalmitic content and temperature on precipitation rate in biodiesel-petroleum diesel blends

The need for cleaner fuel increases alongside the necessity of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Biodiesel is considered as one of best options for cleaner energy. However, it has disadvantages due to lower stability, lesser cold flow properties (CFP), and higher viscosity, which are mainly caused by fatty acid type and content. These works investigate CFP of various biodiesel blends B20 & B30, with the objective on how the monopalmytic as one of the saturated monoglycerides (SMG) content and Temperatures affect the precipitation rate. A set of 100ml separatory funnels containing various samples were put in refrigerators in controlled-temperature, i.e.15°C; 20°C; and room temperature. The rate of precipitation was observed every day for 2 weeks using 0.8μm membrane filter. Results indicated precipitation rate of B30 was higher than that of B20. As it was expected, the precipitate was taken at the same temperature, 20°C, resulting in B30 had more precipitate in the end (37.6 mg) compared to B20 (22.2 mg). The closer to cloud point also indicates the higher rate of precipitation as 4th day B20 at 15°C (25.4 mg) compared 4th day B20 at 20°C (19.3 mg). The change of crystal from less stable α-phase to more stable, less soluble β-phase is also proven to significantly affect the rate of precipitation.

Galbonolides from Streptomyces sp. SR107

Genome sequence analysis of Streptomyces sp. LZ35 has revealed a large number of secondary metabolite pathways, including a hybrid fatty acid-type PKS gene cluster for biosynthesis of galbonolides. By sequence-guided and culture medium selection and with the aid of specific staining on TLC, galbonolides B (1) and E (2) have been identified from strain Streptomyces sp. LZ35. Further discovery and mining of galbonolides from a clean background mutant strain, Streptomyces sp LZ35Δheng (SR107), led to the isolation of galbonolides F (3) and G (4), which were elucidated by analysis of their HRESIMS and NMR spectroscopic data.

Dietary fatty acids affect the growth, body composition and performance of post-weaning gilt progeny

Gilt progeny are born lighter, have lower weaning weights and require more medication throughout their life time than do sow progeny. Therefore, strategies to improve their post-weaning performance are of importance to pork producers. Dietary fatty acids have been shown to be potent modulators of physiological processes. Studies in other species have reported that dietary fatty acids affect in utero development, cognitive behaviour, immune system function, carcass composition as well as feed efficiency of offspring. However, little information is available that details their use in gilt progeny and when fed throughout their lifetime. In the present study, two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of feeding three different types of fat to gilts and their progeny on the growth, body composition and performance post-weaning. Diets were enriched with either saturated fatty acids (SFA; tallow), or n-3 (fish-oil extracts) or n-6 (safflower oil) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and were fed to gilts through gestation and to their progeny post-weaning. In Experiment 2, half of the female progeny from n-3 and n-6 PUFA litters were fed SFA post-weaning. For both studies, there was no significant difference in weaning bodyweights. However, in Experiment 1, pigs fed n-6 PUFA diets post-weaning were significantly lighter 7 days post-weaning than were pigs fed SFA- and n-3 PUFA-enriched diets. Despite feed intake of n-6 PUFA-fed pigs becoming comparable to that of the other groups during the finisher period, bodyweight for this group remained significantly lower than that of the other groups at the conclusion of the experiment. No effect of dietary fatty acid type on the carcass composition of finisher pigs, as determined by computed tomography, was found. The results of Experiment 2 showed that feeding pigs n-6 PUFA diets post-weaning through to slaughter significantly compromised their growth, being in agreement with those from Experiment 1. Feed consumption for this group was significantly less during the post-weaning and the finisher periods. However, pigs from n-6 PUFA litters that were fed SFA diets post-weaning showed no compromise in growth and performance and were comparable to pigs from the other treatment groups. During the grower and finisher periods, pigs fed n-6 PUFA diets had a significantly higher rate of mortality that was as much as 13 times that of pigs fed SFA diets. Pigs from n-6 PUFA litters that were fed SFA diets post-weaning were not affected in this manner. The results of the current study showed that feeding diets enriched with n-6 PUFA to pigs significantly compromised their growth and performance and that this fatty acid type may also have negative health effects with prolonged consumption. The data suggested that the type of fatty acid used in pig diets may be an important consideration for nutritionists when formulating diets to optimise post-weaning growth and performance.

Micromonospora marina sp. nov., isolated from sea sand

Two actinomycete strains, JSM1-1T and JSM1-3, were isolated from sea sand collected in Thailand. Their taxonomic position was determined using a polyphasic approach. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of these strains coincided with those of the genus Micromonospora, i.e. the presence of meso-diaminopimelic acid and N-glycolyl muramic acid in the peptidoglycan, whole cell sugar pattern D, phospholipids type II, and cellular fatty acid type 3b. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a close relationship between strains JSM1-1T and JSM1-3 (99.8 %), and between JSM1-1T and Micromonospora aurantiaca JCM 10878T (99.3 %), Micromonospora chalcea JCM 3031T (99.0 %), and Micromonospora coxensis JCM 13248 T (99.0 %). However, strains JSM1-1T and JSM1-3 could be clearly distinguished from these type strains by a low DNA–DNA relatedness and by phenotypic differences. On the basis of the data presented, a new species, Micromonospora marina sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is JSM1-1T (=JCM 12870T =PCU 269T =TISTR 1566T).