What to feed or what not to feed-that is still the question

Introduction This review addresses metabolic diversities after grain feeding of cattle using artificial total mixed ration (TMR), in place of pasture-based feeding. Objectives To determine how grain feeding impairs the deuterium-depleting functions of the anaplerotic mitochondrial matrix during milk and meat production. Methods Based on published data we herein evaluate how grain-fed animals essentially follow a branched-chain amino acid and odd-chain fatty acid-based reductive carboxylation-dependent feedstock, which is also one of the mitochondrial deuterium-accumulating dysfunctions in human cancer. Results It is now evident that food-based intracellular deuterium exchange reactions, especially that of glycogenic substrate oxidation, are significant sources of deuterium-enriched (2H; D) metabolic water with a significant impact on animal and human health. The burning of high deuterium nutritional dairy products into metabolic water upon oxidation in the human body may contribute to similar metabolic conditions and diseases as described in state-of-the-art articles for cows. Grain feeding also limits oxygen delivery to mitochondria for efficient deuterium-depleted metabolic water production by glyphosate herbicide exposure used in genetically modified crops of TMR constituents. Conclusion Developments in medical metabolomics, biochemistry and deutenomics, which is the science of biological deuterium fractionation and discrimination warrant urgent critical reviews in order to control the epidemiological scale of population diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cancer by a thorough understanding of how the compromised metabolic health of grain-fed dairy cows impacts human consumers.

Triple Oxygen Isotope Measurements (Δ'17O) of Body Water Reflect Water Intake, Metabolism, and δ18O of Ingested Water in Passerines

Understanding physiological traits and ecological conditions that influence a species reliance on metabolic water is critical to creating accurate physiological models that can assess their ability to adapt to environmental perturbations (e.g., drought) that impact water availability. However, relatively few studies have examined variation in the sources of water animals use to maintain water balance, and even fewer have focused on the role of metabolic water. A key reason is methodological limitations. Here, we applied a new method that measures the triple oxygen isotopic composition of a single blood sample to estimate the contribution of metabolic water to the body water pool of three passerine species. This approach relies on Δ'17O, defined as the residual from the tight linear correlation that naturally exists between δ17O and δ18O values. Importantly, Δ'17O is relatively insensitive to key fractionation processes, such as Rayleigh distillation in the water cycle that have hindered previous isotope-based assessments of animal water balance. We evaluated the effects of changes in metabolic rate and water intake on Δ'17O values of captive rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) and two invertivorous passerine species in the genus Cinclodes from the field. As predicted, colder acclimation temperatures induced increases in metabolic rate, decreases in water intake, and increases in the contribution of metabolic water to the body water pool of Z. capensis, causing a consistent change in Δ'17O. Measurement of Δ'17O also provides an estimate of the δ18O composition of ingested pre-formed (drinking/food) water. Estimated δ18O values of drinking/food water for captive Z. capensis were ~ −11‰, which is consistent with that of tap water in Santiago, Chile. In contrast, δ18O values of drinking/food water ingested by wild-caught Cinclodes were similar to that of seawater, which is consistent with their reliance on marine resources. Our results confirm the utility of this method for quantifying the relative contribution of metabolic versus pre-formed drinking/food water to the body water pool in birds.

Validity and Reliability of a Water Frequency Questionnaire to Estimate Daily Total Water Intake in Adults

The purpose of this investigation was to assess the validity and reliability of a seven-day water frequency questionnaire (TWI-FQ) to estimate daily total water intake (TWI) in comparison to a water turnover objective reference value via deuterium oxide (D2O). Data collection occurred over 3 weeks, with a wash-out period during week two. Healthy adults (n = 98; 52% female; 41 ± 14 y; BMI, 26.4 ± 5.5 kg·m−2) retrospectively self-reported consumption frequencies of 17 liquids and 35 foods with specified volumes/amounts for weeks one and three via TWI-FQ. Standard water content values were utilized to determine the volume of water consumed from each liquid and food for calculation of mean daily TWI for each week. Diet records were completed daily during week two to estimate metabolic water production. To assess validity of the TWI-FQ, participants consumed D2O at the start of each week and provided urine samples immediately before ingestion, the following day, and at the end of the week to calculate water turnover. Metabolic water was subtracted from water turnover to estimate TWI. TWI-FQ validity was assessed via Bland-Altman plot for multiple observations. Reliability was assessed via intraclass correlation and Pearson's correlation between weeks. TWI-FQ significantly underestimated D2O TWI by −350 ± 1,431 mL·d−1 (95% confidence interval (CI): −551, −149 mL·d−1). TWI-FQ TWI was significantly correlated (r = 0.707, P <0.01) and not different (198 ± 1,180 mL·d−1, 95% CI: −38, 435 mL·d−1) between weeks. TWI-FQ intraclass correlation = 0.706 was significant [95% CI: 0.591, 0.793; F(97, 98) = 5.799], indicating moderate test-retest reliability. While this tool would not be suitable for individual TWI assessment, the magnitude of bias may be acceptable for assessment at the sample-level.

Calculation method for daily water intake components using doubly labeled water

Daily water intake (DWI) is essential for survival in humans; however, accurate assessment of DWI from drinks and beverages (Wdrinks) or food moisture (Wfoods) is difficult as it depends on self-reported intakes that are prone to inaccuracy. Here, we established an objective method to assess DWI components using doubly labeled water (DLW). Deuterium and H218O were orally administered, and the dilution space and elimination rate of 2H and 18O were measured. DWI was calculated from the deuterium turnover corrected for metabolic water production and insensible water absorption from humidity. Wfoods was estimated using dietary record (Wfoods-DR) or calculated from the total energy expenditure assessed by DLW (Wfoods-DLW). The current results underscore Wfoods-DR underestimation using self-reported dietary assessments, which underestimates food intake. This study proposes novel methods for calculating each DWI component using DLW.

Effect of Environmental Temperature on Water Intake in Poultry

Water is an essential nutrient in animal nutrition, makes about 70 to 80% of lean body mass and plays important roles in poultry metabolism and thermal homeostasis. Water provided as drinking water constitutes the largest proportion of water available to poultry followed by metabolic water and that available in feed. The intake of water by birds varies depending on the age, environmental temperature, relative humidity, certain diet constituents, type of drinkers used and rate of growth. An increase in environmental temperature tends to cause an increase in water intake while decrease in environmental temperature causes decrease in water intake. Hence, in addition to its nutritional role, water is more important for thermoregulation in chickens especially under hot conditions.

Cellular water analysis in T cells reveals a switch from metabolic water gain to water influx

Cell growth is driven by the acquisition and synthesis of dry biomass and water mass. This study examines the increase of water in T cells biomass during cell growth. We found that T cell growth is initiated by a phase of slow increase of cellular water, followed by a second phase of rapid increase in water content. To study the origin of the water gain, we developed a novel method, Cold Aqua Trap – Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry (CAT-IRMS), which allows analysis of intracellular water isotope composition. Applying CAT-IRMS, we discovered that glycolysis-coupled metabolic water accounts on average for 11 femtoliter (fL) out of the 20 fL of water gained per cell during the slow phase. At the end of the rapid phase, before initiation of cell division, a water influx occurs, increasing the water level by three-fold. Thus, activated T cells switch from acquiring metabolic water to incorporating water from the extracellular medium. Our work provides a method to analyze cell water content and an insight into the way cells regulate their water mass.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Heavy Metal, and Derivable Metabolic Water and Energy of Catle Hides Processed by Singeing

Meat is consumed as source of protein, processed cattle hide popularly known as Kanda in southeastern Nigeria is consumed as a substitute for meat. The commercial method of processing this very food delicacy through singeing with scrap tyre, or firewood has posed question marks over the contamination status of the Kanda. This study therefore investigated the heavy metal, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) content, proximate composition, and also calculated the derivable metabolic water and energy content of Kanda singed with scrap tyre, and firewood. Singeing significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the moisture, ash, fibre and carbohydrate contents of the hide while it increased the protein content; increased (p < 0.05) the iron (Fe) concentration of the hide though the concentration of iron detected was far below the average lethal dose allowed in meat and meat products and elevated (p < 0.05) the PAH concentration of the hides. However, the hides singed with firewood showed higher (p < 0.05) concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene. With the exception of naphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, acenenaphthalene and indeno [1,2,3-cd] pyrene all the 16 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) priority PAHs evaluated showed concentration above 0.0001 ppm (0.1 μg/kg) in at least one of the singed samples. Also, Singeing significantly increased (p < 0.05) the derivable metabolic water and energy contents of the cattle hides. In conclusion, while consuming singed cattle hide (Kanda) may offer higher energy content and derivable metabolic water, it may in the long term expose the consumer to health hazards associated with heavy metal and PAH contamination.

Dietary fatty acid quality affects systemic parameters and promotes prostatitis and pre-neoplastic lesions

Environmental and nutritional factors, including fatty acids (FA), are associated with prostatitis, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer. We hypothesized that different FA in normolipidic diets (7%) affect prostate physiology, increasing the susceptibility to prostate disorders. Thus, we fed male C57/BL6 mice with normolipidic diets based on linseed oil, soybean oil or lard (varying saturated and unsaturated FA contents and ω-3/ω-6 ratios) for 12 or 32 weeks after weaning and examined structural and functional parameters of the ventral prostate (VP) in the systemic metabolic context. Mongolian gerbils were included because they present a metabolic detour for low water consumption (i.e., oxidize FA to produce metabolic water). A linseed oil-based diet (LO, 67.4% PUFAs, ω-3/ω-6 = 3.70) resulted in a thermogenic profile, while a soybean oil-based diet (SO, 52.7% PUFAs, ω-3/ω-6 = 0.11) increased body growth and adiposity. Mice fed lard (PF, 13.1% PUFA, ω-3/ω-6 = 0.07) depicted a biphasic growth, resulting in decreased adiposity in adulthood. SO and PF resulted in hepatic steatosis and steatohepatitis, respectively. PF and SO increased prostate epithelial volume, and lard resulted in epithelial hyperplasia. Animals in the LO group had smaller prostates with predominant atrophic epithelia and inflammatory loci. Inflammatory cells were frequent in the VP of PF mice (predominantly stromal) and LO mice (predominantly luminal). RNAseq after 12 weeks revealed good predictors of a later-onset inflammation. The transcriptome unveiled ontologies related to ER stress after 32 weeks on PF diets. In conclusion, different FA qualities result in different metabolic phenotypes and differentially impact prostate size, epithelial volume, inflammation and gene expression.

Relating Δ17O Values of Animal Body Water to Exogenous Water Inputs and Metabolism

The dynamics of animal body water and metabolism are integral aspects of biological function but are difficult to measure, particularly in free-ranging individuals. We demonstrate a new method to estimate inputs to body water via analysis of Δ17O, a measure of 17O/16O relative to 18O/16O. Animal body water is primarily a mixture of drinking or food water (meteoric water; Δ17O ≈ 0.030 per mille [‰]) and metabolic water synthesized from atmospheric oxygen (Δ17O ≈ –0.450‰). Greater drinking or food water intake should increase Δ17O toward 0.030‰, whereas greater metabolic rate should decrease Δ17O toward –0.450‰. We found that wild mammal Δ17O values generally increased with body mass, consistent with both a decline in mass-specific metabolic rate and an increase in water intake. Captive mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) Δ17O values were higher than predicted but exhibited the expected relative change based on metabolic rate and water intake. Measurements of Δ17O may enable novel ecophysiological studies.