Food & Function最新文献

Cholestatic liver injury (CLI) is a progressive liver disorder characterized by impaired bile acid (BA) synthesis, transport, and excretion. This dysfunction leads to the intrahepatic accumulation of toxic BAs, which in turn triggers hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation, and subsequent fibrogenesis. Through enterohepatic circulation, the gut and liver form an integrated gut-liver axis that regulates BA metabolism. Gut microbiota and nuclear receptor farnesoid X receptor (FXR) are tightly involved in modulating this axis and play a critical role in maintaining BA homeostasis. Disruption of the gut-liver axis under cholestatic conditions contributes to gut dysbiosis, BA imbalance, impaired intestinal barrier integrity, hepatic inflammation, and fibrotic progression. Flavonoids, a major class of polyphenols present in various foods, possess microbial-dependent biotransformation and gut enrichment characteristics. Through coordinated modulation of gut microbiota, BA metabolism, and host signaling pathways, flavonoids display promising protective effects against multiple pathological outcomes associated with CLI. This review summarizes the pathological mechanisms of CLI and the molecular interactions through which dietary flavonoids modulate the gut microbiota-BA-FXR axis. It further discusses the dietary exposure, bioavailability, and translational relevance of flavonoids by comparing human dietary intake and systemic exposure with preclinical doses, while evaluating safety considerations and available clinical trial evidence. These insights provide a framework for evaluating the nutritional relevance of flavonoids and their potential as functional food ingredients for the prevention and management of CLI.

Background & aims: Whole egg (WE) is a good source of vitamin D and carotenoids but their effects on concurrent bioavailability from a co-consumed meal and differences by menopausal status, remain unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of co-consuming WE with vitamin D and carotenoids-rich foods on their absorption in pre- and post-menopausal females. Methods: Nine pre-menopausal and 8 post-menopausal females completed 8 day trials (7 day controlled diet plus test day) separated by a 3-week washout. Participants consumed a cooked vegetable meal (primary source of vitamin D and carotenoids) with no egg (control) or 100 g of cooked WE (CWE). The meal provided 27 mg of carotenoids and 600 IU of vitamin D (mainly vitamin D₂ from fortified mushrooms) and eggs provided ∼0.5 mg of carotenoids and 80 IU of vitamin D₃. Blood was collected hourly for 10 hours and triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein fractions (TRL) were isolated. Vitamin D metabolites and carotenoids in TRL were analyzed and the composite areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated. Results: Carotenoids AUC_{0-10 h} in TRL was significantly higher for the CWE than control in both pre-menopausal (104.2 ± 12.4 vs. 29.2 ± 12.4 ng mL^-1 × 10 h; p < 0.001) and post-menopausal females (62.7 ± 12.4 vs. 10.1 ± 12.4 ng mL^-1 × 10 h; p = 0.003). 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃ AUC_{0-10 h} in TRL was also higher with CWE than for the control in the pre-menopausal (1.34 ± 0.55 vs. 0.53 ± 0.55 ng mL^-1 × 10 h; p = 0.182) and significantly higher in the post-menopausal (2.70 ± 0.59 vs. 1.03 ± 0.59 ng mL^-1 × 10 h; p = 0.015) females. Vitamin D₂/D₃ and 25-hydroxyvitamin D₂ were undetectable. Menopausal status did not affect these postprandial responses. Conclusion: Co-consuming WE with a cooked vegetable meal effectively increased the absorption of carotenoids across life stages but not for vitamin D₂ from a cooked vegetable meal. Trial registration: NCT02679794.

Background & aims: Walnuts are nutrient-dense foods rich in bioactive compounds that may support mental health. However, evidence linking walnut consumption to mood regulation and to changes in urinary metabolites potentially associated with these effects in humans remains limited. This randomized crossover trial (RCT) aimed to evaluate the effects of an 8-week walnut (Juglans regia) intervention on mood states in young adults and to explore the potential mechanistic links through urinary serotonin metabolite (5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, 5-HIAA), cortisol, and urolithins. Methods: In this 18-week open-label RCT, 31 healthy young adults (mean age 24.0 ± 4.2 years; 90.3% female) consumed 40 g per day of walnuts for 8 weeks (intervention) and followed a nut-free control period of equal length, separated by a 2-week washout. Mood states, perceived stress, well-being, and trait food cravings were assessed using validated questionnaires. Urinary concentrations of 5-HIAA and cortisol were quantified via ELISA and normalized to creatinine. Walnut-derived urolithins were determined in urine samples as biomarkers of intake by HPLC-QTOF-MS. Linear mixed-effects models were used to test differences in outcome variables between intervention and control conditions, and repeated-measures correlations were performed to assess within-individual associations between the outcome variables. Results: Compared to the control condition, the 8-week walnut intervention significantly reduced total mood disturbance scores (-4.85 points, p = 0.030). In addition, the walnut intervention significantly increased urinary 5-HIAA levels, with no changes in urinary cortisol. Increases in urinary 5-HIAA were significantly associated with reductions in fatigue (r = -0.392, p = 0.031) and total mood disturbance (r = -0.362, p = 0.049). Urinary levels of urolithins significantly increased during the intervention and were strongly correlated with concurrent changes in urinary 5-HIAA (r = 0.537 and r = 0.634, respectively). Conclusions: Daily walnut consumption improved total mood disturbance scores in young adults. These findings were accompanied by increased urinary 5-HIAA and urolithin levels. The concurrent changes in these urinary metabolites may reflect dietary, microbial, or peripheral metabolic responses to walnut consumption; however, mechanistic pathways warrant further investigation. These findings highlight the relevance of whole-food strategies in nutritional approaches to mental health.

Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs), such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are known for their positive health effects. To meet recommended intake levels, people commonly consume fish and microalgal oils as supplements, typically in the form of encapsulated triacylglycerols (TAGs). However, ingesting omega-3 LC-PUFAs dispersed in a food matrix may be beneficial, as this has been shown to improve digestion for other oil types. This study investigated the in vitro bioaccessibility and basolateral recovery of DHA in DHA-rich microalgae oil in various forms: bulk oil, encapsulated oil, powdered oil, and oil incorporated into a protein matrix. After adapting the INFOGEST protocol for lipid digestion, we assessed bioaccessibility after in vitro digestion using back titration and gas chromatography coupled to a flame ionization detector (GC-FID). We used a Caco-2 cell model, adapted to take into account the lipid adhesion to the plastic plate, to assess basolateral DHA recovery. Results showed that the digestion of encapsulated oil and bulk oil was similar (n = 3). Powdered oil showed higher bioaccessibility than bulk oil (47.0 ± 2.5% for powder and 9.5 ± 0.7% for bulk, n = 3). In the Caco-2 model, powdered oil showed higher basolateral recovery (4.8 ± 0.9%) than bulk oil (1.2 ± 0.2%), although the experimental model limits interpretation (n = 3). To evaluate matrix effects, we designed a vegan cheese-like matrix (VCM) using different proteins. DHA in the VCM was 38% more bioaccessible than in bulk oil (n = 3), and we observed no differences in basolateral recovery. Our findings highlight that food matrices play a critical role in DHA bioaccessibility and basolateral recovery, potentially indicating increased intestinal uptake. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, methodological choices, including digestion protocols, transport models, and quantification strategies, should be selected based on the specific research question.

Waxy hull-less barley (WHB), which is rich in β-glucan, reportedly exhibits immunomodulatory properties, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the immunological effects and underlying mechanism of a WHB-containing diet using DO 11.10 mice, in which the T-cell antigen (Ag)-specificity is largely restricted to ovalbumin to minimize WHB-specific adaptive immune responses. Fecal secretory IgA (SIgA) levels were consistently higher in the WHB intake group throughout the feeding period. In the ileum, expression of the IgA transporter polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) and the retinoic acid-generating enzyme Raldh2 was significantly upregulated. WHB intake increased the ratio of MHCII⁺ CD86⁺ conventional dendritic cells (cDC) in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) and peripheral blood, whereas no changes were observed in the spleen. IgA⁺ cells increased in peripheral blood but decreased in the GALT, whereas IgM⁺ and α4β7⁺ B cells were elevated in the GALT but reduced in the spleen. Microbiota analysis revealed increased α-diversity and a shift toward higher abundances of species in the butyrate-producing genera Oscillospira, accompanied by lower abundances of SMB53 and Allobaculum. Notably, the abundance of Allobaculum species was negatively correlated with fecal SIgA. These findings suggest that WHB consumption is associated with increased intestinal IgA secretion, activation of gut cDCs, upregulation of Raldh2 and pIgR, and coordinated changes in B-cell dynamics and the gut microbiota.

1-Oleoyl-2-palmitoyl-3-linoleoylglycerol (OPL) is a representative sn-2 palmitate-containing triacylglycerol (TAG) relevant to human milk fat and early-life lipid nutrition. However, whether dietary OPL-rich structured lipid affects developing muscle nutritional characteristics and associated metabolic features remains unclear. In this study, juvenile largemouth bass were used as a developmental model to compare dietary OPL-rich oil with a mixed oil (MO), which had a similar total fatty acid composition but a lower sn-2 palmitate content. Dietary OPL-rich structured lipid significantly increased muscle crude protein content, muscle fiber area percentage, the proportion of larger-diameter fibers, springiness and cohesiveness. Untargeted metabolomics identified candidate metabolites with nominal differences, including higher abundances of DHA, linoleyl carnitine, LysoPE(18:0/0:0), L-phenylalanine, anserine and adenine, and lower abundances of β-leucine, linoleic acid and inosinic acid in the OPL group compared with the MO group. These metabolites were mapped to pathways including D-amino acid metabolism, histidine metabolism, β-alanine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis, and linoleic acid metabolism. Targeted amino acid profiling further showed that dietary OPL-rich structured lipid increased total amino acids and essential amino acids in developing muscle. Overall, dietary OPL-rich structured lipid improved nutritional characteristics of developing muscle in juvenile largemouth bass, accompanied by changes in lipid, amino acid, dipeptide and nucleotide metabolism. These findings support further evaluation of OPL-rich structured lipids enriched in sn-2 palmitate as functional lipid ingredients for early-life nutrition.

Probiotics hold potential in delaying aging and promoting healthy aging. The systematic decline characteristic of aging limits single probiotic strain intervention to ameliorate aging. Multi-strain combination represents a promising strategy but lacks evidence-based criteria. In this study, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Q7, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis F1-7, and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei J5 were selected based on their ability to extend both the lifespan and the healthspan of Caenorhabditis elegans. The three probiotic strains significantly enhanced anti-aging biomarkers in C. elegans. Transcriptomic analysis and validation revealed that all three strains co-regulated evolutionarily conserved Wnt signaling pathways while demonstrating distinct strain-specific characteristics. Specifically, L. plantarum Q7 modulated lipid metabolism and activated conserved longevity pathways, B. animalis F1-7 stimulated immune defense and protein stability regulation, and L. paracasei J5 predominantly influenced methionine metabolism and detoxification/antioxidation functions. The three-probiotic combination demonstrated superior anti-aging effects in C. elegans by both integrating single-strain pathways additively and activating the Wnt/Ca²⁺ pathway uniquely, thereby expanding the anti-aging regulatory network. This study underscores the necessity of employing combined probiotics to extend both lifespan and healthspan and provides a theoretical rationale for the design of functional complementarity probiotic formulations.

Paprika (Capsicum annuum L.) is a widely consumed spice whose bioactive composition is substantially influenced by processing conditions. Traditional smoking, as applied in the production of PDO Pimentón de la Vera, enriches paprika with wood smoke-derived phenolics while also introducing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), warranting an integrated evaluation of processing-related biological responses and safety considerations. This study compared physiological, biochemical, metabolomic, and cecal microbiota responses to dietary supplementation with smoked and non-smoked paprika in healthy Wistar rats. Thirty animals of both sexes (16 females and 14 males) received a control diet or diets supplemented with 5% smoked or non-smoked paprika for 30 days. Histological examination revealed no treatment-related alterations in the organs evaluated. Hematological and biochemical analyses showed diet- and sex-associated differences in hematocrit, plasma glucose, total antioxidant capacity, and lipid-related parameters, although all values remained within normal physiological ranges. Untargeted urinary metabolomics, restricted to males because of insufficient urine volume in females, identified features tentatively annotated as phenolic conjugates and other metabolites associated with paprika intake, with several signals showing higher abundance in the smoked paprika group. Cecal metagenomic analyses showed sex-dependent changes across taxon-level abundance, alpha diversity, and beta diversity. In females receiving smoked paprika, lower TC and LDL-C coincided with higher alpha diversity and lower cecal lipid content, suggesting a potential link between intestinal microbial ecology and lipid handling. Overall, paprika processing was associated with distinct biochemical, metabolomic, and cecal microbiota response patterns in this healthy animal model.

Nuts are a source of dietary fibre and are considered a nutritious snack despite their high fat content. The effects of nut consumption on the microbiota and the role of nut-derived lipids in altering the large intestinal microbial community remain poorly understood. This study examined changes in faecal characteristics and microbiota composition in 15 healthy volunteers consuming unrestricted diets during a cross-over dietary intervention consisting of three weeks of daily mixed-nut consumption (30 g almonds, macadamias and pistachios) and three weeks of nut abstinence. Microscopic examination of faecal samples revealed lipid-containing nut particles following nut consumption, which were not observed during the nut abstinence. Mixed nut consumption was associated with a significant increase in total faecal lipid content compared with nut abstinence (P < 0.05), suggesting incomplete digestion and absorption of nut-derived lipids. In contrast, faecal pH, dry matter, ash content, short-chain fatty acids and ammonium concentrations were not significantly altered by the intervention. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated substantial inter-individual variation in gut microbial community composition, with only modest differences associated with nut consumption. Predicted functional profiling suggested variation in pathways related to lipid metabolism between intervention periods. Overall, the findings indicate that a portion of consumed nut cells likely reaches the large intestine intact. Upon degradation of the nut cell wall, encapsulated lipids may become available to the colonic microbiota, potentially contributing to microbial metabolism and community responses observed.

Obesity is a growing global health challenge associated with dysregulated appetite, impaired gut function, and metabolic disorders. Glucomannan and resistant starch are functional dietary fibers that may influence obesity-related pathways through distinct but interconnected mechanisms. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence regarding their effects on satiety and appetite regulation, gut fermentation and microbiota-related pathways, and weight-related and metabolic outcomes. A systematic search of Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library was conducted without publication-date restrictions, with the final search performed on 25 August 2026. Eligible randomized and crossover trials, non-randomized intervention studies, and animal studies investigating glucomannan, resistant starch, or relevant formulations were included when they reported predefined obesity-related outcomes. Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria, comprising six randomized or crossover trials, three non-randomized intervention studies, and eleven animal studies. Several studies reported improvements in satiety, hunger, food or energy intake, body weight, adiposity, or metabolic outcomes, although findings were heterogeneous across interventions, populations, and study designs. Glucomannan-containing interventions were generally associated with viscosity-related satiety effects, whereas resistant starch was more frequently associated with gut fermentation, microbiota modulation, and short-chain fatty acid production. Mechanistic and metabolic evidence was predominantly derived from animal studies, and several human studies reported null findings. Overall, the findings suggest potential complementarity between glucomannan and resistant starch at the mechanistic level, but direct evidence supporting synergistic effects of their combined use remains limited.