U.S. flagAn official website of the United States government
                    Here's how you know **Official websites use .gov**
                            
                            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
 **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                            
                            A **lock** (                            
                              A locked padlock                                                      
                            
                            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.


Menu Agricultural Research Service
						
                    U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
 close



Research
                Research Home
                            National Programs
                            Research Projects
                            Scientific Manuscripts
                            International Engagement
                            Scientific Software/Models
                            Databases and Datasets
                            Office of Scientific Quality Review
            Media
                News & Features
                            Multimedia
                            Briefing Room
                            Down on the Farm
                            Press Room
                            Science in Your Shopping Cart
                            Scientific Discoveries
                            Tellus
                            Under the Microscope
            About ARS
                About ARS Home
                            Staff Directory
                            Labs and Research Centers (Map)
                            Headquarter Offices
                            Organizational Chart
                            Employee Services (REE Employees Only)
                            Office of Outreach, Diversity, and Equal Opportunity
            Work With Us
                Work With Us Home
                            ARS Vacancies at USAJOBS
                            Careers at ARS Information
                            Scientific Collaborations
                            Extramural Agreements
                            1890 Faculty Research Sabbatical ProgramSearch small
                    Search
            
            ARS Home
                                About ARS
                                Contact Us




ARS Home Office of Communications FNRB 2021





- Search News & Events
- News Archive
- E-mail News Lists
- Magazine
- Image Gallery
- Videos
- Podcasts
- Blog
- Shareables Toolkit
- Press Room
- Briefing Room
- News Home

Table place setting with apple. Title: Food and Nutrition Research Briefs. Link to FNRB home page January 2021 FNRB Index | Search | CommentsContentsSoftware for Teasing Out Food Compound Benefits
Micronutrient-Packed Bar Improving Metabolic Health Goes Commercial'ARS Research Shows Balanced Carbohydrate and Fat Intake Can Prevent Certain Diseases
New Blackberries: Eclipse, Galaxy, and Twilight  Software for Teasing Out Food Compound Benefits
New ARS software PhyteByte leverages the power of machine-learning technology to speed the identification of health-promoting compounds in food. The chemical make-up and dietary importance of essential nutrients like vitamin A and riboflavin are well-defined. However, there are thousands of other food compounds whose biological activity and effects in the human body over a lifetime of exposure through diet are poorly understood. PhyteByte uses machine-learning algorithms and sophisticated decision trees to predict the biological activity of these mystery food compounds from masses of database information. It taps into two databases. The first, FooDB, currently contains a catalog of 70,926 compounds in food thought to confer health benefits. The second database, ChEMBL, stores information on the chemical properties of nearly 2 million molecules.
Details
Laurence Parnell sitting in front of a computer Computational biologist Laurence Parnell and colleagues created machine-learning software called "PhyteByte" to help identify food compound benefits. *Photo courtesy of Deb Dutcher, Tufts University.* Back to Contents  ARS Research Shows Balanced Carbohydrate and Fat Intake Can Prevent Certain Diseases
Consuming a high level of carbohydrates regulates a gene in the body that can reduce your risk of obesity, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic diseases, according to ARS research. This is good news for most people. The bad news, however, is that high fat intake reduces this protection and may lead to health problems for those who regularly consume fatty foods. This involves an important, but single gene called CPT1A. Dietary habits can influence CPT1A gene activity level. A balanced intake of carbohydrate and fat may be the best way to prevent metabolic diseases.
Details
Hamburger and french fries ARS research now shows that high carbohydrate intake is associated with lower levels of the gene, while high fat intake is associated with higher levels. Back to Contents  Micronutrient-Packed Bar Improving Metabolic Health Goes Commercial
A new micronutrient- and fiber-packed bar that improves a host of metabolic biomarkers is now on the market under the name Healright bars. The new health bar is based on a unique formula developed by ARS and the Children's Hospital Oakland Research Institute. It has been licensed to Advanced Micronutrition LLC of Orlando, Florida. The idea behind the bars is to fill in the micronutrient gaps in the typical diet and diminish the impact of deficiencies on metabolic health. Eating two bars a day for eight weeks without being asked to make any other changes in their diet or exercise saw metabolic indicators shift significantly in positive directions in both lean and overweight or obese groups. There were improvements in cardiovascular health (cholesterol, triglycerides, diastolic blood pressure and heart rate), insulin resistance, obesity indicators (weight and waist circumference) and others.
Details
A micronutrient-packed health bar based on an ARS-developed formula improves metabolic markers from cholesterol to blood sugar to waist circumference is now on the market. *Photo by Advanced Micronutrition.* Back to Contents  New Blackberries: Eclipse, Galaxy, and Twilight
The best of eastern erect-cane blackberry and western trailing blackberry genetics were melded into three new blackberry varieties released by ARS: Eclipse, Galaxy and Twilight. ARS' Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon, working in cooperation with the Oregon State University Agricultural Experiment Station, developed the thornless semi-erect cane blackberries to fill new niches in the fresh berry market. Eclipse inherited one of its progenitor's—Triple Crown—outstanding sweet, fruity flavor with hints of root beer and spice but with a firmer skin. Galaxy's taste has hints of blueberry, mint and grape. Tasters of Twilight have remarked on its complex, deep blackberry jam flavor, with floral and honey notes.
Details
New blackberry variety Twilight. Back to Contents


Return to top


Research
                            Media
                            About ARS
                            Work With Us


Connect with ARS Sign up


ARS Home
                            USDA.gov
                            Plain Writing
                            Policies & Links
                            Civil Rights Statements
                            FOIA
                            Accessibility Statement
                            Privacy Policy
                            Non-Discrimination Statement
                            Quality of Information
                            USA.gov
                            WhiteHouse.gov