bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Energy Balance Teaching Tool for Community Use: What University Nutrition Faculty and Community Nutrition Educators Want
Authors: Hongu Nobuko , Lindsay Anne , Larson‐Meyer Enette , Houtkooper Linda B. , Gallaway Patrick J. , Manore Melinda M. 
Published: November 2023

The concept of energy balance is used by dietitians/nutritionists to educate individuals of all ages about healthy weight management. However, energy balance concept is more complex than subtracting energy intake from energy expenditure. It is often‐overlooked at the variety of known and unknown factors influencing dynamic energy balance, such as increasing in resting metabolic rate results in increases in energy expenditure in a healthy individual. Currently, limited research has examined how nutrition professionals assess a participants’ understanding of energy balance when teaching community weight management classes. This pilot study explored the professional's perception of the energy balance concept as a teaching tool for clients/patients. University nutrition faculty members and community nutrition educators with experience teaching weight management classes (n=11) participated in individual qualitative face‐to‐face interviews (30–45 min). The interview covered five main topics related to their perceptions of the energy balance model for teaching, which included discussions on dynamic vs. static energy balance; factors that change energy intake, physical activity, body weight, and appetite during weight loss and maintenance. All participants reported that teaching energy balance concepts were crucial for helping clients/patients understand the role of diet and physical activity in weight maintenance. They emphasize the need for energy balance teaching tools and communicating the importance of physical activity for maintaining a high energy flux. Future studies should include focus groups with participants in community nutrition and weight management programs and the testing of new and different energy balance teaching tools to improve the understanding of dynamic energy balance, and the role of diet and physical activity in energy flux.Support or Funding InformationNone
Dietary supplementation with chia (Salvia hispanica L.) oil reduces the complications caused by high fat diet‐induced obesity
Authors: Citelli Marta , Fonte‐Faria Thaís , Vargas‐Silva Simone , Barja‐Fidalgo Christina 
Published: November 2023

Changes in insulin sensitivity may be promoted by non‐esterified fatty acids and inflammatory cytokines, commonly present in obesity. Because they are directly related to adipogenesis and energy metabolism, various fatty acids have been correlated to the consequences of obesity, especially some of the polyunsaturated omega‐3, which may be substrates for the synthesis of inflammatory mediators such as resolvins and neuroprotectinas. Recently, it was reported that chia seed oil (ChO) is the richest vegetable source of fatty acid alpha‐linolenic (ALA, 18: 3 n‐3).Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effects of ChO dietary supplementation on an animal model of high fat diet (HFD) induced metabolic syndrome. For this, C57BL/6 mice were fed a HFD from weaning. They received the ChO supplementation from 90 to 135 days of life. Every 2 days the diet was replaced to prevent the oxidation of lipids. Plasma insulin, leptin and TNF‐alpha levels were assessed by ELISA. The insulin signaling pathways within muscle tissue was assessed by Western blotting analyses. Fatty acids and lipid profiles were determined by gas chromatography. Our data demonstrated that ChO supplementation did not change the total weight, but changed the lipid profile in liver and adipose tissue, decreased leptin, triglycerides, insulin and hepatic cholesterol. It also improved insulin resistance through activation of the signaling cascade. Although ChO supplementation promoted positive effects, it appears that these were not mediated by inflammation resolution, since no changes in the systemic inflammatory parameters were observed.
Using Untargeted Metabolomics to Elucidate Metabolic Changes in Murine Skin Following Tomato Supplementation
Authors: Cooperstone Jessica L , Teegarden Matthew D , Cichon Morgan J , Tober Kathleen A , Oberyszyn Tatiana M , Schwartz Steven J 
Published: November 2023

Data from human studies suggests tomato supplementation can modulate erythema and inflammation in skin resulting from ultraviolet light exposure. Carotenoids from tomatoes have received the most attention for this photoprotective effect; however, purified carotenoids appear less effective than whole foods. This suggests other phytochemicals may play a role. Our group has observed that tomato supplementation can decrease tumor number in a murine model of ultraviolet light‐induced keratinocyte carcinoma, suggesting modulation of skin biochemistry by tomato bioactives. The objective of this study was to use untargeted metabolomics to profile and compare the global skin metabolomes of mice fed control and tomato‐containing diets. Male immunocompetent SKH‐1 hairless mice were fed an AIN‐93G diet, an AIN‐93G diet + 10% red tomato powder or a 10% tangerine tomato (a unique tomato variety high in cis‐lycopene, phytoene and phytofluene that we have shown to be a more bioavailable source of lycopene) powder for 35 weeks. Polar extracts of skin were analyzed to compare differences in both endogenous and exogenous metabolites between the control and tomato fed mice. By employing UHPLC‐QTOF‐MS‐based untargeted metabolomics, we were able to detect over 10,000 compounds in skin, and distinguish metabolite profiles based on diet using multivariate statistics. An understanding of the metabolomic changes in skin with tomato supplementation can elucidate the mechanisms by which this fruit may be exerting protective effects.Support or Funding InformationNCI R21CA158625
Dietary protein source at breakfast influences subsequent learning and memory performance
Authors: Du Kristy , Dailey Megan J , Rhodes Justin S , Beverly J. Lee 
Published: November 2023

The rapid growth and development of the brains of children and adolescents make them more reliant on regular intake of nutrients and more susceptible to impairments of cognitive performance if the first meal of the day is skipped. Additionally, it is important to understand how breakfast components can be manipulated to maximize benefits from the breakfast meal. Dietary protein provides amino acid precursors to neurotransmitter that may potentially modulate brain function. However, studies looking at the impact of breakfast on subsequent cognitive performance have given limited attention to the protein source of the breakfast meal. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of protein level and protein composition at breakfast on spatial learning and memory performance. Male Sprague‐Dawley rats (6 weeks old) were entrained to a meal‐feeding schedule consisting of a 30 min meal, equivalent to 20% of average daily intake, one hour into the dark phase then ad libitum access to food the last 5 hours of the dark phase. Rats were divided into one of four treatment groups in which the first meal of the day was manipulated: Egg white (EW) providing 35% energy from protein; Wheat gluten (WG) providing 35% energy from protein, Basal diet providing 20% energy from protein containing equal amounts of EW and WG proteins, or ‘no breakfast’. Shortly following the testing meal period, rats were evaluated for spatial learning and memory performance in the Barnes maze. Rats provided ‘ no breakfast’ were less active and displayed compromised short‐term recall compared to rats fed Basal diet (P<0.05). The higher dietary protein meals (35% energy from protein) resulted in improved learning, with the EW group exhibiting significantly faster learning (P<0.05) and improved short‐term recall in comparison to rats fed the WG diet (P<0.05). Together, these results suggest that EW protein as a part of the breakfast meal may enhance cognitive performance in comparison to WG diet. This highlights the importance of the protein component at breakfast on cognitive performance.Support or Funding InformationVarious donors
Strategies for Inducing Spatially Defined Stem Cell Differentiation for Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Alsberg Eben 
Published: November 2023

Tissue engineering holds the promise of producing functional biological replacements to repair damaged and diseased tissues in the body. The complex signals that are implicated in tissue morphogenesis, repair and homeostasis can be used as a guide for the development of innovative biomaterial systems for tissue regeneration. Through the precise temporal and spatial presentation of soluble bioactive factors, mechanical forces, and biomaterial physical and biochemical properties, we aspire to create biomaterials and microenvironments that regulate cell gene expression and new tissue formation. Today's talk will explore two strategies to pattern some of these signals to spatially guide the differentation of human mesenchymalstem cells (hMSCs), which are capable of giving rise to connective tissue cells such as those necessary for bone and cartilage formation. First, a biodegradable biomaterial system will be introduced that has been engineered with the capacity for independent modulation of the soluble (e.g., growth factors) and insoluble (e.g., cell adhesion signals)biochemical signaling environment and biomaterial physical properties (e.g., the elastic moduli). The ability to independently control and spatially pattern these environmental parameters will be demonstrated to be a powerful tool for elucidating their individual and combined effects on hMSC function. Then a new scaffold‐freehMSC system will be described that has been used to engineer biphasicosteochondral constructs incorporated with two different types of bioactivemicroparticles enabling spatially organized cell differentiation. Using incorporated bioactive microparticles to drive the formation of complex, stem cell‐derived osteochondral tissues could enable earlier in vivo implantation, and potentially improve the rate and quality of osteochondral defect repair.Support or Funding InformationThis work was supported by the National Institutes of Health (AR063194; AR007505; AR066193) and the AO Foundation.
DNA Methylation and microRNA Expression are Altered by Choline Deficiency During Mouse Brain Development
Authors: Trujillo Isis , Surzenko Natalia , Wang Yanyan , Zeisel Steven H 
Published: November 2023

Choline is an essential nutrient that is obtained from the diet and through de novo synthesis. During fetal development, the embryo's source of choline is obtained form its mother. Our group demonstrated in mice that maternal choline deficiency (CD) during embryo development changes the proliferation rates and differentiation patterns of neural progenitor cells (NPC), leading to altered layer architecture in the cerebral cortex. This outcome is due to premature differentiation and depletion of NPCs in the developing brain, and is in part mediated through the downregulation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein expression in NPCs. In this study we test the hypothesis that epigenetic changes in DNA methylation and histone marks in CD NPCs lead to aberrant expression of miRNAs, causing the phenotypes observed in CD brains. Consistent with the increase in DNA methylation during priming for differentiation, and an increase in differentiating cells in the developing cortex of CD embryos, we found an increase in DNA methylation in CD brains at embryonic day 17 (E17). To extend these findings, we are currently evaluating the expression of histone marks, H3K9me3 and H3K27me3, in CD NPCs. Our preliminary data indicates that expression of multiple microRNAs (miRNAs) is changed in CD NPCs, including miR‐129‐5p, which targets Egfr and is upregulated in CD brains. Next, we will determine whether aberrant expression of miR‐129‐5p or other candidate miRNAs in CD E17 brains in vivo, alters NPC proliferative and differentiation properties. This approach will allow us to characterize the molecular mechanisms whereby choline regulates NPC behavior and brain development.Support or Funding InformationThis research was funded by University of North Carolina, Nutrition Research Institute, NIH (DK056350) and in collaboration with Nestlé.
Lutein Protects the Retinal Pigment Epithelium Against Hypoxic and Oxidative Stress: In Vitro Studies
Authors: Allison Geoffrey , Draper Christian , Soekamto Christa , Gong Xiaoming , Rubin Lewis P 
Published: November 2023

BackgroundOxidative stress‐induced damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) occurs as part of the pathogenesis of age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) and neovascular retinopathies (e.g., retinopathy of prematurity [ROP] and diabetic retinopathy [DR]). The xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin are selectively taken up by the RPE, preferentially accumulated in the human macula, and transferred to photoreceptors. The retinal/macular xanthophylls are presumed to protect retinal integrity via their antioxidant, antiactinic, and photoprotective activities. We have investigated effects of various carotenoids (beta‐carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin) on RPE cells subjected to hypoxia or oxidative stress in order to determine effect specificity for the retinal xanthophylls.MethodsHuman RPE‐derived ARPE‐19 and hTERT‐1 cells were exposed to graded concentrations of specific carotenoids, then subjected to oxidative stress using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) or tert‐butyl hydroperoxide (tBHP). Hypoxia chambers were used for graded hypoxia to 2% FiO2. Carotenoid effects on RPE cell proliferation, viability, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were determined by 3‐(4, 5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays; 2′,7′‐dichloro‐dihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) fluorescence; and flow cytometry.ResultsLutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene, but not beta‐carotene or astaxanthin, decreased RPE cell proliferation under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Pre‐treating ARPE‐19 cells with lutein, but not with other carotenoids, tielded modest protection from H2O2‐ or tBHP‐induced cell loss. However, cell co‐exposure to lutein and tBHP significantly decreased intracellular ROS production and essentially neutralized tBHP‐dependent cell death at tBHP concentrations up to 500 μM (see Figure).ConclusionLutein inhibits proliferation (and promotes differentiation) of human RPE cells. In this in vitro model, lutein significantly protects the RPE from oxidative stress. These findings contribute to the understanding of protective mechanisms attributable to retinal xanthophylls in eye health and retinopathies.Support or Funding InformationPartially funded by TTUHSC El Paso Seed Grants (LPR, XG) and Scholarly Activity & Research Program student awards (GA, CD).
Tomato based supplement supports cardiovascular health
Authors: Hermoni Karin Linnewiel , Shefer Irit , Raz Golan 
Published: November 2023

Tomato rich diet is linked to favorable effects on cardiovascular health. The effects of tomato carotenoids on various parameters related to cardiovascular health such as blood pressure, endothelial function, inflammation and oxidative stress have been the subject of extensive research. The Aim of the current clinical study was to investigated the effects of tomato extract consumption on the management of post prandial lipid and sugar profiles.Consumption of a high fat meal causes a stress reaction that includes transient rise in triglycerides as well as an elevation in glucose and insulin levels. Oxidative stress associated with the high‐fat meal has been suggested as a major contributor to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis along with other chronic disease states such as diabetes and obesity. One mechanism is the increased oxidation of LDL cholesterol, which promotes plaque formation and increases cardiovascular risk.The current clinical trial included 150 healthy men and women that were supplemented for 2 weeks with Cardi‐O‐Mato (tomato based product) or placebo. At the end of supplementation period, subjects consumed a high fat meal and parameters related to lipid and sugar profile as well as oxLDL levels were evaluated. Interestingly, volunteers who consumed the tomato supplement had significantly reduced levels of oxidized LDL compared to placebo group. Moreover, insulin levels were reduced following supplementation. A beneficial trend was also observed for post‐meal glucose levels.This study suggests that tomato phytonutrients possess a favorable effect on various aspects related to cardiovascular health and management of high fat meal‐induced stress.Support or Funding InformationThis study was founded by Lycored Ltd
Supplementation with Choline Chloride in a Liquid Rodent Diet: Recipe Development for Differing Caloric Intake in a Fetal Alcohol Model
Authors: Jackson Thomas W , Canipe L Grant , Cheatham Carol L 
Published: November 2023

ObjectiveCholine supplementation of maternal diet during preconception and gestational periods has been shown to ameliorate fetal alcohol effects on offspring. Researchers generally provide alcohol and choline to pregnant dams via gavage, but this is not physiologically relevant. An alternative method of choline supplementation is to supplement saccharine‐sweetened drinking water with choline, but this still requires ethanol gavage. These limitations necessitate a palatable novel method of choline delivery to ethanol‐exposed dams. The objective of this study was to devise a physiologically relevant means of delivering choline and ethanol to rat dams throughout gestation by developing a novel choline‐supplemented liquid ethanol diet that replicated previous choline supplementation doses of 250 mg choline per kg body weight per day (250 mg/kg/day).MethodsTwelve Wistar rats were purchased from Charles River and bred at 100–120 days. Dams consumed diets in a 2 × 2 model: (Ethanol, No Ethanol) x (Choline, No Choline). Ethanol‐exposed animals also had a pair‐fed, calorie‐restricted group. Thus, 5 recipes were designed: 3 with choline supplementation and 2 without. Each diet was developed by analyzing consumption relative to weight after different treatments and increasing the choline chloride content in recipes until approximately 250 mg/kg/day choline was supplemented across groups. Blood was taken at gestational day 18 (GD18) for assay of choline and its metabolites. ANOVAs were run to analyze group differences in consumption and plasma choline metabolites.ResultsA set of recipes was formulated that achieved a 258.38 mg/kg/day mean choline dose with no significant differences between groups (means = 269.85, 251.71, 237.35, p<0.05). Importantly, the supplemented dams consumed the same amount of diet as the unsupplemented (p<0.05). Significantly higher concentrations of choline and its metabolites were found in blood taken at GD18 from choline‐supplemented dams compared to control dams (p<0.05).DiscussionWe successfully devised recipes that allow us to achieve a 250 mg/kg/day choline dose in choline‐supplemented groups. Separate recipes are required for Ethanol versus No Ethanol choline‐supplemented groups, because dams consuming an ethanol diet consume fewer calories than dams on a No Ethanol diet. Findings in choline metabolite concentrations in blood demonstrate that we have provided biologically active choline to pregnant dams.ConclusionIt is feasible to supplement rodent liquid diet with choline chloride to achieve a more physiologically relevant model while accounting for non‐isocaloric intake in a fetal alcohol model.Support or Funding InformationNIAAA K01‐AA021134 to last author
Decreased Muscle Health In Dietary Antioxidant Deficient Aged Mice
Authors: van Dijk Miriam , Dijk Francina , van Norren Klaske , Jaspers Richard , van Helvoort Ardy , Verlaan Sjors , Luiking Yvette 
Published: November 2023

Background and aimInadequacies of micronutrients with antioxidant‐properties are common among older adults and have been associated with higher risk of frailty, adverse functional outcome and impaired muscle health. However, a causal relationship is less well known. The aim was to determine in old mice the impact of reduced dietary intake of vitamins A/E/B6/B12/Folate, selenium and zinc on muscle mass, oxidative capacity, strength and physical activity (PA) over time.Methods21‐months‐old mice were fed either AIN‐93M or a diet low in micronutrients with antioxidant‐properties (=LOWOX: 50% of mouse recommended daily intake of vitamin A/E/B6/B12/folate/selenium/zinc) for 4 months. Muscle mass, grip strength, PA, and general oxidative status (liver malondialdehyde (MDA)) were assessed and m. tibialis anterior (TA) was used to determine ex vivo muscle protein synthesis (MPS via SUnSET method) and breakdown (MPB via 3‐methylhistine release). Moreover, muscle fatigue was measured on m. extensor digitorum longus (EDL) during an ex‐vivo moderate exercise‐protocol. Effects on oxidative capacity (succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity), muscle fiber type, number and cross‐sectional area (FCSA) were assessed on m.plantaris (PL) using histochemistry.ResultsFrom 2 months on the diet, bodyweight of LOWOX‐mice was lower compared to control‐mice (P<0.0001) without difference in food intake, and mainly due to lower fat mass (P<0.0001). After 4 months, oxidative status of LOWOX‐mice was lower, demonstrated by decreased vitamin E plasma levels (P<0.05) and increased liver MDA levels (P=0.018). PA was significantly lower in LOWOX‐mice (P<0.001). Muscle mass was not affected, although PL‐FCSA was decreased (~16%; P=0.028) while SDH‐activity and muscle fiber type distribution remained unaffected. The ex vivo anabolic response to amino acid enriched buffer was totally blunted in LOWOX‐mice (P=0.039) with an increase of MPB (P=0.036). In LOWOX‐mice, EDL‐force production was decreased at lower stimulation frequencies (P=0.038) and fatigue resistance was diminished (P=0.023).ConclusionsReduced dietary intake of vitamins A/E/B6/B12/Folate/selenium/zinc has major impact on muscle health as shown by decreased force production and PA, without effects on muscle mass. Moreover, muscle protein turnover was affected. The reduced FCSA in combination with lack of effect on SDH‐activity suggests that such dietary reductions cause muscle fiber atrophy and reduced muscle oxidative capacity resulting in reduced muscle fatigue resistance.