Carlos A. González-Bermúdez

Anti-inflammatory properties of fruit juices enriched with pine bark extract in an in vitro model of inflamed human intestinal epithelium: The effect of gastrointestinal digestion

Enrichment of fruit juices with pine bark extract (PBE) could be a strategy to compensate for phenolic losses during the gastrointestinal digestion. A coculture system with Caco-2 cells and RAW 264.7 macrophages was established as an in vitro model of inflamed human intestinal epithelium for evaluating the anti-inflammatory capacity of fruit juices enriched with PBE (0.5 g L(-1)) before and after in vitro digestion. The digestion of both PBE-enriched pineapple and red fruit juice led to significant changes in most of the analysed phenolic compounds. The in vitro inflammatory state showed cell barrier dysfunction and overproduction of IL-8, nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the inflamed cells, incubation with nondigested samples reduced (P<0.05) the production of IL-8 and NO compared with digested samples. ROS production increased in the inflamed cells exposed to digested commercial red fruit juice (86.8±1.3%) compared with fresh juice (77.4±0.8%) and increased in the inflamed cells exposed to digested enriched red fruit juice (82.6±1.6%) compared with the fresh enriched juice (55.8±6%). The anti-inflammatory properties of PBE-enriched fruit juices decreased after digestion; further research on the bioavailability of the assayed compounds is needed to properly assess their usefulness for the treatment of gut inflammation.

Influence of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of fruit juices enriched with pine bark extract on intestinal microflora

The selective antimicrobial effect of fruit juices enriched with pine bark extract (PBE) (0.5 g/L) has been studied before and after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. PBE (a concentrate of water-soluble bioflavonoids, mainly including phenolic compounds) has been proven to have high stability to the digestion process. Pure phenolic compounds such as gallic acid had a high antimicrobial effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, maintaining the lactic acid bacteria population (≈100%). Otherwise, E. coli O157:H7 only growth 50% when PBE was added to the culture media, while a slight increase on the growth of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria was observed after exposition to the bark extract. Fresh fruit juices enriched with PBE showed the highest inhibitory effect on pathogenic intestinal bacterial growth, mainly E. coli and Enterococcus faecalis. The in vitro digestion process reduced the antibacterial effect of juices against most pathogenic bacteria in approximately 10%. However, the beneficial effect of fruit juices enriched with PBE (0.5 g/L) on gut microbiota is still considerable after digestion.

Effect of adding different thickening agents on the viscosity properties and in vitro mineral availability of infant formula.

The effect of adding different thickening agents (locust bean gum (LBG), modified corn and rice starches (MCS, MRS)) to an infant formula on both in vitro mineral availability (Ca, Fe and Zn), quantified by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), and formula viscosity, after in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, was investigated. LBG was the most effective agent to increase formula thickness. However, it showed a negative effect on Ca, Fe and Zn in vitro solubility and dialysability. MCS and MRS only affected calcium solubility and dialysability when they were used at ⩾50% of the maximum legal limit. No negative effect was observed for Fe and Zn when modified starches were added at the different concentrations assessed. The phytate content in the thickening ingredients was also analysed. Despite finding a considerable amount of phytic acid in the raw ingredients, its final concentration in the infant formula was insufficient to decrease in vitro mineral availability.

Polisacáridos de algas como ingredientes funcionales en acuicultura marina: alginato, carragenato y ulvano

Resumen es: El uso excesivo de antimicrobianos en acuicultura puede seleccionar bacterias resistentes que puede suponer a un riesgo para la salud publica. Por esta r...

Cultivation OF Solanum tuberosum in a former mining district for a safe human consumption integrating simulated digestion

BACKGROUND Potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a global crop and by far the most important non-cereal crop in the world. Therefore, it is necessary to assure its safe consumption. This is especially relevant in the case of its cultivation in abandoned mining areas, where the population tends to return to agriculture. In the present work, the objective is to evaluate the contribution to the diet of nutrients and contaminants of potato grown in soils from the Almadén area (mining district) by studying the intestinal absorption (in vitro) of the tuber, taking into account the preparation methods for its consumption. RESULTS The results of contaminant and nutrient contents show that the potato peel retains significantly more elements (mainly in the case of toxic elements) than the flesh. Furthermore, potato (peel and flesh) is a good source of iron. CONCLUSION It is recommended to boil potatoes with the peel in order to minimize nutrient loss and, before consumption, peeling them to eliminate possible risks due to contaminants. In addition, to minimize the risk due of mercury and to improve the levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium and sodium, it is recommended to add salt during the boiling process.

Physicochemical properties of different thickeners used in infant foods and their relationship with mineral availability during in vitro digestion process

Locust bean gum (LBG) and modified starches are commonly used as thickeners in food products for infants. However, there is no consensus on their possible effects on infant nutrition, especially on mineral availability. The aim of the present work was to characterize the effect of LBG, cross-linked, hydroxypropylated maize starch (Mhdp) and pre-gelatinized rice starch (gRS) on Ca, Fe and Zn availability during a gastric and intestinal in vitro digestion assay in relation to their physicochemical properties in solution (apparent viscosity, solubility, molar mass (M) and conformational properties) through the simulated digestion process. LBG gave the highest decrease in Ca and Fe gastric (17.96% and 17.6% respectively) and intestinal (19.5% and 13.5%) solubility with respect to the reference without thickeners. Ca (11.1%±1.1), Fe (2.77%±0.3) and Zn (7.78%±0.6) dialyzability was also lower than for the reference (23.4%±2.9; 19.65%±3.53 and 27.74%±3.3 respectively). LBG solubility remained stable during gastric digestion, decreasing significantly from a range of 65-69% to 61.1% after intestinal digestion. LBG viscosity remained stable during the digestion process, being these findings attributable to its resistance to enzymes. On the other hand, the addition to Mhdp or gRS slightly affected Ca and Fe solubility or Ca dialyzability, decreasing after gastric digestion and then increasing after intestinal digestion with respect to the reference. These results correlated to the changes in their viscosity enhancing properties, which increased during gastric digestion and decreased after intestinal digestion, being attributable to their digestion by pancreatic enzymes. Gastric digestion resulted in an increase in M for the modified starches (more pronounced for gRS). The increase in mineral solubility and dialyzability after intestinal digestion with respect to the gastric stage was explained by the degradation of starches by intestinal enzymes, which resulted in a decrease in apparent shear viscosity (from 1.2 to 1Pas, measured in a shear rate range 0.00-50s-1) and an increase in solubility (from 3 to 6% to approximately 70%) after intestinal digestion. In conclusion, LBG could be more effective than Mhdp and gRS as thickener, providing higher viscosity and resistance to digestive process. However, its negative effect on mineral solubility and dialyzability should be taken into account. On the contrary, Mhdp and gRS showed to be degraded after intestinal digestion.

EMPLEO DE FÓRMULAS INFANTILES ANTIRREGURGITACIÓN EN LACTANTES: EFECTO SOBRE LA DISPONIBILIDAD MINERAL

Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in infants during the early months of life, as a result of a weak deve lopment of the regulatory mechanisms. Nevertheless, GER tends to disappear as infants grow. Nowadays, GER has become a common cause of pediatric consultation in the clinical practice, especially if it is followed by vomits. Sometimes, changing baby position while feeding seems to be a solution to reduce symptoms, while other times it is necessary manage the problem according to clinical practice guidelines. In these guidelines, the use of antiregurgitation infant formulas are included, which has been formulated with thickening agents and/or whey/casein ratio modification. Antiregurgitation milk products are available without pediatric prescription in chemists and other authorized establishments. Published studies on antiregurgitant infant formulas show some contradictory conclusions about their use. A negative effect on mineral and micronutrient bioavailability has been proposed by some authors, in relation to the presence of thickening agents used as ingredients. Different aspects which require more research, related to the use of antiregurgitation infant formulas, have been included in this review with the aim of producing more effective and safety products for an especially vulnerable population, where an optimum feeding will lead to an adequate development and good health status in the future.