Ingrid S. Surono

From 'lactose intolerance' to 'lactose nutrition'.

The concept of lactose intolerance has become embedded in Western medicine and developing economy medicine. It is based on evidence that intestinal lactase activity persists into later childhood and throughout life in only a minority of the worlds population, notably northern European-derived populations. These people have the T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the rs49882359 allele (C/T), also known as C/T-13910, the MCM6 gene which positively influences the lactase LCT gene. Other lactase persistent (LP) populations are found in Africa and the Middle East with different genetic variants. These SNPs represent co-evolution with dairying since the agricultural revolution and nutrient-dependent ecological adaptation. That said, gastrointestinal symptoms considered due to small intestinal lactose malabsorption are poorly correlated with lactase non-persistence (LNP), the situation for most people. With LNP, colonic microbiome lactase enables lactose fermentation to occur so that none is found in faeces. Whether the short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and gases (hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane) produced cause symptoms is dose-dependent. Up to 25 g of lactose at any one time can usually be consumed by a LNP person, but its food and meal pattern context, the microbiomic characteristics, age and other factors may alter tolerance. Thus, the notion that lactose intolerance is a disorder or disease of LNP people is misplaced and has been one of cultural perspective. What actually matters is whether a particular dairy product as normally consumed give rise to symptoms. It is, therefore, proposed that lactose tolerance tests be replaced with dairy food tolerance tests.

Traditional Indonesian Dairy Foods

Indonesia is the largest archipelago blessed with one of the richest mega-biodiversities and also home to one of the most diverse cuisines and traditional fermented foods. There are 3 types of traditional dairy foods, namely the butter-like product minyak samin; yogurt-like product dadih; and cheese-like products dali or bagot in horbo, dangke, litsusu, and cologanti, which reflect the culture of dairy product consumption in Indonesia.

The effect of an Annona muricata leaf extract on nutritional status and cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Annona muricata leaf infusion has traditionally been consumed to maintain health, but is now considered for use in treating cancer patients. The objective of this study was to elucidate the effects of A. muricata leaf extract in humans and human cell lines. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN Thirty outpatients with colorectal cancer who had undergone primary tumor resection were enrolled in a randomized double-blind placebo- controlled pre-post-trial. They were divided into two groups: those who ingested A. muricata leaf extract (n=14) and those who ingested a placebo (n=14) daily for 8 weeks. Twenty-eight subjects completed the trial; they were equally distributed between the two groups. Serum from patients of both groups was compared for cytotoxicity against colorectal cancer cell lines. The nutritional status of patients was monitored throughout the study. RESULTS Ex vivo and clinical studies showed higher cytotoxicity in the supplemented group compared with the placebo group. Further research is required to investigate the long-term effect of A.muricata leaf extract, particularly on parameters directly related to cytotoxic activity toward colorectal cancer cells and nutrition status.

Lactobacillus plantarum IS-10506 probiotic administration increases amlodipine absorption in a rabbit model

Objective Probiotics are beneficial in human health. In this study, we investigated the effect of probiotics on absorption of amlodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist used in the treatment of angina and hypertension, in a rabbit model. Methods Lactobacillus plantarum IS-10506 probiotic was administered for 14 days to male New Zealand rabbits. Blood samples were collected before and after probiotic supplementation. Amlodipine (10 mg) was then administered to all groups. Blood samples from a marginal vein were withdrawn at 5, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes to determine amlodipine concentrations in rabbit plasma. Results Amlodipine concentrations in the L. plantarum IS-10506 group were 4.95 ± 1.22, 8.71 ± 0.69, and 12.48 ± 2.53 ng/ml, and those in the control group were 1.69 ± 0.31, 3.89 ± 1.23, and 7.17 ± 1.85 ng/ml at 30, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively after administration of amlodipine. Amlodipine concentrations in the L. plantarum IS-10506 group were significantly higher than those in the control group at 30, 60, and 120 minutes after amlodipine administration. Conclusion Our results suggested that supplementation of L. plantarum IS-10506 significantly increases amlodipine plasma concentrations in rabbits.

Ethnic Fermented Foods and Beverages of Indonesia

Indonesia is inhabited by more than 300 ethnic groups, living scattered in around 6000 islands. Consequently, each area has cultural identities developed over centuries, such as 742 different languages and traditional foods. Preserving agricultural products by fermentation has been carried out since the early seventeenth century especially for tempe. Local and traditional wisdom show the know-how of spontaneous fermentation which is mostly involving mixed cultures including lactic acid bacteria, conducting biopreservation of perishable agricultural products. The diversity of traditional fermented foods in the center of production reflects the importance of agriculture products and culture in each area, involving microbes of Indonesian biodiversities: tempe, gembus, growol, and gatot in Java; oncom, tauco, sayur asin, and tape singkong in West Java; brem in central Java and Bali; tempoyak, terasi, and dadih in Sumatera; Mandai in Kalimantan; and tuak in North Sumatera and Nusa Tenggara.