New Insights into Probiotics Research: Has the Era of Postbiotics Really Arrived?

Postbiotics: A New Frontier in Food and Pharmaceutical Research (Review)

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition[IF:11.176]

① Postbiotic compounds have technical, safety, and economic advantages compared to live probiotics; ② Postbiotics exhibit biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, immune modulation, anti-diarrheal, antihypertensive, lowering serum cholesterol, inhibiting abnormal cell proliferation, and antioxidant effects; ③ Postbiotics promote the growth of indigenous gut probiotics rather than adding new species to the gut microbiota to maintain host gut homeostasis; ④ More research is needed to determine the appropriate dosage and optimal intake frequency of postbiotics and to assess their health effects; ⑤ Issues related to the naming, regulation, and safety of postbiotic applications require deeper exploration by researchers to establish international standards and regulations.

Postbiotics as the new frontier in food and pharmaceutical research
03-29, doi: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2056727

【Editor’s Note】The beneficial effects of probiotics require them to remain active, which poses high demands on product processing, transportation, storage, and digestion. However, the metabolites of probiotics—postbiotics—can completely overcome the limitations of live probiotics. This article provides a detailed review of the classification, safety, analytical methods, engineering production, possible probiotic action pathways, applications in the food industry, and as commercial probiotic formulations, which is worth referencing for relevant individuals. (@Bingbing)

Quantitative Assessment of Food Diversity (Review)

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition[IF:11.176]

① The dietary biodiversity index should meet the key axioms in the 'Food Biodiversity Index' and be expanded to explain the differences between edible species; ② Additionally, they should be used in combination rather than alone to leverage their complementarity; ③ Researchers and policymakers must carefully consider the selection of (effective) dietary biodiversity indices to assess nutrition-sensitive programs, food trade, and conservation policies in food and human diets; ④ Action plans such as the United Nations Nutrition Action (2016-2025) and the Decade on Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) support comprehensive initiatives for global nutrition and biodiversity conservation across various fields.

Food biodiversity: Quantifying the unquantifiable in human diets
03-17, doi: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2051163

【Editor’s Note】Food biodiversity refers to the diversity of plants, animals, and other organisms used as food, including genetic diversity within and between species. Currently, many biodiversity assessment standards are applied to food diversity assessments, but these methods overlook the edibility and nutritional characteristics of food itself. This article summarizes the calculation of food diversity at the consumption level, evaluates existing diversity measurement indices, discusses their relative applicability, and possible improvements. (@Bingbing)

Interindividual Variability in Protein and Fish Oil Supplementation in Older Adults

Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle[IF:12.91]

① A total of 83 older adults aged 65-77 were recruited for a 24-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to explore the effects of leucine protein supplementation, as well as leucine protein and long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the risk of sarcopenia; ② Appendicular lean mass (ALM), Timed Up and Go (TUG) test, and serum triglycerides (TG) showed no significant interindividual differences for both supplements; ③ Both supplements have some clinical significance, but the effects are uncertain, and there is no significant difference between the two; ④ Baseline long-chain n-3 PUFA, habitual protein intake, and other phenotypic and behavioral factors were not determining factors affecting the experimental results.

Interindividual variability in response to protein and fish oil supplementation in older adults: a randomized controlled trial
02-21, doi: 10.1002/jcsm.12936

【Editor’s Note】Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and MuscleRecent articles reported the effects of leucine protein supplementation, as well as leucine protein and fish oil rich in long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) on the risk of sarcopenia in older adults, showing that the two groups of supplements had only minor differences in improving ALM, leg muscle function, and reducing serum triglycerides in older adults at risk of sarcopenia. (@章台柳)

JAMA Subjournal: Grain Fiber Outperforms Fruit and Vegetable Fiber in Reducing Inflammation

JAMA Network Open[IF:8.483]

① Included 4,125 older adults aged 65 and above in the U.S., including Asian, Indigenous, White, and Black individuals; ② Daily intake of an additional 5g of dietary fiber was significantly associated with reductions in C-reactive protein and interleukin-1 receptor agonists, and an increase in soluble CD163 concentration; ③ However, only grain fiber was consistently associated with lower inflammation; ④ Grain fiber was also associated with lower cardiovascular disease (CVD), with proportions mediated by interleukin-18, C-reactive protein, and principal component substances being 1.5%, 14.2%, and 16.1%, respectively; ⑤ Therefore, grain fiber is associated with reduced inflammation and CVD risk, with inflammation playing about a 1/6 role in the association between grain fiber and CVD.

Intake and Sources of Dietary Fiber, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Disease in Older US Adults
03-31, doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.5012

【Editor’s Note】High dietary fiber intake is associated with lower inflammation, but whether this is influenced by the source of dietary fiber is still unknown. This article explores the relationship between dietary fiber from different sources (grains, vegetables, and fruits) and inflammation, as well as whether inflammation mediates the relationship between dietary fiber and cardiovascular disease. The results indicate that only grain fiber is associated with reduced inflammation and CVD risk, and inflammation has a certain mediating effect in the association between grain fiber and CVD. (@Bingbing)

Domestic Team: The Association Between Different Types of Meat Intake and the Risk of Colorectal Polyps

Frontiers in Nutrition[IF:6.576]

① Among 6783 individuals aged 40-80 at high risk for colorectal cancer, 2064 cases of colorectal polyps were identified; ② After adjusting for multiple variables, total meat intake was not significantly associated with the prevalence of colorectal polyps, but was positively correlated with the prevalence of rectal polyps; ③ Higher pork intake was associated with a higher prevalence of colorectal polyps, and higher seafood intake was associated with a higher prevalence of multiple polyps; ④ Higher processed red meat intake was associated with a higher prevalence of small polyps, while higher unprocessed red meat intake was associated with a higher prevalence of rectal polyps.

Association of Meat Subtypes With Colorectal Polyp Prevalence: Finding From the Lanxi Pre-colorectal Cancer Cohort in China
03-18, doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.833571

[Editorial Comment] The team led by Jiao Jingjing from Zhejiang University and the team led by Zheng Weifang from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of LanxiFrontiers in NutritionThe results of a cohort study published in this journal identified 2064 cases of colorectal polyps among 6783 individuals at high risk for colorectal cancer. After assessing dietary intake through a frequency questionnaire, it was found that pork intake was positively correlated with the risk of colorectal polyps, while total meat, seafood, processed red meat, and unprocessed red meat intake were positively correlated with specific subtypes of colorectal polyps. (@aluba)

Domestic team: Replacing red meat with other protein sources can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and premature death (Review)

Nutrition Reviews[IF:7.11]

① This meta-analysis included 13 articles from prospective observational studies, finding that replacing total red meat with poultry, dairy, eggs, nuts, or legumes was associated with lower coronary heart disease risk, with RR values of 0.88, 0.90, 0.86, 0.84, and 0.84 respectively, while replacing total red meat with fish/seafood showed no statistically significant difference in coronary heart disease risk; ② Replacing total red meat with fish/seafood, poultry, eggs, or nuts was associated with an 8-9% reduction in all-cause mortality; ③ Replacing processed red meat was associated with lower coronary heart disease risk and all-cause mortality compared to replacing unprocessed red meat; ④ When using 1 serving/day as the replacement unit for red meat, the aforementioned health benefits were still observed.

Is replacing red meat with other protein sources associated with lower risks of coronary heart disease and all-cause mortality? A meta-analysis of prospective studies
04-05, doi: 10.1093/nutrit/nuac017

[Editorial Comment] Recently, Qin Liqiang and Khemayanto Hidayat from the School of Public Health at Suzhou University, as corresponding authors, published a meta-analysis inNutrition Reviewswhich indicates that limiting red meat consumption, especially processed red meat, while increasing healthier alternative protein sources such as poultry, dairy, eggs, nuts, and legumes may help prevent coronary heart disease and premature death. (@Clinical Nutrition Chen Binlin)

Daily consumption of cranberry can improve vascular function

Food and Function[IF:5.396]

① 45 healthy adult males were randomly divided into two groups, consuming cranberry or placebo daily for 1 month; ② Cranberry consumption enhanced vascular dilation function (FMD) at 2 hours and 1 month later, with no significant effects on blood pressure, heart rate, blood lipids, or blood glucose; ③ After cranberry consumption, 13 plasma and 13 urine metabolites significantly increased at 2 hours and 1 day, and 4 plasma and 13 urine metabolites significantly increased after 1 month; ④ Plasma cinnamic acid 4'-glucoside and other polyphenol metabolites could predict FMD at 2 hours, while 3'-hydroxycinnamic acid and other polyphenol metabolites could predict FMD at 1 month.

Daily consumption of cranberry improves endothelial function in healthy adults: a double blind randomized controlled trial
03-22, doi: 10.1039/D2FO00080F

【Editor’s Note】Food and FunctionA randomized double-blind controlled trial published in this journal found that after 1 month of intervention with 45 healthy adult males, daily consumption of cranberry (containing 525mg of polyphenols) significantly improved vascular function and was associated with specific plasma metabolites. (@aluba)

Is there a need to limit current free sugar intake? (Review)

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition[IF:7.045]

① Research on the intake of free sugars and health shows inconsistent results between traditional animal experiments and population observations, clinical trials; ② Some major limitations of existing studies include short duration, use of sugar doses exceeding physiological levels in animal experiments or solely fructose, failure to compare the different effects of solid and liquid sugars on health, and lack of strong control groups; ③ Although new evidence suggests that low sugar (<5%) is related to nutritional dilution, the article argues that the so-called daily 'high' sugar intake (e.g., 25%), especially solid sugars, may not pose a health threat beyond reducing overall dietary nutritional density.

Current World Health Organization recommendation to reduce free sugar intake from all sources to below 10% of daily energy intake for supporting overall health is not well-supported by available evidence
04-05, doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqac084

[Editorial Comment] Although the mainstream view holds that high intake of free or added sugars is related to obesity and metabolic diseases, this view remains controversial. This article systematically reviews existing results from animal experiments, population observations, and clinical trials regarding free sugar intake. The analysis shows that existing studies have certain limitations and do not well support the current WHO recommendations on free sugar intake. The article calls for relevant parties to further revise and improve the recommendations on free sugar intake. (@Bingbing)

The renal protective effects and mechanisms of dietary interventions

Translational Research[IF:7.012]

① In a mouse model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), a systematic analysis of six dietary preconditioning regimens reveals renal protective effects: fasting-mimicking diet (FMD), ketogenic diet, branched-chain amino acid-restricted diet (BCAA), two diets restricting 80% or 100% sulfur-containing amino acids (SR80/100), and caloric restriction diet (CR); ② FMD, SR80/100, and CR can reduce cellular damage and effectively protect the kidneys after IRI; ③ FMD, SR80/100, and CR can regulate seven proteins, three of which are related to autophagy; ④ FMD, SR80/100, and CR may exert protective effects by regulating the oxidative and hydrogen sulfide-dependent catabolism of cysteine.

A systematic analysis of diet-induced nephroprotection reveals overlapping changes in cysteine catabolism
02-18, doi: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.02.003

【Editor’s Note】Translational ResearchThe latest research results published in the above study found that in a mouse model of renal ischemia-reperfusion injury, fasting-mimicking diet, sulfur-containing amino acid-restricted diet, and caloric restriction diet can exert renal protective effects by influencing the expression of autophagy-related genes and regulating the oxidative and hydrogen sulfide-dependent catabolism of cysteine. (@aluba)

Source: Enthusiastic Intestine Daily (Public Account ID: Enthusiastic Intestine), authorized for reprint