Parboiled rice supplementation alleviates high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia by regulating genes and gut microbiota in mice

Dietary parboiled rice(PR)has a low risk of disease,but little is known about the contribution of PR to the prevention of hyperlipidemia.The potential role and underlying mechanisms of PR in hyperlipidemia were evaluated in this study.Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with a normal diet,high-fat diet(HFD)containing refined rice(HFDRR)or PR(HFDPR).It was found that PR intervention improved lipid accumulation in mice.Transcriptomic data analysis revealed that 27 genes were up-regulated(mostly involved in lipid breakdown)and 86 genes were down-regulated(mostly involved in inflammatory responses)in the HFDPR group compared to the HFDRR group.And 15 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were validated by quantitative real-time PCR(RT-qPCR),while protein interaction network showed that protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type C(PTPRC)has a central role.The gut microbiota of mice was also altered after different dietary treatments,with higher ratio of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes,increased abundances of Ruminococcaceae,Lachnospiraceae,Christensenellaceae,Porphyromonadaceae,Rikenellaceae and Prevotellaceae,and decreased abundances of Lactobacillaceae,Peptostreptococcaceae,Erysipelotrichaceae and Actinobacteria in the HFDRR group.In addition,it was observed that PPAR signaling pathway may act as a bridge between DEGs and differential gut microbiota.These results suggested that PR can prevent hyperlipidemia by modulating liver genes and gut microbiota.

Brown rice:a missing nutrient-rich health food

Brown rice(BR)is a traditional health food being rich in various active substances, which have effective preventive and therapeutic effects on many diseases. In this review, we systemically summarized the efficacy of BR on cardiovascular diseases(CVDs), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, immune disorders, inflammation, anxiety, liver and stomach damage, etc. Underlying mechanisms have also been analyzed, which include regulating lipid synthesis and metabolism, improving insulin levels and increasing glucose metabolism, anti-oxidation, promoting the immune system, transcription and non-transcriptional regulation, blocking cell cycle, thereby improving disease symptoms and reducing its recurrence rate. Generally, BR has been almost disappeared in modern society, but it is promising to exploit the potential to become a functional food. Further research on the nutritional value, variety differences, storage problems, taste and molecular mechanism of BR will be conducive to help meticulously design clinical intervention trials and ultimately improve the treatment and prevention of various diseases.

Glutamate and aspartate alleviate testicular/epididymal oxidative stress by supporting antioxidant enzymes and immune defense systems in boars

Several potential oxidative agents have damaging effects on mammalian reproductive systems.This study was conducted to investigate the effects of glutamate(Glu)and aspartate(Asp)supplementation on antioxidant enzymes and immune defense systems in the outer scrotum of boars injected with H2O2.A total of 24 healthy boars were randomly divided into 4 treatment groups:control(basal diet,saline-treated),H2O2(basal diet,H2O2-challenged outer scrotum(1 m L kg^–1 BW)),Glu(basal diet+2%Glu,H2O2-challenged),and Asp(basal diet+2%Asp,H2O2-challenged).Our results showed that both Glu and Asp supplementation improved testicular morphology and decreased the genital index in the H2O2-treated boars.Glu and Asp administration increased the antioxidant enzyme activities and affected the testicular inflammatory cytokine secretion but had no effect on sex hormone levels.Furthermore,the m RNA expression of CAT,Cu Zn SOD,and GPx4 was altered in the testes and epididymis of boars treated with Asp and Glu.Glu and Asp supplementation also modulated the expression of TGF-β1,IL-10,TNF-α,IL-6 and IL-1βin the testis and epididymis.These results indicate that dietary Glu and Asp supplementation might enhance antioxidant capacity and regulate the secretion and expression of inflammatory cytokines to protect the testes and epididymis of boars against oxidative stress.

Octacosanol and health benefits:Biological functions and mechanisms of action

Octacosanol is a widely distributed natural higher aliphatic alcohol that can be isolated and purified from rice bran,sugarcane,beeswax,insect wax,etc.Octacosanol exerts various biological effects,including anti-fatigue,anti-hypoxia,antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,antitumor,etc.Meanwhile,it has the effects of regulating the body's immune function and energy metabolism and has potential benefits for cardiovascular disease,cerebrovascular disorders,diabetes,Parkinson's disease,and others.Octacosanol is primarily responsible for regulating multiple signaling pathways,such as AMPK,PI3K/Akt,and MAPK/NF-κB,to achieve different physiological functions.This review systemically summarized the progress in characterization,extraction and purification,biological functions,molecular mechanisms,and bioavailability of octacosanol.This study will provide a reference for many investigators to further explore the physiological functions of higher aliphatic alcohols and apply them as supplements in functional foods.

Targeting gut microbiota in type 2 diabetes mellitus:Potential roles of dietary flavonoids

Type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)is a common endocrine and progressive metabolic disorder disease,which seriously threatens peoples’lives and health.Due to the high cost of clinical treatments and obvious side effects,looking for effective bioactive ingredients in the diet is an important strategy to prevent or even reduce the risk of diabetes.Epidemiological studies have suggested that dietary flavonoids have a potential antidiabetic effect,but the underlying mechanism remains unclear.Accumulating evidences indicates that gut microbiota has become an important target of dietary interventions.It plays essential roles in the digestion and absorption of flavonoids and affects the occurrence and progression of T2DM.This review systematically summarized the progress of dietary flavonoids targeting gut microbiota to ameliorate T2DM and analyzed possible molecular mechanisms.It suggests that flavonoids may prevent T2DM for healthy people and ameliorate health situations for T2DM patients.In addition,microbiota-based nutrition aims to provide personalized nutritional guidance to alter an individual’s microbiota and further improve response to dietary flavonoids,which will benefit to achieve a more effective diet for the prevention and management of T2DM.