Napier Grass Rumen Degradability in Sacco in Goats (<i>Capra hircus aegagrus</i>) Supplemented with Different Sources and Amount of Dietary Fats

The study aimed to explore the potential of dietary fats supplementation on the overall goat performance. Three (3) mature rumen-cannulated goats weighting 27.33 ± 1.53 kg housed in individual elevated metabolism stalls with customized fecal and urine collection tools with treatments replicated three times over time following the Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Animals were randomly selected on different dietary treatment at different cycle. For each cycle, animals were provided with 30% concentrate on the morning based on feed requirements {3% of their body weight (BW) dry matter (DM) basis} of the animals. Ad libitum feeding of Napier grass will follow thereafter. Clean drinking water were made available all the times in the respective animal watering troughs. The rumen-cannulated goats were supplemented with different levels of two dietary fats (VCO and Lard) with dietary treatment combinations as follows, Control and VCO and Lard at 3% & 5%. Degradability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) were collected sequentially in every cycle of the study. There were seven (7) days lag period in every cycle for the animals to return to each natural state. On the 8th day of every cycle, animals were given different dietary treatment. Sequential insertion of nylon bag was done on the 15th to 16th day (7 days after treatment). The results showed that degradability of the dry matter (DM) was noticed degraded exponentially on the first twelve hours of incubation and slower down in the next few hours until 48 hours. Crude protein, acid and neutral detergent fiber showed breakdown of components was observed in the first 48 hours of incubation. No significant difference (P > 0.05) among treatment means was observed in all parameters gathered. This implies that mature female goat diet cannot be influenced by dietary fats from two different sources (VCO and Lard) at 3% to 5% supplementation. Based on the study conducted, dietary fats supplementation on goats such as VCO and lard given at the maximum level of 5% level did not influence the nutrient degradability of Napier grass in the rumen until it reaches at 48 hours of incubation. Supplementing ruminant diets with dietary fat in goats could increase the energy density of the animal’s diet without adverse effect on rumen degradability. This simple, easy, and basic technique could also be applied to other animal species in pursuit of finding ways to formulate indigenous feedstuff materials that have potential nutritive values. Given the limitations such as the climatic and environmental constraints, this particular study would somehow serve as benchmark in conducting related researches in optimizing the conditions with respect to animal nutrition and feedstuff utilization. Thus, this study was done to augment productivity and to provide new opportunities for achieving enhanced growth performance in a way that alleviates poverty, improves food security and nutrition and promotes sustainable use of natural resources.

Dietary approach in the treatment of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) has been identified as one of the most prevalent chronic liver disease in adults and children populations. NAFLD is usually associated with the metabolic syndrome(MS), which is chiefly related to insulin resistance and its consequences. Insulin resistance has a crucial role in the pathogenesis of hepatic steatosis and potentially nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH). Because of the contemporary epidemics of MS and obesity, the burden of NAFLD is also expected to rise. Unhealthy diets, such as the so-called western diet, are enriched in fructose, trans-fatty acids and saturated fat and seem to be associated with the development of NAFLD. In human studies, certain dietary sugars, particularly fructose, are used as a substrate for lipogenesis leading to hepatic fatty infiltration, inflammation, and possibly fibrosis. Other investigations have shown that fat consumption especially cholesterol and trans/saturated fatty acids are also steatogenic and seem to increase visceral adiposity. The identification of specific dietary components that favor the development of NASH could be important for the management of this disorder. This review focuses on the effects of different dietary approaches to prevent and treat NAFLD emphasizing the macronutrients and energy composition.

Food for Thought: Have We Been Giving the Wrong Dietary Advice?

Background: Since 1984 UK citizens have been advised to reduce total dietary fat intake to 30% of total energy and saturated fat intake to 10%. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence [NICE] suggests a further benefit for Coronary Heart Disease [CHD] prevention by reducing saturated fat [SFA] intake to 6% - 7% of total energy and that 30,000 lives could be saved by replacing SFAs with Polyunsaturated fats [PUFAs]. Methods: 20 volumes of the Seven Countries Study, the seminal work behind the 1984 nutritional guidelines, were assessed. The evidence upon which the NICE guidance was based was reviewed. Nutritional facts about fat and the UK intake of fat are presented and the impact of macronutrient confusion on public health dietary advice is discussed. Findings: The Seven Countries study classified processed foods, primarily carbohydrates, as saturated fats. The UK government and NICE do the same, listing biscuits, cakes, pastries and savoury snacks as saturated fats. Processed foods should be the target of public health advice but not natural fats, in which the UK diet is deficient. With reference to the macro and micro nutrient composition of meat, fish, eggs, and dairy foods the article demonstrates that dietary trials cannot change one type of fat for another in a controlled study. Interpretation: The evidence suggests that processed food is strongly associated with the increase in obesity, diabetes, CHD, and other modern illness in our society. The macro and micro nutrients found in meat, fish, eggs and dairy products, are vital for human health and consumption of these nutritious foods should be encouraged.

Dietary fat intake and liver cancer risk: A prospective cohort study in Chinese women

Objective:This study aimed to determine whether dietary fat intake increased liver cancer risk in Chinese women from a prospective population-based cohort.Methods:A total of 72,704 Chinese women were followed up from the time of baseline recruitment(1996–2000)to the end of 2016.Dietary fat intake was calculated using a validated food frequency questionnaire.The Cox regression model was used to assess the hazard ratio(HR)and 95%confidence intervals(CI)for dietary fat intake and liver cancer risk.Results:We identified 252 incident liver cancer cases out of 1,267,845 person-years during the overall follow-up time.Null associations,neither in quartiles nor per standard deviation(SD)increment,were detected between liver cancer risk and dietary total fat,fat subtypes and subtype ratios,and food sources.The HR(95%CI)of the 1-SD increment was 1.03(0.90–1.17)for total fat,1.06(0.93–1.20)for saturated fat,1.06(0.93–1.21)for monounsaturated fat,and 1.00(0.89–1.13)for polyunsaturated fat.Similar null associations were observed in stratification analyses according to body mass index and menopausal status.Conclusions:In our prospective cohort study,no significant association was observed in Chinese women between dietary fat and liver cancer risk,and in stratification and sensitivity analyses.

Development and Production of Omega-3 Fatty Acids-Enriched Foods is an Important Dietary Strategy to Improve People's Nutritional and Health Status

Both Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are essential nutrients important for cellular structure and function but cannot be synthesized by the human body and must be obtained from food.These two classes of fatty acids are metabolically and functionally different and antagonistically regulate many physiological and pathological processes.Thus,the relative balance between Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids are critical for good health.However,today’s diet contains too much Omega-6 but too little Omega-3,leading to a severe imbalance with a very high Omega-6/Omega-3 ratio(>10)in most people.Many lines of evidence suggest that this imbalance is a key factor contributing to the development of modern chronic diseases.A growing number of studies ranging from laboratory research to clinical trials have shown that balancing the tissue ratio of Omega-6/Omega-3 fatty acids by increasing tissue levels of Omega-3 fatty acids and/or decreasing the content of Omega-6 fatty acids are very beneficial for the prevention and treatment of many life-threating chronic diseases as well as for health promotion of the general public.Therefore,development and production of foods rich in Omega-3-fatty acids should be considered as a key health program to balance essential fat intake and thereby improve the nutritional and health status of all people.

Time-Lag Effect of Dietary Fiber and Fat Intake Ratio on Japanese Colon Cancer Mortality

The daily intake of total dietary fiber (TDF) was evaluated from data of the National Nutrition Survey (NNS) in Japan for 41 years since 1947. An interrelationship between the nutrient intake, including TDF, and the mortality from colon cancer in Japanese people was calculated by a simple correlation coefficient and time-series correlation coeffcient.TDF intake per capita decreased rapidly from 27.4 g in 1947 to 15.8 g in 1963, and subsequently decreased by a lesser rate to 15.3 g in 1987. Fat intake increased rapidly from 18.0 g in 1950 to 56.6 g in 1987.The age-adjusted mortality from colon cancer shows a significant positive correlation with both the intakes of animal protein and of total fat, and the fat energy ratio. A time-series analysis indicates that the mortality from colon cancer was negatively correlated with TDF with a 15-27 year delay, the maximum correlation existing with a 23-year lag (r = -0.947). The TDF intake was less than 17.9 g in 1965. At the same time, the mortality from colon cancer increased rapidly. A fat/TDF ratio above 3.0 resulted in a rapid increase in colon cancer mortality.The non-adjusted mortality from colon cancer has much the same interrelationship with TDF and fat intake as the adjusted figures. It is suggested that the cause of the increased mortality from colon cancer in Japan is positively related to the increased intake of fat and protein. In addition, the decrease in TDF intake has accelerated the mortality of colon cancer after a delay of 23-24 years. The importance of fat/TDF as a nutritional criterion for the incidence of colon cancer needs to be better recognized

Moderate quantity of lard mixed with sunflower oil attenuate lipid accumulation in mice

Lard,a fat rich in saturated fatty acids(SFAs),is regarded as a risk factor for metabolic diseases.In the present study,effect of different lard blended with sunflower oil diets on lipid accumulation in adipose tissue,liver,and serum by mouse model was researched.Body weight,body fat percentage,cross-sectional area of adipocytes,liver triglycerides(TGs),and oil red stained area in mice liver of lard blend sunflower oil(L-SFO)group were significantly lower than those of sunflower oil(SFO)group,whereas no significant differences were observed between mice of lard and L-SFO groups.Serum TG and free fatty acid levels were significantly lower in L-SFO group than in other two groups.Furthermore,data showed that sunflower oil decreased contents of hormonesensitive lipase and carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1(CPT-1)and increased fatty acid synthase activity in liver tissue.A mixture of lard and sunflower oil rather than only sunflower oil or lard might promote body fat loss and reduce lipid accumulation in adipose tissue,serum,and liver by promoting hydrolysis of TG,increasingβ-oxidation of fatty acids.These data suggested that mixing lard and vegetable oil(e.g.sunflower oil)for cooking,or alternate using lard and vegetable oil could be beneficial for reducing body fat.

Sequence of fat partitioning and its relationship with whole body insulin resistance

Background Currently it is unclear whether lipid accumulation occurs in a particular sequence and its relationship with whole body insulin resistance （IR）. This study aimed to answer this question.Methods Male Sprague-Dawley （SD） rats were fed on a normal or a high-fat diet for 20 weeks. Serum triglycerides （TG）, serum free fatty acids （FFA）, fasting plasma glucose （FPG）, and liver and skeletal muscle TG were measured. The glucose infusion rate （GIR） and mRNA levels of acetyl-CoA carboxylase （ACC） and carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 （CPT-1） in the liver and skeletal muscle were determined at different stages.Results Compared with rats fed on the normal diet, serum FFA was not significantly increased in rats fed on the high-fat diet until 20 weeks. In contrast, liver TG was significantly increased by the high-fat diet by four weeks （20-fold; P ＜0.01）,and remained elevated until the end of the study. However, skeletal muscle TG was not significantly increased by the high-fat diet until 20 weeks （10.6-fold; P＜0.01）, and neither was the FPG. The GIR was significantly reduced （1.6-fold; P ＜0.01） by the high-fat diet after 8 weeks. The mRNA levels of ACC gradually increased over time and CPT-1 decreased over time, in both the liver and skeletal muscle in rats fed the high-fat diet.Conclusions Lipid accumulation in the liver occurs earlier than lipid accumulation in the skeletal muscle. Fatty liver may be one of the early markers of whole body IR. Changes in the gene expression levels of ACC and CPT-1 may have important roles in the process of IR development.

Nutrient Intakes of Pregnant Women and their Associated Factors in Eight Cities of China： A Cross-sectional Study

Background： During tile last 3 decades, China has dramatic changes of the dietary pattern among its citizens, particularly in urban cities. This study aimed to determine the nutrient intake status and factors associated with nutrient intakes of urban Chinese pregnant women now-a-day. Methods： The multistage stratified random sampling method was applied in the cross-sectional study. 479 women in three trimesters of pregnancy from eight cities of China were recruited. Nutrient intakes were evaluated with one 24 h dietary recall, and compared with the Chinese Dietary Reference Intakes （DRIs） 2013 tbr available nutrients. Results： Most pregnant women had imbalanced macronutrient distribution with excessive energy derived from fat. Intakes of Vitamin A, B, calcium, magnesium, and selenium were below Chinese Recommended Nutrient Intake （RNI） and Estimated Average Requirements （EARs） in all trimesters. Most pregnant women took more tblic acid in the first trimester with a significant decrease in the second and third trimester （P 〈 0.05）. Shortfall in iron intake was tbund in the third trimester whereas some women may be at the risk of excessive iron intake. Intakes of thiamin met RNI in the first trimester but were below EAR in all trimesters. Trimester phasing was positively associated with most nutrients （P 〈 0.05）. Prepregnancy body mass index was inversely associated with energy, tht, Vitamin C, and calcium intake （P 〈 0.05）. Educational level and household income were positively associated with folic acid intake （P 〈 0.05）. Conclusions： Cunent prenatal dietary choices of urban pregnant women in China are imbalanced in the nutrient intake when compared with national DRIs 2013, particularly in intakes of energy derived from fat and micronutrients. Appropriate dietary advice to pregnant women should promote a balanced diet with emphasis on avoidance of foods of high fat content and incorporation of t＇oods that are good sources of the key micronutrients that are usually lacking in a regular pregnancy diet. Further research is needed to understand the eating habits and food patterns that contribute to this imbalanced diet in order to be able to effectively improve prenatal women＇s nutrient intake status.