Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 8, Issue 1, 2012

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Mother's milk represents a fundamental step in the proper development of newborn immunity. Development in research on human lactation has contributed to knowledge about the significance of breast milk for the infant and the effects of different immunological components. Breast milk contains immune modulating agents, especially cytokines and growth factors, which can act at the level of gastrointestinal mucosa. In this review, we present the involvement of cytokines as mediators of newborn immunity in human breast milk. We searched the electronic literature PubMed and Embase for all relevant articles, using “human breast milk”, “immunity” and “cytokines” words. The search was limited to English- language papers. Of the studies with the same or overlapping data published by the same investigators, we selected the most recent with the largest number of subjects. Several growth factors and cytokines are present in breast milk with capacity to persist in the infant gut and exert their activities. The mechanism by which the ingestion of human milk modifies immunologic defense against such pathogens remains elusive. There are many additional factors present in breast milk which have as yet unexplained functions and benefits to the infant. It is known that cytokines and their receptors are critical in the mucosal immunity in newborns. Hence, the promotion of breastfeeding is very important for at least the first six months of life of the neonate, during which the child does not have a developed immune system.

Lactose intolerance is a problem suffered by a large part of the world population. The simplest solution is to remove (partially or completely) dairy products from diet. However, a more convenient alternative from the nutritional viewpoint would be to replace the intake of regular dairy products by others in which the lactose content has been modified. In effect, the dairy products with reduced-lactose and lactose-free contents are examples of added-value products, whose production is targeted to a specific group of consumers. The increased manufacture of these dairy products is driven by the increasing knowledge we have on the lactose intolerance problem. There are different technological methods to modify the lactose content in dairy products, such as enzymatic hydrolysis, ultrafiltration and chromatography. The lactose hydrolysis using β-galactosidases is the strategy most widely used in the industry, making it possible to obtain products with low lactose levels. A wide range of this type of products such as milks, creams, ice-creams and fermented milks, are commercially available around the world. In Latin America, which records a very high incidence of deficient-lactase individuals, there are delactosed products available such as fluid and powder milks and some fermented milks. The consumption of fermented dairy products has undergone a rapid increase in Argentina, where the yogurt is the most popular product. In this context, we are working on different aspects on the production of lactose-hydrolyzed yogurt, as this product is still not available in the Argentinean market. The purpose of this contribution is to review the current knowledge on the lactose intolerance problem and the reducedlactose dairy products, with special emphasis on the applied technological processes. Preliminary results obtained by our research group are also included.

Aqueous extracts of different seasonal as well as less popular but edible indigenous fruits of West Bengal, India were studied for their α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory properties. Of the 22 different species of fruits, sixteen fruits inhibited both the carbohydrate digesting enzymes. Concentrations of the extracts are presented as fresh weight of fruit used to make extract / ml. Very high α-amylase (IC50 value &equals 5.0 μg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 value = 9.0 μg/ml) inhibitory activity was shown by extracts of Phoenix sylvestris. Achras sapota also showed high α-amylase (IC50 value = 53.0 μg/ml) and α-glucosidase (IC50 value = 56.0 μg/ml) inhibitory activities. During the present study, no correlation could be established between total phenol / flavonoid content and α-amylase / α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Unweighted pair-group average (UPGA) dendrogram showing interrelationships between the investigated species shows that the fruits can be grouped into two high level clusters. The cluster I brought together Borassus flabellifer and Physalis peruviana having very low α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The cluster II included fruits with moderate to high α- glucosidase inhibitory activity.

The metabolic syndrome is one of the most evident health concerns worldwide. It is characterized by several metabolic abnormalities, which include obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, increased oxidative stress, an increased pro-inflammatory state and hypertension. Nowadays, functional foods are used in the prevention and amelioration of several chronic diseases, such as the metabolic syndrome. The relation of the consumption of certain functional foods and the improvement in health status is regulated through health claims. This review focuses on the different features of the metabolic syndrome and the influence of functional foods on these aspects, involving weight management, improvement of insulin sensitivity, serum lipid profile, anti-oxidant status, inflammatory status and hypertension. The role of plant sterols, dietary fiber, soy protein, omega-3 fatty acids, coffee, vitamin E and C, isoflavones, lycopene, sodium-low foods, a high protein diet, mono-unsaturated fatty acids, minerals and thermogenic compounds is examined concerning their functional properties.

Glucose homeostasis is a crucial physiological function of the living organisms. A system of plasma glucose sensing present in the portal vein plays a key role in this homeostasis. Connected to the hypothalamus via the peripheral nervous system, it allows the body to adapt its response to any variation in portal glycemia. The hypothalamus notably controls food intake. Intestinal gluconeogenesis, via the release of glucose into the portal vein, plays a key role in the control of hunger and satiety. The induction of intestinal gluconeogenesis has provided a physiological explanation to the satiety effects induced by protein-enriched diets. Intestinal gluconeogenesis has also provided an explanation to the early curbing of hunger and improvement in glucose control observed in obese diabetic patients treated by gastric bypass surgery. These data have emphasized the importance of the gut gluconeogenesis to brain axis in the control of the sensations of hunger and satiety and in glucose homeostasis.

This review aims to present an overview of many applications of trehalose, a glass-forming disaccharide, and its solutions with water and glycerol on food products. The versatility of trehalose is discussed in relation with some experimental evidences concerning with the molecular mechanisms responsible for the cryo- and crypto-protective functions of trehalose and its mixtures.

The paper highlights the ‘Modified Mediterranean Diet Central Role’ in preventing Osteoporosis and an important role of ‘Coenzyme Q10’ in Osteoporosis therapy. We provide an overview of the central bio-energetic role of CoQ10 in mitochondrial REDOX metabolism and phosphorylation of ADP. This is done through ‘Quantum Biophysical Semeiotics’ bed-side evaluation, which allows bedside assessed CoQ10 deficiency, monitoring the results and efficiency of ongoing therapies aimed at improving mitochondrial and endothelial function, when it is unsuitable in any biological systems. Finally, ‘Melatonin Action Mechanisms’ in Bone Metabolism are explained. 'Quantum Biophysical Semeiotics’ theory is an extension of medical semeiotics. It is grounded on a multidisciplinary approach that involves chemistry and biology, genetics and neuroscience, chaos theory and quantum physics. It is based on the method of ‘Auscultatory Percussion’, through which by means of the common stethoscope, it is possible to listen to the signs that the body gives us when appropriately stimulated. The stimuli are used to induce consistent behavior - typical of dissipative systems far from equilibrium as defined by Prigogine - in precise and well defined biological systems of the human body, thus giving local qualitative information on the state of health or disease, whether potential, being developed but not yet evident by usual clinical trial, effective or even in chronic phase. The 'Quantum Biophysical Semeiotics’ theory provides very detailed case studies based on the latency time, duration, and intensity of the reflexes, which play a central role in such a diagnostic method.

In a previous article, we reviewed the need for dietitians to be knowledgeable in the field of pharmacology. As health care becomes more multidisciplinary, dietitians increasingly treat patients suffering from a range of pathologies and that take multiple medications, the invaluable role of dietitians has grown (mental health, primary care, hospital). Many of these medications have food interactions or provoke nutritional deficiencies. Therefore a strong background in pharmacology is necessary for dietitians to provide the best patient care possible, educate patients and define a diet plan that minimizes drug-related adverse side effects. In this paper, current aspects of the interrelation between dietetic care and pharmacologic treatment are reviewed.

Along with the nutritional factors that have been studied in the latest years, both dietary fish, fruit and vegetable intake may be the most targeted ones. In particular, a higher consumption of fruit, vegetables, and oily fish, is an important strategy to reduce the risk of dementia. Fish oils contain the unique, highly polyunsaturated long-chain omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs), eicosapentaenoic acid [EPA, 20:5] and docosahexaenoic acid [DHA, 22:6]. Research suggests that diets, high in fruits and vegetables, are rich in phytonutrients and antioxidants. The DHA-antioxidant and DHAphytonutrient association offers a food-based research approach that is crucial for obtaining healthy beneficial effects on the brain. The combination is also expected to be more effective than the individual nutrients. Furthermore, polyphenols, interacting bioactive components present in fruits and vegetables, may strongly contribute to these synergic health effects. Particularly, if they are regularly eaten may decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.