This study aimed to clarify the molecular mechanisms of muscle growth/development in Liaoning cashmere goats and intestinal flora's regulatory role to improve meat production. Muscle tissues (intercostal, hindlimb biceps femoris, longissimus dorsi) and digestive contents (rumen, small intestine, cecum, feces) from goats at 6, 12, 18 months were analyzed via transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, 16S rRNA sequencing, and multi-omics integration. Results: hindlimb biceps femoris optimally developed at 12 months (significantly associated with jejunal g_Lachnospiraceae_NK3A20_group, HOXC10, MYL3, cAMP pathway); longissimus dorsi actively grew at 12 months (closely related to ruminal/cecal g_Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, MEF2A, MYH6; COL1A1/COL1A2 via purine metabolism for fat deposition); intercostal muscle proliferated at 6 months (closely correlated with g_Aeriscardovia, Actin, L-malic acid, l-serine) and GDI was potentially related to its 18-month fat deposition. Multi-omics showed Goat muscle development is coordinately regulated by specific genes, proteins, metabolites, and flora, providing breeding targets for better meat production.

Enhancing feed resource efficiency and cows' ability to digest fiber is essential for advancing a circular food system that reduces feed-food competition and the environmental impact of dairy farming. This study investigated associations of feed efficiency (FE) and residual feed intake (RFI) with apparent total-tract digestibility (ATTD) of DM, OM, NDF, gross energy (GE) and nitrogen (N) in 480 cows across 4 Dutch commercial farms. In addition, associations of milk N use efficiency (NUE) and residual N intake (RNI) with N partitioning variables were analyzed. Three farms were visited twice, one farm once, resulting in 7 sampling sessions. Individual feed intake was recorded using automatic feed intake bins. During each session, milk yield and composition were determined, and spot samples of urine and feces were collected at 6 4-h intervals over 4 consecutive days, covering all 4-h periods within a 24-h cycle. Creatinine and acid-insoluble ash contents were analyzed and used to estimate urinary and fecal output, respectively. Rumen microbial N supply was estimated using purine derivative excretion in urine. On average, cows had a parity of'1.5 ± 0.74, were 138 ± 52.5 DIM, produced 38.8 ± 6.82 kg/d of fat- and protein-corrected milk, and had a DMI of 24.0 ± 3.40 kg/d, FE of 1.62 ± 0.189, and NUE of 306 ± 39.8 g/kg. The diet contained on average 181 ± 9.8 g/kg DM CP and 308 ± 27.4 g/kg DM NDF. In general, at the inter-individual level, higher FE was associated with greater nutrient digestibility; however, interactions with session were often observed, indicating that these associations varied across sampling sessions. In addition, higher NUE or lower RNI were generally associated with greater microbial N efficiency, reduced N retention, and a shift in N excretion from feces to urine, again depending on sampling session. These patterns were associated with the dietary CP to NEL ratio, with lower ratios associated with more efficient use of digestible N and reduced urinary N excretion. The frequent interactions between variables and sampling session demonstrate that efficiency and N partitioning metrics are context-dependent, emphasizing the need to account for farm- and time-specific conditions when developing strategies to improve nutrient use efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of dairy production.

The objective of this study was to investigate interactions between dietary starch amount and rumen-protected His (RPHis) on nutrient utilization, milk production, N partitioning, and plasma AA and metabolites concentrations in dairy cows fed MP-deficient diets (14.0% CP in DM, 84%-86% of MP recommendation). Twelve multiparous cows [mean ± SD: 136 ± 53.1 DIM, 36.4 ± 3.0 kg/d milk yield (MY), and 750 ± 52.6 kg BW] were assigned to a 3 4 × 4 Latin Square design with 21-d periods and a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: (1) high-starch without RPHis (HS; 28.4% starch), (2) HS with RPHis (HSH; on average 32 g of RPHis/cow per day, supplying 16.5 g digestible His/d), (3) low-starch without RPHis (LS; 17.4% starch), and (4) LS with RPHis (LSH; on average 31 g of RPHis/cow per day, supplying 15.9 g digestible His/d). All diets were supplemented with a rumen-protected Met and Lys product to meet the recommended supply by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM, 2021). Measurements included analyses of feed, feces, milk, and urine, blood samples. Starch × RPHis interactions were detected only for MY, lactose yield, and milk fat content. With LS diets, RPHis decreased MY (29.7 vs. 30.5 kg/d) and lactose yield (1.42 vs. 1.47 kg/d), but increased milk fat content (4.54% vs. 4.40%). Under HS conditions, RPHis reduced milk fat content (4.36% vs. 4.49%) and tended to increase milk true protein:fat ratio (0.79 vs. 0.76), without affecting MY (32.2 vs. 31.7 kg/d). Across RPHis amounts, HS diets increased ECM yield (33.7 vs. 31.7 kg/d), milk true protein yield (1.08 vs. 0.98 kg/d), and OM intake (21.7 vs. 21.2 kg/d), while decreasing apparent total-tract digestibility of CP (58.7% vs. 65.0%), and NDF (43.0% vs. 51.4%). High-starch diets improved N use efficiency (NUE; 32.5% vs. 28.0%), by reducing N intake and urinary urea N excretion and increasing milk N secretion but increased fecal N excretion and resulted in a more negative N balance. Urinary purine derivative (PD) concentrations were greater with HS diets, indicating an enhanced microbial protein synthesis. Plasma His concentration was 9.4 μM (23%) greater in HS fed cows. Supplementing RPHis did not affect nutrient intake, digestibility, milk true protein yield, or NUE, but increased plasma His by 10.2 μM (26%), indicating improved His supply from the RPHis product. Overall, increasing dietary starch in low-protein, MP-deficient diet improved ECM and milk protein yield, and NUE, by enhancing ruminal energy-protein synchrony and shifting N excretion from urine toward milk and feces. In contrast, RPHis supplementation failed to improve ECM production or N utilization, likely reflecting His supply not being the primary limiting factor under the present conditions or that its utilization was constrained by the overall AA profile of MP with the low protein basal diet. Future work should quantify the in vivo bioavailability and metabolic utilization of RPHis and further examine how His interacts with energy supply and overall EAA balance to regulate productive responses in dairy cows fed low-protein diets in longer-term studies.

Cocoa husk tea has gained attention as a value-added beverage from cocoa processing by-products, due to its potential content of bioactive compounds associated with health benefits. However, rapid and reliable analytical methods for the simultaneous determination of methylxanthines and flavanols in this matrix remain limited. This study aimed to develop and validate a rapid HPLC-PDA method for the simultaneous determination of methylxanthines and selected flavanols in cocoa husk tea. Separation was performed using a Zorbax 300SB-C18 with a gradient system of acetic acid, water and acetonitrile, and detection at 280 nm. The method enabled separation of theobromine, caffeine, catechin, epicatechin, procyanidin B1, and procyanidin B2 within 15 min. Validation followed ICH Q2(R2) guidelines, demonstrating satisfactory linearity, sensitivity, accuracy, and precision. The method was applied to ten commercial cocoa husk tea products from Thailand. Theobromine was the predominant methylxanthine (10.483-16.027 mg g[-1]), whereas caffeine was lower (0.923-1.909 mg g[-1]), while flavanol contents varied among samples. These findings demonstrate that the developed method provides a rapid and reliable approach for the analysis and quality assessment of cocoa husk tea products and may support the further utilization of cocoa by-products in the functional beverage industry.

Heat stress (HS) has emerged as a major environmental stressor, inducing oxidative stress and hepatic steatosis and impairing production performance and health in laying hens, with limited evidence-based nutritional interventions available. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of dietary silibinin (SIL) against chronic HS. In a 10-week trial, 252 43-week-old Hy-Line Brown hens were exposed to daily HS (32 ± 1 °C, temperature-humidity index [THI] > 73) and fed either a basal diet or one supplemented with 100 mg/kg SIL. SIL significantly increased laying rate (p < 0.05) and improved albumen height, Haugh units, and shell strength by week 8 (p < 0.05). Histological analysis showed a 48% reduction in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score, with significantly decreased hepatic triglyceride content (p < 0.05); Oil Red O staining confirmed reduced lipid droplet accumulation. SIL restored redox balance by increasing plasma, hepatic total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05), increasing hepatic catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH) levels while decreasing malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Untargeted plasma metabolomics identified 11 key metabolites related to 2-oxoglutarate and purine metabolism, while hepatic transcriptomics revealed 835 differentially expressed genes primarily in the PPAR signaling and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways. SIL suppressed de novo lipogenesis via downregulation of ACACA and FASN, and enhanced β-oxidation through upregulation of CPT1A and ACSL1 (p < 0.05). Molecular docking indicated favorable binding affinities between SIL and these targets, which was further supported by corresponding changes in protein expression via Western blotting. Correlation analysis revealed a consistent alignment between the upregulation of ACSL1/CPT1A and improvement in performance and antioxidant status, suggesting a coordinated metabolic shift. These findings emphasize the potential of SIL as a sustainable animal nutrition antioxidant additive, which can alleviate HS-induced lipid disorders in the liver of laying hens. Importantly, these hepatoprotective effects were demonstrated exclusively under chronic heat stress conditions; further studies incorporating a normothermic baseline are required to distinguish stress-specific mitigation from general metabolic stimulation.

People suffering from gout and hyperuricemia have limited consumption of soy products because of their high purine content, even though soybean is a nutrient-rich crop. This study developed a combined purine reduction process: ultrasonic-assisted soaking to promote purine dissolution and isoelectric point precipitation to separate purines with minimal protein loss. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for rapid purine determination was first established (R[2] > 0.9999, RSD < 0.23%), thereby providing technical support for process optimization. Using soybean powder as the raw material, optimal ultrasonic conditions (58 °C, 250 W, 58 min) were identified, achieving a purine removal rate of 61.15% with a protein recovery of 94.23%. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses revealed that ultrasonic treatment altered the microstructure of the soybean powder, thereby facilitating purine dissolution. Low-purine soymilk prepared from the resulting soybean powder exhibited a unique flavor, with enhanced electronic nose response signals of its flavor compounds. This process effectively reduces purine content while preserving soy protein and flavor, offering a feasible technical solution for the development and industrial application of low-purine soy products. However, challenges remain in process scale-up and in optimizing the balance between purine removal and nutrient retention.

This study investigates the impact of cryoconcentration as a nonthermal enrichment strategy on the chemical, antioxidant, mineral, and sensory properties of mixed beverages composed of grape juice (SU) and yerba mate extract. Aqueous yerba mate extract was subjected to two successive cryoconcentration stages, and the enriched fraction (EMC1.5) was blended with SU at different proportions. The resulting beverages were comprehensively characterized in terms of physicochemical parameters, instrumental color, mineral composition, bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, methylxanthine content (caffeine and theobromine), and sensory attributes, complemented by multivariate analysis using principal component analysis (PCA). Cryoconcentration significantly increased the concentration of phenolic compounds and enhanced antioxidant capacity in formulations with higher EMC1.5 proportions, highlighting the effectiveness of this low-temperature process in preserving and concentrating bioactive constituents. In contrast, increasing the SU proportion promoted higher anthocyanin and total polyphenol levels and positively influenced sensory balance, reflecting the contribution of grape-derived pigments and sugars. Antioxidant activity varied according to the analytical method applied, suggesting differences in phenolic composition and radical-scavenging mechanisms between the matrices. Methylxanthine contents were strongly associated with EMC1.5, confirming yerba mate as the primary source of natural caffeine and theobromine. PCA indicated a separation trend among formulations according to their composition, suggesting that the SU/EMC1.5 ratio was associated with differences in chemical profile, antioxidant activity, mineral composition, and sensory perception. Overall, the results indicate that cryoconcentration and formulation proportion influence the physicochemical and antioxidant characteristics of mixed plant-based beverages, contributing to the understanding of nonthermal processing effects in food systems containing bioactive compounds.

Green coffee bean extract (GCBE) supplements are widely marketed for weight management, primarily due to their chlorogenic acids (CGAs) and caffeine content. This study evaluated the authenticity and quality of 23 commercial GCBE products by quantifying three major CGA isomers (3-CQA, 4-CQA and 5-CQA) and caffeine using HPLC-DAD. The CGA content ranged from non-detectable to 31.15%, with 5-CQA being predominant. Caffeine levels varied from non-detectable to 3.82%. Notably, two samples labelled as containing 50% CGAs had none detected, while several 'decaffeinated' products exceeded regulatory caffeine thresholds. Only three samples declared caffeine levels, none of which were fully compliant with their labels. Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) grouped the supplements into four distinct clusters based on total CGA and caffeine content, revealing widespread inconsistencies. These findings raise concerns over mislabelling, regulatory non-compliance, and potential health risks, underscoring the urgent need for stricter quality control and accurate labelling in the dietary supplement industry.

Metabolism-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a severe worldwide public health burden with insufficient available clinical therapeutic strategies, which underscores the urgent demand for safe, natural dietary interventions. Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.), a typical food-medicine homologous fruit abundant in diverse bioactive components including anthocyanins, flavonoids and polysaccharides, possesses prominent nutritional and medicinal potential.

Fermentation of non-dairy substrates by lactic acid bacteria can enhance the functional properties of their products. post-fermentation untargeted metabolomic profiling via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) and aroma analysis via gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (GC-IMS) assessed biochemical and volatile changes, while an 8-week, 1 g kg-1 daily dose was tested in high-fat diet-induced obese rats for body weight, fat mass, lipid, enzyme, and microbiota outcomes. Fermentation increased total polyphenol and flavonoid contents by 45% and 60%, respectively, and enriched metabolic pathways related to amino acid metabolism, purine degradation, and pantothenate-CoA biosynthesis. GC-IMS analysis revealed a 70% reduction in sulfur- and lipid-derived off-flavors and a 50% increase in fruity esters (e.g., ethyl acetate, hexyl acetate) and creamy ketones. Network analysis identified jasmonic acid, betaine, and trans-aconitic acid as key metabolic hubs. In vivo, treated rats exhibited an 18% reduction in body weight gain, 25% less visceral fat, and a 30% decrease in hepatic triglycerides (p < 0.01), accompanied by elevated pancreatic lipase and lipoprotein lipase activities and a 40% enrichment of butyrate-producing gut taxa. These findings demonstrate that fermentation by L. rhamnosus NTTU 007 significantly remodels the metabolome and aroma profile of pigeon pea, conferring robust antioxidant and anti-obesity functionalities and supporting its potential as a novel non-dairy synbiotic ingredient in health-promoting foods.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between legume intake and incident hyperuricemia among Chinese adults using large-scale prospective cohort data. Methods: Baseline and follow-up information from the Shanghai Suburban Adult Cohort and Biobank (SSACB) were used to assess diet and hyperuricemia incidence [serum uric acid (SUA) ≥ 420 μmol/L in males and ≥ 360 μmol/L in females]. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) covering 29 food categories quantified food consumption during the previous 12 months. Legume intake was calculated by multiplying the reported consumption of each item by (1 - water content), and participants were classified into tertiles with the lowest third (Q1) as the reference. Cox proportional-hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and restricted cubic splines (RCSs) with three knots (10th, 50th, and 90th percentiles) visualized the dose-response relation. Results: Among 43,371 participants, 1456 new cases of hyperuricemia were documented over 225,002.40 person-years (incidence density 6.47/1000 person-years; 95% CI 6.14-6.80). Incidence density decreased with higher legume intake: each 1 g/day increment was associated with a 2% lower risk (HR 0.98; 95% CI 0.97-0.99; p < 0.05). Compared with Q1, the highest tertile (Q3) showed a 26% risk reduction in the fully adjusted model (HR 0.74; 95% CI 0.64-0.86; p < 0.05). RCS revealed a significant nonlinear relationship (p-overall < 0.001, p-nonlinear = 0.0013), with the significant benefit in risk observed at 6-28 g/day. Conclusions: Legume intake is nonlinearly and inversely associated with hyperuricemia risk among Shanghai suburban adults. Given that the current low median intake, comprehensive strategies are needed to rationally adjust the dietary structure, improve legume intake, and provide sustainable development strategies for effective prevention and control of hyperuricemia.

Although -18 °C is the standard freezing temperature for aquatic products in household refrigerators, the dynamic regulation of temperature and humidity at this condition is frequently neglected. This study investigated the combined effects of different temperature fluctuation amplitudes, freezing rates, and humidity levels on the quality of salmon over 60 days of -18 °C frozen storage. Changes in color, total viable count (TVC), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), purine and biogenic amine contents, and alterations in myofibrillar proteins were measured throughout the storage period. In summary, greater temperature fluctuations, slower freezing rates, and lower humidity levels exacerbate the increase in physicochemical indicators such as TVC, TBARS, and TVB-N in salmon, while also raising purine and biogenic amine levels. These factors disrupted the muscle structural integrity, thereby hastening quality deterioration. This study provides theoretical guidance for the preservation of aquatic products in household refrigerators.

Lactic fermentation enhances sensory quality and nutritional properties of fruit juice, though its comprehensive impact on sea buckthorn through Lactiplantibacillus plantarum fermentation (LPF) remains unreported. This study used volatolomics and metabolomics to explore mechanism of lactic fermentation improving flavor. LPF reduced total acidity (from 24.01 g/L to 15.79 g/L), increased total flavonoid by 20.35% and polysaccharide contents by 55.64%. It also increased the quantity of volatile compounds (from 36 to 41). β-Damascenone and ethyl isovalerate were key aroma compounds, while the increase of phenylethyl alcohol and phenylacetaldehyde improved sweet, fruity, and floral aroma. The rise of adenosine, hypoxanthine, and ornithine through purine metabolism pathways enhanced umami, the enlargement of pyridoxine, pyridoxamine, and tyramine through Vitamin B6 and tyrosine metabolism pathways increased richness, and the elevated glycyrrhizin, melezitose, and maltotetraose enhanced sweetness. This study provides insight into improving sea buckthorn flavor and direction to produce high quality products.

Marine pufferfish of the genus Canthigaster living in the vicinity of coral reefs are thought to be toxic in the skin because they are unpalatable to predators, however, very little is known about the toxin profile of most species of this genus. In the present study, to fully clarify the toxin profile of the Canthigaster marine pufferfish, the composition, concentration, and intra-body distribution of toxins contained in marine pufferfish Canthigaster rivulata, collected from three sampling locations in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, were investigated using high-performance liquid chromatography with post-column fluorescence derivatization (HPLC-FLD) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Instrumental analyses revealed that marine pufferfish C. rivulata is capable of carrying both tetrodotoxin (TTX) and saxitoxins (STXs) simultaneously, and the skin and ovaries are the most toxic tissues, with other tissues such as the liver being weakly toxic. Overall, TTX was more abundant than STXs in C. rivulata, but there were differences between individuals, with some possessing more STXs than TTX. Higher STXs content was detected in the skin of individuals from Tameshi than in those from Kakidomari. Despite individual and regional differences, C. rivulata has been identified as a Canthigaster marine pufferfish that possesses a large amount of TTX and STXs.

Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide (DOP) and spermidine (Spd) exhibit synergistic anti-aging effects in Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting potential functional complementarity. Here, a DOP-Spd composite hydrogel (DS) was constructed to integrate structural tunability with fermentation-related functionality. Three weight ratios (18:2, 18:4, and 18:6, DOP:Spd) successfully formed hydrogels. Increasing Spd content enhanced gel strength and thermal stability, as reflected by higher hardness (149.62-353.75 g), chewiness (41.04-119.07), and DTG peak temperature (331.7-334.0 °C). All DS hydrogels exhibited shear-thinning and a clear linear viscoelastic region (0.1%-1.0% strain). Among them, the 18:2 formulation showed superior water holding capacity (76.41%) and was selected for subsequent digestion and fermentation studies due to its suitability for moderate dysphagia. The results showed that approximately 80% of the polysaccharide passed through the upper gastrointestinal tract and reached the colon in both DOP and the DS hydrogel. Both promoted the growth of beneficial taxa (e.g., Bifidobacterium). DS markedly promoted B. pseudocatenulatum, B. longum, B. ruminantium, Prevotella_2 and Bacteroides, while inhibiting Enterococcus and Flavonifractor. Functional prediction showed enhanced pathways related to carbohydrate and energy metabolism. Metabolomic analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed clear group separation. Compared with DOP, DS increased key metabolites, including propionic acid (1.40-fold), butyric acid (1.98-fold), malic acid (3.94-fold), NAD[+] (2.87-fold), adenosine (4.16-fold), hypoxanthine (2.26-fold), and serotonin (2.43-fold), with pathway enrichment in pyruvate, galactose, glyoxylate/dicarboxylate, purine, and starch/sucrose metabolism, as well as the citrate cycle. These results demonstrate that the DOP-Spd (18:2) hydrogel integrates desirable rheological properties with improved microbiota-associated functionality, supporting its potential as a dual-functional food matrix.