Background Epidemiological studies have indicated an inverse association between citrus fruit consumption and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. There is, however, a paucity of data concerning effects of blood orange juice (BOJ) intake on endothelial function and cardiovascular risk biomarkers. Objectives We examined short-term effects of BOJ on endothelial function, blood pressure, lipid profile, and inflammatory markers in healthy participants of European origin who were overweight or obese. Methods In a randomized, controlled, single-blind, crossover trial, 15 men and women (age: 28.7 ± 6.5 y; BMI: 28.3 ± 3.1 kg/m2) consumed BOJ or a sugar-matched control drink (CD) (200 mL twice daily) for 2 wk with a washout period of 1 wk. Endothelial function, measured as flow-mediated dilation (FMD) (primary outcome), and the secondary outcomes blood pressure, anthropometric measures, lipid profile, inflammatory markers, markers of vasodilation and vasoconstriction, and urinary flavanone metabolites were evaluated prior to and at the end of each treatment period following an overnight fast. Changes between treatments over time were assessed using repeated-measures ANOVA. Results The results demonstrate a significant increase in FMD following BOJ consumption (pre: 8.15% ± 2.92%; post: 10.2% ± 3.31%; P = 0.002) compared with CD (pre: 8.11% ± 2.52%; post: 7.77% ± 2.43%; time × treatment interaction: P = 0.001). Concurrent significant increases in urinary hesperetin-3′-glucuronide and hesperetin-7-glucuronide were observed following BOJ supplementation only (time × treatment interaction: P ≤ 0.01). Baseline blood pressure, lipid profile, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and endothelin-1 were generally within healthy ranges and unaffected by the intervention. Conclusions A 2-wk consumption of BOJ exerted favorable effects on endothelial function in healthy women and men who were overweight or obese, which is likely mediated by the combined actions of anthocyanin and flavanone metabolites on mechanisms that contribute to enhancing NO bioavailability. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03611114.

Despite the crucial roles of duodenal cytochrome b (Dcytb), divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), ferritin light chain (Ftl1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), and hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (Hamp) in Fe metabolism, no studies have investigated the modulations of these genes during Fe repletion with fermented milks. Analysis included Fe status markers and gene and protein expression in enterocytes of control and anemic animals fed fermented milks. Fermented goat's milk up-regulated enterocyte Dcytb, DMT1, FPN1, and Ftl1 and down-regulated TfR1 and Hamp gene expression in control and anemic animals. Anemia decreased Dcytb, DMT1, and Ftl1 in animals fed fermented cow's milk and up-regulated TfR1 and Hamp expression. Fe overload down-regulated Dcytb and TfR1 in animals fed fermented cow's milk and up-regulated DMT1 and FPN1 gene expression. Fermented goat's milk increased expression of duodenal Dcytb, DMT1, and FPN1 and decreased Hamp and TfR1, improving Fe metabolism during anemia recovery.

This is a repository copy of Identification of angiotensin converting enzyme and dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitory peptides derived from oilseed proteins using two integrated bioinformatic approaches.

There is emerging evidence on the importance of food-derived bioactive peptides to promote human health. Compared with animal derived proteins, plant proteins, in particular oilseed proteins, are considered as affordable and sustainable sources of bioactive peptides. Based on our previous bioinformatic analysis, five oilseed proteins (flaxseed, rapeseed, sunflower, sesame and soybean) were enzymatically hydrolysed using alcalase and pepsin (pH 1.3 and pH 2.1). Further, low molecular weight (M w ​< ​3 ​kDa) fractions were generated using ultrafiltration. The protein hydrolysates and their low M w fractions were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic capabilities, in comparison with samples obtained from two dairy proteins (whey and casein). Apart from dipeptidyl-peptidase IV inhibition, significantly stronger bioactivities were detected for the low M w fractions. In partial agreement with in silico predictions, most oilseed hydrolysates exerted comparable angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory capability to dairy proteins, whilst whey protein was the most promising source of dipeptidyl-peptidase IV inhibitors. Apart from alcalase-treated soybean, dairy proteins were more efficient in releasing antioxidant peptides as compared to oilseed proteins. On the other hand, soybean protein hydrolysates showed the highest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity amongst all protein sources. Overall, there was limited correlation between in silico predictions and in vitro experimental results. Nevertheless, our results indicate that oilseed proteins have potential as bioactive peptide sources, and they might therefore be suitable replacers for dairy proteins as well as good sources for development of functional foods.

The aim of this study was to investigate the fate of curcumin (CUR)-loaded Pickering emulsions with complex interfaces during in vitro gastrointestinal transit and test the efficacy of such emulsions on improving the bioaccessibility and cellular uptake of CUR. CUR-loaded Pickering emulsions tested were whey protein nanogel particle-stabilized Pickering emulsions (CUR-E WPN ) and emulsions displaying complex interfaces included 1) layer-by-layer dextran sulphate-coated nanogel-stabilized Pickering emulsions (CUR-DxS+E WPN ) and 2) protein+dextran-conjugated microgel-stabilized Pickering emulsions (CUR-E WPDxM ). The hypothesis was that the presence of complex interfacial material at the droplet surface would provide better protection to the droplets against physiological degradation, particularly under gastric conditions and thus, improve the delivery of CUR to Caco-2 intestinal cells. The emulsions were characterized using droplet sizing, apparent viscosity, confocal and cryo-scanning electron microscopy, zeta-potential, lipid digestion kinetics, bioaccessibility of CUR as well as cell viability and uptake by Caco-2 cells. Emulsion droplets with modified to complex interfacial composition ( i.e. CUR-DxS+E WPN and CUR-E WPDxM ) provided enhanced kinetic stability to the Pickering emulsion droplets against coalescence in the gastric regime as compared to droplets having unmodified interface ( i.e. CUR-E WPN ), whereas droplet coalescence occurred in intestinal conditions irrespective of the initial interfacial materials. A similar rate and extent of free fatty acid release occurred in all the emulsions during intestinal digestion ( p > 0.05 ), which correlated with the bioaccessibility of CUR. Striking, CUR-DxS+E WPN and CUR-E WPDxM significantly improved cellular CUR uptake as compared to CUR-E WPN ( p < 0.05 ). These results highlight a promising new strategy of designing gastric-stable Pickering emulsions with complex interfaces to improve the delivery of lipophilic bioactive compounds to the cells for the future design of functional foods.