Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Seeds Increase Intestinal Protein Uptake

Abstract

Scope: Within the last decade, quinoa seeds have gained much popularity as a new food and have recently been proposed as an appropriate food for early introduction in infants. Quinoa contains high levels of saponins, which are known for their adjuvant activity and effect on the intestinal barrier function. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of quinoa on intestinal permeability and inflammation in comparison with the positive controls; cholera toxin (CT), and capsaicin. Methods and results: The effect of quinoa on intestinal barrier function and inflammation is investigated in vitro using a Caco-2 cell line and in vivo using a Brown Norway rat model. Effects in vivo are analyzed by protein uptake, histology, gene expression, antibody levels, and flow cytometry. Quinoa and the positive controls all increased the intestinal permeability, but distinct patterns of absorbed protein are observed in the epithelium, Peyer's patches, lamina propria, and serum. The quinoa-mediated effect on intestinal barrier function is found to be distinct from the effect of the two positive controls. Conclusion:The findings demonstrate the ability of quinoa to increase intestinal permeability and to promote compartment-specific protein uptake via mechanisms that may differ from CT and capsaicin.

Ecdysterone and Turkesterone—Compounds with Prominent Potential in Sport and Healthy Nutrition

“…Supplementation with quinoa and chia seed extracts may regulate metabolic indicators and showed hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities in rats [212]. Quinoa extracts showed anti-obesity, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, immunoregulatory, and collagenase-modulating effects in in vivo experiments with rats [208][209][210][211][212][213][214]. No serious adverse effects were reported within the experiments, which correlated with the safety profile of quinoa extracts and their safe nutrition in sports.…”

Alternative Protein Sources of The Future: Plants

“…kazayağıgiller (Chenopodiaceae) familyasına ait tek yıllık bitki olup, son yıllarda insan ve hayvan beslenmesindeki önemi gittikçe artmaktadır. Kinoa, kuraklık, don, tuzluluk gibi olaylara dayanıklılığı olan bir bitkidir [102]. Kan şekerini ve kolestrolü dengeleyerek insan sağlığına önemli katkılar sağlamaktadır [103].…”

“…Kan şekerini ve kolestrolü dengeleyerek insan sağlığına önemli katkılar sağlamaktadır [103]. Yapılan çalışmalarda kinoa ile beslenmenin sonucunda içerdiği aktif bileşenlerin bağırsak emiliminin arttığı raporlanmıştır [102]. Kinoa yaprakları, %7-14 (w/w) oranlarında lif içeriğine sahiptir.…”

Alternatives to Cow’s Milk-Based Infant Formulas in the Prevention and Management of Cow’s Milk Allergy

“…Quinoa seems to be increasingly appreciated as an excellent gluten-free protein source for a wide range of consumers, including infants [ 374 , 390 , 391 ]. Yet, concerns have been raised regarding the high amount of saponins in quinoa, which inhere adjuvant capacity and may affect intestinal permeability [ 392 ]. Only few studies have investigated allergy to quinoa proteins, showing that quinoa may contain allergenic proteins [ 393 , 394 , 395 , 396 ].…”