Nutritional Sciences

Objectives We determined if multivitamin supplementation (MV) affected serum folate levels in women during a 12-week intervention, and if genotypes affected these outcomes. Methods Women (21–40 years old) were recruited from the local community. PRE testing occurred between 0600–0900 AM 5 ± 2 days following each participants’ last menstrual cycle, and involved a buccal cell collection and a fasted blood draw. Participants were then randomly assigned in a double-blinded fashion to the MV group (n = 43) or placebo group (n = 51). MV (per 2 beadlets-in-capsule serving) contained 50 mcg vitamin D3, 6.7 mg alpha tocopherol of vitamin E as mixed tocopherols, 90 μg vitamin K2 MK7, 600 μg 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, 8 μg B12, 8 mg iron, 50 mg magnesium, 1 mg boron, and 320 mg omega-3 fatty acids. The placebo capsules contained safflower oil and cellulose. Participants consumed two capsules per day with breakfast for 12 weeks. Following the intervention, participants reported to the laboratory...

Dietary protein and fiber have been shown to independently improve subjective measures of appetite control. The aim of this study was to determine the acute effects of a high-protein, high-fiber (HP/HFb) beverage taken as a preload compared with an isocaloric lower-protein, lower-fiber (LP/LFb) placebo beverage on subjective appetite ratings and subsequent energy intake at an ad libitum meal in healthy adults. A total of 50 overweight/obese men and women [ = 25 men, 25 women; age 30 ± 2 y; body mass index (BMI) 29.6 ± 0.3 kg/m] received a 160 kcal HP/HFb beverage containing 17 g protein and 6 g fiber on one occasion and an isocaloric LP/LFb placebo beverage containing 1 g protein and 3 g fiber on another occasion in a randomized, double-blind, crossover design. Thirty min after consumption of the beverage preload, an ad libitum pizza meal was provided to be consumed over a 30-min period. Visual analog scales (VAS) were used to assess subjective appetite ratings throughout the testin...

The purpose of this study was to validate the efficacy of a customized vitamin-mineral supplement on blood biomarkers in pre-menopausal females. Women (21–40 years old) who were apparently healthy were recruited from the local community (ClinicalTrials.gov trial registration NCT03828097). Pretesting (PRE) occurred in the morning 5 ± 2 days following each participant's menses and involved a fasted blood draw, body mass assessment, and blood pressure assessment. Participants were then randomly assigned in a double-blinded fashion to either the multivitamins (MV) (n = 43) or placebo group (n = 51). Participants consumed two capsules per day with breakfast for 12 weeks. Following the trial, participants reported to the laboratory for POST assessments, which replicated PRE procedures. Red blood cell fatty acid and serum micronutrient analyses were performed in a blinded fashion at hematology laboratories. A group × time interaction was observed for serum vitamin D levels (p < 0.00...

Objectives The ability of a novel beadlet-in-oil, gastric-resistant, vegetarian capsule containing a multiple vitamin-mineral (MVM) composition to deliver capsule contents past the stomach was tested by standard in vitro tablet disintegration procedures using magnesium as the marker of capsule contents dissolution. Methods A novel capsule design using a gastric-resistant vegetarian hypromellose/gellan gum capsule (DRcaps®, Capsugel®) was tested for disintegration in a standard tablet disintegration apparatus according to compendial United States Pharmacopeia methods, as per Good Manufacturing Practices for dietary supplements. The MVM ingredients were encapsulated into size 0 Vcaps® (hypromellose with no gastric acid resistance) and DRcaps®. Individual capsules were placed into chambers containing simulated gastric fluid (0.1 M HCl) for 120 minutes then changed to simulated intestinal fluid (buffered 2% sodium lauryl sulfate, pH 6.0) for an additional 300 minutes. Aliquots were test...

Objectives In vitro dissolution tests are valuable first-step tools in the development of bioavailable delivery systems, making it possible to assess the performance of novel technologies in releasing active ingredients through the amount dissolved in a dissolution medium. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether phosphatidyl choline-enriched lipid encapsulation releases the majority of vitamin C as ascorbic acid past the stomach in a standard in vitro dissolution procedure and to assess the release profile. Methods A novel phosphatidyl choline-enriched lipid encapsulation that is solid at room temperature was tested for dissolution in a standard dissolution apparatus according to compendial United States Pharmacopeia methods, as per Good Manufacturing Practices for dietary supplements. One serving (included 1000 mg ascorbic acid) was placed into vessels containing simulated gastric fluid (0.1 M HCl) for 120 minutes then changed to simulated intestinal fluid (buffered 2% ...

In a secondary analysis, we assessed the ability of dietary and physical activity surveys to explain variability in weight loss within a worksite-adapted Diabetes Prevention Program. The program involved 58 overweight/obese female employees (average age = 46 ± 11 years SD; average body mass index = 34.7 ± 7.0 kg/m2 SD) of four long-term care facilities who survey-reported liking and frequency of dietary and physical activity behaviors. Data were analyzed using a latent variable approach, analysis of covariance, and nested regression analysis to predict percent weight change from baseline to intervention end at week 16 (average loss = 3.0%; range—6% gain to 17% loss), and follow-up at week 28 (average loss = 2.0%; range—8% gain to 16% loss). Using baseline responses, restrained eaters (reporting liking but low intakes of high fat/sweets) achieved greater weight loss at 28 weeks than those reporting high liking/high intake (average loss = 3.5 ± 0.9% versus 1.0 ± 0.8% S.E., respectivel...

Food liking-disliking patterns may strongly influence food choices and health. Here we assess: (1) whether food preference patterns are genetic/environmentally driven; and (2) the relationship between metabolomics profiles and food preference patterns in a large population of twins. 2,107 individuals from TwinsUK completed an online food and lifestyle preference questionnaire. Principle components analysis was undertaken to identify patterns of food liking-disliking. Heritability estimates for each liking pattern were obtained by structural equation modeling. The correlation between blood metabolomics profiles (280 metabolites) and each food liking pattern was assessed in a subset of 1,491 individuals and replicated in an independent subset of monozygotic twin pairs discordant for the liking pattern (65 to 88 pairs). Results from both analyses were meta-analyzed. Four major food-liking patterns were identified (Fruit and Vegetable, Distinctive Tastes, Sweet and High Carbohydrate, an...

Feasible, valid, and reliable tools are needed to assess dietary quality among preschoolers. We aimed to test construct-/criterion-related validity and reliability of a dietary quality index generated from a liking survey and novel dietary patterns for characterizing food hedonism and parental feeding practices. Participants included 416 economically disadvantaged, diverse preschoolers (41% overweight/obese) from educational centers and their parents. Parents completed liking and frequency surveys; the liking survey took half as long to complete. Preschoolers' skin carotenoid status (measured by Resonance Raman spectroscopy) and BMI percentile (measured weight/height) were assessed. The Healthy Eating Preference Index (HEPI) was constructed from weighted averages of liking scores for food groups and healthy variety score and Healthy Eating Index 2010 (HEI) from nutrient analysis of the frequency survey. The HEPI was normally distributed and showed construct validity and adequate...

Objectives To test the effect of probiotic strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12; PS), a prebiotic (bacteriophage blend; BB), a postbiotic (tributyrin; TB), or a combination of all three (full mix; FM) on microbial fermentation and metabolite production in vitro. Methods Short term colonic incubation was performed under conditions representative of the proximal large intestine, using the fecal microbiota of a single healthy human donor. At the start of the experiment, treatments and a blank control (BC), were added to the reactors. Each reactor also received a carbohydrate-supplemented nutritional medium and freshly prepared fecal inoculum. Reactors were closed with a rubber septum, made anaerobic through flushing with nitrogen, and incubated for 48 hours. Each condition was run in triplicate. Overall fermentative activity (pH and gas production), changes in microbial metabolite production (short chain fatty acid, lactate, and ammonium ...

Objectives To test the effect of probiotic strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis BB-12), a prebiotic (bacteriophage blend), and a postbiotic (tributyrin) on the human intestinal microbiota in vitro. Methods Short term colonic incubation was performed under conditions representative of the proximal large intestine, using the fecal microbiota of a single healthy human donor. At the start of the experiment, treatments and a blank control were added to the reactors. Each reactor also received a carbohydrate-supplemented nutritional medium and freshly prepared fecal inoculum. Reactors were closed with a rubber septum, made anaerobic through flushing with nitrogen, and incubated for 48 hours. Each condition was run in triplicate. Changes in microbial community composition were determined via 16S-targeted Illumina sequencing and flow cytometry. Enriched bacterial genera were identified using LEfSe (LDA > 2, p < 0.05). Results A significant inc...