فصلنامه علوم تغذیه و صنایع غذایی ایران
سال هجدهم شماره 3 (پیاپی 72، پاییز 1402)

Despite the effectiveness of Adriamycin in the treatment of various types of cancer, its cardiovascular complications have become challenging, especially in the elderly. The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of forced and voluntary aerobic exercise and nanocurcumin supplementation on aortic fibrosis following chronic induction of adriamycin in aging rats.

Seventy 12-week-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 10 experimental and control groups. Aging was induced by digalactose (100 mg/kg). Forced aerobic training groups ran five sessions weekly for six weeks on a treadmill (25-54 minutes/day, slope 0%, speed 15-20 meters/minute). Voluntary exercise groups had access to a running wheel for six weeks. In the last two weeks, 15 days of subcutaneous injection (1 mg/kg/day) of adriamycin/saline and 14 days of nanocurcumin induction (100 mg/kg/day) by gavage were performed. Forty-eight hours after the last session, the rats were sacrificed and the ascending aorta was removed. Mallory's trichrome staining was performed for histological analysis. The thickness of the collagen and elastin area was measured.

There was no significant difference in elastin thickness of aortic tissue between different groups (p=0.197). Collagen thickness significantly due to voluntary-exercise+Adriamycin (p=0.003), forced-exercise+Adriamycin (p<0.001), nanocurcumin+Adriamycin (p<0.001), voluntary-exercise+nanocurcumin+Adriamycin (p<0.001), and forced-exercise+nanocurcumin+Adriamycin (p<0.001) was significantly lower than the Adriamycin group.  Also, collagen/elastin thickness ratio due to voluntary-exercise+Adriamycin (p=0.003), forced-exercise+Adriamycin (p=0.001), nanocurcumin+Adriamycin (p=0.002), voluntary-exercise+nanocurcumin+Adriamycin (p=0.015), and forced-exercise+nanocurcumin+Adriamycin (p<0.001) was less than Adriamycin group.

All the approaches used in the present study may be valuable treatments to neutralize the increase in aortic fibrosis caused by Adriamycin, which is partly due to the positive effects of aerobic exercise and also the beneficial effect of nanocurcumin on the cardiovascular system.

Consumption of some foods can include addictive potentials. Hypertension and excessive consumption of these foods are associated with addictive eating behaviors. The present study investigated prevalence of food addiction and its components in adults with and without hypertension.

In this study, 96 individuals with and without hypertension (n = 48 in each group) referring to the medical training centers of Abadan University of Medical Sciences, 2021, were participated using simple random sampling method. Weight and height were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Food addiction and its components were assessed using Yale food addiction questionnaire 2.0. Descriptive statistics and independent sample T-test were used for data analysis and logistic regression model was used to assess risks of food addiction and its components.

The food addiction score and its components were significantly higher in participants with hypertension, compared to the control group (p ≤ 0.001). Hypertensive participants had a 6.2-time higher risk of food addiction, compared to non-hypertensive ones.

This study showed that participants with hypertension had higher scores of food addiction and its components, compared to non-hypertensive participants. Furthermore, risks of food addiction increased in participants with hypertension, compared to non-hypertensive ones.

Food habits include significant effects on the human longevity and health. Use of high heat to fry carbohydrates can produce oxidants that cause several diseases such as cancers. Additives with antioxidant characteristics can prevent these diseases. The present study was carried out to investigating oxidative characteristics of fried rice (Tah-Dig) and effects of simultaneous consumption of saffron in human population of Kermanshah, Iran.

In this cross-sectional descriptive study, questionnaire of "rice preparation pattern in Iran" was used. The sample size was 18 in each group and in total for six groups of Tah-Dig samples. Samples were homogenized in PBS buffer and stored at 80 °C after centrifugation. Total specificity capacity (TAC), total oxidant status (TOS) and carbonyl content of the samples were assessed.

Results showed significant increases in TOS and carbonyl and significant decreases in TAC (p < 0.001) within 30 min of cooking. In general, adding saffron to Tah-Dig did not change TAC. However, significant decreases were seen in TOS of Tah-Dig of potatoe and rice. Changes of TOS in Tah-Dig of the bread were not significant. No significant differences were reported in the carbonyl content of bread Tah-Dig samples; however, it led to decreases in the rice and potato groups.

This study showed that simultaneous consumption of saffron in Tah-Dig could be harmful, including toxicity and carcinogenicity.

Vitamin D deficiency is a metabolic change that is often associated with obesity and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) seems a therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and its linked disorders. The present study investigated effects of eight weeks of high-intensity interval running exercise (HIIT) with vitamin D intake on the serum SIRT1 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)VD] levels in inactive women with vitamin D deficiency.

In this clinical trial study, 39 overweight women with vitamin D deficiency were selected and then randomly assigned to three groups of exercise, exercise and vitamin D (combined) and control groups. The HIIT carried out three days a week with 12 × 1-min running bouts at 80–90% HRmax interspersed and 1-min active recovery at 50% HRmax. Vitamin D was administrated weekly at a dose of 50,000 U. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA with repeated measures and one-way ANOVA (Kruskal-Wallis for non-normal data) at a significance level of less than
p < 0.05.

After eight weeks, increases of serum 25(OH)VD and SIRT1 in the intervention groups were significant; however, the body weight decreased significantly (p < 0.001). Changes in these variables were higher in the combined group than the HIIT intervention alone group (p < 0.001).

It seems that lifestyle changes including HIIT and vitamin D intake are important approaches that can decreased obesity-linked complications by increasing SIRT1 and 25(OH)VD and the simultaneity of these interventions helps develop these effects.

It is necessary to investigate nutritional statuses of the people and how household consume foods in the country provide evidence and use them for education, promotion of food literacy and nutritional policies. The objective of this study was to assess and compare energy and nutrient intakes from the usual household food baskets based on climatic regions classification, 2015–2018.

In this repeated cross-sectional study, data of the household`s income and expenditure survey (HIES) of 128,716 Iranian households, 2015–2018, were used. Based on the division of Iran's provinces into 11 climatic regions in a study on the micronutrient status of Iran (National Integrated Micronutrient Survey 2012, NIMS-2), national data of the household income expenditure survey in 2015–2018 were separated. To estimate quantities of intake from the household usual baskets, the household intake quantity for each food item was converted to the individual level using adult male equivalent (AME) index. Using Nutritionist 4 software and coding in R program, quantities of energy intakes and micronutrients of iron, calcium, riboflavin and vitamin A were calculated. One-way analysis of variance and post-hoc tests were used to compare energy intakes and nutrients received from the usual household food baskets, 2015–2018.

In the four studied years, the highest average intake of energy (3127.575 kcal) and iron (27.453 mg) belonged to the Climatic Region 10 (Ilam, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Lorestan and Hamedan), the highest average calcium (1070.82 mg) and riboflavin (2.275 mg) belonged to the Climatic Region 2 (West Azerbaijan, East Azerbaijan and Ardabil) and the highest average of vitamin A intake (624.347 µg) belonged to the Climatic Region 9 (Zanjan, Qazvin, Qom and Markazi). The lowest average intake of all items except vitamin A in the four years of the study was linked to the Climatic Region 11 (Fars, Kerman, Kohkilouyeh and Boyer Ahmad) and the lowest average intake of vitamin A belonged to the Climatic Region 5 (Sistan Baluchistan and South Khorasan). Except for energy consumption, iron, calcium and riboflavin in the Climatic Region 7 (Bushehr, Hormozgan and Khuzestan) and calcium and riboflavin in the Climatic Region 8 (Tehran and Alborz), energy consumption and assessed micronutrients decreased in all climatic regions in 2018, compared to 2015. Regarding consumption of micronutrients, the average consumption of iron in all climatic regions in the four years of the study was higher than the recommended RDA. For calcium, intake was more than the RDA recommendation only in the Climatic Region 2. The average consumption of riboflavin was higher than the RDA recommendation in all the climatic regions. Regarding vitamin A, the average consumption in the four years of the study was lower than the RDA recommendation in all the climatic regions.

Overall, the findings showed that energy and micronutrient intakes from the usual household food baskets generally decreased over the years of the study. This situation was more significant in the Climatic Region 11 with significant droughts and in the Climatic Region 5 as a dry climatic region with low socioeconomic statuses. In addition, the average intakes of calcium and vitamin A in all climatic regions (except Climatic Region 2 regarding calcium) were lower than the recommended RDA. These findings emphasize the necessity of further planning for the implementation of policies focusing on food supports in drought-affected and deprived climatic regions.

Use of bacteriophages is an appropriate alternative due to the emergence of resistant bacterial species against antibiotics and their specific performance against pathogenic bacteria that are dangerous for human health. Furthermore, use of compounds that are biodegradable and do not harm the environment can help. In this study, effects of gelatin and bacteriophages on the characteristics of pullulan films were investigated.

To achieve anti-bacterial films, various percentages of gelatin (0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100%) and bacteriophage solutions were used in pullulan films.

Results of the experiments showed that the introduction of bacteriophages into the films included no significant effects on the physical characteristics, tensile strength and Young modulus but increased elasticity of the films. Moreover, transparency of the pure gelatin films decreased and transparency of the pullulan increased, while various results were observed in mixed gelatin-pullulan films. Antibacterial effects of the pure gelatin and gelatin-pullulan composite films against the pathogen were higher than those of pure pullulan films.

Results of this study showed that adding gelatin to pullulan films could help stabilize bacteriophages in pullulan films and thus achieve better anti-bacterial effects against Salmonella enteritidis.

Quality and shelf-life increases of vegetables are expected after processing by cold plasma. Optimizing process factors can be effective in persevering quality and nutritional characteristics and increasing shelf life of the vegetable products. Therefore, this study investigated optimization of the process factors of cold plasma as well as investigating shelf life of spring onions.

In this study, process factors of the dielectric barrier discharge type cold plasma including process times (5, 10 and 15 min), distances of the upper electrode from the water surface (4, 7 and 10 cm) and voltages (6, 8.5 and 11 kV) were optimized using response surface methodology. Then, changes in nutritional and sensory characteristics of the onion leaves treated by cold plasma in the optimal state of variables and during storage in the refrigerator (4 °C) were investigated.

Results showed that the highest level of vitamin C retention and antioxidant activity of the onion leaves were achieved using 8 kV, 8.83 min and 6.6 cm. Plasma-treated leaves included higher vitamin C contents than that the control group did and showed increases in antioxidant activity during ten days of storage at refrigerator temperature.

Results of the study showed that the variables of voltage and process time included significant effects on improving antioxidant activity and vitamin C content of the onion leaves treated by cold plasma dielectric barrier discharge type.

Microbial fermentation using solid substrates offers a safe, cost-effective straightforward approach for generating valuable organic acids, constituting the third-tier product category in addition to enzymes and secondary metabolites. This study investigated potentials of soybean meal paste as a substrate without the need of additional supplements, with the specific aim of propagating probiotic cultures and assessing performance of Bifidobacterium lactis in fatty acid production.

A homogenized soybean meal paste was prepared with an initial moisture content of 65% to begin solid-bed fermentation. This paste was inoculated with 4% of microbial culture and then incubated at 37 °C.

After 24 h of fermentation, strain showed significant acidification and increases in cell numbers. Moreover, the microorganism demonstrated significant capacity to modulate levels of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids within the media, in contrast to the control media. The fatty acid composition shifted to a higher proportion of saturated fatty acids as well as further decreases in omega-3 acid than omega-6 fatty acid. Inoculation of the bacteria at 4% with substrate fermentation led to significant increases in the microbial population to 9.98 log CFU/g and decreases in pH levels to 5.1 at the optimal temperature of 37 °C.

The soybean paste demonstrates potentials as a carrier for this probiotic microorganisms, facilitating fatty acid production. This microorganism enhanced nutritional and functional characteristics of the substrate, rendering soybean meal an appealing option for the production of innovative products for market consumers. The findings suggest promising solutions for the cost-effective and sustainable production of organic acids and fatty acids using solid substrates and probiotic microorganisms.

The use of natural active compounds in edible films is a suitable approach for active packaging production. The objective of this study was to investigate physicochemical and antifungal characteristics of soy protein isolate edible films containing eucalyptus tannin extract.

Tannin extract was prepared from eucalyptus leaves and then added to soy protein isolate films in three concentrations of 1, 2.5 and 5%. The antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger was evaluated,, along with the assessment of moisture sorption isotherms using Guggenheim-Anderson-de Boer (GAB), model permeability to water vapor and antioxidant activity of the films by inhibiting DPPH free radicals.

The fitted moisture absorption experimental data demonstrated that the GAB provided accurate predictions of moisture absorption isotherms with a good fit to the water activity (R2 > 0.92). Based on the results of principal component analysis (PCA), three major components accounted for 96% of the variance of the physicochemical parameters. Antioxidant activity using the DPPH method increased significantly from 6.43 (in the control sample) to 56.92% (in the sample containing 5% tannin), while the vapor permeability decreased particularly at high loading contents of tannin, compared to the control films. Samples containing eucalyptus tannin included good antifungal activities against Aspergillus niger and increasing quantities of tannin in the samples led to significant increases in the inhibition of fungal activity (p < 0.05).

The use of natural additives such as eucalyptus tannin extract in biodegradable films can improve the functional performance of soy protein isolate film and help to increase the shelf life of food products due to their antifungal and antioxidant characteristics.

Every year, the fisheries industry produces approximately 106 tons of wastes, most of which are processed, wasted low-value products such as animal feeds or discarded. Crustaceans include significant quantities of polysaccharides in their skins, which can be used in various food industries. This study was carried out to optimize production of hydrolyzed proteins from the skin and head of Metapenaeus affinis using response surface method (RSM) and papain enzyme.

Investigated factors to reach the maximum degrees of hydrolysis included various temperatures (35, 65 and 95 °C), times (45, 55 and 65 min) and enzyme/substrate ratios (1.5, 2.25 and 3%). Hydrolysis conditions that showed the best degrees of hydrolysis were optimized using RSM with central composite design (CCD).

Results showed that effects of reaction variables on each of the test responses were significant (p < 0.05). Based on the three-dimensional graphs of the response surface analysis, the optimal operating conditions for the maximum degree of hydrolysis of the shrimp head protein were achieved using the rate of 74.44%, time of 95 min, temperature of 61.51 °C and enzyme concentration of 2.23%. Moreover, the optimal conditions for the maximum degree of hydrolysis of the shrimp shell proteins included 74.53%, 75.30 min, 56.39 °C and enzyme concentration of 2.99%.

This study showed that shell and head of M. affinis included high hydrolyzed proteins that could be useful for medicinal and human uses.