Chemical Characterization of Coffee Husks, a By-Product of Coffea arabica Production

Coffee husks are a major by-product of coffee production and are currently being underutilized. The aim of this work was to chemically characterize coffee husks to allow for an adequate evaluation of their potential for valorization. Blanched and non-blanched coffee husks were characterized for extractable and non-extractable phenolics, caffeine, trigonelline content, and for their polysaccharide and proximal composition. The total, soluble and insoluble fiber contents were determined, together with the husks’ technological properties. Antioxidant activity and bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds of coffee husks were evaluated. Two types of husk were studied: one comprised mostly of outer skin and pulp (CH1); and other comprised mostly of parchment (CH2). Blanching had positive effects on non-extractable phenolics, chlorogenic acid and on the bioaccessibility of phenolics, promoting small reductions in extractable phenolics, protocathecuic acid, caffeine and trigonelline contents. Blanched CH1 presented more appropriate properties than CH2 for potential applications in food. It also presented better antioxidant, hydration, and oil holding properties than those of other agri-food by-products. Tentatively identified polysaccharides included galactomannans, arabinogalactans type II, pectin and cellulose.

Faecalibacterium predicts postprandial glucose control following potatoes in overweight females

Background: Individual glycemic responses following dietary intake result from complex physiological processes and can be influenced by physical properties of foods, such as increased resistant starch (RS) from retrogradation of starch upon cooling after cooking. Predictive equations are needed to provide personalized recommendations for those individuals most at risk for poor metabolic outcomes. Methods: Thirty overweight women with no comorbid conditions participated in this randomized crossover trial, in which the women consumed 250g of hot (9.2 g RS) or cold (13.7 g RS) potatoes. Baseline characteristics included demographics, 10-day dietary records, body composition, and the relative abundance (RA) and α-diversity of gut microbiota. Elastic net regression using 5-fold cross-validation predicted postprandial glucose response (PPGR; incremental AUC0-120min) following the potatoes. Results: Thirty participants (29.6 ± 6.0 yrs; BMI 32.8 ± 3.7 kg/m2) participated in this trial. Most women (70%) showed a favorable PPGR to the cold potato. The model explained 32.2% of the variance in iAUC0-120min glucose with the equation: 547.65 x (0 [if cold potato], x 1 [if hot potato]) + (BMI[kg/m2] x 40.66) - (insoluble fiber[g] x 49.35) + (Bacteroides[RA] x 8.69) - (Faecalibacterium[RA] x 73.49) - (Parabacteroides[RA] x 42.08) + (α-diversity x 110.87) + 292.52.Conclusion: This model improves understanding of baseline characteristics that explain interpersonal variation in PPGR following potato intake and offers a tool to optimize dietary recommendations for a commonly consumed food. Larger studies are warranted to expand generalizability and application of the equation. Trial Registration: The National Clinical Trials number is NCT03310476, and this study was registered with clinicaltrials.gov on Oct 16, 2017.

Effects of Micronized Bamboo Powder on Growth Performance, Serum Biochemical Indexes, Cecal Chyme Microflora and Metabolism of Broilers Aged 1-22 Days

Necrotic enteritis is common in broilers, which makes negative effects on growth performance. Adding insoluble fiber to diet of broilers has been reported to improve intestinal health and promote growth performance. Bamboo powder is a cheap raw material with rich insoluble fiber. This study aims to explore the effects of feeding micronized bamboo powder (MBP) on growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, intestinal microflora, and metabolism of broilers. A total of 1440 1-day-old ephedra chickens were randomly divided into three groups considering gender and body weight: (1) Group D: feeding with basal diet without antibiotics; (2) Group E: feeding with basal diet supplemented with 5% rice bran (RB); (3) Group F: feeding with basal diet supplemented with 1% MBP. Each group involved 8 replicates, with 60 chickens per replicate. After feeding for 22 days, various indexes were detected. For the growth performance, the weight gain and feed consumption ratio (G: F) of Group F supplemented with MBP is 0.57 ± 0.04, which is significantly higher than that of E group supplemented with RB (0.52 ± 0.01, P < 0.05). For the serum biochemical indexes, the glutathione peroxidase activity in Group F is significantly higher than that of in Group D, while the malondialdehyde content is significantly lower than that of in Group D and Group E (P < 0.05 for all). The fresh cecal chyme is taken for determination. In Group F, the α diversity index Faith_pd is significantly lower in Group F than that of in Group D. The microorganism species in cecal chyme of Group F and Group E are also different. The metabolic pathways of Group F differ from those of Group D and Group E, mainly manifested in fatty acid metabolism, amino acid metabolism and intestinal immune IgA production. Adding 1% MBP to broiler diet can enhance the anti-oxidant capacity, improve chyme microflora, regulate the metabolism pathways responsible for intestinal fatty acids, amino acids, and immunity.

The way insoluble fiber incorporated in the diet changes its physiological response

The physiological effect of insoluble fibers may change with diet composition. The present study aimed to determine the difference in the physiological responses of broiler chickens fed diet incorporated with rice hulls in different ways. Two hundred and forty broiler chicks at two-days old were randomly placed in 30 cages and fed: control diet (based on corn-soybean) (CO), rice hull supplementation diet (CO + 4% of rice hulls) (RS), and rice hull inclusion diet (inclusion of 4% rice hulls in diet) (RI). The significant effects were mostly found in the starter phase. The RI increased ADG (P<0.05) but reduced empty ceca weight (P<0.05) in comparison to CO and RS. The RS increased the jejunal crypt depth (P<0.05) and reduced the small intestinal content (P<0.05). Birds fed RS and RI had higher villus height (P<0.05) and thicker jejunal mucosa (P<0.05) than those fed the CO. In the finisher phase, birds fed the RS had the narrower width of the upper and lower jejunal villi than the others. Supplementation or inclusion of insoluble fiber in the diet will lead to different physiological responses due to changes in diet composition.

Lignocellulose as an insoluble fiber source in poultry nutrition: a review

Extensive research in recent years into the use of various fiber sources in poultry nutrition has led to the perception that dietary fiber is more than a simple diet diluent. Several studies showed that the feeding of insoluble fiber sources such as oat hulls, sunflower hulls or wood shavings may affect digestive physiology and function improving chickens health and growth performance. In this context, the effect of lignocellulose as an insoluble dietary fiber source is increasingly being investigated. Lignocellulose is a component of plant cell walls and consists mainly of the insoluble carbohydrate polymers cellulose and hemicelluloses as well as the phenolic polymer lignin. Lignocellulose is chemically and physicochemically different from other insoluble fiber sources and thus possibly has different effects on poultry compared to traditional fiber sources. Several studies investigated the effect of dietary lignocellulose on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal tract development and intestinal microbiota in broilers and laying hens. Studies differed in terms of feed formulation and lignocellulose inclusion level as well as products of different suppliers were used. The results obtained are inconsistent; beneficial, indifferent or detrimental effects of feeding lignocellulose were observed, so that a final assessment of lignocellulose as a “novel” insoluble fiber source is difficult. This review article summarizes the results of studies in connection with the feeding of lignocellulose to poultry, compares them with those that have used other insoluble fiber sources and illuminates the possible mechanisms of action.

Effect of sequentially fed high protein, hydrolyzed protein, and high fiber diets on the fecal microbiota of healthy dogs: a cross-over study

Background Dietary content and environmental factors can shape the gut microbiota, and consequently, the way the gut microbiota metabolizes fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, affecting overall health of the host. We evaluated the impact of 3 diets (all meat [raw], high-insoluble fiber dry extruded diet and hydrolyzed protein dry extruded diet) on the gut microbiota of healthy dogs in a cross-over sequential study. Results We showed that diet can have an effect on the gut microbiome in dogs, which was influenced by the order of feeding. High-protein (all meat) diets were characterized by an increase in bacteria belonging to the Fusobacteria and Bacteroidetes phyla, whereas a high-insoluble fiber commercial diet correlated with increases in Firmicutes and Actinobacteria phyla. However, the individual dog’s baseline microbiota had the most impact on the magnitude and nature of the changes in response to dietary intervention. Conclusion Our results suggest that the dog fecal microbiota is driven by protein and fiber composition to different degrees in individual animals, and targeted modification of these patterns could be useful in the modulation of the gut microbiota in different diseases.

Choline Metabolites, Hydroxybutyrate and HDL after Dietary Fiber Supplementation in Overweight/Obese Hypertensive Women: A Metabolomic Study

Metabolomics has been increasingly used to evaluate metabolic changes associated with morbidities. The objective of this study is to assess the metabolic profile before and after intervention with mixed dietary fiber in overweight and obese hypertensive women. This is an intervention study, and the sample consists of 14 women aged 28 to 58 years. An intervention with 12 g of mixed soluble and insoluble fiber is performed for a period of eight weeks. Serum metabolites are identified using a Bruker 1H NMR spectrometer at 400 MHz. Multivariate data analysis, including principal component analysis (PCA), is used to differentiate the two groups. After supplementation with dietary fiber, there is a significant increase in the peak intensity values of the metabolites HDL-C (0.0010*), choline (0.0012*) and hydroxybutyrate (0.0010*) as well as a decrease in systolic (0.0013*) and diastolic (0.0026*) blood pressure. The analysis of the metabolomic profile allows the identification of metabolites that have been associated in the literature with hypertension and excess weight (choline, hydroxybutyrate and amino acids) and with fiber intake (choline, hydroxybutyrate and amino acids) in addition to an increase in HDL-C. The increase in the detection of the described metabolites possibly occurs due to the presence of pathologies and the use of fiber in the intervention, which also contributes to elevated HDL-c and reduced blood pressure.