Articles publicats en revistes (Nutrició, Ciències de l'Alimentació i Gastronomia)

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Distinctive Behavior and Selective Modulation of PPARγ by Pentacyclic Triterpenoid Pomolic Acid and Hederagenin from Rosa canina
(American Chemical Society, 2026-04-29) Nicola Llorente, Mariano; Hermoso-Pinilla, Francisco Javier; Torres-Oteros, Daniel; Luque Garriga, F. Xavier; Canudas Puig, Sílvia; Marrero González, Pedro F.; Haro, D.; Relat Pardo, Joana
Bioactive triterpenoids present in plant-derived foods are emerging as modulators of metabolic health, although their molecular targets and mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we characterize Pomolic acid and Hederagenin, two pentacyclic triterpenoids from Rosa canina, as antagonists and selective modulators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ). Both compounds reduced lipid accumulation during 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation and antagonized rosiglitazone-induced PPARγ transactivation without intrinsic agonist activity. Pomolic acid behaved as a neutral antagonist, repressing adipogenic and lipogenic gene expression and preventing TRAP220 recruitment. In contrast, Hederagenin selectively modulated PPARγ target genes involved in lipid handling while limiting triglyceride accumulation. TR-FRET assays confirmed direct binding to the receptor, and molecular dynamics simulations revealed a betulinic acid─like binding mode that destabilizes helices H11–H12 and disrupts the AF-2 coactivator interface. These findings provide mechanistic insight into how structurally related dietary triterpenoids modulate PPARγ signaling and support them as candidates for metabolic disease strategies.
The Antiobesity Effects of Rosehip (Rosa canina) Flesh by Antagonizing the PPAR Gamma Activity in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice
(Wiley-VCH, 2024-02-08) Sanz Lamora, Héctor; Nicola Llorente, Mariano; Torres-Oteros, Daniel; Pérez-Martí, A.; Aghziel, Inass; Lozano Castellón, Julián; Vallverdú i Queralt, Anna; Canudas Puig, Sílvia; Marrero González, Pedro F.; Haro, D.; Relat Pardo, Joana
Scope: The rosehip (Rosa canina) is a perennial shrub with a reddish pseudofruit that has demonstrated antidiabetic, antiatherosclerotic, and antiobesogenic effects in rodent models but there is low information about the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects on the onset and progression of diet-induced obesity. Methods and results: Four-week-old C57BL/6J male mice are subjected to a high-fat diet (HFD)-supplemented or not with R. canina flesh for 18 weeks. The results indicated that the R. canina flesh exerts a preventive effect on HFD-induced obesity with a significant reduction in body-weight gain and an improvement of hyperglycemia and insulin resistance caused by a HFD. At the tissue level, subcutaneous white adipose tissue exhibits a higher number of smaller adipocytes, with decreased lipogenesis. On its side, the liver shows a significant decrease in lipid droplet content and in the expression of genes related to lipogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and glucose metabolism. Finally, the data suggest that most of these effects agree with the presence of a putative Perosxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR ) antagonist in the R. canina flesh. Conclusions: R. canina flesh dietary supplementation slows down the steatotic effect of a HFD at least in part through the regulation of the transcriptional activity of PPAR .
Intake of the Total, Classes, and Subclasses of (Poly)phenols and Breast Cancer Risk: A Prospective Analysis of the EPIC Study
(MDPI, 2026-03-01) Tjønneland, Anne; Lill, Christina M.; Farràs, Marta; Zamora-Ros, Raul; Schulze, Matthias B.; Masala, Giovanna; Agnoli, Claudia; Signoriello, Simona; Padroni, Lisa; Lasheras, Cristina; Sánchez, M. José; Aizpurua Atxega, Amaia; Colorado-Yohar, S.M.; Gasque, Alba; López Padilla, M. Fernanda; Seoane-Miraz, David; Guiñón Fort, Daniel; Almanza Aguilera, Enrique; Dahm, Christina C.; Louati-Hajji, Mariem; Cadeau, Claire; Mancini, Francesca; Bajracharya, Rahsmita; Katzke, Verena; Chan, Wing Ching; Saleh, Yahya Mahamat
Polyphenols represent the largest and most diverse class of dietary antioxidants. Epidemiological evidence linking specific (poly)phenol classes, such as flavonoids and lignans, to breast cancer (BC) risk remains limited and largely inconclusive in prospective studies. The aim of this study is to examine the association between the intake of total (poly)phenols—and its classes and subclasses—and BC risk—overall and by subtypes (estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2))—in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. The EPIC cohort includes 257,960 adult women from seven European countries. During a mean follow-up of 14 years, there were 10,722 incident overall BC cases. Associations were computed using Cox regression models adjusted for potential confounders. No significant associations were found between total (poly)phenol intake and overall BC risk (HRQ5 vs. Q1 = 1.02; 95% CI: 0.95–1.11). In addition, null associations were mostly found between classes and subclasses of (poly)phenols and BC subtypes. After stratifying by menopausal status, no significant associations were observed. In conclusion, this study found no evidence of associations between the intake of any class or subclass of (poly)phenols and BC risk in the European population.
Arsenosugar extracted from algae: Assessment of countercurrent chromatography for isolation
(Elsevier B.V., 2024-06-02) Morales-Rodríguez, Alba; Sahuquillo Estrugo, Àngels; Minguillón Llombart, Cristina; López Sánchez, José Fermín; Barrón Bueno, Dolores
Arsenosugars are the predominant species of arsenic in most seaweed. The analysis of these compounds is hampered by the lack of calibration standards needed in their unambiguous identification and quantification. This affects the availability of reliable information on their potential toxicity, which is scarce and controversial. Knowing the potential of centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) as a preparative separation technique applied to a number of natural compounds, the aim of this work is to investigate the feasibility of CPC in the case of isolation and purification of arsenosugars from algae extracts. Several biphasic solvents systems have been studied to evaluate the distribution of the As species. Given the physical characteristics of these compounds, the presence of strong acids, the formation of ionic pairs or the presence of salts at high ionic strength have been considered. System 1-BuOH/EtOH/sat.(NH4)2SO4/water at a volume ratio 0.2:1:1:1 originates adequate distri- bution constants of analytes that allows the required separation. The total arsenic content and the arsenic speciation of the eluted solutions from CPC were analyzed by ICP-MS and IC-ICP-MS, respectively.
Optimization of agro-technological processing parameters to enhance diamine oxidase activity in edible legume sprouts
(Elsevier B.V., 2025-08-01) Costa-Catala, Judit; Iduriaga-Platero, Irache; Bori, Jaume; Vidal Carou, Ma. Carmen; Latorre Moratalla, Mariluz; Comas Basté, Oriol
Histamine intolerance is associated with impaired histamine metabolism caused by a deficiency of the enzyme <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.sire.ub.edu/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/amine-oxidase-copper-containing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">diamine oxidase</a> (DAO). A recommended strategy to alleviate symptoms is a low-histamine diet supplemented with exogenous DAO. Recent studies suggest plant-based DAO from legume sprouts could be a viable active ingredient for supplements. This study aimed to assess the impact of germination parameters (time-temperature binomial and salinity stress) on the histamine-degrading enzymatic activity of four species of edible <a href="https://www-sciencedirect-com.sire.ub.edu/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/fabaceae" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Leguminosae</a> sprouts and its stability during different storage conditions. The time-temperature binomial was found to strongly influence sprout DAO activity. Chickpea sprouts exhibited the highest activity at 14 °C on day 8 of germination, whereas lentil, soybean, and green pea sprouts showed peak activity at 30 °C between days 4 and 5. On the other hand, salinity stress did not enhance DAO activity and reduced the germination rate by 20–30 % compared to the control. Freezing was the only storage condition that preserved the DAO activity of the active ingredient intact for at least 12 months.
Identification of novel 123-triazole isatin derivatives as potent SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitors via click-chemistry-based rapid screening
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023-08-17) Tollefson, Ann E.; Liu, Xinyong; Zhang, Peng; Jiang, Xiangyi; Li, Jing; Viayna Gaza, Antonio; Luque Garriga, F. Xavier; Woodson, Molly; Jing, Lanlan; Gao, Shenghua; Zhao, Fabao; Xie, Minghui; Toth, Karoly; Tavis, John
SARS-CoV-2 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CLpro) is considered an attractive target for the development of anti-COVID-19 agents due to its vital function. The N-substituted isatin derivative L-26 is a potential SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inhibitor, but it has poor cell-based antiviral activity and high cytotoxicity. With L-26 as the lead compound, 58 isatin derivatives were prepared using clickchemistry-based miniaturized synthesis and their 3CLpro inhibitory activities were determined by a fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based enzymatic assay. Compounds D1N8 (IC50 =0.44± 0.12 μM) and D1N52 (IC50 = 0.53 ± 0.21 μM) displayed excellent inhibitory potency against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, being equivalent to that of L-26 (IC50 =0.30± 0.14 μM). In addition, the cytotoxicity of D1N8 (CC50 >20 μM) and D1N52 (CC50 >20 μM) decreased significantly compared with L-26 (CC50 <2.6 μM). Further molecular dynamics simulations revealed the potential binding interactions between D1N52 and SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. These efforts lay a solid foundation for the research of novel anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents targeting 3CLpro.
Upcycling walnut (Juglans regia L.) by-products: Characterisation of nutritionally relevant bioactive compounds
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2026-03-09) Campins Machado, Francesc Miquel; Abarca-Rivas, Clara; Corrado, Marina; Pérez Bosch, Maria; Vallverdú i Queralt, Anna
Background: Walnuts (Juglans regia L.) are attracting increasing interest from consumers, industry, and the healthcare community due to their high content of bioactive compounds, including (poly)phenols, carotenoids, tocopherols, and omega-3 fatty acids. Despite the continued growth in global walnut production, the effective valorisation of walnut processing by-products remains a challenge. While most research has focused on the edible kernel, emerging evidence suggests that underutilized walnut fractions may also represent valuable sources of compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to characterize the bioactive compound profiles of green walnuts, defective walnuts, and walnut shells in comparison to commercial whole walnuts and kernels. Methods: Samples collected from an orchard located in Huesca (Spain) were homogenized and analysed in triplicate. Proximate composition was performed following the official methods, fatty acid profile was determined by GC-FID, phenolic profile by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and carotenoids and tocopherols by UPLC-DAD. Results: Green walnuts contained exceptionally high concentrations of carotenoids, especially β-carotene (629.7 ± 39.4 mg/kg). Walnut shells were the richest source of phenolic compounds, notably ellagic acid (713.3 ± 7.6 mg/kg) and catechin (71.9 ± 1.2 mg/kg). Tocopherols were mainly concentrated in the kernel, dominated by γ-tocopherol (226.9 ± 8.1 mg/kg), while defective walnuts showed a compositional profile similar to commercial walnuts. Conclusions: This comparative analysis highlights the significant potential of walnut processing by-products as sources of nutritionally relevant bioactive compounds. The findings support their valorisation as functional ingredients for agro-food and cosmetic applications within a circular economy framework.
The impact of regenerative agriculture on the quality and yield of major Mediterranean horticultural crops: Brassicaceae and Solanaceae
(Elsevier B.V., 2026-03-01) Campins Machado, Francesc Miquel; Diéguez-Martín, Nerea; Luque Corredera, Carlos; Vallverdú i Queralt, Anna; Lamuela Raventós, Rosa Ma.; Romanyà i Socoró, Joan; Pérez Bosch, Maria; Pérez Llorca, Marina
Regenerative agriculture aims to restore soil health through practices such as organic amendments, mulching, cover cropping, crop rotation, and reduced tillage. These methods help mitigate erosion, enhance soil fertility, and support microbial communities beneficial for plant growth and biochemical composition. Previous reviews have assessed the effects of regenerative practices on soil fertility and, to a lesser extent, crop productivity but a comprehensive review is still lacking regarding their influence on yield, nutrient composition and sensory attributes of Solanaceae and Brassicaceae products, two of the most important horticultural crop families in the Mediterranean basin. This review seeks to fill that gap by addressing the following question: How do regenerative practices in open-field Mediterranean basin horticultural systems affect the yield, sensory traits, and bioactive compounds in Brassicaceae and Solanaceae crops? A narrative review was conducted through a structured search of PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science (2014–2025), selecting peer-reviewed studies evaluating the effects of regenerative agriculture practices on yield and nutritional or sensory quality of Brassicaceae and Solanaceae crops under Mediterranean conditions. Our findings indicate that the application of organic amendments, mulching and cover cropping are the most effective strategies for boosting productivity and enhancing nutritional and sensory quality, especially in tomato. In contrast, evidence for the specific effects of crop rotation and reduced tillage remains limited. The review highlights promising outcomes of regenerative agriculture in the Mediterranean basin, while emphasizing the need for further research and digital integration to overcome local practical limitations.
Genome-wide interaction analysis of long-term trihalomethane exposure in drinking water and colorectal cancer risk in a Spanish Multicenter Case-Control Study (MCC-Spain)
(Elsevier Ltd., 2026-01-11) Moratalla Navarro, Ferran; Obón Santacana, Mireia; Rius Sansalvador, Blanca; Guinó, Elisabet; Moragas, Núria; Donat Vargas, Carolina; Fernández de Larrea-Baz, Nerea; Molina Barceló, Ana; Guevara, Marcela; Morón-Duran, Francisco D; Dierssen Sotos, Trinidad; Tardón, Adonina; Castaño-Vinyals, Gemma; Cabrera Castro, Natalia; Molina, Antonio J.; Aizpurua Atxega, Amaia; Morales Suárez Varela, María M.; Martín, Vicente; Fernández Navarro, Pablo; Villanueva, Cristina M.; Moreno Aguado, Víctor
We conducted a genome-wide interaction analysis between long-term exposure to trihalomethanes in drinking water and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in a multicenter case-control study in Spain, including 1037 CRC cases and 2100 controls. Exposure categories were estimated based on sex-specific median and quartile values of total trihalomethanes (TTHM), chloroform (CHCl3), and brominated trihalomethanes (Br-THMs) among controls. In addition, TTHM exposure was assessed relative to the WHO guideline thresholds. Gene-environment interaction models were computed with the GxEScanR package. To explore biological plausibility, relevant results were inspected in search of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) in two independent resources: BarcUVaSeq and the Genome Tissue Expression (GTEx) v8. Finally, we searched the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database to identify candidate genes previously linked to trihalomethane exposure, retrieved their eQTLs, and evaluated gene-environment interactions with TTHM levels. We found three variants that modulated CRC risk in relation to CHCl3 and TTHM exposure: rs77985109 near LRRC8B, chr15:28997737 near WHAMMP2, and rs7890183 near MAGEB2. Two additional variants were specifically found for women and one for rectal cancer. Functional assessment suggested a regulatory role of rs77985109 in LRRC8B expression. Moreover, eQTL analysis of candidate genes revealed an additional variant associated with CCL2 which could modulate CRC risk under different TTHM exposure levels. The present study identified novel loci potentially influencing CRC susceptibility under THM exposure, highlighting the importance of integrating environmental and genetic data to better understand environmental driven cancer risks. Further research is needed to confirm these results and clarify underlying mechanisms.
Characterization of biomimetic chromatography columns based on plasma proteins through the Abraham solvation parameter model
(Elsevier B.V., 2025-12-16) Valdez-Micheo, A.L.; Rosés Pascual, Martí; Amézqueta, Susana; Fuguet i Jordà, Elisabet
Biomimetic chromatography is a valuable tool for studying drug interactions by mimicking biological environments. In this work, two liquid chromatography systems with stationary phases based on plasma proteins, human serum albumin (HSA) and α₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP), will be evaluated regarding the interactions that these stationary phases establish with neutral and ionized compounds. The Abraham solvation parameter model has been used to characterize the chromatographic systems. The models obtained demonstrate that both columns present almost identical selectivity for neutral compounds, with very similar retention mechanisms. The volume of the compounds increases the retention, whereas a high hydrogen bond basicity reduces it. Contrarily, the columns show different selectivity for ionic compounds, especially for anions, which are specifically retained in the HSA column, whereas no or low retention is observed in the AGP column. When the obtained models are compared to the models corresponding to other biomimetic chromatography systems, it has been observed that, despite the nature of the stationary phase, all them provide similar selectivity for neutral compounds. In concrete, the two evaluated systems present great similarity to other systems based on liquid chromatography or electrokinetic chromatography that use phosphatidylcholine as stationary phase.
From must to wine: How winemaking choices influence lipid, vitamin, nitrogen, and volatile profiles
(Elsevier B.V., 2026) Ramousse, Louise; Vichi, S. (Stefania); Morge, Christophe; Pais de Barros, Jean-Paul; Roullier-Gall, Chloé; Alexandre, Hervé; Garces, Fabien
This study explores how six common oenological products (activated carbon, bentonite, yeast hulls, yeast proteinextract, PVPP, inactivated dry yeast) influence must compositions and wine aromatic profiles. By analyzing lipids(LC and GC-MS), vitamins (HPLC), and nitrogen (enzymatic reaction), we assessed the fermentability of ros´e and white musts and the aromatic profile of the resulting wines. The results show that fining agents like bentonite and charcoal deplete must of nutrients and induce different final volatile profiles. Conversely, yeast-based fermentation activators enrich the must in certain compounds like free fatty acids and sterols, and vitamins. Interestingly, despite the observed depletion, fermentation kinetics remained stable in white musts, while in rosés significant deviations were observed. These results underline that the impact of these products cannot be generalized and is highly matrix-dependent. They also confirm that the effect on aromatic composition can be marked, with potential consequences on the sensory profile of wines.
On the relevance of query definition in the performance of 3D ligand-based virtual screening
(Springer Verlag, 2024-04-04) Vázquez Lozano, Javier; Garcia, Ricardo; Linares, Paula; Luque Garriga, F. Xavier; Herrero, Enric
Ligand-based virtual screening (LBVS) methods are widely used to explore the vast chemical space in the search of novel compounds resorting to a variety of properties encoded in 1D, 2D or 3D descriptors. The success of 3D-LBVS is affected by the overlay of molecular pairs, thus making selection of the template compound, search of accessible conformational space and choice of the query conformation to be potential factors that modulate the successful retrieval of actives. This study examines the impact of adopting different choices for the query conformation of the template, paying also atten- tion to the influence exerted by the structural similarity between templates and actives. The analysis is performed using PharmScreen, a 3D LBVS tool that relies on similarity measurements of the hydrophobic/philic pattern of molecules, and Phase Shape, which is based on the alignment of atom triplets followed by refinement of the volume overlap. The study is performed for the original DUD-E+ database and a Morgan Fingerprint filtered version (denoted DUD-E+-Diverse; avail- able in https://github.com/Pharmacelera/Query-models-to-3DLBVS), which was prepared to minimize the 2D resemblance between template and actives. Although in most cases the query conformation exhibits a mild influence on the overall performance, a critical analysis is made to disclose factors, such as the content of structural features between template and actives and the induction of conformational strain in the template, that underlie the drastic impact of the query definition in the recovery of actives for certain targets. The findings of this research also provide valuable guidance for assisting the selection of the query definition in 3D LBVS campaigns.
Influenza A virus hemagglutinin: From classical fusion inhibitors to proteolysis targeting chimera-based strategies in antiviral drug discovery.
(Open Exploration, 2024-04-27) Hermoso-Pinilla, Francisco Javier; Valdivia, Aitor; Camarasa, María Jose; Ginex, Tiziana; Luque Garriga, F. Xavier
The influenza virus glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA) participates in critical steps of the attachment of viral particles to the host cell membrane receptor and membrane fusion. Due to its crucial involvement in the initial phases of influenza A infections, HA emerges as a promising target in the search of novel drug-like candidates. Given its pivotal role in the early stages of influenza A infections, intense drug discovery efforts have been undertaken to target HA in the past decades. Drug discovery studies mainly rely on preventing the recognition of sialic acid units by the receptor binding site in the globular head (GH) domain, or the conformational rearrangement required for the fusion of viral and cell membranes. In this work, the aim is to summarize the progress made in HA-targeted development of small molecule fusion inhibitors. To this end, our attention will primarily be focused on the analysis of the X-ray crystallographic structures of HA bound to fusion inhibitors. Furthermore, we also aim to highlight the efforts made in exploiting the structural information in conjunction with molecular modeling techniques to discern the mechanism ofaction of the fusion inhibitors and to assist the design and interpretation of structure-activity relationships of novel lead compounds will be highlighted. The final section will be dedicated to elucidating novel and promising antiviral strategies proceeding from the transformation of known small molecule antivirals in proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC)-based targeted protein degradation. This knowledge will be valuable to assist the exploitation of classical and novel antiviral structure-based strategies, together with a deeper understanding of the mechanism of action and minimization of the impact of drug resistance.
Impact of technological factors on diamine oxidase (DAO) activity in porcine kidney extracts as active ingredient for the dietary management of histamine intolerance
(Elsevier B.V., 2024-11-01) Costa-Catala, Judit; Pellicer Roca, Salvador; Iduriaga-Platero, Irache; Sánchez-Pérez, Sònia; Veciana Nogués, María Teresa; Latorre Moratalla, Mariluz; Vidal Carou, Ma. Carmen
Histamine intolerance is associated with impaired histamine metabolism due to diamine-oxidase (DAO) enzyme deficiency at intestinal level. The recommended strategy to alleviate the symptomatology is a low-histamine diet supplemented with DAO. Different sources of DAO enzyme have been characterized in the literature (animal, vegetal and microbial), although only the porcine kidney protein extract has been approved as food supplement. Despite optimistic clinical results of DAO supplementation, variability in enzymatic activity of this type of active ingredient is reported, potentially linked to manufacturing processes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the impact of the raw material and the technological process of obtaining the porcine kidney protein extract on DAO activity, and its evolution during storage at room temperature (25 °C) and refrigeration (4 °C). Twenty batches of DAO-containing extract were analyzed and found to have a consistent histamine-degrading activity. The powder extract was prepared by mincing and homogenizing porcine kidneys, defatting with acetone, and drying at 40 °C for 6 h. The inclusion of a biocidal step before acetone extraction was evaluated on DAO activity. The use of sodium hypochlorite and irradiation (8kGy) did not have a negative impact on DAO activity. Moreover, the inclusion of an initial freeze-drying step of the raw material yielded an extract with higher DAO activity. On the other hand, the effect of applying higher temperatures (70 °C, 80 °C, and 90 °C) during the extract drying process for 3 and 6 h was evaluated, reporting a significant decrease of the enzymatic activity, with losses of 10–20 % for every 10 °C increase in temperature. Refrigeration was the only storage method capable of preserving enzymatic activity for at least 24 months. The manufacturing and storage of porcine kidney extract are crucial steps in the formulation of DAO supplements suitable for the treatment of histamine intolerance.
Unveiling the Impact of Peanut Consumption on Telomere Length in Young and Healthy Individuals: Insights from the ARISTOTLE Study: A Randomized Clinical Trial
(MDPI, 2025-04-14) Torres-Oteros, Daniel; Parilli Moser, Isabella; Laveriano Santos, Emily P.; Becerra Tomás, Nerea; Sanz Lamora, Héctor; Hurtado Barroso, Sara; Haro Bautista, Diego; Marrero González, Pedro F.; Lamuela Raventós, Rosa Ma.; Relat Pardo, Joana; Canudas Puig, Sílvia
Diet is a potential modulator of telomere length (TL), but the impact of individual dietary components, such as nuts, on TL in young, healthy individuals remains underexplored. Peanuts are rich in bioactive compounds that may influence TL. Therefore, to fill this gap of knowledge, this study aimed to investigate the effect of peanut consumption on TL in this specific population. Fifty-eight young, healthy individuals were randomized to one of three different intervention groups for 6 months each: (1) 25 g/day of skin-roasted peanuts (SRP); (2) 32 g/day of peanut butter (PB); (3) 32 g/day of a control butter (CB) (based on peanut oil). TL was measured by quantitative real-time PCR in saliva at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Our findings revealed significant between-group differences in TL changes, particularly between the SRP and CB groups over 6 months (mean difference: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.01, 1.05; p-value = 0.048). No significant difference was observed between PB and CB groups (mean difference: 0.12; 95% CI: -0.42, 0.66; p-value = 0.66). This study provides novel insights into the impact of peanut consumption on TL maintenance in young and healthy individuals. The findings highlight the potential benefits of incorporating peanuts into the diet as a means of promoting cellular health and longevity. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and validate these findings across diverse populations and longer time frames.
Emotional and Uncontrolled Eating Mediate the Well-Being Adiposity Relationship in Women but Not in Men
(MDPI, 2025-12-29) Diez Hernández, María; Parilli Moser, Isabella; Zerón-Rugerio, María Fernanda; Izquierdo Pulido, Maria
Background/Objectives: Sex and gender influence dietary habits, eating behaviors, mental health, and obesity risk. Women exhibit a higher prevalence of emotional eating and mental health problems, which may contribute to sex-specific differences in adiposity. This study aimed to explore the associations between adiposity, diet quality, eating behaviors, mental health, and well-being, and to examine whether eating behaviors mediate the relationship between mental health and adiposity, stratified by sex. Methods: One hundred twenty-three adults (35.6 ± 7.9 years; 63.4% women) with overweight and obesity participated in this cross-sectional study. Adiposity parameters (BMI, body fat, waist and hip circumferences), biochemical parameters, eating behaviors (Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire-R21), well-being (WHO-5), perceived stress (Perceived Stress Scale), diet quality (17-item MedDiet questionnaire), and physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire) were evaluated. Linear regression and path analyses were used to examine associations and mediation effects. Results: Women reported higher emotional eating and cognitive restraint scores (p = 0.017 and p = 0.034, respectively) and greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet (p < 0.001) than men. In men, well-being was positively associated with diet quality, while higher stress, cognitive restraint, and poorer diet quality were linked to greater adiposity. In women, well-being and diet quality were inversely associated with adiposity, while emotional and uncontrolled eating were related to higher adiposity and poorer biochemical markers. Emotional and uncontrolled eating mediated the relationship between well-being and adiposity only in women. Conclusions: Our results underscore the importance of incorporating sex- and gender-sensitive approaches in obesity prevention and treatment. For women, interventions should focus on emotional regulation and coping strategies, whereas for men, improving diet quality may be more effective.
Late bedtime combined with more screen time before bed increases the risk of obesity and lowers diet quality in Spanish children
(Elsevier Ltd., 2024-05-01) Zerón-Rugerio, María Fernanda; Santamaría Orleans, Alicia; Izquierdo Pulido, Maria
This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate whether the combination of bedtime and screen time (ST) before bed were associated with obesity and diet quality in toddlers and school-aged children. Parents reported children's bedtimes and ST before bed (0 min, 1-30 min, >30 min). We then defined bed + screen time behavior using bedtime median cut-offs (early [EB] or late [LB]) and ST responses, resulting in four groups: EB-0'ST, EB ≤ 30'ST/LB-0'ST, EB > 30'ST/LB ≤ 30'ST, and LB > 30'ST. For all participants (n = 1133; 5.4 ± 2.7 years, 49.7% girls, 51.9% school-aged) we evaluated body mass index (BMI), diet quality, sleep-related variables, physical activity, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Outcome variables were compared across bed + screen time behavior groups, stratified by age group (toddlers and school-aged children) using general linear models for continuous variables, as well as chi-squared tests or logistic regressions for categorical variables. Additionally, we calculated linear p-trends. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic variables, BMI, and physical activity (unless the variable was tested). The results showed that toddlers and school-aged children in the LB ≥ 30'ST group were more likely to have overweight/obesity (OR: 3.42 [95%CI:1.41,8.26] and OR: 2.53 [95%CI:1.10,5.03], respectively) than those in the EB-0'ST group. Additionally, toddlers and school-aged children in the EB > 30'ST/LB ≤ 30'ST and LB > 30'ST groups showed significantly lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet compared to the other groups (p < 0.001). Regarding sleep-related outcomes, we observed that the combination of LB and more ST was associated with poorer sleep quality and shorter sleep duration in toddlers and school-aged children (p < 0.001). These findings emphasize the importance of promoting earlier bedtimes and limiting ST before bed as part of obesity prevention strategies for children. Furthermore, such intervention could benefit the quality of children's diet and overall lifestyle.
Improvement of the safety of artisanal Spanish fermented sausages: Spotlight on the role of bacteriocinogenic Lactiplantibacillus paraplantarum against a Companilactobacillus alimentarius histaminogenic strain
(Elsevier B.V., 2024-10-22) Barbieri, Federica; Tabanelli, Giulia; Comas Basté, Oriol; Latorre Moratalla, Mariluz; Angelucci, Chiara; Gardini, Fausto; Montanari, Chiara; García-López. J. David; Baños, Alberto
Biogenic amines (BA) in fermented sausages result from amino acid decarboxylation by microbial activity, either from technological or spoilage bacteria. Certain lactic acid bacteria typically found in fermented sausages are characterised for their ability to produce BA, especially histamine and tyramine. On the other hand, the bac teriocinogenic strain Lactiplantibacillus paraplantarum BPF2, isolated from a Spanish spontaneously dryfermented sausages, has been characterized by good technological properties, production of leucocin K with antimicrobial activity against Listeria monocytogenes and ability to reduce the accumulation of BA in the final products. The antagonistic activity of leucocin K bacteriocin was tested in vitro against Companilactobacillus alimentarius SE14 (histamine producer), Enterococcus faecalis EF37 (tyramine producer), and L. monocytogenes Scott A. The inhibition of Comp. alimentarius SE14 by Lpl. paraplantarum BPF2 was assessed in traditional Spanish fermented sausages obtained in pilot plant, and chemico-physical parameters, microbial counts, and BA accu mulation were monitored during fermentation and ripening. Leucocin K produced by Lpl. paraplantarum BPF2 was active in vitro against Comp. alimentarius SE14 and L. monocytogenes but was ineffective against E. faecalis EF37. The inoculation of the strain BPF2 as starter culture did not affect the expected chemico-physical (pH and colour) and microbial characteristics of the dry-fermented sausages. On the other hand, this strain was effective to significantly reduce the accumulation of histamine produced by the strain SE14, as well as putrescine and cadaverine. These findings demonstrated the relevant role of bacteriocin-producing strains as bio-protective starter cultures in improving the safety and quality of fermented meat products
Low glomerular filtration rate values are associated with higher TSH in an elderly population at high cardiovascular disease risk.
(Frontiers Media, 2023-08-16) Brenta, Gabriela; Nepote, Alejandra; Barreto, Adriana; Musso, Carla; Faingold, Cristina; Fossati, Pia; Antonelli, Alessandro; Fallahi, Poupak; Famá, Fausto; Meroño, Tomás
Background: Hypothyroidism is associated with impaired glomerular filtration rate (GFR), a recognized cardiovascular disease (CVD), and mortality risk factor. In older adults, this association remains unexplored. We aimed to determine the relationship of elevated TSH with GFR in an elderly population at high CVD risk.Methods: Older adults (age>65ys) with high CVD risk defined by two or more CVD risk factors: smoking (S), high blood pressure (HBP), high total cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, diabetes (DM), metabolic syndrome or previous cardiovascular event, were prospectively included at our ambulatory Endocrine Clinic. Patients under levothyroxine or thyroid disease were excluded. TSH> 6mU/l defined subclinical hypothyroidism (ScH) with normal free T4 levels. Estimated GFR was calculated by the Berlin-Initiative Study (BIS)-1 formula for elderly population. Urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (uACR), IL-6 and TNF-α, and Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were also determined. The U Mann-Whitney test, the Spearman test, and multiple linear regression were used as statistical tests.Results: Finally 246 patients (68% females) were included and 20 (8%) had ScH. This group, was older (median, Q1-Q3: 77,72-78; 72,68-77 years, p=0.01) and DM was less frequent than in the euthyroid group (35 vs 58%, p=0.039). Lower fasting glucose (-20%,p=0.01), GFR (-14%,p=0.01) and freeT4 (-10%,p<0.001) were found compared to euthyroid patients. A higher prevalence of Kidney failure was found in ScH (80 vs. 46%, p=0.003) vs. euthyroid individuals. Significant correlations with GFR were detected: age (r-0.482,p<0.001), TSH (r-0.172,p=0.004), IL-6 (r-0.150,p=0.047), TNF-α (r-0.274,p<0.001), uACR (r-0.170,p=0.009) and CIMT(r-0.189,p=0.004). By multiple linear regression, in a model adjusted by age, sex, BMI, uACR, S, DM, TNF-α and HBP, TSH (Bst -0.14, p=0.023, R2 = 0.25) was found an independent predictor of GFR.Conclusion: In older adults with high CVD risk, ScH is associated with lower renal function, and this relationship is present regardless of other cardiometabolic risk factors. These results suggest that ScH could contribute to low GFR and excess CVD risk, although this hypothesis should be addressed in longitudinal studies.
World Region of Gastronomy 2025: Catalan cuisine with roots and a future
(Institut d'Estudis Catalans, 2025-12-22) Rivero Urgell, M. Montserrat; Castells Esqué, Pere; Mans Teixidó, Claudi, 1948-; Vidal-Garcia, Eulàlia; Comas Basté, Oriol
Catalonia has been designated the World Region of Gastronomy 2025, becoming the first European region to receive this distinction. This recognition offers an opportunity to promote Catalan cuisine internationally and to strengthen the link between food, health, culture and territory. The Catalan Association of Food Science (ACCA, from the Catalan) is actively involved in this endeavour, promoting initiatives such as the Nit de l’Alimentació (Food Night) event, outreach activities and a gastronomic video featuring chef Víctor Quintillà. Catalan cuisine is presented as a living heritage, with medieval roots exemplified by recipe books like Llibre de Sent Soví, and an evolution culminating in a contemporary gastronomic revolution initiated at El Bulli, based on collaboration between chefs, scientists and designers. This movement has positioned Catalonia as an international benchmark in culinary innovation. The relationship between cuisine and science is illustrated across multiple disciplines, from chemistry to marketing. At the same time, traditional Catalan cuisine is celebrated as a model of healthy and sustainable eating, rooted in the territory, featuring local ingredients, balanced dishes and cooking techniques that promote nutrition, food sovereignty and environmental respect.

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