Articles publicats en revistes (Nutrició, Ciències de l'Alimentació i Gastronomia)
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ArticleStudy Protocol for a Prospective, Unicentric, Double-Blind, Randomized, and Placebo-Controlled Trial on the Efficacy of a Low-Histamine Diet and DAO Enzyme Supplementation in Patients with Histamine Intolerance(MDPI, 2025-01-01) Combalia, Andrea; Comas Basté, Oriol; Casas Rodríguez, Rosa M.; Latorre Moratalla, Mariluz; Estruch Riba, Ramon; Vidal Carou, Ma. Carmen; Duelo, Adriana; Sánchez Pérez, Sònia; Ruiz León, Ana María; Casanovas Garriga, Francesc; Pellicer Roca, Salvador; Iduriaga-Platero, Irache; Costa-Catala, Judit; Veciana Nogués, María Teresa; Fernández-Solà, J. (Joaquim); Muñoz Cano, Rosa Maria; Bartra Tomàs, JoanBackground/Objectives: Histamine intolerance is primarily caused by a deficiency in the diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme at the intestinal level. The reduced histamine degradation in the gut leads to its accumulation in plasma, thereby causing multiple clinical manifestations, such as urticaria, diarrhea, headache, dyspnea, or tachycardia, among others. The dietary management of this food intolerance consists of the follow-up of a low-histamine diet, often combined with DAO supplementation. To date, around twenty studies have investigated the effectiveness of these dietary strategies in reducing the frequency and/or intensity of symptoms, with promising results. However, the limitations of these studies (small patient cohort, lack of control group, and short dietary intervention periods) highlight the need for more ambitiously designed research. Therefore, the main objective of this prospective, unicentric, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled trial is to evaluate the efficacy of a low-histamine diet and/or DAO supplementation over a three-month period in improving symptoms of histamine intolerance. Additionally, the impacts of these dietary strategies on the intestinal microbiota composition, urinary profile of histamine metabolites, serum DAO activity, and plasma histamine levels will be assessed throughout the intervention. Methods: The trial will enroll 400 patients who will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: the intervention group, which will follow a low-histamine diet, or the control group, which will maintain their habitual dietary habits. Within each of these groups, participants will be further divided into four subgroups to receive either exogenous DAO enzyme supplementation (from porcine or plant sources, with the latter administered at two different dosages) or a placebo. Therefore, a total of eight distinct intervention groups will be considered. The comparison of these groups will allow the evaluation of the individual effects of the low-histamine diet or DAO enzyme supplementation, as well as their possible synergistic effect. Results: The results of this study should help to improve dietary recommendations for histamine-intolerant patients and ultimately enhance their quality of life.- ArticleArsenosugars extracted from algae: Behavior study using dispersivesolid-phase extraction(Elsevier B.V., 2026) Morales-Rodríguez, Alba; Vilarrúbies, Berta; Badar, Yemna; Eiriz, Pablo; Barquin, Alba; López Sánchez, José Fermín; Barrón Bueno, Dolores; Sahuquillo Estrugo, ÀngelsThe acquisition of reliable speciation data for dietary exposure assessment is challenged by the lack of calibration standards for arsenosugars, the predominant arsenic species in algae. This limitation hinders their accurate identification and quantification. The study investigated the retention and elution behavior of anionic arsenosugars (PO4-Sug, SO3-Sug and SO4-Sug) using various dispersive solid-phase (d-SPE) sorbents – SAX, PSA, and HILIC. The aim was to assess their suitability for isolating and preconcentrating these compounds from aqueous algae extracts, not for quantification purposes but as a strategy for subsequent standards preparation. Key parameters examined included extract pH, adsorption time, ionic strength, and elution solvent. d-SPE eluates were analyzed by ICP-MS for total arsenic and IC-ICP-MS for arsenic speciation. Among the sorbents tested, SAX was the most effective, achieving approximately 90 % retention of arsenosugars. Two consecutive elution steps with 0,5 % ammonium formate enabled recoveries ranging from 75 to 88 % of the retained compounds in the studied algae samples.
- ArticleSleeve gastrectomy in patients with severe obesity restores circadian rhythms and their relationship with sleep pattern(Informa Healthcare, 2021-12-01) Barnadas Solé, Cristina; Zerón-Rugerio, María Fernanda; Foncillas Corvinos, Javier; Díez Noguera, Antoni; Cambras Riu, Trinitat; Izquierdo Pulido, MariaAdvances in research have linked alterations of circadian rhythms with obesity. However, few
studies have focused on the recovery of the circadian expression after a weight loss treatment.
Our aim was to study the alterations of the circadian rhythmicity due to morbid obesity and the
recovery of the circadian pattern after weight loss in a cohort of patients who underwent sleeve
gastrectomy. For this purpose, 41 patients with severe obesity (75% women; age [mean (SD)]
49.7 ± 10 years; BMI 44.3 ± 6.2 kg/m2) were monitored before bariatric surgery and 9 months
afterward. On both occasions, activity and wrist temperature were determined by actigraphy and
were related with weight loss. Anthropometric, biochemical, and sleep-related variables, along with
dietary intake and physical activity, were analyzed in relation with circadian rhythmicity. Results
show significant differences in the circadian expression before and after 9 months of bariatric
surgery, with more stable and less fragmented rhythms after weight loss. Moreover, only after
surgery were the circadian variables associated to sleep timing and chronotype. The findings of this
study indicate that weight loss treatment in patients with morbid obesity improves the circadian
rhythm expression, and in such a way that it could be associated with better sleep quality.
Moreover, it allows the recovery of the relationship between sleep patterns and circadian rhythm
that was lost due to the obesity.
- ArticleBlood serum from individuals with Alzheimer's disease alters microglial phagocytosis in vitro.(Wolters Kluwer - Medknow, 2025-06-19) Du Preez, Andrea; Altendorfer, Barbara; Poupardin, Rodolphe; Lefèvre Arbogast, Sophie; Manach, Claudine; Low, Dorrain Yanwen; Urpí Sardà, Mireia; Andrés Lacueva, Ma. Cristina; González-Domínguez, Raúl; Felder, Thomas K.; Tevini, Julia; Zattoni, Marco; Koller, Andreas; Schmidt, Reinhold; Lucassen, Paul J.; Ruigrok, Silvie R.; de Lucia, Chiara; Helmer, Catherine; Neuffer, Jeanne; Proust-Lima, Cécile; Korosi, Aniko; Samieri, Cécilia; Thuret, Sandrine; Aigner, LudwigIn Alzheimer’s disease, microglial phagocytosis is engaged in the pathogenesis as it clears abnormal protein accumulations, debris, and apoptotic cells in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease, but fuels neuroinflammation and accelerates disease progression in later stages. In vivo parabiosis experiments in aged animals have demonstrated that blood-born factors modulate synaptic plasticity, neurogenesis, and microglial responses. We hypothesize that peripheral factors can modulate microglial function and thereby possibly influence Alzheimer’s disease pathology. The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of Alzheimer’s disease serum on microglial phagocytosis. Here, we use an immortalized human microglial cell line in an in vitro parabiosis assay to investigate the impact of the serum from individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (n = 30) and age-matched controls (n = 30) (PRODEM study) on microglial phagocytosis. Exposure to Alzheimer’s disease serum increased microglial phagocytic uptake of pH-sensitive fluorescent particles and downregulated expression of the lysosomal master regulator transcription factor EB (TFEB) and of ATPase H+ transporting lysosomal V1 subunit B2 (ATP6V1B2), a component of the vacuolar ATPase. To identify serum components that may relate to changes in phagocytosis, serum samples of the Three-City Study (3C Study) were used. In the 3C Study, blood samples were collected up to 12 years before the onset of cognitive decline or dementia and their serum metabolome is well-defined. Microglia exposed to the serum of future Alzheimer’s disease patients from the 3C Study displayed an increased phagocytic uptake compared with the serum of matched controls, depending on the presence of the apolipoprotein E ε4 allele in the Alzheimer’s disease patients. Furthermore, microglial phagocytosis correlated inversely with serum levels of the omega-3 fatty acid eicosapentaenoic acid. We confirmed this inverse correlation between eicosapentaenoic acid and phagocytosis in the serum samples of the PRODEM cohort. In addition, in vitro testing of eicosapentaenoic acid on microglial phagocytosis showed a concentration-dependent decrease in phagocytic uptake. In conclusion, following incubation with Alzheimer’s disease blood serum, we observed increased microglial phagocytic uptake and the downregulation of TFEB and ATP6V1B2, possibly indicating lysosomal dysfunction. Furthermore, microglial phagocytosis was inversely correlated with serum eicosapentaenoic acid levels, suggesting an important role for dietary eicosapentaenoic acid in microglial function.
- ArticleUntargeted Metabolomic Study for Urinary Characterization of Adult Patients with Phenylketonuria.(MDPI, 2025-12-06) García Villoria, Judit; González-Rodríguez, Arnau; Barrau Martínez, Blanca; Pané, Adriana; López Galera, Rosa Ma.; Tobias, Ester; Montserrat-Carbonell, Cristina; Guitart Mampel, Mariona; Jáuregui Pallarés, Olga; Roca-Vives, Regina; Milisenda, José; Matas García, Ana; Forga Visa, María De Talló; Moreno Lozano, Pedro Juan; Garrabou Tornos, Glòria; Urpí Sardà, Mireia; Llorach, Rafael; Consortium PKU.catPhenylketonuria (PKU) is a rare inherited metabolic disorder caused by phenylalanine hydroxylase deficiency, leading to phenylalanine (Phe) accumulation and neurological dysfunction if untreated. While metabolomics holds promise for biomarker discovery in PKU, few studies have examined urinary metabolites using untargeted approaches. This study applied untargeted metabolomics using HPLC-QTOF-MS to analyze urine from 36 adult patients with PKU and 34 healthy controls. Biomarker Analysis was performed with MetaboAnalyst 6.0. A total of 73 significant metabolites (FDR < 0.05; VIP > 1) were identified, with 29 upregulated and 44 downregulated in PKU. A 23% of these metabolites were related to Phe metabolism, while 77% were associated with alterations across more than 10 metabolic pathways, including leucine and tryptophan metabolism, acylcarnitines, vitamins, and diet- or microbiota-derived compounds, among others. Specifically, upregulated metabolites with an AUC > 0.9 included several Phe-derived compounds, the nucleoside 8-hydroxy-7-methylguanine, and indole compounds (1H-indole-3-carboxaldehyde). Conversely, downregulated metabolites with an AUC > 0.9 included N-acetyl(iso)leucine and a heptenoylcarnitine isomer. The Random Forest-based model demonstrated enhanced predictive performance when integrating 10 metabolites, supporting their potential utility as biomarkers for PKU. These findings improve the biological understanding of metabolic disturbances beyond Phe, and may support the development of new therapeutic and dietary strategies.
- ArticleInfluence of Dietary Intake on Carotid Maximum Intima–Media Thickness in Children Conceived Through Assisted Reproductive Techniques(MDPI, 2025-03-28) Tor Roca, Alba; Barrau Martínez, Blanca; Termes-Escalé, Mireia; Valenzuela Alcaraz, Brenda I.; Llorach, Rafael; Farran, Andreu; Gratacós Solsona, Eduard; Crispi Brillas, Fàtima; Urpí Sardà, MireiaBackground/Objectives: Research on the relationship between nutritional characteristics and their impact on cardiovascular remodeling in children conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART) is limited. We aimed to explore the influence of postnatal nutrition on vascular wall thickness in children conceived through ART, comparing them with a naturally conceived control group. Methods: A prospective observational cohort of 3-year-old children (n = 83) was analyzed, including 41 conceived ART and 42 spontaneously conceived. The carotid maximum intima–media thickness (max-cIMT), a strong predictor of myocardial infarction, was measured and dietary intake was assessed through 3-day food records. Dietary data were compared between groups, and the relationship between nutritional intake and max-cIMT were explored. In the ART group, the k-means clustering method identified distinct dietary patterns. Results: ART children showed significantly higher max-cIMT values, as well as increased dietary intake of saturated fatty acids (SFA), total proteins, and animal proteins compared to those spontaneously conceived. Three cluster groups were identified based on dietary intake in the ART group; those ART children whose dietary pattern closely resembled the control group exhibited lower max-cIMT values. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that ART children exhibited a distinct dietary pattern characterized by higher consumption of total and animal proteins and SFA, compared to those conceived naturally. Further research is required to unravel the interindividual differences among individuals conceived through ART, enabling the formulation of precise nutritional recommendations for personalized nutrition and preventive medicine.
- ArticleAntioxidant peptides from alternative sources reduce lipid oxidation in 5% fish oil-in-water emulsions (pH 4) and fish oil-enriched mayonnaise.(Elsevier B.V., 2023-06-03) García-Moreno, Pedro J.; Varona, Elisa; Gregersen Echers, Simon; Olsen, Tobias H.; Marcatili, Paolo; Guardiola Ibarz, Francesc; Overgaard, Michael T.; Hansen, Egon B.; Jacobsen, Charlotte; Yesiltas, BetülBioinformatics tools were used to predict radical scavenging and metal chelating activities of peptides derived from abundant potato, seaweed, microbial, and spinach proteins. The antioxidant activity was evaluated in 5% oil-in-water emulsions (pH4) and best-performing peptides were tested in mayonnaise and compared with EDTA. Emulsion physical stability was intact. The peptide DDDNLVLPEVYDQD showed the highest protection against oxidation in both emulsions by retarding the formation of oxidation products and depletion of tocopherols during storage, but it was less efficient than EDTA when evaluated in mayonnaise. In low-fat emulsions, formation of hydroperoxides was reduced 4-folds after 5 days compared to control. The concentration effect of the peptide was confirmed in mayonnaise at the EDTA equimolar concentration. The second-best performing peptides were NNKWVPCLEFETEHGFVYREHH in emulsion and AGDWLIGDR in mayonnaise. In general, the peptide efficacy was higher in low-fat emulsions. Results demonstrated that peptide negative net charge was important for chelating activity.
- ArticleBody Image Satisfaction, Food Consumption, Diet Quality, and Emotional Management in Adolescence: A Longitudinal Analysis from the SI! Program for Secondary Schools Trial(MDPI, 2025-12-12) Fernandez-Jimenez, Rodrigo; Santos-Beneit, Gloria; Bodega, Patricia; Fernández Alvira, Juan Miguel; de Cos-Gandoy, Amaya; Moreno, Luis A.; Miguel, Mercedes de; Rodríguez, Carmen; Martínez Gómez, Jesús; Laveriano-Santos, Emily P.; Castro-Barquero, Sara; Estruch Riba, Ramon; Lamuela Raventós, Rosa Ma.In recent years, wine producers have increasingly experimented with ancient fermentation and ageing techniques, such as the use of ceramic containers or pitch-coated amphorae. Despite growing interest in these traditional practices, few studies have investigated the chemical composition of the resulting wines. This is the first study that characterises pine pitch, historically used as a coating material, and evaluates the impact of pitched pottery vessels on the winemaking process and wine composition using a foodomics approach. Vinification was carried out in both pitch-coated and uncoated (control) clay containers. Chemical differences between must and wine produced in pitched and unpitched vessels were assessed using targeted and untargeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Compared to the control, must and wine from the pitch-coated vessels had higher concentrations of many polyphenols such as anthocyanins, coumaric acid and tartaric acid, while procyanidins were present in significantly lower amounts. These findings reveal that pitch-coated ceramic vessels significantly influence wine composition, offering a first step toward deeper investigations into how fermentation environments shape metabolite profiles. This knowledge not only enhances our understanding of traditional practices but also opens new avenues for innovation in contemporary oenology.
- ArticleThe Power of Databases in Unraveling the Nutrition–Health Connection(MDPI, 2025-05-01) Farran, Andreu; Urpí Sardà, MireiaThis editorial highlights how nutritional databases are essential for understanding the complex relationships between diet and health. These databases collect diverse types of information—such as food composition, dietary intake, health outcomes, and environmental data—and organize them in structured formats that make analysis possible. By integrating data from different sources, researchers can detect patterns and associations that would otherwise remain hidden.
The article emphasizes that as nutritional data grows in volume and complexity, advanced tools like artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are becoming increasingly important. These technologies help extract meaningful insights from large datasets, aid in identifying biomarkers, and support the development of predictive models that go beyond traditional analysis methods.
One of the most promising applications mentioned is the combination of nutritional databases with metabolomics—the study of metabolites in biological systems—which can reveal biochemical responses to dietary components. However, the authors also note challenges, such as the need for validated biomarkers and comprehensive metabolite databases to improve accuracy and usability in research and personalized nutrition.
Overall, the article argues that well-designed databases, supported by modern analytical approaches, are key to advancing nutrition science and informing evidence-based dietary guidelines and policies.
- ArticleStimuli-Responsive Functionalization Strategies to Spatially and Temporally Control Surface Properties: Michael vs DielsAlder Type Additions(American Chemical Society, 2018-04-04) Luque Corredera, Carlos; Kyvik, Adriana R.; Pulido, Daniel; Royo Expósito, Miriam; Veciana, Jaume; Guasch, Judith; Ratera, ImmaLes monocapes auto-enssemblades que responen als estímuls (SAM's), s’utilitzen per conferir canvis físics, químics o propietatsbiològiques a les superfícies mitjançant l'aplicació de estímuls externs. Les SAM's preparades en aquest treball han sigut impresses permicrocontacte d’una hidroquinona (molècula que s’utilitza com a interfície dinàmica) per a la immobilització de diferents molèculesfuncionals, mitjançant la reacció de Diels - Alder o reaccions d'addició de tipus Michael. La interacció molecular s'activa i es modula amb unpetit potencial electrònic. L' aplicabilitat d'aquest tipus de superfícies abarquen una gran diversitat de camps: des de la detecció molecular,fins a la biomedicina passant per l’emmagatzematge o neteja de dades (per comentar-ne algunes aplicacions). En aquest treball es realitzauna comparació directa de les dues estratègies de funcionalització a la capa metàlica d'or. Tot i que l’addició de Michael requereixmolècules que siguin comercials o que siguin fàcil de preparar des d'un punt de vista sintètic en comparació amb els derivats deciclopentadien necessaris per a la reacció de Diels-Alder, aquesta última reacció produeix cobertures més homogènies en condicionsexperimentals similars. El treball, per tant, descriu una comparativa detallada de les dues tècniques, per funcionalizar aquestes superfíciesde reconeixement i fixació molecular. Adjunto l'article científic, perquè sigui visible.
- ArticleQuantum mechanical-based strategies in drug discovery: Finding the pace to new challenges in drug design(Elsevier, 2024-06-04) Ginex, Tiziana; Vázquez Lozano, Javier; Estarellas, Carolina; Luque Garriga, F. XavierThe expansion of the chemical space to tangible libraries containing billions of synthesizable molecules opens exciting opportunities for drug discovery, but also challenges the power of computer-aided drug design to prioritize the best candidates. This directly hits quantum mechanics (QM) methods, which provide chemically accurate properties, but subject to small- sized systems. Preserving accuracy while optimizing the computational cost is at the heart of many efforts to develop high-quality, efficient QM-based strategies, reflected in refined algorithms and computational approaches. The design of QM- tailored physics-based force fields and the coupling of QM with machine learning, in conjunction with the computing perfor- mance of supercomputing resources, will enhance the ability to use these methods in drug discovery. The challenge is formi- dable, but we will undoubtedly see impressive advances that will define a new era.
- ArticleDrugs from Drugs: New Chemical Insights into a Mature Concept(Elsevier, 2024-03-04) Lozano Baró, Eloy; Catti, Federica; Estarellas, Carolina; Ghashghaei, Ouldouz; Lavilla Grífols, RodolfoDeveloping new drugs from marketed ones is a well-established and successful approach in drug discovery. We offer a unified view of this field, focusing on the new chemical aspects of the involved approaches: (a) chemical transformation of the original drugs (late-stage modifications, molecular editing), (b) prodrug strategies, and (c) repurposing as a tool to develop new hits/leads. Special focus is placed on the molecular structure of the drugs and their synthetic feasibility. The combination of experimental advances and new computational approaches, including artificial intelligence methods, paves the way for the evolution of the drugs from drugs concept.
- ArticleExploring the Impact of Pitch-Coated Pottery on Wine Composition: Metabolomics Characterization of an Ancient Technique(MDPI, 2025-11-11) Abarca-Rivas, Clara; Lozano Castellón, Julián; Pérez Bosch, Maria; Corrado, Marina; Vallverdú i Queralt, Anna; Zifferero, Andrea; Chessa, Riccardo; Reynolds, Paul; Pecci, Alessandra; Lamuela Raventós, Rosa Ma.In recent years, wine producers have increasingly experimented with ancient fermentation and ageing techniques, such as the use of ceramic containers or pitch-coated amphorae. Despite growing interest in these traditional practices, few studies have investigated the chemical composition of the resulting wines. This is the first study that characterises pine pitch, historically used as a coating material, and evaluates the impact of pitched pottery vessels on the winemaking process and wine composition using a foodomics approach. Vinification was carried out in both pitch-coated and uncoated (control) clay containers. Chemical differences between must and wine produced in pitched and unpitched vessels were assessed using targeted and untargeted ultra-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). Compared to the control, must and wine from the pitch-coated vessels had higher concentrations of many polyphenols such as anthocyanins, coumaric acid and tartaric acid, while procyanidins were present in significantly lower amounts. These findings reveal that pitch-coated ceramic vessels significantly influence wine composition, offering a first step toward deeper investigations into how fermentation environments shape metabolite profiles. This knowledge not only enhances our understanding of traditional practices but also opens new avenues for innovation in contemporary oenology.
- ArticleBitter taste receptors: Key target to understand the effects of polyphenols on glucose and body weight homeostasis. Pathophysiological and pharmacological implications(Elsevier B.V., 2024) Trius Soler, Marta; Moreno Aznárez, Juan JoséExperimental and clinical research has reported beneficial effects of polyphenol intake on high prevalent diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity. These phytochemicals are ligands of taste 2 receptors (T2Rs) that have been recently located in a variety of organs and extra-oral tissues. Therefore, the interaction between polyphenol and T2Rs in brain structures can play a direct effect on appetite/satiety regulation and food intake. T2Rs are also expressed along the digestive tract, and their interaction with polyphenols can induce the release of gastrointestinal hormones (e.g., ghrelin, GLP-1, CCK) influencing appetite, gastrointestinal functionally, and glycemia control. Intestinal microbiota can also influence on network effects of polyphenols-T2Rs interaction and vice versa, impacting innate immune responses and consequently on gut functionally. Furthermore, polyphenols binding to T2Rs present important effects on adipose tissue metabolism. Interestingly, T2R polymorphism could, at least partially, explain the inter-individual variability of the effects of polyphenols on glucose and body weight homeostasis. Together, these factors can contribute to understand the beneficial effects of polyphenol-rich diets but also might aid in identifying new pharmacological pathway targets for the treatment of diabetes and obesity.
- Article2025 photonics for agrifood roadmap: towards a sustainable and healthier planet(IOP Publishing, 2025-06-19) Smeesters, Lien; Venturini, Francesca; Paulus, Stefan; Mahlein, Anne-Katrin; Perpetuini, David; Cardone, Daniela; Merla, Arcangelo; Gac, Benjamin; Perrin, Stephane; Trégoat, Denis; Poffo, Luiz; Fournier, Antoine; Bonifazi, Giuseppe; Serranti, Silvia; Liao, Wenzhi; Osseiran, Noureddin; Vanwolleghem, Mathias; Peretti, Romain; Bandyopadhyay, Aparajita; Bertling, Karl; Parameswaran, Krishnan; Rákic, Aleksandar D.; Sengupta, Amartya; Svanberg, Sune; Kujawinska, Małgorzata; Cozzolino, Daniel; Pérez Marín, Dolores; Entrenas de León, José A.; Torres Rodríguez, Irina; Fodor, Marietta; Benes, Eszter; Matkovits, Anna; Jókai, Zsuzsa; Cristescu, Simona M; Khodabakhsh, Amir; Jahromi, Khalil; Nematollahi, Mohammadreza; Harren, Frans H.; Rokx, Eugene; Sikorska, Ewa; Sowoidnich, Kay; Maiwald, Martin; Sumpf, Bernd; Roussey, Matthieu; Peiponen, Kai-Erik; Femenias, Antoni; Fomina, Polina; Kokoric, Vjekoslav; Stach, Robert; Mizaikoff, Boris; Konstantaki, Maria; Pissadakis, Stavros; Michelucci, Umberto; Paśko, Sławomir; Pakuła, Anna; Crocombe, Richard A.; Miseo, Ellen V.; Liapis, Andreas C.; Ahmed, Faisal; Sun, Zhipe; Chandrinou, Chrysoula; Chatzipetrou, Marianneza; Zergioti, Ioanna; Trog, Ulrich; Haase, Anja; Smolka, Martin; Oosterveld, Lex; Van Hoof, Chris; Müller, André; Bajrami, Diellza; Olvera-Gonzalez, Ernesto; Escalante-Garcia, Nivia; Blázquez Soro, Arturo; Van Hoorde, Koenraad; Tiwari, Brijesh K.; Westerhoff, Thomas; Kneissl, Michael; Mignani, Anna GraziaPhotonics technologies play a crucial role in driving technological advancements within the agrifood industry, aiming to deliver a sustainable food and agriculture, and offering healthy, nutritious and safe food for all of us. Particularly, optical sensors and imaging systems, together with machine-learning processing and advanced lighting, play a pivotal role in monitoring crop and soil health with unprecedented precision, while safeguarding the food supply chain. This roadmap aims to provide an overview of the state-of-the-art photonics technologies benefitting agrifood applications, including a view on their current limitations, challenges and future potential, while addressing practical case studies. Future trends towards multimodal sensors and sensor fusion, artificial intelligence and digital twins, miniaturization and controlled farming are highlighted. The revolutionizing capabilities of the photonics technologies are indicated, inspiring future applications and developments, and paving the way towards optimized resource utilization, increased crop yields, stopping land degradation and reduction of food waste.
- ArticleEvaluation of Packaging Effects on the Phenolic Profile andSensory Characteristics of Extra Virgin Olive Oil During StorageUsing Liquid Chromatography Coupled with Mass Spectrometry(MDPI, 2025-07-19) Abuhabib, Mohamed M.; Campins Machado, Francesc Miquel; Lozano-Castellón, Julián; Ninot, Antònia; Romero, Agustí; Lamuela Raventós, Rosa Ma.; Pérez Bosch, Maria; Pérez Maillo, Mónica; Vallverdú i Queralt, AnnaThe health benefits of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), including improved cardiovascular health and metabolic function, are linked to its phenolic content. This study evaluated how storage duration and packaging affect the phenolic composition and sensory quality of Corbella EVOO. Oils were analyzed at production and after 6 and 12 months of storage in two types of packaging: bag-in-box; stainless steel containers with a nitrogen headspace. UPLC-MS/MS profiling quantified 23 phenolic compounds, predominantly secoiridoids such as oleuropein and ligstroside aglycones. Oleuropein aglycone increased over time, whereas ligstroside aglycone peaked mid-storage before declining, likely converting to oleocanthal. Lignans and flavonoids degraded during storage, although luteolin increased, potentially due to glucoside hydrolysis. Bag-in-box packaging better preserved phenolic content than stainless steel. A sensory analysis corroborated the chemical findings, with oils stored in stainless steel showing greater reductions in pungency and astringency. A Pearson correlation linked bitterness with oleuropein aglycone (r = 0.44) and oleacein (r = 0.66), pungency with oleocanthal (r = 0.81), and astringency with oleacein (r = 0.86) and oleocanthal (r = 0.71). These findings highlight the importance of packaging in preserving the phenolic composition responsible for the sensory qualities of EVOO over time.
- ArticleAntimicrobial Activities of Polysaccharide-Rich Extracts from the Irish Seaweed Alaria esculenta, Generated Using Green and Conventional Extraction Technologies, Against Foodborne Pathogens(MDPI, 2025-01-18) McGurrin, Ailbhe; Das, Rahel Suchintita; Blazquez Soro, Arturo; Maguire, Julie; Flórez Fernández, Noelia; Dominguez, Herminia; Torres Pérez, María Dolores; Tiwari, Brijesh K.; García Vaquero, MarcoA rise in antimicrobial resistance coupled with consumer preferences towards natural preservatives has resulted in increased research towards investigating antimicrobial compounds from natural sources such as macroalgae (seaweeds), which contain antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer compounds. This study investigates the antimicrobial activity of compounds produced by the Irish seaweed Alaria esculenta against Escherichia coli and Listeria innocua, bacterial species which are relevant for food safety. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), ultrasound–microwave-assisted extraction (UMAE), and conventional extraction technologies (maceration) were applied to generate extracts from A. esculenta, followed by their preliminary chemical composition (total phenolic content, total protein content, total soluble sugars) and antimicrobial activity (with minimum inhibitory concentration determined by broth microdilution methods), examining also the molecular weight distribution (via high performance size exclusion chromatography) and oligosaccharide fraction composition (via high-performance liquid chromatography) of the polysaccharides, as they were the predominant compounds in these extracts, aiming to elucidate structure–function relationships. The chemical composition of the extracts demonstrated that they were high in total soluble sugars, with the highest total sugars being seen from the extract prepared with UAE, having 32.68 mg glucose equivalents/100 mg dried extract. Extracts had antimicrobial activity against E. coli and featured minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 6.25 mg/mL (in the case of the extract prepared with UAE) and 12.5 mg/mL (in the case of the extracts prepared with MAE, UMAE, and conventional maceration). No antimicrobial activity was seen by any extracts against L. innocua. An analysis of molar mass distribution of A. esculenta extracts showed high heterogeneity, with high-molecular-weight areas possibly indicating the presence of fucoidan. The FTIR spectra also indicated the presence of fucoidan as well as alginate, both of which are commonly found in brown seaweeds. These results indicate the potential of antimicrobials from seaweeds extracted using green technologies.
- ArticleMindfulness-based stress reduction intervention during pregnancy changes maternal brain(Nature Publishing Group, 2025-07-01) Gomez, Yvan; Nakaki, Ayako; Conti, Allegra; Castro-Barquero, Sara; Gambosi, Benedetta; Casas, Irene; Genero, Mariona; Youssef, Lina; Benítez, Leticia; Encabo, Noelia; Casas Rodríguez, Rosa M.; Martín Asuero, Andrés; Oller Guzmán, Teresa; Morilla, Ivette; Martínez-Arán, Anabel, 1971-; Bargalló Alabart, Núria; Toschi, Nicola; Estruch Riba, Ramon; Vieta i Pascual, Eduard, 1963-; Crispi Brillas, Fàtima; Gratacós Solsona, Eduard; Crovetto, FrancescaOur aim is to evaluate the effect of a structured stress reduction intervention based on mindfulness during pregnancy on the maternal brain. We report a secondary analysis of IMPACT BCN, a randomized clinical trial including pregnant women randomly allocated to 8-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (n = 41) or usual care (without any intervention, n = 35). Maternal magnetic resonance (MR) was performed in the third trimester, cluster-wise analysis was used to assess cortical morphometric differences, and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) to evaluate the metabolic characteristics. Mindfulness status was evaluated using the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ). Results showed that participants from Stress reduction group had significantly larger surface areas in the right superior frontal region as compared to the Usual care group (90%CI: 0.023-0.029, p = 0.03). The1H-MRS revealed that Stress reduction group participants, had higher concentrations of myo-inositol (adjusted mean difference D 0.37 mol/L, 95%CI 0.05-0.69) as compared to Usual care. Participants who had high mindfulness on FFMQ facets of non-judgmental (D 358.5 mm2, 95%CI 53.5-663.6) and non-reactivity (D 362.3 mm2, 95%CI 18.8-705.7) had larger right superior frontal area. In conclusion, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction program during pregnancy has a significant effect on maternal brain structure and is associated with metabolite concentration changes.
- ArticleRecent advances in precision nutrition and cardiometabolic diseases(Elsevier España, 2025-03) Martínez-González, Miguel Ángel, 1957-; Planes, Francisco J.; Ruiz-Canela, Miguel; Toledo Atucha, Estefanía; Estruch Riba, Ramon; Salas Salvadó, Jordi; Valdés Mas, Rafael; Mena, Pedro; Castañer, Olga; Fitó Colomer, Montserrat; Clish, Clary B.; Landberg, Rikard; Wittenbecher, Clemens; Liang, Lihua; Guasch Ferré, Marta; Lamuela Raventós, Rosa Ma.; Wang, Dong D.; Forouhi, Nita; Razquin, Cristina; Hu, Frank B.A growing body of research on nutrition omics has led to recent advances in cardiovascular disease epidemiology and prevention. Within the PREDIMED trial, significant associations between diet-related metabolites and cardiovascular disease were identified, which were subsequently replicated in independent cohorts. Some notable metabolites identified include plasma levels of ceramides, acyl-carnitines, branched-chain amino acids, tryptophan, urea cycle pathways, and the lipidome. These metabolites and their related pathways have been associated with incidence of both cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Future directions in precision nutrition research include: a) developing more robust multimetabolomic scores to predict long-term risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality; b) incorporating more diverse populations and a broader range of dietary patterns; and c) conducting more translational research to bridge the gap between precision nutrition studies and clinical applications.
- ArticleMediterranean Diet Modulates Gene Expression of Cholesterol Efflux Receptors in High-Risk Cardiovascular Patients(Wiley-VCH, 2025-07-01) Hernando Redondo, Javier; Hernáez Camba, Álvaro; Sanllorente, Albert; Pintó Sala, Xavier; Estruch Riba, Ramon; Salas Salvadó, Jordi; Corella Piquer, Dolores; Arós, Fernando; Martínez González, Miguel Ángel, 1957-; Subirana Cachinero, Isaac; Muñoz-Aguayo, Daniel; Malcampo, Mireia; Serra Majem, Lluís; Romaguera, Dora; Lapetra, José; Ros Rahola, Emilio; Tinahones, Francisco J.; Lamuela Raventós, Rosa Ma.; Gómez Gracia, Enrique; Fitó Colomer, Montserrat; Castañer, OlgaIn this study, we investigated gene expression related to cholesterol efflux receptors in individuals at high cardiovascular risk undergoing Mediterranean dietary interventions. Through transcriptomic analysis, we examined samples from two randomized controlled trials: PREDIMED and PREDIMED-Plus, with 151 and 89 elderly adults, respectively. Blood cells were isolated at baseline and after a 12-month intervention. In the PREDIMED trial, participants followed different Mediterranean diets: one supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil (traditional Mediterranean diet enriched with extra-virgin olive oil [MedDiet-EVOO]), another with nuts (MedDiet enriched with nuts MedDiet-Nuts [MedDiet-Nuts]), and a low-fat control diet. The PREDIMED-Plus trial compared an energy-reduced Mediterranean diet (Er-MedDiet) with physical activity to an ad libitum Mediterranean diet. Over time, mild but significant upregulation of genes like ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRA), retinoid X receptor beta (RXRB), and Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1 Group H Member 3 (NR1H3) was observed in response to MedDiet-EVOO, MedDiet-Nuts, and Er-MedDiet. Notably, RXRA expression was higher in both MedDiet-EVOO and MedDiet-Nuts compared to the control diet. Differences in gene expression, particularly RXRA, ATP binding cassette subfamily G member 1 (ABCG1), NR1H3, and Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor Delta (PPARD), were evident between MedDiet-Nuts and the control diet. In the PREDIMED-Plus trial, no significant differences in gene expression were found between dietary groups. Principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA) showed overlapping gene expression profiles across different Mediterranean diet interventions. In conclusion, our study highlights the cardiovascular health benefits of long-term adherence to a Mediterranean diet, both normocaloric and hypocaloric, primarily reflected by mild upregulation of cholesterol efflux-related genes-specifically involving RXRA, RXRB, ABCA1, ABCG1, Nuclear Receptor Subfamily 1 Group H Member 2(NR1H2), and PPARD-among elderly adults at high cardiovascular risk. This suggests a potential mechanism by which these diets may exert cardiovascular protective effects.