NPJ Science of Food最新文献_第2页

Inferred vegans in studies not designed to assess vegan status may be largely artifacts. 在非旨在评估素食状态的研究中推断出的素食者可能在很大程度上是人为的。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-21 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00985-3

Christian Koeder, Maximilian Andreas Storz

引用次数: 0

Rapid Extrusion of Myotube-Scale Alginate Fibers for Structured Cultivated Meat. 结构养殖肉用肌管状海藻酸盐纤维的快速挤出。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-21 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00994-2

Alex S Kermani, Andrea C Filler, Edrin C Miller, David E Block, J Kent Leach

{"title":"Rapid Extrusion of Myotube-Scale Alginate Fibers for Structured Cultivated Meat.","authors":"Alex S Kermani, Andrea C Filler, Edrin C Miller, David E Block, J Kent Leach","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00994-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00994-2","url":null,"abstract":"Cultivated meat (CM) scaffolds must be edible and produced with high throughput. This study introduces a novel approach for structured CM production using alginate-based scaffolds prepared using a liquid-liquid extrusion method called Pressurized Apparatus for Striated Tissue Assembly (PASTA). We hypothesized that PASTA scaffolds could enable the creation of tissue constructs exceeding 500 µm thickness with food-scale throughput. Leveraging sub-boiling hydrothermal degradation, we modulated the biophysical properties of alginate, resulting in controlled reductions in viscosity, zeta potential, and hydrogel mechanical properties. PASTA extrusion consistently produced hydrogel fibers 10-42% smaller than the extrusion outlet diameter. Murine C2C12 myoblasts cultured on PASTA scaffolds modified with adhesive peptides adhered, proliferated, and differentiated along the noodle axis. This was confirmed by a 3.5-fold increase in DNA quantity over 4 days, substantial cell viability after 5 days in culture, late-stage myogenic gene expression (Myog, Myh2), and positive immunohistochemistry for myosin heavy chain. PASTA enables rapid, parallelizable production of aligned fiber scaffolds with physiologically relevant dimensions using inexpensive, food-grade alginate. These findings demonstrate a proof-of-concept scalable and modular platform to produce cell-laden tissues for manufacturing structured CM.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148550058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Effects of different DHA and ARA ratios for improving gestational diabetic mellitus in pregnant mice. 不同DHA和ARA配比对妊娠小鼠妊娠期糖尿病的改善作用。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-21 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00987-1

Kaixuan Chen, Meifan Pan, Zitong Liu, Beilei Pang, Xueliang Yang, Yan Li, Yingchun Zhao, Lirong Xu

{"title":"Effects of different DHA and ARA ratios for improving gestational diabetic mellitus in pregnant mice.","authors":"Kaixuan Chen, Meifan Pan, Zitong Liu, Beilei Pang, Xueliang Yang, Yan Li, Yingchun Zhao, Lirong Xu","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00987-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00987-1","url":null,"abstract":"This study aimed to investigate the effects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA): arachidonic acid (ARA) on glucose and lipid metabolism and hepatic metabolites in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) mice. Experimental groups received different interventions of DHA alone, DHA:ARA of 4:1, 1:1, 1:4, and ARA alone. The DHA:ARA ratios of 1:1 and 1:4 were superior in reducing the blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein, alleviating oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, and improving hepatic pathology. Hepatic metabolomics analysis revealed 12 upregulated and 9 downregulated metabolites after 1:1 ratios intervention versus GDM mice, and 11 upregulated and 8 downregulated after 1:4 ratios. For example, the levels of hypotaurine and guanine significantly increased, while L-isoleucine levels decreased in both DHA:ARA = 1:1 and 1:4 groups. DHA:ARA = 1:1 intervention restored allantoin level but downregulated serine level. Thus, abnormal hepatic metabolism associated with GDM was ameliorated. Pathway analysis indicated that DHA:ARA = 1:1 and 1:4 alleviated the GDM by three main metabolic pathways, namely valine, leucine, and isoleucine biosynthesis, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, and purine metabolism. In conclusion, DHA:ARA ratios of 1:1 and 1:4 significantly improve abnormal glucose and lipid metabolism and hepatic metabolites caused by GDM.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148536487","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Stage-resolved multi-omics links flavonoid accumulation to antioxidant capacity in Isatis indigotica fruit. 阶段分辨多组学研究将板蓝花果实的类黄酮积累与抗氧化能力联系起来。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-20 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-01014-z

Rong Chen, Xiaoshan Geng, Lili Wang, Xuexue Wang, Fanglin Liu, Yude Peng, Chunfeng Tang, Huaxi Huang, Qin Liu

{"title":"Stage-resolved multi-omics links flavonoid accumulation to antioxidant capacity in Isatis indigotica fruit.","authors":"Rong Chen, Xiaoshan Geng, Lili Wang, Xuexue Wang, Fanglin Liu, Yude Peng, Chunfeng Tang, Huaxi Huang, Qin Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01014-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01014-z","url":null,"abstract":"Isatis indigotica fruit is an underutilized source of natural antioxidant ingredients. However, the developmental basis of its bioactive metabolites remains unclear. We integrated widely targeted metabolomics, transcriptomics, and antioxidant phenotyping across five fruit developmental stages (S1-S5) to characterize metabolic remodeling, identify flavonoid-related metabolite features associated with antioxidant capacity, and infer candidate regulatory modules. We detected 2413 metabolites, revealing pronounced developmental reprogramming and late-stage enrichment of flavonoid-related metabolites, particularly anthocyanin-associated features. Consistent with these changes, DPPH 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), ABTS (2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical scavenging activity, and total flavonoid content increased markedly during maturation, reaching 4.5-, 7.1-, 4.6-, and 13.0-fold of the S1 levels, respectively. Correlation analysis prioritized 12 flavonoid-related metabolite features strongly associated with antioxidant indices. Integrated transcriptomic analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis further identified a co-expression module linked to these features and highlighted Iin17052 (NAC family), Iin08518 (C3H family), and Iin25007 (MYB family) transcription factors as candidate regulators associated with late flavonoid biosynthetic genes, including DIHYDROFLAVONOL 4-REDUCTASE and ANTHOCYANIDIN SYNTHASE. Together, these findings provide a stage-resolved framework for harvest-stage selection and support the valorization of I. indigotica fruit as a potential source of plant-derived antioxidant ingredients for functional food development.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148536467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Lactobacillus fermentum 2-14 mitigates the cytotoxicity induced by methylglyoxal by activating the AMPK-autophagy signaling axis. 发酵乳杆菌2-14通过激活ampk -自噬信号轴来减轻甲基乙二醛诱导的细胞毒性。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-20 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00932-2

Junjun Gao, Yuqin Chen, Junfeng Xiao, Siyu Guo, Manli Li, Yapeng Guo, Lei Wang, Mingye Peng, Yang Chen, Mengzhou Zhou

{"title":"Lactobacillus fermentum 2-14 mitigates the cytotoxicity induced by methylglyoxal by activating the AMPK-autophagy signaling axis.","authors":"Junjun Gao, Yuqin Chen, Junfeng Xiao, Siyu Guo, Manli Li, Yapeng Guo, Lei Wang, Mingye Peng, Yang Chen, Mengzhou Zhou","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00932-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41538-026-00932-2","url":null,"abstract":"Methylglyoxal (MGO), a reactive dicarbonyl formed during the food processing, induces oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis. However, there are little effective methods to reduce MGO-induced cytotoxicity. Here, we screened 35 lactic acid bacteria and identified Lactobacillus fermentum 2-14 as the most effective strain in restoring Caco-2 cell viability and reducing LDH cytotoxicity under MGO challenge. Mechanistically, L. fermentum 2-14 attenuated MGO-induced ROS accumulation, apoptosis and inflammatory responses, and promoted autophagy, as indicated by increased LC3 puncta and autolysosome formation using an RFP-GFP-LC3 reporter. Using integrative transcriptomics and metabolomics, we further suggested that L. fermentum 2-14 activates the AMPK pathway by increasing the level of pyruvate in Caco-2 cells. Supplementing with pyruvate partially mimicked the protective effect in an AMPK- and autophagy-dependent manner. Collectively, our findings indicate that L. fermentum 2-14 mitigates MGO cytotoxicity via a pyruvate-AMPK-autophagy axis, supporting the development of probiotic-based strategies to counter food-derived dicarbonyl stress.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13401601/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148536418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus OF44 alleviates allergic rhinitis by rebalancing host immunity and gut microbial function. 鼠李糖乳杆菌OF44通过重新平衡宿主免疫和肠道微生物功能减轻变应性鼻炎。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-20 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00974-6

Liehai Hu, Bin Hou, Songci Yan, Wenjun Tai, Yunhui Xia, Jiang Wu, Dongmei Li, Bin Shi

{"title":"Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus OF44 alleviates allergic rhinitis by rebalancing host immunity and gut microbial function.","authors":"Liehai Hu, Bin Hou, Songci Yan, Wenjun Tai, Yunhui Xia, Jiang Wu, Dongmei Li, Bin Shi","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00974-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00974-6","url":null,"abstract":"Allergic rhinitis (AR) involves a maladaptive type 2 inflammatory response driven by systemic immune imbalance and gut dysbiosis. Here, we identify a probiotic strain, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus OF44, with significant probiotic potential that alleviates allergic pathology and is associated with coordinated immunological and microbial reprogramming. In an ovalbumin-induced AR rat model, OF44 administration markedly reduced nasal allergic symptoms, normalized serum and nasal immunoglobulin and cytokine levels, and restored the balance of Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg cell populations. Metagenomic profiling revealed that OF44 reshaped the gut microbial structure by enriching beneficial commensals (Rikenellaceae, Alistipes) and suppressing the proinflammatory family Enterobacteriaceae. Functional profiling further demonstrated that OF44 reversed the AR-associated enrichment of pro-inflammatory pathways, including biofilm formation, flagellar assembly, and multidrug resistance, while restoring metabolic pathways related to amino acid metabolism, energy metabolism, and short-chain fatty acid production. Integrated taxonomic-functional correlation analysis suggested that butanoate and lipoic acid metabolic pathways were microbial functions potentially associated with enhanced immune regulation. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that OF44 attenuates AR by reprogramming gut microbial composition and functional capacity, providing mechanistic support for its application as a functional probiotic for the management of allergic disease.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148536430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Ascorbic acid and melatonin synergistically maintain postharvest guava quality by regulating cell wall, antioxidant, and transcriptomic pathways. 抗坏血酸和褪黑素通过调节细胞壁、抗氧化和转录组通路协同维持番石榴采后品质。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-18 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-01004-1

Junping Xu, Shiqi Wen, Yongmei Su, Huiyi Liang, Lixiang Mo, Yixiao Chen, Yinglin Guo, Jiaqi Luo, Kaidong Liu

{"title":"Ascorbic acid and melatonin synergistically maintain postharvest guava quality by regulating cell wall, antioxidant, and transcriptomic pathways.","authors":"Junping Xu, Shiqi Wen, Yongmei Su, Huiyi Liang, Lixiang Mo, Yixiao Chen, Yinglin Guo, Jiaqi Luo, Kaidong Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01004-1","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01004-1","url":null,"abstract":"Guava is highly perishable with postharvest decay and senescence, limiting storage and marketability. This study examined the synergistic regulatory effects of combined AsA + MT (AM) treatment on preserving 'Pearl' guava. Systematic analyses assessed fruit storage quality, antioxidant activity, and cell wall metabolism during storage. AM treatment markedly reduced browning and weight loss, maintained firmness, soluble solids, and vitamin C, and slowed titratable acidity decline. Mechanistically, AM enhanced antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, APX, CAT), reduced malondialdehyde accumulation and alleviated oxidative damage. It also suppressed cell wall-degrading enzymes (PG, PME, CX, β-GAL), stabilizing protopectin and cellulose to delay degradation. Transcriptomic and WGCNA analyses revealed modulation of genes linked to antioxidant defense and cell wall metabolism with ERF, NAC, and bHLH transcription factors identified as key regulators. Overall AM synergistically preserved guava quality by coordinating antioxidant and cell wall regulation, offering a theoretical and practical basis for sustainable tropical fruit preservation.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148497774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Characterization of the aroma-active compounds in different infant formula using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and odor activity value. 气相色谱-质谱联用及气味活性值对不同婴儿配方奶粉中芳香活性物质的表征。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-17 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00972-8

Lirong Xu, Meifan Pan, Huaixia Zhang, Xuemei Cheng, Zitong Liu, Beilei Pang, Yingchun Zhao, Duo Li

{"title":"Characterization of the aroma-active compounds in different infant formula using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and odor activity value.","authors":"Lirong Xu, Meifan Pan, Huaixia Zhang, Xuemei Cheng, Zitong Liu, Beilei Pang, Yingchun Zhao, Duo Li","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00972-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00972-8","url":null,"abstract":"In order to characterize the potential odor-active compounds in different infant formula, the study was carried out by aroma sensory evaluation, Gas Chromatography-Olfactometry-Mass Spectrometry combined with Aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Odor Activity Value (OAV). Multivariate analysis classified the 20 infant formula brands into five clusters, with hexanal, 1-octen-3-one, and (Z)-2-heptenal identified as the potential odor-active compounds distinguishing the brands. AEDA further revealed that aroma-active compounds such as 1-octen-3-one, (E,E)-2,4-nonadienal, and (E,E)-2,4-decadienal had flavor dilution (FD) factors of up to 256, demonstrating their important contribution to the aroma. Quantitative analysis revealed that a total of 38 volatile compounds were detected. The aldehydes contained 20 kinds, which were the most abundant substances among all the volatile compounds. Among 20 aldehydes, the content of 3-furaldehyde, hexanal, and heptanal was significantly higher than other components. Based on OAV calculation, 27 compounds were preliminarily screened as potential odor-active candidates, such as 1-octen-3-one, 1-penten-3-one, and 1-octen-3-ol. The 1-octen-3-one had the highest OAV among the 20 different brands. It is worth noting that there was an enormous gap between different brands of infant formula in terms of saturated aldehyde content. These findings will provide insights for subsequent in-depth research on the flavor of infant formula.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148472123","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Metagenomics-based surveillance identifies possible sources of mastitis-associated organisms in organic and conventional dairy farm environments. 基于宏基因组学的监测确定了有机和传统奶牛场环境中与乳腺炎相关的生物的可能来源。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-16 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00989-z

Kabilan Mani, Vignesh Palanisamy, Bhuwan Shrestha, Zachariah Vice, Sushil Paudyal, Sapna Chitlapilly Dass

{"title":"Metagenomics-based surveillance identifies possible sources of mastitis-associated organisms in organic and conventional dairy farm environments.","authors":"Kabilan Mani, Vignesh Palanisamy, Bhuwan Shrestha, Zachariah Vice, Sushil Paudyal, Sapna Chitlapilly Dass","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00989-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00989-z","url":null,"abstract":"Mastitis is one of the most economically significant diseases of the dairy industry. Although farm environments are recognized reservoirs for mastitis pathogens, comprehensive metagenomic comparisons between organic and conventional systems remain limited. We compared the prevalence, diversity, and functional potential of mastitis-associated organisms in one organic and one conventional dairy farm in Texas using shotgun metagenomics. Of 180 samples collected from six environmental sites (teats, liners, parlor floor mats, feed areas, bedding sands, and water troughs), 126 were retained after quality-control exclusions. Taxonomic analysis revealed the prevalence of Pseudomonas fluorescens, Lactococcus garvieae, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Enterococcus faecium, and Streptococcus parauberis. Alpha- and beta-diversity analyses indicated similar pathobiome structure between farm types, with niche-specific clustering observed for teat and liner samples. Functional annotation revealed comparable COG category distributions, with toxin-related genes representing the most abundant virulence-associated signatures, followed by lipopolysaccharide synthesis genes; adhesion and capsular polysaccharide genes were relatively more abundant on the organic farm. Metagenome-assembled genomes affiliated with key species confirmed genes related to toxin secretion, lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis, adhesion, and biofilm formation. Collectively, these farms harbored similar mastitis-associated reservoirs but differed in certain virulence-associated signatures, highlighting the need for environment-specific hygiene interventions.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148472127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0

Sex-specific amino acid profiles and nitrogen balance in rats fed insect protein indicate a female metabolic advantage. 喂食昆虫蛋白的大鼠的性别特异性氨基酸分布和氮平衡表明雌性代谢优势。

IF 9.7 1区农林科学

NPJ Science of Food Pub Date : 2026-07-15 DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00996-0

Marina Colom-Pellicer, Mònica Lores, Oria Soler, Barbara Prandi, Francesca Accardo, Núria Tous, Albert Ribas-Agustí, Ximena Terra, Raúl Beltrán-Debón, Esther Rodríguez-Gallego, Anna Ardévol, Montserrat Pinent

{"title":"Sex-specific amino acid profiles and nitrogen balance in rats fed insect protein indicate a female metabolic advantage.","authors":"Marina Colom-Pellicer, Mònica Lores, Oria Soler, Barbara Prandi, Francesca Accardo, Núria Tous, Albert Ribas-Agustí, Ximena Terra, Raúl Beltrán-Debón, Esther Rodríguez-Gallego, Anna Ardévol, Montserrat Pinent","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00996-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00996-0","url":null,"abstract":"The growing demand for sustainable protein sources necessitates alternatives that preserve whole-body nitrogen balance. Alphitobius diaperinus, authorised for human consumption in the European Union, is a promising option due to its high protein content, indispensable amino acid (IAA) profile and in vitro digestibility. This is the first study investigating its in vivo bioavailability and capacity to sustain nitrogen balance when provided as the sole dietary protein for 4 weeks in male and female rats. Effects were further examined under metabolic impairment induced by a cafeteria diet in obese rats. Compared with beef protein, acute A. diaperinus administration reduces sex-related differences in plasma amino acid levels. Chronic feeding lowered plasma leucine relative to casein, resulting in a healthier branched-chain amino acid profile under cafeteria conditions, and promoting a positive nitrogen balance in males (Control:0.45 ± 0.02; Insect: 0.71 ± 0.04; g). These findings demonstrate that A. diaperinus meal fulfils nitrogen requirements and provides an adequate IAA supply across sexes.","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148456434","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

引用次数: 0