NPJ Science of Food最新文献

{"title":"Discrepancies between instant and filtered coffee in biological aging: evidence from the UK Biobank.","authors":"Yiming Wang, Ping Xiang, Zhibing Liu, Zhipeng Li, Hui Hu, Yuequn Yao, Jibin Li, Peng Wang, Dan Shi","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00988-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00988-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>No prior studies have specifically investigated the association between coffee brewing types and biological aging. The study included 49,414 participants from the UK Biobank. Biological aging was quantified by three established metrics: relative leukocyte telomere length (rLTL) measured by qPCR, Klemera-Doubal method biological age acceleration (KDM-BA Accel), and PhenoAge acceleration (PhenoAge Accel) derived from clinical biomarkers. In multivariable adjustment model, compared with drinking no coffee, instant coffee consumption was associated with greater KDM-BA Accel (0-1 cup per day: β = 0.050 [95% confidence interval (CI), -0.072 to 0.173]; 1-3 cups per day: β = 0.092 [-0.025 to 0.209]; >3 cups per day: β = 0.166 [0.006 to 0.326]; P-trend = 0.002). The negative association between filtered coffee consumption and KDM-BA Accel was observed (0-1 cup per day: β = -0326 [-0.437 to -0.215]; 1-3 cups per day: β = -0.762 [-0.879 to -0.646]; >3 cups per day: β = -1.118 [-1.415 to -0.820]; P-trend < 0.001). These associations were not significant for KDM-BA Accel and other coffee types. PhenoAge Accel and rLTL showed similar associations. Mediation analysis revealed that basal metabolic rate (BMR), glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA), and/or Cystatin C mediated the effects of instant and filtered coffee on KDM-BA and PhenoAge accelerations, but not on rLTL. The largest mediated proportion was observed for GlycA, accounting for 34.62% of the effect of instant coffee on KDM-BA Accel. Filtered coffee is associated with a reduced risk of biological aging, potentially mediated by its effects on BMR, GlycA, and Cystatin C. In contrast, instant coffee is linked to an accelerated risk of aging.</p>","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":"148456406","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}

{"title":"Olfactory perception, odor interaction and aroma intensity prediction of terpenes in wine beverage.","authors":"Hongcong Song, Wenyan Li, Xingjie Wang, Aihua Li, Yongsheng Tao","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00847-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00847-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Terpenes are primary contributors for the floral/fruity aromas in wine, thus the study of their perceptual interaction and the establishment of the odor intensity (OI) prediction method for their mixture may contribute to modulate floral/fruity aromas of wine via concentration adjustment. We determined odor thresholds (OTs) of 28 terpenes across three matrices, revealing a wide range (2.7 μg/L to 4.0 mg/L) with OTs following the order: red wine > white wine > model wine. Linear terpenes exhibited floral/fruity notes and lower OTs, while cyclic terpenes displayed herbal/woody notes. Perceptual interaction analysis of 105 binary mixtures showed 35% synergistic, 50% enhancement, and 13% inhibition effects, with stronger synergies in ternary mixtures. A unified OI-lnOAV relationship was established. Among three models tested, the modified vectorial model most accurately predicted odor intensity for both binary and multicomponent mixtures. These findings provide theoretical support for precise aroma modulation in terpene-based wine blending.</p>","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":"148456403","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}

{"title":"Comparative fecal microbiome and metabolome reveal enhanced lignocellulose-degrading potential in Cervus elaphus yarkandensis.","authors":"Limin Wei, Zhanwei Cui, Zhenqiang Mu, Yanhong Li, Feilong Deng","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01002-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01002-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Reed is rich in lignocellulose and is therefore challenging for many ruminants to use efficiently. The endangered Tarim red deer subspecies Cervus elaphus yarkandensis (TH) inhabits the Tarim Basin, where reed represents an important forage resource, whereas captive observations suggest that the closely related Cervus elaphus songaricus (TS) may exhibit poorer tolerance to reed-rich diets. Here, we compared fecal microbial composition, metagenomic functional potential, metagenome-assembled genome (MAG)-level carbohydrate-active enzyme (CAZyme) profiles, fecal enzymatic activities, in vitro reed-straw degradation capacity, and fecal and serum metabolomic profiles between TH and TS under the same reed-containing feeding conditions. Compared with TS, TH showed higher fecal microbial diversity and increased abundances of fiber-associated taxa, including Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Alistipes. Shotgun metagenomics and MAG-level CAZyme analysis indicated that TH-associated microbial communities carried a broader repertoire of functions related to lignocellulose degradation and plant-polysaccharide deconstruction. Consistent with these functional profiles, TH fecal samples exhibited higher cellulase and hemicellulase activities, and TH fecal inocula showed greater reed-straw degradation capacity than TS fecal inocula in vitro. Untargeted metabolomics revealed group-specific fecal and serum metabolites related to carbohydrate fermentation, short-chain fatty-acid-related metabolism, and lipid metabolism, which were associated with TH-enriched fiber-degrading taxa and microbial functional pathways. In an exploratory mouse colonization experiment, TH-derived fecal microbiota was associated with changes in fiber-associated microbial taxa, metabolic pathways, fecal metabolites, body weight, and intestinal morphology in antibiotic-treated mice fed a reed-containing diet. Together, these results indicate that TH harbors fecal microbial and metabolic features associated with enhanced lignocellulose and reed-straw degradation capacity. These findings suggest candidate microbiome-associated pathways relevant to reed-rich forage utilization and may help identify microbial and enzymatic resources for lignocellulose bioconversion.</p>","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":"148456409","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}

{"title":"Assessing cascading effects of climate change on the UK food system and food security.","authors":"Sam Burkitt, Liza Jabbour, Taghi Miri, Helen Onyeaka","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00990-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00990-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper presents a holistic assessment of cascading climate risks on the security and resilience of food systems (FSs) in the United Kingdom (UK). It adopts a scoping review approach to assess vulnerabilities in the UK FS and to discuss methods used to develop cascading climate effect narratives. Results were synthesised to provide recommendations for building resilience and to guide future work. Import reliance and power imbalances are main sources of UK FS vulnerabilities. Climate change risks cascade through FSs and socio-economic systems, increase vulnerabilities and inequality and pose significant threat for food security. The findings highlight the need for greater standardisation in assessment approaches to produce a coherent body of research that can inform researchers, the general population and policy makers alike. The latter are particularly important due to their power to instigate the system level transformations required to safeguard food security in light of climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148448392","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}

{"title":"Black tea ethanol soluble fraction restores intestinal homeostasis by modulating PI3K/AKT signaling and gut microbiota.","authors":"Yuxuan Shi, Jiayi Sun, Lin Chen, Shuang Xu, Shasha Guo, Anan Xu, Qun Ye, Yuefei Wang, Ping Xu","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00999-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00999-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While black tea's oxidized polyphenols hold potential for gut health, the specific protective mechanisms of its ethanol-soluble fraction (BES), particularly regarding host-microbiota interactions, remain poorly defined. This study elucidated the dual mechanisms through which BES ameliorates dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. By integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking/dynamics simulations, RT-qPCR, and Western blot analysis, we identified the PI3K/AKT signaling axis as a potential host target. Our findings suggest that key flavonoid constituents stably bind to critical nodes, potentially downregulating the expression and activation of pathway components. Concurrently, 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics revealed that BES reshaped gut microbiota by suppressing Akkermansia and enriching SCFA producers such as Lactobacillus, restoring fecal SCFA levels. Fecal microbiota transplantation confirmed that BES-modulated microbiota alone transferred protection. Thus, BES acts concertedly through direct PI3K/AKT inhibition and indirect microbiota-SCFA modulation, providing a mechanistic basis for targeted use of black tea fractions in intestinal inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148448334","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}

{"title":"A field-deployable microfluidic platform for point-of-care testing of aquaculture biosecurity.","authors":"Lei Xu, Fei Yao, Caroline Zhang, Xiaoyuan Wan, Chengyin Shi, Feng Shen","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01003-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01003-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Infectious diseases persistently threaten aquaculture, particularly in shrimp farming, which urgently requires deployable diagnostic technologies for biosecurity management. However, current methods are limited by complex sample matrices, reliance on centralized laboratories, and delayed data feedback, making them unsuitable for on-site detection in decentralized settings. Here, we reported a deployable platform utilizing injection molded SlipChip microfluidic device that performs automated nucleic acid testing from shrimp tissues in aquaculture settings. The platform successfully detected Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei, white spot syndrome virus, highly lethal Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and decapod iridescent virus 1 as low as 200 copies/reaction within 35 min. The results of 103 shrimp samples on the platform were highly concordant with qPCR (κ = 0.957). Additionally, untrained farmers were able to independently carry out pathogen detection without complex manual operations. This platform enabled on-site testing for timely infection management, and holds promise for broader POCT applications in food safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148448396","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}

{"title":"Microbiota-dependent biotransformation of apiin drives butyrate-associated protection against colitis.","authors":"Zhenning Guo, Meiqi Zhao, Yuwei Wu, Peng Zhang, Shiming Li","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00992-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00992-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Dietary glycosides represent an important class of microbiota-responsive food components with potential benefits for intestinal health, yet their biotransformation and functional mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the protective effects of apiin (apigenin-7-O-apiosylglucoside), a naturally occurring flavone glycoside abundant in plant-based foods, against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. We demonstrate that apiin is resistant to host digestion but undergoes efficient microbial deglycosylation in the distal intestine, yielding the bioactive aglycone apigenin. Apiin administration was associated with alleviation of colitis severity, as evidenced by improved clinical and histopathological outcomes, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6), and restoration of intestinal barrier integrity. Integrative multi-omics analyses revealed that apiin reshaped gut microbiota composition and function, leading to enhanced production of the short-chain fatty acid butyrate. This metabolic shift was associated with G protein-coupled receptors (GPR41 and GPR43) and PPARγ signaling, as well as NF-κB-driven inflammatory responses. Importantly, fecal microbiota transplantation recapitulated the protective effects of apiin, confirming a microbiota-dependent mechanism. Collectively, our findings identify apiin as a microbiota-dependent pro-flavonoid whose colonic biotransformation into apigenin and butyrate-associated signaling may contribute to its anti-inflammatory activity.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148448329","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}

{"title":"Effects of lactoferrin-enriched dairy product on iron status in women with gestational diabetes mellitus.","authors":"Ilaria Goitre, Valentina Ponzo, Ilario Ferrocino, Irene Franciosa, Alessandra Valla, Barbara Giovanna Lucatello, Federico Ragazzoni, Maurilio Deandrea, Valentina Rovei, Erato Maria Stefanidou, Emily Canuto, Luca Marozio, Giulio Mengozzi, Elena Crisà, Anna Sapino, Simona Bo","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00998-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00998-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein with anti-inflammatory and microbiota-modulating properties, but its effects in gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remain unclear. In this double-blind randomized pilot trial (NCT07287384, registered on 11 December 2025), 50 women with GDM (24-30 weeks' gestation) were assigned to receive either an LF-enriched yogurt (100 mg LF/125 g, two servings/day; n = 25) or a control yogurt (n = 25) for eight weeks, alongside 30 mg/day elemental iron. The primary outcome was ferritin change; secondary outcomes included hematologic, metabolic, microbiota, and maternal-neonatal parameters. Forty-six participants completed the study (24 LF, 22 control), with comparable baseline characteristics. Transferrin levels and red blood cell counts increased in both arms. However, ferritin decreased in controls but remained stable in the LF arm, with a significant between-group difference (p = 0.011). Fasting glucose, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were unchanged. Insulin and homeostasis-model-assessment insulin-resistance (HOMA-IR) levels increased modestly within groups without between-group differences. Anemia incidence was similar (20.8% LF vs 27.3% control; p = 0.609). No adverse events occurred. Microbiota diversity was unchanged; LF supplementation increased Lactilactobacillus, Anaerovoracaceae, and was associated with higher Lactobacillus and lower Eggerthella and Actinomyces compared to controls. LF-enriched yogurt was safe, prevented ferritin decline, and modulated selected gut taxa in women with GDM.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148448355","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}

{"title":"Advances in synbiotics and synbiotic functional foods in type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment.","authors":"An-Yu Zhu, Lei Meng, Hong-Fang Ji, Liang Shen","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-00986-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00986-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The increasing incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) globally necessitates alternative therapeutic strategies. Evidence suggests that intestinal microbiota significantly influences T2DM development, leading to the proposal of probiotics as potential treatments. However, challenges such as strain selectivity and low survival rates limit probiotics' effectiveness. Combining probiotics with prebiotics, known as synbiotics, offers a promising approach for managing T2DM. The development of synbiotic-based functional foods also provides effective interventions for T2DM. This article synthesizes the recent advancements of synbiotics and synbiotic functional foods in managing T2DM, covering 40 studies, of which 29 studies employed synbiotics, and 11 studies employed synbiotic functional foods. In the 21 human studies, 17 focused on T2DM treatment and another 4 on the prevention of prediabetes from developing to T2DM. As for probiotics, 20 studies used single-strain probiotics, while others employed multiple strains, with 5 focusing on the synbiotics combined with hypoglycemic substances. Overall, synbiotics and synbiotic functional foods offer therapeutic benefits by reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, regulating gut microbiota, enhancing short-chain fatty acids, and improving intestinal barrier function. Further research is crucial to determine optimal formulations, dosages, and long-term safety, along with developing new synbiotic functional foods for effective diabetes interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148422848","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}

{"title":"Dietary glucoraphenin ameliorates obesity and steatotic liver disease associated with gut dysbiosis induced by a Western diet in mice.","authors":"Hye-Bin Lee, Yu Ra Lee, Hee-Jin Kim, Inwook Choi, Miri Park, Seong Un Jeong, Jae-Hyun Yoon, Ho-Young Park","doi":"10.1038/s41538-026-01000-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-01000-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Western-style diets promote obesity, gut dysbiosis, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this study, glucoraphenin (GRE), the major glucosinolate in radish (Raphanus sativus L.) greens and sprouts, was evaluated for its effects on Western diet (WD)-induced metabolic derangements and gut dysfunction in mice. Intaking of 1 mg/kg body weight of GRE with WD for 8 weeks caused significant reductions in adipogenesis indicators such as body weight gains, adipocyte hypertrophy, and serum leptin level. This result was further proved by significant changes in lipogenesis and lipolysis-related protein expressions in adipocyte. Administration of GRE also suppressed development of MASLD, which was observed through reductions in serum ALT and AST and suppressions the expression of FAS, SREBP1, mTOR, SCD1, ACC, and ChREBP in liver tissues. GRE administration effectively prevented the decrease in the gut microbial richness and diversity caused by WD and recovered serum branched-chain amino acids and microbiota-derived purine metabolites (inosine and hypoxanthine). These findings indicate that GRE mitigates WD-induced obesity and MASLD via coordinated regulation of lipid metabolism and the gut-liver axis.</p>","PeriodicalId":19367,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Science of Food","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":9.7,"publicationDate":"2026-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148422861","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}