Liuyi Wei, Hao Wu, Li Wen, Maolong Chen, Bo Cui, Xufeng Wang, Taoying Wu and Yunhui Cheng
{"title":"Rice protein peptides alleviate lipid accumulation via modulating liver metabolism and remodeling the gut microbiota in HFD-induced mice†","authors":"Liuyi Wei, Hao Wu, Li Wen, Maolong Chen, Bo Cui, Xufeng Wang, Taoying Wu and Yunhui Cheng","doi":"10.1039/D5FO01536G","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5FO01536G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hyperlipidemia is a significant risk factor for lipid metabolism disorder and gut health impairment. Rice protein peptides (RPs) have emerged as promising interventions for hyperlipidemia management, owing to their safety profile, bioavailability, and cost-effectiveness. However, comprehensive investigations into their anti-hyperlipidemic effects and underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of RPs in alleviating hyperlipidemia and hepatic lipid accumulation by lipidomic and microbiome analyses. Results revealed that RP administration significantly ameliorated lipid metabolism disorders by reducing fat accumulation, normalizing blood lipid levels, and inhibiting lipase activity. Additionally, RPs exhibited hepatoprotective effects by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokines. Lipidomic analysis further revealed that RPs altered lipid metabolic patterns, identifying 10 differentially regulated lipid species that may serve as potential biomarkers for hyperlipidemia. Furthermore, RP supplements significantly regulated the mRNA levels of gene expression (HMGR, SREBP2, CYP7A1, LDLR, PPARα, PPARγ, FAS, and ACS) involved in hepatic lipid metabolism. Metagenomic analysis demonstrated that RPs reversed gut microbiota dysbiosis by reducing the <em>Firmicutes</em>/<em>Bacteroidete</em>s ratio and increasing the abundance of beneficial genera such as <em>Akkermansia</em>, <em>Muribaculaceae</em>, <em>Clostridia_UCG-014</em>, and <em>Blautia</em>. Furthermore, RP intervention significantly elevated fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content, particularly butyrate, isobutyrate, and isovalerate, suggesting a link between microbial modulation and metabolic improvement. These findings suggested RPs as an effective strategy for improving lipid metabolism and the gut microbiota composition, offering a promising dietary intervention for hyperlipidemia management.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 18","pages":" 7266-7282"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144936227","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":"Correction: β-Sitosterol protects against food allergic response in BALB/c mice by regulating the intestinal barrier function and reconstructing the gut microbiota structure","authors":"Liyuan Ma, Yu Ma and Yixiang Liu","doi":"10.1039/D5FO90076J","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5FO90076J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Correction for ‘β-Sitosterol protects against food allergic response in BALB/c mice by regulating the intestinal barrier function and reconstructing the gut microbiota structure’ by Liyuan Ma <em>et al.</em>, <em>Food Funct.</em>, 2023, <strong>14</strong>, 4456–4469, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO00772C.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 19","pages":" 7958-7958"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/fo/d5fo90076j?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144936689","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}
Salar Hafez-Ghoran, Fatemeh Taktaz and Shengmin Sang
{"title":"Whole grains are not equal: the role of fiber structure and phytochemicals in health","authors":"Salar Hafez-Ghoran, Fatemeh Taktaz and Shengmin Sang","doi":"10.1039/D5FO02603B","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5FO02603B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Precision nutrition seeks to optimize human health by tailoring dietary interventions to individual genetic, metabolic, microbial, and lifestyle profiles. In this context, whole grains (WGs) serve as ideal candidates, as their diverse fiber structures and grain-specific phytochemicals interact dynamically with host physiology and the gut microbiome. This review examines six widely consumed WGs: wheat (<em>Triticum aestivum</em> L.), rye (<em>Secale cereale</em> L.), oats (<em>Avena sativa</em> L.), barley (<em>Hordeum vulgare</em> L.), brown rice (<em>Oryza sativa</em> L.), and corn (<em>Zea mays</em> L.), focusing on their distinct dietary fiber and bioactive compounds. WGs should not be viewed as uniform fiber sources. The quantity, structural complexity, solubility, viscosity, and fermentability of fibers vary among different WGs, contributing to the distinct health benefits of each grain. Moreover, while these grains offer general nutritional benefits, each grain contains unique secondary metabolites. Key examples include alkylresorcinols (ARs) in wheat and rye, avenanthramides (AVAs) in oats, hordatines in barley, γ-oryzanols (γ-OZs) and tricin in rice, and polyamine-conjugated hydroxycinnamates (PACH) in corn. These grain-specific phytochemicals exert diverse pharmacodynamic effects across metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative pathways. For instance, hordatines shows effects on cardiovascular and glycemic regulation; ARs, γ-OZs, and tricin support lipid homeostasis and colorectal cancer mitigation; AVAs possess anti-inflammatory and microbiota-modulating properties; and PACH contribute to antioxidant capacity. Such functional specificity positions WGs as strategic components in individualized nutrition frameworks, holding promise for disease prevention and health optimization within the paradigm of precision nutrition.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 18","pages":" 7000-7022"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144936399","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}
Lijuan He, Ruijia Liu, Linfeng Chen, Juan Liu, Manqun Wang, Jiangjiang Yu, Yu Xi, He Li
{"title":"Anti-photoaging activity of cod peptides: structural characterisation and clinical validation.","authors":"Lijuan He, Ruijia Liu, Linfeng Chen, Juan Liu, Manqun Wang, Jiangjiang Yu, Yu Xi, He Li","doi":"10.1039/d5fo02080h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d5fo02080h","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The role of collagen peptides in anti-photoaging has attracted considerable research attention; however, the structure-activity relationship between their specific structural characteristics and biological efficacy remains poorly defined. In this study, collagen peptides from five sources, cod skin (CP), tilapia skin (TP), cowhide (BP), pig skin (PP), and chicken bone (JP), were selected to systematically compare their anti-photoaging activities in a UVA-induced L929 cell model and to investigate the mechanisms underlying their effects through analysis of molecular weight distributions, amino acid compositions, and sequence features. The results showed that CP, TP, and BP had stronger activities in increasing cell viability, enhancing the expression of <i>TGF-β1</i>, <i>COL1</i>, and HAS-1/2/3, and inhibiting ROS generation and over-activation of MMP-1/3 in UVA-damaged cells, with CP having the most significant effect. Mass spectrometry analysis showed that CP, together with TP and BP, shared the characteristics of N-terminal regions enriched in hydrophobic residues and C-terminal regions rich in hydrophobic and basic amino acids; in addition, CP presented a higher proportion of N-terminal electronically characterized amino acids and aromatic amino acids, potentially contributing to its superior antioxidant capacity and collagen metabolism regulation ability. Further double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trials confirmed that continuous oral administration of CP for 8 weeks significantly improved skin hydration, elasticity, and wrinkle reduction. Collectively, CP emerged as the most promising anti-photoaging candidate among the five collagen peptides, and its structure-function characteristics and clinical efficacy provide a robust foundation for its application and development in the field of functional foods.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144936669","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":"Correction: Protective effect of β-carotene on OVA-induced food allergy in mice by strengthening intestinal epithelial barrier function and regulating intestinal microflora","authors":"Huiying Kuang, Yu Ma and Yixiang Liu","doi":"10.1039/D5FO90077H","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5FO90077H","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Correction for ‘Protective effect of β-carotene on OVA-induced food allergy in mice by strengthening intestinal epithelial barrier function and regulating intestinal microflora’ by Huiying Kuang <em>et al.</em>, <em>Food Funct.</em>, 2022, <strong>13</strong>, 12330–12341, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2FO02272A.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 19","pages":" 7957-7957"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/fo/d5fo90077h?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144936753","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}
Yu Zhang, Luelue Huang, Ran Liu, Jiami Jiang, Hui Li, Sha Chen, Gangcheng Wu and Kerong Liu
{"title":"Dietary 1,3-diacylglycerol ameliorates hyperuricemia via dual modulation of urate transporters and inflammasomes in mice","authors":"Yu Zhang, Luelue Huang, Ran Liu, Jiami Jiang, Hui Li, Sha Chen, Gangcheng Wu and Kerong Liu","doi":"10.1039/D5FO02583D","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5FO02583D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Hyperuricemia is a metabolic disorder associated with substantial health risks, whereas current clinical treatments frequently entail considerable adverse effects. This study demonstrates that dietary diacylglycerol (DAG) significantly ameliorates hyperuricemia by specifically modulating the renal urate transporter network and exerting anti-inflammatory effects. 1,3-Diacylglycerol (1,3-DAG) is metabolized into 1-monoacylglycerol in the body, which inhibits the synthesis of triglycerides. Its metabolic process differs from that of 1,2-diacylglycerol and triglycerides, exhibiting unique biological functions and metabolic pathways. The mouse model of hyperuricemia was established through the combined administration of potassium oxonate and yeast extract. Using qPCR and western blotting, we found that 1,3-DAG intervention selectively downregulated the expression of URAT1, a critical urate reabsorption transporter, while upregulating the expression of the secretory transporters OCT1 and OCT2. In addition, DAG markedly reduced serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6, and alleviated histopathological damage in both hepatic and renal tissues. This study reveals the molecular pathways by which dietary DAG alleviates hyperuricemia and related inflammation through synergistic actions on multiple targets, thus offering a robust theoretical basis for formulating lipid-based dietary strategies against hyperuricemia.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 18","pages":" 7253-7265"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144936733","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}
Fabrizio Masciulli, Donatella Ambroselli, Maria Loreta Libero, Alessandra Acquaviva, Simonetta Cristina Di Simone, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Luigi Menghini, Claudio Ferrante, Giustino Orlando, Luisa Mannina and Cinzia Ingallina
{"title":"Phytochemical composition and bioactivity of edible Taraxacum officinale: potential as an ingredient in brain health-oriented functional foods","authors":"Fabrizio Masciulli, Donatella Ambroselli, Maria Loreta Libero, Alessandra Acquaviva, Simonetta Cristina Di Simone, Annalisa Chiavaroli, Luigi Menghini, Claudio Ferrante, Giustino Orlando, Luisa Mannina and Cinzia Ingallina","doi":"10.1039/D5FO02646F","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5FO02646F","url":null,"abstract":"<p > <em>Taraxacum officinale</em> (dandelion) is a widely recognised medicinal plant that is entirely edible and nutritionally rich. Traditionally consumed raw and cooked, it is used in cuisine and in food industry as a healthy ingredient, thanks to its high content of bioactive compounds. For centuries, dandelion has been valued in folk medicine for its choleretic, diuretic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, and hepatoprotective effects. While the biological activities of <em>Taraxacum</em> species have been extensively studied, the specific role of <em>T. officinale</em> in modulating neuroinflammation remains underexplored. This study investigated the chemical composition and neuroprotective potential of hydroalcoholic extracts from dandelion leaves (Dan L) and roots (Dan R), derived from three ecotypes: Land Spontaneous (LSE), Mountain Spontaneous (MSE), and Organically grown (OE). In particular, HPLC-DAD analysis revealed that the MSE ecotype contained the highest levels of key polyphenols, including chicoric, caftaric, chlorogenic, and caffeic acids. Notably, MSE extracts of both Dan L and Dan R mitigated the cytotoxic effects of H<small><sub>2</sub></small>O<small><sub>2</sub></small>-induced oxidative stress in HypoE22 hypothalamic cells without causing toxicity. <em>Ex vivo</em>, these extracts modulated neuroinflammatory markers in lipopolysaccharide-treated mouse specimens (prefrontal cortex and hypothalamus) by downregulating TNF-α and NOS-2 and upregulating BDNF expression. These findings suggest that dandelion, especially the mountain ecotype, offers significant antioxidant and neuroprotective benefits. <em>Taraxacum officinale</em> thus emerges not only as a traditional edible plant but also as a functional candidate and polyphenol source for nutraceutical applications targeting neurodegeneration and cognitive decline.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 18","pages":" 7217-7229"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/fo/d5fo02646f?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144936235","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}
Xin-Yu Wang, Jia-Yu Huang, Jie Cheng, Wei-Feng Huang, Guang-Hui Xu and Li-Tao Yi
{"title":"Black mulberry anthocyanins induce antidepressant-like effects via the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway","authors":"Xin-Yu Wang, Jia-Yu Huang, Jie Cheng, Wei-Feng Huang, Guang-Hui Xu and Li-Tao Yi","doi":"10.1039/D5FO02698A","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5FO02698A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Depression is a widespread mental health condition associated with impaired neuroplasticity and disrupted brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)/TrkB signaling. Black mulberry, rich in anthocyanins, shows promise as a natural intervention for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory profiles. This study evaluated the antidepressant-like effects of black mulberry anthocyanins in mice subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS). Black mulberry anthocyanins, which were extracted and quantified, were orally administered at 250 mg kg<small><sup>−1</sup></small> daily for four weeks, followed by behavioral assessments including sucrose preference and open field and forced swimming tests. Our results indicated that black mulberry treatment improved depressive behaviors and reduced serum corticosterone. The RNA sequencing analysis in the hippocampal tissues indicated that black mulberry modulated genes involved in synaptic function and mood regulation, especially BDNF expression. The immunofluorescence assay indicated that black mulberry restored hippocampal BDNF levels. Furthermore, K252a pretreatment not only abolished the antidepressant-like effects of black mulberry, but also blocked the role of black mulberry in synaptic proteins, neurogenesis and synaptogenesis. In conclusion, black mulberry shows potential as a dietary-based intervention for managing stress-related disorders by enhancing BDNF/TrkB signaling, supporting its therapeutic value as a functional food for mental health.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 19","pages":" 7705-7716"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145022478","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}
Jing Fu, Yuanchen Sun, Huining Jia, Hongxia Yuan, Xing Zhang, Wenchao Zhang, Honglong Cao and Fenju Qin
{"title":"Theaflavin-3,3′-digallate prevents radiofrequency radiation-induced learning and memory impairment in mice via regulating GSK-3α/GRα/RORα/BMAL1 expression","authors":"Jing Fu, Yuanchen Sun, Huining Jia, Hongxia Yuan, Xing Zhang, Wenchao Zhang, Honglong Cao and Fenju Qin","doi":"10.1039/D4FO04752D","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D4FO04752D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic radiation is an environmental hazard that causes neurobehavioral disorders and leads to learning and memory decline. In addition, theaflavin-3,3′-digallate (TFDG) is the most effective antioxidant and bioactive compound among the theaflavins in black tea, and theaflavins have been proven to provide protection against neuronal cell injury. Herein, we aimed to explore the salutary effects and relevant molecular mechanisms of TFDG on RF radiation-induced learning and memory damage in mice. Our results showed that oral administration of TFDG effectively relieved learning and memory impairment in mice caused by RF radiation (1.8 GHz, 240 μW cm<small><sup>−2</sup></small>), including decreasing the number of learning attempts and increasing the memory rate in a Y-maze test, and raising the novel object recognition rate in a novel object recognition test. TFDG also reduced the pathological damage of the hippocampal pyramidal and granular neurons in RF-radiated mice, for neurotransmitters in the hippocampus, decreased the levels of glutamate (GLU), nitric oxide (NO) and acetylcholinesterase (AchE) activity and increased the acetylcholine (Ach), dopamine (DA) and dopamine transporter (DAT) levels. The decrease in the antioxidant ability in the hippocampus of RF-radiated mice was reversed by TFDG treatment by enhancing the levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and lowering the malondialdehyde (MDA) content. Furthermore, RF radiation induced the accumulation of glycogen synthase kinase-3α/glucocorticoid receptor alpha (GSK-3α/GRα) proteins and mRNA expression in the hippocampus of mice and the downregulation of retinoid-related orphan nuclear receptor alpha/brain and muscle ARNT-like 1/dopamine receptor D5 (RORα/BMAL1/DRD5) genes/protein expression. Conclusively, TFDG can improve RF radiation-induced learning and memory impairment, which may be related to the reduction of RF radiation-induced hippocampal neuron injury, the regulation of neurotransmitter disorders and antioxidant capacity reduction <em>via</em> the regulation of GSK-3α/GRα/RORα/BMAL1 pathway abnormalities.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 18","pages":" 7199-7216"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144870411","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}
Gema Sotelo-Parrilla, Alejandro Ruiz-Calero, Pablo García-Miranda, María Luisa Calonge, María Dolores Vázquez-Carretero and María José Peral
{"title":"Creatine differently prevents chronic colitis-induced motor deficits, anxiety and depressive behaviors, neuroinflammation, and microglial activation in male and female rats","authors":"Gema Sotelo-Parrilla, Alejandro Ruiz-Calero, Pablo García-Miranda, María Luisa Calonge, María Dolores Vázquez-Carretero and María José Peral","doi":"10.1039/D5FO01620G","DOIUrl":"10.1039/D5FO01620G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Creatine has been reported to exhibit neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties and alleviate symptoms of affective disorders. In this study, we used a chronic colitis model in male and female rats, using a dextran sulfate sodium treatment that mimics the remitting–relapsing phases of human ulcerative colitis. The results showed that in rats with colitis, oral creatine supplementation reduced the severity of colitis symptoms and prevented motor deficits, anxiety, and depression-like behaviors. These effects of creatine were consistent throughout the development of chronic colitis, remaining independent of remitting–relapsing periods. In response to creatine supplementation, colon and brain creatine levels increased in rats with chronic colitis without sex differences. Furthermore, at the end of the treatment, when chronic colitis was established, creatine ameliorated injury of colonic surface epithelial and prevented chronic colitis-associated neuroinflammation, evidenced by a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF mRNA, as well as microglial activation in the prefrontal and motor cortices of rats of both sexes. In general, creatine supplementation was more effective in females. In conclusion, creatine supplementation had sex-specific effects and could serve as a nutritional strategy to reduce the severity of colitis and its associated motor and mood disturbances, neuroinflammation, and microglial activation.</p>","PeriodicalId":77,"journal":{"name":"Food & Function","volume":" 18","pages":" 7283-7300"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/fo/d5fo01620g?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144936721","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}