NIU’s Global Round-up: Antioxidants & telomere length in Brazilian kids, key immunity-boosting probiotic metabolite identified, and more

LATAM​

Antioxidants, omega-3s linked to younger ‘biological age’ in Brazilian teens​

Consumption of foods rich in antioxidants – and maybe omega-3-rich fish - is associated with longer telomeres, reported to be a marker of biological aging, suggested a study with Brazilian children and teens.

Data from published in Nutrition​ indicated that those with regular consumption of fruits and vegetables regularly had longer with telomere length than children and teens who did not eat fruits and vegetables. Data from 981 children and teens also suggested a trend for longer telomeres in children and teens who consumed fish at least 4-5 times per week, although this did not reach statistical significance.

“Our results suggest that both biochemical parameter and intake of antioxidants from fruits and vegetables are associated with telomere biology maintenance in young Brazilians,” ​wrote the study’s authors.

“These findings hold the importance of telomeres investigation as biomarkers for diseases related to diet and lifestyle habits and the importance of an adequate intake of antioxidants in the diet.”​

For more on this, please click HERE​​.

Europe​

Europe lowers max contaminant levels in red yeast rice-fermented supplements​

The European Commission (EC) has issued a notification to decrease the maximum limit of mycotoxin contaminant deemed acceptable for supplements fermented with red yeast rice, with the new max set at 100 micrograms per kilogram (µg/kg) of citrinin for food supplements.

“Given the remaining uncertainties as regards the toxicity of citrinin and the feasibility to achieve low levels of citrinin by applying good manufacturing practices, it is appropriate to lower the maximum level for citrinin in food supplements to ensure a high level of human health protection,” ​stated the Commission.

“Data provides evidence that very high levels of citrinin can be found in certain samples of these products, resulting in a high exposure to citrinin for consumers of these products.” ​

The new level will be effective from 1 April 2020

For more on this, please click HERE​​.

Asia​

Morinaga research reveals immunity-boosting metabolite produced in infant gut​

Scientists from Japan’s Morinaga Milk Industry have identified a key immunity-boosting metabolite produced by that the infant-type human-residential bifidobacteria (HRB).

Writing in Microorganisms​, the scientists report that strains of infant-type HRB, including B. longum ​BB536, B. breve​ M-16V and B. infantis ​M-63, produced higher levels of the key metabolite called indole-3-lactic acid (ILA) than other species.

This mean that, “strains of infant-type HRB could be better probiotic candidates for infant use,”​ said Dr Chyn Boon Wong, research associate at Morinaga Milk Industry.

Wong added that the new discovery on the metabolite of human bifidobacteria was a breakthrough in the field and would add value to infant nutrition products.

For more on this story, please click HERE​​.