Search Results (1,620)

Background/Objectives: This study describes the process of harmonising data from food consumption screeners (FCSs) and food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) in pregnant women, highlighting challenges and strategies. Methods: It is a methodological, descriptive study on the harmonisation of individual food intake data. The data were divided into two datasets: FCS and FFQ. FCS responses were categorised as “never/almost never”, “1–4 days per week”, and “≥5 days per week”. FFQ data were harmonised by deriving variables in grams per day. Outliers were identified using z-scores for total harmonised caloric intake exceeding ±2 standard deviations. The distribution and heterogeneity of the derived variables were assessed using multilevel models. Results: Data were drawn from 12 studies conducted in Brazil, part of the Brazilian Maternal and Child Nutrition Consortium (BMCNC). The sample included pregnant women aged 18 years or older, at any stage of pregnancy. The final harmonised datasets comprised eight studies (n = 5484) with FCS data and four studies (n = 1759) with FFQ data. Most food categories in the FCS dataset had comparable frequencies across studies, with differences observed for natural juices, soft drinks, and sweetened beverages. In the FFQ data, the largest variations in daily consumption were found for leafy vegetables, sweetened beverages, and soft drinks. Heterogeneity ranged from less than 0.01% for beans (FCS) to 15.5% for fruits and natural juices (FFQ). Conclusions: By enabling standardised analyses across diverse Brazilian populations, the harmonised BMCNC datasets provide a valuable resource for investigating nutritional inequities and supporting future research to improve maternal and child nutrition. Full article

Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum L.) fruits and their by-products represent valuable sources of bioactive compounds. This study compared fruits, juice, seeds, oil, and leaves with respect to their content of selected bioactive components, potential intestinal availability of polyphenols estimated by dialysis, and in vitro biological activities. Blackcurrant leaves contained several-fold higher levels of polyphenols in the dialyzable fraction (651.3 mg/100 g) than fruits (255.1 mg/100 g) and juice (261.4 mg/100 g). Seeds exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity among all matrices, reaching 13.3, 10.9 and 11.4 mmol Trolox/100 g in the ABTS, FRAP and ORAC assays, respectively. Hydrophilic fractions of juice and seeds showed notably stronger α-amylase inhibition (IC₅₀ < 0.01 mg/mL) than the antidiabetic drug acarbose (IC₅₀ = 0.35 mg/mL). Juice also demonstrated higher pancreatic lipase inhibition (IC₅₀ = 0.01 mg/mL) compared with Orlistat (IC₅₀ = 0.15 mg/mL) and effectively inhibited acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and 15-lipoxygenase (IC₅₀ = 0.11, 0.03, and 0.02 mg/mL, respectively). These results indicate that various blackcurrant matrices possess strong biological activity and may serve as promising functional food ingredients or sources of health-promoting compounds. Full article

Organic citrus production in semi-arid Mediterranean regions is increasingly challenged by water scarcity, soil degradation, and rising phytosanitary pressure associated with climate change. This study evaluated different sustainable management strategies under commercial organic citrus production conditions in the Andarax Valley (Almería, southeastern Spain). Two complementary field trials were conducted: (i) the assessment of four weed management systems—shallow tillage, mechanical mowing, sown cover crop, and partial manual mowing—and (ii) the comparison of four mass-trapping systems for the control of Ceratitis capitata. Fruit quality parameters, yield performance, and trapping efficacy were evaluated under commercial organic farming conditions. Weed management treatments did not significantly affect internal fruit quality parameters, including juice content, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, and maturity index, which were mainly determined by cultivar-related factors. In contrast, yield showed significant responses to treatment, growing season, and cultivar. The sown cover crop treatment (T3) produced the highest mean yields in both growing seasons, reaching 56.6 and 72.9 kg tree⁻¹ in seasons 1 and 2, respectively. In the mass-trapping trial, the liquid trap baited with hydrolyzed protein (R-9) showed the highest capture efficacy (0.060 flies trap⁻¹ day⁻¹), significantly outperforming the control treatment (0.014 flies trap⁻¹ day⁻¹) and the other evaluated trapping systems. Conversely, dry trap models (A-9 and V-8) recorded significantly lower capture rates (FTD < 0.01), which may be associated with lower retention efficiencies documented in the literature for dry-killing designs. All treatments exhibited high female selectivity (>94%). In addition, a pronounced edge effect was detected, with significantly higher captures concentrated along the orchard perimeter. Overall, the results support the integration of functional cover crops and perimeter mass-trapping strategies as sustainable tools to improve resilience and pest management in Mediterranean organic citrus production systems. Full article

Thirteen mandarin and hybrid cultivars grafted onto the commercial rootstocks Rangpur Lime and Swingle Citrumelo were comparatively assessed for vegetative growth, fruit physicochemical attributes, and field incidence and severity of Altenaria Brown Spot (ABS) and Huanglongbing (HLB). The experiment was conducted from January 2015 to December 2018 under a randomized block design, with ten replicates per scion–rootstock combination. Plant height, canopy volume, fruit mass, juice yield, acidity, soluble solids, and disease assessments were performed. RL induced greater vegetative growth but was associated with higher HLB severity, particularly in the Dekopon IAC 2009 and TM × LP 358 varieties. SC resulted in less vigorous trees but improved fruit quality, with higher acidity and soluble solids. Regarding ABS, the Loose Jacket IAC 515 and Muscia varieties showed high susceptibility, while Ortanique IAC 554 and Rainha BRS exhibited tolerance to both ABS and HLB. These findings suggest that although RL promotes vigorous growth, it may increase disease susceptibility, whereas SC is associated with reduced disease severity and improved fruit quality. Ortanique IAC 554 and Rainha BRS showed consistently low severity of ABS and HLB, combined with stable vegetative development and fruit quality, underscoring the importance of rootstock choice for guiding cultivar deployment in orchards under high disease pressure. Full article

Andean berry (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz) is an underutilized fruit that could serve as a source of bioactive compounds with biological properties associated with apoptosis and cytotoxicity in colorectal cancer cells. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic and proapoptotic effects of Andean berry juice (ABJ) in human SW480 and SW620 colon cancer cell lines, which represent early-stage and metastatic colorectal cancer, respectively. The juice was prepared from freeze-dried fruits, and several concentrations were assayed in cells. Bioactive compounds in ABJ showed the strongest reductions in metabolic activity and proliferation observed in SW620 cells. ABJ treatments promoted early apoptosis while inducing cell cycle arrest in the S phase (SW480) and in the G2/M (SW620). Mild mitochondrial depolarization was observed, while increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation was detected in both cell lines. More proteins involved in the apoptotic process were modulated in SW620 cells, whereas SW480 displayed greater fold changes in regulatory and stress-response proteins. Proteomics and bioinformatics analyses suggested that extrinsic apoptosis predominated in SW480 cells, whereas intrinsic apoptosis was observed in SW620 cells. These results highlighted the cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic potential of the combined activity of polyphenolic compounds from ABJ, demonstrating distinct mechanisms in vitro. Full article

Fruit and vegetable juices are ideal probiotic carriers and pectin supplementation is promising for probiotic survival. In this study, we investigated the effects of high- and low-methoxyl pectin on Lacticaseibacillus casei 37 and Lactobacillus helveticus 76 in fermented pear juice (PJ) regarding fermentation, viability, and functionality. Our results showed that pectin protected probiotic viability at 4 °C for 28 days, with viable cell counts reaching 8.39–8.63 log colony-forming units/mL. Furthermore, it promoted phenolic compound release (e.g., gallic acid and protocatechuic acid), raising total phenolic content by 8.3–21.9% and total flavonoid content by 79.6–140.3%. It significantly enhanced DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging activity, and FRAP antioxidant capacity. In vitro digestion revealed that pectin supplementation elevated the survival rate of probiotics in simulated gastric juice by 6.2–66.4%. Additionally, correlation analysis linked specific phenolics (p-coumaric acid, epicatechin, rutin) to antioxidant activity. An addition of 0.3% low-methoxyl and 0.2% high-methoxyl pectin was considered the optimal treatment, benefiting probiotic viability, phenolic accumulation and antioxidant stability of fermented PJ under cold storage and gastrointestinal environment. Thus, pectin is an effective carrier for high-viability, high-antioxidant probiotic fermented PJ beverages. Full article

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) is an emerging non-thermal technology that is capable of improving the quality and shelf life of fruit juices while retaining heat-sensitive bioactive compounds. This study optimized a mixed-fruit juice (MFJ) blend—60% mandarin, 25% pineapple, and 15% watermelon using a D-optimal mixture design. The MFJ was subjected to HC at varying pressures (4–6 bar) and times (40–60 min) and compared to thermal treatment (90 °C for 30 s). The optimized predicted HC treatment (5 bar/52 min) effectively maintained pH, titratable acidity, and TSS. Notably, HC at 6 bar for 60 min reduced the sedimentation index by 2% and lowered viscosity to 3.56 cP. Compared to thermal processing, the optimized HC-treated sample demonstrated superior nutrient retention, preserving 82.29% of vitamin C, 93.50% of total phenolics, 87.43% of flavonoids, and 61.67% of antioxidant activity. Microbial safety was also improved, achieving a 1.35 log CFU/mL reduction in total plate count and 47.96% peroxidase inactivation. While sensory evaluation showed slightly lower acceptability for HC-treated juice (6.36) versus the control (7.14), it significantly outperformed thermal treatment (3.83). Furthermore, the cavitated sample demonstrated superior bioactive retention after 14 days of storage at 4 °C, with total phenolic content retained at 31.55 ± 0.9 mg GAE/100 mL. The findings suggest that hydrodynamic cavitation can be considered a promising non-thermal processing technology for improving physicochemical stability, preserving bioactive compounds, and extending the shelf life of functional fruit beverages. This underscores HC’s potential as a viable, high-quality alternative to traditional pasteurization in the beverage industry. Full article

The main causes of lemon fruit senescence and deterioration are fungal diseases and postharvest quality loss. Edible coatings have been proposed to delay quality loss in fresh produce by reducing moisture loss and helping preserve external appearance. Natural functional coatings are increasingly being investigated as potential alternatives to synthetic waxes and preservatives due to environmental and consumer safety concerns. The effect of a natural edible coating based on Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage on extending the shelf-life of lemons during cold storage was investigated. Lemon fruits were treated with the mucilage-based edible coating and subsequently stored under controlled cold conditions. Coated and uncoated lemon fruits were evaluated for their physicochemical properties, including weight loss, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, color, and microbiological analysis, as well as total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity, over a 60-day storage period at 5 ± 0.5 °C and 95% relative humidity. The results showed that the mucilage-based coating improved lemon fruit storage performance, effectively preserving key physicochemical and microbiological parameters over 60 days of cold storage (p ≤ 0.05). In particular, the treatment maintained fruit firmness, reduced weight loss (up to 45%), increased juice content (up to 1.8-fold), and delayed microbial decay compared to control samples. Coated fruits also exhibited higher total polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity than control samples at the end of storage. In addition, using mucilage extracted from cactus pear cladode waste provides a sustainable way to add value to the product, with promising industrial applications as an alternative to synthetic fruit coatings. Full article

Pear fruits host diverse microbial communities that influence postharvest quality, spontaneous fermentation, and susceptibility to microbial contamination. This study characterizes the fungal communities associated with naturally fallen overripe pears (Pyrus communis) using ITS2 amplicon sequencing combined with culture-dependent approaches. The fungal community exhibited low diversity and was dominated by Ascomycota (99%), primarily Saccharomycetes (91.8%), with Hanseniaspora, Aureobasidium, and Microcyclospora representing more than 90% of the total microbial community. Culture-dependent isolation confirmed Hanseniaspora uvarum as the dominant yeast species (~89%), followed by Metschnikowia spp. and Pichia spp. Pairwise co-culture assays, quantified using the Relative Interaction Index, demonstrated predominantly competitive interactions, with fast-growing H. uvarum exerting suppressive effects on slower-growing species. Among the isolated yeasts, Metschnikowia fructicola exhibited antibacterial activity against all tested bacteria Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria innocua and Salmonella typhimurium. The strongest antibacterial activity was exerted against the foodborne pathogen S. aureus. In a pear juice model system, co-cultivation with M. fructicola resulted in the elimination of S. aureus within four days, while yeast viability was maintained. These findings observe the fermentative yeasts distributed in overripe pears and demonstrate the potential of M. fructicola to inhibit bacterial growth under controlled conditions. The results provide a preliminary basis for further studies on fungal succession, yeast interactions, and the biocontrol potential of pear-associated yeasts. For broader ecological conclusions, larger-scale studies across locations, seasons, cultivars, and decay stages are required. Full article

Catechol, a prevalent phenolic pollutant in food products, poses a significant threat to food safety, necessitating the development of rapid and sensitive detection methods. To overcome the limitations of conventional analytical techniques, such as expensive equipment and operational complexity, electrochemical sensors have gained considerable attention owing to their rapid response and facile miniaturization. However, the rational design of sensing materials that exhibit both high sensitivity and selectivity remains a significant challenge. Herein, a series of PdCu bimetallic nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (PdCu@rGO) composites with varying Pd/Cu molar ratios was synthesized via a one-step liquid-phase reduction method. Owing to the synergistic electronic effects between Pd and Cu and the high electrical conductivity of the rGO support, the resulting nanocomposites exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity toward catechol oxidation. At the optimal Pd/Cu molar ratio of 1:2, the fabricated Pd₁Cu₂@rGO/SPE sensor demonstrated a broad linear range of 0.5–500 μM, a low limit of detection of 200 nM (S/N = 3), good repeatability (RSD = 4.9%), and robust anti-interference capability. Furthermore, the proposed sensor was successfully applied to the detection of catechol in spiked green tea and fruit juice samples without complex pretreatment, achieving satisfactory recoveries of 91.0–101.4% and 98.6–104.8%, respectively. This work provides a reliable platform for the rapid, on-site screening of catechol in food matrices and offers valuable experimental insights into the rational design of bimetallic alloy–graphene heterostructures. Full article

This study examined the chemical composition and functional properties of fermented whey beverages produced from organic cow and goat whey, including both acid and sweet variants, enriched with organic sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides) or rosehip (Rosa canina) juices. In contrast to earlier research primarily addressing physicochemical and technological aspects, the present work offers a comprehensive evaluation of fatty acid composition, mineral and trace element content, antioxidant activity, and total polyphenol levels in these beverage formulations. Both the type of whey and the fruit additive significantly influenced the compositional profile and antioxidant capacity of the beverages. Samples fortified with rosehip demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential, as evidenced by enhanced DPPH radical scavenging activity, elevated FRAP values, and increased total polyphenol content. In comparison, beverages enriched with sea buckthorn juice exhibited higher concentrations of selected minerals, particularly Fe and Ni, while maintaining toxic element levels within permissible limits. The fatty acid profile was predominantly composed of saturated fatty acids, notably C16:0, along with short-chain fatty acids typical of whey. Beverages derived from goat whey contained higher levels of SFA and MUFA than those produced from cow whey, whereas the addition of rosehip contributed to increased proportions of PUFA and omega-3 fatty acids. Collectively, these findings indicate that organic fermented whey beverages enriched with rosehip or sea buckthorn juice may serve as promising functional products with enhanced antioxidant properties and favorable mineral and fatty acid profiles. Full article

Existing studies have suggested an association between consumption of foods/food groups and the risk of childhood overweight/obesity (OV/OB) and metabolic unhealthy obesity (MUO). However, they are heterogeneous in terms of design, samples and outcomes, and most do not provide evidence of long-term longitudinal associations given their cross-sectional nature. The aim of the present work was to systematically review longitudinal evidence of the association between foods/food groups and the risk of OV/OB and MUO in children and adolescents aged 2–19 years. Two databases (Scopus and PubMed) were searched for original research conducted in Western countries. Prospective epidemiological studies (PES) and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with exposures/interventions related to the consumption of foods/food groups, OV/OB- or MUO-related outcomes and ≥1-year follow-up were considered eligible. A narrative evidence synthesis, complemented by random-effects meta-analyses where feasible, was performed. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (ID: CRD42024496148). The narrative synthesis of 23 longitudinal studies revealed a detrimental effect of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) (n = 8/10 PESs and 1/2 RCTs) and ultra-processed foods (UPFs) (n = 2/3 PESs), and a beneficial effect of full/higher-fat dairy products (n = 2/3 PESs) on OV/OB-related outcomes, although certainty in evidence was (very) low. Evidence was inconclusive for artificially sweetened beverages, fruits and vegetables (primarily 100% fruit juices), milk and total dairy products. Random-effects meta-analysis of PESs focusing on SSBs revealed a positive association with follow-up body mass index (n = 3, pooled beta: 0.16 kg/m², 95%CI: 0.09, 0.23) but a non-significant association with change in BMI (n = 3, pooled beta: 0.07 kg/m², 95%CI: −0.05, 0.19). Only 1 PES reported on MUO-related outcomes and revealed a potential beneficial link between higher-fat milk intake and selected cardiometabolic indices. In conclusion, consumption of SSBs is positively associated with indicators of childhood OV/OB risk. A detrimental effect of UPFs and a beneficial effect of higher-fat dairy products on childhood adiposity outcomes were also observed, but the available evidence remains limited and insufficient to draw robust conclusions. Data for other foods/food groups and OV/OB, as well as for their link with childhood MUO, remain scarce and inconclusive. Full article

As a fruit with both medicinal and edible value, red jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) is abundant in polyphenols and other bioactive components, exhibiting potent antioxidant potential. However, fresh jujubes are highly susceptible to spoilage, while existing processed products suffer from low added value and severe homogenization, restricting the upgrading of the jujube deep-processing industry. In this study, a strain suitable for jujube juice fermentation was selected from six lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains. Using single-factor tests and response surface methodology, the fermentation conditions of fermented red jujube juice (FRJJ) were optimized. Systematic analysis was performed on the dynamic evolution of physicochemical properties, color, flavor, and bioactive compounds throughout the fermentation process. Additionally, a C2C12 cell model subjected to H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress was employed to evaluate the cytoprotective effects and antioxidant activity of FRJJ. The results demonstrated that LAB fermentation increased superoxide dismutase activity and total phenolic content, while improving flavor and sensory quality. Furthermore, FRJJ effectively mitigated oxidative stress damage and enhanced cell viability by reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species levels and maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential. These findings offer a theoretical basis for the value-added utilization of jujube resources and the formulation of functional fermented beverages. Full article

This study explored the link between orchard-derived cherry quality and circular food innovation through the valorization of dried cherry pomace. Sweet cherry fruits from the cultivars Van and Stella, grown under the pedoclimatic conditions of north-eastern Romania, were evaluated for physicochemical traits, phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and heavy metal content. In parallel, cherry pomace obtained during juice processing of cultivar Van was freeze-dried, characterized, and incorporated into dairy-based spreadable formulations at 5% and 10% addition levels in order to assess its bioactive potential. The results showed clear cultivar-dependent differences, with Van exhibiting a superior bioactive profile, including higher total polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant activity than Stella. Heavy metal concentrations in fruits remained below the maximum allowable limits, while health-risk indices indicated no significant non-carcinogenic risk (HI = 3.18 × 10⁻²). The dried cherry pomace powder was characterized by high dietary fiber content (49.83 g/100 g dw), substantial total polyphenols (1046.80 mg GAE/100 g dw), anthocyanins (123.27 mg C3G/100 g dw), and antioxidant activity (21.43 μM TE/g dw). Its incorporation into dairy-based spreadable products significantly improved ash, carbohydrate, fiber, phytochemical content, and antioxidant activity, with the 10% level showing the highest functional enhancement. Sensory evaluation indicated that the 5% formulation achieved the most balanced and preferred overall sensory profile. Overall, the findings support dried cherry pomace as a valuable functional ingredient and highlight a practical circular strategy for reconnecting cherry by-products with value-added food applications. Full article

Apple juice is one of the world’s most widely consumed fruit juices and is therefore a common target for economically motivated adulteration (EMA). Such adulteration may involve dilution with water, substitution with other juices, or the addition of exogenous sugars, each requiring robust analytical methods for detection. In this study, we present an improved analytical method for identifying exogenous C4-type sugars in apple juice which utilizes the naturally occurring sorbitol as an endogenous isotopic reference marker. The method uses liquid chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry (LC-IRMS) to determine the δ¹³C values of the major endogenous sugars in apple juice. The study shows that the δ¹³C value of sorbitol can be measured in the same analytical run as the other major sugar components and remains unaffected by the addition of exogenous C4-type sugars to the apple juice. This method offers significant advantages over existing approaches, notably by eliminating the need for extensive sample preparation and multiple analytical methods thereby improving both analytical throughput and ease of use. Full article