INTA - Artículos

Soluble alpha‑klotho and 25‑hydroxivitamin D are not associated with brown adipose tissue metabolism in young healthy adults

Soluble alpha‑klotho and 25‑hydroxivitamin D are not associated with brown adipose tissue metabolism in young healthy adults Amaro Gahete, Francisco José; Vázquez Lorente, Héctor; Sánchez Delgado, Guillermo; Ruiz Ruiz, Jonatan Background Soluble Alpha-Klotho (S-αklotho) protein and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25-OH-D) have emerged as potential modulators for activating and recruiting Brown Adipose Tissue (BAT). The present study aimed to investigate whether circulating S-αklotho and 25-OH-D levels are related to BAT volume, 18Fluorine-Fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake, and BAT radiodensity in young healthy adults. Methods A total of 128 participants (68% women) aged 18–25 years old participated in this cross-sectional study. Serum levels of S-αklotho were determined by a solid-phase sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit and 25-OH-D serum levels were analyzed using a competitive chemiluminescence immunoassay, both in blood samples collected after an overnight fast. All participants underwent a personalized cold exposure to determine their BAT volume, 18F-FDG uptake, and radiodensity, using a static positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography scan. Results After adjusting for multiple covariates, serum levels of S-αklotho (all R2 ≤ 0.228 and P ≥ 0.364), 25-OH-D as continuous (all R2 ≤ 0.242 and P ≥ 0.088) or by vitamin D status (all R2 ≤ 0.767 and P ≥ 0.061) were not associated with either BAT volume and 18F-FDG uptake, or BAT radiodensity. Conclusion Serum S-αklotho and 25-OH-D levels within the physiological range are not related to BAT-related variables in young healthy adults. Further studies are needed to fully understand the underlying mechanisms involved in BAT metabolism in humans. (ACTIBATE; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: not applicable). This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness via the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI13/01393), and PTA-12264, Retos de la Sociedad (DEP2016-79512-R), Spain and European Regional Development Funds (ERDF), the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU13/04365 and FPU14/04172); the Fundación Iberoamericana de Nutrición (FINUT), Spain; the Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa RETIC (Red SAMID RD16/0022), Spain; the AstraZeneca HealthCare Foundation, the University of Granada Plan Propio de Investigación 2016—Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES) -, the Plan Propio de Investigación 2018—Programa Contratos-Puente, Spain; the Junta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y Universidades, the Fundación Alfonso Martin Escudero and by the CIBEROBN, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CB22/03/00058), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación and Unión Europea – European Regional Development Fund. Universidad de Granada/CBUA

Diet, Advanced Maternal Age, and Neonatal Outcomes: Results from the GESTAGE Study

Diet, Advanced Maternal Age, and Neonatal Outcomes: Results from the GESTAGE Study Puche-Juárez, María; Toledano, Juan M; Hinojosa Nogueira, Daniel José; De Paco Matallana, Catalina; Sanchez-Romero, Javier; Ochoa Herrera, Julio José; Carrillo, María Paz; Martín-Álvarez, Estefanía; Díaz Castro, Javier; Moreno Fernández, Jorge Maternal nutrition during pregnancy plays a pivotal role in influencing both maternal and fetal health, impacting neonatal anthropometric outcomes and long-term disease susceptibility. An advanced maternal age (AMA ≥ 35 years) has been linked to increased risks of obstetric complications and adverse neonatal outcomes, yet its specific nutritional profile remains underexplored. Background/Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the nutrient and polyphenol intakes of women at an AMA compared to those of a younger control group and to investigate associations with neonatal anthropometric measures. Methods: A cohort of 200 pregnant women, stratified into AMA and control groups, completed a food frequency questionnaire during the second trimester. Neonatal anthropometric data were collected at delivery. Results: Intakes of fiber, zinc, copper, selenium, vitamins E, B1, B3 and folate were lower in the AMA group in comparison with the control values. Negative correlations were found between fiber, vitamin A and vitamin E and the head circumference of the newborn, with fiber being identified as a potential predictor of this parameter. Conclusions: Despite some limitations, such as the fact that the FFQ was completed only once during pregnancy and the cross-sectional design of the study, the findings highlight notable nutritional deficiencies among AMA women, which may influence neonatal outcomes such as head circumference. These results underscore the need for nutritional guidelines and supplementation strategies tailored to pregnant women over 35 years of age. This study was supported by Consejería de transformación económica, industria, comiento y universidades. Junta de Andalucía, “Proyectos de Investigación de Excelenciadel Plan Andaluz de Investigación” (PAIDI 2020) (P21_00040); by two differents projects from “Proyectos de Investigación Precompetitivos del Plan Propio 2022, University of Granada” (PPJIA2022-31; PP2022, PP-07) and by “Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía” (B-CTS-UGR20) and by “Proyectos de investigación I + D + I del Plan Propio de Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Granada en el marco del Programa Operativo FEDER Andalucía 2021-2027” (C-CTS-361-UGR23). Biobank Network of the Region of Murcia (BIOBANC-MUR), registered in the “Registro Nacional de Biobancos” of Spain, with a registration number B.0000859. BIOBANC-MUR is supported by the “Instituto de Salud Carlos III (project PT20/00109), by “Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Virgen de la Arrixaca” and by “Consejeria de Salud de la Comunidad Autónoma de la Región de Murcia”.

Impact of Ex Vivo Bisphenol A Exposure on Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Its Association with Childhood Obesity

Impact of Ex Vivo Bisphenol A Exposure on Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis and Its Association with Childhood Obesity Luque Aguilera, Gracia; Ortiz Sandoval, Pilar; Torres Sánchez, Alfonso; Ruiz Rodríguez, Alicia; López Moreno, Ana; Aguilera Gómez, Margarita Dietary exposure to the plasticiser bisphenol A (BPA), an obesogenic and endocrine disruptor from plastic and epoxy resin industries, remains prevalent despite regulatory restriction and food safety efforts. BPA can be accumulated in humans and animals, potentially exerting differential health effects based on individual metabolic capacity. This pilot study examines the impact of direct ex vivo BPA exposure on the gut microbiota of obese and normal-weight children, using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and anaerobic culturing combined methods. Results showed that direct xenobiotic exposure induced modifications in microbial taxa relative abundance, community structure, and diversity. Specifically, BPA reduced the abundance of bacteria belonging to the phylum Bacteroidota, while taxa from the phylum Actinomycetota were promoted. Consistently, Bacteroides species were classified as sensitive to BPA, whereas bacteria belonging to the class Clostridia were identified as resistant to BPA in our culturomics analysis. Some of the altered bacterial abundance patterns were common for both the BPA-exposed groups and the obese non-exposed group in our pilot study. These findings were also corroborated in a larger cohort of children. Future research will be essential to evaluate these microbial taxa as potential biomarkers for biomonitoring the effect of BPA and its role as an obesogenic substance in children. This research was funded by several projects: Junta de Andalucía - Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Innovación - Excellence Project PI21/0341. Institute of Health Carlos III: PI24/00046. G.L. has a contract under the Project PI21/0341; A.R.-R. holds a contract under RYC2023-044386-I, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FSE+.; Supplementary Materials. The following supporting information can be downloaded at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bioproject/PRJNA979040

The Valorization of Coffee By-Products and Waste Through the Use of Green Extraction Techniques: A Bibliometric Analysis

The Valorization of Coffee By-Products and Waste Through the Use of Green Extraction Techniques: A Bibliometric Analysis Navajas Porras, Beatriz; Castillo-Correa, María; Navarro Hortal, María Dolores; Montalbán-Hernández, Cristina; Peña-Guzmán, Diego; Hinojosa Nogueira, Daniel José; Romero Márquez, José Manuel Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages worldwide. This has motivated the coffee industry to adopt sustainable practices, with an increased emphasis on environmentally friendly extraction methods. The objective of this study was to explore, through a bibliometric analysis, the identification of influential researchers, institutions, emerging topics, and gaps concerning the valorization of coffee by-products and residues using green extraction techniques. A total of 7306 scientific publications on green extraction were identified, 72 specifically addressing coffee or its by-products. The analysis highlights a focus on innovative green technologies, such as natural deep eutectic solvents, ultrasound-assisted or microwave-assisted extraction. These methods enable the efficient and sustainable extraction of bioactive compounds, including polyphenols, chlorogenic acid, caffeine, with potential applications in food, pharmaceutical, and energy industries. Despite this, research on coffee by-products remains limited, partly due to their use in other applications, such as biochar, animal feed, and construction materials, which do not rely heavily on green technologies. Key contributors to the field include countries such as Spain, Italy, Brazil, and China. This study emphasizes the potential of coffee waste to generate high-value products through sustainable methodologies, identifies noteworthy research and key actors in the field, and underscores the necessity for further innovation and collaboration. Beatriz Navajas-Porras is supported by a postdoctoral Sara Borrell contract (CD23/00029) from ISCIII-Madrid (Spain). Daniel Hinojosa-Nogueira is supported by a postdoctoral Sara Borrell contract (CD23/00111) from ISCIII-Madrid (Spain). Jose M. Romero-Márquez is a researcher funded by the Foundation for Biosanitary Research of Eastern Andalusia—Alejandro Otero (FIBAO).

Vaginal Administration of Progesterone in Twin Gestation: Influence on Bone Turnover and Oxidative Stress

Vaginal Administration of Progesterone in Twin Gestation: Influence on Bone Turnover and Oxidative Stress Puche-Juarez, María; Toledano, Juan M; Moreno Fernández, Jorge; Díaz Castro, Javier; Sanchez-Romero, Javier; Gil Mira, María del Mar; Rolle, Valeria; Nieto-Díaz, Aníbal; Ochoa Herrera, Julio José; De Paco Matallana, Catalina Twin pregnancies, with higher incidences of preterm birth, are becoming more prevalent. Progesterone has shown effectiveness in the prevention of preterm labour, though other factors related to pregnancy and neonatal health may be affected by this hormone and have not been previously addressed. This study aims to evaluate the impact of progesterone administration on oxidative stress and bone turnover during twin gestation and investigate associations with some maternal/neonatal variables of interest. Women pregnant with twins were recruited in the “Virgen de la Arrixaca” University Hospital and randomly assigned to two groups: control (n = 49) and progesterone (n = 50). A total of 600 mg/day of progesterone was vaginally administered from 11 to 14 to 34 weeks of gestation. Blood samples were taken in the first (T1) and third trimester (T3), analyzing biomarkers related to oxidative stress and bone turnover. Most bone turnover and oxidative markers experiment with significant changes during gestation. Progesterone administration significantly increased (p < 0.05) the levels of osteocalcin in T3 and decreased (p < 0.05) the levels of sclerostin. Regarding oxidative stress, the progesterone group, unlike the control group, showed no significant increase in oxidative stress between T1 and T3. In conclusion, results show that progesterone administration could increase maternal bone formation and modulate oxidative stress. Supplementary Materials: The following supporting information can be downloaded at https: //www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/antiox14030324/s1, Table S1: Regression model adjusted by the treatment group that compares the biochemical variables studied with the maternal and neonatal clinical outcomes of interest studied.