San Francisco, Feb 3 (IANS) Researchers have found that common preservatives used in food have unexpected effects on the gut microbiome, a new study has shown.

An investigation into a common preservative used to kill pathogens in food revealed that it also has an impact on beneficial bacteria, threatening the healthy balance of the gut microbiome, according to the study published in the journal ACS Chemical Biology.

Food manufacturers often add preservatives to food products to keep them fresh. The primary purpose of these preservatives is to kill microbes that could break down and otherwise spoil the food.

Bacteria create chemicals called bacteriocins to kill microbial competitors. These chemicals can serve as natural preservatives by killing potentially dangerous pathogens in food. Lanthipeptides, a class of bacteriocins with especially potent antimicrobial properties, are widely used by the food industry and have become known as “lantibiotics”, the study said.

Scientists from the University of Chicago found that one of the most common classes of lantibiotics has potent effects both against pathogens and against the commensal gut bacteria that keep us healthy.

Nisin is a popular lantibiotic that is found in a variety of foods from beer to sausage to cheese and dipping sauces. It is produced by bacteria that live in the mammary glands of cows, but microbes in the human gut produce similar lantibiotics too, the researchers explained.

“Nisin is, in essence, an antibiotic that has been added to our food for a long time, but how it might impact our gut microbes is not well studied,” said Zhenrun ‘Jerry’ Zhang, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar.

“Even though it might be very effective in preventing food contamination, it might also have a greater impact on our human gut microbes,” he added.

Zhang, along with his team, mined a public database of human gut bacteria genomes and identified genes for producing six different gut-derived lantibiotics that closely resemble nisin, four of which were new.

The researchers discovered that, while the various lantibiotics had diverse effects, they all killed pathogens and commensal bacteria.

“This study is one of the first to show that gut commensals are susceptible to lantibiotics, and are sometimes more sensitive than pathogens,’ Zhang said.

“With the levels of lantibiotics currently present in food, it’s very probable that they might impact our gut health as well,” he added.

New Delhi, Feb 01 (IANSlife) Obesity in India is a significant public health concern, as it is associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which account for 5.87 million deaths annually in the country. This silent epidemic, often overshadowed by other health issues like cancer, diabetes, and arthritis, poses a serious threat to the nation’s economy, work productivity, and the general physical and mental well-being of the population. Recognising the urgency of addressing this issue, HexaHealth has initiated a comprehensive two-month survey to understand the multifaceted dimensions of obesity in India.

The HexaHealth Obesity Report has found Bengaluru obese youngsters develop obesity-related comorbidities early on and have the highest rate of comorbidities among the under-20 metro youth population. Of the study done on 1,000 obese youngsters in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, 15 percent of under-20 Bengaluru youngsters had developed more than one comorbidity. By the age of 26-35 years, comorbidities in Delhi and Mumbai youngsters jumped up drastically with 36 percent and 41 percent developing comorbidities respectively.

The HexaHealth study showed a significant rise in chronic joint pains and hypertension starting from 26 onwards. The number of comorbidities increased four times between ages 26 and 35 years. The same saw a 50 percent increase in a number of comorbidities after entering the 36 to 45 years age bracket.

Speaking on the survey, Ankur Gigras, CEO and Co-founder of HexaHealth, said, “In a comprehensive two-month survey, HexaHealth delved into the pressing issue of obesity in India. The findings revealed a high occurrence as well as awareness of obesity in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, to levels that surpassed our initial expectations. A particularly concerning revelation was the occurrence of comorbidities in youth under 20 years of age. Maybe the pandemic lockdown had an impact but it’s alarming to see a good number of them developing comorbidities when they’re supposed to have better metabolism.”

“Notably, our survey outcomes align closely with existing scientific research and data on obesity, emphasising the urgency of addressing obesity-related health concerns at all levels – medical and social. Our findings underscore the need for concerted efforts and awareness campaigns to combat the complex interplay of obesity and comorbidities in these cities,” added Gigras.

The HexaHealth initiative to address the growing concern of obesity in India, HexaHealth, a Gurugram-based Healthtech platform, conducted a comprehensive analysis of data from 1000 individuals residing in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore. The survey focused on individuals aged between 18 to 55 years with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 30 or higher, all of whom were classified as obese.

The key findings of the Obesity Survey are as follows:

Comorbidity Prevalence:

Joints and orthopaedic issues are more prevalent among obese individuals compared to other health complications21 percent experience joint and orthopaedic comorbiditiesAmong obese men and women, the occurrence of joint and orthopaedic cases increases to 26 percent by the age of 3613 percent of users aged 18-25 already report at least one comorbidity, emphasising the early onset of chronic health issuesMumbai users aged 46-55 reported the lowest prevalence of three or more comorbidities (5 percent) compared to NCR (5 percent) and Bangalore (7.5 percent)

Awareness Towards Medical Treatments:

Mumbai users exhibit a lower willingness to seek medical treatments (15.97 percent) compared to NCR (19.71 percent) and Bangalore (19.34 percent) residentsNCR exhibits a notably high willingness to pursue weight loss medical treatment, particularly among the younger age brackets (6 percent in 18-25 Yrs, 20 percent in 26-35 Yrs)Mumbai users, especially in the age bracket of 46-55 Yrs, show a higher level of ignorance (36.59 percent) towards medical treatments for weight loss compared to Bangalore (19.12 percent) and NCR (23.19 percent)

Fitness Efforts and Dieting:

Mumbai has the highest percentage (43.70 percent) of individuals actively participating in fitness activities, followed by Delhi NCR (36.76%) and Bangalore (32.79 percent)Dieting was actively pursued by Mumbai users (42.58 percent), while Bangalore users showed the least response (37.05 percent)Mumbai users stand out as they actively follow at least one method to control obesity (40 percent), surpassing NCR (30 percent) and Bangalore (35 percent)

Impact of Work from Home (WFH) on Obesity:

70 percent of users in Bangalore reported at least 6 hours of daily sitting, compared to 63 percent in Delhi and 60 percent in Mumbai

Use of Fitness Gadgets:

Fitness gadget adoption is highest in Bangalore (43 percent), and lowest in NCR (36 percent)

Users on medication:

Mumbai shows balanced medication usage (53.22 percent on medication), Delhi NCR leans slightly towards medication (51.47 percent), and Bengaluru reveals a higher reliance on obese medication (56.07 percent)

San Francisco, Jan 29 (IANS) Researchers have provided significant insights into the role of sclerostin in protecting against atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes.

According to the study published in the journal Cardiovascular Diabetology, sclerostin, commonly linked with the regulation of bone formation, has emerged as a protective factor in vascular health, especially in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Atherosclerosis, a common complication of this disease, involves the deposition of substances such as cholesterol and fats in the arteries, resulting in the formation of plaques that can reduce blood flow and increase the risk of serious cardiovascular diseases, the researchers said.

The study included 121 controls and 139 patients with type 2 diabetes (48 with cardiovascular disease and 91 without).

The results revealed significantly higher levels of sclerostin in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, suggesting a possible link between this protein and atherosclerosis.

Researchers have demonstrated that sclerostin is also helpful in lowering arterial calcification, which is linked to the onset of atherosclerosis.

The researchers from ibs.GRANADA, the San Cecilio University Hospital in Granada, the Centre for Networked Biomedical Research on Frailty and Healthy Ageing (CIBERFES) of the Carlos III Health Institute, as well as the University of Granada (UGR), conducted ‘in vitro’ experiments on vascular smooth muscle cells, replicating pathophysiological conditions of patients with type 2 diabetes.

“They found that sclerostin overexpression reduced calcium deposits, decreased cell proliferation and inflammation, and promoted cell survival,” the study said.

San Francisco, Jan 29 (IANS) Researchers have suggested that female reproductive characteristics that may be overlooked as risk factors could eventually lead to “metabolic dysfunction” in later life, according to a new study.

Metabolic health is characterised by optimal blood glucose, lipids, blood pressure, and body fat.

According to the study published in the journal Cell Metabolism, alterations in these characteristics may lead to the development of Type-2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.

“Our review provides insights into potential underlying causes and risk factors for poorer metabolic function,” said lead author Amy R. Nichols PhD, MS, RD, a research fellow at the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute and the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

“Current evidence linking certain female reproductive traits to chronic metabolic health and disease suggests that screening for reproductive risk factors across life course may be an initial step to aid prevention or treatment of chronic metabolic diseases,” she added.

These reproductive risk factors include early age of first menstruation, menstrual irregularity, the development of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), high weight change in pregnancy, abnormal blood sugar and lipid levels during pregnancy, and the severity and timing of menopausal symptoms, the study noted.

Moreover, the researchers pointed out that these traits may share underlying mechanisms leading to poorer metabolic health, including genetic influences, hormonal fluctuations, or body fat.

Though acknowledging these reproductive milestones as risk factors is one step toward better understanding the development of metabolic dysfunction, the researchers said that future research is needed to understand these complex relationships.

“Clinical evidence gathered in the health care setting across the female reproductive lifespan may be critical for patient education, implementing prevention strategies, and staving off disease onset,” said senior author Emily Oken MD, MPH, at the Harvard Medical School Professor.

Kochi, Jan 29 (IANS) In a landmark move, the ICAR-Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (CMFRI) has embarked on a pioneering initiative to develop lab-grown fish meat, a first in India.

The project aims to establish India to make strides in the field of cultured marine fish meat, thereby addressing the growing seafood demand and reducing excessive pressure on wild resources.

Cultivated fish meat or lab grown fish meat is produced by isolating specific cells from the fish and growing them in the laboratory setting using animal component free media.

The final product will replicate the original flavour, texture and nutritional qualities of the fish.

In the initial phase, the institute focuses on developing cell-based meat of high value marine fishes such as king fish, pomfret and seer fish.

In line with this, CMFRI has entered into a collaborative research agreement with Neat Meatt Biotech, a start-up working towards developing cultivated meat, to launch this initiative in a public-private partnership mode.

CMFRI Director Dr A Gopalakrishnan and Co-founder and CEO of the Neat Meatt Biotech Dr Sandeep Sharma signed a Memorandum of Understanding regarding this.

According to the MoU, CMFRI will carry out research on early cell line development of high value marine fish species.

This involves isolating and cultivating fish cells for further research and development.

Additionally, CMFRI will handle genetic, biochemical, and analytical work related to the project.

The institute is equipped with a cell culture laboratory with basic facilities, providing a solid foundation for research in cellular biology.

Neat Meatt, with its expertise in cell culture technology, will lead the optimisation of cell growth media, development of scaffolds or micro carriers for cell attachment, and scaling up production through bioreactors.

They will also provide necessary consumables, manpower, and any additional equipment needed for the project.

Dr A Gopalakrishnan, director of CMFRI, said this project aims to accelerate development in this field, ensuring India is not left behind in this emerging industry.

“This public-private partnership marks a crucial step in bridging the gap between India and other nations like Singapore, Israel, and the USA, which are already advancing cultured seafood research. Lab-grown fish offers immense potential for environmental and food security benefits, and this collaboration leverages CMFRI’s marine research expertise with Neat Meatt’s technological know-how in this field, paving the way for a sustainable and secure future for seafood production in India,” said Gopalakrishnan.

Sharma said that the proof of concept of the project could be established within a couple of months.