Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'High-fiber diet'

In an attempt to determine the relationship between dietary fiber and estrogen levels in premenopausal adult women, seven subjects completed all of the requirements as volunteers for this study. The subjects consumed two experimental diets using a cross-over experimental design. One-half of the subjects were randomly assigned to a low-fiber treatment group and one-half were assigned to a high-fiber treatment group. Food records were utilized to determine fiber intake throughout the study. Nutrient intake during the experimental periods demonstrated significant differences indicating the affect of the varied dietary regimens. No significant difference was seen in mean estrogen levels between the low- and high-fiber experimental periods, however, a positive significant correlation (p<.05) was observed with the change in estrogen level and insoluble fiber intake. Further study with a larger subject sample would be beneficial in determining recommendations for amounts of insoluble fiber intake for the general population.
Department of Family and Consumer Sciences

Fiber-rich (HF) diets are typically supplemented with enzymes to improve their nutritive value and to offset their negative effects on pig growth. However, studies on enzyme effect in pigs have yielded inconsistent results on nutrient digestibility and growth. Although the inconsistencies observed could be explained by differences in substrate and experimental conditions and enzyme characteristics among studies, how enzymes influence metabolic and physiological responses in pigs is still not clear. Therefore, three experiments were conducted, using 3 dietary treatments (control, HF and HF diet supplemented with enzymes), to elucidate the effects of supplementing an HF diet with enzymes in growing pigs. Experiment one investigated HF and enzyme supplementation on energy and nutrient digestibility, digesta volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentrations, and gut microbial profile in pigs. Compared with the HF diet, enzymes improved dry matter, starch, energy and some amino acid (AA), but not nitrogen digestibility. Further, the enzymes stimulated the growth of gut bacterial groups, which have xylanolytic and cellulolytic properties in the HF-fed pigs, but enzymes did not influence digesta VFA concentration or fiber fermentation. Experiment 2 evaluated the effects of enzyme supplementation on growth performance, glucose uptake in jejunum tissue samples mounted in Ussing chambers, and intestinal nutrient transporter mRNA levels in pigs. Diet had no effect on feed intake and jejunal glucose uptake. The enzymes influenced nutrient transporter mRNA levels but did not improve pig growth rate and feed efficiency relative to the HF diet. The third experiment investigated the effect of supplementing the HF diet with enzymes on postprandial portal vein-drained viscera (PDV) nutrient fluxes and energy expenditure (measured as O2 consumption) by the PDV and whole-animal in pigs. Diet had no effect on energy expenditure. The HF diet reduced portal glucose, VFA and essential AA absorption and insulin production. Enzyme supplementation improved portal glucose and VFA absorption, but not essential AA absorption and insulin production. Overall, improvements in nutrient utilization due to enzyme supplementation did not improve the growth rate of pigs, which appears to be due to the lack of enzyme effect on essential AA and energy use by the PDV and insulin production
October 2016

This research project investigated a method to promote one low-fat, high-fiber choice in a national chain fast-food restaurant. It is an extension of efforts toward large-scale dietary change. A procedural extension of a prompting strategy was used in an attempt to influence customers to choose a salad. A simple visual and print message based on themes derived from formative and pilot research at the restaurant was presented during two intervention phases of a reversal design. The message, "Be Fit and Healthy; Eat a Low-fat SALAD as Your Meal or Add a Side Salad," was displayed in colorful posters and tent cards which were placed on all the tables. Data from a comparison base in a neighboring town were obtained. A one-month follow-up phase was included in the design. Prices and in-store advertisements were identical in both locations. The existing computerized cash register system was used to obtain accurate, objective data. Daily and weekly sales percentages of several entrees were obtained. Results of analysis using a correction procedure indicate that when graphically represented, salad sales across phases increased with the introduction of the prompts, and decreased with their removal. In addition, three entrees not represented by associated prompts remained stable across phases. For Salads-combined, results indicate that sales increased about 15% and 9%, respectively, for the first and second intervention phases. Daily temperature during this project was variable. Although a comparison site was used to control for the effects of weather, results indicate that salad prompting may have increased sales more during warmer temperature. Population demographics were recorded. Analyses of the customer population during this project indicate customers were about equal by gender, and consisted primarily of white, 18-39 years old individuals. The cost for each added salad bought during the intervention was about $.22, and the cost to raise the percent of salad sales, each percent, across the four weeks was about $16.00. Future research should attempt to foster longer term behavior change and integrate multifaceted promotions.
Master of Science

Forty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly placed in five groups with eight rats per group. Each group varied in dietary composition for fiber type and carbohydrate source. Groups one and two received oat fiber and either sucrose or corn starch as the carbohydrate source. Groups three and four received corn bran as the fiber source and either sucrose or corn starch as the carbohydrate source. Group five (considered the control group), received Purina standard rat chow. Analysis of variance showed only significant differences for food intake, and the control group had a significantly higher food intake. Weight gain, serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels showed no significant differences.

Three balance experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fiber on mineral balance and intestinal.morphology of growing pigs. Fiber sources were added to corn-soybean meal diets at levels which increased neutral-detergent fiber levels by 6 to 8%. In experiment 1, 10% oat hulls (OH) decreased Ca (P<.06) and Zn (P<.01) balances of pigs after a 7 d feeding period. Wheat bran (20%) increased Mg intake and balance (P<.02), but did not affect Ca and Zn balances. In experiment 2, pigs were fed diets (with or without supplements of Zn, Fe and Mg) containing 15% OH or soybean hulls (SH) for 5 d or 26 d. SH increased Fe intake and balance (P<.01) and ( Mg absorption (P<.01). Compared with balances at 5 d, Zn balance was similar, while Fe and Mg balances were higher at 26 d for pigs fed the basal (P<.05) or SH (P<.01) diets. However, Zn balance was lower (P<.05) at 26 d 1 but Fe balance did not change over time for pigs fed the OH diets. At each time period, Zn balance was not different between pigs fed the basal or high-fiber diets. In experiment 3, Ca, Zn and Mg absorption were not affected by 15% OH or SH or 20% alfalfa meal (AM) after 67 d or 39 d, although SH and AM increased Fe balance (P<.01). Intestinal surface morphology of 12 pigs fed in experiment 3 was examined by scanning electron microscopy. Villus morphology was variable in jejunum, ileum and colon, although evidence of villus blunting and folding accompanied by erosion of microvilli and loss of epithelial cells was observed in small intestine of some pigs fed the SH and AM diets. Damage was not consistent in all sites examined in individual pigs, and did not occur in all pigs fed any specific diets. Although Ca and Zn balances were decreased by OH in two of the balance trials, the inability of OH to consistently decrease mineral balance suggests that the ability of the pig to adapt to different diets may be sufficient to overcome the mild inhibitory effect on mineral absorption of some fiber sources. When viewed together, the results of the balance trials indicate that moderate amounts of dietary fiber have a minimal negative impact on mineral balance of pigs fed practical corn-soybean meal diets. However, the results also indicate that fiber sources such as SH and AM, are rich sources of some minerals for the pig, particularly Fe. Evidence of intestinal damage was evident in pigs fed the high-fiber diets. However, not all animals fed a particular diet were affected, which suggests that some pigs within a given population may be susceptible to detrimental effects of dietary fiber on intestinal structure or function.
Ph. D.

Estudos in situ comumente são conduzidos com pequeno número de animais, existindo poucos trabalhos enfocando o impacto da variabilidade animal sobre seus resultados. O objetivo deste estudo foi explorar o efeito da variabilidade animal sobre as taxas fracionais de degradação (kd) de MS, FDN, FDA e CEL de forragens. Foi conduzido experimento utilizando trinta novilhos Nelore portadores de cânula ruminal (372 ± 16,02 kg P.V.). Dieta 1, todos os animais receberam dieta contendo 100% feno de Coast-cross + sal mineral, ambos ad libitum. Na Dieta 2, todos os animais receberam dieta com 88% de bagaço de cana in natura, 8% de farelo de soja, 2,8% de premix mineral e 1,2% de uréia. Em ambos os períodos foram incubadas amostras de feno de Coast-cross (Fc) (7,31% PB; 78,24% FDN; 40,92% FDA), bagaço de cana-de-açuçar (BAG) (3,04% PB; 90,31% FDN; 69,36% FDA) e feno Tifton-85 (Ft) (13,32% PB; 73,27% FDN; 39,29% FDA) em sacos de poliamida (10 cm x 20 cm; 30 ± 10 μm porosidade) nos tempos 0, 12, 24, 48, 72 e 144 h. Os sacos foram suspensos no saco ventral do rúmen em ordem reversa e removidos simultaneamente no tempo zero. Os teores de MS, FDN, FDA e lignina nos resíduos foram determinados por química líquida e a CEL foi calculada por subtração do teor de lignina da fração do FDA. A cinética de degradação ruminal de MS, FDN, FDA e CEL foram calculadas de acordo com o modelo não linear Y(t) = a + b (1 - e(-kd × t) ); onde t >= 0. As atividades de comportamento ingestivo (ingestão, ruminação, ingestão de água e ócio) foram registradas em intervalos de 10 minutos durante 24 horas. Análise de Componentes Principais foi utilizada para determinar a correlação entre substratos; Análise Fatorial para caracterizar a população de animais (P<0,05); Análise de Agrupamento e Contrastes Multivariados para compor grupos dentro da população (P<0,01) e Análise de Correlação Canônica para determinar correlação entre kd e comportamento ingestivo (P<0,01). Simulação entre número de animais e coeficiente de variação (CV) foi realizada na tentativa de estimar a quantidade adequada de repetições para estes estudos. As médias de kd para MS, FDN, FDA e CEL foram: 3,26; 3,29; 3,44 e 3,54 para Fc; 3,74; 3,88; 4,07 e 4,49 para Ft; e 2,67; 2,68; 2,58 e 2,65 para BAG respectivamente. Foram compostos três níveis de kd para Fc e Ft (alto, médio e baixo) e quatro para BAG (alto, médio alto, médio baixo e baixo). O CV é adequado para mensuração da precisão do ensaio, sendo mais indicado o índice de variação (IV). Em ambas as fases, para todos os substratos, não houve correlação entre kd e comportamento ingestivo. As diferentes correlações de kd entre substratos para as duas fases, demonstra a influência da dieta ofertada sobre o kd. O estudo da variabilidade e o IV indicam que o número de animais é dependente do substrato avaliado, porém o estudo da variabilidade demonstra que os indivíduos que compõe este número são distintos entre dietas.
In situ studies are general carried out with a few number of animals and there are few trials that inquire the impact of animal variability on these results. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of animal population variability on fractional disappearance rate (kd) of DM, NDF, ADF and cellulose (CEL). Experiment using thirty ruminally canullated Nellore bulls (372 ± 16.02 kg BW) was carried over. In phase 1, all animals received 100% Coast-cross hay with mineral mix ad libitum. In period 2, all animals received a diet containing 88% sugarcane bagasse, 8% soybean meal, 2.8% mineral mix and 1.2% urea (DM basis). In both trials, representative samples of Coast-cross hay (CCH - 7.31% CP, 78.24% NDF, 40.92% ADF), sugarcane bagasse (BAG - 3.04% CP, 90.31% NDF, 69.36% ADF) and Tifton-85 hay (TH - 13.32% CP, 73.27% NDF, 39.29% ADF) were incubated in polyamide-bags (10 cm × 20 cm; 30 ± 10 μm pore size) for 0, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 144 h. Bags were suspended in the rumen ventral sac before at feeding in reverse order and removed simultaneously at time zero. Residual DM, NDF, ADF, and lignin were determined by wet chemistry. Cellulose (CEL) was calculated as ADF minus lignin. Ruminal degradation kinetics of DM, NDF, ADF, and CEL were calculated using a nonlinear model Y(t) = a + b (1 - e(-kd × t) ); where t >= 0. Feeding behavior parameters (eating, ruminating, water drinking and idling) were recorded every 10 minutes during 24 h. Principal component analysis was used to determine correlation of variables among substrates. Factorial Analysis was used to characterize animal population (P<0.05), Cluster with Multivariate Contrasts (P<0.01) to analyze differences in kd groups and Multivariate Canonical correlation analysis (P<0.05) to correlate kd with feeding behavior parameters. A simulation with number of animals was done against coefficient of variation (CV) to determinate optimum number of animals in an in situ assay. The kd (average) of DM, NDF, ADF, and CEL were: 3.26, 3.29, 3.44 and 3.54 for CCH; 3.74, 3.88, 4.07 and 4.49 for TH; and 2.67, 2.68, 2.58 and 2.65 for BAG, respectively. There was no correlation among substrates in both periods. Were found three groups of kd for CCH and TH (high, medium and low) and four groups for BAG (high, medium-high, medium, and low). CV is not adequate to measure experimental precision, instead it, variation index is indicated (VI). In both incubations phases, there was no relationship between feeding behavior and kd, for all incubated forages sources. The kd correlations among substrates between two incubation phases were different, indicating influence of the diet on kd. Variability investigation and VI parameter indicate that the number of animals necessary in these trials is affected by the substrate incubated. However, the variability investigation suggests that probably different animals compose this number.

Factors that stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle include AMPK, calcium, and circulating FFAs. Chronic treatment with either AICAR, a chemical activator of AMPK, or increasing circulating FFAs with a high fat diet increases mitochondria in rat skeletal muscle. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the combination of chronic chemical activation of AMPK and high fat feeding would have an additive effect on skeletal muscle mitochondria levels. We treated Wistar male rats with a high fat diet (HF), AICAR injections (AICAR), or a high fat diet and AICAR injections (HF+AICAR) for six weeks. At the end of the treatment period, markers of mitochondrial content were examined in white quadriceps, red quadriceps, and soleus muscles, predominantly composed of unique muscle-fiber types. In white quadriceps, there was a cumulative effect of treatments on LCAD, cytochrome c, and PGC-α protein, as well as on citrate synthase and β-HAD activity. In contrast, no additive effect was noted in the soleus and in the red quadriceps only β-HAD activity increased additively. The additive increase of mitochondrial markers observed in the white quadriceps may be explained by a combined effect of two separate mechanisms: high fat diet-induced post transcriptional increase in PGC-α protein and AMPK mediated increase in PGC-α protein via a transcriptional mechanism. These data show that chronic chemical activation of AMPK and a high fat diet have a muscle type specific additive effect on markers of fatty acid oxidation, the citric acid cycle, the electron transport chain, and transcriptional regulation.

This experiment was conducted to determine the effects of corn silage hybrids and nonforage fiber sources (NFFS) in high forage diets formulated with high dietary proportion of alfalfa hay (AH) and corn silage (CS) on ruminal fermentation and productive performance by early lactating dairy cows. Eight multiparous Holstein cows (4 ruminally fistulated) averaging 36 ± 6.2 d in milk were used in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Cows were fed 1 of 4 dietary treatments during each of the four 21-d periods. Treatments were: 1) conventional corn silage (CCS)-based diet without NFFS, 2) CCS-based diet with NFFS, 3) brown midrib corn silage (BMRCS)-based diet without NFFS, and 4) BMRCS-based diet with NFFS. Diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Sources of NFFS consisted of ground soyhulls and pelleted beet pulp to replace a portion of AH and CS in the diets. In vitro 30-h NDF degradability was greater for BRMCS than CCS (42.3 vs. 31.2%). Neither CS hybrids nor NFFS affected intake of DM and nutrients. Digestibility of N, NDF, and ADF tended to be greater for cows consuming CCS-based diets. Milk yield was not influenced by CS hybrids and NFFS. However, a tendency for an interaction between CS hybrids and NFFS occurred with increasing milk yield due to feeding NFFS with the BMRCS-based diets. Yields of milk fat and 3.5% FCM decreased when feeding the BMRCS-based diet, and there was a tendency for an interaction between CS hybrids and NFFS by further decreased milk fat concentration because of feeding NFFS with BMRCS-based diet. Although feed efficiency (milk/DM intake) was not affected by corn silage hybrids and NFFS, there was an interaction between CS hybrids and NFFS because feed efficiency increased when NFFS was fed only with BMRCS-based diet. Total VFA production and individual molar proportion were not affected by diets. Dietary treatments did not influence ruminal pH profiles except that duration (h/d) of pH < 5.8 decreased when NFFS was fed in CCS-based diet but not in a BMRCS-based diet, causing a tendency for an interaction between CS hybrids and NFFS. Overall measurements in our study reveal that high forage NDF concentration (20% DM on average) may eliminate potentially positive effects of BMRCS. In the high forage diets, NFFS exerted limited effects on productive performance when they replaced AH and CS. Although the high quality AH provided adequate NDF (38.3% DM) for optimal rumen fermentative function, the low NDF concentration of the AH and the overall forage particle size reduced physically effective fiber and milk fat concentration.

This study was aimed to assess the effect of fecal inocula from horses fed on concentrate (restricted amount daily) and oat straw (ad libitum) supplemented with fibrolytic enzymes on in vitro hindgut activity. Cellulase (CE), xylanase (XY) and CE+XY (1:1 v/v; CX) were tested at three levels (μL/g DM): 0, 1 and 3, in addition to control without enzyme addition (EP0). Fecal inocula were collected from 16 Quarter Horse mares supplemented with enzyme at 0 (FCOwithout enzyme), or fed 10 ml enzyme/mare/day of CE (FCE), XY (FXY) or CE+XY (1:1 v/v; FCX) for 15 days. The fecal content mixed with the culture media were used for incubation in bottles containing 1 g DM of substrate (a mixture of concentrate and oat straw (1:1 DM)). Gas (GP), methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) productions were measured at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 24 and 48 h post-incubation. Interactions occurred (P˂0.05) between fecal type × enzyme product for the asymptotic GP, the rate of GP, CH4 production, and fermentation kinetic parameters. Moreover, interactions were observed (P˂0.05) between fecal type × enzyme product × enzyme dose for the rate of GP, CH4 production and DM digestibility. Xylanase at 3 μL/g DM with FXY fecal increased (P˂0.05) the asymptotic GP and calculated fermentation parameters. At 24 h and 48 h and without enzyme, FCX and FXY, respectively, had the highest (P˂0.05) CH4 production. It can be concluded that xylanase enzyme at 3 μL/g DM was the most effective compared to other treatments.

碩士
國立臺灣大學
環境工程學研究所
104
Cellulose is one of the highly abundant organic compounds on earth, which may be one of the alternative energy resources. Cellulose can be chemically or biologically degraded into simple sugars, which can be used to generate bioenergy such as ethanol and hydrogen. Chemical hydrolysis of cellulose requires high energy input. Therefore, bio-degradation may be a feasible process. The objective of the study is to isolate and identify cellulose-saccharifying microorganisms from rat cecum fed with high-fiber diets. A Sprague Dawley (SD) rat was fed with high fiber diets for 6 months. Mandel-Reese (MR) media with sodium carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the sole carbon source, was used to enrich cellulolytic microbes. Congo red overlay method was used to select the cellulose-degrading colonies on the isolation plates. The congo red-positive colonies were inoculated into MR media with CMC, and the reducing sugar were measured by 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) colorimetric method. Enrichment culture RCF (rat cecum colony F), the one with highest CMC-saccharifying rate, was selected for crystalline cellulose-saccharifying tests and further studies. The whole-genome sequencing result from the 30-day-incubation RCF culture showed a community of bacteria consisted with four Clostridium spp., Desulfotomaculum ruminis (D. ruminis), Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudoflavonifractor capillosus (P. capillosus) and Cellulomonas cellasea. In addition, time-coursed reducing sugar concentrations from α-cellulose indicated that microbial community RCF consumed more reducing sugars than it produced within 8 days of incubation. According to previous studies, Clostridium spp. were most likely to be cellulolytic and D. ruminis, E. coli and Enterobacter aerogenes were speculated to be non-cellulolytic in this microbial community. In order to enhance the sugar yields from crystalline cellulose, α-cellulose, three treatments based on the characteristics of community were conducted: antibiotic, heat and alcohol treatments. Nalidixic acid, an antibiotic against gram-negative bacteria, was used to inhibit D. ruminis, E. coli and Enterobacter aerogenes. Heat and alcohol were applied to favor spore formers, Clostridium spp. and D. ruminis. Species- distribution with time was analyzed using real-time PCR and 16S ribosome RNA gene amplicon sequencing. Amongst these three treatments, antibiotic enhanced the sugar yield successfully. However, real-time PCR and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing results showed that both the microbial populations and fractions of Clostridum spp. were reduced substantially by antibiotic treatment. Three possible reasons for the sugar yield enhancement after antibiotic treatment were: 1. Antibiotic changed the Clostridium population structure into more cellulose-saccharifying community. 2. Antibiotic treatment provided the competitive advantage of minor microorganism having high cellulose-saccharifying ability. 3. The predicted non-cellulolytic E. coli could perform cellulosic saccharification.

碩士
國立屏東科技大學
食品科學系所
97
Because of the special needs of a psychotic patient during the treatment phase where space is limited, the side effects of antipsychotic drugs plus the lack of exercise has increased the patient’s chance of obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other metabolism related problems. This experiment seeks to evaluate the effectiveness of low-calorie, high fiber food in helping patients on First generation antipsychotic drug (FGA) or Second generation antipsychotic drug (SGA) to reduce their body weight increase or metabolic syndrome. The individual results did show the difference in the calories and fiber intake between the Comparison Group and Experimental Group is statically significant (P<0.05), and the weight and waist show correlation with the fiber intake (p<0.05)；The HDL of blood did show a statically significant difference correlated with the type of antipsychotic (p<0.05)；Through this experiment, upon a closer inspection of the individual diet, medicine intake, we conclude that under antipsychotic medication, the subjects under a high fiber low calorie diet did maintain or decrease their body weight. From this we conclude that the proper intake of high fiber/low calorie foods can mediate the metabolic illnesses as a side effect of SGA. Keywords: schizophrenia, dietary fiber, metabolic syndrome, obesity

碩士
臺北醫學大學
保健營養學系
93
The aim of this study is to investigate whether high fiber oats-containing meal replacements intervention is more effective than traditional foods on weight management.Twenty-one obese subjects (Body Mass Index: BMI≧30kg/m2) were recruited and divided into 2 groups. Subjects in group 1-G1(n=10, age 44.8±11.2 yrs, BMI 31.0±2.8 Kg/ m2)experienced 6 weeks meal replacement(MR) in the first phase , and traditional low-calorie diet(TF) in the second phase. Subjects in group2-G2(N=11, age 42.1±12.7 yrs, BMI 30.8±3.6 Kg/ m2) were treated traditional low-calorie diet(TF) at first 6wks, continuously were treated meal replacements at the last 6 wks.When compared the differences of anthropometric data during the first 6 weeks, subjects in G1 showed the significantly decreased in body weight, body fat percentage, BMI and WHR (waist-hip- ratio) (p＜0.001). However, only the body weight and BMI were significantly reduced in G2 at the first 6 weeks (p＜0.01). Furthermore, the plasma cholesterol content was also significantly lower than that of beginning in both groups. Besides, GOT,GPT and systolic blood pressures (p＜0.05) significantly decreased were founded in G1 at the first 6 weeks. In conclusion, high fiber oats-containing meal replacements are more effective than traditional foods on weight management at the beginning period. Key words: oats-containing meal replacements, traditional low-calorie diet, body weight, body fat percentage, BMI, WHR

碩士
中山醫學大學
營養學系碩士班
100
Previous studies have shown that konjac glucomannan (KGM) and inulin beneficially modulated bowel movement, microflora, short chain fatty acid production, and reduce toxin formation and fecal water toxicity. Therefore, we hypothesized that konjac glucomannan and inulin could protect the large intestine from colorectal carcinogenesis. The Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan indicates a trend of high-fat low-fiber dietary habit, which could lead to greater risk for colon cancer. In order to determine the role of dietary fibers on prevention of colorectal cancer occurrence and progression, we investigated effects of konjac glucomannan and inulin supplementation into a high-fat low-fiber diet on an azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer rodent model. C57B/6J male mice (6 weeks of age) were randomly divided into the following groups: vehicle (saline i.p., once per week for 7 weeks) control (high-fat 20% corn oil, low-fiber 1% cellulose diet), and AOM (10 mg/kg BW) groups that were fed control, L-KGM (2.5% w/w), H-KGM, L-Inulin group or H-Inulin diet. Mice were sacrificed after 30 and 45 weeks, respectively. The precancerous indicators—aberrant crypt foci (ACF), antioxidant indicators (DNA damage of peripheral blood mononuclear cell, blood lipid peroxide concentration), blood cytokine concentration (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6, IL-10) and the intestinal factors (fecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations, fecal bacteria) were determined. Results indicated that the number and multiplicity of ACF in the distal colon were enhanced with AOM injection, which was significantly lowered in fiber-supplemented groups. Low and high levels of KGM or inulin supplement significantly reduced the DNA damage of peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) levels and promoted the plasma anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 levels. Either level of KGM or inulin supplement increased the fecal Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. concentrations, and inhibited the Clostridium spp. concentration. Therefore, these results suggest that KGM and inulin may reduce the occurrence and progression of colon carcinogenesis since the initiation stage through the regulation of intestinal microflora metabolism and inflammatory responses.

Feed withdrawal is commonly used by commercial egg producers to induce molt and stimulate multiple egg-laying cycles in their flocks. However, the practice can compromise the welfare of the birds by elevating stress, suppressing the immune response and causing abnormal behavior. An alternate molt diet was examined using alfalfa diets, and a series of experiments were conducted to evaluate the physiological, immunological and behavioral responses of laying hens fed these diets. We assessed the changes in the levels of blood plasma metabolites after hens were challenged with 106 colony forming units of Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). Hens fed alfalfa diets displayed similar (P ≥ 0.05) levels of cholesterol, glucose, and total protein when compared to full-fed hens. Reduced levels (P ≤ 0.05) of triglycerides were observed in the alfalfa fed and feed withdrawal hens when compared to the full-fed hens. The immune responses of SE challenged laying hens fed alfalfa diets showed similar (P ≥ 0.05) heterophil to lymphocyte ratios (H: L) to full-fed hens whereas the feed withdrawal hens displayed elevated (P ≤ 0.05) H: L ratios. The feed withdrawal hens displayed reduced (P ≤ 0.05) levels of serum IgY early in the trial when compared to the alfalfa and full-fed hens. The alfalfa fed hens displayed lower levels of acid α glycol protein than the feed withdrawal hens and higher levels than the full-fed early during the trial but returned to levels that were similar (P ≥ 0.05) to the full-fed hens. The hens fed alfalfa diets displayed elevated non-nutritive pecking behavior early in the trial however, this behavior declined to levels similar (P ≥ 0.05) to the full-fed hens by the end of the trial. No differences in aggressive behavior were observed between the alfalfa fed hens and the full-fed hens. Hafnium chloride did not effectively mark the alfalfa diet; however, it can be used to track the passage of corn-soy layer ration. This research suggests that the application of alfalfa as an alternative molt diet can be effective in reducing potentially harmful effects which are usually associated with feed withdrawal.

Aging, obesity and increased waist circumference (WC) increases risk for metabolic syndrome (MetS). MetS is a cluster of symptoms (elevated WC, triglycerides, blood pressure, fasting glucose, and decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) increasing risk for chronic disease. Low-energy dense (LED) diets, emphasizing whole food eating patterns, have not been examined in combination with moderate (mod)/high-intensity physical activity (PA) or dietary protein levels to determine their impact on changes in body weight (BW) and WC in premenopausal, abdominally obese women. PURPOSE: To determine the effect of two 16-wk diet and PA interventions, differing in protein intake, on BW, WC, MetS risk factors, dietary patterns, energy density (ED), and min of Mod-Hi PA. METHODS: Healthy, abdominally obese (WC≥80cm) women (n=38; 34±10y) were randomly assigned to either a 15 or 25% (+18 g/d whey protein) en from protein diet. Individualized LED diets plans decreased energy intake (EI) by ~300kcal/d; PA 5 d/wk (30-60 min/d) consisted of supervised, high-intensity Zumba classes 3d/wk (≥65%HRmax; ≥6METs) and self-selected mod-intensity PA (≥3METs) 2d/wk. Servings of fruits/vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat/fat-free dairy (LFD), fiber, high calorie beverages (BEV), ED, and PA were monitored before (T1), during (T2) and after (T3) the intervention using repeated measures ANOVA. Bonferroni simultaneous testing procedure was used in analysis of multiple comparisons. RESULTS: At T1, groups did not differ in dietary patterns, PA, BW, WC, or MetS risk. Groups responded similarly to the interventions so data were combined, with BW and WC decreasing (p<0.0001) by -4.8±2.7kg and -7.1±3.6cm, respectively. Comparing T1 vs. T2, there were increases (p<0.0001) in fruits/vegetables, (Δ=+1.5 ser/d), whole grains (Δ=+1.0 ser/d), LFD (Δ=+0.5 ser/d), fiber (Δ=+5.7g/1000 kcal), and decreases in BEV (Δ=-165 kcal/d) and ED (Δ=-0.55 kcal/g). During the intervention high-intensity Zumba PA was 87min/wk; total min of all mod-intensity PA increased by 75 min/d (p<0.0001); VO2max improved from 29.3±4.7 (T1) to 34.4±5.3 (T3) mL/kg/min (p<0.0001). Triglycerides significantly decreased (-24±52 mg/dl; p=0.006), no other significant changes occurred in MetS risk factors. Exploratory analysis indicated that increases in fruits/vegetables and LFD, and decreases ED were associated with BW loss, while increases in whole grains, fiber, LFD, and min/wk of high-intensity PA (Zumba) were associated with WC reductions. CONCLUSION: For abdominally obese women, an intervention focused on LED foods and high-intensity PA significantly reduced BW and WC and improved dietary patterns regardless of protein intake. Helping clients identify a few key factors that positively promote reductions in BW and WC may improve weight loss success, while reducing MetS risk factors.
Graduation date: 2012