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Importance of cereal phytase activity for phytate phosphorus utilization by growing pigs fed diets containing triticale or corn.

In contrast to corn, wheat and triticale exhibit high phytase activities. This enzyme enhances phytic phosphorus availability, as demonstrated in pigs given wheat diets. To study the utilization of triticale phosphorus in pigs, the importance of dietary phytase content and the mineral and bone disorders related to high phytate feeding, a nutritional experiment was carried out in 12 growing pigs fed either a corn- or a triticale-based diet for 6 wk. The diets were almost identical except for the cereal component; their phosphorus contents were low (0.4%) and mainly phytic. The following parameters were measured: calcium and phosphorus balances, bone and plasma contents of calcium and phosphorus, plasma vitamin D metabolites and parathyroid hormone (PTH), bone bending moments and intestinal phosphatase activities. Both diets provoked a phosphorus deficiency, but hypophosphatemia occurred less rapidly, hypercalciuria and hypophosphaturia were less marked and phosphorus availability was greater when the triticale diet was fed. This was attributed to the high phytase content of triticale because intestinal phytase and alkaline phosphatase activities were similar in pigs fed either diet. Calcium absorption was not modified by calcium retention was greater for pigs fed triticale and led to higher bone scores. In conclusion, the higher the phytase activity of the diet, the greater the phytate P availability and the lower the bone-mineral disorders.

6-Phytase↗

Metabolizable energy of diets low or high in dietary fiber from cereals when eaten by humans.

The metabolizable energy (ME) of two diets that differed in their content of dietary fiber (DF) from cereal products was measured in balance experiments in six human subjects. DF intake was 19.7 g/d with the low fiber diet and 48.3 g/d with the high fiber diet. Daily gross energy intakes were 2114 kcal (8845 kJ) and 2341 kcal (9795 kJ)/d with the low and the high fiber diets, respectively. DF contributed 83 kcal (347 kJ) and 203 kcal (849 kJ) to daily gross energy intake with the low and the high fiber diets, respectively, when heat of combustion of DF of 4.2 kcal (17.6 kJ)/g was assumed. Increasing the intake of DF resulted in an increase in stool weight and a greater fecal energy loss. Total energy losses were 253 kcal (1056 kJ) and 409 kcal (1711 kJ)/d with the low and the high fiber diets, respectively. ME provided by the low and the high fiber diet were 1861 kcal (7786 kJ) and 1932 kcal (8083 kJ)/d. The total increase in energy losses due to the increase in DF consumption exceeded the gross energy provided by additional DF. Compared with the low fiber diet, ME provided by protein and fat was decreased during the high fiber diet. Calculation of the apparent digestibility of DF indicated that fiber may have provided ME in the form of short-chain fatty acids during the low as well as during the high fiber intake. However, estimation of the amount of fecal gross energy indicated that available components of the diet, such as starch, must have been utilized incompletely during both experimental periods.

Adult↗

Oat, wheat or corn cereal ingestion before exercise alters metabolism in humans.

This study was designed to determine metabolic and physical performance responses to ingestion of pre-exercise meals with different macronutrient and fiber profiles. Twelve physically active subjects (6 males and 6 females) were used to investigate the metabolic and physical performance consequences of consuming pre-exercise meals consisting of oat, corn, or wheat cereals. A fasting trial served as the control, and all subjects received each treatment in a Latin-square design. Blood samples were drawn before and 85 min after meal ingestion, during 90 min of cycling exercise (60% VO2peak), after a 6.4 km performance ride, and during 60 min of recovery. Expired air samples were collected to determine nutrient utilization. Resting carbohydrate oxidation rates and plasma insulin concentrations after oat ingestion were less than after wheat, and corn and wheat ingestion, respectively (P < 0.05). During exercise, the change in plasma glucose from pre-exercise was greater after consuming wheat and corn compared with oat (P < 0.05), and it was inversely related to pre-exercise plasma insulin concentration (r = -0.55, P = 0.0001). Plasma free fatty acid concentrations were inversely related to plasma lactate concentrations (r = -0.58, P = 0.0001). Free fatty acid concentrations and fat oxidation were greater in fasting trials than all others, but performance ride times did not differ among treatments. Plasma branched-chain amino acid concentrations resembled their respective meal profiles throughout exercise, the performance ride, and recovery. These results indicate that pre-exercise meal composition can influence glucose homeostasis during early exercise and plasma branched-chain amino acid concentrations over a substantial range of metabolic demands.

Adult↗

Dietary stearic acid reduces cholesterol absorption and increases endogenous cholesterol excretion in hamsters fed cereal-based diets.

The observation that dietary stearic acid does not raise plasma cholesterol concentration is well documented, although the regulating mechanisms are not completely understood. Therefore, we examined the effect of dietary stearic acid on cholesterol absorption and sterol balance using male Syrian hamsters fed modified NIH-07 cereal-based diets selectively enriched in palmitic acid (16:0), stearic acid (18:0), trans fatty acid (18:1t), cis oleic acid (18:1c) or linoleic acid (18:2). All diets contained 17 g/100 g total fat and 0.05 g/100 g cholesterol; the five fat blends were enriched 30% with the fatty acid of interest above a constant fatty acid background. Cholesterol absorption efficiency was 50-55% in all treatment groups except for the 18:0 group, in which cholesterol absorption was significantly reduced to 21%. Plasma total cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in the 18:0 group compared to the 16:0 group. Fecal neutral steroid excretion was significantly greater in hamsters fed the high 18:0 diet compared to the other treatment groups. After accounting for unabsorbed dietary cholesterol, endogenous cholesterol excretion was about 100% higher in the 18:0 group. Consequently, the calculated rate of whole body cholesterol synthesis was significantly increased by dietary 18:0. Bile acid excretion accounted for only 12-20% of total sterol output by the hamsters in this study. Thus, the data suggest that reduced plasma cholesterol concentration in hamsters fed high 18:0 diets may be influenced by reduced cholesterol absorption and increased excretion of endogenous cholesterol.

Analysis of Variance↗

Cereal alkylresorcinols are absorbed by humans.

Currently there is no biomarker to link consumption of whole grain cereals and their observed health benefits. A candidate for a biomarker of whole grain wheat and rye intake is a class of phenolic lipids, the alkylresorcinols (AR). Studies to determine the uptake of AR in humans were carried out with a low fiber diet based on white wheat bread (AR free) and a high fiber diet based on rye bran-enriched bread (AR rich). For each diet, two meal frequencies were used: nibbling (7 small meals/d) and ordinary (3 large meals/d). Ten human ileostomy-operated subjects started with the AR-free diet for 2 wk, wk 1 on either nibbling or ordinary and wk 2 on the other meal frequency in a crossover design, followed by a 1-wk washout period, before the AR-rich diet performed as the AR-free diet. Food and ileostomy samples were analyzed for AR. Approximately 40% of AR were recovered in effluent from the small intestine, indicating that 60% of AR are taken up from or converted in the small intestine (ileal digestibility) with no difference between nibbling and ordinary meal frequencies. AR absorbed by humans may be of importance as bioactive compounds, or as a biomarker of whole grain wheat and rye intake.

Adult↗

Use of the affinity/HPLC method for quantitative estimation of folic acid in enriched cereal-grain products.

In 1998, the United States introduced mandatory fortification of enriched cereal-grain products with folic acid to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects. As a consequence, substantial amounts of folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, were added to the American diet, and the ability to assess folic acid intake took on greater importance. The purpose of the current study was to separate and quantify folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the most prominent naturally occurring folate in fortified foods, with a reliable and robust method. Folates were heat-extracted from food samples. A trienzyme treatment (alpha-amylase, rat plasma conjugase, and protease) was applied to the extracts followed by purification by affinity chromatography. Folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate were separated and quantified by reversed-phase HPLC with fluorescence and UV detection. A gradient elution with phosphate buffer and acetonitrile was used to separate the different forms of folates. The method gave a linear response in a range of 0.1-3 mumol/L and 0.0125-0.25 mumol/L for folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, respectively. These ranges were similar to the expected levels in the samples. The CV of the peak areas of folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate for 5 commercial wheat flour samples extracted and run separately on the same day was 2.0 and 5.7% and, run over 5 consecutive days, was 7.2 and 7.3%, respectively. Total folate values in 45 samples of fortified food measured by HPLC and by the traditional microbiological assay demonstrated a high correlation (r(2) = 0.986).

Chromatography, Affinity↗

Malate metabolism and reactions of oxidoreduction in cold-hardened winter rye (Secale cereale L.) leaves.

In cold-hardened leaves (CHL) of winter rye (Secale cereale L.) much higher levels of malate were detected by (13)C-NMR than in non-hardened leaves (NHL). As this was not observed previously, malate metabolism of CHL was studied in more detail by biochemical assays. The activities of several enzymes of malate metabolism, NADP-malate dehydrogenase, NAD-malate dehydrogenase, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, and NADP-malic enzyme, were also increased in CHL. Short exposures to low temperature of 1-3 d did not induce increases in the malate content or in the activities of enzymes of malate metabolism in mature NHL. The malate content and the enzyme activities declined within 1-2 d after a transfer of CHL from their growing temperature of 4 degrees C to 22 degrees C. The malate content was further increased when CHL were exposed to a higher light intensity at 4 degrees C. In CO(2)-free air the malate content of CHL strongly declined at 4 degrees C. Malate may thus serve as an additional carbon sink and as a CO(2)-store in CHL. It may further function as a vacuolar osmolyte balancing increased concentrations of soluble sugars previously observed in the cytosol of CHL. Malate was not used as a source of reductants when CHL were exposed to photo-oxidative stress by treatment with paraquat. However, the activities of enzymes of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway were markedly increased in CHL and may serve as non-photosynthetic sources of NADPH and thus contribute to the previously observed superior capacity of CHL of winter rye to maintain their antioxidants in a reduced state in the presence of paraquat.

Acclimatization↗

Approaches to increasing the salt tolerance of wheat and other cereals.

This review describes physiological mechanisms and selectable indicators of gene action, with the aim of promoting new screening methods to identify genetic variation for increasing the salt tolerance of cereal crops. Physiological mechanisms that underlie traits for salt tolerance could be used to identify new genetic sources of salt tolerance. Important mechanisms of tolerance involve Na+ exclusion from the transpiration stream, sequestration of Na+ and Cl- in the vacuoles of root and leaf cells, and other processes that promote fast growth despite the osmotic stress of the salt outside the roots. Screening methods for these traits are discussed in relation to their use in breeding, particularly with respect to wheat. Precise phenotyping is the key to finding and introducing new genes for salt tolerance into crop plants.

Edible Grain↗

Gramene: a bird's eye view of cereal genomes.

Rice, maize, sorghum, wheat, barley and the other major crop grasses from the family Poaceae (Gramineae) are mankind's most important source of calories and contribute tens of billions of dollars annually to the world economy (FAO 1999, http://www.fao.org; USDA 1997, http://www.usda.gov). Continued improvement of Poaceae crops is necessary in order to continue to feed an ever-growing world population. However, of the major crop grasses, only rice (Oryza sativa), with a compact genome of approximately 400 Mbp, has been sequenced and annotated. The Gramene database (http://www.gramene.org) takes advantage of the known genetic colinearity (synteny) between rice and the major crop plant genomes to provide maize, sorghum, millet, wheat, oat and barley researchers with the benefits of an annotated genome years before their own species are sequenced. Gramene is a one stop portal for finding curated literature, genetic and genomic datasets related to maps, markers, genes, genomes and quantitative trait loci. The addition of several new tools to Gramene has greatly facilitated the potential for comparative analysis among the grasses and contributes to our understanding of the anatomy, development, environmental responses and the factors influencing agronomic performance of cereal crops. Since the last publication on Gramene database by D. H. Ware, P. Jaiswal, J. Ni, I. V. Yap, X. Pan, K. Y. Clark, L. Teytelman, S. C. Schmidt, W. Zhao, K. Chang et al. [(2002), Plant Physiol., 130, 1606-1613], the database has undergone extensive changes that are described in this publication.

Arabidopsis↗

Prediction of the effect of enzymes on chick performance when added to cereal-based diets: use of a modified log-linear model.

A previous study demonstrated that a log equation could be used to predict the relationship between the amount of a crude enzyme added to a diet and chick performance. The objective of the current study was to determine if a modification of the original equation, in conjunction with a computer program, would overcome some of its limitations. The modified equation was Y = A + B log (CX + 1), where Y is the estimated performance value; A is the intercept that represents the performance without enzyme supplementation; B, the slope of the equation (performance change per log unit of an enzyme in the diet), is a measure of an enzyme efficacy; C is an amplified factor; and X is the amount of enzyme in the diet. The results demonstrated that the new model more accurately predicted chick performance than that of the original equation with correlations (r) between chick performance and amount of different enzymes added to the diet ranging from r = 0.80 to 0.99 (P < 0.05). In addition, the same trends were found when the model was used to assess the efficacy of a given enzyme added to corn-, wheat-, barley-, and rye-based diets or for combinations of two dietary components (rye and wheat). The model proposed in this study provides a new means of assessing the overall efficacy of an enzyme preparation. This model could be routinely used by enzyme and livestock producers to establish the best combination of different cereals and enzymes so as to maximize net returns.

6-Phytase↗

An immunoreactive protein to wheat-germ agglutinin antibody is induced in oat roots following invasion of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae, and by jasmonate.

A protein that cross-reacts to a wheat-germ agglutinin antibody was induced in oat roots following the invasion of second-stage juveniles (J2) of the cereal cyst nematode Heterodera avenae. This protein, designated ASP45, was acid soluble, and its molecular mass was about 45 kDa on a sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel. ASP45 was induced in both compatible and incompatible interactions between the nematode and the plant, and also in roots by exposure to jasmonic acid (JA) or methyl jasmonate. However, ASP45 was not induced by elicitors of pathogenesis-related proteins, abscisic acid, or wounding. Lipoxygenase activity, which is involved in JA synthesis, was higher in nematode-infected and JA-treated roots than in their noninfected, untreated counterparts. Inhibition of lipoxygenase activity in roots abolished ASP45 induction in the nematode-infected roots. Amino acid sequences similar to that of ASP45 were found in chitinases of poplar tree and Arabidopsis, even though ASP45 showed no chitinase activity. Although the biological role of ASP45 in infected roots is not clear, JA is suggested to be involved in signal transduction after pathogen invasion of the plant.

Acetates↗

Comparison of a lactose-free cereal-based formula and cow's milk in infants and children with acute gastroenteritis.

Sixty children less than 2 years of age suffering from mild acute gastroenteritis with less than 5% dehydration were randomly assigned to two different isocaloric feeding regimens, viz., a locally prepared milk-free formulation (group A) of rice, lentil, sugar, and coconut oil and a spray dried commercial cow's milk formula (group B). There were two treatment failures in group A and one in group B. The postintervention duration of diarrhea (days) in group A (11.0 +/- 10.0) was higher than in group B (7.6 +/- 10.8), but these differences were not significant (p greater than 0.05). The energy intake (kcal/kg/24 h) on postintervention day 4 was 78.7 +/- 31.7 in group A and 101.3 +/- 41.1 in group B (p greater than 0.05). The corresponding values for day 7 were 74.2 +/- 29.1 and 110.0 +/- 41.1, respectively (p less than 0.05). The mean weight gain (g/kg/24 h) between admission and the day of recovery in group A (2.0 +/- 4.2) was significantly lower (p less than 0.05) than in group B (5.8 +/- 7.8). Similar trends in weight gain were observed at days 4 and 7. These findings suggest that a cow's milk-based formula is well tolerated by majority of the infants with mild acute gastroenteritis after initial rehydration with ORS. The infants who were fed the milk-free cereal-based diet showed significantly less energy intake and gained weight less rapidly than those who were fed the cow's milk-based formula.

Animals↗

The effect of sugar cereal with and without a mixed meal on glycemic response in children with diabetes.

The effect of sucrose consumption on glycemic control in children with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is unclear. Eight young subjects, 7-16 years of age, with a duration of diabetes of 2-8 years participated in this study. All subjects consumed four different breakfasts--oatmeal (OM) alone, oatmeal-sucrose (OMS), oatmeal-protein (OMP), and oatmeal with protein and sucrose (OMPS)--on four different days. Addition of sucrose resulted in a slightly greater area under the tolerance curve in 50% of the subjects; however, in 38% of subjects, the area decreased. The peak glucose level was lowest for OM, but there was no statistical difference in the peak levels of the four test meals. The most significant effect on glucose response was a delay in the peak time when protein was added to the meals. Peak times for OM and OMS (mean of 38 min) when fed alone were significantly (p less than 0.05, ANOVA) shorter when compared to the peak time for OMP and OMPS (mean of 54 min). The average recovery time for OMP was longest. Other indices (tolerance index and change of rise in blood glucose) measured were not significantly different among the test meals. This study demonstrates that adding limited sucrose to OM cereal has little effect on the blood glucose response in children with diabetes. Addition of protein and fat clearly delays the glycemic response.

Adolescent↗

Italian study on colorectal cancer with emphasis on influence of cereals.

To elucidate the influence of diet on colorectal carcinogenesis, 1225 subjects with cancer of the colon, 728 with cancer of the rectum and 4154 controls, hospitalized with acute non-neoplastic diseases, were interviewed between 1992 and 1996 in six Italian areas. The validated food frequency questionnaire included 79 questions on food items and recipes which were grouped into 16 food groups. After allowing for nondietary confounding factors and total energy intake, a significant trend towards an increasing risk of colorectal cancer with increasing intake was found for bread and cereal dishes (odds ratio for increase of one daily serving 1.11), cakes and desserts (odds ratio 1.02) and refined sugar (odds ratio 1.11). The intake of fish (odds ratio 0.53), raw and cooked vegetables (odds ratios 0.79 and 0.65, respectively) and fruit (odds ratio 0.93) showed an inverse association with risk. Wholemeal bread was consumed by only 12.5% of cases and 13.9% of controls and, at variance with refined bread, did not show a significant direct association with colorectal cancer risk (odds ratio 0.88). In view of these findings, current hypotheses on the carcinogenic effects of refined starchy foods and refined sugar should be revised to take into account the digestive physiology of carbohydrates and the possible relationship between insulin and colon cancer. The beneficial influence of most vegetables is confirmed, and a possible difference between refined and wholemeal bread is suggested.

Adult↗

The landscape context of cereal aphid-parasitoid interactions.

Analyses at multiple spatial scales may show how important ecosystem services such as biological control are determined by processes acting on the landscape scale. We examined cereal aphid-parasitoid interactions in wheat fields in agricultural landscapes differing in structural complexity (32-100% arable land). Complex landscapes were associated with increased aphid mortality resulting from parasitism, but also with higher aphid colonization, thereby counterbalancing possible biological control by parasitoids and lastly resulting in similar aphid densities across landscapes. Thus, undisturbed perennial habitats appeared to enhance both pests and natural enemies. Analyses at multiple spatial scales (landscape sectors of 0.5-6 km diameter) showed that correlations between parasitism and percentage of arable land were significant at scales of 0.5-2 km, whereas aphid densities responded to percentage of arable land at scales of 1-6 km diameter. Hence, the higher trophic level populations appeared to be determined by smaller landscape sectors owing to dispersal limitation, showing the 'functional spatial scale' for species-specific landscape management.

Animals↗

The omnivorous Tyrolean Iceman: colon contents (meat, cereals, pollen, moss and whipworm) and stable isotope analyses.

The contents of the colon of the Tyrolean Iceman who lived ca. 5300 years ago include muscle fibres, cereal remains, a diversity of pollen, and most notably that of the hop hornbeam (Ostrya carpinifolia) retaining cellular contents, as well as a moss leaf (Neckera complanata) and eggs of the parasitic whipworm (Trichuris trichiura). Based almost solely on stable isotope analyses and ignoring the work on the colon contents, two recently published papers on the Iceman's diet draw ill-founded conclusions about vegetarianism and even veganism. Neither the pollen nor the moss is likely to have been deliberately consumed as food by the Iceman. All the available evidence concerning the Iceman's broad-based diet is reviewed and the significance of the colon contents for matters other than assessment of food intake is outlined.

Bryopsida↗

beta-Amylases in Cereals : A Study of the Maize beta-Amylase System.

beta-Amylase of maize (Zea mays L.) caryopses was studied during development and germination by means of enzymic, electrophoretic, and immunochemical techniques. beta-Amylase activity increased during caryopsis development to a maximum value at the beginning of the water content plateau (at this stage the enzyme was located primarily within the pericarp) and then decreased. Almost no beta-amylase (activity or antigen) was found in either free or bound forms in the mature maize caryopsis. The activity increased again during seedling growth and reached much higher values. Both the aleurone layer (to a major extent) and the scutellum produced and secreted beta-amylase during germination, the secretion being stimulated by Ca(2+). No posttranslational modification of the enzyme was detected during germination. The molecular specific activity of the enzyme remained unchanged during the observed periods, indicating that the regulation of the activity is based essentially on protein turnover. The enzyme from developing and germinating caryopses was found to be identical in terms of antigenicity, isoelectric point, and molecular mass to the beta-amylases extracted from the roots and the leaves of the maize seedling. The maize beta-amylase resembles in all respects the ubiquitous beta-amylase described for rye and wheat, whereas the major beta-amylase of those cereals appears to be lacking in the maize caryopsis.

Journal Article↗

Endogenous rhythmicity of ethylene production in growing intact cereal seedlings.

Ethylene evolution from etiolated barley (Hordeum vulgare), wheat (Triticum aestivum), and rye (Secale cereale) seedlings during coleoptile growth followed a rhythmic pattern, with a period of about 16 h for barley and wheat and 12 h for rye seedlings. Leaf emergence disturbed the established rhythm of ethylene evolution.

Journal Article↗