Background: Mushrooms are widely cited for their medicinal qualities, yet very few human intervention studies have been done using contemporary guidelines. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether consumption of whole, dried Lentinula edodes (shiitake) mushrooms could improve human immune function. Primary objectives were to ascertain whether L. edodes consumption would improve γδ-T cell proliferation and activation responses, quantify a dose response, and elicit cytokine secretion patterns. Secondary objectives included determining changes in natural killer T (NK-T) cell proliferation and activation, secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in saliva, and C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum. Design: Fifty-two healthy males and females, aged 21–41 years, participated in a 4-week parallel group study, consuming either 5 or 10 g of mushrooms daily. Each subject had blood drawn before and after 4 weeks of daily L. edodes consumption. Saliva and serum were also collected. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured in autologous serum for 24 hours or 6 days, stained, and examined by flow cytometry. Results: Eating L. edodes for 4 weeks resulted in increased ex vivo proliferation of γδ-T (60% more, p < 0.0001) and NK-T (2-fold more, p < 0.0001) cells. Both cell types also demonstrated a greater ability to express activation receptors, suggesting that consuming mushrooms improved cell effector function. The increase in sIgA implied improved gut immunity. The reduction in CRP suggested lower inflammation. The pattern of cytokines secreted before and after mushroom consumption was significantly different; consumption resulted in increased interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1α levels, a decreased macrophage inflammatory protein-1α/chemokine C-C ligand 3 (MIP-1α/CCL3) level, and no change to IL-6, IL-1β, MIP-1β, IL-17 and interferon (IFN)-γ levels. Conclusions: Regular L. edodes consumption resulted in improved immunity, as seen by improved cell proliferation and activation and increased sIgA production. The changes observed in cytokine and serum CRP levels suggest that these improvements occurred under conditions that were less inflammatory than those that existed before consumption.

Background and Aims: Recent studies have proposed that if a severe caloric restriction (SCR) is initiated at the earliest period of postnatal life, it can lead to beneficial cardiac adaptations later on. We investigated the effects of SCR in Wistar rats from birth to adult age on risk factors for cardiac diseases (CD), as well as cardiac function, redox status and HSP72 content in response to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. Methods and Results: From birth to the age of 3 months, CR50 rats were fed 50% of the food that the ad libitum group (AL) was fed. Food intake was assessed daily and body weight were assessed weekly. In the last week of the SCR protocol, systolic blood pressure and heart rate were measured and the double product index was calculated. Also, oral glucose and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance tests were performed. Thereafter, rats were decapitated, visceral fat was weighed, and blood and hearts were harvested for biochemical, functional, tissue redox status and western blot analyzes. Compared to AL, CR50 rats had reduced the main risk factors for CD. Moreover, the FR50 rats showed increased cardiac function both at baseline conditions (45% > AL rats) and during the post-ischemic period (60% > AL rats) which may be explained by a decreased cardiac oxidative stress and increased HSP72 content. Conclusion: SCR from birth to adult age reduced risk factors for CD, increased basal cardiac function and protected hearts from the I/R, possibly by a mechanism involving ROS.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypolipidemic effects of Myrciaria cauliflora peel flour (MPF) in rats. Previously, it was determined the proximate composition, total phenolics, and anthocyanins of MPF. Then, groups of male rats were randomly assigned to one of the five treatment groups. The standard group received a basal diet as recommended by the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN93M). The control group (CTRL) received the AIN93M diet, which added 7% of pork lard. The jaboticaba groups had their diets similar to CTRL, but added MPF at 7 (JAB1), 10 (JAB2), or 15% (JAB3). Serum and liver cholesterol as well as serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (TG), and glucose were evaluated. Fecal output of lipids was also measured. MPF had expressive amounts of fibers (25.28±2.52 g/100 g), total phenolics (18.95±5.27 mg/100 g), and anthocyanins (6.82±0.18 mg/100 g). The inclusion of the MPF at three ratios, reduced serum cholesterol and TG compared with CTRL. JAB3 raised serum HDL and reduced liver cholesterol compared with CTRL. JAB3 and JAB2 reduced serum glucose compared with CTRL. JAB groups eliminated more feces and had pH values lower than CTRL. However, there was no difference in lipid fecal output between all groups. MPF has a hypolipidemic potential, especially on reducing serum cholesterol and TG. These effects can be attributed, at least in part, to its fiber and phenolic composition.