Papers by Jennifer Ahn-jarvis
Monographs in Oral Science, 2019
An individual's oral health status has a profound impact on his/her acquisition and utilizati... more An individual's oral health status has a profound impact on his/her acquisition and utilization of nutrients and interchangeably the nutrients an individual consumes determine the state of oral health by preventing tooth loss and oral diseases. Oral diseases have a considerable impact on the masticatory function which is a critical first step in oral processing of food materials for nutrient procurement. Specifically, a section of this chapter is dedicated to the physiology of masticatory function and to the recent acknowledgement of its influence on memory and cognition, both during development and aging. A description of the occlusal and skeletal pathologies that affect the balance of the chewing pattern and related muscular activation is provided. Intact neurocognitive functions and dentition are essential in mastication to achieve coordinated movements of the teeth and tongue to help propel the food material for ingestion and subsequent nutrient absorption. The tongue is equipped with chemoreceptive, gustatory cells, which modulate taste perception and contain metabolic hormones mediating satiety. Concomitantly, salivary processes, which are stimulated with the anticipation of food ingestion and those which occur during mastication of the food material, initiate digestive enzymes in the mouth and stomach and are important in affecting appetite and food bioavailability. Therefore, oral structures such as the dentition, tongue, and saliva in the context of mastication and nutrient acquisition will be reviewed as well as their impact on food choice and subsequent nutritional status.
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Food Chemistry, 2017
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Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.), Jan 14, 2015
We hypothesized that soy phytochemicals may have immunomodulatory properties that may impact pros... more We hypothesized that soy phytochemicals may have immunomodulatory properties that may impact prostate carcinogenesis and progression. A randomized, phase II trial was conducted in 32 prostate cancer patients with asymptomatic biochemical recurrence but no measurable disease on standard staging studies. Patients were randomized to 2 slices of soy bread (34 mg isoflavones/slice) or soy bread containing almond powder daily as a source of β-glucosidase. Flow cytometry and bioplex assays were used to measure cytokines or immune cell phenotype in blood at baseline (day 0) and following intervention (day 56). Adequate blood samples were available at enrollment and day 56 and evaluated. Multiple plasma cytokines and chemokines were significantly decreased on Day 56 versus baseline. Subgroup analysis indicated reduced Th1 (p=0.028) and MDSC-associated cytokines (p=0.035). Th2 and Th17 cytokines were not significantly altered. Phenotypic analysis revealed no change in CD8+ or CD4+ T cells, bu...
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The FASEB Journal, 2015
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The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2020
ABSTRACT Background Wheat bran, nopal, and psyllium are examples of particulate, viscous and part... more ABSTRACT Background Wheat bran, nopal, and psyllium are examples of particulate, viscous and particulate, and viscous fibers, respectively, with laxative properties yet contrasting fermentability. Objectives We assessed the fermentability of these fibers in vitro and their effects on intestinal function relevant to laxation in vivo using MRI. Methods Each fiber was predigested prior to measuring gas production in vitro during 48-h anaerobic incubation with healthy fecal samples. We performed a randomized, 3-way crossover trial in 14 healthy volunteers who ingested 7.5 g fiber twice on the day prior to study initiation and once with the study test meal. Serial MRI scans obtained after fasting and hourly for 4 h following meal ingestion were used to assess small bowel water content (SBWC), colonic volumes, and T1 of the ascending colon (T1AC) as measures of colonic water. Breath samples for hydrogen analysis were obtained while patients were in the fasted state and every 30 min for 4 h following meal ingestion Results In vitro, the onset of gas production was significantly delayed with psyllium (mean ± SD: 14 ± 5 h) compared with wheat bran (6 ± 2 h, P = 0.003) and was associated with a smaller total gas volume (P = 0.01). Prefeeding all 3 fibers for 24 h was associated with an increased fasting T1AC (>75% of values >90th centile of the normal range). There was a further rise during the 4 h after psyllium (0.3 ± 0.3 s P = 0.009), a fall with wheat bran (−0.2 ± 0.2 s; P = 0.02), but no change with nopal (0.0 ± 0.1 s, P = 0.2). SBWC increased for all fibers; nopal stimulated more water than wheat bran [AUC mean (95% CI) difference: 7.1 (0.6, 13.8) L/min, P = 0.03]. Breath hydrogen rose significantly after wheat bran and nopal but not after psyllium (P < 0.0001). Conclusion Both viscous and particulate fibers are equally effective at increasing colonic T1 over a period of 24 h. Mechanisms include water trapping in the small bowel by viscous fibers and delivery of substrates to the colonic microbiota by more fermentable particulate fiber. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03263065.
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Polymers, 2021
Water quality parameters such as salt content and various pH environments can alter the stability... more Water quality parameters such as salt content and various pH environments can alter the stability of gels as well as their rheological properties. Here, we investigated the effect of various concentrations of NaCl and different pH environments on the rheological properties of TEMPO-oxidised cellulose nanofibril (OCNF) and starch-based hydrogels. Addition of NaCl caused an increased stiffness of the OCNF:starch (1:1 wt%) blend gels, where salt played an important role in reducing the repulsive OCNF fibrillar interactions. The rheological properties of these hydrogels were unchanged at pH 5.0 to 9.0. However, at lower pH (4.0), the stiffness and viscosity of the OCNF and OCNF:starch gels appeared to increase due to proton-induced fibrillar interactions. In contrast, at higher pH (11.5), syneresis was observed due to the formation of denser and aggregated gel networks. Interactions as well as aggregation behaviour of these hydrogels were explored via ζ-potential measurements. Furthermo...
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Background Complex carbohydrates that escape digestion in the small intestine, are broken down in... more Background Complex carbohydrates that escape digestion in the small intestine, are broken down in the large intestine by enzymes encoded by the gut microbiome. This is a symbiotic relationship between particular microbes and the host, resulting in metabolic products that influence host gut health and are exploited by other microbes. However, the role of carbohydrate structure in directing microbiota community composition and the succession of carbohydrate-degrading microbes is not fully understood. Here we take the approach of combining data from long and short read sequencing allowing recovery of large numbers of high quality genomes, from which we can predict carbohydrate degrading functions, and impact of carbohydrate on microbial communities. Results In this study we evaluate species-level compositional variation within a single microbiome in response to six structurally distinct carbohydrates in a controlled model gut using hybrid metagenome assemblies. We identified 509 high-q...
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Antioxidants
Flavonoids, one of the most abundant phytochemicals in a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, have... more Flavonoids, one of the most abundant phytochemicals in a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, have been recognized as possessing anti-proliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and estrogenic activities. Numerous cellular and animal-based studies show that flavonoids can function as antioxidants by preventing DNA damage and scavenging reactive oxygen radicals, inhibiting formation of DNA adducts, enhancing DNA repair, interfering with chemical damage by induction of Phase II enzymes, and modifying signaling pathways. Recent evidence also shows their ability to regulate the immune system. However, findings from clinical trials have been mixed with no clear consensus on dose, frequency, or type of flavonoids best suited to elicit many of the beneficial effects. Delivery of these bioactive compounds to their biological targets through “targeted designed” food processing strategies is critical to reach effective concentration in vivo. Thus, the identification of novel approaches that...
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Background: Soy phytochemicals, particularly isoflavones, are hypothesized to have anti-prostate ... more Background: Soy phytochemicals, particularly isoflavones, are hypothesized to have anti-prostate cancer activity. Soy isoflavones are present predominantly as glucosides but when combined with β-glucosidase activity in almond meal, a greater conversion to aglycones has been observed. We hypothesized that soy bread will serve as an excellent source of soy polyphenols and that an aglycone-rich soy-almond bread (SAB) compared to a glycoside-rich soy bread (SB) will demonstrate greater bioavailability of soy isoflavones. Methods: SB and SAB were fed in a 20 week randomized phase II cross-over trial involving 32 men with asymptomatic metastatic prostate cancer and escalating prostate specific antigen (PSA). Isoflavones were quantitated by HPLC in soy breads and isoflavone metabolites in 24h urine. HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry evaluated isoflavone pharmacokinetics in plasma. Biomarkers were determined by chemiluminescence-based assays. Results: The aglycone composition in the SB and SAB was 18% and 78%, respectively. Compliance was 95±14%, toxicity rare and limited to grade I GI complaints (NIH_NCI criteria). Urinary isoflavone patterns over 24hours revealed that isoflavonoid metabolites were significantly greater with soy bread consumption. Plasma pharmacokinetics following a test meal showed that daidzein (p=0.028) and genistein (p=0.010) absorption was significantly faster from the aglycone-rich SAB. Interestingly, PSA doubling time was prolonged compared to pre-enrollment, in 60% of men (n=30) with soy intervention. Conclusions: Bread is an excellent vehicle for the delivery of soy phytochemicals with outstanding compliance. Modification of soy bread with a source of β-glucosidase may enhance the initial absorption rates of isoflavones. Food products, such as SAB, with consistent and stable composition of phytochemicals can be developed that are appropriate for long-term chemoprevention studies in humans or as an adjunct to therapy. Citation Format: Jennifer H. Ahn-Jarvis, Steven K. Clinton, Elizabeth M. Grainger, Kenneth M. Riedl, Steven J. Schwartz, Yael Vodovotz. Isoflavone pharmacokinetics and metabolism after consumption of soy and soy-almond bread in men with asymptomatic prostate cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-188. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-LB-188
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Food & Function
Impact of white bread made from sbeII wheat flour on postprandial glycaemic response.
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Food & Function
Impact of white bread made from sbeII wheat flour on postprandial glycaemic response.
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Food Hydrocolloids
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SUMMARYStarch granule initiation is poorly understood at the molecular level. The glucosyltransfe... more SUMMARYStarch granule initiation is poorly understood at the molecular level. The glucosyltransferase, STARCH SYNTHASE 4 (SS4), plays a central role in granule initiation in Arabidopsis leaves, but its function in cereal endosperms is unknown. We investigated the role of SS4 in wheat, which has a distinct spatiotemporal pattern of granule initiation during grain development.We generated TILLING mutants in tetraploid wheat (Triticum turgidum) that are defective in both SS4 homoeologs. The morphology of endosperm starch was examined in developing and mature grains.SS4 deficiency led to severe alterations in endosperm starch granule morphology. During early grain development, while the wild type initiated single ‘A-type’ granules per amyloplast, most amyloplasts in the mutant formed compound granules due to multiple initiations. This phenotype was similar to mutants deficient in B-GRANULE CONTENT 1 (BGC1). SS4 deficiency also reduced starch content in leaves and pollen grains.We propos...
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Pancreatology
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The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition
Background Wheat bran, nopal, and psyllium are examples of particulate, viscous and particulate, ... more Background Wheat bran, nopal, and psyllium are examples of particulate, viscous and particulate, and viscous fibers, respectively, with laxative properties yet contrasting fermentability. Objectives We assessed the fermentability of these fibers in vitro and their effects on intestinal function relevant to laxation in vivo using MRI. Methods Each fiber was predigested prior to measuring gas production in vitro during 48-h anaerobic incubation with healthy fecal samples. We performed a randomized, 3-way crossover trial in 14 healthy volunteers who ingested 7.5 g fiber twice on the day prior to study initiation and once with the study test meal. Serial MRI scans obtained after fasting and hourly for 4 h following meal ingestion were used to assess small bowel water content (SBWC), colonic volumes, and T1 of the ascending colon (T1AC) as measures of colonic water. Breath samples for hydrogen analysis were obtained while patients were in the fasted state and every 30 min for 4 h followi...
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Plant Biotechnology Journal
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Frontiers in immunology, 2017
Oral cancer continues to be a significant public health problem worldwide. Recently conducted cli... more Oral cancer continues to be a significant public health problem worldwide. Recently conducted clinical trials demonstrate the ability of black raspberries (BRBs) to modulate biomarkers of molecular efficacy that supports a chemopreventive strategy against oral cancer. However, it is essential that a preclinical animal model of black raspberry (BRB) chemoprevention which recapitulates human oral carcinogenesis be developed, so that we can validate biomarkers and evaluate potential mechanisms of action. We therefore established the ability of BRBs to inhibit oral lesion formation in a carcinogen-induced rat oral cancer model and examined potential mechanisms. F344 rats were administered 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) (20 µg/ml) in drinking water for 14 weeks followed by regular drinking water for 6 weeks. At week 14, rats were fed a diet containing either 5 or 10% BRB, or 0.4% ellagic acid (EA), a BRB phytochemical. Dietary administration of 5 and 10% BRB reduced oral lesion incidenc...
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Cancer Research
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Papers by Jennifer Ahn-jarvis