Martínez Gracia, Carmen

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Martínez Gracia, Carmen

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Martínez Gracia, Carmen

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Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Tecnología de los Alimentos,Nutrición y Bromatología

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Open Access
Comparison of bioavailability and transporters gene expression of four iron fortificants added to infant cereals
(Elsevier, 2022-09-08) Caballero Valcárcel, Ana M.; López Nicolás, Rubén; Frontela Saseta, María del Carmen; González Bermúdez, Carlos A.; Martínez Gracia, Carmen; Santaella-Pascual, Marina; Tecnología de Alimentos, Nutrición y Bromatología
Iron deficiency is one of the most important nutritional disorders around the world. To reduce this health problem in infants, most countries have developed different iron fortification programs as a long-term strategy. However, it is necessary to select the best iron source to get the highest bioavailability with the lowest impact on the organoleptic properties of the foods. The aim of this research was to assess the in vitro bioavailability and intestinal cellular transport of four iron sources (electrolytic iron: EI, ferrous fumarate: FF, a micronized and dispersible ferric pyrophosphate: MDFP, and ferrous sulphate heptahydrated: FSH) used to fortify infant cereals. Fortified cereals were in vitro digested and soluble fractions were then incubated in Caco-2 cells to study iron retention, transport and uptake. Moreover, mRNA expression of iron transporters and ferritin formation were also measured in cells incubated with the iron standard salts. Iron solubility, uptake percentage, transport and uptake efficiencies by the Caco-2 cells were significantly higher in cereals fortified with FSH than with EI, obtaining intermediate values for the other two iron fortificants. MDFP induced higher expression of iron transporters Zip-14 and HEPH than other iron sources. FSH promoted the highest iron storage protein ferritin, followed by FF and MDFP, while EI presented the lowest in vitro bioavailability due to its low solubility. This work demonstrated that iron absorption, storage, and gene expression of transporters depend on the source of iron. These are important challenges to be taken into consideration when assessing the potential of iron fortificants.
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Urinary concentrations of non-essential and essential elements during weaning in infants from the NELA cohort in Spain
(Elsevier, 2024-09-13) Notario-Barandiaran, Leyre; Morales Bartolomé, Eva; Vioque, Jesús; Martínez Gracia, Carmen; Santaella-Pascual, Marina; Suárez Martínez, Clara; García-Marcos Álvarez, Luis Vicente; Karagas, Margaret R.; Signes-Pastor, Antonio J.; NELA Study Group; Tecnología de Alimentos, Nutrición y Bromatología; Facultad de Veterinaria
Infancy is a period of continuous growth and development, where inadequate intake of essential elements and exposure to non-essential elements may have lifelong health consequences. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the urine concentration of essential and non-essential elements as a proxy for internal exposure during the weaning period, from 3 to 18 months of age. The Nutrition in Early Life and Asthma (NELA) birth cohort generated the data for this study. Sociodemographic, dietary, and urine concentration of essential (Co, Cu, Mo, I, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, and Ni) and non-essential elements (Al, V, As, Cd, Sb, Tl, and Pb) data were available for 490 participants at 3 months of age and 216 participants at 18 months of age. Paired urine samples at both time periods were available for 175 infants. At 3 months of age, exclusively breastfed infants had lower urine concentrations of Al, V, Fe, Co, Se, Sb, and Tl. Notably, the concentration of Mo had a median (IQR) of 0.60 (0.40–2.10) μg/L compared to a median (IQR) of 39.80 (25.00–56.40) μg/L observed in infants exclusively fed with formula. When we analyzed the change in urine elements concentrations between 3 and 18 months of age, we observed increased As (0.75 vs. 18.60 μg/L), Co (0.05 vs. 0.24 μg/L), Mo (1.98 vs. 50.0 μg/L), Pb (0.15 vs. 0.69 μg/L), Se (11.3 vs. 23.1 μg/L), Tl (0.02 vs. 0.11 μg/L), and V (0.05 vs. 0.11 μg/L). For Cu, lower urine concentrations were observed at 18 months of age in comparison with concentrations at 3 months (5.77 vs. 4.41 μg/L). Among the main food items identified as driving the changes in urine concentration between 3 and 18 months of age were white fish, rice and pasta, potato chips, custard, small blue fish, and legumes. Exclusively breastfed infants showed lower exposure to non-essential elements compared to those who were fed with a mixture or formula. With the introduction of solid foods, the exposure to some non-essential elements increased drastically, as in the case of As and Pb. In addition, exposure to the essential metal Mo also increased substantially with the introduction of solid food.
Open Access
Breastmilk polyamines modify gut gene expression in children at three months of age
(Elsevier, 2025-01-22) Sánchez-Campillo, María; Gázquez García, Antonio; Pastor-Fajardo, María T.; López-Andreo, María J.; Pérez-Andrés, Adrián; Martínez Gracia, Carmen; Vioque, Jesús; Pérez Fernández, Virginia; García-Marcos Álvarez, Luis Vicente; Larqué Daza, Elvira; Nela Study Group; Tecnología de Alimentos, Nutrición y Bromatología; Facultad de Veterinaria
Background & aims: Breastmilk is one of the main sources of exogenous polyamines for newborns and contains higher polyamine content than infant formulas. Polyamines are involved in gut maturation and immune system regulation in animals, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We quantified polyamines in human mature breastmilk and evaluate their effects on intestinal gene expression in babies at three months of age. Methods: Polyamines were quantified in mature milk of 195 women from the prospective Mediterranean NELA birth cohort (Murcia, Spain) at 3 months postpartum. Maternal dietary intake was assessed by food frequency questionnaires. Intestinal gene expression was analysed in babies receiving breastmilk, with high (>p50, n = 25) or low (
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Serum vitamins A and E at mid-pregnancy and their relationships with both maternal and cord blood antioxidant status and perinatal conditions: The NELA Cohort
(2023-06-02) Sánchez-Campillo, María; Gázquez García, Antonio; Serrano-Munuera, Ana; Bañón Arnao, Marino; Avilés Plaza, Francisco Valeriano; Garcia-Serna, Azahara M.; Noguera Velasco, José Antonio; Martínez López de Castro, Ana María; Martínez Gracia, Carmen; Suárez Martínez, Clara; Santaella-Pascual, Marina; Vioque, Jesús; Montoya-Hernández, Carmen; Ballesteros Meseguer, Carmen; Sánchez Ferrer, María Luisa; Pérez Fernández, Virginia; Morales Bartolomé, Eva; García-Marcos Álvarez, Luis Vicente; Larqué Daza, Elvira; Nela Study Group; Tecnología de Alimentos, Nutrición y Bromatología; Facultad de Veterinaria
Introduction: Most of the pregnant women do not achieve the recommended dietary intake of vitamins A and E. These vitamins may counteract oxidative stress involved in some adverse perinatal outcomes. We aimed to assess the associations between maternal vitamin A and E at mid-pregnancy with both maternal and fetal outcomes and to identify possible early biomarkers during pregnancy to predict and prevent oxidative stress in the offspring. Methods: Data on dietary and serum levels of vitamins A and E were collected from 544 pregnant women from the Nutrition in Early Life and Asthma (NELA) study, a prospective mother-child cohort set up in Spain. Results: There were large discrepancies between low dietary vitamin E intake (78% of the mothers) and low serum vitamin E levels (3%) at 24 weeks of gestation. Maternal serum vitamins A and E at mid-pregnancy were associated with higher antioxidant status not only in the mother at this time point (lower hydroperoxides and higher total antioxidant activity [TAA]) but also with the newborn at birth (higher TAA). Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) was negatively associated with maternal serum vitamin A (OR: 0.95 CI: 0.91–0.99, p = 0.009) at mid-pregnancy. Nevertheless, we could not detect any association between GDM and oxidative stress parameters. Conclusions: In conclusion, maternal vitamin A and E serum levels may be used as an early potential biomarker of antioxidant status of the neonate at birth. Control of these vitamins during pregnancy could help avoid morbid conditions in the newborn caused by oxidative stress in GDM pregnancies.
Open Access
Infant gut microbiota colonization: influence of prenatal and postnatal factors, focusing on diet
(Frontiers Media, 2023-08-22) Suárez Martínez, Clara; Santaella-Pascual, Marina; Yagüe Guirao, Genoveva; Martínez Gracia, Carmen; Tecnología de Alimentos, Nutrición y Bromatología; Facultad de Veterinaria
Maternal microbiota forms the first infant gut microbial inoculum, and perinatal factors (diet and use of antibiotics during pregnancy) and/or neonatal factors, like intra partum antibiotics, gestational age and mode of delivery, may influence microbial colonization. After birth, when the principal colonization occurs, the microbial diversity increases and converges toward a stable adult-like microbiota by the end of the first 3–5 years of life. However, during the early life, gut microbiota can be disrupted by other postnatal factors like mode of infant feeding, antibiotic usage, and various environmental factors generating a state of dysbiosis. Gut dysbiosis have been reported to increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis and some chronic diseases later in life, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, allergies, and asthma. Therefore, understanding the impact of a correct maternal-to-infant microbial transfer and a good infant early colonization and maturation throughout life would reduce the risk of disease in early and late life. This paper reviews the published evidence on early-life gut microbiota development, as well as the different factors influencing its evolution before, at, and after birth, focusing on diet and nutrition during pregnancy and in the first months of life.
Open Access
The early appearance of asthma and its relationship with gut microbiota: a narrative review
(MDPI, 2024-07-19) Suárez Martínez, Clara; Santaella-Pascual, Marina; Yagüe Guirao, Genoveva; García-Marcos Álvarez, Luis Vicente; Ros Berruezo, Gaspar; Martínez Gracia, Carmen; Tecnología de Alimentos, Nutrición y Bromatología; Facultad de Veterinaria
Asthma is, worldwide, the most frequent non-communicable disease affecting both children and adults, with high morbidity and relatively low mortality, compared to other chronic diseases. In recent decades, the prevalence of asthma has increased in the pediatric population, and, in general, the risk of developing asthma and asthma-like symptoms is higher in children during the first years of life. The “gut–lung axis” concept explains how the gut microbiota influences lung immune function, acting both directly, by stimulating the innate immune system, and indirectly, through the metabolites it generates. Thus, the process of intestinal microbial colonization of the newborn is crucial for his/her future health, and the alterations that might generate dysbiosis during the first 100 days of life are most influential in promoting hypersensitivity diseases. That is why this period is termed the “critical window”. This paper reviews the published evidence on the numerous factors that can act by modifying the profile of the intestinal microbiota of the infant, thereby promoting or inhibiting the risk of asthma later in life. The following factors are specifically addressed in depth here: diet during pregnancy, maternal adherence to a Mediterranean diet, mode of delivery, exposure to antibiotics, and type of infant feeding during the first three months of life.