MORE TOFU KIDS
Eating more soy foods could improve thinking and attention in kids
Study strengthens evidence for health benefits of isoflavone-rich soy foods
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR NUTRITION
Chicago (July 2, 2024) — A new study found that school-aged children who consumed more isoflavones from soy foods exhibited better thinking abilities and attention. These findings pave the way for future research aimed at unraveling how soy foods can positively impact children's cognitive abilities.
Isoflavones are naturally occurring compounds found in various plants, particularly soybeans and soy products. Although previous research in adults has suggested that soy isoflavones can improve memory, the benefits haven’t been studied well in children.
“Soy foods are often not a regular part of children’s diets in the United States,” said Ajla Bristina, a neuroscience doctoral student at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. “Our study adds evidence of the importance of nutrients found in soy foods for childhood cognition.”
Bristina will present the findings at NUTRITION 2024, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29–July 2 in Chicago.
To examine the potential benefits of soy isoflavones, the researchers examined previously available data from a cross-sectional study that included 128 children ages 7 to 13. They used information from 7-day diet records to calculate each child’s average dietary intake, including the amounts of macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins and isoflavones consumed. To assess the children’s general intellectual ability, the researchers used a set of pencil and paper tests adjusted for grade level. They also measured attentional abilities using a computerized task known as the flanker task while electroencephalographic (EEG) activity was recorded and used to measure information processing speed and attention.
“No other studies have examined the association between soy isoflavones and attentional abilities using EEG or similar measures to record electrical activity generated by the brain,” said Bristina.
Overall, the analysis revealed that the children in the study tended to consume low amounts of isoflavone-containing soy foods. However, those who did consume more soy foods showed faster responses during the attentional tasks and exhibited faster processing speed. No association was observed between soy isoflavone intake and general intellectual ability.
“The children in our study consumed an average of 1.33 mg of isoflavones per day, which while relatively low, aligns with previously reported values for the United States,” said Bristina. “Soy consumption for individual participants ranged from 0 to 35 mg/day. To put this into perspective, an 8 fl. oz serving of soy milk provides about 28 mg of isoflavones, a serving of tofu provides about 35 mg and half a cup of steamed edamame provides about 18 mg of isoflavones.”
Bristina says that snacks like roasted edamame, soynuts or soymilk are a good way to incorporate more soy into the diet. Tofu, tempeh or soy-based nuggets are also good options for meals.
“Correlational studies like this are only the first step,” said Bristina. “To better understand the effects of eating soy foods on children’s cognitive abilities and the precise amount of isoflavone intake necessary to elicit faster response times will require intervention approaches.” To find out more, the research team recently began a clinical trial examining the effects of soy foods on thinking abilities, sex hormones, metabolic health and gut health.
Bristina will present this research at 8:12-8:24 a.m. CDT on Tuesday, July 2, during the Nutritional Neuroscience: Nutritional Effects on Cognition and Disease Severity Across the Lifespan session in McCormick Place (abstract; presentation details).
Please note that abstracts presented at NUTRITION 2024 were evaluated and selected by a committee of experts but have not generally undergone the same peer review process required for publication in a scientific journal. As such, the findings presented should be considered preliminary until a peer-reviewed publication is available.
About NUTRITION 2024
NUTRITION 2024 is the flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition and the premier educational event for nutritional professionals around the globe. NUTRITION brings together lab scientists, practicing clinicians, population health researchers, and community intervention investigators to identify solutions to today’s greatest nutrition challenges. Our audience also includes rising leaders in the field – undergraduate, graduate, and medical students. NUTRITION 2024 will be held June 29–July 2, 2024 in Chicago. https://nutrition.org/N24 #Nutrition2024
About the American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
ASN is the preeminent professional organization for nutrition research scientists and clinicians around the world. Founded in 1928, the society brings together the top nutrition researchers, medical practitioners, policy makers and industry leaders to advance our knowledge and application of nutrition. ASN publishes four peer-reviewed journals and provides education and professional development opportunities to advance nutrition research, practice, and education. Since 2018, the American Society of Nutrition has presented NUTRITION, the leading global annual meeting for nutrition professionals. http://www.nutrition.org
Find more news briefs from NUTRITION 2024 at: https://www.eurekalert.org/newsroom/nutrition2024/home.
Soybean seed hardness demystified: key genes and networks uncovered
NANJING AGRICULTURAL UNIVERSITY THE ACADEMY OF SCIENCE
IMAGE:
SEED HARDNESS AND COMPONENT CONTENTS OF NMH AND PXS AT DIFFERENT STAGES.
view moreCREDIT: HORTICULTURE RESEARCH
Soybean seed hardness, a key factor in consumer acceptance and vegetable soybean quality, has been elucidated through a comprehensive study. Researchers identified the genetic and molecular mechanisms influencing this trait, focusing on differential gene expression during seed development. The discovery of the GmSWEET2 gene as a significant regulator of hardness offers a pathway to enhance soybean texture, potentially revolutionizing the market with customized varieties to suit diverse consumer preferences.
Vegetable soybeans are valued for their taste and nutritional benefits, but consumer preferences for seed hardness vary across regions. Chinese consumers prefer softer seeds, while African consumers favor moderately hard seeds. Despite its importance, research on the factors influencing seed hardness has been limited, especially for vegetable soybeans. Addressing these regional preferences requires an in-depth understanding of the genetic and biochemical mechanisms that determine seed hardness. Due to these challenges, there is a pressing need for a comprehensive study to enhance soybean quality and marketability.
A collaborative study (DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae084) from Nanjing Agricultural University, published in Horticulture Research, illuminates the genome-wide transcriptome, pinpointing key regulatory networks and genes associated with seed hardness in vegetable soybeans. This research sheds light on the intricate processes that determine soybean seed texture.
The study revealed significant genetic differences between the two soybean landraces during seed development. Key findings include the differential expression of genes involved in starch synthesis, protein storage, and fatty acid metabolism. The GmSWEET2 gene emerged as a critical regulator of seed hardness; its overexpression in Pixiansilicao led to increased seed hardness, confirming its pivotal role. Additionally, the study identified stages S3 and S4 of seed development as crucial periods where these genetic differences significantly influenced the accumulation of seed storage components. During these stages, genes involved in cell proliferation and cell wall formation also showed differential expression, impacting seed hardness. These findings highlight the importance of understanding genetic regulation during specific developmental stages to manipulate seed hardness effectively, providing valuable insights for soybean breeding programs aimed at improving seed texture and quality.
Dr. Han Xing, a leading researcher, commented, "Our discovery of the GmSWEET2 gene's role in seed hardness provides valuable insights into soybean breeding. By manipulating this gene, we can develop soybean varieties with tailored seed textures to meet various consumer preferences, enhancing market appeal."
This research paves the way for breeding programs aimed at improving the quality and consumer acceptance of vegetable soybeans. The identification of GmSWEET2 and other key genes offers new targets for genetic modification, allowing for the development of soybean varieties with optimized seed hardness, thus catering to diverse global markets.
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References
DOI
Original Source URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae084
Funding information
This work was supported by the Key Research and Development Program (Modern Agriculture) of Jiangsu Province (BE2023348), the National Key R&D Program of China (2021YFD1201605), Zhongshan Biological Breeding Laboratory (ZSBBL) (BM2022008-01 and ZSBBL-KY2023-03), the ‘JBGS’ Project of Seed Industry Revitalization in Jiangsu Province (JBGS(2021)059), China Agriculture Research System of MOF and MARA (CARS-04), National Natural Science Foundation of China (31471519), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (XUEKEN2023022), the Jiangsu Agriculture Science and Technology Innovation Fund (CX(22)5004 and CX(20)2015), the Key R&D project of Jiangsu Province (BE2019376), Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center for Modern Crop Production and Cyrus Tang Innovation Center for Seed Industry.
About Horticulture Research
Horticulture Research is an open access journal of Nanjing Agricultural University and ranked number one in the Horticulture category of the Journal Citation Reports ™ from Clarivate, 2022. The journal is committed to publishing original research articles, reviews, perspectives, comments, correspondence articles and letters to the editor related to all major horticultural plants and disciplines, including biotechnology, breeding, cellular and molecular biology, evolution, genetics, inter-species interactions, physiology, and the origination and domestication of crops.
JOURNAL
Horticulture Research
SUBJECT OF RESEARCH
Not applicable
ARTICLE TITLE
Genome-wide transcriptome analysis reveals key regulatory networks and genes involved in the determination of seed hardness in vegetable soybean
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