Aging rats had significant improvements in some balance and coordination tests after eating blueberry extract for 8 weeks. And it improved the animals' short-term memory, as did strawberry and spinach extracts. Because little else has reversed deficits in balance and coordination, the findings hold hope for older people. The 19-month-old animals in the study were the equivalent of 65- to 70-year-old humans. At 19 months, the length of time these rats are able to traverse a narrow rod before losing balance normally drops to only 5 seconds, down from the average 13 seconds for a young rat. After getting blueberry extract, the old rats stayed on the rod for an average 11 seconds. They ate the human equivalent of at least a half cup of blueberries daily. Daily doses of strawberry and spinach extracts improved their short-term memory about as well as the blueberry extract, but none of the extracts improved long-term memory. In a lab test of antioxidant potential known as the ORAC assay, blueberries score highest. Other high scorers include strawberries, spinach, prunes, raisins, kale, blackberries and raspberries. ORAC measures the ability of foods, blood plasma and just about any chemical mix to subdue oxygen free radicals. These oxygen radicals can damage cell membranes, DNA and other delicate machinery and are blamed for many dysfunctions and diseases of aging. Researchers attribute the reversals largely to improvements in nerve cell signaling in an area of the brain that controls both motor and cognitive function.

USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts,Boston, MA
James A. Joseph/Barbara Shukitt-Hale, (617) 556-3178/3118
joseph_ne@hnrc.tufts.edu, hale_ne@hnrc.tufts.edu

Farmers on the 20-million-acre Central Great Plains are finding that alternative rotations can be 20 to 40 percent more profitable than the traditional wheat-fallow system. ARS researchers are testing 20 dryland crop rotation and tillage systems, seeking the best alternatives to wheat-fallow. In wheat-fallow, growers plant one crop every other year and leave the soil bare for a year to store water. Now, some farmers are growing more—and different—crops that are more water-efficient. Wheat-fallow systems use only 40 percent of the average 14 to 18 inches of annual rainfall, but continuous cropping can soak up nearly 80 percent. Researchers have found that growers can successfully crop continuously in years with normal or more precipitation by using a cycle of four crops and alternating high- and low-water use crops. For example, compared to wheat-fallow, farmers can double the land's productivity with a rotation of wheat, corn, proso millet and—as the fourth component—field peas, another wheat crop or fallow. This approach still provides for the crops' water needs, and the crop diversity encourages soil microbes that make the farming ecosystem more sustainable over the long haul. The researchers have improved water use so well, they’re nearing their goal of a crop every year. They’re still working on rotations that succeed in dry years. Options include a forage crop and green fallow, which use less water than wheat, corn, millet and sunflowers.

Central Great Plains Research Station, Akron, CO
Randy L. Anderson, (970) 345-2259, rlander@lamar.colostate.edu

Too little dietary copper—common in industrialized countries—may contribute to aging. This thesis is based on animal studies bolstered by indirect evidence. ARS researchers are finding evidence that copper deficiency spurs sugar molecules to attach to protein molecules. The process, known as protein glycation, is thought to cause much of the tissue damage in people with diabetes. This glycation increases in all of us as we age. When blood sugar is high, it's more likely that sugar molecules will attach to proteins, called early glycation. And if sugar levels stay high, the sugars' free ends can attach to other proteins or other sites on the same protein, called advanced glycation. These cross links bend proteins out of shape, rendering them useless. Researchers found that both the early and advanced stages of protein glycation increased significantly in rats fed a copper-deficient diet. One sensitive indicator of advanced glycation was at least sixfold higher in the copper-deficient rats. It was nearly undetectable in the control rats. Human diets contain more copper than the rat diets. But the average copper content of U.S. diets falls below the suggested daily range of 1.5 to 3.0 mg. The researchers speculate that years of eating a diet low in the mineral may, by increasing glycation, contribute to age-related decline in tissue function. High-copper foods include whole grains, oysters, liver, nuts (particularly Brazil nuts), seeds, cocoa and chocolate.

Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, Grand Forks, ND
Jack T. Saari, (701) 795-8353, jsaari@gfhnrc.ars.usda.gov

A premature infant's level of lactase—the enzyme responsible for digesting milk sugar—might help physicians identify which preemies are at risk for feeding intolerance, a common complication and main cause of extended hospitalizations. In a recent study of 135 premature infants, lactase activity was a strong indicator of intestinal maturity, which affects an infant’s ability to handle feedings. Premature infants can't be released from the hospital until they are on full human milk or formula feedings. As a rule, they are started on intravenous feedings at birth. Generally after 2 weeks, they receive supplemental feedings—human milk or special preemie formula—that are gradually increased. In the study, half the infants began receiving supplemental feedings at 4 days of age; the remainder, at the traditional 15-day-old mark. At 10 days of age, the early feeding group's lactase activity was double that of the infants who received only intravenous feedings. At 28 days, it was still 60 percent higher, even though both groups by then were getting similar amounts in their supplemental feedings. The infants who received early feedings of human milk had the highest lactase activity. They also were most likely to achieve full feedings sooner and least likely to have abdominal complications.

Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Robert Schulman, (713) 798-7145, rshulman@bcm.tmc.edu

Premature infants fed breast milk fortified with extra nutrients fare better than those receiving special preterm formulas. Researchers looked for the best feeding regimens in 108 infants born 11 to 13 weeks prematurely and weighing less than 2.5 pounds. The preemies were fed either a special preterm formula or fortified breast milk, depending on parental wishes. Within each group, milk feedings were initiated at different times, and the tube-feeding method was varied to determine an optimal feeding regimen. Of all the strategies tested, fortified human milk influenced premature infant health the most. Infants getting fortified human milk graduated faster from intravenous to milk feedings. They also had fewer of the common complications, such as blood infections and intestinal inflammations that often require surgery. They needed less medication to control spitting up and were discharged from the hospital an average of 2 weeks sooner than their formula-fed counterparts. The human milk must be fortified with additional protein and minerals like calcium and phosphorus to ensure proper growth and healthy bones in preemies.

Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Richard J. Schanler, (713) 798-7176, schanler@bcm.tmc.edu

Dry beans have now been found to be a highly concentrated source of healthful antioxidants—comparable if not superior to tomatoes and other fruits and vegetables. In a series of beans with different seed coat colors, ARS scientists have so far identified eight compounds known as flavonoids. They have also developed an assay that shows six of the eight compounds have strong antioxidant activity. Flavonoids appear to be responsible for much of the protective power of fruits and vegetables, including antiaging and anticancer properties. The flavonoids with strong antioxidant activity were found in the seed coating that makes up about 10 percent of the bean. The flavonoids are linked to genes responsible for seed coat color—a useful cue for breeders seeking to improve color as well as antioxidant content. Scientists are now examining flavonoids from the seed coats of light red kidney beans and red Mexican beans. They also plan to test major market classes such as dark red kidney, navy, black turtle and cranberry beans. The Michigan Bean Commission has provided funding support for the studies.

Sugarbeet and Bean Research, East Lansing, MI
Clifford W. Beninger, (517) 355-6888, beninger@pilot.msu.edu

Tomatoes with much more lycopene than those now found in stores may be on the horizon if ARS research is successful. Epidemiological research has suggested that lycopene, which gives tomatoes their bright red color, may help reduce the risk of some cancers. While working with tomato tissue cultures, an ARS researcher serendipitously uncovered clues about ripening and lycopene formation. As expected, the culture developed into a tomato fruit. Surprisingly, the fruit's green outer leaves, known as the calyx, also ripened into fruitlike tissue. In this particular tomato, called VFNT Cherry, scientists found that low growing temperatures triggered ripening in nonfruit tissue. Because the fruit was very dark red, they tested the lycopene content and found it to be 10 times the amount in most commercial tomatoes. The scientists are looking for the genes that are activated to increase lycopene production. When they identify the genes, they hope to activate the genes in commercial varieties.

Process Chemistry and Engineering Research Unit, Albany, CA
Betty Ishida, (510) 559-5726, bkishida@pw.usda.gov