Current Nutrition Reports最新文献

Purpose of review: This study aims to review the effects of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in regulating the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI).

Recent findings: Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a well-known leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Cardiac substrate metabolism plays the determinant role in assessing the severity of heart injury due to the abruptly shifted energy production during the MIRI. Fatty acids are the main energy fuels for the heart, which are classified into long-, medium- and short chain fatty acids by the length of carbon chain. SCFAs are the main metabolites derived from the anaerobic bacterial fermentation of fiber-rich diets, which are shown to play a protective role in cerebrovascular disease previously. Meanwhile, accumulating evidences suggest that SCFAs can also play a crucial role in cardiac energy metabolism. Results of various studies revealed the cardioprotective effects of SCFAs by displaying anti-inflammatory and anti-ferroptotic function, connecting gut-brain neural circuit and regulating the intestinal flora.

Purpose of review: Global food production leads to substantial amounts of agricultural and food waste that contribute to climate change and hinder international efforts to end food insecurity and poverty. Food waste is a rich source of vitamins, minerals, fibers, phenolic compounds, lipids, and bioactive peptides. These compounds can be used to create food products that help reduce heart disease risk and promote sustainability. This review examines the potential cardiovascular benefits of nutrients found in different food waste categories (such as fruits and vegetables, cereal, dairy, meat and poultry, and seafood), focusing on animal and clinical evidence, and giving examples of functional food products in each category.

Recent findings: Current evidence suggests that consuming fruit and vegetable pomace, cereal bran, and whey protein may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease, particularly in individuals who are at risk. This is due to improved lipid profile, reduced blood pressure and increased flow-mediated dilation, enhanced glucose and insulin regulation, decreased inflammation, as well as reduced platelet aggregation and improved endothelial function. However, the intervention studies are limited, including a low number of participants and of short duration. Food waste has great potential to be utilized as cardioprotective products. Longer-term intervention studies are necessary to substantiate the health claims of food by-products. Technological advances are needed to improve the stability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Implementing safety assessments and regulatory frameworks for functional food derived from food waste is crucial. This is essential for maximizing the potential of food waste, reducing carbon footprint, and improving human health.

Purpose of review: Glioma is the most common type of brain cancer, associated with a high mortality rate. Diet is one of the most modifiable factors that can influence the risk of various cancers, including glioma. While the relationship between diet and glioma has been explored in recent years, the number of studies in this area remains limited, and the findings are often controversial. Moreover, all existing studies are observational, which means they may be influenced by a range of confounding variables. In this mini-review, we aim to provide a comprehensive and informative overview of the dietary recommendations related to glioma that have been published to date.

Recent findings: Research suggests that adherence to healthy dietary patterns-such as the Mediterranean diet, Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet, Paleolithic diet, high-protein dietary patterns, and vegetarian dietary patterns-may be associated with a reduced risk of glioma. These diets are rich in phytochemicals and antioxidants. Additionally, certain food groups, including fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts, eggs, fresh fish, tea, and coffee, are emphasized for their protective effects against glioma. Conversely, adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns, such as the Western diet, or diets with high inflammatory potential, glycemic and insulinemic loads, and high consumption of grains (especially refined grains), processed meats, and processed fish, has been linked to an increased risk of glioma. Current studies suggest that following a healthy diet may reduce the odds of developing glioma. However, due to the limited number of studies and the observational nature of the existing research, further investigations with more robust designs, such as randomized controlled trials, are needed to clarify these associations.

Purpose: This systematic review aims to examine the relationship between serum folate level and folic acid supplements with glycemic control parameters (fasting blood glucose (FBG), insulin level, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), and Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c)) in adult individuals with current studies.

Methods: In this study, which was designed as a systematic review, the searches were performed on Web of Science, Science Direct, Medline, Wiley, and Cochrane Library databases between April 10, 2023, and May 10, 2023, and the searches were updated between October 16, 2023, and November 14, 2023. Of the 1855 studies obtained from the screening, 17 met the criteria and were included in the systematic review. The PROSPERO system registered the study protocol (ID: CRD42023472434).

Recent findings: Although no significant correlation was found between serum folate levels and glycemic control parameters in most of the cross-sectional studies included in this systematic review, most of the randomized controlled trials showed that glycemic control parameters (FBG, insulin, HOMA-IR) decreased significantly in the intervention group receiving folic acid supplementation compared to the control group. However, study durations were short, and HbA1c needed to be evaluated in most studies. This makes it difficult to get information about the long-term effects of folic acid supplementation. More comprehensive studies should be conducted to draw more precise conclusions about the relationship between folic acid levels and folic acid supplementation with glycemic control parameters.

Purpose of review: Ischemic stroke is the second deadly disease worldwide, but current treatment is very limited. The brain, rich in lipids and high in oxygen consumption, is susceptible to damage from oxidative stress after ischemic stroke. Thus, antioxidants are promising neuroprotective agents for treatment and prevention of ischemic stroke. Coenzyme Q10 is the only lipophilic antioxidant that can be synthesized de novo by cells and plays a key role as an electron carrier in the oxidative phosphorylation of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. However, the reduced form of coenzyme Q10 (Ubiquinol) levels are significantly deficient in the brain. The aim of this article is to review the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of coenzyme Q10 in ischemic stroke.

Recent findings: Current studies have found that coenzyme Q10 protects and treats ischemic stroke through multiple mechanisms based on the evidence from in vitro experiments, in vivo experiments, and clinical observations. For the first time, we reviewed the neuroprotective effects of coenzyme Q10 in ischemic stroke. Coenzyme Q10 exerts neuroprotective effects after ischemic stroke through anti-oxidative stress, anti-nitrosative stress, anti-inflammation, and anti-cell death. Here, we provided the evidence on the therapeutic and preventive effects of coenzyme Q10 in ischemic stroke and suggested the potential value of coenzyme Q10 as a medication candidate.

Purpose of review: In this review, the chemical properties, nutritional sources, absorption mechanisms, metabolism, biosynthesis and promising health-related benefits of lutein and zeaxanthin were emphasized and some recommendations for the future studies are suggested.

Recent findings: Lutein and zeaxanthin are phytochemical compounds in the carotenoid group and are synthesised only by plants. All mammals get lutein and zeaxanthin into their bodies by consuming plant-based foods. Especially leafy green vegetables, broccoli, pumpkin, cabbage, spinach and egg yolk are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin. Lutein and zeaxanthin have potential health effects by preventing free radical formation, exhibiting protective properties against oxidative damage and reducing oxidative stress. These compounds have neuroprotective, cardioprotective, ophthalmological, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-osteoporosis, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and antimicrobial effects. The preventive properties of lutein and zeaxanthin against numerous diseases have attracted attention recently. Further clinical trials with large samples are needed to make generalisations in the prevention and treatment of diseases and to determine the appropriate doses and forms of lutein and zeaxanthin.

Purpose of review: Black elderberry has come to the fore in recent years due to its health benefits. Black elderberry fruit (Sambucus nigra L.), collected from natural sources, has a rich content of protein, vitamins, antioxidants, unsaturated fatty acids, and minerals as it contains conjugated and free forms of amino acids.

Recent findings: Black elderberry can prevent oxidative stress and reduce blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus, neurodegenerative diseases thanks to the polyphenols it contains. It can prevent diseases, stimulate the immune system, show an antitumor effect, and be effective in the course of disease processes by rising the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including glutathione. Since black elderberry is a promising food in terms of bioactive components, it is considered as promising to treat and prevent many diseases. However, it is not correct to prove its beneficial effects on the prevention of chronic diseases and to make generalisations. Therefore, there is a need of more comprehensive evidence-based clinical studies and data. This review examined current evidence and discussions about the health-related effects of black elderberry, which contains many biologically active components such as polyphenols, phenolic acids, flavonols, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, as well as terpenes and lectins, and offered some suggestions on its use in the future.

Purpose of review: The miracle fruit contains the glycoprotein miraculin which can modify the taste perception of food and beverages at low pH conditions, altering the consumers' food preferences. This review aims to critically evaluate all available evidence on miracle fruit/ miraculin and taste modification and its potential role in improving food preferences.

Recent findings: Miracle fruit suppresses sourness and induces sweetness in acidic food/ beverages. At low pH conditions, miracle fruit enhances the sweet taste and decreases the perceived intensities of salty and bitter tastes in solutions. However, the role of miracle fruit in sweet, salty, and bitter food is not adequately studied. The above effects alter the food-liking scores in individual foods and mixed diets. Miracle fruit is a pH-dependent taste modifier with the potential to be used in food applications to improve consumer food preferences. Future research on the changes in food preferences with the optimum miraculin dose, food type, and intrapersonal variations in taste sensitivity is warranted.

Purpose of the review: Diabetes and obesity are complicated multifactorial conditions that have been highlighted as a significant global burden for both health care and national budgets and their complications are considered a substantial public health concern. This review focuses on the potential anti-diabetic and anti-obesity properties of bee pollen (BP) and bee bread (BB), two bee products with a long history of use in traditional medicine and supplemental nutrition.

Recent findings: Recent studies, encompassing cellular models, experimental models, and clinical trials, have shed light on the therapeutic potential of these bee products. BP and BB are rich in phytochemical constituents like flavonoids and phenolic acids, which are believed to confer their anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity properties. These bee products have shown promising results in the treatment of diabetes and obesity, underscoring their potential as natural therapeutic tools. BP and BB possess properties that aid in decreasing blood glucose levels and body weight. BP and BB have been found to enhance insulin sensitivity, alleviate oxidative stress, regulate appetite, adjust levels of hormones linked to obesity, while bolstering anti-oxidant defense systems. BP and BB nutritional qualities and health benefits make them promising candidates for further research towards diabetes and obesity treatment strategies.

Purpose of review: The impact of dietary habits on cognitive function is increasingly gaining attention. The review is to discuss how caloric restriction (CR) and intermittent fasting (IF) can enhance cognitive function in healthy states through multiple pathways that interact with one another. Secondly, to explore the effects of CR and IF on cognitive function in conditions of neurodegenerative diseases, obesity diabetes and aging, as well as potential synergistic effects in combination with exercise to prevent cognitively related neurodegenerative diseases.

Recent findings: With age, the human brain ages and develops corresponding neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy, which in turn trigger cognitive impairment. Recent research indicates that the impact of diet and exercise on cognitive function is increasingly gaining attention. The benefits of exercise for cognitive function and brain plasticity are numerous, and future research can examine the efficacy of particular dietary regimens during physical activity when combined with diet which can prevent cognitive decline.