Current Nutrition Reports最新文献

Purpose of review: Non-communicable diseases have become a greater global burden in recent years. An unhealthy diet is one of the primary behavioral factors that have been associated with cardiometabolic diseases. Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) have emerged as a predominant element of modern diets, prompting much concern regarding their effects on cardiometabolic health. This review aimed to examine the association UPF consumption and cardiometabolic diseases, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, by integrating results from cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, meta-analyses, and mechanistic research.

Recent findings: The cost-effectiveness, prolonged shelf life, palatability, convenience, and marketing strategies of UPFs contribute to their overconsumption, substituting nutrient-rich meals with energy-dense, high-fat, high-sugar, and low-fiber alternatives. These dietary shifts disturb metabolic regulation, promote weight gain, and elevate the risk of insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases. High consumption of UPFs has been consistently associated with greater obesity rates and a higher prevalence of cardiometabolic diseases. Moreover, regular or over-consumption is associated with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, both of which intensify the mechanisms contributing to cardiometabolic risk. The increasing body of evidence that establishes a correlation between the consumption of UPFs and cardiometabolic diseases emphasizes the pressing necessity of public health interventions to encourage healthier dietary habits and alleviate the global burden of non-communicable diseases.

Purpose of review: Diabetes mellitus is a prevalent metabolic disorder contributing to significant global health challenges. As interest in alternative therapies grows, flaxseed rich in omega-3 fatty acids, lignans, and fiber has garnered attention for its potential role in diabetes management.

Recent findings: The reviewed literature suggested that various components present in flaxseeds are known to combat impaired carbohydrate metabolism including the other associated diabetic abnormalities like oxidative stress markers, inflammation, and hypercholesterolemia. Taken together, this review has highlighted the essential constituents of flaxseed and their potential mechanisms in reducing fasting blood glucose levels, alleviating oxidative stress, balancing lipid profiles, and regulating inflammatory markers in individuals with diabetes. Flaxseed, whether consumed whole or in various processed forms, may serve as a complementary therapy alongside conventional antidiabetic medications.

Purpose of review: The review intends to systematically evaluate the effects of Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) on reproductive health, focusing on identifying active constituents, assessing therapeutic effects on hormones and reproductive organs, and exploring its impact on both female and male fertility.

Recent findings: Recent investigations suggest that Shatavari has the potential to enhance fertility rates and improve breast milk quality and quantity, making it important for postpartum care. Preliminary findings also indicate positive outcomes for male fertility, but more clinical trials are needed. Shatavari shows promise for fertility enhancement due to its active compounds like saponins and flavonoids. However, further comprehensive clinical studies are necessary to confirm its effects, establish safety profiles, especially for male fertility, and guide its effective integration into modern fertility treatments. It is also crucial for pregnant and breastfeeding women to consult healthcare professionals before using Shatavari due to potential interactions and contraindications.

Purpose of review: This review aimed to analyze the repercussions of hunger and poverty, exacerbated by food insecurity, on child development, as well as the outcomes associated with these conditions and potential mitigation strategies targeting this age group.

Recent findings: Food insecurity is strongly associated with adverse nutritional outcomes in childhood, including stunting, undernutrition, and micronutrient deficiencies such as vitamin A, iron, and zinc. Although the prevalence of undernutrition has declined in some contexts, stunting remains a significant marker of social inequality. These conditions reflect poorly diversified diets, characterized by restricted access to healthy foods and reduced consumption of fruits and vegetables as food insecurity levels increase. The relationship between food insecurity and overweight, in turn, appears to be complex and heterogeneous, reflecting different vulnerability patterns that contribute to the growing burden of malnutrition in low- and middle-income countries. Hunger and poverty, worsened by food insecurity, negatively impact child development, resulting in growth deficits, cognitive impairments, and socioemotional challenges. Low maternal education, limited household income, and poor access to nutritious foods were identified as key determinants of these outcomes.

Purpose of review: This review summarizes current research on the effects of probiotics and prebiotics during pregnancy and lactation.

Recent findings: During pregnancy and lactation, various changes occur in maternal hormone levels and physiological processes to ensure the most favorable intrauterine environment. These changes may vary depending on factors such as maternal nutritional status and mode of delivery, and they can also lead to alterations in the maternal gut microbiota, breast milk microbiota, and neonatal gut microbiota. In this context, probiotic and prebiotic supplementation is considered to have potential benefits in preventing adverse outcomes during pregnancy and lactation. A literature review reveals that while prebiotic studies remain limited, probiotic research is comparatively more extensive. Current evidence suggests that probiotic, prebiotic, and synbiotic supplementation during pregnancy may exert beneficial effects on the prevention or mitigation of conditions such as gestational diabetes, maternal obesity, atopic dermatitis, and eczema, and positively influencing the composition of the vaginal microbiota. These outcomes are further supported during lactation by positive changes in the breast milk microbiota, improvements in conditions such as mastitis and breast pain, reduced risk of necrotizing enterocolitis, late-onset sepsis, and infantile colic, as well as a decrease in the frequency of infant crying. Although probiotic and prebiotic supplements are considered promising approaches to preventing health problems specific to pregnancy and lactation, there is a need for more methodologically sound, long-term, and randomized controlled studies in this field. Thus, the safety, efficacy, and place of these supplements in clinical practice can be demonstrated.

Purpose of review: In this review we examine the role of anthocyanins-bioactive flavonoids found in colorful fruits and vegetables-in modulating muscle protein synthesis (MPS). We aim to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, including the activation of anabolic pathways such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR and AMPK, while also highlighting the influence of gut microbiota on anthocyanin bioavailability and subsequent muscle metabolic responses. The goal is to provide nutritionists, clinicians, and sports scientists with a comprehensive understanding of how anthocyanins can be leveraged to enhance muscle recovery, attenuate sarcopenia, and optimize exercise performance.

Recent findings: Anthocyanins can stimulate key signaling cascades associated with MPS, notably by enhancing the phosphorylation of mTOR and its downstream effectors, thereby promoting protein translation and muscle repair. Clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that these compounds not only reduce exercise-induced muscle damage and inflammation but also improve insulin sensitivity and anabolic signaling. Furthermore, interactions with the gut microbiota result in the formation of bioactive metabolites that may further augment the muscle protein synthesis process. Despite these promising results, challenges remain regarding optimal dosing, bioavailability, and interindividual variability in response to supplementation. The review consolidates current evidence positioning anthocyanins as promising dietary bioactives for muscle health. Their dual role in modulating both direct molecular pathways and gut microbiota interactions underscores their potential in enhancing muscle protein synthesis and recovery. However, further research is essential to standardize supplementation protocols, improve bioavailability, and fully understand the synergistic effects of other nutrients. These insights pave the way for targeted nutritional strategies aimed at improving muscle function and mitigating age-related muscle decline.

Purpose of review: The aim of this systematic review is to assess the relationship between two complementary feeding features (diet quality and feeding approach) and some aspects of infant development (cognitive development, social cognition, and language).

Recent findings: Recent reviews have explored many aspects of complementary feeding, such as the age at which first foods are introduced, child's micronutrient status, weight and health outcomes. However, there appears to be a knowledge gap in two areas that are potentially relevant for developing a healthy diet: the quality of the diet and the type of complementary feeding approach. Furthermore, reviews on complementary feeding tends to rely heavily on research from Western countries (also known as WEIRD countries), failing to provide a global perspective on infant development. Positive significant relationships were found between diet quality and (i) cognitive development (five studies), (ii) language development (six studies), (iii) social cognition (three studies), (iv) general development (six studies), and between approach and language development (two studies). Although a substantial number of findings suggest a significant relationship between diet quality and child development (20), some findings were non-significant (17), signaling that more research is needed in this field.

Purpose of review: Most healthcare providers believe that nutrition assessment and therapy should be an integral part of patient care. Physicians however receive inadequate nutrition education in medical school and postgraduate training, resulting in limited interest and poor integration of nutrition into clinical practice. The purpose of this paper is to present a means of documentation and presentation by registered dietitian nutritionists (RDN) that would enhance communication and assimilation of principles in clinical nutrition for physicians.

Recent findings: In an effort to standardize terminology, promote a uniform approach to nutrition care, and gather data for research purposes, the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (the Academy) developed the Nutrition Care Process (NCP). This process with a design and terminology unique to their specialty, inadvertently excludes pertinent clinical information from being communicated and reduces the impact of the RDN in coordinating the nutrition management of their patients. This report introduces a proposal to modify the Academy NCP with strategic documentation by which RDNs might better communicate through charting and case presentation in a language common to other services and members of the healthcare team. Strategic RDN documentation and communication would help provide education on the go in the workplace, helping to fill gaps in the nutrition knowledge base for physicians. The proposal seeks to further augment the role and clinical responsibilities of the RDN on a nutrition consult service with the ultimate aim of promoting better patient care.