Current Nutrition Reports最新文献

Purpose of review: This review explores the impact of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on diabetes management and discusses the potential mechanism.

Recent findings: Recent studies have highlighted that gut dysbiosis has emerged as a key factor in the development of diabetes. In this context, probiotics, specifically Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, offer potential benefits in modulating gut microbiota and improving metabolic health. Several studies have demonstrated the positive impact of L. plantarum on glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and inflammatory markers in diabetic animal models. The potential mechanisms of action of L. plantarum in diabetes management include inhibiting enzymes involved in glucose metabolism, modulating inflammatory responses, improving insulin sensitivity, restoring gut microbiota, and producing short-chain fatty acids.

Summary: The article concludes that L. plantarum is a promising candidate for managing glucose hemostasis, thus offering a potential alternative or adjunct to conventional approaches. However, further clinical studies are necessary to understand the exact mechanism and long-term effects of L. plantarum in humans.

Purpose of this review: This investigation focuses on the role of the superfruit Physalis peruviana as a functional ingredient in the nutraceutical and food industries. It primarily emphasizes this fruit's therapeutic and nutritional benefits, examining the bioactive compounds present in the plant and detailing their chemical structures along with the health advantages. The review highlights the nutraceutical traits across various literature employing in silico, in vitro, and in vivo models. In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goal for good health (SDG 3), this plant shows significant potential for enhancing well-being by combating cancer with nutrition.

Recent findings: The review primarily focuses on the potential of bioactive compounds in this superfood, exploring their roles and mechanisms of action in therapeutic activity. The literature review incorporates systematic searches conducted through scientific databases to select relevant studies. A comprehensive list of these bioactive compounds has been identified. Each compound examined has been functionally characterized based on the published database. Additionally, the potential of the flavor and aroma-imparting volatile organic compounds categorized as odorants has been evaluated. This attribute can highlight the P. peruviana's ability to serve as a natural food additive. P. peruviana is a plant with enormous possibilities as a nutraceutical and functional food, attributed to its use as an effective traditional medicine. Being nutritionally rich, it exhibits various health benefits, thereby increasing the fruit's potential to be categorized as a superfood. Besides these attributes, it can act as a functional food ingredient for formulating value-added products. Aligning with reasonable health goals, it promotes its uses in the medicinal, nutraceutical, and food industries.

Purpose of review: While policies targeting education in schools, marketing campaigns, and taxation strategies are of great importance in tackling our population's malnutrition, there is growing concern about enhancing the supermarket environment to promote healthier food consumption. Supermarkets play a significant role in presenting food options. As gatekeepers of the food system's impact on consumers' health, they have the power to help people make better food choices. Recent shifts in the policy agendas in countries like Germany reflect this trend, with new nutrition-focused behavioural policies being legislated and implemented. However, there remains a lack of specific guidelines on how supermarket environments can be structured to promote healthier purchases. What strategies could enhance consumer well-being when making food choices?. Following the PRISMA framework, we harvested sources published since the SDGs (2015) release related to sustainable nutrition policies set by supermarkets. Using the INFORMAS modular structure framework, WHO action areas as guidance, and the reviewed documents, we created a taxonomy for policy initiatives that could improve the supermarket environment and promote healthy choices. Consequently, we studied the private policies of major supermarket groups (Rewe, Lidl, Aldi Nord, Aldi Sud and Edeka), examining their projects and campaigns designed to improve supermarket environments and encourage consumers to choose healthy food options.

Recent findings: From the taxonomy, comprised of the categories of campaigns, food reformulation, labelling, and marketing, the main categories of campaigns and labelling were thoroughly developed in all the analysed policies whereas food reformulation and marketing categories were analysed in 80% of them. Our analysis revealed that the implementation of sustainable nutrition policies appears to have been embraced by all supermarket groups providing general healthy and sustainable nutrition strategies, except for the Edeka. Notably, supermarkets have actively participated in the creation of private sustainable nutrition policies, presenting similar strategies across the board. However, while supermarkets have demonstrated commitment to promoting healthy and sustainable purchases, there is a need for greater coherence and alignment in reporting mechanisms to allow accurate comparison between initiatives. There´s an urgent need to focus on human welfare, where the purchase environment is healthy and promotes nutritious choices.

Purpose of review: The increasing interest in functional foods and beverages worldwide is driven by rising living standards, advancing technology, and heightened health awareness. Kombucha tea, a fermented beverage produced from sweetened tea and a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY), is a prominent example within this category. This review explores the definition, bioactive components, and health benefits of kombucha, emphasizing its potential roles as a functional beverage in the prevention and management of various diseases.

Recent findings: The fermentation process of kombucha tea, typically lasting up to 14 days, results in the transformation of sugar into ethanol and acetic acid, contributing to its distinctive tangy flavor. Kombucha contains bioactive compounds such as organic acids, antioxidants, and probiotics, which are linked to potential health benefits including improved digestive health, enhanced immune function, and antioxidant activity. Recent advancements in sustainable production methods and innovative formulations have further contributed to the increasing popularity of this beverage. Kombucha tea, originating in Northeast China with a history of over 2,000 years, is increasingly recognized for its potential health-promoting effects. Its production through traditional fermentation methods combined with modern innovations underscores its value as a functional beverage with the potential to support health and well-being. This review assesses the roles of kombucha in maintaining human health, considering its use as a complementary strategy for the prevention and management of diseases due to the bioactive components it contains.

Purpose of review: Food safety is a fundamental challenge in public health and sustainable development, facing threats from microbial, chemical, and physical contamination. Innovative technologies improve our capacity to detect contamination early and prevent disease outbreaks, while also optimizing food production and distribution processes.

Recent findings: This article discusses the role of new bioinformatics and machine learning technologies in promoting food safety and contamination control, along with various related articles in this field. By analyzing genetic and proteomic data, bioinformatics helps to quickly and accurately identify pathogens and sources of contamination. Machine learning, as a powerful tool for massive data processing, also can discover hidden patterns in the food production and distribution chain, which helps to improve risk prediction and control processes. By reviewing previous research and providing new solutions, this article emphasizes the role of these technologies in identifying, preventing, and improving decisions related to food safety. This study comprehensively shows how the integration of bioinformatics and machine learning can help improve food quality and safety and prevent foodborne disease outbreaks.

Purpose of the review: Although adipose tissue controls metabolism and protects vital organs, its importance to general health is being highlighted by the rise in type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Adipokines produced by adipose cells are essential regulators of metabolism, glucose homeostasis, and inflammatory response. It also protects vascular endothelial cells for its potential implications for cardiovascular protection. Understanding its intricate involvement in adipose tissue-endothelial communication is critical in developing targeted therapeutics to treat cardiovascular conditions linked with obesity and metabolic dysregulation. Spices from the Zingiberaceae family, such as cardamom, turmeric, and ginger, have anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that help reduce oxidative stress, vascular dysfunction, and adipocyte-endothelial crosstalk which are all linked to the etiology of CVD. Comprehensive molecular insights into how they modulate adipokine signalling, inflammatory pathways, and ROS-induced adipocyte-vascular interactions remain unexplored, demanding additional translational and clinical validation. With an emphasis on patients with obesity and metabolic dysregulation, the investigation aims to elucidate the mechanisms by which the spice as whole/bioactive constituents of the Zingiberaceae family may provide protection against CVD by integrating previous studies.

Recent findings: Current research continues to support the use of spices from the Zingiberaceae family, such as ginger, turmeric, cardamom, and pepper, as potential therapeutic agents for addressing metabolic complications like obesity, type II diabetes, and CVDs. These natural remedies may modulate adipocyte-endothelial crosstalk and inflammation by modulating important signalling pathways such as AMPK, AKT, PPAR, and NF-κB..

Conclusion: This review provides a complete summary of existing knowledge, opening the way for future research and prospective therapeutic applications of Zingiberaceae spices in cardiovascular health management.

Purpose of review: Bariatric surgery (BS) has emerged as a crucial and effective treatment for severe obesity (SO), providing significant and sustained weight loss and improving comorbidities. Optimizing perioperative careparticularly through structured prehabilitation is crucial for improving surgical outcomes and long-term weight management. This review examines the role of prehabilitation, nutrition, psychological support, physical activity, and pharmacologic treatment in improving the effectiveness of BS.

Recent findings: Despite the benefits of prehabilitation, there are significant differences in the way it is implemented in different healthcare centers. Protocols vary widely in terms of duration, components and intensity, leading to inconsistencies in patient preparation and postoperative recovery. Many patients still do not receive multidisciplinary support from dietitians, psychologists or physiotherapists prior to surgery, which can affect long-term outcomes. Barriers to effective prehabilitation include a lack of standardized guidelines, insufficient healthcare resources and limited patient adherence due to lack of awareness, low motivation or logistical constraints. Despite its proven benefits, structured prehabilitation lasting at least 3-6 months is not available to all patients, as access remains unequal and suboptimal in many healthcare settings. Prehabilitation is an important but underutilized component of BS preparation. Standardizing protocols and ensuring multidisciplinary, patient-centered support are essential to maximizing surgical benefit. Overcoming barriers such as healthcare system limitations, patient motivation and knowledge gaps is critical to integrating prehabilitation into routine bariatric care. This review emphasizes the need for evidence-based, multimodal prehabilitation strategies to improve perioperative care and long-term outcomes for BS patients.