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Short-chain carbohydrates are primarily made up of fructose molecules; fructooligosaccharides (FOS) are referred to as prebiotics and are renowned for their potential beneficial effects on health. Since they are inedible fibers, FOS go through the upper digestive tract nearly undisturbed while entering the colon, where they offer food to beneficial gut bacteria, such as Lactobacilli and Bifidobacteria. This method supports digestive health and improves immunity by maintaining an optimal gut microbiome. Based on studies, through establishing an optimal gut environment, FOS can reduce the risk of several digestive disorders, particularly inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). FOS has shown potential for improving metabolic health along with digestive health. They can help regulate weight and reduce the risk of diabetes due to their low caloric content and ability to regulate blood glucose levels. This review will contribute to the development of more focused and effective applications of FOS in health and medicine by identifying the areas of research gaps and suggesting future directions.

Cerebral palsy (CP) encompasses neurodevelopmental disorders affecting movement and posture, arising from nonprogressive brain damage during prenatal, perinatal, or postnatal periods. Diagnosis typically occurs between ages 3 and 5, with symptoms including abnormal muscle tone and impaired motor skills. CP's etiology is diverse, ranging from genetic predispositions to perinatal complications, often exacerbated by poor nutrition. Management requires a multidisciplinary approach involving neurologists, therapists, surgeons, psychologists, and social workers to address motor impairments and co-morbidities like epilepsy, cognitive deficits, and sensory impairments. Neurological rehabilitation, primarily through physical and occupational therapies, forms the cornerstone of CP management. Addressing feeding difficulties, common in CP, often necessitates enteral or parenteral feeding, each with potential complications. High-calorie formulas offer a promising strategy to combat undernutrition and improve motor outcomes. Research also explores the potential benefits of natural compounds like kaempferol and resveratrol, though further investigation is needed.

Epidemiological studies suggest that dietary fiber may decrease the risk for development of colorectal cancer. There appear to be four mechanisms by which fiber is protective in the colon and rectum: (a) increasing bulk of the stool; (b) binding to colorectal carcinogens; (c) decreasing transit time of waste through the bowel; and (d) altering the microbial composition of the colon leading to reduced risk for colon cancer (Kritchevsky, 1997; Zeng, 2014). Both (b) and (c) reduce the interaction of carcinogens with the lining of the colon and rectum. Dietary fiber may also play a role in reducing risk for the development of esophageal cancer, perhaps through mechanisms that differ from those in colorectal cancer. Epidemiological studies have identified protective effects of fiber against the precancerous lesion, Barrett's esophagus (BE), and its conversion to esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), presumably by reducing acid reflux from the stomach to the esophagus (Coleman et al., 2013). Similar associations were observed in studies of fiber intake and risk of conversion of esophageal dysplasia to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), but the results were not significant (Coleman et al., 2013). However, a recent cross-sectional study in China found that subjects were at increased risk for ESCC when they consumed diets low in vegetables and fruit and this was attributed in part to low fiber intake (Zang et al., 2022).

In any discussion of the role of fiber in disease occurrence, it is necessary to define what is meant by dietary “fiber.” Briefly, there are two types of dietary fiber, soluble and insoluble (Papandreou et al., 2015). Both types are carbohydrates found in most plant foods. Soluble fiber (largely pectin and inulin) dissolves in water and is digested by enteric bacteria in the large intestine. Dietary sources of soluble fiber include oats, legumes, and vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, squash, and broccoli. Soluble fiber reduces low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels in blood and helps control blood sugar by preventing rapid rises in blood sugar levels after a meal (Kritchevsky, 1997). Insoluble fiber (cellulose, lignin) does not dissolve in water and passes directly through the gastrointestinal tract. Because it remains intact, it provides “bulk” with stool formation and speeds the movement of waste through the digestive system. Dietary sources of insoluble fiber include whole grains, rye, and fruits and vegetables. Bacterial degradation of fiber in the colon produces short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) such as butyric acid which may affect colonic and fecal pH. Butyric acid also exhibits both antiproliferative and proapoptotic activities (Vanamala et al., 2008). Given these various functions of soluble and insoluble fiber, it seems readily apparent how fiber might reduce risk for colon cancer but no

To explore the effect of the refining process on the compounds of soybean oil, three different refined grade soybean oils were detected by ultra performance liquid chromatography-high-definition mass spectrometry and chemometrics for finding the differential compounds. The results of PCA and PLS-DA showed that three different refined grade soybean oils had the clear separation trend and the number and content of compounds in soybean crude oil (SCO) gradually reduced with the increased process of the refining. Our result indicated that the refining processes reduced the number and content of compounds in SCO. The decreased trans fatty acids and other unfavorable quality compounds (free fatty acids) suggested that the refining process was necessary. But, 108 compounds with potential function in SCO were significantly reduced during the process of the refine. Most of these compounds (daidzein, linoleamide, and stearamide, etc.) were reduced during the process of the third-grade refine and were even not detected after the first-grade refine. In addition, 16 compounds were not found in SCO and were detected in the refined soybean oil and increased during the refining processes. Our results suggest that refining diminishes the quantity and concentration of compounds with potential function in SCO and should be improved.

Mushrooms have long been an integral part of human culture and health and are valued for their nutritional and therapeutic properties. Often referred to as a superfood, mushrooms are rich in bioactive compounds that provide a range of health benefits including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, prebiotic, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects. This review focussed on the diversity of mushrooms, emphasizing their nutritional and medicinal significance, and explores their secondary metabolites with potential applications in nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals. It underscores the role of mushrooms as vital bioactive agents in developing value-added products. An overview of the bioactive compounds, such as polysaccharides, peptides, proteins, terpenoids, and phenolic compounds, have been identified in numerous mushroom species. Additionally, the review addresses advancements in fungal biotechnology, particularly the use of fungi as efficient industrial cell factories, and their influence on food quality and sustainability. By critically analyzing recent studies, the review summarizes the diverse roles of fungal biomolecules in the food and pharmaceutical industries and highlights their significant contribution to modern medicine and health-related fields.

To reveal the functional properties of hazelnut dietary fibers (DFs) in different colonic segments (cecum, proximal, and distal colon), a diet enriched with natural hazelnut, roasted hazelnut, or hazelnut skin DFs was applied to mice for 6 weeks; microbial metabolites, microbial composition, and tissue morphology were determined segmentally using gas chromatography, 16S rRNA sequencing technology, and microscopy, respectively. Roasted hazelnut DFs revealed significantly (p < 0.05) higher propionate in the cecum of female mice, while hazelnut skin DFs significantly increased the butyrate level in the distal colon of male counterparts. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed hazelnut DFs promoted the Lactobacillus animalis, L. gasseri, and Akkermansia muciniphila related OTUs, especially in the proximal colon, but the degrees of promotions were hazelnut type-, segment- and sex-dependent. Interestingly, hazelnut skin DFs significantly (p < 0.05) stimulated Prevotella related OTUs in the distal colon regardless of sex, which is known to have great ability to utilize dietary polysaccharides. Furthermore, hazelnut skin DF group had higher crypt height values, suggesting that hazelnut skin DFs have ability to maintain saccharolytic activity in more distal region of the colon. Overall, our results demonstrate that hazelnut DFs differentially impact microbial metabolite formation, microbiota composition and tissue morphology in different segments of the colon.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is one of the world's most significant causes of illness and mortality. It is vital to identify modifiable risk factors for COPD prevention and therapy, and the scientific community has started to focus closely on nutrition as a crucial component of COPD management, from prevention to treatment. For the progression, and management of obstructive lung illnesses like asthma and COPD, diet and nutrition may be modifiable risk factors of COPD. This review examined the connection between dietary habits, nutrient consumption, and obstructive lung disorders. Additionally, this review highlights and summarizes the evidence from observational and clinical studies regarding the influence of nutrients and dietary habits on lung function and the onset, progression, and outcomes of COPD and lung disease. Regarding the advancement or prevention of COPD, supplemental nutrition has an impact on the onset, progression, and treatment of COPD. Better pulmonary function, less deterioration in lung function, and a lower risk of COPD linked to nutraceuticals, particularly those with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, when combined with balancepatterns. Health providers may use an evidence-based lifestyle approach to help counsel patients toward improved lung health if they are aware of the dietary implications of COPD.

Sweeteners are food additives used in processed foods and beverages, as well as health products and medicines. Due to low cost, zero calories, and intense sweetness, nonnutritive sweeteners have been widely used to replace table sugar and become the preferred strategy to manage human health. Non-nutritive sweeteners are traditionally considered to be metabolically inert, while more and more evidence indicates that they affect human health by perturbing gut microbiota and energy homeostasis. The impact of non-nutritive sweeteners on metabolic diseases still remains controversial. This review covered a total of 10 commonly used non-nutritive sweeteners, either naturally occurring or artificial, and summarized their origin, applications, and impacts on metabolic diseases, especially obesity, diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The sensory assessment methods were summarized and applied to evaluate the suitability and consumer acceptance of sweeteners. The purpose of this review is to summarize the potential impacts of sweeteners on metabolic diseases, guide the safe application of sweeteners, and speculate on the future development of sweeteners.

Hyperuricemia (HUA) is one of main risk factors for liver injury, and xanthine oxidase (XOD) is an important target for HUA-induced liver injury. As a typical natural active ingredient, naringenin (NAR) has been confirmed the good therapeutic effect on variety of diseases. However, studies of NAR ameliorating HUA-induced liver injury have not been reported. Therefore, we evaluated the bioactivity of NAR in ameliorating HUA-induced liver injury and investigated the related molecular mechanisms. The inhibitory activity and type of NAR on XOD was investigated by enzymatic reactions and kinetic analyses, and molecular docking showed that NAR was able to bind tightly to XOD. In vivo activity studies showed that NAR ameliorated liver function while being able to inhibit XOD activity. NAR alleviated oxidative stress in the liver caused by excess reactive oxygen species through antioxidant activity. At the same time, NAR exerted anti-inflammatory activity by regulating the levels of inflammatory factors. The molecular docking results suggested that NAR was able to interact with Keap1 and AMPK to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This work demonstrated the therapeutic effect of NAR on HUA-induced liver injury, which was valuable for the further development of related functional foods.

Obesity has become a global public health concern, yet an effective, low-toxic, and high-compliance strategy for its control remains elusive. This study aims to develop a novel comprehensive intervention method for the management of obesity and its complications. Thus, we designed a functional solid beverage named RLMCR, which consists of medicinal and edible Chinese herbs. We identified its chemical composition and evaluated its efficacy. Our results indicated that RLMCR was abundant in various functional ingredients, including flavonoids, polyphenols, and terpenoids. It could mitigate lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells by upregulating the expression of lipolysis-related genes. We then established diet-induced obese (DIO) mice models, which were administered with low, middle, and high doses of RLMCR for 8 weeks. Our findings indicated that the optimal dosage of RLMCR for weight loss was 3.0 g/kg, which effectively mitigated weight gain, lipid accumulation, hepatic steatosis, and abnormal glucose metabolism. Following treatment, oxygen consumption, carbon dioxide production, and thermogenesis were increased in DIO mice, without affecting food intake. The content of brown adipose tissue was significantly elevated, and the expression of thermogenesis-related genes and lipolysis-related genes in the epididymal white adipose tissue was upregulated. So, we developed a novel functional food that effectively mitigates obesity and its related metabolic disorders.