Food Science & Nutrition最新文献

Patients undergoing methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) often experience psychological issues and clinical dysfunctions, which can negatively impact the effectiveness of the treatment. Addressing these challenges is crucial for improving patient outcomes. This clinical trials aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Spirulina (SP) supplementation on craving, psychological distress, sexual performance, and cognitive functions in male receiving methadone. In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 50 male patients undergoing MMT were randomly assigned to receive either the SP (500 mg twice daily, n = 25) or the placebo (n = 25) for 12 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at the end of the intervention. Psychological indicators were measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21); sexual function was evaluated with the International Index for Erectile Function (IIEF); drug craving was assessed via the Drug Desire Questionnaire (DDQ); and cognitive performance was measured with the FAS test, Iowa Gambling Task (IGT), and Trail Making Test (TMT). Overall results support that SP supplementation significantly reduced anxiety and stress score compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). However, no significant effects were observed for the depression, sexual function, craving, and cognitive performance measures between the two groups (p > 0.05). SP supplementation may help alleviate anxiety and stress in men undergoing MMT, suggesting its potential as a supportive intervention. Further studies with larger participant groups are warranted to confirm these effects and explore broader benefits of SP in this population.

Irct registration: IRCT20231101059923N2 (Registration date: 2023-12-16).

Yushan Jiang, Dachen Wang, Zijie Wang, Huang Dai, Chen Wang, Yingli Wang. Recent Advances in Spectroscopy and Imaging Techniques for Nondestructive Detection of Meat Quality and Safety. Food Science & Nutrition. 2025; 12(13): e71303.

In the “Funding” section, the text “This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2662023GXQD001)” was incorrect. This should have read: “This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2662023GXQD001) and the Hubei Provincial Key Research and Development Program (Grant No: 2024BBB051).”

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Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers and a primary cause of death. The increased incidence in low- and middle-income nations highlights the need for better prevention. Chronic inflammation, obesity, and gut microbial dysbiosis are major risk factors for CRC, making nutritional interventions attractive. This study aims to examine the association between adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet and anthropometric, biochemical, inflammatory, molecular, and gut microbiota parameters related to colorectal cancer risk. In this retrospective analysis, anti-inflammatory diet adherents (n = 515) and non-adherents (n = 435) were compared. Hematological, hepatic, inflammatory, tumor, genetic/molecular, and gut microbiota tests were performed, and chi-square tests were used for categorical outcomes. Multiple regression was used to examine the association between adherence to an anti-inflammatory diet and the development of colorectal cancer. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that anti-inflammatory diets were associated with improved clinical, biochemical, and microbiome outcomes in patients with CRC. Diet adherence was associated with a lower risk of obesity, central obesity, dyslipidemia, anemia, and leukocytosis after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, smoking, and caloric intake (β = -1.90, SE = 0.26, OR = 0.15, 95% CI: 0.09-0.25). Several inflammatory markers, including CRP, IL-6, CEA, and MMP-9, decreased markedly (p < 0.001). Molecular alterations associated with CRC, including p53 mutation, Ki-67 overexpression, microsatellite instability, APC mutation, and β-catenin nuclear expression, were significantly decreased (p < 0.001). Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Akkermansia muciniphila were increased, and pathogenic species decreased in the gut (ORs 2.10-2.30; Fusobacterium nucleatum, Clostridium difficile, pathogenic Escherichia coli; ORs 0.16-0.18). Anti-inflammatory diets significantly improve metabolic, inflammatory, tumor-related, and microbiome profiles in patients with CRC. Adherence to an anti-inflammatory dietary pattern is significantly associated with improved metabolic, inflammatory, molecular, and gut microbiota profiles, all of which are linked to colorectal cancer risk. These findings support anti-inflammatory dietary strategies as cost-effective and non-invasive approaches for colorectal cancer prevention and adjunctive management.

Maintaining oral and dental hygiene, it is significantly related to individuals' quality of life as well as systemic health. Despite its importance, oral health is often overlooked, especially among underserved populations who face barriers to accessing dental care. This neglect exacerbates health inequalities and leads to a cycle of poor health outcomes. Understanding these factors can lead to targeted interventions as well as appropriate public health strategies to improve access to dental care and promote healthy practices. Nutrition is recognized as an essential component in the prevention of oral and dental diseases. Based on these considerations, a better understanding of how diet, and in particular nutrients intake, influences the potential relationship between nutrition and oral and dental diseases including periodontal disease, oral mucositis, root canal infection, halitosis, etc. is needed. Among the innovations developed in the food market are products called functional foods, and recent trends in food demand indicate that consumers are increasingly aware of the link between diet and health. Functional and organic foods contain effective and non-toxic bioactive compounds, which have potential benefits effect on health beyond their basic nutritional value. The relationship between food products with the approach of functional and organic foods has been investigated in various studies and it seems that the bioactive substances in herbs, fruits, vegetables, probiotics, etc. can control or treat the risks associated with oral diseases. A notable trend in the food industry is the technological advancement and development of an industrial chain that has shifted from functional agriculture to functional food, involving the selective use of plants, microorganisms, etc. as biological platforms for enriching nutrients in products with health-promoting properties. This review aims to examine and introduce functional and organic foods and their application in dentistry for the prevention and treatment of oral and dental illnesses.

The gut microbiota is essential for colonic health, and its imbalance (dysbiosis) is linked to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease and metabolic disorders. Whey proteins (WPs), including β-lactoglobulin, α-lactalbumin, glycomacropeptide, and lactoferrin, possess antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and prebiotic-like properties that may help restore microbial balance. Beyond modulating the microbiome, WPs play a significant role in reinforcing intestinal barrier integrity and regulating host metabolism. This review summarizes evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies showing WPs can enhance beneficial bacteria (e.g., Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus) while suppressing harmful ones. Furthermore, WP supplementation has been shown to alleviate dysbiosis-related conditions such as colitis, obesity, and allergies by improving microbial diversity, enhancing short-chain fatty acid production, strengthening the mucosal barrier, and modulating immune responses. However, the effects vary depending on WP composition, processing, and individual microbiota. Despite encouraging results, knowledge gaps remain regarding optimal dosing and long-term impacts. Overall, WPs show promise as functional food components and potential therapeutic agents for promoting colonic health, metabolic homeostasis, and gut barrier function, but more research is needed to refine their clinical application.

Onion (Allium cepa L.), as one of the earliest vegetables cultivated by humans, has a medicinal value that can be traced back to The times of ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. In recent years, with the development of analytical techniques and molecular biology, the unique organic sulfides (organosulfur compounds, OSCs) in onions have attracted extensive attention from the scientific community. This article conducts a detailed analysis of the chemical structural characteristics of the main organic sulfides in onions, compares the advantages and disadvantages of extraction techniques such as steam distillation, organic solvent extraction, and supercritical CO₂ extraction, and elaborates on their mechanisms of action in regulating lipid metabolism, exerting antibacterial and antitumor effects, alleviating diabetes, and mitigating asthma. The article finally discusses the application prospects of onion organic sulfides in the treatment of diseases, as well as the current technical challenges, providing a reference for the determination of future research directions.

Ficus carica L. leaves represent an underutilized agricultural byproduct despite growing consumer interest in functional foods. Four fig leaf cultivars representing diverse geographic origins (BTM, Black Violet, Longue d'Aout, and Sultane) were compared to investigate drying temperature (50°C–80°C) effects on bioactivity through water extraction. The extract demonstrating superior antioxidant activity was subsequently evaluated for safety using cell-based cytotoxicity testing. Bioactive profiling assessed total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with principal component analysis (PCA) accomplished cultivar discrimination. Cell-based cytotoxicity testing via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay evaluated safety on Caco-2, HepG2, and THLE-2 cells. Results identified 60°C as the optimal drying temperature across all cultivars (p < 0.05). Longue d'Aout demonstrated superior bioactivity: TPC = 53.8 mg GAE/g extract, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) IC₅₀ = 0.96 mg/mL. Higher temperatures (70°C–80°C) significantly reduced bioactivity. Conversely, ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) revealed cultivar-specific temperature responses. FTIR-PCA successfully discriminated cultivars with 96.8% accuracy (PC-1: 85%, PC-2: 7%). All extracts demonstrated excellent safety (IC₅₀ = 7–15.3 mg/mL, safety factor 70–1530×). Selective cytotoxicity to cancer cells emerged: HepG2 (IC₅₀ = 7 mg/mL) versus hepatocytes THLE-2 (IC₅₀ = 15.3 mg/mL), showing 2.18-fold selectivity. FTIR achieved 96.8% discrimination accuracy for quality control. Water-based extraction assessment confirmed excellent safety profiles in normal hepatocytes and selective cancer cell toxicity. Superior bioactivity and excellent safety profiles validate fig leaf extracts as safe functional food ingredients, warranting investigation into their potential anti-cancer mechanisms.

This study aimed to develop an oral solid dispersion nutrient delivery system of resveratrol (RSV) and Eudragit E PO (E PO) for the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. The RSV-E PO solid dispersion, prepared by the solvent method at a drug—polymer ratio of 1:7 (w/w), turned resveratrol into an amorphous state, as proved by SEM, DSC, XRD, and FTIR. Over 80% of resveratrol was released in vitro, a 13-fold increase compared to raw resveratrol. In male Sprague—Dawley rats, its oral administration (20 mg·kg⁻¹) doubled bioavailability versus unformulated resveratrol. Evaluated in an adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model, the compound demonstrated significant anti-arthritic effects. These protective effects were primarily mediated through the modulation of key inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, as evidenced by a marked reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, coupled with an increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). Also, its safety was confirmed by stable AST, ALT, CREA, and BUN levels. In summary, the RSV-E PO solid dispersion, with better dissolution and bioavailability, serves as an effective oral nutrient delivery system for RSV.

The increasing consumption of dietary supplements among physically active individuals raises concerns about labeling compliance and consumer safety, particularly in Morocco, where data remain limited. This study assessed the labeling compliance of dietary supplements with national and international regulations in the Beni Mellal-Khénifra region. An observational study was conducted between December 2024 and May 2025 on 403 dietary supplements collected from fitness centers, parapharmacies, and supermarkets. Products were evaluated using a 30-item regulatory checklist, and data were analyzed using Chi-squared tests and Spearman correlations. Overall, 81.39% of supplements were non-compliant. The highest non-compliance was observed in creatine and amino acid-based products (100%) and multivitamins (86.2%), while medicinal plant-based supplements showed lower non-compliance (48%). Missing regulatory information, including dietary category, energy value, safety warnings, and registration numbers, was significantly associated with non-compliance (p < 0.001). Imported products were significantly less compliant than locally produced ones (r = -0.694, p < 0.001). The high prevalence of labeling non-compliance highlights the urgent need for strengthened regulatory enforcement and market surveillance to improve consumer protection and labeling transparency.