Frontiers in Nutrition最新文献

Introduction: Insulin resistance (IR) is central to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Composite indices including the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), triglyceride-glucose index (TyG), and TyG-BMI, are widely used to quantify IR severity. The gut microbiome (GM) has been implicated in metabolic dysregulation, but its associations with IR remain incompletely defined.

Methods: We collected blood test results and stool samples from participants with T2DM and healthy controls. Stool samples underwent 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We trained XGBoost models to distinguish individuals with higher IR from healthy controls based on GM profiles and performed correlation analyses between GM features, clinical measures, and IR indices.

Results: Triglycerides (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) differed significantly between the T2DM and control groups. IR indices (AIP, METS-IR, TyG, and TyG-BMI) were markedly higher in the T2DM group. XGBoost models based on GM profiles showed high discriminatory performance for identifying T2DM individuals with higher IR, with Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium contributing most to model performance. Correlation analyses further indicated that Lachnospiraceae_UCG-010, Bacteroides, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Parasutterella, and Escherichia-Shigella were associated with clinical measures and IR indices.

Conclusions: Specific GM features are associated with IR-related clinical measures and composite indices in T2DM, supporting their potential as intervention targets to improve insulin resistance and restore carbohydrate and lipid metabolism.

Background: Iron (Fe) is an essential micronutrient, yet both its deficiency and overload have been associated with disruptions in lipid metabolism. This study investigated the effects of moderate iron deficiency and high dietary iron on lipid metabolic pathways in mice.

Methods: Five-week male C57BL/6J mice were fed for 16 weeks on one of three diets: a basal iron-deficient diet without iron supplementation (FeD, 19.26 mg/kg Fe), and the same basal diet supplemented with either 200 mg Fe/kg (iron-adequate control, Control) or 1,200 mg Fe/kg (high-iron, FeH). Growth performance, iron status, serum lipids, tissue iron deposition, hepatic fatty acid composition, and expression of key genes and enzymes involved in lipid metabolism were analyzed.

Results: The FeD group exhibited increased body weight and feed intake, and reduced systemic iron parameters. Molecular analysis revealed a distinct pattern of lipid metabolic disruption in FeD, characterized by the upregulation of certain hepatic lipogenic transcripts (ACLY, SREBP1c, PPARγ) but without a concomitant increase in functional lipogenic output or hepatic triglycerides. Notably, the elevation in SCD1 protein occurred alongside a decreased hepatic C18:1 n-9/C18:0 ratio in the FeD group. In adipose tissue, FeD specifically enhanced lipolysis gene expression (ATGL, HSL, FABP4), indicating elevated lipid mobilization. In contrast, FeH mice developed hyperlipidemia and hepatic iron overload, which was driven by direct activation of the hepatic SREBP1c pathway and its lipogenic targets (ACC, FAS, SCD1). Hamp expression was significantly upregulated in the FeH group compared to both the control and FeD groups (p < 0.05). Although both diets altered hepatic fatty acid composition, they operated through fundamentally distinct mechanisms.

Conclusions: These findings demonstrate that moderate iron deficiency and high iron intake disrupt hepatic lipid metabolism via different pathways: FeD primarily through systemic adaptations leading to post-translational constraints on iron-dependent enzymes, whereas FeH acts through direct transcriptional activation of hepatic de novo lipogenesis, potentially involving hepcidin-mediated cross-talk. The study underscores the critical importance of iron homeostasis in preventing dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis and provides mechanistic insights that could inform dietary recommendations for populations at risk of metabolic disorders.

Objective: To evaluate the predictive value of the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) in prostate cancer patients. Compared with previous reviews, this study is the first to systematically grade and evaluate the quality of evidence regarding the association between PNI and prostate cancer prognosis using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluations (GRADE) framework, which can provide more reliable and transparent evidence for clinical practice.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases up to June 2025. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Outcomes included associations between PNI and overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). Meta-analysis, Egger's test, and sensitivity analysis were performed using Review Manager 5.4.1 and Stata 15.1. The certainty of evidence for each outcome was evaluated and graded according to GRADE.

Results: The systematic search identified 857 related studies, with 11 studies included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that a lower PNI was significantly associated with shorter OS (hazard ratio (HR): 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.68, 2.46; P < 0.00001) and PFS (HR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.65, 2.50; P < 0.00001). There was no significant publication bias for OS (P = 0.051), but there was significant publication bias for PFS (P = 0.014). Sensitivity analyses confirmed that the results for OS and PFS were stable and reliable. Regarding the certainty of evidence, OS was rated as moderate quality evidence, while the PFS was rated as low quality.

Conclusions: Low PNI is associated with shorter OS and PFS in prostate cancer patients. Considering the inherent limitations of this study, more prospective studies are needed to confirm the association between PNI and the prognosis of prostate cancer patients.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251154118, identifier: CRD420251154118.

Background: The coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and atrial fibrillation (AF) is common and portends a poorer prognosis. This study evaluated whether the Advanced Lung Cancer Inflammation Index (ALI) and Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score-composite biomarkers of inflammation and malnutrition-are associated with AF prevalence in COPD patients.

Methods: This multicenter, cross-sectional study included 1,510 hospitalized patients with COPD. AF was diagnosed according to the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guidelines, encompassing both a documented clinical history and electrocardiographic evidence. The ALI and CONUT scores were calculated from baseline data. Their independent and combined associations with AF were assessed using multivariate logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and analyses of joint groups based on optimal cut-off values. Model performance and improvement were evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), net reclassification improvement (NRI), integrated discrimination improvement (IDI), and decision curve analysis (DCA). The robustness of the findings was further tested through extensive subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

Results: Among 1,510 patients with COPD, 425 (28.15%) had AF. After comprehensive adjustment for confounders, both a lower ALI and a higher CONUT score were independently associated with increased odds of AF. A nonlinear, L-shaped relationship was identified for ALI (inflection point: 16.09), while CONUT exhibited a linear, positive association. Patients in the combined "low ALI and high CONUT" group had the highest odds of AF (OR = 2.420, 95% CI: 1.721-3.403). The integration of both indices into the baseline model yielded a statistically significant improvement in discriminative power (AUC: 0.842 vs. 0.835, p = 0.031), accompanied by substantial reclassification improvement (NRI = 0.273, p < 0.001). The findings remained consistent across extensive sensitivity analyses and most clinical subgroups, with a notable interaction observed specifically in patients with pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusion: Lower ALI and higher CONUT scores were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of AF in COPD patients. These readily available composite indices, particularly when used in combination, may aid in identifying patients at increased odds of AF, who could be prioritized for further evaluation.

Introduction: Fermented apple juice demonstrates significant potential as a functional beverage with health-promoting benefits; however, optimizing its sensory quality remains challenging. This study investigated the effects of fermentation using single and mixed lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains on the quality of 'Red Fuji' apple juice (AJ) from Aksu, Xinjiang.

Methods: Flavor characteristics were assessed using electronic nose, electronic tongue, and HS-SPME/GC-MS, and underlying mechanisms were investigated via non-targeted metabolomics.

Results: The results revealed that 'Red Fuji' AJ is an excellent fermentation substrate, with post-fermentation total colony counts consistently exceeding 8.5 log CFU/mL. Mixed fermentation outperformed single fermentation. At the L. helveticus and L. plantarum ratio of 1:2, yielding higher viable cell counts (>9.26 log CFU/mL), superior overall sensory acceptance (p < 0.05), and a more complex and pleasant flavor profile characterized by increased levels of esters, aldehydes, and alcohols, along with significantly reduced bitterness (65.3%) and astringency (74.1%). Metabolomic analysis identified key differential metabolites and metabolic pathways (amino acid metabolism, tricarboxylic acid cycle, and flavonoid biosynthesis), providing a theoretical basis for the flavor enhancement mechanism.

Discussion: This study demonstrates that specific mixed LAB fermentation can effectively address common sensory acceptance issues in fermented fruit juices by simultaneously enhancing probioticviability, enriching flavor complexity, and reducing undesirable tastes.

Background: Cistanche deserticola (CD), a functional plant with homology of medicine and food, is used for reinforcing kidney to strengthen yang and loosening bowel to relieve constipation. It is ordinarily processed with rice wine-steamed, which is known as wine-steamed CD (W-CD) to enhance effects in clinical practice. Nevertheless, timely processing of CD is an effective means to ensure quality; the processing techniques also played a crucial role in influencing the quality of CD and its products, which require further investigation. This study aimed to explore suitable drying methods for the efficient production of CDs and W-CDs.

Methods: Herein, the fresh CD is collected and both CD and W-CD are prepared, which all drying mainly included forced-air drying (FAD, at 40, 60, and 80 °C), far-infrared air drying (FID, at 40, 60, and 80 °C), vacuum microwave drying (VMD, at 50, 55, and 60 °C), vacuum freeze drying (VDF), sun-drying (SD) respectively. Furthermore, drying kinetics were employed to analyze drying characteristics, establishing Weibull function models for different processing methods of CD and W-CD. Combining intelligent sensory technologies (E-nose, E-tongue, color difference meter) with texture analyzers, and employing scanning electron microscopy, the trait characteristics and microstructural features were investigated to examine the effects of different drying methods on CD and W-CD. The components content of Echinacoside, Cistanoside A, Tubuloside A, Verbascoside, Isoverbascoside, 2'-Acetylverbascoside, and total polysaccharides are analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV), and the total extracts are also measured. Above those are combined with chemometrics to obtain important factors analysis to differentiate samples of quality.

Results: The Weibull model of drying dynamics is established successfully for CD and W-CD drying processing. The microstructure, rehydration rate (RR, %), and porosity (%) of CD are significantly influenced by rice wine-steamed processing, as are the sweetness (ANS) and content of phenylethyl glycoside, which are also increased. The best drying condition for CD is FAD60-80 °C, and W-CD is FID 40 °C.

Conclusion: Our study, which is comprehensive in comparing the quality of CD and W-CD across different drying processes based on "color-odor-taste-component content," revealed that improving quality can enhance the production of fresh CD. Besides, intelligent sensory technology can provide a foundation for future quality control of CD and W-CD.

Introduction: Individuals with celiac disease (CD) must adhere to a gluten-free diet (GFD) and are therefore at high risk of fumonisin exposure due to their high consumption of maize and maize-based products. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of fumonisins (FB1, FB2, and FB3) in packaged gluten-free (GF) maize and maizebased products sold in Turkey and to assess dietary exposure and health risks in adults with CD using a probabilistic approach.

Methods: Fumonisin concentrations of 51 GF products were analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immonosorbent Assay (ELISA) and daily food consumption data were collected from 67 individuals with CD through a food frequency questionnaire. Exposure was estimated using Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values and probabilistic risk assessment with Monte Carlo simulation.

Results: The highest fumonisins concentrations were detected in the pasta/rice/bulgur group, while the flour/starch group was the food group contributed most to total fumonisins exposure due to higher consumption. Although the average EDI values were below the Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI; 1 μg/kg bw/day) set by European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA) and Provisional maximum tolerable daily intakes (PMTDI; 2 μg/kg bw/day) established by Joint Expert Committee on Food Additives's (JECFA) values, individuals at the 95^th percentile approached 132.88-167.89% of the PMTDI value in the flour/starch group and 79.00-82.38% in the pasta/rice/bulgur group.

Discussion: These findings highlight the need for continuous monitoring and stricter regulatory oversight and dietary guidance to protect vulnerable populations.