Frontiers in Nutrition最新文献

Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is a life-threatening condition with high mortality, driven by dysregulated inflammation and programmed cell death. Exocarpium Citri Grandis (ECG), which refers to the dried outer rind of the Rutaceae plant Citrus grandis 'Tomentosa' or Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck, has a history of use in treating pulmonary inflammatory diseases, yet its mechanism of action against sepsis-induced ALI remains unexplored. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of ECG in a murine model of sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). This study reveals that ECG significantly reduces the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in both serum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and in lung tissue. Additionally, ECG downregulates the abnormal expression of chemokine genes. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that Naringin and Neohesperidin, active compounds of ECG, form stable complexes with the PANoptosis-related proteins ZBP1 and RIPK1. The protective effect of ECG was mediated through the simultaneous targeting of multiple programmed cell death pathways, as it inhibited NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD-driven pyroptosis, suppressed Bcl-2/Bax/Caspase-3-dependent apoptosis, and attenuated ZBP1/MLKL/RIPK1-induced necroptosis. Our study identifies ECG as a multi-target therapeutic agent that mitigates sepsis-induced ALI primarily through the inhibition of PANoptosis, providing a mechanistic foundation for its potential development as a functional food or dietary intervention strategy.

Purpose: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotic supplementation on alcohol metabolism, liver function biomarkers, inflammatory indicators, and gut microbiota composition in patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD), providing insights into their potential therapeutic role.

Methods: A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases identified clinical studies assessing probiotic interventions in adults with ALD.

Results: A total of 12 clinical trials conducted between 2008 and 2025 were included. Probiotic supplementation resulted in significant reductions in liver enzymes, including ALT (WMD = -10.10; 95% CI: -15.34, -4.87) and AST (WMD = -13.05; 95% CI: -21.33, -4.78). No significant effects were observed for GGT or ALP. Probiotics did not significantly influence blood alcohol or acetaldehyde levels. Regarding inflammatory markers, probiotics did not significantly affect LPS, TNF-α, IL-1β, or IL-6, and IL-10. Microbial analyses showed an increase in beneficial gut bacteria, including Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Prevotella, and a decrease in pathogenic taxa such as Escherichia and Shigella.

Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation shows promising benefits for improving liver enzyme profiles and modulating the gut microbiota in patients with ALD. However, inconsistent effects on markers of inflammation and alcohol metabolism highlight the need for large-scale, high-quality randomized trials to confirm the therapeutic potential of probiotics in ALD.

Background: Global dementia cases are projected to reach 152.8 million by 2050, with China accounting for approximately 25% of cases. While B-complex vitamins and sleep quality are established modifiable determinants of cognitive health, their potential synergistic effects on cognitive function remain unexplored, particularly in rapidly aging populations.

Methods: In this population-based cross-sectional study, we analyzed baseline data from 8,806 adults aged ≥65 years in the Shanghai Aging and Retirement Evaluation Survey (January-May 2024). Dietary B-complex vitamins intake was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire. Sleep quality was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Cognitive function was measured using the Mini-Mental State Examination, with scores ≤ 24 indicating cognitive impairment. We examined non-linear relationships using restricted cubic splines analysis and assessed independent associations using multivariate logistic regression. Both multiplicative and additive interactions were evaluated using cross-product terms and three additive interaction indices.

Findings: Among 8,806 participants, 677 (7.69%) had cognitive impairment. Higher intake of vitamin B6, B12, and folate showed L-shaped associations with reduced cognitive impairment risk, while PSQI scores demonstrated J-shaped relationships. Compared with lowest quartiles, participants in highest quartiles of vitamin B6, B12, and folate intake had lower odds of cognitive impairment (adjusted OR 0.33 [95% CI: 0.25-0.43], 0.43 [95% CI: 0.33-0.55], and 0.33 [95% CI: 0.25-0.43], respectively; all p < 0.001), while those with highest PSQI scores had increased odds (2.94 [95% CI: 2.34-3.69], p < 0.001). Significant additive interactions between low B-complex vitamins intake and poor sleep quality were observed (Relative Excess Risk Due to Interaction 0.97 [95% CI: 0.48-1.46]; Attributable Proportion 0.22 [95% CI: 0.10-0.35]; Synergy Index 1.41 [95% CI: 1.14-1.67], all p < 0.001), suggesting a synergistic association with cognitive impairment risk.

Interpretation: Our findings reveal a synergistic association of adequate B-complex vitamins intake and good sleep quality with a lower prevalence of cognitive impairment in older adults, suggesting that integrated interventions targeting both nutritional and sleep factors might be more effective than single-domain approaches in preserving cognitive health during aging.

Introduction: As China's dietary structure shifts from "eating enough" to "eating well and eating healthily," improving the nutritional status of rural residents through digital development has become a key issue for advancing rural revitalization and common prosperity.

Methods: Using data from the 2020 China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS), this study empirically examines the impact of digital village construction on rural residents' nutritional intake and its underlying mechanisms.

Results: The results show that digital village construction significantly improves the nutritional intake of rural residents, with the digital environment playing the most prominent role. Further analysis reveals that digital village construction has the strongest promoting effect on dairy consumption, while its impact is more pronounced in poor villages and non-plain areas, highlighting the importance of digital development in addressing regional disparities and promoting nutritional equity. Mechanism tests indicate that digital village construction improves rural residents' nutritional intake by enhancing information accessibility, increasing household income, and improving infrastructure.

Discussion: Based on these findings, priority should be given to improving network infrastructure, developing rural e-commerce and cold-chain logistics systems, and strengthening the digital dissemination of nutrition and health knowledge, in order to comprehensively enhance the nutritional status of rural residents.

Introduction: Although Phellinus igniarius has been shown to treat hyperuricemia (HUA) and gout, a self-inflammatory disease caused by purine metabolism disorders, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Polysaccharides are among the main components of P. igniarius with anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory properties.

Methods: Here, we examined the therapeutic effects of polysaccharide SH-P-1-1 isolated from P. igniarius on HUA and gout, and explored the underlying mechanism, focusing on gut microbiota and metabolite regulation.

Results: SH-P-1-1 significantly decreased uric acid and creatinine levels, reduced xanthine oxidase and adenosine deaminase activities, alleviated kidney damage, and reduced urate deposition in joints in model rats. It increased the abundance of Blautia and Muribaculaceae but reduced that of the Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Lactobacillus, and Turicibacter. SH-P-1-1 also significantly modulated the metabolic profile and was closely related to some metabolic pathways, such as tryptophan metabolism, relevant to HUA and gout. The beneficial activities of SH-P-1-1 correlated with gut microbiota composition and differential metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids.

Discussion: Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of SH-P-1-1 as a natural supplement for preventing and managing HUA and gout.

Introduction: Approximately 30% of epilepsy patients develop drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE), underscoring the need for adjunctive therapies. While dietary interventions like the ketogenic diet show promise, evidence for specific micronutrients, particularly regarding differences between DRE and non-drug-resistant epilepsy (NRE), remains scarce. This study investigated B-vitamin intake and plasma metabolomic profiles in NRE versus DRE patients.

Methods: We established a cohort of 330 adults with epilepsy (165 NRE, 165 DRE) from western China. Dietary intake of vitamins B1, B6, B9, and B12 was assessed. Multivariate logistic regression and restricted cubic splines (RCS) analyzed associations between vitamin intake and DRE risk. Stratified analyses evaluated consistency across subgroups. Untargeted metabolomics was performed on a subset of patients to identify differential metabolites and pathways.

Results: In the fully adjusted model, only dietary vitamin B9 (folate) intake was significantly and inversely associated with DRE risk (OR: 0.78 per 100 μg, 95% CI: 0.64-0.94; p = 0.01). The RCS indicated a linear dose-response relationship (non-linearity p = 0.412). This protective association remained stable across various subgroups without significant interactions. Metabolomic analysis revealed distinct profiles between NRE and DRE, identifying key differential metabolites including decreased linoleic acid and tetrahydrofolyl-glutamate, and increased cortisol. Pathway analysis implicated alterations in linoleic acid metabolism, cortisol synthesis and secretion, and folate metabolism.

Conclusion: This study identifies lower dietary vitamin B9 intake as an independent risk factor for DRE in a Chinese adult cohort, with each 100 μg increase conferring a 22% reduction in risk. The metabolomic findings provide potential mechanistic insights, linking folate intake to dysregulated stress hormone, inflammatory, and one-carbon metabolism pathways in DRE. These results highlight the potential of nutritional assessment and intervention in the management of drug-resistant epilepsy.

Background: Bamboo shoots have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, improving digestion and regulating intestinal metabolic disorders. Edible fermented foods are subject to complex reactions during the fermentation process, leading to the creation of new bioactive compounds and enzymes, which can be beneficial for the relief of symptoms of ulcerative colitis. However, research on the use of fermented bamboo shoots for alleviating ulcerative colitis symptoms is currently limited.

Methods: The effects of fermented bamboo shoots on DSS-induced UC model mice were investigated and basic physicochemical indicators, such as the levels of inflammatory factors, the composition of gut microbiota and SCFA were analysed to investigate the mechanism through which fermented bamboo shoots mitigate UC.

Results: The results revealed that fermented bamboo shoots significantly reduced disease severity in DSS-treated mice, as evidenced by body weight recovery, a decreased disease activity index, increased colon length, and recovery from tissue damage. Fermented bamboo shoots also reduced the secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 (p < 0.01). In addition, fermented bamboo shoots significantly increased the abundance of Akkermansia, Anaerovorax and Bacteroides in the intestines (p < 0.01), as well as the levels of SCFAs including acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid in the caecum contents (p < 0.01).

Conclusion: In summary, fermented bamboo shoots may play a role in restoring the composition of intestinal microbiota and the production of their metabolites, which suggests that fermented bamboo shoots may be a functional dietary supplement for alleviating UC.

Background: Dietary risk factors play crucial roles in the carcinogenesis and progression of cancer. However, the global burden of diet-related neoplasms (DRNs) remains underexplored.

Methods: Age-standardized disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and mortality rates for DRNs were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) Study 2021. These were categorized by dietary risk, sex, age, and sociodemographic index (SDI) level. Predictions of DALY and mortality trends from 2021 to 2050 were generated via the Bayesian age-period-cohort models. Cross-country inequalities were assessed using the slope index of inequality and the concentration index.

Results: In 2021, dietary risk contributed to 16.40 million DALYs and 0.67 million deaths from DRNs, including esophageal, stomach, colon and rectum, tracheal, bronchus, and lung, breast, and prostate cancers. Diets high in red meat and low in whole grains were primary dietary risks for DRNs. Globally, the age-standardized DALY and mortality rates related to DRNs have decreased over the past three decades and are projected to continue to decline until 2050. The DRNs burden is particularly heavy for colon and rectal cancer patients, patients in high and high-middle SDI regions, men, and those aged ≥70 years. Cross-country inequalities reveal that the slope index of inequality rose for DRNs from 262.74 in 1990 to 296.14 in 2021. The concentration index was 0.27 in 1990 and 0.30 in 2021.

Conclusion: This study revealed significant variations in the burden of DRNs across different age groups, sexes, regions, and countries, emphasizing the potential for tailored cancer screening strategies targeting populations with higher risks of DRNs.

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of a nutritious diet for maintaining overall health. Among dietary components, plant-derived bioactive compounds have garnered significant attention due to their functional properties and potential to prevent various diseases. These bioactive constituents, although typically present in small quantities, provide substantial health benefits and are considered non-nutritive yet physiologically active components of the diet. Medicinal plants, vegetables, fruits, cereals, sauces, and spices have become focal points in nutritional research, owing to their diverse array of bioactive compounds. These compounds, including polyphenols, glucosinolates, carotenoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, vitamins, and dietary fibers, are increasingly recognized for their ability to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, as demonstrated by epidemiological studies. These molecules exhibit a broad spectrum of therapeutic activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, cardioprotective, and vasodilatory activities. Despite their promising pharmacological and nutritional potential, the integration of plant-derived bioactive compounds into commercial products remains limited. Importantly, bioactive compounds that possess antioxidant and antimicrobial activities are increasingly acknowledged for their potential application as natural and environmentally sustainable food preservatives. The expanding interest in these applications underscores the critical need for efficient and standardized extraction methods. While conventional extraction techniques have been widely used, they often suffer from limitations such as low yield, degradation of heat-sensitive compounds, and high solvent consumption. To address these challenges, innovative and integrated extraction technologies have been developed, offering advantages such as enhanced extraction efficiency, reduced impurities, and lower environmental impact. These methods often employ reduced solvent use and energy input, aligning with sustainability goals. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of bioactive plant compounds by examining their extraction methods, biological and immunological activities, nutritional significance, food applications, and health benefits for humans.

Despite advancements in health and technology, anemia continues to be a significant health concern for pregnant and lactating women in low- and middle-income countries, contributing to both morbidity and mortality. This study aims to explore the behavioral aspects and societal influences that affect adherence to health services and the adoption of healthy nutritional habits among women of reproductive age. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted among Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and their respective mothers-in-law in four Gram Panchayats of Bankura District, West Bengal, India. The qualitative data from six focus group discussions (FGDs) were analyzed using thematic analysis in NVivo version 14.23.3. To develop thematic elements relevant to program objectives, a process of inductive coding was undertaken to support coding and creation of major themes. In addition, theme and code coverage visualizations assisted in identifying barriers, along with participant quotes and excerpts noted verbatim. The study identifies key barriers to compliance with anemia control programs, including inadequate consumption of iron and folic acid-rich foods, dislike for Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets, forgetfulness, and limited awareness of anemia. Service gaps such as insufficient counseling on anemia, inadequate supply of IFA tablets, and health infrastructure issues exacerbate the problem. The focus group discussions revealed the behavioral and societal influence affects lack of adherence to services. These women portray lack of compliance with IFA tablets due to their dislike of the taste of the tablets and forgetting to take them due to increased household work, along with their aversion towards green-leafy vegetables. Additionally, these women claimed that there is an inadequate supply of IFA tablets for many lactating mothers as well as women in the reproductive age group (15-49 years of age). Gender disparities further compound these challenges, with unequal distribution of household labor and limited access to education for women contributing to nutritional deficiencies. Addressing these multifaceted issues requires comprehensive interventions focusing on nutrition education, healthcare access, and gender equality to effectively combat anemia among vulnerable populations.