Frontiers in Nutrition最新文献

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), particularly coronary heart disease (CHD), impose a global health burden with unpredictable major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) despite optimal treatment. Systemic inflammation and malnutrition are key pathogenic drivers, yet integrated biomarkers capturing this duality are lacking. The Neutrophil-to-Albumin Ratio (NPAR) emerges as a cost-effective indicator reflecting both pathways, but its prognostic value for post-discharge MACE in hospitalized CHD patients remains unestablished. Our study aimed at investigating the prognostic value of NPAR for MACE in CHD patients.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled CHD patients (2013-2020) from the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University. NPAR was calculated from admission blood samples. Participants were stratified into NPAR tertiles (T1: 5.21-16.00; T2: 16.01-18.50; T3: 18.51-42.38). Multivariable Cox models (adjusting for demographics, comorbidities, and laboratory parameters) assessed NPAR-MACE associations. Restricted cubic splines (RCS) and subgroup analyses explored nonlinearity and effect modifiers.

Results: A total of 2,990 patients with CHD were eligible for analysis. With a median follow-up of 70 months, Kaplan-Meier survival curves demonstrated that participants in the highest NPAR tertile (T3) exhibited significantly lower cumulative survival rates free from MACE compared to those in the lowest tertile (T1). The highest NPAR tertile (T3) exhibited a 72% increased MACE risk (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36-2.20) versus T1. A J-shaped relationship emerged, with risk escalating above NPAR = 17 (P nonlinear = 0.01). Sex-specific heterogeneity was observed: males in T3 had markedly elevated risk (HR = 2.03, 95% CI: 1.50-2.75; P interaction = 0.03).

Conclusion: Elevated admission NPAR independently predicts long-term MACE in CHD patients, particularly among males. This supports NPAR's utility for post-discharge risk stratification.

Introduction: Plant gums are recognized for their notable nutraceutical and medicinal properties. Numerous studies have explored the medicinal potential of Aegle marmelos, particularly leaves, fruits, and seeds. Its hardy nature, drought tolerance, and diverse applications make it a promising climate-smart crop for agroforestry systems.

Methods: The present study was therefore designed to address this limitation by conducting an in-depth phytochemical and nutraceutical profiling of bael gum and evaluating different parameters, i.e., macroscopic parameters, physical parameters, antioxidant enzyme activities, total phenol content, antioxidant analysis (DPPH assay, metal chelating activity, and ABTS assay). Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled with Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS) was used to identify a diverse range of bioactive compounds with potential health benefits.

Results: This study presents a detailed nutritional and phytochemical characterization of bael gum, revealing high levels of total polysaccharides (40.94%), total protein (16.2%), total nitrogen (2.59%), and total amino acids (16.14%). The antioxidant assays demonstrated significant activity with IC₅₀ values of 765.7 ± 1.5 mg/g for metal chelation, 488 ± 1 mg/g for DPPH, and 368.7 ± 0.9 mg/g for ABTS, alongside of total phenol content of 90 ± 1 μg/g FWT.

Conclusion: These findings revealed that bael gum is a valuable source of bioactive compounds with promising therapeutic potential and its applicability across multiple industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and personal care, as well as biodegradable films and edible packaging materials. Furthermore, investigating the mechanisms of action of individual bioactive constituents and evaluating their effectiveness in functional food and therapeutic formulations will be essential to enhance the practical utilization of bael gum.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common degenerative disease of the central nervous system with a variety of non-motor symptoms, in addition to the typical motor symptoms, which seriously affect the physical and mental health of patients, as well as their quality of life. All current treatment measures for PD only ameliorate and alleviate partial symptoms and signs in the early and middle stages. To date, no medicine or surgery can prevent PD progression. The search for preventive measures to treat and prevent PD is currently a research priority. Based on current related studies and investigations, diet interventions have now been found to play important roles in the treatment and prevention of PD. This article reviews recent research advances in diet in terms of polyphenols, fatty acids, vitamins, and dietary patterns for the prevention and treatment of PD.

Polyphenols exhibit significant potential as functional food ingredients owing to their pronounced health-promoting effects. However, their practical application is substantially limited by a central technological dilemma: the trade-off between chemical instability during food processing and storage, and low bioavailability within the human gastrointestinal tract. This review focuses on a nature-derived, biocompatible, and sustainable strategy to address this challenge, which involves the use of molecular self-assembly between proteins and polysaccharides to construct nano- or micro-scale delivery systems. We systematically elucidate how these natural biopolymer complexes, through their sophisticated structural designs, offer a promising solution to mitigate the aforementioned dilemma. The review provides an in-depth analysis of two core fabrication mechanisms-complex coacervation and layer-by-layer (LbL) electrostatic deposition. It highlights how these structures, via functional stratification, not only provide a physical barrier to protect polyphenols from environmental stressors in complex food matrices but also confer the ability for smart release in response to specific physiological signals in the digestive tract, such as pH shifts and enzymatic digestion. Finally, we assess the feasibility and challenges of translating this technology from the laboratory to industrial-scale production, emphasizing its unique advantages in developing "clean label" functional foods. Future perspectives on precise structural control, multifunctional co-delivery, and interactions with gut microbiota are also discussed.

Prostate cancer (PCa) progression is driven by a complex interplay of factors, including genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences. Diet and gut microbiota have emerged as pivotal cancer development and treatment response modulators. This review delves into the intricate relationship between dietary modifications and gut microbiota, and their combined impact on PCa progression. Diets abundant in plant-based foods, fiber, and prebiotics promote beneficial gut microbiota profiles that support anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic processes. In contrast, the Western dietary pattern, characterized by high levels of saturated fats and processed foods, may lead to dysbiosis, fostering pro-inflammatory conditions and the production of metabolites that enhance tumorigenesis. The gut microbiota influences the behavior of PCa through immune modulation, metabolic by-products, and interactions with systemic therapies. Emerging evidence, primarily derived from preclinical models or studies in non-PCa contexts, suggests that diet and gut microbiota may influence the development and progression of PCa. However, further PCa-specific clinical research is needed to validate these associations. Future research should prioritize the development of precise dietary recommendations and microbiota-targeted therapies that can be seamlessly incorporated into clinical practice for more personalized and effective cancer care.

Globally, rural areas in developing countries face food insecurity and malnutrition, threatening both public health and sustainable development. This study examines the impact of digital payment capability (DPC) on the upgrading of food consumption pattern (UFCP) among rural Chinese households. Guided by Sen's Feasible Capability framework, we construct a multidimensional DPC index comprising information access, liquidity access, digital engagement and external training. We apply this index to 2,078 households from the China Rural Revitalization Survey (CRRS) and adopt the Ford Behavioral Model to analyze both direct effects and mediating pathways. Our main findings are as follows. First, DPC significantly enhances UFCP, with the effect largely mediated by increases in household income and improvements in the health awareness of household heads. Second, the positive association between DPC and UFCP is strongest in eastern and western provinces, in peri-urban areas and in regions with more advanced digital economies. Third, dietary gains from higher DPC are most pronounced in households led by middle-aged, less-educated or less-healthy individuals, and in families with middle to high incomes. These results underscore the potential of digital payment services to drive dietary transformation in rural China. To maximize impact, policymakers should expand digital-payment infrastructure and pair it with targeted income-support and health-literacy programs, thereby fostering more diverse diets and greater well-being in rural populations.

Honey is a nutritionally rich natural product with functional and bioactive relevance, yet species-specific comparative data from Northeast India remain limited. This study evaluated the physicochemical composition, mineral profiles, antioxidant, and antimicrobial potential of Apis cerana, A. mellifera, A. dorsata, and Tetragonula iridipennis honeys from Assam, with special emphasis on the bioactivity of stingless bee honey (T. iridipennis). Significant interspecific variation was observed: T. iridipennis honey exhibited elevated diastase activity (19.63 DN), proline (1,286 mg/kg), and mineral richness, along with the highest total phenolic (84.24 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoid (21.20 mg QE/100 g) content. These biochemical traits corresponded to superior antioxidant capacity, with the lowest EC₅₀ values in DPPH (51.55 μL/mL) and ABTS (47.23 μL/mL) assays, and the broadest antibacterial spectrum, inhibiting Salmonella Typhi, Shigella flexneri, Streptococcus pyogenes, and S. mutans. In-vitro cytotoxicity assays further demonstrated notable inhibitory effects of T. iridipennis honey on cell viability, consistent with its high antioxidant potential. This study provides the first comprehensive biochemical baseline for Assam honeys and highlights stingless bee honey as a promising candidate for sustainable functional food development and bioactive compound exploration.

Introduction: This study investigated the dose-dependent effects of evening caffeine ingestion on rowing performance, sleep quality, and daytime sleepiness in trained male rowers.

Methods: Using a double-blind, randomized, crossover design, 13 university-level rowers (mean age = 22.07 ± 2.21 years; mean body mass = 77.66 ± 6.45 kg) completed four 2,000 m time-trial sessions between 19:00 and 20:00 h under placebo (PLA), low-dose capsule caffeine (3 mg/kg, LDC), moderate-dose capsule caffeine (6 mg/kg, MDC), and high-dose capsule caffeine (9 mg/kg, HDC) conditions. Performance metrics, heart rate, and subjective sleep assessments were collected. Rowing performance was assessed by a standard 2,000 m rowing ergometer (Concept II, United States) time trial. Sleep quality was measured with a numerical rating scale in the morning after each trial, and daytime sleepiness was measured with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale.

Results: Results indicated significantly improved rowing times and power output with HDC and MDC compared to PLA (p < 0.05), with HDC yielding the most notable enhancements (d = 0.40-0.41). However, these ergogenic benefits were accompanied by significantly impaired sleep quality and elevated daytime sleepiness in both HDC and MDC groups (p < 0.01; d = 1.3-1.5). Notably, adverse effects such as headache, insomnia, and gastrointestinal discomfort were predominantly reported in the HDC condition (p < 0.05). Although LDC offered mild performance improvements with minimal sleep disruption, only the high dose condition exhibited large physiological and perceptual trade-offs.

Discussion: These findings indicate a clear dose-response relationship, wherein higher evening caffeine intake improves performance but has detrimental effects on sleep and recovery markers. Coaches and athletes should carefully balance caffeine dosing against potential recovery costs, especially in evening training or competition contexts.