Journal of Dietary Supplements最新文献

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí) is a widely consumed botanical supplement marketed for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties. Despite its popularity, limited data exist on its ability to modulate drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters-critical determinants of pharmacokinetic botanical-drug interactions. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity and induction potential of açaí extracts on cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and drug transporters using physiologically relevant in vitro models. Test samples included aqueous, acidic methanol, methanol, and ethanol extracts of açaí berry powder (Mountain Rose) and commercial capsules (Nature's Way, Natrol), selected to reflect consumer products and enhance translational relevance. Cytotoxicity was assessed using CellTiter-Glo^® luminescent assay in sandwich-cultured human hepatocytes. Induction of CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP3A4, P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP1B1/B3) was evaluated at the mRNA level via RT-qPCR in the same hepatocyte model. Functional transporter activity was assessed using intracellular probe accumulation assays in LS174T human colon carcinoma cells, a complementary model for preliminary screening. A time- and dose-dependent reduction in hepatocyte viability occurred with specific extracts, notably MRAC (acidic methanol), MRME (methanol), MRET (ethanol), and F4AC (acidic methanol, Natrol). However, none significantly induced CYP450 or transporter expression. Preliminary functional assays also showed minimal impact on P-gp and OATP activity. While preliminary, this study provides a comprehensive evaluation of açaí-mediated modulation of key pharmacokinetic pathways and underscores the need for rigorous assessment of botanical extracts to better predict potential botanical-drug interactions.

Blackcurrant anthocyanins have been investigated for their effects on exercise‑induced substrate utilisation. Previous research has examined the influence of supplementation dose, duration, and exercise modality, with mixed findings. This systematic review and meta-analysis examined the effect of blackcurrant supplementation on exercising substrate utilisation. Electronic searches were conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCOhost between the 1st May and 14th November 2025 using a predefined search strategy. Controlled trials investigating the effects of blackcurrant supplementation on fat and carbohydrate oxidation during exercise in physically active adults (18-65 years) were included. All forms, doses, and supplementation durations were eligible, provided outcomes were reported as absolute rates of substrate utilisation during exercise. Two authors independently extracted data and assessed for risk of bias using the Cochrane RoB 2 tool, with a random-effects meta-analysis undertaken on the mean difference between control or placebo and consumption of blackcurrant extract on exercise substrate utilisation. Searches returned 263 articles, with 15 studies included with 226 participants after full-text screening. Meta-analysis demonstrated blackcurrant extract to increase fat oxidation (0.042 g·min-1, P < 0.001) and decrease carbohydrate oxidation (-0.099 g·min-1, P = 0.012). Blackcurrant can increase fat oxidation and decrease carbohydrate oxidation during exercise. However, this finding is not consistent for individuals and factors such as training status, sex, dosage, duration of intake may determine responses. The review was registered on the 28th April 2025 in PROSPERO (CRD420251030222).

During pregnancy, a mother experiences increased metabolic demands to meet the needs of the fetus. A mismatch between these demands and nutrient intake can result in a host of developmental abnormalities to the fetus and health risks to the mother. Several studies have reported strong correlations between deficiency of the essential mineral, magnesium (Mg), and many pregnancy complications, including intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and preterm delivery. Mg also impacts fetal programming and disease presentation in childhood and adulthood, showing that aberrant Mg levels in utero have far-reaching consequences. In this narrative review and commentary, we evaluated recently published data to identify a range of serum Mg concentrations that may reflect chronic latent Mg deficiency (0.7-0.85 mmol/L). We then evaluated independent studies that reported on the relationship between Mg levels and pregnancy outcomes to assess whether this cutoff may help identify patients at risk for adverse events and inform therapeutic strategies. Our analysis showed that chronic latent Mg deficiency coupled with a molar ratio of serum calcium to serum Mg >3 may indicate increased risk to mother or fetus. Given the high social and economic burdens of pregnancy complications, nutritional supplementation that includes Mg at all stages of pregnancy may be a safe and cost-effective way to mitigate the risk of adverse outcomes for mother and child.

Creatine is an important regulator of brain bioenergetics, yet the efficacy of creatine supplementation (CrS) in the brain remains largely unknown. Measurement of brain creatine using proton (¹H) and phosphorus (³¹P) magnetic resonance spectroscopy is highly sensitive to voxel placement, signal quality, analysis pipelines, and reporting conventions which can obscure the detection of biological responses to CrS. There is evidence that CrS increases brain creatine, but this response may be dose and/or duration dependent. CrS provides some benefits during acute periods of metabolic stress such as sleep deprivation, mental fatigue, and hypoxia. Emerging clinical data also suggest potential therapeutic effects from CrS for Alzheimer's disease, major depressive disorder, and mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), although findings across conditions remain preliminary and inconsistent. Further, CrS shows some promise for improving aspects of sleep quality. The purpose of this narrative review is to: (1) outline methodological considerations in the quantification of brain creatine, (2) discuss the divergent effects of CrS on brain creatine levels and measures of brain function, (3) examine the purported mechanistic actions of CrS for improving brain health and function, (4) highlight critical gaps and limitations which should be considered moving forward, and (5) identify future research directions involving CrS and the brain.

Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in children and may lead to long-term renal complications, especially in those with vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). Concerns about antibiotic resistance and side effects of prolonged antibiotic use underscore the need for safe, non-antibiotic alternatives. This prospective, self-controlled observational study evaluated a standardized combination of cranberry extract (36 mg proanthocyanidins daily), probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum), and vitamin C (250 mg daily) in 39 children aged 3-16 years, including a subgroup with mild-to-moderate VUR. UTI recurrence was compared before and after the 12-month study period. The supplement was administered for 6 months, followed by a 6-month observation period. Microbiological analyses assessed pathogen distribution. Safety and tolerability were monitored. The intervention significantly reduced UTI recurrence, with median episodes decreasing from 3 to 0 in children without VUR (p < 0.001) and from 2 to 0 in children with VUR (p < 0.05). Overall, 27 of 39 participants (69.2%) remained infection-free throughout follow-up, while the remaining participants experienced a reduced number of UTI episodes compared with the pre-supplementation period. Escherichia coli remained the predominant pathogen, while the diversity of other uropathogens changed minimally, indicating fewer infections rather than microbial shifts. The supplement was well tolerated, with mild gastrointestinal symptoms in 5 of 39 participants (12.8%) and no serious adverse events. Subgroup analyses showed consistent benefit across age and sex, with children having higher baseline UTI frequency experiencing the greatest reduction. A multi-component supplement of cranberry, probiotics, and vitamin C effectively reduced recurrent pediatric UTIs, decreased overall infection burden, preserved E. coli as the main pathogen, and was safe and well tolerated, including in children with mild-to-moderate VUR.

Insights into the bioavailability of hemp derived phenolic amides N-trans caffeoyltyramine (NCT) and N-trans feruloyltyramine (NFT) remained limited to experimental data from preclinical in vitro and animal systems. However, the bioavailability of similar phenolics and phenolic amides from other sources has been experimentally determined. This concise review summarizes the current state of knowledge for phenolic amides with the goal of providing experimental guidance on the assessment of NCT and NFT from hemp ingredients in humans. Evidence from phenolic and avenanthramide (similar phenolic amides from oats) suggest that overall absorption of free phenolic amides would be limited in humans to <2% of native forms. Metabolites derived by both host (conjugated Phase II metabolites) and microbial fermentation products would likely represent the main compounds in circulation derived from NCT or NFT intake. This would be extensively influenced by the matrix provided including hemp-based ingredients with large portions of physically and chemically bound NCT and NFT forms that are not absorbable. Experimental designs to determine NCT and NFT response in humans would need to consider longer exposure and collection periods to adequately capture 24 and 48h urine and blood samples likely to have key NCT and NFT derived microbial and host metabolites present. Considering adaptation of the microbiota to these compounds it is likely that a robust design would also include a dimension of long-term exposure to enable detection of target metabolites derived from hemp NCT and NFT.

Tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) extracts are plant extracts rich in polyphenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanins, which exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These bioactives may help reduce plasma urate and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, supporting cardiovascular and the management of hyperuricemia. Processing and formulation methods can influence tart cherry products stability and efficacy. To evaluate the effects of a standardized tart cherry extract on plasma urate and CRP levels. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial, 10 healthy subjects (n = 10; 6 male, 4 female, age: 34.9 ± 6.6 years, height: 155.3 ± 2.9 cm, weight: 67.1 ± 5.2 kg) consumed 500 mg of a European tart cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) extract powder or placebo for 4 wk, with a 14-day washout between treatment. Venous blood samples were collected at baseline and at 2-, 4-, and 8-h post-ingestion on day 1, as well as at 8 h post-ingestion on day 28, and were analyzed for plasma urate and CRP concentrations. Acute administration did not alter CRP or urate concentrations. Chronic supplementation significantly reduced CRP by 23.0% (- 1.36 ± 0.44 mg/L) and urate by 37.4% (-2.62 ± 0.44 mg/dL) compared to placebo (both p < 0.001). Four weeks of daily supplementation with 500 mg of tart cherry extract significantly reduced systemic inflammation and urate levels in healthy adults, supporting its potential as a polyphenol-rich, foodbased strategy for managing low-grade inflammation and hyperuricemia.

Background: Ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) is caused by oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. However, its effects on left ventricular dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis remain unclear.

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effects of ALA on cardiac inflammation, fibrosis, and myocardial function as an adjuvant therapy for ICM.

Methods: This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, single-center trial enrolled 67 diabetic patients with ICM, who were randomized to receive either ALA 600 mg once daily or placebo for three months, in addition to ICM medications. Both groups were evaluated for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), tissue growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), and some echocardiographic indices before and after treatment.

Results: Sixty patients (aged 45-75 years; 70% males) completed the study (ALA group n = 30; placebo group n = 30). After three months, the ALA group exhibited significantly lower levels of TNF-α [443 (326/515) vs. 499 (448/657) pg/ml], CRP [4.5 (4.2/6.1) vs. 11 (6.3/12.1) mg/l], TGF-β1 [161 (104/189) vs. 206 (158/248) pg/ml], and MMP-2 [1450 (1164/1894) vs. 1815 (1339/2133) pg/ml] (p < 0.05) compared to the placebo group. Furthermore, in the ALA group, there was a significant increase in LVEF [36% (34/40) vs. 28% (25/31.8)], whereas LVESD, LVEDD, and LAD were significantly decreased compared to the placebo group [4.7 (3.9/5.8) vs. 5.6 (5.1/5.6) cm; 6.1 ± 0.7 vs. 6.5 ± 0.5 cm; 4.2 (3.9/4.7) vs. 4.8 (4.4/5.1) cm] (p < 0.05), respectively.

Conclusion: Adjunctive ALA therapy considerably reduced inflammation and improved cardiac function in patients with ICM. Additionally, our findings suggest that ALA may influence profibrotic signaling.

'Nootropic' describes compounds that enhance cognition. Dietary supplement companies leverage this concept as a descriptor for product marketing. Given that half of all American adults, as well as many active individuals, use a dietary supplement, the purpose of this study was to explore nootropic use in physically active individuals. Nootropic use was evaluated via an online survey. Preferred nootropics, dose, frequency, reasons for use, and perceived effects were evaluated. In total, 152 individuals (men n = 86, women n = 64, other n = 2; mean ± SD age = 27.42 ± 7.66) were eligible for analysis. Means, standard deviations, and percentages were determined, and chi-square (χ²) tests of independence were used to determine significant associations related to nootropic type, exercise characteristics, use tendencies, and perceived positive or negative effects (p < 0.05). Thirty-six nootropics were reported, with caffeine (21.7%, n = 122), creatine (9.8%, n = 55), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, Omega 3) (7.0%, n = 39), L-theanine and nicotine (both 6.6%, n = 37), and ashwagandha (6.1%, n = 34) the most frequently used. The most common reason for use was to increase energy and motivation (34.8%, n = 81). Those who predominantly engaged in weight training were more likely to use amino acids, peptides, and their derivatives (p < 0.001). Those who use their respective nootropics more frequently perceived the nootropic to be more effective (p < 0.001). This survey suggests that nootropic use is common in active individuals for diverse reasons that go beyond cognition enhancement.

Depression is a mental disorder, and the complexity of its pathogenesis affects the treatment and prevention of depression. Flavonoids possess a variety of biological effects, including antidepressant properties. Quercetin, a natural flavonoid, exhibits antioxidant, antidepressant and anti-inflammatory effects. This research investigated the antidepressant properties of quercetin on rats induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress through untargeted metabolomics. A total of 96 rats were randomly allocated across six groups: control group, quercetin-treated groups receiving distinct dosages (10 and 50 mg/kg bw, respectively), depression model group, and different dosages of quercetin intervention in the depression model. During the 8 wk chronic unpredictable mild stress modeling process, quercetin was administered to the rats via gavage once daily. After 8 wk modeling, rat urine samples and prefrontal cortex were collected for untargeted metabolomics research and related detection, respectively. 19 differential metabolites were identified in the urine of chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced rats, and pathway analysis indicated metabolic disorders in rats, including arachidonic acid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. This study found that the elevation of urinary PGE2 and LTB4 is closely associated with the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in the PFC of chronic unpredictable mild stress-induced rats. Metabolomics reveals that quercetin can ameliorate metabolic disorders induced by chronic unpredictable mild stress through multiple pathways, and inhibit the activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in the PFC by exerting anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. This study offers novel insights into the role of quercetin for the prevention and management of depression.