Nutrition & Metabolism最新文献

Background: The prevalence of metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia has increased globally. Postbiotics as non-viable microbial products or metabolites, have recently emerged as potential modulators of metabolic health due to their anti-inflammatory and insulin-sensitizing properties. In order to obtain a better viewpoint from them, this study aimed to comprehensively investigate the effects of postbiotics on metabolic health.

Methods: This systematic review and meta-analysis, adhering to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, synthesized data from 25 RCTs assessing the effects of postbiotic supplementation on metabolic parameters. Databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched up to June 2025. Outcomes included glycemic indices, anthropometric measures, lipid profiles, inflammatory markers, and blood pressure.

Results: Postbiotic supplementation significantly reduced serum insulin levels (WMD: - 2.76 µU/mL), triglycerides (TG) (-8.46 mg/dL), waist circumference (WC) (-1.47 cm), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (-0.99 mg/L). However, changes in fasting blood glucose (FBG), homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), HbA1c, other profile lipids, blood pressure as well as weight and body mass index (BMI) were not statistically significant. Subgroup analyses revealed more pronounced benefits in younger participants, bacterial-based formulations, and interventions longer than 8 weeks. Risk of bias was low to moderate, and no major publication bias was detected.

Conclusion: Postbiotic supplementation demonstrates modest but clinically relevant benefits on insulin sensitivity, central adiposity, TG, and systemic inflammation. These effects suggest a promising adjunctive role for postbiotics in metabolic health interventions, though further trials with standardized formulations and longer durations are warranted.

The increasing global rates of obesity underscore the need to investigate its impact on infant health. Breast milk, crucial for infant nutrition, varies in composition due to maternal obesity during pregnancy. Research reveals that obese or overweight mothers tend to have higher saturated fatty acids (SFAs) levels, like palmitic and myristic acids, while stearic acid levels are lower. Monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), particularly oleic acid in milk, decline in obesity. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), essential for infant brain and nervous system development, show imbalances in obese mothers, with an increased omega-6 (ω-6): omega-3 (ω-3) ratio and reduced levels of key ω-3 fatty acids such as α-linolenic acid (ALA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). These changes could disrupt normal immune and nervous system development in infants. This review highlights the critical impact of maternal obesity on breast milk quality.

Background: Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is one of the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus, and a main cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The identification of clinically applicable molecular biomarkers for monitoring DKD progression has become increasingly essential. In this study, we aim to investigate the relationship between the expression of fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1), a rate-limiting enzyme in gluconeogenesis, and DKD.

Methods: A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted using plasma protein quantitative trait loci data obtained from deCODE genetics and DKD genome-wide association study data acquired from the Finnish Biobank Alliance to assess the causal relationship between FBP1 and DKD. In parallel, a retrospective cohort study was performed involving 107 patients with biopsy-confirmed DKD, in which DKD progression was defined as a composite endpoint consisting of serum creatinine doubling or ESKD. For this endpoint, a predictive nomogram was subsequently developed.

Results: MR results suggested that a genetically predicted higher level of circulating FBP1 was associated with a low risk of DKD (OR 0.57, 95% CI 0.33-0.98; P = 0.04) in diabetic patients. The expression level of renal FBP1 decreased with the progression of DKD pathological stage. Its expression level was positively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r = 0.717, P < 0.001) and expression of renal carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 A (a rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid oxidation) (r = 0.745, P < 0.001). During a median follow-up of 26 months, 41 (38%) patients suffered from DKD progression. Multivariate Cox regression indicated that a reduced renal expression level of FBP1 was correlated with an increased risk of DKD progression (HR 0.325, 95% CI 0.107-0.986, P = 0.047). Finally, the integration of FBP1 with 24-h urine protein and eGFR into a nomogram significantly improved the prediction of 1-year and 3-year event-free survival in DKD (C-index: 0.871 vs. 0.794, P = 0.011), demonstrating its additive prognostic value.

Conclusions: Renal FBP1 might be a potential biomarker reflecting the severity of renal function and kidney progression in biopsy-proven DKD stages II to IV.

Background: Long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) are essential nutrients for feto-placental development. We aimed to evaluate the associations between maternal pregestational BMI, mid-pregnancy LC-PUFA status, and delivery outcomes in non-obese pregnancies.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of two Italian cohorts including healthy non-obese women with singleton spontaneous pregnancies previously studied for maternal nutritional habits, multivitamin supplementation, blood biomarkers and infant biometry/measures. In the present analysis, included women were stratified according to pregestational BMI (normal weight (NW) versus overweight (OW) groups). Fasting venous blood samples were collected between 24 and 34 gestational weeks for fatty acid (FA) analysis. Pregnancy outcomes were recorded at delivery. Multi-adjusted generalized linear models were applied to first assess the associations between BMI-based groups and mid-pregnancy LC-PUFA concentrations, and second to evaluate the associations between the LC-PUFA profile and pregnancy outcomes.

Results: 283 pregnancies were included. The OW group showed lower eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) levels (β= -0.09; 95%CI= -0.16; -0.03) and a higher arachidonic acid/EPA ratio (β = 8.06; 95%CI = 0.00; 16.3) compared with the NW group in multi-adjusted models. After excluding women with gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 13), a significant association between LC-PUFA status and birth weight was also proved with increased birth weights in case of lower LC-PUFA n-6/n-3 ratio (β= -78.9; 95%CI= -148.5; -9.2) and higher docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (β = 26.5; 95%CI = 0.4; 52.6), total LC-PUFA n-3 (β = 22.9; 95%CI = 0.7; 45.1) and n-3 index (β = 24.9; 95%CI = 0.03; 49.8). A positive association was further detected between LC-PUFA n-6 and neonatal ponderal index (β = 0.01; 95%CI = 0.00; 0.02). No associations were detected between LC-PUFAs and gestational age at delivery.

Conclusions: These findings underscore significant associations between maternal pregestational BMI and mid-pregnancy LC-PUFA n-3 and n-6 status, with further associations with birth weight and neonatal ponderal index. Our results suggest that LC-PUFA n-3 and n-6 series may serve as valuable clinical biomarkers, particularly among OW women, and may act as predictors of intrauterine growth.

Trial registration: NCT04438928.

Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs), often high in sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats, compose more than half of total dietary energy consumption in the United States. A diet composed of a high amount of UPFs can contribute to glucose dysregulation and insulin resistance, which may lead to prediabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, few studies have assessed the associations between UPFs and T2D or obesity in young people. The goal of this study is to examine associations between UPF consumption and prediabetes and related biomarkers in youth.

Methods: Young adults (age 17-22, n = 85) with a history of overweight or obesity from the Metabolic and Asthma Incidence Research (Meta-AIR) study, a subset of the Children's Health Study, were enrolled between 2014 and 2018 and returned for a second visit between 2020 and 2022. Participants completed two 24-hour dietary recalls and an oral glucose tolerance test at each visit. Food items were categorized as either an UPF or non-UPF according to NOVA classification guidelines. The proportion of the diet composed of UPFs was calculated for each participant. Regression models were used to assess relationships of UPF consumption at baseline and change between visits with markers of glucose homeostasis at follow-up, adjusting for demographics, physical activity, and total energy intake.

Results: A 10%-point increase in UPF consumption between visits was associated with a 51% (OR: 1.51, 95% Cl: 1.04, 2.31) higher odds of having prediabetes and 158% (OR: 2.58, 95% CI: 1.43, 5.85) higher odds of impaired glucose tolerance at follow-up. Higher baseline UPF consumption was significantly positively associated with 2-hour insulin ([Formula: see text] = 45.11, 95% CI: 22.42, 67.80) and insulin area under the curve ([Formula: see text] = 63.56, 95% CI: 34.95, 92.17) at follow-up.

Conclusion: UPF consumption may increase the risk for T2D among young adults. Our findings suggest that limiting UPF consumption could be an important strategy for T2D prevention in this population.

Objective: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis (SCA) share common roots in systemic inflammation and metabolic dysregulation. Hepatic fibrosis mirrors the intensity of these disturbances; however, its association with SCA in younger adults remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 14 567 MASLD patients were enrolled from the health examination center of Northern Jiangsu People's Hospital. Participant stratification into SCA and non-SCA groups was based on carotid ultrasound findings. Variable selection was performed using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression. The associations between the selected indicators and SCA risk were subsequently evaluated through multivariate logistic regression, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, subgroup analysis, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and mediation analysis.

Results: Both LASSO and multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that elevated NAFLD Fibrosis Score (NFS) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) levels were positively correlated with the prevalence of SCA in patients with MASLD (P for trend < 0.001). Mediation analysis indicated that the Red-cell Distribution Width-to-Albumin Ratio (RAR) significantly mediated this association, with the mediated proportion ranging from 28.6% to 44.6% (P < 0·05). Subgroup analysis identified a significant interaction between age and the association of both fibrosis scores with SCA (P for interaction < 0.05). Subsequently, RCS analysis demonstrated significant positive non-linear associations between NFS/FIB-4 and SCA risk specifically in patients aged under 50 years (P for non-linear < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) indicated that both scores had fair predictive value for SCA in this younger subgroup.

Conclusion: This study confirms that elevated NFS and FIB-4 levels are significantly associated with an increased risk of SCA in MASLD patients, demonstrating a distinct non-linear relationship and fair predictive value, particularly in individuals under 50 years of age.

Background: Overweight and obesity are widespread in Mexico, often linked to dyslipidemia and higher cardiovascular risk. The search for safe and effective treatments has promoted interest in natural supplements such as Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), recognized for its adaptogenic and potential lipid-lowering properties.

Objective: To assess the impact of Ashwagandha supplementation on serum lipid profiles and anthropometric parameters in Mexican adults with overweight and obesity.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial was carried out with 43 adults (n = 17 in the control group and n = 21 in the intervention group) over 40 days. Participants followed a monitored diet and received one daily capsule containing 500 mg of Ashwagandha or a placebo, in addition to a guided unrestricted dietary plan. Anthropometric and biochemical measurements were taken at baseline and after the intervention. In silico analysis was also performed to examine the binding affinity of Ashwagandha bioactive compounds to key proteins involved in lipid metabolism.

Results: Ashwagandha supplementation did not produce statistically significant changes in body weight, body mass index (BMI), or waist circumference (WC). However, significant reductions were observed in triglyceride and VLDL-c levels (p = 0.0082 and p = 0.0321, respectively). In silico results supported these findings, showing favorable interactions between compounds such as withanolide A and lipid metabolism targets, including AMPK, CETP, and LPL.

Conclusions: Ashwagandha supplementation improved serum lipid profiles in adults with overweight and obesity, suggesting potential lipid-lowering effects when combined with a prescribed dietary plan. Also, it was possible to elucidate some metabolic pathways in which Ashwagandha composition has an influence on producing the reported effects. Further long-term studies with controlled dietary intake are needed to confirm these findings and clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Aging induces structural and functional alterations in the kidneys, including changes in renal morphology and progressive decline in renal function. During aging, the gut microbiota undergoes profound shifts in composition and activity, transitioning from predominantly commensal to more pathogenic communities. Renal dysfunction further exacerbates this process by reducing toxin clearance and promoting the accumulation of uremic metabolites, which disrupt gut microbial balance. In turn, gut dysbiosis impairs kidney function, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of microbial imbalance and renal damage. Hence, breaking this vicious cycle of dysbiosis and kidney damage is important. This review sheds light on the bidirectional relationship between gut microbiota and kidney aging. It also highlights the potential of microbiota-targeted interventions to restore microbial balance and delay the onset of age-related issues.