Nutrients最新文献

Background/objectives: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is an increasingly widespread public health problem worldwide. MetS is associated with a cafeteria diet characterized by high fat and high simple carbohydrates. A cafeteria diet significantly affects serum glucose, creatine, urea, triglyceride, cholesterol and MetS parameters such as ALT, AST and ALP. Due to its epigenetic effects, vitamin D is important in controlling MetS parameters and minimizing MetS findings in subsequent generations.

Methods: In this study, the effect of weekly 0.3 mL (1.000 IU/week) vitamin D intervention on MetS parameters was investigated in parental rats developing high-fructose MetS and their offspring. Offspring of MetS rats receiving and not receiving vitamin D supplementation were divided into four different groups and exposed to a cafeteria diet and vitamin D supplementation for eight weeks.

Results: It was shown that parental rats in the intervention group had lower serum urea, glucose, creatine, total cholesterol, ALP, AST and ALT levels (p < 0.05). Serum urea, glucose, creatine, ALT, AST, ALP, triglyceride, total cholesterol levels and body weights were lower and HDL levels were higher in the offspring (p < 0.05). However, initial serum ALT and AST values were higher in the offspring of MetS parent rats receiving vitamin D supplementation and in the offspring of rats not receiving supplementation than in the offspring of supplemented parents.

Conclusions: In conclusion, it was found that vitamin D supplementation improved MetS parameters in parent rats, positively affected MetS parameters in offspring rats despite an inadequate diet, and positively affected some MetS parameters by affecting epigenetic pathways in offspring born to MetS mothers.

Background/Objectives: An inappropriate intake of dietary fats can disrupt the homeostasis of intestinal microbiota, affect the host's metabolic status, and increase the risk of chronic diseases. The impact of dietary fat types on the composition and metabolic functionality of the intestinal microbiota has become a research focus over recent years. The objective of this study was to explore the effects of regular peanut oil (PO) and high-oleic-acid peanut oil (HOPO) on the composition and metabolic function of the intestinal microbiota. Methods: A dietary intervention test was conducted on SD rats fed a high-fat/high-fructose (HFF) diet. The composition and metabolic functionality of the intestinal microbiota of the experimental rats were investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fecal metabolomics. Results: Compared with saturated fat, PO and HOPO enhanced the diversity of intestinal microbiota in HFF diet-fed rats. Compared with PO, HOPO significantly increased the relative abundance of Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group and Harryflintia (p < 0.05), which are able to generate butyrate and acetate. Compared with saturated fat, 318 and 271 fecal biomarkers were identified in PO and HOPO groups, respectively. In contrast, 68 fecal biomarkers were identified between the PO and HOPO groups. The inhibition of harmful proteolytic fermentation in the colon may represent the main regulatory mechanism. With regard to metabolic status, HOPO provided better control of body weight and insulin sensitivity than PO. Conclusions: Compared with saturated fat, peanut oils better regulated the composition and metabolic function of the intestinal microbiota. In addition, HOPO exhibited better regulatory effects than PO.

In postmenopausal women, due to endocrine changes, there is an increase in oxidative stress (OS) that predisposes them to cardiovascular and metabolic alterations. Sixty-one percent of women in this stage require a primary therapeutic strategy to decrease OS. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of resveratrol and vitamin C on OS in postmenopausal women. A randomized, double-blind clinical trial was carried out. Forty-six postmenopausal women with insulin resistance (HOMA-IR > 2.5) were included and divided into three treatment groups: group A: resveratrol, n = 13; group B: resveratrol + vitamin C, n = 15; and group C: vitamin C, n = 14. Between before and after the antioxidants, group B showed a decrease of 33% in lipohydroperoxides (p = 0.02), and malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased by 26% (p = 0.0007), 32% (p = 0.0001), and 38% (p = 0.0001) in groups A-C, respectively. For protein damage, group B is the most representative, with a decrease of 39% (p = 0.0001). For total antioxidant capacity (TAC), there were significant increases of 30% and 28% in groups B and C, respectively. For HOMA-IR, there were no significant differences among the study groups. Supplementation with this combination of antioxidants significantly decreases markers of OS in postmenopausal women. In addition, it increases TAC by up to 30%.

Background/objectives: Advancements in breast cancer therapeutics, such as anthracyclines, are improving cancer survival rates but can have side effects that limit their use. Cardiotoxicity, defined as damage to the heart caused by cancer therapeutics, is characterised by a significant reduction in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and symptoms of cardiac dysfunction. Multiple oral supplements exist with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that have the potential to lower cardiotoxicity risk and ameliorate the complications associated with left ventricular dysfunction. In this review, we evaluate the current status of using nutritional interventions to modulate cardiotoxicity.

Methods: We used specific keywords to search for articles that met our predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria to review the evidence and provide insights for future research.

Results: Seven studies were identified as eligible for this review: six focused on oral supplementation strategies in breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and one focused on nutritional counselling and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in breast cancer survivors' post-treatment. There was a significantly attenuated reduction in LVEF in five studies that monitored cardiometabolic health, and there were significant improvements in blood serum levels of cardiac biomarkers across all studies.

Conclusions: Current evidence suggests that appropriate nutritional interventions, alongside chemotherapy, can modulate the risk of cardiotoxic side effects. This highlights the potential of oral antioxidant supplementation and Mediterranean diet counselling to decrease tertiary cancer therapy costs associated with cardiovascular complications.

Constipation is a functional disorder of the gastrointestinal system characterized by difficult bowel movements, infrequent defecation, reduced water content, and hard stools. This study aims to evaluate the preventive effects of fermented gold kiwis (FGK) on loperamide-induced constipation in rats and investigate its efficacy in improving constipation symptoms in human patients through a randomized clinical trial. In the animal study, FGK was administered orally at doses of 50, 125, and 250 mg/kg to constipated rats for two weeks, resulting in significant improvements in constipation parameters. FGK increased serum serotonin and acetylcholine levels and suppressed increases in serum dopamine concentration. FGK also upregulated mRNA expression of the serotonin-synthesizing receptors 5-HT3R and 5-HT4R and suppressed the expression of the dopamine 2-receptor (D2R) in the duodenum. Furthermore, FGK inhibited inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6. In the clinical trials, the improvement in constipation symptoms was evaluated using the gastrointestinal symptom rating scale (GSRS). Clinical trial participants reported significant improvements in constipation symptoms after receiving FGK. These findings suggest that FGK effectively relieves constipation in both animals and humans, indicating its potential as an effective dietary supplement.

Cognitive impairment and dementia are common in patients with chronic kidney disease, including those undergoing hemodialysis. Since magnesium and phosphate play important roles in brain function and aging, alterations in these and other factors related to bone mineral disorder (MBD) may contribute to low cognitive performance in patients on hemodialysis. This cross-sectional study examined the associations between cognitive function and MBD-related factors among 1207 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Cognitive function was assessed by the Modified Mini-Mental State examination (3MS). The exposure variables of interest were serum magnesium, phosphate, calcium, calcium-phosphate product, intact parathyroid hormone, fetuin-A, T50 calciprotein crystallization test, use of phosphate binders, use of cinacalcet, and use of vitamin D receptor activators. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were used to examine the associations between 3MS and each of the exposure variables independent of 13 potential non-mineral confounders. We found that lower 3MS was associated with lower serum magnesium, lower phosphate, lower calcium-phosphate product, and nonuse of phosphate binders. These results suggest that magnesium and phosphate play potentially protective roles against cognitive impairment in this population.

Objectives: Our study aimed to assess the associations between meal-replacement (MR) drinking and risks of all-cause, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CVD), and cancer mortality.

Methods: The study was based on 6770 adults aged 20 years or older from the National Health and Nutrition Examination (NHANES) 2003-2006 with linked mortality data from the National Death Index for linked mortality records (until 31 December 2019). Respondents were categorized into four groups according to the frequency of MR drinking: ≤1 time per month (seldom), 2-3 times per month (monthly), 1-6 times per week (weekly), and ≥1 time per day (daily). The adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) of MR drinking with all-cause, CVD, and cancer mortality were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression models. Likelihood ratio tests were used to find potential interactions of MR drinking with age, sex, and BMI.

Results: During a median follow-up of 14.4 years, a total of 1668 death events were recorded among the study population. Compared to respondents who seldom drank MR, daily and weekly drinkers had greater risks of all-cause mortality (aHRs and 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.52 [1.17-1.97] for daily; 1.54 [1.24-1.91] for weekly). Stratified analyses indicated that the effects of MR on all-cause mortality were different between females and males and were more substantial among females (P for interaction: 0.003; daily female drinkers vs. daily male drinkers: 2.01 [1.40-2.90] vs. 1.24 [0.85-1.81]; weekly female drinkers vs. weekly male drinkers: 1.68 [1.26-2.24] vs. 1.36 [0.97-1.91]).

Conclusions: Daily and weekly MR drinking might increase the risk of all-cause mortality.

Objective: To investigate the effects of licorice functional ingredient intake on blood pressure, explore its potential mechanisms of action, and provide safety information for personalized nutritional interventions in special populations and for the application of licorice-derived functional foods.

Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Medline, Embase, EBSCO, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science databases were searched from inception to 31 August 2024. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the intake of licorice or its functional components were included. The range of continuous variables was assessed using the weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals. Genes associated with hypertension were screened using an online database. Machine learning, receiver operating characteristic(ROC) curve analysis, molecular docking, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were employed to explore the potential mechanisms underlying licorice-induced blood pressure fluctuations.

Results: Eight RCTs (541 participants) were included in the meta-analysis, which indicated interventions containing glycyrrhizic acid (GA) as the main component increased systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (SBP: WMD [95% CI] = 3.48 [2.74, 4.21], p < 0.001; DBP: WMD [95% CI] = 1.27 [0.76, 1.78], p < 0.001). However, interventions dominated by licorice flavonoids(LF) had no significant effect on SBP or DBP (SBP: WMD [95% CI] = 0.58 [-1.15, 2.31], p = 0.511; DBP: WMD [95% CI] = 0.17 [-1.53, 1.88], p = 0.843). Three machine learning algorithms identified five biomarkers associated with hypertension: calmodulin 3 (CALM3), cluster of differentiation 9 (CD9), growth factor independence 1B transcriptional repressor (GFI1B), myosin light chain kinase (MYLK), and Ras suppressor-1 (RSU1). After removing biomarkers with lower validity and reliability, GFI1B, MYLK, and RSU1 were selected for subsequent analysis. The network toxicology results suggested that GA and its metabolite glycyrrhetinic acid may act on GFI1B, MYLK, and RSU1, influencing blood pressure fluctuations by modulating nitrogen metabolism signaling pathways.

Conclusions: There were distinct differences in the effects of licorice functional components on blood pressure. Functional constituents dominated by GA were shown to increase both SBP and DBP, whereas those dominated by LF did not exhibit significant effects on blood pressure. The hypertensive mechanism of GA may involve the modulation of GFI1B, MYLK, and RSU1 to regulate nitrogen metabolic pathways.

Background: Although some randomized trials have reported beneficial effects of protein intake on cardiometabolic risk factors, evidence from prospective studies have not supported a strong link between protein intake and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It is also unclear whether diversity in protein intake plays a role in CVD risk.

Objective: We investigated prospective associations of (1) protein intake, overall and by food source and (2) diversity of protein sources with risk of CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke.

Methods: In a multi-ethnic cohort of 5879 U.S. adults (45-84 years), who were free of CVD at baseline, protein intake was assessed at baseline (2000-2002) using a validated 120-item food frequency questionnaire. Two different aspects of protein diversity were assessed including count (number of protein food consumed at least once/week) and dissimilarity (diversity of the attributes of the protein sources consumed). Relationships with incident CVD outcomes through 2019 were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and comorbidity factors.

Results: During 83,430 person-years, 1045 CVD cases were identified, including 668 CHD and 332 stroke cases. In multivariable models, we found no significant associations between protein intake, overall and by food source, with incident CVD, CHD, or stroke. Protein count, but not protein dissimilarity, was weakly associated with CVD risk. We found no significant associations between diversity of consumption of animal or plant food source and CVD outcomes.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest protein consumption may not significantly impact CVD risk in middle-aged adults.

Background/Objectives: Providing relevant, patient-centered care starts with recognizing that patients living with diabetes are racially and ethnically diverse, which will influence their dietary behaviors. Methods: The authors draw upon literature descriptions and personal experience in clinical practice dealing with ethnically diverse populations and include guidance offered in the literature regarding how to address these unique aspects when managing and educating patients with diabetes. Results: Proper interviewing techniques are described when dealing with culturally diverse populations, including ascertaining cultural, religious, and ethnic influences on dietary choices, and advice is given on how to improve nutritional behavior in these patients while acknowledging and validating these influences. Conclusions: When a proper nutrition interview is conducted, such as using motivational interviewing, aspects of the patient's cultural, religious, ethnic, and other influences can be ascertained, and appropriate advice can be given to the patient on how to modify these influences to achieve a healthier nutritional behavior.