Nutrients最新文献

Introduction: Type 2 diabetes is a significant health concern in the 21st century, and its prevalence continues to rise despite efforts to promote preventive lifestyle changes. This increase has led to higher economic burdens, prompting the search for non-pharmacological methods to manage glucose levels.

Objective: To assess the effects of flaxseed consumption on biochemical markers (glucose, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, and triglycerides) in adult patients with Type 2 diabetes in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Materials and methods: Participants were recruited and randomized into clinical trials between April and June 2023, and the study protocol was approved by a Human Research Ethics Committee.

Results: Consuming 16 g of flaxseed daily for three months led to a significant decrease in glucose, total cholesterol, and triglyceride levels (p < 0.001) in Type 2 diabetes patients in the intervention group (n = 82). Belonging to the control group (n = 84) was correlated with presenting higher levels of glycated hemoglobin (Spearman's Rho 0.640; p < 0.001), higher levels of glucose (Spearman's Rho 0.352; p < 0.001), total cholesterol (Spearman's Rho 0.796; p < 0.001), and triglycerides (Spearman's Rho 0.700; p < 0.001).

Conclusions: A daily intake of 16 g of flaxseed is an effective supplementary treatment for adult Mexican patients with Type 2 diabetes, as evidenced by reduced levels of glycated hemoglobin, glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides in the intervention group. Potential implications for clinical practice: Healthcare providers may consider recommending flaxseed in the diets of patients with obesity, prediabetes, or Type 2 diabetes to improve glucose and lipid metabolism and overall metabolic health.

Background: There is growing interest in the role of gut microbiota in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease (CD). Probiotics have been proposed as a potential adjunct therapy for these conditions by altering the intestinal environment, although studies on their effectiveness have yielded mixed results.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate the short-term (2 months) effects of a dietary supplement containing Lactobacilli, Bifidobacteria, and Lactococcus bacillus on disease progression, remission, quality of life, and nutritional intake in Lebanese patients with CD.

Method: A multicenter, randomized, single-blind controlled trial was conducted in 2 medical centers in Beirut from 1 April 2024 to 1 August 2024. Recruitment, prescreening, screening, enrollment, and protocol implementation were carried out at both centers. Data were collected from 21 patients with CD, who were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 10) and the intervention group (n = 11). At baseline and after two months, participants underwent clinical assessments, WHOQOL-BREF evaluation, and 24 h dietary recalls. Follow-up visits included surveys on disease progression, quality of life, adherence, and adverse events, along with repeat body composition and anthropometric measurements.

Results: Probiotic supplementation over two months did not significantly alter symptoms, flares, or hospitalizations outcomes between the control and intervention groups. However, the intervention group experienced notable increases in body weight (p = 0.01), BMI (p = 0.01), body fat mass (p = 0.04), and arm muscle circumference (p = 0.01). Nutrient intake patterns differed, with the intervention group showing increased consumption of calcium, riboflavin, and folate compared to controls (p = 0.01, p = 0.04, p = 0.013, respectively). Probiotic supplementation led to significant within-group increases in dietary fiber (p = 0.01), total sugar (p = 0.02), and caffeine (p = 0.01) among the intervention participants. Adverse effects in the intervention group were mild, including nausea (18.2%) and abdominal discomfort (9.1%). QOL improved significantly in the intervention group, particularly in physical (p = 0.03), psychological (p = 0.04), and environmental domains (p = 0.003), while the control group exhibited improvements only in psychological health.

Conclusions: Overall, the findings suggest that probiotics can enhance body composition, nutrient intake, and certain aspects of QOL among CD patients, despite minimal impact on disease symptoms or dietary patterns.

Background/Objectives: This systematic review evaluates the efficacy of quail egg-based supplements (QES) as an integrative remedy for treating allergic rhinitis. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar was conducted up to January 2025 to address the research question. Results: A total of 294 studies were initially identified, with five clinical reports meeting the inclusion criteria. Participant numbers ranged from 40 to 180 (median: 77), with a balanced gender ratio. Four reports focused on allergic rhinitis, and one investigated nonsymptomatic atopic individuals exposed to volatile allergens. The findings suggest that a combination of QES and zinc significantly improves peak nasal inspiratory flow, mucociliary transport time, and symptoms such as rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, itchy nose and eyes, and sneezing in patients with allergic rhinitis. Additionally, QES may reduce the reliance on standard symptomatic medications. The intervention was generally well tolerated, with side effects being rare, mild, and transient; however, QES should be avoided in patients with egg allergies. Conclusions: The reviewed studies indicate that QES with zinc can serve as an effective integrative approach to alleviating symptoms of allergic rhinitis. Further research is recommended to confirm these findings.

Background: A high-quality diet is linked to cardiometabolic risk reduction. Culinary medicine interventions are effective in improving nutrition and health outcomes. While personalized nutrition is usually related to improving patient outcomes through knowledge about gene-nutrient interactions, tailoring interventions based on participant motivation and biopsychosocial environment may improve outcomes. The stage of change framework categorized participants based on current behaviors and intentions for future behaviors. Our goal was to assess participant perceptions regarding accomplishments, challenges, and needs up to one year following a culinary medicine program according to their stage of change at entry. Methods: Participant perceptions were collected at (1) the intervention end (open-ended questionnaire), (2) six months (semi-structured interview), and (3) twelve months (open-ended questionnaire). Analysis was performed inductively following a thematic analysis approach. Results: Twenty-four participants completed 70 perspectives (58/12 from participants who entered at a contemplation/action stage of change). Perceptions were related to (1) acquire culinary and nutritional knowledge: improve knowledge about healthy nutrition, use new recipes, and ask for hands-on cooking classes; (2) improve culinary and self-regulatory skills: improve confidence in the kitchen, expand cooking skills, organizing and planning, and creativity and pleasure; (3) adopt home cooking and healthy nutrition: adopt home-cooking habits, spreading home cooking to other family members, improve nutrition habits throughout the day, and decrease consumption of ultra-processed food; and (4) address the sustainability of health changes: achievements in maintaining long-term health changes, challenges in maintaining long-term health changes, and facilitators for a long-term change. Conclusions: These results provide one-year-long information about participant facilitators, barriers, and needs for making home-cooking changes categorized to the participant stage of change at program entry. This information can help reform effective personalized culinary medicine programs.

Background/objectives: The current approach to obesity care, which primarily focuses on weight loss, is often insufficient because of the challenges in maintaining long-term results. Therefore, novel, safe, and sustainable medications for obesity are highly anticipated. Taxifolin, a natural bioactive flavonoid, was found to exert pleiotropic protective effects against various diseases. Our experimental in vivo and in vitro studies revealed that taxifolin administration contributes to weight loss. Accordingly, we hypothesized that long-term oral intake of taxifolin was clinically associated with weight loss.

Methods: A retrospective longitudinal study was conducted on participants who consistently monitored their body weight during routine clinic visits between January 2021 and July 2021. Body weight changes of the patients who received 300 mg/day of taxifolin were compared with those of patients who did not receive taxifolin.

Results: The study enrolled a total of 62 patients: 36 received taxifolin and 26 did not receive taxifolin. Long-term intake of taxifolin showed greater weight loss than those not receiving taxifolin over a mean follow-up of 176.1 and 177.7 days, respectively (-1.6 vs. -0.3 kg; p = 0.026). Furthermore, long-term taxifolin intake was an independent predictor of increased weight loss (adjusted β [mean difference] -0.14, 95% confidence interval [-2.69, -0.18], p = 0.026). No adverse events were observed.

Conclusions: Long-term daily oral intake of taxifolin may safely and sustainably prevent or manage obesity.

With the spread of enhanced recovery protocols, the management of the perioperative pathway of patients undergoing major orthopaedic surgery has been harmonised to these international standards. A natural evolution of the enhanced recovery framework is to integrate personalised pathways of care for those with unique needs, thus addressing inter-individual differences. Personalised nutrition is the practice of attributing a personal imprint to the perioperative nutritional support and has the potential to ensure more effective and equitable care for those patients who may require more than standard support. The authors of this opinion article review each important element of personalisation with respect to their coverage of what is important in the perioperative care of major orthopaedic procedures such as hip and knee replacement.

Background: Our previous research in an experimental model of current environmental human exposure to cadmium (Cd) (female rats fed a diet containing Cd at 1 and 5 mg/kg for up to 2 years) revealed that chronic treatment with this toxic element destroyed the metabolism of the bone tissue, decreased mineralisation, and weakened bone biomechanical properties, whereas the co-administration of a 0.1% chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L. (Michx.) Elliott berry) extract (AME) ameliorated the osteotoxic action of Cd. Methods: In this study, it was explored whether the unfavourable effect of Cd and the protective action of AME might be mediated by the impact on the metabolism of bone essential elements such as calcium (Ca) and inorganic phosphorus (P_i), including the pathways of its regulation by calciotropic hormones (parathormone-PTH, calcitonin-CT, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃-1,25(OH)₂D₃) and Klotho. Results: Low-level Cd treatment (1 mg/kg) caused only a temporary elevation in the serum PTH concentration and a decline in the concentration of CT. Moderate treatment with Cd (5 mg/kg) destroyed the body homeostasis of both mineral elements (lowered their concentrations in the serum and enhanced urinary loss), influenced the serum concentrations of Klotho and calciotropic hormones, as well as reduced the concentrations of 25-hydroxyvitamin D 1alpha-hydroxylase (1alpha-OHase) and 1,25(OH)₂D₃ in the kidney. The application of AME during Cd intoxication improved the pathways involved in maintaining Ca and P_i homeostasis and allowed subjects to maintain the proper levels of these elements in the serum and urine. Conclusions: In conclusion, Cd at low-to-moderate exposure may exert an unfavourable impact on bone by influencing the pathways involved in regulating Ca and P_i metabolism and destroying the body status of these minerals. It seems that the possible mechanism of the osteoprotective effect of AME during chronic intoxication with this toxic element involves normalization of the concentrations of calciotropic hormones and Klotho in the serum and improvement of the homeostasis of Ca and P_i. This study provided further evidence that chokeberry products may be an effective strategy in counteracting the unfavourable effects of chronic low-to-moderate exposure to Cd.

Background: The relationship between alcohol consumption and vascular structure and arterial stiffness is not clear, especially in people diagnosed with persistent COVID. The aim of this study was to evaluate how alcohol use is related to vascular structure and arterial stiffness in adults with persistent COVID.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving 305 individuals (97 men and 208 women) diagnosed with persistent COVID according to the WHO criteria. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) with a VaSera VS-1500 device, and the carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) with a Sphygmocor device. Vascular structure was assessed by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) with a Sonosite Micromax ultrasound unit. Alcohol intake was calculated using a standardized questionnaire and quantified in g/week.

Results: Mean alcohol intake was 29 ± 53 g/week (men 60 ± 76 g/w and women 15 ± 27 g/w; p < 0.001). Heavy drinkers showed higher levels of c-IMT, cf-PWV, ba-PWV and CAVI than non-drinkers (p < 0.05). The multinomial regression analysis adjusted for sex and lifestyles showed a positive association between heavy drinking and c-IMT and cf-PWV values (β = 1.08 (95% CI 1.01-1.17); β = 1.37 (95% CI 1.04-1.80); ba-PWV and CAVI figures showed a similar trend, without reaching statistical significance.

Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that high alcohol use in patients with persistent COVID is linked to higher c-IMT and cf-PWV figures than in non-drinkers.

Background/objectives: The gut microbiota is involved in modulating gastrointestinal function and consequently contributes to the manifestation of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs). The aim of the study was to analyze the composition of the gut microbiota in infants with functional gastrointestinal disorders (infantile colic, functional constipation, gastroesophageal reflux, functional diarrhea) according to age, environmental factors, and clinical manifestations.

Methods: The study involved the clinical and laboratory examination of 134 infants divided into two groups: group I (n = 82) with FGIDs according to Rome IV criteria, divided into four subgroups (infantile colic, functional constipation, gastroesophageal reflux, and functional diarrhea), and group II (n = 52) without FGIDs. To assess the composition of intestinal microbiota, a bacteriological analysis of fecal samples was performed.

Results: Infants with functional gastrointestinal disorders presented an imbalance of intestinal microflora, which was characterized by a significant decrease in the main representatives of acidifying flora represented by Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Enterococcus and high abundance of proteolytic microorganisms from the Enterobacteriaceae family such as Klebsiella species and Escherichia coli. In infants born by cesarean section or artificially fed, the incidence of functional gastrointestinal disorders and intestinal dysbiosis was significantly higher.

Conclusions: The imbalance of acidifying and proteolytic microbial composition in the gut could be the key to the occurrence of functional gastrointestinal disorders in the first year of life.

Background/Objectives: The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) is suggested by major societies. The etiologic criteria for inflammation in critically ill patients remain unclear. Because an initial nutritional assessment is recommended within 48 h, it is also possible to use C-reactive protein (CRP) up to 3 days after admission. The purpose of the present study is to explore the utility of CRP in identifying malnutrition and to determine whether a nutritional assessment incorporating CRP criteria can effectively identify malnourished patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of ICU patients. The primary outcome was a composite of in-hospital mortality, Barthel index < 60 at discharge, and length of hospital stay of 14 days or more. The area under the curve (AUC) for the primary outcome was calculated using CRP between days 0 and 2. We divided the patients into four groups using inflammation criteria with the optimal cut-off and low body mass index (BMI) criteria of the GLIM: CRP+/-, and BMI+/-. Results: A total of 38,981 patients were included. The AUC of the highest CRP between days 0 and 2 was 0.65, which was higher than the CRP on day 0 and the highest CRP between days 0 and 1 (0.59 and 0.63). The AUC and optimal cut-offs varied depending on diagnoses, with a maximum of 0.75 in neurology. The optimal cut-off for the maximum CRP was 3.82 mg/dL. In the four groups of CRP+BMI+, CRP+BMI-, CRP-BMI+, and CRP-BMI-, the in-hospital mortality values were 22.7, 14.4, 10.8, and 4.8% (p < 0.001 between all the groups). Conclusions: In an initial nutritional assessment of critically ill patients, it would be appropriate to use the maximum CRP over 3 days from ICU admission.