Nutrients最新文献

Background: Estrogen deficiency following human menopause or rodent ovariectomy (OVX) induces adverse alterations in body composition and metabolic function. This study investigated the combined effects of acetic acid supplementation and voluntary exercise on metabolic health and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function using an OVX mouse model. Methods: Forty female C57BL/6J mice (8 weeks old) were randomly assigned to 5 groups: sham (SHM), ovariectomized control (OVX), OVX with exercise (OVX-E), OVX with acetic acid (OVX-A), and OVX with both interventions (OVX-AE). Following a 1-week recovery from OVX, a 13-week intervention was initiated: 5% sodium acetate-supplemented chow and/or voluntary wheel running. Body composition, glucose tolerance, total energy expenditure, skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, and the contents of AMPKα, PGC-1α, and carbonyl protein were assessed. Results: OVX impaired whole-body metabolism and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function, specifically in the gastrocnemius muscle. While the exercise alone failed to mitigate the OVX-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, the combined treatment of exercise and acetic acid supplementation significantly rescued from the OVX-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Conclusions: OVX resulted in detrimental changes in whole-body metabolism, but voluntary exercise and/or acetic acid supplementation had no rescuing effects on those parameters. In gastrocnemius muscle, acetic acid supplementation during exercise enhanced mitochondrial function in OVX mice.

Background: The increasing prevalence of low-birth-weight (LBW) offspring from obese mothers underscores the need for dietary strategies to mitigate the transgenerational propagation of metabolic diseases.

Objectives: We determined whether dietary protein restriction under obesogenic conditions altered maternal energy balance and led to LBW offspring and whether branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation improved maternal energy balance and mitigated weight and craniofacial skeletal deficits in offspring.

Methods: High-fat-fed obese pregnant Sprague Dawley rats (~8-10 weeks of age, n = 8-11/group) were randomized in study 1 to control high-fat diet (20% protein; HFD), low-protein diet (LP; 5% protein), and LP + BCAA diet (100% BCAA requirements) and in study 2 to control HFD (20% protein), LP (10% protein), and LP + 2BCAA diet (200% BCAA requirements). Post-weaning offspring were fed HFD until 8 weeks of age.

Results: Protein restriction promoted hyperphagia and energy expenditure, whereas BCAA supplementation attenuated such hyperphagic effects in pregnancy but not in lactation. Protein restriction reduced maternal body weight in lactation, and although BCAA supplementation did not reverse the weight loss, it enhanced insulin sensitivity and paradoxically reduced offspring survival. Maternal protein restriction reduced offspring body weight and craniofacial bone growth that persisted into adulthood, but BCAA supplementation did not rescue such deficits.

Conclusions: Maternal protein restriction in obese dams enhanced maternal energy expenditure but impaired offspring growth and development. Although BCAA supplementation improved maternal energy balance, it was insufficient to reverse the adverse effects of maternal protein restriction on offspring growth under obesogenic conditions.

Background/objectives: Magnesium (Mg²⁺) supplements can contain different types of Mg²⁺ salts, which influence their bioavailability. A highly bioavailable and bioaccessible Mg²⁺ source is essential to meet requirements for many physiological processes that are fundamental to human health. The objective of this study was to compare the bioavailability of Mg²⁺ from different sources, with different composition and chemical structure, namely, Aquamin Mg Soluble (seawater), magnesium oxide, commercial magnesium bisglycinate 1, and analytical grade magnesium bisglycinate 2. In addition, the influence of the different Mg²⁺ sources on transported Mg²⁺ and expression of TRPM6 and TRPM7 genes in Caco-2 cell monolayers was also evaluated to estimate bioavailability. TRPM6 and TRPM7 are members of the transient receptor potential melastatin subfamily characterized as Mg²⁺ permeable channels.

Method: The study involved analyzing bioavailability of the Mg²⁺ sources predigested with and without food using the Infogest model prior to application to a Caco-2 cell monolayer in transwells for assessing transport. Mg²⁺ concentration on the basolateral side was analyzed by ICP-MS, and expression of TRPM6 and TRPM7 genes in the monolayer was analyzed using real-time qPCR.

Results: Aquamin Mg Soluble showed significantly higher bioavailability compared to magnesium bisglycinate 2 (p = 0.016) when digested with food prior to application to the Caco-2 monolayer. In the digestion without food prior to the Caco-2 monolayer, there was no significant difference between Mg²⁺ bioavailability among the tested supplements. The TRPM6 gene was significantly downregulated in Caco-2 monolayers exposed to Aquamin Mg Soluble compared to untreated Caco-2 cells (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: The INFOGEST digestion model showed that Aquamin Mg Soluble provides a highly bioavailable form of Mg²⁺, while the Caco-2 monolayer model also demonstrated its increased bioavailability by the modulation of TRPM6 gene expression.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for human health, primarily functioning through its incorporation into selenoproteins, which play critical roles in antioxidant defense, immune regulation, and thyroid hormone metabolism [...].

Background: Caffeine is a well-established ergogenic aid, yet most experimental evidence is based on isolated caffeine, whereas habitual intake in both the general and physically active populations occurs mainly through coffee. This gap between experimental models and everyday practice complicates the interpretation of existing findings. Objective: This review compares coffee and isolated caffeine as ergogenic aids, focusing on biological mechanisms, methodological differences, tolerability, and context-dependent use in sport and exercise. Methods: A narrative review of human studies examining the effects of coffee and isolated caffeine on exercise performance, fatigue, and post-exercise recovery was conducted, with attention being paid to dosing accuracy, bioavailability, inter-individual variability, and the influence of the coffee matrix. Results: Isolated caffeine consistently improves performance under controlled conditions. Coffee can produce similar ergogenic effects, particularly in endurance exercise, although responses are more variable due to differences in caffeine content and individual sensitivity. Emerging evidence suggests that coffee, especially when consumed with carbohydrates, may support post-exercise glycogen resynthesis. Coffee also appears to be better tolerated by many individuals and provides additional bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Conclusions: Coffee and isolated caffeine should not be viewed as interchangeable ergogenic strategies. While isolated caffeine remains useful in experimental settings, coffee represents a more ecologically relevant and potentially safer source of caffeine in applied practice. Further direct comparative studies are needed to clarify their context-specific roles.

Background/objectives: Skin photoaging represents a predominant form of extrinsic aging, characterized by structural and functional impairment of the skin barrier. In severe cases, it may precipitate dermatological diseases and even tumors. Given the prevalence and detrimental effects of skin photoaging, strategies for its effective prevention and mitigation have garnered significant research interest. Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. 'Hangju' contains diverse bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, and polysaccharides, which have been proven to exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Methods: This study employed a UVB-induced mouse model of skin photoaging to evaluate the potential of dietary supplementation with Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat cv. 'Hangju' flower extract (CME) in vivo.

Results: In the photoaged skin of female SKH-1 hairless mice, dietary supplementation with CME significantly increased skin moisture content, reduced wrinkle formation, suppressed epidermal hyperplasia, enhanced collagen density, and suppressed the senescence marker expression and DNA damage marker expression. Analysis of the skin transcriptome suggested that CME could alter gene expression patterns and potentially modulate critical signaling pathways involved in skin homeostasis. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequencing indicated that CME mitigated UVB-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis.

Conclusions: These preclinical findings reveal the anti-photoaging property of dietary CME supplementation and point to its potential application as a functional dietary supplement for promoting skin health.

Background/objectives: Hypertension control remains a global challenge. Evidence on the association between adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and blood pressure (BP) control in older Mediterranean populations is limited. We aimed to assess this association in Spanish older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 371 participants (69 ± 9 years). Dietary intake was assessed using a validated 146-item food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), and DASH diet adherence was categorized as low, medium, or high. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations with BP control.

Results: Among participants with hypertension (n = 218), 52.8% achieved adequate BP control and consumed significantly more low-fat dairy products (+56%) and less sodium (-11%) than those with uncontrolled BP. The low adherence group had lower proportion of participants with controlled BP (21%) than the medium and high adherence groups (36% and 39%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Across increasing DASH diet adherence categories, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 4-5 mmHg and 3-4 mmHg lower, respectively. Medium adherence to the DASH diet was independently associated with substantially lower odds of uncontrolled BP (OR = 0.37; 95% CI: 0.16-0.82; p = 0.015). High adherence showed a similar magnitude of association but did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions: In this cohort of older Spanish adults, moderate adherence to the DASH diet was associated with meaningful improvements in BP control, suggesting that achievable, intermediate levels of DASH diet adherence may be sufficient to improve hypertension management in real-world settings. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm causality and long-term cardiovascular benefits.

Background/Objectives: Following the cessation of breastfeeding, cereal-based complementary foods are commonly introduced into the diet of infants. Among these products, dairy-free infant porridges constitute an important component of early complementary feeding. This study aimed to evaluate dietary exposure to selected essential (Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu) and potentially toxic (Pb, Cd, and Hg) trace elements resulting from the consumption of dairy-free infant porridges by children aged six months and older. Products with different cereal compositions available on the Polish market were analyzed. Methods: Trace element concentrations were determined after microwave-assisted digestion using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and atomic absorption spectrometry for mercury (Hg-AAS). Results: A single recommended serving of dairy-free infant porridge contributed to the intake of essential trace elements, providing approximately 50% of the RDA for copper, 21% for zinc, 15% of the AI for manganese, and 5.7% of the RDA for iron. The concentrations of potentially harmful elements were low (Pb: 0.002-0.004 mg/kg; Cd: <0.001-0.003 mg/kg; Hg: <0.001-0.001 mg/kg). The estimated daily intake of these elements did not exceed 0.01 µg/kg body weight per day. Conclusions: Dairy-free infant porridges may contribute to the intake of essential trace elements in infants, while exposure to lead, cadmium, and mercury appears to remain low when products are consumed according to recommended serving sizes.

Background/objectives: Vitamin D levels tend to be lower in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRDs), including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but there are minimal data on vitamin D levels in rheumatology patients with inflammatory vs. non-inflammatory diagnoses.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, we used electronic health record data from patients presenting for their first visit at a large rheumatology clinic to assess vitamin D levels and deficiency based on diagnosis, and to evaluate the association between vitamin D and inflammatory markers (including C-reactive protein [CRP]) or autoimmune markers (including rheumatoid factor [RF], anti-citrullinated peptide antibody, and anti-nuclear antibodies). Logistic regression analysis with 13 clinical variables was used to evaluate the association between vitamin D levels and IRD diagnosis, and linear regression was used to evaluate the association between vitamin D levels and CRP or RF.

Results: The patient cohort included 4979 patients; 1385 (27.8%) had an IRD. Vitamin D levels were significantly lower in the IRD vs. non-inflammatory subgroup (mean [SD] of 26.6 [13.3] vs. 27.7 [14.3]; p = 0.009), but the difference was not clinically relevant given the small effect size. Vitamin D deficiency rates (<20 ng/mL) were not significantly different between the subgroups, and vitamin D was not associated with an IRD diagnosis in logistic regression analysis. In linear regression analysis, vitamin D was not associated with CRP or RF in the full patient cohort or in the subgroup with RA (n = 539).

Conclusions: We conclude that vitamin D levels do not differ substantially based on IRD versus non-inflammatory diagnosis, CRP levels, or RF levels in this clinical cohort.

Background/Objectives: Resveratrol is a multi-target polyphenolic stilbene widely studied for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and anticancer properties. This review summarizes current evidence on its molecular mechanisms, therapeutic potential, metabolic interactions and biological implications, with particular emphasis on bioavailability, signaling pathways and organ-specific actions. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted focusing on recent in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies evaluating resveratrol's biochemical activity, molecular targets and physiological effects. Special attention was given to oxidative stress regulation, inflammatory signaling, mitochondrial function, metabolic pathways, gut microbiota interactions, and its influence on chronic diseases. Results: Resveratrol modulates several key signaling pathways including NF-κB, SIRT1, AMPK, MAPK, Nrf2 and PI3K/AKT/mTOR. It reduces oxidative stress, inhibits inflammatory cytokines, regulates apoptosis, improves mitochondrial performance, and activates endogenous antioxidant systems. The compound demonstrates protective effects in cardiovascular diseases, hepatic steatosis, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic dysfunction, and various cancers through anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative and anti-fibrotic mechanisms. Additionally, resveratrol beneficially alters gut microbiota composition and microbial metabolites, contributing to improved metabolic homeostasis. Despite high intestinal absorption, systemic bioavailability remains low; however, novel nanoformulations significantly enhance its stability and plasma concentrations. Conclusions: Resveratrol exhibits broad therapeutic potential driven by its capacity to regulate oxidative, inflammatory, metabolic and apoptotic pathways at multiple levels. Its pleiotropic activity makes it a promising candidate for prevention and complementary treatment of chronic diseases. Advances in delivery systems and microbiota-derived metabolites may further enhance its clinical applicability.