Nutrients最新文献

(E)-Flavokawain A (FKA), the primary chalcone constituent of Piper methysticum, exhibits diverse pharmacological properties and holds significant potential for therapeutic development. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the anti-colorectal cancer effects and mechanisms of FKA. Methods: Using AOM/DSS-induced colorectal cancer models in C57 mice, the research examines the impact of different FKA doses, employing 16S rRNA and metabolomics to explore the potential mechanism. Results: The findings indicated that FKA significantly inhibited the progression of colorectal cancer in C57 mice by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota. This modulation involved the suppression of endotoxin secretion by pathogenic bacteria and the concurrent augmentation of beneficial bacteria. Furthermore, in the context of metabolic pathways, FKA regulates lipid metabolism and arachidonic acid metabolism, thereby mitigating the inflammatory transformation associated with colorectal cancer. Conclusions: These findings provide valuable insights supporting the potential of FKA as a viable preventive strategy against CRC.

Background: Phytotherapeutic agents, including Momordica charantia, have been proposed as complementary strategies to enhance metabolic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients on oral antidiabetic drugs.

Methods: This was a real-world, longitudinal, comparative cohort study with treatment escalation, conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving metformin therapy. All patients were initially prescribed add-on dapagliflozin at 10 mg/day and re-evaluated after 6 months. Based on glycemic response at 6 months, patients were stratified into two groups: 70 patients with persistent inadequate glycemic control received adjunctive supplementation with a standardized Momordica charantia extract for 3 months (intervention group), while 85 patients who achieved glycemic targets continued dual antidiabetic therapy alone (control group). Anthropometric, hemodynamic, and metabolic parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 months, and 9 months from baseline.

Results: Between-group analyses revealed divergent glycemic trajectories during the 6-9 month interval. In the intervention group, HbA1c decreased from 7.82 ± 0.58% at baseline to 6.93 ± 0.30% at 6 months and to 6.34 ± 0.42% at 9 months, while in the control group, glycemic parameters showed only modest additional changes after 6 months. The reduction in HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose between 6 and 9 months was significantly greater in patients receiving Momordica charantia compared with controls (p < 0.001). Fasting plasma glucose declined from 138.4 ± 17.5 mg/dL at baseline to 122.3 ± 13.1 mg/dL at 6 months and to 113.3 ± 12.2 mg/dL at 9 months in the intervention group. Dapagliflozin therapy was associated with significant improvements in body weight, BMI, and blood pressure at 6 months in both groups, whereas adjunctive Momordica charantia supplementation did not produce significant additional effects on anthropometric or hemodynamic parameters.

Conclusions: Adjunctive Momordica charantia supplementation was associated with additional improvements in glycemic control compared with continuation of dual antidiabetic therapy alone, with the most pronounced effects observed for HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose. These findings support a potential adjunctive role for phytotherapeutic supplementation in patients with suboptimal glycemic control receiving contemporary standard therapy.

Background: The Chinese dwarf cherry (CDC) has been valued for over 2000 years for its medicinal and nutritional properties, particularly its kernels. Despite its recognition as a rich source of oil, the potential health benefits of CDC kernel oil remain unclear.

Method: Initially, we evaluated the preventive effectiveness of CDC in a mouse model of constipation induced by loperamide.

Results: The findings indicated that CDC kernel oil alleviated constipation by reducing the first black fecal defecation time and increasing the fecal number, wet weight, water content and gastrointestinal transit rate in model mice. Additionally, CDC kernel oil reduced inhibitory neurotransmitters and increased excitability neurotransmitters, two anti-oxidases' activity and fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content. Histological analysis revealed an improved mucus cell morphology in the intestinal tract. Furthermore, CDC kernel oil increased the abundance of some beneficial bacteria. It was identified that the gut microbiota was associated with neurotransmitters, mediators of inflammation and SCFAs.

Conclusion: The findings offer a scientific foundation for considering CDC kernel oil as a potential functional food for the alleviation of constipation.

Background: Radiotherapy is a common treatment for gynecological malignancies, often accompanied by significant side effects that impact patient nutritional status. The ketogenic diet has been proposed as a complementary nutritional strategy to enhance treatment efficacy, manage side effects, and preserve body composition. However, its safety and feasibility in the oncological setting remain under-investigated. Methods: The KOMPARC study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial evaluating the adherence, safety, and clinical tolerability of a ketogenic diet versus a standard Mediterranean diet in patients with cervical and endometrial cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Before the start of the treatment, patients were randomized to either the ketogenic diet or the standard diet groups. Anthropometric measures, Hand Grip Test, and body composition parameters from bioimpedance analysis were taken before the start of treatment and at the end. Adherence, adverse events, and patient-reported outcomes were monitored throughout the treatment period. Results: A total of 33 patients were enrolled. Adherence rates were comparable between the KD and standard diet groups (46.1% vs. 25.0% interruption rate, p = 0.21). No significant differences were observed in the incidence of gastrointestinal toxicities (p = 0.56), diarrhea (p = 0.81), nausea (p = 0.94), or weight loss (p = 0.24). Both groups experienced significant weight reduction during therapy without differential loss of body cell mass or other body composition parameters. Quality of life assessments indicated varied symptom profiles, with the KD group reporting increased appetite loss and worry about weight. Conclusions: Preliminary findings suggest that the ketogenic diet is a safe and feasible nutritional intervention during radiotherapy for pelvic tumors. These results support further investigation into ketogenic dietary strategies as adjuncts in oncologic care.

Pediatric obesity is an increasingly prevalent, chronic, and multifactorial disease. Achieving successful and sustained weight reduction with current interventions remains challenging due to significant heterogeneity in treatment response. This review summarizes current evidence describing variability in outcomes across lifestyle, pharmacologic, and metabolic/bariatric surgery interventions in children and adolescents, and examines key biological, metabolic, behavioral, environmental, and psychosocial factors that influence response. In adults, recent findings on energy balance obesity phenotypes (characterized by abnormal satiation, abnormal postprandial satiety, abnormal hedonic eating, and reduced energy expenditure) have demonstrated promise in predicting weight loss outcomes and guiding tailored interventions. However, data on obesity phenotyping within children and adolescents remain limited. Addressing this gap is essential for advancing precision medicine approaches in pediatric obesity, with the potential to improve treatment selection, enhance effectiveness, and optimize long-term clinical outcomes.

People with intellectual disabilities are disproportionately affected by diet-related health inequalities. This Perspective outlines a dual challenge: (1) intrinsic vulnerabilities-cognitive limitations, health-literacy constraints, and comorbidities-that impair individuals' ability to make healthy dietary choices, and (2) extrinsic neglect-insufficient support in care environments, inadequate nutrition-related training among informal caregivers and support staff, and structural gaps in policy and services. We argue that this "double jeopardy" undermines nutritional equity and proposes strategies for person-centered nutrition education, caregiver empowerment, supportive food environments, and inclusive policy frameworks. Greater interdisciplinary collaboration and tailored research are urgently needed to ensure nutritional health as a right for people with intellectual disabilities.

Background/Objectives: Circulating amino acid concentrations and their excretion can provide insights into dietary protein intake and metabolism. Alterations in amino acid homeostasis occur in various disorders due to nutritional imbalances or metabolic changes, including obesity. A ketogenic diet (KD) has gained popularity for weight management; however, its metabolic effects are not fully known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of an eight-week, energy-restricted Mediterranean-type KD on the amino acid metabolism in women with overweight and class I obesity. Methods: A randomized, single-center, controlled trial was conducted with 80 women with a BMI of 25.5-35 in age between 18 and 45 years, without any chronic diseases. Randomly divided women received food catering with approximately 1750 kcal daily for eight weeks, containing KD or standard diet (STD), respectively. The concentration of amino acids was assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after the derivatization with chloroformate in serum and urine collected at the baseline, after 4 weeks, and at the end of the intervention. Results: The results collected from 66 participants were included in the final analyses. Independent of diet type, weight reduction was associated with increased circulating α-aminobutyric acid and decreased proline, glutamate, and tyrosine. The KD led to lower concentrations of alanine, methionine, threonine, and tryptophan, alongside higher levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and α-aminobutyric acid compared to the STD. Urinary amino acid excretion decreased after weight reduction. KD was associated with higher urinary excretion of BCAA and β-aminoisobutyric acid. Conclusions: In summary, both weight reduction and KD significantly affect the amino acid metabolism, which might have implications for inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiometabolic risk.

Background/Objectives: It is believed that some polyphenols, including phenolic acids, may counteract estrogen deficiency-induced bone loss, decreasing oxidative stress. Moreover, some phenolic acids-among others, rosmarinic acid and sinapic acid-have been reported to increase the serum estradiol concentration in rats. The study aimed to investigate the impact of rosmarinic acid and sinapic acid on the skeletal system of rats with estrogen deficiency induced by bilateral ovariectomy. Methods: The study was carried out on mature female rats, divided into sham-operated control rats, ovariectomized (OVX) control rats, and OVX rats treated with estradiol (0.2 mg/kg; positive control), rosmarinic acid (10 and 50 mg/kg), or sinapic acid (5 and 25 mg/kg). The compounds were administered orally for 4 weeks. Serum bone turnover markers, bone mass, mineral and calcium content, macrometric and histomorphometric parameters, as well as mechanical properties were examined. Results: Estrogen deficiency induced osteoporotic changes in ovariectomized control rats, which were slightly counteracted by the administration of estradiol. The phenolic acids slightly counteracted some changes caused by estrogen deficiency, but their administration at higher doses led to further worsening of cancellous bone quality. Conclusions: The results demonstrated that administration of high doses of rosmarinic acid or sinapic acid slightly unfavorably affected the rats' skeletal system under conditions of estrogen deficiency.

Amino acid availability is central for the synthesis of macromolecules and numerous bioactive compounds. Amino acids are also involved in ATP production, cell signaling, and the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in human cells. From clinical and experimental studies, it appears that supplementation with specific amino acids may be relevant to correct for amino acid deficiency in the case of insufficient supply from dietary proteins with regards to the amounts needed for optimal metabolism and physiological functions. Clinical and experimental arguments suggest that amino acid supplementation may be indicated in specific situations under a specific nutritional context. However, it is essential not to overdose with excessive quantities of amino acids in supplements beyond the upper levels of safe intake (ULSI). In this narrative review, I recapitulate the protein and amino acid requirements for the general population and for subgroups of the population, and these requirements are compared to the usual consumption. Typical examples of clinical trials showing the benefits from amino acid supplementation in different physiological and pathophysiological contexts are presented together with results obtained from experimental studies. Parameters such as the no-observed-adverse-effect-level (NOAEL) values used to determine the ULSI for amino acid supplementation are defined, and values determined in clinical trials are given and discussed. Finally, prospects for future research in the field are proposed.