Advances in Nutrition最新文献

Magnesium (Mg) plays a key role in neurological functioning and manifestations. However, the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohorts on Mg and cognitive health among adults has not been systematically reviewed. We aimed to examine the associations of various Mg forms (supplements, dietary intake, and biomarkers) with cognitive outcomes by summarizing evidence from RCTs and cohorts. PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched for relevant peer-reviewed articles published up to May 3, 2024. Three random-effects models were performed, when appropriate, to evaluate the relationship between Mg and cognitive outcomes: 1) linear meta-regression, 2) nonlinear (quadratic) meta-regression, and 3) meta-analysis using Mg variables categorized based on pre-existing recommendations. Three RCTs and 12 cohort studies were included in this systematic review. Evidence from the limited number of RCTs was insufficient to draw conclusions on the effects of Mg supplements. Cohort studies showed inconsistent dose–response relationships between dietary Mg and cognitive disorders, with high heterogeneity across populations. However, consistent U-shape associations of serum Mg with all-cause dementia and cognitive impairment were found in cohorts, suggesting an optimal serum Mg concentration of ∼0.85 mmol/L. This nonlinear association was detected in meta-regression (P_quadratic = 0.003) and in meta-analysis based on the reference interval of serum Mg (0.75–0.95 mmol/L) [<0.75 compared with 0.85 mmol/L: pooled hazard ratio (HR) = 1.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05, 1.93; >0.95 compared with 0.85 mmol/L: pooled HR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.03, 1.64]. More evidence from RCTs and cohorts is warranted. Future cohort studies should evaluate various Mg biomarkers and collect repeated measurements of Mg intake over time, considering different sources (diet or supplements) and factors affecting absorption (for example, calcium-to-Mg intake ratio). This systematic review was preregistered in PROSPERO (CRD42023423663).

Probiotics are typically marketed as foods and dietary supplements, categories for products intended to maintain health in generally healthy populations and which, unlike drugs, cannot claim to treat or cure disease. This review addresses the existing evidence that probiotics are beneficial to healthy people. Our approach was to perform a descriptive review of efficacy evidence that probiotics can prevent urinary, vaginal, gastrointestinal, and respiratory infections, and improve risk factors associated with cardiovascular health or reduce antibiotic use. Other endpoints such as mental, dental, or immune health were not specifically addressed. We concluded that there is sufficient evidence of efficacy and safety for clinicians and consumers to consider using specific probiotics for some indications – such as the use of probiotics to support gut function during antibiotic use or to reduce the risk of respiratory tract infections – for certain people. However, we did not find a sufficiently high level of evidence to support unconditional, population-wide recommendations for other preventive endpoints we reviewed for healthy people. Although evidence for some indications is suggestive of the preventive benefits of probiotics, additional research is needed.

Dietary and movement behaviors [physical activity (PA), sedentary behavior (SED), and sleep] occur throughout a 24-h day and involve multiple contexts. Understanding the temporal patterning of these 24-h behaviors and their contextual determinants is key to determining their combined effect on health. A scoping review was conducted to identify novel analytic methods for determining temporal behavior patterns and their contextual correlates. We searched Embase, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost databases in July 2022 to identify studies published between 1997 and 2022 on temporal patterns and their contextual correlates (e.g., locational, social, environmental, personal). We included 14 studies after title and abstract (n = 33,292) and full-text (n = 135) screening, of which 11 were published after 2018. Most studies (n = 4 in adults; n = 5 in children and adolescents), examined waking behavior patterns (i.e., both PA and SED) of which 3 also included sleep and 6 included contextual correlates. PA and diet were examined together in only 1 study of adults. Contextual correlates of dietary, PA, and sleep temporal behavior patterns were also examined. Machine learning with various clustering algorithms and model-based clustering techniques were most used to determine 24-h temporal behavior patterns. Although the included studies used a diverse range of methods, behavioral variables, and assessment periods, results showed that temporal patterns characterized by high SED and low PA were linked to poorer health outcomes, than those with low SED and high PA. This review identified temporal behavior patterns, and their contextual correlates, which were associated with adiposity and cardiometabolic disease risk, suggesting these methods hold promise for the discovery of holistic lifestyle exposures important to health. Standardized reporting of methods and patterns and multidisciplinary collaboration among nutrition, PA, and sleep researchers; statisticians; and computer scientists were identified as key pathways to advance future research on temporal behavior patterns in relation to health.

This systematic review and meta-analysis, spanning studies published between 1995 and 2021, investigates various aspects of lunches brought from home (LBFH) to school by children. These meals, in contrast to those provided by the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), lack strict nutritional standards. Despite the availability of NSLP lunches, ∼40% of US children opt for LBFH. This review aims to assess the food content and nutritional quality of LBFH, their adherence to NSLP standards in terms of nutrition and cost, effectiveness of intervention programs designed to enhance their nutritional quality and parental and student perceptions of LBFH. The comprehensive literature search yielded 28 eligible papers, with 16 included in meta-analysis. LBFH commonly include fruits (50%), yet vegetables (17%) and dairy (25%) are less prevalent. They frequently contain snacks (50%), sweets (48%), and sugar-sweetened beverages (31%). Compared with school lunches, LBFH exhibit lower levels of calcium, protein, iron, fiber, and vitamin A, and higher levels of carbohydrates and saturated fat. Intervention programs had no effect on quality of LBFH. On average, LBFH ($1.81) cost slightly less than lunches served at school ($1.98), without accounting for free/reduced-price meals in the calculation. The cost of school lunch for pre-k and kindergarten children became $11.32, nearly 4 times higher than that of LBFH ($2.92), after replicating the meal at home and accounting for meal preparation time. Parents preferred LBFH over school lunches because of concerns related to the quality of school meals served. This study concludes that LBFH are generally less nutritious compared with lunches provided by NSLP. Future research needs to further explore ways to improve parent perception of NSLP. Especially with many states making free meals available to all children, identifying effective ways in promoting and increasing NSLP participation can ensure more children have access to nutritionally balanced and affordable lunches.

Ovarian aging is a major factor for female subfertility. Multiple antioxidants have been applied in different clinical scenarios, but their effects on fertility in women with ovarian aging are still unclear. To address this, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of antioxidants on fertility in women with ovarian aging. A total of 20 randomized clinical trials with 2617 participants were included. The results showed that use of antioxidants not only significantly increased the number of retrieved oocytes and high-quality embryo rates but also reduced the dose of gonadotropin, contributing to higher clinical pregnancy rates. According to the subgroup analysis of different dose settings, better effects were more pronounced with lower doses; in terms of antioxidant types, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) tended to be more effective than melatonin, myo-inositol, and vitamins. When compared with placebo or no treatment, CoQ10 showed more advantages, whereas small improvements were observed with other drugs. In addition, based on subgroup analysis of CoQ10, the optimal treatment regimen of CoQ10 for improving pregnancy rate was 30 mg/d for 3 mo before the controlled ovarian stimulation cycle, and women with diminished ovarian reserve clearly benefited from CoQ10 treatment, especially those aged <35 y. Our study suggests that antioxidant consumption is an effective and safe complementary therapy for women with ovarian aging. Appropriate antioxidant treatment should be offered at a low dose according to the patient’s age and ovarian reserve.

This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42022359529.

“We are what, when, and how we eat”: the evolution of human dietary habits mirrors the evolution of humans themselves. Key developments in human history, such as the advent of stone tool technology, the shift to a meat-based diet, control of fire, advancements in cooking and fermentation techniques, and the domestication of plants and animals, have significantly influenced human anatomical, physiological, social, cognitive, and behavioral changes. Advancements in scientific methods, such as the analysis of microfossils like starch granules, plant-derived phytoliths, and coprolites, have yielded unprecedented insights into past diets. Nonetheless, the isolation of ancient food matrices remains analytically challenging. Future technological breakthroughs and a more comprehensive integration of paleogenomics, paleoproteomics, paleoglycomics, and paleometabolomics will enable a more nuanced understanding of early human ancestors’ diets, which holds the potential to guide contemporary dietary recommendations and tackle modern health challenges, with far-reaching implications for human well-being, and ecological impact on the planet.

Pregnancy is a time of high metabolic coordination, as maternal metabolism adapts to support the growing fetus. Many of these changes are coordinated by the placenta, a critical fetal endocrine organ and the site of maternal–fetal crosstalk. Dysregulation in maternal and placental metabolism during pregnancy has been linked to adverse outcomes, including altered neurodevelopment. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder linked to metabolic alterations in both children and their mothers. Prenatal environmental exposures have been linked to risk of ASD through dysregulated maternal, placental, and fetal metabolism. In this review, we focus on recent studies investigating the associations between prenatal metabolism in the maternal-placental-fetal unit and the impact of prenatal environmental exposures to phthalates and micronutrients on ASD risk. By identifying the mechanisms through which phthalates and other ubiquitous endocrine disrupting chemicals influence development, and how nutritional interventions can impact those mechanisms, we can identify promising ways to prevent suboptimal neurodevelopment.

Vegetable oils, derived from diverse sources such as seeds, nuts, and some fruits, play a significant role in dietary health. However, the current evidence on the health effects of different types of vegetable oil consumption remains controversial. This umbrella review aims to synthesize evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses to assess the health outcomes associated with various vegetable oils. A comprehensive literature search was performed up to 31 July, 2023 on 12 databases for studies examining the association of different vegetable oils with health outcomes in adults. Data was extracted independently by 2 authors, with evidence strength assessed using the grading of recommendations, assessment, development, and evaluation criteria. A total of 48 studies, including 206 meta-analyses, were included. Moderate to very low certainty evidence showed that monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids such as canola oil, virgin olive oil, and rice bran oil are beneficial in reducing serum total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations. Conversely, low to very low certainty evidence suggests that oils high in saturated fats, such as coconut oil and palm oil, increase total cholesterol and LDL concentrations but also raise high-density lipoprotein concentrations. Very low certainty evidence showed the consumption of olive oil, sesame oil, and coconut oil could improve blood sugar control. Low certainty evidence showed olive oil consumption reduced risk of breast, digestive, and other cancers. Moderate to very low certainty evidence suggested that canola oil and sesame oil consumption reduced body weight. The consumption of vegetable oil appears to offer different health benefits, with summary estimates indicating beneficial effects on reducing lipid concentrations, especially with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated rich oils when consumed in recommended amounts. Future research should focus on long-term studies and comprehensive dietary assessments to better understand the health impacts of vegetable oils, providing a basis for informed dietary recommendations.

This study was registered at PROSPERO as CRD42021239210.

The escalating threat of antimicrobial resistance underscores the imperative for innovative therapeutic strategies. Host defense peptides (HDPs), integral components of innate immunity, exhibit profound antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Various dietary compounds, such as short-chain fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, sugars, amino acids, phytochemicals, bile acids, probiotics, and prebiotics have been identified to enhance the synthesis of endogenous HDPs without provoking inflammatory response or compromising barrier integrity. Additionally, different classes of these compounds synergize in augmenting HDP synthesis and disease resistance. Moreover, dietary supplementation of several HDP-inducing compounds or their combinations have demonstrated robust protection in rodents, rabbits, pigs, cattle, and chickens from experimental infections. However, the efficacy of these compounds in inducing HDP synthesis varies considerably among distinct compounds. Additionally, the regulation of HDP genes occurs in a gene-specific, cell type–specific, and species-specific manner. In this comprehensive review, we systematically summarized the modulation of HDP synthesis and the mechanism of action attributed to each major class of dietary compounds, including their synergistic combinations, across a spectrum of animal species including humans. We argue that the ability to enhance innate immunity and barrier function without triggering inflammation or microbial resistance positions the nutritional modulation of endogenous HDP synthesis as a promising host-directed approach for mitigating infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. These HDP-inducing compounds, particularly in combinations, harbor substantial clinical potential for further exploration in antimicrobial therapies for both human and other animals.