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Topic Review
Diet/Nutrition for Cancer Survivors with Chronic Pain
Chronic pain in cancer survivors is related to obesity, malnutrition, nutritional deficiency, diet quality, immune system, systemic inflammation, and gut microbiota. As seen clearly, dietary interventions may provide weight reduction, a healthy body weight, good diet quality, regulations in systemic inflammation and immune system, and a healthy gut microbiota environment that could modify aforementioned pain-related pathways/mechanisms. For that reason, nutrition might have the potential to transition from being only prevention for cancer recurrence or cancer itself to a modality for chronic pain management for cancer survivors.
  • 1.1K
  • 17 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Metabolomics Meets Nutritional Epidemiology
Metabolomics is one of the most complex omics tools; the added complexity stems from the fact that there is not one set of metabolites making up the metabolome. Indeed, the metabolome is highly dynamic and diverse with metabolites originating external to the host and metabolites that are synthesised endogenously. This added complexity means that the metabolome can be informative both regarding external exposures including dietary intake and on the metabolic phenotype.
  • 1.1K
  • 18 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Ramadan Fasting and Offspring Health
Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam, during which fasting is obligatory for all healthy individuals. Although pregnant women are exempt from this Islamic law, the majority nevertheless choose to fast. The association between Ramadan fasting and health outcomes of offspring is not supported by strong evidence. To further elucidate the effects of Ramadan fasting, larger prospective and retrospective studies with novel designs are needed. 
  • 1.1K
  • 26 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Nutritional Strategies in Prediabetes
The risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) increases with existence of one of two precursor states—impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). IFG is defined as a fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration of ≥6.1 but <7.0 mmol/L, whereas IGT is defined as an FPG concentration of <7.0 mmol/L and a 2-h post-load plasma glucose concentration of ≥7.8 but <11.1 mmol/L following an oral glucose challenge . A glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 5.7–6.4% has been included in the existing American Diabetes Association (ADA)’s criteria for high diabetes risk since 2010 .Prediabetes is broadly defined as blood glucose levels above normal but below that of diabetes . Prediabetes is typically an umbrella term encompassing IGT, IFG as well as elevated HbA1c levels—all of which are considered substantial risk factors for progression to overt diabetes.
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Lycopene as Antioxidant for Type II Diabetes Mellitus
Nutrition is of utmost importance in chronic disease management and has often been described as the cornerstone of a variety of non-communicable diseases. In particular, type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a prevalent and global public health crisis. Lycopene, a bright red carotenoid hydrocarbon found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, has been extensively studied for its biological activities and treatment efficiency in diabetes care. Epidemiological investigations indicate that lycopene has potential antioxidant properties, is capable of scavenging reactive species, and alleviates oxidative stress in T2DM patients.
  • 1.1K
  • 01 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Devices Manipulating Eating Rate
Eating rate, as well as food texture and habitual characteristics, are considered important factors that affect an individual’s food intake. A novel way of manipulating eating rate and thereby potentially decreasing energy intake is via the use of specially made devices and cutlery. The aforementioned slow eating rate by decreasing oral volume and bite size, by modifying their shape (vibrating or deflating) when eating rate is accelerated or by special recordings of eating events and eating speed and then training the subject to modify them.
  • 1.1K
  • 05 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Mediterranean Dietary Patterns During Pregnancy
Pregnancy outcomes for both mother and child are affected by many environmental factors. The importance of pregnancy for ‘early life programming’ in the first 1,000 days of life is well established and maternal nutrition is an important factor contributing to a favourable environment for developing offspring. Results show that being on a Mediterranean Diet during pregnancy is associated with favourable outcomes for both maternal and offspring health, particularly for gestational diabetes in mothers and congenital defects in offspring.
  • 1.1K
  • 30 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Vitamin D Signaling
The vitamin D metabolite 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 is the natural, high-affinity ligand of the transcription factor vitamin D receptor (VDR). In many tissues and cell types, VDR binds in a ligand-dependent fashion to thousands of genomic loci and modulates, via local chromatin changes, the expression of hundreds of primary target genes. Thus, the epigenome and transcriptome of VDR-expressing cells is directly affected by vitamin D. Vitamin D target genes encode for proteins with a large variety of physiological functions, ranging from the control of calcium homeostasis, innate and adaptive immunity, to cellular differentiation.
  • 1.1K
  • 12 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Bioactive Factors in Human Breastmilk
Maternal milk, a complex fluid with several bioactive factors, is the best option for the newborn. Its dynamic composition is influenced by diverse factors such as maternal age, lactation period, and health status. 
  • 1.1K
  • 11 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy
Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) is one of the most common food allergies in infants, and its prevalence has increased over recent years. Understanding the diagnostic features of CMA is essential in order to manage patients with this disorder, guide the use of an elimination diet, and find the best moment to start an oral food challenge (OFC) and liberalize the diet. To date, no shared tolerance markers for the diagnosis of food allergy have been identified, and OFC remains the gold standard. Recently, oral immunotherapy (OIT) has emerged as a new therapeutic strategy and has changed the natural history of CMA. Before this, patients had to strictly avoid the food allergen, resulting in a decline in quality of life and subsequent nutritional, social, and psychological impairments. Thanks to the introduction of OIT, the passive approach involving rigid exclusion has changed to a proactive one. Both the heterogeneity in the diagnostic process among the studies and the variability of OIT data limit the comprehension of the real epidemiology of CMA, and, consequentially, its natural history. Therefore, well-planned randomized controlled trials are needed to standardize CMA diagnosis, prevention, and treatment strategies.
  • 1.1K
  • 11 May 2021
Topic Review
Antioxidant Effects of Lycopene
Malaria is a disease that affects thousands of people around the world every year. Its pathogenesis is associated with the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and lower levels of micronutrients and antioxidants. Patients under drug treatment have high levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in the body tissues, which limits the use of these drugs. Therefore, several studies have suggested that RONS inhibition may represent an adjuvant therapeutic strategy in the treatment of these patients by increasing the antioxidant capacity of the host. In this sense, supplementation with antioxidant compounds such as zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, C, and E has been suggested as part of the treatment. Among dietary antioxidants, lycopene is the most powerful antioxidant among the main carotenoids. 
  • 1.1K
  • 09 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Polymorphisms in Vitamin D-Related Genes
Vitamin D deficiency represents a major healthcare problem. Vitamin D status is influenced by genetic and environmental determinants. Several observational studies have evaluated the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vitamin D-related genes and vitamin D levels. Nevertheless, little is known about the role of these SNPs in the response to vitamin D supplementation. We conducted an interventional study to define the association between SNPs in vitamin D-related genes and the response to vitamin D supplementation in 100 self-reported healthy women of Arab ancestry for the majority. Methods. A total of 100 healthy female subjects received a weekly oral dose of 50,000 IU vitamin D for 12 weeks. Serum vitamin D concentration and metabolic profiles were measured at baseline and 12 weeks post-vitamin D supplementation. The genotypes of 37 SNPs selected from previously reported vitamin D-related genes have been assessed by Fluidigm genotyping assay. Results. Rs731236 (VDR gene) and rs7116978 (CYP2R1 gene) showed a significant association with vitamin D status. The rs731236 GG genotype and the rs7116978 CC genotype were associated with a “vitamin D sufficiency” state. Rs731236 GG and rs7116978 CC genotypes showed a higher response to vitamin D supplementation. Transcription factor binding site prediction analysis showed altered binding sites for transcription factors according to the different rs7116978 alleles. Interestingly, the 37 SNPs previously established to play a role in vitamin D-related pathways explained very little of the response to vitamin D supplementation in our cohort, suggesting the existence of alternative loci whose number and effect size need to be investigated in future studies. Conclusion. In this paper, we present novel data on vitamin D-related SNPs and response to vitamin D supplementation demonstrating the feasibility of applying functional genomic approaches in interventional studies to assess individual-level responses to vitamin D supplementation.
  • 1.1K
  • 31 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Gut–Brain Axis in Neuropsychological Disease Model of Obesity
Obesity is a multifactorial disorder in which various elements (genetic, host, and environment), play a definite role, even if none of them satisfactorily explains its etiology. A number of neurological comorbidities, such as anxiety and depression, charges the global obesity burden, and evidence suggests the hypothesis that the brain could be the seat of the initial malfunction leading to obesity. The gut microbiome plays an important role in energy homeostasis regulating energy harvesting, fat deposition, as well as feeding behavior and appetite. Dietary patterns, like the Western diet, are known to be a major cause of the obesity epidemic, probably promoting a dysbiotic drift in the gut microbiota. 
  • 1.1K
  • 20 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Consensus on the Prevention of Vitamin D Deficiency
Vitamin D is crucial for musculoskeletal health, as it plays an important role in the regulation of bone and mineral metabolism, and it can prevent and cure nutritional rickets and osteomalacia. In addition, vitamin D receptor (VDR) expression in almost all human cells suggests, or even documents, a more widespread role of vitamin D for overall health, a notion that is supported by several experimental and epidemiological studies. While there still exist knowledge gaps and controversy regarding potential extra-skeletal effects of vitamin D, there is a wide consensus that the high worldwide prevalence of vitamin D deficiency is of concern and requires actions to improve this situation.
  • 1.1K
  • 22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Characterization of Food-Grade Systems
The use of food-grade polymers for colon targeting allows the development of systems for the controlled delivery of active and health-beneficial compounds (nutraceuticals, prebiotics, probiotics, etc.) to the ileo-colon section tract against GIT diseases (IBD, IBS, colon cancer, dysbiosis and other conditions), with a high safety profile. In fact, food-grade polymers are approved for use in the food industry and are safe for human consumption.
  • 1.1K
  • 06 May 2023
Topic Review
Treatment of Vitamin D Deficiency with Calcifediol
Calcifediol (25-OH-vitamin D3) is the prohormone of the vitamin D endocrine system. It is used to prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency. Calcifediol, as well as cholecalciferol (vitamin D3), is efficient and safe in the general population, although calcifediol has certain advantages over cholecalciferol, such as its rapid onset of action and greater potency. 
  • 1.1K
  • 20 May 2022
Topic Review
Pediatric Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the number one chronic liver disease worldwide and is estimated to affect nearly 40% of obese youth and up to 10% of the general pediatric population without any obvious signs or symptoms. Although the early stages of NAFLD are reversible with diet and lifestyle modifications, detecting such stages is hindered by a lack of non-invasive methods of risk assessment and diagnosis. This absence of non-invasive means of diagnosis is directly related to the scarcity of long-term prospective studies of pediatric NAFLD in children and adolescents. In the majority of pediatric NAFLD cases, the mechanisms driving the origin and rapid progression of NAFLD remain unknown. The progression from NAFLD to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in youth is associated with unique histological features and possible immune processes and metabolic pathways that may reflect different mechanisms compared with adults. Recent data suggest that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are important new biomarkers underlying pathways of liver injury. Several factors may contribute to pediatric NAFLD development, including high-sugar diets, in utero exposures via epigenetic alterations, changes in the neonatal microbiome, and altered immune system development and mitochondrial function.
  • 1.1K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Endocrine Challenges with Continuous-Flow LVADs
Heart failure (HF) remains a leading cause of morbidity, hospitalization, and mortality worldwide. Advancement of mechanical circulatory support technology has led to the use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), reducing hospitalizations, and improving quality of life and outcomes in advanced HF. Recent studies have highlighted how metabolic and endocrine dysfunction may be a consequence of, or associated with, HF, and may represent a novel (still neglected) therapeutic target in the treatment of HF. On the other hand, it is not clear whether LVAD support, may impact the outcome by also improving organ perfusion as well as improving the neuro-hormonal state of the patients, reducing the endocrine dysfunction. Moreover, endocrine function is likely a major determinant of human homeostasis, and is a key issue in the recovery from critical illness. Care of the endocrine function may contribute to improving cardiac contractility, immune function, as well as infection control, and rehabilitation during and after a LVAD placement.
  • 1.1K
  • 02 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Athletes and COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic is having major economic and personal consequences for collegiate and professional sportsThe COVID-19 pandemic is having major economic and personal consequences for collegiate and professional sports. It is proposed that vitamin D supplementation be included as a method by which to reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and progression to and severity of COVID-19. Evidence supporting this suggestion includes approximately 30 observational studies from several countries finding that serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations are inversely correlated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and severity, progression and risk of death of COVID-19. In addition, “quasi-experimental” studies in France found that COVID-19 patients receiving high-dose vitamin D supplements before or shortly after development of COVID-19 had significantly reduced risk of death. A pilot randomized controlled trial in Spain using high-dose 25(OH)D3 on COVID-19 patients found significant reductions in progression to the intensive care unit and death. Sports teams are already aware of the better athletic performance associated with higher 25(OH)D concentrations and vitamin D supplementation. Thus, supplementing with vitamin D by athletes and associated staff could add an extra measure of protection against COVID-19 as well as help maintain peak athletic ability. This review provides guidelines for supplementation.  
  • 1.1K
  • 16 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Brassicaceae-Derived Phytochemicals
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of intestinal disorders, of unknown etiology, characterized by chronic inflammation within the gut. They are gradually becoming critical because of the increasing incidence worldwide and improved diagnosis. Due to the important side effects observed during conventional therapy, natural bioactive components are now under intense investigation for the prevention and treatment of chronic illnesses. The Brassicaceae family comprises vegetables widely consumed all over the world. A growing body of literature has reported that extracts from the Brassicaceae family and their purified constituents have anti-inflammatory properties, which has generated interest from both the scientific community and clinicians.
  • 1.1K
  • 28 Dec 2022
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