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Topic Review
Diabetes and atherosclerosis in obesity
Obesity is one of the major risk factors for the development of both impaired glucose tolerance (IGT, or prediabetes) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), and its prevalence worldwide drives toward an increased rate of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Given the estimations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the recommendation of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), where IGT and diabetes are considered as risk factors for the development of cardiovascular complications and obesity, the development of diabetes should be treated because of its potential reversibility. In this view, several interventions such as diet, lifestyle changes, and pharmacological treatment are effective, including bariatric metabolic surgery (BMS), which is the most incisive way to efficiently lower body weight. Here the attention is focused on links between obesity, T2D, and cardiovascular disease, as possible hints to possible new treatments.
  • 1.0K
  • 24 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Benefits of Caffeine on Health
Caffeine is a naturally occurring alkaloid found in various plants. It acts as a stimulant, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and even an aid in pain management, and is found in several over-the-counter medications. This naturally derived bioactive compound is the best-known ingredient in coffee and other beverages, such as tea, soft drinks, and energy drinks, and is widely consumed worldwide. Caffeine is probably the most commonly ingested psychoactive substance in the world, found mainly in coffee, soft drinks, tea, cocoa and chocolate-like products, yerba matte leaves, guarana berries, and some pharmaceuticals. It is rapidly absorbed and distributed in all human tissues, reaching maximum plasma concentrations 30–120 min after oral intake.
  • 1.0K
  • 01 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Anti-Depressive Effects of Tea Consumption
Current theories on the neurobiology of depression may be utilized to understand tea (Camellia sinensis)-mediated mechanisms of antidepressant activity. Major nodes within a unified network framework of depression, or major depressive disorder (MDD), included hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hyperactivity, inflammation, weakened monoaminergic systems, reduced neurogenesis/neuroplasticity, and poor microbiome diversity affecting the gut–brain axis. We detail how each node has subsystems within them, including signaling pathways, specific target proteins, or transporters that interface with compounds in tea to mediate their antidepressant effects. A major pathway was found to be the ERK/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway, up-regulated by a number of compounds in tea including teasaponin, L-theanine, EGCG and combinations of tea catechins and their metabolites. Black tea theaflavins and EGCG are potent anti-inflammatory agents via down-regulation of NF-κB signaling. Multiple compounds in tea are effective modulators of dopaminergic activity and the gut–brain axis. Together, tea-mediated effects on depression pathology are encompassed by our original “reduce and restore” hypothesis; tea phytonutrients act upon multiple MDD nodes to ameliorate depression pathology, including reduction of HPA axis hyperactivity; reduction of inflammation; restoration of monoaminergic systems, including restoration of neurologically active gut microbiota, and restoration of neurogenesis/neuroplasticity.
  • 1.0K
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Dietary Fiber in Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease
Nutrition is one of the fundamental approaches to promoting and preventing all kinds of diseases, especially kidney diseases. Dietary fiber forms a significant aspect of renal nutrition in treating chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dietary fiber intake influences the composition and metabolism of the gut microbiome with proven roles in reducing uremic toxin production, preserving kidney function, and retarding the progression of CKD through mechanisms of regulating metabolic, immunological, and inflammatory processes. Understanding dietary fiber’s pathogenesis and mechanistic action in modulating host and microbiome interactions provides a potential adjunct therapeutic target for preventing, controlling, and treating CKD patients.
  • 1.0K
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Current Trends of Zinc Fortification
Zinc, through its structural and cofactor roles, affects a broad range of critical physiological functions, including growth, metabolism, immune and neurological functions. Zinc deficiency is widespread among populations around the world, and it may, therefore, underlie much of the global burden of malnutrition. Current zinc fortification strategies include biofortification and fortification with zinc salts with a primary focus on staple foods, such as wheat or rice and their products. However, zinc fortification presents unique challenges. Due to the influences of phytate and protein on zinc absorption, successful zinc fortification strategies should consider the impact on zinc bioavailability in the whole diet. When zinc is absorbed with food, shifts in plasma zinc concentrations are minor. However, co-absorbing zinc with food may preferentially direct zinc to cellular compartments where zinc-dependent metabolic processes primarily occur. Although the current lack of sensitive biomarkers of zinc nutritional status reduces the capacity to assess the impact of fortifying foods with zinc, new approaches for assessing zinc utilization are increasing.
  • 1.0K
  • 29 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Key Nutrients for Mental Health in Diabetes
Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of mental disorders, including depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Mental disorders can also contribute to the development of diabetes through various mechanisms including increased stress, poor self-care behaviors, and adverse effects on glucose metabolism. Consequently, individuals suffering from either of these conditions frequently experience comorbidity with the other. Nutrition plays an important role in both diabetes and mental health disorders including depression and anxiety. Deficiencies in specific nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, B vitamins, zinc, chromium, magnesium, and selenium have been implicated in the pathogenesis of both diabetes and mental disorders.
  • 1.0K
  • 19 Sep 2023
Topic Review
Marine Bioactive Peptides
Bioactive peptides from marine organisms can benefit human health and nutrition, while being produced sustainably. This entry describes properties and features of over 250 peptides isolated from marine organisms, focusing on food sources  also including algae, mollusks and vertebrates.
  • 1.0K
  • 03 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Plant Food Byproducts as Antioxidant Dietary Fiber Sources
Traditionally, the fruit and vegetable processing industries have generated large amounts of byproducts, which can be used in the food industry as functional ingredients and can be considered as an abundant and economical source of valuable compounds such as polyphenols, vitamins, carotenoids, and dietary fiber. Here, researchers describe some examples of fruits and vegetables as excellent sources of antioxidant dietary fiber. 
  • 1.0K
  • 01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Fluid Overload for Protein Energy Malnutrition
Protein energy malnutrition is recognized as a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients. Protein–energy-wasting process is observed in about 45% of the dialysis population using common biomarkers worldwide. Although several factors are implicated in protein energy wasting, inflammation and oxidative stress mechanisms play a central role in this pathogenic process. Fluid overload and fluid depletion mimic a tide up and down phenomenon that contributes to inducing hypercatabolism and stimulates oxidation phosphorylation mechanisms at the cellular level in particular muscles. This endogenous metabolic water production may contribute to hyponatremia. In addition, salt tissue accumulation likely contributes to hypercatabolic state through locally inflammatory and immune-mediated mechanisms but also contributes to the perturbation of hormone receptors. 
  • 1.0K
  • 17 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Human Milk Microbiota and Oligosaccharides
Human milk represents a cornerstone for growth and development of infants, with extensive array of benefits. In addition to exceptionally nutritive and bioactive components, human milk encompasses a complex community of signature bacteria that helps establish infant gut microbiota, contributes to maturation of infant immune system, and competitively interferes with pathogens. Among bioactive constituents of milk, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) are particularly significant. 
  • 1.0K
  • 12 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Diet in Ulcerative Colitis
Epidemiological and experimental studies have suggested that diet is one of the environmental factors that contributes to the onset and pathophysiology of ulcerative colitis.
  • 1.0K
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Predefined Diets of IBD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic disease mediated by the immune system and characterized by the importance of diet in pathological development.
  • 1.0K
  • 04 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Temporal Leptin Determine cardiovascular
Leptin links peripheral adiposity and the central nervous system (CNS) to regulate cardiometabolic physiology. Within the CNS, leptin receptor-expressing cells are a counterpart to circulating leptin, and leptin receptor-mediated neural networks modulate the output of neuroendocrine and sympathetic nervous activity to balance cardiometabolic homeostasis. Therefore, disrupted CNS leptin signaling is directly implicated in the development of metabolic diseases, such as hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Independently, maternal leptin also plays a central role in the development and growth of the infant during gestation. Accumulating evidence points to the dynamic maternal leptin environment as a predictor of cardiometabolic fate in their offspring as it is directly associated with infant metabolic parameters at birth. In postnatal life, the degree of serum leptin is representative of the level of body adiposity/weight, a driving factor for cardiometabolic alterations, and therefore, the levels of blood leptin through the CNS mechanism, in a large part, are a strong determinant for future cardiometabolic fate. The current review focuses on highlighting and discussing recent updates for temporal dissection of leptin-associated programing of future cardiometabolic fate throughout the entire life.
  • 1.0K
  • 11 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Probiotics in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Prebiotics are food substances that the organism does not digest and which, once they reach the colon, favor the growth of bacterial species of the microbiota considered to produce beneficial effects for the human organism. Among the main benefits are improvement in intestinal motility, both in terms of frequency and of volume; reduction in LDL cholesterol and blood triglycerides; contribution to the synthesis of folic acid; improvement in the immunological function; and, thanks to butyric acid, a reduction in the risk of malignant tumors.
  • 1.0K
  • 11 Sep 2020
Topic Review
N-3 PUFAs and Cardiovascular Protection
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with 18, 20 or 22 carbon atoms, which have been found able to counteract cardiovascular diseases. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), in particular, have been found to produce both vaso- and cardio-protective response via modulation of membrane phospholipids thereby improving cardiac mitochondrial functions and energy production. However, antioxidant properties of n-3 PUFAs, along with their anti-inflammatory effect in both blood vessels and cardiac cells, seem to exert beneficial effects in cardiovascular impairment. In fact, dietary supplementation with n-3 PUFAs has been demonstrated to reduce oxidative stress-related mitochondrial dysfunction and endothelial cell apoptosis, an effect occurring via an increased activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes. On the other hand, n-3 PUFAs have been shown to counteract the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in both vascular tissues and in the myocardium, thereby restoring vascular reactivity and myocardial performance.
  • 1.0K
  • 07 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Biomedical Effects of Turmeric
Turmeric, also known as Curcuma longa, is a rhizomatous herbaceous perennial plant that belongs to the Zingiberaceae family (ginger family). This plant is highly branched with long aromatic leaves arranged in two rows and with flowers from white, green, yellowish, and purple-red colors.
  • 1.0K
  • 27 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Childhood Obesity
Obesity is a chronic recurrent disease related to excessive fat tissue accumulation that presents a risk to health. The diagnosis of overweight, obesity, and severe obesity is usually based on the measurement of high and weight, calculation of weight-to-length ratio in children below the age of 5 years and body mass index (BMI) in older children.
  • 1.0K
  • 19 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Microbiota-derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Obesity
Microbiota-derived Short-Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs), primarily acetate, propionate and butyrate, are metabolites produced by gut microbiota via dietary non-digestible carbohydrates (CHO) fermentation. Maternal very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) during pregnancy and lactation stimulates the growth of diverse species of SCFA-producing bacteria, which may induce epigenetic changes in infant obese gene expression and modulate adipose tissue inflammation in obesity.
  • 1.0K
  • 29 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Cow’s Milk Allergy
Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) and gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD) may manifest with similar symptoms in infants making the diagnosis challenging. While immediate reaction to cow’s milk protein indicate CMA, regurgitation, vomiting, crying, fussiness, poor appetite, sleep disturbances have been reported in both CMA and GERD and in other conditions such as functional gastrointestinal disorders, eosinophilic esophagitis, anatomic abnormalities, metabolic and neurological diseases. Gastrointestinal manifestations of CMA are often non-IgE mediated and clinical response to cow’s milk free diet is not a proof of immune system involvement. 
  • 1.0K
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Antioxidants in Foods of Various Diets
Any agent with the ability to either quench free radicals or prevent the generation of pro-oxidant molecules, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS), can be considered an antioxidant.
  • 1.0K
  • 09 Mar 2022
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