Your browser does not fully support modern features. Please upgrade for a smoother experience.
Subject:
All Disciplines Arts & Humanities Biology & Life Sciences Business & Economics Chemistry & Materials Science Computer Science & Mathematics Engineering Environmental & Earth Sciences Medicine & Pharmacology Physical Sciences Public Health & Healthcare Social Sciences
Sort by:
Most Viewed Latest Alphabetical (A-Z) Alphabetical (Z-A)
Filter:
All Topic Review Biography Peer Reviewed Entry Video Entry
Topic Review
Very Low-Calorie Diets and Diabetes
Very low-calorie diets (VLCD) are hypocaloric dietary regimens of approximately 400–800 kcal/day that result in 20–30% reductions in body weight, sometimes in just 12–16 weeks. A body of evidence demonstrates that adherence to VLCD in adults with type 2 diabetes (T2D) can result in marked improvements to glycemic control and even full T2D remission, challenging the convention that T2D is a lifelong disease. Although these data are promising, the majority of VLCD studies have focused on weight loss and not T2D remission as a primary endpoint.
  • 963
  • 21 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Web-Based Nutrition Information in Spanish for Cancer Patients
Digital and online information empowers citizens to make their own health decisions, including diet choices and cancer management. There are 100 national cancer organizations (NCOs) that provided content in Spanish on their websites. Twenty out of the 100 NCOs contained nutrition-cancer-related information addressed to the general audience. Healthy eating information and content focused on the management of side effects during cancer treatments was provided by all websites. Nutrition guidelines for cancer survivors were not always addressed but were well-described for cancer prevention. The possibilities for personalized guidelines and interaction with web-based information remain uncovered. 
  • 963
  • 26 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Obesity and Aging
Today, inactivity and high-calorie diets contribute to the development of obesity and premature aging. In addition, the population of elderly people is growing due to improvements in healthcare management. Obesity and aging are together key risk factors for non-communicable diseases associated with several co-morbidities and increased mortality, with a major impact on skeletal muscle defect and/or poor muscle mass quality.
  • 962
  • 21 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Gut Microbiome in Schizophrenia
The gut microbiome (GMB) plays an important role in developmental processes and has been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders.
  • 959
  • 20 May 2021
Topic Review
Biological Activities of the Olive Tree's Polyphenolic Components
The main polyphenolic components present in the fruit and in the wax that covers the olive leaves are represented by hydroxytyrosol, luteolin, oleuropein, verbascoside, gallic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, and the aldehyde derivative oleocanthal. Among all of them, the main and most studied representative is hydroxytyrosol (HT), (2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) ethanol, 3,4-dihydroxyphenethyl alcohol, DOPET, C8H10O3, and presents a molecular mass of 154.16. It is a natural compound, whose structure corresponds to a type of polyphenol, widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom, being especially abundant in the Oleaceae family. It can be found in high concentrations in extra olive oil, fruits and leaves of Olea europaea, and in other products such as fruits, vegetables, and tea. HT in oil is found in free form, as an acetate, or as part of more complex compounds such as oleuropein (a secoiridoide glycoside esterified with a phenylpropanoid alcohol, the major phenolic component of green olive pulp), the flavonoid luteolin (a 5,7-dihidroxi-4-cromenona with hydroxytyrosol), and verbascoside (a phenylethanoid with hydroxytyrosol and a phenylpropanoid sugar ester with caffeic acid).
  • 959
  • 14 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Nutrients and Pathways Regulate Health
Both life span and health span are influenced by genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. With the genetic influence on human life span estimated to be about 20–25%, epigenetic changes play an important role in modulating individual health status and aging. Thus, a main part of life expectance and healthy aging is determined by dietary habits and nutritional factors. Excessive or restricted food consumption have direct effects on health status. Moreover, some dietary interventions including a reduced intake of dietary calories without malnutrition, or a restriction of specific dietary component may promote health benefits and decrease the incidence of aging-related comorbidities, thus representing intriguing potential approaches to improve healthy aging. However, the relationship between nutrition, health and aging is still not fully understood as well as the mechanisms by which nutrients and nutritional status may affect health span and longevity in model organisms. The broad effect of different nutritional conditions on health span and longevity occurs through multiple mechanisms that involve evolutionary conserved nutrient-sensing pathways in tissues and organs. These pathways interacting each other include the evolutionary conserved key regulators mammalian target of rapamycin, AMP-activated protein kinase, insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 pathway and sirtuins.
  • 958
  • 10 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Effect of Honey on Human Health
Honey is a nutritious, healthy, and natural food, to which antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties have been attributed, mainly due to its content of phenolic compounds. More beneficial effects of honey intake than no or negative effects on different cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, glucose tolerance, mucositis caused by chemo-radiotherapy, cough in children and wound healing, among others have been observed. Although the number of studies conducted to date is limited and the different investigations are not standardized, beneficial effects of honey intake have been observed, especially when its intake replaces the intake of other sweeteners. Therefore, honey could be a safe adjuvant to be administered to people aged more than 1 year old alongside drugs currently used for certain diseases. However, it should not be forgotten that honey is a high sugar food, and it should be consumed occasionally and with moderation. More studies are necessary to establish more specific recommendations on honey consumption.
  • 955
  • 20 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Biomarkers of Metabolic Syndrome
The definition of metabolic syndrome (MetS) includes biomarkers such as an increase in triglycerides, a reduction in high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and impaired glucose. However, the alteration of these biomarkers occurs when the condition is already in place; for this reason, it is necessary to identify biomarkers capable of predicting the manifestations related to MetS in advance in order to implement measures to avoid its appearance.
  • 954
  • 06 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Immunological Detection of Gluten
Gluten is the general term for the ethanol-soluble proteins present in various cereal endosperms, including wheat, rye, barley, spelt, and kamut.
  • 953
  • 08 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Vegetable Extracts for Helicobacter pylori
Vegetable extracts (Broccoli sprouts, curcumin, Burdock complex, and Nigella sativa) and micronutrients (vitamin C and E) were not found to be as effective as single agents in H. pylori eradication, rather their efficacy synergized with conventional pharmacological therapies. Conversely, GutGard was found to be significantly effective as a single agent when compared to placebo control.
  • 953
  • 17 May 2021
Topic Review
Nutritional Interventions for Necrotizing Enterocolitis
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), which is characterized by severe intestinal inflammation and in advanced stages necrosis, is a gastrointestinal emergency in the neonate with high mortality and morbidity. Despite advancing medical care, effective prevention strategies remain sparse. Factors contributing to the complex pathogenesis of NEC include immaturity of the intestinal immune defense, barrier function, motility and local circulatory regulation and abnormal microbial colonization. Interestingly, enteral feeding is regarded as an important modifiable factor influencing NEC pathogenesis. Moreover, breast milk, which forms the currently most effective prevention strategy, contains many bioactive components that are known to support neonatal immune development and promote healthy gut colonization. This systematic review describes the effect of different enteral feeding interventions on the prevention of NEC incidence and severity and the effect on pathophysiological mechanisms of NEC, in both experimental NEC models and clinical NEC. Besides, pathophysiological mechanisms involved in human NEC development are briefly described to give context for the findings of altered pathophysiological mechanisms of NEC by enteral feeding interventions.
  • 952
  • 24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Urban Public Food Procurement
Urban public food procurement can address malnutrition and improve the beneficiary experience at public institutions whilst reshaping food systems to be healthier and more sustainable. By developing, improving, and scaling public food procurement, urban governments in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can reach the most vulnerable whilst improving farmer livelihoods, creating business opportunities, and addressing environmental concerns. 
  • 950
  • 24 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Non-Communicable Diseases and Nutrition
For the prevention of obesity and other non-communicable diseases (NCD), it is necessary to implement food education programs in the pediatric age. To prevent obesity and other NCD, in the age of development (0–18 years), education interventions to a healthy diet must be designed, implemented and monitored by a multidisciplinary team which should take into account medical, psychological and pedagogical scientific evidence.
  • 949
  • 02 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Microbial Communities in Home-Made and Commercial Kefir
Kefir is a popular traditional fermented dairy product in many countries. It has a complex and symbiotic culture made up of species of the genera Leuconostoc, Lactococcus, and Acetobacter, as well as Lactobacilluskefiranofaciens and Lentilactobacillus kefiri. Though kefir has been commercialized in some countries, people are still traditionally preparing kefir at the household level. Kefir is known to have many nutritious values, where its consistent microbiota has been identified as the main valuable components of the product. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a common diet-related disease and has been one of the main concerns in the world’s growing population.
  • 949
  • 25 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Bioactive Compounds of Dietary Origin on Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common causes of death and the third most diagnosed cancer worldwide, one of the main risk for developing CRC is a diet high in fat and carbohydrates which stimulates an inflammatory state increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Dietary Bioactive compounds have antioxidant proprieties and participates in gut microbiota modulation, decreasing reactive oxygen species and inflammation, both principal causes of cancer. These compounds can promote apoptosis and inhibit cell growth, proliferation, and migration of colorectal cancer cells modulating molecular pathways related to CRC. The multidisciplinary tratment of CRC requires a Nutritional intervention since patient nutritional status affects treatment response and the progression or recurrence of the tumor
  • 949
  • 12 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Nutraceuticals in Viral Infection
Nutraceuticals, including vitamin D, vitamin A, zinc, lactoferrin, polyphenols coenzyme Q, magnesium, and selenium, are implicated in the modulation of the complex molecular pathways involved in the immune response against viral pathogens. A common element of the activity of nutraceuticals is their ability to enhance the innate immune response against pathogens by acting on the major cellular subsets and inducing the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and antimicrobial peptides. In some cases, this action is accompanied by a direct antimicrobial effect, as evidenced in the specific case of lactoferrin. Furthermore, nutraceuticals act through complex molecular mechanisms to minimize the damage caused by the activation of the immune system against pathogens, reducing the oxidative damage, influencing the antigen presentation, enhancing the differentiation and proliferation of regulatory T cells, driving the differentiation of lymphocyte subsets, and modulating the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines.
  • 948
  • 10 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Autism Children's Eating Behaviors
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is the most recognized neuropsychiatric disorder of childhood. Comorbid conditions (such as feeding disorders) are more common among people with autism than among the general population. The most frequent somatic disorders in autistic children include the gastrointestinal disorders observed in 46–91% of patients. The purpose of this study was the evaluation of the nutrition of children with autism, with particular emphasis placed on feeding in the first year of life, in comparison to the group of healthy peers. Participants included 75 Caucasian children (41 children diagnosed with pure autism, and the control group consisting of 34 children without autistic traits). The analysis was performed based on a questionnaire of own design with the first part devoted to the eating practices of the early infancy. Results: Autistic children, as compared to the healthy peers, presented a shortened time of breastfeeding (the children fell asleep at the breast) (p = 0.04), a delayed introduction of dairy products (p = 0.001), the need of more trials to introduce new foods (p = 0.006), a delayed introduction of foods with solid and lumpy structure (p = 0.004), a longer duration of bottle feeding (p = 0.005), delayed attempts to eating using own hands (p = 0.006) and needed a greater support of parents to divert their attention from food during eating (p = 0.05).
  • 945
  • 23 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Copper and Copper/Zinc Ratio in Cystic Fibrosis Patients
Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients require a stable and sufficient supply of micronutrients. Since copper is an essential micronutrient for human development, studies are carried out to investigate the serum copper levels, serum copper/zinc (Cu/Zn) ratios, and their relationship with nutritional indicators in a group of CF patients. There was no significant correlation between the serum copper concentrations and respiratory and pancreatic function, respiratory colonization, and the results of the abdominal ultrasound. 
  • 945
  • 03 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Effect of Fortified Cocoa-Based Products with Cocoa Flavanols
Cocoa’s healthy benefits may be attributed to the potent antioxidant activity of cocoa polyphenols, mainly flavanols, which have been characterised as existing in a high concentration in cocoa. However, the phenolic composition of cocoa and cocoa-derived products is highly variable, and manufacturing processes might significantly reduce their phenolic content. For that reason, the full characterisation of cocoa and cocoa-derived products before evaluating their bioactivity is crucial. Although studies differ widely in methodology, dosage, duration, and target population, beneficial effects of flavanol-rich cocoa consumption have been observed at doses ranging from 45.3 mg/d to 1078 mg/d, especially on cardiovascular health and cognitive function. It should be noted that some cocoa-derived products contain added sugars and additional fats that could have harmful effects, so consumption of such products should be occasional and moderate. It is also for this reason that the fortification of such products with cocoa flavanols could be effective in enhancing their beneficial effects whilst maintaining a lower level of consumption.
  • 945
  • 20 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Vitamin D in the Context of Evolution
For at least 1.2 billion years, eukaryotes have been able to synthesize sterols and, therefore, can produce vitamin D when exposed to UV-B. Vitamin D endocrinology was established some 550 million years ago in animals, when the high-affinity nuclear receptor VDR (vitamin D receptor), transport proteins and enzymes for vitamin D metabolism evolved. This enabled vitamin D to regulate, via its target genes, physiological process, the first of which were detoxification and energy metabolism. In this way, vitamin D was enabled to modulate the energy-consuming processes of the innate immune system in its fight against microbes. In the evolving adaptive immune system, vitamin D started to act as a negative regulator of growth, which prevents overboarding reactions of T cells in the context of autoimmune diseases. When, some 400 million years ago, species left the ocean and were exposed to gravitation, vitamin D endocrinology took over the additional role as a major regulator of calcium homeostasis, being important for a stable skeleton.
  • 944
  • 29 Jul 2022
  • Page
  • of
  • 40
Featured Entry Collections
>>

Featured Reprints

>>
Encyclopedia of Digital Society, Industry 5.0 and Smart City
Encyclopedia of Engineering
Encyclopedia of Social Sciences
Encyclopedia of Medieval Royal Iconography
Academic Video Service
Feedback

Quick Survey

Encyclopedia MDPI is conducting a targeted survey to identify the specific barriers hindering efficient research. We invite you to spend 3 minutes defining the priorities for our next generation of structured knowledge tools.
Take Survey