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Topic Review
Vitamin C Deficiency
Vitamin C is an essential nutrient that must be obtained through the diet in adequate amounts to prevent hypovitaminosis C, deficiency and its consequences—including the potentially fatal deficiency disease scurvy. Global vitamin C status and prevalence of deficiency has not previously been reported, despite vitamin C’s pleiotropic roles in both non-communicable and communicable disease. This entry highlights the global literature on vitamin C status and the prevalence of hypovitaminosis C and deficiency. Related dietary intake is reported if assessed in the studies. Overall, the entry illustrates the shortage of high quality epidemiological studies of vitamin C status in many countries, particularly low- and middle-income countries. The available evidence indicates that vitamin C hypovitaminosis and deficiency is common in low- and middle-income countries and not uncommon in high income settings. 
  • 1.7K
  • 27 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Gut-Brain-Microbiota Axis
The brain-gut-microbiota axis is a bidirectional system enabling gut microorgan-isms to communicate with the central nervous system (CNS), and the CNS with the gut . The mechanisms of signal transmission are complex and not fully understood, but include neural, endocrine, immune and metabolic pathways.
  • 1.6K
  • 18 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Black Cumin
Black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), a highly valued nutraceutical herb with a wide array of health benefits, has attracted growing interest from health-conscious individuals, the scientific community, and pharmaceutical industries. The pleiotropic pharmacological effects of black cumin, and its main bioactive component thymoquinone (TQ), have been manifested by their ability to attenuate oxidative stress and inflammation, and to promote immunity, cell survival, and energy metabolism, which underlie diverse health benefits, including protection against metabolic, cardiovascular, digestive, hepatic, renal, respiratory, reproductive, and neurological disorders, cancer, and so on. Furthermore, black cumin acts as an antidote, mitigating various toxicities and drug-induced side effects.
  • 1.6K
  • 11 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is implicated in various bodily functions due to its unique properties in redox homeostasis. Moreover, vitamin C also plays a great role in restoring the activity of 2-oxoglutarate and Fe2+ dependent dioxygenases (2-OGDD), which are involved in active DNA demethylation (TET proteins), the demethylation of histones, and hypoxia processes. Therefore, vitamin C may be engaged in the regulation of gene expression or in a hypoxic state.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Food Literacy
Food literacy is the scaffolding that empowers individuals, households, communities or nations to protect diet quality through change and strengthen dietary resilience over time. It is composed of a collection of inter-related knowledge, skills and behaviours required to plan, manage, select, prepare and eat food to meet needs and determine intake. The term ‘food literacy’ has gained momentum globally; however, a lack of clarity around its definition has resulted in inconsistencies in use of the term. Therefore, the objective was to conduct a systematic scoping review to describe the use, reach, application and definitions of the term ‘food literacy’ over time. (2) Methods: A search was conducted using the PRISMA-ScR guidelines in seven research databases without any date limitations up to 31 December2019, searching simply for use of the term ‘food literacy’. (3) Results: Five hundred and forty-nine studies were included. The term ‘food literacy’ was used once in 243 articles (44%) and mentioned by researchers working in 41 countries. Original research was the most common article type (n= 429,78%). Food literacy was published across 72 In Cites disciplines, with 456 (83%) articles from the last5 years. In articles about food literacy (n= 82, 15%), review articles were twice as prevalent compared to the total number of articles (n= 10, 12% vs.n= 32, 6%). Fifty-one different definitions of food literacy were cited. (4) Conclusions: ‘Food literacy’ has been used frequently and broadly across differing article types and disciplines in academic literature internationally. However, agreement on a standardised definition of food literacy endorsed by a peak international agency is needed in order to progress the field.
  • 1.6K
  • 30 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Effectiveness of Riboflavin on Migraine
Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an essential water-soluble vitamin that helps prevent various medical conditions, such as sepsis, ischemia, and some cancers. Riboflavin’s biological effects, including antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, and anti-nociceptive effects, have been extensively studied. The pathophysiology of migraines is linked to oxidative stress with mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation by the glial cell network.
  • 1.6K
  • 05 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Nicotinamide Riboside
A number of studies confirmed that measurable, biological effects on NAD+ levels can be achieved by oral NR supplementation, with no serious adverse effects. Significant increase of NAD+ levels by NR administration have been reported in whole-blood, liver, skeletal muscles, and brown adipose tissue, but not in the brain and white adipose tissue. The observed differences may be explained by differential expression of Nmrk (nicotinamide ribose kinases, NMRK1 and NMRK2) in the specific tissues. The literature gives some suggestions for the dosing of NR to achieve a desired clinical outcome. NR is considered as a safe supplement as no severe side effects are reported, as otherwise seen with other NAD+ precursers such as flushing, pruritus, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, or increased enzyme activity in the liver or muscles.
  • 1.6K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Antioxidant Activity of Natural Products
Natural products identified with potential antioxidant activity need to be further evaluated in the cellular model. Antioxidant activity of a large number of natural products will not extrapolate its performance in the biological system, either in vitro as cellular assays or in vivo as animal model studies. Thus, it is necessary to examine the bioavailability, metabolism and mechanism of action in a living system to prove potential antioxidant activities of new natural products.
  • 1.6K
  • 09 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Uric Acid Oxidant/Antioxidant Paradox
Extracellular uric acid (UA) exhibits antioxidant properties by effectively scavenging free radicals in human plasma, but this benefit might be disturbed by the hydrophobic lipid layer of the cell membrane. In contrast, intracellular free oxygen radicals are produced during UA degradation, and superoxide is further enhanced by interacting with NADPH oxidase. This intracellular oxidative stress, together with inflammatory cytokines induced by UA, stimulates osteoclast bone resorption and inhibits osteoblast bone formation. UA also inhibits vitamin D production and thereby results in hyper-parathyroidism, which causes less UA excretion in the intestines and renal proximal tubules by inhibiting the urate transporter ATP-binding cassette subfamily G member 2 (ABCG2). 
  • 1.6K
  • 26 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Creatine
Creatine is a naturally occurring compound, functioning in conjunction with creatine kinase to play a quintessential role in both cellular energy provision and intracellular energy shuttling. An extensive body of literature solidifies the ergogenic benefits gained following dietary creatine supplementation; however, recent findings have further indicated a potential therapeutic role for creatine in several pathologies such as myopathies, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic disturbances, chronic kidney disease and inflammatory diseases. Furthermore, creatine has been found to exhibit non-energy-related properties, such as serving as a potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Despite the therapeutic success of creatine supplementation in varying clinical populations, there is scarce information regarding the potential application of creatine for combatting the current leading cause of mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD). Taking into consideration the broad ergogenic and non-energy-related actions of creatine, it could be hypothesize that creatine supplementation may be a potential therapeutic strategy for improving vascular health in at-risk populations such as older adults or those with CVD. This entry gives a short background on creatine, its cellular function and metabolism, in addition to the pleiotropic applications of creatine within just a few clinical populations. Furthermore, this entry concludes by eluding to the potential in which creatine may possess to benefit vascular health and to combat the pathology the underlies CVD.  
  • 1.6K
  • 28 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Anticancer Activity of Propolis
Propolis is a natural material that honey bees (Apis mellifera) produce from various botanical sources. The therapeutic activity of propolis, including antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory effects, have been known since antiquity. Propolis is a rich source of biologically active compounds, which affect numerous signaling pathways regulating crucial cellular processes. The results of the latest research show that propolis can inhibit proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis of cancer cells and stimulate apoptosis. Moreover, it may influence the tumor microenvironment and multidrug resistance of cancers.
  • 1.6K
  • 12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Folate and Migraines
Migraines are a common disease with limited treatment options and some dietary factors are recognized to trigger headaches. Although migraine pathogenesis is not completely known, aberrant DNA methylation has been reported to be associated with its occurrence. Folate, an essential micronutrient involved in one-carbon metabolism and DNA methylation, was shown to have beneficial effects on migraines.
  • 1.6K
  • 09 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Hesperidin
Recently, hesperidin, a flavonone mainly present in citrus fruits, has emerged as a new potential therapeutic agent able to modulate several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors.
  • 1.6K
  • 06 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Migraine
Studies suggest that migraine pain has a vascular component. The prevailing dogma is that peripheral vasoconstriction activates baroreceptors in central, large arteries. Dilatation of central vessels stimulates nociceptors and induces cortical spreading depression. Studies investigating nitric oxide (NO) donors support the indicated hypothesis that pain is amplified when acutely administered. We provide an alternate hypothesis which, if substantiated, may provide therapeutic opportunities for attenuating migraine frequency and severity. We suggest that in migraines, heightened sympathetic tone results in progressive central microvascular constriction. Suboptimal parenchymal blood flow, we suggest, activates nociceptors and triggers headache pain onset. Administration of NO donors could paradoxically promote constriction of the microvasculatureas a consequence of larger upstream central artery vasodilatation. Inhibitors of NO production are reported to alleviate migraine pain. We describe how constriction of larger upstream arteries, induced by NO synthesis inhibitors, may result in a compensatory dilatory response of the microvasculature. The restoration of central capillary blood flow may be the primary mechanism for pain relief. Attenuating the propensity for central capillary constriction and promoting a more dilatory phenotype may reduce frequency and severity of migraines. We propose consideration of two dietary nutraceuticals for reducing migraine risk: L-arginine and aged garlic extracts.
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Phytosterols in Human Nutrition
A healthy diet combined with physical activity have been shown to ameliorate glycaemic levels and insulin sensitivity, reduce body weight and the risk of chronic diseases, and contribute to an overall improvement in quality of life. Among nutrients, phytosterols have become the focus of growing attention as novel functional foods in the management of metabolic disorders. Phytosterols are natural plant compounds belonging to the triterpene family and are structurally similar to cholesterol. They are known for their cholesterol-lowering effects, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties,and the benefits they offer to the immune system.
  • 1.5K
  • 30 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Italian Dietary Supplement Label Database
The Dietary Supplement Label Database in Italy  is developed to gather data to analyse information on dietary supplements. It is one of first works where the FoodEx2 classification system has been adopted and the related food coding procedure could representa useful tool/guide for other compilers and users.  
  • 1.5K
  • 22 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Zinc
Zinc is an important micronutrient and is required for cell proliferation, differentiation, growth, and development. It takes part in the maintenance of homeostasis, DNA synthesis, RNA transcription, cell division, and activation. It is also involved in immune responses, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and aging. Its deficiency was found to increase the levels of lipid peroxidation in the mitochondrial and microsomal membrane and the osmotic fragility of the erythrocyte membrane.
  • 1.5K
  • 25 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Antiviral Functional Foods
Functional foods optimize the immune system capacity to prevent and control pathogenic viral infections. Functional foods prevention of non-communicable disease can be translated into protecting against respiratory viral infections and COVID-19. Foods with antiviral properties include fruits, vegetables, fermented foods and probiotics, olive oil, fish, nuts and seeds, herbs, roots, fungi, amino acids, peptides, and cyclotides. 
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Milk Mixtures
This entry describes the most important research on cheeses obtained from processing mixtures of different milk species and discusses the effect of milk species and their mixture ratios on cheeses features (biochemical composition, physicochemical and rheological characteristics, sensory properties, and microbial ecosystem).
  • 1.5K
  • 10 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Nutrition in Elderly Cancer Therapy
The continuous increase in life expectancy results in a steady increase of cancer risk, which consequently increases the population of older adults with cancer. Older adults have their age-related nutritional needs and often suffer from comorbidities that may affect cancer therapy. They frequently are malnourished and present advanced-stage cancer. Therefore, this group of patients requires a special multidisciplinary approach to optimize their therapy and increase quality of life impaired by aging, cancer, and the side effects of therapy. Evaluation strategies, taking advantage of comprehensive geriatric assessment tools, including the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), can help individualize treatment. As epigenetics, an emerging element of the regulation of gene expression, is involved in both aging and cancer and the epigenetic profile can be modulated by the diet, it seems to be a candidate to assist with planning a nutritional intervention in elderly populations with cancer.
  • 1.5K
  • 09 Nov 2020
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