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Topic Review
Antidiabetic Properties of Curcumin I
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Current preventative and treatment strategies for T2DM and insulin resistance lack in efficacy resulting in the need for new approaches to prevent and manage/treat the disease better. In recent years, epidemiological studies have suggested that diets rich in fruits and vegetables have beneficial health effects including protection against insulin resistance and T2DM. Curcumin, a polyphenol found in turmeric, and curcuminoids have been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and antidiabetic properties. Here we are summarizing the existing in vitro studies examining the antidiabetic effects of curcumin.
  • 1.5K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Health Effects of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.)
Sweet potato (SP; Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam) is an edible tuber native to America and the sixth most important food crop worldwide. China leads its production in a global market of USD 45 trillion. SP domesticated varieties differ in specific phenotypic/genotypic traits, yet all of them are rich in sugars, slow digestible/resistant starch, vitamins, minerals, bioactive proteins and lipids, carotenoids, polyphenols, ascorbic acid, alkaloids, coumarins, and saponins, in a genotype-dependent manner. Individually or synergistically, SP’s phytochemicals help to prevent many illnesses, including certain types of cancers and cardiovascular disorders.
  • 1.4K
  • 18 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Long-Term Space Nutrition
Nutrition has many important functions in space travel, from providing enough nutrients and meeting the metabolic needs of a healthy body to enhancing an individual’s emotional well-being. Nutrition also plays a key role in offsetting many negative effects of space travel, such as radiation exposure, immune deficiency, oxidative stress, and bone and muscle loss.
  • 1.4K
  • 30 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Dietary Macronutrients That Prompt MetS via Mitochondria
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic risk factors for diabetes, coronary heart disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and some tumors. It includes insulin resistance, visceral adiposity, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. MetS is primarily linked to lipotoxicity, with ectopic fat deposition from fat storage exhaustion, more than obesity per se. Excessive intake of long-chain saturated fatty acid and sugar closely relates to lipotoxicity and MetS through several pathways, including toll-like receptor 4 activation, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma regulation (PPARγ), sphingolipids remodeling, and protein kinase C activation. These mechanisms prompt mitochondrial dysfunction, which plays a key role in disrupting the metabolism of fatty acids and proteins and in developing insulin resistance. 
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Protein-Energy Wasting: Acute Kidney Injury
Acute kidney injury is a heterogeneous group of conditions characterised by a sudden decrease in glomerular filtration rate, manifested by an increase in serum creatinine concentration or oliguria. Protein energy wasting is a state of decreased body stores of protein and energy fuels.
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
DHA and AA: Neuroprotective Nutrient
The role of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and arachidonic acid (AA) in neurogenesis and brain development throughout the life cycle is fundamental. DHA and AA are long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA) vital for many human physiological processes, such as signaling pathways, gene expression, structure and function of membranes, among others. DHA and AA are deposited into the lipids of cell membranes that form the gray matter representing approximately 25% of the total content of brain fatty acids. Both fatty acids have effects on neuronal growth and differentiation through the modulation of the physical properties of neuronal membranes, signal transduction associated with G proteins, and gene expression. DHA and AA have a relevant role in neuroprotection against neurodegenerative pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, which are associated with characteristic pathological expressions as mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress. 
  • 1.4K
  • 31 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Tryptophan Metabolism
Tryptophan metabolism, via the kynurenine (Kyn) pathway, and microbial transformation of tryptophan to indolic compounds are fundamental for host health; both of which are altered in colon carcinogenesis. 
  • 1.4K
  • 07 May 2021
Topic Review
Immunologic Adverse Reactions to Food
Adverse food reactions include immune-mediated food allergies and non-immune-mediated intolerances. However, this distinction and the involvement of different pathogenetic mechanisms are often confused. Furthermore, there is a discrepancy between the perceived vs. actual prevalence of immune-mediated food allergies and non-immune reactions to food that are extremely common. The risk of an inappropriate approach to their correct identification can lead to inappropriate diets with severe nutritional deficiencies.
  • 1.4K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Nanonutraceuticals
Over the last few years, the application of nanotechnology to nutraceuticals has been rapidly growing due to its ability to enhance the bioavailability of the loaded active ingredients, resulting in improved therapeutic/nutraceutical outcomes. The focus of this work is nanoprebiotics and nanoprobiotics, terms which stand for the loading of a set of compounds (e.g., prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics) in nanoparticles that work as absorption enhancers in the gastrointestinal tract. In this manuscript, the main features of prebiotics and probiotics are highlighted, together with the discussion of emerging applications of nanotechnologies in their formulation. Current research strategies are also discussed, in particular the promising use of nanofibers for the delivery of probiotics. Synbiotic-based nanoparticles represent an innovative trend within this area of interest. As only few experimental studies on nanoprebiotics and nanoprobiotics are available in the scientific literature, research on this prominent field is needed, covering effectiveness, bioavailability, and safety aspects.
  • 1.4K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Milk Exosomes
Milk contains various extracellular vesicles and non-vesicular structures: exosomes (with diameter 40-100 nm), vesicles of other size, fat globules (with diameter 4-6 mkm, containing milk fat globule membranes), and their aggregates. Due to the biocompatibility of milk exosomes, these vesicles have a wide potential as vehicles for oral delivery of therapeutically relevant molecules (drugs and therapeutic nucleic acids).
  • 1.4K
  • 21 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Statistical Methods for Food Composition Database Analysis
A food composition database (FCDB) or nutrient database is a compilation of the chemical composition of food and beverage items, obtained from chemical analyses, estimations from published literature, or unpublished laboratory reports. A summary of the statistical methods that have been directly applied to food composition databases and datasets is described here.
  • 1.4K
  • 08 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Nutrition, Cognition and Aging
Consuming a balanced, nutritious diet is important for maintaining health, especially as individuals age. Several studies suggest that consuming a diet rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory components such as those found in fruits, nuts, vegetables, and fish may reduce age-related cognitive decline and the risk of developing various neurodegenerative diseases.
  • 1.3K
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Effect of a Vegan Diet on Alzheimer’s Disease
A vegan diet tends to be plant-based, but plant-based diets are not vegan by definition. Regarding Alzheimer’s disease (AD) prevention, a vegan diet includes low levels of saturated fats and cholesterol, contributing to a healthy blood lipid profile. 
  • 1.3K
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Essential Oils and Terpenes
Essential oils have been used in multiple ways, i.e., inhaling, topically applying on the skin, and drinking. Thus, there are three major routes of intake or application involved: the olfactory system, the skin, and the gastro-intestinal system. Understanding these routes is important for clarifying the mechanisms of action of essential oils. Here we summarize the three systems involved, and the effects of essential oils and their constituents at the cellular and systems level. Many factors affect the rate of uptake of each chemical constituent included in essential oils. It is important to determine how much of each constituent is included in an essential oil and to use single chemical compounds to precisely test their effects. Studies have shown synergistic influences of the constituents, which affect the mechanisms of action of the essential oil constituents. For the skin and digestive system, the chemical components of essential oils can directly activate gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors and transient receptor potential channels (TRP) channels, whereas in the olfactory system, chemical components activate olfactory receptors. Here, GABA receptors and TRP channels could play a role, mostly when the signals are transferred to the olfactory bulb and the brain.
  • 1.3K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
T2DM and the Gut Microbiota
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) affects over 9% of the United States population alone, constitutes a cause for ensuing cardiovascular disease, and is typically closely linked to obesity status. While obesity has long been perceived to stem from a sedentary lifestyle and high fat intake there is increasing evidence supporting the idea that this is a more complex issue than initially thought. The human gut microbiome has been a recent point of investigation due to the idea that it may be closely linked to T2DM. The aforementioned high fat diets can impact the gut microbiome in a significant way, altering the demography of the gut’s microflora, hence shifting the gut into a state of dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is a state that favors the initiation of a cascade inducing metabolic deregulation, increasing inflammation and insulin resistance systemically. Below the relationship of the microbiome to T2DM is briefly discussed.
  • 1.3K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Mid-Upper Arm Circumference to Predict Malnutrition
The double burden of malnutrition (under- and overnutrition) is a serious public health issue in childhood. The mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a simple tool for screening nutritional status, but studies of the optimal cutoff to define malnutrition are limited. This study aimed to explore the prediction of malnutrition by MUAC in Sri Lankan schoolchildren. The participants were 538 students (202 boys, 336 girls) aged 5–10 years. Spearman’s rank correlation was calculated for MUAC and both body-mass-index-for-age z-score (BAZ) and height-for-age z-score (HAZ). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was conducted to assess the ability of MUAC to correctly classify malnutrition, after stratifying for age and birth weight. MUAC correlated significantly with BAZ (r = 0.84) and HAZ (r = 0.35). The areas under the ROC curve for thinness, overweight, obesity, and stunting were 0.88, 0.97, 0.97, and 0.77, respectively. The optimal MUAC cutoff values for predicting thinness and stunting were 167.5 mm and 162.5 mm, respectively; the optimal cutoffs for predicting overweight and obesity were 190.5 mm and 218.0 mm, respectively. These cutoffs differed after stratification by age group and birth weight. Our results confirm MUAC to be a useful tool for monitoring growth in schoolchildren.
  • 1.3K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Immunomodulatory Effects of Dietary Polyphenols
Functional and nutraceutical foods provide an alternative way to improve immune function to aid in the management of various diseases. With the development of research into nutraceuticals, dietary polyphenols are getting attention due to their immunomodulatory role. There is evidence that dietary polyphenols can influence dendritic cells, have an immunomodulatory effect on macrophages, increase proliferation of B cells, T cells, and suppress Type 1 T helper (Th1), Th2, Th17, and Th9 cells. Further, polyphenols have a beneficial role in the prevention and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease, allergy, asthma, and auto-immune diseases (type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis).
  • 1.3K
  • 16 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Heiner Syndrome and Milk Hypersensitivity
Infants affected by Heiner syndrome (HS) display chronic upper or lower respiratory tract infections, including otitis media or pneumonia. Clinically, gastrointestinal signs and symptoms, anemia, recurrent fever and failure to thrive can be also present. Chest X-rays can show patchy infiltrates miming pneumonia. Clinical manifestations usually disappear after a milk-free diet. The pathogenetic mechanism underlying HS remains unexplained, but the formation of immune complexes and the cell-mediated reaction have been proposed. Patients usually outgrow this hypersensitivity within a few years.
  • 1.3K
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Curcumin
Natural products have been used in medicine for thousands of years, in the recent times they gained a significant popularity globally due to their potential health benefits. Phytochemicals regulate differential gene expression to modulate various cellular pathways implicated in cellular protection. Curcumin is a natural dietary polyphenol extracted from Curcuma Longa L. with different biological and pharmacological effects. One of the important targets of curcumin is TLR-4, the receptor which plays a key role in the modulation of the immune responses and stimulate the production of inflammatory chemokines and cytokines. Different studies have demonstrated that curcumin attenuates inflammatory response via TLR-4 acting directly on receptor, or by its downstream pathway. Curcumin bioavailability is low, so the use of exosomes, as nano drug delivery, could improve the efficacy of curcumin in inflammatory diseases. The focus of this review is to explore the therapeutic effect of curcumin interacting with TLR-4 receptor and how this modulation could improve the prognosis of neuroinflammatory and rheumatic diseases.
  • 1.3K
  • 08 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Chronic Kidney Disease
Nutrition is a cornerstone in the management of chronic kidney disease (CKD). To limit urea generation and accumulation, a global reduction in protein intake is routinely proposed. However, recent evidence has accumulated on the benefits of plant-based diets and plant-derived proteins without a clear understanding of underlying mechanisms. Particularly the roles of some amino acids (AAs) appear to be either deleterious or beneficial on the progression of CKD and its complications.
  • 1.3K
  • 05 Jan 2021
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