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Topic Review
Chia Seeds
Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is a small seed that comes from an annual herbaceous plant, Salvia hispanica L. Chia seeds contain healthy ω-3 fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, dietary fiber, proteins, vitamins, and some minerals. Besides this, the seeds are an excellent source of polyphenols and antioxidants, such as caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, myricetin, quercetin, and others.
  • 2.1K
  • 24 Feb 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.
  • 2.1K
  • 01 Jun 2021
Topic Review
M-16V as Infant Probiotic
Bifidobacterium breve M-16V is a commonly used probiotic strain in infants. M-16V has been demonstrated to offer potential in protecting infants from developing devastating necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and allergic diseases.
  • 2.1K
  • 10 Sep 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. 
  • 2.1K
  • 07 May 2021
Topic Review
Miracle Berry
Miracle berry (MB) (Synsepalum dulcificum) is an indigenous fruit whose small, ellipsoid, and bright red berries have been described to transform a sour taste into a sweet one. MB is rich in terpenoids, phenolic compounds, and flavonoids, which are responsible for their described antioxidant activities. Moreover, MB has been reported to ameliorate insulin resistance and inhibit cancer cell proliferation and malignant transformation in vitro. Herein, we briefly summarize the current knowledge of MB to provide a scientific basis for its potential use as a supplement in the management of chronic diseases related to altered metabolism, including obesity and insulin resistance, which are well-known risk factors in cancer. First, we introduce cancer as a metabolic disease, highlighting the impact of systemic metabolic alterations, such as obesity and insulin resistance, in cancer initiation and progression. Next, as oxidative stress is closely associated with metabolic stress, we also evaluate the effect of phytochemicals in managing oxidative stress and its relationship with cancer. Finally, we summarize the main biological activities described for MB-derived extracts with a special focus on the ability of miraculin to transform a sour taste into a sweet one through its interaction with the sweet taste receptors. The identification of sweet taste receptors at the gastrointestinal level, with effects on the secretion of enterohormones, may provide an additional tool for managing chronic diseases, including cancer.
  • 2.1K
  • 21 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Chios Mastic Gum (Pistacia lentiscus) for Human Health
Despite the remarkable development of the medical industry in the current era, herbal products with therapeutic potentials arise as attractive alternative treatments. Consequently, Chios mastiha, a natural, aromatic resin obtained from the trunk and brunches of the mastic tree, has recently gained increasing scientific interest due to its multiple beneficial actions. Chios mastiha is being exclusively produced on the southern part of Chios, a Greek island situated in the northern Aegean Sea, and its therapeutic properties have been known since Greek antiquity. There is now substantial evidence to suggest that mastiha demonstrates a plethora of favorable effects, mainly attributed to the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties of its components. The main use of mastiha nowadays, however, is for the production of natural chewing gum, although an approval by the European Medicines Agency for mild dyspeptic disorders and for inflammations of the skin has been given. 
  • 2.1K
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Trimethylamine N-Oxide
Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) may play a key mediator role in the relationship between the diet, gut microbiota and cardiovascular diseases, particularly in people with kidney failure.
  • 2.1K
  • 11 May 2021
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.  
  • 2.1K
  • 22 Oct 2020
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.
  • 2.0K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Creatine for Exercise/Sports Performance
Creatine is one of the most studied and popular ergogenic aids for athletes and recreational weightlifters seeking to improve sport and exercise performance, augment exercise training adaptations, and mitigate recovery time. Studies consistently reveal that creatine supplementation exerts positive ergogenic effects on single and multiple bouts of short-duration, high-intensity exercise activities, in addition to potentiating exercise training adaptations.
  • 2.0K
  • 16 Jun 2021
Topic Review
The Efficacy of Spirulina Supplementation on Diabetes
As a result of rising mortality rates due to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), there has been a growing urgency to find alternative approaches to conventional pharmaceutical treatment to prevent the onset of chronic diseases. Arthrospira platensis, commonly known as Spirulina, is a blue-green cyanobacterium, classified as a “superfood”, used worldwide as a nutraceutical food supplement due to its remarkable nutritional value, lack of toxicity, and therapeutic effects. Many research studies have demonstrated that Spirulina has therapeutic functions such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, antidiabetic, and brain-protective properties.
  • 2.0K
  • 29 Feb 2024
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.
  • 2.0K
  • 23 Jun 2021
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.
  • 2.0K
  • 09 Nov 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. 
  • 2.0K
  • 10 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Dynapenic Obesity and Sarcopenic Obesity
Ageing is associated with changes in body composition, such as low muscle mass (sarcopenia), decreased grip strength or physical function (dynapenia), and accumulation of fat mass. When the accumulation of fat mass synergistically accompanies low muscle mass or reduced grip strength, it results in sarcopenic obesity and dynapenic obesity, respectively. 
  • 2.0K
  • 08 Aug 2022
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).
  • 2.0K
  • 21 Sep 2020
Topic Review
AKT and Related Signaling Pathways
Global environmental pollution has led to human exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation due to the damaged ozone layer, thereby increasing the incidence and death rate of skin cancer including both melanoma and non-melanoma. Overexpression and activation of V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT, also known as protein kinase B) and related signaling pathways are major factors contributing to many cancers including lung cancer, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and skin cancer. Although BRAF inhibitors are used to treat melanoma, further options are needed due to treatment resistance and poor efficacy. Depletion of AKT expression and activation, and related signaling cascades by its inhibitors, decreases the growth of skin cancer and metastasis. Here we have focused the effects of AKT and related signaling (PI3K/AKT/mTOR) pathways by regulators derived from plants and suggest the need for efficient treatment in skin cancer therapy.
  • 2.0K
  • 28 Sep 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.
  • 2.0K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Arsenic-induced Health Hazards
Arsenic (As) is a naturally found crystalline metalloid with ubiquitous distribution throughout the earth’s crust. As exposure to the human food chain ecosystem comprises air, water, food, and soil. Daily diet contamination depends on the inorganic or organic forms, oxidation state, water solubility, and food matrix. The differentiation and categorization of different foods as sources of inorganic and organic As contamination in daily life is an important issue.
  • 2.0K
  • 01 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Scorodocarpus borneensis (Baill.) Becc.
Scorodocarpus borneensis (Baill.) Becc. is attracting increased attention as a potential commercial medicinal plant product in Southeast Asia. 
  • 1.9K
  • 31 Jul 2023
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