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Topic Review
Dietary Management of Chronic Diarrhoea
Chronic diarrhoea affects up to 14% of adults, it impacts on quality of life and its cause can be variable. Patients with chronic diarrhoea are presented with a plethora of dietary recommendations, often sought from the internet or provided by those who are untrained or inexperienced. Once a diagnosis is made, or serious diagnoses are excluded, dietitians play a key role in the management of chronic diarrhoea. The dietitian’s role varies depending on the underlying cause of the diarrhoea, with a wide range of dietary therapies available. Dietitians also have an important role in educating patients about the perils and pitfalls of dietary therapy.
  • 1.8K
  • 29 Apr 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.
  • 1.8K
  • 08 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Plant Sterols
Plant sterols are inherent compounds of many nutritional supplements and food additives. Sterols are chemical compounds based on 1,2-cyclopentaneperhydrophenantrene and are characterized by hydroxyl moiety at the 3C position and the side chain at the 17C position. The latter makes them structurally similar to pregnenolone, which is a fundamental molecule for all 17-ketosteroids generation. The major natural source of dietary plant sterols are vegetables, fruits, berries, and vegetable oil.
  • 1.8K
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Very Low-Calorie Ketogenic Diet for Hypercortisolism Comorbidities Treatment
A very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is characterized by low daily caloric intake (less than 800 kcal/day), low carbohydrate intake (<50 g/day) and normoproteic (1–1.5 g of protein/kg of ideal body weight) contents. It induces a significant weight loss and an improvement in lipid parameters, blood pressure, glycaemic indices and insulin sensitivity in patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is characterized by an endogenous or exogenous excess of glucocorticoids and shows many comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus and lipid disorders. 
  • 1.8K
  • 22 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Dietary Iron
Iron (Fe) is a biochemical microelement important for the health of the population and Fe is necessary for the fetus and all stages of growth individuals. Fe is an essential mineral necessary for delivering oxygen to tissue throughout the body as well as serving important roles in metabolism, respiration, and immune function.  Due to the importance of maintaining Fe stores, even Fe intake meets the recommended daily allowance (RDA), Fe supplementation may be justified, in states of Fe deficiency, with or without anemia, female in particular. The recommended oral Fe supplements are the first line of treatment, however, the bioavailability oral galenic forms is very low and have side effects that reduce tolerance and adherence to treatment.  Thus, a pharmaceutics strategy is to improve the bioavailability of Fe with a bioavailability enhancer.  Some studies indicate that the concomitant use of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin B12 (cobalamin) and vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) increases the bioavailability and absorption of Fe in the intestinal tract.
  • 1.8K
  • 10 Nov 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.
  • 1.8K
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
The Role of Magnesium in Muscle Health
Magnesium is an essential mineral that plays a central role in approximately 800 biochemical reactions within the human body. Its distinctive physical and chemical attributes render it an indispensable stabilizing factor in the orchestration of diverse cellular reactions and organelle functions, thereby rendering it irreplaceable in processes directly impacting muscle health.
  • 1.8K
  • 11 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Polyphenols and Muscle Atrophy
Skeletal muscle atrophy is the decrease in muscle mass and strength caused by reduced protein synthesis/accelerated protein degradation. Various conditions, such as denervation, disuse, ageing, chronic diseases, heart disease, obstructive lung disease, diabetes, renal failure, AIDS, sepsis, cancer, and steroidal medications, can cause muscle atrophy. Mechanistically, inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction are among the major contributors to muscle atrophy, by modulating signalling pathways that regulate muscle homeostasis. To prevent muscle catabolism and enhance muscle anabolism, several natural and synthetic compounds have been investigated. Recently, polyphenols (i.e., natural phytochemicals) have received extensive attention regarding their effect on muscle atrophy because of their potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have reported polyphenols as strongly effective bioactive molecules that attenuate muscle atrophy and enhance muscle health. 
  • 1.8K
  • 08 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Dietary Interventions in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood, affecting ~7% of children and adolescents. Specific dietary interventions have been proposed as coadjuvant treatments in this disorder. These include nutritional supplements with vitamins, minerals, and polyunsaturated fatty acids; microbiome-targeted interventions with pre-, pro-, and synbiotics; and specific diets such as restriction or elimination diets. Regarding nutritional supplements, only vitamin D and vitamin D + magnesium appear to improve ADHD symptoms when baseline levels of vitamin D are insufficient/deficient. As for biotics, evidence has only been found for Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and for multi-species probiotic supplementation. Elimination diets have scarce evidence and lead to nutritional deficiencies, so caution is advised.
  • 1.8K
  • 30 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Cyrcadian Rhythm, Mood, and Temporal Patterns of Chocolate
Taking small amounts of chocolate, in the morning at breakfast at the onset of the active phase, helps speed up resynchronization time. The high flavonoid contents in chocolate promote cardioprotection, metabolic regulation, neuroprotection, and neuromodulation with direct actions on brain function, neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and mood. Cocoa products and especially chocolate are foodstuffs originating from South America. Cocoa is obtained from the seeds of the Theobroma cacao tree, which are then dried, shelled, fermented, and ground with other substances such as sugar, fat, and other flavorings to produce the wide variety of chocolate available on the market, from dark to milk variations.
  • 1.8K
  • 10 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Lactose Intolerance and Personalized Nutrition
Recent discoveries in the “omics” field and the growing focus on preventive health have opened new avenues for personalized nutrition (PN), which is becoming an important theme in the strategic plans of organizations that are active in healthcare, food, and nutrition research. PN holds great potential for individual health optimization, disease management, public health interventions, and product innovation. However, there are still multiple challenges to overcome before PN can be truly embraced by the public and healthcare stakeholders. The diagnosis and management of lactose intolerance (LI), a common condition with a strong inter-individual component, is explored as an interesting example for the potential role of these technologies and the challenges of PN. From the development of genetic and metabolomic LI diagnostic tests that can be carried out in the home, to advances in the understanding of LI pathology and individualized treatment optimization, PN in LI care has shown substantial progress. However, there are still many research gaps to address, including the understanding of epigenetic regulation of lactase expression and how lactose is metabolized by the gut microbiota, in order to achieve better LI detection and effective therapeutic interventions to reverse the potential health consequences of LI.
  • 1.8K
  • 20 May 2021
Topic Review
Lactobacillus plantarum GKM3
In age-accelerated SAMP8 mouse model, GKM3 groups showed significantly increased latency in the passive avoidance test and time of successful avoidance in the active avoidance test. The TBARS and 8-OHdG from the aged mice brains also showed a significant reduction in the groups treated with GKM3. In addition, lower accumulation of the amyloid-β protein was found in SAMP8 mice brains with the supplement of GKM3. These results indicated that L. plantarum GKM3 delayed the process of aging, alleviated age-related cognitive impairment, and reduced oxidative stress.
  • 1.8K
  • 30 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Vitamin D Target Genes
The biologically active form of vitamin D3, 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), modulates innate and adaptive immunity via genes regulated by the transcription factor vitamin D receptor (VDR). In order to identify the key vitamin D target genes involved in these processes, transcriptome-wide datasets were compared, which were obtained from a human monocytic cell line (THP-1) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated in vitro by 1,25(OH)2D3, filtered using different approaches, as well as from PBMCs of individuals supplemented with a vitamin D3 bolus. The led to the genes ACVRL1, CAMP, CD14, CD93, CEBPB, FN1, MAPK13, NINJ1, LILRB4, LRRC25, SEMA6B, SRGN, THBD, THEMIS2 and TREM1. Public epigenome- and transcriptome-wide data from THP-1 cells were used to characterize these genes based on the level of their VDR-driven enhancers as well as the level of the dynamics of their mRNA production.
  • 1.8K
  • 15 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Resting Metabolic Rate
Resting metabolic rate (RMR) reflects the energy expended by the human body in a prolonged resting state in the absence of food digestion, physical or cognitive activities. RMR declines with age and has been related to changes in body composition and health status. In this study we aimed to assess whether having specific age-associated diseases, or the development thereof, correlate with RMR changes over time. Information on such associations is important to understand the energetic burden of specific diseases and whether early perturbation in energetic metabolism can inform impending health deterioration and future pathology.
  • 1.8K
  • 04 Nov 2020
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. 
  • 1.8K
  • 21 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Krill Oil
Krill (Euphausia superba) is a small marine crustacean from the Antarctic Ocean that plays an important role in the marine ecosystem, serving as feed for most fish. It is a known source of highly bioavailable omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid). In preclinical studies, krill oil showed metabolic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and chemo preventive effects, while in clinical trials it showed significant metabolic, vascular and ergogenic actions. Solvent extraction is the most conventional method to obtain krill oil. However, different solvents must be used to extract all lipids from krill because of the diversity of the polarities of the lipid compounds in the biomass.
  • 1.8K
  • 10 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Deadly Helminthiasis
Helminthiasis is an expensive management problem in sheep and goat industry, because the gastrointestinal parasites develop resistance against all anthelmintic chemical products which are discovered and produced by the pharmaceutical industry. The use of natural tannin containing forages such as Sericea Lespedeza is highly promising. Helminthiasis is the invasion of internal parasites into the GI tract of domestic animals, even in humans, causing serious deadly consequences. Sheep and goats are more seriously afflicted than other farm animals. Helminthiasis results in high mortality rate, and poor growth rates, low reproductive performances and low quality products produced from infected animals, which increase high production costs. Anthelmintic drug has been used as the most common control method against gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) infection. Overuse and misuse of these drugs caused significant GIN resistance against the drugs, especially in sheep and goat production.  
  • 1.8K
  • 18 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Nutrition Helps DNA-Repair in Aging
Micronutrients such as vitamins and trace elements are crucial for maintaining the health of all organisms. Micronutrients are involved in every cellular/biochemical process. They play roles in the proper heart and brain functioning, influence immunological response, and antioxidant defense systems. Therefore, prolonged deficiency in one or more of them leads to cardiovascular or neurodegenerative disorders. Keeping micronutrients at adequate levels is especially important for seniors. They are prone to deficiencies due to age-associated functional decline and often diet poor in nutrients. Moreover, the lack of micronutrients has an indirect impact on the genome. Their low levels reduce the activity of antioxidant enzymes and therefore inhibit the efficiency of defense against free radicals which may lead to the formation of DNA lesions. The more DNA damage in the genetic material, the faster aging at the cellular level and a higher risk of pathological processes (e.g. carcinogenesis). Supplementation of crucial antioxidative micronutrients such as selenium, zinc, vitamin C, and E seems to have the potential to positively influence the condition of an aging organism, including minimizing inflammation, enhancing antioxidative defense, and limiting the formation of DNA lesions. In consequence, it might lead to lowering the risk and incidence of age-related diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and malnutrition. In this article, we attempt to present the synergistic action of selected antioxidant micronutrients (vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, and zinc) in inhibiting oxidative stress and DNA damage, which may impede the process of healthy aging.
  • 1.8K
  • 18 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Micronutrients and Athletic Performance
To examine the effects of micronutrient intake on athletic performance and (ii) to determine the specific micronutrients, such as vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, that offer the most significant enhancements in terms of athletic performance, with the goal of providing guidance to athletes and coaches in optimizing their nutritional strategies.
  • 1.7K
  • 07 Jun 2023
Topic Review
Modified Citrus Pectin Pleiotropic Effects
Modified citrus pectin (MCP) has a low-molecular-weight degree of esterification to allow absorption from the small intestinal epithelium into the circulation. MCP produces pleiotropic effects, including but not limited to its antagonism of galectin-3, which have shown benefit in preclinical and clinical models. Regarding cancer, MCP modulates several rate-limiting steps of the metastatic cascade. MCP can also affect cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy. Regarding fibrotic diseases, MCP modulates many of the steps involved in the pathogenesis of aortic stenosis. MCP also reduces fibrosis to the kidney, liver, and adipose tissue. Other benefits of MCP include detoxification and improved immune function.
  • 1.7K
  • 10 Aug 2021
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