Macro- and micro-element deficiencies are widely diffused in older people [...] Full article

Supplementation of dietary fiber has been proved to be an effective strategy to prevent and relieve inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) through gut microbiota modulation. However, more attention has been paid to the efficacy of soluble dietary fiber than that of insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). In the present study, we investigated whether IDF from barley leaf (BLIDF) can inhibit gut inflammation via modulating the intestinal microbiota in DSS-induced colitis mice. The mice were fed 1.52% BLIDF-supplemented diet for 28 days. Results demonstrated that feeding BLIDF markedly mitigated DSS-induced acute colitis symptoms and down-regulated IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels in the colon and serum of colitis mice. BLIDF supplementation effectively reduced the abundance of Akkermansia and increased the abundance of Parasutterella, Erysipelatoclostridium, and Alistipes. Importantly, the anti-colitis effects of BLIDF were abolished when the intestinal microbiota was depleted by antibiotics. Furthermore, the targeted microbiota-derived metabolites analysis suggested that BLIDF feeding can reverse the DSS-induced decline of short-chain fatty acids and secondary bile acids in mice feces. Finally, BLIDF supplementation elevated the expression of occludin and mucin2, and decreased the expression of claudin-1 in colons of DSS-treated mice. Overall, our observations suggest that BLIDF exerts anti-inflammatory effects via modulating the intestinal microbiota composition and increasing the production of microbiota-derived metabolites. Full article

Flavonols are ones of the most common phytochemicals found in diets rich in fruit and vegetables. Research suggests that molecular functions of flavonoids may bring a number of health benefits to people, including the following: decrease inflammation, change disease activity, and alleviate resistance to antibiotics as well as chemotherapeutics. Their antiproliferative, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic activity has been proved. They may act as antioxidants, while preventing DNA damage by scavenging reactive oxygen radicals, reinforcing DNA repair, disrupting chemical damages by induction of phase II enzymes, and modifying signal transduction pathways. One of such research areas is a potential effect of flavonoids on the risk of developing cancer. The aim of our paper is to present a systematic review of antineoplastic activity of flavonols in general. Special attention was paid to selected flavonols: fisetin, kaempferol, and quercetin in preclinical and in vitro studies. Study results prove antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties of flavonols with regard to head and neck cancer. However, few study papers evaluate specific activities during various processes associated with cancer progression. Moreover, an attempt was made to collect the majority of substantive studies on bioactive potential of the selected flavonols, especially with regard to modulation of a range of signal transduction pathways that participate in cancer development. Full article

Gastrointestinal vagal afferents (VAs) play an important role in food intake regulation, providing the brain with information on the amount and nutrient composition of a meal. This is processed, eventually leading to meal termination. The response of gastric VAs, to food-related stimuli, is under circadian control and fluctuates depending on the time of day. These rhythms are highly correlated with meal size, with a nadir in VA sensitivity and increase in meal size during the dark phase and a peak in sensitivity and decrease in meal size during the light phase in mice. These rhythms are disrupted in diet-induced obesity and simulated shift work conditions and associated with disrupted food intake patterns. In diet-induced obesity the dampened responses during the light phase are not simply reversed by reverting back to a normal diet. However, time restricted feeding prevents loss of diurnal rhythms in VA signalling in high fat diet-fed mice and, therefore, provides a potential strategy to reset diurnal rhythms in VA signalling to a pre-obese phenotype. This review discusses the role of the circadian system in the regulation of gastrointestinal VA signals and the impact of factors, such as diet-induced obesity and shift work, on these rhythms. Full article

Maternal supplementation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) during pregnancy has been recommended due to its role in infant development, but its effect on materno-fetal DHA status is not well established. We evaluated the associations between DHA supplementation in pregnant women with obesity or gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and maternal and neonatal DHA status. Serum fatty acids (FA) were analyzed in 641 pregnant women (24 weeks of gestation) and in 345 venous and 166 arterial cord blood samples of participants of the NELA cohort. Obese women (n = 47) presented lower DHA in serum than those lean (n = 397) or overweight (n = 116) before pregnancy. Linoleic acid in arterial cord was elevated in obese women, which indicates lower fetal retention. Maternal DHA supplementation (200 mg/d) during pregnancy was associated with enhanced maternal and fetal DHA levels regardless of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), although higher arterial DHA in overweight women indicated an attenuated response. Maternal DHA supplementation was not associated with cord venous DHA in neonates of mothers with GDM. The cord arteriovenous difference was similar for DHA between GDM and controls. In conclusion, maternal DHA supplementation during pregnancy enhanced fetal DHA status regardless of the pre-pregnancy BMI while GDM may reduce the effect of DHA supplementation in newborns. Full article

Concerns about environmental impact and sustainability, animal welfare, and personal health issues have fueled consumer demand for dairy alternatives. The aim of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional survey of plant-based non-dairy beverages from three different continents (USA, Australia, and Western Europe) to assess their nutritional content and health profile. A total of 148 non-dairy beverages were analyzed from the nutrition label and ingredients listed on the commercial package or from the information located on the website of the manufacturer or retailer. The different types of beverages were extracts of nuts or seeds (n = 49), grains (n = 38), legumes (n = 36), coconut (n = 10), and mixed blends (n = 15). On average, the plant-based beverages generally scored well in terms of not containing high levels of sodium, saturated fat, or calories. Over half of the beverages were fortified with calcium to levels equal to or greater than that of dairy milk. The protein content varied from 0 to 10 g/serving. Levels of vitamin D and B12 fortification were quite low. Consumers should be informed of the nutritional profile and potential health benefits of plant-based dairy alternatives as the nutritional content can vary greatly between the different types of beverages. Full article

Implementing permissive dehydration (DEH) during short-term heat acclimation (HA) may accelerate adaptations to the heat. However, HA with DEH may augment risk for acute kidney injury (AKI). This study investigated the effect of HA with permissive DEH on time-trial performance and markers of AKI. Fourteen moderately trained men (age and VO_2max = 25 ± 0.5 yr and 51.6 ± 1.8 mL^.kg^−1.min⁻¹) were randomly assigned to DEH or euhydration (EUH). Time-trial performance and VO_2max were assessed in a temperate environment before and after 7 d of HA. Heat acclimation consisted of 90 min of cycling in an environmental chamber (40 °C, 35% RH). Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1) were assessed pre- and post-exercise on day 1 and day 7 of HA. Following HA, VO_2max did not change in either group (p = 0.099); however, time-trial performance significantly improved (3%, p < 0.01) with no difference between groups (p = 0.485). Compared to pre-exercise, NGAL was not significantly different following day 1 and 7 of HA (p = 0.113) with no difference between groups (p = 0.667). There was a significant increase in KIM-1 following day 1 and 7 of HA (p = 0.002) with no difference between groups (p = 0.307). Heat acclimation paired with permissive DEH does not amplify improvements in VO_2max or time-trial performance in a temperate environment versus EUH and does not increase markers of AKI. Full article

Background: Glucose transporter type 1 deficiency syndrome (GLUT1DS) is caused by mutations in the SLC2A1 gene and produces seizures, neurodevelopmental impairment, and movement disorders. Ketogenic dietary therapies (KDT) are the gold standard treatment. Similar symptoms may appear in SLC2A1 negative patients. The purpose is to evaluate the effectiveness of KDT in children with GLUT1DS suspected SLC2A1 (+) and (-), side effects (SE), and the impact on patients nutritional status. Methods: An observational descriptive study was conducted to describe 18 children (January 2009–August 2020). SLC2A1 analysis, seizures, movement disorder, anti-epileptic drugs (AEDS), anthropometry, SE, and laboratory assessment were monitored baseline and at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after the onset of KDT. Results: 6/18 were SLC2A1(+) and 13/18 had seizures. In these groups, the age for debut of symptoms was higher. The mean time from debut to KDT onset was higher in SLC2A1(+). The modified Atkins diet (MAD) was used in 12 (5 SLC2A1(+)). Movement disorder improved (4/5), and a reduction in seizures >50% compared to baseline was achieved in more than half of the epileptic children throughout the follow-up. No differences in effectiveness were found according to the type of KDT. Early SE occurred in 33%. Long-term SE occurred in 10, 5, 7, and 5 children throughout the follow-up. The most frequent SE were constipation, hypercalciuria, and hyperlipidaemia. No differences in growth were found according to the SLC2A1 mutation or type of KDT. Conclusions: CKD and MAD were effective for SLC2A1 positive and negative patients in our cohort. SE were frequent, but mild. Permanent monitoring should be made to identify SE and nutritional deficits. Full article

Cone of Pinus densiflora (CP), or Korean red pinecone, is a cluster of Pinus densiflora fruit. CP has also been verified in several studies to have anti-oxidation, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-melanogenic effects. However, anti-inflammatory effects have not yet been confirmed in the inflammatory responses of pinecones to allergic contact dermatitis. The purpose of this study is to prove the anti-inflammatory effect of CP on allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) in vitro and in vivo. CP inhibited the expression of TSLP, TARC, MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-6 in TNF-α/IFN-γ-stimulated HaCaT cells and MCP-1, GM-CSF, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-8 in PMACI (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate plus A23187)-stimulated HMC-1 cells. CP inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs), as well as the translocation of NF-κB on TNF-α/IFN-γ stimulated in HaCaT cells. In vivo, CP decreased major symptoms of ACD, levels of IL-6 in skin lesion, thickening of the epidermis and dermis, infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells, and the infiltration of CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells. This result suggests that CP represents a potential alternative medicine to ACD for diseases such as chronic skin inflammation. Full article

Achieving the optimal transition to a family diet over the first two years of life has remained a challenge in Ethiopia. The use of amylase-rich flour (ARF) can improve complementary foods. However, utilisation requires an effective delivery strategy for upskilling the community to use ARF. The aim of this study was to explore facilitators and barriers of cascading ARF skills to improve complementary foods. The study was conducted in Gale Mirga kebele of Kersa district in Eastern Ethiopia in 2016. The study utilised exploratory qualitative research that used participatory action. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with the Health Development Army (HDA) leaders, religious leaders, and observation of participatory complementary food demonstrations. Cultural acceptability and the presence of HDA structure that supports skill development were identified as key facilitators to ARF use. On the other hand, the potential barriers to expanding ARF skill were lack of sustainability of external skill support for HDA leaders, perceived time constraints, unsuitable demonstration settings, cooking method, and large group size. The indigenous community’s knowledge of germination has not been used to improve complementary foods. The universal use of ARF requires integration into the Health Extension Programme (HEP) with support and supervision for HDA leaders. Full article

Vitamin D plays an important role in bone metabolism and is important for the prevention of multifactorial pathologies, including osteoporosis (OP). The biological action of vitamin is realized through its receptor, which is coded by the VDR gene. VDR gene polymorphism can influence individual predisposition to OP and response to vitamin D supplementation. The aim of this work was to reveal the effects of VDR gene ApaI rs7975232, BsmI rs1544410, TaqI rs731236, FokI rs2228570, and Cdx2 rs11568820 variants on bone mineral density (BMD), 25-hydroxyvitamin D level, and OP risk in Belarusian women. Methods. The case group included 355 women with postmenopausal OP, and the control group comprised 247 women who met the inclusion criteria. TaqMan genotyping assay was used to determine VDR gene variants. Results. Rs7975232 A/A, rs1544410 T/T, and rs731236 G/G single variants and their A-T-G haplotype showed a significant association with increased OP risk (for A-T-G, OR = 1.8, p = 0.0001) and decreased BMD (A-T-G, −0.09 g/cm², p = 0.0001). The rs11568820 A-allele showed a protective effect on BMD (+0.22 g/cm², p = 0.027). A significant dose effect with 25(OH)D was found for rs1544410, rs731236, and rs11568820 genotypes. Rs731236 A/A was associated with the 25(OH)D deficiency state. Conclusion. Our novel data on the relationship between VDR gene variants and BMD, 25(OH)D level, and OP risk highlights the importance of genetic markers for personalized medicine strategy. Full article

In Qatar, Type 1 Diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is one of the most prevalent disorders. This study aimed to explore the gut microbiome’s relation to the continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy, dietary habits, and the HbA1c level in the pediatric T1DM subjects in Qatar. We recruited 28 T1DM subjects with an average age of 10.5 ± 3.53 years. The stool sample was used to measure microbial composition by 16s rDNA sequencing method. The results have revealed that the subjects who had undergone CSII therapy had increased microbial diversity and genus Akkermansia was significantly enriched in the subjects without CSII therapy. Moreover, genus Akkermansia was higher in the subjects with poor glycemic control (HbA1c > 7.5%). When we classified the subjects based on dietary patterns and nationality, Akkermansia was significantly enriched in Qataris subjects without the CSII therapy consuming Arabic diet than expatriates living in Qatar and eating a Western/mixed diet. Thus, this pilot study showed that abundance of Akkermansia is dependent on the Arabic diet only in poorly controlled Qataris T1DM patients, opening new routes to personalized treatment for T1DM in Qataris pediatric subjects. Further comprehensive studies on the relation between the Arabic diet, ethnicity, and Akkermansia are warranted to confirm this preliminary finding. Full article

Elevated inflammation in pregnancy has been associated with multiple adverse pregnancy outcomes and potentially an increased susceptibility to future chronic disease. How maternal dietary patterns influence systemic inflammation during pregnancy requires further investigation. The purpose of this review was to comprehensively evaluate studies that assessed dietary patterns and inflammatory markers during pregnancy. This review was guided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses. Included studies were sourced from EMBASE, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus and evaluated using The Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Inclusion criteria consisted of human studies published in English between January 2007 and May 2020 that addressed associations between dietary patterns and inflammatory markers during pregnancy. Studies focused on a single nutrient, supplementation, or combined interventions were excluded. A total of 17 studies were included. Despite some inconsistent findings, maternal diets characterized by a higher intake of animal protein and cholesterol and/or a lower intake of fiber were shown to be associated with certain pro-inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α), IL-8, serum amyloid A (SAA), and glycoprotein acetylation (GlycA)). Future studies that explore a broader range of inflammatory markers in the pregnant population, reduce measurement errors, and ensure adequate statistical adjustment are warranted. Full article

Background: Nutrition plays an important role in maintaining the overall health of older people. Inadequate intake may lead to impaired body function, higher morbidity, and mortality. Oral nutritional supplements (ONS) showed positive effect on the nutritional status of the elderly; however, systematic evidence is currently lacking on the effect of ONS on the elderly with anorexia. Aims: The current systematic review and meta-analysis included randomized controlled trial (RCT) articles to investigate the effectiveness of ONS on the main aspects of anorexia of aging (AA). Methods: By using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) method, researchers independently searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and other gray literature resources for publications that met the inclusion criteria by October 2020. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tools were used for quality assessment. The inverse-variance method was used for the fixed model (FM) while the DerSimonian–Laird method was used for the random model (RM). Respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs), mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) was used for indices in terms of effect size (ES). Results: 2497 records were found through the systematic search, while 17 RCTs (n = 1204) were included, with a mean age of 81.9 years (range: 74–87 years). Supplementation occurred in the morning, mid-day, and evening, while the times varied from one to three times a day. The results of meta-analysis showed that, generally, ONS had a positive effect on the overall appetite, MD = 0.18, 95% CI (0.03, 0.33), p = 0.02, and consumption, MD = 1.43, 95% CI (0.01, 2.86), p = 0.05; but not significant in terms of other aspects of appetite: hunger, p = 0.73; fullness, p = 0.60; desire to eat, p = 0.80; preoccupation, p = 0.15. Additionally, it showed an increase in the overall energy intake, SMD = 0.46, 95% CI (0.29, 0.63), p < 0.001, in protein intake, SMD = 0.59, 95% CI (0.16, 1.02), p = 0.007, and in fat intake, MD = 3.47, 95% CI (1.98, 4.97), p < 0.001, while no positive effect was found on carbohydrates intake, p = 0.06. Significance differences were also found in the body weight, SMD = 0.53, 95% CI (0.41, 0.65), p < 0.001, and body mass index (BMI), MD = 0.53, 95% CI (0.12, 0.95), p = 0.01. Moreover, subgroup analyses were conducted according to the nutrient density with no positive results showed except for the low-density ONS on overall energy intake. Conclusions: The results of the present study indicated that ONS had beneficial effects on overall appetite, energy intake, body weight and BMI. Full article

In recent years, nonalcoholic fatty liver disorders have become one of the most common liver pathologies; therefore, it is necessary to investigate the dietary compounds that may support the regulation of liver metabolism and related inflammatory processes. The present study examines the effect of raspberry polyphenolic extract (RE) combined with fructo-oligosaccharides (FOSs) or pectins (PECs) on caecal microbial fermentation, liver lipid metabolism and inflammation in rats with fatty liver induced by an obesogenic diet. The combination of RE with FOSs or PECs reduced the production of short-chain fatty acids in the caecum. RE combined with FOSs exerted the most favourable effects on liver lipid metabolism by decreasing liver fat, cholesterol, triglyceride content and hepatic steatosis. RE and FOSs reduced lobular and portal inflammatory cell infiltration and IL-6 plasma levels. These effects might be related to a decrease in the hepatic expressions of PPARγ and ANGPTL4. In conclusion, PECs and FOSs enhanced the effects of RE against disorders related to nonalcoholic fatty liver; however, the most effective dietary treatment in the regulation of liver lipid metabolism and inflammation caused by an obesogenic diet was the combination of RE with FOSs. Full article