Search Results (10,854)

Metabolic disorders such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, and lipid disorders are major health challenges worldwide. There is increasing interest in the role of food-derived antioxidants in the context of metabolic disorders due to their documented antioxidant activity. Antioxidants such as flavonoids and polyphenols neutralize reactive oxygen species and reduce oxidative stress, which can affect cell function and metabolic processes. Anthocyanins, curcumin, and resveratrol exhibit physiological and pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-obesity, and anti-diabetic effects. The main aim of this systematic review is to comprehensively evaluate and synthesize the current scientific evidence on the role of anthocyanins, curcumin, and resveratrol in the prevention and management of metabolic disorders, with a focus on obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Databases such as PubMed and Embase were searched, and the final selection included 105 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The analyzed studies demonstrated that anthocyanin supplementation (up to 320 mg/day) was associated with reductions in inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and TNF-α, improvements in HDL cholesterol, and modest reductions in HbA1c (~0.3–0.5%). Curcumin supplementation was associated with decreases in body weight (up to 0.82 kg), BMI (up to 0.30 kg/m²), triglycerides, total cholesterol, and fasting glucose levels. Resveratrol showed mixed but potentially beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity, oxidative stress markers, and lipid metabolism, although the clinical outcomes remained inconsistent across studies. These findings suggest that the antioxidant effects of anthocyanins, curcumin, and resveratrol may be related to their ability to suppress oxidative stress and inflammatory processes, thereby contributing to improvements in glucose and lipid metabolism. The conclusions from this analysis may contribute to a better understanding of the role of antioxidants in the management of metabolic health and indicate directions for future research in this area. Full article

Cowpea is a multipurpose leguminous crop that plays an important role in human dietary nutrition and agricultural sustainability due to its rich nutritional quality. Improving the nutritional quality of pods in new cultivars has become a priority objective in cowpea breeding. However, the genetic architecture of pod nutritional quality in the cowpea remains unclear. In the current study, five cowpea pod nutritional quality traits, including the amino acid content (AA), cellulose content (CC), crude protein content (PR), starch content (PTS), and soluble sugar content (PSS), were evaluated in a diversity panel of 215 cowpea landraces. It was found that all five traits showed substantial variation in this population, and the two subspecies, vegetable cowpea and grain cowpea, had different nutritional patterns in fresh pods. Using GWAS, a total of 20 genomic regions were identified as significantly associated with the five nutritional quality traits. Haplotype analysis further determined the corresponding favorable haplotype for each locus. In addition, 275 predicted genes were identified as the candidate genes for the selected regions, of which three predicted genes—VuG9806G012380, encoding an oligopeptide transporter protein, VuG9806G016720, encoding an α-glucosidase-like protein, and VuG9811G017840, encoding a glycoside hydrolase protein—were regarded as the likely candidate genes for AA_6.2, AA_6.3, and PSS_11.1, respectively. These results unravel the genetic basis of pod nutritional quality and will facilitate the molecular breeding of high-nutritional-quality cowpea varieties. Full article

The INFOGEST protocol is a standardised in vitro digestion model widely utilised to evaluate the digestibility and bioaccessibility of nutrients in diverse food matrices. This review focuses on its application since 2020 (after the publication of the INFOGEST 2.0 model) to milk and dairy products, which often serve as a suitable food matrix in digestion studies. By analysing 50 studies selected using a semi-automated method, this review highlights its strong performance in reproducing general digestive trends, including peptide fingerprint profiling, consistent high-protein digestibility, and matrix-dependent lipid and mineral bioaccessibility. The model is particularly effective in evaluating structural modifications of dairy products and their impact on digestive behaviour. However, its application remains skewed toward bovine systems, limiting broader relevance to other dairy matrices. Methodological variability, including protocol modifications and emerging semi-dynamic adaptations, poses challenges to reproducibility. Furthermore, reliance on simplified downstream models constrains the physiological interpretation of bioactivity and nutrient absorption. Future progress requires harmonised dynamic extensions, expanded use of advanced biological systems, and inclusion of diverse dairy matrices. Collectively, these advances will support a shift from descriptive bioaccessibility toward more predictive assessments of nutrient bioavailability. This six-year, non-topic-dependent bibliometric analysis contextualises the expanding adoption of INFOGEST 2.0 as reflected in its versatility and evolving scope, positioning it as a cornerstone tool for advancing our understanding of dairy nutrition, digestion-derived bioactivity, and ultimately, the relationship between dairy consumption and human health. Full article

Oxidative stress and inflammation play a key role in many diseases. This study evaluated the potential of bioactive compounds from Red-belted Bracket and Artist’s Bracket mushrooms to mitigate these processes. Multistep extraction yielded fractions with diversified composition (triterpenoids, polysaccharides) and bioactivities, including antioxidant properties and inhibition of pro-inflammatory enzymes. Both species were rich in triterpenoids: ethanolic extracts from Artist’s Bracket contained mainly ganoderenic and ganoderic acids (≈31 μg/g d.w.), while Red-belted Bracket extracts contained phenolic acids (≈20 μg/g d.w., mainly vanillic and chebulic acids) and triterpenoids (≈73 μg/g d.w., mainly forpinic and formipinic acids). The alkaline and ethanolic extracts exhibited the highest radical scavenging and reducing activities. Lipoxygenase was inhibited only by ethanolic extracts, with IC₅₀ values of 0.93 mg d.w./mL for Artist’s Bracket (mixed inhibition) and 0.62 mg d.w./mL for Red-belted Bracket (noncompetitive). Artist’s Bracket was also a potent source of xanthine oxidase inhibitors acting uncompetitively (IC₅₀ = 0.71, 1.39, and 2.06 mg d.w./mL for ethanolic, methanolic, and aqueous extracts, respectively). In contrast, Red-belted Bracket was less active (IC₅₀ = 3.84 mg d.w./mL, noncompetitive). In conclusion, these mushrooms, particularly their ethanolic extracts, are promising sources of compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, acting as effective inhibitors of lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase. Full article

Chronic fatigue syndrome/myalgic encephalomyelitis (CFS/ME) is a complex and debilitating disorder with limited treatment options. Camel milk (CM), known for its rich nutrients and anti-fatigue properties, may offer multi-target benefits for managing this condition. This study utilized an integrated approach combining metabolomics, network pharmacology, and animal experiments. CM metabolites were profiled and screened via ADME. Potential targets were predicted and intersected with CFS/ME-associated genes. Male BALB/c mice were subjected to chronic restraint and forced swimming to evaluate the effects of CM (1000 mg/kg) on behavioral, inflammatory, neuroendocrine, and metabolic parameters. CM administration significantly improved exhaustive swimming time and reduced immobility. It attenuated systemic inflammation (restored IL-10), normalized brain CREB and DRD2/OPRM1 mRNA, and enhanced skeletal muscle AKT/GLUT4 expression and glycogen levels. Camel milk alleviates CFS/ME symptoms through the multi-component, multi-target regulation of neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and energy metabolism pathways. These preclinical findings suggest that CM may have potential as a supportive nutritional intervention for alleviating chronic fatigue, pending validation in human studies. Full article

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory arterial disease and the primary underlying cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its development and progression are driven by a mechanistically interconnected triad of endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and vascular inflammation. Current pharmacotherapy, primarily focused on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) reduction through statin-based and adjunctive therapies, does not fully address the residual inflammatory and calcific components of atherosclerotic risk. Menaquinone-7 (MK-7), a long-chain isoform of vitamin K2 with superior bioavailability and extrahepatic tissue distribution, has emerged as a multi-target modulator of atherogenic processes. Its classical function is to serve as a cofactor for the gamma-carboxylation of vitamin K-dependent proteins (VKDPs), principally matrix Gla protein (MGP), the primary endogenous inhibitor of vascular calcification. Beyond this established pathway, a growing body of experimental evidence indicates that MK-7 may modulate endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production through carboxylation-dependent activation of Growth Arrest-Specific Protein 6 (Gas6) and suppress lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis via Ferroptosis Suppressor Protein 1 (FSP1)-mediated reduction of vitamin K hydroquinone (VKH₂). In addition, it may attenuate nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB)-driven inflammatory gene transcription in vascular cells. Previous reviews mainly focused on how vitamin K2 influences vascular calcification and cardiovascular outcomes. However, emerging mechanistic evidence linking MK-7 to endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, ferroptosis, and vascular inflammation has not been comprehensively integrated. This review summarizes the current knowledge of in vitro, animal, observational, and randomized controlled trial evidence for MK-7 in the context of atherosclerosis. It particularly emphasises mechanistic pathways, the strength of evidence, and translational limitations, highlighting the lack of direct human vascular evidence in several areas. Full article

Essential amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids are key nutritional indicators. The human body preferentially absorbs these compounds, which have beneficial effects on health. In aquatic ecosystems, plankton communities serve as the primary food source for aquatic organisms, playing a crucial role in shaping their nutritional composition. In this study, we collected populations of Macrobrachium nipponense and corresponding water samples from ten distinct geographical locations across China. These sites included five freshwater resources and five saline–alkaline water resources. This study measured the ionic composition and plankton community structure of water samples, and analyzed the nutritional components of M. nipponense, aiming to identify indicator taxa linked to the nutritional value in this species. The results show significant differences in both nutritional components and plankton community structures between freshwater and saline–alkaline environments. This suggests a correlation between specific plankton taxa and the nutritional value of M. nipponense. Using relative sequence abundance data from metabarcoding, linear discriminant analysis effect size (LEfSe) analysis identified six plankton indicator taxa at the genus level. Their abundance differed significantly between the two habitat types. The saline–alkaline region had three associated taxa: Cyclotella, Brachionus, and Chaetoceros. In contrast, Arctodiaptomus, Cryptomonas, and Limnoithona were identified as indicator taxa for freshwater regions. Redundancy analysis (RDA) and Pearson correlation analysis revealed that, with the exception of the SY site, the abundance of Chaetoceros and Brachionus in saline–alkaline waters tracked with levels of K⁺, Ca²⁺, and HCO₃⁻. Meanwhile, at the SZ site, plankton community richness rose with CO₃²⁻. Furthermore, the potential correlations between plankton indicator taxa and the formation of specific nutritional components in M. nipponense were explored. These findings highlight the complex interactions among ionic composition, plankton indicator taxa, and nutritional value in M. nipponense. Ultimately, this study can support the development of artificial techniques to regulate the nutritional components of this commercially important species. Full article

Background/Objectives: Whether habitual dietary omega-3 fatty acid intake is reflected in circulating biomarkers of atrial fibrillation (AF)-related pathways is unclear. We assessed whether usual dietary intake of n-3 fatty acids—considered as total, marine-derived, or non-marine-derived—was associated with the trajectories of five serum markers that reflect AF-related mechanistic pathways [N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP), high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-TnT), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP), the C-terminal propeptide of type-I procollagen (PICP), and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT)] over 5 years of follow-up. Methods: In 510 participants of the PREDIMED-Plus trial (older Spanish adults with metabolic syndrome), we measured plasma NT-pro-BNP, hs-TnT, CRP, PICP, and 3-NT at baseline and after 3 and 5 years. Energy-adjusted omega-3 intake was assessed with a validated 143-item food-frequency questionnaire. Cross-sectional and 5-year longitudinal associations according to tertiles of omega-3 fatty acid intake were estimated with linear regression and mixed-effects models. Results: Median total omega-3 intake was 2.0 g/day. Total omega-3 intake was not associated with any biomarker, neither cross-sectionally nor longitudinally. Marine omega-3 was directly associated cross-sectionally with 3-NT (highest vs. lowest tertile +28.4%, 95% CI 5.5 to 56.2; p-trend = 0.014) but not longitudinally. Moderate baseline non-marine omega-3 fatty acid intake was associated with a decrease in PICP after 5 years of follow-up. Conclusions: Overall, habitual total omega-3 fatty acid intake was not associated with circulating AF-related pathways. The sporadic association between marine omega-3 fatty acid intake and 3-NT in the cross-sectional assessment and the isolated non-linear association between baseline non-marine omega-3 fatty acid intake and PICP after 5 years warrant further investigation. Full article

Background/Objectives: Healthy longevity depends on not only lifespan but also the maintenance of physiological, metabolic, physical, and cognitive functions throughout aging. Identifying early determinants of health is crucial for preventing age-related decline. This narrative review aims to synthesize current evidence on how diet and specific nutrients relate to these early risk factors and indicators of healthy longevity. Methods: A review was performed to identify the links between dietary factors, energy balance, and gut microbiota composition and normal body weight; blood cholesterol, pressure, and glucose; healthy sleep; an active lifestyle; and normal physical function and cognitive performance. Particular attention was given to Mediterranean and other plant-based dietary models as sources of key nutrients. Evidence from observational studies, randomized controlled trials, and meta-analyses was considered. Results: Across all markers, dietary quality and nutrient adequacy emerged as consistent determinants of health outcomes. Key nutrients were associated with favorable cardiometabolic, cognitive, and musculoskeletal functions, such as omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, vitamins D and B, minerals like magnesium and potassium, and polyphenols. Common nutrition gaps included insufficient intake of fiber, unsaturated fats, and micronutrients, which was often linked to a shift toward less plant-based diets. Gut microbiota diversity may mediate several of these associations, influencing metabolism, inflammation, sleep quality, and cognitive performance, although inter-individual variability and causal pathways remain incompletely understood. Conclusions: An integrated dietary approach emphasizing the consumption of whole and plant-rich foods, with moderate amounts of animal foods, supports multiple early markers, risk factors, and indicators of healthy longevity. The modulation of the gut microbiota through plant-based diets and fermented foods represents a promising strategy for maintaining health across aging trajectories. Full article

Background/Objectives: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain leading cause of human morbidity and mortality worldwide. With increasing attention to vitamin K intake’s effect on health, comprehensive knowledge of vitamin K dietary sources is important. This study aims to determine the nutritional value of selected fermented food products (cheese, sauerkraut and natto) as a dietary vitamin K sources and to evaluate their lipid quality in the context of cardiovascular health. Methods: Two kinds of cow’s milk cheeses were selected. Regarding sauerkraut and natto, both commercial products and laboratory-produced samples were taken for comparison. Contents of phylloquinone (PK) and menaquinones (MKn) and fatty acids profiles were analyzed. Moreover, the following lipid quality indices were evaluated: Peroxidisability Index (PI); Atherogenicity Index (AI); Thrombogenicity Index (TI); and Hypocholesterolaemic/Hypercholesterolaemic (HH) ratio. Results: Sauerkraut demonstrated the highest phylloquinone content, while the highest content of MK-7 was found in natto. The fatty acid profile of natto was characterized by the highest proportions of linoleic acid (C18:2) and alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3). Natto’s lipid quality indices were the most favorable compared to cheese and sauerkraut. Conclusions: Based on its MK-7 content and lipid quality profile, natto demonstrates the greatest nutritional potential among the analyzed fermented products. These findings are based on compositional analysis and require confirmation through clinical studies investigating the cardiovascular effects of regular consumption of these specific products. Full article

For thousands of years glass packaging for wine has traditionally been associated with quality and remains used today as an inert and recyclable container. However, alternative containers such as aluminum cans and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles have been gaining traction over the last several years because of their lower cost, increased recyclability, and increasing consumer acceptance. Advancements in can-liner technology further support aluminum cans as a realistic option for wineries; however, data on how different packaging types influence the quality of packaged wine remains sparse. This study evaluated the physiochemical properties of carbonated blueberry wine stored in glass bottles, aluminum cans, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles under accelerated conditions (35 °C). Across the three packaging types, the wine quality parameters of total acidity, sugar, and pH did not differ significantly. There were, however, measurable statistical differences that emerged in color, anthocyanin content, and volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a strong linear relationship between the degradation of color (intensity and hue) and anthocyanin concentration over time for all packaging types, with the loss being dependent upon packaging type. These findings indicate that while certain quality attributes vary with container, the overall chemical changes in blueberry wine are comparable across glass, aluminum, and PET bottles. Consequently, aluminum can packaging stands as a viable, cost-effective alternative packaging for blueberry wine producers. Full article

Non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs) are consumed to reduce intake by providing a sweet taste with little to no energy. Despite regulatory approval and extensive use, uncertainty remains about their long-term role in weight management and health, and about whether exposure to sweet taste itself, independent of energy, influences these outcomes. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from three recent European consortia: SWEET, SWITCH and Sweet Tooth, which together provide complementary data from acute, short- and long-term randomized controlled trials. The studies examined the effects of NNSs and dietary sweet taste exposure on body weight, health-related biomarkers, sweet taste preference, and eating behavior. Across studies, replacing sugars with NNSs appeared to support weight loss maintenance, while NNS consumption and dietary sweet taste exposure showed no adverse changes in body weight, glucoregulatory and endocrine biomarkers, cardiometabolic risk factors, gut microbiota, or liver enzymes. Likewise, neither NNS use nor different dietary sweet taste exposure altered sweet taste liking, appetite sensation, energy intake, or food choice. However, interpretation should consider the characteristics of the included studies, including selected populations, intervention context, outcome heterogeneity, and the fact that several behavioral and biomarker outcomes were secondary or exploratory. Overall, the reviewed evidence suggests that replacing sugar intake with NNSs may support weight management strategies, while differences in habitual dietary sweet taste exposure per se appear largely neutral with respect to health-related biomarkers and sweet taste preferences. Full article

Background/objectives: The study aimed to identify the key methodological challenges and solutions related to recruitment and retention of rural-dwelling young adults into a randomized controlled trial that tests the feasibility of a digital healthy eating intervention (Veg4Me). Methods: Digital registration for a 12-week study was set up as a one-step process without researcher involvement. Participant registrations and recruitment rates were monitored daily using predetermined online preventative measures to identify fraudulent responses and to amend the digital registration process where necessary. Retention rates were monitored daily to identify any necessary amendments to the follow-up protocol. Results: During data collection, n = 279 fraudulent responses were identified from n = 536 total responses (52%). One month into recruitment, amendments were made to the registration process to reduce fraudulent responses. To address bot attacks, Qualtrics passwords and a two-factor authentication process were added to the Veg4Me landing page. Targeted recruitment strategies, such as unpaid social media posts, corresponded to peaks in recruitment. In the final recruitment month, a question was embedded within follow-up correspondence to encourage completion of the post-intervention survey. This resulted in an additional n = 8 (7%) participants completing the intervention. Conclusions: Empirical observations made in this study suggest that digital recruitment protocols without direct researcher involvement should consider multiple in-built strategies for identifying and preventing fraudulent responses. This includes a two-factor authentication process and minimizing the over-promotion of financial incentives in recruitment strategies. Recruitment strategies should consider the use of social media posts in local community groups, while the use of reminders and notifications could support retention. Full article

Nutrition in the early years of life plays a fundamental role in newborn growth, immune maturation, metabolic regulation, endocrine signaling, and neurological development, specifically through its interaction with the developing gut microbiota. Breast milk is the biological gold standard for infant nutrition; however, when breastfeeding is not possible, the development of formulations supplemented with bioactive substances can improve functional outcomes in comparison to standard milk formula. This narrative review discusses current evidence on formulas enriched with prebiotics, probiotics, postbiotics, synbiotics, human milk oligosaccharides, and other bioactive molecules. The review focuses on gut microbiota modulation, gastrointestinal function, growth and nutritional adequacy, immune development, infection-related outcomes, safety and tolerability, endocrine signaling, intestinal stem-cell regulation, obesity-related metabolic pathways, and emerging gut–brain axis interactions. Overall, available data indicate that bioactive-supplemented formulas are generally safe, well tolerated, and able to support normal growth, including in selected infants with specific clinical conditions. The most consistent effects are observed in the gastrointestinal tract, where supplementation promotes a more bifidogenic microbial profile, improves stool characteristics, supports intestinal barrier function, and influences microbial metabolic activity. By contrast, evidence regarding systemic immune effects, endocrine modulation, obesity prevention, and neurodevelopmental outcomes remains promising but heterogeneous and is still largely derived from preliminary human studies and experimental models. Therefore, these formulas may be considered a useful option when breastfeeding is not feasible, provided that their use is clinically appropriate and evidence based. Further studies are needed to clarify their long-term functional and clinical implications. Full article

Medicinal mushrooms have become an important component of modern dietary supplementation and functional nutrition due to their diverse biological activities and long-standing use in traditional medicine. Among the most widely studied and utilized species are Ganoderma lucidum, Lentinula edodes, Grifola frondosa, Cordyceps militaris, Cordyceps sinensis, Trametes versicolor, and Inonotus obliquus. Their therapeutic potential is associated with a wide range of biologically active constituents, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, phenolic compounds, and other secondary metabolites. Experimental and clinical studies indicate that extracts derived from these species may support immune function, modulate inflammatory responses, and exhibit antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties. In addition to extensive in vitro and in vivo investigations, a growing number of clinical studies have evaluated the safety and potential therapeutic benefits of medicinal mushroom preparations in humans. In recent years, increasing attention has been directed toward their incorporation into nutraceutical formulations and functional foods aimed at supporting health and preventing chronic diseases. Advances in cultivation technologies and extraction methods have also contributed to improved availability and standardization of mushroom-derived products. This review provides a comprehensive overview of selected medicinal mushroom species commonly used in dietary supplements, focusing on their bioactive constituents, reported biological activities, and potential applications in contemporary medicine. Full article