Nutrients, Volume 15, Issue 10 (May-2 2023) – 182 articles

Durian (Durio zibethinus L.) grows widely in Southeast Asia. The pulp of the durian fruit contains carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, fibers, various vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. This study was carried out to elucidate the anticancer mechanism of action of the methanolic extract of the fruit of Durio zibethinus (D. zibethinus) on human leukemia (HL-60) cells. The methanolic extract of D. zibethinus fruits exhibited its anticancer effect on HL-60 cells by inducing DNA damage and apoptosis. The DNA damage was confirmed by comet and DNA fragmentation assays. The methanolic extract of D. zibethinus fruits has been shown to cause cell cycle arrest in HL-60 cells during the S phase and G2/M phase. Additionally, the methanolic extract caused induction of the apoptotic pathway in the HL-60 cell line. This was confirmed by increased expression in pro-apoptotic proteins, viz., Bax protein expression, and a substantial reduction (p < 0.001) in anti-apoptotic proteins, viz., Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expressions. Therefore, this study confirms that the methanolic extract of D. zibethinus exerts its anticancer effects on the HL-60 cell line, causing cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis by an intrinsic mechanism. Full article

Associations of omega-3 fatty acids (n-3) with allergic diseases are inconsistent, perhaps in part due to genetic variation. We sought to identify and validate genetic variants that modify associations of n-3 with childhood asthma or atopy in participants in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART) and the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood 2010 (COPSAC). Dietary n-3 was derived from food frequency questionnaires and plasma n-3 was measured via untargeted mass spectrometry in early childhood and children aged 6 years old. Interactions of genotype with n-3 in association with asthma or atopy at age 6 years were sought for six candidate genes/gene regions and genome-wide. Two SNPs in the region of DPP10 (rs958457 and rs1516311) interacted with plasma n-3 at age 3 years in VDAART (p = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively) and with plasma n-3 at age 18 months in COPSAC (p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively) in associationwith atopy. Another DPP10 region SNP, rs1367180, interacted with dietary n-3 at age 6 years in VDAART (p = 0.009) and with plasma n-3 at age 6 years in COPSAC (p = 0.004) in association with atopy. No replicated interactions were identified for asthma. The effect of n-3 on reducing childhood allergic disease may differ by individual factors, including genetic variation in the DPP10 region. Full article

Individual taste sensitivity influences food preferences, nutritional control, and health, and differs greatly between individuals. The purpose of this study was to establish a method of measuring and quantifying an individual’s taste sensitivity and to evaluate the relationship between taste variation and genetic polymorphisms in humans using agonist specificities of the bitter taste receptor gene, TAS2R38, with the bitter compound 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP). We precisely detected the threshold of PROP bitter perception by conducting the modified two-alternative forced-choice (2AFC) procedure with the Bayesian staircase procedure of the QUEST method and examined genetic variation in TAS2R38 in a Japanese population. There were significant differences in PROP threshold between the three TAS2R38 genotype pairs for 79 subjects: PAV/PAV vs AVI/AVI, p < 0.001; PAV/AVI vs AVI/AVI, p < 0.001; and PAV/PAV vs PAV/AVI, p < 0.01. Our results quantified individual bitter perception as QUEST threshold values: the PROP bitter perception of individuals with the PAV/PAV or PAV/AVI genotypes was tens to fifty times more sensitive than that of an individual with the AVI/AVI genotype. Our analyses provide a basic model for the accurate estimation of taste thresholds using the modified 2AFC with the QUEST approach. Full article

Adipocyte dysfunction is the driver of obesity and correlates with insulin resistance and the onset of type 2 diabetes. Protein kinase N1 (PKN1) is a serine/threonine kinase that has been shown to contribute to Glut4 translocation to the membrane and glucose transport. Here, we evaluated the role of PKN1 in glucose metabolism under insulin-resistant conditions in primary visceral adipose tissue (VAT) from 31 patients with obesity and in murine 3T3-L1 adipocytes. In addition, in vitro studies in human VAT samples and mouse adipocytes were conducted to investigate the role of PKN1 in the adipogenic maturation process and glucose homeostasis control. We show that insulin-resistant adipocytes present a decrease in PKN1 activation levels compared to nondiabetic control counterparts. We further show that PKN1 controls the adipogenesis process and glucose metabolism. PKN1-silenced adipocytes present a decrease in both differentiation process and glucose uptake, with a concomitant decrease in the expression levels of adipogenic markers, such as PPARγ, FABP4, adiponectin and CEBPα. Altogether, these results point to PKN1 as a regulator of key signaling pathways involved in adipocyte differentiation and as an emerging player of adipocyte insulin responsiveness. These findings may provide new therapeutic approaches for the management of insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes. Full article

The emphasis on healthy nutrition is gaining a forefront place in current biomedical sciences. Nutritional deficiencies and imbalances have been widely demonstrated to be involved in the genesis and development of many world-scale public health burdens, such as metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, bee pollen is emerging as a scientifically validated candidate, which can help diminish conditions through nutritional interventions. This matrix is being extensively studied, and has proven to be a very rich and well-balanced nutrient pool. In this work, we reviewed the available evidence on the interest in bee pollen as a nutrient source. We mainly focused on bee pollen richness in nutrients and its possible roles in the main pathophysiological processes that are directly linked to nutritional imbalances. This scoping review analyzed scientific works published in the last four years, focusing on the clearest inferences and perspectives to translate cumulated experimental and preclinical evidence into clinically relevant insights. The promising uses of bee pollen for malnutrition, digestive health, metabolic disorders, and other bioactivities which could be helpful to readjust homeostasis (as it is also true in the case of anti-inflammatory or anti-oxidant needs), as well as the benefits on cardiovascular diseases, were identified. The current knowledge gaps were identified, along with the practical challenges that hinder the establishment and fructification of these uses. A complete data collection made with a major range of botanical species allows more robust clinical information. Full article

This study aims to examine the associations between midlife Life’s Simple 7 (LS7) status, psychosocial health (social isolation and loneliness), and late-life multidimensional frailty indicators, and to investigate their synergistic effect on frailty. We used cohort data from the UK Biobank. Frailty was assessed using physical frailty phenotype, hospital frailty risk score, and frailty index. Cox proportional-hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) on the association between the LS7 score, psychosocial health, and frailty. For the association of LS7 with physical and comprehensive frailty, 39,047 individuals were included. After a median follow-up of 9.0 years, 1329 (3.4%) people were identified with physical frailty, and 5699 (14.6%) with comprehensive frailty. For the association of LS7 with hospital frailty, 366,570 people were included. After a median follow-up of 12.0 years, 18,737 (5.1%) people were identified with hospital frailty. Compared to people with a poor LS7 score, those with an intermediate (physical frailty: 0.64, 0.54–0.77; hospital frailty: 0.60, 0.58–0.62; and comprehensive frailty: 0.77, 0.69–0.86) and optimal LS7 score (physical frailty: 0.31, 0.25–0.39; hospital frailty: 0.39, 0.37–0.41; and comprehensive frailty: 0.62, 0.55–0.69) were associated with a lower risk of frailty. Poor psychosocial health was associated with an increased risk of frailty. People who had a poor psychosocial status and poor LS7 score had the highest risk of frailty. A better LS7 score in midlife was associated with a reduced risk of physical, hospital, and comprehensive frailty. There was a synergistic effect of psychosocial status and LS7 on frailty. Full article

Emerging evidence suggests the complex interactions between gut microbiota and bile acids, which are crucial end products of cholesterol metabolism. Cholestatic liver disease is characterized by dysfunction of bile production, secretion, and excretion, as well as excessive accumulation of potentially toxic bile acids. Given the importance of bile acid homeostasis, the complex mechanism of the bile acid–microbial network in cholestatic liver disease requires a thorough understanding. It is urgent to summarize the recent research progress in this field. In this review, we highlight how gut microbiota regulates bile acid metabolism, how bile acid pool shapes the bacterial community, and how their interactions contribute to the pathogenesis of cholestatic liver disease. These advances might provide a novel perspective for the development of potential therapeutic strategies that target the bile acid pathway. Full article

Objective: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) affects hundreds of millions of individuals and constitutes a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Obesity is believed to be at the core of metabolic abnormalities associated with MetS, including dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, fatty liver disease and vascular dysfunction. Although previous studies demonstrate a diverse array of naturally occurring antioxidants that attenuate several manifestations of MetS, little is known about the (i) combined effect of these compounds on hepatic health and (ii) molecular mechanisms responsible for their effect. Methods: We explored the impact of a metabolic enhancer (ME), consisting of 7 naturally occurring antioxidants and mitochondrial enhancing agents, on diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis and atherogenic serum profile in mice. Results: Here we show that a diet-based ME supplementation and exercise have similar beneficial effects on adiposity and hepatic steatosis in mice. Mechanistically, ME reduced hepatic ER stress, fibrosis, apoptosis, and inflammation, thereby improving overall liver health. Furthermore, we demonstrated that ME improved HFD-induced pro-atherogenic serum profile in mice, similar to exercise. The protective effects of ME were reduced in proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9) knock out mice, suggesting that ME exerts it protective effect partly in a PCSK9-dependent manner. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that components of the ME have a positive, protective effect on obesity, hepatic steatosis and cardiovascular risk and that they show similar effects as exercise training. Full article

Allergen-free diets are a specific and effective anti-inflammatory therapy for eosinophilic esophagitis. They should be carried out by a multidisciplinary team to reduce side effects and improve adherence. According to recent guidelines and expert opinions, empirical diets with a reduced number of eliminated food categories and a step-up approach are the most encouraged strategy to reduce the number of endoscopies to identify food trigger(s) and maximize clinical results and adherence. Despite the fact that allergy testing-based diets are not recommended at a population level, geographical sensitization patterns may play a role in some patients in specific areas, such as in Southern and Central Europe. Full article

Background: Sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) intake is associated with adverse health outcomes. Objective: We examined associations between the knowledge of health risks related to SSB and SSB intake among adolescents. Design: A cross-sectional study using 2021 YouthStyles survey data. Participants/settings: 831 US adolescents (12–17 years old). Main outcome measures: The outcome variable was SSB intake (none, 1–6 times/week, and ≥1 time/day). Exposure variables were knowledge of seven SSB-related health risks. Statistical analyses performed: Seven multinomial regressions were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) for drinking SSB, according to knowledge of SSB-related health risks and after controlling for sociodemographics. Results: Overall, 29% of adolescents consumed SSB ≥1 time/day. Although most adolescents identified cavities (75.4%), weight gain (74.6%), and diabetes (69.7%) as being related to drinking SSB, fewer adolescents identified related conditions such as high blood pressure (31.7%), high cholesterol (25.8%), heart disease (24.6%), and some cancers (18.0%). Compared to non-SSB consumers, drinking SSB ≥1 time/day was significantly higher among adolescents who lacked knowledge of associations between SSB intake and weight gain (AOR = 2.0), heart disease (AOR = 1.9), or some cancers (AOR = 2.3) after controlling for covariates. Conclusions: Among US adolescents, knowledge of SSB-related health risks varied by condition, ranging from 18% (some cancers) to 75% (cavities and weight gain). There were increased odds of drinking SSB among those unaware that weight gain, heart disease, and some cancers are associated with SSB intake. Intervention could evaluate whether increasing certain types of knowledge may influence youth SSB intake. Full article

Background: Although recent research suggests that alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites play a critical role in the pathophysiology of immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN), the causal relationship between specific intestinal flora and metabolites and the risk of IgAN remains unclear. Method: This study employed Mendelian randomization (MR) to investigate the causal association between gut microbiota and IgAN. To explore potential associations between gut microbiota and various outcomes, four MR methods were applied: inverse variance weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode. If the results of the four methods are inconclusive, we prefer the IVW as the primary outcome. Additionally, MR-Egger, MR-PRESSO-Global, and Cochrane’s Q tests were used to detect heterogeneity and pleiotropy. The stability of MR findings was assessed using the leave-one-out approach, and the strength of the causal relationship between exposure and outcome was tested using Bonferroni correction. Additional clinical samples were utilized to validate the results of Mendelian randomization, and the outcomes were visualized through an ROC curve, confusion matrix, and correlation analysis. Result: This study examined a total of 15 metabolites and 211 microorganisms. Among them, eight bacteria and one metabolite were found to be associated with the risk of IgAN (p < 0.05). The Bonferroni-corrected test reveals that only Class. Actinobacteria (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.07–1.36, p = 0.0029) have a significant causal relationship with IgAN. According to Cochrane’s Q test, there is no substantial heterogeneity across different single-nucleotide polymorphisms (p > 0.05). Furthermore, MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO-Global tests (p > 0.05) showed no evidence of pleiotropy. No reverse causal association was found between the risk of IgAN and microbiota or metabolites (p > 0.05). Clinical specimens demonstrated the effectiveness and accuracy of Actinobacteria in distinguishing IgAN patients from those with other glomerular diseases (AUC = 0.9, 95% CI: 0.78–1.00). Additionally, our correlation analysis revealed a potential association between Actinobacteria abundance and increased albuminuria (r = 0.85) and poorer prognosis in IgAN patients (p = 0.01). Conclusion: Through MR analysis, we established a causal link between Actinobacteria and the incidence of IgAN. Moreover, clinical validation using fecal samples indicated that Actinobacteria might be associated with the onset and poorer prognosis of IgAN. This finding could provide valuable biomarkers for early, noninvasive detection of the disease and potential therapeutic targets in IgAN. Full article

Several cohort studies have reported that the Japanese diet is associated with reduced cardiovascular disease mortality. However, the results were not always consistent, and most of those studies conducted dietary surveys around 1990. We investigated the association between the Japanese diet and coronary artery disease (CAD) in 802 patients undergoing coronary angiography. The Japanese diet score was defined as the sum of scores of the intakes of fish, soy products, vegetables, seaweed, fruits, and green tea. CAD was found in 511 patients, of whom 173 had myocardial infarction (MI). Intakes of fish, soy products, vegetables, seaweed, fruits, and green tea were lower in patients with CAD, especially in those with MI, than in those without CAD. As a result, the Japanese diet score was significantly lower in patients with CAD than in those without CAD (p < 0.001). To clarify the association between the Japanese diet and CAD, the 802 study patients were divided into three tertiles by the Japanese diet score. The proportion of CAD decreased with the Japanese diet score, reaching 72% in patients at T1 (lowest score), 63% at T2, and 55% at T3 (highest) (p < 0.05). The proportion of MI also decreased with the Japanese diet score, reaching 25% at T1, 24% at T2, and 15% at T3 (p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, compared with T1, the adjusted odds ratios for CAD and MI were 0.41 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26–0.63) and 0.61 (95% CI: 0.38–0.99) for T3, respectively. Thus, the Japanese diet was found to be inversely associated with CAD in Japanese patients undergoing coronary angiography. Full article

Evidence suggests that diet can play a role in modulating systemic inflammation. This study aims to examine the relationship between fatty acids (FAs) (self-reported dietary intake and red blood cell (RBC) membrane fatty acid concentrations), three diet quality scores, and the plasma concentrations of inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, IL-6; tumour necrosis factor alpha, TNF-α; and C-reactive protein, CRP) in a group of Australian adults (n = 92). Data were collected on their demographic characteristics, health status, supplement intake, dietary intake, RBC-FAs and plasma inflammatory markers over a nine-month period. Mixed-effects models were used to determine the relationship between RBC-FAs, dietary intake of FAs, diet quality scores and inflammatory markers to determine which variable most strongly predicted systemic inflammation. A significant association was identified between dietary saturated fat intake and TNF-α (β = 0.01, p < 0.05). An association was also identified between RBC membrane saturated fatty acids (SFA) and CRP (β = 0.55, p < 0.05). Inverse associations were identified between RBC membrane monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) (β = −0.88, p < 0.01), dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (β = −0.21, p < 0.05) and CRP, and the Australian Eating Survey Modified Mediterranean Diet (AES-MED) score and IL-6 (β = −0.21, p < 0.05). In summary, using both objective and subjective measures of fat intake and diet quality, our study has confirmed a positive association between saturated fat and inflammation, while inverse associations were observed between MUFAs, PUFAs, the Mediterranean diet, and inflammation. Our results provide further evidence that manipulating diet quality, in particular fatty acid intake, may be useful for reducing chronic systemic inflammation. Full article

Background and aims: 1 in 10 pregnant women is diagnosed with gestational hypertension. Increasing evidence suggests that preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and gestational hypertension may affect human breast milk’s lactogenesis and percentage composition. We aimed to examine whether there is any significant influence of gestational hypertension on the composition of macronutrients in human breast milk and to assess its correlation with fetal growth. Methods: A total of 72 breastfeeding women (34 diagnosed with gestational hypertension and 38 normotensive women during pregnancy) were recruited to the study at the Division of Neonatology, Medical University of Gdańsk, between June and December 2022. Milk samples were collected between the 3rd and 6th day of lactogenesis. Samples were analyzed using the Miris HMA™ Human Milk Analyzer (Upsala, Sweden), which evaluates the milk composition’s energy, fat, carbohydrate and protein quantity. In addition, we assessed the children’s anthropometric measurements (birth weight, body length and head circumference at birth). We used logistic regression to estimate the adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval. Results: The mean (±standard deviation) macronutrient composition per 10 mL of milk in the GH group was 2.5 g (±0.9) of fat, 1.7 g (±0.3) of true protein, 7.7 g (±0.3) of carbohydrates and 63.2 g (±8.1) of energy, in the normotensive women group 1.0 g (±0.9) of fat, 1.7 g (±0.3) of true protein, 7.3 g (±0.4) of carbohydrates and 57.9 g (±8.6) of energy content, respectively. The fat composition was higher in the PIH group by a mean of 0.6 g (p < 0.005). Gestational hypertension had a positive, significant correlation with birth weight (p < 0.013) and the mother’s pre-pregnancy weight (p < 0.005). Conclusions: In conclusion, we found significant differences between milk composition in postpartum women with gestational hypertension compared to healthy, normotensive women. Human milk from women with gestational hypertension was found to contain a higher composition of fat, carbohydrates and energy in comparison to healthy women. Our aim is to further evaluate this correlation, as well as to assess the growth rate of newborns in order to determine the need for individualized formulas for women with pregnancy-induced hypertension, those with poor lactogenesis and those who cannot or choose not to breastfeed. Full article

The areca nut is often consumed as a chewing food in the Asian region. Our previous study revealed that the areca nut is rich in polyphenols with high antioxidant activity. In this study, we further assessed the effects and molecular mechanisms of the areca nut and its major ingredients on a Western diet-induced mice dyslipidemia model. Male C57BL/6N mice were divided into five groups and fed with a normal diet (ND), Western diet (WD), WD with areca nut extracts (ANE), areca nut polyphenols (ANP), and arecoline (ARE) for 12 weeks. The results revealed that ANP significantly reduced WD-induced body weight, liver weight, epididymal fat, and liver total lipid. Serum biomarkers showed that ANP ameliorated WD-enhanced total cholesterol and non-high-density lipoprotein (non-HDL). Moreover, analysis of cellular signaling pathways revealed that sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2) and enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryld coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) were significantly downregulated by ANP. The results of gut microbiota analysis revealed that ANP increased the abundance of beneficial bacterium Akkermansias and decreased the abundance of the pathogenic bacterium Ruminococcus while ARE shown the opposite result to ANP. In summary, our data indicated that areca nut polyphenol ameliorated WD-induced dyslipidemia by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiota and reducing the expressions of SREBP2 and HMGCR while areca nut ARE inhibited this improvement potential. Full article

Rationale: Epidemiological studies that focus on the relationship between dietary isoflavone intake and the risk of breast cancer still lead to inconsistent conclusions. Herein, we conducted a meta-analysis of the latest studies to explore this issue. Method: We performed a systematic search using Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase from inception to August 2021. The robust error meta-regression (REMR) model and generalized least squares trend (GLST) model were used to establish dose–response relationships between isoflavones and breast cancer risk. Results: Seven cohort studies and 17 case-control studies were included in the meta-analysis, and the summary OR for breast cancer was 0.71 (95% CI 0.72–0.81) when comparing the highest to the lowest isoflavone intake. A subgroup analysis further showed that neither menopausal status nor ER status has a significant influence on the association between isoflavone intake and breast cancer risk, while the isoflavone intake doses and study design does. When the isoflavones exposure was less than 10 mg/day, no effects on breast cancer risk were detected. The inverse association was significant in the case-control studies but not in the cohort studies. In the dose–response meta-analysis of the cohort studies, we observed an inverse association between isoflavone intake and breast cancer: a 10 mg/day increase in isoflavone intake was related to reductions of 6.8% (OR = 0.932, 95% CI 0.90–0.96) and 3.2% (OR = 0.968, 95% CI 0.94–0.99) in breast cancer risk when using REMR and GLST, respectively. In the dose–response meta-analysis of the case-control studies, the inverse association for every 10 mg/day isoflavone intake was associated with breast cancer risk reductions by 11.7%. Conclusion: present evidence demonstrated that taking in dietary isoflavone is helpful in reducing the breast cancer risk. Full article

Background: Immunoglobulin-E(IgE)-mediated hypersensitivity to cow’s milk allergens is a frequent cause of severe and life-threatening anaphylactic reactions. Besides case histories and controlled food challenges, the detection of the IgE antibodies specific to cow’s milk allergens is important for the diagnosis of cow-milk-specific IgE sensitization. Cow´s milk allergen molecules provide useful information for the refined detection of cow-milk-specific IgE sensitization. Methods: A micro-array based on ImmunoCAP ISAC technology was developed and designated milk allergen micro-array (MAMA), containing a complete panel of purified natural and recombinant cow’s milk allergens (caseins, α-lactalbumin, β-lactoglobulin, bovine serum albumin-BSA and lactoferrin), recombinant BSA fragments, and α-casein-, α-lactalbumin- and β-lactoglobulin-derived synthetic peptides. Sera from 80 children with confirmed symptoms related to cow’s milk intake (without anaphylaxis: n = 39; anaphylaxis with a Sampson grade of 1–3: n = 21; and anaphylaxis with a Sampson grade of 4–5: n = 20) were studied. The alterations in the specific IgE levels were analyzed in a subgroup of eleven patients, i.e., five who did not and six who did acquire natural tolerance. Results: The use of MAMA allowed a component-resolved diagnosis of IgE sensitization in each of the children suffering from cow’s-milk-related anaphylaxis according to Sampson grades 1–5 requiring only 20–30 microliters of serum. IgE sensitization to caseins and casein-derived peptides was found in each of the children with Sampson grades of 4–5. Among the grade 1–3 patients, nine patients showed negative reactivity to caseins but showed IgE reactivity to alpha-lactalbumin (n = 7) or beta-lactoglobulin (n = 2). For certain children, an IgE sensitization to cryptic peptide epitopes without detectable allergen-specific IgE was found. Twenty-four children with cow-milk-specific anaphylaxis showed additional IgE sensitizations to BSA, but they were all sensitized to either caseins, alpha-lactalbumin, or beta-lactoglobulin. A total of 17 of the 39 children without anaphylaxis lacked specific IgE reactivity to any of the tested components. The children developing tolerance showed a reduction in allergen and/or peptide-specific IgE levels, whereas those remaining sensitive did not. Conclusions: The use of MAMA allows for the detection, using only a few microliters of serum, of IgE sensitization to multiple cow’s milk allergens and allergen-derived peptides in cow-milk-allergic children with cow-milk-related anaphylaxis. Full article

This study aimed to identify the serum metabolites associated with sarcopenic risk in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, determine the effect of dietary protein intake on the serum metabolic profile, and examine its association with sarcopenia. Ninety-nine Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes were included, and sarcopenic risk was defined as low muscle mass or strength. Seventeen serum metabolites were quantified after gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. The relationship between dietary protein intake and the metabolites concerning sarcopenia was analyzed, and the factors affecting sarcopenic risk were clarified. Twenty-seven patients were classified as being at risk of sarcopenia, the same as the general risk, which was associated with older age, a longer duration of the disease, and a lower body mass index. Low levels of leucine and glutamic acid were significantly associated with low muscle strength (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively), and leucine was also associated with muscle mass (p = 0.001). Lower levels of glutamic acid had higher odds of sarcopenic risk after being adjusted for age and HbA1c (adjusted OR 4.27, 95% CI 1.07–17.11, p = 0.041), but not for leucine. Leucine and glutamic acid can serve as useful biomarkers for sarcopenia, highlighting potential targets for its prevention. Full article

Bariatric surgery and pharmacology treatments increase circulating glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and peptide YY (PYY), in turn promoting satiety and body weight (BW) loss. However, the utility of GLP-1 and PYY in predicting appetite response during dietary interventions remains unsubstantiated. This study investigated whether the decrease in hunger observed following low energy diet (LED)-induced weight loss was associated with increased circulating ‘satiety peptides’, and/or associated changes in glucose, glucoregulatory peptides or amino acids (AAs). In total, 121 women with obesity underwent an 8-week LED intervention, of which 32 completed an appetite assessment via a preload challenge at both Week 0 and Week 8, and are reported here. Visual analogue scales (VAS) were administered to assess appetite-related responses, and blood samples were collected over 210 min post-preload. The area under the curve (AUC_0-210), incremental AUC (iAUC_0-210), and change from Week 0 to Week 8 (∆) were calculated. Multiple linear regression was used to test the association between VAS–appetite responses and blood biomarkers. Mean (±SEM) BW loss was 8.4 ± 0.5 kg (−8%). Unexpectedly, the decrease in ∆AUC_0-210 hunger was best associated with decreased ∆AUC_0-210 GLP-1, GIP, and valine (p < 0.05, all), and increased ∆AUC_0-210 glycine and proline (p < 0.05, both). The majority of associations remained significant after adjusting for BW and fat-free mass loss. There was no evidence that changes in circulating GLP-1 or PYY were predictive of changes in appetite-related responses. The modelling suggested that other putative blood biomarkers of appetite, such as AAs, should be further investigated in future larger longitudinal dietary studies. Full article

This study presents the first bibliometric evaluation and systematic analysis of publications related to mucosal immunity and commensal microbiota over the last two decades and summarizes the contribution of countries, institutions, and scholars in the study of this field. A total of 1423 articles related to mucosal immunity and commensal microbiota in vivo published in 532 journals by 7774 authors from 1771 institutions in 74 countries/regions were analyzed. The interaction between commensal microbiota in vivo and mucosal immunity is essential in regulating the immune response of the body, maintaining communication between different kinds of commensal microbiota and the host, and so on. Several hot spots in this field have been found to have received extensive attention in recent years, especially the effects of metabolites of key strains on mucosal immunity, the physiopathological phenomena of commensal microbiota in various sites including the intestine, and the relationship between COVID-19, mucosal immunity and microbiota. We hope that the full picture of the last 20 years in this research area provided in this study will serve to deliver necessary cutting-edge information to relevant researchers. Full article

The relationship between caloric and nutrient intake and overall health has been extensively studied. However, little research has focused on the impact of the hardness of staple foods on health. In this study, we investigated the effects of a soft diet on brain function and behavior in mice from an early age. Mice fed a soft diet for six months exhibited increased body weight and total cholesterol levels, along with impaired cognitive and motor function, heightened nocturnal activity, and increased aggression. Interestingly, when these mice were switched back to a solid diet for three months, their weight gain ceased, total cholesterol levels stabilized, cognitive function improved, and aggression decreased, while their nocturnal activity remained high. These findings suggest that long-term consumption of a soft diet during early development can influence various behaviors associated with anxiety and mood regulation, including weight gain, cognitive decline, impaired motor coordination, increased nocturnal activity, and heightened aggression. Therefore, the hardness of food can impact brain function, mental well-being, and motor skills during the developmental stage. Early consumption of hard foods may be crucial for promoting and maintaining healthy brain function. Full article

Blueberries beneficially modulate physiologic mechanisms relevant to the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). Forty-three patients with FGID received freeze-dried blueberries (equivalent to 180 g fresh blueberries) or sugar and energy-matched placebo in a double-blind, randomized, cross-over study. After 6 weeks of treatment, the differences in Gastrointestinal Clinical Rating Scale (GSRS) scores and abdominal symptom relief were compared as primary outcome measures. The quality of life and life functioning ratings (OQ45.2 questionnaire), Bristol stool scales, and fructose breath test results constituted secondary outcome measures. Blueberry treatment resulted in more patients with relevant abdominal symptom relief compared to placebo (53% vs. 30%, p = 0.03). Total and pain GSRS scores improved insignificantly (mean treatment differences [95% CI]: −3.4 [−7.4 to 0.6] (p = 0.09) and −1.0 [−2.2 to 0.1] (p = 0.08), respectively). OQ45.2 scores improved during blueberry treatment compared to placebo (treatment difference −3.2 [95% CI: −5.6 to −0], p = 0.01). Treatment effect differences for the further measures did not reach statistical significance. Blueberries relieved abdominal symptoms and improved general markers of well-being, quality of life, and life functioning more than placebo in patients with FGID. Consequently, the polyphenol and fiber components of blueberries exert broad beneficial effects separate from the sugars present in both treatments. Full article

Effects of two foods with bioactive constituents (black tea brew, BTB and grape seed powder, GSP) on lipid digestibility was studied. Lipolysis inhibitory effect of these foods was examined using two test foods (cream and baked beef) with highly different fatty acid (FA) composition. Digestion simulations were performed either using both gastric and pancreatic lipase, or only with pancreatic lipase according to the Infogest protocol. Lipid digestibility was assessed based on the bioaccessible FAs. Results showed the triacylglycerols containing short- and medium-chain FAs (SCFA and MCFA) are non-preferred substrates for pancreatic lipase; however, this is not characteristic for GL. Our findings suggest that both GSP and BTB primarily affect the lipolysis of SCFAs and MCFAs, because the dispreference of pancreatic lipase towards these substrates was further enhanced as a result of co-digestion. Interestingly, GSP and BTB similarly resulted in significant decrease in lipolysis for cream (containing milk fat having a diverse FA profile), whereas they were ineffective in influencing the digestion of beef fat, having simpler FA profile. It highlights that the characteristics of the dietary fat source of a meal can be a key determinant on the observed extent of lipolysis when co-digested with foods with bioactive constituents. Full article

Although previous epidemiological studies have been conducted to investigate the relationship between nut consumption and the risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the evidence remains inconclusive and contentious. The aim of our study was to further conduct a meta-analysis of observational studies to explore the latest evidence of the influence of nut consumption on NAFLD. This meta-analysis included a comprehensive search of all articles published in the PubMed and Web of Science online databases as of April 2023. A total of 11 articles were included, comprising 2 prospective cohort studies, 3 cross-sectional studies, and 7 case–control studies, and a random effects model was used to evaluate the relationship between nuts and NAFLD. Results showed that the odds ratio (OR) of NAFLD was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.81–0.99, p < 0.001) when comparing the highest and lowest total nut intake, indicating a significant negative correlation. Furthermore, subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of nuts on NAFLD was more significant in females (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78–0.98, I² = 76.2%). In summary, our findings provide support for a protective relationship between nut intake and risk of NAFLD. Further exploration of the association between other dietary components and NAFLD is an important avenue for future research. Full article

Table salt is the main source of sodium (Na) in the human diet. Excessive supply of Na in a diet is strongly linked to many non-communicable human diseases, such as hypertension, obesity and stomach cancer. The World Health Organization recommends that daily intake of salt in adult diets should be kept below 5 g/person/day, which corresponds to 2 g Na/person/day. However, on average, adults consume about 9–10 g/person/day, and children and young people about 7–8 g/person/day. Initiatives to reduce salt intake include modifications of food composition in collaboration with the food industry, education of consumers, salt marking on foodstuff labels and taxation of salt. A need also exists to educate society so that they choose low-sodium products. In view of the food technology and amount of salt intake, the most important and the easiest change to make is to reduce the content of salt in baked goods. This paper analyses the results of surveys regarding strategies to reduce salt content in food products and considers multifaceted initiatives to reduce salt intake as a possible efficient method of improving the population’s health status. Full article

The acylcarnitine (AC) profile has been shown to be altered in survivors of a prolonged stay in intensive care unit (ICU), with higher short-chain derivates compared to reference ranges. The present study aimed at describing the AC profile of patients surviving a short ICU stay versus patients surviving a >7-day multiple organ dysfunction. Patients discharged from ICU after an elective and non-complicated cardiac surgery (CS) were recruited. For each CS, one to two adults, matched for gender and age, were recruited among patients enrolled in our post-ICU follow-up program after an ICU stay ≥7 days (PS). In both groups, the AC profile was determined during the week following ICU discharge. A total of 50 CS patients (SAPS II 23 (18–27)) survived an ICU stay of 2 (2–3) days and were matched to 85 PS patients (SAPS II 36 (28–51), p < 0.001) who survived an ICU stay of 11 (8–15.5) days. No carnitine deficiency was observed in either group. Their total AC/C0 ratio was similar: 0.355 (0.268–0.415) and 0.358 (0.289–0.417), respectively (p = 0.391). A ratio >0.4 representing a disturbed mitochondrial metabolism was observed in 26/85 (30.6%) PS patients and in 15/50 (30%) CS patients (p > 0.999). The long-chain ACs were elevated in both groups, with a greater increase in the CS group. The short-chain ACs were higher in the PS group: 1.520 (1.178–1.974) vs. 1.185 (0.932–1.895) μmol/L (p < 0.001). The role of the AC profile as potential marker of catabolism and/or mitochondrial dysfunction during the critical illness trajectory should be further investigated. Full article

Eating alone and poor dental status have been reported to influence dietary intake in older adults. First, we compared nutrient and food intake and dental markers between women eating alone and together, who participated in a home health management program conducted by Kanazawa Medical University. The results showed the significantly higher intake of fresh fruit and some micro-nutrients and a lower decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT) index (better dental status) in women eating alone after adjusting for age, suggesting that dental status may mediate the association between commensality and dietary intake. Then, we investigated nutrients and foods at risk for insufficient intake and associated with increasing dental markers. The risks for the insufficient intake of protein and n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were significantly increased with an increasing DMFT index. The risk for n-3 PUFA intake also increased with increasing numbers of missing teeth in women. Foods at risk for insufficient consumption included beans for women with an increasing DMFT index and green and yellow vegetables, fresh fruits, and meat and fish for women with increasing numbers of missing teeth. These findings suggest that good health management, including the treatment of decayed teeth, is important for the prevention of malnutrition in community-dwelling healthy older women. Full article

This study evaluated the acute and sub-acute toxicity of B. amyloliquefaciens HTI-19 (isolated from stingless bee honey) in female Sprague Dawley rats. In an acute toxicity study, the rats received a low dosage (1 × 10⁹ CFU·mL⁻¹), medium dosage (3 × 10⁹ CFU·mL⁻¹), or high dosage (1 × 10¹⁰ CFU·mL⁻¹) of B. amyloliquefaciens HTI-19 daily orally by syringe-feeding for 14 days. For the subacute toxicity study, rats received a low dosage (1 × 10⁹ CFU·mL⁻¹) or a high dosage (1 × 10¹⁰ CFU·mL⁻¹) for 28 days. The probiotic feeding in acute and sub-acute toxicity studies showed no mortality or significant abnormalities in rats throughout the experimental period. In week 2 of the acute study, the body weight of the rats showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) compared to the control. By gross and microscopic examination of organs, no evidently significant changes were observed in the morphology of organs. Serum biochemical tests and blood hematology tests also revealed no treatment-related changes. Overall, these data indicated that oral administration of B. amyloliquefaciens HTI-19 up to 1 × 10⁹ CFU·mL⁻¹ for 28 days can be considered safe. Full article

The food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) is designed to capture an individual’s habitual dietary intake and is the most applied method in nutritional epidemiology. Our aim was to assess the relative validity and reproducibility of the FFQ used in the Diet, Cancer, and Health—Next Generations cohort (DCH-NG). We included 415 Danish women and men aged 18–67 years. Spearman’s correlations coefficients, Bland–Altman limits of agreement and cross-classification between dietary intakes estimated from the FFQ administered at baseline (FFQ_baseline), and the mean of three 24-h dietary recalls (24-HDRs) and the FFQ administered after 12 months (FFQ_{12 months}) were determined. Nutrient intakes were energy-adjusted by Nutrient Density and Residual methods. Correlation coefficients ranged from 0.18–0.58 for energy and energy-adjusted nutrient intakes, and the percentage of participants classified into the same quartile ranged from 28–47% between the FFQ_baseline and the 24-HDRs. For the FFQ_{12 months} compared with FFQ_baseline, correlation coefficients ranged from 0.52–0.88 for intakes of energy, energy-adjusted nutrients, and food groups, and the proportion of participants classified into the same quartiles ranged from 43–69%. Overall, the FFQ provided a satisfactory ranking of individuals according to energy, nutrient, and food group intakes, making the FFQ suitable for use in epidemiological studies investigating diet in relation to disease outcomes. Full article

Obesity is associated with the presence of low-grade inflammation even during childhood. The dysregulation in the secretion of adipokines, such as leptin, which occurs in obesity states, could be associated with an increase in inflammatory factors already at an early age. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the role of leptin levels in the association between body mass index (BMI) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in healthy schoolchildren. Leptin and hs-CRP levels were analyzed in two pediatric cohorts comprising 684 prepubertal children and 763 adolescents. hs-CRP concentrations correlated significantly with BMI and leptin levels in prepubertal males and females as well as in adolescents. However, after adjusting for leptin concentration, no significant correlation was observed between hs-CRP and BMI in prepubertal children, while the correlations remained significant in adolescents. The same differences were observed when analyzed BMI according to hs-CRP tertile after adjusting for leptin; mean BMI was not significantly different between hs-CRP tertile in prepubertal children but was significantly different in adolescents. In conclusion, the fact that leptin concentrations determine the association of BMI with hs-CRP levels in prepubertal children, but not in adolescents, suggests a role for leptin in low-grade inflammation at early ages, while other factors seem to contribute to hs-CRP levels later in life. Full article