Nutrients

Research

Jump to: Review, Other

12 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exposure to the Dutch Famine in Early Gestation and Cognitive Function and Decline in Older Age

by Aline Marileen Wiegersma, Amber Boots, Tessa J. Roseboom and Susanne R. de Rooij

Nutrients 2023, 15(2), 293; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15020293 - 6 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1860

Abstract

People exposed to the 1944–1945 Dutch famine in early gestation performed worse on a selective attention task at age 58 and reported more cognitive problems at age 72. We here hypothesized that undernutrition in early gestation is associated with poorer cognitive functioning in [...] Read more.

People exposed to the 1944–1945 Dutch famine in early gestation performed worse on a selective attention task at age 58 and reported more cognitive problems at age 72. We here hypothesized that undernutrition in early gestation is associated with poorer cognitive functioning in older age and a higher rate of cognitive decline. We tested this hypothesis in the Dutch famine birth cohort in men and women combined and separately. We assessed cognitive function using a Stroop-like, trail-making and 15-word task (at ages 68 and 74) and the Montreal cognitive assessment as well as self-perceived cognitive problems (at age 74) in 73 men (n = 34) and women (n = 39). We compared cognitive function and decline (change in cognitive function between age 68 and 74) between those exposed in early gestation and those not exposed (born before or conceived after the famine). Although in both men and women cognitive function declined from age 68 to 74, cognitive task scores and the rate of decline did not differ between those exposed or unexposed to famine. At age 74, men exposed to famine in early gestation more often reported cognitive problems, although this was not statistically different from unexposed men (OR 3.1 [95%CI 0.7 to 13.0]). We did not find evidence of increased cognitive decline after prenatal undernutrition. Selective participation and mortality may have hampered our ability to detect potential true effects. The self-perceived cognitive problems among men who had been exposed to famine in early gestation might be an indication of future dementia risk. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease)

9 pages, 2557 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Honeys as Possible Sources of Cholinesterase Inhibitors

by Dominik Szwajgier, Ewa Baranowska-Wójcik, Anna Winiarska-Mieczan and Dorota Gajowniczek-Ałasa

Nutrients 2022, 14(14), 2969; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14142969 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 6009

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterised by low levels of the neurotransmitter (acetylcholine), oxidative stress, and inflammation of the central nervous system. The only currently available form of treatment entails the administration of AChE/BChE (acetylcholinesterase/butyrylcholinesterase) inhibitors to patients diagnosed with [...] Read more.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterised by low levels of the neurotransmitter (acetylcholine), oxidative stress, and inflammation of the central nervous system. The only currently available form of treatment entails the administration of AChE/BChE (acetylcholinesterase/butyrylcholinesterase) inhibitors to patients diagnosed with the disease. However, AD prevention is possible by administering the correct inhibitors with food. The aim of this study was to examine 19 types of honey in terms of their contents of cholinesterase inhibitors. The inhibition of AChE and BChE relative to the respective honey samples was evaluated using Ellman’s colorimetric method, including the “false-positive” effect. The highest potential for AChE inhibition was observed in the case of thyme honey (21.17% inhibition), while goldenrod honey showed the highest capacity for BChE inhibition (33.89%). Our study showed that honeys may provide a rich source of cholinesterase inhibitors and, in this way, play a significant role in AD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

22 pages, 7055 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydroxybenzoic Acids as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Calorimetric and Docking Simulation Studies

by Grażyna Budryn, Iwona Majak, Joanna Grzelczyk, Dominik Szwajgier, Alejandro Rodríguez-Martínez and Horacio Pérez-Sánchez

Nutrients 2022, 14(12), 2476; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14122476 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2172

Abstract

One of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is low acetylcholine level due to high acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. For this reason, AChE inhibitors are used in the treatment of AD, the prolonged use of which may cause a cholinergic crisis. There is a [...] Read more.

One of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is low acetylcholine level due to high acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. For this reason, AChE inhibitors are used in the treatment of AD, the prolonged use of which may cause a cholinergic crisis. There is a need to search for safe natural AChE inhibitors. The study analyzed 16 hydroxybenzoic acids using calorimetry and docking simulation as AChE inhibitors. All tested compounds were shown to inhibit the hydrolysis of ACh. The best properties were shown by methyl syringinate, which acted as competitive inhibitor at a catalytic site. The tested compounds also interacted with the anionic or peripheral binding site known to block β-amyloid plaques formation. The activity of the tested hydroxybenzoic acids IC50 ranged from 5.50 to 34.19 µmol/µmol of AChE, and the binding constant Ka from 20.53 to 253.16 L/mol, which proves their reversible, non-toxic effect, and activity at physiological concentrations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 317 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Nutrition, Overweight, and Cognition in Euthymic Bipolar Individuals Compared to Healthy Controls

by Bernd Reininghaus, Nina Dalkner, Christiane Schörkhuber, Eva Fleischmann, Frederike T. Fellendorf, Michaela Ratzenhofer, Alexander Maget, Martina Platzer, Susanne A. Bengesser, Adelina Tmava-Berisha, Melanie Lenger, Robert Queissner, Elena M. D. Schönthaler and Eva Z. Reininghaus

Nutrients 2022, 14(6), 1176; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14061176 - 11 Mar 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2415

Abstract

Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with impairments in cognitive functions, in which metabolic factors, e.g., overweight, seem to play a significant role. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nutritional factors and cognitive performance in euthymic individuals with BD. [...] Read more.

Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with impairments in cognitive functions, in which metabolic factors, e.g., overweight, seem to play a significant role. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between nutritional factors and cognitive performance in euthymic individuals with BD. A study cohort of 56 euthymic individuals with BD was compared to a sample of 53 mentally healthy controls. To assess cognitive function, the following tests were applied: California Verbal Learning Test, Trail Making Test A/B, d2 Test of Attention-Revised, and Stroop’s Color-Word Interference Test. Furthermore, a 4-day food record was processed to evaluate dietary intake of macronutrients, specific micronutrients, and food diversity. Body mass index and waist to height ratio were calculated to assess overweight and central obesity. Results showed no nutritional differences between individuals with BD and controls. Individuals with BD performed worse in the d2 test than controls. Hierarchical regression analyses yielded no association between cognitive and nutritional parameters. However, waist to height ratio was negatively correlated with almost all cognitive tests. Central obesity seems to affect cognitive functioning in BD, while the lack of finding differences in nutritional data might be due to problems when collecting data and the small sample size. Consequently, further studies focusing on objectively measuring food intake with adequate sample size are needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease)

Review

Jump to: Research, Other

29 pages, 415 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Scoping Literature Review of the Relation between Nutrition and ASD Symptoms in Children

by Inge van der Wurff, Anke Oenema, Dennis de Ruijter, Claudia Vingerhoets, Thérèse van Amelsvoort, Bart Rutten, Sandra Mulkens, Sebastian Köhler, Annemie Schols and Renate de Groot

Nutrients 2022, 14(7), 1389; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14071389 - 26 Mar 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 4374

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication skills, and repetitive and restrictive behaviors and interests. Even though there is a biological basis for an effect of specific nutrition factors on ASD symptoms and there is scientific literature available [...] Read more.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterized by impairments in social interaction, communication skills, and repetitive and restrictive behaviors and interests. Even though there is a biological basis for an effect of specific nutrition factors on ASD symptoms and there is scientific literature available on this relationship, whether nutrition factors could play a role in ASD treatment is unclear. The goal of the current literature review was to summarize the available scientific literature on the relation between nutrition and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms in childhood, and to formulate practical dietary guidelines. A comprehensive search strategy including terms for ASD, nutrition factors (therapeutic diets, dietary patterns, specific food products, fatty acids and micronutrients) and childhood was developed and executed in six literature databases (Cinahl, Cochrane, Ovid Embase, PsycInfo, PubMed and Web of Science). Data from meta-analyses, systematic reviews and original studies were qualitatively summarized. A total of 5 meta-analyses, 29 systematic reviews and 27 original studies were retrieved that focused on therapeutic diets, specific food products, fatty acids and micronutrients and ASD symptoms during childhood. Results of the available studies were sparse and inconclusive, and hence, no firm conclusions could be drawn. There is currently insufficient evidence for a relation between nutrition and ASD symptoms in childhood, making it impossible to provide practical nutrition guidelines; more methodological sound research is needed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease)

19 pages, 399 KiB

Open AccessReview

Dietary Supplements in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy: A New Hope?

by Katarzyna Szklener, Sebastian Szklener, Adam Michalski, Klaudia Żak, Weronika Kuryło, Konrad Rejdak and Sławomir Mańdziuk

Nutrients 2022, 14(3), 625; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14030625 - 31 Jan 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 7137

Abstract

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the main and most prevalent side effects of chemotherapy, significantly affecting the quality of life of patients and the course of chemotherapeutic treatment. Nevertheless, despite its prevalence, the management of the CIPN is considered particularly challenging, [...] Read more.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is one of the main and most prevalent side effects of chemotherapy, significantly affecting the quality of life of patients and the course of chemotherapeutic treatment. Nevertheless, despite its prevalence, the management of the CIPN is considered particularly challenging, with this condition often being perceived as very difficult or even impossible to prevent with currently available agents. Therefore, it is imperative to find better options for patients diagnosed with this condition. While the search for the new agents must continue, another opportunity should be taken into consideration—repurposing of the already known medications. As proposed, acetyl-L-carnitine, vitamins (group B and E), extracts of medical plants, including goshajinkigan, curcumin and others, unsaturated fatty acids, as well as the diet composed of so-called “sirtuin-activating foods”, could change the typical way of treatment of CIPN, improve the quality of life of patients and maintain the continuity of chemotherapy. This review summarizes currently available data regarding mentioned above agents and evaluates the rationale behind future research focused on their efficacy in CIPN. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease)

Other

Jump to: Research, Review

2 pages, 214 KiB

Open AccessReply

Reply to Zarguan et al. Comment on “Budryn et al. Hydroxybenzoic Acids as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Calorimetric and Docking Simulation Studies. Nutrients 2022, 14, 2476”

by Joanna Grzelczyk, Grażyna Budryn and Horacio Pérez-Sánchez

Nutrients 2022, 14(22), 4860; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224860 - 17 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1097

Abstract

We thank Prof. Zarguan’s group for their comment [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease)

2 pages, 195 KiB

Open AccessComment

Comment on Budryn et al. Hydroxybenzoic Acids as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Calorimetric and Docking Simulation Studies. Nutrients 2022, 14, 2476

by Ilham Zarguan, Abdelaziz Benjouad and Lamiae Belayachi

Nutrients 2022, 14(22), 4859; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14224859 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 939

Abstract

It is with great interest that we read the article entitled “Hydroxybenzoic Acids as Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors: Calorimetric and Docking Simulation Studies” published in Nutrients 2022, 14, 2476 [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease)

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

The Role of Functional Foods and Ingredients in Mental Disorders and Brain Disease

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Review

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI