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Current Medicinal Chemistry 2024Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) has a structure similar to whole grains and contains phytochemicals and dietary fiber. Hence, it is considered a food substance with a high...
BACKGROUND
Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) has a structure similar to whole grains and contains phytochemicals and dietary fiber. Hence, it is considered a food substance with a high nutritional value.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy of quinoa in reducing fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight (BW), and body mass index (BMI) in a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.
METHODS
A comprehensive search in ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases as well as Google Scholar, was conducted up to November 2022 to identify reports of randomized clinical trials that investigated the effect of quinoa on FBG, BW, and BMI.
RESULTS
Seven trials comprising 258 adults with mean ages of 31 to 64 years were included in this review. Studies used 15 to 50 grams of quinoa/per day as an intervention, and the intervention was between 28 to 180 days. In a dose-response analysis of FBG, there was significant evidence of a nonlinear association between intervention and FBG based on the quadratic model (P-value for nonlinearity = 0.027); hence, the slope of the curve increased when quinoa intake was nearly 25 g/- day. In comparison between quinoa seed supplementation and placebo, our findings showed that quinoa seed supplementation did not have a significant effect on BMI (MD: -0.25; 95% CI: -0.98, 0.47; I=0%, P = 0.998) and BW (MD: -0.54; 95% CI: -3.05, 1.97; I=0%, P = 0.99), when compared with placebo. Evidence of publication bias was not found among the included studies.
CONCLUSION
The present analysis revealed the beneficial effects of quinoa on the blood glucose level. Further studies on quinoa are needed to confirm these results.
PubMed: 36847233
DOI: 10.2174/0929867330666230227151852 -
Critical Reviews in Food Science and... Nov 2023The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine which variables affect the viability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) added to different types of... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine which variables affect the viability of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) added to different types of refrigerated foods during the first 28 days. Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Reviews databases were searched from 1997 to April 2022. A total of 278 studies, which showed randomized and controlled experiments published in peer reviewed journals, were included. The viability of LAB in different moments during the storage process was synthesized as mean point estimate (MPE) via random-effects meta-analyses and the effect of multiple factors on the LAB´s viability was evaluated by multiple meta-regression. The meta-analysis showed that the decrease in LAB viability will be more abrupt the greater the initial dose. The physical structure of food may influence bacterial viability. Fruit was the type of product that most quickly lost viability. Co-culture of two or more species did not affect viability. Preservation methods had an unfavorable effect and prebiotics had a beneficial effect on bacterial viability. Viability was genus dependent. The data obtained in this study provide an overview of the factors to be taken into account for the design of new foods.
Topics: Lactobacillales; Food Preservation; Prebiotics; Microbial Viability
PubMed: 35848093
DOI: 10.1080/10408398.2022.2099807 -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Jul 2024Microbiota plays an essential role in maintaining body health, through positive influences on metabolic, defensive, and trophic processes and on intercellular... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Microbiota plays an essential role in maintaining body health, through positive influences on metabolic, defensive, and trophic processes and on intercellular communication. Imbalance in intestinal flora, with the proliferation of harmful bacterial species (dysbiosis) is consistently reported in chronic illnesses, including neurodegenerative diseases (ND). Correcting dysbiosis can have a beneficial impact on the symptoms and evolution of ND. This review examines the effects of microbiota modulation through administration of probiotics, prebiotics, symbiotics, or prebiotics' metabolites (postbiotics) in patients with ND like multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
METHODS
PubMed, Web of Science, Medline databases and ClinicalTrials.gov registry searches were performed using pre-/pro-/postbiotics and ND-related terms. Further references were obtained by checking relevant articles.
RESULTS
Although few compared to animal studies, the human studies generally show positive effects on disease-specific symptoms, overall health, metabolic parameters, on oxidative stress and immunological markers. Therapy with probiotics in various forms (mixtures of bacterial strains, fecal microbiota transplant, diets rich in fermented foods) exert favorable effects on patients' mental health, cognition, and quality of life, targeting pathogenetic ND mechanisms and inducing reparatory mechanisms at the cellular level. More encouraging results have been observed in prebiotic/postbiotic therapy in some ND.
CONCLUSIONS
The effects of probiotic-related interventions depend on the patients' ND stage and pre-existing allopathic medication. Further studies on larger cohorts and long term comprehensive neuropsychiatric, metabolic, biochemical testing, and neuroimaging monitoring are necessary to optimize therapeutic protocols in ND.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Neurodegenerative Diseases; Probiotics; Prebiotics; Dysbiosis; Animals; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation
PubMed: 38878554
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2024.05.036 -
Nutrition Reviews May 2024Consumption of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health and aging.
CONTEXT
Consumption of the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) has beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health and aging.
OBJECTIVE
This systematic review aimed to critically investigate the effect of the MedDiet on glycation markers in healthy or overweight individuals with type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
DATA SOURCES
MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library were searched, using the terms "Mediterranean diet" AND "glycation end products, advanced".
DATA EXTRACTION
Three randomized and 3 nonrandomized clinical trials, containing data on 2935 adult and elderly individuals with normal weight or overweight, were included. All extracted data were compiled, compared, and critically analyzed.
DATA ANALYSIS
The authors of most of the studies demonstrated a reduction in serum concentrations of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), such as εN-carboxymethyllysine and methylglyoxal, and in skin autofluorescence levels after at least 4 weeks of adherence to the MedDiet. The MedDiet also led to positive effects on gene expression of receptors for AGEs, as RAGE and AGER1, and an enzyme involved in detoxification (glyoxalase I). There is no evidence that short-term adherence affects glycation markers.
CONCLUSIONS
Glycation markers improved in response to the MedDiet. The possible mechanisms involved may be related to the low AGE and refined sugars content of the diet, as well as its high monounsaturated fatty acid, phenolic compound, and dietary fiber contents.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021284006.
PubMed: 38719207
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuae045 -
Cancer Causes & Control : CCC Mar 2024To analyze interventions implemented at the time of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, or among individuals who have previously undergone investigation for CRC, focused... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE
To analyze interventions implemented at the time of colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, or among individuals who have previously undergone investigation for CRC, focused on reducing CRC risk through promotion of lifestyle behavior change. Additionally, this review evaluated to what extent such interventions apply behavior change techniques (BCTs) to achieve their objectives.
METHODS
Five databases were systematically searched to identify randomized control trials seeking to reduce CRC risk through behavior change. Outcomes were changes in health-related lifestyle behaviors associated with CRC risk, including changes in dietary habits, body mass index, smoking behaviors, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were pooled using random effects models. BCT's were coded from a published taxonomy of 93 techniques.
RESULTS
Ten RCT's met the inclusion criteria. Greater increase in fruit/vegetable consumption in the intervention group were observed with respect to the control (SMD 0.13, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.18; p < 0.001). Across fiber, alcohol, fat, red meat, and multivitamin consumption, and smoking behaviors, similar positive outcomes were observed (SMD 0.09-0.57 for all, p < 0.01). However, among physical activity and body mass index, no difference between the intervention groups compared with controls were observed. A median of 7.5 BCTs were applied across included interventions.
CONCLUSION
While magnitude of the observed effect sizes varied, they correspond to potentially important changes in lifestyle behaviors when considered on a population scale. Future interventions should identify avenues to maximize long-term engagement to promote sustained lifestyle behavior change.
Topics: Humans; Early Detection of Cancer; Life Style; Health Behavior; Fruit; Colorectal Neoplasms
PubMed: 37925646
DOI: 10.1007/s10552-023-01773-0 -
Nutrition Reviews May 2024Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. To date, no confirmed medication is available for the... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
CONTEXT
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. To date, no confirmed medication is available for the treatment of NAFLD. Previous studies showed the promising effects of gut microbiome-targeted therapies; however, the results were controversial and the strength of the evidence and their clinical significance remained unclear.
OBJECTIVES
This umbrella study summarizes the results of meta-analyses investigating the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on liver enzymes in the NAFLD population.
DATA SOURCE
A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases was done up to December 20, 2022, to find meta-analyses on randomized control trials reporting the effects of gut microbial therapy on patients with NAFLD.
DATA EXTRACTION
Two independent investigators extracted data on the characteristics of meta-analyses, and any discrepancies were resolved by a third researcher. The AMSTAR2 checklist was used for evaluating the quality of studies.
DATA ANALYSIS
A final total of 15 studies were included in the analysis. Results showed that microbiome-targeted therapies could significantly reduce levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT; effect size [ES], -10.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], -13.29, -7.14; P < 0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST; ES, -8.86; 95%CI, -11.39, -6.32; P < 0.001), and γ-glutamyltransferase (ES, -5.56; 95%CI, -7.92, -3.31; P < 0.001) in patients with NAFLD. Results of subgroup analysis based on intervention showed probiotics could significantly reduce levels of AST (ES, -8.69; 95%CI, -11.01, -6.37; P < 0.001) and ALT (ES, -9.82; 95%CI, -11.59, -8.05; P < 0.001). Synbiotics could significantly reduce levels of AST (ES, -11.40; 95%CI, -13.91, -8.88; P < 0.001) and ALT (ES, -11.87; 95%CI, -13.80, -9.95; P < 0.001). Prebiotics had no significant effects on AST and ALT levels (ES, -2.96; 95%CI, -8.12, 2.18, P = 0.259; and ES, -4.69; 95%CI, -13.53, 4.15, P = 0.299, respectively).
CONCLUSION
Gut microbiome-targeted therapies could be a promising therapeutic approach in the improvement of hepatic damage in patients with NAFLD. However, more studies are needed to better determine the best bacterial strains, duration of treatment, and optimum dosage of gut microbiome-targeted therapies in the treatment of the NAFLD population.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO registration no. CRD42022346998.
Topics: Humans; Alanine Transaminase; Aspartate Aminotransferases; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Liver; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Prebiotics; Probiotics; Synbiotics
PubMed: 37550264
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad086 -
Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins Apr 2024Prebiotics are substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit. The effects of prebiotics on the gut microbiome of individuals with...
Prebiotics are substrates selectively utilized by host microorganisms conferring a health benefit. The effects of prebiotics on the gut microbiome of individuals with inflammatory processes need further investigations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of prebiotics on the gastrointestinal microbiome of individuals with some types of inflammatory conditions. Randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the effects of different prebiotics on the gut microbiome were included. A systematic review of the literature including searches in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus databases was performed until 23 March 2023. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration's criteria. Qualitative data was tabulated to facilitate comparisons and represented in the form of descriptive statistics and summary tables. Thirty trials, ranging from 12 to 135 patients, were included. The most commonly used prebiotic type was inulin-type fructans, and the treatment duration ranged from 1 to 36 weeks. The majority of the trials investigated the gut microbiome using 16 s rRNA gene sequencing on the Illumina Miseq platform. In general, prebiotic therapy exerted positive effects on inflammatory conditions. An increase in Bifidobacterium genus was the most common shift in bacterial composition observed. Within the limits of this systematic review, it can be suggested that prebiotic therapy presents the potential to favorably modulate the gastrointestinal microbiome of individuals with different types of inflammatory conditions.
Topics: Humans; Prebiotics; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Inulin; Fructans
PubMed: 37093515
DOI: 10.1007/s12602-023-10075-5