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Life Sciences Apr 2024Emerging evidence highlights the role of COVID-19 in instigating gut dysbiosis, with repercussions on disease severity and bidirectional gut-organ communication... (Review)
Review
AIMS
Emerging evidence highlights the role of COVID-19 in instigating gut dysbiosis, with repercussions on disease severity and bidirectional gut-organ communication involving the lung, heart, brain, and liver. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in addressing gut dysbiosis associated with COVID-19, as well as their impact on related disease severity and clinical outcomes.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We systematically review 27 studies exploring the efficacy of different microbiome-modulating therapies: probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation as potential interventions for COVID-19.
KEY FINDINGS
The probiotics and synbiotics investigated encompassed a spectrum of eight bacterial and fungal genera, namely Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, Streptococcus, Enterococcus, Pediococcus, Bacillus, Saccharomyces, and Kluyveromyces. Noteworthy prebiotics employed in these studies included chestnut tannin, galactooligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharide, and resistant dextrin. The majority of the investigated biotics exhibited positive effects on COVID-19 patients, manifesting in symptom alleviation, inflammation reduction, and notable decreases in mortality rates. Five studies reported death rates, showing an average mortality ranging from 0 % to 11 % in the intervention groups, as compared to 3 % to 30 % in the control groups. Specifically, probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics demonstrated efficacy in diminishing the duration and severity of symptoms while significantly accelerating viral and symptomatic remission. FMT emerged as a particularly effective strategy, successfully restoring gut microbiota and ameliorating gastrointestinal disorders.
SIGNIFICANCE
The insights gleaned from this review significantly contribute to our broader comprehension of the therapeutic potential of biotics in addressing COVID-19-related gut dysbiosis and mitigating secondary multi-organ complications.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Dysbiosis; Microbiota; Prebiotics; Probiotics
PubMed: 38408636
DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122535 -
The Ocular Surface Jul 2024Corneal neuropathy involves corneal nerve damage that disrupts ocular surface integrity, negatively impacting quality-of-life from pain and impaired vision. Any ocular... (Review)
Review
Corneal neuropathy involves corneal nerve damage that disrupts ocular surface integrity, negatively impacting quality-of-life from pain and impaired vision. Any ocular or systemic condition that damages the trigeminal nerve can lead to corneal neuropathy. However, the condition currently does not have standardized diagnostic criteria or treatment protocols. The primary aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventions for treating corneal neuropathy. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated corneal neuropathy treatments were eligible if the intervention(s) was compared to a placebo or active comparator. Comprehensive searches were conducted in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase and clinical trial registries from inception to July 2022. The Cochrane Risk-of-Bias 2 tool was used to assess study methodological quality. Certainty of the body of evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Overall, 20 RCTs were included. Evaluated interventions comprised regenerative therapies (n = 6 studies), dietary supplements (n = 4), anti-glycemic agents (n = 3), combination therapy (n = 3), supportive therapies (n = 2) and systemic pain pharmacotherapies (n = 2). Nine RCTs were judged at high risk of bias for most outcomes. Definitions for corneal neuropathy in the populations varied substantially across studies, consistent with lack of consensus on diagnostic criteria. A diverse range of outcomes were quantified, likely reflecting absence of an agreed core outcome set. There was insufficient evidence to draw definitive conclusions on the efficacy or safety of any intervention. There was low or very low certainty evidence for several neuroregenerative agents and dietary supplements for improving corneal nerve fiber length in corneal neuropathy due to dry eye disease and diabetes. Low or very low certainty evidence was found for neuroregenerative therapies and dietary supplements not altering corneal immune cell density. This review identifies a need to standardize the clinical definition of corneal neuropathy and define a minimum set of core outcome measures. Together, this will provide a foundation for improved phenotyping of clinical populations in studies, and improve the capacity to synthesize data to inform evidence-based care. Protocol registration: PROSPERO ID: CRD42022348475.
Topics: Humans; Cornea; Corneal Diseases; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Trigeminal Nerve Diseases; Quality of Life
PubMed: 38688453
DOI: 10.1016/j.jtos.2024.04.004 -
Nutrition & Diabetes May 2024Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Increased fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI),... (Review)
Review Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Increased fasting blood sugar (FBS), fasting insulin (FI), and insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) are observed in patients with NAFLD. Gut microbial modulation using prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics has shown promise in NAFLD treatment. This meta-umbrella study aimed to investigate the effects of gut microbial modulation on glycemic indices in patients with NAFLD and discuss potential mechanisms of action.
METHODS
A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane Library until March 2023 for meta-analyses evaluating the effects of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on patients with NAFLD. Random-effect models, sensitivity analysis, and subgroup analysis were employed.
RESULTS
Gut microbial therapy significantly decreased HOMA-IR (ES: -0.41; 95%CI: -0.52, -0.31; P < 0.001) and FI (ES: -0.59; 95%CI: -0.77, -0.41; P < 0.001). However, no significant effect was observed on FBS (ES: -0.17; 95%CI: -0.36, 0.02; P = 0.082). Subgroup analysis revealed prebiotics had the most potent effect on HOMA-IR, followed by probiotics and synbiotics. For FI, synbiotics had the most substantial effect, followed by prebiotics and probiotics.
CONCLUSION
Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics administration significantly reduced FI and HOMA-IR, but no significant effect was observed on FBS.
Topics: Humans; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Prebiotics; Probiotics; Synbiotics; Glycemic Index; Insulin Resistance; Blood Glucose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Insulin
PubMed: 38729941
DOI: 10.1038/s41387-024-00281-7 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2024Studies have shown that sphingomyelin (SM) and its metabolites play signaling roles in the regulation of human health. Endogenous SM is involved in metabolic syndrome...
BACKGROUND
Studies have shown that sphingomyelin (SM) and its metabolites play signaling roles in the regulation of human health. Endogenous SM is involved in metabolic syndrome (MetS), while dietary SM supplementation may maintain lipid metabolism and prevent or alleviate MetS. Therefore, we hypothesized that dietary SM supplementation is beneficial for human health.
AIMS
In order to examine the impacts of dietary SM on metabolic indexes in adults without MetS, we performed a meta-analysis to test our hypothesis.
METHODS
A comprehensive search was performed to retrieve randomized controlled trials that were conducted between 2003 and 2023 to examine the effects of dietary SM supplementation on metabolic parameters in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases. RevMan 5.4 and Stata 14.0 software were used for meta-analysis, a sensitivity analysis, the risk of bias, and the overall quality of the resulted evidence.
RESULTS
Eventually, 10 articles were included in this meta-analysis. Dietary SM supplementation did not affect the endline blood SM level. When compared to the control, SM supplementation reduced the blood total cholesterol level [MD: -12.97, 95% CI: (-14.57, -11.38), < 0.00001], low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level [MD: -6.62, 95% CI: (-10.74, -2.49), = 0.002], and diastolic blood pressure [MD: -3.31; 95% CI (-4.03, -2.58), < 0.00001] in adults without MetS. The supplementation also increased high-density lipoprotein level [MD:1.41, 95% CI: (0.94, 1.88), < 0.00001] and muscle fiber conduction velocity [MD: 95% 1.21 CI (0.53, 1.88), = 0.0005]. The intake of SM had no effect on the blood phospholipids and lyso-phosphatidylcholine, but slightly decreased phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylinositol concentrations. Dietary SM supplementation reduced insulin level [MD: -0.63; 95% CI (-0.96, -0.31), = 0.0001] and HOMA-IR [MD: -0.23; 95% CI (-0.31, -0.16), < 0.00001] without affecting blood levels of glucose and inflammatory cytokines.
CONCLUSION
Overall, dietary SM supplementation had a protective effect on blood lipid profiles and insulin level, but had limited impacts on other metabolic parameters in adults without MetS. More clinical trials and basic research are required.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
PROSPERO, identifier CRD42023438460.
PubMed: 38463938
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2024.1363077 -
Journal of Nephrology Jan 2024The potential protective effects of dietary fiber against all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Relationship between dietary fiber and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
The potential protective effects of dietary fiber against all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease have not been definitively established. To verify this relationship, a systematic review and a meta-analysis were undertaken.
METHODS
PubMed, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Embase, ProQuest, and CINAHL were used to systematically search for prospective cohort studies that investigate the association between dietary fiber and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular disease in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This search was conducted up to and including March 2023.
RESULTS
The analysis included 10 cohort studies, with a total of 19,843 patients who were followed up for 1.5-10.1 y. The results indicated a significant negative correlation between dietary fiber and all-cause mortality among patients with CKD (HR 0.80, 95% CI 0.58-0.97, P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis further revealed that the study population and exposure factors were significantly associated with all-cause mortality (P < 0.001). Increased dietary fiber intake was associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.67-0.90) and a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease (HR 0.87; 95% CI 0.80-0.95) among patients with CKD.
CONCLUSIONS
The pooled results of our meta-analysis indicated an inverse association between dietary fiber intake and all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, and cardiovascular disease.
Topics: Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dietary Fiber; Prospective Studies; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Mortality
PubMed: 38165561
DOI: 10.1007/s40620-023-01808-4 -
Health Technology Assessment... Jan 2024Up to 30% of children have constipation at some stage in their life. Although often short-lived, in one-third of children it progresses to chronic functional...
BACKGROUND
Up to 30% of children have constipation at some stage in their life. Although often short-lived, in one-third of children it progresses to chronic functional constipation, potentially with overflow incontinence. Optimal management strategies remain unclear.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the most effective interventions, and combinations and sequences of interventions, for childhood chronic functional constipation, and understand how they can best be implemented.
METHODS
Key stakeholders, comprising two parents of children with chronic functional constipation, two adults who experienced childhood chronic functional constipation and four health professional/continence experts, contributed throughout the research. We conducted pragmatic mixed-method reviews. For all reviews, included studies focused on any interventions/strategies, delivered in any setting, to improve any outcomes in children (0-18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of chronic functional constipation (excluding studies of diagnosis/assessment) included. Dual reviewers applied inclusion criteria and assessed risk of bias. One reviewer extracted data, checked by a second reviewer. We systematically searched electronic databases (including Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Excerpta Medica Database, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature) (January 2011 to March 2020) and grey literature, including studies (any design) reporting any intervention/strategy. Data were coded, tabulated and mapped. Research quality was not evaluated. For each different intervention, we included existing systematic reviews judged to be low risk of bias (using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Systematic Reviews), updating any meta-analyses with new randomised controlled trials. Where there was no existing low risk of bias systematic reviews, we included randomised controlled trials and other primary studies. The risk of bias was judged using design-specific tools. Evidence was synthesised narratively, and a process of considered judgement was used to judge certainty in the evidence as high, moderate, low, very low or insufficient evidence. Included studies (any design, English-language) detailed intervention-related costs. Studies were categorised as cost-consequence, cost-effectiveness, cost-utility or cost-benefit, and reporting quality evaluated using the consensus health economic criteria checklist. Included studies reported data relating to implementation barriers or facilitators. Using a best-fit framework synthesis approach, factors were synthesised around the consolidated framework for implementation research domains.
RESULTS
Stakeholders prioritised outcomes, developed a model which informed evidence synthesis and identified evidence gaps.
SCOPING REVIEW
651 studies, including 190 randomised controlled trials and 236 primary studies, conservatively reported 48 interventions/intervention combinations.
EFFECTIVENESS SYSTEMATIC REVIEWS
studies explored service delivery models ( = 15); interventions delivered by families/carers ( = 32), wider children's workforce ( = 21), continence teams ( = 31) and specialist consultant-led teams ( = 42); complementary therapies ( = 15); and psychosocial interventions ( = 4). One intervention (probiotics) had moderate-quality evidence; all others had low to very-low-quality evidence. Thirty-one studies reported evidence relating to cost or resource use; data were insufficient to support generalisable conclusions. One hundred and six studies described implementation barriers and facilitators.
CONCLUSIONS
Management of childhood chronic functional constipation is complex. The available evidence remains limited, with small, poorly conducted and reported studies. Many evidence gaps were identified. Treatment recommendations within current clinical guidelines remain largely unchanged, but there is a need for research to move away from considering effectiveness of single interventions. Clinical care and future studies must consider the individual characteristics of children.
STUDY REGISTRATION
This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42019159008.
FUNDING
This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment programme (NIHR award ref: 128470) and is published in full in ; Vol. 28, No. 5. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.
Topics: Child; Adult; Humans; Systematic Reviews as Topic; Health Personnel; Constipation
PubMed: 38343084
DOI: 10.3310/PLTR9622 -
World Journal of Diabetes May 2024Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, non-communicable disease with a substantial global impact, affecting a significant number of individuals. Its etiology is closely tied to...
BACKGROUND
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, non-communicable disease with a substantial global impact, affecting a significant number of individuals. Its etiology is closely tied to imbalanced dietary practices and sedentary lifestyles. Conversely, increasing die-tary fiber (DF) intake has consistently demonstrated health benefits in numerous studies, including improvements in glycemic control and weight management.
AIM
To investigate the efficacy of DF interventions in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
METHODS
A systematic literature review was conducted to explore the association between DF intake and the management of T2DM. Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 26 studies were included in this review.
RESULTS
The main strategies implied to increased DF intake were: High DF diet plus acarbose (2 studies); DF supplements (14 studies); and high DF diets (10 studies). Overall, most studies indicated that increased DF intake resulted in im-provements in glycemic control and weight management in T2DM patients.
CONCLUSION
DF represents a valuable strategy in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, improving health outcomes. DF intake offers the potential to improve quality of life and reduce complications and mortality associated with diabetes. Likewise, through supplements or enriched foods, DF contributes significantly to the control of several markers such as HbA1c, blood glucose, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, and body weight.
PubMed: 38766430
DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i5.1001 -
Nutrients May 2024Diet is integral to the healthy ageing process and certain diets can mitigate prolonged and deleterious inflammation. This review aims to assess the impact of diets high... (Review)
Review
Diet is integral to the healthy ageing process and certain diets can mitigate prolonged and deleterious inflammation. This review aims to assess the impact of diets high in sustainably sourced proteins on nutrient intake, gut, and age-related health in older adults. A systematic search of the literature was conducted on 5 September 2023 across multiple databases and sources. Studies assessing sustainably sourced protein consumption in community dwelling older adults (≥65 years) were included. Risk of bias (RoB) was assessed using 'RoB 2.0' and 'ROBINS-E'. Narrative synthesis was performed due to heterogeneity of studies. Twelve studies involving 12,166 older adults were included. Nine studies (n = 10,391) assessed habitual dietary intake and had some RoB concerns, whilst three studies (n = 1812), two with low and one with high RoB, conducted plant-based dietary interventions. Increased adherence to sustainably sourced diets was associated with improved gut microbial factors (n = 4640), healthier food group intake (n = 2142), and increased fibre and vegetable protein intake (n = 1078). Sustainably sourced diets positively impacted on gut microbiota and healthier intake of food groups, although effects on inflammatory outcomes and health status were inconclusive. Future research should focus on dietary interventions combining sustainable proteins and fibre to evaluate gut barrier function and consider inflammatory and body composition outcomes in older adults.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Dietary Proteins; Female; Male; Aged, 80 and over; Diet; Dietary Fiber; Diet, Healthy; Eating; Independent Living
PubMed: 38732644
DOI: 10.3390/nu16091398 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2024The intestinal microbiota refers to the collection of microorganisms that exist in the human gut. It has been said that bacteria influence the development of metabolic... (Review)
Review
The intestinal microbiota refers to the collection of microorganisms that exist in the human gut. It has been said that bacteria influence the development of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, as they have roles in immunomodulation, protection against pathogens, blood vessel growth, repairing the intestinal wall, and the development of the neurological system. In this review, we look at the latest research regarding interactions between gut microbiota and oral antihyperglycemic drugs and we present data suggesting that the microbiome may help counteract the reduced glucose tolerance and insulin resistance associated with metabolic disorders. We found that antidiabetic drugs can have significant impacts on gut microbiota composition and function, potentially influencing both the efficacy and side effects of these medications. Additionally, we discovered that microbial-based therapeutics, including probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics, and fecal microbiota can be considered when discussing preventive measures and personalized treatment options for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Understanding how antidiabetic drugs modulate gut microbiota composition and function is essential for optimizing their therapeutic efficacy and minimizing potential adverse effects. The relationship between the gut microbiota and glycemic agents, not fully understood, is currently the subject of increasing research and discussion. It has been proven that the microbiome can impact the effectiveness of the medications, but further research in this field may uncover novel therapeutic strategies for diabetes and other metabolic disorders by targeting the gut microbiota.
Topics: Humans; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Hypoglycemic Agents; Intestines; Prebiotics; Probiotics
PubMed: 38542513
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25063540 -
Translational Psychiatry Jan 2024The psychopharmacological treatment of patients with schizophrenia or depression is often accompanied by serious side effects. In particular, the clinical findings of... (Review)
Review
The psychopharmacological treatment of patients with schizophrenia or depression is often accompanied by serious side effects. In particular, the clinical findings of weight gain are worrying, as this side effect can lead to various medical sequelae in the future. However, the treatment of metabolic changes in psychiatric patients is often neglected or unsuccessful. An improved knowledge of possible therapeutic approaches is needed. The aim of this study was to provide an overview of the utilisation and effectiveness of probiotics in reducing weight gain in patients with severe mental illness. A scoping review of studies published until 15 June 2022 was conducted to identify studies using probiotics in people with schizophrenia or depression. We systematically searched the databases EMBASE, PubMed (MEDLINE), Web of Science and SCOPUS with a predefined search string. In addition, reference lists of relevant publications were examined for additional studies. The studies were assessed by two reviewers. The primary outcomes were weight-related measurements. The secondary outcomes were metabolic blood parameters and gut microbiota. Four studies ultimately met the inclusion criteria. Two studies in which probiotics were administered did not find significant effects on pharmacologically induced weight gain. The other two studies examined the effects of synbiotics (a combination of probiotics and prebiotics). Interestingly, less weight gain was observed in individuals with this combined intervention. Adjustments in diet can be helpful and are generally well-accepted interventions in the fight against pharmacologically induced weight gain. The clinical use of probiotics and prebiotics (or synbiotics) as dietary interventions may represent a promising additional strategy in this regard. However, the few studies available showed no clear conclusions.
Topics: Humans; Probiotics; Prebiotics; Synbiotics; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Weight Gain
PubMed: 38225232
DOI: 10.1038/s41398-024-02735-z