-
Nutrients Jun 2024Japan is a country often subject to natural disasters, influenced by a rapidly increasing aging demographic. The current research aims to analyze the food distribution...
BACKGROUND
Japan is a country often subject to natural disasters, influenced by a rapidly increasing aging demographic. The current research aims to analyze the food distribution for elderly evacuees who were relocated to a care facility in Wajima City, administered by the non-profit organization Tokushukai Medical Assistant Team (TMAT), post the Noto Peninsula Earthquake on 1 January 2024. A significant portion of the shelter's inhabitants were elderly individuals.
METHODS
TMAT's operations began immediately after the calamity, concentrating on evaluating the nutritional content of meals provided during the initial and subsequent phases, along with a thorough nutritional assessment. During this process, researchers examined the meal conditions for evacuees, including the elderly and those with disabilities, observed the actual meal distribution at welfare centers, and discussed the challenges and potential solutions.
RESULT
Throughout the TMAT mission, a total of 700 evacuees received assistance, with 65% being 65 years old or above. An analysis of the nutritional content of the 10 meal varieties served at the shelter revealed inadequate energy and protein levels for elderly individuals, particularly men, indicating the need for future enhancements.
CONCLUSIONS
Following a detailed evaluation of TMAT's response to the Noto Peninsula earthquake, it was determined that the food provided in the shelters in the affected areas did not meet the nutritional needs of elderly individuals, especially men, based on nutritional analysis. To stress the importance of establishing an effective framework, it is recommended to promptly revise the emergency food provisions for the elderly population, considering they constitute the majority of the affected individuals.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Earthquakes; Male; Female; Japan; Meals; Aged, 80 and over; Dietary Proteins; Energy Intake; Disasters; Nutritive Value; Nutrition Assessment; Emergency Shelter; Food Services; Nutritional Status; Middle Aged
PubMed: 38931259
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121904 -
Nutrients Jun 2024American football players consume large quantities of animal-sourced protein in adherence with traditional recommendations to maximize muscle development and athletic...
Protein Requirements for Maximal Muscle Mass and Athletic Performance Are Achieved with Completely Plant-Based Diets Scaled to Meet Energy Needs: A Modeling Study in Professional American Football Players.
American football players consume large quantities of animal-sourced protein in adherence with traditional recommendations to maximize muscle development and athletic performance. This contrasts with dietary guidelines, which recommend reducing meat intake and increasing consumption of plant-based foods to promote health and reduce the risk of chronic disease. The capacity of completely plant-based diets to meet the nutritional needs of American football players has not been studied. This modeling study scaled dietary data from a large cohort following completely plant-based diets to meet the energy requirements of professional American football players to determine whether protein, leucine, and micronutrient needs for physical performance and health were met. The Cunningham equation was used to estimate calorie requirements. Nutrient intakes from the Adventist Health Study 2 were then scaled to this calorie level. Protein values ranged from 1.6-2.2 g/kg/day and leucine values ranged from 3.8-4.1 g/meal at each of four daily meals, therefore meeting and exceeding levels theorized to maximize muscle mass, muscle strength, and muscle protein synthesis, respectively. Plant-based diets scaled to meet the energy needs of professional American football players satisfied protein, leucine, and micronutrient requirements for muscle development and athletic performance. These findings suggest that completely plant-based diets could bridge the gap between dietary recommendations for chronic disease prevention and athletic performance in American football players.
Topics: Humans; Football; Dietary Proteins; Athletic Performance; Male; Muscle, Skeletal; Energy Intake; Nutritional Requirements; Adult; Diet, Vegetarian; Leucine; Muscle Strength; United States; Athletes; Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Micronutrients; Young Adult; Diet, Plant-Based
PubMed: 38931258
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121903 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in the plasma of pregnant women with hyperglycemia, potentially inducing oxidative stress and fetal developmental...
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in the plasma of pregnant women with hyperglycemia, potentially inducing oxidative stress and fetal developmental abnormalities. Although intrauterine hyperglycemia has been implicated in excessive fetal growth, the effects of maternal AGEs on fetal development remain unclear. We evaluated the differentiation regulators and cellular signaling in the skeletal muscles of infants born to control mothers (ICM), diabetic mothers (IDM), and diabetic mothers supplemented with either cis-palmitoleic acid (CPA) or trans-palmitoleic acid (TPA). Cell viability, reactive oxygen species levels, and myotube formation were assessed in AGE-exposed C2C12 cells to explore potential mitigation by CPA and TPA. Elevated receptors for AGE expression and decreased Akt and AMPK phosphorylation were evident in rat skeletal muscles in IDM. Maternal palmitoleic acid supplementation alleviated insulin resistance by downregulating RAGE expression and enhancing Akt phosphorylation. The exposure of the C2C12 cells to AGEs reduced cell viability and myotube formation and elevated reactive oxygen species levels, which were attenuated by CPA or TPA supplementation. This suggests that maternal hyperglycemia and plasma AGEs may contribute to skeletal muscle disorders in offspring, which are mitigated by palmitoleic acid supplementation. Hence, the maternal intake of palmitoleic acid during pregnancy may have implications for fetal health.
Topics: Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; Glycation End Products, Advanced; Female; Animals; Pregnancy; Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products; Rats; Muscle, Skeletal; Reactive Oxygen Species; Cell Line; Cell Survival; Mice; Dietary Supplements; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Oxidative Stress; Insulin Resistance; Humans; Phosphorylation; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Pregnancy in Diabetics; Male; Fetal Development
PubMed: 38931253
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121898 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Breast milk contains numerous factors that are involved in the maturation of the immune system and development of the gut microbiota in infants. These factors include...
Breast milk contains numerous factors that are involved in the maturation of the immune system and development of the gut microbiota in infants. These factors include transforming growth factor-β1 and 2, immunoglobin A, and lactoferrin. Breast milk factors may also affect epidermal differentiation and the stratum corneum (SC) barrier in infants, but no studies examining these associations over time during infancy have been reported. In this single-center exploratory study, we measured the molecular components of the SC using confocal Raman spectroscopy at 0, 1, 2, 6, and 12 months of age in 39 infants born at our hospital. Breast milk factor concentrations from their mothers' breast milk were determined. Correlation coefficients for the two datasets were estimated for each molecular component of the SC and breast milk factor at each age and SC depth. The results showed that breast milk factors and molecular components of the SC during infancy were partly correlated with infant age in months and SC depth, suggesting that breast milk factors influence the maturation of the SC components. These findings may improve understanding of the pathogenesis of skin diseases associated with skin barrier abnormalities.
Topics: Humans; Milk, Human; Infant; Female; Prospective Studies; Infant, Newborn; Male; Epidermis; Longitudinal Studies; Lactoferrin; Spectrum Analysis, Raman; Transforming Growth Factor beta1
PubMed: 38931252
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121897 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Immune system development during gestation and suckling is significantly modulated by maternal environmental and dietary factors. Breastfeeding is widely recognized as...
Immune system development during gestation and suckling is significantly modulated by maternal environmental and dietary factors. Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infant growth and immune maturation, and its composition can be modulated by the maternal diet. In the present work, we investigated whether oral supplementation with and short-chain galacto-oligosaccharide (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharide (lcFOS) to rat dams during gestation and lactation has an impact on the immune system and microbiota composition of the offspring at day 21 of life. On that day, blood, adipose tissue, small intestine (SI), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), salivary gland (SG), cecum, and spleen were collected. Synbiotic supplementation did not affect the overall body or organ growth of the pups. The gene expression of , , , and were upregulated in the SI, and the increase in IgA gene expression was further confirmed at the protein level in the gut wash. Synbiotic supplementation also positively impacted the microbiota composition in both the small and large intestines, resulting in higher proportions of genus, among others. In addition, there was an increase in butanoic, isobutanoic, and acetic acid concentrations in the cecum but a reduction in the small intestine. At the systemic level, synbiotic supplementation resulted in higher levels of immunoglobulin IgG2c in plasma, SG, and MLN, but it did not modify the main lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and MLN. Overall, synbiotic maternal supplementation is able to positively influence the immune system development and microbiota of the suckling offspring, particularly at the gastrointestinal level.
Topics: Animals; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Synbiotics; Female; Bifidobacterium breve; Pregnancy; Oligosaccharides; Rats; Animals, Suckling; Dietary Supplements; Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Lactation; Immune System; Male; Animals, Newborn
PubMed: 38931246
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121890 -
Nutrients Jun 2024It is a common belief amongst strength and power athletes that nutritional supplementation strategies aid recovery by shifting the anabolic/catabolic profile toward... (Review)
Review
It is a common belief amongst strength and power athletes that nutritional supplementation strategies aid recovery by shifting the anabolic/catabolic profile toward anabolism. Factors such as nutrient quantity, nutrient quality, and nutrient timing significantly impact upon the effectiveness of nutritional strategies in optimizing the acute responses to resistance exercise and the adaptive response to resistance training (i.e., muscle growth and strength expression). Specifically, the aim of this review is to address carbohydrates (CHOs), protein (PRO), and/or amino acids (AAs) supplementation strategies, as there is growing evidence suggesting a link between nutrient signaling and the initiation of protein synthesis, muscle glycogen resynthesis, and the attenuation of myofibrillar protein degradation following resistance exercise. Collectively, the current scientific literature indicates that nutritional supplementation strategies utilizing CHO, PRO, and/or AA represents an important approach aimed at enhancing muscular responses for strength and power athletes, primarily increased muscular hypertrophy and enhanced strength expression. There appears to be a critical interaction between resistance exercise and nutrient-cell signaling associated with the principle of nutrient timing (i.e., pre-exercise, during, and post-exercise). Recommendations for nutritional supplementation strategies to promote muscular responses for strength and athletes are provided.
Topics: Humans; Dietary Supplements; Dietary Proteins; Dietary Carbohydrates; Resistance Training; Amino Acids; Athletes; Muscle, Skeletal; Muscle Strength; Sports Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
PubMed: 38931241
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121886 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes chronic pain, swelling, stiffness, disability, and significantly reduces the quality of life....
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that causes chronic pain, swelling, stiffness, disability, and significantly reduces the quality of life. Typically, OA is treated using painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). While current pharmacologic treatments are common, their potential side effects have prompted exploration into functional dietary supplements. Recently, eggshell membrane (ESM) has emerged as a potential functional ingredient for joint and connective tissue disorders due to its clinical efficacy in relieving joint pain and stiffness. Despite promising clinical evidence, the effects of ESM on OA progression and its mechanism of action remain poorly understood. This study evaluated the efficacy of Ovomet, a powdered natural ESM, against joint pain and disease progression in a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced rodent model of OA in mice and rats. The results demonstrate that ESM significantly alleviates joint pain and attenuates articular cartilage destruction in both mice and rats that received oral supplementation for 5 days prior to OA induction and for 28 days thereafter. Interestingly, ESM significantly inhibited mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6), as well as inflammatory mediators, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the knee joint cartilage at the early stage of OA, within 7 days after OA induction. However, this effect was not observed in the late stage at 28 days after OA induction. ESM further attenuates the induction of protein expression for cartilage-degrading enzymes like matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) 3 and 13, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS-5), in the late-stage. In addition, MIA-induced reduction of the protein expression levels of cartilage components, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP), aggrecan (ACAN) and collagen type II α-1 chain (COL2α1), and cartilage extracellular matrix (ECM) synthesis promoting transcriptional factor SRY-Box 9 (SOX-9) were increased via ESM treatment in the cartilage tissue. Our findings suggest that Ovomet, a natural ESM powder, is a promising dietary functional ingredient that can alleviate pain, inflammatory response, and cartilage degradation associated with the progression of OA.
Topics: Animals; Egg Shell; Cartilage, Articular; Osteoarthritis; Male; Mice; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Rats; Inflammation; Dietary Supplements; Cytokines; Disease Models, Animal; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Arthralgia; Time Factors; Iodoacetic Acid; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 38931240
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121885 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), as essential amino acids, engage in various physiological processes, such as protein synthesis, energy supply, and cellular... (Review)
Review
Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), as essential amino acids, engage in various physiological processes, such as protein synthesis, energy supply, and cellular signaling. The liver is a crucial site for BCAA metabolism, linking the changes in BCAA homeostasis with the pathogenesis of a variety of liver diseases and their complications. Peripheral circulating BCAA levels show complex trends in different liver diseases. This review delineates the alterations of BCAAs in conditions including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatitis C virus infection, and acute liver failure, as well as the potential mechanisms underlying these changes. A significant amount of clinical research has utilized BCAA supplements in the treatment of patients with cirrhosis and liver cancer. However, the efficacy of BCAA supplementation in clinical practice remains uncertain and controversial due to the heterogeneity of studies. This review delves into the complicated relationship between BCAAs and liver diseases and tries to untangle what role BCAAs play in the occurrence, development, and outcomes of liver diseases.
Topics: Humans; Amino Acids, Branched-Chain; Liver Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Liver; Liver Cirrhosis; Liver Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Hepatic Encephalopathy
PubMed: 38931228
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121875 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Atherosclerosis is one of the most important causes of cardiovascular diseases. A disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM)10 and ADAM17 have been identified as important...
Atherosclerosis is one of the most important causes of cardiovascular diseases. A disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM)10 and ADAM17 have been identified as important regulators of inflammation in recent years. Our study investigated the effect of inhibiting these enzymes with selective inhibitor and propolis on atherosclerosis. In our study, C57BL/6J mice ( = 16) were used in the control and sham groups. In contrast, ApoE mice ( = 48) were used in the case, water extract of propolis (WEP), ethanolic extract of propolis (EEP), GW280264X (GW-synthetic inhibitor), and solvent (DMSO and ethanol) groups. The control group was fed a control diet, and all other groups were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 16 weeks. WEP (400 mg/kg/day), EEP (200 mg/kg/day), and GW (100 µg/kg/day) were administered intraperitoneally for the last four weeks. Animals were sacrificed, and blood, liver, aortic arch, and aortic root tissues were collected. In serum, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), and glucose (Glu) were measured by enzymatic colorimetric method, while interleukin-1β (IL-1β), paraoxonase-1 (PON-1), and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase-A2 (Lp-PLA2) were measured by ELISA. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), myeloperoxidase (MPO), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels were measured in aortic arch by ELISA and ADAM10/17 activities were measured fluorometrically. In addition, aortic root and liver tissues were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically (ADAM10 and sortilin primary antibody). In the WEP, EEP, and GW groups compared to the case group, TC, TG, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, PLA2, MPO, ADAM10/17 activities, plaque burden, lipid accumulation, ADAM10, and sortilin levels decreased, while IL-10 and PON-1 levels increased ( < 0.003). Our study results show that propolis can effectively reduce atherosclerosis-related inflammation and dyslipidemia through ADAM10/17 inhibition.
Topics: Animals; ADAM10 Protein; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Propolis; Inflammation; Dyslipidemias; Mice; Male; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases; Atherosclerosis; Cholesterol, Dietary; Diet, High-Fat; Membrane Proteins; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38931216
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121861 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in chronic diseases in adults, but their role in paediatric populations remains uncertain. This study,...
Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been implicated in chronic diseases in adults, but their role in paediatric populations remains uncertain. This study, conducted on the Italian sample of the I.Family project, aimed to investigate the relationship between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGEs in children and adolescents. The secondary objective was to investigate the sources of dietary AGEs (dAGEs) and their association with dietary composition and anthropometric parameters. Dietary data were collected from 1048 participants via 24 h dietary recall in 2013/2014 to estimate dAGEs intake, while urinary fluorescent AGE levels were measured in 544 individuals. Participants were stratified based on dAGEs intake and compared with respect to urinary fluorescent AGE levels, anthropometric measurements, and dietary intake. The results showed no significant correlation between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGE levels, nor between dAGEs and anthropometric parameters. Notably, higher dAGEs were associated with a diet richer in protein (especially from meat sources) and fat and lower in carbohydrates. In addition, the consumption of ultra-processed foods was lower in participants with a higher DAGE intake. This study highlights the lack of a clear association between dietary and urinary fluorescent AGEs in children, but suggests a distinctive dietary pattern associated with increased dAGEs intake. Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the potential health implications of dAGEs in paediatric populations.
Topics: Humans; Child; Glycation End Products, Advanced; Male; Female; Adolescent; Italy; Diet; Cross-Sectional Studies; Anthropometry; Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products
PubMed: 38931185
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121831