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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 2024We analyzed the impact of social distancing (SD) on vitamin D status and associated morbidity in neonates during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
BACKGROUND
We analyzed the impact of social distancing (SD) on vitamin D status and associated morbidity in neonates during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
METHODS
Serum levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25OHD) and clinical characteristics of newborn infants before (2019) and during SD (2021) were compared.
RESULTS
A total of 526 neonates (263 in 2019 and 263 in 2021) were included. The rate of vitamin D deficiency in neonates (47.1% vs. 35.4 %, = 0.008) decreased and the rate of maternal vitamin D intake increased (6.8% vs. 37.6%, < 0.001), respectively, during SD compared to those in 2019. The rates of hypocalcemia (12.5% vs. 3.8%, < 0.001) and respiratory illness (57.0% vs. 43.0%, = 0.002) decreased during SD. Neonatal vitamin D deficiency during SD was associated with maternal vitamin D supplementation (odds ratio [OR] = 0.463, = 0.003) but was not associated with SD (OR = 0.772, = 0.189). The mediation effect of SD on neonatal morbidity by neonatal vitamin D status was statistically insignificant.
CONCLUSIONS
SD might affect the increased maternal vitamin D intake and decreased neonatal vitamin D deficiency. However, neonatal morbidity was not affected by SD, even with neonatal vitamin D status changes.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Vitamin D; Vitamin D Deficiency; Infant, Newborn; Female; Male; Physical Distancing; SARS-CoV-2; Dietary Supplements; Pandemics; Nutritional Status; Hypocalcemia
PubMed: 38931213
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121858 -
Nutrients Jun 2024There is a growing consensus that fasting-induced ketosis has beneficial effects on human physiology. Despite these compelling benefits, fasting-induced ketosis raises...
BACKGROUND
There is a growing consensus that fasting-induced ketosis has beneficial effects on human physiology. Despite these compelling benefits, fasting-induced ketosis raises concerns in some clinicians because it is often inappropriately compared with the pathologic uncontrolled ketone production in diabetic ketoacidosis. The determinants of the inter-individual differences in the intensity of ketosis during long-term fasting is unknown.
METHODS
We monitored daily variations in fasting ketonemia, as well as ketonuria, which is less invasive, in a large cohort of 1610 subjects, fasting between 4 and 21 days with the Buchinger Wilhelmi program, minimally supplemented with ~75-250 kcal (daily fruit juice, vegetable soup, and honey).
RESULTS
Ketonuria was detected in more than 95% of fasting subjects from day 4 onwards. Subjects consuming only soups, without fruit juice or honey, exhibited reduced caloric intake (72 kcal instead of 236 kcal) and carbohydrate intake (15.6 g instead of 56.5 g), leading to more intense ketonuria. Participants with high ketonuria were, in the majority, males, young, had a higher body weight, and had lower HDL-C and urea values. They had a larger decrease in blood glucose, glycated haemoglobin levels, body weight, and waist circumference. Furthermore, in the high-ketonuria group, a larger increase in blood uric acid concentration was observed.
CONCLUSION
Our study showed that long-term fasting triggered ketosis, never reaching pathological levels, and that ketosis is influenced by age, gender, health, and the level of physical activity. Furthermore, it is modulated but not suppressed by minimal carbohydrate intake. Our study paves the way for better understanding how supplementation can modulate the therapeutic effects and tolerability of long-term fasting.
Topics: Humans; Fasting; Male; Female; Ketosis; Adult; Middle Aged; Blood Glucose; Young Adult; Energy Intake; Honey; Time Factors; Aged; Fruit and Vegetable Juices; Uric Acid
PubMed: 38931204
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121849 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Diets omitting whole food groups pose a risk for micronutrient insufficiencies, but there are no data as to whether those are suitably attenuated with dietary...
Diets omitting whole food groups pose a risk for micronutrient insufficiencies, but there are no data as to whether those are suitably attenuated with dietary supplements (DS). Micronutrient intakes with food and DSs were analyzed in 130 healthy adults: 32 vegans, 37 vegetarians, 24 following low-carbohydrate high-fat diet (LCHF), and 37 omnivores. A total of 63% used DS (84% of vegans, 75% of LCHF, 54% of vegetarians, and 46% of omnivores); however, a DS did not always tackle dietary insufficiencies. Vitamin B was often supplemented in vegans in doses substantially higher than recommended, but it was supplemented less often in vegetarians, despite the low prevalence of sufficient intake. Only 43% of participants supplemented vitamin D in wintertime, 23% of them with an insufficient dose. Supplementation of potassium, calcium, and iodine was rare, despite low intake adequacy with food alone in all groups. Some micronutrients were supplemented unnecessarily, such as vitamin K, riboflavin, biotin, and iron. Multimicronutrient DSs were used often; they increased intake adequacy of group B vitamins but failed to sufficiently supplement vitamin D, potassium, calcium, and iodine. Although DS use increased micronutrient intake sufficiency when used properly, the knowledge on micronutrient inadequacy in all dietary patterns should be increased and the public should be educated on the proper use of DSs. Multimicronutrient DSs should be reformulated to tackle the insufficiencies.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Dietary Supplements; Female; Male; Micronutrients; Middle Aged; Vegans; Diet, High-Fat; Diet, Vegan; Diet, Carbohydrate-Restricted; Vegetarians; Young Adult; Diet, Vegetarian; Nutritional Status
PubMed: 38931187
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121832 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Dietary supplement use is common among US adults. We aimed to investigate the quantity, duration, adherence, and reasons for supplement use in individuals who take...
Dietary supplement use is common among US adults. We aimed to investigate the quantity, duration, adherence, and reasons for supplement use in individuals who take supplements. Data from 2011 to 2018 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset were analyzed. Four cycles of data were combined to estimate these outcomes. Results are presented as overall group and by subgroups. All analyses were weighted to be nationally representative. The Taylor Series Linearization approach was used to generate variance estimates. A total of 12,529 participants were included. Over 70% of these individuals reported taking more than one unit of dietary supplements daily. Notably, approximately 40% had been taking supplements for more than five years and about 67% were highly adherent to at least one supplement. However, only 26.9% of these supplements were taken following a doctor's recommendation. The primary reasons for dietary supplements intake included improving overall health (37.2%), maintaining health (34.7%), bone health (21.4%), and diet supplementation (20.3%). Our findings indicate that most participants proactively used multiple dietary supplements focused on self-managed health and prevention, with substantial dedication to long-term use and high adherence. Healthcare professionals should play a more active role in guiding such behaviors to optimize the health outcomes of dietary supplement users across the United States.
Topics: Humans; Dietary Supplements; Nutrition Surveys; Male; Female; Adult; Middle Aged; United States; Young Adult; Aged; Patient Compliance; Time Factors
PubMed: 38931186
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121830 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Contemporary evidence has been established demonstrating that stunted vitamin D levels are associated with depression, poor mood, and other mental disorders. Individuals... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Contemporary evidence has been established demonstrating that stunted vitamin D levels are associated with depression, poor mood, and other mental disorders. Individuals with normal vitamin D levels have a much lower probability of developing depression. Improving vitamin D levels by supplementation has shown betterment in depressive patients among different age groups. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of vitamin D supplementation on depression scores among rural adolescents.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
This study was a cluster randomized controlled trial carried out for a period of 3 years among adolescents from rural Kolar. The sample size was calculated based on previous research and was determined to be 150 for each group. The intervention arm received 2250 IU of vitamin D, and the control arm received a lower dose of 250 IU of vitamin D for 9 weeks. To assess sociodemographic status, a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was used, and, to assess depression, the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) was used. A baseline assessment was carried out for vitamin D status and depression status, followed by a post-intervention assessment. From the start of the trial, the participants were contacted every week by the pediatric team to investigate any side effects.
RESULTS
Out of 235 school students in the vitamin D supplementation arm, 129 (54.9%) belonged to the 15 years age group, 124 (52.8%) were boys, and 187 (79.6%) belonged to a nuclear family. Out of 216 school students in the calcium supplementation arm, 143 (66.2%) belonged to the 15 years age group, 116 (53.7%) were girls, and 136 (63%) belonged to a nuclear family. By comparing Beck depression scores before and after the intervention, it was found that the vitamin D intervention arm showed a statistically significant reduction in Beck depression scores.
CONCLUSIONS
The present study showed that vitamin D supplementation reduced depression scores, showing some evidence that nutritional interventions for mental health issues such as depression are an excellent option. Vitamin D supplementation in schools can have numerous beneficiary effects on health while mutually benefiting mental health.
Topics: Humans; Adolescent; Male; Female; Dietary Supplements; Depression; Cholecalciferol; Rural Population; Vitamin D Deficiency; Vitamin D; India
PubMed: 38931184
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121828 -
Nutrients Jun 2024The global rise in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity necessitates innovative dietary interventions. This study investigates the effects of allulose, a rare sugar shown...
The global rise in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity necessitates innovative dietary interventions. This study investigates the effects of allulose, a rare sugar shown to reduce blood glucose, in a rat model of diet-induced obesity and T2D. Over 12 weeks, we hypothesized that allulose supplementation would improve body weight, insulin sensitivity, and glycemic control. Our results showed that allulose mitigated the adverse effects of high-fat, high-sugar diets, including reduced body weight gain and improved insulin resistance. The allulose group exhibited lower food consumption and increased levels of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), enhancing glucose regulation and appetite control. Additionally, allulose prevented liver triglyceride accumulation and promoted mitochondrial uncoupling in adipose tissue. These findings suggest that allulose supplementation can improve metabolic health markers, making it a promising dietary component for managing obesity and T2D. Further research is needed to explore the long-term benefits and mechanisms of allulose in metabolic disease prevention and management. This study supports the potential of allulose as a safe and effective intervention for improving metabolic health in the context of dietary excess.
Topics: Animals; Fructose; Male; Obesity; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Insulin Resistance; Blood Glucose; Rats; Diet, High-Fat; Liver; Glucagon-Like Peptide 1; Triglycerides; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Adipose Tissue; Weight Gain; Disease Models, Animal
PubMed: 38931176
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121821 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Zinc deficiency has been associated with the worsening of diabetes while zinc supplementation has been proposed to ameliorate diabetes. This study examined the effects...
Zinc deficiency has been associated with the worsening of diabetes while zinc supplementation has been proposed to ameliorate diabetes. This study examined the effects of marginal zinc deficiency (MZD) and zinc supplementation (ZS) on obesity, glycemic control, pancreatic islets, hepatic steatosis and renal function of Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Male ZDF rats were fed an MZD, zinc control (ZC) or ZS diet (4, 30 and 300 mg Zn/kg diet, respectively), and lean Zucker rats were fed a ZC diet for 8 weeks. MZD and ZS did not alter body weight or whole-body composition in ZDF rats. MZD ZDF rats had reduced zinc concentrations in the femur and pancreas, a greater number of enlarged pancreatic islets and a diminished response to an oral glucose load based on a 1.8-fold greater incremental area-under-the-curve (AUC) for glucose compared to ZC ZDF. ZS ZDF rats had elevated serum, femur and pancreatic zinc concentrations, unchanged pancreatic parameters and a 50% reduction in the AUC for insulin compared to ZC ZDF rats, suggesting greater insulin sensitivity. Dietary zinc intake did not alter hepatic steatosis, creatinine clearance, or levels of proteins that contribute to insulin signaling, inflammation or zinc transport in epididymal fat. Potential adverse effects of ZS were suggested by reduced hepatic copper concentrations and elevated serum urea compared to ZC ZDF rats. In summary, ZS improved the pancreatic insulin response but not the glucose handling. In contrast, reduced zinc status in ZDF rats led to impaired glucose tolerance and a compensatory increase in the number and size of pancreatic islets which could lead to β-cell exhaustion.
Topics: Animals; Rats, Zucker; Zinc; Dietary Supplements; Male; Insulin; Islets of Langerhans; Rats; Blood Glucose; Obesity; Insulin Resistance; Pancreas; Liver; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental
PubMed: 38931174
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121819 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Ashwagandha has been reported to reduce stress and attenuate cognitive decline associated with inflammation and neurodegeneration in clinical populations. However, the... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Ashwagandha has been reported to reduce stress and attenuate cognitive decline associated with inflammation and neurodegeneration in clinical populations. However, the effects as a potential nootropic nutrient in younger populations are unclear. This study examined the effects of liposomal ashwagandha supplementation on cognitive function, mood, and markers of health and safety in healthy young men and women.
METHODS
59 men and women (22.7 ± 7 yrs., 74.9 ± 16 kg, 26.2 ± 5 BMI) fasted for 12 h, donated a fasting blood sample, and were administered the COMPASS cognitive function test battery (Word Recall, Word recognition, Choice Reaction Time Task, Picture Recognition, Digit Vigilance Task, Corsi Block test, Stroop test) and profile of mood states (POMS). In a randomized and double-blind manner, participants were administered 225 mg of a placebo (Gum Arabic) or ashwagandha () root and leaf extract coated with a liposomal covering. After 60-min, participants repeated cognitive assessments. Participants continued supplementation (225 mg/d) for 30 days and then returned to the lab to repeat the experiment. Data were analyzed using a general linear model (GLM) univariate analysis with repeated measures and pairwise comparisons of mean changes from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CI).
RESULTS
Ashwagandha supplementation improved acute and/or 30-day measures of Word Recall (correct and recalled attempts), Choice Reaction Time (targets identified), Picture Recognition ("yes" correct responses, correct and overall reaction time), Digit Vigilance (correct reaction time), Stroop Color-Word (congruent words identified, reaction time), and POMS (tension and fatigue) from baseline more consistently with several differences observed between groups.
CONCLUSION
Results support contentions that ashwagandha supplementation (225 mg) may improve some measures of memory, attention, vigilance, attention, and executive function while decreasing perceptions of tension and fatigue in younger healthy individuals. Retrospectively registered clinical trial ISRCTN58680760.
Topics: Humans; Male; Female; Cognition; Double-Blind Method; Dietary Supplements; Young Adult; Adult; Affect; Plant Extracts; Adolescent; Reaction Time; Biomarkers; Liposomes; Plant Leaves; Plant Roots
PubMed: 38931168
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121813 -
Nutrients Jun 2024Previous studies have reported that TT genotype carriers of the adenosine A2a receptor () gene rs5751876 polymorphism have better ergogenic and anti-inflammatory... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Previous studies have reported that TT genotype carriers of the adenosine A2a receptor () gene rs5751876 polymorphism have better ergogenic and anti-inflammatory responses to caffeine intake compared to C allele carriers. The aim of the present study was twofold: (1) to investigate the association of the rs5751876 polymorphism with acute caffeine supplementation on hormonal (growth hormone and testosterone) response to resistance exercise (RE); (2) to examine the relationship between the rs5751876 polymorphism and the resting levels of growth hormone and testosterone in athletes who are light caffeine consumers. A double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study involving 30 resistance-trained men (age 21.7 ± 4.1) was conducted to assess the impact of caffeine supplementation on serum growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (TS) levels before, immediately after, and 15 min post-RE. One hour before engaging in resistance exercise, subjects were randomly administered 6 mg of caffeine per kg of body mass or a placebo (maltodextrin). After a 7-day washout period, the same protocol was repeated. Resting testosterone and growth hormone levels were examined in the sera of 94 elite athletes (31 females, age 21.4 ± 2.8; 63 males, age 22.9 ± 3.8). Caffeine consumption led to significantly greater increases in GH and TS in men with the TT genotype compared to C allele carriers. Furthermore, in the group of athletes, carriers of the TT genotype had significantly higher testosterone ( = 0.0125) and growth hormone ( = 0.0365) levels compared to C allele carriers. In conclusion, the gene rs5751876 polymorphism may modify the effect of caffeine intake on the hormonal response to exercise.
Topics: Humans; Caffeine; Male; Double-Blind Method; Cross-Over Studies; Resistance Training; Receptor, Adenosine A2A; Young Adult; Testosterone; Adult; Female; Dietary Supplements; Athletes; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Genotype; Human Growth Hormone; Polymorphism, Genetic; Exercise
PubMed: 38931158
DOI: 10.3390/nu16121803