Search

Abstract Background Intermittent fasting (IF) can be an effective dietary therapy for weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health. However, there is scant evidence regarding the role of IF on indicators of liver function, particularly in adults with metabolic disorders. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of IF on liver function in adults with metabolic disorders. Methods Three primary electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, were searched from inception to September 2024 to identify original studies that used IF interventions with or without control groups in adults with metabolic disorders. Inclusion criteria were (1) studies of human participants with metabolic diseases, (2) interventions that evaluated the effects of IF, (3) with or without a control group, and (4) measured liver fat, liver steatosis, liver fibrosis, or liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as primary outcomes. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran’s Q statistic and I-squared statistic (I2). Publication bias was assessed using the visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger’s tests. The risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale and the NIH quality assessment tool. Results A total 21 studies involving 1,226 participants with metabolic disorders were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, IF effectively decreased liver fat with a large effect size [SMD: -1.22 (95% CI: -1.63 to -0.80), p = 0.001], liver steatosis with a medium effect size [SMD: -0.73 (95% CI: -1.12 to -0.35), p = 0.001], ALT with a small effect size [SMD: -0.44 (95% CI: -0.58 to -0.30), p = 0.001], and AST with a small effect size [SMD: -0.30 (95% CI: -0.49 to -0.11), p = 0.001], but not liver fibrosis [SMD: -0.28 (95% CI: -0.59 to 0.02), p = 0.07]. Subgroup analyses showed that IF decreased liver fat and ALT significantly, independent of IF mode, participant age, health status, weight status, and intervention duration. IF significantly decreased liver fibrosis in those with obesity; and decreased AST following 5:2 diets, in middle-aged adults, adults with obesity, and regardless of health status or intervention duration. Conclusions IF seems to be an effective dietary therapy for improving liver function in adults with metabolic disorders, and many of liver function-related benefits occur regardless of IF mode, intervention duration, or participant health status. Limitations Significant heterogeneity, small numbers of studies and inclusion of non-randomized trials or single-group pre-post trials were the main limitation of our meta-analysis. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to elucidate the effects of IF on liver function in adults with metabolic disorders.

Time-restricted eating (TRE), a type of intermittent fasting in which all daily calories are consumed within a window of ≤12 hours, is hypothesized to promote long-term weight management because of its relative simplicity. This study reports correlates of adherence among community-dwelling adults currently or formerly following a TRE dietary strategy. A 25-minute cross-sectional online survey was developed, including questions about TRE perceptions, behaviors, motivators and drivers, and demographics. The survey was administered in February 2021 via Prolific, an online platform for sample recruitment and survey dissemination. Eligibility criteria included US adult ages 18+ who currently or formerly (past 3 months) followed TRE (ie, consumed all daily calories within a window of ≤12 hours) for a minimum of 1 week. χ2 tests and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA; adjusting for sex and age) compared responses between current and former followers. Current followers (n = 296, mean [SD]: 34.2 ± 12.2y) were older than former followers (n = 295, mean [SD]: 31.1 ± 10.9 y) and practiced TRE for longer (median: 395 vs 90 days, P < 0.001). Current followers reported more success with meeting TRE goals (P ≤ 0.015), were less likely to report TRE concerns (P < 0.001), and more likely to report TRE satisfaction (P < 0.001). Four TRE motivators were more important among current (vs former) followers: weight maintenance, health (not weight), improved sleep, and preventing disease (P ≤ 0.017); weight loss was more important among former (vs current) followers (P = 0.003). Among adherence drivers, ability to work from home and the impact of COVID-19 were reported as more helpful for TRE adherence among current compared with former followers (P ≤ 0.028). TRE motivators and drivers differed between current and former followers; interventions tailored to individuals' preferences and circumstances may benefit TRE adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundIn times of physical stress, the body orchestrates a multisystemic regulatory response. The hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine play a role in the immediate regulation chain, while cortisol is involved in delayed regulation. The release of those stress hormones in response to exercise has previously been reported to elicit diverse immune reactions.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review was to examine and present the acute effects of immediate pre- and mid-exercise carbohydrate ingestion on cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine levels in experienced endurance athletes.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science in accordance with PRISMA guidelines up to February 2023. Randomized controlled trials in English or German language were included if baseline and at least two follow-up measures of blood plasma or serum of chosen stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine) were collected in response to prolonged continuous endurance activity. Eligibility furthermore required an acute carbohydrate ingestion of at least 30 g of carbohydrates per hour no more than 30 min before start of the exercise, as well as a placebo-controlled study design.ResultsEleven studies of moderate to high quality were included in this review. Carbohydrate ingestion of at least 30 g per hour was able to attenuate rises in cortisol concentration in majority of the included studies. Epinephrine levels were considerably lower with ingestion of carbohydrates compared to placebo in all studies. Norepinephrine concentrations were largely unaffected by acute carbohydrate feeding.ConclusionPre- and mid-exercise ingestion of carbohydrates seems an effective dietary strategy to attenuate rises in cortisol and epinephrine levels and, thus, an effective countermeasure for endurance exercise-induced increases in stress hormone levels.

Abstract Objective/Goals: Cognitive decline is intricately linked to various factors such as obesity, stress, poor sleep, and circadian rhythm misalignment, which are interrelated in their impact on cognitive health. Irregular food-intake timing further compounds these issues. The practice of prolonged nightly fasting (PNF) may help synchronize food intake with circadian rhythms, potentially mitigating adverse effects of cognitive decline and associated factors. Methods: A pilot nationwide, remotely delivered, 2-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the 8-week outcomes of cognition, stress, and sleep, after a PNF intervention (14-hr nightly fast, 6 nights/week, no calories after 8 pm) compared to a health education (HED) control condition. Participants were living with memory decline, stress, and obesity and had weekly check-in calls to report fasting times (PNF) or content feedback (HED). Results: Participants were enrolled from 37 states in the US; N = 58, 86% women, 71% white, 93% non-Latinx, mean (SD) age 50.1 (5.1) years and BMI 35.6 (3.6) kg/m2. No group differences existed at baseline. Linear mixed-effects models were used to compare outcome change differences between groups. Compared to the HED control, the PNF intervention was associated with improved sleep quality (B = −2.52; SE = 0.90; 95% CI −4.30–−0.74; p = 0.006). Perceived stress and everyday cognition significantly changed over time (p < 0.02), without significant difference by group. Discussion: Changing food intake timing to exclude nighttime eating and promote a fasting period may help individuals living with obesity, memory decline, and stress to improve their sleep. Improved sleep quality may lead to additional health benefits.

Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) results mainly from diabetes, hypertension, and glomerulonephritis, which can develop into end‐stage renal disease and CKD‐related complications, thereby causing high morbidity and mortality. This progression is correlated with pathogenic alterations in the gut microbiota that generate uremic toxins, mainly including indoxyl sulfate, p‐cresol sulfate, and trimethylamine‐N‐oxide. The uremic toxins directly or indirectly induce CKD through oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and subsequently renal fibrosis. However, ongoing developments in CKD therapy still lack nutritional guidelines and new pharmacotherapies with significant effects. In this review, we discuss the modulatory effects of plant‐derived bioactive ingredients, such as dietary fiber (oligosaccharides and polysaccharides), polyphenols (e.g., curcumin, anthocyanins, catechins, and resveratrol), and peptides, on gut microbiota and CKD particularly from the view of the gut–kidney axis. We believe that a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of CKD is necessary to develop new targeted therapy strategies that will benefit the prevention and treatment of CKD.

A variety of physical, emotional, and mental factors can induce a stress response in pet dogs and cats. During this process, hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic–adrenal medulla (SAM) axes are activated to produce a series of adaptive short-term reactions to the aversive situations. Meanwhile, oxidative stress is induced where there is an imbalance between the production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative damage is also incorporated in sustained stress response causing a series of chronic problems, such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, immune dysfunction, and development of abnormal behaviors. In this review, the effects and mechanisms of dietary regulation strategies (e.g., antioxidants, anxiolytic agents, and probiotics) on relieving stress in pet dogs and cats are summarized and discussed. We aim to shed light on future studies in the field of pet food and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the positive relationship between anthocyanin-rich foods and cognitive health, a dietary deficit exists in older adults. Effective interventions require an understanding of people's dietary behaviors situated in social and cultural contexts. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore older adults' perceptions about increasing their consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods for cognitive health. Following an educational session and the provision of a recipe and information book, an online survey and focus groups with Australian adults aged 65 years or older (n = 20) explored the barriers and enablers towards eating more anthocyanin-rich foods and potential strategies to achieve dietary change. An iterative, qualitative analysis identified the themes and classified the barriers, enablers and strategies onto the Social-Ecological model levels of influence (individual, interpersonal, community, society). Enabling factors included a desire to eat healthily, taste preference and familiarity of anthocyanin-rich foods (individual), social support (community), and the availability of some anthocyanin-rich foods (society). The barriers included budget, dietary preferences and motivation (individual), household influences (interpersonal), limited availability and access to some anthocyanin-rich foods (community) and the cost and the seasonal variability (society). The strategies included increasing individual-level knowledge, skills, and confidence in utilizing anthocyanin-rich foods, educational initiatives about the potential cognitive benefits, and advocating to increase access to anthocyanin-rich foods in the food supply. This study provides for the first time, insight into the various levels of influence impacting older adults' ability to consume an anthocyanin-rich diet for cognitive health. Future interventions should be tailored to reflect the barriers and enablers and to provide targeted education about anthocyanin-rich foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many tropical animals inhabit mosaic landscapes including human-modified habitat. In such landscapes, animals commonly adjust feeding behavior, and may incorporate non-natural foods. These behavioral shifts can influence consumers' nutritional states, with implications for population persistence. However, few studies have addressed the nutritional role of non-natural food. We examined nutritional ecology of wild blue monkeys to understand how dietary habits related to non-natural foods might support population persistence in a mosaic landscape. We documented prevalence and nutritional composition of non-natural foods in monkey diets to assess how habitat use influenced their consumption, and their contribution to nutritional strategies. While most energy and macronutrients came from natural foods, subjects focused non-natural feeding activity on five exotic plants, and averaged about a third of daily calories from non-natural foods. Most non-natural food calories came from nonstructural carbohydrates and least from protein. Consumption of non-natural foods related to time in human-modified habitats, which two groups used non-randomly. Non-natural and natural foods were similar in nutrients, and the amount of nonnatural food consumed drove variation in nutritional strategy. When more daily calories came from non-natural foods, females consumed a higher ratio of non-protein energy to protein (NPE:P). Females also prioritized protein while allowing NPE:P to vary, increasing NPE while capitalizing on non-natural foods. Overall, these tropical mammals achieved a similar nutrient balance regardless of their intake of non-natural foods. Forest and forest-adjacent areas with non-natural vegetation may provide adequate nutrient access for consumers, and thus contribute to wildlife conservation in mosaic tropical landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eat Better South Africa (EBSA) is an organization that provides low-carbohydrate, high-fat (LCHF) nutrition and health education programs for women from under-resourced South African communities. Community assessments are essential to explore participants' potential facilitators and challenges of adhering to new dietary behaviours and should be implemented before any dietary interventions. This study is a qualitative community assessment to enable the EBSA program to better meet potential participants' needs and explore their willingness to enrol in the EBSA program. Sixty women from two communities in the Western Cape were interviewed through six focus group discussions. A thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo 12 software, and four themes were developed around the women's (1) role within the households; (2) dietary behaviour; (3) health perceptions; and (4) willingness to participate in an LCHF program. Women mentioned that they were responsible for cooking and shopping for their households. They expressed their understanding of healthy and unhealthy behaviours and their dietary patterns. Some women showed concerns about LCHF diets, but others wanted to learn more due to their knowledge of other people's positive experiences with the diet. There was a general desire to become healthy. However, the women anticipated dietary behaviour change to be challenging. Those challenges mostly revolved around their socioeconomic environments. The findings are intended to inform EBSA (or other nutrition interventions) on what to consider when implementing their interventions in these communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study tested the effect of a dietary inclusion with vitamin E and pork lard on the apparent digestibility of the nutrients, the growth performance, the carcass traits, the physical meat quality, and the α-tocopherol content. A total of 60 hybrid rabbits were reared in individual cages from weaning (35 days of age) until slaughter (78 days of age). A control diet with no supplements, one diet supplemented with 2% pork lard, and two diets that used the aforementioned diets supplemented with an additional 200 mg/kg α-tocopheryl acetate were designed. The diets were isoprotein and isoenergy. The fat inclusion increased the crude protein (P < 0.05) and ether extract (P < 0.001) total tract apparent digestibility, and the same was observed for the vitamin E inclusion (P < 0.001 for both variables). This improved the dietary digestible protein content (P < 0.05), which increased the digestible protein to digestible energy ratio (P < 0.001). The fat × vitamin E interaction was observed for the total tract apparent digestibility of the ether extract (P < 0.001), the neutral detergent fibre (P < 0.05) and the acid detergent fibre (P < 0.01). The growth traits were unaffected, with the exception of the feed conversion ratio that improved with the vitamin E addition (P < 0.05). Similarly, the carcass traits remained unaffected, with the exception of the perirenal and total fat incidence that increased with the fat supplement (P < 0.05), and the scapular fat that was reduced with the vitamin E inclusion (P < 0.05). The meat L* (lightness), a* (redness), b* (yellowness) colour values and ultimate pH were unaffected by the experimental treatments, even though a fat × vitamin E interaction was observed for the a* and chroma values of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle (P < 0.05). Both the fat (P < 0.05) and vitamin E (P < 0.001) dietary inclusion increased the meat α-tocopherol content. Based on the results, it was concluded that the 2% dietary inclusion of animal fat did not provide more benefits for the considered parameters than the sole α-tocopheryl acetate incorporation, but contributed to the increase in the vitamin E content in the meats.

A variety of physical, emotional, and mental factors can induce a stress response in pet dogs and cats. During this process, hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) and sympathetic–adrenal medulla (SAM) axes are activated to produce a series of adaptive short-term reactions to the aversive situations. Meanwhile, oxidative stress is induced where there is an imbalance between the production and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative damage is also incorporated in sustained stress response causing a series of chronic problems, such as cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, immune dysfunction, and development of abnormal behaviors. In this review, the effects and mechanisms of dietary regulation strategies (e.g., antioxidants, anxiolytic agents, and probiotics) on relieving stress in pet dogs and cats are summarized and discussed. We aim to shed light on future studies in the field of pet food and nutrition.

The present study tested the effect of a dietary inclusion with vitamin E and pork lard on the apparent digestibility of the nutrients, the growth performance, the carcass traits, the physical meat quality, and the a-tocopherol content. A total of 60 hybrid rabbits were reared in individual cages from weaning (35 days of age) until slaughter (78 days of age). A control diet with no supplements, one diet supplemented with 2% pork lard, and two diets that used the aforementioned diets supplemented with an additional 200 mg/kg a-tocopheryl acetate were designed. The diets were isoprotein and isoenergy. The fat inclusion increased the crude protein (P < 0.05) and ether extract (P < 0.001) total tract apparent digestibility, and the same was observed for the vitamin E inclusion (P < 0.001 for both variables). This improved the dietary digestible protein content (P < 0.05), which increased the digestible protein to digestible energy ratio (P < 0.001). The fat × vitamin E interaction was observed for the total tract apparent digestibility of the ether extract (P < 0.001), the neutral detergent fibre (P < 0.05) and the acid detergent fibre (P < 0.01). The growth traits were unaffected, with the exception of the feed conversion ratio that improved with the vitamin E addition (P < 0.05). Similarly, the carcass traits remained unaffected, with the exception of the perirenal and total fat incidence that increased with the fat supplement (P < 0.05), and the scapular fat that was reduced with the vitamin E inclusion (P < 0.05). The meat L* (lightness), a* (redness), b* (yellowness) colour values and ultimate pH were unaffected by the experimental treatments, even though a fat × vitamin E interaction was observed for the a* and chroma values of the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle (P < 0.05). Both the fat (P < 0.05) and vitamin E (P < 0.001) dietary inclusion increased the meat a-tocopherol content. Based on the results, it was concluded that the 2% dietary inclusion of animal fat did not provide more benefits for the considered parameters than the sole a-tocopheryl acetate incorporation, but contributed to the increase in the vitamin E content in the meats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The digestive physiology of ruminants is sufficiently different (e.g., with respect to mean retention time of digesta, digestibility of the feed offered, digestion, and fermentation characteristics) that caution is needed before extrapolating results from one type of ruminant to another. The objectives of the present study were (1) to provide an overview of some essential differences in rumen physiology between dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep that are related to methane (CH 4) emission; and (2) to evaluate whether dietary strategies to mitigate CH 4 emission with various modes of action are equally effective in dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep. A literature search was performed using Web of Science and Scopus, and 94 studies were selected from the literature. Per study, the effect size of the dietary strategies was expressed as a proportion (%) of the control level of CH 4 emission, as this enabled a comparison across ruminant types. Evaluation of the literature indicated that the effectiveness of forage-related CH 4 mitigation strategies, including feeding more highly digestible grass (herbage or silage) or replacing different forage types with corn silage, differs across ruminant types. These strategies are most effective for dairy cattle, are effective for beef cattle to a certain extent, but seem to have minor or no effects in sheep. In general, the effectiveness of other dietary mitigation strategies, including increased concentrate feeding and feed additives (e.g., nitrate), appeared to be similar for dairy cattle, beef cattle, and sheep. We concluded that if the mode of action of a dietary CH 4 mitigation strategy is related to ruminant-specific factors, such as feed intake or rumen physiology, the effectiveness of the strategy differs across ruminant types, whereas if the mode of action is associated with methanogenesis-related fermentation pathways, the strategy is effective across ruminant types. Hence, caution is needed when translating effectiveness of dietary CH 4 mitigation strategies across different ruminant types or production systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans generally solve multi-destination routes with simple rules-of-thumb. Animals may do the same, but strong evidence is limited to a few species. We examined whether strepsirrhines, who diverged from haplorhines more than 58 mya, would demonstrate the use of three heuristics used by humans and supported in vervets, the nearest neighbor rule, the convex hull, and a cluster strategy, when solving a multi-destination route. We hypothesized that the evolution of these strategies may depend on a species' dietary specialization. Three nocturnal lemur species were tested on an experimental array at the Duke Lemur Center. Frugivorous fat-tailed dwarf lemurs (Cheirogaleus medius) were expected to follow paths most consistent with distance-saving navigational heuristics because fruit trees are stationary targets. Gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) and aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis), which rely on more mobile and ephemeral foods, were expected to use fewer paths consistent with these heuristics and be more exploratory. Our data supported all of these hypotheses. Dwarf lemurs used paths consistent with all three heuristics, took the shortest paths, and were the least exploratory. Mouse lemurs were quite exploratory but sometimes used paths consistent with heuristics. Aye-ayes showed no evidence of heuristic use and were the most exploratory. Distinguishable patterns of inter- and intra-individual variation in ability to solve the route, speed, and behavior occurred in each species. This research suggests that these simple navigational heuristics are not part of a readily available set of cognitive tools inherited by all primates but instead evolve due to need in each lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a role in kidney disease in type 2 diabetes. • AGE-restricted diets reduce circulating AGE levels. • Lowering circulating AGE levels, by a Mediterranean diet, might be linked to preservation of kidney function in type 2 diabetes. Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) play a role in kidney disease in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there have been no prior controlled clinical trials examining the effects of specific diets on AGE metabolism and their impact on kidney function. Our aim was to assess whether modulating AGE metabolism resulting in reduced AGEs levels, after consumption of two healthy diets, could delay kidney function decline in patients with T2DM and coronary heart disease (CHD). T2DM patients (540 out of 1002 patients from the CORDIOPREV study), with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥ 30 ml/min/1.73 m2, were classified based on their baseline kidney function: normal eGFR (≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2), mildly decreased eGFR (60- < 90 ml/min/1.73 m2) and moderately decreased eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m2). Serum AGE levels, methylglyoxal (MG) and N-carboximethyllysine (CML), and gene expression related to AGE metabolism (AGER1, RAGE , and GloxI mRNA) were measured before and after 5-years of dietary intervention (a Mediterranean diet or a low-fat diet). Mediterranean diet produced a lower declined of eGFR compared to the low-fat diet only in patients with mildly decreased eGFR (P = 0.035). Moreover, Mediterranean diet was able to decrease MG levels and increase GloxI expression in normal and mildly decreased eGFR patients (all P < 0.05). One standard deviation increment of MG levels after dietary intervention resulted in a 6.8-fold (95 % CI 0.039;0.554) higher probability of eGFR decline. Our study showed that lowering circulating AGE levels, specifically MG, after following a Mediterranean diet, might be linked to the preservation of kidney function, evidenced by a decreased decline of eGFR in T2DM patients with CHD. Patients with mildly decreased eGFR could potentially benefit more from AGE reduction in maintaining kidney function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proportion of concentrate, lipids, inhibitors and electron acceptors decrease methanogenesis. • Hydrogen production improve methane production models. • Hydrogen production slope depends on the mitigation strategy and its mechanism of action. • Hydrogen slope is negative with inhibitors or electron acceptors. • Hydrogen slope is positive with proportion of concentrate and lipids. Stoichiometric models that predict methane (CH 4) production of ruminants assume that the amount of hydrogen gas (H 2) produced during fermentation in the rumen equals the amount of H 2 consumed by electron sinks in the rumen and thus that H 2 should not be emitted into the environment. However, some studies have demonstrated that H 2 emissions occur under practical conditions. In addition, the H 2 emissions increase when nutritional mitigation strategies are used. Hence, this study hypothesized that considering H 2 emission would improve the prediction of enteric CH 4 emission, especially when using mitigation strategies that induce high variation in the H 2 emission. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the performance of CH 4 emission prediction models using H 2 emission as an explanatory variable. A database of CH 4 and H 2 emission (mean treatment data) from ruminants (dairy cattle, growing cattle and sheeps) was built to develop mixed-effects models at three levels of complexity: level 1 - H 2 production/yield, DMI, or both; level 2 - level 1 explanatory variables plus chemical composition of the diet (i.e. CP, EE, NDF, OM, or PCO); and level 3 - level 2 explanatory variables plus animal metabolic weight (BW0.75, kg). When all animal categories were grouped, including H 2 production improved the performance of CH 4 production prediction only in level 1 models for the electron-receptor mitigation strategy, reducing the root mean square of prediction error (RMSPE) by 18 %. For dairy cattle and sheep, dry matter intake was not a significant explanatory variable in level 1 or 2 models. For growing beef cattle, for all mitigation strategies together and the inhibitor-mitigation strategy alone, including H 2 production reduced RMSPE by 13 % and 27 %, respectively. Overall, H 2 production was included in 60 % of level 1 models and 100 % of level 2 and 3 models, which best predicted CH 4 production. Thus, including H 2 emission does improve prediction of enteric CH 4 emission, especially when mitigation strategies that induce variation in the H 2 are used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 34-year-old woman suffered from significant chronic pain, depression, non-restorative sleep, chronic fatigue, severe morning stiffness, leg cramps, irritable bowel syndrome, hypersensitivity to cold, concentration difficulties, and forgetfulness. Blood tests were negative for rheumatic disorders. The patient was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS). Due to the lack of effectiveness of pharmacological therapies in FMS, she approached a novel metabolic proposal for the symptomatic remission. Its core idea is supporting serotonin synthesis by allowing a proper absorption of tryptophan assumed with food, while avoiding, or at least minimizing the presence of interfering non-absorbed molecules, such as fructose and sorbitol. Such a strategy resulted in a rapid improvement of symptoms after only few days on diet, up to the remission of most symptoms in 2 months. Depression, widespread chronic pain, chronic fatigue, non-restorative sleep, morning stiffness, and the majority of the comorbidities remitted. Energy and vitality were recovered by the patient as prior to the onset of the disease, reverting the occupational and social disabilities. The patient episodically challenged herself breaking the dietary protocol leading to its negative test and to the evaluation of its benefit. These breaks correlated with the recurrence of the symptoms, supporting the correctness of the biochemical hypothesis underlying the diet design toward remission of symptoms, but not as a final cure. We propose this as a low risk and accessible therapeutic protocol for the symptomatic remission in FMS with virtually no costs other than those related to vitamin and mineral salt supplements in case of deficiencies. A pilot study is required to further ground this metabolic approach, and to finally evaluate its inclusion in the guidelines for clinical management of FMS.

Ungulates often adjust their diet when food availability varies over time. However, it is poorly understood when and to what extent individuals change their diet and, if they do so, if all individuals of a population occupy distinct or similar dietary niches. In the arid Namibian Kunene Region, we studied temporal variations of individual niches in grazing gemsbok ( Oryx gazella gazella) and predominantly browsing springbok ( Antidorcas marsupialis). We used variation in stable C and N isotope ratios of tail hair increments as proxies to estimate individual isotopic dietary niches and their temporal plasticity. Isotopic dietary niches of populations of the two species were mutually exclusive, but similar in breadth. Isotopic niche breadth of gemsbok was better explained by within-individual variation than by between-individual variation of stable isotope ratios, indicating that gemsbok individuals were facultative specialists in using isotopically distinct local food resources. In contrast, inter- and intra-individual variations contributed similarly to the isotopic niche breadth of the springbok population, suggesting a higher degree of individual isotopic segregation in a more generalist ungulate. In both species, between-individual variation was neither explained by changes in plant primary productivity, sex, geographical position nor by group size. Within species, individual dietary niches overlapped partially, suggesting that both populations included individuals with distinct isotopic dietary niches. Our study provides the first evidence for isotopic dietary niche segregation in individuals of two distinct desert ungulates. Similar, yet isotopically distinct dietary niches of individuals may facilitate partitioning of food resources and thus individual survival in desert ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intermittent fasting (IF) can be an effective dietary therapy for weight loss and improving cardiometabolic health. However, there is scant evidence regarding the role of IF on indicators of liver function, particularly in adults with metabolic disorders. Therefore, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to investigate the effects of IF on liver function in adults with metabolic disorders. Methods: Three primary electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus, were searched from inception to September 2024 to identify original studies that used IF interventions with or without control groups in adults with metabolic disorders. Inclusion criteria were (1) studies of human participants with metabolic diseases, (2) interventions that evaluated the effects of IF, (3) with or without a control group, and (4) measured liver fat, liver steatosis, liver fibrosis, or liver enzymes, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) as primary outcomes. Standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using random effects models. Heterogeneity was assessed using the Cochran's Q statistic and I-squared statistic (I2). Publication bias was assessed using the visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger's tests. The risk of bias was assessed using the PEDro scale and the NIH quality assessment tool. Results: A total 21 studies involving 1,226 participants with metabolic disorders were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, IF effectively decreased liver fat with a large effect size [SMD: -1.22 (95% CI: -1.63 to -0.80), p = 0.001], liver steatosis with a medium effect size [SMD: -0.73 (95% CI: -1.12 to -0.35), p = 0.001], ALT with a small effect size [SMD: -0.44 (95% CI: -0.58 to -0.30), p = 0.001], and AST with a small effect size [SMD: -0.30 (95% CI: -0.49 to -0.11), p = 0.001], but not liver fibrosis [SMD: -0.28 (95% CI: -0.59 to 0.02), p = 0.07]. Subgroup analyses showed that IF decreased liver fat and ALT significantly, independent of IF mode, participant age, health status, weight status, and intervention duration. IF significantly decreased liver fibrosis in those with obesity; and decreased AST following 5:2 diets, in middle-aged adults, adults with obesity, and regardless of health status or intervention duration. Conclusions: IF seems to be an effective dietary therapy for improving liver function in adults with metabolic disorders, and many of liver function-related benefits occur regardless of IF mode, intervention duration, or participant health status. Limitations: Significant heterogeneity, small numbers of studies and inclusion of non-randomized trials or single-group pre-post trials were the main limitation of our meta-analysis. Further randomized clinical trials are needed to elucidate the effects of IF on liver function in adults with metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: While larger containers have been found to increase food intake, it is unclear whether this effect is driven by container size, portion size, or their combination, as these variables are usually confounded. The study was advertised as examining the effects of snack food consumption on information processing and participants were served M&M’s for free consumption in individual cubicles while watching a TV show. Participants were served (1) a medium portion of M&M’s in a small (n =30) or (2) in a large container (n =29), or (3) a large portion in a large container (n =29). The larger container increased intake by 129% (199kcal) despite holding portion size constant, while controlling for different confounding variables. This research suggests that larger containers stimulate food intake over and above their impact on portion size. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Examine the influence of altering the size of snack food (ie, small vs large cookies) on short- term energy intake. Methods: First- and sixth-graders (n = 77) participated in a between-subjects experimental design. All participants were offered the same gram weight of cookies during an afternoon tea at their school. For half of the participants, food was cut in 2 to make the small item size. Food intake (number of cookies, gram weight, and energy intake) was examined using ANO VA. Results: Decreasing the item size of food led to a decrease of 25% in gram weight intake, corresponding to 68 kcal. Appetitive ratings and subject and food characteristics had no moderating effect. Conclusions and Implications: Reducing the item size of food could prove a useful dietary prevention strategy based on decreased consumption, aimed at countering obesity-promoting eating behaviors favored by the easy availability of large food portions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Published models were evaluated against more than 3000 individual records of methane emission (CH 4). • Specific model accurately predict CH 4 emissions from dairy cattle and under different dietary strategies. • Using diet intake, digestibility and composition in model reduce prediction error. • New models are needed to estimate CH 4 from beef cattle, sheep and goats. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of existing models predicting enteric methane (CH 4) emissions, using a large database (3183 individual data from 103 in vivo studies on dairy and beef cattle, sheep and goats fed diets from different countries). The impacts of dietary strategies to reduce CH 4 emissions, and of diet quality (described by organic matter digestibility (dOM) and neutral-detergent fiber digestibility (dNDF)) on model performance were assessed by animal category. The models were first assessed based on the root mean square prediction error (RMSPE) to standard deviation of observed values ratio (RSR) to account for differences in data between models and then on the RMSPE. For dairy cattle, the CH 4 (g/d) predicting model based on feeding level (dry matter intake (DMI)/body weight (BW)), energy digestibility (dGE) and ether extract (EE) had the smallest RSR (0.66) for all diets, as well as for the high-EE diets (RSR = 0.73). For mitigation strategies based on lowering NDF or improving dOM, the same model (RSR = 0.48 to 0.60) and the model using DMI and neutral- and acid-detergent fiber intakes (RSR = 0.53) had the smallest RSR, respectively. For diets with high starch (STA), the model based on nitrogen, ADF and STA intake presented the smallest RSR (0.84). For beef cattle, all evaluated models performed moderately compared with the models of dairy cattle. The smallest RSR (0.83) was obtained using variables of energy intake, BW, forage content and dietary fat, and also for the high-EE and the low-NDF diets (RSR = 0.84 to 0.86). The IPCC Tier 2 models performed better when dietary STA, dOM or dNDF were high. For sheep and goats, the smallest RSR was observed from a model for sheep based on dGE intake (RSR = 0.61). Both IPCC models had low predictive ability when dietary EE, NDF, dOM and dNDF varied (RSR = 0.57 to 1.31 in dairy, and 0.65 to 1.24 in beef cattle). The performance of models depends mostly on explanatory variables and not on the type of data (individual vs. treatment means) used in their development or evaluation. Some empirical models give satisfactory prediction error compared with the error associated with measurement methods. For better prediction, models should include feed intake, digestibility and additional information on dietary concentrations of EE and structural and nonstructural carbohydrates to account for different dietary mitigating strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]