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Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of global mortality, with dyslipidemia recognized as a significant risk factor. Dyslipidemia, characterized by elevated levels of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides (TG), is associated with an increased lifetime risk of CVD. Although alfalfa’s cholesterol-lowering effects have been demonstrated in animal models, clinical trial data supporting its efficacy in human dyslipidemia treatment are limited. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted from September 20, 2021, to January 12, 2023, involving patients diagnosed with dyslipidemia. Approved by the China Ethics Committee of Registering Clinical Trials, the study included multiple sites in China. Eligible participants were adults aged 18 years or older, meeting criteria from the Chinese Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Adult Blood Lipid Disorders. Participants were randomly assigned to either a health education-only group or a combined alfalfa powder supplementation and health education group for a three-month intervention period. Results: A total of 160 eligible patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups: the Alfalfa group (n = 80) and the Education group (n = 80). The intervention resulted in significant improvements in key lipid parameters in the Alfalfa group, including reductions in TC, LDL-C, and Apo A1 levels. Although changes in HDL-C levels were not significantly different between the groups, the Alfalfa group exhibited a larger increase. Serum lipid metabolomics analysis using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) indicated that the combined intervention did not significantly alter the overall blood lipid metabolome but identified fifteen regulated differential metabolites, with the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway significantly affecting lipid metabolism levels. Conclusion: Supplementation with alfalfa powder combined with health education significantly reduced TC, LDL-C, and Apo A1 levels in patients with dyslipidemia. KEGG pathway analysis suggests an association between the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway and dyslipidemia. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms.

Abstract Background Hypertension is one of the major public health problems in China. Limited evidence exists regarding sex differences in the association between hypertension and air pollutants, as well as the impact of dietary factors on the relationship between air pollutants and hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the sex-specific effects of dietary patterns on the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone(O3) and hypertension in adults residing in Jiangsu Province of China. Methods A total of 3189 adults from the 2015 China Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance in Jiangsu Province were included in this study. PM2.5 and O3 concentrations were estimated using satellite space-time models and assigned to each participant. Dietary patterns were determined by reduced rank regression (RRR), and multivariate logistic regression was used to assess the associations of the obtained dietary patterns with air pollutants and hypertension risk. Results After adjusting for confounding variables, we found that males were more sensitive to long-term exposure to PM2.5 (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.42 95%CI:1.08,1.87), and females were more sensitive to long-term exposure to O3 (OR = 1.61 95%CI:1.15,2.23). Traditional southern pattern identified through RRR exhibited a protective effect against hypertension in males (OR = 0.73 95%CI: 0.56,1.00). The results of the interaction between dietary pattern score and PM2.5 revealed that adherence to traditional southern pattern was significantly associated with a decreased risk of hypertension in males (P

Introduction: Nutritional support is potentially considered an essential step to prevent muscle loss and enhance physical function in older adults. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the role of potential nutritional strategies, i.e., fish oil-derived ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), wheat oligopeptide and their combined intervention, in preventing and reversing sarcopenia in aging process. Methods: One hundred 25-month-old Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 10 groups, and 10 newly purchased 6-month-old rats were included in young control group (n = 10). Fish oil (200, 400 or 800 mg/kg body weight), wheat oligopeptide (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg body weight), fish oil + wheat oligopeptide (800 + 100, 400 + 200 or 200 + 400 mg/kg body weight) or the equal volume of solvent were administered daily by gavage for 10 weeks. The effects of these interventions on natural aging rats were evaluated. Results: All intervention groups had a significant increase in muscle mass and grip strength and reduction in perirenal fat weight when compared to the aged control group (P

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an increasing focus towards infant immunity. The development and maintenance of the immune system are significantly influenced from birth, and is shaped by early-life infant feeding behavior. Hence, the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of parents play a crucial role in shaping the immune system of infants. A total of 2369 parents across 19 cities in China were surveyed using a self-designed online questionnaire. The KAP questionnaire assessed three domains: immunity, gut microbiota, and biotics (prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics). The questionnaire also included questions on infant health. An overwhelming majority of parents (97.90%) placed high value on their children’s immunity, and 40.40% of them reported an increased level of concern following the COVID-19 pandemic. Diarrhea (78.80%), colds (75.70%), nighttime crying (73.80%), regurgitation (71.70%) and food retention (66.50%) were the major health issues reported. Knowledge scores toward immunity and gut microbiota were positively correlated to attitude and practice scores, respectively. Attitude scores toward immunity, gut microbiota and biotics were positively correlated to their respective practice scores. Parental knowledge score on immunity was negatively correlated with diarrhea, colds, regurgitation and food retention. On the other hand, parental practice scores toward immunity were negatively correlated with food retention. In regards to gut microbiota, parental knowledge score was negatively correlated with diarrhea, regurgitation and food retention; parental attitude score was negatively correlated with nighttime crying whereas practice score was negatively correlated with diarrhea, regurgitation, food retention and nighttime crying. Attitude score toward biotics was negatively correlated with nighttime crying and practice scores toward biotics was negatively correlated with colds, food retention and nighttime crying. This study demonstrated that significant gaps and misunderstandings exist among parents regarding immunity, gut microbiota health, and biotics. Both public education and interventions are crucial to enhance parental knowledge and practices, thereby improving infant immunity.

Abstract Background Several observational studies have reported an association between hand grip strength (HGS) and pulmonary function (PF). However, causality is unclear. To investigate whether HGS and PF are causally associated, we performed Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses. Methods We identified 110 independent single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for right-hand grip strength (RHGS) and 103 independent SNPs for left-hand grip strength (LHGS) at the genome-wide significant threshold (P < 5 × 10−8) from MRC-IEU Consortium and evaluated these related to PF. MR estimates were calculated using the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method and multiple sensitivity analyses were further performed. Results Genetical liability to HGS was positively causally associated with forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), but not with FEV1/FVC. In addition, there was positive causal association between RHGS and FVC (OR=1.519; 95% CI, 1.418-1.627; P=8.96E-33), and FEV1 (OR=1.486; 95% CI, 1.390-1.589; P=3.19E-31); and positive causal association between LHGS and FVC (OR=1.464; 95% CI, 1.385-1.548; P=2.83E-41) and FEV1 (OR=1.419; 95% CI, 1.340-1.502; P=3.19E-33). Nevertheless, no associations were observed between RHGS and FEV1/FVC (OR=0.998; 95% CI, 0.902-1.103; P=9.62E-01) and between LHGS and FEV1/FVC (OR=0.966; 95% CI, 0.861-1.083; P=5.52E-01). Similar results were shown in several sensitivity analyses. Conclusion Our study provides support at the genetic level that HGS is positively causally associated with FVC and FEV1, but not with FEV1/FVC. Interventions for HGS in PF impairment deserve further exploration as potential indicators of PF assessment.

Dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) can be classified into animal- and plant-derived ω-3 PUFAs. Patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) are frequently accompanied by dyslipidemia, which is closely related to the high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) subfractions change. This study aimed to determine the effects of different sources ω-3 PUFAs on glucolipid metabolism and lipoprotein subfractions in T2DM with dyslipidemia. Ninety T2DM patients with dyslipidemia were randomly assigned to take 3 g/day fish oil (FO, containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)), 3 g/day perilla oil (PO, containing α-linolenic acid (ALA)), or 3 g/day blend oil (BO, containing EPA, DHA and ALA) for 3 months. 90 patients completed the intervention. There was a significant reduction of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in all the groups. The triglycerides (TG) in the FO group were significantly different with a group × time interaction (P = 0.043), which was higher compared with the other two groups. The serum small HDL-C subfractions in the PO group was higher and the serum large HDL-C subfractions in the PO group was lower than those in the BO and FO groups. Plant-derived ω-3 PUFAs are more effective at controlling blood glucose than animal-derived ω-3 PUFAs. However, animal-derived ω-3 PUFAs have a significant lowering effect on TG compared with plant-derived ω-3 PUFAs. Particularly, large HDL-C subfractions after animal-derived ω-3 PUFAs intake were higher than plant-derived ω-3 PUFAs intake; while small HDL-C subfractions were lower. Both the animal- and plant-derived ω-3 PUFAs have practical value in improving glucose and lipids metabolism in T2DM patients with dyslipidemia.

Postprandial metabolism plays major roles in many pathological conditions. The n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) ratio is closely related to various physiological disorders. This study aimed to investigate the effects of high fat meals with different n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios on postprandial metabolism in normal control (NC) and hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) rats. The postprandial response of triglyceride (TG) in HTG groups was higher than that in NC groups after different n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio meals. The HTG groups showed higher postprandial total cholesterol (TC) responses than NC groups after 1:1 and 20:1 ratio meals. The 5:1 n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio elicited lower postprandial responses of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) than 1:1 and 10:1 ratios in HTG groups. The postprandial malondialdehyde (MDA) response was lower after a 5:1 n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio meal than 1:1 and 20:1 ratio meals in HTG groups. The 1:1 ratio resulted in a lower postprandial reactive oxygen species (ROS) level than 5:1 and 10:1 n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios in NC groups. The results showed that a low n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio improved postprandial dysmetabolism induced by a high fat meal in NC and HTG rats. A high n-6/n-3 PUFA ratio increased the difference in postprandial metabolism between NC and HTG rats.

BackgroundDepression can result in changes in eating behavior and decrease the quality of eating. It has been shown that maternal depression during pregnancy can result in malnutrition, which can have adverse effects on the pregnancy and the offspring. There is currently no clear association between depression and diet.MethodsFive hundred and forty-nine pregnant women recruited from Danyang Maternal and Child Health Hospital in Jiangsu Province participated in this study and were administered the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 (IES-2), Edinburgh Post-natal Depression Scale (EPDS), Pregnancy Stress Scale (PPS), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Dietary Guidelines Adherence Index for Pregnant Women during Pregnancy (CDGCI-PW). The nutritional software collected dietary records for three consecutive days in mid-pregnancy to calculate dietary intake and nutrients that support energy production. The mediation analyses were conducted using SPSS 24.0 macro PROCESS.ResultsThe relationship between depressive symptoms during pregnancy and diet quality was moderated primarily by two aspects of eating behavior, “Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues” (RHS) and “Body-Food Choice Congruence” (BFC). Depressive symptoms (EPDS scores) showed a negative correlation with RHS, BFC, and RHS, and BFC showed a positive correlation with diet quality, yielding a significant specific indirect effect. The multiple mediation model explained 14.7% of the variance in the diet quality.ConclusionThis study highlights the important role of eating behaviors during pregnancy in the relationship between depressive symptoms (EPDS scores) and diet quality, and provides preliminary evidence for feasible ways pregnant women with depressive symptoms can improve diet quality, promote maternal and child health, and reduce depression.

This study explored the relationship among dietary patterns, dietary supplement use, and supplement types.An online survey encompassing 1,018 participants was conducted. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between dietary patterns, dietary supplement use, and the types of supplements.The results indicated that the use of vitamin C, calcium, and reishi shell-broken spore powder supplements were inversely associated with the snack and fast food pattern, whereas melatonin and fish oil supplements were positively associated. The starch pattern showed a positive association with the use of protein powders, while the vegetable oil and pork pattern displayed an inverse association with the use of vitamin A and probiotic supplements. There was no association between the vegetable and fruit pattern and supplement use.Overall, this study revealed associations between three distinct dietary patterns, dietary supplement use, and the types of supplements. However, healthy pattern did not demonstrate any significant correlation.

IntroductionFood proteins have been recognized as an ideal source to release bioactive peptides with the potential to intervene nutrition related chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, obesity and diabetes. Our previous studies showed that pea protein hydrolysate (PPH) could suppress hepatic glucose production in hepatic cells via inhibiting the gluconeogenic signaling. Thus, we hypothesized that PPH could play the hypoglycemic role in vivo.MethodsIn the present study, the mice model with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) was developed by high-fat diet and low dose of streptozotocin injections. PPH was administered orally with a dosage of 1000 mg/kg body weight for 9 weeks, followed by the downstream biomedical analyses.ResultsThe results showed that the 9-week treatment of PPH could reduce fasting blood glucose by 29.6% and improve glucose tolerance in the T2DM mice. The associated mechanisms included suppression of the gluconeogenic pathway, activation of the insulin signaling and modulation of the renin angiotensin system in the liver of the diabetic mice. In addition, the levels of pro-inflammatory markers in both liver and serum were reduced by the PPH treatment.ConclusionThe hypoglycemic effect of PPH in T2DM mice was demonstrated in the present study. Findings from this study could provide rationale to incorporate PPH into functional foods or nutraceuticals for glycemic control.

Abstract Objective We explored the dietary effects of replacing normal dietary staple foods with supplementary nutritional protein powder, dietary fiber, and fish oil on several metabolic parameters. We examined weight loss, glucose and lipid metabolism, and intestinal flora in obese individuals when compared with individuals on a reduced staple food low carbohydrate diet. Methods From inclusion and exclusion criteria, 99 participants (28 kg/m2 ≤ body mass index (BMI) ≤ 35 kg/m2) were recruited and randomly assigned to control and intervention 1 and 2 groups. Physical examinations and biochemical indices were performed/gathered before the intervention and at 4 and 13 weeks post intervention. After 13 weeks, feces was collected and 16s rDNA sequenced. Results After 13 weeks, when compared with controls, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure values in intervention group 1 were significantly reduced. In intervention group 2, body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference were significantly reduced. Triglyceride (TG) levels in both intervention groups were significantly reduced. Fasting blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, glycosylated albumin, total cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B levels in intervention group 1 were decreased, while high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) decreased slightly. Glycosylated albumin, TG, and total cholesterol levels in intervention group 2 decreased, while HDL-c decreased slightly, High sensitive C-reactive protein, MPO, Ox-LDL, LEP, TGF-β1, IL-6, GPLD1, pro NT, GPC-4, and LPS levels in both intervention groups were lower when compared with controls. Adiponectin (ADPN) levels in intervention groups were higher when compared with controls. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels in intervention group 1 were lower when compared with controls. There is no obvious difference in α diversity and β diversity between intestinal flora of 3 groups. Among the first 10 species of Phylum, only the control group and the intervention group 2 had significantly higher Patescibacteria than the intervention group 1. Among the first 10 species of Genus, only the number of Agathobacter in intervention group 2 was significantly higher than that in control group and intervention group 1. Conclusions We showed that an LCD, where nutritional protein powder replaced some staple foods and dietary fiber and fish oil were simultaneously supplemented, significantly reduced weight and improved carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in obese individuals when compared with an LCD which reduced staple food intake.

Previous meta-analyses of multiple studies have suggested that dietary intake and blood concentrations of carotenoids, as well as dietary supplement of certain carotenoids, play a role in reducing the risk of cancer. However, the conclusions of these studies have been subject to controversy. We conducted an umbrella review of meta-analyses to comprehensively analyze and evaluate the evidence pertaining the association between carotenoids and cancer outcomes. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases of meta-analyses and systematic reviews up to June 2023. Our selection criteria encompassed meta-analyses of cohort and case-control studies, as well as randomized controlled clinical trials, which investigated the associations between carotenoids and cancer risk. We also determined the levels of evidence for these associations with AMSTAR 2 criteria. We included 51 eligible articles, including 198 meta-analyses for qualitative synthesis in the umbrella review. Despite the presence of moderate to high heterogeneity among the studies, dietary intake, supplementation, and blood concentrations of carotenoids were inversely associated with the risk of total cancer, and certain specific cancers of lung, digestive system, prostate, breast, head and neck, and others. Subgroup analysis also showed that individual carotenoids (α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, and lycopene) offer certain protection against specific types of cancers. However, high doses of carotenoid supplements, especially β-carotene, significantly increased the risk of total cancer, lung cancer, and bladder cancer. Our umbrella meta-analysis supported that high intake of dietary carotenoids as a whole food approach could be more beneficial in reducing cancer risk. Concurrently, the findings suggest that the efficacy of single-carotenoid supplementation in cancer prevention remains a subject of controversy.

The role of selenium in the developmental process of esophageal cancer (EC) requires further investigation. To explore the relationship between selenium-related factors and EC through bioinformatic analysis, a case-control study was conducted to verify the results. Utilizing the GEPIA and TCGA databases, we delineated the differential expression of glutathione peroxidase 3 (GPx3) in EC and normal tissues, identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and a performed visualization analysis. Additionally, 100 pairs of dietary and plasma samples from esophageal precancerous lesions (EPLs) of esophageal squamous cancer (ESCC) cases and healthy controls from Huai’an district, Jiangsu, were screened. The levels of dietary selenium, plasma selenium, and related enzymes were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or ELISA kits. The results showed lower GPx3 expression in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. Further analysis revealed that DEGs were mainly involved in the fat digestion and absorption pathway, and the core protein fatty acid binding protein 1 (FABP1) was significantly upregulated and negatively correlated with GPx3 expression. Our case-control study found that selenium itself was not associated with EPLs risk. However, both the decreased concentration of GPx3 and the increase in FABP1 were positively correlated with the EPLs risk (p for trend = 0.035 and 0.046, respectively). The different expressions of GPx3 and FABP1 reflect the potential of selenium for preventing ESCC at the EPLs stage. GPx3 may affect myocardial infarction through FABP1, which remains to be further studied.

This study aims to update the evidence and clarify whether cranberry possesses lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic properties in humans. PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched to identify relevant articles published up to December 2023. In total, 3145 publications were reviewed and 16 of them were included for qualitative synthesis and meta-analysis. Stata 15.0 and Review Manager 5.4 were applied for statistical analyses. The results revealed a significant decrease in the total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (TC/HDL-C) (MD = −0.24; 95% CI: −0.45, −0.04; peffect = 0.02) and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) (MD = −0.59; 95% CI: −1.05, −0.14; peffect = 0.01) with cranberry consumption. However, it did not influence total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and fasting insulin. In subgroup analysis, cranberry consumption in dried form (capsules, powder, and tablets) was found to significantly decrease the fasting insulin level (three studies, one hundred sixty-five participants, MD = −2.16; 95% CI: −4.24, −0.07; peffect = 0.04), while intervention duration, health conditions, and dosage of polyphenols and anthocyanins had no impact on blood lipid and glycemic parameters. In summary, cranberry might have potential benefits in regulating lipid and glucose profiles.

Background: Overweight and obesity as main health problems harm human beings worldwide. The number of people diagnosed with overweight and obese is gradually increasing. Green tea catechin has been reported to effectively help control body weight in overweight and obese population, and is protectively against the blood pressure and lipids in people with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Methods: We retrieved 4 English databases (PubMed, Web of science, Cochrane, Scoups) from inception to April 20, 2023. Two reviewers independently determined eligibility, assessed the reporting quality of included studies, and extracted the data. Data were extracted from eleven studies. The results were presented with the weighted mean differences (WMDs), and the confidence intervals (CIs) was 95 %. The random-effects or fixed-effects model was applied according to the heterogeneity. The subgroup analysis was used to identify the source of heterogeneity. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots, Egger's test, and Begg's test. Results: Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) inclusion studies were screened from 3072 literature articles, involving 613 overweight and obese patients. After combining all studies, it was found that in overweight and obese people green tea catechin could reduce waist circumference (WC) (pooled WMD = −1.37 cm, 95 % CI: −2.52 to −0.22 cm, p = 0.019), and triglyceride (TG) (pooled WMD = −0.18 mmol/L, 95 % CI: −0.35 to −0.02 mmol/L, p = 0.032), and increase high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (pooled WMD = 0.07 mmol/L, 95 % CI: 0.01–0.14 mmol/L, p = 0.031). Conclusion: Green tea catechin supplement effectively reduced WC and TG levels and improved HDL-c levels. However, it did not show the significant effect on the blood pressure in overweight and obese people. The present meta-analysis showed a moderate benefit of green tea catechin supplementation on lipid profiles in overweight and obese people.

Skipping breakfast is one of the most prevalent irregular eating habits. Several pieces of evidence have reported the association between breakfast omission and a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. Numerous publications have focused on the impact of skipping breakfast on various cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, the current systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess this impact, especially with regard to anthropometric measurements, serum lipid profiles, blood pressure, and glycemic control indicators. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials up to 1 April 2023. A total of 11 eligible trials were identified to evaluate the combined effects of skipping breakfast. Final integrated results demonstrated that breakfast omission significantly decreased the body weight (mean difference = −0.66, 95% CI: −1.09 to −0.24, p = 0.002, I2 = 0.0) and increased the level of serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (mean difference = 9.89, 95% CI: 5.14 to 14.63, p = 0.000, I2 = 17.3). Subgroup analysis also revealed potential factors that may affect the outcomes, for example, the physiological condition of participants, duration, gender, and type of breakfast. In conclusion, skipping breakfast may reduce body weight while increasing the level of serum LDL-C at the same time. In view of the limited trials, further studies are needed to expound the role of breakfast omission in cardiovascular diseases.

BackgroundThe effect of viscous soluble dietary fiber on glucose and lipid metabolism in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains controversial, and the dose–response relationship of its effect on blood glucose and blood lipid level is still unclear.MethodsWe conducted comprehensive searches in several databases up to 17 January 2023. We conducted a dose–response analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to investigate the effect of viscous dietary fiber on glucose and lipid metabolism in patients with T2DM.ResultsStatistical significance was observed in the decreases of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (mean difference) [MD = −0.47; 95%CI: (−0.66, −0.27)], fasting blood glucose (FBG) [MD = −0.93; 95%CI: (−1.46, −0.41)], total cholesterol (TC) [MD = −0.33; 95%CI: (−0.46, −0.21)], and low-density lipoprotein and cholesterol (LDL-C) [MD = −0.24; 95%CI: (−0.35, −0.13)]. Contrarily, no difference was observed regarding the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) or triglyceride (TG). In addition, the effect on fasting insulin remains unclear. Results from the subgroup analyses showed that an intervention duration longer than 6 weeks had a significant effect on the HbA1c level; a treatment dosage higher than 8.3 g/day had a significant effect on the FBG level.ConclusionsSupplementation of viscous dietary fiber is beneficial to control blood glucose and blood lipid in T2DM.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is gradually becoming one of the most common and health-endangering diseases. Flaxseed powder (FLA) is rich in α-linolenic acid, dietary fiber, lignans, and other active ingredients, which have lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we investigated whether the FLA improves host metabolism by gut bacteria modulation and further bile acid modulation in mice fed a high-fat diet. At the end of the experiment, we found that FLA can significantly reduce the body weight, body fat content, and serum TG, LDL-C, and TNF-α levels of mice, and improve liver steatosis. FLA intervention has a significant effect on preventing and regulating the gut flora disturbance caused by HFD. FLA intervention affects bile acid metabolism in the intestine and causes significant changes in functional bile acids, which can play a lipid-lowering and anti-inflammatory role by activating the intestinal Fxr- Fgfr4-Cyp7a1 and Tgr5-Tlr4-Tnfα pathways.

Hypertension is a prevalent cardiovascular condition, with excessive sodium intake being a significant risk factor. Various studies have investigated measures to reduce salt intake, including integrated lifestyle interventions and health education. However, the effectiveness of behavioral interventions focused solely on salt reduction remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the effects of a behavioral intervention based on salt reduction on blood pressure and urinary sodium excretion. A comprehensive search of the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science was conducted to identify relevant literature. Study and intervention characteristics were extracted for descriptive synthesis, and the quality of the included studies was assessed. A total of 10 studies, comprising 4,667 participants (3,796 adults and 871 children), were included. The interventions involved the provision of salt-restriction spoons or devices, salt-reduction education, self-monitoring devices for urinary sodium, and salt-reduction cooking classes. Meta-analysis results showed that behavioral interventions focused on salt reduction significantly reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) (–1.17 mmHg; 95% CI, –1.86 to –0.49), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (–0.58 mmHg; 95% CI, –1.07 to –0.08) and urinary sodium excretion (–21.88 mmol/24 hours; 95% CI, –32.12 to –11.64). These findings suggest that behavioral change interventions centered on salt reduction can effectively lower salt intake levels and decrease blood pressure levels. However, to enhance effectiveness, behavioral interventions for salt reduction should be combined with other salt-reduction strategies.

Chuanminshen violaceum, as a food and folk medicine, is cultivated and grown only in China. Its polysaccharides play an important role in medicinal benefits. Herein, crude C. violaceum polysaccharides (CVPs) were purified to yield two polysaccharide fractions (CVPs-1-G and CVPs-2-G) using DEAE Cellulose-52 and Sephadex G-100 column chromatography. Structural analyses indicated that both CVPs-1-G and CVPs-2-G were glucans with average molecular weights of 8.1 kDa and 187.5 kDa, respectively. The main chain of the major component (CVPs-1-G) might be composed of (1 → 4)-linked α-Glcp, and the branched-chain might be an α-Glcp → 4)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 → 4)-α-D-Glcp, which connected to the main chain through the O-6 position of → 3,6)-α-D-Glcp-(1 →. In addition, CVPs-1-G displayed ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, as well as competitive inhibitory activities of α-amylase and non-competitive inhibitory activities of lipase and pepsin. According to molecular docking, its inhibitory activity on digestive enzyme might be caused by hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interaction between them. Thus, CVPs exhibit strong potential for use in functional foods and pharmaceuticals.

OBJECTIVES The aims of this study were to update the latest data on the prevalence of hypertension (HTN) in the elderly Chinese population and to assess relationships between new anthropometric indices and HTN. METHODS Data were obtained from the Basic Public Health Service (BPHS) survey for Jiangsu Province, China. A total of 944,760 people aged 65 years and older were included in this study. Blood pressure was measured by trained investigators. Body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WtHR), conicity index (COI), body roundness index (BRI), and a body shape index (ABSI) were included in the analysis as anthropometric indices. Logistic regression analysis and restricted cubic splines were used to evaluate the association of anthropometric indices with HTN. RESULTS The prevalence of HTN among elderly residents of Jiangsu Province was 64.7% (95% confidence interval, 64.6 to 64.8). After adjusting for multiple covariates, all anthropometric indices except ABSI showed significant non-linear positive dose-response associations with HTN across sex (pnonlinear

Abstract Background Dietary fatty acids intake affects the composition of erythrocyte fatty acids, which is strongly correlated with glycolipid metabolism disorders. This study aimed at investigating the different effects of marine-derived and plant-derived omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) on the fatty acids of erythrocytes and glycolipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods The randomized double-blinded trial that was performed on 180 T2DM patients. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups for the six-month intervention. The participants were randomly assigned to three groups for the six-month intervention. The fish oil (FO) group was administered with FO at a dose of 3 g/day containing eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the perilla oil (PO) group was administered with PO at a dose of 3 g/day containing α-linolenic (ALA), the linseed and fish oil (LFO) group was administered with mixed linseed and fish oil at a dose of 3 g/day containing EPA, DHA and ALA. Demographic information were collected and anthropometric indices, glucose and lipid metabolism indexes, erythrocyte fatty acid composition were measured. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA. Results A total of 150 patients finished the trial, with 52 of them in the FO group, 50 in the PO group and 48 in the LFO group. There were significant effects of time × treatment interaction on fast blood glucose (FBG), insulin, HOMA-IR and C-peptide, TC and triglyceride (TG) levels (P

Flaxseed has displayed the potential beneficial as functional foods. However, most studies focused on effects of flaxseed extracts or ingredients in flaxseed. Besides, few studies showed that flaxseed extracts contributed to anti-type 1 diabetes (T1D), yet the underlying mechanism is still unknown. In the present study, 16.7% of milled flaxseed (MF)-added diet was given to diabetic mice induced by streptozocin for 6 weeks. The results showed that MF feeding 1) slightly decreased blood glucose levels and improved the ability of glucose tolerance by oral glucose tolerance test, 2) decreased liver tumor necrosis factor-α levels and increased liver glycogen levels with significance via down-regulating TLR4/NF-κB pathways, 3) and significantly altered some beneficial bacteria in gut microbiota. In conclusion, the present study showed that milled flaxseed showed the potential on anti-T1D through anti-inflammation via TLR4/NF-κB and altering the gut microbiota in STZ-induced diabetic mice.

Abstract Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has significant short and long-term health consequences for both the mother and child. There is limited but suggestive evidence that inulin could improve glucose tolerance during pregnancy. This study assessed the effect of inulin on glucose homeostasis and elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying the inulin-induced antidiabetic effects during pregnancy. Method Female C57BL/6 mice were randomized to receive either no treatment, high-dose inulin and low-dose inulin for 7 weeks with measurement of biochemical profiles. A real-time2 (RT2) profiler polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array involved in glycolipid metabolism was measured. Results Inulin treatment facilitated glucose homeostasis in a dose-dependent manner by decreasing fasting blood glucose, advanced glycation end products and total cholesterol, and improving glucose tolerance. Suppressing resistin (RETN) expression was observed in the inulin treatment group and the expression was significantly correlated with fasting blood glucose levels. The ratios of p-IRS to IRS and p-Akt to Akt in liver tissue and the ratio of p-Akt to Akt in adipose tissue as well as the expression level of GLUT4 increased significantly after inulin treatment. Conclusions Our findings indicated improvement of glucose and lipid metabolism by inulin was to activate glucose transport through the translocation of GLUT4 which was mediated by insulin signaling pathway repairment due to decreased expression of RETN and enhanced phosphorylation of IRS and Akt in GDM mice.

Abstract Background Flaxseed is widely used as a functional food for its rich sources of linolenic acid, lignans and dietary fibers in the world. This systematic review and dose–response meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) is first to evaluate effects of different flaxseed products (whole flaxseed, oil and lignans) on lipid profiles, inflammatory and anthropometric parameters in patients with dyslipidemia related diseases. Methods Literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central, Scopus, and Web of Science from the inception dates to January, 2020. Weighted mean differences with the 95% confidence interval (CI) were pooled using fix or random-effects models. Results Thirty-one RCTs involving 1,698 participants were included. The present meta-analysis revealed that flaxseed consumption had an overall beneficial effect on serum TC, LDL-C, TG, apo B and IL-6 in patients with dyslipidemia related diseases, but not on apo A, HDL-C, hs-CRP, CRP and anthropometric indices. However, different flaxseed products showed obviously different effects. Whole flaxseed supplementation significantly reduced TC (− 11.85 mg/dl, 95% CI − 20.12 to − 3.57, P = 0.005), LDL-C (− 10.51 mg/dl, 95% CI − 14.96 to − 6.06, P 30 g/day. Moreover, a linear relationship between dose of whole flaxseed and absolute changes in C-reactive protein (P = 0.036) and a nonlinear relationship between with IL-6 (P 25. Graphic abstract

In this study, the following four groups of mice with hyperlipidemia were involved: the model control group (MC), the Chrysanthemum flavonoids group (CF), the luteolin group, and the luteoloside group. The whole gene expression profile was detected in the liver tissues of each group. Differential genes significantly enriched in the biological process of gene ontology (GO) items and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) were selected, and 4 differential genes related to lipid metabolism were selected for further real-time quantitative PCR verification. Compared with the MC, 41 differential genes such as Sqle, Gck, and Idi1 were screened in the CF intervention group; 68 differential genes such as Acsl3, Cyp7a1, and Lpin1 were screened in the luteolin intervention group (CF); and 51 differential genes such as Acaca, Cyp7a1, and Lpin1 were screened in the luteoloside group. The mechanism of CF to improve hyperlipidemia is very complex, mainly involving biological processes such as cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism and glycolysis, luteolin mainly involves the synthesis and transport of cholesterol, and luteoloside mainly involves fatty acid metabolism. The functional pathways of CF may not be completely the same as luteolin and luteoloside, and further study is needed on the mechanism of action of other components.

Flaxseed oil (FO) has displayed potential anti-diabetes properties by providing a high content of α-linolenic acid. However, the effects and mechanisms of FO on type 1 diabetes are still unclear. The present study aims to explore the effects of different doses of FO feeding on hepatic inflammation and gut microbiota in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Forty-eight six-week-old C57BL/6J male mice were divided into a control group (CON), a diabetic group (MOD), a diabetes with 7.0% w/w FO feeding group (FO-L), and a diabetes with 10.5% w/w FO feeding group (FO-H) for six weeks. The 7.0% w/w and 10.5% w/w FO feeding groups exhibited potential recovery of the number and size of pancreas tissues. The fasting blood glucose level was significantly decreased only after 4 weeks of feeding with 10.5% w/w FO in diabetic mice. The 10.5% w/w FO feeding group significantly decreased the postprandial blood glucose level of mice in the OGTT test. Hepatic glycogen levels were dramatically upregulated in the mice fed with both 7.0% w/w and 10.5% w/w FO. FO feeding significantly attenuated hepatic LPS, TNF-α, and IL-1β levels. In addition, we observed that 7.0% w/w and 10.5% w/w FO feedings notably downregulated hepatic gene and protein expressions of TLR4, MyD88, and P65. Furthermore, only 10.5% FO regulated fecal microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of the Bacteroidetes phylum, Lactococcus family, and Muribaculaceae and Streptococcaceae family and genus in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. Therefore, we conclude that FO feeding plays a role in anti-inflammation via the regulation of hepatic LPS/TLR4/MyD88 pathways and gut microbiota. In addition, different doses of FO supplementation may exhibit varying mechanisms in streptozotocin-induced mice.

Food protein-derived antihypertensive peptides are a representative type of bioactive peptides. Several models based on partial least squares regression have been constructed to delineate the relationship between the structure and activity of the peptides. Machine-learning-based models have been applied in broad areas, which also indicates their potential to be incorporated into the field of bioactive peptides. In this study, a long short-term memory (LSTM) algorithm-based deep learning model was constructed, which could predict the IC50 value of the peptide in inhibiting ACE activity. In addition to the test dataset, the model was also validated using randomly synthesized peptides. The LSTM-based model constructed in this study provides an efficient and simplified method for screening antihypertensive peptides from food proteins.

(1) Background: The effect of cinnamon on the regulation of glycolipid levels in type 2 diabetic patients is still controversial, and there is a lack of research on the dose–response relationship between cinnamon and glycolipid indicators in type 2 diabetic patients. (2) Methods: This dose–response meta-analysis was performed to explore the effect of the cinnamon intervention on glycolipid metabolism. We conducted a comprehensive database search for literature published before November 2022. Nonlinear models were used for dose–response relationship analysis. (3) Results: We identified that a cinnamon intervention was effective in controlling triglyceride (TG) levels (mean difference = −7.31; 95%CI: −12.37, −2.25, p = 0.005) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (mean difference = −6.78; 95%CI: −11.35, −2.22, p = 0.004) in type 2 diabetic patients; however, it also was able to increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in patients with type 2 diabetes (mean difference = 1.53; 95%CI: 1.01, 2.05, p < 0.001). However, the cinnamon intervention had no significant effect on the level of fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), or total cholesterol (TC) levels. We found a significant effect of the cinnamon intervention dose on the TG level (p-nonlinearity = 0.016) and LDL-C (p-nonlinearity = 0.019) in the nonlinear dose–response analysis. In the subgroup analysis, we found a hypoglycemic effect with the cinnamon dose ≤1200 mg (mean difference = −11.1, 95%CI: −14.64, −7.58, p < 0.001). (4) Conclusion: Cinnamon intervention may be beneficial in lowering TG and LDL-C levels while enhancing HDL-C levels, and the dosage of the intervention was an important factor in influencing the TG and LDL-C levels.

Abstract Background The beneficial effects of ω−3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) vary between different sources. However, there is a paucity of comparative studies regarding the effects and mechanisms of marine and plant ω−3 PUFA on obesity. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of fish oil (FO) and perilla oil (PO) on glucolipid metabolism, inflammation, and adipokine in mice fed a high-fat (HF) diet in association with the contribution of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88) pathway. Methods C57BL/6J mice and MyD88−/− mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: normal chow diet, HF diet, HF diet accompanied by daily gavage with either FO or PO. After 4 weeks, blood biochemistries, adipocyte histology, mRNA, and protein expression of MyD88-dependent and -independent pathways of TLR4 signaling in epididymal adipose tissue were measured. Results In C57BL/6J mice, there were no statistical differences between FO and PO in decreasing body weight, glucose, insulin, triglyceride, total cholesterol, interleukin-6, and increasing adipocyte counts. FO and PO decreased mRNA and protein expression of TLR4, MyD88, tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6, inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa B kinase beta and nuclear factor-kappa B p65. In MyD88−/− mice, the beneficial effects of FO and PO on HF diet-induced metabolism abnormalities and inflammation were abolished. FO and PO had no impacts on mRNA and protein expression of receptor-interacting protein-1, interferon regulate factor 3, and nuclear factor-kappa B p65. Conclusion FO and PO exhibit similar protective effects on metabolic disorders and inflammation through inhibiting TLR4 signaling in a manner dependent on MyD88. These findings highlight plant ω−3 PUFA as an attractive alternative source of marine ω−3 PUFA and reveal a mechanistic insight for preventive benefits of ω−3 PUFA in obesity and related metabolic diseases.

Abstract Aims This study aimed to analyze the relationship between diet and overweight and obesity in Jiangsu Province by using structural equation modeling (SEM), and to determine dietary differences between genders in the model. Methods Data from 1739 individuals (53.8% female, n = 935) were analyzed. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to classify dietary patterns. SEM and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the relationship between dietary patterns and overweight and obesity. Results Overweight and obesity was found in 49.1%, and no difference was found in gender (51.2% of men and 47.2% of women, respectively; P = 0.090). Three dietary patterns: the traditional dietary pattern (i.e., poultry, light-colored vegetables, red meat and its products, cereals and tubers products, condiment, oils and dark-colored vegetables), the fruit-egg dietary pattern (i.e., fruit, whole grains, pickled vegetables and eggs and eggs products) and nut-wine dietary pattern (i.e., nut, wine and pastry snacks) were established by using EFA and CFA. It was found that the traditional dietary pattern for adult male was positively associated with the overweight and obesity in Jiangsu Province of China through multivariate logistic regression and SEM (OR = 1.954; 95%CI: 1.258 ~ 3.036; β =0.121, P

Objective: The study aimed to explore the association between folic acid supplementation, maternal nutritional levels during pregnancy and intelligence development of infants. Method: This was a prospective cohort study, mothers and their offspring in Jurong Maternal and Child Health Hospital were followed up through pregnancy up to 1 year. The basic information of pregnant women was obtained through questionnaire survey, including pregnancy lifestyle, marital status, vitamin and mineral supplements during pregnancy. Blood samples of pregnant women were collected on admission, serum folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine concentrations were determined. Maternal postpartum colostrum was collected and the concentrations of folate and vitamin B12 in colostrum were determined. Pregnant women (n = 478) and their corresponding infants were followed up and the Developmental Screen Test scores were recorded at 1,3,6,8 and 12 months of age. Results: Compared with the normal group, infants in the low serum folate group had a score of 0.12 points lower in the intellectual energy zone (95% CI: -0.23 – -0.01, P = 0.04), and infants with the high homocysteine level scored 1.30 points lower than the lower-level group (95% CI: -2.52 – -0.08, P = 0.04). In the colostrum low-vitamin B12 level group, infants scored 0.10 points lower (95% CI: -1.84 – -0.02, P = 0.02) in the social adaptation zone compared to the normal group. Conclusion: In conclusion, folic acid supplementation in the pre-pregnancy supplementation group and the post-pregnancy supplementation group may be not associated with infant mental development. In addition, maternal folate and homocysteine may be related to the intellectual development of infants. The level of vitamin B12 in colostrum may be associated with infants’ social adaptive capacity. This result may be caused by individual differences in folate and homocysteine metabolism in pregnant women.

Objective To explore the contamination characteristics of furan in commercially infant formula and supplementary food and assess the health risk of furan exposure among Chinese infant population. Methods Based on the convenience sampling method, 260 commercial infant formula and supplementary food were collected in Beijing, Zhejiang, Shandong, and Sichuan from 2017 to 2018. Furan was determined by isotope dilution headspace-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method. Probabilistic assessment method was adopted to assess the risk of furan exposure in infants aged 0 to 36 months from 2015 infant food consumption survey data. Results The detection rate of furan in infant formula and supplementary food was 90.32%-100.00%, and the average contamination level was 4.05-46.26 μg/kg. The average contamination level of furan in meat puree was the highest(46.26 μg/kg), followed by vegetable puree(41.31 μg/kg), and the lowest was infant formula(4.05 μg/kg). The average exposure of furan in infants aged 0-36 months was 21.95 ng/kg BW. Infants aged 0-36 months were divided into three groups: 0-6 months, 7-12 months and 13-36 months. The exposure of furan was the highest in infants aged 7-12 months. Considering non-neoplastic effects of furan, the range of margin of exposure(MOE) value for each group was 651-3 936. Considering neoplastic effects of furan, the range of MOE value for each group was 13 322-80 566. Conclusion For the infants aged 0-36 months and high consumers, the health risk of furan exposure from infant formula and supplementary food was of low concern.

ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine the association between high ratio of n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and depression.MethodsThe authors conducted a meta-analysis of research articles on the association of high ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs with the risk of depression published in the online article database on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library as of December 2021. Pooled odds ratios (OR) were calculated using random effects models. Publication bias was assessed visually by funnel plots and statistically by the Egger’s and Begg’s tests.ResultsFinally, 12 studies included in this systematic review and meta-analysis with a total of 66,317 participants (including 4,173 individuals with depression condition). The pooled results showed that high ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs might be positively associated with depression [OR = 1.21, 95% confidence intervals (CIs): 1.04∼1.41]. The I2 test indicated that there was a substantial statistical heterogeneity across the included studies (I2 = 54.38%, P = 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed that high ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs in blood had no significant association with depression (OR = 1.15, 95%CI: 0.88∼1.50), while high ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs in dietary supplements was positively associated with depression (OR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.16∼1.51).ConclusionThis meta-analysis confirmed the association between high ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs and the risk of depression. High ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs in dietary supplementation was positively associated with depression, but had no significant association in the blood. This study suggested that lowering the dietary intake of the ratio of n-6/n-3 PUFAs would be beneficial in the prevention of depression.

The primary objective of this study is to summarize the effect of diacylglycerol (DAG) oil consumption on weight loss, glucose and lipid metabolism. The weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% CI’s was calculated using the generic inverse variance approach. Heterogeneity was assessed and analyzed using the Cochran Q-statistic. In the overall analysis, intake of DAG oil can significantly reduce body weight (BW), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) in healthy people, and serum triacylglycerol (TAG) in people with diseases related to glucose and lipid metabolism, but has no significant effect on blood glucose (BG). Meta-regression analysis based on duration of intervention was significant for BW, BMI, and WC. The longer the intake of DAG oil, the better the weight loss effect. Pooled analyses show that DAG oil consumption has health advantages in maintaining a healthy weight, BMI, WC, serum TAG, and BG levels.

Purpose This study aimed to provide a clear comparable figure of the trends in incidence and mortality rates of esophageal cancer (EC) in Huai’an District, Huai’an City, Jiangsu Province, China, a high-risk area for EC. Methods The data for age- and sex-specific incidence rates between 1998 and 2016, the mortality rates in 1990-2016 and the number of EC patients were obtained from Huai’an District Cancer Registry. Crude rates, Age-standardized rates (ASRs) by world standard population and truncated age-standardized rates of EC incidence and mortality were calculated. The joinpoint regression analysis was used to calculate the annual percent changes (APC), average annual percent changes (AAPC), and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Overall, 20,892 new EC cases and 20,806 EC deaths were registered in Huai’an District. ASR of EC incidence from 1998 to 2016 and mortality from 1990 to 2016 were 73.32/100,000 and 60.03/100,000, respectively. The ASR illustrated that the incidence of EC had significant downward trends in total, male and female (AAPC = −4.65, −4.90, and −5.51, respectively, p

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is considered the most prevalent chronic liver disease, but the understanding of the mechanism of NAFLD is still limited. The aim of our study was to explore hub lncRNAs and mRNAs and pathological processes in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced and lycopene-intervened liver steatosis. We analyzed the gene profiles in the GSE146627 dataset from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to identify differentially expressed lncRNAs and mRNAs, and we constructed coexpression networks based on weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA). The Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases were utilized for functional enrichment analysis. We found that the turquoise, blue, brown, yellow, green, and black modules were significantly correlated with NAFLD. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that some hub lncRNAs (Smarca2, Tacc1, Flywch1, and Mef2c) might be involved in the regulation of the inflammatory and metabolic pathways (such as TNF signaling, metabolic, mTOR signaling, MAPK signaling, and p53 signaling pathways) in NAFLD. The establishment of an NAFLD mouse model confirmed that lycopene supply attenuated hepatic steatosis in HFD-induced NAFLD. Our analysis revealed that the inflammatory and metabolic pathways may be crucially involved in the pathogenesis of NAFLD, and hub lncRNAs provide novel biomarkers, therapeutic ideas, and targets for NAFLD. Moreover, lycopene has the potential to be a phytochemical for the prevention of HFD-induced liver steatosis.

Adolescent behavior is closely related to academic and long-term personal development, and adolescents are vulnerable to the influences from people around them. This study aimed to analyze the factors and mechanisms that influence the behavior of adolescents. It examines the impact of family, teachers, and peers on adolescent prosocial behavior and misconduct. Data were obtained from the China Education Panel Survey (CEPS) follow-up data (2014–2015 school year) and 7835 middle school student participants were used for analysis. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explore the influence and mechanisms of family, teachers, and peers on the development of adolescent social behavior. The findings showed that parental relationships, parental discipline, teacher supervision, and positive peer behavior were positively associated with adolescent prosocial behaviors and reduced the incidence of delinquent behaviors, while frequent home–school contact was associated with misconduct (all p < 0.01). These results remained significant after controlling for gender, residence, only-child status, family financial situation, and paternal education. Significant others in an adolescent’s life play multiple essential roles in forming and developing adolescent behavior and in directly influencing them. To guide the prosocial behaviors of middle school students and reduce delinquent behavior, we should build harmonious parent—child, peer, and teacher–student relationships, teach according to their aptitudes, pay attention to particular groups and strengthen psychological health education to develop their self-esteem and self-confidence.

Chrysanthemum extract possesses antioxidant potential and carbohydrate and fat digestive enzyme inhibitory in vitro. However, no evidence supporting chrysanthemum in modulation of postprandial lipemia and antioxidant status in humans presently exists. This study was to analyze the composition of Imperial Chrysanthemum (IC) extract and determine the effect on changes in postprandial glycemic and lipemic response and antioxidant status in adults after consumption of a high-fat (HF) meal. UHPLC-MS method was used to analyze the components of two kinds of IC extracts (IC-P/IC-E) and in vitro antioxidant activities were evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydraxyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and Hydroxyl radical (HR) radical scavenging assays. Following a randomized design, 37 healthy adults (age, 25.2 ± 2.6 years, and BMI, 20.9 ± 1.5 kg/m2) were assigned to two groups that consumed the HF meal, or HF meal supplemented by IC extract. Blood samples were collected at fasting state and then at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 h after the meal consumption. There were 12 compounds with relative content of more than 1% of the extracts, of which amino acid and derivatives, flavonoids, carboxylic acids and derivatives were the main components. Compared with IC-E, the contents of flavonoids in IC-P increased significantly (p < 0.05), and the cynaroside content exceeded 30%. In addition, IC-P showed strong free radical scavenging activity against DPPH, ABTS and HR radicals. Furthermore, according to repeated–measures ANOVA, significant differences were observed in the maximal changes for postprandial glucose, TG, T-AOC and MDA among the two groups. Postprandial glucose has significant difference between the two groups at 1 h after meal and the level in IC group was significantly lower than that in control group. No significant differences were observed in the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) among the two groups. IC significantly improved the serum antioxidant status, as characterized by increased postprandial serum T-AOC, SOD, GSH and decreased MDA. This finding suggests that IC can be used as a natural ingredient for reducing postprandial lipemia and improving the antioxidant status after consuming a HF meal.

Abstract Background Consumption of moldy food has previously been identified as a risk factor for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in high-risk countries; however, what contributing roles these dietary carcinogenic mycotoxins play in the etiology of ESCC are largely unknown. Methods A mycotoxin biomarker-incorporated, population-based case-control study was performed in Huaian area, Jiangsu Province, one of the two high-risk areas in China. Exposure biomarkers of aflatoxins (AF) and fumonisins (FN) were quantitatively analyzed using HPLC-fluorescence techniques. Results Among the cases (n = 190), the median levels of AF biomarker, serum AFB1-lysine adduct, and FN biomarker, urinary FB1, were 1.77 pg/mg albumin and 176.13 pg/mg creatinine, respectively. Among the controls (n = 380), the median levels of AFB1-lysine adduct and urinary FB1 were 1.49 pg/mg albumin and 56.92 pg/mg creatinine, respectively. These mycotoxin exposure biomarker levels were significantly higher in cases as compared to controls (p

Phytochemicals derived from oats are reported to possess a beneficial effect on modulating dyslipidemia, specifically on lowering total and LDL cholesterol. However, deeper insights into its mechanism remain unclear. In this randomized controlled study, we assigned 210 mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects from three study centers across China (Beijing, Nanjing, and Shanghai) to consume 80 g of oats or rice daily for 45 days. Plasma lipid profiles, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and fecal microbiota were measured. The results showed that total cholesterol (TC) and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C) decreased significantly with both oats and rice intake after 30 and 45 days. The reduction in TC and non-HDL-C was greater in the participants consuming oats compared with rice at day 45 (p = 0.011 and 0.049, respectively). Oat consumption significantly increased the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila and Roseburia, and the relative abundance of Dialister, Butyrivibrio, and Paraprevotella, and decreased unclassified f-Sutterellaceae. In the oat group, Bifidobacterium abundance was negatively correlated with LDL-C (p = 0.01, r = −0.31) and, TC and LDL-C were negatively correlated to Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (p = 0.02, r = −0.29; p = 0.03, r = −0.27, respectively). Enterobacteriaceae, Roseburia, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were positively correlated with plasma butyric acid and valeric acid concentrations and negatively correlated to isobutyric acid. HDL-C was negatively correlated with valeric acid (p = 0.02, r = −0.25) and total triglyceride (TG) was positively correlated to isovaleric acid (p = 0.03, r = 0.23). Taken together, oats consumption significantly reduced TC and LDL-C, and also mediated a prebiotic effect on gut microbiome. Akkermansia muciniphila, Roseburia, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and plasma SCFA correlated with oat-induced changes in plasma lipids, suggesting prebiotic activity of oats to modulate gut microbiome could contribute towards its cholesterol-lowering effect.

The relationship between the consumption of maternal non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) during pregnancy and the risk of obesity in offspring remains inconsistent. We aimed to systematically evaluate and clarify the relationship between NNS intake during pregnancy and weight gain in offspring based on evidence from population and clinical research. Databases including PubMed (via Medline), EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were systematically searched for eligible human studies. The primary outcome was the differences in body mass index (BMI) z-scores between offspring at 1 year of age who were with and without NNS intake during pregnancy or between offspring with different NNS intake levels during pregnancy. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted for data synthesis to calculate the weighted mean difference (WMD). A total of six prospective cohort studies were eligible for inclusion, among which three were used for pooled analysis of the BMI z-score. A significant increase was found in an offspring’s weight at 1 year of age in the NNS group when compared with the control group: WMD in BMI z-score = 0.19 (95% CI: 0.07, 0.31), p-value = 0.002. Results from the dose-response analysis showed a linear relationship between NNS intake during pregnancy and WMD at 1 year of age: beta = 0.02 (95% CI: 0.001, 0.04) for per serving/week increase in NNS consumption. The whole body of evidence for the review was rated as low quality. In summary, maternal NNS intake during pregnancy was found to be associated with increased weight gain in offspring based on evidence from human studies. Further well-designed and adequately powered studies are needed to confirm this relationship.

Guar gum is recognized as a soluble dietary fiber but its effects on blood lipid levels remain to be established. The purpose of the study was to focus on assessing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and investigate the effect of guar gum on lipid levels. Seventeen studies were systematically selected and included in the meta-analysis. Decreases in total cholesterol (TC) (standard mean difference (SMD) [95 %CI] = −1.38 [−2.01,−0.74]) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (SMD [95 %CI] = −1.67 [−2.52, −0.82]) were significantly more pronounced with guar gum consumption, whereas no difference was observed on high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (SMD [95 %CI] = −0.07 [−0.34, 0.19]) or triglyceride (TG) (SMD [95 %CI] = 0.06 [−0.50, 0.61]), which suggests that guar gum has the potential to promote lipid health and prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Although pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is considered a rare disease, the incidence thereof has increased steadily in recent years, while a safe and effective cure remains beyond reach. In this study, the potential of tocotrienol-rich fractions (TRF) and carotene to alleviate PF was explored. PF was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats via a single intratracheal bleomycin (BLM) (5 mg/kg) instillation. These rats were subsequently treated with TRF, carotene, pirfenidone (Pir) and nintedanib (Nin) for 28 days via gavage administration, whereafter histopathological performance, biochemical functions and molecular alterations were studied in the lung tissues. Our results showed that TRF, carotene, Nin and Pir all ameliorated PF by reducing inflammation and resisting oxidative stress to varying degrees. The related mechanisms involved the TGF-β1/Smad, PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling pathways. Ultimately, our findings revealed that, when combined with TRF, the therapeutic effects of Nin and Pir on PF were enhanced, indicating that TRF may, indeed, provide promising potential for use in combination therapy in the treatment of PF.

It is hypothesized that esophageal precancerous lesions (EPLs) have a surge requirement for coenzyme I (NAD). The purpose of this study is to clarify the key control points of NAD synthesis in developing EPL by detecting related markers and the gene polymorphism of NAD synthesis and metabolism. This case–control study was conducted in Huai’an, China. In total, 100 healthy controls and 100 EPL cases matched by villages, gender, and age (±2 years) were included. The levels of plasma niacin and nicotinamide, and the protein concentration of NAMPT, NAPRT, and PARP-1 were quantitatively analyzed. PARP-1 gene polymorphism was detected to determine if the cases differed genetically in NAD synthesis. The levels of plasma niacin and nicotinamide and the concentrations of NAMPT were not related to the risk of EPL, but the over-expressions of NAPRT (p = 0.014, 0.001, and 0.016, respectively) and PARP-1 (p for trend = 0.021) were associated with the increased EPL risk. The frequency distribution of APRP-1 genotypes was found to not differ between the two groups, while the EPL group showed an increased frequency of the variant C allele. NAPRT, but not NAMPT, was found to be responsible for the stress of excess NAD synthesis in EPL. Focusing on the development of NAPRT inhibitors may be beneficial to prevent and control ESCC.

The efficacy of different types and doses of dietary fiber supplementation in the treatment of gestational diabetes (GDM) remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of dietary fiber on blood glucose control in pregnant women with gestational diabetes mellitus, and further observe the effect on their blood lipids and pregnancy outcomes. We searched on Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane, and included several articles on additional fortification with dietary fiber for gestational diabetes interventions. This meta-analysis included 8 trials. We found that additional dietary fiber supplements significantly reduced fasting glucose (Hedges’g = −0.3; 95% CI [−0.49, −0.1]), two-hour postprandial glucose (Hedges’g = −0.69; 95% CI [−0.88, −0.51]), glycated hemoglobin (Hedges’g = −0.5; 95% CI [−0.68, −0.31]), TC (Hedges’g = −0.44; 95% CI [−0.69, −0.19]), TG (Hedges’g = −0.3; 95% CI [−0.4, −0.2]) and LDL-C (Hedges’g = −0.48; 95% CI [−0.63, −0.33]). It also significantly reduced preterm delivery (Hedges’g = 0.4, 95% CI [0.19~0.84]), cesarean delivery (Hedges’g = 0.6; 95% CI [0.37~0.97]), fetal distress (Hedges’g = 0.51; 95% CI [0.22~1.19]), and neonatal weight (Hedges’g = −0.17; 95% CI [−0.27~−0.07]). In a subgroup analysis comparing dietary fiber type and dose, insoluble dietary fiber was more effective than soluble dietary fiber in reducing fasting glucose (Hedges’g = −0.44; 95% CI [−0.52, −0.35]). ≥12 g fiber per day may be more effective in improving glycemic lipid and pregnancy outcomes than

The aim of this study was to examine the association between dietary patterns and high blood glucose in Jiangsu province of China by using structural equation modelling (SEqM). Methods: Participants in this cross-sectional study were recruited through the 2015 Chinese Adult Chronic Disease and Nutrition Surveillance Program in Jiangsu province using a multistage stratified cluster random sampling method. Dietary patterns were defined by exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the fitness of EFA. SEqM was used to investigate the association between dietary patterns and high blood glucose. Results: After exclusion, 3137 participants with complete information were analysed for this study. The prevalence of high blood glucose was 9.3% and 8.1% in males and females, respectively. Two dietary patterns: the modern dietary pattern (i.e., high in red meats and its products, vegetables, seafood, condiments, fungi and algae, main grains and poultry; low in other grains, tubers and preserves), and the fruit–milk dietary pattern (i.e., high in milk and its products, fruits, eggs, nuts and seeds and pastry snacks, but low in vegetable oils) were established. Modern dietary pattern was found to be positively associated with high blood glucose in adults in Jiangsu province (multivariate logistic regression: OR = 1.561, 95% CI: 1.025~2.379; SEqM: β = 0.127, p < 0.05). Conclusion: The modern dietary pattern—high intake of red meats—was significantly associated with high blood glucose among adults in Jiangsu province of China, while the fruit–milk dietary pattern was not significantly associated with high blood glucose.

(1) Background: The effects of resveratrol on blood lipids are controversial. Whether there is a dose-response of the lipid profile upon resveratrol supplementation is unknown. (2) Methods: This dose-response meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) was performed to explore the effects of resveratrol supplementation on lipid profile. A systematical and comprehensive search of several databases was conducted by 30 June 2022. (3) Results: The results indicated that the intake of resveratrol could significantly decrease the total cholesterol (TC) (mean difference = −10.28; 95%CI: −13.79, −6.76, p < 0.001), triglyceride (TG) (Mean difference = −856; 95%CI: −12.37, −4.75, p < 0.001) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (mean difference = −5.69; 95%CI: −11.07, −0.31, p = 0.038) level, but did not alter the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). In the non-linear dose–response analysis, we observed a significant effect of the supplementation dosage on the level of LDL-C (p-nonlinearity = 0.002). Results from the sub-group analysis showed that the reduction of LDL-C was more significant in the trials with a duration of ≥12 weeks and in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. (4) Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that resveratrol may be beneficial to reduce TC, TG, and LDL-C levels in the blood. The dosage of the resveratrol intervention is an essential factor that affects the level of LDL-C.