Nutrition
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Magnesium and trace element intake after a lifestyle intervention.
Observational studies suggest that some trace elements and magnesium (Mg) improve glucose metabolism, markers of inflammation, and oxidative stress, but supplementation studies have yielded inconsistent results. Our objective was to evaluate whether a lifestyle intervention trial, aimed at reducing total and saturated fat and increasing fiber intake, can affect also the intake of selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), and Mg. ⋯ Healthier lifestyle recommendations might improve the pattern of micronutrient and Mg intake, which might play an independent role in ameliorating some metabolic, inflammatory, and oxidative markers.
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The etiology of cataracts in the Asian subcontinent is not well understood. The aim of this study was to understand the differences in nutritional and lifestyle-related etiology of cataract in a high-income group (HIG) and a low-income group (LIG). ⋯ Along with high systolic blood pressure, waist:hip ratio, family size, sunlight exposure, and increased consumption of tobacco and alcohol were the risk factors for cataracts.
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Sucralose, a high-intensity sweetener, has been approved as a general-purpose sweetener in all food since the late 1990s. Due to its good taste and physiochemical profile, its use has increased and sucralose is considered a way of managing health and an option to improve the quality of life in the diabetic population. Recently high concentrations of sucralose have been found in the environment. Other environmental pollutants have been shown to induce neurotoxic effects when administered during a period of rapid brain growth and development. This period of rapid brain growth and development is postnatal in mice and rats, spanning the first 3-4 wk of life, reaching its peak around postnatal day 10, whereas in humans, brain growth and development is perinatal. The proteins calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, growth-associated protein-43, synaptophysin, and tau play important roles during brain growth and development. ⋯ The present study shows that repeated neonatal exposure to the artificial sweetener sucralose does not result in neurotoxicity, which supports that sucralose seems to be a safe alternative for people who want or need to reduce or substitute glucose in their diet.
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Proinflammatory cytokines and essential fatty acids (EFAs) and their metabolites are altered in coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and collagen vascular diseases, indicating that these diseases not only are low-grade systemic inflammatory conditions but also have defects in the metabolism of EFAs. EFAs and their metabolites such as eicosanoids, lipoxins, resolvins, protectins, maresins, and nitrolipids are biologically active molecules that regulate gene expression and enzyme activity, modulate inflammation, the immune response, and gluconeogenesis by direct and indirect pathways, function directly as agonists of a number of G-protein-coupled receptors, and thus regulate several cellular processes. ⋯ Stem cells are pluripotent and expected to be of benefit in the management of many clinical conditions. Therefore, I propose that the beneficial actions of EFAs and their metabolites seen in coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, atherosclerosis, cancer, depression, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, and collagen vascular diseases could be ascribed to their ability to enhance the proliferation and differentiation of embryonic stem cells in addition to their capacity to suppress inflammation.