Nutrition
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The aim of this study was to evaluate the flavonoid content of an ethanolic leaf extract from the medicinal plant Rourea induta Planch. (RIEE) and to investigate its hepatoprotective potential and in vivo antioxidant effects. ⋯ RIEE exhibits antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities in vivo, which may be attributable to its flavonoids composition [hyperin (2), quercetin-3-O-β-xyloside (4), quercetin-3-O-α-arabinofuranoside (5), and quercetin (6)].
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Coleus aromaticus, commonly called country borage or Indian borage, is a perennial herb grown throughout the Indian subcontinent. Traditionally, the leaves of the plant are used as a cure for cold, cough, and fever as well as to relieve pain from skin irritations. However, the appetite-enhancing potential of the herb was unexplored. Based on the encouraging results of animal studies, this study was taken up to establish the appetite-enhancing potential of Coleus aromaticus in humans by evaluating its ready-to-drink beverage. ⋯ The appetite-enhancing effect of the beverage was best when it contained the sensorily optimized level of karpurvalli juice and confirms the results obtained in animal study. To our knowledge, this is the first study validating the appetite-enhancing potential of the herb.
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Smell loss (hyposmia) inhibits flavor perception and influences food intake. To compensate for flavor loss, some patients with hyposmia appear to increase salt usage. The purpose of this study was to compare self-reported salt usage in patients with hyposmia with that in normal volunteers. ⋯ Salt usage is increased among some patients with hyposmia presumably to enhance flavor perception to compensate for diminished flavor perception related to loss of smell.
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Fish proteins are potential sources of natural medicines and food additives. There are many studies being performed to develop underutilized fish proteins. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine how shark protein functions as a dietary supplement for bone health. ⋯ These results suggest that shark protein might suppress the bone loss caused by estrogen deficiency through the suppression of osteoclast formation.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Long-lasting improved amino acid bioavailability associated with protein pulse feeding in hospitalized elderly patients: a randomized controlled trial.
Aging is associated with a blunted anabolic response to dietary intake, possibly related to a decrease in systemically available amino acids (AAs), which in turn may stem from increased splanchnic AA metabolism. Splanchnic sequestration can be saturated by pulse feeding (80% of daily protein intake in a single meal), enabling increased protein synthesis. The aim of this study was to explore whether protein pulse feeding increased postprandial AA concentrations, and if so whether this increase persisted after 6 wk of dietary treatment. ⋯ This study demonstrates that increased postprandial AA bioavailability induced by protein pulse feeding persists after 6 wk (i.e., that there is no metabolic adaptation blunting AA bioavailability).