Changes in physical function, coupled with low muscle mass and a decline in muscle quality, are collectively termed sarcopenia. For individuals over 60 years old, a prevalence rate of 10% for sarcopenia is common, exhibiting a consistent tendency to increase with the progression of age. Protein, as an individual nutrient, may have a protective function against sarcopenia, but recent evidence suggests it is ineffective by itself in improving muscle strength. As an emerging strategy against sarcopenia, dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean diet, that offer significant anti-inflammatory benefits are being explored. This systematic review's objective was to consolidate the available evidence regarding the Mediterranean diet's effectiveness in preventing and/or enhancing sarcopenia in healthy older adults, incorporating recent data. We scrutinized published studies on sarcopenia and the Mediterranean diet, spanning up to December 2022, across Pubmed, Cochrane, Scopus, and the realm of grey literature. Among the reviewed articles, precisely ten were deemed suitable. Four of these studies were cross-sectional, and six were classified as prospective. No clinical trial was found to be eligible. Sarcopenia presence was evaluated in only three studies, with muscle mass, an integral part of sarcopenia diagnosis, measured by four additional studies. A positive correlation was generally observed between Mediterranean diet adherence and muscle mass and function, though the relationship with muscle strength was less apparent. Beyond that, there was no positive effect noted for the Mediterranean diet regarding sarcopenia. Clinical trials are essential to understand the impact of the Mediterranean diet on sarcopenia, examining both Mediterranean and non-Mediterranean groups to establish cause-and-effect connections.
This study systematically compares data from randomized, controlled trials (RCTs) on intestinal microecological regulators as supplementary treatments for managing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity. Using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, a literature review was performed on English language topics. This review was further enriched by manually searching related reference lists. The quality of the studies was assessed and screened by three independent reviewers; a thorough process was employed. From the collection of 2355 identified citations, 12 randomized controlled trials were selected for the study. The mean difference (MD), along with a 95% confidence interval (CI), was used to collate all data. Substantial improvement in the disease activity score (DAS) was evident after microecological regulator treatment, revealing a decrement of -101 (95% confidence interval -181 to -2). A barely significant decrease in Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) scores was observed, according to a mean difference (MD) of -0.11, with a 95% confidence interval (CI) from -0.21 to -0.02. Consistent with prior studies, we validated the known impact of probiotics on inflammatory markers, specifically C-reactive protein (CRP) (MD -178 (95% CI -290, -66)) and L-1 (MD -726 (95% CI -1303, -150)). read more The visual analogue scale (VAS) pain and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) displayed no considerable change. read more Supplementation with intestinal microecological regulators can significantly reduce rheumatoid arthritis (RA) activity, evidenced by improvements in DAS28, HAQ scores, and inflammatory cytokine levels. While these findings are promising, their generalizability demands extensive clinical trials which meticulously evaluate the effect of confounding variables such as age, disease duration, and individual medication regimens.
The efficacy of nutrition therapy in preventing dysphagia complications is based on observational studies with inconsistent assessment methods for nutrition and dysphagia. The variable scales used to categorize dietary textures create discrepancies between the results, leading to inconclusive knowledge about dysphagia management.
A retrospective observational study of dysphagia and nutritional status was conducted on 267 older outpatients at the Clinical Nutrition Unit of IRCCS INRCA geriatric research hospital (Ancona, Italy) from 2018 to 2021, involving a multidisciplinary team. The GUSS test and ASHA-NOMS measurement systems were used to assess dysphagia, the GLIM criteria to assess nutritional status, and the IDDSI framework to categorize the texture-modified diets. Descriptive statistics were employed to encapsulate the attributes of the assessed subjects. Employing an unpaired Student's t-test, a comparison was made of sociodemographic, functional, and clinical data between patients who demonstrated and those who did not demonstrate BMI improvement over time.
Apply the Mann-Whitney U test or the Chi-square test, as the situation warrants for statistical analysis.
A substantial majority, exceeding 960%, of participants had a diagnosis of dysphagia; and strikingly, an additional 221% (n=59) of those with dysphagia were also diagnosed with malnutrition. Treatment for dysphagia was entirely reliant on nutrition therapy, with a significant emphasis on individually tailored, texture-modified diets (representing 774% of cases). Dietary texture classification was performed using the IDDSI framework. The follow-up visit enjoyed an impressive turnout of 637% (n=102) of the subjects. In a small percentage (less than 1%) of the subjects, aspiration pneumonia was observed; among the malnourished subjects, 13 (68.4%) exhibited improvements in BMI. Nutritional status improvements were most evident in younger subjects whose energy intake was augmented, who had solid food textures adjusted, who used fewer drugs, and who had not reported pre-assessment weight loss.
Dysphagia's nutritional needs mandate a strategy that addresses both the consistency of food and the provision of adequate energy and protein. For the purpose of comparative analysis across various studies, and to contribute to building a significant body of evidence, evaluations and outcomes related to texture-modified diets for dysphagia and its associated complications should utilize standardized scales.
To effectively manage dysphagia nutritionally, both appropriate consistency and an adequate energy-protein intake are mandatory. Universal scales should be employed to describe evaluations and outcomes, enabling comparative analyses across studies and fostering a substantial body of evidence regarding the effectiveness of texture-modified diets in treating dysphagia and its associated complications.
The dietary quality of adolescents in low- and middle-income countries is deficient. Adolescents, while vulnerable, are not always prioritized for nutritional interventions in post-disaster zones, in contrast to other groups. In post-disaster Indonesian areas, this study sought to analyze the elements associated with the dietary quality of adolescents. A cross-sectional survey scrutinized 375 adolescents, aged 15 to 17, who lived in areas neighboring those hardest hit by the 2018 disaster. Collected variables included those pertaining to adolescent and household characteristics, nutritional literacy, healthy eating habits, food consumption patterns, nutritional status, physical activity, food security, and dietary quality. A woefully inadequate diet quality score, at a measly 23% of the maximum, was observed. In comparison to the highest scores obtained by animal protein sources, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products achieved the lowest. Higher intakes of animal protein, coupled with healthy nutritional states and normal dietary patterns in adolescents, and higher vegetable and sugary drink intakes in mothers, while simultaneously experiencing lower intake of sweets, animal protein, and carbohydrates, were associated with increased diet quality scores in adolescents (p<0.005). Adolescent nutrition in post-disaster settings demands a strategy focused on altering adolescent eating behaviors and adjusting the dietary practices of mothers.
Human milk (HM) is a complex biological fluid, harboring a diverse array of cellular components, such as epithelial cells and leukocytes. read more Still, the cellular characteristics and their phenotypic properties throughout the lactation process remain poorly understood. The current preliminary study investigated the HM cellular metabolome's characteristics and fluctuations throughout the lactation phase. Cells were separated by centrifugation, with the resultant cellular fraction being assessed using cytomorphology and immunocytochemical staining techniques. For the extraction and analysis of cell metabolites, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqTOF-MS) was used, combining both positive and negative electrospray ionization modes. The immunocytochemical method revealed significant variations in the cell count, with a median proportion of 98% attributable to glandular epithelial cells, and leukocytes and keratinocytes each at 1%. The postnatal milk age exhibited a strong correlation with the proportion of epithelial cells, leukocytes, and the total cell count. A high degree of concordance was observed between the hierarchical cluster analysis of immunocytochemical profiles and the analysis of metabolomic profiles. Apart from other findings, metabolic pathway analysis also revealed alterations in seven pathways, which showed a relationship with postnatal age. This work establishes a foundation for future inquiries into changes in HM's cellular compartment metabolomic makeup.
In the pathophysiology of several non-communicable diseases (NCDs), oxidative stress and inflammation serve as key mediators. Tree nuts and peanuts are effective at reducing cardiometabolic disease risk factors, such as abnormalities in blood lipids, blood pressure control, and insulin resistance. The substantial antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action of nuts could lead to a beneficial effect on inflammation and oxidative stress processes. Meta-analyses of cohort and randomized controlled trials (RCTs), conducted systematically, point to a possible modest protective impact from consuming nuts in general; however, the evidence for specific nut varieties is not uniform.