The Effect on Inflammation of Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
AbstractPurpose of ReviewPolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is common in women of reproductive age worldwide, is a syndrome that reduces the lifelong quality of life and poses a significant risk for various diseases. PCOS is a combination of symptoms of hyperandrogenism, oligo-anovulation, and polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM). In PCOS, which is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation, some inflammatory cytokines are increased. This review aimed to explain possible mechanisms of inflammation in PCOS and the effects of Mediterranean diet components on reducing this inflammation.Recent FindingsAlthough the ex...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - January 31, 2023 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Responses to Hypoxia: How Fructose Metabolism and Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1a Pathways Converge in Health and Disease
AbstractPurpose of ReviewOxygen is critical for the high output of energy (adenosine triphosphate) generated by oxidative phosphorylation in the mitochondria, and when oxygen delivery is impaired due to systemic hypoxia, impaired or reduced delivery of red blood cells, or from local ischemia, survival processes are activated.Recent FindingsOne major mechanism is the activation of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) that act to reduce oxygen needs by blocking mitochondrial function and stimulating glucose uptake and glycolysis while also stimulating red blood cell production and local angiogenesis. Recently, endogenous fructos...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - January 28, 2023 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Ketogenic Diet as Medical Prescription in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine dysfunction associated with a myriad of metabolic disorders and high rate of infertility. In order to aid its management, several lifestyle/dietary interventions have been evaluated. Very low-calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD) is rapidly showing promising benefits not only in obesity but also in the treatment of other metabolic diseases. The main objective of this review is to assess the scientific evidence in support of this dietary pattern as an effective measure for treating PCOS and the metabolic disorders associated with it.Recent FindingsPrelim...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - January 25, 2023 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Women in Nutrition Science: A Biographical Review
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewThe field of nutrition is in debt to a cadre of women who led the field through its formative years. This review highlights the contributions of these women that are gleaned through analysis of biographical articles published inThe Journal of Nutrition.Recent FindingsForces emerged during the development of nutrition science, such as departments of home economics and the majority-female field of dietetics, that suggest women might be well represented in biographical articles in the field of nutrition. However, just 29 women have been the subject of biographical articles inThe Journal of Nutriti...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - January 25, 2023 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Grape Seed Components as Protectors of Inflammation, DNA Damage, and Cancer
AbstractPurpose of ReviewOxidative stress is related to the pathogenesis of several chronic diseases, including inflammatory processes. Free radicals excess increase not only oxidative stress but also genomic instability. Polyphenols are non-enzymatic antioxidants that act as a defense barrier against free radicals and non-radical oxidants. The purpose of this article was to review published articles relating dietary polyphenols contained in grape seed proanthocyanidin extracts with its potential for reversing DNA damage.Recent FindingsProanthocyanidin components exert pleiotropic actions having several biological, biochem...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - January 24, 2023 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Optimal Nutrition in the Older Adult: Beneficial Versus Ineffective Supplements
AbstractPurpose of ReviewProper nutrition in older adults is essential, as nutritional deficiencies are common in this population. This review aims to summarize the benefits and risks of nutritional supplementation in the older adult population including the efficacy of various supplements, their risks, and common drug interactions with frequently prescribed medications.Recent FindingsIn recent years, a growing percentage of older adults have been found to take multiple daily nutritional supplements. This population has complex nutritional needs due to the physiology of aging and the presence of comorbidities. However, man...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - January 23, 2023 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Dietary Intake and Systemic Inflammation: Can We Use Food as Medicine?
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review summarizes the current literature regarding the association between diet and systemic inflammation.Recent FindingsData in humans suggests that consumption of plant-based nutrients is associated with a reduction in systemic inflammation, while consumption of red meat and excessive dairy has the opposite effect and may increase risk of acute flares in those that suffer from certain chronic diseases like inflammatory bowel disease or psoriasis and certain cancers.SummaryThere is a known association between diet and systemic inflammation; thus, we recommend that clinicians discuss plant-bas...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - January 20, 2023 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

The Effect of Sunlight Exposure on Vitamin D Status in Countries of Low and High Latitudes: A Systematic Literature Review
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewTo conduct a systematic review of studies to investigate the association between climate and vitamin D in humans.Recent FindingsThere is growing interest in the association between the environment and vitamin D, but robust methods to understand this relationship are lacking. Studies focus mainly on seasonality and latitude. Research quantifying sunlight exposure necessary for adequate vitamin D synthesis in people with darker skin color and those people living at low latitudes are scarce, as are studies in urban populations that may have limited opportunity for sunlight exposure.SummaryThere ar...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - December 16, 2022 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

The Association Between Nutrition, Obesity, Inflammation, and Endometrial Cancer: A Scoping Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewEndometrial cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy and represents a notorious threat to women ’s health worldwide. Endometrial cancer predominantly affects post-menopausal women; yet the prevalence of this disease has been rising also among pre-menopausal women. Poor nutritional habits, inflammation, and obesity may be associated with endometrial cancer (EC) among both pre-menopausal and p ost-menopausal women and should be further assessed among a wide spectrum of age groups.Recent FindingsThis scoping review explores and reports on primary research studies conducted to investigate t...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - December 14, 2022 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Dietary Interventions for Type 2 Diabetes in South Asian Populations —A Systematic Review
AbstractPurposeSouth Asians face a high burden of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We systematically summarized current research on the efficacy, cultural relevance, and research gaps of nutrition interventions that could be used for treatment in this population.FindingsWe identified 18 articles published since 2010. Dietary pattern interventions have focused on low-glycemic index (GI) solutions and consistently reported improvement in glycemic management. Trials of nutrition education and counselling had diverse approaches, with those utilizing more intensive interventions generally eliciting better glycemic outcomes. Many studies ...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - November 29, 2022 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Effect of the Implementation of a Structured Diet Management Plan on the Severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is increasing worldwide, in line with the increase in obesity prevalence. Taken into consideration the low compliance rates to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment, and since obesity is a risk factor for OSA, these patients should receive additional counseling for weight loss through a diet plan. The aim of this review is to examine the role of a structured diet management plan on OSA severity, nocturnal oxygen indices, and subjective sleep parameters.Recent FindingsΤhis systematic review of the literature resulted in four studies and...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - November 26, 2022 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Sustainable Diets and Cancer: a Systematic Review
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis review aimed to investigate the association of sustainable diets in relation to cancer risk, cancer recurrence, and cancer-specific mortality in adults.Recent FindingsMore than 500 articles were initially identified. Nine articles were eligible for inclusion, presenting data from 8 prospective cohort studies, conducted in Europe and the USA. The sustainability indicators investigated were greenhouse gas emissions, food biodiversity, land use, exposure to pesticides or organic food consumption, and the EAT-Lancet diet. One study reported a sustainability index that combined multiple sustainabil...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - November 21, 2022 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

The Ketogenic Diet: Considerations for Cancer Survivorship
This article aims to evaluate the current practice of the ketogenic diet (KD) in oncology by discussing feasibility, impact on quality of life, and implications for dietetic practice. Articles discussed were selected based on an adult oncology population with emphasis on publications from the last 5  years.Recent FindingsThere is a paucity of randomized prospective trials and articles reviewed were heterogeneous in nature, limiting the ability to draw conclusions about the KDs role in cancer care and survivorship. Despite the lack of evidence, patients with cancer are interested in KD. The authors highlight barriers to su...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - October 13, 2022 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Dysbiosis in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: Let Us Talk About Vitamin K
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThis narrative review aimed to summarize the current evidence on the connection between dysbiosis and vitamin K deficiency in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The presence of dysbiosis (perturbations in the composition of the microbiota) has been described in several non-communicable diseases, including chronic kidney disease, and it has been hypothesized that dysbiosis may cause vitamin K deficiency. Patients with CKD present both vitamin K deficiency and gut dysbiosis; however, the relationship between gut dysbiosis and vitamin K deficiency remains to be addressed.Recent FindingsRecent...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - September 23, 2022 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research

Plant-Based Diets and Cancer Prognosis: a Review of Recent Research
AbstractPurpose of ReviewAlthough plant-based diets are recommended for cancer prevention, their role in cancer survival is still uncertain. The purpose of this systematic review is to summarize the association between postdiagnosis plant-based diets and prognosis in cancer survivors.Recent FindingsThere is indication that higher intake of plant-based foods was associated with improved prognosis in cancer survivors. For colorectal cancer survival, a better prognosis was observed for a high intake of whole grains and fibre. For breast cancer survival, a higher intake of fruit, vegetable and fibre and a moderate intake of so...
Source: Current Nutrition Reports - September 23, 2022 Category: Nutrition Source Type: research