Glucosamine plus chondroitin linked with lower risk of premature mortality

West Virginia University, November 27 2020.

The November-December 2020 issue of the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine published the finding of Dana E. King, MD, MS, and Jun Xiang, MS, MA, of an association between regular intake of glucosamine and chondroitin and a lower risk of dying during a median period of 107 months.

Glucosamine and chondroitin are nutrients that are often consumed in combination to support joint health. Many individuals use glucosamine and/or chondroitin supplements on a regular basis to help maintain healthy joints or relieve some of the symptoms of arthritis.

The study included 16,686 participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999 to 2010 which, among other NHANES surveys, was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics to assess health and nutrition status among noninstitutionalized men and women in the United States. Participant interviews ascertained the use of dietary supplements during the previous month. Individuals who reported using glucosamine/chondroitin for a year or more were identified as glucosamine/chondroitin users in the current investigation.

During a median follow-up period of 107 months, 3,366 deaths occurred, among which 674 were caused by cardiovascular disease. Regular use of glucosamine/chondroitin was associated with a 58% lower adjusted risk of dying during follow-up from cardiovascular disease and a 27% lower risk of dying from any cause. As potential protective mechanisms for the supplements, the authors cite their association with a reduction in inflammation and inflammatory cytokine activity. Glucosamine has also been shown to have anticancer and other effects.

“Regular intake of glucosamine/chondroitin is associated with lower all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in a national US cohort and the findings are consistent with previous studies in other
populations,” the authors concluded. “Prospective studies to confirm the link may be warranted.”

Replacing red meat with plant foods may reduce the risk of heart disease

Harvard Medical School, December 2, 2020

Replacing red meat with high quality plant foods such as beans, nuts, or soy may be associated with a modestly reduced risk of coronary heart disease (CHD), suggests a study published by The BMJ today.

Substituting whole grains and dairy products for total red meat, and eggs for processed red meat, might also reduce this risk.

Substantial evidence suggests that high consumption of red meat, especially processed red meat, such as bacon, hot dogs, sausages and salami, is associated with an increased risk of death and major chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease.

Studies that show inconsistent results often fail to compare red meat with similar protein and energy sources.

To address these problems in study design and analysis, a team of US researchers examined the relation between total, processed, and unprocessed red meat and risk of CHD and estimate the effects of substituting other protein sources for red meat with CHD risk.

Their findings are based on data from 43,272 US men (average age 53) from the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study who were free from cardiovascular disease and cancer when they enrolled.

Participants filled in a detailed diet questionnaire in 1986 and every four years thereafter, up to 2016, and provided information on their medical history and lifestyle.

Medical records were used to track CHD events (fatal and non-fatal) over this 30-year period. During this time, 4,456 CHD events were documented of which 1,860 were fatal.

After taking account of other cardiovascular disease risk factors, the researchers found that for every one serving per day, total red meat was associated with a modest (12%) higher risk of CHD. Similar associations were seen for unprocessed (11% higher risk) and processed red meat (15% higher risk).

However, compared with red meat, intake of one serving per day of combined plant protein sources, including nuts, legumes (such as peas, beans and lentils), and soy was associated with a 14% lower risk of CHD.

This risk was lower still (18%) among men over the age of 65, and when compared with processed red meat (17%).

Substituting whole grains and dairy products (such as milk, cheese and yoghurt) for total red meat and eggs for processed red meat were also associated with lower CHD risk. This association was particularly strong among younger men, in whom the replacement of red meat with egg was associated with a 20% lower risk of CHD.

Replacing red meat with total fish was not associated with CHD risk. But the researchers say this could be due to cooking method (ie. deep frying) and the fact that this food group also included processed fish products.

This is an observational study, so can’t establish cause, and despite adjusting for important personal and lifestyle factors, the researchers can’t rule out the possibility that other unmeasured factors might have influenced their results.

What’s more, study participants were mainly white health professionals so the findings may not be more widely applicable.

Nevertheless, this was a large study with repeated measures of diet during 30 years of follow-up, suggesting that the findings withstand scrutiny.

As such, they say their study shows that greater intakes of total, unprocessed, and processed red meat were associated with a higher risk of CHD, independent of other dietary and non-dietary cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Substituting whole grains or dairy products for total red meat and substituting eggs for processed red meat were also associated with a lower CHD risk, they add.

“These findings are consistent with the effects of these foods on low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and support a health benefit of limiting red meat consumption and replacement with plant protein sources,” they explain.

This would also have important environmental benefits, they conclude.

Study: Taking common drugs linked to impaired microbiome health and increased risk of obesity and intestinal infections

University Medical Center Groningen and Maastricht University (Netherlands), November 27, 2020

Researchers from the University Medical Center Groningen and Maastricht University Medical Center in the Netherlands have found that 18 common drug categories can negatively impact the gut microbiome, the total population of microbes present in the gut and their collective genetic material.

Many of these drugs, such as the diabetes drug metformin and the antidepressant selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), can disrupt the healthy balance of beneficial and harmful gut bacteria. This can increase a person’s risk of intestinal infections and other health problems, including obesity, according to the researchers.

The findings of the study appeared in the journal Nature Communications.

Commonly used drugs impair gut microbiome

The researchers focused on 41 commonly used drug categories and analyzed more than 1,800 fecal samples from patients with either inflammatory bowel disease or inflammatory bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as healthy individuals to examine the effect of single medication use and combined medication use on the gut microbiome.

After comparing the gut microbial profiles of drug users to non-drug users, the researchers found the following drug categories to have the biggest impact on the gut microbiome:

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are used to treat peptic ulcers, acid reflux, infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, dyspepsia and Barrett’s esophagus
Metformin, which is used to treat Type 2 diabetes
Antibiotics
Laxatives

People who took PPIs have abundant bacteria in their upper gastrointestinal tract and produce large amounts of fatty acids, according to the researchers. Meanwhile, metformin users had high levels of Escherichia coli, which can cause bacterial infections such as bacterial pneumonia and urinary tract infection.

The researchers also found an association between significant gut microbial changes and seven other drug categories. For example, SSRIs are associated with higher levels of the potentially harmful bacteria Eubacterium ramulus in people with IBS, and oral steroids are associated with higher levels of methanogenic bacteria, which can contribute to obesity and weight gain. (Related: Researchers discover gut bacteria that can render some drugs ineffective.)

The authors said that while it’s well-known that drugs can affect the gut microbiome, their study is important in that it presents which drugs have what effect and helps explain many of the side effects felt by patients.

“Our work highlights the importance of considering the role of the gut microbiota when designing treatments and also points to new hypotheses that could explain certain side-effects associated with medication use,” said first author Arnau Vich Vila of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and the Department of Genetics at Groningen.

Antidepressants alter gut microbiome

Another study shows that antidepressants and other psychiatric drugs can negatively affect the quantity and composition of the gut microbiome. Irish-based researchers administered seven groups of rats with normal or slightly elevated levels of individual psychopharmaceuticals, including the SSRIs fluoxetine and escitalopram, and the mood stabilizers lithium and valproate.

After four weeks, the researchers examined the gut microbiome of the rats and found that some drugs consistently affected the number of certain bacteria. For instance, escitalopram and fluoxetine significantly inhibited the growth of isolated strains of bacteria such as E. coli, and lithium and valproate increased the numbers of Clostridium and other bacteria.

According to lead researcher Sofia Cussotto of the University College Cork, the study is the first to demonstrate that psychotropic drugs can negatively impact the gut microbiome in animals. The researchers are planning to conduct another study on human participants to test their findings.

Combined exercise, mindfulness training may help reduce fatigue in cancer survivors

University of Illinois, December 2, 2020

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have found that a combination of exercise and mindfulness training can help reduce fatigue in breast cancer survivors. The results from their preliminary trials might be useful in designing interventions for other cancer patients.

The study “Acute effects of aerobic exercise and relaxation training on fatigue in breast cancer survivors: A feasibility trial” was published in Psycho-Oncology.

“When it comes to cancer patients, hospitals treat the disease. However, treating the patients is equally important and sometimes that aspect is overlooked,” said Jason Cohen, a former graduate student from Sean Mullen’s Exercise, Technology, and Cognition Laboratory, which is affiliated with the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology. “We wanted to look at improving the quality of life in breast cancer survivors after chemotherapy.”

After enduring rigorous cancer treatments, the survivors often experience mental and physical fatigue, anxiety, and poor sleep. Although other researchers have found that either exercise or relaxation techniques help relieve fatigue, there are very few studies that have tested them in combination. “We wanted to see if there were any added benefits,” Cohen said.

The trial took place over seven days, and it included 40 women. The participants were asked to fill out questionnaires about their perceived fatigue levels. They were then divided into three groups where they were asked to either exercise or undergo mindfulness training or a combination of both.

“We found that initially all the participants had a moderate level of self-reported mental fatigue,” Cohen said. “Over the course of the week, the groups that took part in a combination of exercise and mindfulness training reported a drop in fatigue levels from moderate to mild. The other groups did not show a comparable degree of improvement.”

“These findings parallel the ones that my team has collected from other studies involving aerobic exercise paired with brain training,” said Sean Mullen, an associate professor of kinesiology and community health. “Although each of our studies are different in aims, scope and population, our research consistently supports the idea that two health behavior interventions is better than one. Sometimes it is assumed that in merging them together, we end up watering down their unique effects. In our experience, they tend to work just as well, if not better, together.”

The researchers hope to use the information from the trial as preliminary data in future grant applications. In doing so, they hope to increase sample size and trial duration to assess whether the intervention can provide a more robust improvement on quality of life. “When expanding behavioral interventions, the key is not to overwhelm participants with too much new information and to offer sufficient education, training and resources to ensure they stick with the program,” Mullen said.

The researchers are continuing to explore opportunities to work with other adult populations with and without chronic disease, using a variety of intervention modalities, to determine if combined treatments are helpful.

Plant-based diet ramps up metabolism, according to new study

Plant-based participants increased after-meal calorie burn by 18.7% after 16 weeks

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, November 30, 2020

A plant-based diet boosts after-meal burn, leads to weight loss, and improves cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight individuals, according to a new randomized control trial published in JAMA Network Open by researchers with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine.

The study randomly assigned participants–who were overweight and had no history of diabetes–to an intervention or control group in a 1:1 ratio. For 16 weeks, participants in the intervention group followed a low-fat, plant-based diet based on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes with no calorie limit. The control group made no diet changes. Neither group changed exercise or medication routines, unless directed by their personal doctors.

Researchers used indirect calorimetry to measure how many calories participants burned after a standardized meal at both the beginning and end of the study. The plant-based group increased after-meal calorie burn by 18.7%, on average, after 16 weeks. The control group’s after-meal burn did not change significantly.

“These findings are groundbreaking for the 160 million Americans struggling with overweight and obesity,” says study author Hana Kahleova, MD, PhD, director of clinical research for the Physicians Committee. “Over the course of years and decades, burning more calories after every meal can make a significant difference in weight management.”

Within just 16 weeks, participants in the plant-based group lowered their body weight by 6.4 kg (about 14 pounds), on average, compared to an insignificant change in the control group. The plant-based group also saw significant drops in fat mass and visceral fat volume–the dangerous fat found around the internal organs.

The researchers also teamed up with Yale University researchers Kitt Petersen, MD, and Gerald Shulman, MD, to track intramyocellular lipid and hepatocellular lipid–the accumulating fat in muscle and liver cells–in a subset of participants using magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Those in the plant-based group reduced the fat inside the liver and muscle cells by 34% and 10%, respectively, while the control group did not experience significant changes. Fat stored in these cells has been linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

“When fat builds up in liver and muscle cells, it interferes with insulin’s ability to move glucose out from the bloodstream and into the cells,” adds Dr. Kahleova. “After just 16 weeks on a low-fat, plant-based diet, study participants reduced the fat in their cells and lowered their chances for developing type 2 diabetes.”

The study also offered new insight into the link between fat within the cells and insulin resistance. The plant-based group decreased their fasting plasma insulin concentration by 21.6 pmol/L, decreased insulin resistance, and increased insulin sensitivity–all positive results–while the control group saw no significant changes.

The plant-based group also reduced total and LDL cholesterol by 19.3 mg/dL and 15.5 mg/dL, respectively, with no significant changes in the control group.

“Not only did the plant-based group lose weight, but they experienced cardiometabolic improvements that will reduce their risk for type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems,” says Dr. Kahleova.

“I plan to stay on this diet for good. Not just for 16 weeks, but for life,” reports study participant Sam T., who lost 34 pounds and improved his metabolism during the 16-week study. Since the study has concluded, Sam has continued a plant-based diet, reached his goal weight, and began running half-marathons and marathons.

Rosmarinic acid helps ameliorate oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in mice with induced memory impairment

Institute of Chemical Technology (India), November 30, 2020

According to news reporting out of Maharashtra, India, research stated, “Oxidative stress plays a pivotal part in the manifestation of neuroinflammation, which further leads to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces neuroinflammation resulting in memory impairment (MI) and cognitive decline.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Institute of Chemical Technology, “In this study, we evaluated whether prophylactic administration of Rosmarinic acid (RA), a naturally occurring compound, exerts a neuroprotective effect in LPS-induced MI and cognitive decline. Herein, Swiss albino mice were pre-treated with RA (0.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg i.p.) for 28 days and were intermittently exposed to LPS (0.25 mg/kg i.p.) for 7 days. LPS caused poor memory retention and increased cognitive decline in Morris water maze (MWM) and Y maze paradigms respectively. Additionally, LPS increased oxidative stress which was denoted by a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, and increased lipid peroxidation in the brain. Imbalance in the cholinergic system was analyzed by measuring the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Pre-treatment with RA improved memory and behavioral disturbances by alleviating oxidative stress and AChE activity. LPS augmented levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), interleukin (IL)-6, caspase-3, and c-Jun. Pre-treatment with RA revitalized the elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and apoptotic proteins.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “This study showcases the amelioration of MI by RA in LPS-challenged memory and cognitive decline, which could be credited to its anti-oxidant effect, inhibitory effect on both proinflammatory cytokines and apoptotic regulators, and reduction in AChE activity.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

Mediterranean diet tied to 30 percent risk reduction for diabetes in Women’s Health Study

Investigators reported changes in biomarkers of insulin resistance, body mass index, lipoprotein metabolism and inflammation — mechanisms that may explain lower rates of type 2 diabetes

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, November 18, 2020

The Mediterranean (MED) diet — rich in olive oil, fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds — is a recommended way to reduce the risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and other adverse health outcomes. But exactly how and why the MED diet lowers risk for type 2 diabetes has remained unclear. In a study conducted by investigators from Brigham and Women’s Hospital, researchers examined outcomes for more than 25,000 participants in the Women’s Health Study, a longitudinal cohort study that followed female health professionals for more than 20 years. In a paper published in JAMA Network Open, the investigators report that women who adhered to a more MED-like diet had a 30 percent lower rate of type 2 diabetes than women who did not. The team examined several biomarkers to look for biological explanations for these results, finding key mechanisms including insulin resistance, body mass index, lipoprotein metabolism and inflammation.

“Our findings support the idea that by improving their diet, people can improve their future risk of type 2 diabetes, particularly if they are overweight or have obesity,” said corresponding author Samia Mora, MD, MHS, of the Brigham’s divisions of Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. “A lot of the benefit we see can be explained through just a few pathways. And it’s important to note that many of these changes don’t happen right away — while metabolism can change over a short period of time, our study indicates that there are longer term changes happening that may provide protection over decades.”

The Women’s Health Study (WHS) enrolled female health care professionals between 1992 and 1995, collecting data through December 2017. It was designed to evaluate the effects of vitamin E and low-dose aspirin on risk of heart disease and cancer. Additionally, participants were asked to complete food frequency questionnaires (FFQs) about dietary intake when the study began and answer other questions about lifestyle, medical history, demographics and more. More than 28,000 women provided blood samples at the beginning of the trial.

Mora and colleagues leveraged data from the FFQs and blood samples to investigate the relationship between the MED diet, type 2 diabetes and biomarkers that might explain the connection. To do so, they assigned each participant a MED diet intake score from 0 to 9, with points assigned for higher intake of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts and fish, moderate intake of alcohol, and lower intake red meat or processed meat. The team measured a range of biomarkers, including traditional ones such as cholesterol, and more specialized ones that can only be detected using nucleic magnetic resonance. These included lipoproteins — molecules that pack and transport fats and proteins — and measures of insulin resistance, a condition in which muscle, liver and fat cells do not respond to normal amounts of insulin. Insulin resistance is often a precursor to diabetes.

Of the more than 25,000 participants in the WHS, 2,307 developed type 2 diabetes. Participants with higher MED intake at the beginning of the study (scores greater than or equal to 6) developed diabetes at rates that were 30 percent lower than participants with lower MED intake (scores less than or equal to 3). This effect was seen only among participants with a body mass index greater than 25 (overweight or obese range) and not among participants whose BMI was less than 25 (normal or underweight).

Biomarkers of insulin resistance appeared to be the biggest contributor to lower risk, followed by biomarkers of body mass index, high-density lipoprotein measures and inflammation.

“Most of this reduced risk associated with the Mediterranean diet and type 2 diabetes was explained through the biomarkers related to insulin resistance, adiposity, lipoprotein metabolism and inflammation,” said first author Shafqat Ahmad, PhD, a researcher in the Molecular Epidemiology Unit at Uppsala University, Sweden, who helped conduct the study while working at the Brigham. “This understanding may have important downstream consequences for the primary prevention of diabetes disease.”

One of the strengths of the study was its length — unlike many previous studies that have only looked at short-term effects of diets, the WHS followed participants for up to 25 years to see who developed type 2 diabetes. But the authors note several limitations, including that study participants were predominantly white and well educated, and all were female health professionals. In addition, dietary intake was self-reported and only examined at the start of the study. Biomarkers were also only measured when participants entered the study.

Mora emphasizes that insights into the biology that explains how the Mediterranean diet may help protect against diabetes could be helpful in preventive medicine and for physicians speaking to patients about dietary changes.

“Even small changes can add up over time,” she said. “And there may be many biological pathways that lead to a benefit. One of the best things patients can do for future health is to improve their diet, and now we are beginning to understand why.”

Effect of Nigella sativa (black cumin seed) supplementation on inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, November 23, 2020

According to news originating from Isfahan, Iran, research stated, “The objective of the present study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing the effects of Nigella sativa L. supplementation on the circulating inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Systematic search was performed up to March 2020 using PubMed, Scopus, and ISI web of science databases.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, “Two reviewers independently assessed study eligibility, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality of included primary studies. Statistical heterogeneity was assessed using I-square (I) statistic. Data were pooled by using the random-effect model and standardized mean difference (SMD) was considered as the summary effect size. Twelve trials were identified to be suitable for our meta-analysis. The pooled results using random effects model indicated that Nigella sativa supplementation significantly reduced CRP (SMD: -0.35; 95% CI: -0.59, -0.12, p<0.001, I=10.5%) and MDA concentrations (SMD: -0.56; 95% CI: -0.98, -0.15, p<0.001, I=64.7%). Moreover, Nigella sativa supplementation increased TAC (SMD: 0.48; 95% CI: 0.09, 0.87, p=0.01, I=65.6%) levels; however, it did not affect TNF-a (SMD: -0.35; 95% CI: -0.70, 0.01, p=0.05, I=58.2%). Nigella sativa supplementation is associated with improved inflammation and oxidative status.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Additional prospective studies are recommended using higher supplementation doses and longer intervention period.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

Exercise And The Brain: Here’s Three Ways Physical Activity Changes Its Very Structure

Trinity College Dublin, November 17, 2020

Regular Exercise Changes The Structure Of Our Bodies’ Tissues In Obvious Ways, Such As Reducing The Size Of Fat Stores And Increasing Muscle Mass. Less Visible, But Perhaps Even More Important, Is The Profound Influence Exercise Has On The Structure Of Our Brains – An Influence That Can Protect And Preserve Brain Health And Function Throughout Life. In Fact, Some Experts Believe That The Human Brain May Depend On Regular Physical Activity To Function Optimally Throughout Our Lifetime.

Here Are Just A Few Ways Exercise Changes The Structure Of Our Brain.

Memory

Many studies suggest that exercise can help protect our memory as we age. This is because exercise has been shown to prevent the loss of total brain volume (which can lead to lower cognitive function), as well as preventing shrinkage in specific brain regions associated with memory. For example, one magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan study revealed that in older adults, six months of exercise training increases brain volume.

Another study showed that shrinkage of the hippocampus (a brain region essential for learning and memory) in older people can be reversed by regular walking. This change was accompanied by improved memory function and an increase of the protein brain-derived neutropic factor (BDNF) in the bloodstream.

BDNF is essential for healthy cognitive function due to its roles in cell survival, plasticity (the brain’s ability to change and adapt from experience) and function. Positive links between exercise, BDNF and memory have been widely investigated and have been demonstrated in young adults and older people.

BDNF is also one of several proteins linked with adult neurogenesis, the brain’s ability to modify its structure by developing new neurons throughout adulthood. Neurogenesis occurs only in very few brain regions – one of which is the hippocampus – and thus may be a central mechanism involved in learning and memory. Regular physical activity may protect memory in the long term by inducing neurogenesis via BDNF.

While this link between exercise, BDNF, neurogenesis, and memory is very well described in animal models, experimental and ethical constraints mean that its importance to human brain function is not quite so clear. Nevertheless exercise-induced neurogenesis is being actively researched as a potential therapy for neurological and psychiatric disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and depression.

Blood vessels

The brain is highly dependent on blood flow, receiving approximately 15% of the body’s entire supply – despite being only 2-3% of our body’s total mass. This is because our nervous tissues need a constant supply of oxygen to function and survive. When neurons become more active, blood flow in the region where these neurons are located increases to meet demand. As such, maintaining a healthy brain depends on maintaining a healthy network of blood vessels.

Regular exercise increases the growth of new blood vessels in the brain regions where neurogenesis occurs, providing the increased blood supply that supports the development of these new neurons. Exercise also improves the health and functionof existing blood vessels, ensuring that brain tissue consistently receives adequate blood supply to meet its needs and preserve its function.

Finally, regular exercise can prevent, and even treat, hypertension (high blood pressure), which is a risk factor for development of dementia. Exercise works in multiple ways to enhance the health and function of blood vessels in the brain.

Inflammation

Recently, a growing body of research has centred on microglia, which are the resident immune cells of the brain. Their main function is to constantly check the brain for potential threats from microbes or dying or damaged cells, and to clear any damage they find.

With age, normal immune function declines and chronic, low-level inflammation occurs in body organs, including the brain, where it increases risk of neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease. As we age, microglia become less efficient at clearing damage, and less able to prevent disease and inflammation. This means neuroinflammation can progress, impairing brain functions – including memory.

But recently, we’ve shown that exercise can reprogramme these microglia in the aged brain. Exercise was shown to make the microglia more energy efficient and capable of counteracting neuroinflammatory changes that impair brain function. Exercise can also modulate neuroinflammation in degenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis. This shows us the effects of physical activity on immune function may be an important target for therapy and disease prevention.

So how can we ensure that we’re doing the right kind of exercise – or getting enough of it – to protect the brain? As yet, we don’t have robust enough evidence to develop specific guidelines for brain health though findings to date suggest that the greatest benefits are to be gained by aerobic exercise – such as walking, running, or cycling. It’s recommended adults get a minimum of 150 minutes per week of moderate intensity aerobic exercise, combined with activities that maintain strength and flexibility, to maintain good general health.

It must also be noted that researchers don’t always find exercise has beneficial effect on the brain in their studies – likely because different studies use different exercise training programmes and measures of cognitive function, making it difficult to directly compare studies and results. But regardless, plenty of research shows us that exercise is beneficial for many aspects of our health, so it’s important to make sure you’re getting enough. We need to be conscious of making time in our day to be active – our brains will thank us for it in years to come.

Evaluating the anti-tumor and anti-hyperlipidemic effects of celery extract

VNA Faculty of Pharmacy (India), November 26, 2020

Researchers from India explored the antihyperlipidemic and anti-tumor properties of the ethanolic extract and phytochemicals derived from Apium graveolens, commonly known as celery, in rodents. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.

Chromatographic analysis of the seeds of A. graveolens shows that they contain coumarin derivatives like seselin, methoxsalen and 3H-isobenzofuran-1-one.
To further explore their biological properties, the researchers first induced hyperlipidemia in rats by injecting them with 400 mg/kg body weight of Triton WR 1339.
After 24 hours, they orally administered the A. graveolens extract and isolated components to the animals at a dose of 50 mg/kg body weight.
They also evaluated the anti-tumor activity of the extract and isolated phytochemicals by injecting hybrid mice with 50 mg/kg body weight of either sample for 10 consecutive days.
They then observed the animals for tumor growth after injecting B16F10 melanoma cells into their dorsal skin.
The researchers found that the A. graveolens extract and isolated components significantly decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) while increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in hyperlipidemic rats.
Pretreatment of the extract and isolated compounds also delayed tumor growth in hybrid mice by increasing volume-doubling time and mean survival time.
In addition, tumor regression studies showed a decrease in tumor growth of the injected melanoma cells in vivo.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that A. graveolens is an excellent source of natural antihyperlipidemic and anti-tumor agents.

Rosmarinic acid helps ameliorate oxidative stress and neuroinflammation in mice with induced memory impairment

Institute of Chemical Technology (India), November 30, 2020

This research has been peer-reviewed.

Mediterranean diet tied to 30 percent risk reduction for diabetes in Women’s Health Study

Investigators reported changes in biomarkers of insulin resistance, body mass index, lipoprotein metabolism and inflammation — mechanisms that may explain lower rates of type 2 diabetes

Brigham and Women’s Hospital, November 18, 2020

Biomarkers of insulin resistance appeared to be the biggest contributor to lower risk, followed by biomarkers of body mass index, high-density lipoprotein measures and inflammation.

Study reveals connection between gut bacteria and vitamin D levels

University of California at San Diego, November 30, 2020

Our gut microbiomes — the many bacteria, viruses and other microbes living in our digestive tracts — play important roles in our health and risk for disease in ways that are only beginning to be recognized.

University of California San Diego researchers and collaborators recently demonstrated in older men that the makeup of a person’s gut microbiome is linked to their levels of active vitamin D, a hormone important for bone health and immunity.

The study, published November 26, 2020 in Nature Communications, also revealed a new understanding of vitamin D and how it’s typically measured.

Vitamin D can take several different forms, but standard blood tests detect only one, an inactive precursor that can be stored by the body. To use vitamin D, the body must metabolize the precursor into an active form.

“We were surprised to find that microbiome diversity — the variety of bacteria types in a person’s gut — was closely associated with active vitamin D, but not the precursor form,” said senior author Deborah Kado, MD, director of the Osteoporosis Clinic at UC San Diego Health. “Greater gut microbiome diversity is thought to be associated with better health in general.”

Kado led the study for the National Institute on Aging-funded Osteoporotic Fractures in Men (MrOS) Study Research Group, a large, multi-site effort that started in 2000. She teamed up with Rob Knight, PhD, professor and director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation at UC San Diego, and co-first authors Robert L. Thomas, MD, PhD, fellow in the Division of Endocrinology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and Serene Lingjing Jiang, graduate student in the Biostatistics Program at Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Sciences.

Multiple studies have suggested that people with low vitamin D levels are at higher risk for cancer, heart disease, worse COVID-19 infections and other diseases. Yet the largest randomized clinical trial to date, with more than 25,000 adults, concluded that taking vitamin D supplements has no effect on health outcomes, including heart disease, cancer or even bone health.

“Our study suggests that might be because these studies measured only the precursor form of vitamin D, rather than active hormone,” said Kado, who is also professor at UC San Diego School of Medicine and Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health. “Measures of vitamin D formation and breakdown may be better indicators of underlying health issues, and who might best respond to vitamin D supplementation.”

The team analyzed stool and blood samples contributed by 567 men participating in MrOS. The participants live in six cities around the United States, their mean age was 84 and most reported being in good or excellent health. The researchers used a technique called 16s rRNA sequencing to identify and quantify the types of bacteria in each stool sample based on unique genetic identifiers. They used a method known as LC-MSMS to quantify vitamin D metabolites (the precursor, active hormone and the breakdown product) in each participant’s blood serum.

In addition to discovering a link between active vitamin D and overall microbiome diversity, the researchers also noted that 12 particular types of bacteria appeared more often in the gut microbiomes of men with lots of active vitamin D. Most of those 12 bacteria produce butyrate, a beneficial fatty acid that helps maintain gut lining health.

“Gut microbiomes are really complex and vary a lot from person to person,” Jiang said. “When we do find associations, they aren’t usually as distinct as we found here.”

Because they live in different regions of the U.S., the men in the study are exposed to differing amounts of sunlight, a source of vitamin D. As expected, men who lived in San Diego, California got the most sun, and they also had the most precursor form of vitamin D.

But the team unexpectedly found no correlations between where men lived and their levels of active vitamin D hormone.

“It seems like it doesn’t matter how much vitamin D you get through sunlight or supplementation, nor how much your body can store,” Kado said. “It matters how well your body is able to metabolize that into active vitamin D, and maybe that’s what clinical trials need to measure in order to get a more accurate picture of the vitamin’s role in health.”

“We often find in medicine that more is not necessarily better,” Thomas added. “So in this case, maybe it’s not how much vitamin D you supplement with, but how you encourage your body to use it.”

Kado pointed out that the study relied on a single snapshot in time of the microbes and vitamin D found in participants’ blood and stool, and those factors can fluctuate over time depending on a person’s environment, diet, sleep habits, medications and more. According to the team, more studies are needed to better understand the part bacteria play in vitamin D metabolism, and to determine whether intervening at the microbiome level could be used to augment current treatments to improve bone and possibly other health outcomes.

Phenolic compounds may help reduce intestinal damage and improve intestinal barrier integrity

University Rovira i Virgili (Italy), November 23, 2020

According to news reporting originating from Catalonia, Spain, research stated, “The integrity of the intestinal barrier in the diseased is key to prevent further complications and disease such as sepsis and death, whereas, the role of food bioactive molecules (i. e. phenolic compounds (PCs) on the intestinal barrier, is still unknown. The current aim was to explore the benefits of the oral PC administration on the intestinal barrier integrity in animals.”

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research from University Rovira i Virgili, “The effects of PCs on the intestinal barrier integrity in in vivo animal models of intestinal inflammation were assessed up-to August 2020 from the PubMed, SCOPUS, and Cochrane Librarydatabases under the PRISMA methodology. The risk of bias was assessed from ARRAY and SCYRCLE tools. From 1241 articles, 14 studies were included. In animals, oral resveratrol (n=6) improves the intestinal barrier integrity and reduces intestinal damage. Additionally, grape seed extract (n=2), curcumin (n=1), genistein (n=1), chlorogenic acid (n=1), grape pomace (n=1), olive leaf (n=1) or cranberry extract (n=1) improve the intestinal barrier integrity downregulating various inflammatory molecules (TNF-a, and other interleukins), and increasing the antioxidant enzymes in animals. Furthermore, resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin, and other PCs improve the epithelial barrier integrity and pro-inflammatory molecule expression in the intestinal epithelia.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “The oral PC administration in animals improves the intestinal barrier integrity and function from three main mechanisms: 1) The reduction of pro-inflammatory molecules, 2) the improvement in tight-junction protein expression, and 3) the improvement of the antioxidant intracellular activity suggesting the potential use of PCs in the management of intestinal injury in humans, particularly for resveratrol, the most studied PC.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

Aging and low bioavailable testosterone associated with increased marker of systemic inflammation

Wenzhous Medical University (China), November 19, 2020

According to news reporting out of Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Accumulating evidences suggest that chronic systemic inflammation (CSI) is independently associated with large number of major non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) ranging from metabolic disorders to cancers, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been accepted as a novel, convenient marker for CSI response. Testosterone deficiency in men is linked to high risk of NCDs.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Wenzhou Medical University, “This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the individual and joint association of bioavailable testosterone (BIOT) and aging with NLR. A total of 132 male adults were enrolled during Jan. 2011 and Oct. 2017 in the first affiliated hospital of University of Science and Technology of China. Local weighted regression (LOESS) and multivariable generalized linear regression models were utilized to comprehensively examine the individual and joint association between BIOT and age with NLR. Obvious linear relationships between NLR and BIOT or age were observed with the LOESS models. NLR was negatively correlated to BIOT after adjusting for some potential confounding factors (p=0.034). As compared to the lowest quartile of BIOT, the adjusted decrease of NLR for the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles were 0.40, 0.64 and 0.72, respectively. Meanwhile, NLR was observed to be independently correlated to elevated age (p=0.043). Furthermore, as compared to the counterparts, men over 70 years combined with plasma BIOT less than 4.7 nmol/L had the highest NLR level, which suggested that low BIOT and aging jointly correlated to the level of NLR (p=0.005). BIOT deficiency and aging were individually and jointly correlated to CSI.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Men over 70 years combined with BIOT <4.7 nmol/L were more like to have higher grade of CSI than others.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

Chemical compounds in foods can inhibit a key SARS-CoV-2 enzyme

North Carolina State University, December 1, 2020

Chemical compounds in foods or beverages like green tea, muscadine grapes and dark chocolate can bind to and block the function of a particular enzyme, or protease, in the SARS-CoV-2 virus, according to a new study by plant biologists at North Carolina State University.

Proteases are important to the health and viability of cells and viruses, says De-Yu Xie, professor of plant and microbial biology at NC State and the corresponding author of the study. If proteases are inhibited, cells cannot perform many important functions – like replication, for example.

“One of our lab’s focuses is to find nutraceuticals in food or medicinal plants that inhibit either how a virus attaches to human cells or the propagation of a virus in human cells,” Xie said.

In the study, the NC State researchers performed both computer simulations and lab studies showing how the so-called “main protease” (Mpro) in the SARS-CoV-2 virus reacted when confronted with a number of different plant chemical compounds already known for their potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

“Mpro in SARS-CoV-2 is required for the virus to replicate and assemble itself,” Xie said. “If we can inhibit or deactivate this protease, the virus will die.”

Computer simulations showed that the studied chemical compounds from green tea, two varieties of muscadine grapes, cacao powder and dark chocolate were able to bind to different portions of Mpro.

“Mpro has a portion that is like a ‘pocket’ that was ‘filled’ by the chemical compounds,” Xie said. “When this pocket was filled, the protease lost its important function.”

In vitro lab experiments completed by Yue Zhu, an NC State Ph.D. student in Xie’s lab, showed similar results. The chemical compounds in green tea and muscadine grapes were very successful at inhibiting Mpro’s function; chemical compounds in cacao powder and dark chocolate reduced Mpro activity by about half.

“Green tea has five tested chemical compounds that bind to different sites in the pocket on Mpro, essentially overwhelming it to inhibit its function,” Xie said. “Muscadine grapes contain these inhibitory chemicals in their skins and seeds. Plants use these compounds to protect themselves, so it is not surprising that plant leaves and skins contain these beneficial compounds.”

Soy isoflavone genistein shows promise against non-small-cell lung cancer progression

Kaifeng Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (China), November 19, 2020

According to news originating from Kaifeng, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “The foods of plants provide the rich nutrition and have protective function in human diseases, including cancers. Genistein is a major isoflavone constituent in soybeans, which has an anti-cancer role in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Department of Pediatrics, “Nevertheless, the mechanism underlying the anti-cancer function of genistein in NSCLC remains largely unknown. NSCLC cells (H292 and A549) were exposed to genistein. Circular RNA hsa_circ_0031250 (circ_0031250), microRNA (miR)-873-5p and forkhead box M1 (FOXM1) abundances were examined via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. The function of genistein, circ_0031250, miR-873-5p, and FOXM1 on NSCLC progression was investigated via Cell Counting Kit-8, colony formation, transwell well, wound healing, flow cytometry, Western blotting and xenograft model. The target relationship was analyzed by dual-luciferase reporter analysis and RNA immunoprecipitation. Results showed that genistein inhibited NSCLC cell viability in dose-time-dependent patterns. circ_0031250 abundance was elevated in NSCLC samples and cell lines, and it was reduced via genistein exposure. circ_0031250 knockdown aggravated genistein-caused suppression of cell proliferation, migration and invasion and elevation of apoptosis. miR-873-5p expression was decreased in NSCLC samples and cells. miR-873-5p was targeted via circ_0031250, and miR-873-5p knockdown attenuated the influence of circ_0031250 silence on NSCLC progression in the presence of genistein. FOXM1 was regulated via circ_0031250/miR-873-5p axis. miR-873-5p constrained cell proliferation, migration and invasion and increased apoptosis via regulating FOXM1 in genistein-treated cells. circ_0031250 knockdown enhanced the inhibitive function of genistein on NSCLC cell growth in xenograft model.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Collectively, genistein repressed NSCLC progression by modulating circ_0031250/miR-873-5p/FOXM1 axis.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

Extracts from garlic, white onion and purple onion exert inhibitory effects against enzymes linked to diabetes and hypertension

Federal University of Technology (Nigeria), November 30, 2020

Researchers at the Federal University of Technology in Nigeria evaluated the effects of the aqueous extract of garlic, white onion and purple onion on the activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), a-amylase and a-glucosidase in vitro. They reported their findings in an article published in the Journal of Dietary Supplements.

Spices are used in cooking and serve as ingredients in several traditional delicacies that contain natural antioxidants, such as polyphenols.
To assess the beneficial properties of garlic, white onion and purple onion extracts, the researchers investigated their effects on the activity of various enzymes.
They also determined the extracts’ antioxidant capacities using OH*, Fe2+ chelation, and 2, 2?-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) radical-scavenging assays.
The researchers found that the garlic, purple onion and white onion extracts inhibited the activities of ACE, a-amylase and a-glucosidase in a concentration-dependent manner.
The purple onion extract (IC50 = 0.59 mg/ml) had a higher inhibitory effect on ACE than the white onion (IC50 = 0.66 mg/ml) and garlic (IC50 = 0.96 mg/ml) extracts.
White onion (IC50 = 3.93 mg/mL), on the other hand, had a significantly stronger inhibitory effect on a-amylase than garlic (IC50 = 8.19 mg/ml) and purple onion (IC50 = 8.27 mg/ml).
Garlic (IC50 = 4.50 mg/ml) showed a similar inhibitory effect on ?-glucosidase activity to white onion and purple onion.
All three extracts were able to scavenge DPPH and reduce Fe3+ to Fe2+ in the antioxidant assays in a dose-dependent manner.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that garlic, white onion and purple onion exert anti-diabetes and antihypertensive properties by inhibiting ACE, a-amylase and a-glucosidase activity and preventing lipid peroxidation in the pancreas and heart through their antioxidant activities.

Quick bursts of exercise can help diabetics’ hearts

Australian Catholic University, November 27, 2020

Frequent, short exercise sessions may be better for diabetes patients’ blood vessels than longer and fewer workouts, and that may reduce their risk of heart disease, according to a new study.

People with type 2 diabetes are at increased risk for heart disease and reduced vascular (blood vessel) function, the study authors noted. Measuring vascular function is often used to determine heart disease risk.

Other research has shown that spending less time sitting and getting more exercise lowers the risk of heart disease in all people, not just those with diabetes.

But with “rapidly advancing technologies in workplaces, transportation and home entertainment, fewer opportunities exist for incidental activity, creating many contexts of daily life that are conducive to prolonged sitting,” according to the report published online recently in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology.

Frances Taylor, a doctoral candidate in exercise and sports science at Australian Catholic University in Melbourne, led the study.

Taylor’s team compared how blood flow and blood vessel dilation in obese adults with type 2 diabetes responded to shorter, more frequent or longer, less-frequent exercise sessions.

In one test, participants sat for eight hours without taking any exercise breaks. In a second test, they took breaks from sitting by doing three minutes of exercises that included squats, leg lifts and calf raises every 30 minutes. In a third test, they took six-minute exercise breaks every hour.

Compared with uninterrupted sitting, blood vessel function tended to improve with both exercise approaches, but it improved significantly more with exercise every 30 minutes, the study found.

The finding suggests that the frequency of the activity break may be more important than how long it lasts, the researchers said in a journal news release.

Because blood vessel function deteriorates as type 2 diabetes progresses, it’s possible that more frequent interruptions to sitting are needed to preserve blood flow to the legs, Taylor’s team reported.

“Our findings suggest that more-frequent and shorter breaks may be more beneficial than longer, less-frequent breaks for improvement in vascular function in those with [type 2 diabetes],” they concluded.

Green tea extract rich in EGCG impairs bone loss in rats with experimental periodontal disease

University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), November 25, 2020

According to news reporting out of Ribeirao Preto, Brazil, research stated, “Periodontal disease and osteoporosis are characterized by bone resorption, and researchers have shown an association between these two diseases through increasing loss of systemic bone mass and triggering alveolar bone loss. Green tea is a common and easily accessible beverage, and evidences show that flavonoid epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) could decrease bone loss in pathologies such as osteoporosis and periodontal disease.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the University of Sao Paulo, “In order to verify its possible effects and apply them in the treatment and prevention of these diseases, this investigation aimed to evaluate the influence of green tea extract (GTE) on bone metabolism of ovariectomized rats after experimental periodontal disease (EPD) by histological, morphological and microtomographic parameters. Wistar female rats were divided into Sham, Sham + EPD, Sham + EPD + GTE, OVX, OVX + EPD and OVX + EPD + GTE groups. Immediately after surgery, gavage administration of 50 mg/kg of green tea extract (GTE) was performed for 60 days, with subsequent induction of periodontal disease by ligature 15 days before euthanasia. Mandible and femur samples were collected for histological, morphometric and microtomographic analysis. The results were analysed by means of statistical software with significance set at 5%. Histological and morphometric analysis showed a significant decrease in alveolar and femoral trabecular bone loss in groups that received GTE. Microtomographic results showed that trabecular thickness and bone surface density values in alveolar bone interradicular septum of the OVX + EPD + GTE groups were similar to the Sham group.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “The results obtained suggest that green tea extract may improve bone metabolism in osteoporotic rats with periodontal disease.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

Exercise And The Brain: Here’s Three Ways Physical Activity Changes Its Very Structure

Trinity College Dublin, November 17, 2020

Here Are Just A Few Ways Exercise Changes The Structure Of Our Brain.

Memory

Blood vessels

Inflammation

Study data indicate that inhibitory effect of curcumin on human colorectal cancer cells may match that of chemotherapy 5-fluorouracil

Hubein University of Chinese Medicine (China), November 27, 2020

According to news reporting originating in Hubei, People’s Republic of China, research stated, “Curcumin is the main component of the Chinese herbal plant turmeric, which has been demonstrated to possess antitumor and other pharmacological properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of curcumin on the viability, migration and apoptosis of human colorectal carcinoma HCT-116 cells, and to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.”

Financial support for this research came from Science and Technology Project of Hubei Provincial Department of Education.

The news reporters obtained a quote from the research from the Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, “In addition, it was investigated whether the antitumor effect of curcumin on HCT-116 cells could match that of the chemotherapeutic drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). HCT-116 cells were treated with curcumin (10, 20 and 30 mu M) and 5-FU (500 mu M), and cell viability and proliferation were detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony formation assays, respectively. The migration and invasion of treated cells were determined using Transwell and carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl amino ester fluorescent labeling assays. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis rates were detected by flow cytometry. Furthermore, cell morphology changes associated with apoptosis were observed by fluorescence microscopy with acridine orange/ethidium bromide dual staining. To investigate the possible underlying molecular mechanisms, the gene and protein levels of Fas, Fas-associated via death domain (FADD), caspase-8, caspase-3, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9, nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B, E-cadherin and claudin-3 were detected using quantitative PCR analysis, zymography and western blotting. The results revealed that curcumin markedly inhibited the viability and proliferation of HCT-116 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The migration, aggregation and invasion of HCT-116 cells into the lungs of mice were decreased by curcumin treatment in a dose-dependent manner. S-phase arrest and gradually increased apoptotic rates of HCT-116 cells were observed with increasing curcumin concentrations. Additionally, the mRNA and protein levels of apoptosis-associated proteins (Fas, FADD, caspase-8 and caspase-3) and E-cadherin in HCT-116 cells were upregulated following treatment with curcumin in a dose-dependent manner. By contrast, the expression of migration-associated proteins, including MMP-9, NF-kappa B and claudin-3, was downregulated with increasing curcumin concentrations. These data suggested that the inhibitory effect of curcumin on HCT-116 cells may match that of 5-FU.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Therefore, curcumin induced cell apoptosis and inhibited tumor cell metastasis by regulating the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and its therapeutic effect may be comparable to that of 5-FU.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.

Yerba Mate Enhances Cellular Energy and Metabolism

KyungPook University and Pukyong University (S. Korea), November 9, 2020

In South America, Yerba Mate has been grown and taken medicinally for centuries. Researchers have shown that use of the herb over an extended period had significant effects on body weight and weight gain and was associated with lower levels of blood lipids and insulin in obese mice fed a high-fat diet.

Some of the most important antioxidant enzymes in the body are induced by mate. It is rich in polyphenols and displays high antioxidant activity. It’s also a cancer killer. Mate tea drinkers experience a significant increase in the activity of an enzyme that promotes HDL (good) cholesterol which prevents fats from oxidizing. Mate is traditionally steeped and served in a hollow calabash gourd (itself called a mate) and drunk through a metal straw called a bombilla. You can also make mate in a standard automatic coffee maker. Just put the mate where you would normally put the coffee grounds.

This new study, which supports the anti-obesity effect of long-term supplementation with yerba mate, and its beneficial effects on related metabolic disorders, is published in Journal of Medicinal Food, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers. The article is available free on the Journal of Medicinal Food website.

Myung-Sook Choi, Hyo Jin Park, Sang Ryong Kim, Do Yeon Kim, and Un Ju Jung, from KyungPook National University (Daegu) and Pukyong National University (Busan), Republic of Korea coauthored the article entitled “Long-Term Dietary Supplementation with Yerba Mate Ameliorates Diet-Induced Obesity and Metabolic Disorders in Mice by Regulating Energy Expenditure and Lipid Metabolism.” The researchers compared measures including weight gain/loss, energy expenditure, gene expression in fat tissue, lipid levels in the blood, liver, and feces, and blood insulin levels as an indication of insulin resistance in animals with diet-induced obesity who did or did not receive supplementation with dietary yerba mate.

Curcumin found to have protective effects against renal fibrosis

Third Military Medical University (China), November 26, 2020

Chinese researchers investigated the anti-fibrotic effects of curcumin on epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by transforming growth factor-B1 (TGF-B1), as well as the mechanism by which it influences the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway. Their findings were published in the journal Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin.

According to animal studies, curcumin has protective effects against the development of renal fibrosis.
However, the mechanisms underlying these effects are unknown.
To address this, the researchers treated human kidney tubular epithelial cells (HKCs) with either TGF-B1 or curcumin alone and with a combination of both.
They used 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to assess the effect of curcumin on cell proliferation.
They also used immunocytochemistry, real-time PCR and Western blot to analyze the expression of E-cadherin, cytokeratin, vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA), fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP1) and key proteins of the Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway.
The researchers found that low-dose curcumin (3.125 and 25?micromol/L) effectively promoted HKC proliferation.
After 72 hours of incubating HKCs with TGF-B1 and curcumin, curcumin caused the cells to maintain epithelial morphology in a dose-dependent manner.
It also decreased the expression of vimentin, a-SMA and FSP1 and increased the expression of E-cadherin and cytokeratin.
The researchers also noted that curcumin reduced Akt, mTOR and P70S6K phosphorylation, effectively suppressing the Akt/mTOR pathway in HKCs.

Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that curcumin is an alternative treatment for renal fibrosis because it can promote HKC proliferation and stop EMT by inhibiting the activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway activity.

Dairy products can increase the risk of cancer, but these plant-based diets can reduce it

Mayo Clinic, November 27, 2020

A study published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association shows that dairy products may increase the risk of prostate cancer but plant-based diets may decrease that risk. Mayo Clinic researchers based their findings on previous studies that examined the link between certain diets and prostate cancer risk.

“Our review highlighted a cause for concern with high consumption of dairy products. The findings also support a growing body of evidence on the potential benefits of plant-based diets.” said lead author John Shin, a cancer specialist at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.

Plant-based diets reduce prostate cancer risk

The researchers analyzed more than 40 studies that comprised more than one million participants to see whether prostate cancer risk is associated with plant- and animal-based foods. The team found that dairy products are the leading source of calcium in Western countries, where rates of prostate cancer are high. Conversely, Asian countries eat fewer dairy products and have lower rates of prostate cancer.

The researchers explained that calcium can halt the formation of a form of vitamin Dcalled calcitriol, which could otherwise reduce the spread of prostate cancer cells. However, the team did not specify how much dairy per person can increase their risk of the disease.

The authors also found that plant-based foods are associated with decreased risk of prostate cancer but did not find a significant association between prostate cancer risk and other animal-based foods, such as white meat and fish. The authors recommended further research with randomized controlled trials using standardized methods for collecting data to better account for other factors, such as race and age.

Other studies also showed that plant-based foods can help protect against prostate cancer. In one study, Japanese researchers examined the dietary records of more than 35,000 men between the age of 40 and 79. They found that those who ate mushrooms three or more times a week had a 17 percent lower risk of prostate cancer compared to those who had less than one serving a week.

In a study of 93 patients with early stages of prostate cancer, one group was assigned to eat a plant-based diet and practice other lifestyle interventions, including regular exercise and stress management, while a control group continued their usual diet and lifestyle. After two years, 27 percent of the control group had to undergo conventional treatment for prostate cancer compared to only 5 percent in the group who had the plant-based diet.

Gut microbiome link to deadly lung disease

University of Technology, Centenary Institute, University of Queensland, November 19, 2020

Research led by the Centenary Institute, the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Queensland has shown for the first time a link between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), an often fatal lung condition, and the gut microbiome.

The findings, published in the high impact science journal ‘Nature Communications‘, suggests that the gut may be helpful in diagnosing COPD and may also be a potential source of new therapeutic targets to help treat the chronic respiratory disorder.

“It’s already known that the lung microbiome is a contributing factor in COPD,” said Professor Phil Hansbro, senior author of the study and Director of the Centenary UTS Centre for Inflammation.

“We wanted to see if the gut environment was also somehow involved-to determine whether the gut could act as a reliable indicator of COPD or if it was connected in some way to the development of the disease.”

In the study, the researchers compared the microbiome and metabolite profiles of stool samples from COPD patients with healthy individuals. Revealed were significant differences between the two groups.

COPD patients exhibited increased levels of the bacteria Streptococcus and Lachnospiraceae in their stool samples. Also identified in individuals with COPD was a unique metabolite signature-formed by the chemical by-products of the metabolic process.

“Our research indicates that the gut of COPD patients is notably different from healthy individuals,” said first author on the paper Dr Kate Bowerman, University of Queensland.

“This suggests that stool sampling and analysis could be used to non-invasively diagnose and monitor for COPD,” she said.

The study’s researchers believe that the altered gut microbiome found in COPD patients could also support the gut as a potential target for new treatments.

“The ‘gut-lung axis’ describes the common immune system of the lung and gastrointestinal tract. This means that activity in the gut can impact activity in the lung. Our COPD findings suggest that the gut microbiome should now also be considered when looking for new therapeutic targets to help treat lung disease,” said Professor Hansbro.

COPD, a life threatening inflammatory disorder of the lungs, is the third most common cause of death globally. More than 3 million lives are lost every year to COPD.

Review concludes antioxidant vitamins may improve cognitive function in Alzheimer disease

Medical University of Bialystok (Poland), November 24, 2020

According to news originating from Bialystok, Poland, research stated, “Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and the aging of the population means that the number of cases is successively increasing. The cause of the disease has not been established, but it is suggested that many factors affect it, including nutritional aspects.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from the Medical University of Bialystok, “As part of the work, the PubMed database has been searched, beginning from 2005, for terms related to key nutritional aspects. A diet rich in antioxidant vitamins can improve the cognitive functions of patients. Thanks to an adequate intake of B vitamins, homocysteine levels are reduced, which indirectly protects against the development of the disease.”

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “A properly balanced diet, as well as the use of appropriate supplementation, can contribute to improving the clinical condition of patients with AD.”

Everyday activities enhance personal well-being

Neurobiological mechanisms studied: new findings on the relationship between physical activity and everyday well-being

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Germany), November 26, 2020

Physical activity makes happy and is important to maintain psychic health. Researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) in Mannheim studied the brain regions which play a central role in this process. Their findings reveal that even everyday activities, such as climbing stairs, significantly enhance well-being, in particular of persons susceptible to psychiatric disorders. The study is published in Science Advances (DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz8934).

Exercise enhances physical well-being and mental health. However, impacts of everyday activities, such as climbing stairs, walking, or going to the tram station instead of driving, on a person’s mental health have hardly been studied so far. For example, it is not yet clear which brain structures are involved. A team of the Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) in Mannheim, KIT’s Institute of Sports and Sports Science, and the GIScience / Geoinformatics Research Group of Heidelberg University has now studied everyday activities that make up the highest share of our daily exercise. “Climbing stairs every day may help us feel awake and full of energy. This enhances well-being,” the study’s first authors explain. These are Dr. Markus Reichert who conducts research at CIMH and KIT and Dr. Urs Braun, Head of the Complex Systems Research Group of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Clinic of CIMH.

The research findings are of particular relevance in the current situation with Corona restrictions and the coming winter. “Currently, we are experiencing strong restrictions of public life and social contacts, which may adversely affect our well-being,” Professor Heike Tost, Head of the Systems Neuroscience Psychiatry Research Group of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Clinic, says. “To feel better, it may help to more often climb stairs.”

Everyday Activities Enhance Alertness and Physical Energy

“For our studies, we newly combined various research methods in everyday life and at the laboratory,” says Professor Ulrich Ebner-Priemer, Head of the mHealth Methods in Psychiatry Research Group, Deputy Head of IfSS, and Head of the Mental mHealth Lab of KIT. Among the methods used were ambulant assessments with movement sensors as well as smartphone surveys on the well-being that were triggered by geolocation data as soon as the subjects moved.

67 persons were subjected to ambulant assessments to determine the impact of everyday activity on alertness for seven days. It was found that the persons felt more alert and were bursting with even more energy directly after the activity. Alertness and energy were proved to be important components of well-being and psychic health of the participants.

Brain Regions for Everyday Activities and Well-being Identified

These analyses were combined with magnetic resonance tomography at CIMH for another group of 83 persons. The volume of gray brain matter was measured to find out which brain areas play a role in these everyday processes. It was found that the subgenual cingulate cortex, a section of the cerebral cortex, is important to the interaction between everyday activity and affective well-being. It is in this brain region where emotions and resistance to psychiatric disorders are regulated. The authors identified this brain region to be a decisive neural correlate that mediates the relationship between physical activity and subjective energy. “Persons with a smaller volume of gray brain matter in this region and a higher risk of psychiatric disorders felt less full of energy when they were physically inactive,” Heike Tost describes the results. “After everyday activity, however, these persons felt even more filled with energy than persons with a larger brain volume.”

Specific Use of Physical Activity in Everyday Life

Professor Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, Director of CIMH and Medical Director of the Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Clinic, concludes that “the results suggest that physical activity in everyday life is beneficial to well-being, in particular in persons susceptible to psychiatric disorders.” In future, the findings of the study might be used in a smartphone app that will motivate users to be active to enhance their well-being in case of decreasing energy.” It remains to be studied whether everyday activities may change the well-being and the brain volume and how these results may help prevent and treat psychiatric disorders,” Urs Braun says.

Potato puree is just as effective as carb energy gels at improving exercise performance

University of Illinois, November 27, 2020

Athletes looking for a boost in their performance need not buy into the current trendy carbohydrate gels being sold on the market — they will do just fine with pureed potatoes.

This is according to a group of scientists from the University of Illinois who found that pureed potatoes were just as effective at sustaining blood glucose levels and boosting athletic performance as carbohydrate gels.

The researchers published their findings in the Journal of Applied Physiology.

Pureed potatoes increased performance in professional cyclists

For the study, the researchers recruited 12 professional cyclists who were then randomly assigned to three groups, with each group representing different athletic supplements, namely potato puree, a mass-market carbohydrate gel, or plain water.

According to the research team, they controlled what the 12 cyclists ate for 24 hours before making them complete a two-hour cycling challenge that mimicked a real race. This, the researchers said, helped ensure that the participants had the same amount of energy as each other on the day of the challenge itself.

During the challenge, the cyclists were given a 15-gram dose of their supplement every 15 minutes, after which they were made to complete a ‘time trial,’ in which they had to cycle as fast as they possibly could over a distance that was relative to their overall body weight. (Related: Potatoes GOOD for diabetics? Study finds prebiotic from potatoes actually reduces insulin resistance.)

This “time trial,” the researchers said, was designed to measure how effective the supplements were at pushing the cyclists in the final leg of an actual long-distance race.

The participants were all fitted with intravenous catheters, which enabled the researchers to obtain blood samples, which were then tested in order to measure their lactate levels. Lactate is a known metabolic marker of intense physical activities.

Aside from the participants’ lactate levels, their heart rate as well as core temperature, exercise intensity and gastrointestinal symptoms were also monitored all throughout the cycling challenge.

The results of the test, the research team said, were surprising, noting that there weren’t any significant differences between the performance of cyclists who got their carbohydrates from potatoes or gels.

Potato purees better than just water for performance

In addition, the cyclists who consumed the potato puree and carbohydrate gel were significantly faster than the cyclists who only took water, taking only 33 minutes to complete the challenge compared to the latter, who took 39 minutes to finish the test.

“Both groups saw a significant boost in performance that those consuming only water did not achieve,” Nicholas Burd, the study’s lead researcher and a kinesiology and community health professor at the University of Illinois, said.

According to the research team, the cyclists who were given the potato puree and carbohydrate gels also had higher glucose concentrations in their blood, which meant that their bodies were able to maintain stable blood sugar levels.

They also had elevated concentrations of lactate in their blood. Lactate, the researchers said, delays muscle fatigue and is, therefore, considered to be an indicator of the cyclists’ ability to perform better.

The researchers noted, however, that the cyclists who consumed potatoes experienced a variety of symptoms such as gastrointestinal bloating, pain and flatulence. These, the research team said, were likely due to the volume of potatoes that the cyclists had to eat in order to match the glucose in the carbohydrate gels.

Despite the bloating and stomach pain, however, the researchers said the symptoms experienced by the cyclists were milder compared to the ones in previous studies, indicating that the carbohydrates were well-tolerated by the majority of the study’s cyclists.

This, the researchers said, meant that potatoes are a viable and low-cost alternative to mass-produced carbohydrate gels, most of which are filled with added sugars and artificial ingredients.

“Potatoes are a promising alternative for athletes because they represent a cost-effective, nutrient-dense and whole-food source of carbohydrates. Furthermore, they serve as a savory race fuel option when compared (with) the high sweetness of (carbohydrate) gels,” Burd said.

Study: Taking common drugs linked to impaired microbiome health and increased risk of obesity and intestinal infections

University Medical Center Groningen and Maastricht University (Netherlands), November 27, 2020

The findings of the study appeared in the journal Nature Communications.

Commonly used drugs impair gut microbiome

After comparing the gut microbial profiles of drug users to non-drug users, the researchers found the following drug categories to have the biggest impact on the gut microbiome:

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which are used to treat peptic ulcers, acid reflux, infection with the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, dyspepsia and Barrett’s esophagus
Metformin, which is used to treat Type 2 diabetes
Antibiotics
Laxatives

Antidepressants alter gut microbiome

Effect of Nigella sativa (black cumin seed) supplementation on inflammatory and oxidative stress indicators

Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, November 23, 2020

According to the news editors, the research concluded: “Additional prospective studies are recommended using higher supplementation doses and longer intervention period.”

This research has been peer-reviewed.