Search results

This study aims to evaluate the effects of betanin on AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Sirtuin1 (SIRT1) and Sirtuin6 (SIRT6) gene expression as well as the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) cytokine release in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and healthy controls.

PBMCs isolated from whole blood of 50 patients with CAD and 48 healthy subjects aged 45 to 60 years were treated with 10 and 20 µM of betanin for 24 h. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to assess gene expression levels of AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6. The supernatants of the cultured cells were used to assess the IL-6 and TNF-α protein levels by ELISA.

Treatment with both doses of betanin significantly increased AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6 expression in PBMCs of CAD patients compared to control non-treated cells (p < 0.05). In PBMCs of healthy subjects, only treatment with high dose of betanin showed significant increase in AMPK (p = 0.007), SIRT1 (p = 0.013) and SIRT6 (p = 0.024) expression compared to control non-treated cells. Betanin (20 µM) also significantly decreased TNF-α and IL-6 concentrations in the culture supernatants of the CAD patients compared to control non-treated cells (p < 0.001).

Betanin could enhance AMPK, SIRT1 and SIRT6 gene expressions in PBMCs and represent a useful complementary treatment to reduce the proinflammatory status accompanied with CAD.

This study aims to identify the effect of strawberry supplementation on some metabolic, inflammatory and oxidative parameters in adults with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors.

A systematic literature search was performed up to November 2020 using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, Web of Sciences and Scopus databases. The pooled mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was used to analyze the data by random-effects model. I² statistics and Cochrane risk of bias tool were used for investigating heterogeneity and quality of included studies, respectively.

In total, 13 randomized controlled trials with 488 participants were included. Strawberry supplementation significantly reduced diastolic blood pressure (MD = −2.1, 95% CI [−3.7, −0.42], P = 0.01), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (−0.16, −0.30, −0.02, P = 0.03), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) (−0.76, −1.4, −0.05, P < 0.001) and CRP (−0.31, −0.43, −0.18, P = 0.04). Leptin levels were raised in control group compared with participants who had received strawberry (0.65, 0.09 and 1.2, P = 0.02). The results of subgroup analysis based on the follow-up duration and supplementation dose showed that consumption of strawberry for more than eight weeks and 50 g day⁻¹ can significantly decrease some other CV risk factors compared to control group. Further, both higher follow-up duration and supplementation dose were more effective in increasing leptin levels of control group compared to intervention group.

The use of some useful plant foods such as strawberries by the pharmaceutical industry and the community health sector can greatly help improve people’s CV and metabolic health.

This systematic review aims to gain the studies regarding the effect of Nigella Sativa (N. sativa) on adipokines including leptin, adiponectin and resistin.

Search was carried out using databases Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed and Google Scholar with no restriction on language or date until February 2023 and alert services were applied to identify any paper after the primary search.

Eighteen animal and human studies were eligible for the current systematic review. Leptin and resistin levels showed a downward tendency after consuming N. sativa and its ingredients [e.g. oil, thymoquinone (TQ) and thymol] as well as its extracts (e.g. water extract). Furthermore, considering 4 of 8 animal research studies and 2 of 5 human studies that evaluated adiponectin levels, a significant increase was observed after using N. sativa and its ingredients (e.g. oil, TQ and thymol).

The present paper collates evidence from animal and human studies regarding the effect of N. sativa on adipokines including leptin, adiponectin and resistin.

The goal of this narrative review was to look at the link between the Mediterranean diet (MD) and the telomere length. Furthermore, this study aims to understand the impact of the MD on obesity-related telomere length.

Relevant literature was reviewed to explore the potential influence of the MD on telomere length and its association with obesity.

The MD is one of the healthiest diets of all known dietary patterns, and it is also linked to the telomere length. Except for fruits and vegetables, the main findings for other MD components are inconsistent. In terms of antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties, using the MD as a weight loss approach is a good method. For predicting changes in obesity characteristics, the initial telomere length is critical. However, there are not many studies in the field that have looked at the MD as a weight loss approach and its link to the telomere length. As a result, more research is needed to understand these connections in various groups.

This study is unique since it examines the MD, telomere length and obesity-related consequences. This study examines the MD, telomere length and obesity to determine if the MD can help lose weight while maintaining telomere length. As there are few studies on MD weight loss and telomere length, the work emphasizes the need for greater research in this area. This study fills a research gap and improves the understanding of nutrition, telomere biology and obesity-related outcomes.

Knowledge of why and how we age is pointing to ways to extend human longevity. Studies in model organisms indicate that increasing the expression of repair and maintenance genes results in slower ageing and increased life expectancy. It might soon be possible to achieve such slowing of ageing in humans. The evidence for, and societal consequences of, such an advance are discussed.

Wine, fruits, vegetables and whole grains are the main products of a healthy diet. The purpose of this paper is to scrutinize the existence of an interesting and evocative bond among moderate intake of wine, health and well-being.

By means of a fuzzy cluster analysis, the authors try to investigate the existence of groups of regions similar in wine consumption, subjective well-being, health and social relations. The latter are expressed through composite indicators, built and developed by Istat within the Italy ESW project’s activities (equitable and sustainable well-being). The analysis also investigates how this link has evolved over time. Data are related to refer to the situations in 2010 and 2017 in 21 regions of Italy.

Results obtained in 2010 seem to confirm the hypothesis of the existence of a link among moderate wine consumption, hedonism well-being and health, and in addition, findings highlight the so-called North‒South gap, that is the strong differences and economic issues among the different areas of the country. Then, outcomes obtained for 2017 appear in line with 2010 results.

Several authors from medicine, economics and chemistry domain strongly suggest and demonstrate that regular and moderate intake of wine reduces the incidence of heart disease, diabetes mellitus and hormonal problems, and correlatively increases longevity. In this work, the authors develop further research step including the aspects related to personal well-being and social relations under the umbrella of a hedonism approach. Finally, results highlight the existence of an amazing tie among moderate intake of wine consumption, well-being and health.