Search

Dietary phytochemical intake associations with cardiovascular health and mortality remain unknown. We studied the relations between total dietary phytochemical intake and cardiovascular health outcomes in a middle-aged Swiss population. We analyzed data spanning 2009 to 2021 from a prospective cohort study in Lausanne, Switzerland, including 3721 participants (54.8% women, 57.2 ± 10.3 years) without cardiovascular disease (CVD) history. Dietary intake was assessed using a validated self-reported food frequency questionnaire. The Dietary Phytochemical Index (DPI) and the healthy Dietary Phytochemical Index (hDPI) were calculated as the total energy intake percentage obtained from phytochemical-rich food consumption. The Healthy Plant-Based Diet Index (hPBD) was estimated by scoring healthy plant foods positively and less-healthy plant foods negatively. Indices tertiles and cardiometabolic outcome associations were determined using Cox proportional hazard models. Over 30,217 person-years of follow-up, 262 CVD events, and 178 deaths occurred. Unadjusted analyses found 36%, 33%, and 32% lower CVD risk for the highest hDPI, DPI, and hPBD tertiles, respectively. After adjustment, only the second hDPI tertile showed a 30% lower CVD risk (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.51–0.95; P for trend 0.362). No other associations emerged. In this middle-aged Swiss cohort, no associations between dietary indices reflecting a phytochemical-rich dietary pattern and incident CVD, all-cause, or CVD mortality were observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discrepancies between total life expectancy and healthy life expectancy are in part due to unhealthy lifestyles, in which diet plays an important role. Despite this knowledge, observational studies and randomized trials have yet to show consistent improvements in health and well-being, also known as health-related quality of life (HRQoL), given the variety of elements that conform a healthy diet aside from its content. As such, we aimed to describe the evidence and common topics concerning the effects of modifiable eating behaviors and HRQoL in patients with non-communicable diseases (NCD). This scoping review of six electronic databases included 174 reports (69 % were experimental studies, 10 % longitudinal studies, and 21 % cross-sectional studies). Using VOSviewer, a bibliometric tool with text mining functionalities, we identified relevant aspects of dietary assessments and interventions. Commonly observed topics in experimental studies were those related to diet quality (micro- and macronutrients, food items, and dietary patterns). In contrast, less was found regarding eating schedules, eating locations, culturally accepted food items, and the role of food insecurity in HRQoL. Disregarding these aspects of diets may be limiting the full potential of nutrition as a key element of health and well-being in order to ensure lengthy and fulfilling lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Oat supplementation interventions (OSIs) may have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. However, dietary background can modulate such effect. This systematic review assesses the effects of OSIs on CVD risk markers among adults, accounting for different dietary backgrounds or control arms. Methods: We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that assessed the effect of oat, oat beta-glucan-rich extracts or avenanthramides on CVD risk markers. Results: Seventy-four RCTs, including 4937 predominantly hypercholesterolemic, obese subjects, with mild metabolic disturbances, were included in the systematic review. Of these, 59 RCTs contributed to the meta-analyses. Subjects receiving an OSI, compared to control arms without oats, had improved levels of total cholesterol (TC) [weighted mean difference and (95% CI) − 0.42 mmol/L, (− 0.61; − 0.22)], LDL cholesterol [− 0.29 mmol/L, (− 0.37; − 0.20)], glucose [− 0.25 nmol/L, (− 0.36; − 0.14)], body mass index [− 0.13 kg/m2, (− 0.26; − 0.01)], weight [− 0.94 kg, (− 1.84: − 0.05)], and waist circumference [− 1.06 cm, (− 1.85; − 0.27)]. RCTs on inflammation and/or oxidative stress markers were scarce and with inconsistent findings. RCTs comparing an OSI to heterogeneous interventions (e.g., wheat, eggs, rice, etc.), showed lowered levels of glycated haemoglobin, diastolic blood pressure, HDL cholesterol and apolipoprotein B. The majority of included RCTs (81.1%) had some concerns for risk of bias. Conclusion: Dietary OSIs resulted in lowered levels of blood lipids and improvements in anthropometric parameters among participants with predominantly mild metabolic disturbances, regardless of dietary background or control. Further high-quality trials are warranted to establish the role of OSIs on blood pressure, glucose homeostasis and inflammation markers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. var. cicla or flavescens) is a green leafy vegetable whose bioactive compounds have been studied due to its effects on health. We systematically reviewed the nutritional profile and bioactive composition of Swiss chard and reported their concentrations. Four main databases were searched for studies analyzing the chemical composition of Swiss chard. Screening, selection of articles, and data extraction were carried out by two independent reviewers. Twenty-eight articles of 1102 records identified by bibliographic search met our inclusion criteria for final analysis. We found a total of 192 chemical compounds categorized into 23 groups. The cicla variety was the most studied, and nutrients and phytochemicals were reported mainly on leaves. Betalains with 20% of the reported data, fats (16%), flavonoids (11%), non-flavonoid phenolics (11%), terpenes and derivatives (8%), carbohydrates (7%), and minerals (6%) were among the most reported categories. Swiss chard leaves have the highest content of fiber, sodium, magnesium, flavonoids, and vitamin C, while stems are high in potassium. Swiss chard should be considered a source of nutrients and phytochemicals, and further research is needed on identifying and quantifying other bioactive compounds and understanding their impact on health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioactive compounds in Raphanus sativus (radish) have been used to treat several diseases; therefore, radish has attracted increasing scientific attention due to its nutritional and phytochemical composition. The available evidence on the nutrient and bioactive composition of radish was systematically assessed. Four databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane trials) were searched, up to September 26th, 2020, for key articles assessing the chemical composition of radish. Two independent reviewers carried out screening, selection of articles, and data extraction. Of 1214 references, 63 met our inclusion criteria. We found 609 chemical compounds within 23 categories. Red (30% of all studied varieties), white (13%), and black (6%) radish were the most studied varieties. Nutrients and phytochemicals were reported mainly in roots and leaves. The largest categories were flavonoids (38.8% of the reported data), non-flavonoid polyphenols (8.4%), terpenes and derivatives (8.2%), fat and fatty related compounds (6.4%), and glucosinolates and breakdown products (5.6%). Leaves have high concentrations of macronutrients, calcium, potassium, sodium, fiber, fatty acids, and non-flavonoid polyphenols while sprouts are a major source of flavonoids, specifically anthocyanins, β-carotene and vitamin C. Roots are rich in non-flavonoid polyphenols together with terpenes and derivatives, and glucosinolates, the latter also highly concentrated in seeds. Raphanus sativus is a rich source of nutrients and phytochemicals. Leaves and sprouts could be considered part of a healthy diet, and together with roots, they could be explored as raw material for the development of nutraceuticals. • Raphanus sativus (radish) has high nutritional and phytochemical potential. • Flavonoids, especially anthocyanins, are the most studied and reported compounds. • Leaves and sprouts have the highest amount of several nutrients and phytochemicals. • The identified compounds exert health benefits through various possible mechanisms. • Leaves and sprouts could be recommended as part of a healthy diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Turnip (Brassica rapa L. ssp. rapa) is a leaf and root vegetable grown and consumed worldwide. The consumption of Turnip has been associated with beneficial effects on human health due to their phytochemicals that may control a variety of physiological functions, including antioxidant activity, enzyme regulation, and apoptotic control and the cell cycle. The current systematic review of the literature aims to evaluate both the profile and quantity of phytochemicals commonly found in Turnip greens and to provide perspectives for further investigation. Methods: This review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Four bibliographic databases (PubMed, Embase, Web-of-Science and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials) were searched to identify published studies until April 8th, 2020 (date last searched) without data and language restriction. Studies were included if they used samples of Turnip greens (the leaves), and evaluated its phytochemical content. Two reviewers independently evaluated the titles and abstracts according to the selection criteria. For each potentially eligible study, two reviewers assessed the full-texts and independently extracted the data using a predesigned data extraction form. Results: Based on the search strategy 5,077 potentially relevant citations were identified and full texts of 37 studies were evaluated, among which 18 studies were eligible to be included in the current review. The majority of included studies were focused on identification of glucosinolates and isothiocyanates (n = 14, 82%), four studies focused on organic acids, and five studies reported phenolic component profile in Turnip greens. Among included studies nine studies (50%) provided information on phytochemical's content. We found 129 phytochemicals (19 glucosinolates, 33 glucosinolate-breakdown products, 10 organic acids and 59 polyphenolic compounds) reported in Turnip greens. Flavonoids were mainly present as quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin derivatives; while aliphatic forms were the predominant glucosinolate (gluconapin was the most common across five studies, followed by glucobrassicanapin). In general, the phytochemical content varied among the leaves, tops and Turnip roots. Conclusions: Emerging evidence suggests the Turnip as a substantial source of diverse bioactive compounds. However, detailed investigation on the pure compounds derived from Turnip green, their bioavailability, transport and metabolism after consumption is further needed. Additional studies on their biological activity are crucial to develop dietary recommendations on the effective dosage and dietary recommendation of Turnip greens for nutrition and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the health preparedness and response capacity in Latin America and the Caribbean by examining the regions' performance against the COVID-19 pandemic. Other topics include the number of infections and deaths due to COVID-19 worldwide as of March 2022, the challenges faced during the pandemic like shortage of ventilators, personal protective equipment, and intensive care unit beds, and how overcrowding and shortage of basic services like clean water worsened the pandemic.

The purpose of the present study was to describe the effects of caloric restriction on spatial learning and recovery in the Barnes maze in animals experimentally stressed before recovery of the spatial task. Male Wistar rats were exposed for two months to one of two conditions: ad libitum (AL) or intermittent fasting (IF). Both groups were exposed then to an experimental form of acute stress, induced by movement restriction for 4 hours. IF subjects had better performance in learning tasks during the acquisition trials but required more time to complete the task after the stressor was applied. These results are discussed in light of previous data reported in the literature emphasizing differences in the instruments used to evaluate spatial learning and its interaction with experimentally induced stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We identified 113 and 178 phytochemicals in oat and buckwheat respectively. • Total phytosterols, tocols, flavonoids and rutin content were higher in buckwheat. • Avenanthramides and saponins were solely found in oat and β-glucan content was higher. • Proper food transformation is needed to preserve nutritional content of these cereals. • Bioavailability of oat and buckwheat's phytochemicals requires further investigation. Consumption of oat and buckwheat have been associated with various health benefits that may be attributed to their nutritional composition. We performed a systematic review to evaluate the profile and quantity of bioactive compounds present in oat and buckwheat. Among 154 studies included in final analysis, 113 and 178 bioactive compounds were reported in oat and buckwheat, respectively. Total phytosterols, tocols, flavonoids and rutin content were generally higher in buckwheat, β-glucans were significantly higher in oat, while avenanthramides and saponins were characteristically present in oat. The majority of studies included in current review were published before 2010s. The heterogeneous methodological procedures used across the studies precluded our possibility to meta-analyse the evidence and raises the need for harmonization of separation and extraction methods in future studies. Our findings should further stimulate the exploration of metabolites related to identified phytochemicals and their roles in human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]