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Chios mastic gum (CMG) is a resin obtained from the Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia tree that grows in the Mediterranean. For millennia, it has been renowned for its medicinal properties, but recently, CMG has gained attention due to its pronounced anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties and its use in oral health, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, and risk factors related to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This narrative review seeks to briefly overview its bioactive constituents and examine and describe its potential as a cardiometabolic disease (CMD) phytotherapeutic. The results of clinical trials and in vivo, in vitro, and in silico studies provide accumulating evidence of the mechanisms underlying CMG's impacts on lipid and glucose metabolism, cardiovascular and hepatic health, inflammation, oxidative stress, body composition, and microbiota. Despite the relatively limited studies with mixed results, they have provided the foundation to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities moving forward that may help to establish CMG and its bioactives as viable therapeutics for CMD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundApproximately 1/3 of individuals have a high plasma response to dietary cholesterol (hyper-responders). Although increases in both LDL and HDL cholesterol have been observed, limited data exist regarding effects of egg consumption on lipoprotein subclasses and circulating carotenoids.Methods29 postmenopausal women (50-68 y) and 13 men (60-80 y) were assigned to either 3 eggs (EGG, 640 mg cholesterol/d) or an equal volume of cholesterol-free egg substitute (SUB, 0 mg cholesterol/d) for 30 d. Following a 3 wk wash out, subjects crossed over to the alternate diet. Individuals with a response to dietary cholesterol > 2.2 mg/dL for each additional 100 mg of dietary cholesterol were classified as hyper-responders while hypo-responders were those with a response ResultsHyper-responders had higher concentrations of both LDL (LDL-C) and HDL (HDL-C) cholesterol after EGG. In contrast, the concentrations of plasma LDL-C and HDL-C did not differ between the EGG and SUB for the hypo-responders. After EGG, hyper-responders had larger (>or= 21.2 nm) less atherogenic LDL particle (P < 0.001) and larger HDL particle (> 8.8 nm) (P < 0.01), with no significant difference in the total number of LDL or HDL particles. Regardless of response classification, all individuals had an increase in plasma lutein (from 32.4 +/- 15.2 to 46.4 +/- 23.3 ng/L) and zeaxanthin (from 8.8 +/- 4.8 to 10.7 +/- 5.8 ng/L) during EGG, yet hyper-responders displayed higher concentrations of carotenoids when compared to hypo-respondersConclusionThese findings suggest that the increases in LDL-C and HDL-C due to increased egg consumption in hyper-responders are not related to an increased number of LDL or HDL particles but, to an increase in the less atherogenic lipoprotein subfractions. Also, increases in plasma carotenoids after EGG may provide a valuable dietary source for this population.

Childhood obesity is a national epidemic, and many efforts have been made to understand its risk factors. The purpose of this review was to provide an updated account of the observational studies evaluating the relationship between 100% fruit juice intake and obesity in children and adolescents, and to highlight the major risk factors that may impact this relationship. PubMed and Scopus were searched for terms related to fruit juice and childhood obesity, and studies assessing 100% fruit juice intake in participants ≤ 19 years old, with obesity-related outcomes (BMI or adiposity), and published before March 9, 2021 were included. There were 17 prospective cohort and 14 cross-sectional studies included in the analysis. Overall, the evidence does not support a relationship between 100% fruit juice intake and measures of obesity in most children. There is some evidence to suggest a minor positive association in some overweight or very young children, but due to fundamental differences and limitations in methodology, further investigation is required. Significant gaps in literature on this topic exist particularly in regards to randomized clinical trials in children, and in studies in racially diverse populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Third International Electronic Conference on Nutrients—Precision Nutrition and Nutrigenomics took place from November 1 to 15, 2023. The conference focused on precision nutrition, which involves tailoring dietary approaches to an individual's genetic and epigenetic information, age, gender, lifestyle, gut microbiota, and health status. The event brought together researchers, clinicians, and experts from around the world to discuss new discoveries and future directions in this field. The conference featured sessions on topics such as the role of gut microbiota, epigenetics, nutriomics, and genetic polymorphisms in precision nutrition. The conference organizers expressed gratitude to the sponsors and media partners involved. [Extracted from the article]