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The gut microbiota is a changing ecosystem, containing trillions of bacteria, continuously shaped by many factors, such as dietary habits, seasonality, lifestyle, stress, antibiotics use, or diseases. A healthy host–microorganisms balance must be respected in order to optimally maintain the intestinal barrier and immune system functions and, consequently, prevent disease development. In the past several decades, the adoption of modern dietary habits has become a growing health concern, as it is strongly associated with obesity and related metabolic diseases, promoting inflammation and both structural and behavioral changes in gut microbiota. In this context, novel dietary strategies are emerging to prevent diseases and maintain health. However, the consequences of these different diets on gut microbiota modulation are still largely unknown, and could potentially lead to alterations of gut microbiota, intestinal barrier, and the immune system. The present review aimed to focus on the impact of single food components (macronutrients and micronutrients), salt, food additives, and different dietary habits (i.e., vegan and vegetarian, gluten-free, ketogenic, high sugar, low FODMAP, Western-type, and Mediterranean diets) on gut microbiota composition in order to define the optimal diet for a healthy modulation of gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mediterranean diet is considered one of the most worldwide healthy dietary patterns thanks to a combination of foods rich mainly in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients. Many studies have demonstrated a strong and inverse relationship between a high level of Mediterranean diet adherence and some chronic diseases (such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, etc.) and cancer. Given its protective effects in reducing oxidative and inflammatory processes of cells and avoiding DNA damages, cell proliferation, and their survival, angiogenesis, inflammations and metastasis, the Mediterranean diet is considered a powerful and manageable method to fight cancer incidence. The aim of this narrative review was to determine the magnitude of interaction between the Mediterranean diet and more widespread types of cancer so as to give a first and useful overview on this relationship identifying, with a nutritional approach, those nutrients of Mediterranean diet able to reduce cancer incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Each individual is provided with a unique gut microbiota profile that plays many specific functions in host nutrient metabolism, maintenance of structural integrity of the gut mucosal barrier, immunomodulation, and protection against pathogens. Gut microbiota are composed of different bacteria species taxonomically classified by genus, family, order, and phyla. Each human's gut microbiota are shaped in early life as their composition depends on infant transitions (birth gestational date, type of delivery, methods of milk feeding, weaning period) and external factors such as antibiotic use. These personal and healthy core native microbiota remain relatively stable in adulthood but differ between individuals due to enterotypes, body mass index (BMI) level, exercise frequency, lifestyle, and cultural and dietary habits. Accordingly, there is not a unique optimal gut microbiota composition since it is different for each individual. However, a healthy host–microorganism balance must be respected in order to optimally perform metabolic and immune functions and prevent disease development. This review will provide an overview of the studies that focus on gut microbiota balances in the same individual and between individuals and highlight the close mutualistic relationship between gut microbiota variations and diseases. Indeed, dysbiosis of gut microbiota is associated not only with intestinal disorders but also with numerous extra-intestinal diseases such as metabolic and neurological disorders. Understanding the cause or consequence of these gut microbiota balances in health and disease and how to maintain or restore a healthy gut microbiota composition should be useful in developing promising therapeutic interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Nocturnal enuresis (NE) is a very common multifactorial pediatric disorder and in children without any other lower urinary tract symptoms is defined as monosymptomatic NE (MNE). Pharmacological, psychological/behavioral, and alternative interventions are commonly used and the first-line drug therapy for patients with MNE is desmopressin (dDAVP) but the response rate is less than 40-60% and the relapse rate is about 50-80% after treatment. Many studies show that some foods and beverages can promote diuresis or bladder irritability, which in some people can exacerbate bladder symptoms and NE. The present study aimed to compare the efficacy of combined specific dietary advices and dDAVP vs dDAVP alone. Materials and Methods: We enrolled in the study 172 patients affected by MNE between January 2013 and May 2014, of these 35 were excluded. The inclusion criterion was primary MNE and exclusion criteria included non-MNE, secondary MNE and lactose intolerance. Children were treated with dDAVP at a dose of 120 µg a day and were randomized to receive dietary recommendations. They were asked to fill out a charter depicting their wet and dry nights for the period of treatment. Sixty-seven patients were randomly assigned to receive dDAVP and dietary advices (group A) and 70 patients to receive dDAVP alone (group B). Results: We included in our study 137 children, 102 (74.5%) male, and 35 (25.5%) female, aged between 5 and 14 years. Our results show a higher response rate and a lower number of relapse in group A vs group B with 67.2% of responders in group A vs 58.6% in group B, after 3 months of therapy and 31.1% of relapse in group A vs 46.3% in group B one month, after the end of treatment. Conclusion: Our results show the effectiveness of specific dietary advices in the management of primary MNE. However further studies are needed to determine whether the difference between therapy with combined dietary recommendations and dDAVP vs dDAVP alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the fields of nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics today we can think of devising approaches to optimize health, delay onset of diseases and reduce its severity according to our genetic blue print. However this requires a deep understanding of nutritional impact on expression of genes that may result in a specific phenotype. The extensive research and observational studies during last two decades reporting interactions between genes, diet and physical activity suggest a cross talk between various genetic and environmental factors and lifestyle interventions. Although considerable efforts have been made in unraveling the mechanisms of gene-diet interactions the scientific evidences behind developing commercial genetic tests for providing personalized nutrition recommendations are still scarce. In this scenario the current mini-review aims to provide useful insights into salient feature of nutrition based genetic research and its commercial application and the ethical issue and concerns related to its outcome.

Neurological disorders like Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease, spinal cord injury and stroke have some recurrent characteristics such as abnormal protein aggregation, oxidative stress induction, apoptosis, excitotoxicity, perturbation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and inflammation. To date, there are few effective treatments available and the drugs currently used to manage the symptoms have important side effects. Therefore, research studies are focusing on natural phytochemicals present in diet as bioactive molecules potentially useful against neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we will discuss the neuroprotective role of palmitoylethanolamide, hydroxytyrosol, and Bacopa monnieri extracts against neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, thereby revealing their remarkable potential as novel therapeutic options for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.

Obesity is highly heritable and arises from the interplay of many genes and environmental factors. It can be defined as the result of prolonged imbalance between calorie intake and energy utilization. About 5% of cases of non-syndromic obesity are monogenic (Mendelian obesity). The amount of adipose tissue in the body is mainly regulated by leptin, a hormone produced by adipocytes, and Mendelian obesity is mainly caused by mutations that disrupt the leptin/melanocortin pathway. In this article, we summarize the genes involved in genetic obesity and the test we use for genetic analysis.

Monogenic hyperlipidemias are a group of inherited disorders characterized by elevated plasma concentrations of lipids and lipoproteins. High plasma concentrations of lipids are the most frequent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Monogenic hyperlipidemias are a minor cause with respect to multifactorial hyperlipidemias. Diagnosis is based on clinical findings and lipid panel measurements. Genetic testing is useful for confirming diagnosis and for differential diagnosis, recurrence risk calculation and prenatal diagnosis in families with a known mutation. Monogenic hyperlipidemias can have either autosomal dominant or recessive inheritance.

Syndromes with localized accumulation of subcutaneous fatty tissue belong to a group of genetically and phenotypically heterogeneous disorders. These diseases may show some common signs, such as nodular fat, symmetrical fat masses, obesity, fatigue, lymphedema and symmetrical lipomas (painful or otherwise). Other symptoms may be specific for the different clinical entities, enabling correct differential diagnosis. Disorders belonging to this spectrum are lipedema, generalized diffuse or nodular forms of Dercum disease, localized nodular Dercum disease and multiple symmetric lipomatosis. Here we summarize the genes involved in syndromes with localized accumulation of subcutaneous fat and the test we use for genetic analysis.