Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Tomasz Konecki, Aleksandra Juszczak, Marcin Cichocki
Summary: Urological cancers, including prostate, bladder, kidney, testicular, and penile cancers, are common in older men and are influenced by modifiable risk factors. Phytochemicals have potential anti-cancer properties and may reduce the risk of urological cancers and related deaths.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Yuko Yamaguchi, Marta Zampino, Toshiko Tanaka, Stefania Bandinelli, Ruin Moaddel, Giovanna Fantoni, Julian Candia, Luigi Ferrucci, Richard D. Semba
Summary: The study found that elevated plasma carotenoid concentrations in older adults are associated with specific plasma proteins related to energy metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress, iron metabolism, and proteostasis among others, providing insights into the protective role of carotenoids on health.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Adam Brewczynski, Beata Jablonska, Marek Kentnowski, Slawomir Mrowiec, Krzysztof Skladowski, Tomasz Rutkowski
Summary: Head and neck cancer is a common type of cancer, with smoking, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus being well-known predictors. Food and nutrition, particularly the intake of non-starchy vegetables and fruits, play an important role in HNC etiology and can help lower the risk of developing HNC.
Article
Agronomy
Dora Zurak, Darko Grbesa, Marija Duvnjak, Goran Kis, Tatjana Medimurec, Kristina Kljak
Summary: The study found that only 43% of total carotenoids in commercial maize hybrids were bioaccessible, with the bioaccessibility of different carotenoids decreasing as the content in the grain increased. While total carotenoid content varied among different hybrids, the majority fell within lower ranges, which should be taken into consideration when formulating animal diets.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Hong Fang, Junjie Liu, Ruijuan Ma, Yiping Zou, Shih-Hsin Ho, Jianfeng Chen, Youping Xie
Summary: This study isolated and identified the coding genes of CsLCYB and CsLCYE in the lutein-enriched microalga Chlorella sorokiniana FZU60. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the key structural domains of CsLCYB and CsLCYE. CsLCYB efficiently beta-cyclized lycopene to produce beta-carotene, while CsLCYE exhibited strong epsilon-monocyclase activity for delta-carotene production and weak -bicyclic activity for -carotene production. Co-expression of CsLCYB and CsLCYE resulted in the major production of alpha-carotene, suggesting the potential for high-level lutein production in C. sorokiniana FZU60.
Article
Horticulture
Julio Enrique Oney Montalvo, Adriana Cristina de Silva Madrigal, Manuel Octavio Ramirez Sucre, Ingrid Mayanin Rodriguez-Buenfil
Summary: The ripening stage significantly influences the concentration of carotenoids and vitamins in Habanero pepper, while the type of soil has a negligible effect. The highest concentration of carotenoids is found in unripe peppers, while ripe peppers exhibit the highest concentration of vitamins.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joy Udensi, James Loughman, Ekaterina Loskutova, Hugh J. Byrne
Summary: This review discusses the structural and optical properties of carotenoid compounds and the use of Raman spectroscopy to identify carotenoids in biological environments. It focuses on applications in nutritional analysis, optometry, and serology, and explores the progress and challenges in establishing the technique in a clinical environment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Marvin Soto, Ana Mercedes Perez, Adrien Servent, Fabrice Vaillant, Nawel Achir
Summary: The study showed that water loss and oil uptake during vacuum frying of papaya chips followed first-order kinetics, while decrease in a(w) followed a logistic trend. Glucose and fructose degradation patterns were similar, while BI and sucrose content increased with frying time and oil temperature.
JOURNAL OF FOOD ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kristina Kljak, Marija Duvnjak, Dalibor Bedekovic, Goran Kis, Zlatko Janjecic, Darko Grbesa
Summary: The study found that commercial corn hybrids can effectively enhance yolk color as the sole source of carotenoids in hens' diets, reducing production costs and increasing farmers' income.
Article
Plant Sciences
Yusong Luo, Chaojie Wang, Manman Wang, Yunli Wang, Wenlong Xu, Hongyu Han, Zhichao Wang, Yujuan Zhong, Hexun Huang, Shuping Qu
Summary: Mesocarp color in Cucurbita maxima is determined by carotenoid contents and compositions. This study compared two inbred lines with orange and white fruit flesh colors, revealing the genetic and molecular mechanisms behind their color differences. The findings provide insights for further research on improving the quality of squash through carotenoid biosynthesis.
HORTICULTURAL PLANT JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Masaki Honda, Soo Takasu, Kiyotaka Nakagawa, Takanori Tsuda
Summary: The study found that carotenoid Z-isomers have higher bioavailability and tissue accumulation efficiency in rats compared to all-E-isomers, and diets rich in Z-isomers also significantly increased the total Z-isomer ratio in plasma and various tissues. This suggests that carotenoid Z-isomers may bring remarkable health benefits due to their potentially higher antioxidant activity.
Article
Biology
Anthony P. Miller, Damaso Hornero-Mendez, Sepalika Bandara, Obdulia Parra-Rivero, M. Carmen Limon, Johannes von Lintig, Javier Avalos, Jaume Amengual
Summary: Neurosporaxanthin, a carboxylic carotenoid synthesized by various species of ascomycete fungi, demonstrates high bioavailability and provitamin A activity. It can be more efficiently absorbed and cleaved to form vitamin A compared to other carotenoids in mice. These findings highlight the potential of neurosporaxanthin as a novel food additive and a promising source of vitamin A for humans.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Yuxiao Xie, Shulin Chen, Xiaochao Xiong
Summary: This study constructed the β-carotene biosynthesis pathway in Yarrowia lipolytica and successfully produced zeaxanthin by introducing exogenous crtZ genes. The crtZ gene from Pantoea ananatis showed the best performance for zeaxanthin production, leading to significantly increased zeaxanthin titer through high-copy-number integration. The results demonstrated the potential of Y. lipolytica as a cell factory for zeaxanthin biosynthesis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Valentina Metlicar, Kristof Kranjc, Alen Albreht
Summary: A new valorization strategy was proposed for plant-based waste materials, utilizing avocado peels and Japanese knotweed leaves as sources of xanthophylls. A biofriendly and cost-effective synthetic platform was developed to convert these xanthophylls into esters, contributing to the zero-waste principle and offering new valorization pathways for invasive plant species.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Patrick Borel, Faiza Hammaz, Lisa Morand-Laffargue, Benjamin Creton, Charlotte Halimi, Damien Sabatier, Charles Desmarchelier
Summary: The study demonstrated that black soldier fly larvae reared on fruits and vegetables rich in provitamin A carotenoids can potentially provide more vitamin A than the fruits and vegetables themselves. Incorporating these larvae into feed could meet the vitamin A needs of production animals. Therefore, rearing black soldier fly larvae on by-products or waste rich in provitamin A carotenoids may be a sustainable strategy to combat vitamin A deficiency.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Katie Nicol, Eva-Leanne Thomas, Anne P. Nugent, Jayne Woodside, Kathryn H. Hart, Sarah C. Bath
Summary: This study found that the majority of plant-based alternatives in the UK are not fortified with iodine, which puts consumers at risk of iodine deficiency.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Bridie J. Kemp, David R. Thompson, Karen McGuigan, Chris J. Watson, Neil Heron, Jayne Woodside, Francis K. Devaney, Nick Harrison, Danielle T. Neill, David Cutting, Chantal F. Ski
Summary: Research shows that family participation in a cardiovascular disease prevention program can promote healthy lifestyle behaviors. This study aims to explore the expectations of families at risk of CVD towards an eHealth family-based program. The results indicate that families expect personalized design features and motivators for engaging with the program. Family involvement in the development of eHealth programs has the potential to boost early adoption of healthy behaviors.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR NURSING
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Sinead Watson, Leigh-Ann McCrum, Bernadette McGuinness, Christopher Cardwell, Mike Clarke, Jayne V. Woodside, Gerry McKenna, Laura McGowan
Summary: An RCT showed that a habit-based dietary intervention after oral rehabilitation increased automaticity for healthy eating behaviors in older adults, presenting significant nutritional challenges for partially dentate adults in an ageing population.
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Rebecca F. F. Townsend, Danielle Logan, Roisin F. F. O'Neill, Federica Prinelli, Jayne V. V. Woodside, Claire T. T. McEvoy
Summary: Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern may reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia, but the results are inconsistent, likely due to heterogeneity among studies. Standardization of diet exposure and cognitive outcome measurement is needed, and further research should investigate the effects of culturally appropriate dietary patterns on individual cognitive domains and incident cognitive disorders in diverse and high-risk populations.
Review
Psychology, Multidisciplinary
Suparee Boonmanunt, Oraluck Pattanaprateep, Boonsong Ongphiphadhanakul, Gareth McKay, John Attia, Ivo Vlaev, Ammarin Thakkinstian
Summary: This study examined the effectiveness of standard and behavioral incentivization programs for promoting healthy diet, weight control, and physical activity. Through a systematic review and meta-analysis of 35 randomized controlled trials, the study found that deposit and lottery-based incentives were the most effective in motivating individuals to engage in healthy behaviors. Post-intervention, deposit and standard financial incentives were found to be the most effective for promoting physical activity. The study highlights the importance of behavioral insights in improving the effectiveness of incentivization programs. However, the short-term benefits of lottery-based approaches for physical activity were noted.
ANNALS OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Katherine M. Appleton, Claire T. McEvoy, Christina Lloydwin, Sarah Moore, Patricia Salamanca-Gonzalez, Margaret E. Cupples, Steven Hunter, Frank Kee, David R. McCance, Ian S. Young, Michelle C. McKinley, Jayne V. Woodside
Summary: Peer support interventions for dietary change were found to be a cost-effective alternative to health professional-led interventions. This evaluation of a trial aimed to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of a group-based peer support intervention for promoting the adoption of a Mediterranean diet in high cardiovascular disease risk individuals. The intervention was successfully implemented with high fidelity, and positive feedback was received from both peer supporters and participants. However, decreasing attendance at the group sessions suggested potential issues with intervention engagement and group cohesion, which could be improved by addressing frequency and organizational concerns.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Meg Wallace, Hannah O'Hara, Sinead Watson, Ai Ting Goh, Ciaran G. Forde, Gerry McKenna, Jayne V. Woodside
Summary: Modifying food texture and eating slowly can reduce appetite and energy intake. This study investigated the combined effect of manipulating oral processing behaviors (OPBs) on self-reported satiety and subsequent food intake. The results showed that combining texture and instructions was most effective in reducing eating rate, but eating slower did not enhance post-meal satiety.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Charlotte E. Neville, Ian S. Young, Frank Kee, Ruth E. Hogg, Angela Scott, Frances Burns, Jayne Woodside, Bernadette McGuinness
Summary: This paper provides an overview of the design and methodology of the health assessment conducted as part of the Northern Ireland Cohort for the Longitudinal Study of Ageing (NICOLA). The findings highlight the importance of incorporating objective health measures in population-based studies of ageing.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Milad Darrat, Lucy Kayes, Jayne V. V. Woodside, Karen Mullan, Noina Abid
Summary: This study retrospectively evaluated the incidence of congenital hypothyroidism (CHT) in Northern Ireland from 1981 to 2020 and explored possible contributing factors to any changes observed over the 40-year period. The results showed a steady and significant increase in CHT incidence over time, with a nearly tripling of the incidence from 1981 to 2019. Future research should focus on the underlying causes of this condition, including potential changes in in utero environmental exposures.
CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Ruairi O'Kane, Sinead Watson, Jayne Woodside, Gerald J. McKenna
Summary: This study aims to gather General Dental Practitioners' (GDPs) opinions on delivering dietary advice to older adults in combination with treatment to replace missing teeth. The findings will help inform future dietary interventions within primary dental care.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Maria Bryant, Wendy Burton, Niamh O'Kane, Jayne V. Woodside, Sara Ahern, Phillip Garnett, Suzanne Spence, Amir Sharif, Harry Rutter, Tim Baker, Charlotte E. L. Evans
Summary: This study developed a school food systems map using a systems thinking approach to identify key factors influencing primary school children's dietary choices. The map highlighted leadership and curriculum, child food preferences, home environment, and school food environment as four key themes. It also emphasized the need to consider factors outside of schools to effectively improve children's diets.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL NUTRITION AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thitiya Lukkunaprasit, Amarit Tansawet, Suparee Boonmanunt, Abhasnee Sobhonslidsuk, Gareth J. McKay, John Attia, Ammarin Thakkinstian
Summary: This study summarizes the evidence for the effects of curcumin on the progression of MAFLD. The results show that curcumin can significantly improve the symptoms of MAFLD and reduce blood sugar, body weight, and cholesterol levels. Further research is needed to assess the effect of curcumin on liver histology.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Saharat Aungsumart, Sitaporn Youngkong, Charungthai Dejthevaporn, Usa Chaikledkaew, Kunlawat Thadanipon, Amarit Tansawet, Jedsada Khieukhajee, John Attia, Gareth J. McKay, Ammarin Thakkinstian
Summary: This systematic review and network meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of two groups of monoclonal antibodies (FDA-approved mAbs and off-label mAbs) compared to standard treatments for NMOSD. The results showed that both FDA-approved and off-label mAbs significantly reduced the risk of relapse and annualized relapse rate compared to standard treatments. FDA-approved mAbs had a slightly better effect in reducing the risk of relapse. Therefore, off-label mAbs can be considered as a first-line treatment for NMOSD in countries with limited resources and accessibility to FDA-approved mAbs.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Htun Teza, Suparee Boonmanunt, Nattawut Unwanatham, Kunlawat Thadanipon, Thosaphol Limpijankit, Oraluck Pattanaprateep, Anuchate Pattanateepapon, Gareth J. McKay, John Attia, Ammarin Thakkinstian
Summary: This study aimed to construct a real-world cohort profile of hypertension and estimate the transition probabilities to long-term complications. The results showed that chronic kidney disease was the most common complication, and stroke carried the highest risk of all-cause death.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Katie Nicol, Anne P. Nugent, Jayne V. Woodside, Kathryn H. Hart, Sarah C. Bath
Summary: An increasing number of food-based recommendations promote a plant-based diet, but there is ongoing debate about iodine intake and whether a vegan diet can meet iodine requirements. This review evaluates literature and calculates iodine intake, finding that strict plant-based diets may not provide enough iodine and reliance on supplements is necessary. Countries without fortification programs and where animal products are the main source of iodine intake, such as the UK and Norway, may face risks of iodine deficiency with plant-based dietary recommendations.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF NUTRITION
(2023)