Review on dietary supplements as an effective improvement of Alzheimer's disease:focus on structures and mechanisms

Alzheimer’s disease(AD),the major form of neurodegenerative diseases that can severely impede normal cognitive function,makes it one of the most common fatal diseases.There are currently over 50 million AD patients worldwide.The neuropathology of AD is perplexing and there is a scarcity of disease-modifying treatments.Currently,early diagnosis of AD has been made possible with the discovery of biological markers associated with pathology,providing strong support for the improvement of the disease status.The search for inhibitors of AD markers from dietary supplements(DSs)has become a major hot topic.Especially with the widespread use of DSs,DSs containing polyphenols,alkaloids,terpenes,polysaccharides and other bioactive components can prevent AD by reducing Aβdeposition,inhibiting tau protein hyperphosphorylation,reconstructing synaptic dysfunction,weakening cholinesterase activity,regulating mitochondrial oxidative stress,neuronal inflammation and apoptosis.This review summarizes the anti-AD effects of the main DSs and their bioactive constituents,as well as the potential molecular mechanisms covers from 2017 to 2023.Additionally,we discussed the opportunities and challenges faced by DSs in the process of AD prevention and treatment,aiming to further provide new perspectives for functional food development.

the role of nutrition and nutraceutical supplements in the treatment of hypertension

Vascular biology,endothelial and vascular smooth muscle and cardiac dysfunction play a primary role in the initiation and perpetuation of hypertension,cardiovascular disease and target organ damage.Nutrientgene interactions and epigenetics are predominant factors in promoting beneficial or detrimental effects in cardiovascular health and hypertension.Macronutrients and micronutrients can prevent,control and treat hypertension through numerous mechanisms related to vascular biology.Oxidative stress,inflammation and autoimmune dysfunction initiate and propagate hypertension and cardiovascular disease.There is a role for the selected use of single and component nutraceutical supplements,vitamins,antioxidants and minerals in the treatment of hypertension based on scientifically controlled studies which complement optimal nutrition,coupled with other lifestyle modifications.

Synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon dots from lemon and onion juices for determination of riboflavin in multivitamin/mineral supplements

In this work, lemon and onion biomasses commonly found in street markets are for the first time used to develop a facile, fast and low-cost one-step microwave-assisted carbonization method for synthesis of highly fluorescent carbon dots (CDs). The structure and optical properties of CDs were investigated by TEM, XRD, XRF, UV-Vis, FTIR, and fluorescence spectroscopy. CDs displayed satisfactory optical pro-prieties, a high quantum yield of 23.6%, and excellent water solubility, and the particle size was 4.23-8.22 nm with an average diameter of 6.15 nm. An efficient fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET) between the CDs and riboflavin was achieved with CDs acting as donor and riboflavin as acceptor. A linear relationship between FRET and the riboflavin concentration from 0.10 to 3.0 μg/mL was observed, allowing the development of an accurate and fast analytical method to determine this vitamin in multivitamin/mineral supplements. Despite the potential interferences in these supplements, CDs were selective for riboflavin under optimized conditions. A paired t-test at a 95% confidence level indicated no statistically significant difference between the proposed and the reference methods. Recovery test presented values ranged from 96.0% to 101.4%. The limit of detection and relative standard deviation were estimated at 1.0 ng/mL and <2.6% (n = 3), respectively. CDs were successfully synthesized in a domestic microwave oven (1450 W, 6 min), presenting satisfactory parameters when compared with results of other studies reported in the literature, suggesting that the proposed method is a potentially useful method for the synthesis of CDs and determination of riboflavin.

Comparative studies of versatile extracellular proteolytic activities of lactic acid bacteria and their potential for extracellular amino acid productions as feed supplements

Background:Increasing understanding on the functions of amino acids (AA) has led to new commercial applications and expansion of the worldwide markets.However,the current technologies rely heavily on non-food grade microorganism and chemical synthesis for the production of AA.Several studies reported that lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have the capability of producing AA owing to their well-established proteolytic system and amino acid biosynthesis genes.Hence,the objectives of this study were to explore the extracellular proteolytic activity of LAB isolated from various Malaysian fermented foods and their potential to produce AA extracellularly as feed supplements.Results:All the studied LAB isolates were versatile extracellular protease producers,whereby extracellular protease activities were detected from acidic to alkaline pH (pH 5,pH 6.5,pH 8) using qualitative and quantitative proteolytic assays.The highest proteolytic activity at pH 5 (15.76 U/mg) and pH 8 (19.42 U/mg) was achieved by Lactobacillus plantarum RG14,while Lactobacillus plantarum RS5 exhibited the highest proteolytic activity of 17.22 U/mg at pH 6.5.As for the results of AA production conducted in de Man,Rogosa and Sharpe medium and analysed by high pressure liquid chromatography system,all LAB isolates were capable of producing an array of AA.Generally,Pediococcus sp.showed greater ability for AA production as compared to Lactobacillus sp.Moreover,the studied LAB were able to produce a few major feed supplement AA such as methionine,lysine,threonine and tryptophan.P.pentosaceus TL-3 recorded the highest methionine and threonine productivity of 3.72 mg/L/h and 5.58 mg/L/h respectively.However,L.plantarum I-UL4 demonstrated a lysine productivity of 1.24 mg/L/h,while P.acidilactici TP-6 achieved up to 1.73 mg/L/h of tryptophan productivity.Conclusion:All the 17 studied LAB isolates possessed versatile extracellular proteolytic system and have vast capability of producing various amino acids including a few major feed supplement AA such as methionine,lysine,threonine and tryptophan.Despite AA production was strain dependent,the studied LAB isolates possessed vast potential and can be exploited further as a bio-agent or an alternative amino acids and bioactive peptide producers.

Effects of Nutrient Fortified Complementary Food Supplements on Anemia of Infants and Young Children in Poor Rural of Gansu

Objective To assess the effectiveness of complementary food supplements with protein and multi-micronutrients on hemoglobin and anemia in infants and young children. Methods In 5 poor counties of Gansu, 984 children aged 6-12 months were enrolled and divided into two groups. In addition to the usual home-made complementary food, all the children were fed one sachet of either Formula Ⅰ or Formula Ⅱ supplements each day. Protein and micronutrients were provided in Formula Ⅰ, while the same energy intake was secured in Formula Ⅱ as in Formula Ⅰ. A massive dose of vitamin A was supplemented to all the children every 6 months. Hemoglobin test was done at the same time. Results Prevalence of anemia was about 35% in both Formula Ⅰ and Formula Ⅱ group at baseline, and there were no differences in hemoglobin concentration between the two groups, During the 6-month and 12-month supplementation, hemoglobin of children in Formula Ⅰ group was higher than that in Formula Ⅱ group （P〈0.05）, and hemoglobin increase in Formula Ⅰ group was significantly higher than that in Formula Ⅱ group （P〈0.001）. After 6- and 12-mouth supplementation, the prevalence of anemia in Formula Ⅰ group dropped to 19.1% and 8.2% respectively, and it was 28.0% and 12.4% in Formula 2 group. The prevalence of anemia in Formula Ⅰ group was significantly lower than that in Formula Ⅱ group （P〈0.05）. After adjusting age and hemoglobin level at baseline, the hemoglobin increase at age of 24 months in formula 1 group was higher （10.7 g/L vs 7.9 g/L, P〈0.0001）. Conclusion Micronutrient fortified complementary food supplements, with large-dose vitamin A, is effective for children aged 6-12 months in terms of iron deficiency prevention.

Severe liver injury due to herbal and dietary supplements and the role of liver transplantation

Herbal and dietary supplements(HDS)are increasingly used worldwide for numerous,mainly unproven health benefits.The HDS industry is poorly regulated compared to prescription medicines and most products are easily obtainable.Drug induced liver injury(DILI)is a well-recognized entity associated with prescription and over the counter medications and many reports have emerged of potential HDS-related DILI.There is considerable geographic variability in the risk and severity of DILI associated with HDS but the presentation of severe liver injury is similar with a hepatocellular pattern accompanied by jaundice.This type of injury can lead to acute liver failure and the need for liver transplantation.Patients will often fail to mention their use of HDS,considering it natural and therefore harmless.Hence physicians should understand that these products can be associated with DILI and explicitly ask about HDS use in any patient with otherwise unexplained acute liver injury.

Dietary supplements and pediatric non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: Present and the future

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in children.High prevalence of pediatric obesity and sedentary lifestyle has augmented the incidence of NAFLD in children.Obesity is associated with an increased risk of NAFLD through various mechanisms such as intensification of insulin resistance and increased levels of inflammatory markers.There is no approved medical intervention for treatment of pediatric NAFLD;the only proven strategy in management of pediatric NAFLD is lifestyle modification.Recently,the effects of nutritional supplements have been examined in the management of pediatric NAFLD.The purpose of this review is to summarize the studies evaluating the effects of nutritional supplements on pediatric NAFLD and explain the future direction in this field.

Hydroxycut hepatotoxicity:A case series and review of liver toxicity from herbal weight loss supplements

Dietary supplements represent an increasingly common source of drug-induced liver injury. Hydroxycut is a popular weight loss supplement which has previously been linked to hepatotoxicity, although the individual chemical components underlying liver injury remain poorly understood. We report two cases of acute hepatitis in the setting of Hydroxycut exposure and describe possible mechanisms of liver injury. We also comprehensively review and summarize the existing literature on commonly used weight loss supplements, and their individual components which have demon-strated potential for liver toxicity. An increased effort to screen for and educate patients and physicians about supplement-associated hepatotoxicity is warranted.

Dangerous dietary supplements: Garcinia cambogia-associated hepatic failure requiring transplantation

Commercial dietary supplements are marketed as a panacea for the morbidly obese seeking sustainable weight-loss. Unfortunately, many claims cited by supplements are unsupported and inadequately regulated. Most concerning, how ever, are the associated harmful side effects, often unrecognized by consumers. Garcinia cambogia extract and Garcinia cambogia containing products are some of the most popular dietary supplements currently marketed for weight loss. Here, we report the first known case of fulminant hepatic failure associated with this dietary supplement. One active ingredient in this supplement is hydroxycitric acid, an active ingredient also found in weight-loss supplements banned by the Food and Drug Administration in 2009 for hepatotoxicity. Heightened awareness of the dangers of dietary supplements such as Garcinia cambogia is imperative to prevent hepatoxicity and potential fulminant hepatic failure in additional patients.

Science of weight loss supplements:Compromised by conflicts of interest?

Weight loss supplements often contain powerful pharmacoactive ingredients with the potential to cause harm. Trials used to determine product safety and effectiveness, meanwhile,tend to be small, of short duration, and frequently lack financial conflict of interest disclosures. These factors could conspire to place consumers at risk, especially when published research cited in advertising cloaks products with the suggestion that their safety and effectiveness have been proven by science. Examples of current and former weight loss products backed by potentially con? icted or low quality research include Metabolife-356, Hydroxycut, Xenadrine and LeptiCore. Published research, especially in the field of weight loss supplements, needs better conflict of interest disclosure, and regulators should consider how research f indings are used in marketing claims.

Hepatoxicity associated with weight-loss supplements: A case for better post-marketing surveillance

There is a growing number of case reports of hepatoxicity from the widely marketed weight-loss supplement Hydroxycut, which contains the botanical ingredient Garcinia cambogia . These case reports may substantially undercount the true magnitude of harm. Based on the past experience with harmful dietary supplements, US regulators should assume the more precautionary approach favored by Canada and Europe. Lacking effective adverse event surveillance for supplements, or the requirements to prove safety prior to coming to the market, case reports such as those summarized here assume added importance.

Integrative techniques using acupuncture,Chinese herbal medicine,diet,and supplements for polycystic ovary syndrome:a case report

Patients with a diagnosis of polycystic ovary syndrome （PCOS） are on the rise. About 4%-12% of women are currently estimated to have this condition. It is hypothesized that PCOS appears in women who have long-standing insulin resistance （1R）, which leads to high androgen and testosterone levels; this ultimately disrupts their menstrual cycles. Some researchers attribute IR to genetic factors, although there have been only minute changes in the human genome in the past 20 000 years. However, even with a stable gene pool, genes can be turned on and offby the environment, food and air quality and toxin exposure.

Effect of Different Calcium Supplements on Bone Metabolism in Rats

Osteoporosis, characterized by loss of bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, results in enhanced bone fragility and increases risk of fractureIll. In China, the incidence of primary osteoporosis is as high as 50%-70% in 60-69 years old females and approximately 30% in 60-69 years old males[21, which is closely related with the low intake of calcium. According to the nationwide nutrition and health survey in 2002 in China, the average daily calcium intake of Chinese residents is 391 mg, accounting for 41% of the recommended calcium intake.

3D printed nerve guidance channels: computer-aided control of geometry, physical cues, biological supplements and gradients

Nerve guidance channels for peripheral nerve injury： Over the past decade, nerve guidance channels （NGCs） have emerged as a promising technology for regenerating gap injuries in peripheral nerves. Nerve gap injuries resulting from neurodegeneration and trauma, such as car accidents and battlefield wounds, affect hun- dreds of thousands of people annually. Motivated by suboptimal results obtained with the current gold standard of autologous grafting （i.e., autografts）, various commercially available NGCs composed of synthetic and biomaterials are now alternatively available （Jia et al., 2014; Jones et al., 2016）.

Detection of illegally added drugs in dietary supplements by near-infrared spectral imaging

The application to detect ilally added drugs in dietary supplerments by near-infrared spectral imaging was studied with the focus on nifedipine,diclofenac and metformin.The method is based on near-infrared spectral images correlation cofficient to detect ilally added drugs.The results comply 100%with HPLC methods test results with no false positive results.

Mineral Intake in Urban Pregnant Women from Base Diet,Fortified Foods,and Food Supplements:Focus on Calcium,Iron,and Zinc

In the Chinese national nutrition surveys, fortified foods were not investigated separately from the base diet, and the contribution of fortified foods to micronutrients intake is not very clear. This study investigated the diet, including fortified foods and food supplements, of urban pregnant women and analyzed the intake of calcium, iron,and zinc to assess the corresponding contributions of fortified foods, food supplements, and the base diet. The results demonstrated that the base diet was the major source of calcium, iron, and zinc, and was recommended to be the first choice for micronutrients intake. Furthermore, consumption of fortified foods and food supplements offered effective approaches to improve the dietary intake of calcium, iron, and zinc in Chinese urban pregnant women.

Anti-inflammatory evaluation and acute toxicity of three food supplements that contain Moussonia deppeana

Objective:To identify the anti-inflammatory activity through two murine models and in the median Lethal Dose(LD_(50)) of three dietary supplements that contain Moussonia deppeana.Methods:The anti-inflammatory activity of three dietary supplements(Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R),Gastinol^(R),and Gastrovita^(R)) EtOH extracts was evaluated by TPA and by carrageenan murine models;also,median Lethal Dose(LD_(50)) was determined.Verbascoside was quantified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography.β-sitosterol,stigmasterol and the mixture of ursolic and oleanolic acids were identified in all supplements by TLC;however,none of these dietary supplements contain verbascoside.Results:For the TPA model,Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R)generated a notable effect with 38.24%inhibition.While in the carrageenan model,it also exhibited noteworthy anti-inflammatory activity of ear edema with 66.39%of paw edema inhibition at 150 mg/kg,followed by Gastinol^(R) and Gastrovita^(R) with 50%at 300 mg/kg.Finally,LD_(50) was >2 g/kg for all supplements,when was administered intragastrically and Body Weight(BW) gain in mice was not altered after 14 days.Conclusions:Of the three food supplements containing M.deppeana,only the EtOH extract from the Cicatrisan/Gastricus^(R)formulation(tablets) showed significant anti-inflammatory activity in both experimental models and the LD_(50) was > 2 g/kg.

Intake of Minerals from Food Supplements in a German Population—A Nationwide Survey

Introduction: Studies indicate that 17.9% - 60% of adults in Germany and Europe regularly use food supplements. Some reports suggest that their use might be responsible for excessive nutrient intake. The purpose of this survey was to examine the quantitative mineral intakes from food supplements: whether the tolerable upper intake levels (ULs) with supplements alone, or in combination with food was exceeded was checked. Methods: The survey was carried out by the Association for Consumer Research, Nürnberg, Germany. Anonymous data of 1070 supplement users (40.8% men, 59.2% women) aged 18 - 93 years were available. Three groups were examined based on dietary and supplemental mineral intakes: average, middle-high and high intake. Results: The mean number of supplements reported was 1.6 ± 1.1 products in men and 1.5 ± 0.9 products in women. The minerals most frequently consumed were magnesium, followed by calcium, zinc and selenium. The percentage of the supplement users with total intakes greater than the UL was minimal for all minerals. Supplement use in 143 cases increased the likelihood of intakes above the UL only for magnesium. Subjects particularly in the high intake group—as a worst case scenario—had intakes above the UL in the case of calcium (n = 23) and zinc (n = 34). The percentage of subjects taking several products was greater in subjects exceeding the UL than in those below (P < 0.001). Multiple use was seen significantly more often in men than in women (P < 0.01). Conclusions: In this survey, supplement use was generally not associated with excessive intake. Supplement use resulted in intakes above the UL in only a few cases relating to magnesium, calcium and zinc. This applies more often to elderly subjects and particularly to those who already have a high mineral intake from food in the model calculation.

The Natural Killer Cell: A Historical Perspective and the Use of Supplements to Enhance NKC Activity

The Natural Killer Cell (NKC) is the cell-mediated cornerstone of innate immunity. The purpose of this reviewis to give a historical perspective of the discovery of the Natural Killer Cell (NKC)and to apply the use of supplements in the enhancement of NKC in human cancers for the developmentof human health and well-being.Since the discovery of the NKC, as observed by Nomarski optics, scanning (SEM)/transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with cellular numeration and enrichment using bovine serum albumin (BSA) continuous gradients, there have been significant research and clinical studies to increase the effectiveness of NKC in the destruction of cancer cells. Based on significant research and clinical studies, at least 16 components have been identified that enhance or may enhance, based on their immune modulator activity, the NKC. These supplements include Alpha LipoicAcid, Arabinoxylin, Curcumin, Garlic, Genistein, Ginseng, Lentinan, Mistletoe, N-Acetylcysteine, Resveratrol, Selenium, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Vitamin E and zinc.

Beyond Nutrition Recommendations: What Healthcare Professionals Should Know about Dietary Supplements to Best Serve Their Patients

Although whole food nutrition will likely influence physical health more than any other lifestyle component besides exercise, the use of dietary supplements among men and women continues to be high. Due to this fact, it is imperative that healthcare professionals understand how supplements may impact overall health and wellness of their patients. With the majority of adults taking some form of dietary supplements and many concomitantly taking prescription medications, healthcare providers should be conscientious of adverse effects and interactions that may occur between dietary supplements and prescription drugs. As many consumers are misled by false marketing, healthcare providers should encourage them to be wary of exaggerated claims and direct them to products that are scientifically supported and safe. Continuing education for healthcare providers on dietary supplements is crucial, with new dietary supplement products constantly reaching the markets, in addition to new findings being made through clinical research and case studies. While some dietary supplements provide no meaningful benefit, many dietary supplements have been identified that can be used to ameliorate nutritional deficiencies and reduce the risk of some common health conditions. Others can serve to improve mental and physical performance, while truly enhancing health. This article presents relevant information on dietary supplements that will be useful to the healthcare professional.