Dietary Components Research Articles

Nutraceuticals: New Perspective and Approach to Prevent Dysmenorrhea

Background: The words "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical" are combined to form the phrase "nutraceutical." Nutraceuticals are foods or dietary components that have an important role in regulating and sustaining normal physiological function in humans. For the treatment of dysmenorrhoea, a variety of pharmacological medications are available, however, they all have significant side effects. Dietary supplements and lifestyle management, on the other hand, were found to have a major influence on the occurrence and control of dysmenorrhea. Objective: The objective of this paper is to study a comprehensive review of the dietary and nutritional supplements with special emphasis on dysmenorrhea. This paper focuses on understanding and interpreting the details of menstrual pain and its effective nutritional diet that can be used as a treatment for avoiding menstrual discomfort. Methods: The selection of data has been done by studying a combination of various research and review papers from different databases like PubMed, NCBI, Science Direct, WHO, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science from the year 2000-2022. Results: Based on various papers and literature reviews, we have concluded about various dietary supplements and herbs that can be used to avoid pain during mensuration followed by its all-daily requirement of nutrition on different age groups and efficacy of treatments. Conclusion: According to current evidence, young women should be instructed in the proper use of dietary supplements, nutrition, and vitamins, as well as the inclusion of effective diet and lifestyle changes such as exercise and a well-balanced diet with adequate nutrition, as these are likely to reduce the negative effects of dysmenorrhea.

Effects of dietary fiber on maternal health in pregnant women with metabolic syndrome risk: a randomized controlled trial.

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) during pregnancy can lead to complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders. In this study, we sought to examine the influence of dietary fiber, from both food sources and soluble fiber supplementation, on the metabolic health and overall pregnancy outcomes of women at high risk of MetS. We conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 376 women between 11 and 13 weeks of gestation. To evaluate dietary fiber intake, we performed an exhaustive dietary component analysis using a food frequency questionnaire. Additionally, the participants in the intervention group received daily soluble fiber supplements until delivery. All participants underwent nutritional consultations and metabolic health assessments at three distinct stages of pregnancy (GW 11-13, GW 24-26, and GW 32-34). Our findings revealed a significant correlation between insufficient dietary fiber intake and an increased risk of GDM, even after adjusting for variables such as maternal age and pre-pregnancy BMI. We also noted that a high total dietary fiber intake was associated with reduced changes in triglyceride levels. In addition, the intervention group showed lower need for constipation medication, and soluble fiber supplementation may offer potential benefits for GDM patients. Importantly, our study verified the safety of long-term soluble fiber supplementation during pregnancy. Our results underscore the importance of adequate fiber intake, particularly from dietary sources, for the metabolic health of pregnant women. Moreover, our findings suggest that early fiber supplementation may benefit pregnant women experiencing constipation or those diagnosed with GDM.

Nutritional status, dietary habits, and their relation to cognitive functions: A cross-sectional study among the school aged (8-14 years) children of Bangladesh.

Limited research addressed links between nutritional status, dietary habits, and cognitive functions in young children. This study assessed the status of cognitive functions and their association with nutritional status and dietary habits of school age children of Bangladesh. This cross-sectional multi-centre study was conducted on 776 participants in 11 conveniently selected educational institutions. A printed questionnaire with three sections (Section 1: background information, section 2: PedsQL™ Cognitive Functioning Scale, and section 3: semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire) was utilized for the data collection purpose. Sections 1 and 3 were self-reported by parents, and trained volunteers completed section 2 in-person along with the anthropometric measurements. Statistical analyses were done in Stata (v.16). Mean with standard deviation and frequencies with percentages were used to summarize quantitative and qualitative variables, respectively. Pearson's chi-square test and Spearman's rank correlation coefficient were used to explore bivariate relationships. The mean age of the participants was 12.02±1.88 years, and the majority (67%) were females. The prevalence of poor cognitive function was 46.52%, and among them, 66.02% were females. In terms of body mass index (BMI), 22.44% possessed normal weight, 17.51% were overweight, and 5.19% were obese. This study found a statistically significant relationship between BMI and cognitive functions. Furthermore, different dietary components (e.g., protein, carbohydrate, fat, fiber, iron, magnesium) showed a significant (p<0.05 for all) weak positive correlation with cognitive function. BMI and dietary habits were associated with the cognitive function of young children in Bangladesh. Although the cross-sectional design of the study precludes causal relationships from being determined, the study finding deserves further examination via longitudinal research.

Machine Learning Identification of Nutrient Intake Variations across Age Groups in Metabolic Syndrome and Healthy Populations

This study undertakes a comprehensive examination of the intricate link between diet nutrition, age, and metabolic syndrome (MetS), utilizing advanced artificial intelligence methodologies. Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 1999 to 2018 were meticulously analyzed using machine learning (ML) techniques, specifically extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and the proportional hazards model (COX). Using these analytic methods, we elucidated a significant correlation between age and MetS incidence and revealed the impact of age-specific dietary patterns on MetS. The study delineated how the consumption of certain dietary components, namely retinol, beta-cryptoxanthin, vitamin C, theobromine, caffeine, lycopene, and alcohol, variably affects MetS across different age demographics. Furthermore, it was revealed that identical nutritional intakes pose diverse pathogenic risks for MetS across varying age brackets, with substances such as cholesterol, caffeine, and theobromine exhibiting differential risks contingent on age. Importantly, this investigation succeeded in developing a predictive model of high accuracy, distinguishing individuals with MetS from healthy controls, thereby highlighting the potential for precision in dietary interventions and MetS management strategies tailored to specific age groups. These findings underscore the importance of age-specific nutritional guidance and lay the foundation for future research in this area.

In vitro screening of the impact of dietary prebiotic components, probiotic strains, and their symbiotic combinations on colonic microbiota in children with cystic fibrosis.

Children with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) are more likely to have intestinal dysbiosis due to recurrent antibiotic therapy and the conventional hypercaloric diet administered to them. This study aimed at evaluating the effect of isolated prebiotic components and probiotic strains, and their combinations as potential synbiotics, on the intestinal microbiota of CF children. A static in vitro colonic fermentation model was used by colonizing vials with faecal inoculum, a culture medium, and the substrates to be tested. Post treatment, aliquots were taken to determine ammonium, lactate, and short-chain fatty acids production and to profile the microbiota composition by 16s rRNA sequencing. At genus level, Escherichia-Shigella decreased (15.8%) with the treatment pectin + L. rhamnosus, followed by the beta-glucan + L. salivarius (15.5%). Inversely, the most increase in Bacteroides (44%) was obtained by the treatment with Pectin + L. reuteri. Lactate and acetic acid production was significantly increased with prebiotics and their combinations with L. rhamnosus and L. salivarius. In conclusion, the use of beta-glucan and pectin in combination with probiotic strains from the Lactobacillaceae family suggest potential to modulate dysbiosis and metabolic activity on CF colonic microbiota, encouraging further studies in animal studies or clinical settings to confirm the findings in vivo.

Fine-tuning of mononuclear phagocytes for improved inflammatory responses: role of soybean-derived immunomodulatory compounds

The concept of inflammation encompasses beneficial and detrimental aspects, which are referred to as infectious and sterile inflammations, respectively. Infectious inflammation plays a crucial role in host defense, whereas sterile inflammation encompasses allergic, autoimmune, and lifestyle-related diseases, leading to detrimental effects. Dendritic cells and macrophages, both of which are representative mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs), are essential for initiating immune responses, suggesting that the regulation of MNPs limits excessive inflammation. In this context, dietary components with immunomodulatory properties have been identified. Among them, soybean-derived compounds, including isoflavones, saponins, flavonoids, and bioactive peptides, act directly on MNPs to fine-tune immune responses. Notably, some soybean-derived compounds have demonstrated the ability to alleviate the symptom of allergy and autoimmunity in mouse models. In this review, we introduce and summarize the roles of soybean-derived compounds on MNP-mediated inflammatory responses. Understanding the mechanism by which soybean-derived molecules regulate MNPs could provide valuable insights for designing safe immunomodulators.

#1642 Influence of potassium intake on the renoprotective response to sodium restriction and hydrochlorothiazide in patients with diabetic nephropathy

Abstract Background and Aims Both salt restriction and hydrochlorothiazide (HCT) potentiate the antihypertensive and antiproteinuric effects of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system inhibitors (RAASi) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Potassium intake is another dietary component that influences blood pressure (BP) and albuminuria. The influence of potassium intake on the response to sodium restriction during RAASi treatment in diabetic nephropathy is unknown. Method We performed a post-hoc analysis of a randomised, double blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial (n = 43) investigating the combined and separate effects of low sodium (LS; aim 50 mmol Na+/d) and HCT (50 mg/d) on BP and albuminuria during background ACE inhibition (ACEi; lisinopril 40 mg/d) in patients with diabetic nephropathy. Each treatment (normal sodium (NS), LS, NS+HCT, LS+HCT) period consisted of six weeks. Participants were categorised as above or below median 24-hour urinary potassium excretion (UKV) at baseline, stratified by sex. Effects on BP and albuminuria were defined as % reduction from baseline systolic BP (SBP) and urinary albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). Changes over time within both UKV subgroups were compared to baseline using repeated measures ANOVA (SBP) or paired Wilcoxon rank sum analysis (log-transformed ACR). Post-hoc between-group comparison was performed using Bonferroni testing. Results 43 patients (6 female; mean age 64.9±1.4 yrs) had UKV data available and were included in analysis. 33 patients had complete ACR data. Mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 65.2 (±3.9), mean SBP was 146.6±2.4 mmHg and median albuminuria 648.6 [251.2 - 1883.0] mg/24 h. Median UKV in the high and low potassium groups was 64 [IQR 49-71] and 94 [90 – 111] mmol/24 u, respectively (p&amp;lt;0.0001). Mean baseline sodium excretion was higher in the high potassium group (191 vs. 260 mmol/d; P = .002), but percentual reduction in sodium excretion at SR was comparable between the two groups. There were no significant differences in baseline SBP, ACR, age and estimated glomerular filtration rate between the groups. LS led to a significant reduction of ACR in the high potassium group (P = .011), whereas in the low potassium group the ACR reduction was not significant (P = .058; Fig. 1). Similarly, addition of HCT to background ACEi therapy without salt restriction reduced ACR compared to ACEi monotherapy in the high potassium group (P &amp;lt; .0001), not the low potassium group (P = .211). LS+HCT combined led to a reduction in ACR in both high (P &amp;lt; .0001) and low potassium (P = .034) groups. A post-hoc between-group analysis showed a significantly larger ACR reduction for the high potassium group (P = .01) upon HCT therapy, and a trend towards larger reduction for HCT+LS (P = .05). The effect of LS alone was similar between high and low potassium groups (P = .485). During LS, within-group analysis showed a significant reduction in SBP compared to baseline for the low potassium group (P = .003), but not for the high potassium group (P = .208). In all further conditions, SBP was significantly reduced from baseline in both groups. Post-hoc analysis showed no significant differences in SBP reduction between high and low potassium groups, although there was a trend towards larger SBP reduction in the low potassium group during LS (P = .07). Conclusion Higher baseline potassium excretion is associated with stronger albuminuria lowering effects of salt restriction and HCT in patients with diabetic nephropathy on background ACEi therapy. These effects were not driven by similar effects on BP.

Economical factitious diet for mass rearing of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: pyralidae), a promising host for entomopathogenic nematodes

BackgroundGreater wax moth (Galleria mellonella L.) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is most commonly used for mass multiplication of entomopathogenic nematodes. An investigation on economical modification and comparative analysis of factitious diets of G. mellonella was carried out under laboratory conditions. Different diets were assessed in comparison with standard diet.ResultsModifications based on quantity change of dietary components (wheat flour, maize flour, dry milk, dry yeast, honey and glycerin), addition of vitamin E and vitamin-B complexes, elimination of dry milk and replacement of glycerin with sorbitol showed reduction in the cost of production and increase in food conversion efficiency in G. mellonella. The weight of larva in diet III (303.40 mg) was highest as compared to the larval weight in control diet (280.00mg). The conversion of ingested and digested food into biomass of G. mellonella was the highest for factitious diet III. Also, the highest number of Steinernema abbasi was produced from G. mellonella larvae reared on diet III (25418.43IJs) followed by diet I (21805.31IJs). The economics of the diets also showed that the percent cost reduction in factitious diet III and diet I was 48.86 and 28.85%, respectively. Overall, the results suggested that factitious diet III was superior to diet I followed by diet II.ConclusionAddition of supplements of vitamin E and B-complexes enhances the biological activity of the insect, thereby increasing its food conversion efficiencies. Factitious diet III can be successfully used for mass multiplication of the G. mellonella.

Determination of butylated hydroxytoluene in edible oil using near-infrared spectroscopy combined with multivariate analysis

Edible oil is a fundamental component of human daily diet and has a wide impact on global agriculture and economy. The issue of additives in edible oil has always been a concern for its quality and safety, as excessive use of additives can be harmful to human health. This study suggests a quantitative detection technique for determining the concentration of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in edible oil using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology. Firstly, the spectral characteristics of edible oil samples with different concentrations of BHT are characterized using a near-infrared spectrometer. Then, particle swarm optimization (PSO), butterfly optimization algorithm (BOA), and fox optimizer (FOX) are employed to optimize the preprocessed spectral wavelengths. Finally, a detection model based on the optimized wavelengths is established using backpropagation neural network (BP-ANN) to achieve quantitative detection of BHT content in edible oil. The results show that the model based on the feature wavelengths optimized by the FOX algorithm has the best detection performance. This model takes 7 features as inputs, with a root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) of 1.6116 g·kg−1 and a prediction determination coefficient (RP) of 0.9900 on the prediction set. The results demonstrate that near-infrared spectroscopy technology can accurately predict the BHT content in edible oil.

Bitter taste TAS2R14 activation by intracellular tastants and cholesterol.

Bitter taste receptors, particularly TAS2R14, play central roles in discerning a wide array of bitter substances, ranging from dietary components to pharmaceutical agents1,2. TAS2R14 is also widely expressed in extra-gustatory tissues, suggesting its additional roles in diverse physiological processes and potential therapeutic applications3. Here, we present cryo-electron microcopy structures of TAS2R14 in complex with aristolochic acid, flufenamic acid and compound 28.1, coupling with different G protein subtypes. Uniquely, a cholesterol molecule is observed occupying what is typically an orthosteric site in class A GPCRs. The three potent agonists bind, individually, to the intracellular pockets, suggesting a distinct activation mechanism for this receptor. Comprehensive structural analysis, combined with mutagenesis, and molecular dynamic simulations studies, illuminate the receptor's broad-spectrum ligand recognition and activation via intricate multiple ligand-binding sites. Additionally, our study uncovers the specific coupling modes of TAS2R14 with gustducin and Gi1 proteins. These findings should be instrumental in advancing our knowledge underlying bitter taste perception and its broader implications in sensory biology and drug discovery.

Amino Acid Changes during Maturation in Solanum Fruit

The goal of this study is to assess the impacts of ripening stage of four Solanum fruit species: (Solanum melanocerasum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum villosum, and Solanum retroflexum) on the content of amino acids and protein. Our objective is to enhance comprehension of the maturity process, with a particular focus on Solanum fruits, in order to determine the most advantageous time for harvesting. Amino acids play a crucial role in human nutrition by serving as building blocks for various primary and secondary metabolites. They are either a source of nutraceutical substances or important dietary components. The studied Solanum fruit’s amino acid profiles were found essential and nonessential amino acids. Our findings showed that dominant amino acids were nonessential amino acids. Depending on the ripening stage, the nonessential amino acid content of the Solanum melanocerasum fruits varied from 8.22 to 9.25 g 100 g−1, Solanum villosum from 5.34 to 6.60 g 100 g−1, Solanum nigrum from 6.12 to 8.73 g 100 g−1, and Solanum retroflexum from 8.27 to 9.75 g 100 g−1. A differentiated level of total protein is found in Solanum fruits at different ripening stages. The interval was from 10.62 to 28.06 g 100 g−1 depending on species or ripening stages.

Chicken intestinal organoids: a novel method to measure the mode of action of feed additives

There is a rapidly growing interest in how the avian intestine is affected by dietary components and feed additives. The paucity of physiologically relevant models has limited research in this field of poultry gut health and led to an over-reliance on the use of live birds for experiments. The development of complex 3D intestinal organoids or “mini-guts” has created ample opportunities for poultry research in this field. A major advantage of the floating chicken intestinal organoids is the combination of a complex cell system with an easily accessible apical-out orientation grown in a simple culture medium without an extracellular matrix. The objective was to investigate the impact of a commercial proprietary blend of organic acids and essential oils (OA+EO) on the innate immune responses and kinome of chicken intestinal organoids in a Salmonella challenge model. To mimic the in vivo prolonged exposure of the intestine to the product, the intestinal organoids were treated for 2 days with 0.5 or 0.25 mg/mL OA+EO and either uninfected or infected with Salmonella and bacterial load in the organoids was quantified at 3 hours post infection. The bacteria were also treated with OA+EO for 1 day prior to challenge of the organoids to mimic intestinal exposure. The treatment of the organoids with OA+EO resulted in a significant decrease in the bacterial load compared to untreated infected organoids. The expression of 88 innate immune genes was investigated using a high throughput qPCR array, measuring the expression of 88 innate immune genes. Salmonella invasion of the untreated intestinal organoids resulted in a significant increase in the expression of inflammatory cytokine and chemokines as well as genes involved in intracellular signaling. In contrast, when the organoids were treated with OA+EO and challenged with Salmonella, the inflammatory responses were significantly downregulated. The kinome array data suggested decreased phosphorylation elicited by the OA+EO with Salmonella in agreement with the gene expression data sets. This study demonstrates that the in vitro chicken intestinal organoids are a new tool to measure the effect of the feed additives in a bacterial challenge model by measuring innate immune and protein kinases responses.

Activation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-β/δ (PPARβ/δ) in Keratinocytes by Endogenous Fatty Acids

Nuclear hormone receptors exist in dynamic equilibrium between transcriptionally active and inactive complexes dependent on interactions with ligands, proteins, and chromatin. The present studies examined the hypothesis that endogenous ligands activate peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-β/δ (PPARβ/δ) in keratinocytes. The phorbol ester treatment or HRAS infection of primary keratinocytes increased fatty acids that were associated with enhanced PPARβ/δ activity. Fatty acids caused PPARβ/δ-dependent increases in chromatin occupancy and the expression of angiopoietin-like protein 4 (Angptl4) mRNA. Analyses demonstrated that stearoyl Co-A desaturase 1 (Scd1) mediates an increase in intracellular monounsaturated fatty acids in keratinocytes that act as PPARβ/δ ligands. The activation of PPARβ/δ with palmitoleic or oleic acid causes arrest at the G2/M phase of the cell cycle of HRAS-expressing keratinocytes that is not found in similarly treated HRAS-expressing Pparb/d-null keratinocytes. HRAS-expressing Scd1-null mouse keratinocytes exhibit enhanced cell proliferation, an effect that is mitigated by treatment with palmitoleic or oleic acid. Consistent with these findings, the ligand activation of PPARβ/δ with GW0742 or oleic acid prevented UVB-induced non-melanoma skin carcinogenesis, an effect that required PPARβ/δ. The results from these studies demonstrate that PPARβ/δ has endogenous roles in keratinocytes and can be activated by lipids found in diet and cellular components.

Therapeutic Potential of Bovine Milk-Derived Extracellular Vesicles.

Milk is a fundamental component of the human diet, owing to its substantial nutritional content. In addition, milk contains nanoparticles called extracellular vesicles (EVs), which have indicated their potential beneficial roles such as cell-to-cell communication, disease biomarkers, and therapeutics agents. Amidst other types of EVs, milk EVs (MEVs) have their significance due to their high abundance, easy access, and stability in harsh environmental conditions, such as low pH in the gut. There have been plenty of studies conducted to evaluate the therapeutic potential of bovine MEVs over the past few years, and attention has been given to their engineering for drug delivery and targeted therapy. However, there is a gap between the experimental findings available and clinical trials due to the many challenges related to EV isolation, cargo, and the uniformity of the material. This review aims to provide a comprehensive comparison of various techniques for the isolation of MEVs and offers a summary of the therapeutic potential of bovine MEVs described over the last decade, analyzing potential challenges and further applications. Although a number of aspects still need to be further elucidated, the available data point to the role of MEVs as a potential candidate with therapeutics potential, and the supplementation of MEVs would pave the way to understanding their in-depth effects.

Therapeutic Effects of Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Oxidant Nutritional Supplementation in Retinal Ischemic Diseases

Appropriate nutrients are essential for cellular function. Dietary components can alter the risk of systemic metabolic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and obesity, and can also affect retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma. Dietary nutrients have been assessed for the prevention or treatment of retinal ischemic diseases and the diseases of aging. In this article, we review clinical and experimental evidence concerning the potential of some nutritional supplements to prevent or treat retinal ischemic diseases and provide further insights into the therapeutic effects of nutritional supplementation on retinopathies. We will review the roles of nutrients in preventing or protecting against retinal ischemic diseases.

Evaluation and Discrimination of Lipid Components and Iron and Zinc Levels in Chicken and Quail Eggs Available on the Polish Market.

All over the world, birds' eggs are an important and valuable component of the human diet. This study aimed to compare the content of lipid components and their nutritional value as well as iron and zinc levels in chicken and quail eggs commonly available on the market. In egg lipids, unsaturated fatty acids were dominant, especially oleic acid, the content of which was about 40% of the total fatty acids (TFAs). Linoleic acid was the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. Compared to other products of animal origin, eggs were characterized by favorable values of lipid quality indices, especially the index of atherogenicity, thrombogenicity, and the hypocholesterolemic-to-hypercholesterolemic ratio. In the present study, no differences were found in the content of tested nutrients between eggs from different production methods (organic, free-range, barn, cages). Based on linear discriminant analysis, inter-breed differences were noticed. Cluster analysis showed that eggs enriched in n3 PUFAs (according to the producers' declarations) differed from other groups of chicken eggs. However, in eggs from one producer only, the amount of EPA and DHA exceeds 80 mg per 100 g, entitling the use of the nutrition claim on the package. Quail eggs differed from chicken eggs in FA profile and cholesterol and iron levels.

Strategies for Treating Acute Migraines and Identifying Triggers. Literature review

Introduction Migraine, a prevalent neurological disorder affecting a substantial portion of the global population, poses a significant burden on individuals' overall quality of life. While the exact pathophysiological mechanisms underlying migraine headache attacks remain elusive, the involvement of trigeminal pathway activation is well-documented. A multitude of factors, collectively termed triggers, have been identified as capable of precipitating migraine episodes, ranging from dietary components to environmental stimuli such as bright lights and weather fluctuations. Migraine headaches typically manifest as throbbing pain localized predominantly on one side of the head and are often accompanied by a constellation of additional symptoms including photophobia, phonophobia, and nausea. The management of migraine involves a diverse array of therapeutic modalities tailored to the specific characteristics of the pain experienced. These may include the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), paracetamol, triptans, and antiemetics, among others. This study endeavors to explore the most prevalent triggers implicated in migraine onset, as well as contemporary treatment strategies, with an emphasis on incorporating the latest research findings and therapeutic advancements in this evolving field. Aim of the study This review aims to identify symptoms, triggers of acute migraine and solutions in its treatment process, including latest developments. Material and method This article presents the current state of knowledge about acute migraine, triggers and treatment options in various scientific articles. Publications describing acute migraine attacks and treatments including the most recent reports in the field were reviewed using the PubMed platform. The search included the keywords ‘migraine, 'migraine triggers', 'triptans', 'migraine with aura'.

Higher oxidative balance score was associated with decreased risk of erectile dysfunction: a population-based study

BackgroundErectile dysfunction (ED) is a prevalent condition that is thought to be significantly impacted by oxidative stress. The oxidative balance score (OBS) has been built to characterize the state of antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance. There is less known regarding the relationship of OBS with ED.MethodsThis study conducted cross-sectional analyses on 1860 males who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001 to 2004. OBS was constructed by the 16 dietary components and 4 lifestyle factors. Self-reported ED was defined as men who indicated that they “never” or “sometimes” could achieve or keeping an erection adequate for satisfactory intercourse. Multivariate logistic regression models were applied to examine the association between OBS and the risk of ED.ResultsAmong 1860 participants, the median OBS was 20 (IQR 15–26), and OBS was lower in males with ED vs. those without ED (P = 0.001). The results of our analyses indicated a negative correlation between OBS and ED among male subjects. Specifically, each one-unit increase in the continuous OBS was relate to 3% reduction in the odds of ED after full adjustment. Moreover, when extreme OBS quartiles were compared, the adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the 4th OBS category was 0.53 (0.32 to 0.88) after full adjustment (P for trend < 0.05). There was also statistical significance in the relationships between dietary/lifestyle OBS with ED, and the association between lifestyle OBS and ED may be even tighter. For each unit increase in lifestyle OBS, the odds of ED decreased by 11% after full adjustment.ConclusionHigher OBS was associated with reduced risk of ED in U.S. males. These findings suggested that adopting an antioxidant-rich diet and engaging in antioxidant-promoting lifestyle behaviors may contribute to a lower incidence of ED. These results provided recommendations for a comprehensive dietary and lifestyle antioxidants for ED patients.

Systems management strategies for increasing alfalfa use in warm‐humid regions

AbstractAlfalfa use (Medicago sativa L.; “lucerne”) in warm, humid regions of the world represents a potential area of expansion for the alfalfa industry. The objective of this review paper is to demonstrate how alfalfa forage breeding and systems research efforts have identified opportunities for increasing alfalfa contributions in these regions, along with potential pathways for seed industry and farming operations to increase adoption. Our review draws primarily on reports from the Southeast United States and Argentina. Significant technological advancements in plant screening and selection have identified alfalfa plant populations that are more adapted to the growing conditions experienced in these regions, which are often characterized by mild temperature, long growing seasons, and multiple other abiotic and biotic stressors. Management systems research conducted in the United States and Argentina has demonstrated the use of alfalfa for conserved forage, grazing, or dual‐purpose use in monoculture or mixtures with warm‐season grasses such as bermudagrass (Cynodon spp.). These trials report increased forage production, nutritive value, and ecosystem services of alfalfa–grass mixtures when compared with traditionally N‐fertilized warm‐season grass‐based systems. Grazing‐based alfalfa systems in Argentina have demonstrated methods for utilizing alfalfa as part of beef, dairy, and finishing systems. Some approaches for expanding alfalfa production in the region include targeted marketing efforts for adapted varieties and demonstrating alfalfa applications within existing farming frameworks. This includes educational programming efforts and on‐farm demonstrations to promote alfalfa use as a component of the livestock diets, integration into grass‐based systems, crop rotations, and wildlife use. Continued emphasis on a systems approach to alfalfa inclusion represents an opportunity for improved forage and livestock production in warm, humid regions of the world.

Nutritional Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), the land-grant university for the State of Illinois, was founded in 1865, and education in nutrition was recorded as early as 1874. Herein, the contributions of the UIUC to research and graduate training in the field of nutrition are highlighted. Over the past 150 years, faculty members from many academic units have provided foundational nutrition research, including identifying the last essential amino acid, threonine, and establishing chemically defined amino acid diets for chicks, rats, dogs, and cats that led to establishing amino acid requirements for these species. Research on the adverse health effects of trans fatty acids supported their removal from the food system. UIUC has led in the area of functional foods for health, including plant bioactives, soy, and fiber. More recently, UIUC faculty have evaluated the interactions between dietary components and neurocognitive, microbiome, and health outcomes, including cancer. In 2020, the cross-campus Personalized Nutrition Initiative was launched to coordinate interdisciplinary research. The Division of Nutritional Sciences was established in 1968 as one of the country’s first interdisciplinary graduate training programs. The Division of Nutritional Sciences program has conferred over 580 degrees and has implemented innovations in graduate education, many supported by federal training grants and endowed awards and programs.