scholarly journals Effects of Diet on Brain Plasticity in Animal and Human Studies: Mind the Gap

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tytus Murphy ◽  
Gisele Pereira Dias ◽  
Sandrine Thuret
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Lifestyle Factor ◽  
Intermittent Fasting ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Dietary Polyphenols ◽  
The Impact

Dietary interventions have emerged as effective environmental inducers of brain plasticity. Among these dietary interventions, we here highlight the impact of caloric restriction (CR: a consistent reduction of total daily food intake), intermittent fasting (IF, every-other-day feeding), and diet supplementation with polyphenols and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on markers of brain plasticity in animal studies. Moreover, we also discuss epidemiological and intervention studies reporting the effects of CR, IF and dietary polyphenols and PUFAs on learning, memory, and mood. In particular, we evaluate the gap in mechanistic understanding between recent findings from animal studies and those human studies reporting that these dietary factors can benefit cognition, mood, and anxiety, aging, and Alzheimer’s disease—with focus on the enhancement of structural and functional plasticity markers in the hippocampus, such as increased expression of neurotrophic factors, synaptic function and adult neurogenesis. Lastly, we discuss some of the obstacles to harnessing the promising effects of diet on brain plasticity in animal studies into effective recommendations and interventions to promote healthy brain function in humans. Together, these data reinforce the important translational concept that diet, a modifiable lifestyle factor, holds the ability to modulate brain health and function.

Intermittent Fasting: Physiological Implications on Outcomes in Mice and Men

Physiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ju Hee Lee ◽  
Navkiran Verma ◽  
Nikita Thakkar ◽  
Christy Yeung ◽  
Hoon-Ki Sung
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Intermittent Fasting ◽  
Systemic Effects ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Preclinical And Clinical Studies ◽  
Insight Into

Intermittent fasting (IF) is a widely practiced dietary method that encompasses periodic restriction of food consumption. Due to its protective benefits against metabolic diseases, aging, and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, IF continues to gain attention as a preventative and therapeutic intervention to counteract these chronic diseases. Although numerous animal studies have reported positive health benefits of IF, its feasibility and efficacy in clinical settings remain controversial. Importantly, since dietary interventions such as IF have systemic effects, thoroughly investigating the tissue-specific changes in animal models is crucial to identify IF’s mechanism and evaluate its potential adverse effects in humans. As such, we will review and compare the outcomes and underlying mechanisms of IF in both animal and human studies. Moreover, the limitations of IF and inconsistencies between preclinical and clinical studies will be discussed to provide insight into the gaps between translating research from bench to bedside.

scholarly journals Peanut sensitisation and allergy: influence of early life exposure to peanuts

2010 ◽  
Vol 103 (9) ◽  
pp. 1278-1286 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel L. Thompson ◽  
Lisa M. Miles ◽  
Joanne Lunn ◽  
Graham Devereux ◽  
Rebecca J. Dearman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Subsequent Development ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Case Control Studies ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Early Life Exposure ◽  
The Impact

The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the influence of early life exposure (maternal and childhood) to peanuts and the subsequent development of sensitisation or allergy to peanuts during childhood. Studies were identified using electronic databases and bibliography searches. Studies that assessed the impact of non-avoidance compared with avoidance or reduced quantities of peanuts or peanut products on either sensitisation or allergy to peanuts, or both outcomes, were eligible. Six human studies were identified: two randomised controlled trials, two case–control studies and two cross-sectional studies. In addition, published animal and mechanistic studies, relevant to the question of whether early life exposure to peanuts affects the subsequent development of peanut sensitisation, were reviewed narratively. Overall, the evidence reviewed was heterogeneous, and was limited in quality, for example, through lack of adjustment for potentially confounding factors. The nature of the evidence has therefore hindered the development of definitive conclusions. The systematic review of human studies and narrative expert-led reviews of animal studies do not provide clear evidence to suggest that either maternal exposure, or early or delayed introduction of peanuts in the diets of children, has an impact upon subsequent development of sensitisation or allergy to peanuts. Results from some animal studies (and limited evidence from human subjects) suggest that the dose of peanuts is an important mediator of peanut sensitisation and tolerance; low doses tend to lead to sensitisation and higher doses tend to lead to tolerance.

scholarly journals The Impact of Consumption of Dairy Products on Phospholipid Metabolism: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1261-1261
Author(s):  
Emad Yuzbashian ◽  
Catherine B Chan
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Products ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Phospholipid Metabolism ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Resistance Risk ◽  
Human Trials ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Funding Sources ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Objectives Metabolomics approach indicates that circulating phospholipid (PL) and some PL species are associated with a lower insulin resistance risk. Evidence suggests that dairy products' health beneficial effects may pertain to their regulatory influence on PL metabolism. Therefore, we aimed to systematically review the existing literature of animal and human trials to unravel the impact of dairy products on the concentration of PL and its metabolism. Methods Three online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, were searched to find relevant studies published in peer-reviewed journals between January 2000 and July 2020. Included studies were interventional trials (animal and human) that investigated the effect of dairy or its subtypes on the circulating or liver content of PL and its species. The risk of bias (RoB) in trials in humans and animals was assessed using the revised Cochrane's and SYRCLE's RoB assessment, respectively. Since there was marked methodological heterogeneity, a meta-analysis did not perform. Results In this review, 2427 articles were identified and screened after removing duplicate articles. Following evaluation of the titles and abstracts and then full-text assessment, 17 studies were identified that met the inclusion criteria. Studies were classified according to their type, resulting in nine human trials and eight animal studies. For human studies, the RoB assessment indicated that more than 55% of studies had high RoB. None animal studies receive low RoB because of the lack of methodological information. Findings from human studies revealed that plasma/serum concentration of PL did not change after intervention with dairy products. PL concentration remained stable even after a high dosage of milk supplemented with dairy-derived PL; however, certain PC or LPC species were increased by interventions. These findings were also confirmed in animal studies. The interesting point in animal studies was that high fat diet-induced elevation of PL tends to be normalized after intervention with dairy products enriched with milk-PL. Furthermore, in mice, intervention with yogurt or cheese did not impact serum or liver content of PL or PC. Conclusions Dairy products can influence the blood concentration of PC and LPC species in both rodents and humans without alteration of total PL and PC. Funding Sources Alberta Diabetes Institute.

scholarly journals The Effects of Caloric Restriction and/or Intermittent Fasting on Bone Health

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-13
Author(s):  
Connor A. Hernon ◽  
Abduallah Elsayed ◽  
Raphael M. Vicente ◽  
Ariane Zamarioli ◽  
Melissa A. Kacena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Caloric Restriction ◽  
Bone Health ◽  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Intermittent Fasting ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Dietary Interventions ◽  
Ad Libitum ◽  
Ad Libitum Intake ◽  
Available Information ◽  
The Impact

This mini-review summarizes the available information regarding the impact of caloric restriction (CR) and/or intermittent fasting (IF) on bone health. CR and IF are dietary interventions used in rehabilitative healthcare for augmenting weight loss and also proposed for recovery of conditions such as stroke and heart failure. CR restricts the total number of calories rather than different food groups or periods of eating. In contrast, IF severely restricts caloric intake for a period of time followed by a period of ad libitum intake. Here, we discuss the available information regarding the impact of these rehabilitation diets on bone metabolism, highlighting areas of consistency and discrepancy and suggesting future areas of study to advance the understanding of CR and/or IF on bone health.

Pengaruh Stres Kronik terhadap Otak: Kajian Biomolekuler Hormon Glukokortikoid dan Regulasi Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) Pascastres di Cerebellum

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 65
Author(s):  
Desby Juananda ◽  
Dwi Cahyani Ratna Sari ◽  
Djoko Prakosa2, ◽  
Nur Arfian ◽  
Mansyur Romi
Keyword(s):  
Chronic Stress ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Bdnf Expression ◽  
Acute And Chronic Stress ◽  
Repetitive Stress ◽  
Central Organ ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Brain

The brain is the central organ of stress adaptation, and is also a target of stress. Chronic stress may result in abnormalchanges in brain plasticity; include dendritic retraction, neuronal toxicity, and suppression of neurogenesis andaxospinous synaptic plasticity. Repetitive stress exposure will gradually change the electrical characteristic, morphologyand proliferative capacity of neurons. Among brain region, the cerebellum is known to be severely affected by oxidativedamage associated with glucocorticoids level. It is believed due to the highest levels of glucocorticoid receptorslocalized in the external granular layer. BDNF, a member of neurotrophin family, is known to be a strong survivalpromoting factor, and plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation, neuronal protection, and the regulationof synaptic function in the central nervous system. BDNF is highly expressed in the cerebellum, mainly in granulecells. Both acute and chronic stress change BDNF expression in the brain. Although the impact of stress on BDNFlevels showed the different results, BDNF is believed to protect neurons from injuries caused by stress.

scholarly journals Curcumin, Cardiometabolic Health and Dementia

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2093 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoona Kim ◽  
Peter Clifton
Keyword(s):  
Beneficial Effect ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Insulin Signalling ◽  
Curcuma Longa ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Cardiometabolic Health ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Glucose And Lipid Metabolism

Current research indicates curcumin [diferuloylmethane; a polyphenolic compound isolated from the rhizomes of the dietary spice turmeric (Curcuma longa)] exerts a beneficial effect on health which may be partly attributable to its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this review is to examine potential mechanisms of the actions of curcumin in both animal and human studies. Curcumin modulates relevant molecular target pathways to improve glucose and lipid metabolism, suppress inflammation, stimulate antioxidant enzymes, facilitate insulin signalling and reduce gut permeability. Curcumin also inhibits Aβ and tau accumulation in animal models and enhances mitochondria and synaptic function. In conclusion, in high-dose animal studies and in vitro, curcumin exerts a potential beneficial effect on cardiometabolic disease. However, human studies are relatively unconvincing. More intervention studies should be conducted with the new curcumin formulation with improved oral bioavailability.

scholarly journals Brains in space: the importance of understanding the impact of long-duration spaceflight on spatial cognition and its neural circuitry

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander C. Stahn ◽  
Simone Kühn
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Cognition ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Brain Plasticity ◽  
Extreme Environments ◽  
Neural Circuitry ◽  
New Era ◽  
Long Duration ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Performance ◽  
The Impact

AbstractFifty years after the first humans stepped on the Moon, space faring nations have entered a new era of space exploration. NASA’s reference mission to Mars is expected to comprise 1100 days. Deep space exploratory class missions could even span decades. They will be the most challenging and dangerous expeditions in the history of human spaceflight and will expose crew members to unprecedented health and performance risks. The development of adverse cognitive or behavioral conditions and psychiatric disorders during those missions is considered a critical and unmitigated risk factor. Here, we argue that spatial cognition, i.e., the ability to encode representations about self-to-object relations and integrate this information into a spatial map of the environment, and their neural bases will be highly vulnerable during those expeditions. Empirical evidence from animal studies shows that social isolation, immobilization, and altered gravity can have profound effects on brain plasticity associated with spatial navigation. We provide examples from historic spaceflight missions, spaceflight analogs, and extreme environments suggesting that spatial cognition and its neural circuitry could be impaired during long-duration spaceflight, and identify recommendations and future steps to mitigate these risks.

scholarly journals Bisphosphonate's and Intermittent Parathyroid Hormone's Effect on Human Spinal Fusion: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 484-493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael A. Stone ◽  
Andre M. Jakoi ◽  
Justin A. Iorio ◽  
Martin H. Pham ◽  
Neil N. Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Parathyroid Hormone ◽  
Spinal Fusion ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Fusion Rate ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Review Of The Literature ◽  
Control Groups ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Intermittent Pth

<p>There has been a conscious effort to address osteoporosis in the aging population. As bisphosphonate and intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH) therapy become more widely prescribed to treat osteoporosis, it is important to understand their effects on other physiologic processes, particularly the impact on spinal fusion. Despite early animal model studies and more recent clinical studies, the impact of these medications on spinal fusion is not fully understood. Previous animal studies suggest that bisphosphonate therapy resulted in inhibition of fusion mass with impeded maturity and an unknown effect on biomechanical strength. Prior animal studies demonstrate an improved fusion rate and fusion mass microstructure with the use of intermittent PTH. The purpose of this study was to determine if bisphosphonates and intermittent PTH treatment have impact on human spinal fusion. A systematic review of the literature published between 1980 and 2015 was conducted using major electronic databases. Studies reporting outcomes of human subjects undergoing 1, 2, or 3-level spinal fusion while receiving bisphosphonates and/or intermittent PTH treatment were included. The results of relevant human studies were analyzed for consensus on the effects of these medications in regards to spinal fusion. There were nine human studies evaluating the impact of these medications on spinal fusion. Improved fusion rates were noted in patients receiving bisphosphonates compared to control groups, and greater fusion rates in patients receiving PTH compared to control groups. Prior studies involving animal models found an improved fusion rate and fusion mass microstructure with the use of intermittent PTH. No significant complications were demonstrated in any study included in the analysis. Bisphosphonate use in humans may not be a deterrent to spinal fusion. Intermittent parathyroid use has shown early promise to increase fusion mass in both animal and human studies but further studies are needed to support routine use.</p>

scholarly journals Neurotoxicants, Micronutrients, and Social Environments

2005 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Hubbs-Tait ◽  
Jack R. Nation ◽  
Nancy F. Krebs ◽  
David C. Bellinger
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Animal ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Animal Research ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Policy Implications ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Dopaminergic Activity ◽  
And Behavior ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARY—Systematic research evaluating the separate and interacting impacts of neurotoxicants, micronutrients, and social environments on children's cognition and behavior has only recently been initiated. Years of extensive human epidemiologic and animal experimental research document the deleterious impact of lead and other metals on the nervous system. However, discrepancies among human studies and between animal and human studies underscore the importance of variations in child nutrition as well as social and behavioral aspects of children's environments that mitigate or exacerbate the effects of neurotoxicants. In this monograph, we review existing research on the impact of neurotoxic metals, nutrients, and social environments and interactions across the three domains. We examine the literature on lead, mercury, manganese, and cadmium in terms of dispersal, epidemiology, experimental animal studies, effects of social environments, and effects of nutrition. Research documenting the negative impact of lead on cognition and behavior influenced reductions by the Center for Disease Control in child lead-screening guidelines from 30 micrograms per deciliter (μg/dL) in 1975 to 25 μg/dL in 1985 and to 10 μg/dL in 1991. A further reduction is currently being considered. Experimental animal research documents lead's alteration of glutamate-neurotransmitter (particularly N-methyl-D-aspartate) activity vital to learning and memory. In addition, lead induces changes in cholinergic and dopaminergic activity. Elevated lead concentrations in the blood are more common among children living in poverty and there is some evidence that socioeconomic status influences associations between lead and child outcomes. Micronutrients that influence the effects of lead include iron and zinc. Research documenting the negative impact of mercury on children (as well as adults) has resulted in a reference dose (RfD) of 0.1 microgram per kilogram of body weight per day (μg/kg/day). In animal studies, mercury interferes with glutamatergic, cholinergic, and dopaminergic activity. Although evidence for interactions of mercury with children's social contexts is minimal, researchers are examining interactions of mercury with several nutrients. Research on the effects of cadmium and manganese on child cognition and behavior is just beginning. Experimental animal research links cadmium to learning deficits, manganese to behaviors characteristic of Parkinson's disease, and both to altered dopaminergic functioning. We close our review with a discussion of policy implications, and we recommend interdisciplinary research that will enable us to bridge gaps within and across domains.

scholarly journals Buckwheat and CVD Risk Markers, a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liangkui Li ◽  
Georg Lietz ◽  
Chris J. Seal
Keyword(s):  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Total Cholesterol ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Weighted Mean Difference ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Human Studies ◽  
Risk Markers ◽  
Cvd Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
The Impact

The effects of buckwheat intake on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have not been systematically investigated. The aim of the present study was to comprehensively summarise studies in humans and animals evaluating the impact of buckwheat consumption on CVD risk markers and to conduct a meta-analysis of relevant data. Thirteen randomised, controlled human studies, two cross-sectional human studies and twenty-one animal studies were identified. Using random effects models, the weighted mean difference of post-intervention concentrations of blood glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly decreased following buckwheat intervention compared with controls [differences in blood glucose: -0.85 mmol/L (95% CI: -1.31, -0.39), total cholesterol: 0.50 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.80, -0.20) and triglycerides: 0.25 mmol/L (95% CI: -0.49, -0.02)]. Responses of a similar magnitude were seen in two cross-sectional studies. For animal studies, nineteen of twenty-one studies showed a significant reduction in total cholesterol of between 12 and 54%, and fourteen of twenty studies showed a significant reduction in triglycerides of between 2 and 74%. All exhibited high unexplained heterogeneity. There was inconsistency in HDL cholesterol outcomes in both human and animal studies. It remains unclear whether increased buckwheat intake significantly benefits other markers of CVD risk, such as weight, blood pressure, insulin, and LDL-cholesterol, and underlying mechanisms responsible for any effects are unclear.

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