Diet and Brain Health: Which Role for Polyphenols?

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Castelli ◽  
Davide Grassi ◽  
Raffaella Bocale ◽  
Michele d'Angelo ◽  
Andrea Antonosante ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Brain Aging ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Lifestyle Modifications ◽  
Dietary Polyphenols ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Relationship

Background: The aging of western societies is leading to a dramatic increase in the prevalence of chronic conditions, threatening the health status and then the sustainability of our healthcare systems. In particular, dementia is being increasingly recognized as a public health priority, given its enormous socioeconomic burdens further amplified by the absence of treatments really effective in improving the clinical course of the disease. Methods: The question of whether some degree of cognitive deterioration is an inevitable part of aging or should be considered as a pathological pre-stage of dementia is currently debated. This is a field in need of research because accelerated brain aging as well as further decline in cognition might be preventable in the early stages of cognitive impairment. Herein, we discuss evidence from clinical and experimental studies on the role of polyphenols in preserving cognitive performance across life. Results: In recent years, the possibility of favorably influencing the cognitive trajectory through promotion of lifestyle modifications has been increasingly investigated. In particular, the relationship between nutritional habits and brain health has attracted special attention. Dietary polyphenols exhibit a strong potential to promote brain due to their efficacy in protecting neurons against oxidative stress-induced injury, suppressing neuroinflammation and in ameliorating cardiovascular risk factor control and cardiovascular function thus counteracting neurotoxicity and neurodegeneration. Conclusion: Emerging evidence suggest that dietary polyphenols, in particular flavonoids, may exert beneficial effects on the central nervous system thus representing a potential tool to preserve cognitive performance throught senescence.

scholarly journals (Neuro) Peptides, Physical Activity, and Cognition

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 2592 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juho Autio ◽  
Ville Stenbäck ◽  
Dominique D. Gagnon ◽  
Juhani Leppäluoto ◽  
Karl-Heinz Herzig
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Elevated Serum ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Insulin Growth Factor ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
The Central Nervous System

Regular physical activity (PA) improves cognitive functions, prevents brain atrophy, and delays the onset of cognitive decline, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease. Presently, there are no specific recommendations for PA producing positive effects on brain health and little is known on its mediators. PA affects production and release of several peptides secreted from peripheral and central tissues, targeting receptors located in the central nervous system (CNS). This review will provide a summary of the current knowledge on the association between PA and cognition with a focus on the role of (neuro)peptides. For the review we define peptides as molecules with less than 100 amino acids and exclude myokines. Tachykinins, somatostatin, and opioid peptides were excluded from this review since they were not affected by PA. There is evidence suggesting that PA increases peripheral insulin growth factor 1 (IGF-1) levels and elevated serum IGF-1 levels are associated with improved cognitive performance. It is therefore likely that IGF-1 plays a role in PA induced improvement of cognition. Other neuropeptides such as neuropeptide Y (NPY), ghrelin, galanin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) could mediate the beneficial effects of PA on cognition, but the current literature regarding these (neuro)peptides is limited.

Review of Constipation Treatment Methods with Emphasis on Laxative Foods

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 675-688
Author(s):  
Shamsi Abbasalizadeh ◽  
Behzad Ebrahimi ◽  
Aslan Azizi ◽  
Rogaye Dargahi ◽  
Maryam Tayebali ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Lifestyle Factor ◽  
Flax Seed ◽  
Lifestyle Modifications ◽  
Food Ingredients ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Daily Exercise

Constipation is a common public health concern experienced by all individuals during their life affecting the quality of life. In this paper, we aimed to provide an overview of the existing evidence regarding the role of food ingredients, including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, and flax-seed in constipation treatment. We searched Scopus, Pub Med, and Science Direct by using the keywords, “laxative foods” and “constipation”, for searching studies assessing laxative food ingredients and their beneficial effects on constipation treatment and/or control. Lifestyle modifications such as increasing dietary fiber and fluid intake and daily exercise are the proposed first line treatments for constipation. Optimizing ‘diet’ as an efficient lifestyle factor may contribute to the well-being of patients. The use of laxative food ingredients including bran, prune, fig, kiwifruit, flax-seed, probiotics, and prebiotics is a convenient alternative to cope with constipation. According to previous findings, laxative food ingredients could be considered as effective treatments for subjects suffering from constipation. Many studies have assessed the pharmacological and non-pharmacological roles of these ingredients in treating constipation, however, their importance has not been thoroughly investigated.

scholarly journals Effect of Cocoa and Cocoa Products on Cognitive Performance in Young Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3691
Author(s):  
María Angeles Martín ◽  
Luis Goya ◽  
Sonia de Pascual-Teresa
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Early Adulthood ◽  
Blood Oxygenation ◽  
Human Cognition ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Randomized Controlled Studies ◽  
Cocoa Products ◽  
Cocoa Flavanols

Increasing evidence support a beneficial role of cocoa and cocoa products on human cognition, particularly in aging populations and patients at risk. However, thorough reviews on the efficacy of cocoa on brain processes in young adults do not exist precisely due to the limited number of studies in the matter. Thus, the aim of this study was to summarize the findings on the acute and chronic effects of cocoa administration on cognitive functions and brain health in young adults. Web of Science and PubMed databases were used to search for relevant trials. Human randomized controlled studies were selected according to PRISMA guidelines. Eleven intervention studies that involved a total of 366 participants investigating the role of cocoa on cognitive performance in children and young adults (average age ≤25 years old) were finally selected. Findings from individual studies confirm that acute and chronic cocoa intake have a positive effect on several cognitive outcomes. After acute consumption, these beneficial effects seem to be accompanied with an increase in cerebral blood flow or cerebral blood oxygenation. After chronic intake of cocoa flavanols in young adults, a better cognitive performance was found together with increased levels of neurotrophins. This systematic review further supports the beneficial effect of cocoa flavanols on cognitive function and neuroplasticity and indicates that such benefits are possible in early adulthood.

Omentin-1 attenuates glucocorticoid-induced cardiac injury by phosphorylating GSK3β

2021 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 273-283
Author(s):  
Zhousheng Jin ◽  
Fangfang Xia ◽  
Jiaojiao Dong ◽  
Tingting Lin ◽  
Yaoyao Cai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Cardiac Hypertrophy ◽  
Cardiac Injury ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Chronic Administration ◽  
Cardiovascular Complications ◽  
Rat Serum ◽  
Cardiac Side Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Glucocorticoid excess often causes a variety of cardiovascular complications, including hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cardiac hypertrophy. To abrogate its cardiac side effects, it is necessary to fully disclose the pathophysiological role of glucocorticoid in cardiac remodelling. Previous clinical and experimental studies have found that omentin-1, one of the adipokines, has beneficial effects in cardiovascular diseases, and is closely associated with metabolic disorders. However, there is no evidence to address the potential role of omentin-1 in glucocorticoid excess-induced cardiac injuries. To uncover the links, the present study utilized rat model with glucocorticoid-induced cardiac injuries and clinical patients with abnormal cardiac function. Chronic administration of glucocorticoid excess reduced rat serum omentin-1 concentration, which closely correlated with cardiac functional parameters. Intravenous administration of adeno-associated virus encoding omentin-1 upregulated the circulating omentin-1 level and attenuated glucocorticoid excess-induced cardiac hypertrophy and functional disorders. Overexpression of omentin-1 also improved cardiac mitochondrial function, including the reduction of lipid deposits, induction of mitochondrial biogenesis, and enhanced mitochondrial activities. Mechanistically, omentin-1 phosphorylated and activated the GSK3β pathway in the heart. From a study of 28 patients with Cushing’s syndrome and 23 healthy subjects, the plasma level of glucocorticoid was negatively correlated with omentin-1, and was positively associated with cardiac ejection fraction and fractional shortening. Collectively, the present study provided a novel role of omentin-1 in glucocorticoid excess-induced cardiac injuries and found that the omentin-1/GSK3β pathway was a potential therapeutic target in combating the side effects of glucocorticoid.

scholarly journals Src Family Kinases in the Central Nervous System：Their Emerging Role in Pathophysiology of Migraine and Neuropathic Pain

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingdi Nie ◽  
Wen-Rui Ye ◽  
Shangbin Chen ◽  
Domenico Chirchiglia ◽  
Minyan Wang
Keyword(s):  
Neuropathic Pain ◽  
Tyrosine Kinases ◽  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Src Family Kinases ◽  
Signalling Pathways ◽  
Pain Mechanisms ◽  
Promising Therapeutic Target ◽  
The Central Nervous System ◽  
The Relationship

: Src family kinases (SFK) are a group of non-receptor tyrosine kinases which play a pivotal role in cellular responses and oncogenesis. Accumulating evidence suggest that SFK also act as a key component in signalling pathways of the central nervous system (CNS) in both physiological and pathological conditions. Despite the crucial role of SFK in signal transduction of the CNS, the relationship between SFK and molecules implicated in pain has been relatively unexplored. This article briefly reviews the recent advances uncovering the interplay of SFK with diverse membrane proteins and intracellular proteins in the CNS and the importance of SFK in the pathophysiology of migraine and neuropathic pain. Mechanisms underlying the role of SFK in these conditions and potential clinical applications of SFK inhibitors in neurological diseases are also summarised. We propose that SFK are the convergent point of signalling pathways in migraine and neuropathic pain and may constitute a promising therapeutic target for these diseases.

Role of Oxidative Stress in Diabetic Retinopathy and the Beneficial Effects of Flavonoids

2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (19) ◽  
pp. 2180-2187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Shamsul Ola ◽  
Dalia Al-Dosari ◽  
Abdullah S. Alhomida
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Retinal Damage ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Diabetic Retina ◽  
Retinal Pathology ◽  
Dietary Flavonoids

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of decreased vision and blindness in developed countries. Diabetes-induced metabolic disorder is believed to increase oxidative stress in the retina. This results in deleterious change through dysregulation of cellular physiology that damages both neuronal and vascular cells. In this review, we first highlight the evidence of potential metabolic sources and pathways which increase oxidative stress that contribute to retinal pathology in diabetes. As oxidative stress is a central factor in the pathophysiology of DR, antioxidants therapy would be beneficial towards preventing the retinal damage. A number of experimental studies by our group and others showed that dietary flavonoids cause reduction in increased oxidative stress and other beneficial effects in diabetic retina. We then discuss the beneficial effects of the six major flavonoid families, such as flavanones, flavanols, flavonols, isoflavones, flavones and anthocyanins, which have been studied to improve retinal damage. Flavanoids, being known antioxidants, may ameliorate the retinal degenerative factors including apoptosis, inflammation and neurodegeneration in diabetes. Therefore, intake of potential dietary flavonoids would limit oxidative stress and thereby prevent the retinal damage, and subsequently the development of DR.

scholarly journals A systematic review on the potential role of APOE genotype as a moderator in the relationship between physical activity, brain health and dementia risk

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (S10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaisalmer de Frutos ◽  
Juan Manuel Serrano Rodriguez ◽  
Fernando Maestú ◽  
Simon M Laws ◽  
Belinda M Brown
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Apoe Genotype ◽  
Brain Health ◽  
Dementia Risk ◽  
The Relationship

scholarly journals The Role of Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L) Pollen in Fertility

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 320-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Tahvilzadeh ◽  
Mannan Hajimahmoodi ◽  
Roja Rahimi
Keyword(s):  
Date Palm ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Phoenix Dactylifera ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Reproductive Effects ◽  
Phoenix Dactylifera L ◽  
Comprehensive Information ◽  
Ancient Times ◽  
Fertility Disorders

Date palm pollen (DPP) is the male reproductive dust of palm flowers used as dietary supplement especially as aphrodisiac and fertility enhancer in both women and men from ancient times. Although there are few clinical trials evaluating the beneficial effects of DPP in humans, various experimental studies have been conducted on the reproductive effects of DPP. Among the compounds isolated from DPP are amino acids, fatty acids, flavonoids, saponins, and estroles. The present review summarizes comprehensive information concerning the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of DPP and its application in fertility disorders.

Drugs and Drug Policy

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A.R. Kleiman ◽  
Jonathan P. Caulkins ◽  
Angela Hawken
Keyword(s):  
Drug Policy ◽  
Illicit Trade ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Control Drug ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Drugs And Crime ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Drug Free ◽  
The Brain

While there have always been norms and customs around the use of drugs, explicit public policies--regulations, taxes, and prohibitions--designed to control drug abuse are a more recent phenomenon. Those policies sometimes have terrible side-effects: most prominently the development of criminal enterprises dealing in forbidden (or untaxed) drugs and the use of the profits of drug-dealing to finance insurgency and terrorism. Neither a drug-free world nor a world of free drugs seems to be on offer, leaving citizens and officials to face the age-old problem: What are we going to do about drugs? In Drugs and Drug Policy, three noted authorities survey the subject with exceptional clarity, in this addition to the acclaimed series, What Everyone Needs to Know. They begin by, defining "drugs, " examining how they work in the brain, discussing the nature of addiction, and exploring the damage they do to users. The book moves on to policy, answering questions about legalization, the role of criminal prohibitions, and the relative legal tolerance for alcohol and tobacco. The authors then dissect the illicit trade, from street dealers to the flow of money to the effect of catching kingpins, and show the precise nature of the relationship between drugs and crime. They examine treatment, both its effectiveness and the role of public policy, and discuss the beneficial effects of some abusable substances. Finally they move outward to look at the role of drugs in our foreign policy, their relationship to terrorism, and the ugly politics that surround the issue. Crisp, clear, and comprehensive, this is a handy and up-to-date overview of one of the most pressing topics in today's world.

Who actually decides? Parental influence on the housing tenure choice of their children

Urban Studies ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 406-426 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Lux ◽  
Tomáš Samec ◽  
Vojtech Bartos ◽  
Petr Sunega ◽  
Jan Palguta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parental Influence ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Housing Tenure ◽  
Tenure Choice ◽  
Housing Preferences ◽  
Housing Tenure Choice ◽  
Resource Transfers ◽  
Czech Society ◽  
The Relationship

We focus on the role of within-family socialisation and the relationship between socialisation and resource transfers in the intergenerational transmission of housing preferences, the formation of familial housing attitudes and thus the reproduction of a normative housing tenure ladder across generations in Czech society. We show that resource transfers and the within-family socialisation of housing preferences, including preferences concerning housing tenure, are closely interconnected. In other words, parental influence on decision to buy own housing (and on housing preferences in general) of their adult children through socialisation is stronger if there is an (actual or assumed) intergenerational resource transfer. This has several implications for how housing markets and systems work. The paper draws on findings from qualitative, quantitative and experimental studies.

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