Search results for "Dietary supplement"
showing 10 items of 310 documents
Arginine and nitric oxide synthase: regulatory mechanisms and cardiovascular aspects
2014
L-Arginine (L-Arg) is a conditionally essential amino acid in the human diet. The most common dietary sources of L-Arg are meat, poultry and fish. L-Arg is the precursor for the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO); a key signaling molecule via NO synthase (NOS). Endogenous NOS inhibitors such as asymmetric-dimethyl-L-Arg inhibit NO synthesis in vivo by competing with L-Arg at the active site of NOS. In addition, NOS possesses the ability to be "uncoupled" to produce superoxide anion instead of NO. Reduced NO bioavailability may play an essential role in cardiovascular pathologies and metabolic diseases. L-Arg deficiency syndromes in humans involve endothelial inflammation and immune dysfunctions…
Food as medicine in psychiatric care: Which profession should be responsible for imparting knowledge and use of omega-3 fatty acids in psychiatry
2011
Accepted version of an article in Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 17 (2011), 107-112. Also available from the publisher: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2010.08.001 The effect of omega-3 fatty acids on depression is well documented. The purpose of this study was to determine if and how food is used as medicine in psychiatric care, especially how omega-3 fatty acids are used as a supplement in the treatment of depression. This is a pilot study with a qualitative design using questionnaires and interviews among nursing students, tutor nurses and psychiatrists. Three main categories emerged: 1. Nutrition is considered important but few evaluations are made. 2. There was a lack o…
Effect of β-cryptoxanthin plus phytosterols on cardiovascular risk and bone turnover markers in post-menopausal women: a randomized crossover trial.
2014
Abstract Background and aim Post-menopausal women are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and bone demineralization. Phytosterols (PS) may be used for hypercholesterolemia in some groups and β-cryptoxanthin (β-Cx) displays a unique anabolic effect on bone. Our aim was to assess the changes in cardiovascular and bone turnover markers from the oral intake of β-Cx and PS in post-menopausal women. Methods and results A randomized, double-blind, crossover study with β-Cx (0.75 mg/day) and PS (1.5 g/day), single and combined, was performed in 38 postmenopausal women. Diet was supplemented with 1 × 250 mL milk-based fruit drink/day for 4 weeks with a wash-out period of 4-weeks in between. Ser…
Alimentary and Pharmaceutical Approach to Natural Antimicrobials against Clostridioides difficile Gastrointestinal Infection
2021
Incidence of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) has been increasing in recent decades due to different factors, namely (i) extended use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, (ii) transmission within asymptomatic and susceptible patients, and (iii) unbalanced gastrointestinal microbiome and collateral diseases that favor C. difficile gastrointestinal domination and toxin production. Although antibiotic therapies have resulted in successful control of CDI in the last 20 years, the development of novel strategies is urged in order to combat the capability of C. difficile to generate and acquire resistance to conventional treatments and its consequent proliferation. In this regard, vegetable and…
Do nutritional supplements have a role in age macular degeneration prevention?
2013
Purpose. To review the proposed pathogenic mechanisms of age macular degeneration (AMD), as well as the role of antioxidants (AOX) and omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3) supplements in AMD prevention.Materials and Methods. Current knowledge on the cellular/molecular mechanisms of AMD and the epidemiologic/experimental studies on the effects of AOX andω-3 were addressed all together with the scientific evidence and the personal opinion of professionals involved in the Retina Group of the OFTARED (Spain).Results. High dietary intakes ofω-3 and macular pigments lutein/zeaxanthin are associated with lower risk of prevalence and incidence in AMD. The Age-Related Eye Disease study (AREDS) showed a benefic…
Effects of calcium, dairy product, and vitamin D supplementation on bone mass accrual and body composition in 10-12-y-old girls: a 2-y randomized tri…
2005
Little is known about the relative effectiveness of calcium supplementation from food or pills with or without vitamin D supplementation for bone mass accrual during the rapid growth period.The purpose was to examine the effects of both food-based and pill supplements of calcium and vitamin D on bone mass and body composition in girls aged 10-12 y.This placebo-controlled intervention trial randomly assigned 195 healthy girls at Tanner stage I-II, aged 10-12 y, with dietary calcium intakes900 mg/d to 1 of 4 groups: calcium (1000 mg) + vitamin D3 (200 IU), calcium (1000 mg), cheese (1000 mg calcium), and placebo. Primary outcomes were bone indexes of the hip, spine, and whole body by dual-ene…
Nutrition and physical activity in the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia: systematic review
2017
Summary This systematic review summarizes the effect of\ud combined exercise and nutrition intervention on muscle mass\ud and muscle function. A total of 37 RCTs were identified.\ud Results indicate that physical exercise has a positive impact\ud on muscle mass and muscle function in subjects aged 65 years\ud and older. However, any interactive effect of dietary supplementation\ud appears to be limited.\ud Introduction In 2013, Denison et al. conducted a systematic\ud review including 17 randomized controlled trials\ud (RCTs) to explore the effect of combined exercise and\ud nutrition intervention to improve muscle mass, muscle\ud strength, or physical performance in older people.\ud They c…
Nutraceuticals as Lipid-Lowering Treatment in Pregnancy and Their Effects on the Metabolic Syndrome.
2015
Maternal nutrition and lifestyle before and during pregnancy influence both mother and offspring's health and can be correlated with the metabolic syndrome in later life. Findings from animal and human studies indicate that nutrition during pregnancy has an important role in microbiological, metabolic, physiologic and immunologic development and homeostasis. A low nutritional intake in early pregnancy may represent a risk for adverse effects during pregnancy as well as on birth outcome. It seems that dietary supplementation with probiotics in perinatal period may represent safe and practical approach in dealing with the most common adverse pregnancy outcomes such as obesity and gestational …
Acetyl-L-Carnitine Supplementation and the Treatment of Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.
2017
Objective: Deficiency of acetyl-l-carnitine (ALC) seems to play a role in the risk of developing depression, indicating a dysregulation of fatty acid transport across the inner membrane of mitochondria. However, data about ALC supplementation in humans are limited. We thus conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis investigating the effect of ALC on depressive symptoms across randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Methods: A literature search in major databases, without language restriction, was undertaken from inception until 30 December 2016. Eligible studies were RCTs of ALC alone or in combination with antidepressant medications, with a control group taking placebo/no intervention or…
Magnesium and hypertension in old age
2021
Hypertension is a complex condition in which various actors and mechanisms combine, resulting in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular complications that today represent the most frequent causes of mortality, morbidity, disability, and health expenses worldwide. In the last decades, there has been an exceptional amount of experimental, epidemiological, and clinical studies confirming a close relationship between magnesium deficit and high blood pressure. Multiple mechanisms may help to explain the bulk of evidence supporting a protective effect of magnesium against hypertension and its complications. Hypertension increases sharply with advancing age, hence older persons are those most affected…