Association between health risk factors and dietary flavonoid intake in cohort studies.

The aim of this study was to identify the health risk factors associated with flavonoid intake in cohort studies investigating the association between dietary polyphenols and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). A systematic search of the PubMed and EMBASE databases was performed. Prospective studies with the background characteristics given for categories of flavonoid intake were eligible to inclusion. A bivariate meta-analysis summarising the intercepts and slopes of the linear regression and a dose-response meta-analysis of differences in means were used to analyse the relationships. The intake of total flavonoids was inversely associated with BMI, alcohol consumption, saturated fat intake, and current smoking, and positively associated with vitamin E, folate, fibre, beta-carotene intake, multivitamin supplement use, and high physical activity. The results of this study underline the importance of considering the association between dietary flavonoid consumption and CVD risk in the context of a healthy lifestyle.

Glutamatergic dysregulation in mood disorders: opportunities for the discovery of novel drug targets.

INTRODUCTION: Recently, a considerable attention has been paid to glutamatergic conception of mood disorders. The development of new treatment strategies targeted at glutamate provides new opportunities for the treatment of mood disorders. It is expected that these novel therapeutic options will provide a fast and sustained antidepressant effect and will be better tolerated by patients than the currently available antidepressants. AREAS COVERED: This paper discusses glutamatergic abnormalities in mood disorders and reviews novel glutamate-based drugs developed for the treatment of these disorders. We have searched the PubMed and EMBASE databases, presented the results of relevant clinical studies and also describe novel glutamate-based agents that are under investigation. EXPERT OPINION: The glutamatergic system plays many important roles in energy metabolism of the brain and neurotransmission; therefore, any attempt to identify novel therapeutic targets within this system seems justified. The effective development of new glutamate-based drugs requires, among others, a more in-depth exploration and understanding of the anatomy, function, and localization of different glutamatergic receptors in the brain. In our opinion, novel glutamate-based antidepressants will find application in the treatment of mood disorders and present an option will be widely used in clinical practice in the future.