Dietary supplements for obesity.

Obesity and associated complications including diabetes, cardiometabolic dysfunction, disability, malignancy and premature mortality are considered epidemic. Research on obesity is therefore of worldwide importance. The development of obesity is a multifactorial phenomenon with contributions from biological, behavioral, genetic and environmental factors. Obesity and its associated issues require various lifestyle modifications and treatment options such medication, exercise, diet, surgery, pharmacological therapy and dietary supplements. Dietary supplements are considered an attractive alternative to traditional therapy due to their low toxicity profile and their accessibility to the general population. Dietary supplements may include one or more dietary ingredients. In this narrative review, we analyze the effects on obesity and obesity-related issues of various natural components. For example, there are a myriad of supplements that have been used as dietary supplements for weight loss such as minerals, vitamins, amino acids, metabolites, herbs, and plant extracts. This narrative review aims to present the benefits and side-effects of several ingredients of dietary supplements for weight loss and treatment of obesity. In particular, the mechanism of action, results of clinical trials, and possible side effects will be presented for the following ingredients: ß-Glucans, bitter orange, calcium, vitamin D, chitosan, chromium, cocoa, coleus forskohlii, conjugate linoleic acid, ephedra sinica, fucoxanthin, garcinia cambogia, glucomannan, green coffee, green tea, guar gum, raspberry, hoodia gordonii, irvingia gabonensis, phenylpropylamine, pyruvate, white kidney bean.

Main nutritional deficiencies.

Nutrition is the source of energy that is required to carry out all the processes of human body. A balanced diet is a combination of both macro- and micronutrients. "Nutritional inadequacy" involves an intake of nutrients that is lower than the estimated average requirement, whereas "nutritional deficiency" consists of severely reduced levels of one or more nutrients, making the body unable to normally perform its functions and thus leading to an increased risk of several diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Malnutrition could be caused by environmental factors, like food scarcity, as well as disease conditions, like anorexia nervosa, fasting, swallowing inability, persistent vomiting, impaired digestion, intestinal malabsorption, or other chronic diseases. Nutritional biomarkers - like serum or plasma levels of nutrients such as folate, vitamin C, B vitamins, vitamin D, selenium, copper, zinc - could be used for the evaluation of nutrient intake and dietary exposure. Macronutrients deficiencies could cause kwashiorkor, marasmus, ketosis, growth retardation, wound healing, and increased infection susceptibility, whereas micronutrient - like iron, folate, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A - deficiencies lead to intellectual impairment, poor growth, perinatal complications, degenerative diseases associated with aging and higher morbidity and mortality. Preventing macro- and micronutrient deficiency is crucial and this could be achieved through supplementation and food-based approaches.

Foods of the Mediterranean diet: garlic and Mediterranean legumes.

The Mediterranean diet is a dietary regime derived from the one followed by the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean region. It is characterized by many healthy constituents, among which are cereals, legumes, fruits, vegetables, olives, and white meat. Many studies suggest that this dietary regime is the key to obtaining a healthy and long life, like that of the Mediterranean peoples. Despite its popularity among health professionals, this diet is still confined to a certain geographical area of the world. Due to globalization and the modern busy lifestyle, this cultural diet is losing ground even in its home region, with more and more people embracing the so-called Western diet. An awareness of health benefits of the individual components of the Mediterranean diet will therefore draw attention from all over the world to this healthy and affordable dietary pattern, which can not only improve the overall health, but also reduce the risk of developing chronic and infectious diseases. In this regard, garlic and Mediterranean legumes present a huge repertoire of phytochemicals having both nutritive and nutraceutical properties, which therefore should be included in our daily dietary routines in moderate proportions. This narrative review aims at summarizing the principal components and health benefits of the Mediterranean diet, in particular of garlic and legumes.

Food supplements based on palmitoylethanolamide plus hydroxytyrosol from olive tree or Bacopa monnieri extracts for neurological diseases.

Neurological disorders like Parkinson disease and Alzheimer disease, spinal cord injury and stroke have some recurrent characteristics such as abnormal protein aggregation, oxidative stress induction, apoptosis, excitotoxicity, perturbation of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and inflammation. To date, there are few effective treatments available and the drugs currently used to manage the symptoms have important side effects. Therefore, research studies are focusing on natural phytochemicals present in diet as bioactive molecules potentially useful against neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we will discuss the neuroprotective role of palmitoylethanolamide, hydroxytyrosol, and Bacopa monnieri extracts against neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration, thereby revealing their remarkable potential as novel therapeutic options for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.