Toxicity Potential of Nutraceuticals.

During the past few decades and especially during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of nutraceuticals has become increasingly popular in both humans and animals due to their easy access, cost-effectiveness, and tolerability with a wide margin of safety. While some nutraceuticals are safe, others have an inherent toxic potential. For a large number of nutraceuticals, no toxicity/safety data are available due to a lack of pharmacological/toxicological studies. The safety of some nutraceuticals can be compromised via contamination with toxic plants, metals, mycotoxins, pesticides, fertilizers, drugs of abuse, etc. Knowledge of pharmacokinetic/toxicokinetic studies and biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility appears to play a pivotal role in the safety and toxicity assessment of nutraceuticals. Interaction studies are essential to determine efficacy, safety, and toxicity when nutraceuticals and therapeutic drugs are used concomitantly or when polypharmacy is involved. This chapter describes various aspects of nutraceuticals, particularly their toxic potential, and the factors that influence their safety.

Matching traditional Chinese medicine and western medicine-based research: Advanced nutraceutical development for proactive gastric cancer prevention.

Gastric cancer (GC), the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally, is complex and heterogeneous. This review explores multidisciplinary investigations of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) combined with Western medical practices, emphasizing the development of nutraceuticals for cancer prevention. Using advanced analytical chemistry and food chemistry techniques, this study investigated how TCM components may be optimized for nutraceutical development. Focusing on molecular interactions with GC pathways, particularly the NF-κB, PI3K/Akt, and Wnt/ß-catenin pathways, we examined the effects of TCM polyherbal formulas, extracts, and isolated compounds. These agents modulate apoptosis and cellular proliferation, underscoring their potential in preventive strategies. The convergence of nutraceutical and medicine food homology studies highlights a significant shift towards integrating TCM-derived compounds in a preventive health framework. This approach aims not only to enhance efficacy and reduce side effects but also to champion a preventive paradigm using personalized medicine to advance proactive health maintenance and disease prevention. The combination of TCM and western medical practices offers promising avenues for future research and practical applications in GC prevention.

Exploring the Renoprotective Potential of Bioactive Nutraceuticals in Chronic Kidney Disease Progression: A Narrative Review.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that is characterized by progressive loss of kidney function over time. A substantial increase in the burden of CKD is evident globally, attributed to multifactorial conditions like an expanding aging population, rising diabetes and hypertension rates, and more significant exposures to risk factors associated with the environment and lifestyle. Nutraceuticals are substances that are usually considered a food or an active part of a food that provides medical or health benefits, including the prevention and treatment of a disease. The aim is to review the positive role of nutraceuticals in managing CKD. A narrative review is generated, extracting the papers from databases like Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ResearchGate, and PubMed. Animal and human trials focusing on the effect of different nutraceuticals on the initial stage of kidney disease, i.e., stages 1, 2, and 3 of CKD, were included. The review's outcome is understanding the effectiveness of nutraceuticals that have shown positive results in CKD conditions. Active compounds include ubiquinone, curcumin, nitrates, nitrites, lycopene, and resveratrol. These bioactive components are also beneficial for other comorbid conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular conditions that have an eminent adverse effect on CKD. Lycopene, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), resveratrol, curcumin, and flavonoids have positively impacted CKD complications. Nutraceuticals hold great promise for individuals with CKD in the coming years, offering diverse potential benefits. These include delivering vital antioxidant and anti-inflammatory support to alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation, helping to regulate blood pressure and lipid levels for improved cardiovascular health, promoting optimal renal function to sustain kidney health, assisting in maintaining electrolyte balance, warding off complications, influencing gut microbiota for enhanced digestive well-being, and ultimately elevating the overall quality of life, for those managing CKD.

Resistance artery vasodilator pathways involved in the antihypertensive effects of cocoa shell extract in rats exposed to fetal undernutrition.

Fetal undernutrition establishes the foundations for hypertension development, with oxidative stress being a key hallmark. A growing interest in nutraceuticals for treating hypertension and environmental waste concerns prompted the present study aiming to evaluate whether supplementation with a polyphenol enriched extract from cocoa shell (CSE), a by-product from the chocolate industry with antioxidant properties, reduces hypertension of developmental origin, thus improving mesenteric resistance artery (MRA) vasodilatation. Adult male and female offspring from rats exposed to 50% food restriction from mid-gestation (maternal undernutrition, MUN) and controls were used. Supplementation was given through a gelatine (vehicle, VEH) or containing CSE (250 mg kg-1 day-1) 5 days week-1 for 3 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was assessed by tail-cuff plethysmography. MRA function was studied by wire myography, and superoxide anion and nitric oxide were investigated by fluorescent indicators and confocal microscopy. Compared to control-VEH, MUN-VEH males showed significantly higher SBP, reduced MRA as well as relaxation to ACh, sodium nitroprusside and the AMPK agonist 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside, but not to isoproterenol. In MUN males, endothelial endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor and nitric oxide were unaltered, but MRA released a vasoconstrictor prostanoid and produced higher levels of superoxide anion. CSE normalized blood pressure and improved all above-mentioned MRA alterations in MUN males without an effect on control counterparts, except the reduction of superoxide anion. MUN-VEH females were normotensive and only showed a tendency towards larger superoxide anion production, which was abolished by CSE. CSE supplementation reduces SBP improving endothelium-dependent and independent MRA vasodilatation, related to local superoxide anion reduction, being a potential nutraceutical ingredient to counteract hypertension, in addition to contributing to the circular economy. KEY POINTS: Fetal undernutrition induces hypertension in males associated with deficient resistance artery vasodilatation, being normalized by cocoa shell extract (CSE). Release of a cyclooxygenase-derived contractile factor is the main endothelial alteration, which is abolished by CSE. AMPK and soluble guanylyl cyclase-mediated relaxation are also reduced in smooth muscle cells from maternal undernutrition resistance arteries, being improved by CSE. Vascular oxidative damage caused by excess superoxide anion generation can account for impaired vasodilatation, which is improved by CSE. The capacity of CSE to improve relaxation is probably related to its antioxidant bioactive factors, and thus cocoa shell is a potential food by-product to treat hypertension.

Fast, sensitive, and sustainable colorimetric detection of chlorogenic acid in artichoke waste material.

Caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) are nutraceutical polyphenols highly represented in natural sources, including artichoke waste (AW). In this study a colorimetric method for rapid and sustainable detection of a 5-CQA isomer (Chlorogenic acid) in AW extract was developed by using alkaline Tris buffer (10 mmol L-1, pH 9) to generate a yellow color associated with 5- to 3-CQA isomerization reaction, as suggested by NMR and MS analyses. The strong absorbance at 360 nm was followed by standard UV-Vis methodology. The colorimetric assay was exploited for detection of 5-CQA into leaf extract from artichoke, obtaining a value of 15.2 ± 0.3 µg/mg of dry extract, in agreement with HPLC analysis (14.3 ± 0.7 µg/mg, 106 ± 2 % recovery) used as validation technique, with excellent linear correlation and precision (R2 = 0.9996, avRSD% = 3.2 %). The method is fast and selective, offering a valuable tool for nutraceuticals identification and food waste valorization.

Inhibition of hepatic stellate cell activation by nutraceuticals: an emphasis on mechanisms of action.

Liver diseases emerge as a serious threat to humans worldwide due to increasing morbidity and mortality. Liver disease related deaths accounts for one third of all disease related death globally. A simple fatty liver if unattended advances further to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. During liver fibrogenesis, hepatic stellate cells gets activated into myofibroblast like cells and exhibit proliferative and fibrogenic features. Targeting these activated hepatic stellate cells offer promising therapeutic approach towards liver fibrosis management. To date there is no Food and Drug Administration approved treatments for liver fibrosis. However, a large number of clinical trials are being conducted employing monoclonal antibodies, drugs, dietary supplements and herbal medicines. A vast number of research findings demonstrated nutraceuticals to be effective against experimental liver fibrosis both in vitro and in vivo. Nutraceuticals typically regulate key signaling pathways in activated hepatic stellate cells and exhibit anti-fibrotic effect. In this review, the mechanistic action of nutraceuticals targeting activated hepatic stellate cells were summarized to establish them as a possible therapeutic candidate for liver fibrosis.

Nutritional factors and physical frailty: Highlighting the role of functional nutrients in the prevention and treatment.

Physical frailty, an age-related decline in the physiological capacity and function of various organs, is associated with higher vulnerability to unfavorable health outcomes. The mechanisms proposed for physical frailty including increased inflammation and oxidative stress are closely related to nutritional status. In addition to traditional nutritional factors such as protein malnutrition and nutrient deficiencies, emerging evidence has focused on the role of functional nutrients including polyphenols, carotenoids, probiotics, prebiotics, omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs), ß-hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB), coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), and L-carnitine in modifying the risk of physical frailty syndrome. Although several clinical trials have suggested the beneficial effects of supplementation with polyphenols, HMB, and prebiotics on frailty indices, the current evidence is still not robust to support recommendations on the routine clinical use of such functional nutrients for the management of frailty. Similarly, the association between CoQ10 and frailty was mainly assessed in observational studies, and more randomized controlled trials are needed in this regard. A limited number of studies have reported the beneficial effect of L-carnitine supplementation on frailty indices. Since carnitine is mainly found in skeletal muscle and its measurement is thus challenging due to ethical constraints, it is necessary to examine the effect of different doses of L-carnitine on frailty and its indices in future studies. A large number of interventional studies evaluated the impact of n-3 PUFA supplementation on physical frailty in the elderly and many of them reported improved physical performance following supplementation, especially when combined with resistance training programs. Although promising findings from experimental and observational studies have been reported on functional nutrients, high-quality evidence from randomized controlled trials as well as detailed mechanistic studies are still required to affirm their role in the prevention and/or treatment of physical frailty. This review aims to describe the current state of research on functional nutrients that may modify the development or prognosis of frailty syndrome.

10-Gingerol reduces cytoplasmic lipid droplets and induces lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Obesity is a globally prevalent metabolic disorder characterized by an increased number of adipose cells and excessive fat in adipocytes. Herbal medicines, such as ginger, have shown potential in treating obesity by inhibiting adipogenesis and reducing adipocyte hypertrophy. Ginger contains bioactive compounds, particularly gingerols, which have demonstrated anti-adipogenic and/or lipolytic effects. However, research on the effects of 10-gingerol on adipose tissue remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 10-gingerol on lipid content, lipolysis markers, and the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Three groups were analyzed: a negative control (preadipocytes), a positive control (mature adipocytes), and a group treated with 10-gingerol (10-G). Results showed that 10-G reduced lipid accumulation by 42.16% in mature adipocytes compared to the control, without affecting cell viability. Additionally, 10-G increased glycerol release and downregulated lipogenic genes such as Pparγ, Acaca, Fabp4, and Mtor, while upregulating genes related to fatty acid oxidation, including Cebpα, Cpt1a, Lipe, and Prkaa1. In conclusion, 10-gingerol reduces lipid content in mature adipocytes by downregulating lipogenesis, increasing lipolysis, and enhancing fatty acid oxidation.

Structure-Function Relationships and Health-Promoting Properties of the Main Nutraceuticals of the Cactus Pear (Opuntia spp.) Cladodes: A Review.

Over the past decade, several studies have established a direct link between functional foods, nutraceuticals, and a reduced risk of oxidative-stress-related diseases. Nutraceuticals, which encompass a variety of bioactive molecules, exhibit both nutritional and therapeutic properties. The cactus pear (Opuntia spp.) is a plant genus with many species recognized as functional foods, largely attributed to their high content of nutraceuticals, including polyphenols, fatty acids, vitamins, amino acids, pigments, and phytosterols. These compounds of different structures and functions possess different biological activities, contributing to the health-promoting properties of cactus pear. This makes cactus pears a valuable plant for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. While extensive research has focused on the nutritional profile of cactus pear fruits, the cladodes have received comparatively limited attention. Notably, the nutritional composition of cladodes can exhibit considerable variability, influenced by species and growing conditions. Furthermore, although various bioactive compounds have been identified in cladodes, studies elucidating their mechanisms of action, health benefits, and potential therapeutic applications remain insufficient. Addressing these gaps is crucial for enhancing the understanding and utilization of cactus pear cladodes. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the structure-function relationships of the main nutraceuticals found in cactus pear cladodes. It synthesizes data from recent and relevant literature to elucidate the content of these compounds in relation to species and geographical origin, while also detailing the main biological activities and health-promoting benefits associated with cactus pear cladodes.

Influence of Type 2 Diabetes and Adipose Tissue Dysfunction on Breast Cancer and Potential Benefits from Nutraceuticals Inducible in Microalgae.

Breast cancer (BC) represents the most prevalent cancer in women at any age after puberty. From a pathogenetic prospective, despite a wide array of risk factors being identified thus far, poor metabolic health is emerging as a putative risk factor for BC. In particular, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) provides a perfect example bridging the gap between poor metabolic health and BC risk. Indeed, T2DM is preceded by a status of hyperinsulinemia and is characterised by hyperglycaemia, with both factors representing potential contributors to BC onset and progression. Additionally, the aberrant secretome of the dysfunctional, hypertrophic adipocytes, typical of obesity, characterised by pro-inflammatory mediators, is a shared pathogenetic factor between T2DM and BC. In this review, we provide an overview on the effects of hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinemia, hallmarks of type 2 diabetes mellitus, on breast cancer risk, progression, treatment and prognosis. Furthermore, we dissect the role of the adipose-tissue-secreted adipokines as additional players in the pathogenesis of BC. Finally, we focus on microalgae as a novel superfood and a source of nutraceuticals able to mitigate BC risk by improving metabolic health and targeting cellular pathways, which are disrupted in the context of T2DM and obesity.

Nutraceuticals in osteoporosis prevention.

Nutraceuticals are gaining popularity as they can contribute to bone health by delaying the onset or slowing down the progression of pathological bone loss. Osteoporosis's bone loss is a concern for older adults and a crucial aspect of aging. Maintaining healthy bones is the key to living a full and active life. Our review explores the current knowledge on the role of nutraceuticals in preventing osteoporosis by focusing on three main aspects. First, we provide an overview of osteoporosis. Second, we discuss the latest findings on natural nutraceuticals and their efficacy in reducing bone loss, emphasizing clinical trials. Third, we conduct a structured analysis to evaluate nutraceuticals' pros and cons and identify translational gaps. In conclusion, we must address several challenges to consolidate our knowledge, better support clinicians in their prescriptions, and provide people with more reliable nutritional recommendations to help them lead healthier lives.

The Influence of Solvent Choice on the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Asteraceae: A Comparative Review.

While the potential of Asteraceae plants as herbal remedies has been globally recognized, their widespread application in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries requires a deeper understanding of how extraction methods influence bioactive compound yields and functionalities. Previous research has primarily focused on the physiological activities or chemical compositions of individual Asteraceae species, often overlooking the critical role of solvent selection in optimizing extraction. Additionally, the remarkable physiological activities observed in these plants have spurred a growing number of clinical trials, aiming to validate their efficacy and safety for potential therapeutic and commercial applications. This work aims to bridge these knowledge gaps by providing an integrated analysis of extraction techniques, the diverse range of bioactive compounds present in Asteraceae, and the influence of solvent choice on isolating these valuable substances. By elucidating the interplay between extraction methods, solvent properties, and bioactivity, we underscore the promising potential of Asteraceae plants and highlight the importance of continued research, including clinical trials, to fully unlock their potential in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical sectors.

Alliaceae versus Brassicaceae for Dyslipidemia: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Studies.

Dyslipidemia is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Preclinical studies have shown that organosulfur compounds from the Alliaceae and Brassicaceae plants, such as garlic (Allium sativum L.) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea L.), have potential lipid-lowering effects. However, their clinical efficacy is controversial, especially in "drug-free" patients. The aim of this work was to summarize evidence on the lipid-lowering properties of extracts containing organosulfur compounds in patients with dyslipidemia. Studies were searched in four databases (Medline, Scopus, Embase, and CENTRAL), from inception to October 11, 2023.Controlled clinical studies on patients with dyslipidemia receiving Alliaceae or Brassicaceae were included. The outcome was the change in lipid parameters from baseline. Random-effect meta-analysis of the extracted data was performed using R software. The effect size was expressed as mean difference (MD) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The certainty of evidence was assessed with the GRADE approach. Out of 28 studies that were reviewed, 22 were included in the meta-analysis (publication period: 1981-2022). Results showed that Alliaceae extracts significantly reduce total cholesterol [MD: -15.2 mg/dL; 95% CI: -21.3; -9.1] and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels [MD: -12.0 mg/dL; 95% CI: -18.1; -5.7], although with low certainty of evidence. Conversely, the lipid-lowering properties of Brassicaceae extracts are still unexplored. Our results support the use of Alliaceae extracts in patients with hypercholesterolemia, but future high-quality studies are needed. Our work suggests further exploration of the efficacy of Brassicaceae extracts, which may have high nutraceutical/phytotherapeutic potential, opening new perspectives in the management of dyslipidemia.

Decreased Systemic Monocyte Colony Protein-1 (MCP-1) Levels and Reduced sCD14 Levels in Curcumin-Treated Patients with Moderate Anxiety: A Pilot Study.

Psychosocial stress may alter cortisol and/or affect the normal functioning of the immune system. Curcuminoids can promote beneficial effects in neuropsychiatric diseases. We evaluated whether curcumin supplementation for 15 consecutive days (1800 mg/day) would decrease systemic MCP-1, sCD14, and TNF alpha levels in patients with moderate anxiety (n = 81). A total number of 81 subjects were enrolled in this study, divided into the following groups according to their Hamilton scores: a control group including patients without anxiety who were not taking curcumin (Cont, n = 22) and an anxiety group including patients with moderate anxiety (Anx, n = 22). The curcumin-treated patients experienced moderate anxiety, and they take curcumin for 15 consecutive days (Anx-Cur (after), n = 15, 1800 mg/day). An evaluation of 128 patients was conducted, which allowed for their assignment to the study groups according to their scores on Hamilton scale II. The cortisol levels were quantified in salivary samples through ELISA (ng/mL), and malonaldehyde (MDA) levels were measured in plasma via the TBARS assay as an index of lipoperoxidation. Several systemic proinflammatory cytokines (pg/mL: MCP-1, TNF alpha, IL-1 beta) and mediators were quantified through ELISA (pg/mL), including systemic sCD14 levels as a marker of monocyte activation. A two-way bifactorial ANOVA was conducted to evaluate the contributions of the anxiety factor (Anx) and/or curcumin factor (Cur) in all the tested markers, including interactions between both factors. High systemic MCP-1 and elevated sCD14 levels were observed in patients with moderate anxiety, which were reduced with curcumin supplementation. In addition, curcumin prevented cortisol overexpression and decreased MDA levels as an antioxidant response in these patients. Collectively, curcumin presented anti-chemotactic effects by reducing systemic MCP-1 levels in anxiety. Curcumin decreased systemic MCP-1 as well as sCD14 levels in patients with moderate anxiety.

Targeting Gut Microbiota with Probiotics and Phenolic Compounds in the Treatment of Atherosclerosis: A Comprehensive Review.

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory vascular disease. Dysregulated lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation are the major mechanisms implicated in the development of AS. In addition, evidence suggests that gut dysbiosis plays an important role in atherogenesis, and modulation of the gut microbiota with probiotics and phenolic compounds has emerged as a promising strategy for preventing and treating AS. It has been shown that probiotics and phenolic compounds can improve atherosclerosis-related parameters by improving lipid profile, oxidative stress, and inflammation. In addition, these compounds may modulate the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota and improve atherosclerosis. The studies evaluated in the present review showed that probiotics and phenolic compounds, when consumed individually, improved atherosclerosis by modulating the gut microbiota in various ways, such as decreasing gut permeability, decreasing TMAO and LPS levels, altering alpha and beta diversity, and increasing fecal bile acid loss. However, no study was found that evaluated the combined use of probiotics and phenolic compounds to improve atherosclerosis. The available literature highlights the synergistic potential between phenolic compounds and probiotics to improve their health-promoting properties and functionalities. This review aims to summarize the available evidence on the individual effects of probiotics and phenolic compounds on AS, while providing insights into the potential benefits of nutraceutical approaches using probiotic strains, quercetin, and resveratrol as potential adjuvant therapies for AS treatment through modulation of the gut microbiota.

The Association between Food Groups, Nutraceuticals, and Food Supplements Consumption on Vascular Health Outcomes: A Literature Review.

Vascular aging, marked by alterations in the structure and function of blood vessels, including heightened arterial stiffness and impaired endothelial function, is linked to a higher likelihood of developing cardiovascular and age-associated pathological conditions. Oxidative stress and inflammation are key stimulation factors in vascular aging. Engaging in healthy dietary habits could enhance the functioning of blood vessels. The aim of this study was to conduct a literature review of the evidence regarding the relationship between food regimens, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements and vascular health. A search of electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection, was performed. Experimental and observational studies evaluating the association between food groups, nutraceuticals, supplements, and endothelial function and/or arterial stiffness were deemed eligible for this narrative review. Based on the current body of the included studies, food groups, nutraceuticals, and dietary supplements may not demonstrate superiority over placebos in enhancing markers of vascular health. To obtain more reliable evidence on the effectiveness of interventions in vascular health, additional RCTs with larger sample sizes, extended follow-up periods, and multi-center participation are necessary. Enhancing the credibility of these RCTs requires better control of dietary variables and more precise measurement of vascular health markers.

Lilium brownii/Baihe as Nutraceuticals: Insights into Its Composition and Therapeutic Properties.

Nutraceuticals are compounds or components in food that offer health benefits. They can be incorporated into food to make it functional or used as supplements or medicine. Lilium brownii/Baihe is one of the classic nutraceuticals. The chemical composition of Lilium is complex and has a variety of pharmacological effects. Moreover, the compound preparation based on Lilium has been used in the treatment of respiratory diseases in traditional Chinese medicine. In addition, Lanzhou lily has become food on the dinner table. Therefore, Lilium brownii/Baihe is a nutraceutical with a long history. Based on the current understanding of Lilium, this review provides an in-depth discussion of the bioactive components and pharmacological effects of Lilium. This is important to provide theoretical reference for the in-depth study of Lilium as well as its development and application in medicine, food, and other industries.

Enhancing Oral 5-ASA Effectiveness in Mild-to-Moderate Ulcerative Colitis through an H. erinaceus-Based Nutraceutical Add-on Multi-Compound: The "HERICIUM-UC" Two-Arm Multicentre Retrospective Study.

Mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis (UC) management is centred on 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) derivatives. Whether supplementing 5-ASA with nutraceuticals can provide real advantages in UC-relevant outcomes is unclear. This retrospective multicentre study compared clinical remission, response rates, and faecal calprotectin levels in a two-arm design, including patients treated with 5-ASA alone and those with additional H. erinaceus-based multi-compound supplementation. In the 5-ASA alone group, clinical response rates were 41% at three months (T1) and 60.2% at six months (T2), while corresponding clinical remission rates were 16.9% and 36.1%. In the nutraceutical supplementation group, clinical response rates were 49.6% (T1) and 70.4% (T2), with clinical remission rates of 30.4% (T1) and 50.9% (T2). No significant differences in clinical response rates between the groups at T1 (p = 0.231) and T2 (p = 0.143) emerged. Clinical remission rates differed significantly at both time points (p = 0.029 and p = 0.042, respectively). Faecal calprotectin levels decreased significantly in both groups during the retrospective follow-up (p < 0.05), and this was more pronounced in nutraceutical supplementation patients at both T1 (p = 0.005) and T2 (p = 0.01). No adverse events were reported. This multi-component nutraceutical supplementation offers real-world potential in controlling disease activity in patients with mild-to-moderate UC.

Nutritional Strategies to Alleviate Stress and Improve Welfare in Dairy Ruminants.

Dairy ruminants provide a major part of the livestock and agriculture sectors. Due to the increase in world population and the subsequent increase in dairy product demands, the dairy sector has been intensified. Dairy farming intensification and the subsequent increase in animal nutritional demands and the increase in the average global temperature as well have subjected animals to various stress conditions that impact their health and welfare. Various management practices and nutritional strategies have been proposed and studied to alleviate these impacts, especially under heat stress, as well as during critical periods, like the transition period. Some of the nutritional interventions to cope with stress factors and ensure optimal health and production are the inclusion of functional fatty acids and amino acids and feed additives (minerals, prebiotics, probiotics, essential oils and herbs, phytobiotics, enzymes, etc.) that have been proven to regulate animals' metabolism and improve their antioxidant status and immune function. Thus, these nutritional strategies could be the key to ensuring optimum growth, milk production, and reproduction efficiency. This review summarizes and highlights key nutritional approaches to support the remarkable metabolic adaptations ruminants are facing during the transition period and to reduce heat stress effects and evaluate their beneficial effects on animal physiology, performance, health, as well as welfare.

Nutraceuticals in Pregnancy: A Special Focus on Probiotics.

The placenta is crucial to fetal development and performs vital functions such as nutrient exchange, waste removal and hormone regulation. Abnormal placental development can lead to conditions such as fetal growth restriction, pre-eclampsia and stillbirth, affecting both immediate and long-term fetal health. Placental development is a highly complex process involving interactions between maternal and fetal components, imprinted genes, signaling pathways, mitochondria, fetal sexomes and environmental factors such as diet, supplementation and exercise. Probiotics have been shown to make a significant contribution to prenatal health, placental health and fetal development, with associations with reduced risk of preterm birth and pre-eclampsia, as well as improvements in maternal health through effects on gut microbiota, lipid metabolism, vaginal infections, gestational diabetes, allergic diseases and inflammation. This review summarizes key studies on the influence of dietary supplementation on placental development, with a focus on the role of probiotics in prenatal health and fetal development.