Nutrition and Dietary Intervention in Cancer: Gaps, Challenges, and Future Perspectives.

The term "cancer" refers to the state in which cells in the body develop mutations and lose control over their replication. Malignant cancerous cells invade in various other tissue sites of the body. Chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are the first-line modalities for the majority of solid cancers. These treatments work by mitigating the DNA damage of cancerous cells, but they can also cause harm to healthy cells. These side effects might be immediate or delayed, and they can cause a high rate of morbidity and mortality. Dietary interventions have a profound impact on whole-body metabolism, including immunometabolism and oncometabolism which have been shown to reduce cancer growth, progression, and metastasis in many different solid tumor models with promising outcomes in early phase clinical studies. Dietary interventions can improve oncologic or quality-of-life outcomes for patients that are undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In this chapter, we will focus on the impact of nutritional deficiencies, several dietary interventions and their proposed mechanisms which are used as a novel therapy in controlling and managing cancers.

Caffeine intake and its association with nutrition, sleep, and physical activity among schoolchildren in the United Arab Emirates: a national cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Recent surveys indicate a significant increase in total caffeine intake among schoolchildren. Limited research has been published concerning the total intake of caffeine among schoolchildren in the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including the UAE. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey estimated the total caffeine intake from foods and beverages among 10,275 schoolchildren in the UAE. Caffeine intakes were related to the European Food Safety Authority's level of no safety concern (3.0 mg/kg BW) and level of effects on sleep (1.4 mg/kg BW). RESULTS: More than half (56.2%) of the students consumed more than 100 mg (the upper limit allowed) of caffeine from dietary sources. High intake of caffeine (> 100 mg/day) was significantly associated (p = 0.001) with reduced sleep duration, difficulty falling asleep, infrequent exercising, using smart devices for more than 2 h a day, getting a lower GPA, skipping breakfast, eating fewer servings of vegetables than recommended, frequent consumption of fast food and more frequent snack consumption. CONCLUSION: Excessive intake of caffeine from different dietary sources coexists with unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors and sleep problems. Tailoring educational programs and intervention strategies is warranted to correct the unhealthy intake of caffeine and the associated unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors among schoolchildren in the UAE.

Effect of Calorie Restriction and Intermittent Fasting Regimens on Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor Levels and Cognitive Function in Humans: A Systematic Review.

Background: The potential positive interaction between intermittent fasting (IF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on cognitive function has been widely discussed. This systematic review tried to assess the efficacy of interventions with different IF regimens on BDNF levels and their association with cognitive functions in humans. Interventions with different forms of IF such as caloric restriction (CR), alternate-day fasting (ADF), time-restricted eating (TRE), and the Ramadan model of intermittent fasting (RIF) were targeted. Methods: A systematic review was conducted for experimental and observational studies on healthy people and patients with diseases published in EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases from January 2000 to December 2023. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statements (PRISMA) for writing this review. Results: Sixteen research works conducted on healthy people and patients with metabolic disorders met the inclusion criteria for this systematic review. Five studies showed a significant increase in BDNF after the intervention, while five studies reported a significant decrease in BDNF levels, and the other six studies showed no significant changes in BDNF levels due to IF regimens. Moreover, five studies examined the RIF protocol, of which, three studies showed a significant reduction, while two showed a significant increase in BDNF levels, along with an improvement in cognitive function after RIF. Conclusions: The current findings suggest that IF has varying effects on BDNF levels and cognitive functions in healthy, overweight/obese individuals and patients with metabolic conditions. However, few human studies have shown that IF increases BDNF levels, with controversial results. In humans, IF has yet to be fully investigated in terms of its long-term effect on BDNF and cognitive functions. Large-scale, well-controlled studies with high-quality data are warranted to elucidate the impact of the IF regimens on BDNF levels and cognitive functions.

A Status Review on Health-Promoting Properties and Global Regulation of Essential Oils.

Since ancient times, essential oils (EOs) have been known for their therapeutic potential against many health issues. Recent studies suggest that EOs may contribute to the regulation and modulation of various biomarkers and cellular pathways responsible for metabolic health as well as the development of many diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and bacterial infections. During metabolic dysfunction and even infections, the immune system becomes compromised and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines that lead to serious health consequences. The bioactive compounds present in EOs (especially terpenoids and phenylpropanoids) with different chemical compositions from fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants confer protection against these metabolic and infectious diseases through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. In this review, we have highlighted some targeted physiological and cellular actions through which EOs may exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. In addition, it has been observed that EOs from specific plant sources may play a significant role in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, microbial infections, and increasing breast milk production, along with improvements in heart, liver, and brain health. The current status of the bioactive activities of EOs and their therapeutic effects are covered in this review. However, with respect to the health benefits of EOs, it is very important to regulate the dose and usage of EOs to reduce their adverse health effects. Therefore, we specified that some countries have their own regulatory bodies while others follow WHO and FAO standards and legislation for the use of EOs.

An overview of dengue viral infection circulating in Pakistan.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: Dengue virus (DENV) is an RNA virus that infects approximately 2.5 billion people around the world. The incidence of dengue fever has rapidly increased at an alarming rate in the last few years and has affected thousands of people in Pakistan. This review explores the prevalence, serotypes and pathogenesis of dengue virus circulating in Pakistan. METHODS: A systematic review of observational studies published between 1994 and December 2019 was performed. All records of the confirmed outbreak of dengue fever in Pakistan were reviewed and articles containing no primary data were excluded. RESULTS: Four identified serotypes of dengue virus (DENV 1-4) circulate in different regions of the world causing epidemics. The most prevalent serotype, which is still epidemic and dominant in Pakistan, is DENV-2. Many factors like over-population, rapid urbanization, travelling, lack of vector control in dengue endemic areas and inadequate health-care are responsible of dynamic and huge raise of dengue in Pakistan. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION: Currently there is no specific treatment for prevention of dengue virus. Recently some antiviral compounds were being tested to eradicate this disease. There is a need to develop an efficient and safe vaccine for all four serotypes to combat dengue viral infection globally and particularly in Pakistan.

Effect of Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine on Cytokine Release Syndrome in Patients with COVID-19.

Objective: To assess the effect of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine on cytokine release syndrome (CRS) in adult patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) having mild to moderate symptoms.Methods: This blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized study was conducted in the Department of Medicine, Pak Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, from June 1-15, 2020. A total of 150 hospitalized patients were enrolled after diagnoses with COVID-19 through reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). They were divided into three groups: hydroxychloroquine plus general care (HGC, n=50), chloroquine plus general care (CGC, n=50); and only general care (OGC, n=50). The HGC group received treatment with hydroxychloroquine 400 mg every 12 hours for day one and 200 mg for the next 4 days. The CGC group received treatment with chloroquine 250 mg every 12 hours for 7 days. The OGC group was kept as a control with only general care. After 12 days, the patients were screened for development of CRS through detection of interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum samples by using Roche cobas e411 electrochemiluminescence immunoassay analyzer.Results: The mean duration from onset of symptoms to randomization was 7.65 days (SD = 3.287 days; range, 2-15 days). The mean age of patients was 37.57 (range 19-63) years. Results showed that out of a total 150 patients, only 10 patients (6%, mean=1.93; CI=1.89-1.97, P=0.651) developed CRS in all study groups. Four patients (8%) developed CRS in the HGC group, 2 patients (4%) in the CGC group, and 4 patients (8%) in the OGC group. There was no significant difference in the mean level of CRS among study groups.Conclusion: Administration of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine has no effect in reducing the development of CRS in patients with COVID-19 having mild to moderate symptoms.

EGCG regulates CTR1 expression through its pro-oxidative property in non-small-cell lung cancer cells.

Copper transporter 1 (CTR1) plays an important role in increasing cisplatin intake. Our previous studies showed that CTR1 expression was upregulated by (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a green tea polyphenol, therefore enhanced cisplatin sensitivity in ovary cancer and non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. In the current study in the non-small-cell lung cancer cells, we uncovered a potential mechanism of EGCG-induced CTR1 through its pro-oxidative property. We found that EGCG increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, while in the presence of ROS scavenger N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), ROS production was eliminated. Changes of CTR1 expression were consistent with the ROS level. Simultaneously, EGCG downregulated ERK1/2 while upregulated lncRNA nuclear paraspeckle assembly transcript 1 (NEAT1) through ROS to induce CTR1 expression. Besides, in a nude mouse xenografts model, EGCG treatment raised ROS level, expression of CTR1 and NEAT1 in tumor tissue. Also, ERK1/2 and p-ERK1/2 were suppressed as well. Taken together, these results suggested a novel mechanism that EGCG mediated ROS to regulate CTR1 expression through the ERK1/2/NEAT1 signaling pathway, which provided more possibilities for EGCG as a natural agent in adjuvant therapy of lung cancer.

Effect of time-restricted feeding on metabolic risk and circadian rhythm associated with gut microbiome in healthy males.

Time-restricted feeding (TRF) confers protection against nutritional challenges that predispose obesity and metabolic risks through involvement of circadian locomotor output cycles protein kaput genes and gut microbiome, but the underlying mechanism is not clearly understood. Therefore, the present study examined the effects of TRF on metabolic markers and circadian rhythm associated with gut microbiota in healthy males. Two groups (TRF, n 56; non-TRF, n 24) of male adults were enrolled. The TRF group provided blood at pre-TRF and post-TRF, while non-TRF one time after 25 d of trial. Serum lipid and liver profiles were determined. Real time-PCR was applied for circadian and inflammatory gene expression. The 16S rRNA genes were sequenced on the Illumina Miseq v3 platform to comprehensively catalogue the composition and abundance of bacteria in stool. We showed that TRF ameliorated the serum lipid and liver profiles of the individuals. In the TRF group, gut microbial richness was significantly enhanced, with enrichment of Prevotellaceae and Bacteroideaceae. TRF enhanced circadian gene expression probably by activation of sirtuin-1, which is positively associated with gut microbiome richness. TRF could be a safe remedy for the prevention of metabolic diseases related to dyslipidaemia, as it regulates circadian rhythm associated with gut microbiome modulation.

Regulation of circadian rhythms by NEAT1 mediated TMAO-induced endothelial proliferation: A protective role of asparagus extract.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) promotes atherosclerosis in association with the functions of endothelial cells. Clock and Bmal1, as two main components of molecular circadian clock, play important regulatory roles during progression of atherogenesis. However, whether Clock and Bmal1 are involved in the regulation of endothelial proliferation disturbed by TMAO are unclear. We observed that cell proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was inhibited after exposed to TMAO for 24 h. Besides, TMAO caused increased expression of lncRNA-NEAT1, Clock and Bmal1, and inhibited MAPK pathways. While MAPK pathways were blocked, the expression of Clock and Bmal1 was elevated. NEAT1 showed a circadian rhythmic expression in HUVECs, and its overexpression reduced cell proliferation. Knockdown or overexpression of NEAT1 might decrease or increase the expression of Clock and Bmal1 respectively, while raised or suppressed the expression of MAPK pathways correspondingly. Asparagus extract (AE) was found to improve the TMAO-reduced HUVECs proliferation. Moreover, it ameliorated the disorders of NEAT1, Clock, Bmal1, and MAPK signaling pathways induced by TMAO. Therefore, our findings indicated that NEAT1 regulating Clock-Bmal1 via MAPK pathways was involved in TMAO-repressed HUVECs proliferation, and AE improved endothelial proliferation by TMAO, proposing a novel mechanism for cardiovascular disease prevention.

Identification of Body Composition, Dietary Patterns and Its Associated Factors in Medical University Students in China.

This study aimed to measure the body composition, dietary patterns and its associated factors in medical students. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 695 students studying at Nanjing medical university, China. Data regarding dietary intake factors was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. Principle component analysis and multivariate linear regressions were used. Body composition including BMI and visceral fats index of the males were significantly higher (P < .05) than females. While body fats percentage and fats mass index/free fat mass index (FMI/FFMI) ratio of females was significantly higher (P < .05) than males. Three dietary patterns were identified: western dietary pattern, meat pattern, and vegetables and fruits pattern. The western pattern was having an independent negative association (P < .05) with age and financial status, while positive association (P < .05) with sleeping duration and FMI/FFMI ratio. Vegetables and fruits patterns was having positive association with physical exercise and while negative association with FMI/FFMI ratio. Meat pattern was having positive association with educational levels and sleeping duration, while negative association with physical exercise and FMI/FFMI ratio. In conclusion, medical students adopted less healthy dietary patterns as compared to healthy dietary patterns, which were found to be more associated with some adverse dietary and lifestyle behavior outcomes.

Acrolein-induced atherogenesis by stimulation of hepatic flavin containing monooxygenase 3 and a protection from hydroxytyrosol.

Acrolein, a highly toxic α, ß-unsaturated aldehyde, promotes the progression of atherosclerosis in association with inflammatory signaling pathway and reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) process. Additionally, hepatic flavin containing monooxygenase 3 (FMO3) is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by regulating cholesterol metabolism. Hydroxytyrosol (HT), as a major phenolic compound in olive oil, exerts anti-inflammatory and anti-atherogenic activities in vitro and animal models. The current study was designed to evaluate whether FMO3 participated in pro-atherogenic process by acrolein and HT showed protective effect during this process. Here, endothelial cells and macrophage Raw264.7 cells were used as the cell models. Following oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OX-LDL) treatment, acrolein exposure promoted foam cells formation in macrophage Raw264.7 cells. The expression of FMO3 and inflammatory makers such as phospho-NF-κB, IL-1ß, TNFα as well as IL-6 were significantly increased. However, ATP-binding cassette transporters subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), a major transporter in RCT process, was repressed by acrolein. In addition, FMO3 knockdown could suppress inflammatory markers and promote ABCA1 expression. Hydroxytyrosol (HT) was observed to reduce lipid accumulation, FMO3 expression as well as inflammatory response. Moreover, it promoted ABCA1 expression. Therefore, our findings indicated that acrolein-enhanced atherogenesis by increasing FMO3 which increased inflammatory responses and decreased ABCA1 in vitro can be alleviated by HT, which may have a therapeutic potential for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Supplementation of garlic and coriander seed powder: Impact on body mass index, lipid profile and blood pressure of hyperlipidemic patients.

Garlic and coriander play an obligatory role in the metabolism of lipids leading to the reduction of CVD development. We hypothesized that garlic, coriander and their mixture improves the lipid profile, BMI and blood pressure of CVD patients. Eighty patients were partitioned into 4 groups, each group consisting of twenty patients. The groups were randomly assigned to three supplements i.e. garlic powder (GP), coriander seed powder (CSP) and mixture (1:1 dry weight basis) of GP and CSP at a dose rate of 2 g/day. The fourth group was kept as placebo. The patients were examined for serum lipid profile, BMI and blood pressure at the start (0 day), 20, 40 and 60th day of supplementation. The initial 40 days were the intervention period whereas the last 20 days were the follow up period. The results indicated that all the supplements significantly (p<0.05) influenced the BMI, HDL, total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and systolic blood pressure of the patients. Among the supplements, GP had the highest influenced on BMI, TC, LDL and HDL whereas the impact of GP-CSP and CSP was more pronounced on TGL and blood pressure of the patients, respectively. All the parameters decreased with supplementation except HDL, which increased with the consumption of supplements. It was concluded that consumption of garlic, coriander and their mixture at a dose rate of 2 g/day is improving the lipid parameters of the patients.

Beyond pillbox: a national cross-sectional study on the attitudes, practices, and knowledge of community pharmacists regarding complementary and alternative medicine.

BACKGROUND: While community pharmacists are uniquely positioned to promote the safe and effective use of complementary and alternative medicine, their potential role remains largely untapped. The objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine products among community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates and explore the correlates of knowledge in the study sample. METHODS: Using a stratified random sampling frame, a national survey of community pharmacists was conducted in the United Arab Emirates. In a face-to-face interaction, participants completed a multi-component questionnaire consisting of four sections: sociodemographic and general characteristics; knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine products and usage; attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine and practices related to complementary and alternative medicine. Based on participants' answers, scores were calculated with higher scores indicating more positive knowledge, attitudes, and practices. RESULTS: 373 community pharmacists participated in the study (response rate: 83%). For the knowledge questions, more than 50% of community pharmacists correctly answered the functions of complementary and alternative medicine, however lower percentages were noted for the side effects and drug interactions questions. Most community pharmacists had positive attitudes towards complementary and alternative medicine, except for particular aspects such as efficacy, where 40% agreed that complementary and alternative medicine is only effective in treating minor complaints. As for practices, while more than 70% of participants counseled patients on complementary and alternative medicine use, only 47% reported the toxic effects when encountered. Multiple linear regressions showed that community pharmacists working in independent pharmacies, those with fewer years of experience, and those who did not receive complementary and alternative medicine education during their academic degree had lower knowledge scores (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study showed that community pharmacists in the United Arab Emirates have good knowledge of complementary and alternative medicine functions and generally positive attitudes and practices, with few gaps identified in each. Together, these findings provide critical evidence for the development of targeted interventions to promote the role of community pharmacists towards safe and effective complementary and alternative medicine use in the country.

Molecular crosstalk between polyphenols and gut microbiota in cancer prevention.

A growing body of evidence suggests that cancer remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In recent years, the molecular crosstalk between polyphenols and gut microbiota has emerged as a promising pathway for cancer prevention. Polyphenols, abundant in many plant-based foods, possess diverse bioactive properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. The gut microbiota, a complex microbial community residing in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in a host's health and disease risks. This review highlights cancer suppressive and oncogenic mechanisms of gut microbiota, the intricate interplay between gut microbiota modulation and polyphenol biotransformation, and the potential therapeutic implications of this interplay in cancer prevention. Furthermore, this review explores the molecular mechanisms underpinning the synergistic effects of polyphenols and the gut microbiota, such as modulation of signaling pathways and immune response and epigenetic modifications in animal and human studies. The current review also summarizes the challenges and future directions in this field, including the development of personalized approaches that consider interindividual variations in gut microbiota composition and function. Understanding the molecular crosstalk could offer new perspectives for the development of personalized cancer therapies targeting the polyphenol-gut axis. Future clinical trials are needed to validate the potential role of polyphenols and gut microbiota as innovative therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Exploring the relationship of cognitive function with and without COVID-19 recovered schizophrenic patients.

Background: The Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is linked to the deterioration of cognitive function among individuals suffering from schizophrenia. The purpose of this study was to compare the cognitive performance of schizophrenic patients before and after COVID-19. Methods: A longitudinal cohort study involving a sample of 219 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia was enrolled between June 2022 and May 2023. The participants were split into two groups infected with COVID-19 (n = 165) and not infected with COVID-19 (n = 54). The data were gathered via a questionnaire on demographic characteristics, the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia (BACS), the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS), the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale, and the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Results: The repeated-measures ANOVA showed that Among patients diagnosed with COVID-19, there was a deterioration in global cognitive function (before COVID-19 = -2.45 vs. after COVID-19 = -3.02, p = 0.007), working memory (before COVID-19 = -2.76 vs. after COVID-19 = -3.34, p < 0.00 1), motor speed (before COVID-19 = -1.64 vs. after COVID-19 = -2.12, p < 0.001), attention and speed of information processing (before COVID-19 = -1.93 vs. after COVID-19 = -1.16, p = 0.008). multi-variable analysis showed that several factors as having a secondary grade of education (ß = 0.434), experiencing insomnia (ß = 0.411)and the interaction between COVID-19 diagnosis and cognition at baseline (ß = 0.796) were significantly associated with cognitive deficits. At the same time, no significant associations were found between global cognition and clinical symptoms, autonomy, or depression (p > 0.05). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted various cognitive functions, such as verbal memory, working memory, and global cognition. Insomnia has been identified as the predominant determinant of cognitive impairment, alongside the confirmation of a COVID-19 diagnosis. Additional research is imperative to elucidate the diversification of cognitive functionality observed in individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia who have acquired COVID-19.

Interaction between gut microbiota metabolites and dietary components in lipid metabolism and metabolic diseases.

Gut microbiota composition has caused perplexity in developing precision therapy to cure metabolic disorders. However, recent research has focused on using daily diet and natural bioactive compounds to correct gut microbiota dysbiosis and regulate host metabolism. Complex interactions between the gut microbiota and dietary compounds disrupt or integrate the gut barrier and lipid metabolism. In this review, we investigate the role of diet and bioactive natural compounds in gut microbiota dysbiosis and also the modulation of lipid metabolism by their metabolites. Recent studies have revealed that diet, natural compounds and phytochemicals impact significantly on lipid metabolism in animals and humans. These findings suggest that dietary components or natural bioactive compounds have a significant impact on microbial dysbiosis linked to metabolic diseases. The interaction between dietary components or natural bioactive compounds and gut microbiota metabolites can regulate lipid metabolism. Additionally, natural products can shape the gut microbiota and improve barrier integrity by interacting with gut metabolites and their precursors, even in unfavourable conditions, potentially contributing to the alignment of host physiology.

An innovative state-of-the-art health storytelling technique for better management of type 2 diabetes.

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic lifelong disease that requires long-term prevention and management strategies in a community setting. A health story is a novel technique that may be used as an effective tool for better prevention and management of T2D. Objective: The main objective of this study is to develop a story to be used as a social health technique based on contemporary scientific knowledge that may be used at a community level for better communication and management of T2D. Methods: A community-academic partnership was formed with a not-for-profit Nutrition Education, Awareness, and Training (NEAT) organization in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. We agreed to develop a story that may be used as a health and nutrition education communication tool for better management of patients with T2D. The following phases were followed during the story creation process: (1) the theory phase, (2) the modeling phase, and (3) the evaluation phase. Raters evaluated the story to determine its literary and scientific quality, comprehensiveness, and T2D specificity. Results: The title of the story translated into English is "The Story of Diabetes-The Story of Success." It is text based and contains 86 pages in the local language, "Pashto," with an English translation. The story is divided into five chapters and describes the initial diagnosis, fear associated with the disease, issues related to referral to certified practitioners, the importance of a balanced diet, and related lifestyle habits. After story evaluation, the raters suggested its literary and scientific quality, comprehensiveness, and T2D specificity (Pearson correlation scores of >0.8). Conclusion: This unique story was created for T2D and found to be of significant quality in terms of its literary and scientific quality, as well as its comprehensiveness and diabetes specificity. As a result, it may be suggested that it can be used in subsequent studies to improve T2D management among adult patients.

Gut Microbiota and Time-Restricted Feeding/Eating: A Targeted Biomarker and Approach in Precision Nutrition.

Each individual has a unique gut microbiota; therefore, the genes in our microbiome outnumber the genes in our genome by about 150 to 1. Perturbation in host nutritional status influences gut microbiome composition and vice versa. The gut microbiome can help in producing vitamins, hormones, and other active metabolites that support the immune system; harvest energy from food; aid in digestion; protect against pathogens; improve gut transit and function; send signals to the brain and other organs; oscillate the circadian rhythm; and coordinate with the host metabolism through multiple cellular pathways. Gut microbiota can be influenced by host genetics, medications, diet, and lifestyle factors from preterm to aging. Aligning with precision nutrition, identifying a personalized microbiome mandates the provision of the right nutrients at the right time to the right patient. Thus, before prescribing a personalized treatment, it is crucial to monitor and count the gut flora as a focused biomarker. Many nutritional approaches that have been developed help in maintaining and restoring an optimal microbiome such as specific diet therapy, nutrition interventions, and customized eating patterns. One of these approaches is time-restricted feeding/eating (TRF/E), a type of intermittent fasting (IF) in which a subject abstains from food intake for a specific time window. Such a dietary modification might alter and restore the gut microbiome for proper alignment of cellular and molecular pathways throughout the lifespan. In this review, we have highlighted that the gut microbiota would be a targeted biomarker and TRF/E would be a targeted approach for restoring the gut-microbiome-associated molecular pathways such as hormonal signaling, the circadian system, metabolic regulators, neural responses, and immune-inflammatory pathways. Consequently, modulation of the gut microbiota through TRF/E could contribute to proper utilization and availability of the nutrients and in this way confer protection against diseases for harnessing personalized nutrition approaches to improve human health.

Effect of Ajwa date pits powder (Phoenix dactylifera L.) on body composition, lipid profile and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia: A randomized clinical trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of Ajwa dates pit powder (ADP) on lipid profile, body composition and blood pressure in patients with hyperlipidemia. Materials and Methods: This randomized controlled clinical study was carried out on 40 patients with total cholesterol >200 mg/dl, triglycerides >150 mg/dl and BMI >25, of either sex, aged 30-50 years, who were recruited through written consent. The patients were divided into two groups (n=20 each): the ADP and the control group (CG). All patients received the doctor's prescribed class A statin (Rosuvastatin/ Atorvastatin) 10 mg/day, while 2.7 g ADP was given on daily basis before breakfast with lukewarm water for 40 days and the control group received the same amount of wheat flour. Body composition, blood pressure and lipid profile were determined at baseline, and after 20 and 40 days. Data were analyzed by using SPSS and GraphPad Prism. Results: ADP significantly reduced body weight (p<0.001), BMI (p<0.001), fat mass, body fat percentage, visceral fat area and waist circumference compared to the control group. Similarly, ADP significantly (p=0.000) decreased the serum level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. Conclusion: ADP may have the potential to improve dyslipidemia and obesity.

Caffeinated energy drink consumption among Emirati adolescents is associated with a cluster of poor physical and mental health, and unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Consumption of caffeinated energy drinks (CED) has escalated during the last few years, especially among schoolchildren, with evident adverse health sequelae in this critical age group. Objective: This study examined the prevalence of CED consumption and its associations with sleep, physical and mental health, and dietary and lifestyle habits among schoolchildren in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Method: A structured self-administered online questionnaire was developed and disseminated among schoolchildren aged 14-18 years, selected from schools of the seven emirates of the UAE. Results: More than 4,500 (N= 4,648) responses received. A relatively low prevalence of CED consumption (20%) was found among schoolchildren in the UAE. However, those who reported CED consumption were more likely to report unhealthy dietary (skipping breakfast, frequent snacking, and eating fast foods, low fruit, and vegetable intake) and lifestyle behaviors (long screen time, poor sleep health), in addition to poor self-reported mental and physical health than non-users. CED consumption was significantly and variably associated with multiple sociodemographic factors such as students' nationality, parental companionship, sex, school type, education level (children's and parents'), daily allowance, academic performance, screen time, sleep quality parameters, self-reported physical and mental health, and parents' employment. Sources of knowledge about CED were social media (55%), friends/schoolmates (52%), and family members (52%). Students believed that CED constitute sugar (87%), caffeine (69%), artificial flavors (67%) sweeteners (54%), and stimulating components (43%). The majority (70%) of students reported that CED consumption increases the risks for heart disease, diabetes, high blood sugar (65%), addiction (64%), high blood pressure (59%), and obesity (57%). Conclusion: These results offer important insights for health professionals, child health specialists, policymakers, and parents in the UAE regarding adolescents' attitudes, knowledge and behaviors toward CED consumption.