Efficacy of multigrain supplementation in type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study protocol for a randomized intervention trial.

BACKGROUND: Uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) may lead to microvascular complications (nephropathy, retinopathy, and neuropathy) and cardiovascular diseases. The beta-glucan content in grains has the potential to improve insulin sensitivity, lowering postprandial glucose response and reducing inflammation degrees. A proper combination of grains not only satisfies human body's need, but also provides essential and reasonable nutritional contents. However, no trial has been conducted to evaluate the roles of multigrain in T2DM. AIM: To determine the efficacy of multigrain supplementation among T2DM patients. METHODS: From October 2020 to June 2021, a total of 50 adults living with T2DM, who were receiving standard diabetes care at Day Care Clinic, were randomized into either a supplementation group or a control group. The supplementation group received twice daily 30 g multigrain supplement (equivalent to 3.4 g beta-glucan) with standard medication for 12 wk, while the control group was prescribed with standard medication. Parameters such as glycemic control (HbA1c, FPG, and HOMO-IR), cardiometabolic profile (lipid profile, renal function test, and liver function test), oxidative stress status, nutritional status, and quality of life (QoL) were assessed at two time points: Baseline and the end of the treatment period (week 12). RESULTS: The primary outcomes were the mean difference of glycated haemoglobin (%), fasting plasma glucose, and serum insulin as intervention effects. Secondary outcomes included the measurement of cardiometabolic profile, antioxidative and oxidative stress status, nutritional status indices, and QoL. Tertiary outcomes involved the determination of safety and tolerability, and supplementation compliance. CONCLUSION: The present clinical trial will reveal the effectiveness of multigrain supplementation among T2DM patients for the improvement of diabetes management.

Health Complaints, Mental Status and Quality of Life among the Aquaculture Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia.

Aquaculture is seen as an essential food-producing sector for improving global food security and nutrition indices. This cross-sectional study examined the health complaints and mental health status of aquaculture workers, as well as their relationship with quality of life, with respect to the brackish water and freshwater aquaculture cultivation system in Penang, Malaysia. The workers' health complaints were collected, and mental health status was evaluated as means of depression, anxiety, stress and self-esteem. Self-perceived quality of life was assessed using a structured questionnaire. This study involved the participation of 88 brackish water (84.6%) and 16 freshwater (15.4%) aquaculture workers. A total of 72.7% of the brackish water aquaculture workers were aged beyond 50 years old and had worked within five years (77.3%) in the aquaculture industry. Both brackish water and freshwater cultivation workers were confronted with fatigue, pain and insomnia. Up to 48%, 40.4%, 26% and 24% of them were facing depression, anxiety, stress and low self-esteem, respectively. A total of 3.4% of the brackish water aquaculture workers were having bad quality of life. The complaints of neck/shoulder/arm pain (F = 13.963; p < 0.001), back pain (F = 10.974; p < 0.01), hand/wrist pain (F = 8.041; p < 0.01), knee/hip pain (F = 12.910; p < 0.01) and insomnia (F = 10.936; p < 0.01) were correlated with bad quality of life among the workers. For mental health status, self-esteem (F = 4.157; p < 0.05) was found to be negatively correlated with quality of life scores. The results outlined the concerning level of health complaints and psychological distress among the aquaculture workers. The study emphasized the importance of developing an appropriate occupational health strategy in the aquaculture industry. Longitudinal investigations aimed to explore the effects of psychological distress on employment productivity among the high-risk workers are warranted.

Corrigendum to "Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia Volubilis L.): recent insight on phytochemistry, pharmacology, organoleptic, safety and toxicity perspectives" [Heliyon 8, (9), (September 2022), (2022), e10572].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e10572.].

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia Volubilis L.): recent insight on phytochemistry, pharmacology, organoleptic, safety and toxicity perspectives.

Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia Volubilis L.), SI, is the oleaginous plant of the Euphorbiaceous family originally cultivated in the Amazonian forest. It is traditionally appreciated and consumed as the healthful food. In vivo, in vitro and clinical studies have suggested the beneficial effects of SI for a variety of neuroprotection, dermatology, antidyslipidaemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, antiproliferative and antitumor modulation activities. Many of these potential impacts are related to its bioactive compounds, particularly essential fatty acids, proteins and phytochemicals. However, there are some scientific evidences underlying the risk of toxicity associated with the high doses of SI seed oils. With the aforementioned, this review outlines a narrative review of SI, including its ethnobotanical components, phytochemistry profile, organoleptic and sensory evaluations. The essential development of its latest applications in the field of medicine, pharmacology, safety and toxicological issues, are laconically demonstrated. Moreover, the underlying challenges and upcoming prospective for the integration of SI use are detailed.

Addressing the Neuroprotective Actions of Coffee in Parkinson's Disease: An Emerging Nutrigenomic Analysis.

Caffeine is one of the predominant dietary components and psychostimulants present in coffee, a widely appreciated beverage. Corroborating epidemiological and laboratory evidence have suggested an inverse association between the dietary intakes of coffee and the risk of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Growing attention has been paid to the impact of coffee consumption and genetic susceptibility to PD pathogenesis. Coffee is believed to play prominent roles in mediating the gene makeup and influencing the onset and progression of PD. The current review documents a current discovery of the coffee × gene interaction for the protective management of PD. The evidence underlying its potent impacts on the adenosine receptors (A2AR), estrogen receptors (ESR), heme oxygenase (HO), toxicant responsive genes, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), cytochrome oxidase (Cox), familial parkinsonism genetic susceptibility loci, bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1 (BST1), glutamate receptor gene and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype expressions is outlined. Furthermore, the neuroprotective mechanisms of coffee for the amelioration of PD are elucidated.

Lycopene: A Potent Antioxidant for the Amelioration of Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

Nutrition is of utmost importance in chronic disease management and has often been described as the cornerstone of a variety of non-communicable diseases. In particular, type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represents a prevalent and global public health crisis. Lycopene, a bright red carotenoid hydrocarbon found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, has been extensively studied for its biological activities and treatment efficiency in diabetes care. Epidemiological investigations indicate that lycopene has potential antioxidant properties, is capable of scavenging reactive species, and alleviates oxidative stress in T2DM patients. This review aims to summarize the characteristics and mechanisms of action of lycopene as a potent antioxidant for T2DM. In addition, the evidence demonstrating the effects of lycopene on glycemic control and oxidative stress biomarkers in T2DM are also highlighted using animal and human studies as literature approach.

Traditional fermented foods as vehicle of non-dairy probiotics: Perspectives in South East Asia countries.

Food fermentation is a food processing technology that utilizes the growth and metabolic activity of microorganisms for the stabilization and transformation of food materials. Notwithstanding, the technology has evolved beyond food preservation into a tool for creating desirable organoleptic, nutritional, and functional attributes in food products. This narrative review outlines a compilation of traditional fermented foods which available in the South East Asia (SEA) regions as a source vehicle for non-dairy probiotics. The nutritional values of traditional fermented foods are well-appreciated, especially in the resource-poor regions. The sensory and organoleptic preferences of traditional fermented foods as means of dietary routine variations were demonstrated. Furthermore, the evidence underlying its potent impacts on public health promotion and disease prevention is outlined. Lastly, the challenges and future prospects for the integration of traditional fermented foods practice are elucidated.

The role of lycopene for the amelioration of glycaemic status and peripheral antioxidant capacity among the Type II diabetes mellitus patients: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The use of lycopene as a complementary medicine for Type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is limited and controversial. This study evaluated the effect of lycopene intake on the changes of glycaemic status and antioxidant capacity among the T2DM patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This case-control study involved the participation of 87 patients and 122 healthy individuals. Lycopene intake was assessed by using a food frequency questionnaire. The peripheral antioxidant capacity among the T2DM patients was evaluated. Glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured as indications of glycaemic status. RESULTS: Peripheral antioxidant capacity was significantly lower in the T2DM group. Direct positive correlations were found between the lycopene intake and peripheral antioxidant level among the T2DM patients. Contrarily, HbA1c and FPG levels decreased significantly with the higher lycopene intake. CONCLUSIONS: T2DM patients with a higher lycopene intake showed a greater peripheral antioxidant capacity and better glycaemic control. Lycopene may act to ameliorate oxidative stress and improve the pathophysiology of T2DM.

Celastrol attenuates inflammatory responses in adipose tissues and improves skeletal muscle mitochondrial functions in high fat diet-induced obese rats via upregulation of AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathways.

Accumulating evidence indicates that adipose tissue inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction in skeletal muscle are inextricably linked to obesity and insulin resistance. Celastrol, a bioactive compound derived from the root of Tripterygium wilfordii exhibits a number of attributive properties to attenuate metabolic dysfunction in various cellular and animal disease models. However, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of celastrol in the obesogenic environment in vivo remain elusive. Therefore, the current study investigated the metabolic effects of celastrol on insulin sensitivity, inflammatory response in adipose tissue and mitochondrial functions in skeletal muscle of the high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. Our study revealed that celastrol supplementation at 3 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks significantly reduced the final body weight and enhanced insulin sensitivity of the HFD-fed rats. Celastrol noticeably improved insulin-stimulated glucose uptake activity and increased expression of plasma membrane GLUT4 protein in skeletal muscle. Moreover, celastrol-treated HFD-fed rats showed attenuated inflammatory responses via decreased NF-κB activity and diminished mRNA expression responsible for classically activated macrophage (M1) polarization in adipose tissues. Significant improvement of muscle mitochondrial functions and enhanced antioxidant defense machinery via restoration of mitochondrial complexes I + III linked activity were effectively exhibited by celastrol treatment. Mechanistically, celastrol stimulated mitochondrial biogenesis attributed by upregulation of the adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) signaling pathways. Together, these results further demonstrate heretofore the conceivable therapeutic mechanisms of celastrol in vivo against HFD-induced obesity mediated through attenuation of inflammatory response in adipose tissue and enhanced mitochondrial functions in skeletal muscle.

Effects of honey types and heating treatment on the textural, thermal, microstructural, and chemical properties of glutinous rice flour gels.

Hardening issue in starch-based products that arises during storage, is ascribed to the long-term starch retrogradation which involves the recrystallisation of amylopectin. Present study aimed to delay storage hardening with the addition of high diastase honey bee honey (HBH) and low diastase kelulut bee honey (KBH) into glutinous rice flour (GRF) gels. As compared to KBH, retardation of texture deterioration by HBH was more prominent as evidenced by the significantly (p < .05) lowest hardness and rate of hardening of GRF gel added with HBH (honeygel) throughout the 7-day storage. Heated honey and sugar solution did not reduce gel hardness that gel weakening was associated to the naturally occurring diastase in raw honey. Hence, only conventional GRF gel (congel), GRF gel added with KBH (kelugel) and honeygel were assessed for intrinsic viscosity, thermal, microstructural and chemical properties. The results were substantiated by the significantly (p < .05) lowest intrinsic viscosity (62.93 mL/g) and thermal enthalpy (333.7 J/g) of honeygel. A weak gel network structure was illustrated in honeygel with the significantly (p < .05) highest pore diameter (125.27 µm). In conclusion, the GRF gel has successfully demonstrated the potential of honey diastase in inhibiting the long-term retrogradation which could solve the industrial real problem.

Influence of honey types and heating treatment on the rheological properties of glutinous rice flour gels.

Present study compared the rheological properties of glutinous rice flour (GRF) gel (33.3%, w/v) added with raw bee honey (RBH) or stingless bee honey (SBH) with/without heating treatment. RBH (diatase activity: 12.14 Schade) and SBH (1.53 Schade) significantly reduced the network of GRF gel by lowering the gel viscosity, with RBH having the highest rate of viscosity decrease (- 2.74 × 10-5 Pa). As the addition of heated-SBH or heated-RBH did not reduce gel viscosity, it was hypothesised that active diastase played a major role to weaken gel network. This was further supported by the significant and the lowest storage modulus (G') value of RBH-GRF gel (5.99 ± 0.02 Pa), as compared to SBH-GRF (6.27 ± 0.04 Pa) and control (6.33 ± 0.04 Pa). A detail of rheological behaviour of the gels was further explained using power law. Overall, this GRF gel model has successfully demonstrated the potential of honey diastase in weakening network of starch-based food.

Development of emergency food assistance design: a nutritionally balanced, culturally tailored and cost-effective strategy for flood mitigation.

Emergency food assistance forms an integral component of flood mitigation in Malaysia. A cross-sectional survey investigating emergency food assistance among 202 flood victims was conducted and alternative food assistance plan was developed using linear programming targeting post-disaster food requirement scenarios. From the study, the receipt of food aid was significantly associated with ethnicity, household income, residential area and evacuation into temporary shelters. Linear programming analysis identified nutritionally appropriate food assistance targeting mass feeding, emergency food basket, and immediate food requirement for as low as MYR 6.07 (1.55 USD), MYR 7.14 (1.82 USD), and MYR 8.00 (2.04 USD), respectively. This study provides nutritional guidelines for disaster food assistance policy.

A nutrition education intervention for anthropometric and biochemical profiles of rural older Malays with metabolic syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of a nutrition education intervention package in improving anthropometric, clinical and biochemical indicators of rural older Malays with metabolic syndrome (MS). DESIGN AND SAMPLE: In this study, 47 older Malays diagnosed with MS were assigned to either the intervention group (n = 24) or the control group (n = 23) based on their geographical site. INTERVENTION: The intervention group received nutrition education via group counselling sessions, talks, and cooking and exercise demonstrations using a specifically developed healthy aging package for 6 months. MEASURES: The efficacy of the nutrition education intervention on anthropometric and biochemical parameters was assessed. RESULTS: Women in the nutrition education group showed a significant reduction in waist circumference (p < .01) compared to the control group. Men who received the nutrition education intervention maintained their total cholesterol (TC) level (p < .05) compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The nutrition education intervention showed potential for improving TC levels in men and waist circumference in women with MS. Similar intervention studies could be initiated among the older adults in the community as a preventive measure.

Association between vitamin A, vitamin E and apolipoprotein E status with mild cognitive impairment among elderly people in low-cost residential areas.

RATIONALE: The influence of nutritional parameters and genetic susceptibility on poor cognitive impairment has been documented; however, the association between lipid-soluble vitamins with genetic susceptibility on mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has not yet been studied extensively. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was (i) to determine the prevalence of MCI and its associated risk factors and (2) to investigate the influence of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele on peripheral vitamin A and E concentration in MCI and non-MCI groups. METHODS: A total of 333 subjects aged 60 years and above, residing in public housing areas in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia were interviewed to obtain information on their neuropsychological status. Fasting venous blood was taken for determination of vitamin A and vitamin E concentration using high-performance liquid chromatography. Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis was performed to determine the APOE genotypes. RESULTS: The prevalence of MCI was 21.1%. Binary logistic regression indicated that the predictors of MCI were being married, overweight or obesity, and had vitamin A deficiency. In non-MCI subjects, vitamin E levels were lower among APOEε4 allele carriers as compared to the non-carriers (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The study highlighted the importance of maintaining good nutritional status and vitamin A status for optimal cognitive function. The presence of APOEε4 allele has a prominent role in affecting vitamin E levels, particularly among cognitively healthy elderly in our unique population.

Docosahexaenoic acid-concentrated fish oil supplementation in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a 12-month randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

RATIONALE: Epidemiological studies have suggested a beneficial effect of fish oil supplementation in halting the initial progression of Alzheimer's disease. However, it remains unclear whether fish oil affects cognitive function in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the effects of fish oil supplementation on cognitive function in elderly person with MCI. METHODS: This was a 12-month, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled study using fish oil supplementation with concentrated docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Thirty six low-socioeconomic-status elderly subjects with MCI were randomly assigned to receive either concentrated DHA fish oil (n = 18) or placebo (n = 18) capsules. The changes of memory, psychomotor speed, executive function and attention, and visual-constructive skills were assessed using cognitive tests. Secondary outcomes were safety and tolerability of the DHA concentrate. RESULTS: The fish oil group showed significant improvement in short-term and working memory (F = 9.890; ηp (2) = 0.254; p < 0.0001), immediate verbal memory (F = 3.715; ηp (2) = 0.114; p < 0.05) and delayed recall capability (F = 3.986; ηp (2) = 0.121; p < 0.05). The 12-month change in memory (p < 0.01) was significantly better in the fish oil group. Fish oil consumption was well tolerated, and the side effects were minimal and self-limiting. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggested the potential role of fish oil to improve memory function in MCI subjects. Studies with larger sample sizes, longer intervention periods, different fish oil dosages and genetic determinations should be investigated before definite recommendations can be made.

The role of long chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in reducing lipid peroxidation among elderly patients with mild cognitive impairment: a case-control study.

The present work explores the effect of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) intake on lipid peroxidation among mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients. The plasma lipid hydroperoxide (LPO) levels in 67 MCI patients were compared to those of 134 healthy elderly controls. Omega-3 PUFA intake was assessed using an interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire. Apolipoprotein E genotyping was performed using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion. The association between various confounders and lipid peroxidation was evaluated using regression analysis. The influence of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) intake on LPO level was investigated. The results revealed that LPO levels were significantly higher in the MCI group than in the control group. Inverse correlations were found between DHA and EPA intake and LPO level among the MCI group. LPO levels decreased significantly with increasing DHA and EPA intake. In summary, the findings revealed that DHA and EPA can play a role in alleviating oxidative stress and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.

Prevalence of gender disparities and predictors affecting the occurrence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

The aims were to investigate the prevalence of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) within gender disparities in Malaysian older adults, and to determine the predictors of MCI according to gender disparities. A community-based sample of urban, multiethnic dwelling elderly aged 60 years of age and above from Cheras, Kuala Lumpur was recruited. Prevalence of all-type MCI, amnestic-type MCI (am-MCI) and non-amnestic-type MCI (nam-MCI) was assessed using comprehensive neuropsychological batteries. The association between demography, socioeconomic status, lifestyle practices, and nutritional status and health risk factors with MCI were examined. Predictors of MCI occurrence between gender disparities were determined. The prevalence of all-type MCI, am-MCI and nam-MCI was 21.1%, 15.4% and 5.7%, respectively. Binary logistic regression indicated that hypercholesterolemia is the significant predictor for MCI in men after adjustment for age, ethnicity and total years of education. While, in women, MCI was best predicted by married status, without exercise practice, overweight and obesity. These results suggest that approximately one-fifth of the studied elderly people had MCI. Predictors for MCI are totally different between men and women. It is critical to identify those at higher risk for MCI in order to implement preventative measures to delay or reverse this abnormal condition.

Serum folate concentration, cognitive impairment, and DNA damage among elderly individuals in Malaysia.

The notion that dietary factors affect cognitive function and subsequently the risk of dementia has increased over the years from a global viewpoint. Because low folate intake has been described to impair cognitive function, we tested the hypothesis that low serum folate concentration is associated with cognitive impairment and an attenuated increase in DNA damage. We investigated the relationship between serum folate concentration, cognitive impairment, and DNA damage among elderly people attending health clinics in Klang Valley, an urban area in Malaysia. Two hundred thirty-two participants, composed of 115 men (49.6%) and 117 women (50.4%), were involved; none of the patients were diagnosed with neuropsychiatric problems, nor where they terminally ill. Sociodemography and health variables were assessed through face-to-face interview. Cognitive impairment review was conducted through an Elderly Cognitive Assessment Questionnaire. The estimation of dietary intake, serum folate concentration, and DNA damage was individually analyzed using validated Dietary History Questionnaires, immunoassay methods, and an Alkaline Comet Assay study (10 mL of peripheral venous blood), respectively. Results indicated that more men had cognitive impairment (33.0%) and DNA damage (27.0% for percentage DNA in tail, 22.6% tail moment) compared with women (25.6%, 15.4%, and 15.4%, respectively) (P < .05 for all parameters), recording an average folate deficiency value of 13.9% (0.2% higher than women). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis outlined the association of cognitive impairment with older age (odds ratio [OR], 2.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.35-5.57), smoking habits (OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 2.48-10.57), poor serum folate concentration (OR, 3.46; 95% CI, 1.26-9.52), and DNA damage (percentage DNA in tail) (OR, 13.70; 95% CI, 1.36-138.29). In conclusion, this study highlighted the important role of serum folate concentration for cognitive function and provided a concise picture regarding the elevated levels of oxidative DNA damage in peripheral lymphocytes.