Advances in nutrition
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Advances in nutrition · May 2016
ReviewThe 2015 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Scientific Report: Development and Major Conclusions.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) is published every 5 y jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the USDA and provides a framework for US-based food and nutrition programs, health promotion and disease prevention initiatives, and research priorities. Summarized in this report are the methods, major conclusions, and recommendations of the Scientific Report of the 2015 US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). Early in the process, the DGAC developed a conceptual model and formulated questions to examine nutritional risk and determinants and impact of dietary patterns in relation to numerous health outcomes among individuals aged ≥2 y. ⋯ Common food characteristics of healthy dietary patterns were determined. Features of effective interventions to change individual and population diet and physical activity behaviors in clinical, public health, and community settings were identified. The report was used by the HHS and the USDA to develop the 2015 DGA.
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Advances in nutrition · Sep 2016
ReviewEnergy Drinks and Their Impact on the Cardiovascular System: Potential Mechanisms.
Globally, the popularity of energy drinks is steadily increasing. Scientific interest in their effects on cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems in humans is also expanding and with it comes a growing number of case reports of adverse events associated with energy drinks. The vast majority of studies carried out in the general population report effects on blood pressure and heart rate. ⋯ However, a role for other active constituents, such as taurine and glucuronolactone, cannot be ruled out. This article reviews the potentially adverse hemodynamic effects of energy drinks, particularly on blood pressure and heart rate, and discusses the mechanisms by which their active ingredients may interact to adversely affect the cardiovascular system. Research areas and gaps in the literature are discussed with particular reference to the use of energy drinks among high-risk individuals.
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Advances in nutrition · Sep 2016
ReviewProbiotics, Prebiotics, and Synbiotics for the Prevention of Necrotizing Enterocolitis.
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a devastating intestinal disease in preterm infants characterized by barrier disruption, intestinal microbial dysbiosis, and persistent inflammation of the colon, which results in high mortality rates. Current strategies used to manage this disease are not sufficient, although the use of human breast milk reduces the risk of NEC. Mother's milk is regarded as a fundamental nutritional source for neonates, but pasteurization of donor breast milk affects the composition of bioactive compounds. ⋯ Despite ongoing controversy surrounding optimal treatment strategies, randomized controlled studies are now investigating the use of synbiotics to reduce the incidence and severity of NEC. Synbiotics, a combination of probiotics and prebiotics, have been proposed to enhance beneficial health effects in the intestinal tract more than either agent administered alone. This review considers the implications of using probiotic-, prebiotic-, and synbiotic-supplemented breast milk as a strategy to prevent NEC and issues that could be encountered with the preparations.
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Advances in nutrition · Jul 2016
ReviewResveratrol: How Much Wine Do You Have to Drink to Stay Healthy?
Resveratrol is a naturally occurring stilbene endowed with multiple health-promoting effects. It is produced by certain plants including several dietary sources such as grapes, apples, raspberries, blueberries, plums, peanuts, and products derived therefrom (e.g., wine). Resveratrol can be isolated and purified from these biological sources or synthesized in a few steps with an overall high yield. ⋯ In the present review, we discuss the proposed therapeutic attributes and the mode of molecular actions of resveratrol. We also cover recent pharmacologic efforts to improve the poor bioavailability of resveratrol and influence the transition between body systems in humans. We conclude with some thoughts about future research directions that might be meaningful for resolving controversies surrounding resveratrol.
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Advances in nutrition · Mar 2020
Perspective: Creating the Evidence Base for Nutritional Support in Childhood Cancer in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Priorities for Body Composition Research.
There is a striking disparity in survival rates for children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with high-income countries (HICs). Many of the contributing factors are preventable, including the comorbidity of malnutrition. ⋯ The primary purpose of this article is to review the current knowledge on childhood cancer and body composition in LMICs and identify priorities for future research into the interlinking associations between cancer, body composition, and clinical outcomes for childhood cancer patients. Evidence will ensure feasible and effective nutrition management is prioritized in childhood cancer centers in LMICs and contribute to improving outcomes for children with cancer.