Nutrition
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Arterial stiffness, particularly of the aorta, is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular disease, all-cause mortality, and hypertension. Arterial stiffening may be caused or exacerbated by the composition of the diet. Current research has indicated that habitual dietary patterns may influence arteriosclerosis, or the thickening and hardening of the artery walls, but has yet to identify a specific food group as the culprit. In young, college-aged adults, dietary fat intake and alcohol consumption tend to be higher compared to other periods throughout the life cycle. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the influence of dietary fat and alcohol consumption on the vascular health of apparently healthy young adults. ⋯ These results indicate the potential roles of dietary fat and alcohol consumption in early vascular aging by stiffening the arteries of young, college-aged adults, which may in turn contribute to future adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes.
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Various probiotics and natural products can help to relieve constipation. This study aimed to explore the constipation-relieving effects and potential mechanism of a combination laxative of konjac glucomannan and probiotics. ⋯ The combination laxative konjac glucomannan-probiotic (KGM + X11) promoted defecation in constipated mice, possibly by increasing short-chain fatty acid metabolism and 5-HT hormone release.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Prevalence of malnutrition comparing NRS2002, MUST, and PG-SGA with the GLIM criteria in adults with cancer: A multi-center study.
This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic capacity of the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS2002), Malnutrition Universal Screening Tool (MUST), and Patient-generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA) in light of the Global Leader Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria in adult patients with cancer. ⋯ The NRS2002 was better correlated with the GLIM diagnostic criteria of malnutrition than the MUST. The PG-SGA was too sensitive to detect nutrition-related deteriorations, leading to a low positive predictive value in the malnutrition diagnosis. Thus, the GLIM criteria could be used to confirm the presence of malnutrition identified by the PG-SGA in adults with cancer.
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Review Meta Analysis
The impact of silymarin in individuals with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease affecting a significant proportion of the general population. Recently, randomized clinical trials have been conducted examining the efficacy of silymarin in individuals with NAFLD, with conflicting results. The aim of this meta-analysis was to evaluate the efficacy of silymarin in the treatment of NAFLD by examining changes in liver biochemistry, body mass index, and liver histology. ⋯ Silymarin seems to be effective in reducing transaminase levels in individuals with NAFLD. Despite the statistical benefits, we call attention to potential flaws related to the quality of the included studies. Further well-designed studies should be carried out to examine whether this reduction in transaminase levels corresponds to histologic improvement.