It is increasingly recognized that nutritional intervention holds great potential for the management of modern chronic disease. Understanding the relationship between nutrient metabolism and disease development is an important foundation for nutritional intervention. To maximize the utility of nutritional intervention, it is critical that we identify the factors underlying chronic disease that can be modulated by nutrients. Based on recent research, I consider the following three areas to be among the frontiers of nutritional intervention: chronic low-grade inflammation, gut microbiota, and epigenetics.Chronic low-grade inflammation is known to be a common mechanism underlying the pathology of many chronic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases [1]. Interventions that suppress the development of chronic low-grade inflammation could therefore be of great utility in addressing these diseases. In fact, much of the current research on the prevention and treatment of these diseases has targeted chronic inflammation. Inflammatory response involves multiple processes, including lipid mediator formation, cytokine expression, immune cell migration, etc., which can be modulated directly or indirectly by nutrients and/or their metabolites in differential manners. Certain nutrients exhibit opposing effects on inflammation. For example, omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their metabolites generally promote inflammatory processes, while omega-3 fatty acids and their metabolites largely suppress them [2]. Thus, a full understanding of the specific nutrients' effect on chronic inflammation should be an important area of nutritional research. Given the complexity of the diet and the numerous interactions that occur between nutrients in different compositions, there remains much to be investigated about the overall effect of a diet on chronic low-grade inflammation. Future studies to elucidate how the steps of chronic low-grade inflammation are influenced by the type and quantity of nutrients and their metabolites will allow us to formulate effective interventions to modulate chronic low-grade inflammation.The gut microbiota, which is highly variable among individuals, has recently been shown to play a key role in human health and disease [3]. More and more studies have shown that alterations in the gut microbiota can influence many physiological and pathological processes, including metabolism and immunity, which are associated with the development of chronic diseases. It has also been demonstrated that manipulating the gut microbiome can be an effective approach for managing certain metabolic diseases. Emerging evidence supports the notion that the diet offers the greatest accessibility to the gut microbiota and is a major factor in regulating the composition and activity of the intestinal microorganisms [4]. In fact, changes in dietary factors, including macronutrients and micronutrients, can profoundly alter the gut bacterial profile. For example, switching from a low-fat, polysaccharide-rich diet to a high-fat, high-carbohydrate Western diet can restructure the gut microbiota profile in a single day, affecting metabolism and gene expression [5]. In this context, the gut microbiota serves as an important new target for nutritional intervention. Certainly, the development of dietary means to optimize the gut microbiota is a very promising area of nutrition research. With the analysis of an individual's gut microbiota profile, tailored nutrient compositions to optimize the affected bacteria populations can serve as an interventional modality in the treatment and prevention of diseases as well as the restoration of human health. Nevertheless, much remains to be explored, as described previously [6].Epigenetics represents another important mechanism associated with disease risk that can be modulated by environmental factors, especially the diet. Epigenetics regulates gene expression through DNA methylation, histone stability, and mRNA profiles, introducing long-term effects into the genome at any stage of life. Given that alteration of gene expression often dictates the initiation and progression of disease, regulating gene expression through epigenetics can be a critical target for disease control. Research has demonstrated that dietary patterns or lifestyle can significantly affect the epigenetic profile. For example, selenium and vitamin D status were shown to reduce the accumulation of epigenetic changes, while high blood folate increased them [7]. Epigenetics thus presents another opportunity for diet to modulate health status through the regulation of gene expression. Understanding the effects of dietary factors on epigenetics can maximize the potential of nutritional interventions.Given the broad impact of chronic low-grade inflammation, gut microbiota, and epigenetics on chronic disease and their vulnerability to dietary factors, these three areas constitute viable targets for nutritional intervention and should be considered as the frontiers of the field. A greater understanding of the relationship between dietary factors and these areas will significantly advance the science and facilitate the practical applications of nutritional intervention for the maintenance of health as well as prevention and therapy of modern chronic diseases.
Dairy calf nutrition is traditionally one of the most overlooked aspects of dairy management, despite its large effect on the efficiency and profitability of dairy operations. Unfortunately, among all animals on the dairy farm, calves suffer from the highest rates of morbidity and mortality. These challenges have catalyzed calf nutrition research over the past decade to mitigate high incidences of disease and death, and improve animal health, growth, welfare, and industry sustainability. However, major knowledge gaps remain in several crucial stages of development. The purpose of this review is to summarize the key concepts of nutritional physiology and programming from conception to puberty and their subsequent effects on development of the calf, and ultimately, future performance. During fetal development, developmental plasticity is highest. At this time, maternal energy and protein consumption can influence fetal development, likely playing a critical role in calf and heifer development and, importantly, future production. After birth, the calf's first meal of colostrum is crucial for the transfer of immunoglobulin to support calf health and survival. However, colostrum also contains numerous bioactive proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates that may play key roles in calf growth and health. Extending the delivery of these bioactive compounds to the calf through a gradual transition from colostrum to milk (i.e., extended colostrum or transition milk feeding) may confer benefits in the first days and weeks of life to prepare the calf for the preweaning period. Similarly, optimal nutrition during the preweaning period is vital. Preweaning calves are highly susceptible to health challenges, and improved calf growth and health can positively influence future milk production. Throughout the world, the majority of dairy calves rely on milk replacer to supply adequate nutrition. Recent research has started to re-evaluate traditional formulations of milk replacers, which can differ significantly in composition compared with whole milk. Transitioning from a milk-based diet to solid feed is critical in the development of mature ruminants. Delaying weaning age and providing long and gradual step-down protocols have become common to avoid production and health challenges. Yet, determining how to appropriately balance the amount of energy and protein supplied in both liquid and solid feeds based on preweaning milk allowances, and further acknowledging their interactions, shows great promise in improving growth and health during weaning. After weaning and during the onset of puberty, heifers are traditionally offered high-forage diets. However, recent work suggests that an early switch to a high-forage diet will depress intake and development during the time when solid feed efficiency is greatest. It has become increasingly clear that there are great opportunities to advance our knowledge of calf nutrition; yet, a more concentrated and rigorous approach to research that encompasses the long-term consequences of nutritional regimens at each stage of life is required to ensure the sustainability and efficiency of the global dairy industry.
Seventy years have elapsed since the Nutrition Society was founded and John Boyd Orr became its first Chairman. Over the intervening period, nutrition research has embraced and responded to a wide variety of challenges as the requirements of research have evolved and changed. This paper reflects on some of the major challenges that have influenced nutrition research over the past 70 years and considers where nutrition stands today along with the challenges for the future. In the past, these challenges have included food security and improvements in animal nutrition to enhance production through problems of overnutrition, such as CVD and obesity, as well as the recognition of the importance of early-life nutrition. The challenges for the future include how to translate the increasingly comprehensive and complex understanding of the relationship between nutrition and health, being gained as a result of the genomic revolution, into simple and accessible policy advice. It also includes how we learn more about the ways in which diet can help in the prevention of obesity as well as the ways in which we prevent the rise in complex diseases in emerging nations as they undergo nutritional transition. From this, it is clear that nutrition research has moved a long way from its initial focus on nutritional deficiencies to a subject, which is at the heart of public health consideration. This evolution of nutrition research means that today diet and health are high on the political agenda and that nutrition remains a priority area for research. It has been 70 years since 1941 when the Nutrition Society was established, under its first Chairman, John Boyd Orr. At that time there were many who believed that nutrition research had reached its peak and there was little left to discover. This view stemmed from the fact that most vitamins and minerals had been discovered and that the syndromes associated with nutritional deficiencies in these were largely known. Despite this gloomy prognosis, the intervening 70 years have witnessed a remarkable evolution in nutrition research, which has underpinned key Government policies, ranging from food security right through to public health. This review considers some major developments that have helped to shape nutrition research over the past 70 years and in so doing have changed its frontiers.
The heterogeneity among patients with obesity is particularly evident in the weight loss response to interventions such as diets, drugs, devices and surgery. Obesity can be "catalogued" into four phenotypes: hungry brain (abnormal satiety for alteration of gut-brain axis), emotional hunger (hedonic eating), hungry gut (abnormal duration of satiety for faster gastric emptying) and slow burning (slowing of the metabolic rate). Phenotypes are grafted onto this complexity, the recognition of which allows for personalized medicine and increasingly targeted therapies. Although there are no standardized treatment protocols, we present management options consisting of lifestyle modifications and pharmacologic therapies. Nutritional advice and encouragement of adequate physical activity lead to increased self-efficacy and promote a sense of well-being when coupled with psychological approaches involving mindful eating. In summary, obesity has a complex pathophysiology best addressed through a therapeutic process suited to the phenotype encountered and in synergy with multifactorial interventions.
The escalating global burden of mental health disorders, with anxiety and depression now among the principal causes of disability affecting over one in eight individuals, constitutes a critical public health crisis (1). Although these conditions emerge from a complex interplay of genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors, there is increasing consensus that lifestyle interventions-especially dietary patterns-represent modifiable targets for both prevention and treatment (2). Within this context, Nutritional Psychiatry has emerged as an essential interdisciplinary field, elucidating the bidirectional pathways through which diet shapes brain function and emotional well-being. Still, contemporary therapeutic frameworks must evolve beyond a reductionist focus on isolated nutrients to address the fundamental determinants of mental health-how, when, and why we eat (3,4,5). Eating behaviors involve complex emotional, cognitive, and bodily processes influencing diet, stress, and mental health, but are often overlooked in clinical research (6,7).Mindfulness and mindful eating offer behavioral strategies uniquely positioned to address this gap by cultivating present-moment awareness and attunement to internal and external cues. Accumulating neuroscientific evidence suggests that mindfulness-based interventions recalibrate reward processing, enhance neurocognitive flexibility, and facilitate stress regulation (8,9,10). Notably, mindful eating has demonstrated efficacy in improving eating behaviors related to overweight and obesity, conditions closely linked with mental health disorders, by reducing emotional and binge eating and improving self-regulation (5,6). Neuroimaging data indicate that mindful eating can modulate the salience of food cues, dampen activity in the midbrain reward pathway, and strengthen prefrontal emotion regulation networks (9,11).Despite promising advances, this field faces challenges including conceptual ambiguity, methodological variability, and a scarcity of long-term mechanistic studies (12,13). This Opinion advocates that mindfulness and mindful eating can directly engage core biobehavioral mechanisms implicated in psychiatric disorders-including reward sensitivity, hedonic hunger, the gut-brain axis, and neuroplasticity. Framed within a salutogenic model prioritizing health promotion, mindful eating emerges as an accessible, low-risk approach that fosters psychological resilience and enables a paradigm shift toward holistic, personalized, and preventive mental health care.Adopting an integrative perspective that extends beyond isolated nutrients to encompass how, why, and how much we eat, we define Mindful Eating as a multidimensional biobehavioral framework rather than a mere modification of ingestion speed. It is conceptualized as the active integration of cognitive, emotional, and interoceptive domains, characterized by non-judgmental attentiveness to the complete sensory experience and internal physiological cues of hunger and satiety. Operationally, this mechanism serves to disrupt behavioral automaticity and decouple food intake from emotional reactivity, thereby realigning dietary decision-making with metabolic homeostasis rather than hedonic reward processing.The traditional focus in nutritional psychiatry on isolated nutrients has inadvertently fostered a reductionist perspective, overlooking the complex biopsychosocial nature of eating behavior (2,14). Eating transcends mere biochemical ingestion; it is an intricate behavior influenced by emotional, cognitive, and social contexts that together shape dietary adherence and clinical outcomes (4,15). Overlooking these behavioral dimensions may limit the effectiveness of nutrient-centered interventions (16).A critical flaw in many current dietary interventions is the implicit assumption of rational, linear adherence to guidelines, which overlooks how emotional states, habitual cues, and cultural scripts powerfully shape actual eating behavior. Mindful eating directly addresses this gap. By fostering heightened awareness and self-regulation, it shows preliminary promise in decoupling eating from hedonic and emotional drivers and in enhancing dietary consistency (5,6,7). However, well-powered, longitudinal trials are needed to elucidate its long-term impact on energy balance and metabolic health.For nutritional psychiatry to realize its full potential, it must treat eating behavior not merely as a confounder but as a primary therapeutic target. Cultivating a mindful, positive relationship with food could empower individuals to adopt and maintain nutrient-rich diets, maximizing the preventive and therapeutic benefits of nutrition for mental health.Mindfulness-based interventions engage complex neurobiological and behavioral pathways essential to mental health, making them promising tools in nutritional psychiatry (5,15). These approaches recalibrate maladaptive responses to hyperpalatable food cues, promote behavioral flexibility, and engage brain circuits involved in reward and stress regulation, thus offering pathways to reshape eating patterns and enhance psychological well-being (7, 9) (see Figure 1).Hedonic hunger refers to eating for pleasure rather than metabolic need, mediated by dopamine-driven reward pathways in the striatum and midbrain (17). Mindful eating appears to attenuate these hypersensitive circuits by encouraging nonjudgmental observation of cravings, decoupling conditioned food cues from compulsive eating, and modulating reward signaling (9,11). Neuroimaging shows reduced mesolimbic reward activation and improved executive control, consistent with enhanced top-down regulation (9, 10).Mindful eating also holds significant promise for mitigating compulsive and addiction-like eating patterns, which share neurobiological substrates with substance use disorders. By fostering cognitive decentering-the ability to observe thoughts and urges as transient mental events-mindfulness-based approaches disrupt the cycle of emotional eating and impulsive consumption, thereby facilitating sustainable behavioral change (5, 6, 7).The influence of mindful eating extends to the gut-brain axis. While precise mechanisms remain under investigation, evidence suggests this relationship is mediated largely by autonomic modulation via the vagus nerve (18,19). Chronic stress and distracted eating heighten sympathetic tone, which can increase intestinal permeability and alter gut motility. Conversely, by fostering a parasympathetic state during ingestion, mindful eating promotes vagal tone, creating physiological conditions that favor more diverse and resilient gut microbiota profiles. This includes an increased abundance of taxa such as Bacteroides and Lactobacilli, which produce anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acids and support gut barrier integrity (20). Concurrently, mindfulness practice downregulates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, reducing chronic stress and lowering circulating proinflammatory cytokines that are strongly implicated in the neuroinflammation characteristic of mood disorders (21,22). These interconnected pathways position mindful eating as a synergistic intervention that modulates both systemic and neural health. While these associations are compelling, current evidence is mainly correlational, and the direction of causality remains to be firmly established. Longitudinal studies tracking changes in both microbiota composition and psychological states following mindful eating interventions are essential to disentangle this complex bidirectional relationship.Mindfulness and mindful eating may drive adaptive neuroplastic changes that underpin lasting mental resilience, though the precise mechanisms remain an active area of investigation (23,24). Structural MRI studies consistently report increased gray matter density and cortical thickness in brain regions critical for executive function and emotional regulation, including the prefrontal cortex, anterior cingulate cortex, and insula (24,25,26). These anatomical changes are thought to reflect enhanced dendritic arborization and synaptogenesis.Functionally, mindfulness training systematically modulates key large-scale brain networks. It has been shown to reduce hyperactivity and connectivity within the default mode network (DMN), a system linked to mind-wandering and rumination, thereby mitigating maladaptive self-referential thought (27,28). Simultaneously, it strengthens connectivity within the central executive and salience networks, supporting enhanced attentional control, cognitive flexibility, and emotional regulation-all core components of stress resilience (29,30). At a molecular level, preliminary evidence links mindfulness with increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a key molecule for synaptic plasticity and neurogenesis (23,31).Collectively, these neurobiological adaptations-from cortical structure to network dynamics and molecular signaling-provide a compelling mechanistic basis for how mindfulness and mindful eating can remodel neural architecture to support healthier eating behaviors and longterm mental health (32). It is important to note that much of the foundational neuroimaging evidence for these neuroplastic changes derives from studies on general mindfulness-based interventions rather than mindful eating protocols specifically. While mindful eating shares foundational elements with general mindfulness practice, specific evidence on its impact on neuroplasticity remains limited and extrapolated mainly from broader interventions.Exposure to green spaces improves mental health by reducing stress and depression while encouraging physical activity and social connection. This well-being boost complements adherence to sustainable diets like the EAT-Lancet Planetary Health Diet, which emphasizes plant-based foods and limits red meat, reducing depression risk and mortality (33,34,35). Mindful eating further supports intentional, health-and planet-conscious choices, strengthening the link between mental health and environmental sustainability (7,36). Together, these factors form a holistic approach to planetary mental health. While specific dietary compositions may vary by clinical or cultural needs, the attentional quality of Mindful Eating serves as a foundational skill for sustainable behavior changeSalutogenesis offers a transformative framework for mental health by focusing on factors that actively promote and sustain well-being (37). Central to this model is the sense of coherence, encompassing comprehensibility, manageability, and meaningfulness (38). Mindful eating can operationalize these elements by fostering awareness of internal cues, enhancing coping with triggers, and aligning food choices with personal values. This approach transcends prescriptive dietary advice, empowering individuals to develop their own General Resistance Resources (GRRs) and navigate complex food environments with resilience (39,40,41).As a scalable, low-cost intervention, mindful eating is well-suited to diverse public health settings. School-based programs employing mindful eating demonstrate promising effects in cultivating healthier relationships with food and promoting psychological resilience (42). Such initiatives exemplify salutogenic strategies that expand both individual and collective resources, fostering self-awareness, agency, and sustainability in mental health care (43)contributing meaningfully even to planetary health goals.Mindfulness and mindful eating are increasingly recognized as behaviorally grounded strategies with neurobiological relevance to mental health. By enhancing interoceptive awareness, fostering cognitive flexibility, and reducing emotionally driven and dysregulated eating patterns, these practices target core mechanisms implicated in psychiatric conditions-including dysregulated reward processing, chronic stress, neuroinflammation, and impaired self-regulation (5,6,8,44). Despite growing interest, several conceptual and methodological limitations continue to impede their integration into clinical and public health frameworks.A persistent challenge lies in the inconsistent operationalization of mindfulness and mindful eating. As emphasized by Mantzios, definitional variability undermines comparability across studies and obscures which elements are truly therapeutic (13). Moreover, mindful eating interacts with co-factors such as self-compassion, attentional control, and emotional context-dimensions that are rarely systematically accounted for (45,46). There is an urgent need for standardized reporting guidelines and multidimensional frameworks that reflect this complexity while improving reproducibility.Methodological heterogeneity also extends to intervention protocols, which vary widely in duration, delivery format (digital vs. in-person), intensity, facilitator training, and cultural contextualization. This variability complicates the synthesis of findings and the identification of active ingredients. Notably, mindfulness-based approaches may not suit all populations equally. Individuals with trauma histories, severe eating disorders, or cognitive vulnerabilities may require trauma-informed adaptations, increased clinician support, and flexible engagement strategies (6,8).Recent findings also point to underexplored but compelling mechanisms. Mindful eating has been linked to increased behavioral flexibility, improved reversal learning, and even enhanced alignment with sustainable food choices and pro-environmental values-suggesting a broader potential for systemic impact (10,36). Integrating these findings into future trial designs could inform interventions that simultaneously address psychological, physiological, and ecological well-being.However, while this synergy with sustainability is promising, Mindful Eating should fundamentally be understood as a diet-agnostic intervention. Its core mechanismsspecifically interoceptive awareness and impulse regulation-are equally relevant across diverse nutritional contexts and are not contingent upon specific macronutrient profiles. This distinction is particularly relevant for metabolic psychiatry, where restrictive interventions such as ketogenic diets are increasingly utilized for symptom management in conditions like bipolar disorder and schizophrenia (47). Furthermore, the universality of mindful eating extends to cultural contexts with traditionally high animal-product consumption, such as circumpolar populations. In these settings, the therapeutic utility of Mindful Eating lies not in enforcing a plant-forward standard, but in optimizing the bio-behavioral relationship with food. By enhancing sensitivity to satiety signals, it supports metabolic regulation regardless of whether the dietary pattern is plant-based or animal-based (48,49).To advance the field, a focused and interdisciplinary research agenda is essential. Key priorities include:• Large-sample, longitudinal randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with active comparators, longer follow-up, and standardized outcome measures in clinically diagnosed populations.• Mechanistic studies employing objective biomarkers, including functional and structural neuroimaging, cortisol, inflammatory cytokines, gut microbiota composition, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, to identify mediators of effect and individual predictors of response.• Hybrid trials combining mindful eating with dietary interventions-ranging from the Mediterranean, Milpa diet or functional food like berries (50) examining whether behavioral self-regulation enhances dietary adherence, bioavailability, or synergistic therapeutic outcomes.• Component and mediation analyses to isolate active ingredients (e.g., formal meditation vs. informal awareness vs. interoceptive training) and explore doseresponse effects.• Implementation science research, assessing feasibility, cost-effectiveness, digital scalability, and cultural adaptability across varied settings-including schools, primary care, and public health campaigns (51).• Personalization strategies, informed by baseline characteristics (e.g., interoceptive accuracy, trauma history, motivational readiness), to tailor interventions and enhance engagement and efficacy.Beyond clinical application, mindful eating aligns with a salutogenic model of mental health promotion. By cultivating attentional stability, emotional regulation, and embodied awareness, it empowers individuals to develop more sustainable, intentional relationships with food-supporting resilience across diverse populations, ages, and cultural contexts. Its low risk, adaptability, and potential scalability position it as a compelling adjunct within lifestyle-based mental health frameworks.While mindful eating is not a standalone treatment for psychiatric disorders, it represents a biologically plausible and theoretically robust tool that bridges disciplines-linking neuroscience, nutritional science, and behavioral psychology. Future work must prioritize methodological rigor, multidimensional measurement, and culturally informed design to realize its transformative potential in nutritional psychiatry fully.•
Thirty years ago, responding to the growing interest, rapid expansion, and increase in research in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, we established the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (JPGN). The editorial of the first edition began, quo vadis? (1). Thirty years later, we are asking the same question. What should the vision of JPGN be? It seems mandatory to provide the pediatric gastroenterologist with research and knowledge of gastrointestinal ontogenic function and malfunction during early life. It was hoped that the Journal would serve as an intellectual stimulus and an international forum for the presentation and discussion of advances and controversies within the discipline. The findings of differential timing of the expression of the genes controlling various small intestinal disaccharidases, pancreatic exocrine enzymes, and so on, led to a new practical paradigm on gut development (2). The paradigm included interaction of genetic endowment, gene expression, intrinsic biological clocks, endogenous regulatory mechanisms of the hypothalamic-hypophysial-thyroid-adrenal axis, gastrointestinal receptors and mediators, and environmental influences. The environmental influences affecting gut ontogeny included intrauterine growth retardation and malnutrition early in life (2). Barker (3) hypothesized that the effect of intrauterine growth retardation increases the risk of later-onset disease, particularly cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults (3). The ontogeny of gut enzymes in early infancy and the recognition of pancreatic amylase deficiency and the early appearance of intestinal α-glucosidases and salivary amylase led to another ontogenic paradigm of alternate pathways of digestion and absorption in early infancy. The pragmatic outcome of ontogenic research was to use α-glucosides, such as sucrose, maltose, maltodextrins, and short polymers of glucose, during the neonatal period and for the compromised infant. Studies focused on the investigation and clinical applications of gastrointestinal ontogeny exemplify the early emphasis of JPGN. The potential for new therapeutic modalities attributable to age-related changes in the gut can stimulate clinical and basic research. The human genome project, the availability of stem cell biology, advances in molecular mechanisms of growth and development, and discoveries of mucosal growth factors and receptors that occurred as a result of the inception of JPGN have led to dramatic expansion of the basic, translational, and clinical studies in the Journal. We aspired to be one of the journals that publish original articles on gut ontogeny. In addition, we decided to invite ontogenic review articles that provided a basis for understanding the importance of gut ontogeny. Conversely, we were successful publishing age-related clinical studies in pediatric gastroenterology, with an emphasis on early life. An example of clinical disorders that we began to address successfully is celiac disease (CD). Clinical studies in CD emerged in the Journal, including global prevalence and high prevalence of silent preschool- and school-aged children, association with autoimmune disorders, Down syndrome, type 1 diabetes mellitus, and atypical presentations. Mechanistic studies of the effect of several genetic factors together with an environmental trigger were published. The genetic predisposition to CD was studied as a complex of HLA-DQA1*05/DQB1*02 and HLA-DQA*0301/DQB*0302 genes as major factors. Two strategies of genetic research—linkage and association studies—led to the discovery of several susceptibility loci and genes such as a region on 5q, MYO9B, and CTLA4. In addition, a genomewide association study identified 8 new risk regions, 7 of which harbour genes controlling the immune response. Again, we solicited review articles on genetic molecular biology research and the pathogenesis of CD. Another example for specific age-related clinical presentation and therapeutic considerations is failure to gain weight and short stature associated with pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Pediatric IBD is different in some major aspects from adult IBD. Early-onset IBD has a distinct phenotype with disease manifestations that are primarily colonic with severe perianal disease and extragastrointestinal manifestations. Furthermore, early-onset IBD is unique in its association with metabolic diseases, neutrophil defects, immunodeficiency states, chronic granulomatous disease, and leukocyte adhesion defects. IBD is thought to result from a complex interplay of multiple genes and environmental factors. Large-scale genotyping techniques have resulted in identification of >30 IBD-associated genes. Pediatric IBD management must consider lifelong disease and treatment. Twenty-five percent of patients with IBD develop the disease in childhood and adolescence. Clinicians need to weigh the risks and benefits of selected therapies, particularly the effects of medications, such as steroids, on growth and development and lifetime of exposure. For the last 30 years, the Journal has published a significant number of articles addressing issues specifically focused on pediatric IBD. We realized that the greatest challenge facing JPGN was reaching out to the world in general and developing countries in particular. We solicited articles from developing countries and found worthwhile clinical observations, but we were challenged by the flaws of study design, such as inclusion and exclusion criteria, sample size, and statistical analyses; data presentation; results; and conclusions. We were confronted with English and grammatical mistakes, leading us to correct and rewrite articles, provided they had a sound scientific message for the pediatric gastroenterology community. A new dimension of the Journal was added when the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition and the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition started to develop and update clinical practice guidelines and recommendations (4,5). Overall, it is apparent that JPGN has evolved to become an important cornerstone for the discipline and a reference journal for the societies of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology, and nutrition. My suggestion for the future is that the clinical research emphasizes acute and chronic gut diseases, all the while continuing to consider the effect of the ontogeny of the gut. In the quest to improve the knowledge of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, we should develop new areas of focus and analysis, perspectives, policy forums, and technical comments, similar to the journal Science. Presentation of the basic science news on the ontogeny of the gut, including cell biology, genetics, and immunology, should be a stimulus for inquiry and research to advance the frontiers of pediatric gastroenterology.
Sleep has numerous important physiological and cognitive functions that may be particularly important to elite athletes. Recent evidence, as well as anecdotal information, suggests that athletes may experience a reduced quality and/or quantity of sleep. Sleep deprivation can have significant effects on athletic performance, especially submaximal, prolonged exercise. Compromised sleep may also influence learning, memory, cognition, pain perception, immunity and inflammation. Furthermore, changes in glucose metabolism and neuroendocrine function as a result of chronic, partial sleep deprivation may result in alterations in carbohydrate metabolism, appetite, food intake and protein synthesis. These factors can ultimately have a negative influence on an athlete's nutritional, metabolic and endocrine status and hence potentially reduce athletic performance. Research has identified a number of neurotransmitters associated with the sleep-wake cycle. These include serotonin, gamma-aminobutyric acid, orexin, melanin-concentrating hormone, cholinergic, galanin, noradrenaline, and histamine. Therefore, nutritional interventions that may act on these neurotransmitters in the brain may also influence sleep. Carbohydrate, tryptophan, valerian, melatonin and other nutritional interventions have been investigated as possible sleep inducers and represent promising potential interventions. In this review, the factors influencing sleep quality and quantity in athletic populations are examined and the potential impact of nutritional interventions is considered. While there is some research investigating the effects of nutritional interventions on sleep, future research may highlight the importance of nutritional and dietary interventions to enhance sleep.
Five years ago, with the editorial board of Frontiers in Nutrition, we took a leap of faith to outline the Goals for Nutrition Science - the way we see it (1). Now, in 2020, we can put ourselves to the test and take a look back. Without a doubt we got it right with several of the key directions. To name a few, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Food and Nutrition are part of the global public agenda, and the SDGs contribute to the structuring of international science and research. Nutritional Science has become a critical element in strengthening work on the SDGs, and the development of appropriate methodologies is built on the groundwork of acquiring and analyzing big datasets. Investigation of the Human Microbiome is providing novel insight on the interrelationship between nutrition, the immune system and disease. Finally, with an advanced definition of the gut-brain-axis we are getting a glimpse into the potential for Nutrition and Brain Health. Various milestones have been achieved, and any look into the future will have to consider the lessons learned from Covid-19 and the sobering awareness about the frailty of our food systems in ensuring global food security. With a view into the coming 5 years from 2020 to 2025, the editorial board has taken a slightly different approach as compared to the previous Goals article. A mind map has been created to outline the key topics in nutrition science. Not surprisingly, when looking ahead, the majority of scientific investigation required will be in the areas of health and sustainability. Johannes le Coutre, Field Chief Editor, Frontiers in Nutrition.
The current contribution of wild animal proteins has been poorly quantified, particularly in the rapidly growing urban centers of tropical forests. Lack of such evidence impairs food security strategies to include the diversity of food supply inherent to traditional food systems. In this study we focus on wild sources of animal protein: wild fish and bushmeat, which have traditionally been important in people’s diets in the Amazon. We analyze their consumption frequencies as compared to domestic and processed meat in a rural to urban gradient in Amazonas, Colombia. Our results show that, despite its geographical position, the region is increasingly dependent on domestic and industrialized sources of animal protein. The frequency of wild fish and bushmeat consumption decreases from rural to urban areas to the advantage of domestic and processed meat/fish. Patterns of animal protein consumption for indigenous children indicate that indigenous families adopt non-indigenous consumption patterns when they move to town. Bushmeat consumption in urban areas is more frequent in wealthier families and could be considered as a luxury product. In urban areas, chicken is the protein of the poor and beef replaces chicken for the families that can afford it. In rural settings, chicken replaces wild sources of animal protein as people increase their income and move away from forest/agriculture dependent livelihoods. The increased consumption of industrial chicken in rural communities poses important food security and ecologic concerns. Despite, the low importance of bushmeat and wild fish in urban areas measured in terms of consumption, we show that these foods continue to play an important role in terms of dietary diversity, which is fundamental to eradicate energy and micronutrient deficiencies. In conclusion our results call for a better attention to the changes observed in diets in the Amazon, given their potential health and nutrition consequences.
Background There is a high prevalence of malnutrition in cancer patients, which seriously affects the anti-cancer therapy effect and outcomes, causing a huge disease burden worldwide. Appropriate nutritional support is important for cancer prevention and control. The aim of this study was to explore the development trends, hotspots, and frontiers of Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) on Cancer from a bibliometric perspective, and provide new insights for future research and clinic practices. Methods The global literature of MNT on Cancer published between 1975 and 2022 were searched in the Web of Science Core Collection Database (WOSCC). After refining the data, descriptive analysis and data visualization were performed with bibliometric tools (CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and R package “bibliometrix”). Results A total of 10,339 documents with a timespan from 1982 to 2022 were included in this study. The number of documents had increased continuously over the past 40 years, especially with a steep rise from 2016 to 2022. The majority of scientific production outputs were from the United States, which had the most core research institutions and authors. The published documents could be clustered into three themes respectively labeled by terms “double-blind”, “cancer” and “quality-of-life”. “gastric cancer”, “outcome”, “inflammation”, “sarcopenia” and “exercise” were the most prominent keywords in recent years. “breast-cancer”, “colorectal-cancer”, “expression”, “risk”, “ in-vitro ”, “quality-of-life”, “cancer” and “life” might represent the newly emerged topics. Conclusions There were a good research foundation and reasonable disciplinary structure in the field of medical nutrition therapy for cancer at present. The core research team was mainly located in the United States, England, and other developed countries. According to the current trends in publications, more articles shall be published in the future. Nutritional metabolism, malnutrition risk, and the impact of nutritional therapy on prognosis might be research hotspots. In particular, it was important to focus on specific cancer, such as breast cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer, which might be the frontiers.
In the pediatric clinic, nutritional research is focusing more and more on preventing the development of long-term diseases as well as supporting the repair processes important in the therapy of already fully developed diseases. Most children who are hospitalized or affected by chronic diseases could benefit from specific and careful attention to nutrition. Indeed, the state of nutrition modulates all body functions, including the different metabolic processes which, all together, have a profound effect on the development of the health and future of all individuals. Inappropriate food, even in the first periods of life, can accelerate the development of chronic metabolic diseases, especially in the pediatric age. To gain further insights into metabolic cycles and how they are connected with diet and health, nutrition and metabolomics interact to develop and apply modern technologies for metabolic assessment. In particular, nutritionists are evaluating the metabolomic approach to establish the single nutritional phenotypes, that is, the way in which diet interacts with individuals' metabolisms. This strategy offers the possibility of providing a complete definition of the individual's nutritional and health status, predict the risk of disease, and create metabolomic databases supporting the development of "personalized nutrition," in which diet is attuned to the nutritional needs of individual patients.
Globally, many developing countries are facing silent epidemics of nutritional deficiencies in human beings and animals. The lack of diversity in diet, i.e., cereal-based crops deficient in mineral nutrients is an additional threat to nutritional quality. The present review accounts for the significance of biofortification as a process to enhance the productivity of crops and also an agricultural solution to address the issues of nutritional security. In this endeavor, different innovative and specific biofortification approaches have been discussed for nutrient enrichment of field crops including cereals, pulses, oilseeds and fodder crops. The agronomic approach increases the micronutrient density in crops with soil and foliar application of fertilizers including amendments. The biofortification through conventional breeding approach includes the selection of efficient genotypes, practicing crossing of plants with desirable nutritional traits without sacrificing agricultural and economic productivity. However, the transgenic/biotechnological approach involves the synthesis of transgenes for micronutrient re-translocation between tissues to enhance their bioavailability. Soil microorganisms enhance nutrient content in the rhizosphere through diverse mechanisms such as synthesis, mobilization, transformations and siderophore production which accumulate more minerals in plants. Different sources of micronutrients viz. mineral solutions, chelates and nanoparticles play a pivotal role in the process of biofortification as it regulates the absorption rates and mechanisms in plants. Apart from the quality parameters, biofortification also improved the crop yield to alleviate hidden hunger thus proving to be a sustainable and cost-effective approach. Thus, this review article conveys a message for researchers about the adequate potential of biofortification to increase crop productivity and nourish the crop with additional nutrient content to provide food security and nutritional quality to humans and livestock.
This review examines the current evidence for a possible connection between nutritional intake (including micronutrients and whole diet) and neurocognitive development in childhood. Earlier studies which have investigated the association between nutrition and cognitive development have focused on individual micronutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B12, folic acid, choline, iron, iodine, and zinc, and single aspects of diet. The research evidence from observational studies suggests that micronutrients may play an important role in the cognitive development of children. However, the results of intervention trials utilizing single micronutrients are inconclusive. More generally, there is evidence that malnutrition can impair cognitive development, whilst breastfeeding appears to be beneficial for cognition. Eating breakfast is also beneficial for cognition. In contrast, there is currently inconclusive evidence regarding the association between obesity and cognition. Since individuals consume combinations of foods, more recently researchers have become interested in the cognitive impact of diet as a composite measure. Only a few studies to date have investigated the associations between dietary patterns and cognitive development. In future research, more well designed intervention trials are needed, with special consideration given to the interactive effects of nutrients.
From the ancient period, Green leafy vegetables (GLV) are part of the daily diet and were believed to have several health beneficial properties. Later it has been proved that GLV has outstanding nutritional value and can be used for medicinal benefits. GLV is particularly rich in minerals like iron, calcium, and zinc. These are also rich in vitamins like beta carotene, vitamin E, K, B and vitamin C. In addition, some anti-nutritional elements in GLV can be reduced if it is grown properly and processed properly before consumption. Tropical countries have a wide variety of these green plants such as Red Spinach, Amaranth, Malabar Spinach, Taro Leaf, Fenugreek leaf, Bengal Gram Leaves, Radish Leaves, Mustard Leaves, and many more. This review focuses on listing this wide range of GLVs (in total 54 underutilized GLVs) and their compositions in a comparative manner. GLV also possesses medicinal activities due to its rich bioactive and nutritional potential. Different processing techniques may alter the nutritional and bioactive potential of the GLVs significantly. The GLVs have been considered a food fortification agent, though not explored widely. All of these findings suggest that increasing GLV consumption could provide nutritional requirements necessary for proper growth as well as adequate protection against diseases caused by malnutrition.
Palmitic acid (PA) has been for long time negatively depicted for its putative detrimental health effects, shadowing its multiple crucial physiological activities. PA is the most common saturated fatty acid accounting for 20-30% of total fatty acids in the human body and can be provided in the diet or synthesized endogenously via de novo lipogenesis (DNL). PA tissue content seems to be controlled around a well-defined concentration, and changes in its intake do not influence significantly its tissue concentration because the exogenous source is counterbalanced by PA endogenous biosynthesis. Particular physiopathological conditions and nutritional factors may strongly induce DNL, resulting in increased tissue content of PA and disrupted homeostatic control of its tissue concentration. The tight homeostatic control of PA tissue concentration is likely related to its fundamental physiological role to guarantee membrane physical properties but also to consent protein palmitoylation, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) biosynthesis, and in the lung an efficient surfactant activity. In order to maintain membrane phospholipids (PL) balance may be crucial an optimal intake of PA in a certain ratio with unsaturated fatty acids, especially PUFAs of both n-6 and n-3 families. However, in presence of other factors such as positive energy balance, excessive intake of carbohydrates (in particular mono and disaccharides), and a sedentary lifestyle, the mechanisms to maintain a steady state of PA concentration may be disrupted leading to an over accumulation of tissue PA resulting in dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, increased ectopic fat accumulation and increased inflammatory tone via toll-like receptor 4. It is therefore likely that the controversial data on the association of dietary PA with detrimental health effects, may be related to an excessive imbalance of dietary PA/PUFA ratio which, in certain physiopathological conditions, and in presence of an enhanced DNL, may further accelerate these deleterious effects.
The overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been implicated in the development of various chronic and degenerative diseases such as cancer, respiratory, neurodegenerative, and digestive diseases. Under physiological conditions, the concentrations of ROS are subtlety regulated by antioxidants, which can be either generated endogenously or externally supplemented. A combination of antioxidant-deficiency and malnutrition may render individuals more vulnerable to oxidative stress, thereby increasing the risk of cancer occurrence. In addition, antioxidant defense can be overwhelmed during sustained inflammation such as in chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, and neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and aging. Certain antioxidant vitamins, such as vitamin D, are essential in regulating biochemical pathways that lead to the proper functioning of the organs. Antioxidant supplementation has been shown to attenuate endogenous antioxidant depletion thus alleviating associated oxidative damage in some clinical research. However, some results indicate that antioxidants exert no favorable effects on disease control. Thus, more studies are warranted to investigate the complicated interactions between ROS and different types of antioxidants for restoration of the redox balance under pathologic conditions. This review highlights the potential roles of ROS and nutritional antioxidants in the pathogenesis of several redox imbalance-related diseases and the attenuation of oxidative stress-induced damages.
Immune cell function and metabolism are closely linked. Many studies have now clearly demonstrated that alterations in cellular metabolism influence immune cell function and that, conversely, immune cell function determines the cellular metabolic state. Less well understood, however, are the effects of systemic metabolism or whole organism nutritional status on immune cell function and metabolism. Several studies have demonstrated that undernutrition is associated with immunosuppression, which leads to both increased susceptibility to infection and protection against several types of autoimmune disease, whereas overnutrition is associated with low-grade, chronic inflammation that increases the risk of metabolic and cardiovascular disease, promotes autoreactivity, and disrupts protective immunity. Here, we review the effects of nutritional status on immunity and highlight the effects of nutrition on circulating cytokines and immune cell populations in both human studies and mouse models. As T cells are critical members of the immune system, which direct overall immune response, we will focus this review on the influence of systemic nutritional status on T cell metabolism and function. Several cytokines and hormones have been identified which mediate the effects of nutrition on T cell metabolism and function through the expression and action of key regulatory signaling proteins. Understanding how T cells are sensitive to both inadequate and overabundant nutrients may enhance our ability to target immune cell metabolism and alter immunity in both malnutrition and obesity.
Peptides are fragments of proteins that carry out biological functions. They act as signaling entities via all domains of life and interfere with protein-protein interactions, which are indispensable in bio-processes. Short peptides include fundamental molecular information for a prelude to the symphony of life. They have aroused considerable interest due to their unique features and great promise in innovative bio-therapies. This work focusing on the current state-of-the-art short peptide-based therapeutical developments is the first global review written by researchers from all continents, as a celebration of 100 years of peptide therapeutics since the commencement of insulin therapy in the 1920s. Peptide "drugs" initially played only the role of hormone analogs to balance disorders. Nowadays, they achieve numerous biomedical tasks, can cross membranes, or reach intracellular targets. The role of peptides in bio-processes can hardly be mimicked by other chemical substances. The article is divided into independent sections, which are related to either the progress in short peptide-based theranostics or the problems posing challenge to bio-medicine. In particular, the SWOT analysis of short peptides, their relevance in therapies of diverse diseases, improvements in (bio)synthesis platforms, advanced nano-supramolecular technologies, aptamers, altered peptide ligands and in silico methodologies to overcome peptide limitations, modern smart bio-functional materials, vaccines, and drug/gene-targeted delivery systems are discussed.
In their natural environment, plants are part of a rich ecosystem including numerous and diverse microorganisms in the soil. It has been long recognized that some of these microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi or nitrogen fixing symbiotic bacteria, play important roles in plant performance by improving mineral nutrition. However, the full range of microbes associated with plants and their potential to replace synthetic agricultural inputs has only recently started to be uncovered. In the last few years, a great progress has been made in the knowledge on composition of rhizospheric microbiomes and their dynamics. There is clear evidence that plants shape microbiome structures, most probably by root exudates, and also that bacteria have developed various adaptations to thrive in the rhizospheric niche. The mechanisms of these interactions and the processes driving the alterations in microbiomes are, however, largely unknown. In this review, we focus on the interaction of plants and root associated bacteria enhancing plant mineral nutrition, summarizing the current knowledge in several research fields that can converge to improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underpinning this phenomenon.
The field of nutrition research has traditionally focused on the effects of macronutrients and micronutrients on the body. However, it has become evident that individuals have unique genetic makeups that influence their response to food. Nutritional genomics, which includes nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics, explores the interaction between an individual's genetic makeup, diet, and health outcomes. Nutrigenetics studies the impact of genetic variation on an individual's response to dietary nutrients, while nutrigenomics investigates how dietary components affect gene regulation and expression. These disciplines seek to understand the impact of diet on the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome. It provides insights into the mechanisms underlying the effect of diet on gene expression. Nutrients can cause the modification of genetic expression through epigenetic changes, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications. The aim of nutrigenomics is to create personalized diets based on the unique metabolic profile of an individual, gut microbiome, and genetic makeup to prevent diseases and promote health. Nutrigenomics has the potential to revolutionize the field of nutrition by combining the practicality of personalized nutrition with knowledge of genetic factors underlying health and disease. Thus, nutrigenomics offers a promising approach to improving health outcomes (in terms of disease prevention) through personalized nutrition strategies based on an individual's genetic and metabolic characteristics.