Current Issue : April - June Volume : 2011 Issue Number : 2 Articles : 8 Articles
This study was designed to investigate the anti obesity effect of Pterocarpus marsupium bark extract in female wistar rats fed on cafeteria and atherogenic diets. Obesity was induced in female wistar rats by feeding cafeteria diet/ atherogenic rats daily for 40 days in addition to normal diet ad libitum. Pterocarpus marsupium bark extract was administered in a dose of 800 mg/kg.p.o.per day to the drug treatment groups. The Pterocarpus marsupium bark extract showed significant reduction in body weight, daily food intake, internal organs, fat pad weights and serum glucose, cholesterol and triglyceride levels and increase in locomotor activity in cafeteria and atherogenic diet fed rats when compared with control group of rats.These results indicate that the Pterocarpus marsupium bark extract posses anti obesity effect in cafeteria and atherogenic diet fed rats. The effect produced was comparable with that produced by standard anti obese drug, Sibutramine....
Background\r\nComplementary feeding is currently recommended after six months of age, when the nutrients in breast milk alone are no longer adequate to support growth. Few studies have examined macro- and micro-nutrient intakes from complementary foods (CF) only. Our purpose was to assess the sources and nutritional contribution of CF over the first year of life.\r\n\r\nMethods\r\nIn July 2003, a cross-sectional survey was conducted on a nationally representative sample of mothers with infants aged three to 12 months. The survey was administered evenly across all regions of the country and included a four-day dietary record to assess infants' CF intakes in household (tablespoon) measures (breast milk and formula intakes excluded). Records from 2,663 infants were analyzed for nutrient and CF food intake according to 12 categories. Mean daily intakes for infants at each month of age from CF were pooled and compared to the Dietary Reference Intakes for the respective age range.\r\n\r\nResults\r\nAt three months of age, 83% of infants were already consuming infant cereals. Fruits and vegetables were among the most common foods consumed by infants at all ages, while meats were least common at all ages except 12 months. Macro- and micro-nutrient intakes from CF generally increased with age. All mean nutrient intakes, except vitamin D and iron, met CF recommendations at seven to 12 months.\r\n\r\nConclusions\r\nComplementary foods were introduced earlier than recommended. Although mean nutrient intakes from CF at six to 12 months appear to be adequate among Canadian infants, further attention to iron and vitamin D intakes and sources may be warranted....
Objective. The objective was to compare the postprandial glycemic and insulinemic responses to nutrition bars containing either cross-linked RS type 4 ( R S 4 X L ) or standard wheat starch in normoglycemic adults ( ?? = 13; age = 27 �± 5 years; BMI = 25 �± 3?kg/ m 2 ). Methods. Volunteers completed three trials during which they consumed a glucose beverage (GLU), a puffed wheat control bar (PWB), and a bar containing cross-linked RS4 ( R S 4 X L ) matched for available carbohydrate content. Serial blood samples were collected over two hours and glucose and insulin concentrations were determined and the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) was calculated. Results. The R S 4 X L peak glucose and insulin concentrations were lower than the GLU and PWB ( ?? < . 0 5 ). The iAUC for glucose and insulin were lower following ingestion of RS4 compared with the GLU and PWB trials. Conclusions. These data illustrate, for the first time, that directly substituting standard starch with R S 4 X L , while matched for available carbohydrates, attenuated postprandial glucose and insulin levels in humans. It remains to be determined whether this response was due to the dietary fiber and/or resistant starch aspects of the R S 4 X L bar....
Multiple sclerosis is a complex and multifactorial neurological disease, and nutrition is one of the environmental factors possibly involved in its pathogenesis. At present, the role of nutrition is unclear, and MS therapy is not associated to a particular diet. MS clinical trials based on specific diets or dietary supplements are very few and in some cases controversial. To understand how diet can influence the course of MS and improve the wellness of MS patients, it is necessary to identify the dietary molecules, their targets and the molecular mechanisms involved in the control of the disease. The aim of this paper is to provide a molecular basis for the nutritional intervention in MS by evaluating at molecular level the effect of dietary molecules on the inflammatory and autoimmune processes involved in the disease....
Background\r\nChanging lifestyles have recently caused a severe reduction of the gathering of wild food plants. Knowledge about wild food plants and the local environment becomes lost when plants are no longer gathered. In Central Europe popular scientific publications have tried to counter this trend. However, detailed and systematic scientific investigations in distinct regions are needed to understand and preserve wild food uses. This study aims to contribute to these investigations.\r\nMethods\r\nResearch was conducted in the hill country east of Graz, Styria, in Austria. Fifteen farmers, most using organic methods, were interviewed in two distinct field research periods between July and November 2008. Data gathering was realized through freelisting and subsequent semi-structured interviews. The culinary use value (CUV) was developed to quantify the culinary importance of plant species. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed on gathering and use variables to identify culture-specific logical entities of plants. The study presented was conducted within the framework of the master's thesis about wild plant gathering of the first author. Solely data on gathered wild food species is presented here.\r\nResults\r\nThirty-nine wild food plant and mushroom species were identified as being gathered, whereas 11 species were mentioned by at least 40 percent of the respondents. Fruits and mushrooms are listed frequently, while wild leafy vegetables are gathered rarely. Wild foods are mainly eaten boiled, fried or raw. Three main clusters of wild gathered food species were identified: leaves (used in salads and soups), mushrooms (used in diverse ways) and fruits (eaten raw, with milk (products) or as a jam).\r\nConclusions\r\nKnowledge about gathering and use of some wild food species is common among farmers in the hill country east of Graz. However, most uses are known by few farmers only. The CUV facilitates the evaluation of the culinary importance of species and makes comparisons between regions and over time possible. The classification following gathering and use variables can be used to better understand how people classify the elements of their environment. The findings of this study add to discussions about food heritage, popularized by organizations like Slow Food, and bear significant potential for organic farmers....
Spirulina or Arthrospira is a blue-green alga that became famous after it was successfully used by NASA as a dietary supplement for astronauts on space missions. It has the ability to modulate immune functions and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting the release of histamine by mast cells. Multiple studies investigating the efficacy and the potential clinical applications of Spirulina in treating several diseases have been performed and a few randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews suggest that this alga may improve several symptoms and may even have an anticancer, antiviral and antiallergic effects. Current and potential clinical applications, issues of safety, indications, side-effects and levels of evidence are addressed in this review. Areas of ongoing and future research are also discussed....
New eating habits, actual trends in production and consumption have a health, environmental and social impact. The European Union is fighting diseases characteristic of a modern age, such as obesity, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, allergies and dental problems. Developed countries are also faced with problems relating to aging populations, high energy foods, and unbalanced diets. The potential of nutraceuticals/functional foods/food supplements in mitigating health problems, especially in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, is discussed. Certain members of gut microflora (e.g., probiotic/protective strains) play a role in the host health due to its involvement in nutritional, immunologic and physiological functions. The potential mechanisms by which nutraceuticals/functional foods/food supplements may alter a host�s health are also highlighted in this paper. The establishment of novel functional cell models of the GI and analytical tools that allow tests in controlled experiments are highly desired for gut research....
Probiotics are living microbial culture or cultured dairy products, which beneficially influence the health and nutrition of the host. Different studies have been carried out in preclinical or clinical stages on various possible therapeutic aspects of probiotics. Their use as infant feed, in managing lactose intolerance and diarrhea in infants makes them a suitable supplement to pediatric medication. Their usefulness in irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, cholesterol lowering, prevention of colon cancer, prevention against Helicobacter pylori induced gastric ulcers and antibiotic-associated diarrhea underlines their importance as an integral part of gastrointestinal medication regime. Further, studies also underline the importance of probiotics in reducing inflammation, improving mineral absorption, lowering blood pressure, improving immune function, preventing infections, and preventing harmful bacterial growth under stress. Studies with concomitant administration with fruit juices and even by microencapsulation / enteric coating technology are underway, the outcome of which would help to optimize and justify the availability of probiotics as a commercially feasible product thus expanding the market share and thereby generating greater awareness amongst masses....
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