Precision Nutrition in Chronic Inflammation

Advancing Gut Microbiome Research: The Shift from Metagenomics to Multi-Omics and Future Perspectives

The gut microbiome, a dynamic and integral component of human health, has co-evolved with its host, playing essential roles in metabolism, immunity, and disease prevention. Traditional microbiome studies, primarily focused on microbial composition, have provided limited insights into the functional and mechanistic interactions between microbiota and their host. The advent of multi-omics technologies has transformed microbiome research by integrating genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, offering a comprehensive, systems-level understanding of microbial ecology and host-microbiome interactions. These advances have propelled innovations in personalized medicine, enabling more precise diagnostics and targeted therapeutic strategies. This review highlights recent breakthroughs in microbiome research, demonstrating how these approaches have elucidated microbial functions and their implications for health and disease. Additionally, it underscores the necessity of standardizing multi-omics methodologies, conducting large-scale cohort studies, and developing novel platforms for mechanistic studies, which are critical steps toward translating microbiome research into clinical applications and advancing precision medicine.

Study on Differential Metabolite Active Ingredients in Maize Roots Based on Network Pharmacology and Metabolomics Analysis

Maize is a globally important crop. Roots are the main part of maize and are mainly used for soil improvement and for maintaining crop growth as agricultural waste. Their application scope is relatively small. It is very important to analyze the components in maize roots in order to increase their resource utilization and reduce the burden of waste disposal. Metabolomics shows that maize roots contain various bioactive components, such as alkaloids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, etc. Therefore, this study explores the potential pharmacological effects of maize root metabolites under drought stress from the perspective of metabolomics combined with network pharmacology. The crude extraction of betaine, a metabolite in maize roots under drought stress, was conducted, and the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of the crude extract were evaluated. The experimental results of DPPH, Fenton, etc. indicate that the crude extract of betaine from maize roots has certain anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, which provides a basis for its potential applications in the fields of medicine and food. The research on extracting medicinal active substances such as betaine from maize roots as agricultural waste not only has economic and environmental advantages but also has important significance in promoting technological progress and public health.

Machine learning-driven insights into lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways in knee osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a multifactorial degenerative joint disease influenced by lipid metabolism, systemic inflammation, and dietary factors. This study integrates clinical data, biochemical markers, and machine learning models to identify key predictors of KOA severity and develop personalized dietary strategies for disease management. A cohort of 600 KOA patients was analyzed, revealing significant correlations between dyslipidemia (low HDL, high LDL) and inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6). Machine learning models identified BMI, CRP, and IL-6 as critical predictors of pain severity (AUC = 0.93). Based on these findings, we propose targeted dietary recommendations, including increased omega-3 fatty acid intake and reduced saturated fat consumption, to modulate inflammation and improve clinical outcomes. This study highlights the potential of precision nutrition approaches in addressing the metabolic and inflammatory underpinnings of KOA.

Effects of Almond Consumption on Selected Markers of Inflammation and Oxidative Stress: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of almond consumption on serum C-reactive protein (CRP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in individuals at risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). An electronic database search was performed on PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from inception through October 2024. Summary effect size measurements were calculated using random effects model estimation and were reported as weighted mean differences (WMDs) along with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). A total of 258 articles were identified, and 13 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The meta-analysis of eleven RCTs, which involved a total of 544 participants, indicated that almonds significantly reduced levels of CRP (WMD, -0.28 mg/L; 95% CI, -0.52, -0.04; p = 0.02). However, we found no significant benefit of almond consumption in improving serum MDA levels, and due to the limited number of studies, the examination of MDA was conducted only qualitatively. This study supports the conclusion that almond consumption has favorable effects on CRP levels in individuals with CVD risk factors. More high-quality trials are needed to confirm these findings.

Mediterranean Diet and Olive Oil Redox Interactions on Lactate Dehydrogenase Mediated by Gut Oscillibacter in Patients with Long-COVID-19 Syndrome

Chronic viral inflammation is associated with oxidative stress and changes in gut microbiota. The Mediterranean diet (MD), with recognized anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, modulates gut microorganisms, specifically on the interaction between extra virgin olive oil, a key component of the MD with well-documented antioxidant effects. This study investigated the influence of adherence to MD and antioxidant-rich foods (extra virgin olive oil) on biochemical, inflammatory, and microbiota profiles in patients with chronic inflammation defined as a prolonged inflammatory response due to immune dysregulation following the acute phase of the viral infection. Participants were classified into low (n = 54) and high (n = 134) MD adherence groups (cut-off of 7 points based on previous studies utilizing the same threshold in the assessment of MD adherence). Gut microbiota was sequenced using the 16S technique, and the adherence to MD was assessed using a validated questionnaire for a Spanish population. High adherence to the MD was linked to significant improvements in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, including reductions in LDL-cholesterol, glucose, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, an indicative of redox balance, as well as a significant higher consumption of antioxidant foods. Moreover, gut microbiota analysis revealed distinct compositional shifts and a lower abundance of the Oscillibacter genus in the high adherence group. Notably, a significant interaction was observed between MD adherence and extra virgin olive oil consumption, with Oscillibacter abundance influencing LDH levels, suggesting that the MD antioxidant properties may modulate inflammation through gut microbiota-mediated mechanisms. These findings provide new evidence that adherence to the Mediterranean diet can reduce inflammatory markers in patients with long-COVID-19, a population that has not been extensively studied, while also highlighting the potential role of the bacterial genus Oscillibacter in modulating this effect.

Competitive season effects on polyunsaturated fatty acid content in erythrocyte membranes of female football players

BACKGROUND

An optimal and correctly balanced metabolic status is essential to improve sports performance in athletes. Recent advances in omic tools, such as the lipid profile of the mature erythrocyte membranes (LPMEM), allow to have a comprehensive vision of the nutritional and metabolic status of these individuals to provide personalized recommendations for nutrients, specifically, the essential omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, individuating deficiencies/unbalances that can arise from both habitual diet and sportive activity. This work aimed to study the LPMEM in professional female football players during the football season for the first time and compare it with those defined as optimal values for the general population and a control group.

METHODS

An observational study was carried out on female football players from the Athletic Club (Bilbao) playing in the first division of the Spanish league. Blood samples were collected at three points: at the beginning, mid-season, and end of the season for three consecutive seasons (2019-2020, 2020-2021, and 2021-2022), providing a total of 160 samples from 40 women. The LPMEM analysis was obtained by GC-FID by published method and correlated to other individual data, such as blood biochemical parameters, body composition, and age.

RESULTS

We observed a significant increase in docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) (p 0.048) and total polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) (p 0.021) in the first season. In the second season, we observed a buildup in the membrane arachidonic acid (AA) (p < .001) and PUFA (p < .001) contents when high training accumulated. In comparison with the benchmark of average population values, 69% of the football players showed lower levels of omega-6 dihomo-γ-linolenic acid (DGLA), whereas 88%, 44%, and 81% of the participants showed increased values of AA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and the ratio of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids (SFA/MUFA), respectively. Regarding relationships between blood biochemical parameters, body composition, and age with LPMEM, we observed some mild negative correlations, such as AA and SFA/MUFA ratio with vitamin D levels (coefficient = -0.34 p = .0019 and coefficient = -.25 p = .042); DGLA with urea and cortisol (coefficient = -0.27 p < .006 and coefficient = .28 p < .0028) and AA with age (coefficient = -0.33 p < .001).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, relevant variations in several fatty acids of the membrane fatty acid profile of elite female football players were observed during the competitive season and, in comparison with the general population, increased PUFA contents were confirmed, as reported in other sportive activities, together with the new aspect of DGLA diminution, an omega-6 involved in immune and anti-inflammatory responses. Our results highlight membrane lipidomics as a tool to ascertain the molecular profile of elite female football players with a potential application for future personalized nutritional strategies (diet and supplementation) to address unbalances created during the competitive season.

The nutrition and immunity (nutrIMM) study: protocol for a non-randomized, four-arm parallel-group, controlled feeding trial investigating immune function in obesity and type 2 diabetes

Introduction

Individuals with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes are at higher risk of infection and have worse prognoses compared to healthy individuals. Several factors may influence immune responses in this population, including high adiposity, hyperglycemia, and unhealthy dietary habits. However, there is insufficient data on the independent or clustered contribution of these factors to obesity-related immune dysfunction, especially accounting for dietary intake. This study aims to establish the independent contribution of obesity and hyperglycemia to immune dysfunction independent of diet in adults with and without obesity with or without type 2 diabetes.

Methods

The Nutrition and Immunity (nutrIMM) study is a single-centre, non-randomized, four-arm, parallel-group, controlled feeding trial. It will enroll adults without obesity (Lean-NG) and with obesity and three metabolic phenotypes of normoglycemia, glucose intolerance, and type 2 diabetes. Participants will be assigned to one of four groups and will consume a standard North American-type diet for 4 weeks. The primary outcomes are plasma concentration of C-reactive protein and concentration of ex-vivo interleukin-2 secreted upon stimulation of T cells with phytohemagglutinin.

Discussion

This will be the first controlled feeding study examining the contribution of obesity, hyperglycemia, and diet on systemic inflammation, immune cell phenotype, and function in adults of both sexes. Results of this clinical trial can ultimately be used to develop personalized dietary strategies to optimize immune function in individuals with obesity with different immune and metabolic profiles.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT04291391.

Dental calculus: A repository of bioinformation indicating diseases and human evolution

Dental calculus has long been considered as a vital contributing factor of periodontal diseases. Our review focuses on the role of dental calculus as a repository and discusses the bioinformation recently reported to be concealed in dental calculus from three perspectives: time-varying oral condition, systemic diseases, and anthropology at various times. Molecular information representing an individual's contemporary oral health status could be detected in dental calculus. Additionally, pathogenic factors of systemic diseases were found in dental calculus, including bacteria, viruses and toxic heavy metals. Thus, dental calculus has been proposed to play a role as biological data storage for detection of molecular markers of latent health concerns. Through the study of environmental debris in dental calculus, an overview of an individual's historical dietary habits and information about the environment, individual behaviors and social culture changes can be unveiled. This review summarizes a new role of dental calculus as a repository of bioinformation, with potential use in the prediction of oral diseases, systemic diseases, and even anthropology.

Effects of vitamin D supplementation on depression and some selected pro-inflammatory biomarkers: a double-blind randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Both augmented inflammatory reaction and low vitamin D status are associated with depression but the magnitude of their relationships is unclear. This study was, therefore, conducted to evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation on serum 25(OH)D concentration, depression severity and some pro-inflammatory biomarkers in patients with mild to moderate depression.

METHODS

An 8-week double-blind randomized clinical trial (RCT) was performed on 56 (18-60 yrs) patients with mild to moderate depression, randomly assigned to intervention (50,000 IU cholecalciferol 2wks^-1) and control (placebo) groups. Serum 25(OH)D, intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), interlukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and depression severity (Beck Depression Inventory-II) (BDI-II)) were initially and finally assessed.

RESULTS

At the end point, statistically significant changes were observed only in intervention group as compared with controls including increased 25(OH)D concentration (+ 40.83 ± 28.57 vs. + 5.14 ± 23.44 nmol L^-1, P < 0.001) and decreased depression severity (-11.75 ± 6.40 vs. -3.61 ± 10.40, P = 0.003). No significant within- or between group differences were observed in serum IL-1β, IL-6 and hs-CRP concentrations.

CONCLUSION

Increased circulating 25(OH)D concentrations following 8-week vitamin D supplementation (50,000 IU 2wks^-1) resulted in a significant decrease in BDI-II scores in patients with mild to moderate depression. However, this effect was independent of the serum concentrations of the studied inflammatory biomarkers.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The clinical trial registration code was obtained from the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (date of registration: 17/09/2018, registration number: IRCT20170926036425N1) and ClinicalTrials.gov (date of registration: 04/12/2018, registration number: NCT03766074).

Towards Tailored Gut Microbiome-Based and Dietary Interventions for Promoting the Development and Maintenance of a Healthy Brain

Mental health is determined by a complex interplay between the Neurological Exposome and the Human Genome. Multiple genetic and non-genetic (exposome) factors interact early in life, modulating the risk of developing the most common complex neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), with potential long-term consequences on health. To date, the understating of the precise etiology underpinning these neurological alterations, and their clinical management pose a challenge. The crucial role played by diet and gut microbiota in brain development and functioning would indicate that modulating the gut-brain axis may help protect against the onset and progression of mental-health disorders. Some nutritional deficiencies and gut microbiota alterations have been linked to NDDs, suggesting their potential pathogenic implications. In addition, certain dietary interventions have emerged as promising alternatives or adjuvant strategies for improving the management of particular NDDs, at least in particular subsets of subjects. The gut microbiota can be a key to mediating the effects of other exposome factors such as diet on mental health, and ongoing research in Psychiatry and Neuropediatrics is developing Precision Nutrition Models to classify subjects according to a diet response prediction based on specific individual features, including microbiome signatures. Here, we review current scientific evidence for the impact of early life environmental factors, including diet, on gut microbiota and neuro-development, emphasizing the potential long-term consequences on health; and also summarize the state of the art regarding the mechanisms underlying diet and gut microbiota influence on the brain-gut axis. Furthermore, we describe the evidence supporting the key role played by gut microbiota, diet and nutrition in neurodevelopment, as well as the effectiveness of certain dietary and microbiome-based interventions aimed at preventing or treating NDDs. Finally, we emphasize the need for further research to gain greater insight into the complex interplay between diet, gut microbiome and brain development. Such knowledge would help towards achieving tailored integrative treatments, including personalized nutrition.

The intestinal luminal sources of α-synuclein: a gastroenterologist perspective

Parkinson's disease is characterized by nonmotor/motor dysfunction, midbrain dopaminergic neuronal death, and α-synuclein (aSN) deposits. The current hypothesis is that aSN accumulates in the enteric nervous system to reach the brain. However, invertebrate, vertebrate, and nutritional sources of aSN reach the luminal compartment. Submitted to local amyloidogenic forces, the oligomerized proteins' cargo can be sensed and sampled by a specialized mucosal cell to be transmitted to the adjacent enteric nervous system, starting their upward journey to the brain. The present narrative review extends the current mucosal origin of Parkinson's disease, presenting the possibility that the disease starts in the intestinal lumen. If substantiated, eliminating the nutritional sources of aSN (eg, applying a vegetarian diet) might revolutionize the currently used dopaminergic pharmacologic therapy.