Nutrigenomics in Regulating the Expression of Genes Related to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Characterization, digestive properties and glucose metabolism regulation of curcumin-loaded Pickering emulsion

Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound with antioxidant and hypoglycemic properties, has limited applications due to low stability and poor oral bioavailability. This study aimed to overcome these challenges by developing stable oil-in-water Pickering emulsions with curcumin and evaluating their stability and digestive characteristics. Using a T2DM mouse model, we further examined the effects of curcumin-loaded Pickering emulsions on glucose metabolism. The emulsions demonstrated high curcumin encapsulation efficiency (96.72 % ± 2.15 %) and minimal average droplet size. Both emulsions showed stable zeta potential, favorable rheological properties, and strong environmental and storage stability, lasting up to 60 days. In vitro digestion studies indicated that the Pickering emulsion substantially improved curcumin bioavailability (25.48 %-36.43 %) and increased antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity compared to oil-soluble curcumin, both before and after digestion. In animal experiments, the curcumin-loaded Pickering emulsion enhanced fasting blood glucose, glucose tolerance, and insulin resistance in T2DM mice, compared to the untreated model group. It also supported tissue repair in the pancreas, liver, and colon, reduced oxidative stress in the liver, activated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and favorably influenced gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids. These findings suggest that Pickering emulsions are an effective delivery system for curcumin in functional foods, supporting their application in curcumin-based product development.

Impact of Olive Oil Components on the Expression of Genes Related to Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a multifactorial metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and beta cell dysfunction, resulting in hyperglycemia. Olive oil, a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet, has attracted considerable attention due to its potential health benefits, including reducing the risk of developing T2DM. This literature review aims to critically examine and synthesize existing research regarding the impact of olive oil on the expression of genes relevant to T2DM. This paper also seeks to provide an immunological and genetic perspective on the signaling pathways of the main components of extra virgin olive oil. Key bioactive components of olive oil, such as oleic acid and phenolic compounds, were identified as modulators of insulin signaling. These compounds enhanced the insulin signaling pathway, improved lipid metabolism, and reduced oxidative stress by decreasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Additionally, they were shown to alleviate inflammation by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway and downregulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes. Furthermore, these bioactive compounds were observed to mitigate endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress by downregulating stress markers, thereby protecting beta cells from apoptosis and preserving their function. In summary, olive oil, particularly its bioactive constituents, has been demonstrated to enhance insulin sensitivity, protect beta cell function, and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress by modulating key genes involved in these processes. These findings underscore olive oil's therapeutic potential in managing T2DM. However, further research, including well-designed human clinical trials, is required to fully elucidate the role of olive oil in personalized nutrition strategies for the prevention and treatment of T2DM.

Nutrigenomics and neurological disorders: exploring diet-brain interactions for cognitive health

This review article investigates the intricate relationship between nutrigenomics and neurological disorders, highlighting how genetic variations affect an individual's response to nutrients. The study delves into the role of diet-related oxidative stress and the gut-brain axis in the progression and management of brain disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, stroke, migraines, and depression. The review encompasses various clinical trials and introduces new trends and techniques, including omics and artificial intelligence, in identifying and managing neurological disorders. The main findings emphasize that personalized diet recommendations, tailored to an individual's genetic makeup, can significantly improve cognitive health and manage neurological conditions. The study concludes that further research in the field of nutrigenomics is essential to advancing personalized nutrition strategies for better neurological functioning, ultimately linking diet, genes, and brain health.

Network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental validation to elucidate the anti-T2DM mechanism of Lanxangia tsaoko

Lanxangia tsaoko (L. tsaoko) is a natural medicine which could be used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, there is no systematic and comprehensive research on the its active compounds and mechanism. This study aimed to investigate the active ingredients and potential mechanism of L. tsaoko for the treatment of T2DM. The chemical constituents of L. tsaoko were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS. The active compounds and mechanism of L. tsaoko were predicted by network pharmacology. Then the docking modes of key components and core targets were analyzed by molecular docking. Finally, animal experiments were conducted to verify the efficacy and targets of L. tsaoko in T2DM treatment. 70 compounds from L. tsaoko were identified. We obtained 37 active components, including quercetin, genistein and kaempferol, 5 core targets were AKT1, INS, TP53, TNF and IL-6. Mainly involved in PI3K/Akt, MAPK, RAGE/AGE, HIF-1, FoxO signaling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the L. tsaoko had good binding potential to TNF. Therefore, we took the inflammatory mechanism as the prediction target for experimental verification. Animal experiments showed that L. tsaoko could alleviated colon injury of T2DM mice, improve glucose metabolism and decrease inflammatory levels. L. tsaoko exerted therapeutic effects on T2DM through multi-component, multi-target and multi-pathway regulation. Its action mechanisms were related to PI3K/Akt, MAPK, RAGE/AGE, HIF-1 and FoxO signaling pathways. This study provided new insights for the clinical treatment of T2DM.

Changes of LncRNAs during the Process of Antioxidants Antagonize Cadmium-Induced Oxidative Damage in Islet β Cells

Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) play important regulatory roles in oxidative damage. Resveratrol, curcumin, and cyanidin are phytogenic antioxidants widely existing in nature and they have been proved to antagonize certain heavy metal-induced oxidative damage in cells. However, can they antagonize oxidative damage induced by cadmium in islet β cells? Are their mechanisms of antagonizing oxidative damage related to LncRNAs? In this study, we first detected the cell viability of each group by CCK8 assay. Next, reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by the fluorescent probe. The contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected according to the instructions of corresponding kits. At last, the levels of LncRNAs were detected by fluorescence quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). The results showed that resveratrol, curcumin and cyanidin were able to reverse the reduction of cell viability induced by cadmium (CdSO4). Further determination revealed that SOD activities of the resveratrol+CdSO4, curcumin+CdSO4, and cyanidin+CdSO4 treatment groups increased significantly, and ROS levels and MDA contents dramatically decreased when compared with single CdSO4-treated group. More importantly, the levels of three CdSO4-elevated LncRNAs (NONMMUT029382, ENSMUST00000162103, ENSMUST00000117235) were all decreased and levels of three CdSO4-inhibited LncRNAs (NONMMUT036805, NONMMUT014565, NONMMUT065427) were increased after the pretreatment of resveratrol, curcumin and cyanidin. In summary, resveratrol, curcumin and cyanidin may effectly reverse the cadmium-induced oxidative damage and suggest that phytogenic antioxidants may prevent cells from cadmium-induced oxidative damage through changing the levels of LncRNAs.

Genetics, Nutrition, and Health: A New Frontier in Disease Prevention

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.

Drought-Adapted Mediterranean Diet Plants: A Source of Bioactive Molecules Able to Give Nutrigenomic Effects per sè or to Obtain Functional Foods

The Mediterranean diet features plant-based foods renowned for their health benefits derived from bioactive compounds. This review aims to provide an overview of the bioactive molecules present in some representative Mediterranean diet plants, examining their human nutrigenomic effects and health benefits as well as the environmental advantages and sustainability derived from their cultivation. Additionally, it explores the facilitation of producing fortified foods aided by soil and plant microbiota properties. Well-studied examples, such as extra virgin olive oil and citrus fruits, have demonstrated significant health advantages, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. Other less renowned plants are presented in the scientific literature with their beneficial traits on human health highlighted. Prickly pear's indicaxanthin exhibits antioxidant properties and potential anticancer traits, while capers kaempferol and quercetin support cardiovascular health and prevent cancer. Oregano and thyme, containing terpenoids like carvacrol and γ-terpinene, exhibit antimicrobial effects. Besides their nutrigenomic effects, these plants thrive in arid environments, offering benefits associated with their cultivation. Their microbiota, particularly Plant Growth Promoting (PGP) microorganisms, enhance plant growth and stress tolerance, offering biotechnological opportunities for sustainable agriculture. In conclusion, leveraging plant microbiota could revolutionize agricultural practices and increase sustainability as climate change threatens biodiversity. These edible plant species may have crucial importance, not only as healthy products but also for increasing the sustainability of agricultural systems.

Identification of antidiabetic inhibitors from Allophylus villosus and Mycetia sinensis by targeting α-glucosidase and PPAR-γ: In-vitro, in-vivo, and computational evidence

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a metabolic disorder arising from insulin deficiency and defectiveness of the insulin receptor functioning on transcription factor where the body loses control to regulate glucose metabolism in β-cells, pancreatic and liver tissues to homeostat glucose level. Mainstream medicines used for DM are incapable of restoring normal glucose homeostasis and have side effects where medicinal plant-derived medicine administrations have been claimed to cure diabetes or at least alleviate the significant symptoms and progression of the disease by the traditional practitioners. This study focused on screening phytocompounds and their pharmacological effects on anti-hyperglycemia on Swiss Albino mice of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extract of both plants Mycetia sinensis and Allophylus villosus as well as the in-silico investigations. Qualitative screening of phytochemicals and total phenolic and flavonoid content estimation were performed significantly in vitro analysis. FTIR and GC-MS analysis précised the functional groups and phytochemical investigations where FTIR scanned 14, 23 & 17 peaks in n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of Mycetia sinensis whereas the n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of Allophylus villosus scanned 11 peaks, 18 peaks, and 29 peaks, respectively. In GC-MS, 24 chemicals were identified in Mycetia sinensis extracts, whereas 19 were identified in Allophylus villosus extracts. Moreover, both plants' ethyl acetate and ethanol fractioned extracts were reported significantly (p < 0.05) with concentrations of 250 mg and 500 mg on mice for oral glucose tolerance test, serum creatinine test and serum alkaline phosphatase test. In In silico study, a molecular docking study was done on these 43 phytocompounds identified from Mycetia sinensis and Allophylus villosus to identify their binding affinity to the target Alpha Glucosidase (AG) and Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma protein (PPARG). Therefore, ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analysis, quantum mechanics-based DFT (density-functional theory), and molecular dynamics simulation were done to assess the effectiveness of the selected phytocompounds. According to the results, phytocompounds such as 2,4-Dit-butyl phenyl 5-hydroxypentanoate and Diazo acetic acid (1S,2S,5R)-2-isopropyl-5-methylcyclohexyl obtained from Mycetia sinensis and Allophylus villosus extract possess excellent antidiabetic activities.

Bioactive Compounds for Customized Brain Health: What Are We and Where Should We Be Heading?

Many strides have been made in the field of nutrition that are making it an attractive field not only to nutrition professionals but also to healthcare practitioners. Thanks to the emergence of molecular nutrition, there is a better appreciation of how the diet modulates health at the cellular and molecular levels. More importantly, the advancements in brain imaging have produced a greater appreciation of the impact of diet on brain health. To date, our understanding of the effect of nutrients on brain health goes beyond the action of vitamins and minerals and dives into the intracellular, molecular, and epigenetic effects of nutrients. Bioactive compounds (BCs) in food are gaining a lot of attention due to their ability to modulate gene expression. In addition, bioactive compounds activate some nuclear receptors that are the target of many pharmaceuticals. With the emergence of personalized medicine, gaining an understanding of the biologically active compounds may help with the customization of therapies. This review explores the prominent BCs that can impact cognitive functions and mental health to deliver a potentially prophylactic framework for practitioners. Another purpose is to identify potential gaps in the literature to suggest new research agendas for scientists.

Beverage consumption and mortality among adults with type 2 diabetes: prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the intake of specific types of beverages in relation to mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes.

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING

Health professionals in the United States.

PARTICIPANTS

15 486 men and women with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes at baseline and during follow-up (Nurses' Health Study: 1980-2018; and Health Professionals Follow-Up Study: 1986-2018). Beverage consumption was assessed using a validated food frequency questionnaire and updated every two to four years.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcome was all cause mortality. Secondary outcomes were CVD incidence and mortality.

RESULTS

During an average of 18.5 years of follow-up, 3447 (22.3%) participants with incident CVD and 7638 (49.3%) deaths were documented. After multivariable adjustment, when comparing the categories of lowest intake of beverages with the highest intake, the pooled hazard ratios for all cause mortality were 1.20 (95% confidence interval 1.04 to 1.37) for sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs), 0.96 (0.86 to 1.07) for artificially sweetened beverages (ASBs), 0.98 (0.90 to 1.06) for fruit juice, 0.74 (0.63 to 0.86) for coffee, 0.79 (0.71 to 0.89) for tea, 0.77 (0.70 to 0.85) for plain water, 0.88 (0.80 to 0.96) for low fat milk, and 1.20 (0.99 to 1.44) for full fat milk. Similar associations were observed between the individual beverages and CVD incidence and mortality. In particular, SSB intake was associated with a higher risk of incident CVD (hazard ratio 1.25, 95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.51) and CVD mortality (1.29, 1.02 to 1.63), whereas significant inverse associations were observed between intake of coffee and low fat milk and CVD incidence. Additionally, compared with those who did not change their consumption of coffee in the period after a diabetes diagnosis, a lower all cause mortality was observed in those who increased their consumption of coffee. A similar pattern of association with all cause mortality was also observed for tea, and low fat milk. Replacing SSBs with ABSs was significantly associated with lower all cause mortality and CVD mortality, and replacing SSBs, ASBs, fruit juice, or full fat milk with coffee, tea, or plain water was consistently associated with lower all cause mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

Individual beverages showed divergent associations with all cause mortality and CVD outcomes among adults with type 2 diabetes. Higher intake of SSBs was associated with higher all cause mortality and CVD incidence and mortality, whereas intakes of coffee, tea, plain water, and low fat milk were inversely associated with all cause mortality. These findings emphasize the potential role of healthy choices of beverages in managing the risk of CVD and premature death overall in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Antidiabetic activity of Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Stennis extracts with different ethanol percentages: an evaluation based on in vitro, in vivo, and molecular studies

Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Stennis, also known as Binahong (B), is an Indonesian plant used to treat diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the best extragent for preparing Binahong extract as an antidiabetic agent using different concentrations of ethanol (50%, 70%, and 96%), labelled as BE50%, BE70%, and BE96%. An alpha-glucosidase inhibiting assay was used to assess the activity. The most active extract was tested in vivo assay using an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and alloxan-high feed diet (alloxan-HFD)-induced diabetes in rats, with glucose level and beta cell Langerhans repair as parameters. A molecular assay was also performed to look into the expression of homeostasis regulator genes on 3T3-L1 adipose cells. The results showed that 96% ethanol extract (BE96%) inhibited alpha-glucosidase the most effectively (IC50 119.78± 11.14 μg/mL). The in vivo assay revealed that the treatment BE96% at 250 mg/kg BW for 21 consecutive days significantly reduced plasma glucose levels in Type 2 DM rats compared to the control group (p ≤ .05) with improved of Langerhans beta cells. BE96% also significantly reduced postprandial glucose levels. At the cellular level, Oil-Red-O staining revealed that differentiated adipocytes treated with BE96% had the highest lipid absorbance (p ≤ .05), compared to the control. BE96% significantly increased the expression of Glucose Transporter Isoform 4 (GLUT4) at the molecular level. It could be concluded that BE96% exhibited the best antidiabetic properties.

Chemicolome and Metabolome Profiling of Xieriga-4 Decoction, A Traditional Mongolian Medicine, Using the UPLC-QTOF/MS Approach

Background

Xieriga-4 decoction (XRG-4) is a classic prescription Mongolian medicine that has potent diuretic and anti-inflammatory activities. However, its functional components remain unknown.

Purpose

This study aimed to identify the chemical components in XRG-4 and its metabolome in vivo.

Methods

An ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry based approach was proposed to systematically profile the chemicolome and metabolome of XRG-4.

Result

A total of 106 constituents were identified in XRG-4. Eighty-nine components were identified in biological samples, including 78 in urine (24 prototypes and 54 metabolites), 26 in feces (19 prototypes and 7 metabolites), and 9 in plasma (5 prototypes and 4 metabolites). In other tissues, only a few compounds, including alkaloids and iridoids, were detected.

Conclusion

This comprehensive investigation of the chemical and metabolic profiles of XRG-4 provides a scientific foundation for its quality control and administration of clinically-safe medication.

Oxidative Stress in Type 2 Diabetes: The Case for Future Pediatric Redoxomics Studies

Considerable evidence supports the role of oxidative stress in adult type 2 diabetes (T2D). Due to increasing rates of pediatric obesity, lack of physical activity, and consumption of excess food calories, it is projected that the number of children living with insulin resistance, prediabetes, and T2D will markedly increase with enormous worldwide economic costs. Understanding the factors contributing to oxidative stress and T2D risk may help develop optimal early intervention strategies. Evidence suggests that oxidative stress, triggered by excess dietary fat consumption, causes excess mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide emission in skeletal muscle, alters redox status, and promotes insulin resistance leading to T2D. The pathophysiological events arising from excess calorie-induced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production are complex and not yet investigated in children. Systems medicine is an integrative approach leveraging conventional medical information and environmental factors with data obtained from “omics” technologies such as genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. In adults with T2D, systems medicine shows promise in risk assessment and predicting drug response. Redoxomics is a branch of systems medicine focusing on “omics” data related to redox status. Systems medicine with a complementary emphasis on redoxomics can potentially optimize future healthcare strategies for adults and children with T2D.

Resveratrol alleviates enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88-induced damage by regulating SIRT-1 signaling in intestinal porcine epithelial cells

This study found that resveratrol pretreatment attenuated porcine intestinal epithelial cell damage caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) K88 in vitro and the protective effects of resveratrol were associated with SIRT-1 signaling. ETEC K88 is a main intestinal pathogen for post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) in piglets. With the strict ban on antibiotics in animal feed, people are seeking effective antibiotic substitutes to protect the intestinal system against harmful pathogenic bacteria. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of resveratrol, a natural plant polyphenol, on ETEC K88-induced cellular damage in porcine enterocytes and underlying mechanisms. Intestinal porcine epithelial cell line 1 (IPEC-1) cells, pretreated with or without resveratrol (30 μM, 4 h), were challenged with ETEC K88 (MOI = 1 : 10) for 3 h. The results showed that ETEC K88 infection induced severe damage and dysfunction in IPEC-1 cells, as evidenced by a reduced cell viability, decreased tight junctions, mitochondrial dysfunction, and autophagy. It is noteworthy that IPEC-1 cells pre-treated with resveratrol improved their capacity for resistance to most of these abnormal phenotypes caused by ETEC K88 infection. Furthermore, we found that the activation of SIRT-1 signaling was associated with the benefits of resveratrol, as demonstrated by EX-527, an inhibitor of SIRT-1, which reversed most of the protective effects of resveratrol. In conclusion, these results indicated that resveratrol could protect intestinal epithelial cells against ETEC K88 infection by activating SIRT-1 signaling. These findings provide new insights into the role of resveratrol in maintaining intestinal physiological functions.