Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 17, Issue 9, 2021

Background: Dietary carbohydrates are a group of natural compounds that includes simple sugars and complex polysaccharides in addition to fibres. The primary role of carbohydrates is to provide energy for various physiological functions in the body. Objective: A relatively high intake of complex carbohydrates and a limited intake of added or free sugars are generally recommended for a healthy diet. Carbohydrates are essential nutrients that are obtained from consumed food and cannot be synthesized by the body. Methods: The requirement of carbohydrates in diets such as sugars, starches, and fibres is essential to understand and evaluate the nutritional status of individuals, populations, and the epidemiology of deficiency diseases. Results: The dietary guidelines specify that carbohydrates should provide about half of the total calories in a balanced diet while free sugars should be limited to 5-10% of energy. Dietary fibre is a non-digestible carbohydrate that is not absorbed in the body but is important for satiety and laxation. Adult humans should consume 40-60% of their daily calorie intake from carbohydrates, except for infants and children who need a higher proportion of fats and proteins in their diet. Conclusion: It is recommended to consume complex carbohydrates and dietary fibres in the diet for health. Free and added sugars are not recommended if a person is diabetic, obese, and trying to lose weight. The function of different types of carbohydrates in the diet is an active area of study and further recommendations are essential to elucidate its function in health and diseases.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a disease associated with several cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF). There is strong evidence about the benefits of oilseeds intake and the practice of resistance training (RT) in the prevention and treatment of T2DM and its associated CMRF. However, no study has evaluated the combination of these interventions yet. Baru nut, an oilseed native to the Brazilian Cerrado, stands out among oilseeds due to its healthy nutritional composition, which has the potential to reduce CMRF in T2DM. RT, in turn, provides positive changes in the composition and metabolism of muscle cells, which contributes to improving cardiometabolic health. Objective: This review aimed to summarize the effects and mechanisms related to the intake of baru nut and the practice of RT in reducing CMRF in T2DM. Methods: Literature research was performed using the keywords “type 2 diabetes mellitus”, “Dipteryx alata Vog”, “nuts”, “physical exercise” and “resistance training”, isolated or associated, in Web of Science and Pubmed databases. Results: Baru nut is oilseed with a high density of nutrients and bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antihypercholesterolemic properties, and the RT is associated with beneficial effects on CMRF of individuals with T2DM. Thus, the consumption of baru nut and the RT have the potential to improve insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, body composition, and serum lipid profile. Conclusion: The baru nut consumption and the RT have the potential to reduce the cardiometabolic risk factors in T2DM. Both interventions are innovative and promising approaches to preserve the health of individuals with T2DM.

Background: Asafoetida is dried latex that is extracted from the taproot of many species of Ferula, a perennial herb native to the East Mediterranean and Central Asian regions. It is also a common ingredient in some cuisines. Objective: The goal of this manuscript is to survey on medicinal values and natural benefits of Asafoetida. Methods: A literature search was conducted in Science Direct, Google, Google Scholar, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, Springer, and Medline. Results: The most important health benefits consist of reducing bloating, helping to relieve asthma, lower blood pressure and menstrual pain, as well as treating headaches, insect bites, indigestion, and as a laxative. It is good for diabetic people, treats nerve disorders, helps fight free radicals, aids in reducing acne, treats corns and calluses, and reduces hair loss. Conclusion: This review article allowed verifying Asafoetida as sources of compounds with valuable nutritional and bioactive properties with great incorporation into foods with functional properties.

Introduction: Obesity has become a pandemic chronic disease. The main principle of obesity treatment is to regulate energy balance by reducing energy intake and increasing energy expenditure. These target mechanisms have become the point of attention in herbal medicine studies. Several molecular mechanisms of actions possessed by Moringa oleifera leaf extract (MLE) have been studied in many experimental research works. Objective: In this mini-review, we encompass the mechanisms of MLE in demonstrating the antiobesity activity, including the potential involvement of YAP/TAZ activity. Methods: Several major electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, were used in selecting articles from the period between August 2011 and August 2020. Results: From 18 established pieces of literature, we demonstrated the anti-obesity activity of MLE in detail. Several citations accompanied the results of these researched-based studies to explain and illustrate the molecular mechanisms, including YAP/TAZ signaling pathway. Conclusion: MLE, through its phytochemistry contents, shows significant benefits in herbal medicine, especially the anti-obesity activity. MLE potentially contributes to modify the lipid metabolism in YAP/TAZ pathway. However, the study demonstrating this involvement has still not published. In the future, more exploration may provide hope for its efficacy and safety as the therapeutic agent of obesity.

Synthetic polymers are widely used globally for food and other packagings playing an important role in food packaging during transportation, handling and also increasing shelf-life of product at a controlled atmospheric condition. Most of the time, plastic is preferred as a packaging material due to its inherent properties like light in weight, strength, durability, availability, convenience and relatively inexpensive. In this review, it has been tried to preface some plastic material, their sustainability, adaptability, advantages and disadvantages over the packaging of any food product and trying to clarify the different properties of plastic materials and their effect on packaged food.

Food integrity could be jeopardized by different types of food frauds. The concept of food integrity is composed of three pillars: (i) food quality, i.e., number of features, objective and subjective, of food that are acceptable to consumers and meet their expectations; (ii) food authenticity, namely the ability to follow the movement of a feed or food through specified stage(s) of production, processing, and distribution; and (iii) food safety, which is the probability of not becoming ill after consuming a food. Food fraud, i.e., modifications of food characteristics and/or ingredients, can affect the quality, authenticity and safety of food products. Moreover, these practices can affect consumers’ expectations and trust. In this review, applications of vibrational spectroscopy- (NIR and FT-IR) and proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) for food quality, authenticity and safety analysis will be discussed. Examples of how vibrational spectroscopy and proton transfer reaction – mass spectrometry applied to food integrity analysis will be given with regards to oils, milk and dairy products, and coffee.

By the end of 2019 emerged a cluster of pneumonia that was caused by a novel SARSCoV- 2 virus. The disease, subsequently named COVID-19, has a wide range of signs and symptoms, including fever, respiratory and gastrointestinal manifestations, and kidney disease that can evolve to a nutritional imbalance through direct and indirect mechanisms. Moreover, the prognosis of COVID-19 could worsen in high-risk populations like kidney disease patients, given their depressed immunity and impaired nutritional state. Therefore, previous reports suggest prioritizing a nutritional approach in these patients, adjusting for individual dietary needs. Thus, we aim to explore the current knowledge about the clinical and nutritional implications of patients with COVID-19 who develop acute or chronic kidney disease, highlighting proposed dietary recommendations in this group of patients.

Aims: The objective of the current manuscript is to discuss various types of cancers of breast, pathophysiology, and biomarkers used for breast cancer and potential applications of herbal remedies as a treatment tool. Methods: A literature survey was carried out using various online search engines like google scholar, ScienceDirect, Springer, Scopus, PubMed, etc. Offline libraries were also used for the compilation of data. Results and Discussion: The second ground for disease casualties in females is breast cancer. The complexity of this disorder resembles a complicated environment containing varying layers of internal and external influences that are cleverly engineered for interaction to create a pliable background for the clonal progress of breast cancer cells. Biomarkers which can identify the most successful treatments or assess the reaction to therapy early in the process of treatment are useful. The possible benefits of imaging biomarkers are evident and initial clinical results have been positive. Herbal medicines must be established to be successful against this disease. Conclusion: It can be established from the complete study that breast cancer is mainly universal and lethal cancer of females. Herbal medicines are widely distributed, biocompatible, biodegradable, and have the potential to treat breast cancer. Furthermore, multicenter clinical trials are still needed for evidence of the clinical usefulness of herbal medicines.

Background: Litchi chinensis is an evergreen and arboreal tree with grey-black bark, shiny branches, and deep green lanceolate dense round shape leaves. The litchi peel is very thin and rigid and comes out easily, revealing jelly-like white color pulp with excellent flavor due to sugar and acid content. Litchi is an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamin C, vitamin Bcomplex and flavonoids that help in the prevention of chronic diseases. Aim: The quality of litchi fruit is generally estimated by aroma volatiles, color, physicochemical parameters, and fruit composition (minerals and vitamins). Worldwide, the concern is rising regarding the use of sulfating agents in vegetables and fresh fruits. Therefore, there is a requirement of declaration from U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations for its acceptable levels as sulfur dioxide (SO2) is officially defined as a pesticide that is nowadays used as a fumigant for litchi. Conclusion: This review summarizes the outcome of diverse post-harvest treatments, types of packaging, storage period and their effects on physicochemical characters, sensory evaluation, quality retention, and changes during storage of litchi fruit, along with exploring suitable alternative technologies to replace SO2 fumigation.

Background: Biogenic amines (BAs) can be defined as low molecular weight organic nitrogen compounds formed by amino acid decarboxylation or by amination and transamination of aldehydes and ketones. Histamine, tryptamine, tyramine, putrescine, phenylethylamine, and cadaverines are some of the BAs reported in fermented foods which are synthesized by decarboxylation of histidine, tryptophan, tyrosine, ornithine, phenylalanine, and lysine, respectively. In meat and meat products, they are associated with spoilage. Excessive oral intake of these compounds can result in several toxic effects on human health such as hypertension, cardiac palpitations, headache, nausea, diarrhea, and flushing. Objective: Therefore, BAs must be controlled within the safety level to ensure the safety of fermented meat products. The ratio and quantity of biogenic amines present can be used as an indicator of the hygienic state of raw material as well as manufacturing practices. Conclusion: The detection and quantification of biogenic amines are commonly performed by chromatographic approaches such as gas chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and capillary electrophoresis (CE). It can also be done by non-chromatographic approaches like optical biosensors, disposable screen-printed electrode biosensors with enzymes, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and FTIR. There is enormous scope for making these analytical techniques more rapid and simple. Thus, the purpose of this review is to deliver concise information about the BAs, their significance, regulatory aspects, and the methods available to quantify the BAs in meat and meat products.

Crocus sativus L. (Saffron) is a Mediterranean herb of the Iridaceae family. The dried stigmas of C. sativa plant are processed to produce well-known spice saffron rich in secondary metabolites (safranal, crocetin, terpenes, crocins, picrocrocin, kaempferol and quercetin) with a wide range of important biological activities in curing many human diseases. Around the world, saffron is considered to be the most expensive spice, with an estimated annual production of around 300 tons per year. Therapeutic efficacies of saffron are proved through pharmacological studies and it is considered as a promising candidate with potentials for designing new drugs. In different food supplements, saffron is mainly used due to its antioxidant properties, intense flavour, aroma and luminous yellow-orange hue. Worldwide it is used in everything from confectioneries, liquors, cheeses, curries, soups, baked goods and meat dishes. This review is aimed to summarize the ethnomedicinal importance, phytochemistry and acceptable daily intake with a wide spectrum of pharmacological and therapeutic applications of saffron.

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is defined by the presence of three or more of the following components: inadequate fasting serum glucose levels and elevated waist circumference, hypertension and dyslipidemia, which represent a potential risk for the development and/or worsening of Chronic Kidney Disease. Objective: Based on this, this research aimed to investigate the presence of MetS and its influence on associated factors in patients with Chronic Kidney Disease undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: This is an evaluation of a cross-sectional multicenter research project, carried out with 95 patients with Chronic Kidney Disease, seen at outpatient clinics in the state capital Piaui. Anthropometric, biochemical and hemodynamic parameters were determined. The data were analyzed using the Stata® v.12 software (Statacorp, College Station, Texas, USA), adopting a significance level of p < 0,05. The survey received ethical approval (no. 2.527.329). Results: It was observed that individuals with elevated BMI, WC, NC, SBP, DBP were more likely to develop MetS, with significant differences (p <0.001). In addition, it was found that serum levels of glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, TC, LDL, TG and blood pressure were higher in the group with MetS. Conclusion: It was concluded that changes in the parameters analyzed in patients with CKD reinforce MetS as a predictive condition for worsening nutritional status and a factor for the progression of kidney disease.