Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 4, Issue 2, 2008

Abdominal obesity, atheroslcerosis, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemias, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus are important components of metabolic syndrome X. An increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, decrease in the concentrations of endothelial nitric oxide (eNO) and adiponectin, and an alteration in hypothalamic peptides that control satiety, hunger, and food intake have been reported in metabolic syndrome X. Al Read More

Microbial metabolism in the human colon impacts on health and disease. Production of intermediate metabolites and end-products depends largely on the supply of dietary carbohydrates, including prebiotics (fructooligosaccharides) and functional foods (resistant starch), that resist small intestinal digestion. Colonic bacteria ferment these substrates to a wide range of products, predominantly short-chain fatty acids, includi Read More

Carotenoids are commonly present exclusively in flora and microbes where they perform critical functions in photosynthesis and photoprotection. These lipophilic molecules are not synthesized by vertebrates and invertebrates. Carotenoids are recognized as high-value antioxidant food supplements and their antioxidant activity may be higher than β-carotene and ??-tocopherol leading to a prevention of lipid peroxidation Read More

Taurine (2-Amino ethane sulfonic acid) is a naturally occurring sulphur amino acid, found in several mammalian and non mammalian tissues. Taurine is believed to be involved in several life processes. Its deficiency is a cause of concern in developing abnormalities in many organs like eye, heart, kidney, brain etc during developmental stages and even later on. Taurine contents are believed to be high in bone tissue mostly d Read More

This review of current medical knowledge about the etiology, evaluation, medical, and pharmacologic treatment of obesity suggests patient care strategies emphasizing office evaluation and treatment. Office assessment of obesity, which is the consequence of multiple genetic, neurohormonal, environmental, and behavioral factors, should include a careful chronological history with calculation of body mass inde Read More