Overwhelming evidence indicates that diets rich in fruits and vegetables are protective against common chronic diseases, such as cancer, obesity and cardiovascular disease. Leafy green vegetables, in particular, are recognized as having substantial health-promoting activities that are attributed to the functional properties of their nutrients and non-essential chemical compounds. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is widely regarded as a functional food due to its diverse nutritional composition, which includes vitamins and minerals, and to its phytochemicals and bioactives that promote health beyond basic nutrition. Spinach-derived phytochemicals and bioactives are able to (i) scavenge reactive oxygen species and prevent macromolecular oxidative damage, (ii) modulate expression and activity of genes involved in metabolism, proliferation, inflammation, and antioxidant defence, and (iii) curb food intake by inducing secretion of satiety hormones. These biological activities contribute to the anti-cancer, anti-obesity, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic properties of spinach. Despite these valuable attributes, spinach consumption remains low in comparison to other leafy green vegetables. This review examines the functional properties of spinach in cell culture, animals and humans with a focus on the molecular mechanisms by which spinach-derived non-essential phytochemicals and bioactives, such as glycolipids and thylakoids, impart their health benefits.

A large body of evidence suggests that the first 1000 d from conception is a critical window in which interventions to address malnutrition will be m

Bone is a dynamic tissue that is in a constant state of remodeling. Bone turnover markers (BTMs), procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP) and C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen (CTX), provide sensitive measures of bone formation and resorption, respectively. This study used ultra-high-resolution metabolomics (HRM) to determine plasma metabolic pathways and targeted metabolites related to the markers of bone resorption and formation in adults. This cross-sectional clinical study included 34 adults (19 females, mean 27.8 years), without reported illnesses, recruited from a US metropolitan area. Serum BTM levels were quantified by an ELISA. Plasma HRM utilized dual-column liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry to identify metabolites and metabolic pathways associated with BTMs. Metabolites significantly associated with P1NP (p < 0.05) were significantly enriched in pathways linked to the TCA cycle, pyruvate metabolism, and metabolism of B vitamins important for energy production (e.g., niacin, thiamin). Other nutrition-related metabolic pathways associated with P1NP were amino acid (proline, arginine, glutamate) and vitamin C metabolism, which are important for collagen formation. Metabolites associated with CTX levels (p < 0.05) were enriched within lipid and fatty acid beta-oxidation metabolic pathways, as well as fat-soluble micronutrient pathways including, vitamin D metabolism, vitamin E metabolism, and bile acid biosynthesis. P1NP and CTX were significantly related to microbiome-related metabolites (p < 0.05). Macronutrient-related pathways including lipid, carbohydrate, and amino acid metabolism, as well as several gut microbiome-derived metabolites were significantly related to BTMs. Future research should compare metabolism BTMs relationships reported here to aging and clinical populations to inform targeted therapeutic interventions.

Age‐related delays in bone repair remains an important clinical issue that can prolong pain and suffering. It is now well established that inflammation increases with aging and that this exacerbated inflammatory response can influence skeletal regeneration. Recently, simple dietary supplementation with beneficial probiotic bacteria has been shown to influence fracture repair in young mice. However, the contribution of the gut microbiota to age‐related impairments in fracture healing remains unknown. Here, we sought to determine whether supplementation with a single beneficial probiotic species, Bifidobacterium longum (B. longum), would promote fracture repair in aged (18‐month‐old) female mice. We found that B. longum supplementation accelerated bony callus formation which improved mechanical properties of the fractured limb. We attribute these pro‐regenerative effects of B. longum to preservation of intestinal barrier, dampened systemic inflammation, and maintenance of the microbiota community structure. Moreover, B. longum attenuated many of the fracture‐induced systemic pathologies. Our study provides evidence that targeting the gut microbiota using simple dietary approaches can improve fracture healing outcomes and minimize systemic pathologies in the context of aging.