Mediterranean-style diets caused a significant decline in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in early landmark studies. The effect of a traditional Mediterranean diet on lipoprotein oxidation showed that there was a significant reduction in oxidative stress in the intervention group (Mediterranean diet + Virgin Olive Oil) compared to the low-fat diet group. Conversely, the increase in oxidative stress causing inflammation is a unifying hypothesis for predisposing people to atherosclerosis, carcinogenesis, and osteoporosis. The impact of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents on cancer and cardiovascular disease, and the interventive mechanisms for the inhibition of proliferation, inflammation, invasion, metastasis, and activation of apoptosis were explored. Following the Great Oxygen Event some 2.3 billion years ago, organisms have needed antioxidants to survive. Natural products in food preservatives are preferable to synthetic compounds due to their lower volatility and stability and generally higher antioxidant potential. Free radicals, reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, pro-oxidants and inflammation are described with examples of free radical damage based on the hydroxyl, nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. Flavonoid antioxidants with 2- or 3-phenylchroman structures such as quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, apigenin, and luteolin, constituents of fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine, which may reduce coronary disease and cancer, are described. The protective effect of flavonoids on the DNA damage caused by hydroxyl radicals through chelation is an important mechanism, though the converse may be possible, e.g., quercetin. The antioxidant properties of carotenoids, which are dietary natural pigments, have been studied in relation to breast cancer risk and an inverse association was found with plasma concentrations: higher levels mean lower risk. The manipulation of primary and secondary human metabolomes derived especially from existing or transformed gut microbiota was explored as a possible alternative to single-agent dietary interventions for cancer and cardiovascular disease. Sustained oxidative stress leading to inflammation and thence to possibly to cancer and cardiovascular disease is described for spices and herbs, using curcumin as an example of an intervention, based on activation of transcription factors which suggest that oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and cancer are closely linked.

This overview was directed towards understanding the relationship of brain functions with dietary choices mainly by older humans. This included food color, flavor, and aroma, as they relate to dietary sufficiency or the association of antioxidants with neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Impairment of olfactory and gustatory function in relation to these diseases was also explored. The role of functional foods was considered as a potential treatment of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease through inhibition of acetylcholinesterase as well as similar treatments based on herbs, spices and antioxidants therein. The importance of antioxidants for maintaining the physiological functions of liver, kidney, digestive system, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer has also been highlighted. Detailed discussion was focused on health promotion of the older person through the frequency and patterns of dietary intake, and a human ecology framework to estimate adverse risk factors for health. Finally, the role of the food industry, mass media, and apps were explored for today’s new older person generation.

Background: Gut microbiota is considered to have a great impact on human health and disease. While it is widely recognized that the gut microbiota of healthy individuals differs from those with obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, metabolic syndrome, and other chronic diseases, the alterations of gut microbiota with physical activity are not fully understood. Accordingly, we performed this systematic review to address the question regarding the effects of mild and intense exercise on the gut microbiota in humans. Methods: The comparative analyses of gut microbiota were conducted following the PRISMA protocol to determine the differences in the active vs. non-active individuals (phenotypes) (n = 11), including the influence of physical activity intervention on the human gut microbiota (n = 13); the differences in the gut microbiota of athletes vs. non-athletes (n = 8); and the microbiota status at different stages of athletic performance or intervention (n = 7), with various of physical activities, sport disciplines, and activity duration. Literature searches were completed using four databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EBSCO, and 2090 articles were retrieved by using appropriate keywords. The low heterogeneity of the studies hasn’t allowed us to prepare a meta-analysis. After excluding 2052 articles, we ultimately selected 38 articles that met the eligibility criteria for this review. Results: The data analyses revealed that in non-athletes rising physical activity markedly influenced the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA). Aerobic training that lasted 60 min, and physical activity that characterized 60% HRmax or more also influenced beta diversity indexes. The results showed that athletes harbor a more diverse type of intestinal microflora than non-athletes, but with a relatively reduced abundance of SCFA- and lactic acid-producing bacteria, thereby suggesting an adverse effect of intense exercise on the population of gut microbiota. Conclusion: It is concluded that the level of physical activity modulates the gastrointestinal microbiota in humans. For a long period, increasing the intensity and volume of exercise may lead to gut dysbiosis. Perhaps, proper supplementation should be considered to keep gut microbiota in large biodiversity and richness, especially under unfavorable gut conditions associated with intense exercise. Trial registration: Prospero CRD42021264064.

Background : Human milk contains a number of nutrients and bioactive ingredients which play an important role in the growth and development of infants. One important nutrient and bioactive ingredient of human milk is L-tryptophan. L-Tryptophan is an essential aromatic α-amino acid and is required in the diet of children and adult humans. As an essential amino acid, it is needed for protein synthesis and as a precursor of key biomolecules such as serotonin, melatonin, tryptamine, niacin, quinolinic acid and kynurenic acid, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative properties of tryptophan isolated from enzymatic hydrolysates from human milk and its metabolites on human glioma U251 cells and to evaluate the effects of human recombinant (hrIFNγ) on molecular ions of tryptophan and its metabolites in human glial U251 cells. Methods : The cytotoxicity was determined by MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay. The antioxidant property was assessed by the oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC) method. The anti-inflammatory effect was determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) against cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α. The effects of recombinant human (rhIFNγ) on molecular ions of tryptophan and its catabolites were evaluated by mass spectrometry. The tryptophan was isolated from milk peptides following enzymatic digestion, followed by separation by chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. Results : Tryptophan from human milk exhibited profoundly higher oxygen radical absorption capacity (7,986±468 µm Trolox equivalent (TE)/g) than that of whole human milk (80.4±13.3 µm TE/g). Tryptophan showed a moderate degree of anti-inflammatory activity against TNF-α and IL-6. rhIFNγ inhibited tryptophan metabolism. A low concentration of L-tryptophan (10–25 μg/mL) inhibited nearly 25% of cell growth. When U251 cells were treated with 25 μg/mL L-tryptophan and subsequently challenged with 30 ng/mL of human recombinant IFNγ, a significant inhibitory effect on cell growth was observed. Low concentrations of Xanthurenic acid, L-kynurenine, and 3-OH DL kynurenine were found to inhibit cell growth except melatonin and 3-OH anthranilic acid. Melatonin was a strong inducer of TNF-α in RAW cells, whereas 3-OH kynurenine at 25, 50 and 100 µg/mL inhibited IL-6 in RAW cells. No significant change was observed in the IL-8 profile in tryptophan-treated U251 cells except that L-kynurenine at 10 µg/mL produced significantly high level of an inflammatory cytokine IL-8. Melatonin, 3-OH, DL kynurenine at high concentrations (100 µg/mL) induced proliferation of U251 cells. Melatonin seemed to show synergistic effects with recombinant human IFNγ (rhINFγ) in promoting growth of human glioma cells. While treatment of U251 cells with tryptophan alone and subsequent treatment with rhIFNγ inhibited the growth of human cancer glioma cells, and conversely melatonin combined with rhIFNγ promoted growth of the U251 cells. Conclusions : The findings from this study suggest that human milk-derived tryptophan and its metabolites possess strong antioxidant properties. Such effects might play a significant role in regulating the cell proliferation and growth of human cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner.

Bovine colostrum (BC) is the initial mammary secretion after parturition, which is nature’s bountiful source consisting of nutritional and bioactive components present in a highly concentrated low-volume format. All mammalian newborns require colostrum to enhance physiological processes such as lifelong immunity, gastrointestinal development, and resistance to microbial infections. The genetic, environmental, and processing methods can all have an impact on the biochemical contents of BC and its supplements. BC and its derivatives have been intensively researched for their potential use in functional foods, medicines, and animal feed. Evidence from clinical studies suggests that BC products are well-tolerated, nontoxic, and safe for human ingestion. Functional foods, feed, and pharmaceutical formulations based on bovine colostrum are playing noteworthy roles in the development of innovative products for promoting health and the prevention of chronic illnesses. This systematic review sheds light on recent research on (a) the effects of processing techniques on BC components, (b) emerging techniques used in the isolation and identification of novel components, (c) BC-based functional foods for human consumption and animal feed supplements, and (d) the role of BC in current drug delivery, as well as future recommendations.

Bovine colostrum supplementation has been suggested as a potential factor in reducing oxidative stress and inflammation. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of six months of bovine colostrum supplement intake (3.2 g; four capsules/day) in highly trained female athletes on changes in oxidative stress level, inflammation, and iron metabolism biomarkers after intense exercise. In this study, 20 trained female athletes were recruited. Participants were divided into two groups: 11 in the bovine colostrum (6-month supplementation) and 9 in the placebo group (6-month placebo supplementation). All participants completed an intense exercise test at the beginning of the experiment and after six months post-treatment. Blood samples were taken before, following exercise, and after 3 h recovery. Compared to the placebo group, the colostrum group showed a significant decrease in TBARS level (p< 0.01) at all time points, whereas a marked increase was observed in IL-6 (p < 0.01; pre-exercise) and SOD activity (p < 0.01), and transferrin (p < 0.01; rest period) and lactoferrin (p < 0.05; post-exercise) levels. The results suggested that 6-months of bovine colostrum supplementation is beneficial in the reduction of the harmful effects produced by free radicals (ROS), oxidative stress, and inflammation. In consequence, alleviation of the inflammatory response by bovine colostrum supplementation may also cause positive action on iron homeostasis in female athletes.