Exhaustive and acute unusual physical exercise leads to muscle damage. Curcumin has been widely studied due to the variety of its biological activities, attributed to its antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties. Furthermore, it has shown positive effects on physical exercise practitioners. However, there is no literature consensus on the beneficial effects of curcumin in acute physical activities performed by sedentary individuals. Therefore, we systematically reviewed evidence from clinical trials on the main effects of curcumin supplementation on inflammatory markers, sports performance, and muscle damage during acute physical exercises in these individuals. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases, and only original studies were analyzed according to the PRISMA guidelines. The included studies were limited to supplementation of curcumin during acute exercise. A total of 5 studies were selected. Methodological quality assessments were examined using the SYRCLE’s risk‐of‐bias tool. Most studies have shown positive effects of curcumin supplementation in sedentary individuals undergoing acute physical exercise. Overall, participants supplemented with curcumin showed less muscle damage, reduced inflammation, and better muscle performance. The studies showed heterogeneous data and exhibited methodological limitations; therefore, further research is necessary to ensure curcumin supplementation benefits during acute and high‐intensity physical exercises. Additionally, mechanistic and highly controlled studies are required to improve the quality of the evidence and to elucidate other possible mechanisms. This study is registered with Prospero number CRD42021262718.

Anthocyanins are natural flavonoids, which belong to a group of polyphenols with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic and hepatoprotective activities. The aim of this systematic review is to answer the questions "What are the impacts of anthocyanins on inflammatory and oxidative mediators of NAFLD in vivo?" and "What are the possible molecular mechanisms involved in the effects of anthocyanins on NAFLD and hepatic steatosis?" The search was performed at PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases, and the risk of bias was assessed by the SYRCLE tool. The data analysis was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Twenty-three studies performed in animal models evaluating the effects of anthocyanins in inflammatory and oxidative stress mediators in NAFLD were included and evaluated. The anthocyanins demonstrated potential positive effects on inflammation and oxidative stress (OS), in addition to reduced hepatic steatosis. The main results identified were a reduction in TLR, NF-κB, MCP-1/CCL-2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β in addition to an improvement in antioxidant defense with an increase in Nrf2, SOD, GSH, GPx and CAT and a reduction in OS. The findings from this review provide insights for the development of future studies with anthocyanins on liver health and inflammatory and oxidative parameters. PROSPERO (CRD42024502710).

(1) Background: Exhaustive exercise can induce muscle damage. The consumption of nutritional compounds with the ability to positively influence the oxidative balance and an exacerbated inflammatory process has been previously studied. However, little is known about the nutritional value of curcumin (CCM) when mixed with whey protein concentrate (WPC). This study was developed to evaluate the effect of CCM-added WPC on inflammatory and oxidative process control and histopathological consequences in muscle tissue submitted to an exhaustive swimming test (ET). (2) Methods: 48 animals were randomly allocated to six groups (n = 8). An ET was performed 4 weeks after the start of the diet and animals were euthanized 24 h post ET. (3) Results: WPC + CCM and CCM groups reduced IL-6 and increased IL-10 expression in muscle tissue. CCM reduced carbonyl protein after ET compared to standard AIN-93M ET and WPC + CCM ET diets. Higher nitric oxide concentrations were observed in animals that consumed WPC + CCM and CCM. Consumption of WPC + CCM or isolated CCM reduced areas of inflammatory infiltrate and fibrotic tissue in the muscle. (4) Conclusions: WPC + CCM and isolated CCM contribute to the reduction in inflammation and oxidative damage caused by the exhaustive swimming test.

Anthocyanins, a class of polyphenolic compounds widely present in berries and tropical fruits, have been increasingly investigated for their role in gut-liver axis. This systematic review synthesized evidence from preclinical studies evaluating the effects of anthocyanin-rich fruits on inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as secondary outcomes related to liver and intestinal function. Searches for original articles were performed in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase. A total of 18 studies were selected. Overall, supplementation with anthocyanin-rich fruits reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β), enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, GPx, CAT), and lowered lipid peroxidation (MDA). These primary outcomes were consistently associated with improvements in liver health, including decreased serum ALT and AST, reduced steatosis, and lower histological damage. At the intestinal level, anthocyanins increased the expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, occludin), reduced permeability, and promoted favorable microbial shifts, particularly an enrichment of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium, and Akkermansia muciniphila. The gut-liver axis emerged as a central mediator, contributing to systemic anti-inflammatory and metabolic benefits. Collectively, the findings highlight the potential of anthocyanin-rich fruits as dietary strategies to prevent or mitigate metabolic and inflammatory disorders through coordinated modulation of intestinal and hepatic pathways.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an ancient grain and the fifth most produced cereal worldwide, and the most consumed cereal in the semi-arid regions of Africa and Asia, being a key grain for the diet of about 500 million people. It is rich in phenolic compounds (like flavonoids, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins, phenolic acids), resistant starch, and dietary fiber, which may beneficially influence intestinal health. This systematic review analyzed 22 in vivo studies to assess the effects of sorghum processing on bioactive compounds and their effects on intestinal health. Evidence suggests that sorghum modulates microbiota composition, enhances epithelial barrier integrity, improves intestinal morphology, and alters short-chain fatty acid production. These benefits appear to be influenced by sorghum genotype, grain fraction, and processing method, like refinement, extrusion, and fermentation, which affect the bioavailability of phenolics. Some studies indicated the effects of sorghum phenolics on anti-inflammatory and improved tight junction protein expression. Additionally, we emphasized the lack of complete information in several studies by not specifying genotypes, varieties, processing, and profiles of bioactive compounds of the sorghums used, hindering the understanding of the mechanisms involved in improving intestinal health. Overall, this review supports the potential of sorghum as functional food and ingredient for intestinal health promotion.

Brazilian berries-such as jabuticaba, açaí, camu-camu, acerola, and other native species-have attracted growing interest due to their richness in polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonoids, phenolic acids), vitamin C, dietary fiber, and other nutrients. Nevertheless, many of these fruits remain underexplored or poorly known in the scientific literature. This systematic review aimed to answer the following questions: "How does the consumption of Brazilian berries influence gut health in vivo?" and "What are the main mechanisms involved in this process?" A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase databases, following PRISMA guidelines. Fourteen studies were included, and the risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE tool. The main findings indicated improvements in gut microbiota balance, with increased populations of Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium and a reduction in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Beneficial effects were also observed on intestinal barrier integrity, including increased expression of Mucin-2 and Claudin-1, and maintenance of Zonula occludens-1 and Claudin-3 levels. An increased SCFA production, a reduction in intestinal inflammation, and modulation of oxidative stress were reported. These findings highlight the potential of Brazilian berries as allies in nutritional and therapeutic strategies aimed at promoting gut health. PROSPERO registration: CRD42024537558.