Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are prevalent and interrelated conditions in older adults, both contributing to decreased quality of life and increased health risks. Nutritional interventions, including dietary changes and probiotic supplementation, may offer effective non-pharmacological strategies to address these conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of diet therapy alone and in combination with probiotics on quality of life and sleep apnea risk in older adults (>60 years) with MetS. Methods: In this controlled interventional study, 192 older adults with metabolic syndrome were assigned to one of three groups: control, diet therapy alone, or diet therapy plus probiotic supplementation. Participants were evaluated at baseline and after the intervention period using the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire and an apnea risk screening tool. Clinical and metabolic parameters, including BMI, HOMA index, and visceral fat, were also assessed. Results: Significant improvements in SF-36 scores were observed in both intervention groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05) (mean difference = −5.31, p = 0.016), with the diet + probiotics group showing the greatest enhancement. Participants who reduced their apnea risk also reported higher post-intervention SF-36 scores. The intervention led to reductions in visceral fat, inflammatory markers (CRP), and insulin resistance (HOMA index), which were correlated with improved quality of life. Conclusions: Integrated nutritional strategies, especially the combination of diet and probiotics, significantly improve quality of life and reduce apnea risk in older adults with metabolic syndrome. These findings support the use of personalized, non-pharmacological interventions targeting both metabolic health and sleep-related outcomes in geriatric populations.

Background: Salivary pH plays a critical role in oral health by influencing enamel demineralization, buffering capacity, and the ecology of oral microbiota. Essential oils such as Origanum vulgare (oregano) possess well-documented antimicrobial properties that may reduce acidogenic bacterial activity. However, the effects of edible delivery systems like jellies on salivary pH modulation and their potential interactions with hormonal states remain poorly understood. Methods: This study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of an oregano-oil-based jelly formulation against standard bacterial (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Escherichia coli) and fungal (Candida albicans) strains using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Additionally, a human trial (n = 91) measured salivary pH before and after administration of the oregano-oil jelly. Participants were characterized by age, smoking status, menopausal status, and presence of menstruation. Multiple linear regression was used to identify predictors of final salivary pH. Results: The oregano-oil jelly demonstrated strong in vitro antimicrobial activity, with inhibition zones up to 8 mm for E. coli and C. albicans. In vivo, mean unstimulated salivary pH increased from 6.94 to 7.07 overall, indicating a mild alkalinizing effect. However, menstruating participants showed a significant decrease in final pH (from 7.03 to 6.78). Multiple regression identified menstruation as a significant negative predictor (β = −0.377, p < 0.001) and initial pH as a positive predictor (β = +0.275, p = 0.002). Menopausal status was not a significant predictor, likely due to the small sample size. Conclusions: Oregano-oil jellies may represent a promising natural approach to support oral health by increasing salivary pH and providing strong antimicrobial activity. However, physiological states such as menstruation can significantly modulate this response, underscoring the importance of personalized or phase-aware oral care strategies. Further studies with larger, diverse cohorts and controlled hormonal assessments are needed to validate these findings and optimize product formulations.

Background: Vitamin D plays a crucial role in immune system function, and its deficiency has been associated with an increased risk of infections. This study investigates the relationship between vitamin D deficiency and the severity of purulent oropharyngeal infections, considering the need for surgical interventions and the duration of hospitalization. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study included patients diagnosed with peritonsillar phlegmons, laterocervical abscesses, and peritonsillar abscesses. Patients were categorized based on their vitamin D levels: deficiency (<30 ng/mL) and optimal levels (≥30 ng/mL). The clinical parameters, length of hospitalization, and type of treatment were analyzed. Statistical analyses included Student’s t-test, the chi-square test, and ANOVA to assess differences between groups. Results: Patients with vitamin D (25(OH)D3) deficiency had a significantly longer hospital stay (8.50 days vs. 3.24 days, p = 0.001) and required more frequent surgical interventions (55.6% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.002) compared to those with optimal vitamin D levels. A trend toward more complex treatment regimens was also observed, although this relationship was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Conclusions: These findings suggest that vitamin D (25(OH)D3) deficiency may contribute to a more severe course of oropharyngeal infections, increasing the need for invasive treatments and prolonging hospitalization. This highlights the importance of monitoring vitamin D (25(OH)D3) levels and the potential benefits of supplementation in preventing and managing severe upper respiratory tract infections.

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MS) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) frequently coexist, exacerbating systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysregulation. This study evaluates the effects of dietary and probiotic interventions, compared to a non-intervention control group, on metabolic, hemodynamic, and neurochemical parameters, with a specific focus on the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate. Methods: In a prospective randomized study (2020–2023), 120 patients with coexisting MS and OSA were assigned to three groups: control (n = 36), diet therapy (n = 42), and diet therapy combined with probiotics (n = 42). Interventions lasted six months and included personalized dietary plans and probiotic supplementation. Outcome measures included BMI, visceral fat, HOMA index, lipid profile, oxygen saturation, and urinary GABA and glutamate levels. Unsupervised K-means clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) were applied to identify phenotypic response patterns based on delta values. Results: Diet therapy led to significant reductions in BMI (−15.7%, p = 0.001), visceral fat (−17.3%, p = 0.001), triglycerides (−14.6%, p = 0.003), uric acid (−9.5%, p = 0.011), and C-reactive protein (CRP) (−21.4%, p = 0.007). The combined intervention group exhibited further improvements in visceral fat (−22.8%, p = 0.001), glutamate (−18.2%, p = 0.002), and GABA levels (+19.5%, p = 0.001). Oxygen saturation improved across all groups, with the greatest increase in the probiotics group (+2.3%). Clustering analysis revealed three distinct response phenotypes—strong, moderate, and non-responders—highlighting inter-individual variability in treatment efficacy. Conclusions: Personalized dietary interventions, especially when paired with probiotics, effectively improve metabolic, inflammatory, and neurochemical profiles in patients with MS and OSA. Integrating clustering algorithms enables phenotype-specific stratification, offering a step toward precision lifestyle medicine. Future studies should explore long-term outcomes and refine microbiota-targeted approaches to optimize intervention efficacy.