Epidemiologic studies suggest that dietary polyphenol intake is associated with a lower incidence of several non-communicable diseases. Although several foods contain complex mixtures of polyphenols, numerous factors can affect their content. Besides the well-known capability of these molecules to act as antioxidants, they are able to interact with cell-signaling pathways, modulating gene expression, influencing the activity of transcription factors, and modulating microRNAs. Here we deeply describe four polyphenols used as nutritional supplements: quercetin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate (ECGC), and curcumin, summarizing the current knowledge about them, spanning from dietary sources to the epigenetic capabilities of these compounds on microRNA modulation.

Kombucha is a fermented beverage. Its consumption has significantly increased during the last decades due to its perceived beneficial effects. For this reason, it has become a highly commercialized drink that is produced industrially. However, kombucha is still also a homemade beverage, and the parameters which, besides its organoleptic characteristics, define the duration of its potential beneficial properties over time, are poorly known. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effect of 9-month storage at 4 °C with 30-day sampling on the pH, total phenolic, and flavonoid contents, free radical scavenging properties of kombucha fermented from black tea. Our results highlighted that, after four months, the phenolic content decreased significantly from the initial value of 234.1 ± 1.4 µg GAE mL⁻¹ to 202.9 ± 2.1 µg GAE mL⁻¹, as well its antioxidant capacity tested by two in vitro models, DPPH, and ABTS assays. Concomitantly, the pH value increased from 2.82 to 3.16. The novel findings of this pilot study revealed that kombucha from sugared black tea can be stored at refrigerator temperature for four months. After this period the antioxidant properties of kombucha are no longer retained.

Lipedema is a pathology of adipose tissue, still of unclear etiology and challenging to diagnose. For these reasons, a therapeutic approach is also complex and sometimes controversial. The inflammation state present in lipedema can be limited by controlling the glycemic peaks. Specifically, the ketogenic diet (KD) seems to have the right conditions to be effective. Herein, we reported a subject diagnosed with lipedema who, with only KD nutritional intervention, achieved a significant weight loss (−41 Kg), with a net decrease in body circumferences, and also reporting an improvement in pain, and therefore in the overall quality of life. She refused other types of intervention and kept KD for two years. This case could represent the first step to organize a KD nutritional protocol specifically applied to lipedema.

Sarcopenia and malnutrition are commonly occurring conditions in the elderly that frequently coexist, leading to substantial effects on morbidity/mortality. Evidence established muscle-specific microRNAs (miRNAs) or myomiRs as essential regulators of skeletal muscle processes, from myogenesis to muscle homeostasis. This study aimed to evaluate the association between myomiRs and sarcopenia and explore the potential of nutrition in mediating this association. qPCR was employed to characterize the myomiR-1, -133a/b, -206, -208b, and -499 expression profiles of 109 non-sarcopenic and 109 sarcopenic subjects. In our sample, the proportion malnourished or at-risk subjects was higher in sarcopenia (p < 0.001). Among the detected myomiRs (miR-133a/b and miR-206), lower levels of miR-133b was significantly associated with the presence of sarcopenia (p = 0.006); however, this relationship was not independent from nutritional status in multivariate analysis, suggesting a mediating effect of nutrition on the relationship between miR-133b and sarcopenia. Correlation analyses showed that lower miR-133b levels were associated with poor nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment Long Form (MNA-LF) score, p = 0.005); furthermore, correlations with albumin, ferritin, and iron were found. Similar results were obtained for miR-206. Statistically more significant correlations were observed in subjects with sarcopenia. In conclusion, our findings highlight a nutrient-miR-133b/miR-206 pathway having a potential role in the age-related muscle decline.

Recently, we demonstrated the capability of the ketogenic diet (KD) to influence the microRNA (miR) expression profile. Here, we report that KD is able to normalize miR expression in obese subjects when compared with lean subjects. By applying two different bioinformatics tools, we found that, amongst the miRs returning to comparable levels in lean subjects, four of them are linked to antioxidant biochemical pathways specifically, and the others are linked to both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biochemical pathways. Of particular interest is the upregulation of hsa-miR-30a-5p, which correlates with the decrease of catalase expression protein in red blood cells.

Aim: Management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus by diet is achievable at the early stage of the disease; patients usually underestimate this approach and an appropriate drug therapy is required. Result...