The use of seaweed and algal derived products in the food industry has grown rapidly in recent times. Major areas of expansion have been in Western countries where algae derived commodities are being utilised as edible foods or sources of high value ingredients. However, studies focused on potential allergenicity attributed to these food items, prevalence of allergenicity, and public health awareness are limited. Therefore, the current research summarises the existing literature focused on algal induced allergy in humans. Of the available literature, a total of 937 titles were identified, and 33 articles underwent subsequent full-text screening. Most research focused on prevalence and were derived from studies conducted in Europe (58%), North America and Canada (33%), and the remainder Australia and South Korea (9%). No studies addressed the need for public education or labelling of algal products. Our review reports that the available evidence identified points to algal derived products as being potential sources of allergens in the human food chain. Several components have been characterised that are shown to induce allergic responses in humans. Few studies have assessed the prevalence of algal allergenicity in the general population and as such further research is warranted given the increased usage of these products in the food industry.

Alliums and allied plant species are rich sources of sulfur compounds that have effects on vascular homeostasis and the control of metabolic systems linked to nutrient metabolism in mammals. In view of the multiple biological effects ascribed to these sulfur molecules, researchers are now using these compounds as inspiration for the synthesis and development of novel sulfur-based therapeutics. This research has led to the chemical synthesis and biological assessment of a diverse array of sulfur compounds representative of derivatives of S-alkenyl-l-cysteine sulfoxides, thiosulfinates, ajoene molecules, sulfides, and S-allylcysteine. Many of these synthetic derivatives have potent antimicrobial and anticancer properties when tested in preclinical models of disease. Therefore, the current review provides an overview of advances in the development and biological assessment of synthetic analogs of allium-derived sulfur compounds.

Significance: In recent times, it has emerged that some dietary sulfur compounds can act on mammalian cell signaling systems via their propensity to release hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). H₂S plays important biochemical and physiological roles in the heart, gastrointestinal tract, brain, kidney, and immune systems of mammals. Reduced levels of H₂S in cells and tissues correlate with a spectrum of pathophysiological conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and altered immune function. Recent Advances: In the last decade, researchers have now begun to explore the mechanisms by which dietary-derived sulfur compounds, in addition to cysteine, can act as sources of H₂S. This research has led to the identified several compounds, organic sulfides, isothiocyanates, and inorganic sulfur species including sulfate that can act as potential sources of H₂S in mammalian cells and tissues. Critical Issues: We have summarised progress made in the identification of dietary factors that can impact on endogenous H₂S levels in mammals. We also describe current research focused on how some sulfur molecules present in dietary plants, and associated chemical analogues, act as sources of H₂S, and discuss the biological properties of these molecules as studied in a range of in vitro and in vivo systems. Future Directions: The identification of sulfur compounds in edible plants that can act as novel H₂S releasing molecules is intriguing. Research in this area could inform future studies exploring the impact of diet on H₂S levels in mammalian systems. Despite recent progress, additional work is needed to determine the mechanisms by which H₂S is released from these molecules following ingestions of dietary plants in humans, whether the amounts of H₂S produced is of physiological significance following the metabolism of these compounds in vivo, and if diet could be used to manipulated H₂S levels in humans. Importantly, this will lead to a better understanding of the biological significance of H₂S generated from dietary sources, and this information could be used in the development of plant breeding initiatives to increase the levels of H₂S releasing sulfur compounds in crops, or inform dietary intervention strategies that could be used to alter the levels of H₂S in humans.

Reduction in dietary vitamin B₆ intake is associated with an increased relative risk of diseases such as cancer, atherosclerosis and cognitive dysfunction. The current research has assessed vitamin B₆ intakes and PLP concentrations as a marker of vitamin B₆ status among the UK adult (≥ 19 years) population. This study was carried out using a cross-sectional analysis of the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Programme (NDNS) (2008–2017). The impacts of lifestyle factors, including type of diet, smoking, alcohol consumption, and commonly used medications grouped by therapeutic usage, were determined, and data were analysed using IBM SPSS^®. Results are expressed as medians (25th–75th percentiles), with P values ≤ 0·05 considered statistically significant. Among UK adults, the median intakes of total population of dietary vitamin B₆ met the reference nutrient intake and median plasma PLP concentrations were above the cut-off of vitamin B₆ deficiency; however, we found an association between reduction in vitamin B₆ intake and plasma PLP concentration and age group (P < 0·001). Smokers had significantly lower plasma PLP concentrations than non-smokers (P < 0·001). Moreover, regression analysis showed some commonly used medications were associated with plasma PLP levels reduction (P < 0·05). Taken together, we report on a tendency for dietary vitamin B₆ intake and plasma PLP concentrations to decrease with age and lifestyle factors such as smoking and medication usage. This information could have important implications for smokers and in the elderly population using multiple medications (polypharmacy).