Andrea Ticinesi, Riccardo Spaggiari, Angelina Passaro, Stefano Volpato
{"title":"Gut microbiota dysbiosis and its relation to osteoporosis and sarcopenia in older people.","authors":"Andrea Ticinesi, Riccardo Spaggiari, Angelina Passaro, Stefano Volpato","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001173","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001173","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a modulator of the biology of aging. Several preclinical studies suggest that dysbiosis, typically arising in the older age, is associated with osteoporosis and sarcopenia. This review examines the recent findings on the mechanistic aspects of the gut-bone and gut-muscle axes in aging and provides a critical overview on their translation to clinical practice.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Gut microbiome can modulate the pathophysiology of osteoporosis and sarcopenia through multiple mechanisms, particularly involving the production of bioactive mediators such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bile acids and tryptophan metabolites. Dysbiosis increases the risk of osteoporosis, fragility fractures and muscle wasting, with possible sex-specific differences, but the definition of GM traits associated with each condition is inconsistent across studies. Short-term microbiome-modifying treatments, including probiotics and functional foods, slowed down the age-related decline in bone mineral density and improved muscle function in a handful of small-sized clinical studies.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Gut microbiome remains a very promising therapeutic target against osteoporosis and sarcopenia, but no recommendations can be made for clinical practice at the current state-of-art. Microbiome-targeted strategies may soon emerge as valuable adjuvant therapies in the management of age-related musculoskeletal decline.</p>","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":" ","pages":"4-14"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145185002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Oliver C Witard, Konstantinos Prokopidis, Colleen S Deane
{"title":"Understanding the complex relationship between amino acid absorption kinetics and postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates in healthy adults and critically ill patients.","authors":"Oliver C Witard, Konstantinos Prokopidis, Colleen S Deane","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001181","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001181","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Protein digestion and amino acid absorption kinetics are quantifiable metrics commonly utilized to determine the quality of a protein source. This review critically evaluates recent evidence (primarily from studies that provided commonly consumed protein-rich foods) regarding the relationship between in vivo protein digestion and amino acid absorption rates with the postprandial stimulation of muscle protein synthesis (MPS), with an emphasis on healthy adults and critically ill patients.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Ingested protein sources that elicit moderate amino acid bioavailability, including leucine, stimulate MPS rates to a comparable extent as protein sources that elicit high amino acid bioavailability in healthy young adults. Amino acid absorption kinetics appear to be modulated in critically ill patients, leading to a marked reduction in postprandial MPS rates. Preliminary studies demonstrate that enteral feeding of high dose free amino acids increase amino acid bioavailability to a greater extent than intact protein, leading to a positive whole-body net protein balance in critically ill patients. However, in practice, the high osmolarity of free amino acids leads to a high prevalence of diarrhoea and thus limits the clinical application of this intervention.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>The enteral provision of free amino acids represents a theoretical, but not practically-relevant, clinical nutrition strategy to mitigate the catabolic response to critical illness. Future studies are warranted to establish targeted protein/amino acid-based interventions to mitigate skeletal muscle atrophy during the metabolic care of critically ill patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":" ","pages":"98-107"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12700692/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145451315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Anabolic and anticatabolic actions of ketone bodies on skeletal muscle: potential relevance in the management of skeletal muscle wasting.","authors":"Tyler A Churchward-Venne","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001164","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001164","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Skeletal muscle loss is a hallmark of aging, disease, and physical inactivity, with few effective treatments. Ketone bodies are lipid-derived molecules whose endogenous production is substantially amplified under conditions characterized by carbohydrate deprivation (e.g. fasting, a ketogenic diet). Orally ingested ketone supplements are now available that can rapidly induce a pronounced state of ketosis lasting hours without dietary carbohydrate restriction. Historically, ketone bodies have been hypothesized to spare muscle protein during starvation. Recently, their potential anabolic and anticatabolic effects on skeletal muscle have garnered renewed research and clinical interest. This review examines emerging evidence on ketone body administration and its influence on skeletal muscle protein turnover and related signaling, with consideration for therapeutic application in muscle wasting and rehabilitation.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Oral ketone supplementation has been shown to enhance postprandial muscle protein synthesis (MPS) in healthy young males. Under inflammatory catabolic conditions, ketone bodies may also promote a favorable net protein balance via suppression of muscle protein breakdown (MPB).</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Ketone body administration may attenuate MPB and stimulate MPS, suggesting potential utility in counteracting muscle wasting. However, further studies are needed to elucidate underlying mechanisms and assess long-term effects on muscle mass and function in clinical settings.</p>","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":" ","pages":"445-451"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144991678","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Joshua P Nederveen, Mats I Nilsson, Mark A Tarnopolsky
{"title":"Multi-ingredient supplementation for combating sarcopenia and polymorbidity.","authors":"Joshua P Nederveen, Mats I Nilsson, Mark A Tarnopolsky","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001166","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001166","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>We discuss the premise and potential of multi-ingredient supplements (MIS) in the treatment of complex skeletal muscle (SkM) pathologies, and provide an updated review of literature on nutraceuticals in sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity (SO) management, with an emphasis on single- vs. multi-ingredient protein-based formulations.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Several meta-analyses have confirmed the synergistic benefits of combining resistance training (RT) with dietary protein supplementation in older adults with sarcopenia or physical frailty, with a potential ceiling effect at 1.5-1.7 g PRO/kg BW/day.Single-ingredient supplements with proven synergism with RT and clinical relevance for sarcopenia treatment include the major milk proteins (whey and/or casein) and creatine monohydrate. Vitamin D 3 , calcium, and/or n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are also recommended for mitigating concurrent micronutrient deficiencies, bone loss, and inflammation. More evidence is needed to justify monotherapy with leucine or leucine metabolites over high-quality protein sources.RCTs have demonstrated superiority of whey-based MIS compared to isocaloric and isonitrogenous placebo for enhancing SkM growth in both younger and older persons, including obese and nonobese sarcopenic subgroups, as confirmed by in vivo body composition and/or biopsy sampling.Multi-ingredient formulations containing high-quality milk proteins, creatine monohydrate, vitamin D 3 , calcium, and n -3 polyunsaturated fatty acids may therefore be recommended in the multimodal treatment of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Resistance training is the first-line treatment for musculoskeletal conditions and improves lean body mass, strength, and function in sarcopenia patients. Increased protein intake augments RT-induced muscle anabolism across clinical subpopulations, with recent evidence suggesting superiority of multi vs. single-ingredient protein-based supplements.</p>","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":" ","pages":"452-462"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074656","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Elmira Karimi, Michelle A Keske, Mohammad Beba, Gunveen Kaur
{"title":"Effects of omega-3 fatty acids on skeletal muscle vascular health and metabolism.","authors":"Elmira Karimi, Michelle A Keske, Mohammad Beba, Gunveen Kaur","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001155","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001155","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>This review aims to summarise recent findings on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) on skeletal muscle vascular and metabolic health. We particularly focus on macrovascular (large blood vessel) outcomes, skeletal muscle microvascular (capillary) blood flow and skeletal muscle health and metabolism.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Recent meta-analysis and intervention studies suggest that omega-3 FAs improve macrovascular health outcomes in humans by enhancing endothelial function, reducing arterial stiffness and by increasing nitric oxide bioavailability. However, the benefits on macrovascular outcomes are more evident in clinical populations than in healthy individuals. In terms of dose, more than 1 g/day of omega-3 FA appear to be more beneficial than less than 1 g/day. In contrast to macrovascular outcomes, the effect of omega-3 FAs on skeletal muscle microvascular outcomes remains undetermined, demonstrating a significant gap in the field. In terms of skeletal muscle health and metabolism, omega-3 FAs improve muscle strength and ameliorate postprandial blood glucose levels in healthy individuals. The anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 FAs also appear to benefit muscle health and metabolism.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Omega-3 FAs have a positive effect on macrovascular outcomes, muscle metabolism and health, specifically in clinical populations. The direct effects of omega-3 FAs on muscle microvascular outcomes in both healthy and clinical populations need to be determined.</p>","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":" ","pages":"496-500"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144798465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dietary fibre and the gut microbiome: implications for glucose homeostasis.","authors":"Jennifer E Pugh, Edward S Chambers","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001160","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001160","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Despite long-standing evidence linking dietary fibre intake to improved glycaemic control and reduced chronic disease risk, most individuals fail to meet recommended intake levels. As interest grows in the gut microbiota's role in mediating fibre's health effects, this review evaluates recent human intervention trials to assess whether dietary fibre improves glucose homeostasis through microbiota-dependent mechanisms.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Nine recent randomised controlled trials (RCTs) have examined the effects of dietary fibre on glycaemic markers and gut microbiota, primarily in individuals at risk of or diagnosed with metabolic disease. Five studies reported improvements in glycaemic outcomes such as fasting glucose, insulin, or HOMA-IR. Microbial responses were inconsistent, with variable effects on diversity and composition. Notably, improvements in markers of gut barrier integrity and systemic inflammation were consistently observed in studies including these as mechanistic outcomes.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Although dietary fibre may enhance glycaemic control and modulate the gut microbiota, effects vary by fibre type, dose, population, and study design. Markers of gut barrier integrity and inflammation appear to be more reliable indicators of benefit compared with the assessments of gut microbial composition. Future trials should prioritise healthy populations to explore the potential of dietary fibre to maintain metabolic health.</p>","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":" ","pages":"483-488"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12517706/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144946009","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Editorial.","authors":"Chris McGlory, Javier Gonzalez","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001163","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001163","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":"28 6","pages":"437-438"},"PeriodicalIF":3.8,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145191321","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Laboratory assessment of nutritional status in ICU patients.","authors":"Marlies Ostermann","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001165","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001165","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>Malnutrition is common during critical illness and associated with worse outcomes. To identify high-risk patients and tailor management, it is important to evaluate patients' nutritional status.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Albumin, transthyretin, transferrin and retinol-binding protein (RBP) reflect the acute-phase in critical illness and are influenced to different degrees by various consequences of critical illness, including inflammation, fluid shifts and organ dysfunction. They should not be regarded as biomarkers of malnutrition. Similarly, total circulating lymphocyte count, insulin-like growth factor-1 and interleukin-6 associate with malnutrition but are not reliable laboratory biomarkers to assess nutritional status of critically ill patients.Nonlaboratory tools to evaluate nutritional status include ultrasound evaluation of skeletal muscle thickness and computed tomographic evaluation of paravertebral or limb fat to muscle ratio.Serial transthyretin, RBP and muscle imaging can be used to monitor changes in nutritional status over time.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Assessing nutritional status in critically ill patients is complex due to the influence of inflammation, fluid shifts, and organ dysfunction on traditional biomarkers. There is an urgent need for better tools to enable tailored personalized nutritional support.</p>","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":" ","pages":"509-514"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145074680","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Weighing the benefits against the risks of intermittent fasting.","authors":"Karin Amrein, Manfred Eggersdorfer","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001162","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1097/MCO.0000000000001162","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":"28 6","pages":"501-502"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145191353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of intermittent fasting on micronutrient intake.","authors":"Sabina Wallerer, Lukas Schwingshackl","doi":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001148","DOIUrl":"10.1097/MCO.0000000000001148","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose of review: </strong>This narrative review aims to evaluate the current evidence on how intermittent fasting regimens - including alternate-day fasting (ADF) and time-restricted eating (TRE) - affect micronutrient intake in adults.</p><p><strong>Recent findings: </strong>Several randomized controlled trials have reported reductions in the intake of key micronutrients such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, folate, vitamin C, and various B vitamins during ADF and TRE. These deficiencies are largely driven by lower total energy intake and reduced consumption of nutrient-dense foods on fasting days. While some studies found no significant differences in micronutrient adequacy between ADF/TRE and continuous energy restriction, others observed higher prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake with intermittent fasting regimens. Dietary supplement use varied across studies and may help mitigate deficiency risks. Variations in study design, dietary adherence, dietary patterns, baseline nutritional status and nutritional advice appear to influence outcomes substantially.</p><p><strong>Summary: </strong>Although intermittent fasting is an effective and flexible approach to weight management, it may compromise micronutrient intake if dietary quality is not prioritized. Emphasis should be placed on nutrient-dense food choices during eating windows. Dietary supplements may be necessary in restrictive or prolonged fasting regimens to prevent deficiencies and support overall metabolic health.</p>","PeriodicalId":10962,"journal":{"name":"Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care","volume":" ","pages":"503-508"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144625512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}