Jelena Slankamenac, Marijana Ranisavljev, Nikola Todorovic, Jelena Ostojic, Valdemar Stajer, Darren G Candow, Laszlo Ratgeber, Jozsef Betlehem, Pongrac Acs, Sergej M Ostojic
{"title":"Eight-Week Creatine-Glucose Supplementation Alleviates Clinical Features of Long COVID.","authors":"Jelena Slankamenac, Marijana Ranisavljev, Nikola Todorovic, Jelena Ostojic, Valdemar Stajer, Darren G Candow, Laszlo Ratgeber, Jozsef Betlehem, Pongrac Acs, Sergej M Ostojic","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.174","DOIUrl":"10.3177/jnsv.70.174","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Preliminary studies demonstrated beneficial effects of dietary creatine across different post-viral fatigue syndromes. Creatine is often co-administered with glucose to improve its potency yet whether glucose boost the efficacy of creatine in long COVID remains currently unknown. In this report, we investigate the effects of 8-wk creatine intake with and without glucose on patient-reported outcomes, exercise tolerance, and tissue creatine levels in patients with long COVID. Fifteen male and female long COVID adult patients (age 39.7±16.0 y; 9 women) with moderate fatigue and at least one of additional long COVID-related symptoms volunteered to participate in this randomized controlled parallel-group interventional trial. All patients were allocated in a double-blind parallel-group design (1 : 1 : 1) to receive creatine (8 g of creatine monohydrate per day), a mixture of creatine and glucose (8 g of creatine monohydrate and 3 g of glucose per day), or placebo (3 g of glucose per day) t.i.d. during an 8-wk intervention interval. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures (treatment vs. time interaction) revealed significant differences in changes in total creatine levels between the groups, showing an interaction effect at two brain locations (right precentral white matter F=34.740, p=0.008; partial η<sup>2</sup>=0.72; left paracentral grey matter F=19.243, p=0.019; partial η<sup>2</sup>=0.88), with creatine and creatine-glucose outcompeted placebo to elevate creatine levels at these two locations. Several long COVID symptoms (including body aches, breathing problems, difficulties concentrating, headache, and general malaise) were significantly reduced in creatine-glucose group at 8-wk follow-up (p≤0.05); the effect sizes for reducing body aches, difficulties concentrating, and headache were 1.33, 0.80, and 1.12, respectively, suggesting a large effect of creatine-glucose mixture for these outcomes. Our preliminary findings suggest that supplying exogenous creatine with glucose could be recommended as an effective procedure in replenishing brain creatine pool and alleviating long COVID features in this prevalent condition.</p>","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 2","pages":"174-178"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140866552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Errata.","authors":"","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.293","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.70.293","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 3","pages":"293"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141468774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cooperation of Cysteine, Ascorbic Acid, Pyridoxine, and α-Lipoic Acid in Antioxidant Effects on Human Keratinocytes and 3D Human Skin Models.","authors":"Naoto Nomura, Atsushi Sawamura, Nobuo Miyadai","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.454","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.70.454","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Combinations of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine are frequently used in oral formulations. Although there have been many reports on the efficacy of each of these ingredients, little information is known about their combined effects on skin cells. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine, as well as the effect of adding α-lipoic acid, on skin cells. Human keratinocytes were treated with individual antioxidants or combinations of them, and glutathione levels and expression of glutathione synthesis-related genes were measured. The combination of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine increased the expression of γ-GCSc and tended to increase glutathione levels compared to the controls. Interestingly, the addition of α-lipoic acid further increased glutathione levels by increasing the expression of CD98. Similarly, in 3D-human skin models, the combination of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine promoted glutathione synthesis, and this effect was enhanced by the addition of α-lipoic acid. Furthermore, melanin synthesis inhibition was shown to be dependent on increased glutathione levels. These results suggest that the addition of α-lipoic acid to the combination of cysteine, ascorbic acid, and pyridoxine enhances glutathione production and may have anti-aging effects through efficient oxidative stress reduction.</p>","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 6","pages":"454-461"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142932005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Using the Hilbert Transform to Evaluate the Effects of Functional Foods on Autonomic Nervous System Activity: A Comparison with the Fast Fourier Transform.","authors":"Ayaka Yoshino, Harunobu Nakamura, Yoshimitsu Okita","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.179","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.70.179","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Evaluating the autonomic nervous system (ANS) via heart rate variability (HRV) to investigate the effects of food on human health has attracted attention. However, using a conventional HRV analysis via the fast Fourier transform (FFT), it is difficult to remove artifacts such as body movements and/or abnormal physiological responses (unexpected events) from the HRV analysis results. In this study, an analysis combining bandpass filters and the Hilbert transform was applied to HRV data on functional food intake to compare with FFT analysis. HRV data were obtained from six males by recording electrocardiograms on functional food, γ-aminobutyric acid, intake. HRV indices were calculated by both analysis. In the Hilbert analysis, all HRV indices were obtained for the same number of sampling points as the HRV data. The standard errors of all HRV indices tended to be smaller in the Hilbert analysis than in the FFT analysis. In conclusion, the Hilbert analysis was more suitable than FFT analysis for evaluating ANS via HRV on functional foods intake.</p>","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 2","pages":"179-182"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140857233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Contents of Volume 70.","authors":"","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.521","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.70.521","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 6","pages":"521-526"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142932046","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Index to the Authors of Volume 70.","authors":"","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.527","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.70.527","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 6","pages":"527-532"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142932050","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Chronic Ethanol Intake Impairs Niacin Nutritional Status in Mice.","authors":"Amane Mizutani, Chihiro Goto, Hidetsugu Fujigaki, Yasuko Yamamoto, Kuniaki Saito, Sho Hatayama, Tsutomu Fukuwatari","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.1","DOIUrl":"10.3177/jnsv.70.1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Niacin is involved in many biological reactions relating energy metabolism, redox reactions, DNA repair and longevity. Since niacin deficiency has been reported in alcoholic patients, and niacin coenzyme NAD is used as substrate to dehydrogenate ethanol in the liver, ethanol consumption can be a factor to impair niacin nutritional status. We have recently established the niacin insufficient model mice using kynurenine 3-monooxygenase knock out (KMO<sup>-/-</sup>) mice with niacin-limited diet, which lack the de novo NAD synthesis pathway from tryptophan. To evaluate the effects of chronic ethanol intake on niacin nutritional status, 4 wk old KMO<sup>-/-</sup> mice were fed 4 or 30 mg/kg nicotinic acid containing diets with or without 15% ethanol for 35 d. The mice fed 4 mg/kg nicotinic acid diet with ethanol showed lower body weight gain and niacin nutritional markers such as liver and blood NAD, and urine nicotinamide metabolites than the mice without ethanol. These animals did not show any difference in the NAD synthesis, NAD salvage and nicotinamide catabolic pathways. Chronic ethanol intake failed to affect any indices in the mice fed the 30 mg/kg nicotinic acid diet. When the diet was exchanged the 4 mg/kg for 30 mg/kg nicotinic acid diet to the mice showed chronic ethanol-induced growth retardation, their body weight rapidly increased. These results show that chronic ethanol intake impairs niacin nutritional status in the niacin insufficient mice, and enough niacin intake can prevent this impairment. Our findings also suggest that chronic ethanol intake increases niacin requirement by increase of NAD consumption.</p>","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 1","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139990356","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Energy Malnutrition on Exacerbation Hospitalization in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Retrospective Observational Study.","authors":"Manabu Tomita, Hiroo Matsuse, Ryuki Hashida, Kenta Murotani, Masaru Uchida, Megumi Monji, Emiko Tokushima, Yujiro Imaizumi, Yusuke Nanri, Koji Hiraoka","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.44","DOIUrl":"10.3177/jnsv.70.44","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Nutritional disorders in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are associated with cachexia, sarcopenia, and weight loss. In particular, weight loss is a prognostic factor in COPD independent of pulmonary function, and energy malnutrition is a contributing factor. Frequent exacerbation hospitalization is also a prognostic factor for COPD patients. The impact of energy malnutrition on adverse events such as exacerbation hospitalization is unknown, and this study aimed to investigate that. We included 163 male subjects with COPD. Respiratory quotient (RQ), an index of energy malnutrition, was calculated by expiratory gas analysis using an indirect calorimeter. RQ <0.85 was categorized as the energy malnutrition group. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to compare the hospitalization avoidance rate between the with and without energy malnutrition groups. Independent factors associated with exacerbation hospitalization were evaluated by Cox regression analysis. We finally analyzed data from 56 selected subjects (median age: 74 y). The exacerbation hospitalization rate was significantly higher in the energy malnutrition group. Fifty percent of the energy malnutrition group was hospitalized for an exacerbation, and the median hospitalization avoidance time was 701 d. In Cox regression analysis (adjusted for age, BMI, mMRC dyspnea scale score, %FEV<sub>1</sub>, and 6-min walk test), energy malnutrition was an independent factor associated with exacerbation hospitalization (HR 4.14, 95% CI 1.13-15.1, p=0.03). Energy malnutrition may be the risk factor for exacerbation hospitalization. Energy malnutrition may be an early nutritional disorder and early detection and intervention may reduce exacerbation hospitalizations.</p>","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 1","pages":"44-52"},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139990358","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of Dietary L-Theanine on Protein Expression in the Hippocampus of Senescence-Accelerated Mice (SAMP8).","authors":"Kiharu Igarashi, Sho Kobayashi, Yasushi Mori, Makiko Takagi, Yoichi Fukushima","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.70.210","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>L-Theanine is contained in green tea at 1-3% per dry matter as an amino acid with an umami taste, and the antidepressant effect and protective effect against stress-induced brain atrophy in mice, as well as the related mechanism have been reported. However, effects of theanine on the hippocampus from the proteome analysis and the action mechanism have not been examined. In this study, we mainly investigated the possibility of theanine's cognitive impairment-preventing function and the action mechanism by proteomics in the hippocampus of SAMP8 administered with theanine. In addition to improvement in the aging score with theanine administration, in proteomics, significant suppressions in the expressions of synapsin 2, α-synuclein, β-synuclein, and protein tau were observed by theanine administration, and the expression of CAM kinase II beta and alpha exhibited a significant increase and increasing tendency with theanine administration, respectively. The expression of tyrosine 3-monooxygenase/tryptophan 5-monooxygenase activation protein tended to increase by theanine administration. On the other hand, serotonin/tryptophan, GABA/glutamic acid and glutamine/glutamic acid ratios in the hippocampus showed an increasing tendency, a significant increase, and an increasing tendency with theanine administration, respectively. These results suggested that theanine might have been involved in the improvement of neurodegeneration or cognitive impairment by suppressing the productions of synapsin, synuclein and protein tau which are considered to be produced along with aging and oxidation, and by enhancing the production of serotonin by increasing the expression of CAM kinase II, and further by affecting the metabolism of glutamate.</p>","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 3","pages":"210-218"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141468769","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of Plant and Animal Protein-Based Meals on Serum Fibroblast Growth Factor-23 Levels in Healthy Young Men: A Randomized Crossover Trial.","authors":"Masaki Yoshioka, Keisei Kosaki, Tomoko Kaneko, Futo Kawahara, Natsumi Nishitani, Shoya Mori, Jiyeon Park, Makoto Kuro-O, Seiji Maeda","doi":"10.3177/jnsv.70.237","DOIUrl":"10.3177/jnsv.70.237","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF23) is a phosphaturic hormone secreted by osteocytes in response to dietary phosphate intake. An increase in FGF23 level is an indicator of excess phosphate intake relative to the residual nephron number. Therefore, avoiding excessive phosphate intake and inhibiting the elevation of serum FGF23 levels are important to preserve the number of functional nephrons. This randomized crossover trial aimed to determine the potential differences in the impacts on serum FGF23 levels between plant protein and animal protein-based meals in individuals with normal renal function. Nine young men were administered plant (no animal protein) or animal protein-based meals (70% of their protein was from animal sources) with the same phosphate content. The test meals consisted of breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Blood samples were collected in the morning, after overnight fasting, and before and after eating the test meals (for two consecutive days at the same hour each day). Furthermore, a 24-h urine sample was obtained on the day the test meal was consumed. No significant interactions were found among serum phosphate, calcium, and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D levels. However, after eating plant protein-based meals, serum FGF23 levels decreased and serum intact parathyroid hormone levels increased (interaction, p<0.05). Additionally, urine 24-h phosphate excretion tended to be lower in individuals consuming plant protein-based meals than in those consuming animal protein-based meals (p=0.06). In individuals with normal renal function, plant protein-based meals may prevent an increase in serum FGF23 levels and kidney damage caused by phosphate loading.</p>","PeriodicalId":16624,"journal":{"name":"Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology","volume":"70 3","pages":"237-247"},"PeriodicalIF":0.7,"publicationDate":"2024-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141468775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}