The ovary is among the first organs to show age-related declines in women. Researchers combined large human datasets with mouse experiments to test whether physical activity might alter that trajectory. The researchers first examined the relationship between self-reported physical activity and menopause in two large human datasets, then had female mice exercise regularly on a treadmill for one month while controls spent the same sessions on it without running. Afterward, they counted primordial follicles, the dormant follicles that contain immature eggs, and measured a hormone marker of ovaria... exercise hormones menopause
Read moreAirborne microplastic particles may be doing more than just floating in the air—they could be making their way into future generations. A recent study found that micro- and nanoplastic particles can accumulate in the tissues of offspring after mothers inhale them during pregnancy. Researchers assigned pregnant rats to one of two groups. They exposed one group to airborne polyamide-12 micro- and nanoplastics for about four hours on ten days during pregnancy—roughly equivalent to 120 minutes per day during a human pregnancy—while the other group received no exposure and served as a control grou... pregnancy development pollution Microplastics
Read moreFast food during pregnancy harms both mother and offspring and interferes with milk production. Fast foods – burgers, fries, pizzas, sugar-sweetened drinks, and many others – are often high in calories, saturated fat, added sugars, and salt. Regular consumption of fast foods is associated with an increased risk for many chronic diseases (https://academic.oup.com/nutritionreviews/article/71/5/310/2460221). Findings from a recent study suggest that eating fast food during pregnancy negatively influences maternal health during pregnancy and undermines the nutritional quality of a mother's breast... diet breast milk lactate
Read more[toc position='left'] Polyphenols comprise a group of antioxidant compounds found in a variety of plants consumed as foods and beverages. Polyphenols are one of the most common classes of bioactive compounds found in plants, along with alkaloids (e.g., berberine (https://www.foundmyfitness.com/topics/berberine)), organosulfur compounds (e.g., sulforaphane), and terpenoids (e.g., beta carotene). A growing body of evidence suggests that polyphenols have disease-fighting properties, although the evidence to support these claims varies in quality. Research has demonstrated some degree of efficacy ... polyphenol brain cancer heart disease green tea gut diet microbiome microbes
Read morePregnancy and early childhood are periods of human development when the body has an increased requirement for micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). Animal studies have shown the importance of preconception nutrition for offspring development; however, long-term human trials are lacking. Investigators aimed to determine the long-term effects of preconception micronutrient supplementation on children’s intellectual functioning. Several micronutrients play critical roles in fetal development. For example, folic acid supplementation during pregnancy prevents neural tube defects, and iron plays ... pregnancy micronutrients development
Read moreIn recent years, vaping, or smoking electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), has emerged as a popular substitute for smoking tobacco-containing cigarettes. E-cigarettes produce a vapor that may contain nicotine as well as a variety of toxic substances, including some carcinogens. Findings from a new study suggest that some compounds in e-cigarettes trigger inflammation, promoting a leaky gut. Leaky gut, otherwise known as intestinal permeability, is a condition in which gaps form between the tight junctions between the endothelial cells that line the gut. These gaps allow pathogens like bacteria... gut intestinal permeability lipopolysaccharide
Read moreResearchers in the field of aging have posited several theories to explain how and why the body ages. One of these theories, the somatic mutation theory of aging, is based on the idea that DNA damage accumulates over time – the result of day-to-day living and oxidative stress. A variety of mechanisms within cells can repair DNA damage and prevent potentially harmful mutations. These repair mechanisms become less efficient as the body ages, however, promoting age-related disease and decline. A new study suggests that loss of the body's capacity to repair itself starts during adolescence and cou... aging dna damage
Read moreSleep disruption is intrinsically linked with Alzheimer's disease and its pathophysiology, with characteristic changes in sleep emerging early in life, well before the clinical onset of the disease. A key player in the development of Alzheimer’s disease is amyloid-beta. Insufficient sleep increases the production of amyloid-beta, and amyloid-beta deposition, in turn, impairs sleep in a vicious, self-perpetuating loop. Findings from a new study demonstrate that sleep deprivation also increases blood levels of tau, a protein found in the brain. Tau is a microtubule-bound protein that forms the n... alzheimer's sleep neurons protein
Read more[toc position='left'] Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is a precursor molecule for the biosynthesis of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, or NAD+, a coenzyme that participates in the production of cellular energy and repair. Two other NAD+ precursors, nicotinic acid (NA) and nicotinamide (NAM, also called niacinamide), along with nicotinamide riboside, are often collectively referred to as niacin (vitamin B3) or niacin equivalents. These precursors are not equally allocated throughout the body, exhibiting preferential distribution among the blood, brain, gut, and other organs. NAD+ can also be produ... obesity nad+ aging breast milk cardiovascular
Read moreThis is an interesting rodent study. The problem is, however, broccoli sprouts are not usually advisable for women that are pregnant because they can be a source of foodborne illness. If proven safe, however, it seems (at the surface) plausible that there could be ways to reduce the risk of in the future. Perhaps through supplementation? FTA: > Methods: Pregnant Long-Evans rats were administered i.p. Injections of saline (100 μl) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 200 μg/kg), every 12 h on embryonic day (E) 19 and 20. In the treatment groups, dams were supplemented with 200 mg/day of dried BrSp fr... nutrition brain diet development sulforaphane protein lipopolysaccharide
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