Xanthan gum is a food additive used to thicken and stabilize many processed foods. Although it is widely used, animal research has raised questions about whether regular intake could affect gut health. A new study examined whether xanthan gum could promote inflammation and alter the intestinal barrier. The study included 32 adult male rats divided into four groups. For 10 weeks, one group ate a control diet, while the other three ate the same diet supplemented with 462.5, 925, or 1,850 milligrams of xanthan gum per kilogram of food. After the feeding period, researchers examined tissue from t... gut inflammation intestinal permeability ultra-processed foods
Read moreChemotherapy often causes problems with memory, concentration, and mental fatigue, but clinics still do not have a standard way to treat these symptoms. In a large new trial, researchers tested whether a simple at-home exercise plan could help protect cognitive function during treatment and support healthy immune activity among cancer patients. The phase 3 trial included 687 adults who were starting chemotherapy at 20 oncology clinics across the United States. Participants were randomly assigned to usual care or to EXCAP, a six-week home program that combined walking with resistance-band exer... cancer exercise
Read moreUnintentional weight loss is common in Parkinson's disease, yet doctors still do not fully understand why it happens. Researchers in Japan examined whether changes in the body's energy chemistry could help explain this pattern. The study included 91 people with Parkinson's disease and 47 healthy adults. Researchers estimated body composition using bioelectrical impedance analysis, a method that passes a small electrical current through the body. They also analyzed fasting blood samples to examine molecules involved in how the body produces and uses energy. People with Parkinson's disease wei... biomarkers metabolism mitochondria parkinson's
Read moreLaboratory and animal studies suggest lithium could protect the brain from cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease, but results from human trials have been mixed. To clarify the picture, researchers combined data from multiple clinical trials to test whether pharmaceutical lithium salts have meaningful benefits for brain health. The authors systematically reviewed and meta-analyzed six randomized, placebo-controlled trials (435 participants) that compared lithium supplementation with placebo in studies lasting roughly 10 weeks to 24 months. All participants had either mild cognitive impairm... cognition dementia lithium
Read moreAs we age, our chromosomes gradually wear down at the ends, and this erosion (measured by the length of structures called telomeres) is considered a hallmark of biological aging. But could a lifetime of athletic training help slow that process? A research team reviewed data from 11 studies comparing 240 long-term master athletes to 209 age-matched adults who did not compete in sports, with both groups averaging around 50 years of age. The athletes had typically trained competitively for more than 16 years. The analysis revealed that: Master athletes had significantly longer telomeres overall... aging exercise telomeres
Read moreFrom the article: > Muscle tissue can remodel itself, which is one reason why exercise becomes easier when we do it regularly, Lessard says. Over time, aerobic exercise such as running or swimming can alter muscle fibers to become more efficient at using oxygen during exercise. "We also grow new blood vessels to allow more oxygen to be delivered to the muscle, which helps to increase our aerobic fitness levels," she says. > The scientists propose that high levels of blood sugar may prevent muscle remodeling in part by modifying the "extracellular matrix" proteins in the space between the... exercise diabetes blood sugar aerobic strength
Read moreAs a person ages, mitochondrial function declines, driving many age-related conditions, including the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength. Findings from a recent study suggest that a compound derived from ellagic acid metabolism helps restore mitochondrial and muscle health in older adults. Ellagic acid is a bioactive compound found in a wide variety of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, especially walnuts, pomegranates, and rose hips. Bacteria in the human gut break down ellagic acid to produce compounds called urolithins. Scientists have identified about 20 urolithins, but the most stud... nutrition mitochondria urolithin a
Read moreSulforaphane is a bioactive compound derived from certain cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and broccoli sprouts. It exerts potent anti-inflammatory properties and switches on the activity of a vast array of cellular protective proteins. A new study in mice demonstrates that sulforaphane inhibits activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in mice microglia cells via inhibition of the NF-kB pathway and altered gene expression. Inflammasomes are large, intracellular complexes that detect and respond to internal and external threats. Activation of inflammasomes has been implicated in a host of ... inflammation sulforaphane nrf2 nlrp3
Read moreFrom the publication: > Our finding that supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids normalizes the protein levels of BDNF after TBI suggests that BDNF mediates the beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acids on cognitive function. [...] > It is notable that fish oil supplementation increased BDNF but did not affect cognitive function in intact rats. It is possible that slight changes in BDNF may not significantly affect cognition under normal conditions. It seems likely, however, that under pathological weakness small decreases in BDNF can be a factor to further deteriorate cognitive functio... brain omega-3 tissue repair bdnf tbi
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