The role of leptin and ghrelin in the regulation of food intake and body weight in humans: a review Summary Leptin and ghrelin are two hormones that have been recognized to have a major influence on energy balance. Leptin is a mediator of long-term regulation of energy balance, suppressing food intake and thereby inducing…
Small fish and bivalves offer often-overlooked nutritional and environmental value. Many health-conscious consumers have already cut back on hamburgers, steaks, and deli meats, often by swapping in poultry or seafood. Those protein sources are better than beef, and not just because they’re linked to a lower risk of heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.…
From gene therapy to Alzheimer’s treatment, predicting pancreatic cancer to pioneering reproduction methods, there were many promising discoveries in 2023 that will influence health and medicine COVID-19 has continued to claim lives in 2023, killing more than 50 thousand patients in the United States alone and bringing the global death toll to almost seven million people.…
Oral Health “There is no health without oral health.” You may have heard this statement but what does it mean? The health of our mouth, or oral health, is more important than many of us may realize. It is a key indicator of overall health, which is essential to our well-being and quality of life.…
Significant variations in the gut microbiome can be identified between people who develop pre-cancerous colonic lesions and those who do not. The Dutch study, abstract OP118, presented at United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Week 2023, held in Copenhagen, October 14–17, showed that the diversity of the gut microbiome was decreased in patients who went on…
Many gut microorganisms critical to human health rely on nutrients produced by each other for survival; however, these cross-feeding interactions are still challenging to quantify and remain poorly characterized. Abstract Here, we introduce a Metabolite Exchange Score (MES) to quantify those interactions. Using metabolic models of prokaryotic metagenome-assembled genomes from over 1600 individuals, MES…
The decision by an advisory committee may lead to Food and Drug Administration approval of the first treatment for humans that uses the CRISPR gene-editing system. A panel of experts said on Tuesday that a groundbreaking treatment for sickle cell disease was safe enough for clinical use, setting the stage for likely federal…
Omega 3 fatty acids are a great source of energy and support the immune system, heart, blood vessels and lungs. There are several types, one of them, alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and is found in plant sources such as seeds or nuts. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a daily intake of between…
New AI tool makes speedy gene-editing possible An artificial intelligence program may enable the first simple production of customizable proteins called zinc fingers to treat diseases by turning genes on and off. The researchers at NYU Grossman School of Medicine and the University of Toronto who designed the tool say it promises to…
Highlights Upper small intestine (USI) microbiome is crucial in nutrient absorption and digestion. High-fat diet greatly impacts USI microbiome diversity and composition in rodents. Bariatric surgery and inulin aid in the recovery of USI microbiome in HFD-fed mice Metagenomic richness of USI microbiome inversely correlates with insulin resistance. USI microbiome research in obesity is still…
Collagen is the most abundant protein in the body. Its fiber-like structure is used to make connective tissue. Like the name implies, this type of tissue connects other tissues and is a major component of bone, skin, muscles, tendons, and cartilage. It helps to make tissues strong and resilient, able to withstand stretching. In…
Probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics: The microbe garden in your gut Think of your gut microbiome as an intestinal garden, teeming with trillions of bacteria, viruses and fungi that play a crucial role in your health. Whether the beneficial microbes in your gut are flourishing or getting crowded out by unwelcome guests largely depends…