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Review calls for more studies on cinnamon and cognitive function

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“This systematic review revealed that cinnamon and its components (eugenol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, etc.) could affect memory and learning by decreasing amyloid plaque in the hippocampus and phosphorylation of tau-protein,” wrote researchers from Birjand University of Medical Sciences in Iran.

They attribute these brain-boosting benefits to cinnamon’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticholinesterase activity as well as neurotrophic effect, neural maintenance and insulin signaling improvement.

Cinnamon and its compounds

Cinnamon, from the inner bark of evergreen trees belonging to the genus Cinnamomum​, has been used in herbal medicine for centuries from China to Egypt as remedy for respiratory, digestive and menstruation issues. Today, as supplement, it is also suggested as support for healthy glycemic response and blood pressure.

“Cinnamon is proven to have antioxidant properties and reduce inflammation through different pathways, such as the NF-kB pathway and reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS),” the researchers noted. They attribute the antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects to compounds including eugenol, cinnamic acid, cinnamaldehyde, syringic acid, tannins and catechins.

Cinnamon also contains a small amount of choline, an essential nutrient for the brain that produces the acetylcholine neurotransmitters, which in turn play a critical role in regulating memory, mood, muscle control and other functions.

Indications of potential brain benefits

The research team conducted a systematic review of 40 eligible studies selected from a total of 1,605 collected from the Web of Science, Google scholar, PubMed and Scopus databases between 2011 and 2021. They include five in vitro​ studies, 33 in vivo​ studies in rats, mice and the common fruit fly, and two clinical trials in adolescents and pre-diabetic older adults. 

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Omega-3 supplements may be ‘most efficient’ way to support neonatal development, researchers say

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It was also reported that after supplementing with DHA, levels of maternal DHA increased in erythrocyte phospholipids, serum, and breast milk.

“Our results confirmed usage of ‘omega’ dietary supplements as an efficient way of increasing the availability of EPA and DHA for infants,” ​stated Warsaw, Poland-based researchers in Nutrients​.

Essential Fats

There are established recommendations for the intake of essential fatty acids (EFA) and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC PUFAs) for pregnant women, due to the recognised importance to the mother and child’s health. It has been found that these types of fats can increase gestational period and birth weight, as well as support the development of the child, in terms of the central nervous system and cognitive function.

“LC PUFA, especially DHA, plays a pivotal role in the development of the central nervous system, visual acuity, and cognitive functions. It depends on the involvement in maintaining membrane fluidity, impulse propagation, synaptic transmission, and functioning as a cytosolic signal-transducing factors for various gene expression during the critical period of brain development, which seems to be last trimester and first few months after birth,​” the researchers explain.

Due to the importance of these types of fatty acids, the present study sought to first analyse the frequency of consumption of fat sources as well as ‘omega’ supplements in pregnant patients. Secondly, the researchers measured the n-3 and n-6 serum FA contents at the time of labour of the pregnant women and their children using the GC-FID technique, to investigate subsequent nutritional status. The efficacy as well as the usefulness of the ‘omega’ supplements were then established.

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France to allow ‘probiotic’ on food supplements labels

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The use of the term across Europe has been contentious since European authorities view it is an implied healthy claim since the official FAO/WHO definition denotes a health claim: “Live microorganisms which when administered in adequate amounts confer a health benefit on the host”.

Despite such a stance, more European countries are moving to allow the use of the term, notably Spain, Denmark, Italy, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Bulgaria.

In France, the term “probiotic” may be used on food supplement labels together with the wording “contributes to the balance of the intestinal flora”​ so long as products meet certain conditions, such as a minimum number of living cells per daily dose, a position that is similar to the situation in Italy.

The announcement was welcomed by a number of stakeholders in the probiotics space, with Rosanna Pecere, executive director of IPA Europe, stating: IPA together with IPA Europe working diligently in the European environment for probiotics, are happy to see the softening position for the use of the term, and also happy with the added use of the claim.”

George Paraskevakos, IPA Global’s executive director, added: “This initiative links to all the probiotic on-going work globally and segues nicely into the continuation of the harmonization proposal of probiotic regulations at Codex Alimentarius which is set to resume later this year.

“The European market has shown the biggest jump in growth from an online sales perspective in 2022, outstripping other region growth rates by close to 5% as reported by Ewa Hudson’s Lumina Intelligence. This further emphasises the thirst for probiotic products from consumers in Europe, and further underscores the importance of the work which IPA EU and IPA are conducting not only in Europe but also globally to promote quality, safety, and probiotics that provide benefits.

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Almonds support metabolic recovery, boosts beneficial fat

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According to a new randomized controlled trial, 2 ounces of almonds daily for one month lead to higher levels of the beneficial fat 12,13-dihydroxy-9Z-octadecenoic acid (12,13-DiHOME) after intense exercise. This molecule, which consists of bioactive lipids generated by the oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), is synthesized from linoleic acid by brown fat tissue.

When strenuous exercise is combined with 57g of almonds, 12,13-DiHOME is increased by nearly 70%, yielding a beneficial effect on metabolic health and energy regulation.

The study

The research, published in Frontiers in Nutrition​, involved 38 men and 26 women between the ages of 30 and 65, who did not weight train on a regular basis. The participants were split into two groups to include a randomized almond group and a control group, which was provided a calorie-matched cereal bar.

The researchers based the 4-week supplementation period on previous studies with almonds, which showed bioactive effects within this length of time. Participants in the almond group consumed 57g of almonds each day in split doses (half in the morning, half in the afternoon). Participants in the snack group ingested a calorie-matched Nutri-Grain cereal bar, also taken in split doses.

Blood and urine samples were collected, with seven blood samples collected before and after 4-weeks supplementation. Following a 30 second Wingate anaerobic test, a 50 meter shuttle test run, a vertical jump as well as a bench press and leg-back stretching exercise, additional blood and urine samples were taken, both immediately following these 90 minute sessions of intense exercise and daily for four days afterward.

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