PMID: 

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Sep 20 ;20(19). Epub 2019 Sep 20. PMID: 31547049

Abstract Title: 

Royal Jelly and Its Components Promote Healthy Aging and Longevity: From Animal Models to Humans.

Abstract: 

Aging is a natural phenomenon that occurs in all living organisms. In humans, aging is associated with lowered overall functioning and increased mortality out of the risk for various age-related diseases. Hence, researchers are pushed to find effective natural interventions that can promote healthy aging and extend lifespan. Royal jelly (RJ) is a natural product that is fed to bee queens throughout their entire life. Thanks to RJ, bee queens enjoy an excellent reproductive function and lengthened lifespan compared with bee workers, despite the fact that they have the same genome. This review aimed to investigate the effect of RJ and/or its components on lifespan/healthspan in various species by evaluating the most relevant studies. Moreover, we briefly discussed the positive effects of RJ on health maintenance and age-related disorders in humans. Whenever possible, we explored the metabolic, molecular, and cellular mechanisms through which RJ can modulate age-related mechanisms to extend lifespan. RJ and its ingredients-proteins and their derivatives e.g., royalactin; lipids e.g., 10-hydroxydecenoic acid; and vitamins e.g., pantothenic acid-improved healthspan and extended lifespan in worker honeybees,flies,crickets, silkworms,nematodes, and mice. The longevity effect was attained via various mechanisms: downregulation of insulin-like growth factors and targeting of rapamycin, upregulation of the epidermal growth factor signaling, dietary restriction, and enhancement of antioxidative capacity. RJ and its protein and lipid ingredients have the potential to extend lifespan in various creatures and prevent senescence of human tissues in cell cultures. These findings pave the way to inventing specific RJ anti-aging drugs. However, much work is needed to understand the effect of RJ interactions with microbiome, diet, activity level, gender, and other genetic variation factors that affect healthspan and longevity.

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PMID: 

Food Chem Toxicol. 2019 Oct 14:110881. Epub 2019 Oct 14. PMID: 31622731

Abstract Title: 

Protection against oxidative stress and anti-aging effect in Drosophila of royal jelly-collagen peptide.

Abstract: 

Dietary peptide has been of great interest because of its perspective in nutrition and health of human body. The aim of this study was to develop a dietary nutritional supplement exerting both antioxidant and anti-aging effects. Peptide, named as ERJ-CP, was prepared by mixing enzyme-treated royal jelly (ERJ) with collagen peptide (CP), showing stronger antioxidant activity in vitro. Drosophila was used as model animal to investigate anti-aging effect of ERJ-CP in vivo. ERJ-CP significantly prolonged the average life span of Drosophila treated with HOand paraquat, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) levels in Drosophila. In addition, 3 mg/mL of ERJ-CP could prolong the lifespan of natural aging Drosophila by 11.16%. ERJ-CP could up-regulate the levels of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and down-regulate the contents of MDA and PCO. Moreover, the intake of ERJ-CP increased thefood consumption, weight gain and exercise capacity of Drosophila. The results showed that ERJ-CP played a protective role in both antioxidant and anti-aging effects on Drosophila, and the anti-aging effect may be achieved by alleviating oxidative damage. It suggests that ERJ-CP could be developed as a health-promoting ingredient with antioxidant and anti-aging effects for human body.

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PMID: 

Environ Res. 2019 Nov ;178:108729. Epub 2019 Sep 8. PMID: 31521963

Abstract Title: 

Serum beta-carotene modifies the association between phthalate mixtures and insulin resistance: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2003-2006.

Abstract: 

Animal models suggest a protective role of antioxidants against the adverse effect of di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) on insulin resistance. However, no epidemiologic study has examined the effects observed in the animal model. We conduct a study to examine associations of urinary concentrations of phthalate metabolites (individually and as a mixture) with insulin resistance, along with potential effect modification by serum antioxidant concentrations. This cross-sectional study included 1605 participants (51% males) aged 12-85 from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (2003-2006). Urinary concentrations of 9 phthalate metabolites were measured from spot urine samples. Antioxidant (vitamin A, C, E, and carotenoids) concentrations were measured from a fasting serum sample. We used Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) to evaluate associations between phthalate metabolite mixtures and insulin resistance, and examined whether serum antioxidant levels modified these associations, while accounting for the correlations of multiple concurrent exposures. A change in urinaryΣDEHP concentrations from the 25th to the 75th percentile was associated with a higher log HOMA-IR of 0.07 (95% CI = 0.01, 0.14) (4.85% increase in HOMA-IR). In contrast, the same change in urinary monoethyl phthalate (MEP) was associated with a lower HOMA-IR of -0.07 (95% CI = -0.14, -0.02) (6.68% decrease in HOMA-IR). The positive association between ΣDEHP and HOMA-IR became weaker at higher concentrations of serum β-carotene. The relationship between MEP and HOMA-IR, however, was not modified by the serum antioxidants examined. The remaining phthalate metabolites were unrelated to HOMA-IR. In this cross-sectional study, the positive association between DEHP exposure and insulin resistance weakened among participants with higher concentrations of serum β-carotene. As this is the first human report on the protective role of serum β-carotene on DEHP induced insulin resistance, future studies are needed.

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PMID: 

Am J Case Rep. 2019 Sep 15 ;20:1364-1368. Epub 2019 Sep 15. PMID: 31522189

Abstract Title: 

Sugar and the Mosaic of Autoimmunity.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND Recent discoveries in the field of immunometabolism, and on the role of the serine-threonine kinase mTOR as a sensor of nutrients, integrator of cellular signaling pathways, and regulator of metabolism, have widened our understanding of the connection between nutrition, health, and diseases. Epidemiological studies have shown that higher sugar-sweetened beverage consumption is associated with increased risk of developing chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, obesity, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, gout, and rheumatoid arthritis and to worse symptoms in some patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Anabolic metabolism has been demonstrated to favor the differentiation of proinflammatory T lymphocytes while katabolic metabolism to favor regulatory T lymphocyte differentiation. CASE REPORT In a 66-year old male, the onset of gonarthritis and enthesitis and worsening of these symptoms 3 months later were associated with excessive intake of desserts. Two weeks after starting strict avoidance of sugar containing nutrients and beverages symptoms disappeared. During the next 6 months, on 3 occasions, the exceptional consumption of a dessert was followed by a mild and transient recurrence of the symptoms. CONCLUSIONS The repeatedly observed recurrence of enthesitis/arthritis symptoms following sugar intake and its disappearance following avoidance of sugar, represents an extreme example of a link between metabolism and local inflammation in the reported individual. The rapid absorption of the monosaccharides glucose and fructose from the intestine, where they derive from hydrolysis of the disaccharide sucrose (sugar) might lead to overactivation of mTOR if not counterbalanced by other mTOR interfering mechanisms.

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PMID: 

Health Promot Chronic Dis Prev Can. 2017 Jul ;37(7):205-214. PMID: 28703702

Abstract Title: 

Cancers attributable to excess body weight in Canada in 2010.

Abstract: 

INTRODUCTION: Excess body weight (body mass index [BMI]≥ 25.00 kg/m2) is an established risk factor for diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease, but its relationship to cancer is lesser-known. This study used population attributable fractions (PAFs) to estimate the cancer burden attributable to excess body weight in Canadian adults (aged 25+years) in 2010.METHODS: We estimated PAFs using relative risk (RR) estimates from the World Cancer Research Fund International Continuous Update Project, BMI-based estimates of overweight (25.00 kg/m2-29.99 kg/m2) and obesity (30.00+ kg/m2) from the 2000-2001 Canadian Community Health Survey, and cancer case counts from the Canadian Cancer Registry. PAFs were based on BMI corrected for the bias in self-reported height and weight.RESULTS: In Canada in 2010, an estimated 9645 cancer cases were attributable to excess body weight, representing 5.7% of all cancer cases (males 4.9%, females 6.5%). When limiting the analysis to types of cancer associated with high BMI, the PAF increased to 14.9% (males 17.5%, females 13.3%). Types of cancer with the highest PAFs were esophageal adenocarcinoma (42.2%), kidney (25.4%), gastric cardia (20.7%), liver (20.5%), colon (20.5%) and gallbladder (20.2%) for males, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (36.1%), uterus (35.2%), gallbladder (23.7%) and kidney (23.0%) for females. Types of cancer with the greatest number of attributable cases were colon (1445), kidney (780) and advanced prostate (515) for males, and uterus (1825), postmenopausal breast (1765) and colon (675) for females. Irrespective of sex or type of cancer, PAFs were highest in the Prairies (except Alberta) and the Atlantic region and lowest in British Columbia and Quebec.CONCLUSION: The cancer burden attributable to excess body weight is substantial and will continue to rise in the near future because of the rising prevalence of overweight and obesity in Canada.

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PMID: 

J Cancer Prev. 2019 Sep ;24(3):192-196. Epub 2019 Sep 30. PMID: 31624725

Abstract Title: 

β-carotene Inhibits Expression of c-Myc and Cyclin E in-infected Gastric Epithelial Cells.

Abstract: 

Background: infection is a major risk factor in the development of gastric cancer.infection of gastric epithelial cells increases the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), activates oncogenes, and leads toβ-catenin-mediated hyper-proliferation. β-Carotene reduces ROS levels, inhibits oxidant-mediated activation of inflammatory signaling and exhibits anticancer properties. The present study was carried out to determine if β-carotene inhibits-induced cell proliferation and the expression of oncogenes c-myc and cyclin E by reducing the levels ofβ-catenin and phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β (p-GSK3β).Methods: Gastric epithelial AGS cells were pre-treated withβ-carotene (5 and 10 μM) for 2 hours prior toinfection and cultured for 6 hours (for determination of the levels of p-GSK3β, GSK3β, and β-catenin) and 24 hours (for determination of cell viability and protein levels of c-myc and cyclin E). Cell viability was determined by the MTT assay and protein levels were determined via western blot-based analysis.Results: β-Carotene inhibited-induced increases in the percentage of viable cells, phosphorylated GSK3β (p-GSK3β), and the levels of β-catenin, c-myc and cyclin E.Conclusions: β-Carotene inhibits-induced hyper-proliferation of gastric epithelial cells by suppressingβ-catenin signaling and oncogene expression.

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PMID: 

Clin Epigenetics. 2019 Oct 17 ;11(1):143. Epub 2019 Oct 17. PMID: 31623675

Abstract Title: 

Oral vitamin C supplementation to patients with myeloid cancer on azacitidine treatment: Normalization of plasma vitamin C induces epigenetic changes.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Patients with haematological malignancies are often vitamin C deficient, and vitamin C is essential for the TET-induced conversion of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) to 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), the first step in active DNA demethylation. Here, we investigate whether oral vitamin C supplementation can correct vitamin C deficiency and affect the 5hmC/5mC ratio in patients with myeloid cancers treated with DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTis).RESULTS: We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial (NCT02877277) in Danish patients with myeloid cancers performed during 3 cycles of DNMTi-treatment (5-azacytidine, 100 mg/m/d for 5 days in 28-day cycles) supplemented by oral dose of 500 mg vitamin C (n = 10) or placebo (n = 10) daily during the last 2 cycles. Fourteen patients (70%) were deficient in plasma vitamin C (

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PMID: 

MBio. 2019 Oct 8 ;10(5). Epub 2019 Oct 8. PMID: 31594820

Abstract Title: 

Live and Diet by Your Gut Microbiota.

Abstract: 

Diet influences health in multiple ways. One important effect of diet is on the gut microbiota. The effects of diet are often related to an individual's specific microbiota composition. The close links between health, diet, and gut microbiota are illustrated in a new mouse model of sepsis where the combination of a high-fat/low-fiber Western diet, antibiotics, and surgery promotes the development of lethal sepsis. Diet can also influence infection via the gut microbiota beyond sepsis. Future studies with this model may inform the use of microbiota analysis and personalized diets to protect surgery patients from infection and sepsis.

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PMID: 

J Pharm Pharmacol. 2019 Oct 14. Epub 2019 Oct 14. PMID: 31612504

Abstract Title: 

Myocardial hypertrophy is improved with berberine treatment via long non-coding RNA MIAT-mediated autophagy.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate berberine (BBR) effects on myocardial hypertrophy (MH) and associated mechanisms.METHODS: BBR effects on MH were evaluated in rats with constriction of abdominal aorta (CAA). qRT-PCR assay was used to measure MH-related genes, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and autophagy-related genes expressions. Western blot was performed to detect autophagy markers expression. Filamentous actin and phalloidin expressions were detected using immunofluorescence assay.KEY FINDINGS: BBR significantly attenuated CAA-induced MH and cardiomyocyte enlargement. CAA upregulatedβ myosin heavy chain and atrial natriuretic peptide expressions in heart tissues, which was attenuated by BBR. BBR suppressed myocardial infarction associated transcript (MIAT) expression in rats with CAA. p62 mRNA expression was upregulated and beclin1 and autophagy related 5 were downregulated inCAA versus control groups. The effects were abolished by BBR. In vitro studies showed that BBR ameliorated angiotensin II-induced MH and attenuated Ang II-induced MIAT expression in H9C2 cells. Expressions of phosphorylated mTOR, phosphorylated AMPK and LC3 were upregulated in H9C2 cells after AngII stimulation, and the effects were abolished by BBR.CONCLUSIONS: BBR exerted beneficial effects on MH induced by CCA, and the mechanisms were associated with decreased MIAT expression and enhanced autophagy.

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PMID: 

Nat Prod Res. 2019 Oct 3:1-6. Epub 2019 Oct 3. PMID: 31578877

Abstract Title: 

anxiolytic andanti-inflammatory activities of water-soluble extract (WSE) of(L.) seeds.

Abstract: 

The WSE is a highly polar, gummy and mucilaginous bioactive content of the(L.) seeds. This study reports the anxiolytic and anti-inflammatory effects of WSE investigated using Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Hole-Board Test (HBT) in adult mice and human RBCs haemolysis inhibition and protein denaturation respectively. The oral WSE treatment (100&200 mg/kg b.w/day) for 72 hours has exhibited slightly better anxiolytic effect ( 

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