Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 21, Issue 10, 2025

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent liver condition associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The rising global burden of NAFLD underscores the need for effective management strategies.

This review examines the impact of dietary modifications and physical exercise on insulin sensitivity and overall metabolic health in NAFLD patients. The review synthesizes current evidence on the effectiveness of physical activity and diet in improving liver function and reducing hepatic fat accumulation.

Increased physical activity, including both aerobic and resistance exercises, has been shown to significantly reduce hepatic fat and improve insulin sensitivity in individuals with NAFLD. Additionally, complementary dietary interventions, such as the Mediterranean-style diet, enhance these effects. The review further discusses the role of inflammation and oxidative stress in the progression of NAFLD and the importance of personalized lifestyle interventions.

Effective management of NAFLD requires a multidisciplinary approach that incorporates lifestyle modifications, behavioral support, and emerging technologies for non-invasive diagnosis and disease monitoring. Future research should focus on personalized therapeutic strategies and the long-term sustainability of interventions to mitigate the global health impact of NAFLD.

Diabetes and hyperlipidemia are prevalent metabolic disorders that significantly contribute to global morbidity and mortality. Current pharmacological interventions often present limitations, including side effects, poor bioavailability, and high costs. Natural alternatives with fewer adverse effects are increasingly sought, with Rosa damascena (Damask rose) showing promise beyond its traditional use in perfumery and cuisine. The main aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of Rosa damascena distillate in managing alloxan-induced diabetes and high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in rat models, and to evaluate its potential as a natural alternative for metabolic disorder management.

Forty male Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups for each experimental model. For the anti-hyperglycemic study, diabetes was induced via intraperitoneal alloxan injection (120 mg/kg). Treatment groups received either water (disease control), glibenclamide (3 mg/kg), or rose distillate (2.5 or 5 ml/kg) orally for 21 days, with fasting blood glucose monitored at regular intervals. For the anti-hyperlipidemic study, hyperlipidemia was induced via a high-fat diet for two months, followed by 30 days of treatment with either a fat-rich diet alone (disease control), atorvastatin (2 mg/kg), or rose distillate (2.5 or 5 ml/kg), with subsequent serum lipid profile analysis.

Rose distillate demonstrated significant dose-dependent anti-hyperglycemic activity, with the higher dose (5 ml/kg) showing superior glycemic control compared to glibenclamide after prolonged administration. By day 21, the higher-dose treatment reduced fasting blood glucose to 116.20±20.72 mg/dL compared to 141.82±8.33 mg/dL with standard treatment. In hyperlipidemic rats, both doses effectively normalized lipid profiles, significantly reducing total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and VLDL levels comparable to atorvastatin therapy, while modestly increasing beneficial HDL cholesterol. No significant differences were observed between the two rose distillate dosage regimens in their anti-hyperlipidemic effects.

Rosa damascena distillate demonstrates remarkable therapeutic efficacy against both hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia, with mechanisms likely involving antioxidant activity, enzyme inhibition, and metabolic pathway modulation through bioactive constituents including quercetin, kaempferol, eugenol, and citronellol.

These findings validate traditional ethnomedicinal applications and position rose distillate as a promising natural intervention for metabolic disorders, warranting further clinical investigation to establish optimal dosing regimens and evaluate long-term safety and efficacy in human populations.

This study aimed to explore the use of tuna (Thunnus sp.) bone fishmeal to boost the nutritional value of brownies, with a particular focus on the benefits of calcium for pregnant women. Incorporating tuna bone fishmeal into brownie recipes offered the potential to enhance both the sensory and nutritional qualities of this traditional product. The research investigated the organoleptic quality, proximate composition, and calcium content of brownies with added tuna bone fishmeal.

This study employed an experimental design involving three treatments: treatment A (tuna bone fishmeal 30 g: wheat flour 70 g), treatment B (tuna bone fishmeal 40 g: wheat flour 60 g), and treatment C (tuna bone fishmeal 50 g: wheat flour 50 g). Treatment C was selected for detailed analysis, and a hedonic test was conducted.

Treatment C, consisting of 50 g of tuna bone fishmeal and 50 g of wheat flour, was favored based on hedonic test results. Chemical analysis showed a water content of 11.48%, ash content of 5.21%, protein content of 12.73%, fat content of 8.28%, and calcium content of 32.25 mg/g. However, water and fat content did not meet Indonesia's national standard (SNI) for semi-moist cakes, including brownies.

Incorporating tuna bone fishmeal into brownies enhanced their calcium content, offering potential nutritional benefits, particularly for pregnant women. Sensory evaluations were positive, though further adjustments may be needed to meet SNI standards for semi-moist cakes.

Guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) serves as a primary methyl group acceptor, with its conversion to creatine constituting a major methylation pathway. While prior studies have established a relationship between dietary GAA intake and total folate levels, its effects on individual folate vitamers remain poorly understood. The main objective of this study was to investigate the association between dietary GAA intake and serum concentrations of total folate and specific folate vitamers in a nationally representative U.S. population.

Data were drawn from the 2011–2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), including 8,485 participants. Dietary GAA intake was estimated using 24-hour dietary recall, and serum concentrations of total folate and five folate vitamers were measured through standardized laboratory analyses. Multivariable linear regression models, adjusted for demographic and dietary covariates, were used to assess associations.

Higher dietary GAA intake was significantly associated with lower serum levels of total folate (B = −0.280, P < 0.001), 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-methyl-THF; B = −0.265, P < 0.001), 5,10-methenyltetrahydrofolate (5,10-methenyl-THF; B = −0.001, P = 0.021), and 4-α-hydroxy-5-methyl-THF (MeFox; B = −0.007, P = 0.006). These associations persisted after adjustment for potential confounders.

5-methyl-THF and 5,10-methenyl-THF appear to be more sensitive biomarkers of dietary GAA exposure compared to other folate vitamers, such as folic acid and tetrahydrofolate; these compounds should be routinely evaluated to effectively monitor the nutritional effects of GAA in human studies.

Dietary intake of GAA is inversely associated with serum concentrations of total folate and key folate vitamers. These findings suggest that GAA may influence methyl group availability and homocysteine remethylation via its impact on folate metabolism. Further investigation is warranted to explore the metabolic and clinical implications of these associations.

The primary objective of this open-label quasi-experimental pilot study was to investigate the effects of co-administered creatine and guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) on esports performance, neuropsychological outcomes, and creatine status in young male esports athletes.

We explored the impact of a 4-week supplementation with a creatine and GAA mixture on esports performance in Dota 2™ game and post-game neuropsychological outcomes among young experienced male esports athletes (n = 10).

The intervention led to significant improvements, including a notable 30.1% increase in total scores for the final Dota 2™ game (P = 0.05), along with a 19.2% reduction in mean reaction time (P = 0.02), a 4.4% increase in accuracy (P = 0.05), and a 16.2% enhancement in executive control (P = 0.01).

The effectiveness of lower doses of creatine and guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) observed in our study may be attributed to the enhanced capacity of GAA to cross the blood–brain barrier, thereby facilitating sustained cerebral creatine synthesis and supporting the elevated energy demands associated with esports performance.

These preliminary findings indicate that the blend may be an effective performance-enhancing intervention in esports. However, the lack of a control group, the small sample size, and the short study duration limit the generalizability and robustness of the results.

Creatine is a semi-essential nutrient involved in cellular bioenergetics. While its effects on energy metabolism are well established, its potential influence on appetite regulation remains unclear. This study examined the association between dietary creatine intake and serum leptin levels in a nationally representative U.S. population.

Data were analyzed from NHANES III (1988–1994), including 6,415 participants who completed a 24-hour dietary recall and had fasting serum leptin levels measured. Creatine intake (g/day) was estimated based on established food composition values. Serum leptin was quantified via radioimmunoassay. Multivariate regression models adjusted for age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) were used to assess associations.

The mean creatine intake was 0.91 ± 0.87 g/day, and the mean serum leptin concentration was 12.6 ± 11.8 µg/L. A significant inverse association was observed between dietary creatine intake and serum leptin levels (B = -1.586, P < 0.01), independent of age, gender, and BMI.

Higher dietary creatine intake is associated with lower circulating leptin concentrations, suggesting a potential role for creatine in the regulation of long-term energy balance through mechanisms that extend beyond its established effects on muscle metabolism.

Higher dietary creatine intake is associated with lower serum leptin levels, suggesting a potential role for creatine in appetite regulation. Further research is needed to clarify underlying mechanisms and causality.

Microplastics (MP) are commonly found in food and water, leading to their ingestion through daily diets. MP particles smaller than 150 µm can cross the intestinal epithelium, posing potential health risks. Rapid excretion of MPs from the intestines may help reduce these risks.

Fermented plant extract (FPE) is a rich source of nutrients and active substances, which promote gut health and relieve constipation. To evaluate the MP-excluding potential of FPE, it was suspended in artificial gastric or intestinal juices, followed by the addition of 100 mg of MP particles, which remained floating in the solution. After shaking for 1 hour at 37°C, the floating MP particles were collected and weighed. The excluded weight was calculated by subtracting the weight of the floating MP particles from the initial 100 mg.

The weights of non-floating MP particles (diameter: 106–125 μm) in artificial gastric juice mixed with 10, 5, 2.5, and 1 g of FPE were 73 ± 0.3, 74 ± 1.7, 63 ± 1.5, and 31 ± 1.5 mg, respectively. In artificial intestinal juice, the values were 45 ± 2.3, 55 ± 1.2, 43 ± 1.2, and 16 ± 2.6 mg, respectively. The weights of non-floating particles with a diameter of 250-300 μm were significantly lower than those with a diameter of 106-125 μm.

FPE exhibited greater effectiveness in acidic gastric juice, suggesting that certain MP-binding components in FPE become ionized under acidic conditions, thereby enhancing ionic interactions with microplastics. Smaller MP particles were bound more effectively than larger ones, likely due to their relatively greater surface area.

FPE facilitates MP exclusion from the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the risk of intestinal absorption.

The objective of this study is to identify the prioritization in the purchase of food during the confinement of the Mexican population.

Observational, analytical and cross-sectional study of 1,081 participants living in Mexico; an online, voluntary and anonymous survey was conducted. Chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses were performed, and STATA 16 (Stata Corp LP) was used.

Significant differences were found according to nutritional status for sweets, fried foods, pizzas, sandwiches and sugary drinks. However, when these associations were adjusted for sociodemographic variables, they were no longer significant. It is shown that the high prioritization of tortillas increases the risk of being overweight and obese. When the analysis was conducted, this association was not significant. Nuts were directly associated with overweight or obesity. In contrast, bottled water is not directly linked to weight gain or loss.

Differences were found according to nutritional status in the prioritization of foods high in calories, fats, and sugars. However, this prioritization was different between people who did gain weight versus those who did not.