Implications of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and Betaine in Human Health: Beyond Being Osmoprotective Compounds

3,3-Dimethyl-1-Butanol and its Metabolite 3,3-Dimethylbutyrate Ameliorate Collagen-induced Arthritis Independent of Choline Trimethylamine Lyase Activity

Conflicting data exist in rheumatoid arthritis and the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) murine model of autoimmune arthritis regarding the role of bacterial carnitine and choline metabolism into the inflammatory product trimethylamine (TMA), which is oxidized in the liver to trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Using two published inhibitors of bacterial TMA lyase, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB) and fluoromethylcholine (FMC), we tested if TMA/TMAO were relevant to inflammation in the development of CIA. Surprisingly, DMB-treated mice demonstrated > 50% reduction in arthritis severity compared to FMC and vehicle-treated mice, but amelioration of disease was independent of TMA/TMAO production. Given the apparent contradiction that DMB did not inhibit TMA, we then investigated the mechanism of protection by DMB. After verifying that DMB acted independently of the intestinal microbiome, we traced the metabolism of DMB within the host and identified a novel host-derived metabolite of DMB, 3,3-dimethyl-1-butyric acid (DMBut). In vivo studies of mice treated with DMB or DMBut demonstrated efficacy of both molecules in significantly reducing disease and proinflammatory cytokines in CIA, while in vitro studies suggest these molecules may act by modulating secretion of proinflammatory cytokines from macrophages. Altogether, our study suggests that DMB and/or its metabolites are protective in CIA through direct immunomodulatory effects rather than inhibition of bacterial TMA lyases.

Engineering poly(dehydroalanine)-based gels via droplet-based microfluidics: from bulk to microspheres

Biomedical applications such as drug delivery, tissue engineering, and functional surface coating rely on switchable adsorption and desorption of specialized guest molecules. Poly(dehydroalanine), a polyzwitterion containing pH-dependent positive and negative charges, shows promise for such reversible loading, especially when integrated into a gel network. Herein, we present the fabrication of poly(dehydroalanine)-derived gels of different size scales and evaluate them with respect to their practical use in biomedicine. Already existing protocols for bulk gelation were remodeled to derive suitable reaction conditions for droplet-based microfluidic synthesis. Depending on the layout of the microfluidic chip, microgels with a size of approximately 30 μm or 200 μm were obtained, whose crosslinking density can be increased by implementing a multi-arm crosslinker. We analyzed the effects of the crosslinker species on composition, permeability, and softness and show that the microgels exhibit advantageous properties inherent to zwitterionic polymer systems, including high hydrophilicity as well as pH- and ionic strength-sensitivity. We demonstrate pH-regulated uptake and release of fluorescent model dyes before testing the adsorption of a small antimicrobial peptide, LL-37. Quantification of the peptide accommodated within the microgels reveals the impact of size and crosslinking density of the microgels. Biocompatibility of the microgels was validated by cell tests.

Multi-omics analysis to evaluate the effects of solar exposure and a broad-spectrum SPF50+ sunscreen on markers of skin barrier function in a skin ecosystem model

Sun exposure induces major skin alterations, but its effects on skin metabolites and lipids remain largely unknown. Using an original reconstructed human epidermis (RHE) model colonized with human microbiota and supplemented with human sebum, we previously showed that a single dose of simulated solar radiation (SSR) significantly impacted the skin metabolome and microbiota. In this article, we further analyzed SSR-induced changes on skin metabolites and lipids in the same RHE model. Among the significantly altered metabolites (log2-fold changes with p ≤ 0.05), we found several natural moisturizing factors (NMFs): amino acids, lactate, glycerol, urocanic acid, pyrrolidone carboxylic acid and derivatives. Analyses of the stratum corneum lipids also showed that SSR induced lower levels of free fatty acids and higher levels of ceramides, cholesterols and its derivatives. An imbalance in NMFs and ceramides combined to an increase of proinflammatory lipids may participate in skin permeability barrier impairment, dehydration and inflammatory reaction to the sun. Our skin model also allowed the evaluation of an innovative ultraviolet/blue light (UV/BL) broad-spectrum sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF50+). We found that using this sunscreen prior to SSR exposure could in part prevent SSR-induced alterations in NMFs and lipids in the skin ecosystem RHE model.

Betaine supplementation modulates betaine concentration by methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotype, but has no effect on amino acid profile in healthy active males: A randomized placebo-controlled cross-over study

Betaine supplementation is used by athletes, but its mechanism of action is still not fully understood. We hypothesized that betaine supplementation would increase betaine concentration and alter amino acid profiles in relation to MTHFR genotype and dose in physically active males. The study followed a randomized placebo-controlled cross-over design. Blood samples were collected before and after each supplementation period. Serum was analyzed for amino acid profile, homocysteine, betaine, choline, and trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) concentrations. For the washout analysis, only participants starting with betaine were included (n = 20). Statistical analysis revealed no differences in the amino acid profile after betaine supplementation. However, betaine concentration significantly increased after betaine supplementation (from 4.89 ± 1.59 µg/mL to 17.31 ± 9.21 µg/mL, P < .001), with a greater increase observed in MTHFR (C677T, rs180113) T-allele carriers compared to CC (P = .027). Betaine supplementation caused a decrease in homocysteine concentration (from 17.04 ± 4.13 µmol/L to 15.44 ± 3.48 µmol/L, P = .00005) and a non-significant increase in TMAO concentrations (from 0.27 ± 0.20 µg/ml to 0.44 ± 0.70 µg/ml, P = .053), but had no effect on choline concentrations. Serum betaine concentrations were not significantly different after the 21-day washout from the baseline values (baseline: 4.93 ± 1.87 µg/mL and after washout: 4.70 ± 1.70 µg/mL, P = 1.000). In conclusion, betaine supplementation increased betaine and decreased homocysteine concentrations, but did not affect the amino acid profile or choline concentrations in healthy active males. Betaine concentrations may be dependent on MTHFR genotype.

Alleviative effect of betaine against copper oxide nanoparticles-induced hepatotoxicity in adult male albino rats: histopathological, biochemical, and molecular studies

Background

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) have gained interest due to their availability, efficiency, and their cost-effectiveness. Betaine is an essential methyl donor and takes part in various physiological activities inside the body; it is found to have protective and curative effects against various liver diseases. The present study aimed to evaluate the hepatotoxic effect of CuO-NPs on adult male albino rats and the ability of betaine to alleviate such hepatotoxicity.

Methods

Forty adult male albino Wister rats were grouped into 4 groups (10 rats/group): group I a negative control, group II (CuO-NPs) injected with CuO-NPs intra peritoneal by insulin needle (0.5 mg/kg/day), group III (betaine + CuO-NPs) administered betaine orally by gavage needle (250 mg/kg/day 1 h before CuO-NPs) and CuO-NPs (0.5 mg/kg/day) finally, group IV (betaine) administered betaine orally by gavage needle (250 mg/kg/day) for consecutive 28 days. Blood and liver samples were gathered and processed for biochemical, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical investigations.

Results

Group II displayed a marked rise in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Furthermore, there is an excessive upregulation of the inflammatory biomarkers interleukin1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). On the other hand, substantial reduction in glutathione (GSH) levels and significant downregulation at glutathione peroxidase (GPx) mRNA gene expression. Regarding the histopathological deviations, there were severe congestion, dilatation and hyalinization of blood vessels, steatosis, hydropic degeneration, hepatocytic necrosis, increased binucleation, degenerated bile ducts, hyperplasia of ducts epithelial lining, and inflammatory cells infiltration. Immunohistochemically, there was a pronounced immunoreactivity toward IL-1β. Luckily, the pre-administration of betaine was able to mitigate these changes. MDA was dramatically reduced, resulting in the downregulation of IL-1β and TNF-α. Additionally, there was a considerable rise in GSH levels and an upregulation of GPx. Histopathological deviations were substantially improved as diminished dilatation, hyalinization and congestion of blood vessels, hepatocytes, and bile ducts are normal to some extent. In addition, IL-1β immunohistochemical analysis revealed marked decreased intensity.

Conclusion

Betaine can effectively reduce the hepatotoxicity caused by CuO-NPs via its antioxidant properties and its ability to stimulate the cell redox system.

The Role of Gut Microbiota and Its Metabolites in Patients with Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a significant health concern; early detection and prevention are crucial. Recent studies suggest that the gut microbiota and its metabolites may influence HF development and risk factors. We explored this relationship by examining changes in gut microbiota composition and metabolite levels in HF patients. HF patients often exhibit decreased alpha and beta diversity compared to controls, suggesting lower bacterial richness and community variation. Changes in specific bacterial phyla were observed, with decreases in Firmicutes (e.g., Ruminococcus) and Bacteroidetes (e.g., Prevotella) and increases in Proteobacteria (e.g., Escherichia, Shigella, and Klebsiella) and Actinobacteria. Gut-microbiota-related metabolites have been identified, potentially affecting various body systems, including the cardiovascular system. Among these are short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), betaine, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), phenylalanine, tryptophan-kynurenine, and phenylacetylgutamine (PAGIn). Although SCFAs positively affect our organisms, patients with HF have been observed to experience a decline in bacteria responsible for producing these chemical compounds. There have been indications of possible links between betaine, TMAO, phenylalanine, tryptophan-kynurenine, PAGIn, and heart failure. TMAO and phenylalanine, in particular, show promise as potential prognostic factors. However, their clinical significance has not yet been thoroughly evaluated and requires further investigation.

High temperature and humidity in the environment disrupt bile acid metabolism, the gut microbiome, and GLP-1 secretion in mice

High temperature and humidity in the environment are known to be associated with discomfort and disease, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We observed a decrease in plasma glucagon-like peptide-1 levels in response to high-temperature and humidity conditions. Through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, alterations in the gut microbiota composition were identified following exposure to high temperature and humidity conditions. Notably, changes in the gut microbiota have been implicated in bile acid synthesis. Further analysis revealed a decrease in lithocholic acid levels in high-temperature and humidity conditions. Subsequent in vitro experiments demonstrated that lithocholic acid increases glucagon-like peptide-1 secretion in NCI-H716 cells. Proteomic analysis indicated upregulation of farnesoid X receptor expression in the ileum. In vitro experiments revealed that the combination of lithocholic acid with farnesoid X receptor inhibitors resulted in a significant increase in GLP-1 levels compared to lithocholic acid alone. In this study, we elucidate the mechanism by which reduced lithocholic acid suppresses glucagon-like peptide 1 via farnesoid X receptor activation under high-temperature and humidity condition.

Neuroprotective Assessment of Betaine against Copper Oxide Nanoparticle-Induced Neurotoxicity in the Brains of Albino Rats: A Histopathological, Neurochemical, and Molecular Investigation

Copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) are commonly used metal oxides. Betaine possesses antioxidant and neuroprotective activities. The current study aimed to investigate the neurotoxic effect of CuO-NPs on rats and the capability of betaine to mitigate neurotoxicity. Forty rats; 4 groups: group I a control, group II intraperitoneally CuO-NPs (0.5 mg/kg/day), group III orally betaine (250 mg/kg/day) and CuO-NPs, group IV orally betaine for 28 days. Rats were subjected to neurobehavioral assessments. Brain samples were processed for biochemical, molecular, histopathological, and immunohistochemical analyses. Behavioral performance of betaine demonstrated increasing locomotion and cognitive abilities. Group II exhibited significantly elevated malondialdehyde (MDA), overexpression of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Significant decrease in glutathione (GSH), and downregulation of acetylcholine esterase (AChE), nuclear factor erythroid 2-like protein 2 (Nrf-2), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Histopathological alterations; neuronal degeneration, pericellular spaces, and neuropillar vacuolation. Immunohistochemically, an intense immunoreactivity is observed against IL-1β and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Betaine partially neuroprotected against CuO-NPs associated alterations. A significant decrease at MDA, downregulation of IL-1β, and TNF-α, a significant increase at GSH, and upregulation of AChE, Nrf-2, and SOD. Histopathological alterations partially ameliorated. Immunohistochemical intensity of IL-1β and GFAP reduced. It is concluded that betaine neuroprotected against most of CuO-NP neurotoxic effects through antioxidant and cell redox system stimulating efficacy.

Serum levels of trimethylamine N-oxide and kynurenine novel biomarkers are associated with adult metabolic syndrome and its components: a case-control study from the TEC cohort

Background

Epidemiologic research suggests that gut microbiota alteration (dysbiosis) may play a role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Dysbiosis can influence Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) a gut microbiota-derived metabolite, as well as kynurenine pathways (KP), which are known as a new marker for an early predictor of chronic diseases. Hence, the current study aimed to investigate the association between KYN and TMAO with MetS and its components.

Methods

This case-control study was conducted on 250 adults aged 18 years or over of Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS) Employee's Cohort study (TEC) in the baseline phase. Data on the dietary intakes were collected using a validated dish-based food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and dietary intakes of nitrite and nitrate were estimated using FFQ with 144 items. MetS was defined according to the NCEP ATP criteria. Serum profiles TMAO and KYN were measured by standard protocol.

Result

The mean level of TMAO and KYN in subjects with MetS was 51.49 pg/mL and 417.56 nmol/l. High levels of TMAO (≥30.39 pg/mL) with MetS were directly correlated, after adjusting for confounding factors, the odds of MetS in individuals 2.37 times increased (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.31-4.28, P-value = 0.004), also, high levels of KYN (≥297.18 nmol/L) increased odds of Mets+ 1.48 times, which is statistically significant (OR: 1.48, 95% CI: 0.83-2.63, P-value = 0.04). High levels of TMAO compared with the reference group increased the odds of hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL in crude and adjusted models (P < 0.05). Additionally, there was a statistically significant high level of KYN increased odds of abdominal obesity (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Our study revealed a positive association between serum TMAO and KYN levels and MetS and some of its components. For underlying mechanisms and possible clinical implications of the differences. Prospective studies in healthy individuals are necessary.

SAH and SAM/SAH ratio associate with acute kidney injury in critically ill patients: A case-control study

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious clinical emergency with an acute onset, rapid progression and poor prognosis, which has high morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. DNA methylation plays an important role in the occurrence and progression of kidney disease, and aberrant methylation and certain altered methylation-related metabolites have been reported in AKI patients. However, the specific alterations of methylation-related metabolites in the AKI patients were not investigated clearly.

METHOD

In this study, 61 AKI and 61 matched non-AKI inpatients were recruited after propensity score matching the age and hypertension. And 11 methylation-related metabolites in the plasma and urine of the two groups were quantified by using UHPLC-MS/MS method.

RESULTS

Certain methylation-relate intermediates were up-regulated in the plasma (choline, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), trimethyl lysine (TML), S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH)) and down-regulated in the urine of AKI inpatients (choline, betaine, TMAO, dimethylglycine (DMG), SAM and taurine). The correlation analysis revealed a relatively strong correlation between plasma SAH, SAM/SAH ratio and renal function index (serum creatinine (SCr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), r = 0.523-0.616), and the correlation of urinary intermediates with renal function index was weaker than that in the plasma. Furthermore, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that plasma SAH and urinary SAM/SAH ratio represented the best distinguishing efficiency with AUC 0.844 and 0.794, respectively. Moreover, the findings of binary regression analysis demonstrated plasma choline, TMAO, TML, SAM and SAH were the risk markers of AKI (up-regulation in plasma, OR > 1), urinary choline, betaine, TMAO, DMG and SAM were protective markers of AKI (down-regulation in urine, OR < 1), and SAM/SAH ratio was a protective marker in plasma and urine (down-regulation in both two biofluids, OR = 0.510, 0.383-0.678 in plasma, OR = 0.904, 0.854-0.968 in urine), indicating the increased risk of AKI when combined with the alteration of plasma and urinary levels.

CONCLUSION

The comprehensive analysis of plasma and urine samples from AKI inpatients offers a more extensive assessment of methylated metabolic alterations, suggesting a close relationship between AKI stress and altered methylation ability. The plasma level of SAH and SAM/SAH ratio and urinary SAM/SAH ratio both showed a strong correlation with renal function (SCr and eGFR) and good accuracy for distinguishing AKI in the two biomatrices, which exhibited promising prospects in predicting renal function decline and providing further information for the pathogenesis of AKI.

Nano-Osmolyte Conjugation: Tailoring the Osmolyte-Protein Interactions at the Nanoscale

Osmolytes are small organic compounds accumulated at higher concentrations in the cell under various stress conditions like high temperature, high salt, high pressure, etc. Osmolytes mainly include four major classes of compounds including sugars, polyols, methylamines, and amino acids and their derivatives. In addition to their ability to maintain protein stability and folding, these osmolytes, also termed as chemical chaperones, can prevent protein misfolding and aggregation. Although being efficient protein folders and stabilizers, these osmolytes exhibit certain unavoidable limitations such as nearly molar concentrations of osmolytes being required for their effect, which is quite difficult to achieve inside a cell or in the extracellular matrix due to nonspecificity and limited permeability of the blood-brain barrier system and reduced bioavailability. These limitations can be overcome to a certain extent by using smart delivery platforms for the targeted delivery of osmolytes to the site of action. In this context, osmolyte-functionalized nanoparticles, termed nano-osmolytes, enhance the protein stabilization and chaperone efficiency of osmolytes up to 105 times in certain cases. For example, sugars, polyols, and amino acid functionalized based nano-osmolytes have shown tremendous potential in preventing protein aggregation. The enhanced potential of nano-osmolytes can be attributed to their high specificity at low concentrations, high tunability, amphiphilicity, multivalent complex formation, and efficient drug delivery system. Keeping in view the promising potential of nano-osmolytes conjugation in tailoring the osmolyte-protein interactions, as compared to their molecular forms, the present review summarizes the recent advancements of the nano-osmolytes that enhance the protein stability/folding efficiency and ability to act as artificial chaperones with increased potential to prevent protein misfolding disorders. Some of the potential nano-osmolyte aggregation inhibitors have been highlighted for large-scale screening with future applications in aggregation disorders. The synthesis of nano-osmolytes by numerous approaches and future perspectives are also highlighted.

Making the case for prophylactic use of betaine to promote brain health in young (15-24 year old) athletes at risk for concussion

Betaine supplementation in the context of human nutrition, athletic performance, and clinical therapy demonstrate that the osmolyte and methyl donor, betaine, is cytoprotective and beneficial to human health. These studies also demonstrate that betaine supplementation in healthy humans is straight-forward with no reported adverse effects. Here, we explore betaine uptake in the central nervous system (CNS) and contribute to evidence that betaine may be uniquely protective to the brain. We specifically describe the therapeutic potential of betaine and explore the potential implications of betaine on inhibition mediated by GABA and glycine neurotransmission. The influence of betaine on neurophysiology complement betaine's role as an osmolyte and metabolite and is consistent with clinical evidence of betaine-mediated improvements to cognitive function (reported in elderly populations) and its anti-convulsant properties. Betaine's therapeutic potential in neurological disorders including epilepsy and neurodegenerative diseases combined with benefits of betaine supplementation on athletic performance support the unique application of betaine as a prophylaxis to concussion. As an example, we identify young athletes (15-24 years old), especially females, for prophylactic betaine supplementation to promote brain health and resilience in a cohort at high risk for concussion and for developing Alzheimer's disease.

Development of a novel method for the simultaneous detection of trimethylamine N-oxide and creatinine in the saliva of patients with chronic kidney disease - Its utility in saliva as an alternative to blood

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with increased levels of creatinine and other uremic toxins (UTs), which impaired kidneys cannot filtrate. Typically, CKD is diagnosed by calculating the estimated glomerular filtration rate using serum creatinine or cystatin C levels. In pursuit of more sensitive and reliable biomarkers of kidney dysfunction, scientific attention has turned towards other UTs, such as trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), successfully quantified in standard matrices, blood and urine. However, less invasive monitoring of kidney function can be performed using an alternative diagnostic biofluid, saliva, which has been shown to contain clinically relevant concentrations of renal function markers. Accurate quantitative estimation of serum biomarkers using saliva measurements can only be achieved provided that there is a tight saliva-serum correlation for the analyte of interest. Therefore, we aimed to verify the correlation between saliva and serum levels of TMAO in CKD patients using newly developed and validated quantitative liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) method for simultaneous detection of TMAO, and creatinine - the conventional marker of renal impairment. Secondly, we applied this method to quantify TMAO and creatinine levels in the resting saliva of CKD patients collected with a standardised method involving swab-based collectors. A good linear correlation was obtained between the concentration of creatinine in serum and resting saliva of CKD patients (r = 0.72, p = 0.029) and even better in the case of TMAO (r = 0.81, p = 0.008). The analysed validation criteria were fulfilled. No significant influence of the type of swab in the Salivette® device on creatinine and TMAO concentrations in saliva was detected. Our study indicates that saliva can be successfully used in the non-invasive monitoring of renal failure in CKD by measuring salivary TMAO concentrations.

[Correlation Between Plasma Trimethylamine N-Oxide and Lipid Levels in Hyperlipidemic Patients]

Objective

To investigate the correlation between the plasma levels of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and lipid levels in hyperlipidemic patients.

Methods

A total of 130 patients who received treatment and underwent coronary angiography at the Heart Center, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University between March 2019 and March 2021 were enrolled. Patients' plasma TMAO levels were determined by stable isotope liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The correlation between plasma TMAO levels and the levels of lipids, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), was analyzed.

Results

Patients with hyperlipidemia had higher plasma TMAO levels (μmol/L) than patients without hyperlipidemia did (6.73±5.40 vs. 3.82±2.65), with the difference being statistically significant ( P<0.05). After controlling for the effects of age and body mass index, partial correlation analysis revealed that plasma TMAO levels were positively correlated with plasma TG ( r=0.286, P<0.001) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.366, P<0.001).

Conclusion

There is a correlation between plasma TMAO levels and lipid levels in hyperlipidemic patients.

Microbiota revolution: How gut microbes regulate our lives

The human intestine is a natural environment ecosystem of a complex of diversified and dynamic microorganisms, determined through a process of competition and natural selection during life. Those intestinal microorganisms called microbiota and are involved in a variety of mechanisms of the organism, they interact with the host and therefore are in contact with the organs of the various systems. However, they play a crucial role in maintaining host homeostasis, also influencing its behaviour. Thus, microorganisms perform a series of biological functions important for human well-being. The host provides the microorganisms with the environment and nutrients, simultaneously drawing many benefits such as their contribution to metabolic, trophic, immunological, and other functions. For these reasons it has been reported that its quantitative and qualitative composition can play a protective or harmful role on the host health. Therefore, a dysbiosis can lead to an association of unfavourable factors which lead to a dysregulation of the physiological processes of homeostasis. Thus, it has pre-viously noted that the gut microbiota can participate in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, chronic intestinal inflammation, diabetes mellitus, obesity and atherosclerosis, neurological disorders (e.g., neurological diseases, autism, etc.) colorectal cancer, and more.

Plant-Based Nutrition: Exploring Health Benefits for Atherosclerosis, Chronic Diseases, and Metabolic Syndrome-A Comprehensive Review

Atherosclerosis, chronic non-communicable diseases, and metabolic syndrome are highly interconnected and collectively contribute to global health concerns that reduce life expectancy and quality of life. These conditions arise from multiple risk factors, including inflammation, insulin resistance, impaired blood lipid profile, endothelial dysfunction, and increased cardiovascular risk. Adopting a plant-based diet has gained popularity as a viable alternative to promote health and mitigate the incidence of, and risk factors associated with, these three health conditions. Understanding the potential benefits of a plant-based diet for human health is crucial, particularly in the face of the rising prevalence of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Thus, this review focused on the plausible advantages of consuming a type of food pattern for the prevention and/or treatment of chronic diseases, emphasizing the dietary aspects that contribute to these conditions and the evidence supporting the benefits of a plant-based diet for human health. To facilitate a more in-depth analysis, we present separate evidence for each of these three concepts, acknowledging their intrinsic connection while providing a specific focus on each one. This review underscores the potential of a plant-based diet to target the underlying causes of these chronic diseases and enhance health outcomes for individuals and populations.

Biomarkers of seafood intake during pregnancy - Pollutants versus fatty acids and micronutrients

Intake of fish and seafood during pregnancy may have certain beneficial effects on fetal development, but measurement of intake using questionnaires is unreliable. Here, we assessed several candidate biomarkers of seafood intake, including long-chain omega 3 fatty acids (n-3 LCPUFA), selenium, iodine, methylmercury, and different arsenic compounds, in 549 pregnant women (gestational week 29) in the prospective birth cohort NICE (Nutritional impact on Immunological maturation during Childhood in relation to the Environment). Proportions of the fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in erythrocytes were measured using gas chromatography with flame ionization detector. Selenium was measured in blood plasma and erythrocytes, mercury and arsenic in erythrocytes, and iodine and several arsenic compounds in urine, using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, arsenic compounds after first being separated by ion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Each biomarker was related to intake of total seafood and to intake of fatty and lean fish, and shellfish in third trimester, estimated from a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire filled out in gestational week 34. The pregnant women reported a median total seafood intake of 184 g/week (5th-95th percentiles: 34-465 g/week). This intake correlated most strongly with erythrocyte mercury concentrations (rho = 0.49, p < 0.001), consisting essentially of methylmercury, followed by total arsenic in erythrocytes (rho = 0.34, p < 0.001), and arsenobetaine in urine (rho = 0.33, p < 0.001), the main form of urinary arsenic. These biomarkers correlated well with intake of both fatty fish, lean fish, and shellfish. Erythrocyte DHA and plasma selenium correlated, although weakly, mainly with fatty fish (rho = 0.25 and 0.22, respectively, both p < 0.001). In conclusion, elevated concentrations of erythrocyte mercury and urinary arsenobetaine can be useful indicators of seafood intake, more so than the n-3 LCPUFAs. However, the relative importance of the biomarkers may differ depending on the type and amount of seafood consumed.

The Implication of the Gut Microbiome in Heart Failure

Heart failure is a worldwide health problem with important consequences for the overall wellbeing of affected individuals as well as for the healthcare system. Over recent decades, numerous pieces of evidence have demonstrated that the associated gut microbiota represent an important component of human physiology and metabolic homeostasis, and can affect one's state of health or disease directly, or through their derived metabolites. The recent advances in human microbiome studies shed light on the relationship between the gut microbiota and the cardiovascular system, revealing its contribution to the development of heart failure-associated dysbiosis. HF has been linked to gut dysbiosis, low bacterial diversity, intestinal overgrowth of potentially pathogenic bacteria and a decrease in short chain fatty acids-producing bacteria. An increased intestinal permeability allowing microbial translocation and the passage of bacterial-derived metabolites into the bloodstream is associated with HF progression. A more insightful understanding of the interactions between the human gut microbiome, HF and the associated risk factors is mandatory for optimizing therapeutic strategies based on microbiota modulation and offering individualized treatment. The purpose of this review is to summarize the available data regarding the influence of gut bacterial communities and their derived metabolites on HF, in order to obtain a better understanding of this multi-layered complex relationship.

Microbiome and Diet in Colon Cancer Development and Treatment

ABSTRACT

Diet plays critical roles in defining our immune responses, microbiome, and progression of human diseases. With recent progress in sequencing and bioinformatic techniques, increasing evidence indicates the importance of diet-microbial interactions in cancer development and therapeutic outcome. Here, we focus on the epidemiological studies on diet-bacterial interactions in the colon cancer. We also review the progress of mechanistic studies using the experimental models. Finally, we discuss the limits and future directions in the research of microbiome and diet in cancer development and therapeutic outcome. Now, it is clear that microbes can influence the efficacy of cancer therapies. These research results open new possibilities for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of cancer. However, there are still big gaps to apply these new findings to the clinical practice.

Inflammatory Response: A Crucial Way for Gut Microbes to Regulate Cardiovascular Diseases

Gut microbiota is the largest and most complex microflora in the human body, which plays a crucial role in human health and disease. Over the past 20 years, the bidirectional communication between gut microbiota and extra-intestinal organs has been extensively studied. A better comprehension of the alternative mechanisms for physiological and pathophysiological processes could pave the way for health. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one of the most common diseases that seriously threatens human health. Although previous studies have shown that cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, hypertension, and coronary atherosclerosis, are closely related to gut microbiota, limited understanding of the complex pathogenesis leads to poor effectiveness of clinical treatment. Dysregulation of inflammation always accounts for the damaged gastrointestinal function and deranged interaction with the cardiovascular system. This review focuses on the characteristics of gut microbiota in CVD and the significance of inflammation regulation during the whole process. In addition, strategies to prevent and treat CVD through proper regulation of gut microbiota and its metabolites are also discussed.