Immunomodulatory Role of Urolithin A on Metabolic Diseases
Urolithin A (UroA) is a gut metabolite produced from ellagic acid-containing foods such as pomegranates, berries, and walnuts. UroA is of growing interest due to its therapeutic potential for various metabolic diseases based on immunomodulatory properties. Recent advances in UroA research suggest that UroA administration attenuates inflammation in various tissues, including the brain, adipose, heart, […]
Total Nut, Tree Nut, and Peanut Consumption and Metabolic Status in Southern Italian Adults
Background: Nut consumption has been associated with cardio-metabolic health benefits. However, studies conducted in the Southern Italian population, where adherence to the Mediterranean diet has been reported being relatively high, are rather scarce. The aim of this study was to test the association between consumption of total and specific types of nuts and metabolic status […]
Nutshells as Efficient Biosorbents to Remove Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury from Contaminated Solutions
The release of potentially toxic elements into the environment, and their effects on aquatic ecosystems still present a real threat. To avoid such contamination, the use of biological sorbents as an alternative to conventional and expensive water remediation techniques has been proposed. The present study evaluated the potential of 0.5 g L-1 of peanut, hazelnut, […]
Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Volatile Compounds Indicate Kernel and Oil Oxidation
Kernel oxidation susceptibility and pellicle darkening are among the biggest concerns regarding walnut quality. Monitoring oxidation is crucial to preserve quality from production to consumption. Chemical oxidation parameters (peroxide value and UV absorbances), fatty acid profile, tocopherols, phenols, and volatiles in 'Chandler' and 'Howard' kernels were studied at different time points during 28 weeks of […]
Aflatoxins in foodstuffs: occurrence and risk assessment in Turkey
This study aims to determine dietary exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the sum of aflatoxins (AFT) for the Turkish population and assess the risks to human health related to aflatoxins. A total of 1473 results on five main food categories commercialised in Turkey in 2002–2019 were used in the risk assessment. In the adult […]
The effects of foods on LDL cholesterol levels: A systematic review of the accumulated evidence from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials
Aims: To systematically evaluate the evidence regarding the effects of foods on LDL cholesterol levels and to compare the findings with current guidelines. Data Synthesis: From inception through June 2019, we searched PubMed, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for guidelines, systematic reviews, and RCTs (for coffee intake […]
Macadamia nut allergy in children: clinical features and cross-reactivity with walnut
Macadamia nuts, the seeds of Macadamia tetraphylla or Macadamia integrifolia of family Proteaceae, are a familiar food item. Previous case reports of macadamia nut allergy demonstrated the possibility of false negative IgE antibody test results and cross-reactivity of macadamia nut with hazelnut. However, the clinical features of childhood macadamia nut allergy and the cross-reactivity of […]
Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities of Juglans regia L. Pellicle Extract
The difficulty to treat resistant strains-related hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) promoted the study of phytoextracts, known sources of bioactive molecules. Accordingly, in the present study, the pharmacological activities of Juglans regia (L.) pellicle extract (WPE) were investigated. The antiviral effect was tested against Herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2, Poliovirus 1, Adenovirus 2, Echovirus 9, Coxsackievirus B1 through the plaque reduction assay. The antibacterial and antifungal activities […]
Dietary Strategies by Foods with Antioxidant Effect on Nutritional Management of Dyslipidemias: A Systematic Review
Nutrition plays a fundamental role in the prevention and treatment of dyslipidemias and its oxidative-related complications. Currently, there is evidence about the beneficial effects of isolated antioxidants or foods enriched or added with antioxidant compounds. However, the application of the natural foods is more integrated than the analysis of a single nutrient. Our aim is […]
Effect of green-Mediterranean diet on intrahepatic fat: the DIRECT PLUS randomised controlled trial.
Objective: To examine the effectiveness of green-Mediterranean (MED) diet, further restricted in red/processed meat, and enriched with green plants and polyphenols on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), reflected by intrahepatic fat (IHF) loss. Design: For the DIRECT-PLUS 18-month randomized clinical trial, we assigned 294 participants with abdominal obesity/dyslipidaemia into healthy dietary guidelines (HDG), MED and green-MED weight-loss […]