BACKGROUND:Sarcopenic obesity (SO) is a multifactorial condition characterized by the coexistence of excess adiposity and reduced skeletal muscle mass and function. Its development reflects a complex interaction of metabolic, inflammatory, and endocrine mechanisms that disrupt the balance between anabolic and catabolic processes. MAIN FINDINGS:Endocrine dysfunction is a major driver of the altered adipose-muscle crosstalk characteristic of SO. Hormonal imbalance amplifies mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation, leading to reduced muscle quality and increased visceral and intramuscular fat. Age-related hormonal decline, including reductions in testosterone and estrogens, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor 1, and thyroid hormones, together with increased catabolic activity of glucocorticoids and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, as well as altered sympathoadrenal signaling, promotes insulin resistance, muscle catabolism, and fat accumulation. Beyond aging, endocrine diseases such as hypogonadism, GH deficiency, hypothyroidism, Cushing syndrome, hyperaldosteronism, and diabetes replicate many features of SO and serve as valuable models for investigating its underlying mechanisms. FUTURE DIRECTIONS:Emerging anabolic or anti-catabolic agents, such as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), myostatin inhibitors, and ghrelin analogues, show promise but require further validation. Future research should explore endocrine disorders as experimental models of SO, focusing on the shared molecular and hormonal mechanisms that link fat accumulation and muscle loss. Finally, studying endocrine pathways in an integrated manner, rather than focusing on obesity and sarcopenia separately, may identify new hormonal targets for precision therapies aimed at restoring anabolic-catabolic balance and improving metabolic and functional outcomes in individuals with SO.

Background/Objectives: Inflammation and oxidative stress are the main pathogenetic pathways involved in the development of several chronic degenerative diseases. Our study is aimed at assessing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from wheat and its derivatives. Methods: The content of total phenolic and total flavonoid compounds and antioxidant activity were carried out by ABTS and DPPH assays. The ability of wheat extracts to promote microglia polarization towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype was evaluated analyzing the increased expression of anti-inflammatory markers by real-time qPCR and immunofluorescence assays. Antioxidant activity of all the extracts was evaluated in C. elegans by analyzing ROS levels and the expression of the antioxidant enzymes GST-4 and SOD-3 by real-time qPCR and fluorescence experiments. The expression of key genes involved in the innate immune response and stress resistance pathways—daf-16, sek-1, and pmk-1—was evaluated by real-time qPCR. Results: Wheat extracts showed the ability to polarize microglia cells towards an anti-inflammatory phenotype, even after the addition of LPS. An antioxidant response was detected both in microglia and in Caenorhabditis elegans nematode, where the extracts also implemented an anti-stress resilience response and stimulated the innate immunity. Conclusions: The present study shows that wheat seeds, flour, chaff, and pasta present anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant activities and may be considered as prospective positive health agents for the preparation of functional foods. Moreover, the valorization of by-products from agricultural and agro-industrial activities would also have significant implications in terms of circular economy.

Ancient grains, once forgotten due to the dominance of high-yield modern crops, are making a comeback due to concerns over biodiversity loss and global food challenges. This study examines the nutritional composition, safety, and health benefits of Senatore Cappelli, an ancient Italian durum wheat variety (SCW), highlighting its potential as a functional food. Using a multi-method approach, SCW was analyzed across four food chain stages (seeds, flour, pasta, and chaff) for compositional changes, phytochemical content, and safety. The safety of raw material was assessed by determination of biogenic amines, pesticides, mycotoxins and pathogenic microorganisms. The chemical profile detected by NMR spectroscopy revealed the presence of bioactive molecules such as phenolic acids and carotenoids in the case of chaff. The toxicity of ethanolic extracts was evaluated using in vitro assays on murine BV-2 microglial cells and in vivo assays on Caenorhabditis elegans animal model. No cytotoxic effects were detected at concentrations up to 250 ng/mL for chaff extract and 1000 ng/mL for seed, flour, and pasta extracts. Additionally, SCW extracts extended the lifespan of C. elegans, indicating potential anti-aging and health-promoting properties. These results position SCW as a valuable resource for enhancing bioactive compounds, supporting its reintroduction into modern diets and its use in functional food development.

Front-of-pack labeling has been adopted as a public health measure to counteract increasing obesity and noncommunicable disease incidence. An increasing body of interest has recently focused on the Nutri-Score label; therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to assess its effectiveness in enhancing nutrition literacy, consumers' food choices, adherence to healthy patterns, and health status. Results reveal most studies are conducted in experimental settings with no evidence of nutrition literacy impact and nonsignificant or little effect sizes on eating patterns and health status improvement, particularly in real-life studies. Despite its underpinning algorithm being strongly associated with mortality risk, differences promoted by NutriScore in shopping basket nutrient composition appear limited to saturated fats and sodium with very small effect sizes; moreover, C, D, and E categories seem ineffective in changing consumers' purchases. These findings suggest that expectations for Nutri-Score might be scaled down and require careful consideration for future development in this area.

IntroductionDiving in SCUBA modality modifies human physiology in many ways. These modifications have been studied since Paul Bert in a seminal work. This area of research is very sensible to technological development. At now, it is possible to record heart rate (HR) continuously while diving. The study of HR changes in SCUBA diving at different depths in a constant temperature of thermal water is the objective of the present paper.Methods18 healthy subjects were enrolled and HR was recorded while SCUBA diving in thermal water at a constant temperature of 33.6∘ C in the deepest Italian pool at Montegrotto (Padova, Italy). Three depths were investigated: −20, −30 and −40 meters. The HR has been recorded with a Galileo SOL diving computer. The dive was subdivided into three phases: descent (DSC), steady on depth (STD), post–dive (RSF), and average HR was evaluated in each phase. Moreover, considering the DSC and STD time duration, a statistical linear regression of HR and relative parameters, intercept and slope, were here assessed.ResultsIn STD phase, HR slope obtained by regression decreased with depth. A significant difference was found between the slope during STD at −20 vs. −40 m (p ≤ 0.05).DiscussionPresent results emphasized different HR physiological adjustments among diving phases. Firstly, during the DSC, a rapid HR decrease is recognized as probably due to a vagal response; secondly, at STD, the inward blood redistribution requires another physiological adjustment. This latter is depth-dependent because of a reduction of cardiac variability. Present data highlight the important cardiac stress need to counteract the diving activity.

In order to tackle the global increase in overweight and obesity prevalence, several nutrient profiling systems have been developed; among others, Food Compass Score (FCS) has been designed to encompass multiple domains of food healthfulness. However, environmental sustainability of healthy diets is another crucial dimension which should not be overlooked in the context of human health. The aim of the present study is to assess the association between healthiness and environmental sustainability of food items, using the FCS and Agribalyse databases, respectively. A total of 806 matching food items were identified, grouped in 12 food categories; within each category, differences in median Z-scores between FCS and Single Environmental Footprint (EF) Score were assessed. While Fruits, Legumes and Nuts, Mixed foods, Meat Poultry and Eggs (MPE), Savory and Sweets, and Vegetables showed statistically significant differences (all p < 0.001), Beverages (p = 0.361), Dairy (p = 0.092), Fats and Oils (p = 0.594), Grains (p = 0.436), Sauce and Condiments (p = 0.093), and Seafood (p = 0.241) had similar Food Compass and Single EF Z-scores distributions. These findings underscore a relevant lack of difference between healthfulness and environmental impact of some prominent food categories, such as Grains and Seafood. Therefore, we suggest matching nutrient profiling systems with adequate environmental sustainability indices.

Ancient grains, so long-forgotten due to the dominance of modern grains with high yield and improved technological quality as result of breeding programs, are currently experiencing a comeback. A plethora of reasons involving the global loss of biodiversity, caused by a streamlined and uniform agriculture that relies on few species and leaves ecosystems vulnerable to pests and climate change, as well as global food challenges have been encouraging the use of ancient and traditional crops. “Senatore Cappelli” (SC) durum wheat is an important versatile resource for reintroducing genetic heterogeneity and providing special traits with health benefits and favorable nutritional compositions for food applications. Although many aspects of ancient grains have been discovered, it is still critical to investigate the safety and biological effects of SC food chain products. In this work, a multidisciplinary approach has been performed to characterize the chemical composition, biological effects and safety of SC seeds, flour, pasta and chaff for assessing the changes occurring during the industrial process. The NMR-based analysis pointed out significant qualitative differences among the examined matrices, specifically chaff, involving phenylpropanoids bioactive metabolites; a content of toxic biogenic amines commonly accepted by EU regulation, and a pesticide and mycotoxin content under European Limits were revealed by HPLC-MS/MS analysis. No potentially pathogenic microorganisms were detected in all raw matrices and ethanolic extracts. Moreover, in vitro and in vivo experiments showed no negative effects of hydroalcoholic extracts on the proliferation capacity of BV2 cells and an interesting ability to extend the lifespan of the animal model Caenorhabditis elegans. The used methodologies for quality and food safety control may be included in flow-chart to apply for the development of food sustainable and quality assurance models.

A propriedade termogênica da cafeína é alvo crescente de interesse, sendo um dos recursos ergogênicos mais consumidos no meio esportivo. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o impacto termogênico, variação de frequência cardíaca (FC) e pressão arterial (PA) pelo consumo de diferentes dosagens de cafeína em homens adultos em repouso. A amostra foi composta por 24 homens divididos entre grandes (>100mg/dia) e pequenos consumidores de cafeína (< 100mg/dia). Os avaliados foram submetidos a três intervenções em três dias distintos: placebo, 3 mg/kg e 6 mg/kg de cafeína. Avaliou-se a variação da temperatura da pele pela termografia infravermelha (TIR), FC e PA antes e após a suplementação de cafeína. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo teste Two-Way ANOVA e teste T, adotando um nível de significância de 5%. Nenhum dos dois grupos obteve diferença entre as doses e a temperatura nos diferentes tempos. As doses 3 mg/kg e 6 mg/kg de cafeína provocaram PA sistólicas mais altas ao final do protocolo nos pequenos consumidores. O consumo de 6 mg/kg provocou maior PA diastólica ao final nos pequenos consumidores. Não foram observadas alterações de FC em nenhum dos dois grupos, com nenhuma das dosagens. Concluiu-se que independentemente da dosagem ofertada e hábito de consumo, não houve efeito termogênico medido por TIR, bem como a resposta da FC de repouso. No entanto, pequenos consumidores habituais de cafeína são mais sensíveis ao composto, com aumento da PA sistólica após consumo agudo de 3 mg/kg e 6 mg/kg de cafeína.

Due to the high mortality rate in Western countries, pancreatic cancer is considered one of the big killers, leaving patients and their families with little hope upon diagnosis. Although surgical and drug therapies are critical for cancer patients to improve life expectancy and alleviation of suffering, nutrition plays a key role in improving cancer treatment outcomes. This narrative review, conducted as part of the activities of the Italian Society of Human Nutrition (SINU) working group in oncology, focuses on the prevalence of vitamin malnutrition among pancreatic cancer patients. The results of the literature search show that pancreatic cancer patients are at a heightened risk of water-soluble vitamin deficiencies, particularly of vitamins B1, B3, and B6. Additionally, they also face an increased risk of deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins. Among these vitamins, the potential role of vitamin D in pancreatic cancer has garnered the most attention, with its plasma levels being identified as a significant factor in patient survival. Investigating vitamin nutritional status could provide valuable insights for incorporating nutritional approaches into the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer, thereby reducing the exacerbation of symptoms associated with the diagnosis.

Microbial communities are found throughout the biosphere, from human guts to glaciers, from soil to activated sludge. Understanding the statistical properties of such diverse communities can pave the way to elucidate the common mechanisms ...Multiple ecological forces act together to shape the composition of microbial communities. Phyloecology approaches—which combine phylogenetic relationships between species with community ecology—have the potential to disentangle such forces but are often ...

Nutrient profiling and front-of-pack labeling (FOPL) have been developed to categorize food products as more or less healthy based on their nutrient content and to easily communicate this information to consumers. The goal is to change individual food choices toward a healthier diet. Since global climate change has recently become an urgent matter, this paper also aims to investigate the correlations between different food health scales, including some FOPLs currently adopted by one or more countries, and several sustainability indicators. For this purpose, a food sustainability composite index has been developed to summarize environmental indicators and compare food scales. Results indicate, as expected, that well-known healthy and sustainable diets are strongly correlated with both environmental indicators and the composite index, while FOPLs based on portions or on 100 g show moderate and weak correlation values, respectively. Within-category analysis has not found any associations that explain these results. Hence, 100 g standard, on which FOPLs are usually developed, seems not to be the ideal basis for developing a label that aspires to communicate healthiness and sustainability in a unique format, as required by the need for simple messaging. On the contrary, FOPLs based on portions appear to be more likely to achieve this goal.

An emerging research niche has focused on the link between social determinants of health and diabetes mellitus, one of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases in modern society. The aim of the present mini-review is to explore and summarize current findings in this field targeting high-income countries. In the presence of disadvantaged neighborhood factors (including socioeconomic status, food environment, walkability and neighborhood aesthetics), diabetes prevention and care are affected at a multidimensional level. The vast majority of the included studies suggest that, besides individual risk factors, aggregated neighborhood inequalities should be tackled to implement effective evidence-based policies for diabetes mellitus.

The aim of this Editorial is to give an overview on the multiple aspects of front-of-pack labels (FOPLs) and provide the readers a balanced view of the problems raised in this research field, placing them in a wider context. Furthermore, this editorial paper discusses whether and how the use of FOPLs can promote health status in relation to the individual eating pattern and which should be the next research scenarios to investigate to further improve and integrate these tools.

Sommario L’utilizzo degli integratori è largamente diffuso in occidente e in Italia troviamo il mercato più ampio, con una previsione di vendite di 5 miliardi di euro nel 2025. Le motivazioni all’acquisto sono principalmente la ricerca del benessere psico-fisico o la risposta a specifiche esigenze di salute. Gli integratori sono prodotti destinati a integrare la dieta e fornire sostanze nutritive che mancano o non sono assunte in quantità sufficienti con la sola alimentazione. Tuttavia, il concetto di integrazione è stato esteso a sostanze di cui non abbiamo un reale fabbisogno in condizioni fisiologiche e a dosaggi non più di integrazione, ma farmacologici, causando confusione tra gli operatori e i consumatori. Gli integratori, se usati senza controllo, possono comportare rischi per la salute. In particolare, la potenziale tossicità dei nutrienti e degli integratori è un concetto spesso dimenticato, nonostante nei Livelli di Assunzione di Riferimento di Nutrienti (LARN) per la popolazione italiana sia definito per ogni nutriente il livello massimo tollerabile di assunzione. La scarsità di studi sistematici sugli effetti avversi degli integratori, che possono essere immessi sul mercato senza il supporto di studi clinici, rende difficile stabilire un nesso causale tra l’assunzione di un integratore e l’insorgenza di sintomi avversi. La tossicità è rara per le vitamine idrosolubili, ma più frequenti per le vitamine liposolubili, come la vitamina E, la vitamina A e i carotenoidi, e la vitamina D. In determinate situazioni, alcune categorie di persone possono essere a rischio di carenze nutrizionali; tuttavia, l’integrazione di nutrienti deve seguire in ogni caso un percorso di valutazione dello stato di nutrizione e di modulazione del comportamento alimentare e va mantenuta per il tempo necessario al recupero di un corretto stato nutrizionale e comportamentale. L’uso di integratori può anche predisporre gli individui a comportamenti alimentari scorretti e deve essere attentamente valutato in base al reale rapporto costo-beneficio.

Digital anthropometry (DA) has been recently developed for body composition evaluation and for postural analysis. The aims of this review are to examine the current state of DA technology, as well as to verify the methods for identifying the best technology to be used in the field of DA by evaluating the reliability and accuracy of the available technologies on the market, and lay the groundwork for future technological developments. A literature search was performed and 28 studies met the inclusion criteria. The reliability and accuracy of DA was high in most studies, especially in the assessment of patients with obesity, although they varied according to the technology used; a good correlation was found between DA and conventional anthropometry (CA) and body composition estimates. DA is less time-consuming and less expensive and could be used as a screening tool before more expensive imaging techniques or as an alternative to other less affordable techniques. At present, DA could be useful in clinical practice, but the heterogeneity of the available studies (different devices used, laser technologies, population examined, etc.) necessitates caution in the interpretation of the obtained results. Furthermore, the need to develop integrated technologies for analyzing body composition according to multi-compartmental models is increasingly evident.

Accumulating evidence supports a connection between sarcopenic obesity (SO) and NAFLD. The extent to which fatty liver contributes to impaired muscle contractility is not yet well established. The aim of our study was to investigate the effect of NAFLD on dynapenia in patients with SO. In this study, 71 non-diabetic subjects (age 55 (7.8) years, BMI 35.2 kg/m2 (32.6–38.8)) were classified as having SO and non-sarcopenic obesity (NSO). SO patients displayed worse serum lipid profiles, higher body fat, and lower skeletal muscle mass (both total and appendicular) than NSO patients, despite the absence of any significant differences in body weight, glycometabolic parameters, and hepatic steatosis prevalence. A positive correlation between disposition index and muscle quality index (MQI) (r = 0.393, p = 0.013) emerged after controlling for menopause and body fat percentage. Based on multiple linear regression analysis, MQI was significantly positively associated with the disposition index (β: 0.059, SE: 0.002, p = 0.006) after adjustment for menopause, body fat percentage, and the presence of hepatic steatosis according to the hepatorenal index (HRI). Similar findings emerged when including liver enzyme levels in place of hepatic steatosis. Muscle quality was positively associated with β-cell function corrected for insulin resistance among patients with obesity and sarcopenic obesity, irrespective of the presence of fatty liver disease.

Background Front-of-Pack Nutritional Labels are considered a useful tool to help consumers orient themselves in their food choices and direct their behavior toward a healthier diet. FOPNL development and use are part of a framework that includes cognitive, biological, hedonic and cultural aspects, able to affect consumers' eating and purchasing behavior. Aim Given the complexity of the matter, the aim of this narrative review is to analyze the combination of different factors that drive food choices and eating behaviors and to highlight some aspects that are not fully studied. Methods The authors conducted the research using a top-down approach at first, followed by a bottom-up approach; starting with general considerations about the purchasing process, gradually narrowing the discussion to a specific sub-population, and finally extending the discussion back to more general reasonings about the direction to adopt in future, or at least to evaluate, for effective communication. Results Biases and attitudes toward food products were found to regularly interfere with buying behavior patterns, making it impossible to standardize an average consumer. This reflects in current research, increasing the complexity of the topic. All determinants influencing food choices are often assessed individually rather than in a synergistic and multidimensional context, while the purchasing scenario is characterized by multiple stimuli to which the consumer is subjected. FOPNLs' impact on perceived healthiness has been studied in different conditions, but some population subgroups have not been sufficiently represented. In particular, the effect of FOPNLs on consumers suffering from eating disorders is understudied and needs further attention. Furthermore, some approaches can be compared to "negative nutrition" or "loss-framed communication", putting nutrients out of context, emphasizing losses more than gains and risking promoting negative feelings in consumers. Conclusion Due to the heterogeneity of studies, evidence on what works best in driving people to adopt lasting lifestyle changes is still mixed. Science communicators and policymakers should consider the possibility that a multi-component approach incorporating nutrition information and education may be a key strategy to promote consumers' self-consciousness and to support them in their cognitive efforts toward a healthy and sustainable diet.

The aim of this study was to systematically review the current scientific literature regarding the accuracy of fully guided flapless implant positioning for complete-arch rehabilitations in edentulous patients and to assess if there was any statistically significant correlation between linear deviation at shoulder point, at apex point and angular deviation. The electronic and manual literature search of clinical studies was carried out using specified indexing terms. A total of 13 studies were eligible for qualitative analysis and 277 edentulous patients were rehabilitated with 1556 implants patients by means of fully guided mucosa-supported template-assisted flapless surgery. Angular deviation was 3.42° (95% CI 2.82–4.03), linear deviation at shoulder point 1.23 mm (95% CI 0.97–1.49) and linear deviation at apex point 1.46 mm (95% CI 1.17–1.74). No statistically significant correlations were found between the linear and angular deviations. A statistically significant correlation was found between the two linear deviations (correlation coefficient 0.91) that can be summarized by the regression equation y = 0.03080 + 0.8254x. Computer-assisted flapless implant placement by means of mucosa-supported templates in complete arch restorations can be considered a reliable and predictable treatment choice despite the potential effects that flapless approach could bring to the overall treatment.