Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, greatly affects the elderly. Combined with cognitive impairment, it severely impairs physical function and quality of life. While personalized nutritional rehabilitation programs are proposed, their efficacy remains understudied. To evaluate the effects of individualized nutritional rehabilitation on clinical symptoms and prognosis in elderly patients with sarcopenia and cognitive impairment. This randomized controlled trial enrolled 96 patients with sarcopenia and cognitive impairment (March 2022–March 2023), randomly assigned to intervention (individualized nutritional rehabilitation plus standard care, n=48) or control groups (standard care only, n=48). Assessments included nutritional markers (hemoglobin, albumin, vitamin D), muscle strength (Medical Research Council scale), balance (Berg Balance Scale), physical performance (Short Physical Performance Battery), activities of daily living, grip strength, 5-times sit-to-stand test, 6-m walk speed, cognitive function (Montreal Cognitive Assessment), and quality of life pre- and post-intervention. Post-intervention, the intervention group showed significantly higher hemoglobin, albumin, vitamin D, and lower Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment scores (all p<0.05). They demonstrated superior improvements in upper/lower limb strength, Short Physical Performance Battery, Berg Balance Scale, Activities of Daily Living scores, grip strength, sit-to-stand time, and 6-min walk distance (all p<0.05). Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores improved more in the intervention group (25.3±3.2 vs 22.1±3.5, p<0.05). Quality of life improved significantly more in the intervention versus control group (p<0.05). Individualized nutritional rehabilitation effectively improves nutritional status, muscle strength, physical function, cognitive performance, and quality of life in elderly patients with sarcopenia and cognitive impairment.

In aesthetic sports, a visually appealing physique is often deemed advantageous; however, excessive dietary restrictions may lead to health risks. We hypothesized that rhythmic gymnasts exhibit higher proportions of low body mass index (low BMI, <18.5 kg/m²) and menstrual dysfunction (MD) compared with not only non-aesthetic sports athletes but also non-athlete women. We measured BMI, menstruation conditions, body image (BI) distortion, Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) scores, and eating behaviors in three female groups: rhythmic gymnasts (n=40), volleyball players as non-aesthetic sports athletes (n=46), and age-matched non-athletes (n=108). Logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify risk factors for low BMI and MD. The rhythmic gymnasts had significantly higher rates of low BMI and MD (p<0.001), greater BI distortion (p<0.05) and EAT-26 scores (p<0.001), and more frequent breakfast skipping (p<0.05) than the other two groups. Logistic regression analyses revealed that being a rhythmic gymnast and BI distortion (overestimation) were independently associated with a low BMI, and higher EAT-26 scores were independently associated with MD. These findings suggest that low BMI and MD are prevalent among rhythmic gymnasts and BI distortion and unhealthy eating attitudes may be associated with these conditions. Further research is required to prevent being underweight and related health risks among female athletes in various aesthetic sports.

This study investigated the effects of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) derived from Asparagus officinalis extract on substrate utilization and metabolic health in young males undergoing resistance training (RT). Twenty healthy males were randomly assigned in a double-blind design to receive either a placebo (PLA; n=10) or 30 mg/d of 20E (n=10) for 12 wk, during which all participants performed supervised RT three times per week. Assessments were conducted at baseline and post-intervention, including body composition, substrate utilization, fasting glucose, insulin, free fatty acids (FFAs), and the quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI). The 20E group showed significant reductions in arm (p<0.01), leg (p<0.05), and abdominal fat (p<0.05), with arm fat reduction significantly greater than in the PLA group (p<0.05). Fat oxidation increased at rest and during exercise in the 20E group (p<0.01), with between-group differences evident only at 40% of V•O₂peak (p<0.05). Furthermore, 20E supplementation was associated with favorable metabolic changes, including reductions in fasting insulin (p<0.01) and plasma FFAs (p<0.05), alongside an increase in QUICKI (p<0.01). These findings suggest that 20E supplementation, when combined with RT, may support regional fat reduction, promote fat oxidation, and improve insulin sensitivity, thereby offering potential benefits for metabolic health.

Malnutrition is a common and serious complication in patients undergoing radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). This study aimed to identify risk factors for malnutrition and to construct and validate a predictive model to aid early detection. A total of 158 NPC patients treated with radiotherapy at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University between March 2023 and November 2024 were retrospectively analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data were collected, and nutritional status was assessed using the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA). Patients were classified as malnourished or non-malnourished, and potential predictors were evaluated using Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression followed by multivariable logistic regression. Among all patients, 118 (74.7%) developed malnutrition. Nutritional support and total protein were identified as independent protective factors, while dysphagia emerged as an independent risk factor. A nomogram incorporating these factors demonstrated strong discriminatory ability (AUC=0.964), good calibration, and clinical utility across threshold probabilities of 0.2–1.0 as shown by decision curve analysis. These findings indicate that malnutrition is highly prevalent in NPC patients undergoing radiotherapy and highlight the importance of nutritional support and protein status in reducing risk. The developed model offers a practical tool for early screening and targeted intervention in clinical practice.

Only approximately 30% of ingested zinc (Zn) is absorbed. Some foods consumed with Zn affect its intestinal absorption. Zn supplementation is generally recommended immediately after meals to minimize gastric irritation. In this study, we examined the effects of food intake on Zn absorption. Zn acetate (25 mg as zinc) was administered orally to 13 healthy young volunteers either in the fasting state or with foods, such as 150 g of brown rice, white rice, beef hamburg, 200 mL of miso soup (fermented soybean paste soup), seaweed soup, cow’s milk, Japanese tea and orange juice (100% fruit juice). Blood samples were collected before and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 h after administration of Zn alone, food alone (without Zn), or food with Zn. Zn absorption was compared using the area under the curve. The results showed that serum Zn levels hardly increased when Zn was administered with brown rice, whereas the Zn level was not inhibited by coadministration with seaweed soup. The absorption of Zn acetate with other foods was reduced to 14–66% compared to that when Zn was administered alone. Our results suggest that brown rice, which is a popular food in Japan and other countries, is associated with decreased Zn absorption.

Nutritional environments in the early life shape the development of neural systems involved in rewards. While the effects of maternal nutritional status on offspring feeding behavior have been studied, the impact of non-nutrient dietary components remains poorly understood. We previously reported that prenatal exposure to bonito broth (katsuo-dashi) reduces the motivation of adult offspring to consume fat. In the present study, we explored the potential molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. First, we confirmed that bonito broth intake during gestation did not affect maternal nutrition or body weight, ruling out maternal undernutrition as a confounding factor for the offspring phenotype. Using fiber photometry, we determined that corn oil intake increased dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), but the response did not correlate with motivational behavior. In control offspring, the mRNA expression of genes related to dopamine (Drd1), opioid (Oprm1, Oprk1), glutamate (Grin1), and GABA (Gabra1) signaling was upregulated in the NAc after exposure to corn oil, and the response was significantly attenuated in the gestation group. These changes in gene expression were not observed in the ventral tegmental area or in the amygdala. These findings suggest that prenatal exposure to bonito broth through the mother attenuates transcriptional responses to dietary fat in reward-related brain regions, particularly the NAc, without affecting dopamine dynamics or maternal nutrition.

L-Glucose is an enantiomer of D-glucose. It is controversial whether intestinal absorption of L-glucose is mediated by sodium/glucose cotransporter 1 (Sglt1). We examined whether L-glucose is absorbed via Sglt1 using KGA-2727, an Sglt1-specific inhibitor, and via glucose transporter (Glut5), a fructose transporter, using fructose-fed rats as well. KGA-2727 significantly blocked the increase of plasma L-glucose levels and lowered the C_max and AUC_{0-180 min} values. Feeding the high-fructose diet induced significantly higher intestinal Glut5 mRNA expression and higher absorption of orally administered D-fructose, but did not affect L-glucose levels and pharmacokinetic parameters. The results suggest that L-glucose is likely transported via Sglt1 in rat small intestine.

This study investigated the cross-sectional association between major dietary patterns and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Participants were 427 women aged 22–50 y who responded to a mail survey in 2022–2023. Dietary patterns were derived using principal component analysis based on consumption of 52 food and beverage items ascertained by a validated self-administered diet history questionnaire. PMS were assessed using the Premenstrual Symptoms Questionnaire. Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate odds ratios of PMS according to tertiles of dietary pattern scores. The prevalence of moderate to severe PMS was 9.6% (41 women). We identified four dietary patterns: vegetable, tomato and fish, Japanese, and alcohol dietary patterns. No dietary pattern was significantly associated with PMS. However, the odds ratios of PMS in the highest tertile of the vegetable dietary pattern (characterized by high intake of vegetables, mushrooms, potatoes, seaweeds, and chicken) tended to be lower compared to the lowest tertile. The multivariable-adjusted odds ratio of PMS for the highest versus lowest tertile of the vegetable dietary pattern score was 0.69 (95% confidence interval 0.30–1.59). None of the dietary patterns were appreciably associated with PMS. The finding of lower odds of PMS among women with a high score for the vegetable dietary pattern deserves further investigation.

Wheat alkylresorcinols (ARs) possess several biological activities that include antioxidative and neuroprotective properties. The effects of ARs on sleep regulation remain unknown. In this study, we hypothesized that ARs may contribute to the sleep-improving effects of whole grains. Male C3H/HeN mice were individually housed under a 12-h light-12-h dark cycle and intragastrically injected with vehicle or ARs at the time of lights off (activity onset). We then continuously monitored electrical activity in the brain using polygraphic electroencephalography, spontaneous locomotor activity, and subcutaneous and core body temperatures in the mice. An initial decrease in core body temperature was followed by decreased subcutaneous body temperature, locomotor activity, wakefulness, and increased non-rapid eye movement sleep for several hours in the mice injected with ARs. These findings suggested that ARs improve sleep onset by reducing core body temperature. Further studies are required to elucidate the molecular mechanism of the effects of ARs on body temperature and sleep regulation.