The Pleurotus oyster is a common edible mushroom rich in ergothioneine, a bioactive that has shown benefits to cognition in animals when administered in extract form. The OYSACO study investigated the acute effects of oyster mushroom (OM) on cognition, mood, inflammation and metabolism in healthy older adults. In a cross-over study, 33 participants consumed a noodle soup containing 0.5 (OM0.5), 1 (OM1) and 2 (OM2) servings of OM, and a calorie-matched control soup (OM0), on four separate occasions, each separated by one week. Cognitive function, mood and subjective appetite were assessed at baseline (BL, prior to intervention) and then at 2-, 4- and 6-hours post-consumption. Intervention palatability was recorded after consumption, and a serum sample was taken at 6-hours. Linear Mixed Modelling, with BL as covariate, revealed a significant decline in Positive Affect and concomitant increase in Mental Fatigue over the test day after consuming OM0, while no significant variation in mood was seen throughout the day following OM interventions. Cognitive findings were mixed with no consistent pattern of effects seen following OM interventions compared to OM0. Postprandial inflammatory markers (nitrite, NADPH oxidase 2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase) were significantly lower following OM interventions compared to OM0. Unexpectedly, brain derived neurotrophic factor was found to be dose-dependently lower after consuming OM compared to OM0. Overall, OM interventions helped maintain mood and lower inflammatory markers in healthy older adults, following acute supplementation. Further studies are required to unravel the underlying mechanisms involved.

The vaginal microbiota plays a key role in female fertility, yet its interaction with diet and lifestyle remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess the influence of the Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence and the vaginal microbial profile on pregnancy outcomes in females undergoing artificial insemination (AI). Vaginal swabs from 104 participants were analysed using amplicon-based sequencing to assess microbial diversity and composition in relation to pregnancy status and MD adherence. The overall pregnancy rate following artificial insemination was 23.07% (8.65% resulted in pregnancy loss before reaching full term). Dominant species clustered by CSTs, with CST II-V showing typical Lactobacillus dominance, whereas CST IV-B was enriched in G. vaginalis and A. vaginae. Importantly, all CST IV-B women failed to achieve pregnancy, and only a minority of CST V women conceived. Random forest modelling using CST, AI number, MD adherence, AI type, BMI, and age achieved moderate predictive performance for pregnancy, with high sensitivity but low specificity. CSTs, pregnancy status, number of IAs and adherence to the MD explained the greatest proportion of variation in the vaginal microbiota structure by RDA. Pregnant women with high MD adherence harbored higher abundance of Prevotella lymphophilum, Anaerotignum massiliense, and Micrococcus radiotolerans, whereas G. vaginalis characterized non-pregnant women with low MD adherence. Pregnant women showed lower diversity than non-pregnant women. Among women that got pregnant, those who subsequently miscarried exhibited distinct microbial profiles and reduced diversity. Specific taxa such as Aerococcus mediterraneensis, Streptococcus mitis, Peptoniphilus lacrimalis, Staphylococcus hominis were enriched in miscarriage cases, whereas Winkia neui, Bacillus mojavensis, and a member of Pseudomonota phyla (previously Proteobacteria) were associated with full-term successful pregnancies. These findings highlight the interaction between diet and vaginal microbiota in determining reproductive outcomes, indicating that the MD would affect fertility by modulating microbial communities.

The field of personalised nutrition is growing and is based on the concept that delivering personalised dietary advice will be more effective than generic healthy eating guidelines for individuals to improve their diet and metabolic health. While there is substantial interest in the field, there is also a need to examine the evidence base. The objective of this review was to examine existing literature on the efficacy of personalised nutrition approaches and to identify research gaps and future needs. A literature search was conducted in PubMed for randomised controlled trials published between 2000 and 2025. Studies investigating the effects of personalised nutrition were included, and relevant papers were identified through the reference lists of existing papers. In total, 24 papers were included, with 12 studies investigating personalised nutrition based on current diet, phenotype, and metabolic biomarkers, five studies examining the effects of genotype-based personalised nutrition, and seven studies exploring approaches based on gut microbiome and machine learning algorithms. Overall, evidence from the included studies indicates that personalised nutrition approaches consistently improved dietary quality and led to significant improvements in metabolic markers, including HbA1c, triglycerides, and insulin sensitivity. However, few studies showed significant between-group differences in weight loss, and most studies did not find significant differences in blood pressure. While the results are promising, there are key challenges and research gaps that remain. Some approaches demonstrated potential for targeted improvements, but further high-quality research is needed to confirm their effectiveness and long-term impact. Future research should prioritise longer-term studies, better stratification of responders and non-responders, and cost-effectiveness evaluations to determine where and for whom personalised nutrition adds the most value.

Lipase-catalysed acidolysis has emerged as a promising biocatalytic approach for producing structured lipids. In particular, the enrichment of medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs) in oils via lipase catalysis is attracting great attention due to their health benefits. In addition, MCTs are a known source of instant energy. In the current work, the immobilized lipase-catalysed enrichment of medium-chain triacylglycerols (MCTs) in a virgin coconut oil (VCO) matrix was achieved. Lipase -catalysed acidolysis of VCO with caprylic (C8:0) and capric acids (C10:0) was conducted to enhance the concentration of MCTs in a solvent-free system, employing two commercial lipases, Lipozyme RM IM from Rhizomucor miehei (1,3-specific) and Novozym 435 from Candida antarctica (non-specific). This study investigated various reaction parameters, including substrate molar ratio, reaction time, and temperature, using Lipozyme RM IM to optimize the catalytic conditions. A higher incorporation of capric acid was observed compared to caprylic acid when the reactions employed 10% lipase relative to the total mass of substrates at a molar ratio of oil to a mixture of caprylic and capric acids (50% each) of 1 : 4. The optimal conditions for achieving the highest MCT enrichment (∼42%) involved a reaction time of 8 h at 40 °C. The MCT enrichment in the VCO was evidenced by 13C NMR with inverse-gated 1H-decoupling, GC, and HRMS. The structured VCO exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity against selected foodborne pathogens while demonstrating no cytotoxic effects in in vitro cell viability assays, supporting its functional safety. These findings highlight the potential of enzymatically structured VCO as a value-added functional lipid for food and nutraceutical applications.

Objective: This trial evaluated marine-derived omega-3 supplementation for primary cardiovascular prevention in middle-aged and elderly adults, focusing on endothelial activation markers and vasodilation. Methods: 240 participants were randomized to four groups receiving 0 g, 1 g, 2 g, or 4 g daily of fish oil (containing 129 mg DHA and 182 mg EPA per gram) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were analyzed for fatty acids and endothelial function biomarkers (NO, ET-1, ICAM-1, MCP-1, Ox-LDL) at baseline and post-intervention. Results: Baseline characteristics and dietary intake did not differ significantly among groups (P > 0.05). Post-intervention analysis revealed a significant increase (P < 0.05) in serum EPA and DHA in all fish oil groups except the control group. The key between-group result was a significantly greater reduction in ICAM-1 (-24.21% vs. -10.90%; P = 0.026) and MCP-1 (-27.38% vs. -14.92%; P = 0.024) in the 1 g d-1 group compared to control, with higher doses (2 g d-1 and 4 g d-1) not showing incremental benefit. No other biomarkers (NO, ET-1, Ox-LDL) showed significant between-group differences. Notably, within-group changes included increased NO in the 2 g d-1 group and decreased ET-1 in the 1 g d-1 and 4 g d-1 groups from baseline. Conclusions: This study found that low-dose fish oil significantly reduced endothelial inflammatory markers (ICAM-1, MCP-1) with a U-shaped dose-response in a community-based middle-aged/elderly population, suggesting optimal anti-inflammatory effects at modest intake. No effects were seen on vasodilatory or oxidative lipid markers.

Apical periodontitis (AP) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by immune dysregulation and periapical bone destruction. Although targeting macrophage plasticity represents a promising strategy, there are still few effective and safe bioactive interventions available. In this study, we integrated bioinformatics analysis with clinical validation and identified PGC1α as a critical hub gene linking AP pathology to macrophage polarization. Analysis of human clinical samples confirmed a negative correlation between PGC1α expression and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β) as well as oxidative stress levels (4-HNE). Through virtual screening of the ZINC database, cynarin, a natural polyphenol enriched in artichoke (Cynara scolymus), was identified as a candidate PGC1α-modulating bioactive. In vitro experiments demonstrated that cynarin dose-dependently upregulated PGC1α expression and protected the protein from proteolytic degradation. Mechanistically, cynarin suppressed M1 polarization and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression by upregulating PGC1α and reducing ROS accumulation in a PGC1α-dependent manner. Notably, these protective effects were abrogated following genetic silencing of PGC1α using small interfering RNA (siRNA). Furthermore, in a murine model of experimental AP, cynarin administration significantly attenuated inflammatory bone loss, as evidenced by micro-CT and histological assessment. Collectively, our findings identify a PGC1α/ROS-dependent mechanism by which cynarin regulates macrophage polarization and suggest that artichoke-derived bioactives may represent candidate adjuncts for controlling inflammatory bone loss in AP.

Polyphenols form an enormously diverse range of natural compounds ascribed a multitude of bioactive properties, conferred from mechanisms related to simple antioxidant functions through to modulation of cellular functions acting at discreet signalling, protein-modifying and epigenetic pathways. This review focusses on the bioactivity of polyphenols as it relates to gastrointestinal health, particularly regarding epithelial permeability and barrier function. This review highlights selected natural sources rich in phytochemicals as examples to highlight this versatility, showcasing a diversity of constituent polyphenols and other compounds that have demonstrated protection against stressors that induce changes in intestinal barrier function and permeability, from flavonoids to phlorotannins. Such polyphenols may have standalone active or adjunctive roles in ameliorating intestinal barrier dysfunction arising from inflammatory and noxious stressors that can span actions as nutraceuticals or supplements to improve gut integrity, with wide-ranging implications for human health beyond the gut.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are among the most prevalent urological diseases worldwide, characterized by high morbidity and recurrence rates. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the predominant etiological agent of UTIs. It adheres to epithelial cells in the urethra or bladder via adhesins, followed by local colonization, proliferation, and induction of uroepithelial tissue damage and inflammation. However, the widespread use of antibiotics has led to increasing resistance in UPEC, posing significant challenges to the treatment of UTIs. In the present study, we successfully isolated and identified M-3-Gal as an antibacterial compound from cranberries. Research data indicated that oral administration of M-3-Gal before and after modeling in C57BL/6 mice significantly reduced bacterial loads in the urine, bladder, and kidneys of UTI mice, thereby alleviating UPEC-associated UTIs and reducing inflammatory and oxidative stress levels. In vitro experiments further revealed that M-3-Gal inhibits bacterial adhesion and invasion by suppressing the expression of bacterial adhesins, disrupting pilus structures, and downregulating the expression of cellular integrins.

Typical and atypical declines in cognitive function, as well as increases in chronic, low-grade inflammation and impaired vascular function are all impacted by the ageing process. Flavonoid-rich foods/beverages have been extensively shown to impact human cognition and to modulate immune and/or vascular function, although the cause-and-effect relationship between these factors is unclear. Here, we examine the acute (2 hours) and short-term (8 days) effects of anthocyanin-rich black rice on cognition, inflammation, and vascular function in older adults. Twenty-four older adults (65 ± 7 years) participated in a randomized, single-blind, crossover trial with one-week washout periods. Participants consumed either 210 g of anthocyanin-rich black rice (208 mg of anthocyanins) or the brown rice control (0 mg of anthocyanins) daily for 9 days. Acute effects were assessed 2 hours after consumption on days 1 and 9, and short-term effects were evaluated after completing 8 days of intake. Cognitive performance (RAVLT, digit span, Stroop, and digit symbol substitution), microvascular blood flow, and blood pressure were measured for both acute and short-term interventions, while serum inflammatory biomarkers were assessed for the short-term intervention. Anthocyanins and phenolic acids in rice were identified by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Data were analyzed using linear mixed models with Bonferroni-corrected comparisons. Eight days of black rice intake significantly improved verbal memory (RAVLT final recall: 12.64 vs. 11.92, p = 0.04; total recall: 52.57 vs. 49.54, p = 0.02) and enhanced digit span backward (change from baseline (CFB) = 0.83, p = 0.03) compared with brown rice. In parallel, black rice significantly reduced interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (CFB: -0.67, p = 0.03), an effect not seen with the control. Acute black rice consumption attenuated declines in delayed recall (CFB: -1.17, p = 0.09) and recognition (CFB: -0.67, p = 0.19), while significant reductions were observed following brown rice intake. No significant treatment effects were observed for microvascular blood flow or blood pressure. Consumption of anthocyanin-rich black rice for 8 days improved verbal memory and reduced blood IL-6 in older adults. These data suggest for the first time that cognitive benefits induced by anthocyanin-rich black rice may be mediated by anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The clinical trial registry number is NCT06583785 (https://clinicaltrials.gov).

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a polyphenol widely found in plants with a wide range of biological activities, especially anti-inflammatory effects. The mechanism by which CGA improves colitis by regulating the gut microbiota has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of CGA on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) treated mice. CGA supplementation attenuated the severity of colitis by reducing the disease activity index (DAI), repairing colonic histological damage and suppressing the abnormal inflammatory response. Sequencing analysis indicated that intake of CGA alleviated DSS-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis, including reducing the F/B value and stimulating the growth of potentially beneficial bacteria, such as Akkermansia muciniphila, Odoribacter and Muribaculaceae. CGA (100 mg per kg body weight) supplementation also reversed the generation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), especially propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid and 4-methylvaleric acid. Consequently, these findings demonstrated that supplementation of CGA attenuated the severity of intestinal inflammation by ameliorating gut microbiota dysbiosis and promoting the growth of butyrate-producing gut microbiota.