0 Glyconutrients

Background/Objectives: Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from marine algae, is known for its antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Galectin-3 (Gal-3), a protein associated with cardiovascular fibrosis, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in cardiac remodeling. This study aimed to evaluate whether fucoidan could inhibit Gal-3 activity and mitigate cardiac remodeling in a mouse model of pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Methods: To test this hypothesis, we used transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery to induce pressure overload in normotensive mice, replicating the pathological features of cardiac hypertrophy. Mice were treated with fucoidan at a dose of 1.5 or 7.5 mg/kg/day. In vivo assessments of cardiac function, fibrosis, inflammation, and Gal-3 expression were performed. Results: Pressure overload led to significant upregulation of serum Gal-3 levels, increased cardiac collagen deposition, and elevated markers of fibrosis and inflammation. In mice treated with fucoidan, these effects were significantly attenuated. Fucoidan treatment prevented the upregulation of Gal-3, reduced collagen deposition, and decreased inflammatory cell infiltration, suggesting an inhibition of both fibrosis and inflammation. Conclusions: Fucoidan effectively mitigated the adverse effects of pressure overload in this mouse model, including reduced Gal-3 expression, fibrosis, and inflammation. These findings suggest that fucoidan holds promise as a therapeutic agent for preventing or delaying cardiac remodeling and associated complications, such as fibrosis and inflammation, in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and clinical applicability of fucoidan in cardiac disease.

The lipid-lowering activity of fucoidan has been widely reported, but the exploration of its mechanisms is relatively limited, and studies on its dire…

Rheumatoid Arthritis is an auto-immune condition resulting in the formation of autoantibodies that cause joint and systemic inflammation. Different si…

Background: Aloe vera, often dubbed the "plant of immortality," has been cherished for its healing properties throughout history.

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Comprehensive analysis of the lipid content in Cordyceps sinensis samples is essential for optimizing their effective use. Understanding the lipid profile can significantly enhance the application of this valuable fungus across various fields, including nutrition and medicine. However, to date, there is limited knowledge regarding the effects of different drying methods on the quality of lipids present in Cordyceps sinensis. In this study, we employed a broadly targeted lipidomic strategy to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the lipid composition in Cordyceps sinensis subjected to various drying methods. A comprehensive analysis identified a total of 765 distinct lipid species from fresh Cordyceps sinensis (FC), vacuum-freeze-dried Cordyceps sinensis (VG), oven-dried Cordyceps sinensis (OG), and air-dried Cordyceps sinensis (AG). Among these, glycerophospholipids (GP) were the most abundant, followed by glycerides (GL) and sphingolipids (SP). In this study, a total of 659 lipids demonstrated statistically significant differences, as indicated by a p-value (p) < 1. Among these lipids, triglycerides (TG) exhibited the highest concentration, followed by several others, including ceramide-ascorbic acid (Cer-AS), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), and phosphatidylserine (PS). OG was the fastest drying method; however, PCA and OPLS-DA analyses indicated that the most significant changes in the lipids of Cordyceps sinensis were observed under the OG method. Specifically, 517 differentially accumulated lipids were significantly down-regulated, while only 10 lipids were significantly up-regulated. This disparity may be attributed to the degradation and oxidation of lipids. The metabolic pathways of glycerolipid, glycerophospholipid, and cholesterol are critical during the drying process of Cordyceps sinensis. This study provides valuable insights that can enhance quality control and offer guidelines for the appropriate storage of this medicinal fungus.

Background: Evidence indicates a negative link between glucosamine and age-related cognitive decline and sarcopenia. However, the causal relationship remains...

Prediabetes is characterized as a transitional phase between normal blood glucose and diabetes, and the potential role of fucoidan in the progression …

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA) represents one of the most common side effects of cancer treatment. Currently, scalp cooling systems are utilized to treat CIA, but their safety and effectiveness remain limited. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of fucoidan on CIA and to e …

Dietary polysaccharides affect the intestinal microorganisms and their metabolites in the host. Clarifying the relationship among polysaccharides, int…

Gum arabic is widely used in the food and beverage industries for its emulsifying, stabilizing, and prebiotic effects, which promote Bifidobacterium g…

For over forty years, a sugar of rare configuration known as trehalose (two molecules of glucose linked at their 1-carbons), has been recognised for m…

and Methods: Ninety patients with knee osteoarthritis were randomly divided into the single treatment group and the combined treatment group, which received the treatment using single glucosamine hydrochloride and glucosamine hydrochloride combined with celecoxib for three months, respectively. Results: After treatment, compared with the single treatment group, in the combined treatment group the total effective rate was increased, the Visual Analogue Scale score was decreased, the Lysholm score was increased, the serum tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6 and interleukin 1β levels were decreased, the serum β-C-telopeptides of type I collagen level was decreased, and the serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin levels were increased. The incidence of adverse reactions during treatment had no significant difference between two groups. Conclusions: Glucosamine hydrochloride combined with celecoxib has a good therapeutic efficacy for patients with knee osteoarthritis, and it can improve the bone metabolism and reduce the inflammatory response in patients....

Fucoidans, known for their diverse biological properties such as anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antitumor, and immune stimulatory effects, have recently gained attention for their potential benefits in exercise endurance, muscle mass, and anti-fatigue. However, the mechanisms by which fucoidans enhance exercise performance are still unclear. To investigate these effects, we administered 400 mg/kg/day of fucoidan extract derived from Undaria pinnatifida to 64 C57BL/6J mice over 10 weeks. We evaluated changes in running activity, mitochondrial-related gene expression in skeletal muscle, and alterations in the intestinal microbiome. Our results showed that fucoidan supplementation significantly increased daily running distance and muscle mass by 25.5% and 10.4%, respectively, in mice on a standard chow diet, and with more modest effects observed in those on a high-fat diet (HFD). Additionally, fucoidan supplementation led to a significant increase in beneficial gut bacteria, including Bacteroides/Prevotella, Akkermansia muciniphila, and Lactobacillus, along with a notable reduction in the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, indicating improved gut microbiome health. Mechanistically, fucoidan supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression of key genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis and oxidative capacity, such as COX4, MYH1, PGC-1α, PPAR-γ, and IGF1, in both standard chow and HFD-fed mice. Our findings suggest that fucoidan supplementation enhances exercise performance, improves muscle function, and positively modulates the gut microbiome in mice, regardless of diet. These effects may be attributed to fucoidans’ potential prebiotic role, promoting the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria and contributing to enhanced exercise performance, increased muscle strength, and improved recovery.

D-allulose, a rare sugar recognized as Generally Recognized as Safe, has emerged as a potential alternative to sucrose. Despite its growing popularity…

Background The effect of supplements on mortality risk in patients with cancer remains uncertain and has scarcely been investigated in subgroups of patients with varying characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the association between two popular supplements, fish oil and glucosamine, and mortality risk in a large population-based cohort and determine whether cardiovascular health and clinical prognosis influence these associations. Methods This prospective cohort study analyzed the data of UK Biobank participants who were diagnosed with cancer. The associations of fish oil and glucosamine consumption with mortality were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. Subgroup analyses were performed to assess the effects of Life Essential 8 [LE8] scores (a measure of cardiovascular health) and cancer prognosis (grouped according to the survival rates of specific cancer types) on the associations between supplement use and mortality. Results This analysis included 14,920 participants (mean age = 59.9 years; 60.2% female). One third (34.1%) of the participants reported using fish oil, and one fifth (20.5%) reported using glucosamine. Over a median follow-up of 12.0 years, 2,708 all-cause deaths were registered. The use of fish oil was associated with reduced risks of all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.89, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 0.81–0.97) and cancer mortality (aHR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.81–0.98). Similarly, glucosamine use was associated with reduced risks of all-cause mortality (aHR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.74–0.92) and cancer mortality (aHR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.74–0.93) in the fully adjusted model. Subgroup analyses revealed that the protective effects of fish oil and glucosamine against mortality risk were only observed in patients with LE8 scores lower than the mean score or a poor cancer prognosis. Additionally, the association between glucosamine use and a reduced risk of CVD-related mortality was only observed in patients with lower LE8 scores. Conclusions This large cohort study identified the potential differential impact of LE8 scores and cancer prognosis on the associations of fish oil and glucosamine supplementation with survival in patients with cancer. This suggests the importance of considering these factors in future research on supplements and in the provision of personalized integrative cancer care.

Background: Osteoporosis, a prevalent bone metabolic disease, often requires long-term drug treatments that may lead to serious side effects. Trehalose, a natural disaccharide found in various organisms, has been shown to have a promoting effect on autophagy. However, whether trehalose can improve bone mass recovery in ovariectomized rats and its underlying mechanisms remains unclear. In this study, trehalose was administered to ovariectomized rats to evaluate its therapeutic potential for osteoporosis following ovariectomy. Methods: Micro-computed tomography (Micro-CT), hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and immunohistochemical staining techniques were utilized to evaluate the impact of trehalose on osteoporosis induced by ovariectomy (OVX) in mice, both in imaging and histological dimensions. Furthermore, the influence of trehalose on osteoblastogenesis and functional activity was quantified through Alizarin Red S (ARS) staining and immunoblotting assays. Results: Trehalose effectively mitigated bone loss, elevated autophagy and suppressed pyroptosis in ovariectomized rats. Furthermore, 3-methyladenine diminished the protective effects of trehalose, particularly in promoting autophagy and inhibiting pyroptosis. Conclusions: Trehalose demonstrates significant potential in treating osteoporosis by suppressing NLRP3 inflammasome-driven pyroptosis, primarily through autophagy promotion. This suggests that trehalose could be a promising, safer alternative treatment for osteoporosis.

Glucosamine Protects the Liver. There may be good reason to take glucosamine supplements for symptoms other than joint problems

Glucosamine (GlcN) is one of the dietary supplements used in the treatment of osteoarthritis. Endogenously, GlcN is synthesized from glucose through t…

This topic has 39 study abstracts on Fucoidan indicating that it may have therapeutic value in the treatment of Liver Cirrhosis, Atopic Dermatitis, and Liver Cancer

The present study aimed to conduct a comparative investigation of the biological properties of phenolic and polysaccharide extracts obtained using an ultrasound-assisted technique from Aloe vera gel and their effects on each stage of the wound healing process in in vitro experimental models. HPLC analysis showed that the phenolic extract contained aloin, ferulic, and caffeic acid, as well as quercetin dihydrate, as major compounds. Capillary zone electrophoresis indicated the prevalence of mannose and glucose in the polysaccharide extract. Cell culture testing revealed the anti-inflammatory properties of the phenolic extract at a concentration of 0.25 mg/mL through significant inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines—up to 28% TNF-α and 11% IL-8 secretion—in inflamed THP-1-derived macrophages, while a pro-inflammatory effect was observed at 0.5 mg/mL. The phenolic extract induced 18% stimulation of L929 fibroblast proliferation at a concentration of 0.5 mg/mL, enhanced the cell migration rate by 20%, and increased collagen type I synthesis by 18%. Moreover, the phenolic extract exhibited superior antioxidant properties by scavenging free DPPH (IC50 of 2.50 mg/mL) and ABTS (16.47 mM TE/g) radicals, and 46% inhibition of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was achieved. The polysaccharide extract demonstrated a greater increase in collagen synthesis up to 25%, as well as antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with a bacteriostatic effect at 25 mg/mL and a bactericidal one at 50 mg/mL. All these findings indicate that the phenolic extract might be more beneficial in formulations intended for the initial phases of wound healing, such as inflammation and proliferation, while the polysaccharide extract could be more suitable for use during the remodeling stage. Moreover, they might be combined with other biomaterials, acting as efficient dressings with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties for rapid recovery of chronic wounds.

Pages Introduction Dictionary Economic Alternatives Fucose Galactose Glucosamine Glucose Mannose N-Acetylneuraminic Acid Nacetylgalactosamine Sugar Nutrien

Polysaccharides can benefit the liver via modulation of the gut microbiota, but the exact mechanism is still unclear. This study demonstrated that the…

This study endeavored to investigate the effects of salts (NaCl, KCl, and CaCl2) on the rheological and tribological properties of xanthan gum (XG)-fu…

Polysaccharides from seaweeds or macroalgae are garnering significant interest from pharmaceutical and food industries due to their bioactivities and …

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders have a complicated pathogenesis, and to date, no single mechanism can fully explain them. Most drugs used for C…

Trehalose (α-d-glucopyranosyl-(1-1)-α-D-glucopyranoside) has found applications in diverse food products as a sweetener, stabilizer, and humectant. Recent attention has focused on trehalose due to its contradictory effects on the virulence of Clostridium difficile. In this study, we investigate the …