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The Impact of Micronutrients on the Clinical Condition of Chronic Disease

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A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 September 2021) | Viewed by 32779

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Prof. Dr. Maria Perticone

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Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University Magna Græcia, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: obesity; type-2 diabetes; metabolic syndrome; endothelial dysfunction; hypertension; target organ damage
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Angela Sciacqua

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Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Magna Græcia University, Catanzaro, Italy
Interests: renal function; chronic kidney disease; Type 2 Diabetes; Vitamin K

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Micronutrients are essential trace elements and vitamins involved in the maintenance of tissue function as well as in the metabolic functions of the whole body. An adequate intake is therefore necessary, even if the provision of excess supplements in people who do not need them may be harmful. Growing evidence indicates that supplementation with different micronutrients may be useful in the treatment and prevention of several clinical conditions in select groups of patients. Although moderate-to-severe deficiency states of single micronutrients can be easily recognized and treated, subclinical deficiency—often of multiple micronutrients—is difficult to detect. Consequently, clinical benefit is most probable in severely depleted patients, and is unlikely in subjects with mild deficiency.

The aim of this Special Issue is to update knowledge on the role of micronutrients in human health and of their supplementation in the prevention and treatment of chronic clinical conditions (i.e., obesity, COPD, type 2 diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, osteoarthrosis, etc.) and/or in particular settings of subjects (children, older adults).

Dr. Maria Perticone
Prof. Dr. Angela Sciacqua
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Micronutrients
Supplementation
Disease Prevention
Food
Chronic Diseases

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 13610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Increased Levels of Omega-3 Fatty Acids and DHA Are Linked to Pain Reduction in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Treated with Janus Kinase Inhibitors

by Ching-Kun Chang, Po-Ku Chen, Chia-Ching Chen, Shih-Hsin Chang, Chu-Huang Chen and Der-Yuan Chen

Nutrients 2021, 13(9), 3050; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13093050 - 30 Aug 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3411

Abstract

Although Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) could reduce patient-reported pain in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), their mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, we examined lipid metabolites change in JAKi-treated patients and evaluate their association with pain reduction. We used ¹H-NMR-based lipid/metabolomics to determine serum levels of lipid metabolites at baseline and week 24 of treatment. Serum levels of significant lipid metabolites were replicated by ELISA in 24 JAKi-treated and 12 tocilizumab-treated patients. Pain was evaluated with patients’ assessment on a 0–100 mm VAS, and disease activity assessed using DAS28. JAKi or tocilizumab therapy significantly reduced disease activity. Acceptable pain (VAS pain ≤20) at week 24 was observed in 66.7% of JAKi-treated patients, and pain decrement was greater than tocilizumab-treated patients (ΔVAS pain 70.0 vs. 52.5, p = 0.0595). Levels of omega-3 fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were increased in JAKi-treated patients (median 0.55 mmol/L versus 0.71 mmol/L, p = 0.0005; 0.29 mmol/L versus 0.35 mmol/L, p = 0.0004; respectively), which were not observed in tocilizumab-treated patients. ELISA results showed increased DHA levels in JAKi-treated patients with acceptable pain (44.30 µg/mL versus 45.61 µg/mL, p = 0.028). A significant association of pain decrement with DHA change, not with DAS28 change, was seen in JAKi-treated patients. The pain reduction effect of JAKi probably links to increased levels of omega-3 fatty acids and DHA. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Micronutrients on the Clinical Condition of Chronic Disease)

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14 pages, 1339 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamics of Serum Retinol and Alpha-Tocopherol Levels According to Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Status

by Dongsub Jeon, Minkook Son and Juhyun Shim

Nutrients 2021, 13(5), 1720; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051720 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3301

Abstract

The available data on the association between micronutrients in the blood and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are limited. To investigate the clinical implications of this relationship, we sought to identify the difference in the serum levels of vitamins A and E according to NAFLD status using data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. In this cross-sectional study of the Korean population, NAFLD and its severity were defined using prediction models. Differences in the prevalence and severity of NAFLD were analyzed according to serum retinol (vitamin A) and alpha (α)-tocopherol (vitamin E) levels. Serum levels of retinol and α-tocopherol were positively correlated with the prevalence of NAFLD. In most prediction models of the NAFLD subjects, serum retinol deficiency was significantly correlated with advanced fibrosis, while serum α-tocopherol levels did not differ between individuals with or without advanced fibrosis. Similar trends were also noted with cholesterol-adjusted levels of α-tocopherol. In summary, while circulating concentrations of retinol and α-tocopherol were positively associated with the presence of NAFLD, advanced liver fibrosis was only correlated with serum retinol levels. Our findings could provide insight into NAFLD patient care at a micronutrient level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Micronutrients on the Clinical Condition of Chronic Disease)

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16 pages, 2405 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oral Administration of Ginger-Derived Lipid Nanoparticles and Dmt1 siRNA Potentiates the Effect of Dietary Iron Restriction and Mitigates Pre-Existing Iron Overload in Hamp KO Mice

by Xiaoyu Wang, Mingzhen Zhang, Regina R. Woloshun, Yang Yu, Jennifer K. Lee, Shireen R. L. Flores, Didier Merlin and James F. Collins

Nutrients 2021, 13(5), 1686; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051686 - 15 May 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3365

Abstract

Intestinal iron transport requires an iron importer (Dmt1) and an iron exporter (Fpn1). The hormone hepcidin regulates iron absorption by modulating Fpn1 protein levels on the basolateral surface of duodenal enterocytes. In the genetic, iron-loading disorder hereditary hemochromatosis (HH), hepcidin production is low and Fpn1 protein expression is elevated. High Fpn1-mediated iron export depletes intracellular iron, causing a paradoxical increase in Dmt1-mediated iron import. Increased activity of both transporters causes excessive iron absorption, thus initiating body iron loading. Logically then, silencing of intestinal Dmt1 or Fpn1 could be an effective therapeutic intervention in HH. It was previously established that Dmt1 knock down prevented iron-loading in weanling Hamp (encoding hepcidin) KO mice (modeling type 2B HH). Here, we tested the hypothesis that Dmt1 silencing combined with dietary iron restriction (which may be recommended for HH patients) will mitigate iron loading once already established. Accordingly, adult Hamp KO mice were switched to a low-iron (LFe) diet and (non-toxic) folic acid-coupled, ginger nanoparticle-derived lipid vectors (FA-GDLVs) were used to deliver negative-control (NC) or Dmt1 siRNA by oral, intragastric gavage daily for 21 days. The LFe diet reduced body iron burden, and experimental interventions potentiated iron losses. For example, Dmt1 siRNA treatment suppressed duodenal Dmt1 mRNA expression (by ~50%) and reduced serum and liver non-heme iron levels (by ~60% and >85%, respectively). Interestingly, some iron-related parameters were repressed similarly by FA-GDLVs carrying either siRNA, including ⁵⁹Fe (as FeCl₃) absorption (~20% lower), pancreatic non-heme iron (reduced by ~65%), and serum ferritin (decreased 40–50%). Ginger may thus contain bioactive lipids that also influence iron homeostasis. In conclusion, the combinatorial approach of FA-GDLV and Dmt1 siRNA treatment, with dietary iron restriction, mitigated pre-existing iron overload in a murine model of HH. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Micronutrients on the Clinical Condition of Chronic Disease)

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13 pages, 1803 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Upregulation of Vitamin C Transporter Functional Expression in 5xFAD Mouse Intestine

by Trevor Teafatiller, Christopher W. Heskett, Anshu Agrawal, Jonathan S. Marchant, Janet E. Baulch, Munjal M. Acharya and Veedamali S. Subramanian

Nutrients 2021, 13(2), 617; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020617 - 14 Feb 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2335

Abstract

The process of obtaining ascorbic acid (AA) via intestinal absorption and blood circulation is carrier-mediated utilizing the AA transporters SVCT1 and SVCT2, which are expressed in the intestine and brain (SVCT2 in abundance). AA concentration is decreased in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), but information regarding the status of intestinal AA uptake in the AD is still lacking. We aimed here to understand how AA homeostasis is modulated in a transgenic mouse model (5xFAD) of AD. AA levels in serum from 5xFAD mice were markedly lower than controls. Expression of oxidative stress response genes (glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)) were significantly increased in AD mice jejunum, and this increase was mitigated by AA supplementation. Uptake of AA in the jejunum was upregulated. This increased AA transport was caused by a marked increase in SVCT1 and SVCT2 protein, mRNA, and heterogeneous nuclear RNA (hnRNA) expression. A significant increase in the expression of HNF1α and specific protein 1 (Sp1), which drive SLC23A1 and SLC23A2 promoter activity, respectively, was observed. Expression of hSVCT interacting proteins GRHPR and CLSTN3 were also increased. SVCT2 protein and mRNA expression in the hippocampus of 5xFAD mice was not altered. Together, these investigations reveal adaptive up-regulation of intestinal AA uptake in the 5xFAD mouse model. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Micronutrients on the Clinical Condition of Chronic Disease)

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Review

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16 pages, 591 KiB

Open AccessReview

Magnesium for Pain Treatment in 2021? State of the Art

by Véronique Morel, Marie-Eva Pickering, Jonathan Goubayon, Marguérite Djobo, Nicolas Macian and Gisèle Pickering

Nutrients 2021, 13(5), 1397; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13051397 - 21 Apr 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 9246

Abstract

Background: Magnesium (Mg) is commonly used in clinical practice for acute and chronic pain and has been reported to reduce pain intensity and analgesics consumption in a number of studies. Results are, however, contested. Objectives: This review aims to investigate randomised clinical trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of Mg treatment on pain and analgesics consumption in situations including post-operative pain, migraine, renal pain, chronic pain, neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia. Results: The literature search identified 81 RCTs (n = 5447 patients) on Mg treatment in pain (50 RCTs in post-operative pain, 18 RCTs in migraine, 5 RCTs in renal pain, 6 RCTs in chronic/neuropathic pain, 2 RCTs in fibromyalgia). Conclusion: The level of evidence for the efficacy of Mg in reducing pain and analgesics consumption is globally modest and studies are not very numerous in chronic pain. A number of gaps have been identified in the literature that need to be addressed especially in methodology, rheumatic disease, and cancer. Additional clinical trials are needed to achieve a sufficient level of evidence and to better optimize the use of Mg for pain and pain comorbidities in order to improve the quality of life of patients who are in pain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Micronutrients on the Clinical Condition of Chronic Disease)

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13 pages, 978 KiB

Open AccessReview

Role of Probiotics in Modulating Human Gut Microbiota Populations and Activities in Patients with Colorectal Cancer—A Systematic Review of Clinical Trials

by Adrianna Wierzbicka, Dorota Mańkowska-Wierzbicka, Marcin Mardas and Marta Stelmach-Mardas

Nutrients 2021, 13(4), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041160 - 01 Apr 2021

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4143

Abstract

Background: Growing attention has been given to the role of nutrition and alterations of microbial diversity of the gut microbiota in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis. It has been suggested that probiotics and synbiotics modulate enteric microbiota and therefore may be used as an intervention to reduce the risk of CRC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of probiotics/synbiotics administration on gut microbiota in patients with CRC. Methods: PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were searched between December 2020 and January 2021. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) recruiting adults with CRC, who have taken probiotics/synbiotics for at least 6 days were included. Changes in gut microbiota and selected biochemical and inflammatory parameters (i.e., hsCRP, IL-2, hemoglobin) were retrieved. Results: The search resulted in 198 original research articles and a final 6 were selected as being eligible, including 457 subjects. The median age of patients was 65.4 years old and they were characterized by the median BMI value: 23.8 kg/m². The literature search revealed that probiotic/synbiotic administration improved enteric microbiota by increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, Eubacterium, Peptostreptococcus, Bacillus and Bifidobacterium, and decreased the abundance of potentially harmful bacteria such as Fusobacterium, Porhyromonas, Pseudomonas and Enterococcus. Additionally, probiotic/synbiotic intervention improved release of antimicrobials, intestinal permeability, tight junction function in CRC patients. Conclusions: The use of probiotics/synbiotics positively modulates enteric microbiota, improves postoperative outcomes, gut barrier function and reduces inflammatory parameters in patients suffering from CRC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Micronutrients on the Clinical Condition of Chronic Disease)

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13 pages, 1189 KiB

Open AccessReview

Do Only Calcium and Vitamin D Matter? Micronutrients in the Diet of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Patients and the Risk of Osteoporosis

by Alicja Ewa Ratajczak, Anna Maria Rychter, Agnieszka Zawada, Agnieszka Dobrowolska and Iwona Krela-Kaźmierczak

Nutrients 2021, 13(2), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13020525 - 05 Feb 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 5825

Abstract

Osteoporosis is one of the most common extraintestinal complications among patients suffering from inflammatory bowel diseases. The role of vitamin D and calcium in the prevention of a decreased bone mineral density is well known, although other nutrients, including micronutrients, are also of extreme importance. Despite the fact that zinc, copper, selenium, iron, cadmium, silicon and fluorine have not been frequently discussed with regard to the prevention of osteoporosis, it is possible that a deficiency or excess of the abovementioned elements may affect bone mineralization. Additionally, the risk of malnutrition, which is common in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease, as well as the composition of gut microbiota, may be associated with micronutrients status. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Micronutrients on the Clinical Condition of Chronic Disease)

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