BACKGROUND We recently demonstrated leucine to modulate energy partitioning between adipose tissue and muscle. Further, leucine exhibits a synergy with B6, resulting in reduced adipocyte lipid storage coupled with increased muscle fat oxidation. Accordingly, a nutraceutical (NuShape™) containing 2.25 g leucine and 30 mg B6 increased fat oxidation by >30 g/day in a 28-day randomized controlled t...

Background The use of complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) is common among patients with primary headaches. In parallel, CAM research is growing. Diet interventions comprise another category of non-pharmacologic treatment for primary headache that is of increasing clinical and research interest. Methods A literature search was carried out to identify studies on the efficacy of diet and...

Whether arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi augment the nutraceutical quality of crops under salt stress is critical as a potential agronomic practice in salinized farmland. To evaluate the effect of Rhizoglomus irregulare on the nutraceutical quality of Lycium barbarum leaves under salt stress, we analyzed growth parameters and the rutin, polysaccharide, acidic polysaccharide, and amino acids content...

We tested a biofermented nutraceutical (FPP) that has been previously shown to positively modulate nitric oxide (NO). Forty-two healthy middle-aged subjects were given 3 grams of FPP three times a day for 6 weeks, and tests were repeated at 3 and 6 weeks; the control group was given a placebo. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) was measured together with NO compounds (nitrogen oxides [NOx]: NO(2)(-)+...

A great deal of research has pointed to deleterious roles of metal ions in the development of Alzheimer's disease. These include: i) the precipitation and aggregation of amyloid beta (Abeta) peptides to form senile plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, and/or ii) the augmentation of oxidative stress by metal ion mediated production and activation of hydrogen peroxide. The growing trend in nutrac...

Various microorganisms have been widely applied in nutraceutical industries for the processing of phytochemical conversion. Specifically, in the Asian food industry and academia, notable attention is paid to the biocatalytic process of ginsenosides (ginseng saponins) using probiotic bacteria that produce high levels of glycosyl-hydrolases. Multiple groups have conducted experiments in order to ...

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of a novel nutraceutical mainly containing the extract of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia) and α-lipoic acid for the treatment of patients with hyperinsulinemia. Methods: Pilot prospective open-label cohort trial including 11 patients with hyperinsulinemia due to insulin resistance. The concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, glucose, haemoglobin A1c, total ch...

Urolithiasis accounts for 15% to 23% of cases of feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), with struvite uroliths occurring more frequently, followed by calcium oxalate, ammonium urate, cystine, and xanthine calculi. In this clinical evaluation, we tested the efficacy of a commercially available nutraceutical diet in 33 cats affected by struvite uroliths. Results clearly indicated a significa...

Increasingly, veterinary clients are using nutraceuticals as adjuvant treatment for a variety of ailments in their pets. Recent evidence suggests that more than 50% of clients who have companion animals with cancer are using a nutraceutical and/or supplement as part of the treatment plan, and 65% of these clients say their veterinarian approves. This trend does not extend to healthy pets, of wh...