The human gut microbiome (GM) undergoes dynamic changes throughout life, transitioning from infancy to adulthood. Despite improved understanding over the past years about how genetics, lifestyle, and the external environment impact the GM, limited research has explored the GM's evolution during late-stage adolescence, especially among college students. This study addresses this gap by investigating the longitudinal dynamics of fecal microbial, functional, and metabolomic signatures in a diverse group of first-year, dormitory-housed college students.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe field of multi-omics has witnessed unprecedented growth, converging multiple scientific disciplines and technological advances. This surge is evidenced by a more than doubling in multi-omics scientific publications within just two years (2022-2023) since its first referenced mention in 2002, as indexed by the National Library of Medicine. This emerging field has demonstrated its capability to provide comprehensive insights into complex biological systems, representing a transformative force in health diagnostics and therapeutic strategies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe gut microbiome (GM) modulates body weight/composition and gastrointestinal functioning; therefore, approaches targeting resident gut microbes have attracted considerable interest. Intermittent fasting (IF) and protein pacing (P) regimens are effective in facilitating weight loss (WL) and enhancing body composition. However, the interrelationships between IF- and P-induced WL and the GM are unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPreviously, we demonstrated that prebiotics may provide a complementary strategy for increasing calcium (Ca) absorption in adolescents which may improve long-term bone health. However, not all children responded to prebiotic intervention. We determine if certain baseline characteristics of gut microbiome composition predict prebiotic responsiveness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study examines how feeding, sleep, and growth during infancy impact the gut microbiome (GM) in toddlers. The research was conducted on toddlers ( = 36), born to Latina women of low-income with obesity. Their mothers completed retrospective feeding and sleeping questionnaires at 1, 6, and 12 months; at 36 months, fecal samples were collected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPoorer sleep is associated with poorer bone health among older adults but the role of sleep in bone health during younger adulthood is understudied. In this observational study, the averages and variability in total sleep time (TST), sleep efficiency (SE), and sleep midpoint of university students were examined in relation to levels of bone turnover markers (BTMs) and bone mineral density (BMD) at the lumbar spine and femur. A sample of healthy, university students (N = 59, aged 18-25 years, 51.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: There is growing interest in evidence-based interventions, programs, and policies to mitigate exposures to bisphenols and phthalates and in using implementation science frameworks to evaluate hypotheses regarding the importance of specific approaches to individual or household behavior change or institutions adopting interventions.
Objectives: This scoping review aimed to identify, categorize, and summarize the effects of behavioral, clinical, and policy interventions focused on exposure to the most widely used and studied bisphenols [bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), and bisphenol F (BPF)] and phthalates with an implementation science lens.
Methods: A comprehensive search of all individual behavior, clinical, and policy interventions to reduce exposure to bisphenols and phthalates was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Google Scholar.
Introduction: AlmegaPL is an oil rich in polar-lipid (> 15% w/w) derived from the microalga , that contains exclusively eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA > 25% w/w), without the DHA that is present in all other natural sources of omega-3. Previous findings from a randomized controlled clinical trial demonstrated the ability of AlmegaPL supplementation to reduce cholesterol levels.
Methods: In this post-market cohort study, we built upon previous findings and targeted the actual end-users of the supplement.
Significant human gut microbiome changes during adolescence suggest that microbial community evolution occurs throughout important developmental periods including the transition to college, a typical life phase of weight gain. In this observational longitudinal study of 139 college freshmen living in on-campus dormitories, we tracked changes in the gut microbiome via 16S amplicon sequencing and body weight across a single academic year. Participants were grouped by weight change categories of gain (WG), loss (WL), and maintenance (WM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Prolonged bouts of sedentary time, independent from the time spent in engaging in physical activity, significantly increases cardiometabolic risk. Nonetheless, the modern workforce spends large, uninterrupted portions of the day seated at a desk. Previous research suggests-via improved cardiometabolic biomarkers-that this risk might be attenuated by simply disrupting sedentary time with brief breaks of standing or moving.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: This cross-sectional quantitative study investigated the sleep hygiene and disturbances of adolescent female survivors of domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST) compared to an online sample of community-dwelling adolescent females.
Method: Community-dwelling adolescent females (aged 13-17 years, n = 61) and survivors of DMST housed in residental care (aged 12-17 years, n = 19) completed the Children's Report of Sleep Patterns (adolescent version). Descriptive statistics on sleep health in both samples were computed and compared using chi-square and t-tests.
Population-level nutritional assessments often rely on self-reported data, which increases the risk of recall bias. Here, we demonstrate that wastewater-based epidemiology can be used for near real-time population dietary assessments. Neighbourhood-level, untreated wastewater samples were collected monthly from within an urban population in the south-western United States from August 2017 to July 2019.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNutritional interventions are a promising therapeutic option for addressing obesity and cardiometabolic dysfunction. One such option, intermittent fasting (IF), has emerged as a viable alternative to daily caloric restriction and may beneficially modulate body weight regulation and alter the gut microbiome (GM) and plasma metabolome. This secondary analysis of a larger, registered trial (ClinicalTrials.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVoluntary caloric restriction (e.g., eating disorders) often results in alterations in the gut microbiota composition and function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose Of Review: Cancers are a leading cause of death in humans and for many other species. Diet has often been associated with cancers, and the microbiome is an essential mediator between diet and cancers. Here, we review the work on cancer and the microbiome across species to search for broad patterns of susceptibility associated with different microbial species.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProbiotic supplementation, traditionally used for the prevention or treatment of a variety of disease indications, is now recognized in a variety of population groups including athletes and those physically active for improving general health and performance. However, experimental and clinical trials with probiotics commonly suffer from design flaws and different outcome measures, making comparison and synthesis of conclusions difficult. Here we review current randomized controlled trials (RCTs) using probiotics for performance improvement, prevention of common illnesses, or general health, in a specific target population (athletes and those physically active).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAs screens are increasingly integrated into every facet of modern life, there is growing concern over the potential effects of high screen time. Previous studies have largely utilized self-report data on mood and behavioral aspects of screen time, and no molecular theory has yet been developed. In this study, we explored the fecal microbiome and metabolome of a diverse group of 60 college students, classified by high (≥ 75 min/day) or low (0-75 min/day) self-reported screen time using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, targeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and targeted detection of short-chain fatty acids using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To describe the process of developing and implementing experiential learning through translational research teams that engage diverse undergraduate and graduate students.
Methods: After a college redesign, translational research teams were developed to foster multidisciplinary research and better integrate students with faculty research, community, and clinical activities. Three primary approaches were used to engage undergraduate and graduate students in the maternal and child health translational research team (MCH TrT).
Background: Overweight, obesity, and associated comorbidities are a pressing global issue among children of all ages, particularly among low-income populations. Rapid weight gain (RWG) in the first 6 months of infancy contributes to childhood obesity. Suboptimal sleep-wake patterns and gut microbiota (GM) have also been associated with childhood obesity, but little is known about their influences on early infant RWG.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEarly life gut microbiota are affected by several factors that make identification of microbial-adiposity relationships challenging. This review evaluates studies that have investigated the gut microbiota composition associated with adiposity in infants, children, and adolescents and provides evidence-based nutrition recommendations that address microbiota-adiposity links. Electronic databases were systematically searched through January 2020.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenistein (Gen) and exercise (Exe) have been postulated as potential strategies to ameliorate obesity, inflammation, and gut microbiota (GM) with promising results. However, the impact of the combination of both Exe and Gen is yet to be investigated. We aimed to analyze the impacts of Exe, Gen, and their combined effects on GM and inflammation in mice after a 12-week high-fat, high-sugar diet (HFD).
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