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Creatine Supplementation in Women's Health: A Lifespan Perspective.
Smith-Ryan, AE, Cabre, HE, Eckerson, JM, Candow, DG
Nutrients. 2021;13(3)
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Creatine supplementation in females has been largely understudied. Changes in creatine homeostasis naturally occur across the lifecycle, and recent findings suggest supplementation may be important during different phases of a woman's lifespan. The aim of this review was to highlight the current findings around creatine metabolism in females from young adulthood to old age. The literature indicates creatine supplementation in females may improve exercise performance, pregnancy outcomes, cognitive performance, and reduce mental fatigue. Based on these findings, the authors conclude creatine supplementation has a potentially positive implication for numerous metabolic, hormonal, and neurological outcomes for females. They suggest future studies should evaluate creatine supplementation and metabolism with respect to the menstrual and reproductive cycle.
Abstract
Despite extensive research on creatine, evidence for use among females is understudied. Creatine characteristics vary between males and females, with females exhibiting 70-80% lower endogenous creatine stores compared to males. Understanding creatine metabolism pre- and post-menopause yields important implications for creatine supplementation for performance and health among females. Due to the hormone-related changes to creatine kinetics and phosphocreatine resynthesis, supplementation may be particularly important during menses, pregnancy, post-partum, during and post-menopause. Creatine supplementation among pre-menopausal females appears to be effective for improving strength and exercise performance. Post-menopausal females may also experience benefits in skeletal muscle size and function when consuming high doses of creatine (0.3 g·kg-1·d-1); and favorable effects on bone when combined with resistance training. Pre-clinical and clinical evidence indicates positive effects from creatine supplementation on mood and cognition, possibly by restoring brain energy levels and homeostasis. Creatine supplementation may be even more effective for females by supporting a pro-energetic environment in the brain. The purpose of this review was to highlight the use of creatine in females across the lifespan with particular emphasis on performance, body composition, mood, and dosing strategies.
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Gut hormones in microbiota-gut-brain cross-talk.
Sun, LJ, Li, JN, Nie, YZ
Chinese medical journal. 2020;133(7):826-833
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The bidirectional communication between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain, termed the gut-brain axis (GBA), is evidenced to to play a role in physiological and psychological health. While precise communication pathways are not yet clear, it is hypothesised this pathway may be an important therapeutic target in complex psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders. The aim of this review is to summarize the role of gut hormones in the GBA and focus on how the microbiota interact with these hormones in health and disease. The literature shows the gut microbiota can affect the metabolism of various gut hormones, and these hormones can influence the microbiota. Evidence suggests this cross-talk may be a key regulator in appetite, immune response, stress response, and metabolism. Based on this review, the authors conclude the gut microbiota-hormone homeostatic relationship provides insight on the complex communication between the gut and the brain. They suggest future research should target the microbiota-hormones-gut-brain axis to develop new therapeutic strategies to psychiatric disorders.
Abstract
The homeostasis of the gut-brain axis has been shown to exert several effects on physiological and psychological health. The gut hormones released by enteroendocrine cells scattered throughout the gastrointestinal tract are important signaling molecules within the gut-brain axis. The interaction between gut microbiota and gut hormones has been greatly appreciated in gut-brain cross-talk. The microbiota plays an essential role in modulating many gut-brain axis-related diseases, ranging from gastrointestinal disorders to psychiatric diseases. Similarly, gut hormones also play pleiotropic and important roles in maintaining health, and are key signals involved in gut-brain axis. More importantly, gut microbiota can affect the release and functions of gut hormones. This review highlights the role of gut microbiota in the gut-brain axis and focuses on how microbiota-related gut hormones modulate various physiological functions. Future studies could target the microbiota-hormones-gut brain axis to develop novel therapeutics for different psychiatric and gastrointestinal disorders, such as obesity, anxiety, and depression.
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Zinc, Magnesium, Selenium and Depression: A Review of the Evidence, Potential Mechanisms and Implications.
Wang, J, Um, P, Dickerman, BA, Liu, J
Nutrients. 2018;10(5)
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Adequate micronutrient consumption and mental health are of major public health importance. Recent findings suggest micronutrient deficiencies may play a role in the development and progression of depression, yet the findings remain unclear. The aim of this review is to present the recent evidence on the association between several micronutrients and depression and discuss the potential mechanisms and clinical implications. Based on the current literature, evidence shows an association between both zinc and magnesium deficiency and the risk of depression, with stronger evidence supporting zinc. Studies on selenium are limited or inconclusive. According to these findings, the authors support the importance of adequate micronutrient consumption for promoting mental health. They suggest future research should investigate the safety and efficacy of micronutrient supplementation as an adjunct treatment for depression to better inform current prevention and treatment strategies.
Abstract
Micronutrient deficiency and depression are major global health problems. Here, we first review recent empirical evidence of the association between several micronutrients—zinc, magnesium, selenium—and depression. We then present potential mechanisms of action and discuss the clinical implications for each micronutrient. Collectively, empirical evidence most strongly supports a positive association between zinc deficiency and the risk of depression and an inverse association between zinc supplementation and depressive symptoms. Less evidence is available regarding the relationship between magnesium and selenium deficiency and depression, and studies have been inconclusive. Potential mechanisms of action involve the HPA axis, glutamate homeostasis and inflammatory pathways. Findings support the importance of adequate consumption of micronutrients in the promotion of mental health, and the most common dietary sources for zinc and other micronutrients are provided. Future research is needed to prospectively investigate the association between micronutrient levels and depression as well as the safety and efficacy of micronutrient supplementation as an adjunct treatment for depression.
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Metabolic and Microbiota Measures as Peripheral Biomarkers in Major Depressive Disorder.
Horne, R, Foster, JA
Frontiers in psychiatry. 2018;9:513
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Though the connection between the gut microbiome, physical health and mental health is becoming more established, there remains a lack of understanding around the underlying cause of major depressive disorder (MDD). There is a need to identify biomarkers in MDD in order to help identify individual differences and improve treatment outcomes. The aim of this review is to investigate the link between metabolic biomarkers and the gut microbiota in individuals experiencing MDD. The current literature points to two potential biomarkers, leptin and ghrelin, which play a role in both metabolic disease and depression. Based on these findings, the authors conclude these biomarkers may help researchers and clinicians establish subgroups in depressed individuals in order to better predict treatment responses and develop more targeted therapies.
Abstract
Advances in understanding the role of the microbiome in physical and mental health are at the forefront of medical research and hold potential to have a direct impact on precision medicine approaches. In the past 7 years, we have studied the role of microbiota-brain communication on behavior in mouse models using germ-free mice, mice exposed to antibiotics, and healthy specific pathogen free mice. Through our work and that of others, we have seen an amazing increase in our knowledge of how bacteria signal to the brain and the implications this has for psychiatry. Gut microbiota composition and function are influenced both by genetics, age, sex, diet, life experiences, and many other factors of psychiatric and bodily disorders and thus may act as potential biomarkers of the gut-brain axis that could be used in psychiatry and co-morbid conditions. There is a particular need in major depressive disorder and other mental illness to identify biomarkers that can stratify patients into more homogeneous groups to provide better treatment and for development of new therapeutic approaches. Peripheral outcome measures of host-microbe bidirectional communication have significant translational value as biomarkers. Enabling stratification of clinical populations, based on individual biological differences, to predict treatment response to pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Here we consider the links between co-morbid metabolic syndrome and depression, focusing on biomarkers including leptin and ghrelin in combination with assessing gut microbiota composition, as a potential tool to help identify individual differences in depressed population.
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Intestinal microbiome-gut-brain axis and irritable bowel syndrome.
Moser, G, Fournier, C, Peter, J
Wiener medizinische Wochenschrift (1946). 2018;168(3-4):62-66
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The gut-brain-microbiota axis connects the nervous system with the metabolic, hormonal and immune functions of the intestines. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gut disorder that commonly presents with psychological co-morbidities, and while animal studies show strong associations between stress and gut microbiota, studies in humans are rare. This review assesses the current literature on intestinal microbiome and its association with stress, anxiety and depression in patients with IBS. Based on existing studies, the authors found the gut microbiota forms a crucial link between the intestine and nervous system. Therapies targeted at both modulating the gut microbiome and psychological interventions are recommended. The authors conclude further randomised clinical trials are needed to better understand which therapies work best for patients with IBS.
Abstract
Psychological comorbidity is highly present in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Recent research points to a role of intestinal microbiota in visceral hypersensitivity, anxiety, and depression. Increased disease reactivity to psychological stress has been described too. A few clinical studies have attempted to identify features of dysbiosis in IBS. While animal studies revealed strong associations between stress and gut microbiota, studies in humans are rare. This review covers the most important studies on intestinal microbial correlates of psychological and clinical features in IBS, including stress, anxiety, and depression.
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How Does the Brain Implement Adaptive Decision Making to Eat?
Compan, V, Walsh, BT, Kaye, W, Geliebter, A
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience. 2015;35(41):13868-78
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While food intake is critical for survival, adaptive decision-making can be altered through various mechanisms and eventually lead to disordered eating patterns. Feeding behaviour is dependent on homeostatic rules, motivational drives, biological predispositions and external stressors. This complex web elucidates how humans can decide to satisfy or abstain from hunger cues, and the underlying mechanisms of this behaviour have been increasingly explored. This review summarises the overall neural circuitry in restrictive food choice and binge eating. Serotonergic systems play a key role in eating disorders because they are involved in responses to stress, emotions and feeding behaviour. The decision to overeat or abstain from eating is a reward, and this goal-directed and persistent behaviour mirror some aspects of drug dependence. This review found that voluntary processes in the nervous system could be modified to predominate over homeostatic control of hunger. Eating disorders may emerge when serotonin neurons reach their limit of adaptive capacities, potentially to the extent of compromised survival. This study provides a basis for developing more effective interventions for this population.
Abstract
Adaptive decision making to eat is crucial for survival, but in anorexia nervosa, the brain persistently supports reduced food intake despite a growing need for energy. How the brain persists in reducing food intake, sometimes even to the point of death and despite the evolution of multiple mechanisms to ensure survival by governing adaptive eating behaviors, remains mysterious. Neural substrates belong to the reward-habit system, which could differ among the eating disorders. The present review provides an overview of neural circuitry of restrictive food choice, binge eating, and the contribution of specific serotonin receptors. One possibility is that restrictive food intake critically engages goal-directed (decision making) systems and "habit," supporting the view that persistent caloric restriction mimics some aspects of addiction to drugs of abuse. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT An improved understanding of the neural basis of eating disorders is a timely challenge because these disorders can be deadly. Up to 70 million of people in the world suffer from eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa affects 1-4% of women in United States and is the first cause of death among adolescents in Europe. Studies relying on animal models suggest that decision making to eat (or not) can prevail over actual energy requirements due to emotional disturbances resulting in abnormal habitual behavior, mimicking dependence. These recent studies provide a foundation for developing more specific and effective interventions for these disorders.