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Mycotoxin-Linked Mutations and Cancer Risk: A Global Health Issue.
Ekwomadu, T, Mwanza, M, Musekiwa, A
International journal of environmental research and public health. 2022;19(13)
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Mycotoxins are toxic substances produced by fungi, which can be found in common foods like maize, wheat, nuts, and foods containing them. Mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and some Penicillium toxins can alter genetic material. According to previous studies, they can damage genetic material and affect cell growth. Usage of chemicals such as fertilizers and fungicides is a common practice in the agricultural industry to protect plants from fungus and to feed them. However, fungicides can accelerate mycotoxin production. 16 studies were included in this Systematic Review and 11 in Meta-Analysis. This research looked at the harmful effects of mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, fumonisins, ochratoxin, T2, zearalenone, and some Penicillium toxins in causing cancers. The researchers evaluated the link between aflatoxin exposure and liver cancer, fumonisin B1 exposure and liver cancer, zearalenone exposure and breast cancer, zearalenone exposure and cervical cancer, citrinine and patulin exposure and colorectal cancer, and NEO, HT-2, and T-2 exposure and Oesophageal cancer. This research did not show significant associations between various mycotoxins and cancer risk. As currently, most studies are primarily focused on aflatoxin; more robust studies are needed to assess the cancer risk associated with different mycotoxin exposure. Using the results of this study, healthcare professionals can gain a better understanding of how mycotoxins affect our bodies.
Abstract
Humans continue to be constantly exposed to mycotoxins, mainly through oral exposure (dietary), inhalation, or dermal contact. Recently, it has been of increasing interest to investigate mycotoxin-linked carcinogenicity. This systematic review was conducted to synthesize evidence of the association between mycotoxin-linked mutations and the risk of cancer, to provide an overview of the data linking exposure to different mycotoxins with human cancer risk, and to provide an update on current research on the risk of cancer associated with human exposure to mycotoxins. PRISMA guidelines were used when conducting the systematic review. PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL electronic databases were comprehensively searched to extract the relevant studies published from inception to May 2022. A total of sixteen relevant studies (4907 participants) were identified and included in this review. Of these, twelve studies were from Asia, while four of the studies were conducted in Africa. The overall meta-analysis result found no significant association, although some of the studies confirmed an association between mycotoxin-linked mutations and primary liver cancer risk. Mainly, the experimental studies have shown associations between mycotoxin-linked mutations and cancer risk, and there is a need for researchers to confirm these links in epidemiological studies in order to guide public health policies and interventions.
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Relationship between Prenatal or Postnatal Exposure to Pesticides and Obesity: A Systematic Review.
Pinos, H, Carrillo, B, Merchán, A, Biosca-Brull, J, Pérez-Fernández, C, Colomina, MT, Sánchez-Santed, F, Martín-Sánchez, F, Collado, P, Arias, JL, et al
International journal of environmental research and public health. 2021;18(13)
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Obesity is a multifactorial disease with biological, psychosocial, and behavioural factors that include genetic, socioeconomic, and cultural influences. Exposure to pesticides can result in weight gain through different pathways. The aim of this study was to assess a possible association between prenatal and postnatal exposure to pesticides and obesity in offspring from human and animal studies. This study is a systematic review of 9 animal studies and 25 human studies (23 cohorts and 2 crossover experimental designs). Results show that there is still scarce evidence to support a clear relationship between exposure to pesticides and obesity in humans and experimental animals. In fact, the effects of pesticide exposure on body weight change are mostly inconclusive and report conflicting results. Authors conclude that further research is required to improve understanding of whether repeated exposures over time or just short-term exposures to pesticides during critical windows of development are related to obesity.
Abstract
In recent years, the worldwide prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults and children has dramatically increased. The conventional model regarding the onset of obesity is based on an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. However, other possible environmental factors involved, such as the exposure to chemicals like pesticides, cannot be discarded. These compounds could act as endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDC) that may interfere with hormone activity related to several mechanisms involved in body weight control. The main objective of this study was to systematically review the data provided in the scientific literature for a possible association between prenatal and postnatal exposure to pesticides and obesity in offspring. A total of 25 human and 9 animal studies were analyzed. The prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal exposure to organophosphate, organochlorine, pyrethroid, neonicotinoid, and carbamate, as well as a combined pesticide exposure was reviewed. This systematic review reveals that the effects of pesticide exposure on body weight are mostly inconclusive, finding conflicting results in both humans and experimental animals. The outcomes reviewed are dependent on many factors, including dosage and route of administration, species, sex, and treatment duration. More research is needed to effectively evaluate the impact of the combined effects of different pesticides on human health.
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Presence of positive skin prick tests to inhalant allergens and markers of T2 inflammation in subjects with chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU): a systematic literature review.
Wong, MM, Keith, PK
Allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology : official journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. 2020;16:72
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Urticaria is an immune driven skin reaction, which manifests as hives and swelling and results in significantly decreased quality of life in those who suffer from it. The causes are currently unknown, however airborne substances such as house dust mites and plant pollen may play a role in its development. This systematic review and meta-analysis of 18 studies aimed to determine the role of airborne allergens in the development of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). The results showed that individuals with CSU were more likely to have a sensitivity to airborne allergens and that house dust mites were a leading cause of sensitivity. It was concluded that airborne associated sensitivity is of importance to the development of CSU. This study could be used by healthcare professionals to understand that airborne allergens may be a cause of CSU and that house dust mites may be involved in its development. It is important to determine the cause and eliminate it, to increase the chances of successful treatment.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current guidelines do not recommend performing aeroallergen skin prick testing (SPT) in chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU). OBJECTIVE The objective of this review was to investigate the presence of aeroallergen sensitization and markers of T2 inflammation in subjects with CSU. METHODS Systematic literature reviews to identify all studies that evaluated the presence of T2 markers of allergic inflammation in CSU subjects were performed. RESULTS In 16 studies that assessed the prevalence of positive SPT to multiple aeroallergens in CSU, 38.5% of CSU subjects had positive SPT. In three controlled studies, 34.2% of CSU subjects had positive SPT to multiple aeroallergens, compared to 13.6% of controls (p = 0.047). In 18 studies that assessed the prevalence of house dust mite (HDM) positive SPT in CSU, 27.5% of CSU subjects had positive SPT. In three controlled studies, 27.5% of CSU subjects had positive SPT to HDM, compared to 2.1% of controls (p = 0.047). Overall, CSU subjects were 3.1 times more likely to be aeroallergen-sensitized (95% CI 1.7-5.8, p = 0.0002) and 6.1 times more likely to be HDM-sensitized (95% CI 3.7-9.9, p < 0.00001) than controls. Mean total serum IgE (tIgE) levels were 238 kU/L and median tIgE levels were 164 kU/L, which was greater than the upper 90th percentile of normal (< 137 kU/L). Compared to healthy controls, CSU subjects were 6.5 times more likely to have IgG autoantibody against FcεR1α (p = 0.001), 2.4 times more likely to have IgG anti-IgE antibody (p = 0.03) and 5 times more likely to have anti-thyroid peroxidase (anti-TPO) antibody (p = 0.02). When corticosteroids were withheld for ≥ 28 days, mean blood eosinophil percentage was elevated at 5.9% (normal < 4%), but other studies reporting absolute count found the mean was in the normal range, 239 × 10 6 / L (normal < 400 × 10 6 / L). CONCLUSION Increased aeroallergen sensitization, tIgE, autoantibodies and blood eosinophil percentage in the CSU subjects indicates the possible importance of T2 inflammation in the pathogenesis of CSU. Further studies may be warranted to determine if specific allergen avoidance, desensitization or improvement in the mucosal allergic inflammation present in asthma and/or rhinitis has any benefit in the management of CSU.
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Effects of Drugs and Excipients on Hydration Status.
Puga, AM, Lopez-Oliva, S, Trives, C, Partearroyo, T, Varela-Moreiras, G
Nutrients. 2019;11(3)
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A person’s hydration status is determined by water balance, which is inferred as ‘the difference between water input and water output’. Water balance should ideally remain within a tight range allowing for optimal functioning of bodily processes. Many substances as well as those in foods and fluids can affect a person’s hydration status, including several medications and their excipients (an excipient is a substance added to an active ingredient to stabilise the chemicals within the medication, often known as bulking agents or fillers). Fluctuations in hydration status can result from taking certain medications which induce possible side effects, such as diarrhoea/constipation, altered appetite, temperature dysregulation etc. The aim of this review was to analyse previous research carried out investigating the effects of widely prescribed medications and their excipients known to alter hydration status. The authors concluded that several medications and their excipients play a significant role in hydration status and this should be considered by health professionals, especially when prescribing medications to vulnerable patients.
Abstract
Despite being the most essential nutrient, water is commonly forgotten in the fields of pharmacy and nutrition. Hydration status is determined by water balance (the difference between water input and output). Hypohydration or negative water balance is affected by numerous factors, either internal (i.e., a lack of thirst sensation) or external (e.g., polypharmacy or chronic consumption of certain drugs). However, to date, research on the interaction between hydration status and drugs/excipients has been scarce. Drugs may trigger the appearance of hypohydration by means of the increase of water elimination through either diarrhea, urine or sweat; a decrease in thirst sensation or appetite; or the alteration of central thermoregulation. On the other hand, pharmaceutical excipients induce alterations in hydration status by decreasing the gastrointestinal transit time or increasing the gastrointestinal tract rate or intestinal permeability. In the present review, we evaluate studies that focus on the effects of drugs/excipients on hydration status. These studies support the aim of monitoring the hydration status in patients, mainly in those population segments with a higher risk, to avoid complications and associated pathologies, which are key axes in both pharmaceutical care and the field of nutrition.
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Metabolic Syndrome Features: Is There a Modulation Role by Mineral Water Consumption? A Review.
Costa-Vieira, D, Monteiro, R, Martins, MJ
Nutrients. 2019;11(5)
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Metabolic syndrome, defined as having high blood pressure, triglycerides, blood glucose and being obese, is becoming an increasing worldwide health problem. It’s considered to be a result of modern-day life styles and there is no effective cure other than diet and life style interventions. This review paper looks at the mineral content and the alkalising effects of mineral water when consumed by participants with metabolic syndrome. The minerals within mineral water are thought to be more readily absorbed in the body than when consumed in foods and since Westernised diets are low in mineral content and high in acidity, consuming mineral water could help counteract mineral deficiencies and help to balance pH in those with metabolic syndrome. 20 studies, both animal and human, were selected for evaluation of the effect of mineral water on blood pressure, lipid profile, blood glucose and waist circumference. The authors conclude that mineral water is indeed beneficial to those with metabolic syndrome and can help counteract mineral deficiencies and balance pH. However, it is unclear whether mineral water in high quantities would be detrimental to a person with adequate mineral status and a pH within optimal range. Further studies are needed.
Abstract
Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) promotes, among others, the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Its prevalence increases with age, highlighting the relevance of promoting precocious MetSyn primary prevention and treatment with easy-to-implement lifestyle interventions. MetSyn features modulation through mineral water consumption was reviewed on Pubmed, Scopus and Google Scholar databases, using the following keywords: metabolic syndrome, hypertension, blood pressure (BP), cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoprotein, chylomicron, very low-density lipoprotein, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), glucose, insulin, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference (WC), obesity and mineral(-rich) water. Twenty studies were selected: 12 evaluated BP, 13 assessed total-triglycerides and/or HDL-cholesterol, 10 analysed glucose and/or 3 measured WC. Mineral waters were tested in diverse protocols regarding type and composition of water, amount consumed, diet and type and duration of the study. Human and animal studies were performed in populations with different sizes and characteristics. Distinct sets of five studies showed beneficial effects upon BP, total-triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and glucose. WC modulation was not reported. Minerals/elements and active ions/molecules present in mineral waters (and their pH) are crucial to counterbalance their inadequate intake and body status as well as metabolic dysfunction and increased diet-induced acid-load observed in MetSyn. Study characteristics and molecular/physiologic mechanisms that could explain the different effects observed are discussed. Further studies are warranted for determining the mechanisms involved in the putative protective action of mineral water consumption against MetSyn features.
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Magnesium and Human Health: Perspectives and Research Directions.
Al Alawi, AM, Majoni, SW, Falhammar, H
International journal of endocrinology. 2018;2018:9041694
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Magnesium is the fourth most abundant positively charged molecule in the human body and is involved as a co-factor in over 300 enzymatic reactions. Magnesium deficiency is commonly seen in clinic settings and intensive care units and is associated with an increased risk of mortality and length of hospital stay. Magnesium deficiency is also associated with a wide range of chronic diseases and is a known side-effect of some commonly used medications, such as proton pump inhibitors. This review study brings together the latest findings in the scientific literature on magnesium. The authors conclude from the literature that magnesium can play a therapeutic and preventative role in conditions such as diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, asthma, migraine and cardiovascular disease.
Abstract
Magnesium is the fourth most abundant cation in the body. It has several functions in the human body including its role as a cofactor for more than 300 enzymatic reactions. Several studies have shown that hypomagnesemia is a common electrolyte derangement in clinical setting especially in patients admitted to intensive care unit where it has been found to be associated with increase mortality and hospital stay. Hypomagnesemia can be caused by a wide range of inherited and acquired diseases. It can also be a side effect of several medications. Many studies have reported that reduced levels of magnesium are associated with a wide range of chronic diseases. Magnesium can play important therapeutic and preventive role in several conditions such as diabetes, osteoporosis, bronchial asthma, preeclampsia, migraine, and cardiovascular diseases. This review is aimed at comprehensively collating the current available published evidence and clinical correlates of magnesium disorders.