Protein sources change the gut microbiome — some drastically
A new study by researchers from North Carolina State University shows that protein sources in an animal’s diet can have major effects on both the population and function of the microscopic life within their gut. These microorganisms, known as the gut microbiome, can impact various aspects of our health. The findings could help lead to […]
Dementia Predicted 10 Years Before Diagnosis
Blood protein profiles predicted future dementia in healthy adults, a large longitudinal study showed. Blood samples from over 50,000 people in the U.K. Biobank showed that four proteins — glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), neurofilament light (NfL), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and latent-transforming growth factor beta-binding protein 2 (LTBP2) — consistently were associated with subsequent […]
Proteins Predict Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease
Protein indicators of subclinical peripheral heath in plasma were linked with markers of Alzheimer’s disease and neurodegeneration, cross-sectional proteomic analyses showed. Greater protein-based risk for cardiovascular disease, heart failure mortality, and kidney disease was associated with plasma biomarkers of amyloid-beta, phosphorylated tau181 (p-tau181), neurofilament light (NfL, a measure of neuronal injury), and glial fibrillary acidic […]
Almonds as part of a healthy weight loss diet
When it comes to weight loss, nuts can get a bad rap — while they’re high in protein, they’re also high in fats, and this often deters those looking to shed a few kilos. But new research from the University of South Australia shows that you can eat almonds and lose weight too. In the […]
Both high-protein and normal-protein diets are effective for T2D management
New findings from the University of Alabama at Birmingham indicate that the type of protein in the diet is not as important as the overall amount of weight loss for those with Type 2 diabetes. Published in the journal Obesity, 106 adults with T2D were randomly assigned to either the high-protein or normal-protein diet for […]
Insect protein slows weight gain, boosts health status in obese mice
As the global population grows under a changing climate, the urgency to find sustainable protein sources is greater than ever. Plant-based “meat” and “dairy” products may be popular, but they’re not the only environmentally friendly meat alternatives. A new study in mice from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign suggests replacing traditional protein sources with mealworms […]
Scientists find that a special omega-3 lipid might prevent fatty liver disease
Long-running research by Duke-NUS Medical School into the omega-3 transporter protein Mfsd2a has shown that it plays a key role in a specific mechanism that prevents the liver from storing too much fat from food. Published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, this latest study by Duke-NUS and collaborators from Singapore General Hospital (SGH) signals […]
Discordant Biomarkers Foretell Prognosis in Oropharyngeal Cancer
Mismatch between the p16 protein and human papillomavirus (HPV) biomarkers can help determine prognosis in patients with oropharyngeal cancer, European researchers reported. Specifically, oropharyngeal cancer patients with discordance between the p16 (p16INK4a ) and HPV biomarker had significantly worse disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) than double-positive patients, though significantly better survival than double-negative […]
Alzheimer’s Disease Detected in Blood a Decade Before Clinical Symptoms
Blood concentrations of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), a marker of astrogliosis, were higher about 10 years before symptom onset in an inherited form of Alzheimer’s disease. Three plasma biomarkers — phosphorylated tau (p-tau181), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and GFAP — were higher in mutation carriers than non-carriers in a Swedish cohort of autosomal dominant […]
Vaccine Candidates for RSV Ward Off Severe Illness in Older Adults
WASHINGTON — Prefusion F protein vaccine candidates for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) proved safe in adults 60 and up while demonstrating an ability to thwart lower respiratory tract illness, including severe cases, a pair of large phase III trials showed. A single dose of an RSV prefusion F protein vaccine (RSVPreF3 OA) yielded a vaccine […]