Sort:
Open Access Research Article Issue
Long-term oral administration of dietary carotenoids mixture alleviates cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease neuropathology in APP/PS1 mice
Food Science and Human Wellness 2026, 15(6): 9250715
Published: 02 July 2026
Abstract PDF (2.7 MB) Collect
Downloads:131

Specific carotenoid (e.g., β-carotene, lutein, lycopene) has potential benefits for cognitive health demonstrated in both human and animal studies. To mimic the composition of carotenoids in the human diet and to avoid the overdose of any specific carotenoid, we developed a mixture of 6 carotenoids (7.5 mg/(kg·day), including 9.0% α-carotene, 35.8% β-carotene, 12.2% lutein, 1.6% zeaxanthin, 41.0% lycopene and 0.4% β-cryptoxanthin) and investigated its long-term neuroprotective effect and potential mechanism in APP/PS1 mice, a well-established animal model for Alzheimer’s disease. Initiated at 3 months with a total of 4 months’ gavage intervention, the dietary carotenoids mixture was found to alleviate cognitive impairment and amyloid β deposition in the brain (P < 0.05). Consistently, dietary carotenoids mixture restored Nissl bodies and the density of dendritic spines, and increased protein expression of Synapsin and PSD95 in the hippocampus and cortex of APP/PS1 mice (P < 0.05). In addition, carotenoids were also found to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation level and increase autophagy (P < 0.05). Importantly, carotenoids have been shown to up-regulate the expression of silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the brain (P < 0.05). Together, long-term intake of dietary carotenoids mixture could alleviate the cognitive deficit in APP/PS1 mice, wherein the SIRT1/BDNF pathway might play an important role. Our findings could contribute to the development of effective dietary and nutritional intervention strategies for delaying neurodegeneration in the aging population.

Open Access Original Article Issue
Healthy lifestyles in relation to cardiometabolic diseases among schoolteachers: A cross‐sectional study
Health Care Science 2023, 2(4): 223-232
Published: 10 July 2023
Abstract PDF (983.5 KB) Collect
Downloads:101
Background

We aimed to explore the associations of adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle with cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) among schoolteachers in China.

Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional analysis among 2983 teachers (aged 39.8 ± 9.3 years, 73.8% women) in Zhejiang Province, China. A healthy lifestyle score (0–7) was constructed based on seven low‐risk factors: healthy diet, noncurrent smoking, noncurrent drinking, regular exercise, normal body mass index (BMI), adequate sleep duration, and limited sedentary behavior. CMDs included self‐reported hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, and stroke. Multivariable‐adjusted logistic regression models were used to evaluate the associations between healthy lifestyle and CMD.

Results

A total of 493 (16.5%) participants had at least one CMD, with hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes being the three leading CMDs. Each point increment in a healthy lifestyle score was associated with 20% lower odds of having CMD (p‐trend < 0.001). Compared with 0–3 low‐risk factors, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.66 (0.50–0.88) for 4 low‐risk factors and 0.51 (0.39–0.67) for 5–7 low‐risk factors. We observed independent associations for normal BMI (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.40–0.63), noncurrent drinking (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.77), and limited sedentary behavior (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62–0.96) in relation to CMD. Healthy diet (OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.55–1.01) exhibited marginally significant association with CMD.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that adherence to an overall healthy lifestyle is associated with lower odds of CMD among schoolteachers.

Total 2