What exactly is the fruit-and-vegetable diet, and why does fasting restore health?

Aim of the study: What we eat is a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention, but health professionals may not have a clear understanding of the current evidence-based research to underpin eating habits and recommendations.

Results: Consuming one unit of alcohol per day may contribute to a reduced cardiovascular risk without presenting an unfavourable risk profile. In general, there is no evidence that vitamin and mineral supplements reduce CVD risk. High potassium intake is beneficial in healthy individuals, calcium or selenium supplements offer no added benefit, and high sodium intake is harmful. Diet is a major component of CVD prevention, and health professionals should include dietary assessment and evidence-based recommendations in their clinical practice.

Aim of the study: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent among men, but its relationship with dietary habits is uncertain. The aim of our study was to assess whether dietary patterns enhance erectile function by reviewing the literature published before August 1, 2022, via PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases.

Results: High-protein, low-fat diets (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.12-1.64; P < 0.00001) and high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets (HR = 0.79, 95% CI: 0.55-1.04; P < 0.00001) improved IIEF-5 scores. Combined diet and exercise interventions decreased the likelihood of ED (OR = 0.49, 95% CI: 0.28-0.85; P = 0.01) and increased the IIEF-5 score (OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.69-5.11; P < 0.0001). Diets abundant in fruits and vegetables (OR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.96-0.98; P < 0.00001) and nuts (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.37-0.80; P = 0.002) were also correlated with lower ED risk. Our meta-analysis underscores a strong dietary-ED association, suggesting that low-fat/Mediterranean diets rich in produce and nuts could benefit ED management.

Aim of the study: Gilbert syndrome is the most common hyperbilirubinemia, associated with a mutation in the UGT1A1 bilirubin gene, which produces an enzyme that conjugates bilirubin with glucuronic acid. Episodes of jaundice occurring in GS negatively affect patients' quality of life.

Results: As a result, 19 studies met the inclusion criteria. The research mainly focused on the impact of caloric restriction, consumption of various diet variants, and vegetables and fruits on hyperbilirubinemia and metabolic health. A nutritional intervention consisting of not applying excessive calorie restrictions and consuming fats and biologically active compounds in vegetables and fruits (Cruciferae, Apiaceous, Rutaceae) may prevent the occurrence of jaundice episodes. It is justified to conduct further research on detecting such compounds in food, which, by influencing the expression of the UGT liver enzyme gene, could contribute to regulating bilirubin concentration in the blood of people with GS.

Aim of the study: Caloric restriction, intermittent fasting, and exercise activate defensive cellular responses such as autophagy, DNA repair, and the induction of antioxidant enzymes. These processes improve health and longevity by protecting cells and organs against damage, mutations, and reactive oxygen species.

Results: Consuming a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and mushrooms can also improve health and longevity. Phytochemicals such as alkaloids, polyphenols, and terpenoids found in plants and fungi activate the same cellular processes as caloric restriction, fasting, and exercise. Many of the beneficial effects of fruits and vegetables may thus be due to activation of stress resistance pathways by phytochemicals. A better understanding of the mechanisms of action of phytochemicals may provide important insights to delay aging and prevent chronic diseases.

Aim of the study: Few studies have evaluated the association of fruit and vegetable (FV) intake and pre-diabetes. However, these studies are very limited and incomplete. Therefore, the aim of our study was to compare FV consumption and their subgroups between pre-diabetic and control subjects.

Results: After adjustment for confounding variables, participants in the lower quartiles of FV and total fruit intake were more likely to experience pre-diabetes compared with those in the higher quartiles (p trend < 0.007). In addition, cruciferous vegetables, other vegetables, and berries were inversely associated with pre-diabetes (p < 0.05), although a distinct dose-response relationship was not found. Unexpectedly, higher intake of dark yellow vegetables was significantly associated with a higher chance of pre-diabetes (p trend = 0.006). Other vegetable and fruit subgroups did not show any significant relationship with this disorder. Our findings suggest that higher intake of total FV and total fruits might be associated with lower odds ratio of pre-diabetes.

Aim of the study: Background: Consumption of flavonoid-rich orange juice has been shown to reduce adiposity and liver steatosis in murine models of diet-induced obesity. However, little is known about the effects of whole orange intake, independent of body weight changes, on liver function and steatosis in individuals with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).

Results: Dietary analysis revealed no change in caloric intake, but vitamins C, A, thiamine, and riboflavin increased in the orange group. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that phytochemical-rich foods, especially whole fruits like oranges, may enhance liver function as an adjunct treatment for MASLD. The notable reduction in liver steatosis prevalence occurred independently of body weight changes. Further studies are needed to investigate the long-term effects of orange supplementation on steatosis and fibrosis progression and to identify the specific bioactive compounds and mechanisms involved.

Aim of the study: Genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors primarily determine the lifespan of humans. From these, nutrition is a key component affecting our health, and several studies particularly in model organisms and rodents have shown that nutrition has also the potential to increase lifespan.

Results: The main conclusions of this review are that caloric restriction without malnutrition, methionine restriction, lower protein intake or supplementation of spermidine are major life-extending factors, in model organisms or rodents. In humans, certain healthy foods are associated with longer telomere length, and reductions in protein intake with lower IGF-1 levels, respectively, both relations being associated with longer lifespan. Furthermore, a high intake of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, nuts, and also coffee is associated with a reduced risk for all-cause mortality whereas a high intake of (red) meat and especially processed meat is positively related to all-cause mortality. In addition, the Mediterranean and also high-quality diets are associated with reduced all-cause mortality risk.

Aim of the study: Background/Objectives: Previous studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and prediabetes. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this association using a meta-analysis, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Results: Subgroup analysis by study design showed a significant association in cross-sectional studies (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70-0.94; I2 = 91.6%; n = 16), whereas cohort studies showed no significant association (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.92-1.02; I2 = 15.1%; n = 3). Subgroup analyses by sex indicated a significant inverse association among male participants (OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.61-0.97; I2 = 63.3%; n = 4), but not among female participants (OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.69-1.37; I2 = 82.1%; n = 3). Conclusions: Overall, this meta-analysis indicates that greater fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with a reduced risk of prediabetes. However, additional prospective cohort studies are required to clarify potential confounding factors and confirm this association.