Obesity, Zinc supplement and cognitive function

In a recent study, researchers were concerned about the impact of obesity on cognitive health, Even knowing that obesity is linked to cognitive decline and problems with the brain, they investigated if giving overweight or obese women a zinc supplement could help.

In the study participated 42 women aged 40 to 60 and were splitted into two groups. One group received a zinc supplement (30 mg per day), while the other received placebo, for 12 weeks. Information about these women, like age, weight, diet, and physical activity was collected.

To measure cognitive function and mood, various tests and questionnaires were used. They also checked certain substances in women's saliva to understand what was happening in their bodies.

The results showed that the women who took the zinc supplement had better scores in cognitive tests, even though they didn't lose weight.

This suggests that taking zinc might help overweight or obese women maintain better cognitive function, regardless of weight loss. However, it's important to mention that the study had a relatively small number of participants, so we need more research with more people to be more confident in these results.

In summary, obesity can harm your brain, but this study hints that zinc supplements might protect cognitive health in overweight women, even without weight loss. Further research is needed, but these findings are promising.

Source: de Vargas LDS, Jantsch J, Fontoura JR, Dorneles GP, Peres A, Guedes RP. Effects of Zinc Supplementation on Inflammatory and Cognitive Parameters in Middle-Aged Women with Overweight or Obesity. Nutrients. 2023 Oct 17;15(20):4396.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/15/20/4396

You can visit our sponsors to find Zinc supplements

Comments

Guilt-Free Biscuits: A Step-by-Step Guide to Sweetener-Reformulated Treats

Sweetener Reformulated Biscuits: Step-by-Step Recipe Discover a healthier twist on your favorite biscuits with our sweetener reformulated recipe. Perfect for those looking to reduce sugar intake without compromising on taste! Ingredients: Dry Ingredients: 2 cups whole wheat flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt Wet Ingredients: 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce 1/4 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup Stevia or preferred sweetener 1 tsp vanilla extract Instructions: Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Blend Wet Ingredients: In another bowl, mix applesauce, oil, sweetener, and vanilla until smooth. Combine: Gradually add wet ingredients to dry ingredients, stirring until just combined. Shape Dough: Roll out the dough on a floured surface and cut into desired shapes. Bake: Place on a baking sheet and bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool and Enjoy: Let the biscuits cool before serving. More info: ...

Brain health. Promising prebiotics and probiotics combination

According to new research, the bacteria in our gut, known as gut microbiota, play an important role in brain injury and healing after a stroke. Taking particular types of prebiotics and probiotics can help with brain injury, inflammation, gut bacteria imbalances, and intestinal health. However, we still don't know whether prebiotics, probiotics, or synbiotics (a combination of both) perform best for particular conditions, or how they operate. In this study, scientists tested a new synbiotic formulation containing multiple strains of probiotics Lactobacillus reuteri UBLRu-87 Lactobacillus plantarum UBLP-40 Lactobacillus rhamnosus UBLR-58 Lactobacillus salivarius UBLS-22 Bifidobacterium breve UBBr-01 and prebiotic fructooligosaccharides (FOS) FOS are extracted from the blue agave plant and fruits and vegetables such as bananas, onions, chicory root, garlic, asparagus, jícama, and leeks. Some grains and cereals, such as wheat and barley, also contain FOS. The Jerusalem artichoke and ...

Light Therapy holds promise as a treatment for Alzheimer's Disease

A new article, conducted by Lili Zang and colleagues from Weifang Medical University School of Nursing in Shandong Province, China, discusses a meta-analysis of 15 high-quality trials that investigated the impact of light therapy on individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The meta-analysis included 598 patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease, and it covered 15 randomized controlled trials conducted in seven different countries. Those trials were published between 2005 and 2022. Sleep Improvement Light therapy led to significant improvements in several sleep measures. It notably enhanced sleep efficiency, increased interdaily stability, and reduced intradaily variability, all of which are indicators of better sleep quality. Light therapy was associated with a reduction in agitation, depression, and caregiver burden among individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. A significant advantage over usual care was shown in reducing the severity of psychobehavioral symptoms, as assessed...

Wellness-uptodate

Search This Blog