Health Scoop News – New research on:

1-Gut dysbiosis = brain inflammation🦠

2-Carbs for cognition & mood🍝🧠

3-Fried foods (bad . . . or worse?)🍟

I always have my nose in new health research, so I’m sharing some of the most relevant studies with you in regular editions of “Health Scoop News.”

[This news summary is a bit reminiscent of my old “This week in science for holistic health” newsletters that I used to do circa 2016 (I deleted most, but here’s one post I kept live), as well as the rEATsearch podcast I used to co-host.]

Below are my top three study picks (comment below to tell me what health topics/niches are best for you!). All of these recent studies are more clinically relevant than individual studies done using animals, cells, or isolated chemical reactions because these studies were done with people, or they’re reviews/summaries of dozens of previous studies.

1 – Gut dysbiosis = brain inflammation (via the microbiota-gut-brain-axis) 🦠

Study title: Gut microbiota-driven neuroinflammation in Alzheimer’s disease: from mechanisms to therapeutic opportunities

This study summarizes several previous studies and links Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to neuroinflammation, and neuroinflammation to dysbiosis of the gut microbiome.

Here’s some background info:

• “Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting aging individuals and a leading cause of dementia.” Symptoms include memory loss, cognitive decline, and behavioural changes. It’s a “progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) plaques, tau hyperphosphorylation, and chronic neuroinflammation.“
• “Notably, the gut microbiota, through the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA), is crucial in modulating neuroinflammation. Dysbiosis disrupts gut barrier integrity, promotes systemic inflammation, and exacerbates neuroinflammatory responses, thereby accelerating AD progression. “
• Neuroinflammation = “An inflammatory response in the central nervous system (CNS) triggered by neuronal damage.”
• Dysbiosis = “An imbalance in microbiota composition—can lead to increased gut permeability, a condition often referred to as ‘leaky gut’.”
• Here’s a diagram showing the links between dysbiosis in the gut and inflammation in the brain – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12241022/figure/f2/

Here’s what the researchers studied:

• “Recent research highlights the gut microbiota’s role in AD, with dysbiosis linked to neuroinflammation through pro-inflammatory metabolites.”
• “This review summarizes the current understanding of gut microbiota-driven neuroinflammation in AD, from molecular mechanisms to potential therapeutic strategies.” 

Here’s what the researchers found (lots of potentials, but more clinical research is needed):

• Probiotics: “While animal models have shown promising results, clinical trials in AD patients have yielded inconsistent outcomes. . . . Further research is needed to identify the most effective probiotic strains and mechanisms for preventing or treating AD.”
• Prebiotics: “Prebiotics are compounds that promote the growth of beneficial gut bacteria and are found in various foods. They are linked to improvements in cognitive function and the management of neurodegenerative diseases like AD. . . . While human studies are ongoing, prebiotic supplementation shows potential in the elderly.”
• Synbiotics: “Synbiotics are combinations of probiotics and prebiotics. . . . The goal is to help probiotics survive the gastrointestinal tract and maximize the benefits of both components. . . . Although still in the early stages, these studies suggest that synbiotics could be a promising approach for improving cognitive function and overall health in AD patients. Further clinical research is needed to fully understand their therapeutic potential in neuroprotection and AD management.“
• Postbiotics: “Postbiotics are a promising approach for treating inflammatory diseases, offering the benefits of probiotics without the risks of live microorganisms. Key components of postbiotics include SCFAs [short-chain fatty acids], produced during fiber fermentation, and neuroactive substances that influence both the gut and the CNS. . . . This highlights the complex gut-brain connection, offering potential therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders.”
• Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT): “FMT involves transferring carefully selected donor feces into a patient’s gastrointestinal tract to restore microbiota diversity and functionality. It has shown promise in treating inflammatory diseases linked to microbiota imbalance, such as AD. . . .  Though animal studies are promising, clinical evidence is limited. . .  Further research is needed to confirm FMT as a viable treatment for AD.“

Here’s what the researchers concluded based on the results of this study:

• “The emerging link between gut dysbiosis and neuroinflammation offers promising therapeutic opportunities, as dysbiosis has been shown to drive both neuroinflammation and cognitive decline. While preclinical studies suggest potential for probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and FMT, clinical efficacy remains to be proven.”

In other words, according to this review of the current research, there is a potential for rebalancing gut microbiota to reduce neuroinflammation and help AD, however more research—especially clinical research in people—is needed.

For more information, here’s a link to read the study for yourself:

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12241022/

2 – Carbs for cognition and mood 🍝🧠

Study title: Role of Dietary Carbohydrates in Cognitive Function: A Review

This is a review of several studies about the effect that eating different types of carbs (simple sugars, complex starches, very low carb) have on cognition (ability to think) and mental health.

Here’s some background info:

• “The brain consumes 20% of the body’s energy in spite of only weighing 2% of its physique.”
• “Carbohydrates are the body’s key fuel for the brain [for] … thinking procedures such as memory, consideration, and judgment making.“
• “Dietary carbohydrates play an important role in mood regulation, mental health, and cognitive performance.”
• “Simple carbohydrate intake (often known as “sugars”) is consistently linked to a decline in overall cognition, while complex carbohydrate intake is linked to both short‐ and long‐term memory improvement and successful brain aging.”

Here’s what the researchers found:

• “Diets that have a higher proportion of complex carbohydrates to simple sugars tend to stabilize blood glucose levels, thereby reducing mood swings and cognitive fatigue.”
• Here is a table of the different types of carbohydrates and the roles they play in brain and mental health: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12209867/table/fsn370516-tbl-0001/
• “Generally, glucose is the main fuel of the mind. However, during carbohydrate‐restricted periods such as when brought about by ketogenic [very low carb] diets, the body shifts and uses ketones . . . as the primary fuel source.”
• “Ketogenic diets may, in themselves, have the potential to influence mental and neurological function positively; however, each body responds differently to the diet, and not everyone may be able to maintain that diet over long periods.”
• “Physical exercise plays a significant role in the glucose metabolism of the brain. Studies indicate that exercise increases glucose uptake by the brain, which can in turn improve cognition, memory, and learning.”

Here’s what the researchers concluded based on the results of this review of several studies:

• ✅”Whole grains and legumes are complex carbs that gradually release glucose, supporting long‐term cognitive function and reducing fatigue when performing cognitively demanding tasks.”
• ✅”High‐fiber carbohydrates, like those in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, promote the growth of healthy gut flora. The short‐chain fatty acids of the microbes modify brain function by decreasing inflammation and enhancing neuroplasticity.”
• ❌“Simple carbohydrates, such as refined sugars, cause rapid elevations and subsequent declines in blood glucose levels, which can impact mood regulation and cognitive function.”
• ⚖️Ketogenic diets “may have a dual effect: some report feeling happier and more focused because their blood sugar levels are stable, whereas others report mood swings, irritability, or difficulty concentrating.”

In other words, enjoying more complex carbs (whole grains, legumes, fruits, vegetables) and fewer simple carbs (sugars) can help the brain with both cognition and mood. Regular physical activity also helps the body regulate blood glucose and improves cognition and mood. Finally, the ketogenic diet may be beneficial for some people.

For more information, here’s a link to read the study for yourself:

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12209867/

For a list of dozens of credible sites to find health information, plus some PubMed tips, download your free guide here:

3 – Fried foods—worse than we thought? 🍟

Study title: Fried food consumption-related gut microbiota is associated with obesity, fat distribution, and cardiometabolic diseases: results from 2 large longitudinal cohorts with sibling comparison analyses

This is a clinical study that included a total of 10,103 participants aged 18-80 years old. Researchers interviewed participants about how often they ate fried foods and compared that to their fecal samples and body composition. They also looked at differences between siblings to help determine how much of the effects are individual (e.g., related to their personal lifestyle habits) versus familial (e.g., related to their genetics or early-life environments).

Here’s some background info:

• “Diet is a vital source of nutrients not only for humans but also for the gut microbiota, which consists of trillions of microbes located in the gastrointestinal tract.”
• “The different components of our diet—fibers, proteins, fats, and micronutrients—shape the diversity, population, and activity of these microbial communities.”
• “Fried foods influence the presence of certain microbial genera.”
• Genera = More than one genus
• Genus = Biological classification above species (e.g., the “Homo” in Homo sapien or the “Lactobacillus” in L. acidophilus) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Biological_classification_L_Pengo_vflip.svg

Here’s what the researchers were looking at:

• “The primary aim of our study was to investigate 3 key questions:
  • 1) Is there a relationship between fried food consumption and gut microbiota composition?
  • 2) Is the fried-food-related microbiota associated with obesity and body fat distribution?
  • 3) Is fried-food-related microbiota associated with the incidence rate of cardiometabolic diseases?”
• The secondary aim was to see whether “genetic factors and shared early life environments might play a role in these associations. “We performed sibling comparison analyses to take genetic and early life environment factors into consideration and obtain more reliable and robust results.“

Here’s what the researchers concluded based on their results:

• “Fried food consumption-related microbiome is associated with a higher risk of obesity, central fat distribution, and cardiometabolic diseases, emphasizing the importance of dietary choices in the management and prevention of chronic diseases.”
• “Results of sibling comparison analyses provided consistent evidence, confirming that gut microbiomes associated with fried food consumption are associated with obesity and cardiometabolic diseases, independent of genetic and early life environmental factors.”

In other words, this clinical study found that eating less fried food is better for the gut microbiome and lowers the risk of obesity and heart disease.

For more information, here’s a link to read the study for yourself:

• https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S000291652500382X?via%3Dihub

Signing off and toasting: To keeping up with the latest and greatest scientific research in nutrition, fitness, and health coaching!

Over to you

Do you have a specific question about any of these new studies?

Are you looking for a easy-to-understand study summary that you can share with your audience and clients?

What health topic/niche is most important to you?

Let me know in the comments below!