Science shorts: Probiotics for sleep, omega-3, nanocurcumin for migraine and more

Probiotic for sleep? Duo-strain mixture found to decrease insomnia symptoms in eight-week RCT ​

A probiotic mixture has been found to decrease insomnia symptoms in an eight-week RCT conducted in South Korea.

Writing in ​Nutrients​, ​the RCT was conducted by researchers from Seoul National University, Kyung Hee University, Eulji University and Navipharm​ – the company which supplied the probiotic mixture.

Navipharm has also developed the probiotic mixture known as NVP-1703. The probiotic mixture was shown to be a potential treatment for allergic rhinitis​ and has been commercialised for use as a Health Functional Food (HFF).

Omega-3, nanocurcumin reduce migraine attacks by working at the gene level – Two-month RCT  ​

The supplementation of both omega-3 and nanocurcumin could decrease the incidence and severity of episodic migraine by reducing the genetic expression of a particular molecule in the body, based on the findings of a two-month RCT.​

The molecule of interest is the vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM). Its genetic expression and production in the blood serum are key factors of headache severity.

Its production is induced by the presence of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-alpha, which is also a vasodilator.

LISTEN: More Japanese companies adopting chrono-nutrition concept in NPD – Prof Shigenobu Shibata

The concept of chrono-nutrition is gaining traction amongst companies in Japan, with our guest on the latest Nutrachampion podcast developing such products with the industry.

Professor Shigenobu Shibata, professor at the School of Advanced Science and Engineering at Japan’s Waseda University, is the guest of our latest Nutrachampion podcast.​

Professor Shibata specialises in the study of the suprachiasmatic nucleus – a structure located in the hypothalamus in the brain – which in turn regulates the central body clock, also known as the circadian clock. 

Vitamin A supplementation increases breast milk retinol levels – China study

The supplementation of vitamin A in breastfeeding mothers has shown to increase retinol concentrations in breast milk​ in a two-month study, which researchers believe could help address vitamin A deficiency in lactating mothers.

Findings of the trial – conducted by researchers from Nanjing Medical University – were published in Nutrients.​

Vitamin A is important for maintaining normal vision, gene expression, growth and immune function and can only be obtained via foods or supplementation, since it cannot be synthesised by the body.

The forgotten staple to fight diabetes: Extensive study shows millet intake lowers blood glucose levels

Long term millet consumption can lower blood glucose levels in diabetic individuals and revert those in pre-diabetic people to normal levels, according to results​ from a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Touted as a forgotten staple, millets were traditionally consumed in African and Asian countries but later replaced by the “Big 3” which are rice, wheat and maize.

Millets are a low glycaemic index (GI) staple and have been demonstrated to improve glycaemic control.