Due to the undeniable role of starch in nutrition, 60-70% of total energy consumed by most people around the world is provided by starch-based foods. Because of the low price and the availability of starch-based products, people accept these kinds of products more than ever. On the other hand, the selection of appropriate dietary fiber is vital due to the sensory characteristics' importance in functional foods, which play a key role in specifying consumers' acceptance. Resistant starch (RS) is a small fraction of starch which is resistant to digestion and may be fermented in the large intestine by microbiota. The unique characteristics of RS, such as its natural sources, gentle bland flavor, white color, low water holding capacity, etc. have made it a valuable supplement in the formulation of wide range of functional foods, even in microencapsulation of probiotics. While the aim of this study is to investigate the application of RS in food technology, it briefly reviews manufacturing, determining the amount of RS in the final product and prebiotic dosage needed to exert health benefits on the human gut as well.

On the basis of our findings, it seems that royal jelly supplementation may be beneficial in controlling diabetes outcomes. Further studies with larger sample size are warranted.

Background The present study aimed to assess the therapeutic effects of boron citrate and oleoylethanolamide supplementation in patients with COVID-19. Methods Forty adult patients with a diagnosis of COVID-19 were recruited in the present study. Patients were randomized in a 1:1:1:1 allocation ratio to 1of 4 treatment groups: (A) 5 mg of boron citrate twice a day, (B) 200 mg of oleoylethanolamide twice a day, (C) both therapies, or (D) routine treatments without any study medications. At pre-and post-intervention phase, some clinical and biochemical parameters were assessed. Results Supplementation with boron citrate alone or in combination with oleoylethanolamide significantly improved O2 saturation and respiratory rate (p<0.01). At the end of the study, significant increases in white blood cell and lymphocyte count were observed in the boron citrate and combined groups (p<0.001). Boron citrate supplementation led to a significant decrease in serum lactate dehydrogenase (p=0.026) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (p=0.014), compared with other groups. Furthermore, boron citrate in combination with oleoylethanolamide resulted in a significant reduction in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and interleukin-1β concentrations (p=0.031 and p=0.027, respectively). No significant differences were found among four groups post-intervention, in terms of hemoglobin concentrations, platelet count, and serum interleukin-6 levels. At the end of the study, common symptoms of COVID-19 including cough, fatigue, shortness of breath, and myalgia significantly improved in the supplemented groups, compared to the placebo (p<0.05). Conclusion Supplementation with boron citrate alone or in combination with oleoylethanolamide could improve some clinical and biochemical parameters in COVID-19 patients.

Purpose Spexin, a novel 14-amino acid peptide, has multiple physiological functions. The purpose of this paper was to systematically evaluate the current literature on the role of Spexin neuropeptide in obesity and its related comorbidities, food intake and overall metabolic status in human, animal and in vitro studies. Methods Multiple databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, ProQuest, Scopus and Google Scholar were searched for Englishlanguage papers published since inception until December 2018, that investigated Spexin levels in relation to chronic metabolic diseases, overall metabolism control and feeding-related behaviors.The quality of the included observational studies was assessed by a version of the Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS) designed for non-randomized studies and SYRCLE's assessment tool for animal models. Results Out of 224 records screened, search results led to a total of 24 related studies (12 human studies (ten cross-sectional studies, one cohort study, and one longitudinal study) and 12 studies in either animals or in vitro).Nine of the included crosssectional studies and one Longitudinal study had moderate to good study quality, and one cross-sectional and one cohort study had high-quality (or low risk of bias). Conclusion It appears that Spexin has a positive impact on overall metabolic status. As a novel appetite-regulating peptide, Spexin can act as an anorexigenic factor. Information about Spexin is very limited, and well-designed randomized controlled clinical trials are warranted for replicating, validating, and extending the current findings. PROSPERO registration number CRD42018117198).