by Xin Qi  and Richard Tester

Received: 23 March 2026;  Published: 26 July 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2603016

Excess dietary calories relative to energy expenditure lead to increased body weight, a problem now widely described as an epidemic because of its association with numerous disease states. Although free digestible sugars are to the most extent absorbed relatively easily from foods in healthy individuals, this is not the case for starches; where the physico-chemical properties control the rate and extent of enzymatic hydrolysis in the small intestine. Thus, even when the quantity of starch in a food product is known [...]

by Valentin P. Shichkin  and Oleg V. Kurchenko

Received: 15 February 2026;  Published: 13 July 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2603015

Thyroid disorders are an actual global health concern requiring diverse therapeutic strategies. Potentilla alba (P. alba), commonly known as White cinquefoil, has been used in folk medicine for its rich composition of microelements and pharmacologically essential phytocompounds. It has now also gained recognition in evidence-based medicine for its potential to treat thyroid dysfunction, particularly hypothyroidism and nodular goiter. However, the complicated composition of P. alba extracts makes it difficult to pre [...]

by Israel Rios-Castillo  , Leslie Landaeta-Díaz  , Karla Santos-Guzmán  , Laura Merelez-Ceuppens  and Alex Brito

Received: 01 January 2026;  Published: 09 July 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2603014

Climate change, biodiversity loss, and malnutrition are interconnected global challenges that increasingly threaten food security, healthy diets, and environmental sustainability. Current dietary patterns characterized by high consumption of ultra-processed foods have negative environmental impacts, including increased greenhouse gas emissions, water and land use, malnutrition, and biodiversity loss. Sustainable and healthy diets that emphasize plant-based foods, minimize food waste, and promote ecosystem conservat [...]

by Weijie Yi  , Jiamei Lian  and Chao Deng

Received: 20 November 2025;  Published: 09 July 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2603013

Risperidone is a commonly used antipsychotic drug in juveniles, but with serious metabolic side-effects. Previous evidence suggests that exercise mitigates risperidone-induced hypertriglyceridemia and adipose accumulation, yet the underlying hepatic mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, female juvenile rats were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 8/group): Vehicle + Sedentary, Risperidone (0.9 mg/kg, twice daily) + Sedentary, Vehicle + Exercise (3-hour voluntary access to a running wheel/day), and Risperidon [...]

by Hyong Woo Choi

Received: 09 April 2026;  Published: 05 July 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2603012

Despite industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) being long recognized for its diverse bioactive phytochemicals, most scientific studies have predominantly focused on aerial tissues, leaving the roots relatively underexplored. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the phytochemical architecture, biological functionalities, and nutraceutical prospects of hemp root extracts. Characterized by a unique metabolic profile featuring pentacyclic triterpenoids, phytosterols, specialized alkaloids, and neolignans, hem [...]

by Esther E. Odungide  , Loveth A. Emokpae  , Orobosa Aikoriogie  , Grace E. Obasuyi  , Elizabeth M. Babatunde  and Mathias A. Emokpae

Received: 21 January 2026;  Published: 24 June 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2602011

During pregnancy, the increased demand for elemental iron makes pregnant women particularly susceptible to iron deficiency anemia. The management of iron homeostasis and erythropoiesis is controlled by hepcidin and erythropoietin. A comprehensive assessment that incorporates the stimulus, the regulatory gatekeeper (hepcidin), and the resulting iron status provides a robust, mechanistic framework for comprehending the initial disruptions in iron metabolism during pregnancy. This study aims to evaluate alterations in [...]

by David Goldman  and Matthew Nagra

Received: 11 January 2026;  Published: 22 June 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2602010

Traditional public health messaging prioritizes disease prevention, whereas individual motivations for dietary change frequently focus on appearance and social outcomes. Physical attractiveness functions as a multimodal signal, combining facial appearance, body odor, and body composition. Evolutionary models posit that such cues communicate fitness-relevant information regarding health status. This narrative review integrates empirical evidence linking plant-forward dietary patterns to facial attractiveness, body o [...]

by Jozélio Freire de Carvalho  and Rosangela Passos de Jesus

Received: 28 January 2026;  Published: 16 June 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2602009

Plant-based diets have attracted increasing interest in the context of rheumatic diseases due to their potential anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects. However, there is an important conceptual distinction between a vegan diet, which completely excludes animal-derived products, and a plant-based diet, which prioritizes plant foods but may include small amounts of animal-derived foods. This differentiation is essential to understand the variability in clinical outcomes reported across studies. [...]

by Ashok Chakraborty  and Smita Guha

Received: 19 January 2026;  Published: 12 June 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2602008

Neuro degenerative diseases involve protein aggregation that causes neural cell death or loss of neural communication that affects body balance, movement, talking, breathing, and heart function. Aggregation of proteins, like α-synuclein, are found in Parkinson’s disease (PD), while tau, amyloid-β42 and TDP-43, are aggregated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Besides, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS); dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB); dystrophic neuritis (DN); corticobasal degeneration (CBD); argyrophilic grain disease [...]

by Diwakar Singh  and Anita Singh

Received: 06 February 2026;  Published: 09 June 2026;  doi: 10.21926/rpn.2602007

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoscale, lipid-bilayer carriers that mediate intercellular communication by transporting proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, thereby influencing physiological and pathological processes. This review integrates current knowledge on milk-derived and human extracellular vesicles, highlighting their multifunctional roles in therapy, diagnostics, and regenerative medicine. Milk-derived EVs (MEVs), small EVs (sEVs), and human milk EVs (hMEVs) demonstrate unique stability, biocompatibil [...]