Instead of calories, should we be counting our consumption of exosomes and microRNAs?

Authors: HIRSCHI, KENDAL - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); RHEIN, HORMAT - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC); NALLIAH, VIGNESH - Children'S Nutrition Research Center (CNRC)

Submitted to: Review Article
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/5/2023
Publication Date: 5/12/2023
Citation: Hirschi, K.D., Rhein, H.S., Nalliah, V. 2023. Instead of calories, should we be counting our consumption of exosomes and microRNAs? MicroRNA. https://doi.org/10.2174/2211536612666230331083455.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/2211536612666230331083455

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The specific foods to eat for optimal nutrition remain ill-defined. Studies using plant-based diets or milk suggest that vesicles, termed exosomes, and small RNAs termed microRNAs (miRNAs) are health promoting components in foods. However, numerous studies refute the potential of dietary cross-kingdom communication of exosomes and miRNAs. While research reinforces that plant-based diets and milk are healthy components of a well-rounded diet, the bioavailability and bioactivity of the exosomes and miRNAs present in plant-based diets and milk remain unclear. Further investigations of plant-based diet and milk exosome like particles may open a new era in application of food for overall health enhancement. In addition, the potential biotechnological plant-based diet and milk exosome like particles can aid in cancer treatment.