Begoña Cerdá

Pomegranate juice supplementation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a 5-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Objective:The aim of the present study is to investigate the effect of antioxidant polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice (PJ) supplementation for 5 weeks on patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), since the oxidative stress plays a major role in the evolution and pathophysiology of COPD.Design:A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted.Subjects:A total of 30 patients with stable COPD were randomly distributed in two groups (15 patients each).Interventions:Both groups consumed either 400 ml PJ daily or matched placebo (synthetic orange-flavoured drink) for 5 weeks. Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) of PJ, blood parameters (14 haematological and 18 serobiochemical), respiratory function variables, bioavailability of PJ polyphenols (plasma and urine) and urinary isoprostane (8-iso-PGF2α) were evaluated.Results:The daily dose of PJ (containing 2.66 g polyphenols) provided 4 mmol/l TEAC. None of the polyphenols present in PJ were detected in plasma or in urine of volunteers. The most abundant PJ polyphenols, ellagitannins, were metabolized by the colonic microflora of COPD patients to yield two major metabolites in both plasma and urine (dibenzopyranone derivatives) with no TEAC. No differences were found (P>0.05) between PJ and placebo groups for any of the parameters evaluated (serobiochemical and haematological), urinary 8-iso-PGF2α, respiratory function variables and clinical symptoms of COPD patients.Conclusions:Our results suggest that PJ supplementation adds no benefit to the current standard therapy in patients with stable COPD. The high TEAC of PJ cannot be extrapolated in vivo probably due to the metabolism of its polyphenols by the colonic microflora. The understanding of the different bioavailability of dietary polyphenols is critical before claiming any antioxidant-related health benefit.Sponsorship:‘Fundación Séneca’ (Murcia, Spain), Project PB/18/FS/02 and Spanish CICYT, Project AGL2003-02195.

Strawberry Processing Does Not Affect the Production and Urinary Excretion of Urolithins, Ellagic Acid Metabolites, in Humans

The study of fruit and vegetable processing and its effects on the levels of health-promoting constituents and their bioavailability and metabolism is very relevant to understanding the role of these constituents in human health. Strawberry polyphenols, and particularly ellagitannins and ellagic acid, have been associated with the health benefits of this berry for humans. These compounds are transformed into urolithins by the gut microbiota, and these metabolites exert several biological activities that could be responsible for the health effects of strawberries. Processing potentially increases the extraction of ellagitannins from the strawberry achenes and the release of ellagic acid from ellagitannins. It is of interest to evaluate the effect of processing on strawberry ellagitannin microbial metabolism compared with fresh strawberries. This study shows that no significant differences in the production and excretion of urolithins were found between the intake of fresh strawberries and that of a thermally processed strawberry puree containing the same amount of strawberries. Processing increases the amount of free ellagic acid 2.5-fold, but this had no effect on the transformation in urolithins by the gut microbiota or in the excretion of urolithin metabolites (urolithin glucuronides) in urine, showing that the release of ellagic acid from ellagitannins is not a relevant factor affecting the microbial metabolism. All of the volunteers produced urolithin A, but only 3 of 20 volunteers produced and excreted urolithin B. It is confirmed that some volunteers were efficient producers of urolithins, whereas other produced much lower amounts. These results show that processing does not modify the potential health effects of strawberry polyphenols.

Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Syndrome Metabolic Patients, a CaseControl Study

Abstract Background: Owing to the proposal of the increase of oxidative stress (OxS) as an early event in the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), the aim of the present study was to evaluate certain OxS biomarkers in patients with MetS compared to healthy people age-matched and younger to assess the relevance of aging in OxS and MetS. Methods: A total of 72 patients, 32 who fulfilled the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria for the MetS and 40 individuals without MetS, 20 age-matched to the MetS patients (Control I) and 20 younger subjects (Control II) were studied. We measured several anthropometric and serum parameters and two kinds of molecules related to OxS: modified molecules by reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as oxidized LDL (oxLDLc), and consumed or inducted molecules (enzymes or antioxidants such as Glutathione reductase GR,) associated with ROS metabolism. The statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v18.0. Results: Only significant differences were observed in the values of GR between the MetS patients and Control I (50.31 ± 8.15 U/L vs 59.50 ± 9.98 U/L). We found significantly higher levels in the MetS patients compared to Control II of oxLDLc (96.77 ± 23.05 U/L vs 60.17 ± 16.28 U/L), F2 -isoprostanes (3.17 ± 1.78 µg/g creatinine vs 2.04 ± 0.80 µg/g creatinine) and protein cabonils (PC) (0.56 ± 0.26 nmol/mg vs 0.29 ± 0.13 nmol/mg). Conclusions: Results have shown that MetS patients don’t present a superior OxS in comparison to age-related healthy individuals. Finally, aging is more relevant to OxS than MetS per se.

Changes in Antioxidant Enzymes in Metabolic Syndrome Patients afterConsumption a Citrus-Based Juice Enriched with Aronia Melanocarpa

Increased oxidative stress has been suggested as an early event in the development of the metabolic syndrome and, as such, might contribute to disease progression. The aim of de present study was to evaluate Total Antioxidant Status and endogenous antioxidant enzymes in metabolic syndrome patients after consumption of a citrus-based juice compared with control groups. Before, and at sixth month after treatment the following parameters were determined: Total Antioxidant Status, Superoxide Dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase and Glutathione Reductases. After six months of citrus-based juice consuming, there was no significant differences at 95% confidence in Total Antioxidant Status between three groups, although it was found significant differences between groups in values of three antioxidant enzymes analysed. As a conclusion, the intake of a citrus-based juice increases the levels of antioxidant enzymes, despite do not increase the Total Antioxidant Status after its intake during 6 months.

Estilo de vida y riesgo de trastorno alimentario atípico en estudiantes universitarios: realidad versus percepción

OBJECTIVE The objectives of this paper were to determine weight status, eating, and alcohol drinking and smoking habits of university students, to determine the association between these variables with negative self-perception of their eating habits and to assess the risk of developing eating disorders. METHOD A cross-sectional study was carried out on 422 university students. The parameters analyzed were: nutritional status, eating habits, alcohol/ tobacco consumption, and risk of eating disorder. Logistic regression was applied to identify factors associated with a negative perception of eating habits. RESULTS Out of the whole population that was analyzed, 5% were underweight, 16% overweight and 4% obese. Fifty-five percent of the sample analyzed did not consume five meals a day. The recommended foods for daily consumption were consumed below recommendations, while sausages/fatty meats, industrial pastries, lean meats, and fish were over-consumed. Overall, the population perceived their eating habits as good/very good (63%). Alcohol and tobacco consumption predominated at weekends. The girls were more image-conscious (80.6% vs. 66%) and fearful of gaining weight (52.5% vs. 23.9%). Almost 30% had a distorted perception of body image. There was a 12.8% risk of atypical anorexia nervosa and 4.7% of atypical bulimia nervosa. CONCLUSIONS College students led unhealthy lifestyles, mainly due to eating habits that do not conform to the establish recommendations. More than 17% are at risk of developing an atypical eating disorder. This information may be of interest in developing preventive actions.