María Jesús Periago

Influence of lycopene and vitamin C from tomato juice on biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation

A human study was carried out to investigate whether tomato juice, rich in natural lycopene and fortified with vitamin C, is able to reduce several biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation and whether the effect can be attributed to lycopene, vitamin C or any other micronutrient. Following a 2-week depletion phase, volunteers were assigned randomly to ingest either tomato juice with (LC) or without (L) vitamin C fortification for 2 weeks (daily dose 20.6 mg lycopene and 45.5/435 mg vitamin C). Plasma and urine were analysed for carotenoids and vitamin C, lipid status, antioxidant capacity, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and 8-epi-PGF2alpha, protein carbonyls, cytokines IL-1beta and TNFalpha and C-reactive protein (CRP). The consumption of tomato juice led to a reduction in total cholesterol levels (L: 157.6 v. 153.2 mg/dl, P = 0.008; LC: 153.4 v. 147.4 mg/dl, P = 0.002) and that of CRP (L: 315.6 v. 262.3 microg/l, P = 0.017; LC: 319.2 v. 247.1 microg/l, P = 0.001) in both groups. The vitamin C-fortified juice slightly raised the antioxidant capacity in urine and decreased TBARS in plasma and urine. All other markers were affected to a lesser extent or remained unchanged. Cholesterol reduction was correlated with lycopene uptake (P = 0.003), whereas the other effects could not be related with particular micronutrients. Any beneficial effects of tomato consumption for human health cannot be attributed only to lycopene and, as the additional supplementation with ascorbic acid indicates, a variety of antioxidants might be needed to optimize protection against chronic diseases.

Bioactive compounds, folates and antioxidant properties of tomatoes (Lycopersicum esculentum) during vine ripening

Bioactive compounds and their relationship with antioxidant activity were determined in three tomato cultivars (Ronaldo, Siena and Copo) during vine ripening. The lycopene, chlorophyll (total, a and b), total phenolic, flavonoid, vitamin C and folate contents, and the antioxidant activity, by the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay and the β-carotene lineolate system, were determined in the samples. Tomato ripening involved the breakdown of chlorophylls, accompanied by a continuous increase in the lycopene content. Total phenolics, flavonoids and vitamin C increased significantly during ripening, whereas the folate content fell markedly as tomatoes turned from green to red. The lycopene and flavonoid content was highest in the Copo cultivar, vitamin C and folate highest in Ronaldo, and total phenolics highest in Siena. The antioxidant activity, as measured with the ferric reducing/antioxidant power assay, increased significantly during ripening in all extracts, and showed a positive correlation with the total phenolic and flavonoid contents. However, when measured with the β-carotene lineolate system, the antioxidant activity decreased significantly during ripening; perhaps due to the antioxidant activity of chlorophylls and the peroxidation activity of vitamin C.

Encapsulation of folic acid in food hydrocolloids through nanospray drying and electrospraying for nutraceutical applications

In this work, two different technologies (electrospraying and nanospray drying) were evaluated for the encapsulation of folic acid using both a whey protein concentrate (WPC) matrix and a commercial resistant starch. The morphology of the capsules, molecular organization of the matrices upon encapsulation, encapsulation efficiency, and stability of the folic acid within the capsules under different storage conditions and upon thermal exposure were studied. Results showed that spherical nano-, submicro- and microcapsules were obtained through both techniques, although electrospraying led to smaller capsule sizes and to an enhanced control over their size distribution. Greater encapsulation efficiency was observed using WPC as encapsulating matrix, probably related to interactions between the protein and folic acid which favoured the incorporation of the bioactive. The best results in terms of bioactive stabilization in the different conditions assayed were also obtained for the WPC capsules, although both materials and encapsulation techniques led to improved folic acid stability, especially under dry conditions.

The content and nutritional significance of minerals on fish flesh in the presence and absence of bone

Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the variations in the mineral contents (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Na, K, Ca, Mg and P) and nutritional significance of the minerals of Mediterranean fish, as a function of the presence of bone. The three commercial species analysed were blue whiting (Micromessistius poutassou;R), hake (Merluccius merluccius, L) and sole (Solea vulgaris vulgaris, Q). As small and large species of hake are distinguished commercially, they were analysed as separate types of fish. No variations in the contents Fe, Zn, Cu, Na and K were observed when bone was included, as the content of trace elements were quite low in all the samples assayed. However, significant increases in the Ca and P contents were observed in all the species analysed when bone was included. To ascertain the nutrional significance of the samples they were considered as ingredients of fish-based homogenised weaning foods. According to the Ca and P contents, and to the nutritional density values, the samples could be considered to be good supplements of Ca and P, when bone is present in the flesh.

Changes in Antioxidant Compounds during the Shelf Life of Commercial Tomato Juices in Different Packaging Materials

Tomatoes provide an optimal mix of dietary antioxidants that may be responsible for the reported health benefits of tomato consumption. However, technological processing, packaging materials, and storage conditions have an impact on the nutritional quality of tomato products by affecting the stability of antioxidant nutrients to different extents. In this study, we evaluated the stability of the antioxidant compounds (lycopene, ascorbic acid, total phenols, and total flavonoids) present in commercially available tomato juices during storage extended for 12 months at three different temperatures (8, 22, and 37 degrees C). To further characterize the impact of storage conditions, two commonly used packaging materials (Tetra pack and glass bottles) were used to determine whether packaging materials affect antioxidant stability. Overall, the total lycopene, total phenolic compounds, and total flavonoids remained almost stable during storage for 12 months, regardless of the packaging material used, indicating that tomato juices maintain their nutritional value in terms of antioxidant composition during their shelf life. However, ascorbic acid was the most labile antioxidant and was markedly affected by storage conditions. The hydrophilic total antioxidant activity (TAA) paralleled the losses in ascorbic acid content, whereas the lipophilic TAA remained substantially stable throughout the storage trial.

El ácido fítico en la alimentación humana/Phytic acid in human nutrition:

nutrientes’ capaces de disminuir la disponibilidad de los nutrientes esenciales (Mitjavila, 1990). Estos compuestos se clasifican en funci6n del tipo de nutrientes con los que interfieren según afecten a la digestion o al metabolismo de las proteinas, a la asimilaci6n de los minerales, o inactiven o aumenten el requerimiento en vitaminas. Hay que tener en cuenta que un mismo antinutriente puede formar parte de uno o varios de estos grupos. Este es el caso del Scido fitico, cuya acci6n se basa en la formacion de complejos insolubles con proteinas y minerales, convirti6ndolos en no asimilables por el organismo bajo condiciones fisiol6gicas (Reddy y Salunkhe, 1981; Harland, 1989). No obstante, en los ultimos anos se han desarrollado numerosos estudios sobre los efectos

In vitro protein digestibility and mineral availability of green beans (Phaseolus vulgarisL) as influenced by variety and pod size

Three varieties of green beans (Cleo, Strike and Sentry) were harvested and sorted into four fractions according to pod size (diameter 10 mm). Ash content and dietary fibre increased significantly as pod size increased mainly in Cleo and Strike beans. Strike showed the highest fibre content (378.0 g kg -1 ) but the lowest carbohydrate (364.6 g kg -1 ) and ash (68.4 g kg -1 ) values. Mean values for Fe and Mg content were higher in Cleo beans (70.9 and 27.1 mg kg - 1 , respectively), Zn, Cu and Mg were higher in Strike beans (48.7 mg kg -1 , 22.4 mg kg -1 and 3.15 g kg -1 , respectively) while Na and Ca values were maximum in Sentry (459.1 mg kg -1 and 7.11 g kg -1 , respectively). Trypsin inhibitor was negatively related to in vitro protein digestibility but no relationship was found between this last parameter and phytic acid content. This antinutrient, together with dietary fibre, and a negative influence on in vitro mineral dialysability of green beans.

Lipid biomarkers and metabolic effects of lycopene from tomato juice on liver of rats with induced hepatic steatosis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common liver disorders, covering steatosis to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Dietary factors may modulate its evolution, and antioxidants have been proposed as therapeutic agents. Among them, lycopene has been demonstrated to prevent the development of steatohepatitis and even to inhibit NASH-promoted early hepatocarcinogenesis induced by a high-fat diet in rats. These conclusions have been related to its antioxidant activity; however, NAFLD is more complex than a simple redox imbalance state since it disturbs several metabolic systems in the liver. In consequence, there is a lack of information related to the action of lycopene beyond antioxidant biomarkers. In this work, NAFLD was induced in rats using a hypercholesterolemic and high-fat diet to evaluate the effect of lycopene consumption from tomato juice on liver metabolism. Several classical antioxidant biomarkers related to NAFLD were measured to check the state of this disease after 7 weeks of the controlled diet. Moreover, a metabolomics platform was applied to measure more than 70 metabolites. Results showed clear differences in the classical antioxidant biomarkers as well as in the metabolic pattern, attending not only to the diet but also to the intake of lycopene from tomato juice. Interestingly, tomato juice administration partially reverted the metabolic pattern from a high-fat diet to a normal diet even in metabolites not related to the redox state, which could lead to new targets for therapeutic agents against NAFLD and to achieving a better understanding of the role of lycopene in liver metabolism.

Nutritional Composition and Antioxidant Capacity in Edible Flowers: Characterisation of Phenolic Compounds by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn

Edible flowers are commonly used in human nutrition and their consumption has increased in recent years. The aim of this study was to ascertain the nutritional composition and the content and profile of phenolic compounds of three edible flowers, monks cress (Tropaeolum majus), marigold (Tagetes erecta) and paracress (Spilanthes oleracea), and to determine the relationship between the presence of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity. Proximate composition, total dietary fibre (TDF) and minerals were analysed according to official methods: total phenolic compounds (TPC) were determined with Folin-Ciocalteu’s reagent, whereas antioxidant capacity was evaluated using Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) and Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assays. In addition, phenolic compounds were characterised by HPLC-DAD-MSn. In relation to the nutritional value, the edible flowers had a composition similar to that of other plant foods, with a high water and TDF content, low protein content and very low proportion of total fat—showing significant differences among samples. The levels of TPC compounds and the antioxidant capacity were significantly higher in T. erecta, followed by S. oleracea and T. majus. Thirty-nine different phenolic compounds were tentatively identified, with flavonols being the major compounds detected in all samples, followed by anthocyanins and hydroxycynnamic acid derivatives. In T. erecta small proportions of gallotannin and ellagic acid were also identified.

Variations of non-protein nitrogen in six Spanish legumes according to the extraction method used

Abstract The non-protein nitrogen content (NPN) of six edible grain legumes (pea, lentil, faba bean, chick pea, field bean and lupin) grown in Spain were evaluated. NPN was extracted by three methods (70% ethanol, 70% ethanol + 1 % TCA and 0.2% NaOH + 30% TCA) and then analyzed using the micro-Kjeldahl method. The extraction methods including TCA provided higher NPN values than the method which only used 70% ethanol. High concentrations of glutamic and aspartic acids and low concentrations of methionine and cystine were found in the NPN. However, the total NPN fraction and the free amino acid profiles obtained by each extraction method differed as a consequence of the differing solubility of the α-amino groups and other components of the NPN fraction. Further studies should be conducted to obtain a suitable extraction method for measuring total NPN in legumes.