Anthocyanins from fruit juices improve the antioxidant status of healthy young female volunteers without affecting anti-inflammatory parameters: results from the randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over ANTHONIA (ANTHOcyanins in Nutrition Investigation Alliance) study

Dietary anthocyanin intake and age-related decline in lung function: longitudinal findings from the VA Normative Aging Study

BACKGROUND

It is unknown whether habitual intake of dietary flavonoids, known for their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, affects longitudinal change in lung function.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated whether different flavonoid subclasses present in the habitual diet were associated with beneficial changes in lung function over time in the elderly.

DESIGN

This longitudinal analysis included 839 participants from the VA (Veterans Affairs) Normative Aging Study whose lung function [forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC)] was measured at 2 and up to 5 visits between 1992 and 2008 (n = 2623 measurements). Yearly average intake of major flavonoid subclasses (anthocyanins, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, flavonols, flavones, and polymers) was calculated from food-frequency questionnaires at each visit. We estimated adjusted differences in annual change in lung function associated with each flavonoid subclass, categorized into quartiles, in linear mixed-effects regression models after adjustment for lifestyle and dietary confounders.

RESULTS

Strong inverse associations were found between anthocyanin intake and age-related decline in lung function. Independent of dietary and nondietary risk factors, slower rates of FEV1 and FVC decline by 23.6 (95% CI: 16.6, 30.7) and 37.3 (95% CI: 27.8, 46.8) mL/y, respectively, were observed in participants in the fourth quartile of intake compared with participants in the first quartile (P-trend < 0.0001). The protective associations observed for anthocyanin intake were present in both current/former and never smokers. Compared with no or very low intakes, an intake of ≥2 servings of anthocyanin-rich blueberries/wk was associated with slower decline in FEV1 and FVC by 22.5 (95% CI: 10.8, 34.2) and 37.9 (95% CI: 22.1, 53.7) mL/y, respectively. To a lesser extent, higher flavan-3-ol intake was also associated with slower lung function decline.

CONCLUSIONS

An attenuation of age-related lung function decline was associated with higher dietary anthocyanin intake in this longitudinal sample of predominantly elderly men. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these novel associations.

Impact of Natural Juice Consumption on Plasma Antioxidant Status: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background: Oxidative stress may lead to overproduction of reactive species and a decrease in antioxidant defenses, resulting in chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. The consumption of natural compounds with an antioxidant profile may be a preventive alternative. Therefore, we aimed to obtain evidence regarding the potential antioxidant activity of juices in human plasma. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed, which included randomized controlled trials that compared the use of fruit or vegetable juices vs. placebo or other beverages. An electronic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and SciELO. The outcome measures extracted were related to antioxidant status, e.g., vitamin C, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) levels and reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant capacity measured as TEAC. Results: Twenty-eight trials were identified (n = 1089), of which 16 were used for meta-analysis. No significant differences were observed between juices and placebo with regard to TEAC, SOD, and CAT. However, juices were superior to control in enhancing vitamin C and reducing MDA. Conclusions: Natural juices are possible candidates for the management of oxidative stress. The effects of juices should be further investigated by conducting larger and well-defined trials of longer duration.

Inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell migration by plasma anthocyanins isolated from healthy volunteers receiving an anthocyanin-rich berry juice

PURPOSE

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive cancer type, of which the most important characteristics are migration and metastasis. Anthocyanins (ACN) are discussed to be protective phytochemicals; however, up to now only scarce data are available regarding their effects on cancer prevention. In this study, we aimed to determine whether ACN and their metabolites from plasma (PAM), isolated from blood of healthy volunteers after ingestion of an ACN-rich juice, are effective in modulating cancer cell migration in vitro.

METHODS

PAM were isolated from blood of healthy volunteers (n = 10) after consumption of an ACN-rich berry juice. Before ingestion (PAM_0min) and after 60 min (PAM_60min), blood was taken and PAM were isolated from plasma by solid-phase extraction. Migration of pancreatic cancer cells PANC-1 and AsPC-1 was assayed in a Boyden chamber. The influence of PAM on cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) or mitochondria-specific ROS was measured fluorimetrically. mRNA expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and NF-κB mRNA were determined by real-time PCR.

RESULTS

After application of PAM_60min to PANC-1, we observed a reduced cell migration, which was associated with reduced levels of endogenously generated ROS concomitant with reduced NF-κB as well as MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA expression levels. In AsPC-1 cells, however, migration was not affected by PAM_60min.

CONCLUSION

It can be assumed that physiologically relevant ACN and their metabolites were able to inhibit pancreatic cancer cell migration in dependency of the phenotype of cells and may thus deserve further attention as potential bioactive phytochemicals in cancer prevention.

Pomegranate (Punicagranatum) juice decreases lipid peroxidation, but has no effect on plasma advanced glycated end-products in adults with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double-blind clinical trial

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus characterized by hyperglycemia could increase oxidative stress and formation of advanced glycated end-products (AGEs), which contribute to diabetic complications. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of pomegranate juice (PJ) containing natural antioxidant on lipid peroxidation and plasma AGEs in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Materials and methods

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 44 patients (age range 56±6.8 years), T2D were randomly assigned to one of two groups: group A (PJ, n=22) and group B (Placebo, n=22). At the baseline and the end of 12-week intervention, biochemical markers including fasting plasma glucose, insulin, oxidative stress, and AGE markers including carboxy methyl lysine (CML) and pentosidine were assayed.

Results

At baseline, there were no significant differences in plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels between the two groups, but malondialdehyde (MDA) decreased levels were significantly different (P<0.001). After 12 weeks of intervention, TAC increased (P<0.05) and MDA decreased (P<0.01) in the PJ group when compared with the placebo group. However, no significant differences were observed in plasma concentration of CML and pentosidine between the two groups.

Conclusions

The study showed that PJ decreases lipid peroxidation. Therefore, PJ consumption may delay onset of T2D complications related to oxidative stress.

A Systematic Review of the Efficacy of Bioactive Compounds in Cardiovascular Disease: Phenolic Compounds

The prevalence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is rising and is the prime cause of death in all developed countries. Bioactive compounds (BAC) can have a role in CVD prevention and treatment. The aim of this work was to examine the scientific evidence supporting phenolic BAC efficacy in CVD prevention and treatment by a systematic review. Databases utilized were Medline, LILACS and EMBASE, and all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with prospective, parallel or crossover designs in humans in which the effects of BAC were compared with that of placebo/control were included. Vascular homeostasis, blood pressure, endothelial function, oxidative stress and inflammatory biomarkers were considered as primary outcomes. Cohort, ecological or case-control studies were not included. We selected 72 articles and verified their quality based on the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network, establishing diverse quality levels of scientific evidence according to two features: the design and bias risk of a study. Moreover, a grade of recommendation was included, depending on evidence strength of antecedents. Evidence shows that certain polyphenols, such as flavonols can be helpful in decreasing CVD risk factors. However, further rigorous evidence is necessary to support the BAC effect on CVD prevention and treatment.

Uptake and bioavailability of anthocyanins and phenolic acids from grape/blueberry juice and smoothie in vitro and in vivo

The goal of eating five servings of fruits and vegetables a day has not yet been achieved. The intake of polyphenols such as anthocyanins (ACN) could be improved by consuming smoothies and juices that are increasingly popular, especially in children; however, bioavailability data concerning food matrix effects are scarce. Thus, we conducted a randomised, cross-over, bioavailability study (n 10) to determine the bioavailability of ACN and their metabolites from an ACN-rich grape/blueberry juice (841 mg ACN/litre) and smoothie (983 mg ACN/litre) in vivo, and the uptake of a corresponding grape/blueberry extract in vitro. After the intake of beverage (0·33 litres), plasma and fractionated urine samples were collected and analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to MS. The most abundant ACN found in plasma and urine were malvidin and peonidin as native ACN and as glucuronidated metabolites as well as 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB); minor ACN (delphinidin, cyanidin and petunidin) were only detected as native glycosides. Plasma pharmacokinetics and recoveries of urinary metabolites of ACN were not different for juice or smoothie intake; however, the phenolic acid 3,4-DHB was significantly better bioavailable from juice in comparison to smoothie. In vitro data with absorptive intestinal cells indicated that despite their weak chemical stability, ACN and 3,4-DHB could be detected at the basal side in their native forms. Whether smoothies as well as juices should be recommended to increase the intake of potentially health-promoting ACN and other polyphenols requires the consideration of other ingredients such as their relatively high sugar content.

Berries and oxidative stress markers: an overview of human intervention studies

Severalin vitroandin vivostudies have demonstrated that polyphenol-rich berries may counteract oxidative stress. In this review, we summarized the main finding from human intervention trials on the role of berries in the modulation of markers of oxidative lipid, protein and DNA damage.

Flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, and inflammation

The process of inflammation constitutes a reactive response of the organism to tissue damage and is an important factor making part of a number of degenerative pathologies as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, all of them comprised in the metabolic syndrome. There is an increasing interest in plant products rich in flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins because of their potential beneficial effects observed in epidemiological studies against inflammatory-related diseases. Their anti-inflammatory effects are exerted by modulation of cell redox status and inhibition of signaling pathways as NF-κB activation. The effects depend on their concentrations in target tissues and hence the bioavailability pathways followed by each particular compound. In this sense, in vitro studies performed with parental compounds at doses exceeding to those found in vivo may be drawing erroneous conclusions about their real efficacy. Contradictory results have been observed in human intervention trials, which may be ascribed to the type of population studied, length of study, source of flavan-3-ol/anthocyanin, and dose provided. Human studies are required to confirm the positive effects found in vitro and in animal models. Future research should be focused on the understanding of dose/flavonoid intake-response relationship with pharmacokinetic studies, evaluating proper biomarkers of intake. Long-term dietary interventions are necessary to observe effects on markers of late activation as well as the possible preventive effects of these compounds on long-term inflammation-related diseases.