Optimized rapeseed oil enriched with healthy micronutrients: a relevant nutritional approach to prevent cardiovascular diseases. Results of the Optim'Oils randomized intervention trial

Effect of vitamin E, D-limonene, and their combination on nulliparous rabbit reproductive performance

Oxidative status is important in reproductive performance and using two natural antioxidants is more beneficial than one in nulliparous rabbits. The goal, effect of vitamin E (VitE), D-limonene (DL), and VitE+DL on maternal LBW (MLBW), conception (CR), pregnancy (PR), and kindling rates (KR), gestation length (GL), total litter size at birth (TLSB) and weaning (TLSW), live kits at birth (LKB) and weaning (LKW), dead kits at birth (DKB) and weaning (DKW), kits mortality rate at weaning (KMRW), Kit weight at birth (KWB) and weaning (KWW), total kit weight at birth (TKWB) and weaning (TKWW), and concentrations of progesterone (P4) and Malondialdehyde (MDA), during first two pregnancies. A total of 24 healthy female WNZ rabbits were randomly selected and assigned into four groups (6/each). Control (animals injected with 1.0 mL propylene glycol), VitE (60 mg IM injection/animal, 2X/week pre-mating and 3X post-mating until mid-pregnancy, DL (20 mg IM injection/animal, 2X/week pre-mating and 1X at mating, and VitE+DL (IM injection/animal with the same doses and times applied in VitE and DL groups. All animals were treated during 1st pregnancy only. The results confirmed that animals treated with VitE+DL gained significant maternal LBW in 1st pregnancy, reduced dead kit number at birth and kit mortality rate at weaning, increased live kits and total kit weight at birth and weaning in the two pregnancies, and also increased significantly kit weight at birth and weaning in the treatments than controls in the two pregnancies, and DL was greater in 1st pregnancy. Progesterone concentrations in mid-pregnancy rose significantly in VitE+DL during 1st pregnancy and DL in 2nd pregnancy. Malondialdehyde concentrations dropped significantly in VitE and VitE+DL in mid-pregnancy in the two pregnancies. Eventually, the integration of VitE and DL displayed their unique properties for improving productive and reproductive performance in nulliparous rabbits.

Could a lipid oxidative biomarker be applied to improve risk stratification in the prevention of cardiovascular disease?

There is significant evidence demonstrating the influence of oxidative stress on atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). However, oxidative biomarkers have not been applied to follow patients under primary or secondary prevention. Many factors can explain this paradox: the higher complexity of the methods applied to quantify oxidative markers, the high variability observed among the studies, the lack of reference values, and the weak correlation with clinical endpoints. This review presents the role of the major reactive oxygen species (ROS) involved in cardiovascular pathophysiology and how they can be neutralized by endogenous and exogenous antioxidants based on classical and recent studies, highlighting the importance of the secondary products of fatty acid oxidation as potential biomarkers. Furthermore, we discuss the great variability of oxidative stress biomarkers, using as an example data obtained from 55 studies. Among the molecules directly formed from lipid oxidation, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), oxidized LDL (oxLDL), and isoprostanes (F₂-IsoP), and those associated with general oxidative conditions (ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH)), MDA was the most lipid biomarker evaluated in the treatments and proved to be an independent factor compared with traditional markers used in the algorithms to stratify the patient's risk. Finally, this review suggests four steps to follow, aiming to include MDA in the algorithms applied to estimate CVD risk.

Effects of a Fruit and Vegetable-Based Nutraceutical on Biomarkers of Inflammation and Oxidative Status in the Plasma of a Healthy Population: A Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, and Randomized Clinical Trial

There is scientific evidence of the positive effect of polyphenols from plant foods on inflammation and oxidative status. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether treatment with a high-polyphenolic nutraceutical reduces the plasmatic concentration of certain oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in a healthy population. One hundred and eight subjects were selected and stratified by sex in the intervention group (n = 53) and the placebo group (n = 55). Ninety-two subjects completed the study after two 16-week treatment periods separated by a four-week washout period. The results revealed statistically significant differences in subjects treated with the polyphenolic extract compared to the placebo: A decrease in homocysteine, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), TNF-α, sTNFR1, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The most significant decrease was observed for OxLDL (from 78.98 ± 24.48 to 69.52 ± 15.64; p < 0.05) and CRP (from 1.50 ± 0.33 to 1.39 ± 0.37; p < 0.05), both showing significant differences compared to the placebo (p < 0.001). Moreover, catecholamines increased after the administration of the product under investigation, especially in the case of dopamine (from 15.43 ± 2.66 to 19.61 ± 5.73; p < 0.05). Therefore, the consumption of a nutraceutical based on fruit and vegetables with a high polyphenol content seems to improve the parameters related to health benefits (oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers), including remarkable changes in the expression of catecholamines.

Effects of α-linolenic acid intake on blood lipid profiles：a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

To investigate the effect of ALA intake on blood lipid profiles, including triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL-C) and ratio of TC to HDL-C. We systematically searched randomized controlled trials of ALA intervention on PubMed, Embase, Cochrane library and related references up to March 2018. The final values were calculated as weighted mean difference (WMD) by using a random effects model. Subgroup analysis and meta-regression were used to explore the source of heterogeneity. Generalized least square was performed for dose-response analysis. Forty-seven studies with 1305 individuals in the ALA arm and 1325 individuals in the control arm were identified. Compared with control group, dietary intake of ALA significantly reduced the concentrations of TG (WMD -0.101 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.158 to -0.044 mmol/L; P = 0.001), TC (WMD -0.140 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.224 to -0.056 mmol/L; P = 0.001), LDL-C (WMD -0.131 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.191 to -0.071 mmol/L; P < 0.001), VLDL-C (WMD -0.121 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.170 to -0.073 mmol/L; P < 0.001), TC/HDL-C ratio (WMD -0.165 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.317 to -0.013 mmol/L; P = 0.033) and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (WMD -0.158 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.291 to -0.025 mmol/L; P = 0.02). There is no effect of ALA intake on HDL-C (WMD 0.008 mmol/L; 95% CI: -0.018 to 0.034 mmol/L; P = 0.541). Dose-response analysis indicated that 1 g per day increment of ALA was associated with a 0.0016 mmol/L, 0.0071 mmol/L, 0.0015 and 0.0061 mmol/L reduction in TG (95% CI: -0.0029 to -0.0002 mmol/L), TC (95% CI: -0.0085 to -0.0058 mmol/L), HDL-C (95% CI: -0.0020 to -0.0011 mmol/L) and LDL-C (95% CI: -0.0073 to -0.0049 mmol/L) levels, respectively. The effects of ALA intake on TG, TC and LDL-C concentrations were more obvious among Asian participants, and also more obvious on patients with hyperlipidemia or hyperglycemia compared to healthy individuals. Dietary ALA intervention improves blood lipid profiles by decreasing levels of TG, TC, LDL and VLDL-C. Our findings add to the evidence that increasing ALA intake could potentially prevent risk of cardiovascular diseases.

Rapeseed oil fortified with micronutrients improves cognitive alterations associated with metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome represents a major risk factor for severe comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases or diabetes. It is also associated with an increased prevalence of emotional and cognitive alterations that in turn aggravate the disease and related outcomes. Identifying therapeutic strategies able to improve those alterations is therefore a major socioeconomical and public health challenge. We previously reported that both hippocampal inflammatory processes and neuronal plasticity contribute to the development of emotional and cognitive alterations in db/db mice, an experimental model of metabolic syndrome that displays most of the classical features of the syndrome. In that context, nutritional interventions with known impact on those neurobiological processes appear as a promising alternative to limit the development of neurobiological comorbidities of metabolic syndrome. We therefore tested here whether n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) associated with a cocktail of antioxidants can protect against the development of behavioral alterations that accompany the metabolic syndrome. Thus, this study aimed: 1) to evaluate if a diet supplemented with the plant-derived n-3 PUFA α-linolenic acid (ALA) and antioxidants (provided by n-3 PUFAs-rich rapeseed oil fortified with a mix of naturally constituting antioxidant micronutrients, including coenzyme Q10, tocopherol, and the phenolic compound canolol) improved behavioral alterations in db/db mice, and 2) to decipher the biological mechanisms underlying this behavioral effect. Although the supplemented diet did not improve anxiety-like behavior and inflammatory abnormalities, it reversed hippocampus-dependent spatial memory deficits displayed by db/db mice in a water maze task. It concomitantly changed subunit composition of glutamatergic AMPA and NMDA receptors in the hippocampus that has been shown to modulate synaptic function related to spatial memory. These data suggest that changes in local neuronal plasticity may underlie cognitive improvements in db/db mice fed the supplemented diet. The current findings might therefore provide valuable data for introducing new nutritional strategies for the treatment of behavioral complications associated with MetS.

Biochemistry of blood platelet activation and the beneficial role of plant oils in cardiovascular diseases

The main function of blood platelets is to form hemostatic plugs and enable thrombosis. These properties, however, can be greatly influenced by dietary components which may inhibit certain steps of platelet activation, including platelet aggregation. Such inhibition can play a role in the prophylaxis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases associated with blood platelet hyperactivation. In fact, plant and fish oils have been identified and specifically used for this purpose. Numerous in vivo and in vitro experiments have explored the potential use of these oils to inhibit platelet activation as well as their role in reducing oxidative stress and blood pressure, and lowering triglyceride and cholesterol. This chapter presents and compares the anti-platelet effects of fish and plant oils and their constituents, especially fatty acids. Studies on healthy subjects and patients with various cardiovascular diseases are also examined. Findings indicate that both fish and plant oils contain protective components with anti-platelet activity having clearly defined mechanisms of action. Although both are excellent sources of omega fatty acids and vitamins, plant oils contain components with cardioprotective benefit in hypercholesterolemics, i.e., phytosterols. Plant oils may hence play a key role in strategies for preventing and treating cardiovascular diseases associated with platelet hyperactivation. Further studies are clearly needed to determine the precise dose of these components needed for effective prophylaxis and treatment.

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in Rabbits Under Oxidative Stress Induced By High Fat Diet

INTRODUCTION

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the type and form of oil (raw/non-oxidised (N) or post-frying/oxidised (O)) consumed in high-fat diets affect the oxidative status of an organism, as observed by malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration as an oxidative factor and antioxidant enzyme activity.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Fats in the diet came from rapeseed oil (R) and olive oil (O).

RESULTS

The applied diet caused a decrease in MDA concentration (μmol/L) in serum in group RN from 2.94 ± 0.87 to 1.76 ± 0.13, in group ON from 2.45 ± 0.62 to 1.50 ± 0.10, and in group OO from 2.70 ± 1.16 to 1.84 ± 0.36. Meanwhile, MDA concentration (mmol/L) increased in blood haemolysate in group RO from 0.15 ± 0.07 to 0.22 ± 0.03 and in group OO from 0.17 ± 0.02 to 0.22 ± 0.02. The observed changes caused a response of the enzymatic antioxidant system in both models, especially followed by an increase in activities of total superoxide dismutase and its mitochondrial isoenzyme in all experimental groups, while its cytosolic isoenzyme activity increased only in ON and OO groups. Increased activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in groups RN and RO and of catalase (CAT) in groups ON and OO was observed. Significant differences in responses to the different types and forms of oils were probably caused by the different oxidative stability of the studied oils.

CONCLUSION

This diet disturbed the body's oxidative status; however, during the six-month study the enzymatic antioxidant system remained effective.

Rapeseed oil fortified with micronutrients can reduce glucose intolerance during a high fat challenge in rats

Background

Better choices of dietary lipid sources and substitution of refined by fortified oils could reduce the intake of saturated fatty acids (FA) and increase the intake of omega 3 FA concomitantly to healthy bioactive compounds.

Methods

The development of obesity and metabolic disturbances was explored in rats fed during 11 weeks with a high fat diet (HFD) in which the amount of saturated and polyunsaturated FA was respectively reduced and increased, using rapeseed oil as lipid source. This oil was used in a refined form (R) or fortified (10 fold increase in concentration) with endogenous micronutrients (coenzyme Q10 + tocopherol only (RF) only and also with canolol (RFC)). The effect of substituting palm by rapeseed oil was analysed using a student t test, oil fortification was analysed using ANOVA statistical test.

Results

Despite a similar weight gain, diets R, RF and RFC improved glucose tolerance (+ 10%) of the rats compared to a standard HFD with palm and sunflower oils as lipid source. Plasma glucose was lowered in RF and RFC groups (- 15 and 23% respectively), although triacylglycerol level was only reduced in group RFC (- 33%) compared to R. The fortification with canolol promoted the activation of Akt and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in skeletal muscle and subcutaneous adipose tissue respectively. Canolol supplementation also led to reduce p38 MAPK activation in skeletal muscle.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the presence of endogenous micronutrients in rapeseed oil promotes cellular adaptations to reverse glucose intolerance and improve the metabolism of insulin sensitive tissues.

Grasslands: A Source of Secondary Metabolites for Livestock Health

The need for environmentally friendly practices in animal husbandry, in conjunction with the reduction of the use of synthetic chemicals, leads us to reconsider our agricultural production systems. In that context, grassland secondary metabolites (GSMs) could offer an alternative way to support to livestock health. In fact, grasslands, especially those with high dicotyledonous plant species, present a large, pharmacologically active reservoir of secondary metabolites (e.g., phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, carotenoids, and quinones). These molecules have activities that could improve or deteriorate health and production. This Review presents the main families of GSMs and uses examples to describe their known impact on animal health in husbandry. Techniques involved for their study are also described. A particular focus is put on anti-oxidant activities of GSMs. In fact, numerous husbandry pathologies, such as inflammation, are linked to oxidative stress and can be managed by a diet rich in anti-oxidants. The different approaches and techniques used to evaluate grassland quality for livestock health highlight the lack of efficient and reliable technics to study the activities of this complex phytococktail. Better knowledge and management of this animal health resource constitute a new multidisciplinary research field and a challenge to maintain and valorize grasslands.

The Role of Oxidative Stress in Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury and Remodeling: Revisited

Oxidative and reductive stress are dual dynamic phases experienced by the cells undergoing adaptation towards endogenous or exogenous noxious stimulus. The former arises due to the imbalance between the reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant defenses, while the latter is due to the aberrant increase in the reducing equivalents. Mitochondrial malfunction is the common denominator arising from the aberrant functioning of the rheostat that maintains the homeostasis between oxidative and reductive stress. Recent experimental evidences suggest that the maladaptation during oxidative stress could play a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of major cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infraction, atherosclerosis, and diabetic cardiovascular complications. In this review we have discussed the role of oxidative and reductive stress pathways in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Furthermore, we have provided impetus for the development of subcellular organelle targeted antioxidant drug therapy for thwarting the deterioration of the failing myocardium in the aforementioned cardiovascular conditions.

Dietary rapeseed/canola-oil supplementation reduces serum lipids and liver enzymes and alters postprandial inflammatory responses in adipose tissue compared to olive-oil supplementation in obese men

SCOPE

Obesity is associated with hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and low-grade inflammation. Studies have shown that MUFA as well as PUFA have beneficial effects on blood lipids and the inflammatory state.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study investigates the effects of a daily supplementation of either 50 g of rapeseed/canola (RA) or olive (OL) oil over 4 wk on serum lipids, serum liver enzymes, and inflammatory gene expression in subcutaneous (s. c.) adipose tissue in obese men. Consuming RA resulted in increased serum n-3 fatty acids and a reduction in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and serum aspartate aminotransferase compared to OL. In s. c. adipose tissue, gene expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL6 was reduced in RA compared to OL. However, after 4 h after a test meal, containing the appropriate oil, white bread, and 400 mL of liquid diet drink (835 kcal in total), gene expression of IL6, IL1B, and EMR1 (egf-like module containing Mucin-like hormone receptor-like 1) was increased in RA and of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL2) in both RA and OL.

CONCLUSION

This demonstrates that consuming RA for 4 wk improves serum lipids, liver enzymes, and basal inflammation in s. c. adipose tissue, but it mediates an acute pro-inflammatory response in adipose tissue upon consuming a meal.

Effects of endogenous and exogenous micronutrients in rapeseed oils on the antioxidant status and lipid profile in high-fat fed rats

Background

Micronutrients in oil reduce one or more risk factors of cardiovascular diseases, while the contents of micronutrients in oil are relatively poor, which is insufficient to reverse the metabolic disorders at different stages of progress. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of endogenous micronutrients in optimized cold-pressed rapeseed oil and restoratively added or fortified micronutrients in traditional refined rapeseed oil (restoring micronutrients to be nearly equal to or significantly higher than levels in crude rapeseed oil) on the antioxidant status and lipid profile in high-fat fed rats.

Methods

Male Wistar rats were fed high-fat diets containing different rapeseed oils for 4 weeks, including the standard refined rapeseed oil(SRO), optimized cold-pressed rapeseed oil(CRO) and the traditional refined rapeseed oil with restorative addition or fortification of micronutrients (LF, HF-SRO).

Results

CRO exhibited significant increases in contents of tocopherols (+13%), phytosterols (+34%), polyphenols (+92%) and phospholipids (+725%) compared with SRO, as well as the total antioxidant capacities (+82-125%) (p < 0.05). While the HF-SRO revealed improved antioxidant properties in vitro than the CRO, which was comparable to LF-SRO. Significant improved plasma antioxidant capacities and lipid peroxidation evaluated by T-AOC, GSH, tocopherols and MDA were found in rats fed HF-SRO when compared with CRO and LF-SRO (p < 0.05). Furthermore, HF-SRO also decreased the plasma and hepatic TC levels compared to CRO and LF-SRO, accompanying higher fecal cholesterol excretion (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

The standard refined rapeseed oil with fortification, not restorative addition of micronutrients was comparable to the optimized cold-pressed rapeseed oil in improving the antioxidant status and lipid profile of high-fat fed rats.

Can rapeseed oil replace olive oil as part of a Mediterranean-style diet?

The present narrative review compares evidence from experimental, epidemiological and clinical studies of the health benefits of rapeseed oil (RO) (known as canola oil) and olive oil (OO) in order to assess whether rapeseed oil is suitable as a sustainable alternative to OO as part of a Mediterranean-style diet in countries where olive trees do not grow. From epidemiological studies, the evidence for cardiovascular protection afforded by extra-virgin OO is 'convincing', and for cancers 'limited-suggestive', especially oestrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, but more studies are required in relation to cognitive impairment. Evidence for RO is limited to short-term studies on the biomarkers of risk factors for CVD. Any benefits of RO are likely to be due to α-linolenic acid; however, it is prone to oxidation during frying. We conclude that due to a lack of evidence from observational or intervention studies indicating that RO has comparable health benefits to extra-virgin OO, RO cannot currently be recommended as a suitable substitute for extra-virgin OO as part of a Mediterranean-style diet.