Coffee drinking induces incorporation of phenolic acids into LDL and increases the resistance of LDL to ex vivo oxidation in humans

Chlorogenic Acid: A Systematic Review on the Biological Functions, Mechanistic Actions, and Therapeutic Potentials

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a type of polyphenol compound found in rich concentrations in many plants such as green coffee beans. As an active natural substance, CGA exerts diverse therapeutic effects in response to a variety of pathological challenges, particularly conditions associated with chronic metabolic diseases and age-related disorders. It shows multidimensional functions, including neuroprotection for neurodegenerative disorders and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-pathogens, mitigation of cardiovascular disorders, skin diseases, diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney injuries, and anti-tumor activities. Mechanistically, its integrative functions act through the modulation of anti-inflammation/oxidation and metabolic homeostasis. It can thwart inflammatory constituents at multiple levels such as curtailing NF-kB pathways to neutralize primitive inflammatory factors, hindering inflammatory propagation, and alleviating inflammation-related tissue injury. It concurrently raises pivotal antioxidants by activating the Nrf2 pathway, thus scavenging excessive cellular free radicals. It elevates AMPK pathways for the maintenance and restoration of metabolic homeostasis of glucose and lipids. Additionally, CGA shows functions of neuromodulation by targeting neuroreceptors and ion channels. In this review, we systematically recapitulate CGA's pharmacological activities, medicinal properties, and mechanistic actions as a potential therapeutic agent. Further studies for defining its specific targeting molecules, improving its bioavailability, and validating its clinical efficacy are required to corroborate the therapeutic effects of CGA.

Variables Affecting the Extraction of Antioxidants in Cold and Hot Brew Coffee: A Review

Coffee beans are a readily available, abundant source of antioxidants used worldwide. With the increasing interest in and consumption of coffee beverages globally, research into the production, preparation, and chemical profile of coffee has also increased in recent years. A wide range of variables such as roasting temperature, coffee grind size, brewing temperature, and brewing duration can have a significant impact on the extractable antioxidant content of coffee products. While there is no single standard method for measuring all of the antioxidants found in coffee, multiple methods which introduce the coffee product to a target molecule or reagent can be used to deduce the overall radical scavenging capacity. In this article, we profile the effect that many of these variables have on the quantifiable concentration of antioxidants found in both cold and hot brew coffee samples. Most protocols for cold brew coffee involve an immersion or steeping method where the coffee grounds are in contact with water at or below room temperature for several hours. Generally, a higher brewing temperature or longer brewing time yielded greater antioxidant activity. Most studies also found that a lower degree of coffee bean roast yielded greater antioxidant activity.

Optimization of Delivery and Bioavailability of Encapsulated Caffeic Acid

Caffeic acid is a widely distributed phenolic acid. It is described in the scientific literature that caffeic acid has poor solubility. The aim of this study was to improve the solubility of caffeic acid for better dissolution kinetics when administered orally. During the study, oral capsules of different compositions were modeled. The results of the disintegration test revealed that the excipients affected the disintegration time of the capsules. The excipient hypromellose prolonged the disintegration time and dissolution time of caffeic acid. The dissolution kinetics of caffeic acid from capsules depend on the chosen excipients. P407 was more effective compared to other excipients and positively affected the dissolution kinetics of caffeic acid compared to other excipients. When the capsule contained 25 mg of β-cyclodextrin, 85% of the caffeic acid was released after 60 min. When the capsule contained 25-50 mg poloxamer 407, more than 85.0% of the caffeic acid was released from capsules after 30 min. The research results showed that in order to improve the dissolution kinetics of caffeic acid, one of the important steps is to improve its solubility.

Type 2 Diabetes mellitus alters the cargo of (poly)phenol metabolome and the oxidative status in circulating lipoproteins

The incidence of diabetes on the worldwide population has tripled in the past 5 decades. While drug-based therapies are valuable strategies to treat and ease the socio-economic burden of diabetes, nutritional strategies offer valuable alternatives to prevent and manage diabetes onset and contribute to the sustainability of health budgets. Whilst, intervention studies have shown that (poly)phenol-rich diets improve fasting glucose levels and other blood parameters, very little is known about the distribution of ingested polyphenols in circulation and the impact of diabetes on its cargo. In this study we investigate the impact of type 2 diabetes on the cargo of plasma (poly)phenols. Our results show that phenolic compounds are heterogeneously distributed in circulation though mainly transported by lipoprotein populations. We also found that diabetes has a marked effect on the phenolic content transported by VLDL resulting in the decrease in the content of flavonoids and consequently a decrease in the antioxidant capacity. In addition to the reduced bioavailability of (poly)phenol metabolites and increase of oxidative status in LDL and HDL populations in diabetes, cell-based assays show that sub-micromolar amounts of microbial (poly)phenol metabolites are able to counteract the pro-inflammatory status in glucose-challenged endothelial cells. Our findings highlight the relevance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins in the transport and delivery of bioactive plant-based compounds to the endothelium in T2DM supporting the adoption of nutritional guidelines as an alternative strategy to drug-based therapeutic approaches.

Polyphenols and atherosclerosis: A critical review of clinical effects on LDL oxidation

Atherosclerosis is a major etiology of cardiovascular disease that causes considerable mortality. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is a fundamental attributor to atherosclerosis. Therefore, there seems to be an essential place for antioxidant therapy besides the current treatment protocols for coronary heart disease. Polyphenols are a class of compounds with substantial antioxidant properties that have shown the ability to reduce LDL oxidation in preclinical studies. However, clinical evidence has not been as conclusive although offering many promising signs. This review aims to examine the trials that have evaluated how dietary intake of polyphenols in different forms might influence the oxidation of LDL. Lowering the circulating cholesterol, incorporation into LDL particles, and enhancing systemic antioxidant activity are among the main mechanisms of action for polyphenols for lowering oxLDL. On the other hand, the population under study significantly affects the impact on oxLDL, as the type of the supplement and phenolic content. To conclude, although the polyphenols might decrease inflammation and enhance endothelial function via lowering oxLDL, there are still many gaps in our knowledge that need to be filled with further high-quality studies.

Association between coffee consumption with serum lipid profile in ELSA-Brasil study: a metabolomic approach

PURPOSE

This study evaluated the association between coffee consumption and serum lipid profile in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study on baseline data from participants of the cohort ELSA-Brasil. Only participants of São Paulo Research Center who underwent a nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy examination of lipid profile were included (N = 4736). Coffee intake was categorized into four categories (cups/day, in reference cup size of 50 mL, which is the household measure adopted in Brazil): never/almost never, ≤ 1, 1-3, and > 3. Serum lipid profile [i.e., Total Cholesterol (TC), Total Triglycerides (TG), Very Low-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (VLDL-c), Low-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-c), High-Density Lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-c), Triglyceride-rich Lipoprotein Particles (TRLP) and subfractions particles] was analyzed. To estimate the effect of coffee consumption on serum lipid profile, multivariate Generalized Linear Models were performed.

RESULTS

Compared to participants who never or almost never drink coffee, individuals who consumed more than 3 cups/day showed an increase in concentrations of TC (β: 4.13; 95% CI 0.81, 7.45), TG (β: 9.53; 95% CI 1.65, 17.42), VLDL-c (β: 1.90; 95% CI 0.38, 3.42), TRLP (β: 8.42; 95% CI 1.24, 15.60), and Very Small-TRLP and Medium-TRLP subfractions (β: 7.36; 95% CI 0.21, 14.51; β: 2.53; 95% CI 0.89, 4.16, respectively), but not with HDL-c and LDL-c. Among individuals with low (≤ 1 cup/day) and moderate (1-3 cups/day) coffee consumption, no significant associations with lipids was observed.

CONCLUSION

High coffee consumption (more than 3 cups per day) was associated with an increase in serum lipids, namely TC, TG, VLDL-c, and TRL particles, highlighting the importance of a moderate consumption of this beverage.

Small phenolic and indolic gut-dependent molecules in the primate central nervous system: levels vs. bioactivity

INTRODUCTION

A rapidly growing body of data documents associations between disease of the brain and small molecules generated by gut-microbiota (GMB). While such metabolites can affect brain function through a variety of mechanisms, the most direct action would be on the central nervous system (CNS) itself.

OBJECTIVE

Identify indolic and phenolic GMB-dependent small molecules that reach bioactive concentrations in primate CNS.

METHODS

We conducted a PubMed search for metabolomic studies of the primate CNS [brain tissue or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)] and then selected for phenolic or indolic metabolites that (i) had been quantified, (ii) were GMB-dependent. For each chemical we then conducted a search for studies of bioactivity conducted in vitro in human cells of any kind or in CNS cells from the mouse or rat.

RESULTS

36 metabolites of interests were identified in primate CNS through targeted metabolomics. Quantification was available for 31/36 and in vitro bioactivity for 23/36. The reported CNS range for 8 metabolites 2-(3-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid, 2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)acetic acid, 3-(3-hydroxyphenyl)propanoic acid, (E)-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)prop-2-enoic acid [caffeic acid], 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, 2-acetamido-3-(1H-indol-3-yl)propanoic acid [N-acetyltryptophan], 1H-indol-3-yl hydrogen sulfate [indoxyl-3-sulfate] overlapped with a bioactive concentration. However, the number and quality of relevant studies of CNS neurochemistry as well as of bioactivity were highly limited. Structural isomers, multiple metabolites and potential confounders were inadequately considered.

CONCLUSION

The potential direct bioactivity of GMB-derived indolic and phenolic molecules on primate CNS remains largely unknown. The field requires additional strategies to identify and prioritize screening of the most promising small molecules that enter the CNS.

Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Properties of Polyphenol-Rich Extracts from Antirhea borbonica and Doratoxylon apetalum against Atherogenic Lipids in Human Endothelial Cells

The endothelial integrity is the cornerstone of the atherogenic process. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation occurring within atheromatous plaques leads to deleterious vascular effects including endothelial cell cytotoxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vascular antioxidant and cytoprotective effects of polyphenol-rich extracts from two medicinal plants from the Reunion Island: Antirhea borbonica (A. borbonica), Doratoxylon apetalum (D. apetalum). The polyphenol-rich extracts were obtained after dissolving each dry plant powder in an aqueous acetonic solution. Quantification of polyphenol content was achieved by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay and total phenol content was expressed as g gallic acid equivalent/100 g plant powder (GAE). Human vascular endothelial cells were incubated with increasing concentrations of polyphenols (1–50 µM GAE) before stimulation with oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDLs). LDL oxidation was assessed by quantification of hydroperoxides and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Intracellular oxidative stress and antioxidant activity (catalase and superoxide dismutase) were measured after stimulation with oxLDLs. Cell viability and apoptosis were quantified using different assays (MTT, Annexin V staining, cytochrome C release, caspase 3 activation and TUNEL test). A. borbonica and D. apetalum displayed high levels of polyphenols and limited LDL oxidation as well as oxLDL-induced intracellular oxidative stress in endothelial cells. Polyphenol extracts of A. borbonica and D. apetalum exerted a protective effect against oxLDL-induced cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner (10, 25, and 50 µM GAE) similar to that observed for curcumin, used as positive control. All together, these results showed significant antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties for two plants of the Reunion Island pharmacopeia, A. borbonica and D. apetalum, suggesting their therapeutic potential to prevent cardiovascular diseases by limiting LDL oxidation and protecting the endothelium.

Going "Green" in the Prevention and Management of Atherothrombotic Diseases: The Role of Dietary Polyphenols

During the 20th century processed and ready-to-eat foods became routinely consumed resulting in a sharp rise of fat, salt, and sugar intake in people's diets. Currently, the global incidence of obesity, raised blood lipids, hypertension, and diabetes in an increasingly aged population contributes to the rise of atherothrombotic events and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) mortality. Drug-based therapies are valuable strategies to tackle and help manage the socio-economic impact of atherothrombotic disorders though not without adverse side effects. The inclusion of fresh fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids to human diets, as recommended by WHO offers a valuable nutritional strategy, alternative to drug-based therapies, to be explored in the prevention and management of atherothrombotic diseases at early stages. Though polyphenols are mostly associated to color and taste in foods, food flavonoids are emerging as modulators of cholesterol biosynthesis, appetite and food intake, blood pressure, platelet function, clot formation, and anti-inflammatory signaling, supporting the health-promoting effects of polyphenol-rich diets in mitigating the impact of risk factors in atherothrombotic disorders and CVD events. Here we overview the current knowledge on the effect of polyphenols particularly of flavonoid intake on the atherothrombotic risk factors and discuss the caveats and challenges involved with current experimental cell-based designs.

Catabolism of hydroxycinnamic acids in contact with probiotic Lactobacillus

AIMS

The catabolism products of the fermentation process of selected hydroxycinnamic acids initiated by different species of Lactobacillus strains were identified.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Three dietary supplements (Sanprobi IBS^® , BioGaia ProTectis Baby^® and Dicoflor 60^® ) were used to isolate the Lactobacillus strains. The overnight bacterial cultures (18 h) were diluted and grown in a microaerophilic atmosphere at 37°C. Then, each phenolic acid was added to bacterial cultures and incubated for 24 h at 37°C. Samples were collected at specific intervals for a further 24 h of incubation. LC-MS/MS was used for the identification of metabolism products of selected phenolic acids.

CONCLUSIONS

The phenolic acids were resistant to the Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG. Lactobacillus plantarum 299v caused degradation of caffeic and ferulic acids. The former was degraded either to dihydrocaffeic acid or to 4-vinylcatechol and 4-ethylcatechol. Ferulic acid was degraded only to dihydroferulic acid. Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 caused only the degradation of chlorogenic acid (5-caffeoylquinic acid, referred to IUPAC nomenclature) to caffeic acid.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Using of Lactobacilli as food additive should be taken into account that phenolic acids metabolism rate depends on not only the specific bacterial strain but also the structural properties of the acid.

Anti-Platelet Aggregation and Anti-Cyclooxygenase Activities for a Range of Coffee Extracts (Coffea arabica)

Coffee is rich in caffeine (CF), chlorogenic acid (CGA) and phenolics. Differing types of coffee beverages and brewing procedures may result in differences in total phenolic contents (TPC) and biological activities. Inflammation and increases of platelet activation and aggregation can lead to thrombosis. We focused on determining the chemical composition, antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects on agonist-induced platelet aggregation and cyclooxygenase (COX) of coffee beverages in relation to their preparation method. We prepared instant coffee and brewed coffee beverages using drip, espresso, and boiling techniques. Coffee extracts were assayed for their CF and CGA contents using HPLC, TPC using colorimetry, platelet aggregation with an aggregometer, and COX activity using ELISA. The findings have shown all coffee extracts, except the decaffeinated types, contained nearly equal amounts of CF, CGA, and TPC. Inhibitory effects of coffee extracts on platelet aggregation differed depending on the activation pathways induced by different agonists. All espresso, drip and boiled coffee extracts caused dose dependent inhibition of platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, epinephrine, and arachidonic acid (ARA). The most marked inhibition was seen at low doses of collagen or ARA. Espresso and drip extracts inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation more than purified caffeine or CGA. Espresso, boiled and drip coffee extracts were also a more potent inhibitors of COX-1 and COX-2 than purified caffeine or CGA. We conclude that inhibition of platelet aggregation and COX-1 and COX-2 may contribute to anti-platelet and anti-inflammatory effects of espresso and drip coffee extracts.

Moderate coffee consumption is associated with lower risk of mortality in prior Acute Coronary Syndrome patients: a prospective analysis in the ERICO cohort

This study examined the association between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality in patients with a prior acute myocardial infarction or unstable angina. Data were from the prospective study ERICO, totalising 928 patients with Acute Coronary Syndrome (ACS). During 4 years' follow-up, a total of 111 deaths occurred. Moderate coffee consumption (1-2 and 2-3 cups/day) was inversely associated with total mortality (HR 0.13, 95% CI: 0.06-0.29 and 0.22, 95% CI: 0.13-0.39, respectively). For patients with higher coffee consumption (>3 cups/day), there was a positive association with mortality (HR 2.12, 95% CI: 1.06-4.24). After stratification by smoking status, the analysis revealed lower risk of mortality in never and former smokers, drinking 1-2 and 2-3 cups/day. Among current smokers there was a positive association between >3 cups/day and mortality. The moderate consumption of coffee was associated with lower risk of all-cause mortality in patients with a prior ACS, particularly in non-smokers.

Oxylipin regulation by phenolic compounds from coffee beverage: Positive outcomes from a randomized controlled trial in healthy adults and macrophage derived foam cells

Oxylipins are considered biomarkers related to cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). They are generated in vivo via the oxygenation of polyunsaturated fatty acids as a result of oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxylipins are involved in vascular functions and are produced during foam cell formation in atherogenesis. Additionally, the consumption coffee is associated with the regulation on a particular oxylipin group, the F_2t-isoprostanes (F_2t-IsoPs). This function has been attributed to the chlorogenic acids (CGAs) from the coffee beverage. Considering the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of CGAs, we evaluated the effects of two types of coffee that provided 787 mg CGAs/day (Coffee A) and 407 mg CGAs/day (Coffee B) by reducing 35 selected oxylipins in healthy subjects. Furthermore, we assessed the effect of CGAs on the cellular proatherogenic response in foam cells by using an oxidized LDL (oxLDL)-macrophage interaction model. After eight weeks of coffee consumption, the contents of 12 urine oxylipins were reduced. However, the effect of Coffee A showed a stronger decrease in IsoPs, dihomo-IsoPs, prostaglandins (PGs) and PG metabolites, probably due to its higher content of CGAs. Neither of the two coffees reduced the levels of oxLDL. Moreover, the in vitro oxylipin induction by oxLDL on foam cells was ameliorated by phenolic acids and CGAs, including the inhibition of IsoPs and PGs by caffeoylquinic and dicaffeoylquinic acids, respectively, while the phenolic acids maintained both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. These findings suggest that coffee antioxidants are strong regulators of oxylipins related to CVDs. The clinical trial was registered on the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, WHO primary registry (RPCEC00000168).

Polyphenols bind to low density lipoprotein at biologically relevant concentrations that are protective for heart disease

There is ample evidence in the epidemiological literature that polyphenols, the major non-vitamin antioxidants in plant foods and beverages, have a beneficial effect on heart disease. Until recently other mechanisms which polyphenols exhibit such as cell signaling and regulating nitric oxide bioavailability have been investigated. The oxidation theory of atherosclerosis implicates LDL oxidation as the beginning step in this process. Nine polyphenols from eight different classes and several of their O-methylether, O-glucuronide and O-sulfate metabolites have been shown in this study to bind to the lipoproteins and protect them from oxidation at lysosomal/inflammatory pH (5.2), and physiological pH (7.4). Polyphenols bind to the apoprotein at pH 7.4 with K_b > 10⁶ M^-1 and the number of molecules of polyphenols bound per LDL particle under saturation conditions varied from 0.4 for ferulic acid to 13.1 for quercetin. Competition studies between serum albumin and LDL show that substantial lipoprotein binding occurs even in the presence of a great molar excess of albumin, the major blood protein. These in vitro results are borne out by published human supplementation studies showing that polyphenol metabolites from red wine, olive oil and coffee are found in LDL even after an overnight fast. A single human supplementation with various fruit juices, coffee and tea also produced an ex vivo protection against lipoprotein oxidation under postprandial conditions. This in vivo binding is heart-protective based on published olive oil consumption studies. Relevant to heart disease, we hypothesize that the binding of polyphenols and metabolites to LDL functions as a transport mechanism to carry these antioxidants to the arterial intima, and into endothelial cells and macrophages. Extracellular and intracellular polyphenols and their metabolites are heart-protective by many mechanisms and can also function as potent "intraparticle" and intracellular antioxidants due to their localized concentrations that can reach as high as the micromolar level. Low plasma concentrations make polyphenols and their metabolites poor plasma antioxidants but their concentration in particles such as lipoproteins and cells is high enough for polyphenols to provide cardiovascular protection by direct antioxidant effects and by other mechanisms such as cell signaling.

Interactions of dietary polyphenols with epithelial lipids: advances from membrane and cell models in the study of polyphenol absorption, transport and delivery to the epithelium

Currently, diet-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases account for 70% of all global deaths. To counteract the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases governments are investing in persuasive educational campaigns toward the ingestion of fresh fruits and vegetables. The intake of dietary polyphenols abundant in Mediterranean and Nordic-type diets holds great potential as nutritional strategies in the management of diet-related diseases. However, the successful implementation of healthy nutritional strategies relies on a pleasant sensory perception in the mouth able to persuade consumers to adopt polyphenol-rich diets and on a deeper understanding on the chemical modifications, that affect not only their chemical properties but also their physical interaction with epithelial lipids and in turn their permeability, location within the lipid bilayer, toxicity and biological activity, and fate during absorption at the gastro-intestinal epithelium, transport in circulation and delivery to the endothelium. In this paper, we review the current knowledge on the interactions between polyphenols and their metabolites with membrane lipids in artificial membranes and epithelial cell models (oral, stomach, gut and endothelium) and the findings from polyphenol-lipid interactions to physiological processes such as oral taste perception, gastrointestinal absorption and endothelial health. Finally, we discuss the limitations and challenges associated with the current experimental approaches in membrane and cell model studies and the potential of polyphenol-rich diets in the quest for personalized nutritional strategies ("personalized nutrition") to assist in the prevention, treatment, and management of non-communicable diseases in an increasingly aged population.

Chlorogenic Acids in Cardiovascular Disease: A Review of Dietary Consumption, Pharmacology, and Pharmacokinetics

Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) have gained considerable attention as pervasive human dietary constituents with potential cardiovascular-preserving effects. The main sources include coffee, yerba mate, Eucommia ulmodies leaves, and Lonicerae Japonicae Flos. CGA consumption can reduce the risks of hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, and other factors associated with cardiovascular risk, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. This review recapitulates recent advances of CGAs in the cardiovascular-preserving effects, pharmacokinetics, sources, and safety. Emerging evidence indicates that CGAs exhibit circulatory guarding properties through the suppression of oxidative stress, leukocyte infiltration, platelet aggregation, platelet-leukocyte interactions, vascular remodeling, and apoptosis as well as the regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism and vasodilatory action in the cardiovascular system. CGAs exert these effects by acting on complex signaling networks, but the global mechanisms are still not clear. The oral bioavailability of CGA is poor, and there is a potential sensitization concern about CGA. The bioactive metabolites, systematic toxicity, and optimized structure are needed for further identification.

Coffee consumption and risk of hypertension: A prospective analysis in the cohort study

BACKGROUND

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages around the world. Dietary habits, specifically, coffee consumption has long been a suspected cause of hypertension. However, previous findings on coffee consumption and its association with the incidence of hypertension are not homogeneous and still inconsistent.

PURPOSE

To examine the association of habitual coffee consumption with the risk of developing hypertension in a middle-aged Brazilian cohort.

METHODS

Data were from the multicenter prospective cohort "Brazilian Longitudinal Study for Adult Health - ELSA-Brasil". The cohort comprises 15,105 civil servants, aged 35-74 years at baseline, who were sampled from universities located in six Brazilian cities. For the present study, we analyzed data from 8780 participants initially free of hypertension during a mean follow-up of 3.9 years. The consumption of coffee was obtained at baseline using a previously validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Subsequently coffee intake was categorized into four categories (cups/day): never/almost never, ≤1, 1-3, and >3. Hypertension status was defined as a systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, use of antihypertensive drug treatment, or both. Poisson regression model with a robust variance was performed to estimate relative risk (RR) and confidence interval (95% CI) for hypertension according to baseline coffee consumption. The effect of interaction between coffee consumption and smoking status was assessed.

RESULTS

Most participants (90%) drank coffee, and the median total coffee intake was 150 mL/day. A total of 1285 participants developed hypertension. Compared to participants who never or almost never drink coffee, the risk of hypertension was lower for individuals consuming 1-3 cups/day (RR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68-0.97) (P for interaction=0.018). After stratification by smoking status the analysis revealed a decreased risk of hypertension in never smokers drinking 1-3 cups of coffee per day (RR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.64-0.98), whereas the hypertension risk among former and current smokers was not associated with coffee consumption significantly. Moreover, upper category of coffee drinking (>3 cups/day) the association was not significant for risk of hypertension.

CONCLUSION

The association between coffee consumption and incidence of hypertension was related to smoking status. The beneficial effect of moderate coffee intake (1-3 cups/day) on risk of hypertension was observed only in never smokers.

Effects of p-coumaric acid on microRNA expression profiles in SNU-16 human gastric cancer cells

BACKGROUND

p-Coumaric acid (p-CA), a phenolic compound abundantly found in edible plants, was found to induce apoptosis in SNU-16 gastric cancer cells. However, the effects of p-CA on the microRNA expression pattern in SNU-16 cells have not been reported.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this study was to investigate microRNA expression profiles in p-CA-treated SNU-16 cells.

METHODS

SNU-16 cells were treated with 1.5 mM p-CA for 48 h. High-throughput RNA sequencing was performed. The accuracy and validity of the RNA sequencing results were tested by real-time PCR. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed using the differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs).

RESULTS

Thirty-two DEMs were identified between p-CA-treated and control cells, 9 of which were upregulated, and 23 downregulated. GO and KEGG pathway analyses of the target genes indicated that these genes were involved in a variety of biological functions and several cancer-related pathways. The miRNA interactive network analysis identified hsa-miR-125a-5p, hsa-miR-30a-5p, and hsa-miR-7-5p as the major nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that p-CA exerted its anticancer effects in SNU-16 gastric cancer cells by modulating the expression of certain microRNAs, providing a better understanding of the anticancer properties of p-CA in gastric cancer cells.

Prospective associations between beverage intake during the midlife and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis: The Study of Women's Health Across the Nation

Background

The potential impacts of beverage intake during the midlife on future subclinical atherosclerosis among women are unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prospective associations between the intakes of eight beverage groups and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis in midlife women.

Methods

Data came from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, a multicenter, multiethnic, and prospective cohort study. A total of 1,235 midlife women had measures of subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and repeatedly beverage intake data collected using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Beverages were aggregated into eight groups, including coffee, tea, sugar-sweetened beverages, artificially sweetened beverages, fruit juices, whole milk, milk with lower fat content, and alcoholic beverages. The associations of beverage intake with common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) and adventitial diameter (CCA-AD) were estimated using linear models; the associations with carotid plaque were estimated using log-binomial models.

Results

Coffee intake was associated with CCA-IMT in an inverted J-shaped pattern. After adjusting for covariates, women with >0 to <1 cup/day and 1 to <2 cups/day of coffee intake had a 0.031 mm (95% CI: 0.012, 0.051) and a 0.027 mm (95% CI: 0.005, 0.049) larger CCA-IMT, respectively, than coffee non-drinkers. Women who consumed ≥2 cups/day of coffee did not have significantly different CCA-IMT than non-drinkers. There was an inverse linear association between moderate alcoholic beverages intake and CCA-IMT (P-trend = 0.014). Whole milk intake had inverted U-shaped associations with CCA-IMT and carotid plaque. No significant associations were found between other beverage groups and subclinical atherosclerosis.

Conclusions

In midlife women, occasional coffee intake may be associated with more subclinical atherosclerosis while moderate alcoholic beverages intake may be associated with less subclinical atherosclerosis. Future work should focus on the determination of the optimal beverage intake profile for maximum cardiovascular benefits in midlife women.

Intracellular Polyphenols: How Little We Know

In vitro cell studies are used by scientists to determine mechanisms that can be operating in vivo and pave the way for animal and human studies. Polyphenols, the major antioxidants in plants and the human diet, have been extensively studied in cells within thousands of publications. However, glucuronides, sulfates, and methyl metabolites and not the original polyphenols are generally present in the circulation and often have weaker beneficial effects in cell studies. The number of articles in the literature involving their cellular metabolites is quite small. We will critically examine the knowledge we have up to the present regarding polyphenols and cells in five areas: stability in in vitro cell culture media, metabolites, conjugation/deconjugation, transport to cells, and cells in vivo. Also, the future research needs in the field of polyphenols and their metabolites with cells will be outlined.

Lipidomic Response to Coffee Consumption

Coffee is widely consumed and contains many bioactive compounds, any of which may impact pathways related to disease development. Our objective was to identify individual lipid changes in response to coffee drinking. We profiled the lipidome of fasting serum samples collected from a previously reported single blinded, three-stage clinical trial. Forty-seven habitual coffee consumers refrained from drinking coffee for 1 month, consumed 4 cups of coffee/day in the second month and 8 cups/day in the third month. Samples collected after each coffee stage were subject to quantitative lipidomic profiling using ion-mobility spectrometry–mass spectrometry. A total of 853 lipid species mapping to 14 lipid classes were included for univariate analysis. Three lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) species including LPC (20:4), LPC (22:1) and LPC (22:2), significantly decreased after coffee intake (p < 0.05 and q < 0.05). An additional 72 species mapping to the LPC, free fatty acid, phosphatidylcholine, cholesteryl ester and triacylglycerol classes of lipids were nominally associated with coffee intake (p < 0.05 and q > 0.05); 58 of these decreased after coffee intake. In conclusion, coffee intake leads to lower levels of specific LPC species with potential impacts on glycerophospholipid metabolism more generally.

Host: Microbiome co-metabolic processing of dietary polyphenols - An acute, single blinded, cross-over study with different doses of apple polyphenols in healthy subjects

Apples are one of the most commonly consumed fruits and their high polyphenol content is considered one of the most important determinants of their health-promoting activities. Here we studied the nutrikinetics of apple polyphenols by UHPLC-HRMS metabolite fingerprinting, comparing bioavailability when consumed in a natural or a polyphenol-enriched cloudy apple juice. Twelve men and women participated in an acute single blind controlled crossover study in which they consumed 250 mL of cloudy apple juice (CAJ), Crispy Pink apple variety, or 250 mL of the same juice enriched with 750 mg of an apple polyphenol extract (PAJ). Plasma and whole blood were collected at time 0, 1, 2, 3 and 5 h. Urine was collected at time 0 and 0-2, 2-5, 5-8, and 8-24 h after juice consumption. Faecal samples were collected from each individual during the study for 16S rRNA gene profiling. As many as 110 metabolites were significantly elevated following intake of polyphenol enriched cloudy apple juice, with large inter-individual variations. The comparison of the average area under the curve of circulating metabolites in plasma and in urine of volunteers consuming either the CAJ or the PAJ demonstrated a stable metabotype, suggesting that an increase in polyphenol concentration in fruit does not limit their bioavailability upon ingestion. Faecal bacteria were correlated with specific microbial catabolites derived from apple polyphenols. Human metabolism of apple polyphenols is a co-metabolic process between human encoded activities and those of our resident microbiota. Here we have identified specific blood and urine metabolic biomarkers of apple polyphenol intake and identified putative associations with specific genera of faecal bacteria, associations which now need confirmation in specifically designed mechanistic studies.

A phase I single-blind clinical trial to evaluate the safety of oil palm phenolics (OPP) supplementation in healthy volunteers

Plant phenolics are being increasingly consumed globally with limited scientific and clinical evidence pertaining to safety and efficacy. The oil palm fruit contains a cocktail of phenolics, and palm oil production results in high volumes of aqueous by-products enriched in phenolics and bioactives. Several lines of evidence from in vitro and in vivo animal studies confirmed that the aqueous extract enriched in phenolics and other bioactives collectively known as oil palm phenolics (OPP) is safe and has potent bioactivity. A phase one clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and effects of OPP in healthy volunteers. In this single-blind trial, 25 healthy human volunteers were supplemented with 450 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/day of OPP or control treatments for a 60-day period. Fasting blood and urine samples were collected at days 1, 30 and 60. Medical examination was performed during these trial interventions. All clinical biochemistry profiles observed throughout the control and OPP treatment period were in the normal range with no major adverse effect (AE) or serious adverse effect (SAE) observed. Additionally, OPP supplementation resulted in improvement of total cholesterol and LDL-C levels, compared to the control treatment. The outcomes support our previous observations that OPP is safe and may have a protective role in reducing cholesterol levels.

Coffee Consumption and Coronary Artery Calcium Score: Cross-Sectional Results of ELSA-Brasil (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health)

BACKGROUND

Available evidence for the relationship between coffee intake and subclinical atherosclerosis is limited and inconsistent. This study aimed to evaluate the association between coffee consumption and coronary artery calcium (CAC) in ELSA-Brasil (Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health).

METHODS AND RESULTS

This cross-sectional study is based on baseline data from participants of the ELSA-Brasil cohort. Only participants living in São Paulo, Brazil, who underwent a CAC measurement (n=4426) were included. Coffee consumption was collected using a food frequency questionnaire. CAC was detected with computed tomography and expressed as Agatston units. CAC was further categorized as an Agatson score ≥100 (CAC ≥100). In multiple logistic regression analysis considering intake of coffee and smoking status interaction, significant inverse associations were observed between coffee consumption (>3 cups/d) and CAC≥100 (odds ratio [OR]: 0.85 [95% confidence interval, 0.58-1.24] for ≤1 cup/d; OR: 0.73 [95% confidence interval, 0.51-1.05] for 1-3 cups/d; OR: 0.33 [95% confidence interval, 0.17-0.65] for >3 cups/d). Moreover, there was a statistically significant interaction effect for coffee consumption and smoking status (P=0.028 for interaction). After stratification by smoking status, the analysis revealed a lower OR of coronary calcification in never smokers drinking >3 cups/d (OR: 0.37 [95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.91]), whereas among current and former smokers, the intake of coffee was not significantly associated with coronary calcification.

CONCLUSIONS

Habitual consumption of >3 cups/d of coffee decreased odds of subclinical atherosclerosis among never smokers. The consumption of coffee could exert a potential beneficial effect against coronary calcification, particularly in nonsmokers.

Effect of antioxidant activity of caffeic acid with cyclodextrins using ground mixture method

In the current study, we prepared a ground mixture (GM) of caffeic acid (CA) with α-cyclodextrin (αCD) and with β-cyclodextrin (βCD), and then comparatively assessed the physicochemical properties and antioxidant capacities of these GMs. Phase solubility diagrams indicated that both CA/αCD and CA/βCD formed a complex at a molar ratio of 1/1. In addition, stability constants suggested that CA was more stable inside the cavity of αCD than inside the cavity of βCD. Results of powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) indicated that the characteristic diffraction peaks of CA and CD disappeared and a halo pattern was produced by the GMs of CA/αCD and CA/βCD (molar ratios = 1/1). Dissolution testing revealed that both GMs had a higher rate of dissolution than CA alone did. Based on the ¹H-¹H NOESY NMR spectra for the GM of CA/αCD, the vinylene group of the CA molecule appeared to be included from the wider to the narrower rim of the αCD ring. Based on spectra for the GM of CA/βCD, the aromatic ring of the CA molecule appeared to be included from the wider to the narrower rim of the βCD ring. This suggests that the structures of the CA inclusion complexes differed between those involving αCD rings and those involving βCD rings. Results of a DPPH radical-scavenging activity test indicated that the GM of CA/αCD had a higher antioxidant capacity than that of the GM of CA/βCD. The differences in the antioxidant capacities of the GMs of CA/αCD and CA/βCD are presumably due to differences in stability constants and structures of the inclusion complexes.

Low-density lipoprotein oxidation biomarkers in human health and disease and effects of bioactive compounds

Based on the significance of oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in health and disease, this review focuses on human studies addressing oxidation of LDL, including three lines of biomarkers, (i) ex vivo LDL resistance to oxidation, a "challenge test" model, (ii) circulating oxidized LDL, indicating the "current in vivo status", and (iii) autoantibodies against oxidized LDL as fingerprints of an immune response to oxidized LDL, along with circulating oxysterols and 4-hydroxynonenal as biomarkers of lipid peroxidation. Lipid peroxidation and oxidized LDL are hallmarks in the development of various metabolic, cardiovascular and other diseases. Changes further occur across life stages from infancy to older age as well as in athletes and smokers. Given their responsiveness to targeted nutritional interventions, markers of LDL oxidation have been employed in a rapidly growing number of human studies for more than 2 decades. There is growing interest in foods, which, besides providing energy and nutrients, exert beneficial effects on human health, such as protection of DNA, proteins and lipids from oxidative damage. Any health claim, however, needs to be substantiated by supportive evidence derived from human studies, using reliable biomarkers to demonstrate such beneficial effects. A large body of evidence has accumulated, demonstrating protection of LDL from oxidation by bioactive food compounds, including vitamins, other micronutrients and secondary plant ingredients, which will facilitate the selection of oxidation biomarkers for future human intervention studies and health claim support.

Effect of chocolate and mate tea on the lipid profile of individuals with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy: A clinical trial

OBJECTIVE

HIV/AIDS is generally associated with dyslipidemia and oxidative imbalance, which are caused by the infection itself and by antiretroviral therapy (ART). The flavonoids, found in cocoa and yerba mate, have antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the consumption of dark chocolate and mate tea on the lipid profiles of individuals with HIV/AIDS who are undergoing ART.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial was conducted with 92 patients receiving ART for ≥6 mo and with viral suppression. The participants were randomized to receive either 65 g of chocolate (with 2148 mg polyphenols) or placebo chocolate (without polyphenols) or 3 g of mate tea (with 107 mg total phenols and 84.24 mg chlorogenic acid) or placebo mate (without polyphenols) for 15 d each, separated by a washout period of 15 d. The lipid profile, including determination of electronegative low-density lipoprotein, was determined after each intervention. The data were analyzed by analysis of variance using the pkcross procedure of the Stata 11.0 software.

RESULTS

Analysis of variance revealed a significant overall difference in mean high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) between all supplements (P = 0.047). Using the paired t test, the effect was attributed to the consumption of dark chocolate (P = 0.046). The other parameters investigated were not improved.

CONCLUSIONS

The consumption of dark chocolate for 15 d improved HDL-C concentrations of individuals with HIV/AIDS undergoing ART, possibly due to the presence of fatty acids (stearic acid), polyphenols, and theobromine. This fact is important for the cardiovascular protection of these individuals.

Estimation of dietary total antioxidant capacity of Korean adults

PURPOSE

Dietary total antioxidant capacity (TAC) has been reported to be inversely associated with the risk of chronic diseases. However, little is known about dietary TAC among the Korean population. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the dietary TAC of Korean adults and to document the major food sources.

METHODS

We studied 33,581 Korean adults aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2012. Dietary TAC was estimated from 1-day 24-h dietary recall data using a TAC database comprising antioxidant capacities of 42 dietary antioxidants, developed for common Korean foods.

RESULTS

The average dietary TAC of Korean adults was 384.7 mg VCE/d, and the major contributors were flavonoids, followed by vitamin C and E. The energy-adjusted daily TAC level was higher in women, middle-aged adults, non-regular alcohol consumers, current non-smokers, supplement users, and in those with a higher income and education level than in their counterparts (P < 0.001). Fruits (47.3%), vegetables (28.4%), beverages and alcohols (11.2%), and legumes and legume products (5.5%), in particular, grapes, persimmons, mandarins, apples, and green tea, were major food sources of dietary TAC. In addition, the consumption of nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits and vegetables, increased, whereas the intake of energy and fat decreased across quartiles of energy-adjusted dietary TAC.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study documented the baseline dietary TAC of Korean adults and the major food sources thereof using nationally representative data. Further research on the health effects of dietary TAC among Korean adults is warranted.

Relationship between coffee consumption and stroke risk in Korean population: the Health Examinees (HEXA) Study

BACKGROUND

Although coffee consumption is increasing rapidly, the results of previous studies regarding the association between coffee consumption and stroke risk have been conflicting. This was a multi-center cross-sectional study that aimed to evaluate the relationship between coffee consumption and stroke risk in Korean population.

METHODS

Data were obtained from the Health Examinees (HEXA) Study, which involved 146,830 individuals aged 40-69 years. Coffee consumption was categorized as none, < 1 cup/day, 1 to < 3 cups/day, and ≥ 3 cups/day. We used logistic regression models to examine the association between coffee consumption and the risk of stroke while controlling for potential confounders and performed subgroup analyses.

RESULTS

After adjusting for age and various possible confounders, high coffee consumption was associated with a 38% lower odds ratio for stroke in women (none vs. ≥ 3 cups/day: OR, 0.62; 95% CI 0.47-0.81; P for trend < 0.0001). No significant association was found in men (none vs. ≥ 3 cups/day: OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.66-1.07; P for trend = 0.1515). In analyses stratified by covariates, an inverse association between coffee consumption and stroke risk was most evident among healthy women who were younger, non-obese, non-hypertensive, non-diabetic, non-smokers, and non-alcohol drinkers.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that higher coffee consumption may have protective benefits with regards to stroke risk in middle-aged Korean women.

The effect of coffee intake on lysophosphatidylcholines: A targeted metabolomic approach

BACKGROUND & AIM

Lysophosphatidylcholines (lysoPC) are known to be a pathological component of oxidized-LDL, and several studies demonstrate its pro-inflammatory properties in vitro. Nevertheless, bioactive compounds found in coffee, such as phenolic acids might inhibit LDL oxidation. The relationship between coffee consumption and lysoPC has not been described previously in humans. The aim of the present study was to assess the association between coffee intake and plasma lysoPC levels in adults.

METHODS

Data was from the "Health Survey of Sao Paulo (ISA-Capital)", a cross-sectional population-based survey in Sao Paulo, among 169 individuals aged 20 years or older. This population was categorized into three groups: non-coffee consumers (0 mL/day-G1), low coffee consumers (≤100 mL/day-G2), and high coffee consumers (>100 mL/day-G3). Usual coffee intake was estimated by two 24HR and one FFQ, using Multiple Source Method. Quantification of the metabolites was performed by mass spectrometry (FIA-MS/MS and HPLC-MS/MS) and 14 lysoPC species were identified. The association between coffee intake and lysoPC was analyzed by multiple linear regression adjusted for age, sex, household per capita income, smoking, physical activity, body mass index, total energy intake, use of drugs, vegetables and fruit consumption and caffeine intake.

RESULTS

LysoPC levels were significantly lower in G3 than in G1, for the lysoPC a C16:1 (β = -0.56; p = 0.014), lysoPC a C18:1 (β = -2.57; p = 0.018), and lysoPC a C20:4 (β = -1.14; p = 0.037). In opposition, the ratios of C16:0/C16:1 and C18:0/18:1 was higher in G3 (β = 5.04; p = 0.025 and β = 0.28; p = 0.003, respectively).

CONCLUSION

LysoPC profile differed according to coffee intake, showing a possible beneficial health effect of this beverage on inflammatory and oxidative processes.

GC/MS method to quantify bioavailable phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity determination of plasma after acute coffee consumption in human volunteers

Coffee, a source of chlorogenic acids (CGAs), is recognized for preventing chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress. Therefore, sensitive, selective and easy access methods for the determination of the bioavailability and antioxidant function in vivo are required in clinical studies. The aim of this work was to validate a GC/MS method to quantify caffeic acid (CA) and ferulic acid (FA) and to apply different methodologies to determine the antioxidant capacity of plasma after the acute consumption of 420mg of CGAs provided by 400mL of coffee. The intervention was performed in 20 adults (6 men and 14 women) with a mean±SD age of 35.7±9.0 and body mass index of 22.1±1.6kg who were assigned to 2 groups: a control group and a group that consumed coffee. The validated analytical GC/MS method was exact, precise and selective. The selected derivatizing reagent was N-tert-butyldimethylsilyl-N-methyltrifluoroacetamide with 1% tertbutyldimethylchlorosilane (MTBSTFA+1% TBDMSCl). The method was reproducible, and the limit of detection (LOD) was 3nM for CA and 5nM for FA. CA and FA were detected in plasma 1h after coffee intake and were undetectable in the control group. Compared to the baseline values, the antioxidant capacity of plasma significantly increased when it was measured by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (6.67%; P<0.001) and by oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) (7.16%; P<0.05). The in vitro and ex vivo experiments on plasma with CA and FA showed a significant increase of the antioxidant activity (P<0.05) as well as delay of LDL oxidation (P<0.001). The method validated by GC/MS was proposed as an alternative for evaluating the bioavailability of ACG after acute coffee intake. The need for in vitro methodologies was demonstrated to determine the antioxidant activity.

The roasting process does not influence the extent of conjugation of coffee chlorogenic and phenolic acids

Understanding the bioavailability and metabolism of coffee compounds will contribute to identify the unknown biological mechanism(s) linked to their beneficial effects. The influence of the roasting process on the metabolism of coffee chlorogenic acids in humans was evaluated. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover study, 12 healthy volunteers consumed four instant coffees namely, high roasted coffee (HRC), low roasted coffee (LRC), unroasted coffee (URC), and in vitro hydrolyzed unroasted coffee (HURC). The sum of areas under the curve (AUC) ranged from 8.65-17.6 to 30.9-126 µM/h (P < 0.05) for HRC, LRC, URC, and HURC, respectively. The AUC of HRC, LRC, and URC was correlated with the initial level of phenolic acids in the coffee drinks. Despite different absorption rates, the extent of conjugation was comparable between HRC, LRC, and URC coffees but different for HURC. The most abundant circulating metabolites during the first 5 H were dihydroferulic acid (DHFA), caffeic acid-3'-O-sulfate (CA3S) and isoferulic-3'-O-glucuronide (iFA3G). DHFA and 5-4-dihydro-m-coumaric acid (mDHCoA) were the main metabolites in the period of 5-24 H. The phenolic compounds after consumption of HURC were most rapidly absorbed (Tmax 1 H) compared with the other coffees (Tmax between 9 and 11 H). Using coffees with different degrees of roasting we highlighted that in spite of different absorption rates the extent of conjugation of phenolic acids was comparable. In addition, by using a hydrolyzed unroasted coffee we demonstrated an increased absorption of phenolic acids in the small intestine. © 2016 BioFactors, 42(3):259-267, 2016.

Relationship between Silent Brain Infarction and Amount of Daily Coffee Consumption in Middle Age

BACKGROUND

In aging societies such as that of Japan, it is important to characterize lifestyle-related factors that minimize the occurrence of silent brain infarction (SBI) among the middle aged population for preventing vascular dementia in older age. Little is known about the relationship between amount of coffee consumption and SBI.

METHODS

To assess the association between the amount of coffee consumption and SBI in middle age, we statistically analyzed magnetic resonance imaging findings and data from questionnaires of consecutive 242 healthy Japanese individuals whose ages were less than 65 years and who participated in a medical brain-screening program at Teikyo University Chiba Medical Center from June 2008 to June 2009.

RESULTS

In comparison with noncoffee drinkers (reference group), coffee drinkers who took 3-4 cups/day and 5 or more cups/day had a statistically lower incidence of SBI (.22, .07-.64, .004 and .43, .19-.99, .043, respectively). Upward logistic regression analysis indicated that SBI was influenced by 3 factors: coffee intake of 3 or more cups/day (.43, .22~.84, .014), history of hypertension (4.2, 2.0~8.8, .0001), and unemployment (2.1, 1.0~4.4, .037). As for consecutive 62 participants whose ages were 65 years or older in the same period, logistic regression analysis did not indicate that drinking coffee affected SBI incidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our report demonstrated that SBI was observed less frequently in middle aged Japanese who consumed 3 cups or more of coffee per day. To avoid senile dementia and/or symptomatic infarction in older age, the middle aged individuals might have to drink more than 3 cups of coffee every day.

DFT Studies of Caffeic Acid Antioxidant: Molecular Orbitals and Composite Reactivity Maps Correlation with Photophysical Characteristics and Photochemical Stability

This paper describes experimentally verifiable computational chemistry results of the environmentally benign caffeic acid (CA) antioxidant. Computations at density functional level (DFT) and its time dependent (TD) extension are carried out to explain results obtained experimentally in our laboratories. Emphases are on acidity constants, photodegradation, fluorescence quenching by metal ligation, and UV-Vis absorption characteristics of CA. Additionally, quantitative structure activity indices and composite maps that visualizing nucleophilicity, electrophilicity, and potential energy surface (PES map) are computed and discussed.

Chicory, a typical vegetable in Mediterranean diet, exerts a therapeutic role in established atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

SCOPE

Since protocatechuic acid exerts an atheroprotective role, we investigated how chicory (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum, Belgian endive) rich in protocatechuic acid, a typical vegetable in Mediterranean diet, affects preestablished atherosclerosis progression.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed AIN diets containing 0.5% freeze-dried chicory for 10 weeks displayed a reduction in lesion size with a concomitant improvement in lesion stability indicated by fewer macrophages and more collagen content. Chicory consumption suppressed aortic cholesterol accumulation and intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression, whereas it increased aortic ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and G1 (ABCG1) expression. Furthermore, chicory consumption improved peritoneal macrophage phenotype with less cellular cholesterol associated with an enhancement of cholesterol efflux capacity through upregulation of ABCA1 and ABCG1, less cellular oxidative stress associated with an inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase activity, and weaker inflammatory responses associated with an inhibition of nuclear factor-κB activation. Interestingly, ABCA1 and ABCG1 silencing tended to completely block beneficial effects of chicory in peritoneal macrophages.

CONCLUSION

Chicory exerts an atheroprotective role in mice possibly by regulating lesional macrophage content and phenotype, suggesting that chicory is one underrated contributor to Mediterranean Diet-induced atheroprotection.

Coffee consumption and coronary artery calcium in young and middle-aged asymptomatic adults

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between regular coffee consumption and the prevalence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in a large sample of young and middle-aged asymptomatic men and women.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 25 138 men and women (mean age 41.3 years) without clinically evident cardiovascular disease who underwent a health screening examination that included a validated food frequency questionnaire and a multidetector CT to determine CAC scores. We used robust Tobit regression analyses to estimate the CAC score ratios associated with different levels of coffee consumption compared with no coffee consumption and adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

The prevalence of detectable CAC (CAC score >0) was 13.4% (n=3364), including 11.3% prevalence for CAC scores 1-100 (n=2832), and 2.1% prevalence for CAC scores >100 (n=532). The mean ±SD consumption of coffee was 1.8±1.5 cups/day. The multivariate-adjusted CAC score ratios (95% CIs) comparing coffee drinkers of <1, 1-<3, 3-<5, and ≥5 cups/day to non-coffee drinkers were 0.77 (0.49 to 1.19), 0.66 (0.43 to 1.02), 0.59 (0.38 to 0.93), and 0.81 (0.46 to 1.43), respectively (p for quadratic trend=0.02). The association was similar in subgroups defined by age, sex, smoking status, alcohol consumption, status of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolaemia.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large sample of men and women apparently free of clinically evident cardiovascular disease, moderate coffee consumption was associated with a lower prevalence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis.

New knowledge on the antiglycoxidative mechanism of chlorogenic acid

Binding of CGA to protein inhibits AGE formation and provides antioxidant properties.

Association of coffee drinking with all-cause mortality: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to use the meta-analysis method to assess the relationship between coffee drinking and all-cause mortality.

DESIGN

Categorical and dose-response meta-analyses were conducted using random-effects models.

SETTING

We systematically searched and identified eligible literature in the PubMed and Scopus databases.

SUBJECTS

Seventeen studies including 1 054 571 participants and 131 212 death events from all causes were included in the present study.

RESULTS

Seventeen studies were included and evaluated in the meta-analysis. A U-shaped dose-response relationship was found between coffee consumption and all-cause mortality (P for non-linearity <0.001). Compared with non/occasional coffee drinkers, the relative risks for all-cause mortality were 0.89 (95 % CI 0.85, 0.93) for 1-<3 cups/d, 0.87 (95 % CI 0.83, 0.91) for 3-<5 cups/d and 0.90 (95 % CI 0.87, 0.94) for ≥5 cups/d, and the relationship was more marked in females than in males.

CONCLUSIONS

The present meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies indicated that light to moderate coffee intake is associated with a reduced risk of death from all causes, particularly in women.

Diet pattern and longevity: do simple rules suffice? A commentary

Nutritionism reduces dietary advice to statements about a few nutrients, with sometimes unintended implications for science, industry, and the public. Although reductionist questions about nutrition are legitimate scientifically, a nutrient focus in the public arena forces the food industry to compete with the use of nutrient statements. Consumers must interpret information that may not be correct or relevant. The theory of food synergy, which postulates that the many constituents of individual foods and dietary patterns act together on health, leads to the idea that dietary policy would be clearer if it focused on foods. To illustrate this method, the food-based A Priori Diet Quality Score was described in the Iowa Women's Health Study; a substantial total mortality reduction for increasing quartiles of the score was found. The simple food-based rules implied in this a priori score support minimizing meat, salt, added sugar, and heavily processed foods while emphasizing phytochemical-rich foods. These principles could help improve nutrition policy, help industry to supply better food, and help to focus future scientific research. Although an understanding of what foods are best for health is a step forward in nutrition, other major challenges remain, including getting high-quality food to the masses and food sustainability.

What comes first: the food or the nutrient? Executive summary of a symposium

This article summarizes background materials and presentations at a symposium that considered the issue of the role of foods and dietary patterns vs. nutrients in relation to chronic disease risk. A model of food synergy is presented as a basis for studying whole foods and dietary patterns. Findings from a series of studies of walnuts were presented and support the concept that walnuts are a healthy food, with specific benefits in a mouse model of breast cancer growth, reductions in cardiovascular disease risk factors in humans, and motor performance and in vitro, in vivo, and ex vivo cellular response to challenge in an aged-rat model.