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The effects of fermented wheat powder (Lisosan G) on the blood lipids and oxidative status of healthy rabbits
Abstract
A number of studies have shown that whole grain products have strong antioxidant effects. Lisosan G, a powder produced from the fermentation of Triticum aestivum, has shown hepatoprotective effects. The aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of Lisosan G on the serum lipid profile and oxidative status of healthy rabbits. Forty rabbits were fed either a normal diet or a diet containing 10g, 20g or 30g Lisosan G/kg of feed for 60 days. The supplementation of Lisosan G did not cause any alteration of the aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin or creatinine concentrations, but caused a reduction in triglycerides, in low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and an increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol. The antioxidant activity of Lisosan G has been confirmed on the basis of the reduction in the blood reactive oxygen metabolites and in the level of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances together with increased vitamin A and E concentrations in the blood. Moreover, Lisosan G also caused the induction of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and kidney of the treated rabbits. This study has shown the ability of Lisosan G to improve the lipid profile and antioxidant status of the blood in healthy rabbits.
Copyright © 2015. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
... The appropriate level of substitution of wheat for corn also manifested in a stable glycolipid profile in serum and bone turnover. Previous studies have found that the supplementation of wheat fermentation products caused the reduction of serum TG and LDL-c and resulted in increased HDL-c [24]. Nevertheless, other outcomes suggested that serum TG, TC, and LDL-c levels were increased significantly after feeding refined wheat flour for 16 weeks, which was accompanied by decreased HDL-c levels in model rats [25]. ...
Replacing corn with different levels of wheat in the iso-energy and -protein diet of broilers and the impacts on growth performance and intestinal homeostasis of broilers under the condition of supplying the multienzyme complex were evaluated in this study. A total of 480 10-day-old male broilers were assigned randomly to the low-level wheat group (15% wheat and 35.18% corn), the medium-level wheat group (30% and 22.27%), and the high-level wheat group (55.77% wheat without corn) until 21 d. The different levels of wheat supplementation did not affect hepatic function, serum glycolipid profile, or bone turnover. The replacement of corn with 55% wheat in the diet of broilers increased the body weight at 21 d and feed intake during 10 to 21 d (both p < 0.05), with a comparable feed conversion ratio. Compared with the low-wheat group, the dietary addition of medium or high wheat levels notably increased the ratio of villus height to crypt depth in the duodenum (p < 0.05) and the ileal villus height (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, the supplementation of medium and high wheat in the diet increased the proportion of Bacteroidetes, and a diet with high wheat proportion elevated the content of Firmicutes when compared to the low-level wheat group (both p < 0.05). In addition, the diet containing 30–55% wheat enhanced the anti-inflammatory capability in both the ileum and the serum. These findings suggest that the replacement of corn with 55% wheat in the diet improved the growth performance of 21-day-old broilers, which might be linked to the alteration in intestinal morphology and cecal microbiota.
... Many studies are reported in the literature on natural substances, medicinal herbs and plant extracts and their effect on animals' health by analysing changes in their blood profile, as they are consid-https://doi.org/10.17221/26/2022-VETMED ered as good marker of animal welfare (Pozzo et al. 2015;El-Nomeary et al. 2016;Kovacs et al. 2016). ...
Currently, in animal nutrition, the replacement of synthetic substances with natural ones was expected to improve animal health. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of a dietary brown seaweed and plant polyphenol mixture in adult male rabbits on the haematological profile and antioxidant markers. Twenty-four adult male rabbits were divided into three experimental groups receiving a control diet (C) or diets supplemented with 0.3% (T1) and 0.6% (T2) of a feed additive containing brown seaweed (Laminaria spp.) and plant extracts of seaweed origin. The trial lasted for 90 days. A lower potassium concentration was observed at 30 days in the T2 group, compared with the T1 and C groups. An increase in the antioxidant status was observed (P < 0.05) from day 60 of the trial in the rabbits fed diets with an algae-polyphenolic supplement (T1 and T2 groups). Concluding , the diet supplementation of brown seaweed and polyphenol stimulates the antioxidant status of the blood, however, it does not affect the haematological profile.
... These results indicated the AXs lower the plasma lipids through promoting the excretion of fecal lipids, regulating the lipid metabolism related genes, and producing more colonic SCFAs. Besides a significant reduction in TG, LDL-C, and an increase in HDL-C, a wheat fermented powder also caused a significant 8 Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity variation of important antioxidant biomarkers in a rabbit feeding experiment [102]. ...
Dietary fiber has a long history in the intervention study of hyperlipidemia. In this review, current understandings of structures, sources, and natures of various kinds of dietary fibers (DFs) were analyzed first. Available evidences for the use of different varieties of DFs in the lipid-lowering action both in vitro and in vivo were subsequently classified, including both soluble ones, such as glucans, pectins, and gums, and insoluble ones, including arabinooxylans and chitosans, in order to draw a primary conclusion of their dose and molecular weight relationship with lipid-lowering effect. Their potential mechanisms, especially the related molecular mechanism of protective action in the treatment and prevention of hyperlipidemia, were summarized at last. Five major mechanisms are believed to be responsible for the antihyperlipidemic benefits of DFs, including low levels of energy, bulking effect, viscosity, binding capacity, and fermentation thus ameliorating the symptoms of hyperlipidemia. From the molecular level, DFs could possibly affect the activities of HMG-CoA reductase, LDL receptors, CYP7A1, and MAPK signaling pathway as well as other lipid metabolism-related target genes. In summary, dietary fibers could be used as alternative supplements to exert certain lipid-lowering effects on humans. However, more clinical evidence is needed to strengthen this proposal and its fully underlying mechanism still requires more investigation.
... They have demonstrated lower post-prandial glucose and insulin responses [131], reduced glycemic responses [129], as well as decreasing both plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) [173][174][175], among others. Similar results have been described in animal studies involving mice [176], rats [177], hamsters [165], rabbits [178], and rainbow trout [179]. ...
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide. Factors increasing the risks for CVD development are related to obesity, diabetes, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and lifestyle. CVD risk factors may be treated with appropriate drugs, but prolonged can use cause undesirable side-effects. Among the natural products used in complementary and alternative medicines, are the β-ᴅ-glucans; biopolymers found in foods (cereals, mushrooms), and can easily be produced by microbial fermentation. Independent of source, β-glucans of the mixed-linked types [(1,3)(1,6)-β-ᴅ-glucans - fungal, and (1,3)(1,4)-β-ᴅ-glucans - cereal] have widely been studied because of their biological activities, and have demonstrated cardiovascular protective effects. In this review, we discuss the roles of β-ᴅ-glucans in various pathophysiological conditions that lead to CVDs including obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, hypertension and atherosclerosis. The -glucans from all of the sources cited demonstrated potential hypoglycemic, hypocholesterolemic and anti-obesogenicity activities, reduced hypertension and ameliorated the atherosclerosis condition. More recently, -glucans are recognized as possessing prebiotic properties that modulate the gut microbiome and impact on the health benefits including cardiovascular. Overall, all the studies investigated unequivocally demonstrated the dietary benefits of consuming β-glucans regardless of source, thus constituting a promising panaceutical approach to reduce CVD risk factors.
... Stale rice was fermented with Cordyceps sinensis and vitamin E increased 100%, compared to the control unfermented sample [60]. Lisosan G ® , a nutritional supplement made from wheat germ and fermented bran with a mixed culture of LAB and yeast strains, in feeding trials using rabbits resulted in increased vitamin A and E levels in blood and showed reductions of triglycerides, LDL cholesterol, and blood reactive oxygen metabolites (antioxidant activity) [61]. ...
Fermentation, as a process to increase the security of food supply, represents an integral part of food culture development worldwide. Nowadays, in the evolving functional food era where new sophisticated technological tools are leading to significant transformations in the field of nutritional sciences and science-driven approaches for new product design, fermentation technology is brought to the forefront again since it provides a solid foundation for the development of safe food products with unique nutritional and functional attributes. Therefore, the objective of the present review is to summarize the most recent advances in the field of fermentation processes related to cereal-based products. More specifically, this paper addresses issues that are relevant to nutritional and health aspects, including their interrelation with intestinal (gut) microbiome diversity and function, although clinical trials and/or in vitro studies testing for cereal-based fermented products are still scarce.
... Lisosan G was found to reduce reactive oxygen metabolites and increase vitamin A and E concentrations in the blood. In addition, it caused the induction of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and kidney of the treated rabbits [117]. ...
Food fermentation is one of the most ancient processes of food production that has historically been used to extend food shelf life and to enhance its organoleptic properties. However, some research
has demonstrated that it can also increase the nutritional value and/or digestibility of food. Firstly, microorganisms, and in particular Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB), besides their role in acidification, are able to produce huge amounts of secondary metabolites with excellent health benefits and preservative properties (i.e., antimicrobial activity). Indeed, some microorganisms can increase the levels of several bioactive compounds (e.g., vitamins, antioxidant compounds, peptides, etc.). Secondly, fermented foods contain living organisms that contribute to the modulation of the host’s physiological
balance and gut microbiota, enriching, at the same time, the host’s diet with new bioactive molecules.
Moreover, recent advances in fermentation are focused on food by-products; in fact, they are a source of potentially bioactive compounds that, after fermentation, could be used as ingredients for nutraceuticals and functional food formulations.
Because of this, understanding of benefits of food fermentation is a growing field of research in nutrition and food science.
This Special Issue aimed to present current knowledge and research trends concerning the use of fermentation technologies like the sustainable GRAS (Generally Recognized As Safe) process for food
and nutraceutical production, to improve food quality.
... Lisosan G, produced by fermentation of Triticum sativum, improved the serum lipid profile and oxidative status by reducing triglycerides (TGs) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in rabbits. 84 Costabile and colleagues suggested that the possible mechanism involved in the health beneficial effects of whole wheat on CVDs was modulating bacterial fermentation to increase the production of SCFAs in the human colon. 85 Moreover, a recent study by Oishi et al. demonstrated that a transient 0.4% (w/w) AR supplementation significantly increased fecal cholesterol excretion and reduced blood cholesterol concentrations in a HFHSDinduced mice model, with a lower rate of cholesterol absorption in the digestive tract. ...
Epidemiological studies have found that whole wheat consumption is inversely associated with the risk of chronic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. The health benefits of whole wheat foods are attributed to their bioactive components including phytochemicals and dietary fibre. In this review, the current researches regarding bioactive components, and their health-promoting roles and the underlying mechanisms were summarized and discussed. The current research advances in processing technologies capable of potentially enhancing nutritional quality of wheat and wheat-based foods were also included. This review may promote the research, development and consumption of whole wheat foods in reducing the risk of human chronic diseases.
... Lisosan G was found to reduce reactive oxygen metabolites and increase vitamin A and E concentrations in the blood. In addition, it caused the induction of antioxidant enzymes in the liver and kidney of the treated rabbits [117]. ...
The major role of antioxidant compounds in preserving food shelf life, as well as providing health promoting benefits, combined with the increasing concern towards synthetic antioxidants, has led the scientific community to focus on natural antioxidants present in food matrices or resulting from microbial metabolism during fermentation. This review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the effect of fermentation on the antioxidant compounds of vegetables, with emphasis on cereals- and legumes- derived foods. Polyphenols are the main natural antioxidants in food. However, they are often bound to cell wall, glycosylated, or in polymeric forms, which affect their bioaccessibility, yet several metabolic activities are involved in their release or conversion in more active forms. In some cases, the antioxidant properties in vitro, were also confirmed during in vivo studies. Similarly, bioactive peptides resulted from bacterial and fungal proteolysis, were also found to have ex vivo protective effect against oxidation. Fermentation also influenced the bioaccessibility of other compounds, such as vitamins and exopolysaccharides, enabling a further improvement of antioxidant activity in vitro and in vivo. The ability of fermentation to improve food antioxidant properties strictly relies on the metabolic activities of the starter used, and to further demonstrate its potential, more in vivo studies should be carried out.
... In human erythrocytes, they also prevent from the free radical-induced oxidative damage [88,89]. Wheat antioxidants are also effective to reduce the accumulation of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, reactive oxygen species, and concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and enhance the high-density lipoprotein, vitamin E, and vitamin A [90]. They also improved insulin, suppressed the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha serum levels, and lowered the serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood sugar [72]. ...
... In particular, Lisosan® G is a powder of fermented wheat that contains vitamins, minerals and polyunsaturated fatty acids (Longo et al. 2007) as well as showed in vitro antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective and hypolipidemic effects (La Marca et al. 2013;Pozzo et al. 2015). Desmodium ascendens is a perennial plant of Fabaceae family, traditionally used as food supplement for its hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects (François et al. 2015). ...
Lisosan® Reduction is a plant mixture produced from powder of
fermented Triticum aestivum (Lisosan® G), Desmodium adscendens,
Malus domestica, Picrorhiza kurroa and Hordeum vulgare. The aim of this
study was to characterise the phenolic profile of Lisosan® Reduction
and to evaluate the effects of aqueous extract on mice fed a high
fat diet (HFD). Syringic acid, trans sinapic acid and neochlorogenic
acid were identified by HPLC-DAD to be the dominant polyphenols
of Lisosan® Reduction, followed by vitexin, trans p-coumeric acid
and trans ferulic acid. Mice treated with aqueous extract of Lisosan®
Reduction (60 mg/kg b.w.) showed a significant decrease of serum
cholesterol, glucose and triglycerides level and a significant increase
of CYP7A1 gene expression, compared to HFD group.
... A tale scopo, molti estratti vegetali con proprietà antiossidante sono stati utilizzati nell'alimentazione dei conigli, quali gli isoflavoni della soia, gli oli essenziali dell'origano ed il tè verde, mostrando risultati positivi sulla qualità della carne (Yousef et al., 2004;Botsoglou et al., 2004;Eid et al., 2011). È stato dimostrato che il Lisosan G, a base di fermentato di cruschello e germe di Triticum sativum, possiede effetti epatoprotettivi in ratti esposti a tossicità indotta da tetracloruro di carbonio (Longo et al., 2007) e una buona attività scavenger dei radicali liberi, dovuta alla presenza di sostanze antiossidanti (Laus et al. 2013;Longo et al., 2007;Pozzo et al. 2015). È stata mostrata anche un'azione protettiva del lisato di grano verso la tossicità indotta dal cisplatino, probabilmente associata alla riduzione dello stress ossidativo e all'incremento dell'attività degli enzimi antiossidanti (Longo et al., 2011). ...
Per il consumatore la sicurezza alimentare è un aspetto importante e il bisogno di un alimento sano, salubre e sicuro ha stimolato la ricerca di nuove strategie alimentari capaci di garantire la salute degli animali e le loro prestazioni produttive. A tale scopo, molti estratti vegetali con proprietà antiossidante sono stati utilizzati nell'alimentazione degli animali, quali gli isoflavoni della soia, gli oli essenziali dell'origano e il tè verde, mostrando risultati positivi sulla qualità della carne. In questo lavoro si analizza l'azione di un integratore base di fermentato di cruschello e germe di Triticum sativum, che ha già evidenziato interessanti attività biologiche. Triticum sativum 48 t natural 1 luglio-agosto 2017 EffEtti dEll'intEgrazionE alimEntarE con lisato di grano (lisosan g) sulla qualità dElla carnE di coniglio
... In human erythrocytes, they also prevent from the free radical-induced oxidative damage [88,89]. Wheat antioxidants are also effective to reduce the accumulation of triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, reactive oxygen species, and concentration of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and enhance the high-density lipoprotein, vitamin E, and vitamin A [90]. They also improved insulin, suppressed the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha serum levels, and lowered the serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood sugar [72]. ...
... Not only does this product contain the typical components of cereals but also after fermentation it is enriched in bioactive substances such as phenolic components and alpha-lipoic acid [13], a natural antioxidant that can provide protection against reactive oxygen species-(ROS-) induced vascular damage [14]. In healthy rabbits, LG improves lipid profile and antioxidant status [15], while in in vitro studies LG has been shown to exert protective effects in human microvascular endothelial cells exposed to oxidized-LDL controlling both oxidative and inflammatory processes [16]. More recently, protective effects of LG on cell functional properties have been described in human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) exposed to oxidative stress. ...
Endogenous and exogenous signals derived by the gut microbiota such as lipopolysaccharides (LPS) orchestrate inflammatory responses contributing to development of the endothelial dysfunction associated with atherosclerosis in obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), bone marrow derived stem cells, promote recovery of damaged endothelium playing a pivotal role in cardiovascular repair. Since healthy nutrition improves EPCs functions, we evaluated the effect of a fermented grain, Lisosan G (LG), on early EPCs exposed to LPS. The potential protective effect of LG against LPS-induced alterations was evaluated as cell viability, adhesiveness, ROS production, gene expression, and NF-kB signaling pathway activation. Our results showed that LPS treatment did not affect EPCs viability and adhesiveness but induced endothelial alterations via activation of NF-kB signaling. LG protects EPCs from inflammation as well as from LPS-induced oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress reducing ROS levels, downregulating proinflammatory and proapoptotic factors, and strengthening antioxidant defense. Moreover, LG pretreatment prevented NF-kB translocation from the cytoplasm into the nucleus caused by LPS exposure. In human EPCs, LPS increases ROS and upregulates proinflammatory tone, proapoptotic factors, and antioxidants. LG protects EPCs exposed to LPS reducing ROS, downregulating proinflammatory and proapoptotic factors, and strengthening antioxidant defenses possibly by inhibiting NF-í µí¼
B nuclear translocation.
... In particular, Lisosan G is a nutritional supplement certified by Italian Ministry of Health, produced by Agrisan Company (Larciano, PT, Italy) from lysed fine bran and germ of organic wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains (Pozzo et al., 2015). It was kindly provided by Dr. Vincenzo Longo (Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology-CNR, Pisa, Italy). ...
Effectiveness in improving serum antioxidant status of two functional pastas was evaluated by the novel Antioxidant/Oxidant Balance (AOB) parameter, calculated as Antioxidant Capacity (AC)/Peroxide Level ratio, assessed here for the first time. In particular, Bran Oleoresin (BO) and Bran Water (BW) pastas, enriched respectively with either lipophilic (tocochromanols, carotenoids) or hydrophilic/phenolic antioxidants extracted from durum wheat bran, were studied. Notably, BO pasta was able to improve significantly (+65%) serum AOB during four hours after intake similarly to Lisosan G, a wheat antioxidant-rich dietary supplement. Contrarily, BW pasta had oxidative effect on serum so as conventional pasta and glucose, thus suggesting greater effectiveness of lipophilic than hydrophilic/phenolic antioxidants under our experimental conditions. Interestingly, no clear differences between the two pastas were observed, when AC measurements of either serum after pasta intake or pasta extracts by in vitro assays were considered, thus strengthening effectiveness and reliability of AOB approach.
Possible risks of nanofertilizer-mediated agriculture were assessed by studying the effects of copper and copper oxide nanoparticles (Cu NP and CuO NP) on barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry revealed qualitative and quantitative changes in the main phytochemicals. Cu NP and CuO NP caused depletion of several phenolic acids and flavonoids, which may reduce the antioxidant potential of foods derived from barley. An additional effect noted was a deficiency in some bioactive materials such as volatile organic compounds. In addition, an imbalance of essential mineral levels may alter biochemical and physiological functions in diets featuring barley. Effects on nutrients were complex. Some were nanoparticle-specific, some were common to both nanoparticles and some were associated with metallic copper becoming bioavailable. Alteration of nutritional quality, added to the accumulation of toxic cupric ions and hazards associated with the induction of oxidative stress raise some concerns about use of Cu and CuO based nanofertilizers.
Possible impacts of nanofertilizer-mediated agriculture were assessed by studying the effects of copper and copper oxide nanoparticles (CuNP and CuO NP) on barley ( Hordeum vulgare L.) seedlings. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry revealed qualitative and quantitative changes in many phytochemicals. CuNP and CuO NP caused depletion of several phenolic acids and flavonoids, which may reduce the antioxidant potential of foods derived from barley. An additional effect was noted as a deficiency in some bioactive compounds such as the volatile organic compounds. In addition, an imbalance in essential minerals may have impacts on biochemical and physiological functions in the human body. Alteration of nutritional quality, added to the accumulation of toxic cupric ions and hazards associated with possible induction of oxidative stress raise concerns about use of Cu and CuO based nanofertilizers in agriculture without more rigorous risk-assessment.
Fermentation is one of the tools that increase the nutritive interest of plant and animal-based food matrices and bioavailability of biotic compounds in fermented food products. The concentration of biotic components depends on the micro-organism used in fermentation process whether bacteria or fungi. Accordingly, the potentiality of the component is accelerated or inhibited. Micro-organisms particularly lactic acid bacteria plays crucial role in producing generous products of secondary metabolites that improve the quality of food product regarding its taste, health benefit and nutritive composition. Many bioactive compounds were isolated, characterized and studied by Scientists along the years for their therapeutic activities such bioactive antioxidants, peptides, lipids and carbohydrates. The present chapter provides a comprehensive display to the major bioactive components in fermented food products and their role in promoting health and improving lifestyles.KeywordsFermentationBioactive componentsFoodLactic acid bacteria
There is a long history of using fermentation in food production. Edible seeds, such as certain beans and cereal grains, are important in the human diet and provide many health benefits. Various microbes, such as lactic acid bacteria, molds, and yeasts, considered as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) microbes, are commonly used to ferment edible seeds and their products. Fermentation can change bioactive components and produce new bioactivities. In order to highlight the importance of fermentation on bioactive components and bioactivities in edible seeds, this review, therefore, summarizes recent relevant studies and discusses fermentation procedures and influences of fermentation on their bioactive components and bioactivities. Overall, fermented edible seeds and their products contain enhanced bioactive components, especially γ-aminobutyric acid and natural phenolics, and they possess versatile bioactivities, such as antioxidant and anti-cancer effects, and, therefore, can be recommended as an important part of the human diet, or they can be developed into functional foods to help in the prevention of certain chronic diseases.
The aim was to study of the antihyperlipidemic, antioxidative and antiatherogenic activity of Triticum aestivum Linn. in rabbit receiving high fat diet. Twenty rabbits of either sex were taken and divided into four groups five in each as - Normal Control- received normal diet, Hyperlipidemic control- received high fat diet, Test drug group - received high fat diet plus ethanolic extract of Triticum aestivum 500 mg/Kg /day orally and Standard Drug group- received high fat diet plus Atorvastatin 2.1 mg/Kg/day orally for 12 weeks and then animals were sacrificed. Blood sample were collected and lipid profile, catalase, superoxide dismutase and malondialdehyde levels were measured. The antiatherogenic effect was examined by histopathology of aorta. Data were statistically analysed by one way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s multiple comparison test. Triticum aestivum significantly decreased serum lipids towards normal levels. It also increases catalase and superoxide dismutase activity and decreases malondialdehyde level and histopathological examination revealed prevention of atherosclerosis. Triticum aestivum has antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant and anti atherogenic effects.
Wheat germ is one of the most potential and excellent sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber and proteins. The aim of the present study was to investigate the preventive effect of wheat germ o n hypercholesteremic and atherosclerosis in rats fed cholesterol-containing diet. Five groups of rats were used; group (1) fed cholesterol free-diet (negative group); group (2) fed cholesterol-diet (positive group); groups (3), (4) and (5) were fed cholesterol-diets with adding 5, 10 and 15% wheat germ, respectively. Results revealed that positive control rats had significantly increased in serum levels of Total Lipids (TL), Triglycerides (TG), Total Cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, VLDL-C, GOT, GPT and ALP and significant decrease in serum level HDL-C which represented by increased atherogenic index as compared to the negative control groups. Histopathological examination showed that positive control rats had vaculations of tunica media, narrowing in the lumen, focal necrosis of tunica intima and tunica media associated with leucocytic cells infiltration of aorta. In addition to vaculations of cardiac myocytes associated with intramuscular edema as well as cytoplasmic vacuolization and fatty changes of hepatocytes. Feeding different levels of wheat germ caused significantly decreased in serum levels of TL, TG, TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C, GOT, GPT and ALP and significantly increased in serum level of HDL-C which represented with significantly decreased i n atherogenic index as compared to the positive control group. Histopathological examination revealed that aorta, heart and liver sections of rats feeding 10 and 15% wheat germ had normal histological structure, except, some sections of group treated with 10 % wheat germ had small vacuoles in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes.
In the present study, anti-radical, anti-diabetic and antimicrobial activities of different solvent extracts of Passiflora ligularis fruits were investigated. Among the various solvents, acetone extract displayed maximum total phenolic (640.70 mg GAE/g extract), tannin (214.30 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoid contents (387.33 mg RE/g extract). Results of antioxidant studies revealed that the acetone extract of fruits possessed an efficient 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH•) (IC50 19.13 μg/mL), 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiozoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) (9800.94 μmol/L trolox equi/g extract), superoxide (78.27%) and nitric oxide (79.95%) radical scavenging activities, ferric reducing antioxidant power (43.06 mmol Fe (II)/mg extract), metal chelating (134.53mgEDTA/g extract) ability. The acetone extract of P. ligularis fruits also exhibited significant (P < 0.005) inhibition activities on α -amylase (82.56%) and α -glucosidase (75.36%) enzymes. Furthermore, the fruits of P. ligularis also demonstrated antibacterial activities against Gram (+) and Gram (-) bacteria and inhibited the fungal strains Candida albicans (14.85 mm) and Aspergillus niger (13.91 mm) in the disc diffusion method. Quantification of polyphenolics by HPLC showed the presence of ellagic acid, gallic acid, and rutin. Therefore, the results indicate that the fruit pulp of P. ligularis can serve as a potential antioxidative and antimicrobial agent in food and pharmaceutical industries.
Objective:
Oxidative stress brought on by free radicals can lead to an increased risk of some chronic pathologies. Antioxidants can scavenge free radicals by turning them into nonradical and nontoxic metabolites. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a phenylpropanoid glycosides-based prolonged diet on blood constituents in animals.
Methods:
Tests were carried out on healthy New Zealand white rabbits and the following parameters were evaluated at baseline and after 90 days' follow-up: plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, the reactive oxygen metabolites, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, vitamin A, and vitamin E. The same parameters were analyzed in an age- and sex-matched animal control group.
Results:
We first defined the concept of average rate and then used it to calculate, by experimental data fitting, the formation or destruction rate of some blood or plasma constituents as a function of the daily dose. The results indicate that the effects can be categorized into 2 classes. The first includes the effects that produce monotonously continuous changes with daily dose, and the second includes those that exhibit a saturating trend.
Conclusions:
The experimental results suggest that high doses of verbascoside can potentially cause adverse effects through prooxidative effects. Risk is increased by the use of pharmacological doses of polyphenols in prevention, treatment, and as dietary supplements.
Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of naturally occurring dietary polyphenols in promoting cardiovascular health and emphasized the significant role these compounds play in limiting the effects of cellular aging. Polyphenols such as resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and curcumin have been acknowledged for having beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, while some have also been shown to be protective in aging. This review highlights the literature surrounding this topic on the prominently studied and documented polyphenols as pertaining to cardiovascular health and aging.
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the end products of fermentation of dietary fibers by the anaerobic intestinal microbiota, have been shown to exert multiple beneficial effects on mammalian energy metabolism. The mechanisms underlying these effects are subject of intensive research and encompass the complex interplay between diet, gut microbiota and host energy metabolism. This review summarizes the role of SCFAs in host energy metabolism, starting from the production by the gut microbiota, the uptake by the host and ending with the effects on host metabolism. There are interesting leads on the underlying molecular mechanisms, but also many apparently contradictory results. A coherent understanding of the multilevel network in which SCFAs exert their effects, is hampered by the lack of quantitative data on actual fluxes of SCFAs and metabolic processes regulated by SCFAs. In this review we address questions that, when answered, will bring us a great step forward to elucidate the role of SCFAs in mammalian energy metabolism.
Despite years of advising patients to alter their dietary and supplementary fiber intake, the evidence surrounding the use of fiber for functional bowel disease is limited. This paper outlines the organization of fiber types and highlights the importance of assessing the fermentation characteristics of each fiber type when choosing a suitable strategy for patients. Fiber undergoes partial or total fermentation in the distal small bowel and colon leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids and gas, thereby affecting gastrointestinal function and sensation. When fiber is recommended for functional bowel disease, use of a soluble supplement such as ispaghula/psyllium is best supported by the available evidence. Even when used judiciously, fiber can exacerbate abdominal distension, flatulence, constipation, and diarrhea.Am J Gastroenterol advance online publication, 2 April 2013; doi:10.1038/ajg.2013.63.
The aim of this paper was to compare the effects of pulp and kernel oils of
Canarium odontophyllum
Miq. (CO) on lipid profile, lipid peroxidation, and oxidative stress of healthy rabbits. The oils are rich in SFAs and MUFAs (mainly palmitic and oleic acids). The pulp oil is rich in polyphenols. Male New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were fed for 4 weeks on a normal diet containing pulp (NP) or kernel oil (NK) of CO while corn oil was used as control (NC). Total cholesterol (TC), HDL-C, LDL-c and triglycerides (TG) levels were measured in this paper. Antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidise), thiobarbiturate reactive substances (TBARSs), and plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) were also evaluated. Supplementation of CO pulp oil resulted in favorable changes in blood lipid and lipid peroxidation (increased HDL-C, reduced LDL-C, TG, TBARS levels) with enhancement of SOD, GPx, and plasma TAS levels. Meanwhile, supplementation of kernel oil caused lowering of plasma TC and LDL-C as well as enhancement of SOD and TAS levels. These changes showed that oils of CO could be beneficial in improving lipid profile and antioxidant status as when using part of normal diet. The oils can be used as alternative to present vegetable oil.
The influence of increasing levels of either raw or partially defatted wheat germ on the lipid status was examined in adult rats fed a diet rich in fat (19.5%) and cholesterol (0.5%) for 6 weeks. Addition of 1.8% raw wheat germ had no effect on blood lipids, whereas the addition of 3.5% and 5.4% significantly decreased plasma total and esterified cholesterol, VLDL and LDL cholesterol, and plasma, VLDL and LDL triglycerides. The effects on liver and fecal lipids were studied with 3.5% wheat germ. Raw wheat germ decreased liver triglycerides and cholesterol and exerted no influence on the fecal excretion of fat and bile acids, but increased the ratio of coprosterol to cholesterol. Defatted wheat germ had no effect on liver and fecal lipids, but induced a significantly higher fecal excretion of bile acids. The results indicate that either raw or defatted wheat germ can lower blood lipid parameters when present in small quantities in the diet, possibly by different mechanisms of action.
Dietary supplement use has steadily increased over time since the 1970s; however, no current data exist for the U.S. population. Therefore, the purpose of this analysis was to estimate dietary supplement use using the NHANES 2003-2006, a nationally representative, cross-sectional survey. Dietary supplement use was analyzed for the U.S. population (≥1 y of age) by the DRI age groupings. Supplement use was measured through a questionnaire and was reported by 49% of the U.S. population (44% of males, 53% of females). Multivitamin-multimineral use was the most frequently reported dietary supplement (33%). The majority of people reported taking only 1 dietary supplement and did so on a daily basis. Dietary supplement use was lowest in obese adults and highest among non-Hispanic whites, older adults, and those with more than a high-school education. Between 28 and 30% reported using dietary supplements containing vitamins B-6, B-12, C, A, and E; 18-19% reported using iron, selenium, and chromium; and 26-27% reported using zinc- and magnesium-containing supplements. Botanical supplement use was more common in older than in younger age groups and was lowest in those aged 1-13 y but was reported by ~20% of adults. About one-half of the U.S. population and 70% of adults ≥ 71 y use dietary supplements; one-third use multivitamin-multimineral dietary supplements. Given the widespread use of supplements, data should be included with nutrient intakes from foods to correctly determine total nutrient exposure.
The present work aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of whole grain consumption in preventing colorectal cancer. A systematic review with meta-analysis of 11 cohort studies was carried out. The age group of the population studied (1,719,590 participants) was between 25 and 76 years of age. The review evaluated the relative risks with the Cox proportional hazard model. The period of study varied from 6 to 16 years, where 7,745 persons developed colorectal cancer during the follow-up period. In the multivariate analysis, the highest quintile relative risk was 0.94 (95% confidence interval, 0.85-1.03), whereas that for the lowest quintile was 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.88-1.04). The location of tumors was also evaluated, with tumors in the colon demonstrating a relative risk of 0.93 (95% confidence interval, 0.83-1.02) and tumors in the recto a relative risk equal to 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.79-1.00). In this multivariate analysis, consumption of whole grains was inversely associated with the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
Six normolipidemic males ingested on separate days a low-fiber test meal [2.8 g dietary fiber (TDF)] containing 70 g fat and 756 mg cholesterol, enriched or not with 10 g TDF as oat bran, rice bran, or wheat fiber or 4.2 g TDF as wheat germ. Fasting and postmeal blood samples were obtained for 7 h and chylomicrons were isolated. Adding fibers to the test meal induced no change in serum glucose or insulin responses. The serum triglyceride response was lower (P less than or equal to 0.05) in the presence of oat bran, wheat fiber, or wheat germ and chylomicron triglycerides were reduced with wheat fiber. All fiber sources reduced chylomicron cholesterol. Cholesterolemia decreased postprandially for 6 h and was further lowered in the presence of oat bran. Serum apolipoprotein (apo) A-1 and apo B concentrations were not affected. Thus, dietary fibers from cereals may reduce postprandial lipemia in humans to a variable extent.
We previously showed that plasma cholesterol levels decreased following ingestion of a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) mixture composed of sodium salts of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids simulating cecal fermentation products of sugar-beet fiber (SBF). In the present study, we investigated whether hepatic and small intestinal cholesterol synthesis is involved in the cholesterol-lowering effects of SCFA and SBF. In vitro (expt. 1) and in vivo (expt. 2) cholesterol synthesis rates and the diurnal pattern of SCFA concentrations in portal plasma (expt. 3) were studied in three separate experiments in rats fed diets containing the SCFA mixture, SBF (100 g/kg diet), or the fiber-free control diet. Cholesterol synthesis was measured using 3H2O as a tracer. The in vitro rate of cholesterol synthesis, measured using liver slices, was greater in the SBF group, but not in the SCFA group, than in the fiber-free control group. In contrast, the hepatic cholesterol synthesis rate in vivo was lower in the SCFA group, but not in the SBF group, than in the control group. The mucosal cholesterol synthesis rate for the whole small intestine was <50% of the hepatic rate. The rate in the proximal region was slightly but significantly lower in the SCFA group, and was significantly higher in the SBF group than in the fiber-free group. The rate in the distal small intestines was also significantly greater in the SBF group than in the fiber-free group. Plasma total cholesterol concentrations were lower in the SCFA and SBF groups than in the fiber-free group in both experiments 2 and 3. Diurnal changes in portal SCFA and cholesterol levels were studied in the experiment 3. SCFA concentrations increased rapidly after the start of feeding the SCFA diet, and changes in plasma cholesterol were the reciprocal of those observed in SCFA. These results show that a decrease in hepatic cholesterol synthesis rate mainly contributes to the lowering of plasma cholesterol in rats fed the SCFA mixture diet. Changes in portal SCFA and cholesterol concentrations support this conclusion. In SBF-fed rats, SCFA produced by cecal fermentation are possibly involved in lowering plasma cholesterol levels by negating the counteractive induction of hepatic cholesterol synthesis caused by an increase in bile acid excretion.
The aim of the present mini review is to describe the laboratory rabbit, an animal that has been widely used for the study of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of mortality in Western society. Due to the fact that the rabbit exhibits hypercholesterolaemia within a few days of an administration of a high cholesterol diet, it is very sensitive to the inducement of atheromatic lesions. The administration of different types of diets can cause different types of lesions. Although these lesions do not develop as tissue plaques, a great number of researchers use this animal model to test the effectiveness of drugs because of their similarity to human fatty streaks. The generation over recent years of transgenic rabbits with alterations in specific genes is expected to help with the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the initial and developmental stages of the disease. The laboratory rabbit is significantly broadening our understanding on the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
The study of biological functions of proteins and their possible roles in the pathogenesis of human diseases requires more and more relevant animal models. Although mice including genetically modified mice offer many possibilities, other non-murine species are absolutely required in some circumstances. Rabbit is one of these species, which has been widely used in biomedical studies. This animal is genetically and physiologically closer to humans including cardiovascular system and metabolism characteristics. The rabbit is thus more appropriate than mice to study some diseases such as atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism. Because of its larger size, surgery manipulation, bleeding, and turn-over studies are much easier performed in rabbits than in mice. Furthermore, transgenic rabbits can be produced using microinjection and other methods such as lentiviral vectors. Cloning in rabbits has been proved possible, even though still laborious and time-consuming. Hopefully, functional rabbit ES cell lines will be available in the coming years. Gene deletion or knock-out in rabbits will then become possible. In the mean time, gene knock down using siRNA or micro RNA is an attractive alternative. The accomplishment of the whole rabbit genome sequencing is about to be achieved. Moreover, rabbit is being used to produce pharmaceutical proteins, including human polyclonal antibodies. Rabbit is also a significant source of meat in some countries. These biotechnology projects, although very different, are using essentially similar technical approaches. An optimal application of rabbits requires improvement of these different techniques. To exchange the information and update the advanced technology in rabbits, the first international meeting on rabbit biotechnology was held in Tsukuba, Japan, in 2005 and followed by the second meeting in Jouy en Josas (near Paris) on June 14 and 15, 2007. The next meeting has been scheduled in two years in Xi'an, China. A specific biotechnology of the rabbit is therefore emerging. We strongly feel that the time has come to compile a contemporary professional book (tentatively named as Rabbit Biotechnology). This book aims at confronting the different sophisticated approaches developed independently in different academic and industrial laboratories as well as in some companies in the world.
The purpose of this study aims to examine the efficiency of using either oat or wheat bran (5 or 10%) on the prevention of hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia induced in rats fed with High Fat-High Cholesterol (HFHC) diets. Sixty adult male albino rats were divided into six groups: (G1) normal control rats fed with balanced diet and (G2) rats fed with hyperlipidemic-hypercholesterolemic which was supplemented with fat and cholesterol at a dose level of 20g and 1g/100g diet respectively. The other four groups of animals were fed with the same previous (HF-HC) diet supplemented with Oat (G3 & G4), while (G5 & G6) were supplemented with wheat bran at levels of 5 and 10% respectively for six weeks. The present study showed that 20% fat and 1% cholesterol administration cause a significant increase in total lipids, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol as well as Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C), Very Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (VLDL-C), ratio of Low Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol/High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol (LDL-C/HDL-C) and enzymes activities of Asparate Aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) accompanied with decreasing HDL-C compared to normal group. Cholesterol-enriched diet significantly increased serum malondialdehyde (MAD) and significantly decrease glutathione (GSH) content and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity as compared with balanced diet group. Rats fed oat or wheat bran at tested doses resulted in a significant decrease in glucose, lipid parameters and a significant improve in antioxidants as well as enzymes activities of AST and ALT compared with those fed HF-HC diet. It was concluded that both Oat and wheat bran at dose 10% had anti-atherogenic hypolipidemic effect and reduced oxidative stress via inhibition of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation as well as increment of antioxidant enzymes.
This study evaluates the phytochemical composition, antioxidant activity, and anti-hemolytic effects of a new product, Lisosan Reduction, containing the grain lysate Lisosan G and extracts of Picrorhiza and Desmodium. The data obtained were compared with those related to Lisosan G alone. Phytochemical compounds are present in high quantities in both products. The flavonoids, in particular, are doubled in Lisosan Reduction compared to Lisosan G. Lisosan Reduction also showed a greater antioxidant capacity, determined by the ORAC test, compared to Lisosan G. The antioxidant activity of Lisosan G and Lisosan Reduction was also evaluated in an ex-vivo system of human and dog erythrocytes (CAA-RBC). The results of this test show a higher antioxidant effect of the mixture Lisosan Reduction, compared to the lysate alone, both in human and canine samples, with greater effectiveness in human erythrocytes.
The inhibiting properties of the aqueous extracts of various cereal flours, wheat bran and wheat germ were studied in vitro on the activity of pancreatic lipase, using tributyrin as the substrate. The magnitude of the inhibition of the porcine enzyme was found in the following decreasing order: wheat germ, wheat bran, whole flour from wheat, rye, barley, rice and oats. Treatments with pronase almost completely abolished the inhibitory capacity of the various sources tested, strongly suggesting that the molecular support of the observed inhibition may be a soluble proteinic constituent. The inhibitory capacity of wheat germ was totally stable at very acidic and neutral pH or at temperatures up to 60° C, and was not affected after incubation with human gastric juice. In the presence of micellar solutions of bile salts, a 0.3% wheat germ concentration inhibited 70% and 50% of the activity of porcine lipase and human lipase from the duodenal content respectively. Thus, this proteinic inhibitor found for the first time in cereals could act under physiological conditions.
Background
The effects of white wheat bread and white wheat bread added with a mixture (Cyclantera pedata, Glycine max, Monascus-fermented red mold rice, Cynaria scolymus and Medicago sativa) were examined on hypercholesterolemic and steatotic mice, divided into 4 groups: control diet (CTR), high fat diet (HFD), high fat diet with white wheat bread added with 1.5 g kg−1 of mixture (HFD+AB) and high fat diet with white wheat bread (HFD+B).ResultsThe total serum cholesterol in the HFD+AB and HFD+B groups and the hepatic triglycerides in the HFD+AB group decreased compared to the HFD group. Liver histology confirmed a lower lipid drops accumulation in HFD+AB group compared to HFD and HFD+B groups. HFD+AB caused a 7.0- fold increase and a 3.5- fold reduction in the CYP7A1 and SREBP-1c gene expression, respectively, compared to HFD group. Moreover, HFD+B group showed a 2.2-, 8.4- and 1.5- fold increase in the HMG CoA reductase, CYP7A1 and LDLr gene expression compared to HFD group.Conclusions
The white wheat bread and added white wheat bread induced a cholesterol reduction by increasing CYP7A1. Moreover, the added white wheat bread improved steatosis decreasing SREBP-1c gene expression.
In contrast to the consistent results of an inhibitory effect of green tea extracts and tea polyphenols on the development and growth of carcinogen-induced tumors in experimental animal models, results from human studies are mixed. Both observational and intervention studies have provided evidence in support of a protective role of green tea intake in the development oral-digestive tract cancer or an inhibitory role of oral supplementation of green tea extract on a precancerous lesion of oral cavity. Evidence in support of green tea intake against the development of liver cancer risk is limited and inconsistent. An inverse association between green tea intake and lung cancer risk has been observed among never smokers but not among smokers. Although observational studies do not support a beneficial role of tea intake against the development of prostate cancer, several phase 2 clinical trials have shown an inhibitory effect of green tea extract against the progression of prostate premalignant lesions to malignant tumors. Prospective epidemiologic studies so far have not provided evidence for a protective effect of green tea consumption on breast cancer development. Current data neither confirm nor refute a definitive cancer-preventive role of green tea intake. Large randomized intervention trials on the efficacy of green tea polyphenols or extracts are required before a recommendation for green tea consumption for cancer prevention should be made.
Objective:
The aims were to collect data on consumption of different food supplements in a sample of the adult Italian population and to characterize users by demographic, physical and health-related characteristics, lifestyle and behaviour.
Design:
Cross-sectional survey.
Setting:
The study was conducted in 2008 in ten towns of Italy (two towns from each of the five macro-areas: Northwest, Northeast, Centre, South and Islands).
Subjects:
Adults (n 10 000) aged ≥18 years were randomly selected and asked to fill in a self-administered questionnaire regarding their use of food supplements and the above variables. The effect of these variables on food supplement use was evaluated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression.
Results:
Of the 1723 individuals who returned the questionnaire, 49% were users of food supplements. A large proportion (54%) of users used more than one category of food supplement: vitamin and/or mineral supplements were the most used (61%), followed by supplements with botanicals and botanical extracts (28%). The results obtained by logistic regression showed that gender, town size, education level, sports practice, regular use of wholemeal cereal-based foods and presence of a low stress level were determinants for the use of food supplements in the examined population. However, these determinants were not shared by all categories of supplements.
Conclusions:
The results of this preliminary study highlight that associations between demographic, dietary and lifestyle factors and use of different categories of food supplements differ according to products, and cannot be accounted for simply by dichotomizing individuals as users or non-users.
In the present study the antimutagenic and antioxidant effects of a powder of grain (Lisosan G) in yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae were studied. Results showed that Lisosan G treatment decreased significantly the intracellular ROS concentration and mutagenesis induced by hydrogen peroxide in S. cerevisiae D7 strain. The effect of Lisosan G was then evaluated by using superoxide dismutase (SOD) proficient and deficient strains of S. cerevisiae. Lisosan G showed protective activity in sod1Δ and sod2Δ mutant strains, indicating an in vivo antioxidant effect. A high radical scavenging activity of Lisosan G was also demonstrated in vitro using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay. The obtained results showed a protective effect of Lisosan G in yeast cells, indicating that its antioxidant capacity contributes to its antimutagenic action.
Nutritional compounds which display anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects have specific applications in preventing oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. In this study we evaluated the effect of Lisosan G (powder of Triticum sativum grains) on human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) exposed to oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL).
The protective effects of Lisosan G were evaluated on human microvascular endothelial cells exposed to ox-LDL. Intercellular adhesion molecular-1 (ICAM-1), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentrations and the expression of the respective genes were evaluated in response to incubation with ox-LDL, after co-incubation with ox-LDL and Lisosan G or exposed to Lisosan G alone. The analysis of LOX-1 gene was performed with RT-PCR semi quantitative method. The degree of oxidation induced in relation to control, was established by measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) production.
The incubation with ox-LDL induced a significant increase in ICAM-1, IL-6 and ET-1 levels compared to the basal condition (P<0.01, P<0.05, and P<0.01, respectively), while in presence of Lisosan G, ICAM-1 levels showed a significant reduction both compared to the cultures treated with ox-LDL and control (P<0.01). IL-6 levels did not show any difference; ET-1 levels showed a partial reduction after co-treatment with Lisosan G, and also with Lisosan G alone, reduced the concentration below control (P<0.01). The modulation of these markers was confirmed by RT-PCR analysis. An association between MDA formation and the three markers production was observed. Semi-quantitative analysis of LOX-1 gene expression showed a significant up-regulation only after ox-LDL exposure. Interpretation & conclusions: The results demonstrate that Lisosan G may have an important role in the prevention of microcirculatory dysfunction.
Nine normolipidemic young men consumed a constant diet for 2 mo into which oat bran was incorporated during the second month so that we might test the hypotheses that oats lower serum cholesterol concentrations by decreasing bile acid and fat absorption and increasing bile acid synthesis. Bile acid kinetics were determined by measuring the 13C enrichment of serum cholic and chenodeoxycholic acids. Oat bran consumption decreased serum cholesterol levels (p < 0.01) and cholic acid pool size (p < 0.05). Deoxycholic acid pool size (p < 0.01) and the synthesis and fractional turnover rates of both primary bile acids (p < 0.05) increased. Total bile acid pool size did not change. Fecal excretion of total bile acids, the two secondary bile acids and fat increased significantly. The results demonstrate that oat bran lowers serum cholesterol levels in part by altering bile acid metabolism. In addition, the substantial increase in the proportion of the total bile acid pool that was deoxycholic acid is consistent with the hypothesis that oat bran also decreases cholesterol synthesis.
Although genetically modified mice are playing an essential role in the study of the expression and functions of individual
genes, rabbits are useful animal models to extrapolate animal studies to humans. It is necessary that key gene expression
and function are equivalent and close to human rather than the outward features or phenotype. For example, to study human
hypercholesterolemia, the only hypercholesterolemia is insufficient, the lipoprotein profiles and enzymes in the lipoprotein
metabolism of animal models are important for translational medicine. Lipoprotein metabolism of rabbits resembles humans closely.
In addition, histopathological and/or immunohistochemical fea tures of the tissues of disease similar to humans are important.
In this field, spontaneous hypercholesterolemic rabbits (WHHL and WHHLMI rabbits) have contributed to the elucidation of lipoprotein
metabolism, atherogenesis, and to the development of therapeutic compounds, such as statins. Recently, a number of transgenic
rabbits have been developed and they also contribute to the study of cardiac function and infectious diseases. Furthermore,
rabbits are useful for studies of orthopedic surgery, cardiovascular surgery, and neoplastic diseases. Rabbit models have
contributed not only to the mechanistic studies of human diseases but also to the development of therapeutic compounds, devices,
or techniques for therapeutics. Applying these animal models in translational researches promotes the elucidations of human
diseases.
The selected 11 chitosan samples were evaluated for their fat- and bile acid-binding capacities, physico-chemical properties, and the correlations between each binding capacity and individual physico-chemical properties. The bile acid- and fat-binding capacities were estimated using in vitro assays, whereas the measured physico-chemical properties were deacetylation degree, swelling capacity, and solution viscosity. Chitosan samples might differ in their binding capacities against fat and/or individual bile acids. The bile acid-binding capacities were 0.20–0.61, 0.43–1.63, and 0.61–1.61 μmol/g chitosan for cholic, deoxycholic, and chenodeoxycholic acids, respectively. Stronger binding capacity of chitosan against a selected bile acid does not warrant greater binding capacity for other bile acid. The fat-binding capacity ranged from 1077–1239 g oil/g for the chitosan samples under the experimental conditions. No correlation was observed between any binding ability and individual physico-chemical properties, although the swelling capacity of chitosan was correlated to the solution viscosity (r=0.82, P=0.02) and deacetylation degree (r=-0.62, P=0.04), indicating that none of the measured physico-chemical properties can be used to predict the fat- or bile acid-binding ability of chitosan.
Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] particles isolated and purified from human plasma were found to be oxidatively modified when incubated in vitro with human mononuclear cells or Cu2+. This modification, which involved lipid peroxidation measured as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS), caused marked changes in the structure and biological properties of Lp(a). Relative to native Lp(a), oxidized particles showed decreases of free amino groups, protein fragmentation, increased negative charge, and high aggregation ability. They were taken up and degraded readily by macrophages in vitro, inducing cholesteryl ester accumulation. When apolipoprotein (a) [apo(a)] was clipped off by exposure to dithiothreitol (DTT), the remaining particle was degraded by macrophages at a significantly lower rate. This observation implies that oxidative modification of apo(a) may have an influence on Lp(a) recognition by scavenger receptors of macrophages. Under the same experimental conditions, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentrations equal to those of Lp(a) showed a lower susceptibility to oxidation. This was probably due to higher vitamin E (30% more) and β-carotene (40% more) content compared with Lp(a), when expressed as a function of cholesterol concentration and measured in the same subject. The addition of β-carotene to Lp(a) in vitro partially protected Lp(a) against oxidation and aggregation. As a result, uptake of oxidized Lp(a) by macrophages decreased markedly. We conclude that Lp(a) particles are prone to oxidation and that the increased risk of coronary artery disease associated with elevated Lp(a) levels may be related in part to their oxidative modification and uptake by macrophages, resulting in the formation of macrophage-derived foam cells.
The ingestion of whole wheat flour (WWF) has been shown to exert lipid-lowering effects in rats but WWF is generally consumed after being processed (fermentation, starch gelatinization, heating). It remains to be assessed whether bread making has an influence on the potential lipid-lowering properties of flours. For this purpose, rats were fed semi-purified diets containing 70% WWF, or the same percentage of desiccated whole wheat bread (WWB) and the control group was fed with fibre-free purified starch diet. All the cereal diets showed a cholesterol-lowering effect in plasma and liver compared to control, but there was a more pronounced plasma triglyceride-lowering effect in rats fed WWB. In parallel, total steroids excretion was significantly enhanced (P <0.01) by the cereal diets, but to a greater extent by WWB. As a result, cholesterol absorption percentage was also markedly reduced in rats fed WWB diet (around 26%, compared to 38% for WWF and 52% for controls). WWF and WWB yielded butyric acid rich fermentations in the cecum, compared to the control diet, and WWB markedly enhanced propionic acid production compared to WWF. In conclusion, the baking process adds significantly to the hypolipemic effects observed previously with WWF, in spite of reduced specific viscosity.
The protective effect of a powder of grain (Lisosan G) against cisplatin-induced toxicity in rats was studied. Male rats were fed with Lisosan G before injection of cisplatin and four days later they were killed and blood was collected along with hepatic, renal and testicular tissues. The results showed that cisplatin treatment increased plasma blood urea nitrogen, creatinine and hydrogen peroxide and decreased cytochrome P450 content in renal and hepatic tissues. It also reduced the plasmatic testosterone level and caused a depletion of testicular 17α-progesterone hydroxylase activity. In the group fed with Lisosan G and treated with cisplatin blood urea nitrogen and creatinine returned to the control level indicating a protective effect of Lisosan G. It was also observed that the ones fed with Lisosan G were able to attenuate the decrease in the P450-dependent activities and the activities of antioxidant enzymes as well. Lisosan G protected the testicular 17α-progesterone hydroxylase activity and increased the plasma testosterone level compared to animals treated only with cisplatin. Our results showed a protective effect of Lisosan G against the cisplatin induced toxicity. The protective effect of Lisosan G could be associated mainly with the attenuation of the oxidative stress and the preservation in antioxidant enzymes.
Characterizing which types of carbohydrates, including whole grains, reduce the risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) is challenging. Whole grains are characterized as being high in resistant carbohydrates as compared with refined grains, meaning they typically are high in fiber, nutrients, and bound antioxidants. Whole grain intake consistently has been associated with improved cardiovascular disease outcomes, but also with healthy lifestyles, in large observational studies. Intervention studies that assess the effects of whole grains on biomarkers for CHD have mixed results. Due to the varying nutrient compositions of different whole grains, each could potentially affect CHD risk via different mechanisms. Whole grains high in viscous fiber (oats, barley) decrease serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and blood pressure and improve glucose and insulin responses. Grains high in insoluble fiber (wheat) moderately lower glucose and blood pressure but also have a prebiotic effect. Obesity is inversely related to whole grain intake, but intervention studies with whole grains have not produced weight loss. Visceral fat, however, may be affected favorably. Grain processing improves palatability and can have varying effects on nutrition (e.g., the process of milling and grinding flour increases glucose availability and decreases phytochemical content whereas thermal processing increases available antioxidants). Understanding how individual grains, in both natural and processed states, affect CHD risk can inform nutrition recommendations and policies and ultimately benefit public health.
The association of colorectal cancer risk with select foods has been evaluated by dietary pattern analysis. This review of the literature was conducted to thoroughly examine the available evidence for the association between dietary patterns and colorectal cancers and adenomas. A total of 32 articles based on worldwide epidemiological studies were identified. Pattern identification was achieved by exploratory data analyses (principal component, factor, and cluster analyses) in most articles, and only a few used a priori-defined scores. Dietary patterns named as healthy, prudent, fruit and vegetables, fat-reduced/diet foods, vegetable/fish/poultry, fruit/whole grain/dairy, and healthy eating index-2005, recommended food and Mediterranean diet scores were all associated with reduced risk of colorectal cancer and the risk estimates varied from 0.45 to 0.90. In contrast, diets named Western, pork-processed meat-potatoes, meat-eaters, meat and potatoes, traditional patterns, and dietary risk and life summary scores were associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer with risk estimates varying from 1.18 to 11.7. Dietary patterns for adenomas were consistent with those identified for colorectal cancer.
A whole grain consists of the intact, ground, cracked, or flaked caryopsis, whose principal anatomical components--the starchy endosperm, germ, and bran--are present in the same relative proportions as they exist in the intact caryopsis. Whole grain food products can be intact, consisting of the original composition of bran, germ, and endosperm, throughout the entire lifetime of the product, or reconstituted, in which one or more of the original components of a whole grain is recombined to the relative proportion naturally occurring in the grain kernel. Increased consumption of whole grains has been associated with reduced risk of major chronic diseases including cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, and some cancers. Whole grain foods offer a wide range of phytochemicals with health benefits that are only recently becoming recognized. The unique phytochemicals in whole grains are proposed to be responsible for the health benefits of whole grain consumption. In this paper, whole grain phytochemicals and the health benefits associated with their consumption are reviewed.
Dietary fiber is a term that reflects a heterogeneous group of natural food sources, processed grains, and commercial supplements. Several forms of dietary fiber have been used as complementary or alternative agents in the management of manifestations of the metabolic syndrome, including obesity. Not surprisingly, there is a great variation in the biological efficacy of dietary fiber in the metabolic syndrome and body weight control. Diverse factors and mechanisms have been reported as mediators of the effects of dietary fiber on the metabolic syndrome and obesity. Among this array of mechanisms, the modulation of gastric sensorimotor influences appears to be crucial for the effects of dietary fiber but also quite variable. This report focuses on the role, mechanism of action, and benefits of different forms of fiber and supplements on obesity and the metabolic syndrome, glycemia, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular risk and explores the effects of dietary fiber on gastric sensorimotor function and satiety in mediating these actions of dietary fiber.
This chapter discusses the regulation of HMG-CoA reductase, which catalyzes the rate-limiting reaction of hepatic sterol synthesis. Both mitochondrial and extramitochondrial forms of acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase and the HMG-CoA synthase are present in liver tissue. The reductase activity of cultured mammalian cells or of bacteria is readily assayed in crude homogenates. The HMG-CoA reductase activity may be readily assayed in the post-mitochondrial supernatant fraction obtained by high-speed centrifugation of homogenates of tissues, including liver. The chapter also discusses familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), which is an autosomal, dominant genetic disorder estimated to affect 0.1–0.2% of the population. FH may involve defects in the regulation of both cholesterol synthesis and degradation. The data for adults heterozygous for FH indicate that the rate of cholesterol synthesis in vivo is subnormal. The basic defect in FH may be a low affinity of the cellular plasma membrane for cholesterol. This defect, observed in fibroblasts and leukocytes, leads to an impaired uptake of cholesterol from serum lipoproteins and an enhanced release of cellular cholesterol. If this defect is present in the liver, it could account for the relatively ineffective feedback suppression of cholesterol synthesis.
The drug-metabolizing enzymes of olfactory and respiratory epithelium of cattle were determined. The data of nasal tissues were compared to those of bovine liver. Both oxidative and nonoxidative enzyme activities were investigated. Many compounds including testosterone were used as substrates for the P450-dependent monooxygenase activities. The results demonstrated that the P450 content and all the activities assayed including reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-cytochrome P450 reductase were much higher in the olfactory than in the respiratory mucosa and for some activities (hexamethyl-phosphoramide and dimethylnitrosamine N-demethylase, aniline hydroxylase, and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase) the values in the olfactory tissue were even markedly higher than those of liver. Also the activities of some nonoxidative enzymes such as glutathione S-transferase, uridine 5'-diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronyl-transferase, and epoxide hydrolase were higher in the olfactory than in the respiratory mucosa but lower than in liver. The results taken together suggest that the olfactory and respiratory epithelium of cattle, which contain in addition to a wide array of nonoxidative enzymes multiple forms of P450, can be useful and easily available tissues to study the biotransformation processes of odorants.
We studied the effect of increasing the frequency of meals on serum lipid concentrations and carbohydrate tolerance in normal subjects. Seven men were assigned in random order to two metabolically identical diets. One diet consisted of 17 snacks per day (the nibbling diet), and the other of three meals per day (the three-meal diet); each diet was followed for two weeks. As compared with the three-meal diet, the nibbling diet reduced fasting serum concentrations of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and apolipoprotein B by a mean (+/- SE) of 8.5 +/- 2.5 percent (P less than 0.02), 13.5 +/- 3.4 percent (P less than 0.01), and 15.1 +/- 5.7 percent (P less than 0.05), respectively. Although the mean blood glucose level and serum concentrations of free fatty acids, 3-hydroxybutyrate, and triglyceride were similar during both diets, during the nibbling diet the mean serum insulin level decreased by 27.9 +/- 6.3 percent (P less than 0.01) and the mean 24-hour urinary C-peptide output decreased by 20.2 +/- 5.6 percent (P less than 0.02). In addition, the mean 24-hour urinary cortisol excretion was lower by 17.3 +/- 5.9 percent (P less than 0.05) at the end of the nibbling diet than at the end of the three-meal diet. The blood glucose, serum insulin, and C-peptide responses to a standardized breakfast and the results of an intravenous glucose-tolerance test conducted at the end of each diet were similar. We conclude that in addition to the amount and type of food eaten, the frequency of meals may be an important determinant of fasting serum lipid levels, possibly in relation to changes in insulin secretion.
A complex pattern of aldehydes (alkanals, 2-alkenals, 2,4-alkadienals, 4-hydroxyalkenals) is generated by peroxidizing biological samples. Several methods based on HPLC or GC-MS have been developed to qualitatively and quantitatively measure the aldehydes in tissues, cells and cell fractions exposed to various pro-oxidative stimuli. 4-Hydroxynonenal, hexanal and propanal are, besides malonaldehyde, the most abundant aldehydes formed. The high sensitivity of the methods also allows the measurement of physiological aldehyde levels in plasma or low density lipoproteins and this could be of great importance for in vivo studies.
The purpose of this study was to investigate whether oat beta-glucan is responsible for the increased bile acid excretion previously observed with oat-fiber diets. The excretion patterns in ileostomy subjects given diets containing oat-bran bread with and without added beta-glucanase, a beta-glucan-degrading enzyme, were compared. The effect of a beta-glucan-rich barley fraction on sterol excretion was also investigated. Nine ileostomy subjects were served four diets in random order, each diet for 2 consecutive days. Four different kinds of bread, mainly made from oat bran (OB diet, 12.5 g beta-glucan/d), oat bran with beta-glucanase (OBE diet, 3.8 g beta-glucan/d), barley (B diet, 13.0 g beta-glucan/d), or wheat flour (W diet, 1.2 g beta-glucan/d) were added to a basal diet. The 24-h excretion of bile acids was 53% higher in the OB diet period than in the OBE diet period (P < 0.05) and also was significantly higher than in the B and W diet periods (P < 0.05). Median (range) bile acid excretion was 851 (232-1550), 463 (123-1414), 755 (133-1187), and 606 (101-980) mg/d in the OB, OBE, B, and W diet periods, respectively. The excretion of cholesterol was significantly higher in the B diet period than in the OBE and W diet periods (P < 0.05), but the mechanism behind this effect of barley fiber is unknown. In oat bran, however, beta-glucan mediates an increase in bile acid excretion, which most probably explains the effect of oat fiber in lowering serum lipids.
Flavonoids are phenolic compounds of vegetable origin with antioxidant effects. The present study aimed to determine their properties as LDL antioxidants. LDL were incubated with increasing concentrations of flavonoids (0-16 micrograms/ml) and LDL oxidation was started by adding CuCl2 (2 microM) to the media. When flavonoids were present in the media, vitamin E consumption, the lag phase of conjugated diene formation, LDL electrophoretic mobility in agarose gels and the appearance of thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) were delayed in a concentration-dependent manner. To determine whether flavonoids could terminate LDL oxidation once initiated, two sets of experiments were performed. In the first, LDL oxidation was initiated as described above. At 2 or 4 h of incubation, flavonoids were added (4 micrograms/ml) and their effect compared to samples where butylated hydroxytoluene or EDTA were added. At 5 h, in the LDL samples where flavonoids were added, the electrophoretic mobility and TBARS production were the same as those present in LDL samples incubated for the whole period in the absence of flavonoids. However, when either butylate hydroxytoluene or EDTA was added, as would be expected, the LDL oxidation process was completely arrested as shown by a reduction in the appearance of TBARS and a lower LDL electrophoretic mobility. In the second experiment, LDL oxidation was initiated as described above and at 0, 10 and 20 min, flavonoids were added (4 micrograms/ml). When vitamin E was still present in the LDL solution, the flavonoids were able to both increase the lag phase in the formation of conjugated dienes and to delay the consumption of vitamin E. The present results show that in vitro, flavonoids prevent LDL oxidation in a concentration-dependent manner, delaying the consumption of vitamin E, but they cannot terminate or delay LDL oxidation once vitamin E in LDL is consumed.
In patients with high cholesterol levels, lowering the cholesterol level reduces the risk of coronary events, but the effect of lowering cholesterol levels in the majority of patients with coronary disease, who have average levels, is less clear.
In a double-blind trial lasting five years we administered either 40 mg of pravastatin per day or placebo to 4159 patients (3583 men and 576 women) with myocardial infarction who had plasma total cholesterol levels below 240 mg per deciliter (mean, 209) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels of 115 to 174 mg per deciliter (mean, 139). The primary end point was a fatal coronary event or a nonfatal myocardial infarction.
The frequency of the primary end point was 10.2 percent in the pravastatin group and 13.2 percent in the placebo group, an absolute difference of 3 percentage points and a 24 percent reduction in risk (95 percent confidence interval, 9 to 36 percent; P = 0.003). Coronary bypass surgery was needed in 7.5 percent of the patients in the pravastatin group and 10 percent of those in the placebo group, a 26 percent reduction (P=0.005), and coronary angioplasty was needed in 8.3 percent of the pravastatin group and 10.5 percent of the placebo group, a 23 percent reduction (P=0.01). The frequency of stroke was reduced by 31 percent (P=0.03). There were no significant differences in overall mortality or mortality from noncardiovascular causes. Pravastatin lowered the rate of coronary events more among women than among men. The reduction in coronary events was also greater in patients with higher pretreatment levels of LDL cholesterol.
These results demonstrate that the benefit of cholesterol-lowering therapy extends to the majority of patients with coronary disease who have average cholesterol levels.
Dietary guidance recommends consumption of whole grains to reduce the risk of chronic diseases including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Epidemiologic studies support the belief that whole grains are protective against cancers, especially gastrointestinal cancers such as gastric and colonic, and cardiovascular disease. Components in whole grains that may be protective are diverse and include compounds that affect the gut environment, i.e., dietary fiber, resistant starch, and other undigestible compounds in whole grains, compounds that function as antioxidants such as trace minerals and phenolic compounds, and compounds that are phytoestrogens with potential hormonal effects. Many of the protective compounds in whole grains are also in fruits and vegetables, but some plant compounds are more concentrated in whole grains, such as phenolic compounds including ferulic and caffeic acid. Other potential mechanistic effects of whole grains include binding of carcinogens and modulation of glycemic index. Clearly, the range of protective substances in whole grains is impressive, and advice to consume additional whole grains is justifiable.
The role of oxygen free radicals is considered important in the development of cardiovascular disease. However, until recently determination of free radicals plasma levels and the effect of antioxidant therapy on these levels has been difficult. The aim of the study was to determine the oxidative stress and the effect of the antioxidant compound AR(D) Stenovit on this stress in normal subjects and patients with intermittent claudication after oral administration for one week.
A portable, free radicals (FRs) determination system (D-Roms test, Diacron, Grosseto, Italy) was used. This test is based on the ability of transition metals to catalyse in the presence of peroxides with formation of FRs which are trapped by an alchilamine. The alchilamine reacts forming a coloured radical detectable at 505 nm. The reagents utilised are the cromogen (R1, an alchilamine) and a pH 4.8 buffer (R2). Ten microl of hemolysis-free serum are to 1 ml of R2 and to 10 microl of R1. The sample is mixed, incubated (1 min; 37 degrees C) and read for optical density. After another minute, the sample is read again. The average delta A/min is multiplied by a K factor and calculated using serum with defined value.
In normal subjects the mean (+/-SD) levels of free radicals were 312+/-49 U.CARR (Carratelli units) before treatment and 218+/-33 U.CARR after treatment (p<0.05). A decrease of at least 10% was detected in every subject. In patients with peripheral vascular disease the mean (+/-SD) levels of free radicals were 404+/-42 U.CARR before treatment and 278+/-33 U.CARR after treatment (p<0.02). A decrease of at least 15% was detected in every patient (medium value 31%).
The D-Roms test provides a simple, inexpensive and practical method to identify subjects with a high level of oxidative stress and to demonstrate the effect of treatment. The compound AR(D) Stenovit is effective in reducing circulating free radicals. Its action on the progression of atherosclerotic disease should be assessed in future studies.
Dietary guidelines recommend the consumption of whole grains to prevent chronic diseases. Epidemiologic studies support the theory that whole grains are protective against cancer, especially gastrointestinal cancers such as gastric and colon can-cer, and cardiovascular disease. Components in whole grains that may be protective include compounds that affect the gut environment, such as dietary fiber, resistant starch, and oligosaccharides. Whole grains are also rich in compounds that function as antioxidants, such as trace minerals and phenolic compounds, and phytoestrogens, with potential hormonal effects. Other potential mechanisms whereby whole grains may protect against disease include binding of carcinogens and modulation of the glycemic response. Clearly, the range of protective substances in whole grains is impressive and advice to consume additional whole grains is justified. Further study is needed regarding the mechanisms behind this protection so that the most potent protective components of whole grains will be maintained when developing whole grains into acceptable food products for the public.