BSP :: Current Nutrition & Food Science Home Page

Nutritional Supplements Modulating Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors and the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease Pp.1-11
Vijaya Juturu and James J. Gormley
[Abstract] [Full text article]

Comparison of Dietary Approaches to Treat Obesity Based on the Different Carbohydrate/Fat Content: Impact on Weight Loss and Lipid Profile Pp.13-21
M.A. Zulet, M.E. Berkenpas and J.A. Martinez
[Abstract] [Full text article]

Postprandial Lipaemia, Haemostasis, Inflammatory Response and other Emerging Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease: The Influence of Fatty Meals Pp.23-34
S. D. Poppitt
[Abstract] [Full text article]

Let Them Eat Cake Pp.35-40
Jane Durga and Petra Verhoef
[Abstract] [Full text article]

Oxidised Products of Cholesterol: Their Role in Apoptosis Pp.41-51
Lisa Ryan, Yvonne C. O'Callaghan and Nora M. O'Brien
[Abstract] [Full text article]

Vitamin E and Prostate Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Directions Pp.53-61
Margaret E. Wright and Michael F. Leitzmann
[Abstract] [Full text article]

The Stable Isotope Use in the Exploration of Bioavailability and Metabolism of Magnesium Pp.63-70
Christine Feillet-Coudray and Charles Coudray
[Abstract] [Full text article]

Potential Health Benefits of Berries Pp.71-86
Julie Beattie, Alan Crozier and Garry G. Duthie
[Abstract] [Full text article]

The Long Term Biological Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa Pp.87-96
Kelly A Gendall and Cynthia M Bulik
[Abstract] [Full text article]

Anorexia Nervosa and the Use of Total Parenteral Nutrition Refeeding Pp.97-104
Philip S. Mehler, Steven Kolpak and Ricardo Padilla
[Abstract] [Full text article]

Abstracts

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Nutritional Supplements Modulating Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors and the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease
Vijaya Juturu and James J. Gormley
[Full text article]

Metabolic syndrome risk factors (MSRF) can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and its prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate in the United States and worldwide. Pathways leading directly from visceral adiposity to the genesis of free fatty acids and lipid accumulation are mediators of insulin resistance and hypertension. These conditions lead to a proinflammatory and prothrombotic state that can potentiate cardiovascular disease. Metabolic syndrome risk factors are interrelated and associated with predisposition to diabetes, obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia and, thus, ultimately can lead to CVD. In this review, the authors focused on seven research-supported nutrients available as dietary supplements that offer potential benefits for people with MSRF. For the past two decades, a number of studies have evaluated the role of nutritional supplementation in the prevention of atherogenic and abnormal glucose risk factors. It is, therefore, important to identify strategies that favorably impact MSRF and disease conditions. This review focuses on nutritional compounds such as policosanol, soy proteins, plant stanols, plant esters and isoflavones, omega-3 fatty acids and chromium. These ingredients can beneficially modulate MSRF and, thus, potentially improve disease risk factors and related sequelae. Although the benefits of dietary supplements in general have not been comprehensively elucidated or established, it seems plausible, given available data, that non-pharmacological compounds exhibit the ability to measurably reduce MSRF and, consequently, provide potential protection against CVD and its associated complications.

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Comparison of Dietary Approaches to Treat Obesity Based on the Different Carbohydrate/Fat Content: Impact on Weight Loss and Lipid Profile
M.A. Zulet, M.E. Berkenpas and J.A. Martinez
[Full text article]

Obesity is a chronic disorder caused by an imbalance of the energy metabolism. The costs associated with excessive weight gain are very high and big efforts are carried out in studying new types of hipocaloric diets and their composition, so that the therapy of obesity is more specific, long lasting and safe. At the moment, various investigations are trying to determine the specific influence of the macronutrient distribution on the regulation of body weight.

Very low calorie diets (VLCD) supplying between 400 and 800 Kcal/day have been beneficial in short-term treatments causing a weight loss of 300-500 g/day. However, these strategies emphasise more on calorie restriction than on macronutrient composition. Weight loss produced by either low carbohydrate fat or low fat moderately energy restricted diets ranges from 0.5-1.0 kg/week. These diets when consumed ad libitum, but guided to low fat consumption, or a high fat low carbohydrate intake produce a weight loss of 0.2-0.4 kg/week. However, there are other factors that determine weight loss induced by dieting such as gender, age, initial body weight, race, genetics, regional fat deposition, etc. More research is needed, particularly on studies about the impact of those diets with different fuel substrates on the characteristics of the weight loss and changes in blood lipid profile.

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Postprandial Lipaemia, Haemostasis, Inflammatory Response and other Emerging Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease: The Influence of Fatty Meals
S. D. Poppitt
[Full text article]

Adverse changes in postprandial metabolism may promote the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) through a range of mechanisms. Since a large proportion of our day is spent in the postprandial state it is important to understand these post meal changes with respect to both the amount and type of nutrient consumed. Of particular importance appear to be the fatty meals, commonly eaten and which can induce significant postprandial lipaemia, accumulation of potentially atherogenic triglyceride-rich lipoprotein (TRL) remnants and formation of highly oxidisable small, dense low-density lipoproteins (LDL). In addition to these relatively well established lipaemic effects there is growing evidence that high-fat foods also have adverse effects on a number of the emerging CVD risk factors including haemostasis, mediators of inflammation and endothelial function. This review will consider the acute effects of high-fat feeding, investigating any differential effects of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, on postprandial lipaemic profile, haemostatic clotting factors fibrinogen and factor VII, acute phase C-reactive protein (C-RP), inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and vascular reactivity.

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Let Them Eat Cake
Jane Durga and Petra Verhoef
[Full text article]

Folate, a B vitamin found almost ubiquitously in foods, is required for de novo nucleotide synthesis and methylation reactions in our body. A shortage of folate can lead to macrocytic anemia, however, extra folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, is considered to be a modern day panacea for a variety of diseases, specifically vascular disease. This review summarizes the evidence from randomized controlled trials and illustrates the weak foundation on which health claims regarding the possible beneficial effect of extra folic acid for vascular disease are based. It is prudent for public health policy makers to await trials--the conventional golden standard by which to test causality--before deciding on folic acid fortification for the general population.

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Oxidised Products of Cholesterol: Their Role in Apoptosis
Lisa Ryan, Yvonne C. O'Callaghan and Nora M. O'Brien
[Full text article]

Oxysterols are oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol that may be formed endogenously or absorbed from the diet and are particularly found in highly processed foods of animal origin. These compounds elicit a range of biological effects such as inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase, alteration in cellular membrane properties and the induction of cell death in a number of in vitro models. Much research, to date, has focused on oxysterols and their potential role in the development of atherosclerosis due to the ability of certain oxysterols to induce apoptosis in cells of the arterial wall, a primary process in the development of atheroma. Apoptotic cell death is the culmination of a series of events centring on the cascade of caspases, which triggers downstream effects leading to DNA cleavage. Though the induction of apoptosis by oxysterols has been the topic of intense research over the last few years, the exact mechanism through which certain oxysterols induce apoptotic cell death remains to be clarified. This review focuses on the biological effects of oxysterols, with particular emphasis on oxysterol-induced apoptosis.

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Vitamin E and Prostate Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Directions
Margaret E. Wright and Michael F. Leitzmann
[Full text article]

Vitamin E has been hypothesized to protect against prostate cancer. The anti-carcinogenic activity of vitamin E is attributed in large part to its potent antioxidant activity - it is the major hydrophobic chain-breaking antioxidant that protects membrane lipids from oxidation. In addition, vitamin E has several important non-antioxidant functions, including inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) activity, which plays an important role in proliferation, adhesion, immune response, free radical production, and gene expression. Vitamin E also appears to interfere with hormone signaling, which is particularly relevant to prostate carcinogenesis. The concept that common SNPs in genes encoding for proteins responsible for uptake, transport, and delivery of tocopherols and tocotrienols to the prostate may impact upon prostate cancer risk has not been examined and warrants future research. Overall, substantial evidence from mechanistic studies shows a protective effect of vitamin E on prostate carcinogenesis. However, results from observational epidemiologic studies regarding the association between vitamin E and prostate cancer risk are mixed. The available data suggest that vitamin E may more strongly protect against advanced than early-stage prostate cancer, and that the apparent beneficial effect of vitamin E on prostate cancer may be more pronounced among cigarette smokers. At present, the most prudent strategy for prostate cancer prevention regarding vitamin E intake is to adhere to the current U.S. dietary guidelines, which recommend eating a well-balanced diet that is rich in a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

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The Stable Isotope Use in the Exploration of Bioavailability and Metabolism of Magnesium
Christine Feillet-Coudray and Charles Coudray
[Full text article]

Magnesium (Mg) is a biologically essential mineral and Mg deficiency is known to lead to severe biochemical and symptomatic disorders. Radioactive isotopes and, more recently, stable isotopes have been used as research tools to determine intestinal Mg absorption in humans and animals under different nutritional and physiological conditions. Mg isotopes are given orally or orally plus intravenously and analysed in faeces and/or in plasma and urine in order to calculate intestinal Mg absorption and possibly endogenous Mg excretion. Mg isotopes have been also used to assess exchangeable pools of Mg under nutritional and physiopathological conditions. Mg isotopes are given intravenously and analysed in plasma and urine to calculate the size and half-life of the various Mg exchangeable pools. Finally, Mg isotopes have been used to study the mechanisms of Mg cellular exchange. To this end, erythrocytes or other types of cells are loaded with Mg isotope or incubated in an isotope-rich medium in order to study the Mg flux and its mechanisms. This paper is a report on the use of stable Mg isotopes and their advantages in these different fields of Mg absorption and metabolism. The studies available have clearly demonstrated that stable isotopes provide a useful research tool for determining intestinal Mg absorption, and represent a precious research tool for the study of Mg metabolism and the assessment of Mg status.

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Potential Health Benefits of Berries
Julie Beattie, Alan Crozier and Garry G. Duthie
[Full text article]

Fruit and vegetable consumption is inversely related to the incidence of heart disease and several cancers. However, many people in countries in Northern latitudes do not eat the recommended “5-a-day” of fruit and vegetables. For such populations, a potentially important source of fruit may be locally grown soft fruits (e.g. raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, blackcurrants). Such berries contain micronutrients such as vitamin C and folic acid which are essential for health. However, berries may have additional health benefits as they are also rich in phytochemicals such as anthocyanins which are glycosidic-linked flavonoids responsible for their red, violet, purple and blue colours. In vitro studies indicate that anthocyanins and other polyphenols in berries have a range of potential anti-cancer and heart disease properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell regulatory effects. Such experimental data has lead to numerous health claims on the internet implying that “berries are edible superstars that may protect against heart disease, cancers and ageing”. However, the bioavailabilty of polyphenols such as anthocyanins would appear to be limited, thus compromising their nutritional relevance. Consequently the aim of the article is to assess the current scientific evidence for claims that berries may have additional health benefits to those normally associated with consuming fruit and vegetables.

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The Long Term Biological Consequences of Anorexia Nervosa
Kelly A Gendall and Cynthia M Bulik
[Full text article]

The long-term psychiatric and psychological outcome of the anorexia nervosa (AN) has been well described. Less is known about the long-term physiological effects of the illness and this article reviews the findings to date. Having a history of AN does not appear to increase the risk of infertility, but may increase the risk of birth complications and of having a low birth weight infant. Although evidence on the reversibility of bone mineral density loss in AN is conflicting, osteoporosis-related fracture rates are higher in women with previous AN. Animal models of energy restriction and two studies in AN suggest that AN may confer protection against breast cancer, however data are preliminary. Furthermore, it is theoretically possible, that deficiencies of chemoprotective nutrients, chronic constipation, laxative abuse, and selfinduced vomiting may increase the risk of other, and in particular, gastrointestinal tract, pathology. This risk remains to be investigated. The metabolic and endocrine effects of the illness are largely reversed with recovery, but various disturbances in pancreatic hormone secretion have been described and require further clarification. As cohorts of women with a history of AN mature, well controlled studies are recommended to provide further information on the long-term health consequences of AN.

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Anorexia Nervosa and the Use of Total Parenteral Nutrition Refeeding
Philip S. Mehler, Steven Kolpak and Ricardo Padilla
[Full text article]

Anorexia nervosa is a chronic eating disorder which often has a poor prognosis. The likelihood of success in treating this disorder, which most commonly strikes females in their prime of life, is greatly enhanced by the attainment of ideal body weight during the refeeding-weight restoration process. For a select number of refractory, chronic, severe anorexic patients, in whom traditional modes of refeeding through oral or nasogastric routes has not been successful, total parenteral nutrition (TPN) may offer an alternative method of refeeding for this population. Judicious usage of TPN is critical in this markedly malnourished cadre of patients to avoid the morbid complications associated with the refeeding syndrome.