Nestle: Chocolate may benefit gut health and metabolism

Dietary preferences influence basal human metabolism and gut microbiome activity that in turn may have long-term health consequences. The present study reports the metabolic responses of free living subjects to a daily consumption of 40 g of dark chocolate for up to 14 days. A clinical trial was performed on a population of 30 human subjects, who were classified in low and high anxiety traits using validated psychological questionnaires. Biological fluids (urine and blood plasma) were collected during 3 test days at the beginning, midtime and at the end of a 2 week study. NMR and MS-based metabonomics were employed to study global changes in metabolism due to the chocolate consumption. Human subjects with higher anxiety trait showed a distinct metabolic profile indicative of a different energy homeostasis (lactate, citrate, succinate, trans-aconitate, urea, proline), hormonal metabolism (adrenaline, DOPA, 3-methoxy-tyrosine) and gut microbial activity (methylamines, p-cresol sulfate, hippurate). Dark chocolate reduced the urinary excretion of the stress hormone cortisol and catecholamines and partially normalized stress-related differences in energy metabolism (glycine, citrate, trans-aconitate, proline, beta-alanine) and gut microbial activities (hippurate and p-cresol sulfate).

The study provides strong evidence that a daily consumption of 40 g of dark chocolate during a period of 2 weeks is sufficient to modify the metabolism of free living and healthy human subjects, as per variation of both host and gut microbial metabolism.

J Proteome Res. 2009 Dec;8(12):5568-79.
Metabolic effects of dark chocolate consumption on energy, gut microbiota, and stress-related metabolism in free-living subjects.
Martin FP, Rezzi S, Peré-Trepat E, Kamlage B, Collino S, Leibold E, Kastler J, Rein D, Fay LB, Kochhar S.
Nestle Research Center, Vers-chez-les-Blanc, CH-1000 Lausanne 26, Switzerland.

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Folic acid supplements may reduce pre-term births

OBJECTIVE: Periconceptional folic acid or multivitamin supplementation is recommended for prospective pregnant women to prevent neural-tube defects. The question is whether it is worth continuing these supplementations after the first trimester of pregnancy or not. Thus the possible fetal growth promoting and/or preterm birth reducing effect of vitamin supplements in the second and mainly in the third trimester was studied.

STUDY DESIGN: Comparison of birth outcomes of singletons born to primiparous pregnant women with prospectively and medically recorded vitamin supplement in the population-based data set of the Hungarian Case-Control Surveillance of Congenital Abnormalities (HCCSCA), 1980-1996 contained 6293, 169, and 311 primiparae with folic acid alone, multivitamins and folic acid+multivitamin supplementation, respectively, and their data were compared to the data of 7319 pregnant women without folic acid and folic acid-containing multivitamin supplementation as reference. RESULTS: Mean gestational age was 0.3 week longer and mean birth weight was by 37 g higher in the group of folic acid alone, than in the reference group (39.2 weeks; 3216 g). The rate of preterm births (7.6%) was significantly lower compared with the reference sample (11.8%), but the rate of low birth weight newborns did not show significant reduction. Folic acid alone in the third trimester associated with 0.6 week longer gestational age and a more significant reduction in the rate of preterm births (4.8%).

CONCLUSIONS: Minor increase in mean birth weight after high dose of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy would not be expected to result in too large babies; however, the significant reduction in the rate of preterm births may have great public health benefit. 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2010 Feb;148(2):135-40. Epub 2009 Nov 17.
Possible association of folic acid supplementation during pregnancy with reduction of preterm birth: a population-based study.
Czeizel AE, Puhó EH, Langmar Z, Acs N, Bánhidy F.
Foundation for the Community Control of Hereditary Diseases, Budapest, Hungary. czeizel@interware.hu

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Very high omega-3 intakes linked to big health benefits

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the associations of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) with biomarkers of chronic disease risk in populations with high intakes.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the associations of red blood cell (RBC) EPA and DHA, as percentages of total fatty acids, with biomarkers of chronic disease risk across a wide range of EPA and DHA intakes.

DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study of 357 Yup'ik Eskimos, generalized additive models were used to plot covariate-adjusted associations of EPA and DHA with chronic disease biomarkers. Linear regression models were used to test for the statistical significance of these associations.

RESULTS: Means (5th-95th percentiles) for RBC EPA and DHA were 2.8% (0.5-5.9%) and 6.8% (3.3-9.0%), respectively. Associations of EPA and DHA were inverse and linear for triglycerides (beta +/- SE = -0.10 +/- 0.01 and -0.05 +/- 0.01, respectively) and positive and linear for HDL cholesterol (beta +/- SE = 2.0 +/- 0.5 and 0.9 +/- 0.6, respectively) and apolipoprotein A-I (beta +/- SE = 2.6 +/- 0.8 and 1.7 +/- 0.8, respectively). Positive linear associations of DHA with LDL and total cholesterol (beta +/- SE = 7.5 +/- 1.4 and 6.80 +/- 1.57, respectively) were observed; for EPA, these associations were nonlinear and restricted to concentrations approximately <5% of total fatty acids. Associations of EPA and DHA with C-reactive protein were inverse and nonlinear: for EPA, the association appeared stronger at concentrations approximately >3% of total fatty acids; for DHA, it was observed only at concentrations approximately >7% of total fatty acids.

CONCLUSIONS: Increasing EPA and DHA intakes to amounts well above those consumed by the general US population may have strong beneficial effects on chronic disease risk.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Jan 20. [Epub ahead of print]
Associations of very high intakes of eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids with biomarkers of chronic disease risk among Yup'ik Eskimos.
Makhoul Z, Kristal AR, Gulati R, Luick B, Bersamin A, Boyer B, Mohatt GV.
Division of Public Health Sciences Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Seattle WA.

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Probiotics during pregnancy may cut obesity in child: Study

The perinatal nutritional environment impacts upon the health and well-being of mother and child also in the long term. The aim of the present study was to determine the safety and efficacy of perinatal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling by evaluating pregnancy outcome and fetal and infant growth during the 24 months' follow-up. Altogether, 256 women were randomised at their first trimester of pregnancy into a control and a dietary intervention group. The intervention group received intensive dietary counselling provided by a nutritionist and were further randomised, double-blind to receive probiotics (Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Bifidobacterium lactis Bb12; diet/probiotics) or placebo (diet/placebo). Firstly, probiotic intervention reduced the frequency of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM); 13 % (diet/probiotics) v. 36 % (diet/placebo) and 34 % (control); P = 0.003. Secondly, the safety of this approach was attested by normal duration of pregnancies with no adverse events in mothers or children. No significant differences in prenatal or postnatal growth rates among the study groups were detected. Thirdly, distinctive effects of the two interventions were detected; probiotic intervention reduced the risk of GDM and dietary intervention diminished the risk of larger birth size in affected cases; P = 0.035 for birth weight and P = 0.028 for birth length. The results of the present study show that probiotic-supplemented perinatal dietary counselling could be a safe and cost-effective tool in addressing the metabolic epidemic. In view of the fact that birth size is a risk marker for later obesity, the present results are of significance for public health in demonstrating that this risk is modifiable.

Br J Nutr. 2010 Feb 4:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]
Impact of maternal probiotic-supplemented dietary counselling on pregnancy outcome and prenatal and postnatal growth: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study.
Luoto R, Laitinen K, Nermes M, Isolauri E.
Department of Paediatrics, Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 4-8, 20520 Turku, Finland.

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Folate may protect women from pancreatic cancer

Feb-2010

Increased intake of folate may reduce a woman’s risk of pancreatic cancer by 50 per cent, but folate levels are not associated with pancreatic cancer risk in men, says a new study supported by the National Institutes of Health.

A study with 51,988 men and 57,187 women aged between 55 and 74 found that folate intakes above 253.3 micrograms a day were associated with significantly reduced risk of pancreatic cancer in women, compared to folate intakes below 179.1 micrograms per day, says research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

The study adds to an ever growing body of science supporting the potential anti-cancer effects of folate, linked to the vitamin’s role in DNA methylation, synthesis, and repair.

On the other hand, the researchers, led by Brietta Oaks from the University of California, Davis, report no association between folic acid supplements and cancer risk.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2010, Volume 91, Pages 449-455, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28433
“Folate intake, post–folic acid grain fortification, and pancreatic cancer risk in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial”
Authors: B.M. Oaks, K.W. Dodd, C.L. Meinhold, L. Jiao, T.R. Church, R. Z Stolzenberg-Solomon

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Vitamin B6 may affect heart disease risk: Study

BACKGROUND: Low vitamin B-6 status has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. The cardioprotective effects of vitamin B-6 independent of homocysteine suggest that additional mechanisms may be involved.

OBJECTIVE: Our objective was to examine the cross-sectional association of vitamin B-6 status with markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

DESIGN: We measured plasma pyridoxal-5'-phosphate (PLP), C-reactive protein (CRP), and an oxidative DNA damage marker, urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), in Puerto Rican adults who were living in Massachusetts (n = 1205, aged 45-75 y). RESULTS: There was a strong dose-response relation of plasma PLP concentration with plasma CRP. Increasing quartiles of PLP were significantly associated with lower CRP concentrations (geometric means: 4.7, 3.6, 3.1, and 2.5 mg/L; P for trend < 0.0001) and with lower urinary 8-OHdG concentrations (geometric means: 124, 124, 117, and 108 ng/mg creatinine; P for trend: 0.025) after multivariate adjustment. These negative associations persisted after plasma homocysteine was controlled for. Plasma PLP concentrations were significantly correlated with plasma fasting glucose (r = -0.1, P = 0.0006), glycated hemoglobin (r = -0.08, P = 0.006), and homeostasis model assessment of beta cell function (r = 0.082, P = 0.005). Metabolic syndrome, obesity, and diabetes were also significantly associated with low plasma PLP concentrations (P = 0.011, 0.0007, and 0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS: Low vitamin B-6 concentrations are associated with inflammation, higher oxidative stress, and metabolic conditions in older Puerto Rican adults. Our data suggest that vitamin B-6 may influence cardiovascular disease risk through mechanisms other than homocysteine and support the notion that nutritional status may influence the health disparities present in this population.

Source: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition February 2010, Volume 91, Number 2, Pages 337-342, doi:10.3945/ajcn.2009.28571 “Association of vitamin B-6 status with inflammation, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammatory conditions: the Boston Puerto Rican Health Study”
Authors: J. Shen, C-Q. Lai, J. Mattei, J.M. Ordovas, K.L. Tucker
Jean Mayer US Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111-1524, USA.

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Omega-3 may reduce risk of dental disease

OBJECTIVE: Fish oil has anti-inflammatory actions that may benefit periodontal health. We investigated the longitudinal relation between dietary omega-3 fatty acids (FAs), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) to periodontal disease in community-dwelling elderly.

METHODS: Fifty-five participants aged 74 y were randomly selected from a longitudinal interdisciplinary study of aging. Dietary intake data were obtained by a 3-d weighed food intake. The dietary intakes of energy, DHA, and EPA were calculated based on the Standard Food Composition Tables in Japan. Dental examinations were carried out at baseline and once a year for 5 y. The number of teeth with periodontal progression over 5 y per person was calculated as "periodontal disease events." Negative binomial regression analysis was conducted, which included DHA, EPA, and other covariates as independent variables to estimate the influence on periodontal disease events. Longitudinal data were analyzed for participants for whom data were available for 5 y (n=36).

RESULTS: Low DHA intake was significantly associated with more periodontal disease events. The mean number of periodontal disease events for participants who consumed the lowest tertile of DHA was approximately 1.5 times larger (lowest tertile, incidence rate ratio 1.49, 95% confidence interval 1.01-2.21) than the reference group (highest tertile of DHA consumption), after simultaneously adjusting for possible confounders.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest there may be an inverse, independent relation of dietary DHA intake to the progression of periodontal disease in older people. Copyright © 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Nutrition. 2010 Jan 22. [Epub ahead of print]
“Longitudinal relationship between dietary ω-3 fatty acids and periodontal disease”
Authors: M. Iwasaki, A. Yoshihara, P. Moynihan, R. Watanabe, G.W. Taylor, H. Miyazaki

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Concord grape juice supplementation improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment.

Concord grape juice contains polyphenol compounds, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and influence neuronal signalling. Concord grape juice supplementation has been shown to reduce inflammation, blood pressure and vascular pathology in individuals with CVD, and consumption of such flavonoid-containing foods is associated with a reduced risk for dementia. In addition, preliminary animal data have indicated improvement in memory and motor function with grape juice supplementation, suggesting potential for cognitive benefit in ageing humans. In this initial investigation of neurocognitive effects, we enrolled twelve older adults with memory decline but not dementia in a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial with Concord grape juice supplementation for 12 weeks. We observed significant improvement in a measure of verbal learning and non-significant enhancement of verbal and spatial recall. There was no appreciable effect of the intervention on depressive symptoms and no effect on weight or waist circumference. A small increase in fasting insulin was observed for those consuming grape juice.

These preliminary findings suggest that supplementation with Concord grape juice may enhance cognitive function for older adults with early memory decline and establish a basis for more comprehensive investigations to evaluate potential benefit and assess mechanisms of action.
Source: British Journal of Nutrition
Published online ahead of print, First View Article, doi:10.1017/S0007114509992364 “Concord grape juice supplementation improves memory function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment”
Authors: Robert Krikorian, Tiffany A. Nash, Marcelle D. Shidler, Barbara Shukitt-Hale and James A. Joseph
Br J Nutr. 2009 Dec 23:1-5. [Epub ahead of print]

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Vitamins and minerals may slash bladder cancer risk

Abstract
Objective Although the effect of fruit and vegetables on the risk of bladder cancer has been widely studied, little is known about their micronutrient components. Our aim was to investigate associations between minerals and vitamins and bladder cancer.

Methods A case–control study was conducted in New Hampshire, USA. Dietary data were collected from 322 cases and 239 controls using a 121-item food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression adjusting for sex, age, smoking characteristics, and energy intake.

Results The ORs (95% CI) for highest quartile versus lowest quartile for total intake of vitamin E was 0.66 (0.36– 1.20; p trend = 0.09) and 0.49 (0.21–1.17; p trend = 0.13) for dietary phosphorus. The odds of bladder cancer for heavy smokers with the highest total intake of vitamin E, carotenoids, and niacin were 0.58 (0.34–0.99), 0.62 (0.36– 1.09), and 0.66 (0.39–1.14), respectively. Higher total intakes of carotenoids, vitamin D, thiamin, niacin, and vitamin E were inversely related to bladder cancer risk among older individuals.

Conclusion Our findings suggest further investigation of the effect of vitamin E, carotenoids, vitamin D, thiamin, and niacin on bladder cancer risk may be warranted. Future studies should focus on high risk groups such as heavy smokers and older individuals.

Source: Cancer Causes and Control
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1007/s10552-009-9490-0
“Minerals and vitamins and the risk of bladder cancer: results from the New Hampshire Study”
Authors: M.T. Brinkman, M.R. Karagas, M.S. Zens, A. Schned, R.C. Reulen, M.P. Zeegers

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Maternal folic acid may slash heart problems in children

Aims To investigate the potentially protective of periconceptional folic acid use on the risk of congenital heart defects (CHDs) relative to other non-folate related malformations.

Methods and results We analysed data from a large regional register of birth defects (EUROCAT-Northern Netherlands), over a 10 year period (1996-2005) for a case-control study. The cases were mothers who had delivered infants with isolated or complex heart defects, without any related syndrome or genetic abnormality (n = 611). We used two control groups; one from the EUROCAT database and another from the general population. The registry controls consisted of mothers of children with a known chromosomal or genetic defect, and with infants with other non-folate related congenital malformations (n = 2401). Additional folic acid was taken as a single supplement or as a multivitamin containing folic acid in a dose of >/=400 microg daily. Mothers who had used folate antagonists or who had diabetes, and mothers of children with oral clefts, hypospadias, limb reduction- or neural tube defects, were excluded from both groups. Potentially confounding factors of periconceptional folic acid use in relation to CHD were explored, including baby's birth year, maternal body mass index, education, maternal age at delivery of index baby, smoking behaviour, and alcohol use during pregnancy. Periconceptional folic acid use revealed an odds ratio (OR) of 0.82 (95% CI 0.68-0.98) for all types of CHD relative to other malformations. The estimated relative risk for CHDs of additional folic acid use compared with the general population was comparable [OR 0.74 (95%CI 0.62-0.88)]. Subgroup analysis showed an OR of 0.62 (95% CI 0.47-0.82) for isolated septal defects. The proportions of the potential confounders between mothers of case and control infants did not differ significantly.

Conclusion Our results support the hypothesis that additional periconceptional folic acid use reduces CHD risk in infants. Use of periconceptional folic acid supplements was related to approximately 20% reduction in the prevalence of any CHD. Given the relatively high prevalence of CHD worldwide, our findings are important for public health.

Eur Heart J. 2009 Dec 1. [Epub ahead of print]
"Protective effect of periconceptional folic acid supplements on the risk of congenital heart defects: a registry-based case-control study in the northern Netherlands"
van Beynum IM, Kapusta L, Bakker MK, den Heijer M, Blom HJ, de Walle HE.
Children's Heart Centre, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, Nijmegen 6500 HB, The Netherlands.

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Vitamin B6 may inhibit colon cancer

BACKGROUND: Folate intake has been associated with reduced colorectal cancer risk; however, few studies have prospectively examined circulating folate or other related one-carbon biomarkers.

METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study within the Alpha-Tocopherol, Beta-Carotene Cancer Prevention Study cohort of 50- to 69-year-old Finnish men to investigate associations between serum folate, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, riboflavin, and homocysteine and risk of colon and rectal cancers. Controls were alive and cancer-free at the time of case diagnosis and matched 1:1 on age and date of baseline fasting serum collection with cases (152 colon and 126 rectal cancers). Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated using conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS: Serum vitamin B6 was inversely associated with colon cancer [odds ratio, 0.30 (95% confidence interval, 0.11-0.82) in the highest versus lowest quintile]. An increased risk of colon cancer was suggested for men in the middle quintile of serum folate, but without indication of a dose-response relationship. None of the other serum biomarkers were associated with colon or rectal cancer, and we observed no interactions with alcohol consumption or methionine or protein intake. A priori combinations of the five one-carbon serum biomarkers provided no clear evidence to support a collective influence on colorectal cancer risk.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the hypothesis that higher vitamin B6 status may play a role in inhibiting colon cancer carcinogenesis; however, folate and other one-carbon related biomarkers were not associated with colon or rectal cancer.

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2008 Nov;17(11):3233-40.
Weinstein SJ, Albanes D, Selhub J, Graubard B, Lim U, Taylor PR, Virtamo J, Stolzenberg-Solomon R.
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Nutritional Epidemiology Branch, Suite 320, 6120 Executive Boulevard, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA. weinstes@mail.nih.gov

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Omega-3s Protect Men Against Acute Coronary Syndrome

Increased intakes of omega-3 fatty acids EPA, DPA and DHA may protect men against acute coronary syndrome (ACS), says a new study.

The heart-health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids are well documented, being first reported in the early 1970s by Jorn Dyerberg and his co-workers in The Lancet and The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. To date, the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been linked to improvements in blood lipid levels, a reduced tendency of thrombosis, blood pressure and heart rate improvements and improved vascular function.

The new study, published in the British Journal of Nutrition, reported that increased intakes of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) may reduce the risk of ACS, an umbrella term for a range of symptoms including unstable angina and chest pains.

The Danish Diet, Cancer and Health cohort study involved 57,053 men and women. During an average follow-up time of almost eight years, 1,150 people developed ACS. Men who consumed more than 0.39 grams of PUFAs per day had an associated risk of ACS 27% lower than men who consumed less than 0.39 grams per day.

When the researchers looked at individual omega-3 fatty acids, they did note negative association for EPA, DPA and DHA, but these were considered "less consistent." No benefits were observed for women, the researchers noted.

"We found borderline significant negative associations between the intake of marine omega-3 PUFA and ACS among healthy men," they concluded.

Br J Nutr. 2009 Oct 14:1-6. [Epub ahead of print]
Dietary intake of total marine n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid and the risk of acute coronary syndrome - a cohort study.
Joensen AM, Schmidt EB, Dethlefsen C, Johnsen SP, Tjønneland A, Rasmussen LH, Overvad K.
Department of Cardiology, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark.

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Quercetin may be linked with reduced risk of developing colon cancer

Diets rich in flavonoids may reduce the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Flavonoids are widely distributed in foods of plant origin, though in the UK tea is the main dietary source. Our objective was to evaluate any independent associations of total dietary and non-tea intake of four flavonoid subclasses and the risk of developing colorectal cancer in a tea-drinking population with a high colorectal cancer incidence. A population-based case-control study (264 cases with histologically confirmed incident colorectal cancer and 408 controls) was carried out. Dietary data gathered by FFQ were used to calculate flavonoid intake. Adjusted OR and 95 % CI were estimated by logistic regression. No linear association between risk of developing colorectal cancer and total dietary flavonol, procyanidin, flavon-3-ol or flavanone intakes was found, but non-tea flavonol intake was inversely associated with colorectal cancer risk (OR 0.6; 95 % CI 0.4, 1.0). Stratification by site of cancer and assessment of individual flavonols showed a reduced risk of developing colon but not rectal cancer with increasing non-tea quercetin intake (OR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.3, 0.8; Ptrend < 0.01). We concluded that flavonols, specifically quercetin, obtained from non-tea components of the diet may be linked with reduced risk of developing colon cancer.

Dietary flavonoid intake and colorectal cancer: a case-control study
Kyle JA, Sharp L, Little J, Duthie GG, McNeill G.
Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB21 9SB, UK.

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Statins Given to Prevent Pneumonia in Elderly Actually Increase Pneumonia Risk by 61 Percent

(NaturalNews) Published reports say that between 11 and 30 million Americans are taking the supposedly wonder drugs called statins. These cholesterol lowering medications brought in over $34 billion in sales last year and have raked in a quarter of a trillion dollars since they were introduced two decades ago, according to a report published by Forbes last fall. But this market is apparently not big enough to satisfy Big Pharma. The drugs, which are sold under familiar names like Lipitor, Vitorin, Zocor, Zetia, Crestor and others, are beginning to be pushed for reasons other than lowering cholesterol -- including the alleged prevention of pneumonia.


Read the rest of the article here

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American Heart Association sets strict guidelines for added sugar intake

Abstract-High intakes of dietary sugars in the setting of a worldwide pandemic of obesity and cardiovascular disease have heightened concerns about the adverse effects of excessive consumption of sugars. In 2001 to 2004, the usual intake of added sugars for Americans was 22.2 teaspoons per day (355 calories per day). Between 1970 and 2005, average annual availability of sugars/added sugars increased by 19%, which added 76 calories to Americans' average daily energy intake. Soft drinks and other sugar-sweetened beverages are the primary source of added sugars in Americans' diets.

Excessive consumption of sugars has been linked with several metabolic abnormalities and adverse health conditions, as well as shortfalls of essential nutrients. Although trial data are limited, evidence from observational studies indicates that a higher intake of soft drinks is associated with greater energy intake, higher body weight, and lower intake of essential nutrients. National survey data also indicate that excessive consumption of added sugars is contributing to overconsumption of discretionary calories by Americans.

On the basis of the 2005 US Dietary Guidelines, intake of added sugars greatly exceeds discretionary calorie allowances, regardless of energy needs. In view of these considerations, the American Heart Association recommends reductions in the intake of added sugars. A prudent upper limit of intake is half of the discretionary calorie allowance, which for most American women is no more than 100 calories per day and for most American men is no more than 150 calories per day from added sugars.

According to lead author Rachel Johnson, professor of nutrition at the University of Vermont in Burlington, a woman drinking just one 12 ounce can of regular soda (which contains about 130 calories) would exceed the daily limit.

Circulation. 2009 Aug 24. [Epub ahead of print]
Dietary Sugars Intake and Cardiovascular Health. A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association.
Johnson RK, Appel LJ, Brands M, Howard BV, Lefevre M, Lustig RH, Sacks F, Steffen LM, Wylie-Rosett J; on behalf of the American Heart Association Nutrition Committee of the Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism and the Council on Epidemiology and Prevention

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Vitamin D may reduce pre-eclampsia risk

BACKGROUND: A recent study showed that nulliparous women (never having given birth to a child) who develop preeclampsia had low concentrations of vitamin D in serum sampled in mid pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to estimate the association between intake of vitamin D during pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia in 23,423 nulliparous pregnant women taking part in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study.

METHODS: Participating women answered questionnaires at gestational week 15 (general health questionnaire), at week 22 (food frequency questionnaire), and at week 30 (general health questionnaire). Pregnancy outcomes were obtained from the Medical Birth Registry. Nutrient intake was calculated from foods and dietary supplements. We estimated relative risks as odds ratios, and controlled for confounding with multiple logistic regression.

RESULTS: The odds ratio of preeclampsia for women with a total vitamin D intake of 15-20 microg/d compared with less than 5 microg/d was 0.76 (95% confidence interval = 0.60-0.95). Considering only the intake of vitamin D from supplements, we found a 27% reduction in risk of preeclampsia (OR = 0.73 [0.58-0.92]) for women taking 10-15 microg/d as compared with no supplements. No association was found between intake of vitamin D from the diet alone and the occurrence of preeclampsia.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with other reports of a protective effect of vitamin D on preeclampsia development. However, because vitamin D intake is highly correlated with the intake of long chain n-3 fatty acids in the Norwegian diet, further research is needed to disentangle the separate effects of these nutrients.

Epidemiology. 2009 Sep;20(5):720-6.
Vitamin D supplementation and reduced risk of preeclampsia in nulliparous women.
Haugen M, Brantsaeter AL, Trogstad L, Alexander J, Roth C, Magnus P, Meltzer HM.
Division of Environmental Medicine, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway. margaretha.haugen@fhi.no

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Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) prevents age-associated skeletal muscle loss.

In this study, we examined the effect of CLA isomers in preventing age-associated muscle loss and the mechanisms underlying this effect, using 12-months-old C57BL/6 mice fed 10% corn oil (CO) or a diet supplemented with 0.5% c9t11-CLA, t10c12-CLA, or c9t11-CLA+t10c12-CLA (CLA-mix) for 6months. Both t10c12-CLA and CLA-mix groups showed significantly higher muscle mass, as compared to CO and c9t11-CLA groups, measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and muscle wet weight.

Enhanced mitochondrial ATP production, with higher membrane potential, and elevated muscle antioxidant enzymes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase) production, accompanied by slight increase in H(2)O(2) production was noted in t10c12-CLA and CLA-mix groups, as compared to that of CO and c9t11-CLA groups. Oxidative stress, as measured by serum malondialdehyde and inflammation, as measured by LPS-treated splenocyte IL-6 and TNF-alpha, were significantly less in CLA isomers groups. Thus, CLA may be a novel dietary supplement that will prevent sarcopenia (age-related loss of muscle mass, strength and function )by maintaining redox balance (shorthand for reduction-oxidation reaction) during aging.

Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2009 Jun 12;383(4):513-8. Epub 2009 Apr 22.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) prevents age-associated skeletal muscle loss.
Rahman M, Halade GV, El Jamali A, Fernandes G.
Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, TX 78229-3900, USA.

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Omega-3 deficiency causes 96,000 US deaths per year, say researchers

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of the number of deaths caused by risk factors is needed for health policy and priority setting. Our aim was to estimate the mortality effects of the following 12 modifiable dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors in the United States (US) using consistent and comparable methods: high blood glucose, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and blood pressure; overweight-obesity; high dietary trans fatty acids and salt; low dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega-3 fatty acids (seafood), and fruits and vegetables; physical inactivity; alcohol use; and tobacco smoking.

METHODS AND FINDINGS: We used data on risk factor exposures in the US population from nationally representative health surveys and disease-specific mortality statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics. We obtained the etiological effects of risk factors on disease-specific mortality, by age, from systematic reviews and meta-analyses of epidemiological studies that had adjusted (i) for major potential confounders, and (ii) where possible for regression dilution bias. We estimated the number of disease-specific deaths attributable to all non-optimal levels of each risk factor exposure, by age and sex. In 2005, tobacco smoking and high blood pressure were responsible for an estimated 467,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] 436,000-500,000) and 395,000 (372,000-414,000) deaths, accounting for about one in five or six deaths in US adults. Overweight-obesity (216,000; 188,000-237,000) and physical inactivity (191,000; 164,000-222,000) were each responsible for nearly 1 in 10 deaths. High dietary salt (102,000; 97,000-107,000), low dietary omega-3 fatty acids (84,000; 72,000-96,000), and high dietary trans fatty acids (82,000; 63,000-97,000) were the dietary risks with the largest mortality effects. Although 26,000 (23,000-40,000) deaths from ischemic heart disease, ischemic stroke, and diabetes were averted by current alcohol use, they were outweighed by 90,000 (88,000-94,000) deaths from other cardiovascular diseases, cancers, liver cirrhosis, pancreatitis, alcohol use disorders, road traffic and other injuries, and violence.P CONCLUSIONS: Smoking and high blood pressure, which both have effective interventions, are responsible for the largest number of deaths in the US. Other dietary, lifestyle, and metabolic risk factors for chronic diseases also cause a substantial number of deaths in the U.S.

Source: Public Library of Science Medicine Journal Vol. 6, April, 2009
PLoS Med. 2009 Apr 28;6(4):e1000058. Epub 2009 Apr 28.
‘The Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors’
Authors: Goodarz Danaei, Eric L Ding, Dariush Mozaffarian, Ben Taylor, Jurgen Rehm, Christopher J L Murray, Majid Ezzati
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.

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Quercetin and Green Tea Component Support Healthy Blood Vessels

BACKGROUND: Dietary flavonoids may improve endothelial function and ultimately lead to beneficial cardiovascular effects.( Endothelial function refers to the function of the endothelium, the cells lining blood vessels).

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess whether pure dietary flavonoids can modulate nitric oxide and endothelin-1 production and thereby improve endothelial function. DESIGN: A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in 12 healthy men was conducted to compare the acute effects of the oral administration of 200 mg quercetin, (-)-epicatechin, or epigallocatechin gallate(green tea components) on nitric oxide, endothelin-1, and oxidative stress after nitric oxide production was assessed via the measurement of plasma S-nitrosothiols and plasma and urinary nitrite and nitrate concentrations. The effects on oxidative stress were assessed by measuring plasma and urinary F(2)-isoprostanes. Plasma and urinary concentrations of quercetin, (-)-epicatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate were measured to establish the absorption of these flavonoids.

RESULTS: Relative to water (control), quercetin and (-)-epicatechin resulted in a significant increase in plasma S-nitrosothiols, plasma nitrite, and urinary nitrate concentrations (P < 0.05), but not in plasma nitrate or urinary nitrite. Epigallocatechin gallate did not alter any of the measures of nitric oxide production. Quercetin and (-)-epicatechin resulted in a significant reduction in plasma endothelin-1 concentration (P < 0.05), but only quercetin significantly decreased the urinary endothelin-1 concentration. None of the 3 treatments significantly changed plasma or urinary F(2)-isoprostane concentrations. Significant increases in the circulating concentrations of the 3 flavonoids were observed (P < 0.05) after the corresponding treatment.

CONCLUSIONS: Dietary flavonoids, such as quercetin and (-)-epicatechin, can augment nitric oxide status and reduce endothelin-1 concentrations and may thereby improve endothelial function.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2008 Oct;88(4):1018-25.
Pure dietary flavonoids quercetin and (-)-epicatechin augment nitric oxide products and reduce endothelin-1 acutely in healthy men.
Loke WM, Hodgson JM, Proudfoot JM, McKinley AJ, Puddey IB, Croft KD.
School of Medicine and Pharmacology and the School of Biomedical, Biomolecular and Chemical Sciences, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia.

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Recent study suggests that plant proteins key to weight loss and healthy cholesterol

BACKGROUND: Low-carbohydrate, high-animal protein diets, which are advocated for weight loss, may not promote the desired reduction in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentration. The effect of exchanging the animal proteins and fats for those of vegetable origin has not been tested. Our objective was to determine the effect on weight loss and LDL-C concentration of a low-carbohydrate diet high in vegetable proteins from gluten, soy, nuts, fruits, vegetables, cereals, and vegetable oils compared with a high-carbohydrate diet based on low-fat dairy and whole grain products.

METHODS: A total of 47 overweight hyperlipidemic men and women consumed either (1) a low-carbohydrate (26% of total calories), high-vegetable protein (31% from gluten, soy, nuts, fruit, vegetables, and cereals), and vegetable oil (43%) plant-based diet or (2) a high-carbohydrate lacto-ovo vegetarian diet (58% carbohydrate, 16% protein, and 25% fat) for 4 weeks each in a parallel study design. The study food was provided at 60% of calorie requirements.

RESULTS: Of the 47 subjects, 44 (94%) (test, n = 22 [92%]; control, n = 22 [96%]) completed the study. Weight loss was similar for both diets (approximately 4.0 kg). However, reductions in LDL-C concentration and total cholesterol-HDL-C and apolipoprotein B-apolipoprotein AI ratios were greater for the low-carbohydrate compared with the high-carbohydrate diet (-8.1% [P = .002], -8.7% [P = .004], and -9.6% [P = .001], respectively). Reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure were also seen (-1.9% [P = .052] and -2.4% [P = .02], respectively).

CONCLUSION: A low-carbohydrate plant-based diet has lipid-lowering advantages over a high-carbohydrate, low-fat weight-loss diet in improving heart disease risk factors not seen with conventional low-fat diets with animal products. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00256516.

Arch Intern Med. 2009 Jun 8;169(11):1046-54.
The effect of a plant-based low-carbohydrate ("eco-atkins") diet on body weight and blood lipid concentrations in hyperlipidemic subjects.
Jenkins DJ, Wong JM, Kendall CW, Esfahani A, Ng VW, Leong TC, Faulkner DA, Vidgen E, Greaves KA, Paul G, Singer W.
Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St Michael's Hospital, 61 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M5C 2T2, Canada. cyril.kendall@utoronto.ca.

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Vitamin D Reduces Heart Health Risks in Subjects Participating in Weight Loss Programs

BACKGROUND: High blood concentrations of parathyroid hormone and low concentrations of the vitamin D metabolites 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] and calcitriol are considered new cardiovascular disease risk markers. However, there is also evidence that calcitriol increases lipogenesis and decreases lipolysis.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effect of vitamin D on weight loss and traditional and nontraditional cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight subjects.

DESIGN: Healthy overweight subjects (n = 200) with mean 25(OH)D concentrations of 30 nmol/L (12 ng/mL) received vitamin D (83 microg/d) or placebo in a double-blind manner for 12 mo while participating in a weight-reduction program.

RESULTS: Weight loss was not affected significantly by vitamin D supplementation (-5.7 +/- 5.8 kg) or placebo (-6.4 +/- 5.6 kg). However, mean 25(OH)D and calcitriol concentrations increased by 55.5 nmol/L and 40.0 pmol/L, respectively, in the vitamin D group but by only 11.8 nmol/L and 9.3 pmol/L, respectively, in the placebo group (P < 0.001), whereas a more pronounced decrease occurred in the vitamin D group than in the placebo group in blood concentrations of parathyroid hormone (-26.5% compared with -18.7%; P = 0.014), triglycerides (-13.5% compared with +3.0%; P < 0.001), and the inflammation marker tumor necrosis factor-alpha (-10.2% compared with -3.2%; P = 0.049). The beneficial biochemical effects were independent of the loss in body weight, fat mass, and sex. However, compared with placebo, vitamin D supplementation also increased LDL-cholesterol concentrations (+5.4% compared with -2.5%; P < 0.001)

. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicate that a vitamin D supplement of 83 microg/d does not adversely affect weight loss and is able to significantly improve several cardiovascular disease risk markers in overweight subjects with inadequate vitamin D status participating in a weight-reduction program. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00493012.

Am J Clin Nutr. 2009 May;89(5):1321-7. Epub 2009 Mar 25.
Vitamin D supplementation enhances the beneficial effects of weight loss on cardiovascular disease risk markers.
Zittermann A, Frisch S, Berthold HK, Götting C, Kuhn J, Kleesiek K, Stehle P, Koertke H, Koerfer R.
Klinik für Thorax- und Kardiovaskularchirurgie and Institut für Laboratoriums- und Transfusionsmedizin, Herzzentrum NRW, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Bad Oeynhausen, Germany. azittermann@hdz-nrw.de

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Low Vitamin A and Vitamin C increase risk of Asthma

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological studies suggest that dietary intake of vitamins A, C and E may be associated with the occurrence of asthma.

OBJECTIVES: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine whether vitamins A, C, and E, measured as dietary intakes or serum levels, are associated with asthma.

Measurements and MAIN RESULTS: A total of 40 studies were included. The researchers found that dietary vitamin A intake is significantly lower in asthma patients compared to individuals without asthma. Asthma patients had an average intake of vitamin A of 182 micrograms, approximately 25-33 percent of the Daily Reference Intake (DRI). Additionally, dietary vitamin A intake was significantly lower in subjects with severe asthma compared to individuals with mild asthma.
Lower intake and serum levels of vitamin C were also associated with increased risk of asthma. Furthermore, they showed that low serum levels and lower dietary intake of vitamin C was associated with a 12 percent increased risk of developing asthma. The researchers also found that vitamin E intake was significantly lower in subjects with severe asthma compared to those with mild asthma, although vitamin E intake was not found to to correlate with the risk of asthma.

CONCLUSIONS: Relatively low dietary intakes of vitamins A and C are associated with statistically significant increased odds of asthma and wheeze. Vitamin E intake does not appear to be related to asthma status.

Reference:
Allen S, Britton J, Leonardi-Bee J. Association between antioxidant vitamins and asthma outcomes: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Thorax. 2009 Apr 30. Published Online Ahead of Print

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Selenium linked to lower skin cancer risk

BACKGROUND: Antioxidant nutrients can help prevent skin damage caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunlight, but it is not clear whether serum concentrations of such nutrients influence skin cancer risk.

METHODS: We carried out a prospective study of the associations between serum concentrations of antioxidant nutrients and incidence (person-based and tumor-based) of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin among a random subsample of 485 adults from an Australian community. Participants were divided into thirds, ranked according to their serum concentrations of carotenoids, alpha-tocopherol, and selenium measured in 1996 and were monitored for incident, histologically confirmed BCC and SCC tumors until 2004. RESULTS: Although there were no associations between baseline serum carotenoids or alpha-tocopherol concentrations and incidence of BCC or SCC, baseline serum selenium concentrations showed strong inverse associations with both BCC and SCC tumor incidence. Compared with participants with lowest selenium concentrations at baseline (0.4-1.0 micromol/L), those with the highest serum selenium concentrations (1.3-2.8 micromol/L) had a decreased incidence of BCC tumors (multivariate relative risk, 0.43; 95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.86; P(trend) = 0.02) and SCC tumors (multivariate relative risk, 0.36; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.82; P(trend) = 0.02).

CONCLUSION: Relatively high serum selenium concentrations are associated with an approximately 60% decrease in subsequent tumor incidence of both BCC and SCC, whereas serum concentrations of carotenoids or alpha-tocopherol are not associated with later skin cancer incidence. A possible U-shaped association between serum selenium concentrations and SCC of the skin needs confirmation.

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Apr;18(4):1167-73. Epub 2009 Mar 31.
Serum antioxidants and skin cancer risk: an 8-year community-based follow-up study.
van der Pols JC, Heinen MM, Hughes MC, Ibiebele TI, Marks GC, Green AC.
Queensland Institute of Medical Research, PO Royal Brisbane Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland 4029, Australia. jolieke.vanderpols@qimr.edu.au

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Low vitamin D linked to female infections:

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a highly prevalent vaginal infection that is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Vitamin D exerts an influence on the immune system and may play a role in BV. The objective of this study was to examine the association between maternal vitamin D status and the prevalence of BV in early pregnancy. Women (n = 469) enrolled in a pregnancy cohort study at <16 wk underwent a pelvic examination and provided a blood sample for determination of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. BV was diagnosed using Gram-stained vaginal smears interpreted using the method of Nugent. Approximately 41% of women had BV (Nugent score 7-10) and 52% had a serum 25(OH)D concentration <37.5 nmol/L. The mean unadjusted serum 25(OH)D concentration was lower among BV cases (29.5 nmol/L; 95% CI: 27.1, 32.0) compared with women with normal vaginal flora (40.1 nmol/L; 95% CI: 37.0, 43.5; P < 0.001). BV prevalence decreased as vitamin D status improved (P < 0.001). Approximately 57% of the women with a serum 25(OH)D concentration <20 nmol/L had BV compared with 23% of women with a serum 25(OH)D concentration >80 nmol/L. There was a dose-response association between 25(OH)D and the prevalence of BV. The prevalence declined as 25(OH)D increased to 80 nmol/L, then reached a plateau. Compared with a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 75 nmol/L, there were 1.65-fold (95% CI: 1.01, 2.69) and 1.26-fold (1.01, 1.57) increases in the prevalence of BV associated with a serum 25(OH)D concentration of 20 and 50 nmol/L, respectively, after adjustment for race and sexually transmitted diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with BV and may contribute to the strong racial disparity in the prevalence of BV.

J Nutr. 2009 Apr 8. [Epub ahead of print] Maternal Vitamin D Deficiency Is Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis in the First Trimester of Pregnancy.
Bodnar LM, Krohn MA, Simhan HN.
Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.

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Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn supplementation in asthmatic children: a randomized self-controlled study.

OBJECTIVES: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory airways disease. Nutritional intervention is an important tool to decrease the severity of many chronic inflammatory diseases including asthma. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn in children with moderately persistent asthma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Randomly assigned, placebo-self-controlled 60 children with moderate persistent asthma completed the study, were subjected to alternating phases of supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn either singly or in combination separated with washout phases. Childhood asthma control test (C-ACT), pulmonary function tests and sputum inflammatory markers were evaluated at the beginning of the study and at the end of each therapeutic phase.

RESULTS: There was a significant improvement of C-ACT, pulmonary function tests and sputum inflammatory markers with diet supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn (p < 0.001*). There was also significant improvement with the combined use of the three supplementations than single use of any one of them (p < 0.001*).

CONCLUSION: Diet supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids, Zn and vitamin C significantly improved asthma control test, pulmonary function tests and pulmonary inflammatory markers in children with moderately persistent bronchial asthma either singly or in combination.

Acta Paediatr. 2009 Apr;98(4):737-42. Epub 2008 Jan 11.
Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C and Zn supplementation in asthmatic children: a randomized self-controlled study.
Biltagi MA, Baset AA, Bassiouny M, Kasrawi MA, Attia M.
Department of Paediatric, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt. mbelrem@hotmail.com

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New study indicates tocotrienols have antitumor effect

Tocotrienols are a fraction of vitamin E. There are four forms of tocopherols (alpha beta, gamma, delta) and there are also four of tocotrienols (alpha, beta, gamma, delta). Most of the research that has been done on Vitamin E has been done on tocopherols with very little exploration of the purpose or function of tocotrienols.

In this study the researchers, utilizing gamma and delta tocotrienols, discovered that that they accumulated in tumor cells and exerted an antitumor effect, inhibiting the growth of the tumor cells. The researchers indicated theirs was the first research to show an accumulation of gamma and delta tocotrienols in tumors and felt that the accumulation was critical for the antitumor activities of tocotrienols.

The researchers also determined that tocotrienols were detected in tumors but not in normal tissue. Furthermore, the collection of tocotrienols in tumors had no significant effect on body weight, normal-tissue weight and immunoglobulin levels.

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A new study indicatesBroccoli sprouts may reduce asthma

BACKGROUND: Cellular oxidative stress is an important factor in asthma and is thought to be the principle mechanism by which oxidant pollutants such as ozone and particulates mediate their pro-inflammatory effects. Endogenous Phase II enzymes abrogate oxidative stress through the scavenging of reactive oxygen species and metabolism of reactive chemicals

Cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and Brussels sprouts, contain high levels of the active plant chemicals glucosinolates These are metabolised by the body into isothiocyanates, which are known to be powerful anti-carcinogens. The main isothiocyanate from broccoli is sulphoraphane.

OBJECTIVE: We conducted a placebo-controlled dose escalation trial to investigate the in vivo effects of sulforaphane, a naturally occurring potent inducer of Phase II enzymes, on the expression of glutathione-s-transferase M1 (GSTM1), glutathione-s-transferase P1 (GSTP1), NADPH quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), and hemoxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the upper airway of human subjects.

METHODS: Study subjects consumed oral sulforaphane doses contained in a standardized broccoli sprout homogenate (BSH). RNA expression for selected Phase II enzymes was measured in nasal lavage cells by RT-PCR before and after sulforaphane dosing.

RESULTS: All subjects tolerated oral sulforaphane dosing without significant adverse events. Increased Phase II enzyme expression in nasal lavage cells occurred in a dose-dependent manner with maximal enzyme induction observed at the highest dose of 200 g broccoli sprouts prepared as BSH. Significant increases were seen in all sentinel Phase II enzymes RNA expression compared to baseline. Phase II enzyme induction was not seen with ingestion of non-sulforaphane containing alfalfa sprouts

CONCLUSION: Oral sulforaphane safely and effectively induces mucosal Phase II enzyme expression in the upper airway of human subjects. This study demonstrates the potential of antioxidant Phase II enzymes induction in the human airway as a strategy to reduce the inflammatory effects of oxidative stress.

SUMMARY: A placebo-controlled dose escalation trial demonstrated that naturally occurring sulforaphane from broccoli sprouts can induce a potent increase in antioxidant Phase II enzymes in airway cells.

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