Dietary factors in oral leukoplakia and submucous fibrosis in a population-based case control study in Gujarat, India

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship of specific nutrients and food items with oral precancerous lesions among tobacco users.
DESIGN: A population-based case-control study. SETTING: Villages in Palitana taluk of Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, India.
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An interviewer-administered food frequency questionnaire, developed and validated for this population, was used to estimate nutrient intake in blinded, house-to-house interviews. Among 5018 male tobacco users, 318 were diagnosed as cases. An equal number of controls matched on age (±5 years), sex, village, and use of tobacco were selected.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Odds ratios (OR) from multiple logistic regression analysis controlling for relevant variables (type of tobacco use and economic status).
RESULTS: A protective effect of fibre was observed for both oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and leukoplakia, with 10% reduction in risk per g day^-1 ( P < 0.05). Ascorbic acid appeared to be protective against leukoplakia with the halving of risk in the two highest quartiles of intake (versus the lowest quartile: OR = 0.46 and 0.44, respectively; P < 0.10). A protective effect of tomato consumption was observed in leukoplakia and a suggestion of a protective effect of wheat in OSF.
CONCLUSION: In addition to tobacco use, intake of specific nutrients may have a role in the development of oral precancerous lesions.     

Exploring the potential of novel R. kratochvilovae red yeasts towards the sustainable synthesis of natural carotenoids

The development of microbial cell factories is nowadays a main route for the production of safe and environmentally friendly bioactive compounds. Rhodosporidium kratochvilovae yeasts constitute an unexplored source for the production of natural carotenoids, thus further insights on their metabolism and fermentative behavior would contribute towards the sustainable synthesis of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of two R. kratochvilovae isolates (FMCC Y-42 and Y-43) to produce carotenoids under different experimental conditions. Cell growth, carotenoid synthesis and lipid accumulation were evaluated using synthetic media containing either glucose or mixtures of glucose:galactose (1:1), under different carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratios. Carotenogenesis was highly affected by C/N ratio in both strains, while a competitive trend with lipid accumulation was also observed. Yeast strain Y-42 reached the highest concentration of total carotenoids (2.59 mg/L) when grown on glucose-based medium at a C/N ratio of 80 after 39 h of fermentation. Likewise, the strain Y-43 produced approximately 2 mg/L of total carotenoids from both glucose (C/N of 80) and its mixture with galactose (C/N 80 and 120), with similar biomass concentration (9.3, 10.3 and 10.9 g/L, respectively). HPLC-DAD analysis of carotenoid extracts indicated that the main carotenoid was β-carotene (60–75%) followed by γ-carotene (9–18%), torulene (6–13%) and torularhodin (5–17%), regardless the fermentation conditions or the strain-employed. This is the first study to reveal γ-carotene synthesis by R. kratochvilovae strains. The obtained results provided new knowledge on the production of natural carotenoids by novel red yeast strains and could pave the way towards their application in sustainable functional food products and nutraceuticals.     

Studies on hypercarotenemia due to excessive ingestion of carrot,pumpkin and papaw

Hypercarotenemia is diagnosed by yellowing of skin. The present study was carried out to study the carotenoids, their metabolites and the vitamin A levels in hypercarotenemics on reporting, changes in serum carotenoids following cessation of feeding carotenoid-bearing foods, and to determine the carotenoids in stools of hypercarotenemics and non-hypercarotenemics.

Hypercarotenemic subjects (n = 35) were tested on reporting for a 2-month to 3-month period. Feces from hypercarotenemics (n = 5) and non-hypercarotenemics (n = 8) were extracted and subjected to reverse phase-high-performance liquid chromatography. A questionnaire was administered to parents (n = 35) of these hypercarotenemic children. The serum α- and β carotenoids varied from 119 g/dl to trace and from 149 g/dl to trace respectively, with the monohydroxy metabolites varying from 214 g/dl to nondetectable and polyhydroxy metabolites from 823 g/dl to 7.0 g/dl. Longitudinal studies indicated that serum carotenoid levels declined while vitamin A levels were maintained. α-Carotenes and β-carotenes were not detected in the feces of hypercarotenemics but were present in non-hypercarotenemics.     

Effects of cooking using multi-ply cookware on absorption of potassium and vitamins: a randomized double-blind placebo control study

This 2-week interventional study involved a randomized allocation of subjects into three groups: Group A (daily ingestion of 350 g vegetables cooked without water using multi-ply [multilayer-structured] cookware), Group B (daily ingestion of 350 g vegetables; ordinary cookware) and Group C (routine living). Before and after intervention, each subject underwent health examination with 24-h urine sampling. Blood vitamin C significantly increased after intervention from the baseline in Group A (P < 0.01) and Group B (P < 0.05). β-Carotene levels also increased significantly after intervention in Group A (P < 0.01) and Group B (P < 0.01). Oxidized low-density lipoprotein decreased significantly after intervention in Group A (P < 0.01). In Group A, 24-h urinary potassium excretion increased significantly (P < 0.01) and 24-h urinary sodium (Na)/K ratio improved significantly (P < 0.05) after intervention. In conclusion, a cooking method modification with multi-ply cookware improved absorption of nutrients from vegetables and enhanced effective utilization of the antioxidant potentials of vegetable nutrients.     

Long-term follow-up of children with classical phenylketonuria after diet discontinuation: a review.

The age at which children suffering from classical phenylketonuria can safely discontinue their dietary therapy has been constantly disputed over the past decades. Recently, most phenylketonuria centers have begun to recommend a life-long diet, especially for female patients. Male patients are also advised to continue their diet until at least well into adult age. As a result of this new outlook in therapy management, we reviewed the existing literature and summarized all relevant long-term follow-up data of children who discontinued their debts at an early age, focusing on intellectual and neurological performance. The abilities of these children are compared during dietary treatment and again several years after diet discontinuation. Results show clearly that children maintaining their diets into their teens have fewer deficits than do those terminating their diets before 10 years of age. It seems essential to initiate diet early, and to keep blood phenylalanine levels < 600 mumol/L and well controlled to at least age 10 to ensure satisfactory long-term development of the patient. Furthermore, it seems highly justified to maintain a life-long diet which can be liberalized, but not completely discontinued in adulthood.     

Carotenoid Uptake by Human Triacylglycerol-Rich Lipoproteins from the Green Leafy Vegetable Eruca sativa

Carotenoid absorbability from arugula (Eruca sativa) was estimated from the contents of the triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (TRL) of 15 women over a 6 h time interval, yielding an average apparent absorption of 0.27 μmole of β-carotene (5.6 μmole intake), whereas a similar intake of standard β-carotene resulted in the absorption of 0.59 μmole. The corresponding rates for the raw and cooked leaves were 18.2 ± 7 and 22.9 ± 13nmole·L^?1h^?1 (P < 0.05), against 37.1 ± 12nmole·L^?1h^?1 for β-carotene capsules. For lutein, the apparent mean uptakes were 5.6 ± 4 and 6.7 ± 4nmole·L^?1h^?1, for the raw and cooked, respectively. It was concluded that the relative loading of β-carotene onto TRLs is favored over that of lutein and that absorbability of these arugula carotenoids by normal adults is substantial.     

Effects of Heat-Killed Levilactobacillus brevis KB290 in Combination with β-Carotene on Influenza Virus Infection in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Influenza, a seasonal acute respiratory disease caused primarily by the influenza virus A or B, manifests with severe symptoms leading to considerable morbidity and mortality and is a major concern worldwide. Therefore, effective preventive measures against it are required. The aim of this trial was to evaluate the preventive effects of heat-killed Levilactobacillus brevis KB290 (KB290) in combination with β-carotene (βC) on influenza virus infections in healthy Japanese subjects aged between 20 and 59 y throughout the winter season. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial from 16 December 2019 to 8 March 2020, comparing KB290 + βC beverage with placebo beverage. The primary endpoint was the incidence of influenza based on a doctor’s certificate. The incidence of influenza was not significantly different between the two groups. However, the subgroup analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups (influenza incidence: the KB290 + βC group 1.9%, and the placebo group 3.9%) in the subgroup of subjects aged ˂40 y, but not in the subgroup of subjects aged ≥40 y. The results of this trial suggest that the combination of KB290 and βC might be a possible candidate supplement for protection against the seasonal influenza virus infection in humans aged <40 y, although further clinical studies are needed to confirm the concrete preventive effect of this combination on influenza.     

Antioxidant,anticholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibition activities,and fatty acids of Crocus mathewii – A forgotten endemic angiosperm of Turkey

Context We report the first ever chemical/biochemical study on Crocus mathewii Kerndorff (Iridaceae) – a Turkish endemic angiosperm. This plant has never been explored for its phytochemistry and bioactivities.

Objective This study explores C. mathewii corm and aerial parts for the chemical and biological properties of hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water fractions of the extracts.

Material and methods Plant material (20 g) was extracted by methanol (250?mL?×?5, 3 days each) and fractioned into hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. All fractions were subjected to β-carotene–linoleic acid, DPPH^·, ABTS^·+, CUPRAC, metal chelating and tyrosinase inhibition activities. Hexane fractions were submitted to GC–MS analysis.

Results Ethyl acetate fractions showed excellent IC₅₀ values in DPPH^· (aerial 36.21?±?0.76 and corm 33.87?±?0.02?mg/L) and ABTS^·+ (aerial 33.01?±?0.79 and bulb 27.87?±?0.33?mg/L); higher than the IC₅₀ of the standard α-tocopherol (DPPH 116.25?±?1.97; ABTS 52.64?±?0.37?mg/L), higher than BHA in DPPH (57.31?±?0.25?mg/L), but slightly lower in ABTS (19.86?±?2.73?mg/L). Methanol extract of aerial parts also showed higher activity than α-tocopherol in DPPH (85.56?±?11.51?mg/L) but slightly less (72.90?±?3.66?mg/L) than both the standards in ABTS. Linoleic (aerial 53.9%, corm 43.9%) and palmitic (aerial 22.2%, corm 18%) were found as the major fatty acids.

Discussion and conclusion Some fractions of C. mathewii showed higher antioxidant activities than the standards. There is a need to explore more about this plant.     

镁和β-胡萝卜素对2型糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢影响

目的 通过补充镁、β-胡萝卜素及其联合制剂,探讨其对实验2型糖尿病大鼠糖脂代谢的影响及其作用机制.方法 利用链脲佐菌素(STZ)建立2型糖尿病大鼠动物模型,将其随机分为糖尿病模型组、镁组、β-胡萝卜素组及镁+β-胡萝卜素组、正常对照组.实验期8周,检测大鼠血糖(Glu)、甘油三酯(TG)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL)含量,并计算胰岛素抵抗指数(HOMA-IR).结果 8周干预后,镁组、β-胡萝卜素组以及镁+β-胡萝卜素组血糖值分别为(7.57±5.61),(7.85±4.11)和(6.09±3.43),较模型组(13.28±4.11)明显降低(P<0.05);镁+β-胡萝卜素组TG、LDL分别为(1.63±0.64),(0.29±0.08),较模型组(2.65±0.67),(0.45±0.16)明显降低(P<0.05);HDL(11.1±0.31)较模型组(0.81±0.10)明显升高(P<0.05);HOMA-IR与模型组(11.94±2.96)比较,镁组(6.64±4.54)明显降低(P<0.05),镁+β-胡萝卜素组(4.95±3.36)明显降低(P<0.01).结论 镁可以明显降低糖尿病大鼠的血糖、改善胰岛素抵抗;β-胡萝卜素可以明显降低血糖;镁和β-胡萝卜素联合补充可以明显改善糖脂代谢、减轻胰岛素抵抗.     

β-胡萝卜素和VC对K562细胞c-myc基因表达的影响

目的研究β-胡萝卜素和维生素C对白血病细胞中c-myc癌基因表达的影响.方法体外培养白血病细胞株K562,分别添加不同浓度的β-胡萝卜素和VC,培养24h、48h、72h后,利用台盼蓝拒染法检测两种微营养素对细胞增殖的抑制作用;同时取作用24h的细胞利用Northern印迹杂交检测细胞中c-myc基因的表达.结果VC(5、10、100μmol/L)对K562细胞增殖具有显着的抑制作用(P<0.05),而且低浓度的VC(5μmol/L)对K562细胞的抑制作用出现较早.β-胡萝卜素3个剂量组(10、50、100μmol/L)均可抑制K562细胞增殖,具有显着性差异(P<0.05).VC(5μmol/L)和β-胡萝卜素(50μmol/L)均能诱导K562细胞凋亡.VC(5μmol/L)对K562细胞内c-myc的表达没有明显作用(P>0.05).β-胡萝卜素(50μmol/L)对K562细胞内c-myc的表达有显着促进作用(P<0.05).结论VC抑制K562细胞增殖的效应与c-myc的表达无关.β-胡萝卜素可能通过上调c-myc基因的表达,进一步诱导白血病细胞凋亡,从而抑制白血病细胞增殖.