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Dietary intake of flavonoids and oesophageal and gastric cancer: incidence and survival in the United States of America (USA).
Petrick, JL, Steck, SE, Bradshaw, PT, Trivers, KF, Abrahamson, PE, Engel, LS, He, K, Chow, WH, Mayne, ST, Risch, HA, et al
British journal of cancer. 2015;(7):1291-300
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Flavonoids, polyphenolic compounds concentrated in fruits and vegetables, have experimentally demonstrated chemopreventive effects against oesophageal and gastric cancer. Few epidemiologic studies have examined flavonoid intake and incidence of these cancers, and none have considered survival. METHODS In this USA multicentre population-based study, case participants (diagnosed during 1993-1995 with oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OEA, n=274), gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA, n=248), oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OES, n=191), and other gastric adenocarcinoma (OGA, n=341)) and frequency-matched controls (n=662) were interviewed. Food frequency questionnaire responses were linked with USDA Flavonoid Databases and available literature for six flavonoid classes and lignans. Case participants were followed until 2000 for vital status. Multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and hazard ratios (HRs) (95% confidence intervals (CIs)) were estimated, comparing highest with lowest intake quartiles, using polytomous logistic and proportional hazards regressions, respectively. RESULTS Little or no consistent association was found for total flavonoid intake (main population sources: black tea, orange/grapefruit juice, and wine) and incidence or survival for any tumour type. Intake of anthocyanidins, common in wine and fruit juice, was associated with a 57% reduction in the risk of incident OEA (OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.29-0.66) and OES (OR=0.43, 95% CI=0.26-0.70). The ORs for isoflavones, for which coffee was the main source, were increased for all tumours, except OES. Anthocyanidins were associated with decreased risk of mortality for GCA (HR=0.63, 95% CI=0.42-0.95) and modestly for OEA (HR=0.87, 95% CI=0.60-1.26), but CIs were wide. CONCLUSIONS Our findings, if confirmed, suggest that increased dietary anthocyanidin intake may reduce incidence and improve survival for these cancers.
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Effect of an antioxidant drink on homocysteine levels in Alzheimer's patients.
Morillas-Ruiz, JM, Rubio-Perez, JM, Albaladejo, MD, Zafrilla, P, Parra, S, Vidal-Guevara, ML
Journal of the neurological sciences. 2010;(1-2):175-8
Abstract
BACKGROUND A large body of evidence supports a role of oxidative stress in Alzheimer disease (AD) and in cerebrovascular disease. Blood levels of homocysteine may be increased in AD and hyperhomocysteinemia may contribute to disease pathophysiology by vascular and direct neurotoxic mechanisms. Even in the absence of vitamin deficiency, plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) concentration may be influenced by administration of polyphenols. OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of an antioxidant beverage rich in polyphenols on the plasmatic levels of tHcy in Alzheimer's patients. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS A multicenter, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial of polyphenols supplementation in 100 subjects (52 of control group, 24 AD patients in initial phase and 24 AD patients in moderate phase) (Mini-Mental State Examination scores between 14 and 26, inclusive). Fasting plasma concentrations of tHcy, folate and vitamin B(12) were measured before (Ti) and after (Tf) the ingestion of the beverage. The study was conducted at clinical research places of the Catholic University San Antonio and University Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca of Murcia (Spain). INTERVENTION Participants of the three groups were randomly assigned to 2 groups of the same size: 50% treated with antioxidant beverage rich in polyphenols and 50% treated with an identical placebo beverage. Subjects consumed 1 brick (200 mL/day) of antioxidant drink or placebo drink for 8 months. RESULTS Higher tHcy levels were observed in the AD moderate phase patients (Ti:12.65±1.21 μmol/L) than in the AD initial phase patients (Ti:9.13±1.24 μmol/L) and in the control group (Ti:9.86±0.77 μmol/L). Lower folate levels were observed in the AD moderate phase patients (Ti:8.20±1.29 ng/mL) than in the AD initial phase patients (Ti:9.41±1.56 ng/mL) and in the control group (Ti:12.32±0.67 ng/mL). Antioxidant drink vs placebo drink attenuated the tHcy increase in the control group (Tf values of 11.74±0.45 vs 15.63±1.79 μmol/L) and AD patients, especially in the moderate phase (Tf: 10.49±0.73 vs 16.58±2.73 μmol/L). CONCLUSIONS The regular ingestion of polyphenols contained in an antioxidant beverage may decrease tHcy plasmatic concentrations in Alzheimer's patients.
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[Hawthorn extract WS 1442 in the treatment of patients with heart failure and LVEF of 25%-35%].
Von Holubarsch, CJ, Niestroj, M, Wassmer, A, Gaus, W, Meinertz, T
MMW Fortschritte der Medizin. 2010;:56-61
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The effect of polyphenols in olive oil on heart disease risk factors: a randomized trial.
Covas, MI, Nyyssönen, K, Poulsen, HE, Kaikkonen, J, Zunft, HJ, Kiesewetter, H, Gaddi, A, de la Torre, R, Mursu, J, Bäumler, H, et al
Annals of internal medicine. 2006;(5):333-41
Abstract
BACKGROUND Virgin olive oils are richer in phenolic content than refined olive oil. Small, randomized, crossover, controlled trials on the antioxidant effect of phenolic compounds from real-life daily doses of olive oil in humans have yielded conflicting results. Little information is available on the effect of the phenolic compounds of olive oil on plasma lipid levels. No international study with a large sample size has been done. OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the phenolic content of olive oil further benefits plasma lipid levels and lipid oxidative damage compared with monounsaturated acid content. DESIGN Randomized, crossover, controlled trial. SETTING 6 research centers from 5 European countries. PARTICIPANTS 200 healthy male volunteers. MEASUREMENTS Glucose levels, plasma lipid levels, oxidative damage to lipid levels, and endogenous and exogenous antioxidants at baseline and before and after each intervention. INTERVENTION In a crossover study, participants were randomly assigned to 3 sequences of daily administration of 25 mL of 3 olive oils. Olive oils had low (2.7 mg/kg of olive oil), medium (164 mg/kg), or high (366 mg/kg) phenolic content but were otherwise similar. Intervention periods were 3 weeks preceded by 2-week washout periods. RESULTS A linear increase in high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels was observed for low-, medium-, and high-polyphenol olive oil: mean change, 0.025 mmol/L (95% CI, 0.003 to 0.05 mmol/L), 0.032 mmol/L (CI, 0.005 to 0.05 mmol/L), and 0.045 mmol/L (CI, 0.02 to 0.06 mmol/L), respectively. Total cholesterol-HDL cholesterol ratio decreased linearly with the phenolic content of the olive oil. Triglyceride levels decreased by an average of 0.05 mmol/L for all olive oils. Oxidative stress markers decreased linearly with increasing phenolic content. Mean changes for oxidized low-density lipoprotein levels were 1.21 U/L (CI, -0.8 to 3.6 U/L), -1.48 U/L (-3.6 to 0.6 U/L), and -3.21 U/L (-5.1 to -0.8 U/L) for the low-, medium-, and high-polyphenol olive oil, respectively. LIMITATIONS The olive oil may have interacted with other dietary components, participants' dietary intake was self-reported, and the intervention periods were short. CONCLUSIONS Olive oil is more than a monounsaturated fat. Its phenolic content can also provide benefits for plasma lipid levels and oxidative damage. International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial number: ISRCTN09220811.
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Antidiabetic effect of Pycnogenol French maritime pine bark extract in patients with diabetes type II.
Liu, X, Wei, J, Tan, F, Zhou, S, Würthwein, G, Rohdewald, P
Life sciences. 2004;(21):2505-13
Abstract
A double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, multi-center study was performed with 77 diabetes type II patients to investigate anti-diabetic effects of the French maritime pine bark extract, Pynogenol. Supplementation with 100 mg Pycnogenol for 12 weeks, during which a standard anti-diabetic treatment was continued, significantly lowered plasma glucose levels as compared to placebo. HbA1(c) was also lowered; however, the difference as compared to placebo was statistically significant only for the first month. In the Pycnogenol-group endothelin-1 was significantly decreased, while 6-ketoprostaglandin F(1a) in plasma was elevated compared to placebo. Nitric oxide levels in plasma increased during treatment in both groups, but, differences did not reach statistical significance. Pycnogenol was well-tolerated with ECG, electrolytes, creatinine and blood urea nitrogen remaining unchanged in both groups. Mild and transient unwanted effects were reported for both groups without significant differences. Supplementation of Pycnogenol to conventional diabetes treatment lowers glucose levels and improves endothelial function.
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A comparative multi-centre study of the efficacy of propolis, acyclovir and placebo in the treatment of genital herpes (HSV).
Vynograd, N, Vynograd, I, Sosnowski, Z
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. 2000;(1):1-6
Abstract
UNLABELLED Ninety men and women with recurrent genital HSV type 2 participated in a randomized, single-blind, masked investigator, controlled multi-centre study comparing the efficacy of ointment of Canadian propolis containing natural flavonoids with ointments of acyclovir and placebo (vehicle) on healing ability and capacity to remedy symptoms. Thirty individuals were randomized to each group. Treatment was intended to start in the blister phase. All participants had HSV type 2 isolated, confirmed by serum immunoglobulin levels. The participants were examined on the 3rd, 7th and 10th days of treatment by gynaecologists, dermatovenerologists or urologists at seven different medical centres. Apart from clinical symptoms the number and size of the herpetic lesions were noted. At each examination the lesions were classified into four stages: vesicular, ulcerated, crusted and healed. The study ointments were applied to affected areas four times daily. In women with vaginal or cervical lesions a tampon with the appropriate ointment was inserted four times daily for 10 days. Endpoint variables were healing time and time until loss of symptoms. RESULTS On Day 10, 24 out of 30 individuals in the propolis group had healed. In the acyclovir group 14 out of 30 and in the placebo group 12 out of 30 had healed. (p = 0.0015). The healing process appeared to be faster in the propolis group. In the propolis group 15 individuals had crusted lesions on Day 3 compared to 8 individuals in the acyclovir group and none in the placebo group (p = 0.0006). On Day 7, 10 participants in the propolis group, 4 in the acyclovir group and 3 in the placebo group had healed. At the initial examination all patients had local symptoms and 28% general symptoms. At Day 3, 3 patients in the propolis group had local symptoms compared to 8 and 9 in the acyclovir and placebo groups respectively. Of the women, 66% had vaginal superinfections of microbial pathogens at the initial examination. In the acyclovir and placebo groups no change in the vaginal flora was found following treatment whereas in the propolis group the incidence of superinfection was reduced by 55%. (p = 0.10 n.s.). CONCLUSION An ointment containing flavonoids appeared to be more effective than both acyclovir and placebo ointments in healing genital herpetic lesions, and in reducing local symptoms.