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Effects of Heat-Killed Levilactobacillus brevis KB290 in Combination with β-Carotene on Influenza Virus Infection in Healthy Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Satomi, S, Waki, N, Arakawa, C, Fujisawa, K, Suzuki, S, Suganuma, H
Nutrients. 2021;(9)
Abstract
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.
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Nutritional Controlled Preparation and Administration of Different Tomato Purées Indicate Increase of β-Carotene and Lycopene Isoforms, and of Antioxidant Potential in Human Blood Bioavailability: A Pilot Study.
Vitucci, D, Amoresano, A, Nunziato, M, Muoio, S, Alfieri, A, Oriani, G, Scalfi, L, Frusciante, L, Rigano, MM, Pucci, P, et al
Nutrients. 2021;(4)
Abstract
The isoforms of lycopene, carotenoids, and their derivatives including precursors of vitamin A are compounds relevant for preventing chronic degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Tomatoes are a major source of these compounds. However, cooking and successive metabolic processes determine the bioavailability of tomatoes in human nutrition. To evaluate the effect of acute/chronic cooking procedures on the bioavailability of lycopene and carotene isoforms in human plasma, we measured the blood levels of these compounds and of the serum antioxidant potential in volunteers after a meal containing two different types of tomato sauce (rustic or strained). Using a randomized cross-over administration design, healthy volunteers were studied, and the above indicated compounds were determined by HPLC. The results indicate an increased bioavailability of the estimated compounds and of the serum antioxidant potential with both types of tomato purée and the subsequently derived sauces (the increase was greater with strained purée). This study sheds light on the content of nutrient precursors of vitamin A and other antioxidant compounds derived from tomatoes cooked with different strategies. Lastly, our study indicates that strained purée should be preferred over rustic purée.
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Carotenoids from Cyanobacteria: Biotechnological Potential and Optimization Strategies.
Pagels, F, Vasconcelos, V, Guedes, AC
Biomolecules. 2021;(5)
Abstract
Carotenoids are tetraterpenoids molecules present in all photosynthetic organisms, responsible for better light-harvesting and energy dissipation in photosynthesis. In cyanobacteria, the biosynthetic pathway of carotenoids is well described, and apart from the more common compounds (e.g., β-carotene, zeaxanthin, and echinenone), specific carotenoids can also be found, such as myxoxanthophyll. Moreover, cyanobacteria have a protein complex called orange carotenoid protein (OCP) as a mechanism of photoprotection. Although cyanobacteria are not the organism of choice for the industrial production of carotenoids, the optimisation of their production and the evaluation of their bioactive capacity demonstrate that these organisms may indeed be a potential candidate for future pigment production in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable approach of biorefinery. Carotenoids-rich extracts are described as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumoral agents and are proposed for feed and cosmetical industries. Thus, several strategies for the optimisation of a cyanobacteria-based bioprocess for the obtention of pigments were described. This review aims to give an overview of carotenoids from cyanobacteria not only in terms of their chemistry but also in terms of their biotechnological applicability and the advances and the challenges in the production of such compounds.
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The effect of β-carotene on the mortality of male smokers is modified by smoking and by vitamins C and E: evidence against a uniform effect of nutrient.
Hemilä, H
Journal of nutritional science. 2020;:e11
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Abstract
A previous analysis of the Alpha-Tocopherol Beta-Carotene (ATBC) Study on male smokers found that β-carotene supplementation increased the risk of pneumonia 4-fold in those who started smoking at the age of ≥21 years and smoked ≥21 cigarettes/d (a subgroup of 7 % of the study population). The present study hypothesised that β-carotene increases mortality in the same subgroup. The ATBC Study (1985-1993) recruited 29 133 Finnish male smokers (≥5 cigarettes/d) aged 50-69 years. Cox regression models were constructed to estimate the effect of β-carotene supplementation in subgroups. β-Carotene increased mortality (risk ratio 1·56; 95 % CI 1·06, 2·3) in those who started to smoke at ≥21 years and smoked ≥21 cigarettes/d. Within this subgroup, there was strong evidence of further heterogeneity. The effect of β-carotene supplementation was further modified by dietary vitamin C intake, fruit and vegetable intake (P = 0·0004), and by vitamin E supplementation (P = 0·011). Thus, harm from β-carotene was not uniform within the study population. Interactions between β-carotene and vitamins C and E were seen only within a subgroup of 7 % of the ATBC participants, and therefore should not be extrapolated to the general population. Heterogeneity of the β-carotene effect on mortality challenges the validity of previous meta-analyses that have pooled many diverse antioxidants for one single estimate of effect using the assumption that a single estimate equally applies to all antioxidants and all people. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00342992.
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Bio-Based Nanoparticles as a Carrier of β-Carotene: Production, Characterisation and In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion.
Afonso, BS, Azevedo, AG, Gonçalves, C, Amado, IR, Ferreira, EC, Pastrana, LM, Cerqueira, MA
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2020;(19)
Abstract
β-carotene loaded bio-based nanoparticles (NPs) were produced by the solvent-displacement method using two polymers: zein and ethylcellulose. The production of NPs was optimised through an experimental design and characterised in terms of average size and polydispersity index. The processing conditions that allowed to obtain NPs (<100 nm) were used for β-carotene encapsulation. Then β-carotene loaded NPs were characterised in terms of zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. Transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis were performed for further morphological and chemical characterisation. In the end, a static in vitro digestion following the INFOGEST protocol was performed and the bioaccessibility of β-carotene encapsulated in both NPs was determined. Results show that the best conditions for a size-controlled production with a narrow size distribution are lower polymer concentrations and higher antisolvent concentrations. The encapsulation of β-carotene in ethylcellulose NPs resulted in nanoparticles with a mean average size of 60 ± 9 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 74 ± 2%. β-carotene loaded zein-based NPs resulted in a mean size of 83 ± 8 nm and encapsulation efficiency of 93 ± 4%. Results obtained from the in vitro digestion showed that β-carotene bioaccessibility when encapsulated in zein NPs is 37 ± 1%, which is higher than the value of 8.3 ± 0.1% obtained for the ethylcellulose NPs.
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Dietary and circulating vitamin C, vitamin E, β-carotene and risk of total cardiovascular mortality: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective observational studies.
Jayedi, A, Rashidy-Pour, A, Parohan, M, Zargar, MS, Shab-Bidar, S
Public health nutrition. 2019;(10):1872-1887
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present review aimed to quantify the association of dietary intake and circulating concentration of major dietary antioxidants with risk of total CVD mortality. DESIGN Systematic review and meta-analysis. SETTING Systematic search in PubMed and Scopus, up to October 2017.ParticipantsProspective observational studies reporting risk estimates of CVD mortality across three or more categories of dietary intakes and/or circulating concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E and β-carotene were included. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted. RESULTS A total of fifteen prospective cohort studies and three prospective evaluations within interventional studies (320 548 participants and 16 974 cases) were analysed. The relative risks of CVD mortality for the highest v. the lowest category of antioxidant intakes were as follows: vitamin C, 0·79 (95 % CI 0·68, 0·89; I 2=46 %, n 10); vitamin E, 0·91 (95 % CI 0·79, 1·03; I 2=51 %, n 8); β-carotene, 0·89 (95 % CI 0·73, 1·05; I 2=34 %, n 4). The relative risks for circulating concentrations were: vitamin C, 0·60 (95 % CI 0·42, 0·78; I 2=65 %, n 6); α-tocopherol, 0·82 (95 % CI 0·76, 0·88; I 2=0 %, n 5); β-carotene, 0·68 (95 % CI 0·52, 0·83; I 2=50 %, n 6). Dose-response meta-analyses demonstrated that the circulating biomarkers of antioxidants were more strongly associated with risk of CVD mortality than dietary intakes. CONCLUSIONS The present meta-analysis demonstrates that higher vitamin C intake and higher circulating concentrations of vitamin C, vitamin E and β-carotene are associated with a lower risk of CVD mortality.
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Reduction of Serum Concentrations and Synergy between Retinol, β-Carotene, and Zinc According to Cancer Staging and Different Treatment Modalities Prior to Radiation Therapy in Women with Breast Cancer.
Rosa, C, Franca, C, Lanes Vieira, S, Carvalho, A, Penna, A, Nogueira, C, Lessa, S, Ramalho, A
Nutrients. 2019;(12)
Abstract
UNLABELLED The procedures used for breast cancer treatment are able to increase the level of oxidative stress and cause depletion of antioxidants. OBJECTIVES To investigate the relationship between serum concentrations of retinol, β-carotene, and zinc, according to breast cancer staging, considering different treatment modalities prior to radiation therapy and the synergistic action between these micronutrients. METHODS This is a cross-sectional observational study comprising a cohort of patients with breast cancer which was carried out prior to radiation therapy. Patients were divided into 3 groups: G1 comprised women who had undergone breast-conserving surgery, G2 comprised those who had undergone chemotherapy, and G3 those who had undergone breast-conserving surgery and chemotherapy. Serum concentrations of retinol, β-carotene, and zinc were quantified. Breast cancer staging was based on the TNM (Tumor, Node, Metastasis) classification of malignant tumors, a type of staging tool for different cancers. RESULTS A total of 230 patients were assessed. A decrease of the serum concentrations of the micronutrients assessed as the staging level of the disease increased was observed. Surgery alone had a greater negative impact on serum concentrations of retinol. Considering the treatments prior to radiotherapy, patients undergoing surgery alone and chemotherapy associated with surgery had higher percentages of deficiency of β-carotene and retinol. There was a positive correlation between the concentrations of zinc, retinol, and β-carotene, showing a synergy between these micronutrients. CONCLUSION A significant reduction in the serum concentrations of the assessed micronutrients was observed, according to the increase in breast cancer staging. The synergy between the micronutrients must be considered in order to maximize the benefits and minimize the adverse effects of irradiation to normal cells.
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Body mass index and prostate cancer risk in the Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial.
Bonn, SE, Barnett, MJ, Thornquist, M, Goodman, G, Neuhouser, ML
European journal of cancer prevention : the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP). 2019;(3):212-219
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Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the association between BMI (kg/m) and prostate cancer risk. BMI is a modifiable lifestyle factor and may provide a unique opportunity for primary prevention of prostate cancer if a causal association exists. Data from 11 886 men from the Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET, 1985-1996 with active follow-up through 2005) comprising current and former heavy smokers were analyzed. CARET was a multicenter randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled chemoprevention trial testing daily supplementation of 30 mg β-carotene+25 000 IU retinyl palmitate for primary prevention of lung cancer. Prostate cancer was a secondary outcome. Nonaggressive disease was defined as Gleason less than 7 and stage I/II. Aggressive disease was primarily defined as at least Gleason 7 or stage III/IV, and secondarily by excluding Gleason 3+4 from the first definition. BMI was calculated from measured weight and height. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer incidence between BMI categories. During follow-up, 883 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. In the analysis of aggressive disease when Gleason 3+4 was excluded, men with a BMI of at least 35 kg/m had an increased rate of prostate cancer (HR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.04-3.11, Ptrend=0.04) compared with men with BMI 18-24.9 kg/m. No other differences were seen in risk estimates for overall, nonaggressive or aggressive prostate cancer including all Gleason 7 cases, between BMI categories. Our results show an association between having a BMI of at least 35 kg/m and an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer (not including Gleason 3+4 tumors), but do not support an association between BMI and risk of overall, aggressive disease including all Gleason 7, or nonaggressive prostate cancer within a population of current and former heavy smokers.
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Investigations in ultrasonic enhancement of β-carotene production by isolated microalgal strain Tetradesmus obliquus SGM19.
Singh, N, Roy, K, Goyal, A, Moholkar, VS
Ultrasonics sonochemistry. 2019;:104697
Abstract
Microalgae constitute relatively novel source of lipids for biodiesel production. The economy of this process can be enhanced by the recovery of β-carotenes present in the microalgal cells. The present study has addressed matter of enhancement of lipids and β-carotene production by microalgal species of Tetradesmus obliquus SGM19 with the application of sonication. As first step, the growth cycle of Tetradesmus obliquus SGM19 was optimized using statistical experimental design. Optimum parameters influencing microalgal growth were: Sodium nitrate = 1.5 g/L, ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid = 0.001 g/L, temperature = 28.5 °C, pH = 7.5, light intensity = 5120 lux, β-carotene yield = 0.67 mg/g DCW. Application of 33 kHz and 1.4 bar ultrasound at 10% duty cycle was revealed to enhance the lipid and β-carotene yields by 34.5% and 31.5%, respectively. Kinetic analysis of substrate and product profiles in control and test experiments revealed both lipid and β-carotene to be growth-associated products. The intracellular NAD(H) content during late log phase was monitored in control and test experiments as a measure of relative kinetics of intracellular metabolism. Consistently higher NAD(H) concentrations were observed for test experiments; indicating faster metabolism. Finally, the viability of ultrasound-exposed microalgal cells (assessed with flow cytometry) was >80%.
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Vitamin A and beta (β)-carotene supplementation for cystic fibrosis.
de Vries, JJ, Chang, AB, Bonifant, CM, Shevill, E, Marchant, JM
The Cochrane database of systematic reviews. 2018;(8):CD006751
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Abstract
BACKGROUND People with cystic fibrosis (CF) and pancreatic insufficiency are at risk of a deficiency in fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency predominantly causes eye and skin problems, while excessive levels of vitamin A can harm the respiratory and skeletal systems in children and interfere with the metabolism of other fat-soluble vitamins. Most CF centres administer vitamin A as supplements to reduce the frequency of vitamin A deficiency in people with CF and to improve clinical outcomes such as growth, although the recommended dose varies between different guidelines. Thus, a systematic review on vitamin A and vitamin A-like supplementation (carotenes or other retinoids) in people with CF would help guide clinical practice. This is an update of an earlier Cochrane Review. OBJECTIVES To determine if supplementation with vitamin A, carotenes or other retinoid supplements in children and adults with CF reduces the frequency of vitamin A deficiency disorders, improves general and respiratory health and affects the frequency of vitamin A toxicity. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Cystic Fibrosis Trials Register compiled from electronic database searches and handsearching of journals and conference abstract books. Additionally we searched several ongoing trials registries, including ClinicalTrials.gov, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and the International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number Registry.Most recent database searches: 01 June 2018. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised or quasi-randomised controlled studies comparing all preparations of oral vitamin A, carotenes or retinoids (or in combination), used as a supplement compared to placebo at any dose, for at least three months, in people with CF (diagnosed by sweat tests or genetic testing) with and without pancreatic insufficiency. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors individually assessed study quality and extracted data on outcome measures. The authors assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE system. Investigators were contacted to retrieve missing quantitative data. MAIN RESULTS No studies of vitamin A or other retinoid supplementation were eligible for inclusion. However, one randomised study of beta (β)-carotene supplementation involving 24 people with CF who were receiving pancreatic enzyme substitution was included. The study compared successive β-carotene supplementation periods (high dose followed by low dose) compared to placebo. The results for the low-dose supplementation period should be interpreted with caution, due to the lack of a wash-out period after the high-dose supplementation.The included study did not report on two of the review's primary outcomes (vitamin A deficiency disorders and mortality); results for our third primary outcome of growth and nutritional status (reported as z score for height) showed no difference between supplementation and placebo, mean difference (MD) -0.23 (95% confidence interval (CI) -0.89 to 0.43) (low-quality evidence). With regards to secondary outcomes, supplementation with high-dose β-carotene for three months led to significantly fewer days of systemic antibiotics required to treat pulmonary exacerbations, compared to controls, MD -15 days (95% CI -27.60 to -2.40); however, this was not maintained in the second three-month section of the study when the level of β-carotene supplementation was reduced, MD -8 days (95% CI -18.80 to 2.80) (low-quality evidence). There were no statistically significant effects between groups in lung function (low-quality evidence) and no adverse events were observed (low-quality evidence). Supplementation affected levels of β-carotene in plasma, but not vitamin A levels. The study did not report on quality of life or toxicity. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Since no randomised or quasi-randomised controlled studies on retinoid supplementation were identified, no conclusion on the supplementation of vitamin A in people with CF can be drawn. Additionally, due to methodological limitations in the included study, also reflected in the low-quality evidence judged following the specific evidence grading system (GRADE), no clear conclusions on β-carotene supplementation can be drawn. Until further data are available, country- or region-specific guidelines regarding these practices should be followed.