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1.
High Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Moderate Fat Intake Are Associated with Higher Carotenoid Concentration in Human Plasma.
Marhuenda-Muñoz, M, Rinaldi de Alvarenga, JF, Hernáez, Á, Tresserra-Rimbau, A, Martínez-González, MÁ, Salas-Salvadó, J, Corella, D, Malcampo, M, Martínez, JA, Alonso-Gómez, ÁM, et al
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). 2021;(3)
Abstract
Carotenoids are pigments contained mainly in fruit and vegetables (F&V) that have beneficial effects on cardiometabolic health. Due to their lipophilic nature, co-ingestion of fat appears to increase their bioavailability via facilitating transfer to the aqueous micellar phase during digestion. However, the extent to which high fat intake may contribute to increased carotenoid plasma concentrations is still unclear. The objective was to examine the degree to which the consumption of different amounts of both carotenoid-rich foods and fats is associated with plasma carotenoid concentrations within a Mediterranean lifestyle context (subsample from the PREDIMED-Plus study baseline) where consumption of F&V and fat is high. The study population was categorized into four groups according to their self-reported consumption of F&V and fat. Carotenoids were extracted from plasma samples and analyzed by HPLC-UV-VIS-QqQ-MS/MS. Carotenoid systemic concentrations were greater in high consumers of F&V than in low consumers of these foods (+3.04 μmol/L (95% CI: 0.90, 5.17), p-value = 0.005), but circulating concentrations seemed to decrease when total fat intake was very high (-2.69 μmol/L (-5.54; 0.16), p-value = 0.064). High consumption of F&V is associated with greater systemic levels of total carotenoids, in particular when fat intake is low-to-moderate rather than very high.
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2.
Moderate Consumption of Beer (with and without Ethanol) and Menopausal Symptoms: Results from a Parallel Clinical Trial in Postmenopausal Women.
Trius-Soler, M, Marhuenda-Muñoz, M, Laveriano-Santos, EP, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Sasot, G, Storniolo, CE, Estruch, R, Lamuela-Raventós, RM, Tresserra-Rimbau, A
Nutrients. 2021;13(7)
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During the menopause, hormonal changes can trigger uncomfortable symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, and vaginal dryness. Hormone replacement therapy does reduce some of the symptoms, however there has been an increased interest in alternative therapies such as phytoestrogens to relieve these symptoms. Phytoestrogens are compounds with oestrogen-like properties naturally found in plants. Beer is the main food source of the strongest phytoestrogen identified to date. The aim of this six-month parallel, controlled clinical intervention trial was to evaluate if a moderate daily intake of beer, with or without alcohol, could reduce menopausal symptoms in women. Female sex hormone profile and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) were also monitored. 34 postmenopausal women took part. One group included alcoholic beer (AB), and a second group added non-alcoholic beer (NAB) for 6 months. The control group took no alcohol in this time. After a 6-month follow-up both groups (AB and NAB) significantly reduced the severity of the menopause-related symptoms. These results must be considered as preliminary and will require confirmation with larger sample sizes.
Abstract
The menopausal transition can be a challenging period for women's health and a trigger of uncomfortable symptoms. Beer is the main food source of isoxanthohumol, a precursor of 8-prenylnaringenin, the strongest phytoestrogen identified to date. As phytoestrogens are reported to reduce perimenopausal symptoms, we evaluated if a daily moderate consumption of beer with (AB) and without alcohol (NAB) could improve menopausal symptoms and modify cardiovascular risk factors. A total of 37 postmenopausal women were enrolled in a parallel controlled intervention trial and assigned to three study groups: 16 were administered AB (330 mL/day), 7 NAB (660 mL/day), and 14 were in the control group. After a 6-month follow-up of the 34 participants who finished the trial, both interventions (AB and NAB) significantly reduced the severity of the menopause-related symptoms (p-value AB vs. Control: 0.009; p-value NAB vs. Control: 0.033). Moreover, AB had a beneficial net effect on psychological menopausal discomforts compared to the control group. As the sex hormone profile did not differ significantly between the study groups, the effects of both types of beers (AB and NAB) are attributed to the non-alcoholic fraction of beer. Furthermore, moderate NAB consumption improved the lipid profile and decreased blood pressure in postmenopausal women.
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Effect of physiological factors, pathologies, and acquired habits on the sweet taste threshold: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Trius-Soler, M, Santillán-Alarcón, DA, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Lamuela-Raventós, RM, Moreno, JJ
Comprehensive reviews in food science and food safety. 2020;(6):3755-3773
Abstract
Sweet taste perception is a key factor in the establishment of the food pattern with nonstatic thresholds. Indeed, taste sensitivity can be influenced by physiological factors (age and sex), pathologies (obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus), and acquired habits (tobacco and alcohol consumption). In order to elucidate how these variables influence the sucrose detection threshold (DT) and recognition threshold (RT), a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relevant literature were performed. After a comprehensive search in the PubMed and Scopus databases, a total of 48 studies were qualitatively considered, and 44 were meta-analyzed. The factors of aging (standard mean difference [SMD]: -0.46; 95% confidence interval (CI), -0.74 to -0.19; I2 : 73%; Tau2 : 0.18) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (SMD: 0.30; 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.55; I2 : 0%; Tau2 : 0.00) were found to significantly increase the sucrose RT, whereas the DT only increased in subjects with a higher body mass index (SMD: 0.58; 95% CI, 0.35 to 0.82; I2 : 0%; Tau2 : 0.00). No effects of sex and tobacco smoking were found, and associations with alcohol consumption could not be assessed, as it was included as a variable in only one study. Feasible mechanisms underlying changes in sucrose thresholds include the modulation of hormones involved in energy and body weight homeostasis, taste bud abundance, taste brain signaling, and the gut-brain axis. The present work provides insights into the variables that should be considered when assessing sweet taste sensitivity, discusses the mechanisms underlying differences in sweet taste, and highlights the need for further research in the field of personalized nutrition.
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4.
Beer Phenolic Composition of Simple Phenols, Prenylated Flavonoids and Alkylresorcinols.
Boronat, A, Soldevila-Domenech, N, Rodríguez-Morató, J, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Lamuela-Raventós, RM, de la Torre, R
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2020;(11)
Abstract
Beer is a fermented beverage with beneficial phenolic compounds and is widely consumed worldwide. The current study aimed to describe the content of three families of phenolic compounds with relevant biological activities: prenylated flavonoids (from hops), simple phenolic alcohols (from fermentation) and alkylresorcinols (from cereals) in a large sample of beers (n = 45). The prenylated flavonoids analyzed were xanthohumol, isoxanthohumol, 6- and 8-prenylnaringenin. The total prenylated flavonoids present in beer ranged from 0.0 to 9.5 mg/L. The simple phenolic alcohols analyzed were tyrosol and hydroxytyrosol, ranging from 0.2 to 44.4 and 0.0 to 0.1 mg/L, respectively. Our study describes, for the first time, the presence of low amounts of alkylresorcinols in beer, in concentrations ranging from 0.02 to 11.0 µg/L. The results in non-alcoholic beer and the differences observed in the phenolic composition among different beer types and styles highlight the importance of the starting materials and the brewing process (especially fermentation) on the final phenolic composition of beer. In conclusion, beer represents a source of phenolic compounds in the diet that could act synergistically, triggering beneficial health effects in the context of its moderate consumption.
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5.
Microbial Phenolic Metabolites: Which Molecules Actually Have an Effect on Human Health?
Marhuenda-Muñoz, M, Laveriano-Santos, EP, Tresserra-Rimbau, A, Lamuela-Raventós, RM, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Vallverdú-Queralt, A
Nutrients. 2019;(11)
Abstract
The role of gut microbiota in human health has been investigated extensively in recent years. The association of dysbiosis, detrimental changes in the colonic population, with several health conditions has led to the development of pro-, pre- and symbiotic foods. If not absorbed in the small intestine or secreted in bile, polyphenols and other food components can reach the large intestine where they are susceptible to modification by the microbial population, resulting in molecules with potentially beneficial health effects. This review provides an overview of studies that have detected and/or quantified microbial phenolic metabolites using high-performance liquid chromatography as the separation technique, followed by detection through mass spectrometry. Both in vitro experimental studies and human clinical trials are covered. Although many of the microbial phenolic metabolites (MPM) reported in in vitro studies were identified in human samples, further research is needed to associate them with clinical health outcomes.
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil Minor Compounds Modulate Mitogenic Action of Oleic Acid on Colon Cancer Cell Line.
Storniolo, CE, Martínez-Hovelman, N, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Lamuela-Raventos, RM, Moreno, JJ
Journal of agricultural and food chemistry. 2019;(41):11420-11427
Abstract
Experimental and clinical findings suggest that olive oil has a protective effect, whereas oleic acid consumption induces colorectal cancer (CRC). Considering this apparent contradiction and that olive oil is a complex mix of fatty acids, mainly oleic acid and minor compounds such as phenolic compounds, lignans, hydrocarbons, and triterpenes, we study its effects on intestinal epithelial cell growth. Our results show that oleic acid (1-100 μM) but not elaidic acid induced DNA synthesis and Caco-2 cell growth (2-fold higher than cells without growth factors, p < 0.05). These effects were inhibited by 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors as well as the leukotriene antagonist (p < 0.05), suggesting the implication of this pathway in this mitogenic action. Hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, pinoresinol, squalene, and maslinic acid (0.1-10 μM) reverted DNA synthesis and Caco-2 cell growth induced by oleic acid. These effects were not the consequence of the cell cycle arrest or the impairment of cell viability with the exception of hydroxytyrosol and maslinic acid that induced cell detachment and apoptosis (35.6 ± 2.3 and 43.2 ± 2.4%, respectively) at the higher concentration assayed. Oleuropein effects can be related with hydroxytyrosol release as a consequence of oleuropein hydrolysis by Caco-2 cells (up to 25%). Furthermore, hydroxytyrosol modulates the arachidonic acid cascade, and this event can be associated with its antimitogenic action. In conclusion, oleic acid and oleic acid in the presence of olive oil representative minor components have opposite effects, suggesting that the consumption of seed oils, high oleic acid seed oils, or olive oil will probably have different effects on CRC.
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Acute Effect of a Single Dose of Tomato Sofrito on Plasmatic Inflammatory Biomarkers in Healthy Men.
Hurtado-Barroso, S, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Rinaldi de Alvarenga, JF, Quifer-Rada, P, Vallverdú-Queralt, A, Pérez-Fernández, S, Lamuela-Raventós, RM
Nutrients. 2019;(4)
Abstract
Sofrito is a Mediterranean tomato-based sauce that typically also contains olive oil, onion, and garlic. The preparation of sofrito modifies the bioactive compounds (carotenoids and polyphenols) in the ingredients to more bioavailable forms, promoting cis-lycopene formation and polyphenol bioaccessibility. To evaluate the health benefits of this cooking technique, the effect of consuming an acute dose of sofrito on the inflammatory status was studied. In a clinical trial, 22 healthy male subjects consumed a single dose of sofrito (240 g/70 kg) after three days without ingesting any tomato products and following a low-antioxidant diet the day before the intervention. Plasma carotenoids and total polyphenol excretion (TPE) were evaluated, as well as the inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). After the sofrito intake, a significant decrease in CRP (p = 0.010) and TNF-α (p = 0.011) was observed, but only TNF-α was inversely correlated with an increase in TPE and plasma β-carotene (not the major carotenoid, lycopene). The positive health effects of this tomato-based product may be attributed not only to lycopene, but to the bioactive compounds of all the ingredients.
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8.
Wine and Olive Oil Phenolic Compounds Interaction in Humans.
Boronat, A, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Cobos, A, de la Torre, R
Diseases (Basel, Switzerland). 2018;(3)
Abstract
Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and red wine (RW) are two basic elements that form part of the so-called Mediterranean diet. Both stand out because of their high phenolic compound content and their potential related health benefits. The present study is focused on the metabolic disposition of resveratrol (RESV), tyrosol (TYR), and hydroxytyrosol (HT) following the consumption of EVOO, RW, and a combination of both. In this study, 12 healthy volunteers consumed a single dose of 25 mL of EVOO, 150 mL of RW, and a combination of both in a crossover randomized clinical trial. Urinary recovery of RESV, TYR, and HT was analysed in urine samples collected over a 6-h period following the intake of each treatment. Higher HT levels were observed following EVOO compared to RW (3788 ± 1751 nmols and 2308 ± 847 nmols respectively). After the combination of EVOO and RW, the recovery of TYR and HT metabolites increased statistically compared to their separate consumption (4925 ± 1751 nmols of TYR and 6286 ± 3198 nmols of HT). EVOO triggered an increase in glucuronide conjugates, while RW intake raised sulfate metabolites. Marginal effects were observed in RESV increased bioavailability after the combination of RW with the fat matrix provided by EVOO.
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trans-Lycopene from tomato juice attenuates inflammatory biomarkers in human plasma samples: An intervention trial.
Colmán-Martínez, M, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Valderas-Martínez, P, Arranz-Martínez, S, Almanza-Aguilera, E, Corella, D, Estruch, R, Lamuela-Raventós, RM
Molecular nutrition & food research. 2017;(11)
Abstract
SCOPE The effect of carotenoids from tomato juice (TJ) on inflammatory biomarkers was evaluated by performing a 4-week dose-response nutritional trial in a population at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS AND RESULTS An open, prospective, randomized, cross-over, and controlled clinical trial was carried out with 28 volunteers (mean age 69.7 ± 3.1 years; mean BMI 31.5 ± 3.6 kg/m2 ) at high cardiovascular risk, which were assigned to consume daily for 4 weeks in random order: 200 mL (LD) or 400 mL (HD) of TJ, or water as a control (C), with a 21-day wash-out period between each intervention. Blood samples were collected at baseline (B) and after each intervention. Endpoints included significant changes in plasmatic carotenoids, and adhesion molecules ICAM-1, and VCAM-1, as well as a tendency to decrease the chemokine IL-8. Compared to C, concentration of ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 were significantly lower (p ˂ 0.001), after each TJ intervention. Decreases were correlated remarkably with the trans-lycopene, while the other carotenoids present in TJ have presented a minor association or no association with changes in these molecules. CONCLUSION trans-Lycopene from TJ may attenuate the risk of cardiovascular disease by reducing the concentration of important inflammatory molecules related to atherosclerosis.
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10.
Identification of phenolic metabolites in human urine after the intake of a functional food made from grape extract by a high resolution LTQ-Orbitrap-MS approach.
Sasot, G, Martínez-Huélamo, M, Vallverdú-Queralt, A, Mercader-Martí, M, Estruch, R, Lamuela-Raventós, RM
Food research international (Ottawa, Ont.). 2017;(Pt 3):435-444
Abstract
Grape pomace (GP) is known to be a rich source of polyphenols with biological activity which may be used as functional ingredients for the development of new health-promoting products. Numerous studies have reported that bioactive compounds may act through multiple mechanisms. In order to verify the oral absorption and metabolism of grape polyphenols, we performed a prospective, randomised and cross-over acute study in 12 volunteers with two interventions: 500mL of a functional beverage enriched with 200mL of GP and 500mL of a control beverage without GP. In this work, liquid chromatography coupled with an electrospray ionization hybrid linear ion trap quadrupole-Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (LC/ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-MS) technique has been used to accurately identify phenolics in GP and human urine. In GP, 41 phenolic compounds were identified mainly procyanidins, phenolic acids and flavonols, and in human urine over 70 metabolites of phenolic compounds including microbiota metabolites, glucuronides and sulfate derivatives were detected. Overall, high resolution mass spectrometry (HR-MS) enhances the identification of a large variety of polyphenols and their metabolites with great mass accuracies for all molecular ions.