A Review of the Evidence Germane to the Putative Protective Role of the Macular Carotenoids for Age-Related Macular Degeneration

There is a consensus that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the result of (photo)- oxidative-induced retinal injury and its inflammatory sequelae, the latter being influenced by genetic background. The dietary carotenoids, lutein (L), zeaxanthin (Z), and meso-zeaxanthin (meso-Z), accumulate at the macula, where they are collectively known as macular pigment (MP). The anatomic (central retinal), biochemical (anti-oxidant) and optical (short-wavelength- filtering) properties of this pigment have generated interest in the biologically plausible rationale that MP may confer protection against AMD. Level 1 evidence has shown that dietary supplementation with broad-spectrum anti-oxidants results in risk reduction for AMD progression. Studies have demonstrated that MP rises in response to supplementation with the macular carotenoids, although level 1 evidence that such supplementation results in risk reduction of AMD and/or its progression is still lacking. Although appropriately weighted attention should be accorded to higher levels of evidence, the totality of available data should be appraised in an attempt to inform professional practice. In this context, the literature demonstrates that supplementation with the macular carotenoids is probably the best means of fortifying the anti-oxidant defenses of the macula, thus putatively reducing the risk of AMD and/or its progression

Poplar Propolis Improves Insulin Homeostasis in Non-Diabetic Insulin-Resistant Volunteers with Obesity: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial

Propolis, a natural resinous mixture rich in polyphenols, produced by bees from a variety of plant sources, has shown significant therapeutic effects and may prevent the development of certain chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with standardized poplar propolis extract powder (PPEP) on insulin homeostasis in non-diabetic insulin-resistant volunteers with obesity. In this randomized, controlled, crossover trial, nine non-diabetic insulin-resistant volunteers with obesity, aged 49 ± 7 years, were subjected to two periods of supplementation (placebo and PPEP) for 3 months. Blood samples and anthropomorphic data were collected at baseline and at the end of each phase of the intervention. PPEP supplementation improved insulin sensitivity by significantly decreasing the percentage of insulin-resistant subjects and the insulin sensitivity Matsuda index (ISI-M). According to this study, supplementation with standardized PPEP for 3 months in non-diabetic insulin-resistant volunteers with obesity led to an improvement in insulin homeostasis by its effect on insulin resistance and secretion. This study suggests that poplar propolis has a preventive effect on the physiopathological mechanisms of T2DM and, therefore, that it can help to prevent the development of the disease

Development of a method to determine carotenoid composition of fresh forages

International audienceDevelopment of a method to determine carotenoid composition of fresh forages. Can. J. Plant Sci. 88: 1057-1064. Due to the limited interest in carotenoids in ruminant diets until recently, analyses of forages are often incomplete, focusing mainly on P-carotene and lutein. Carotenoid composition of green forage from middle mountain meadow was analyzed by HPLC after extraction and elimination of chlorophylls by mild saponification. This method Of analysis uses two C-18 columns in series with a quaternary gradient system. Our method allowed, for the first time, the identification and quantification of several xanthophylls other than lutein (i.e., violaxanthin, antheraxanthin, epilutein) in chlorophyll-free extracts from carotenoid-rich forage. The intra-day (3.5-7.5%) and inter-day (1.2-3.5%) coefficients of variation are Suitable for routine determination of carotenoids in green forage. This method Could also be used in metabolic studies of these micronutrients in ruminants

Antifungal activity of Brazilian red propolis extract and isolation of bioactive fractions by thin-layer chromatography-bioautography

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Interoperabilidad entre el LMS Moodle y las aplicaciones educativas de propósito específico utilizando servicios del IMS-LTI

Compartir y reutilizar recursos digitales de alta calidad resulta una necesidad creciente en materia educativa; por ello, es conveniente conocer mecanismos de interoperabilidad con sistemas de gestión de aprendizaje transparentes de implementar y que permiten aprovechar al máximo las características propias de su diseño instruccional. En este artículo, presentamos una introducción al estándar de interoperabilidad IMS-LTI que ayuda a que esto sea posible y un breve análisis comparativo respecto al estándar SCORM, ambos ampliamente aceptados y usados en este contexto; asimismo, ejemplificamos el proceso de interoperabilidad entre una aplicación de aprendizaje de propósito específico (alojada en general en forma remota) y Moodle, una plataforma educativa empleada en el ámbito educativo

Purified low-density lipoprotein and bovine serum albumin efficiency to internalise lycopene into adipocytes

International audienceEpidemiological studies have suggested that lycopene has protective effects against various diseases including cardiovascular diseases. However, mechanistic studies to understand these effects are difficult due to the insolubility of lycopene in aqueous culture medium. The objective of the present study was to use LDL or BSA as physiological vehicles for lycopene and to compare them with various classical vehicles. Among tested vehicles, only LDL, BSA, THF/BHT, beadlets, and liposomes were able to solubilise lycopene. No cytotoxicity was observed with these vehicles. LDL and BSA allowed good stability of lycopene during incubation (52% and 43% for 2microM lycopene solutions), but remained less efficient than THF/BHT or beadlets (67% and 62%). Incubation of adipocytes (3T3-L1) with the different vehicles for 24 and 48h showed that beadlets best delivered lycopene to cells. Finally, whatever the vehicle used, intracellular localization of lycopene was the same: lipid droplets (32-51%), plasma membrane (32-37%) and nuclear membrane (19-29%). As a conclusion, LDL or BSA display comparable properties to THF/BHT or beadlets. It is the first time that lycopene carried by physiological vehicles is shown to reach different subcellular compartments supporting molecular effects in adipocyte, such as cell signaling or nuclear receptor interacting

Simple method for clinical determination of 13 carotenoids in human plasma using an isocratic high-performance liquid chromatographic method

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Lycopene but not lutein nor zeaxanthin decreases in serum and lipoproteins in age-related macular degeneration patients

International audienceBACKGROUND: Epidemiological studies have established that a low serum concentration of carotenoids was associated with risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (ARMD). The aim of this study was to determine carotenoid levels in serum and in different lipoprotein fractions in patients diagnosed for ARMD and in matched control group. METHOD: Thirty-four ARMD patients and 21 control subjects from Brest area (France) have been included to this study. Lipoproteins have been separated from serum by gradient density ultracentrifugation. We measured concentration of carotenoids and tocopherols in serum and in different lipoprotein fractions by HPLC. RESULTS: No difference was observed between ARMD patients and control subjects in total serum carotenoids. Individual carotenoid levels showed that only lycopene was decreased significantly in serum, LDL and HDL fractions in patients (P<0.05). Concentrations in serum and lipoparticle fractions of lutein and zeaxanthin, the major pigments present in macula were not modified between both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene, as liposoluble antioxidant nutrient, is the only carotenoid altered in ARMD patients. It cannot be excluded that this effect is related to different dietary habits, but we hypothesise that lower lycopene status could result also from specific antioxidant protection of lutein and zeaxanthin by lycopene

Phytosterol ester processing in the small intestine: impact on cholesterol availability for absorption and chylomicron cholesterol incorporation in healthy humans

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