Design, formulation and sensory evaluation of a polyphenol-rich food placebo: an example of aronia juice for food intervention studies

Products suitable for use as controls in food interventions designed to demonstrate the role of minor components are largely lacking. In the present study, we aimed to develop a formulation to be used as a placebo in a clinical trial designed to assess the effects of aronia juice polyphenols on platelet function. Three formulations with the same nutrient composition as aronia juice were prepared by mixing various nutrients, artificial colours and flavours with water. The similarity of formulations to aronia juice in terms of taste, colour, smell and texture was assessed by six food panellists. The final placebo was tested for its impact on platelet function, biochemical and anthropometric parameters in a 4-week long study. No significant changes in platelet function, or in several cardiovascular and safety markers were recorded. Formulation suitable for use as a placebo for dietary intervention studies using aronia juice has been developed and demonstrated to be well tolerated in humans

Improving the reporting quality of intervention trials addressing the inter-individual variability in response to the consumption of plant bioactives: quality index and recommendations

PURPOSE: The quality of the study design and data reporting in human trials dealing with the inter-individual variability in response to the consumption of plant bioactives is, in general, low. There is a lack of recommendations supporting the scientific community on this topic. This study aimed at developing a quality index to assist the assessment of the reporting quality of intervention trials addressing the inter-individual variability in response to plant bioactive consumption. Recommendations for better designing and reporting studies were discussed. METHODS: The selection of the parameters used for the development of the quality index was carried out in agreement with the scientific community through a survey. Parameters were defined, grouped into categories, and scored for different quality levels. The applicability of the scoring system was tested in terms of consistency and effort, and its validity was assessed by comparison with a simultaneous evaluation by experts' criteria. RESULTS: The "POSITIVe quality index" included 11 reporting criteria grouped into four categories (Statistics, Reporting, Data presentation, and Individual data availability). It was supported by detailed definitions and guidance for their scoring. The quality index score was tested, and the index demonstrated to be valid, reliable, and responsive. CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation of the reporting quality of studies addressing inter-individual variability in response to plant bioactives highlighted the aspects requiring major improvements. Specific tools and recommendations favoring a complete and transparent reporting on inter-individual variability have been provided to support the scientific community on this field

Anthocyanins and endothelial protection: Identification of cellular and multi-targeted molecular mechanisms of action

National audienceEpidemiological studies suggest a protective role of dietary anthocyanins, micronutrients present mainly in berries, against cardiovascular diseases. Clinical and pre-clinical studies showed effects on improvements in endothelial function, modulation of inflammation or decreased atherosclerosis development. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms still remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of anthocyanins and their gut metabolites identified in plasma on monocyte adhesion to TNFα-stimulated endothelial cells, the initial step of atherosclerosis development. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin-3-O-glucoside and 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde for 3 hours and to protocatechuic, ferulic, hippuric and vanillic acid for 18h at physiologically-relevant concentrations, all at 0.1μM, 0.2μM, 0.5μM, 1μM and 2μM. Subsequently, HUVECs were stimulated with TNFα (1ng/ml) for 4 hours followed by 15 minutes incubation with monocytes. Monocytes adhesion to HUVECs was determined using the flow cytometry. This study showed that exposure of HUVECs to cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside and peonidin-3-O-glucoside significantly attenuated monocyte adhesion at 0.1μM by 27.4% in average. Ferulic acid decreased adhesion at 1μM and 2μM by 28.5%, hippuric at 2μM by 18.1% and protocatechuic by 36.5% at all concentrations. Exposure of HUVECs to mixture of compounds used in 3-hour exposure period, resulted in adhesion decrease by 28.3%. A significant decrease in monocyte transendothelial migration when HUVECs were pre-exposed to the mixture of these compounds has also been observed. In order to identify molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects, impact of these metabolites on genes expression and miRNA have been performed using TLDA and microarrays approche respectively, as well as the impact on cell signalling pathways involved in the observed nutrigenomic effects. In conclusion, this study showed the biological potency of plasma anthocyanins and their gut metabolites to modulate the adhesion of monocyte to endothelial cells at physiologically-relevant concentrations. The ongoing analyses of the nutrigenomics data suggest that these molecules present complex mechanisms of action underlying their protective effect on endothelial cell functio

Anthocyanins and their gut metabolites reduce the adhesion of monocyte to TNFα-activated endothelial cells at physiologically relevant concentrations

An increasing number of evidence suggests a protective role of dietary anthocyanins against cardiovascular diseases. Anthocyanins' extensive metabolism indicates that their metabolites could be responsible for the protective effects associated with consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of plasma anthocyanins and their metabolites on the adhesion of monocytes to TNFα-activated endothelial cells and on the expression of genes encoding cell adhesion molecules. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to circulating anthocyanins: cyanidin-3-arabinoside, cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside, delphinidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside, anthocyanin degradation product: 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, or to their gut metabolites: protocatechuic, vanillic, ferulic and hippuric acid, at physiologically-relevant concentrations (0.1–2 μM) and time of exposure. Both anthocyanins and gut metabolites decreased the adhesion of monocytes to HUVECs, with a magnitude ranging from 18.1% to 47%. The mixture of anthocyanins and that of gut metabolites also reduced monocyte adhesion. However, no significant effect on the expression of genes encoding E-selectin, ICAM1 and VCAM1 was observed, suggesting that other molecular targets are involved in the observed effect. In conclusion, this study showed the potency of anthocyanins and their gut metabolites to modulate the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells, the initial step in atherosclerosis development, under physiologically-relevant conditions

Effet de concentrations physiologiquement pertinentes d'anthocyanes et de leurs métabolites issus du microbiote intestinal sur l'adhésion des monocytes aux cellules endothéliales

Cette année les assises sont en partenariat avec le Pôle de compétitivité Lyonbiopôle et le cluster Nutravita, des symposiums thématiques portant sur les interactions entre la recherche académique, l’innovation et l’industrie seront proposésDes études épidémiologiques suggèrent un rôle protecteur des anthocyanes alimentaires, micronutriments présents principalement dans les baies, contre les maladies cardiovasculaires. Les études cliniques et pré-cliniques ont montré des effets sur l'amélioration de la fonction endothéliale, la modulation de l'inflammation ou la diminution du développement de l'athérosclérose. Cependant, les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires sous-jacents restent encore inconnus. Le but de la présente étude était d'étudier l'effet des anthocyanes et de leurs métabolites, identifiés dans le plasma, sur l'adhésion des monocytes aux cellules endothéliales. Dans cet objectif, des cellules endothéliales issues de veines ombilicales humaines (HUVEC) ont été exposées à des métabolites intestinaux et hépatiques d’anthocyanes (cyanidine-3-O- glucoside, cyanidine-3-O-galactoside, cyanidine-3-O-arabinoside, delphinidine-3-O-glucoside, péonidine-3-O-glucoside, 4-hydroxybenzaldéhyde) pendant 3 heures et/ou à des métabolites issus du microbiote intestinal (protocatéchique, férulique, acide hippurique et vanillique) pendant 18 heures, à des concentrations physiologiquement pertinentes (0,1 µM, 0,2 µM, 0,5 µM, 1 µM et 2 µM). Par la suite, les HUVECs ont été stimulées avec du TNF-alpha (1 ng / ml) pendant 4 heures, suivi de 15 minutes d'incubation avec des monocytes. L’adhésion des monocytes aux cellules endothéliales a été déterminée par cytométrie en flux. Cette étude a montré que l'exposition des cellules endothéliales à 0.1µM de cyanidine-3-O- galactoside, cyanidine-3-O-arabinoside, la delphinidine-3-O-glucoside et péonidine-3-O- glucoside réduit significativement l’adhésion des monocytes (-27% en moyenne). L’exposition pendant 3heures des HUVECs à un mélange de ces composés a entraîné une diminution de l'adhésion de 28,3%. De même, l'acide férulique (1 ou 2 µM), l’acide hippurique (2µM) et l’acide protocatéchuique ont diminué l’adhésion monocytaire respectivement de 28,5%, 18,1% et 36,5% En conclusion, cette étude a démontré l'activité biologique des anthocyanines identifiés dans le plasma et de leurs métabolites intestinaux à moduler l'adhésion de monocytes aux cellules endothéliales à des concentrations physiologiquement pertinentes. Par la suite l'utilisation d’approches nutrigénomique permettra de déchiffrer les mécanismes moléculaires sous- jacents de cet effet vasoprotecteu

Dietary data and mortality patterns in countries of the Black Sea Region

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide dietary data for nutrition monitoring and surveillance are commonly derived from Food Balance Sheets (FBS) and Household Budget Surveys (HBS). OBJECTIVES: To identify and monitor dietary patterns in six countries surrounding the Black Sea (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine) based on comparable data and to explore possible effects on mortality rates in the region. METHOD/DESIGN: In the context of the Sustainable exploitation of bioactive components from the Black Sea Area traditional foods (BaSeFood) project, food supply data from FBS, food availability data from HBS and age-standardised mortality rates from the WHO database were retrieved and analysed. RESULTS: Both food supply and availability data indicate plant-based dietary patterns in the area, with cereals and cereal products, fruits, vegetables and vegetable oils being mostly consumed. Nonetheless, the availability of staple plant foods decreased in years following political changes in the region. Due to religious and other cultural norms, pork meat is preferred in Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine; poultry in Turkey; and, beef in the Russian Federation and Georgia. With respect to socio-economic inequalities, HBS data of the last decade clearly indicate the high dependence of diet on the participants’ residential area, educational attainment and income. Mortality indices retrieved from the WHO databases show that diseases of the circulatory system are the main cause of death in the region, with rates being substantially higher than the EU averages. CONCLUSIONS: The change in the regime, the economic crisis following the USSR dissolution in 1991 and the opening of the food market have largely affected the population dietary choices and mortality rates. Targeted public health nutrition policies encouraging the consumption of health promoting traditional foods particularly among individuals of low socio-economic status are in need in the region.The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n.º 227118

Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Foods and Derived Products Containing Ellagitannins and Anthocyanins on Cardiometabolic Biomarkers: Analysis of Factors Influencing Variability of the Individual Responses

Understanding interindividual variability in response to dietary polyphenols remains essential to elucidate their effects on cardiometabolic disease development. A meta-analysis of 128 randomized clinical trials was conducted to investigate the effects of berries and red grapes/wine as sources of anthocyanins and of nuts and pomegranate as sources of ellagitannins on a range of cardiometabolic risk biomarkers. The potential influence of various demographic and lifestyle factors on the variability in the response to these products were explored. Both anthocyanin- and ellagitannin-containing products reduced total-cholesterol with nuts and berries yielding more significant effects than pomegranate and grapes. Blood pressure was significantly reduced by the two main sources of anthocyanins, berries and red grapes/wine, whereas waist circumference, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose were most significantly lowered by the ellagitannin-products, particularly nuts. Additionally, we found an indication of a small increase in HDL-cholesterol most significant with nuts and, in flow-mediated dilation by nuts and berries. Most of these effects were detected in obese/overweight people but we found limited or non-evidence in normoweight individuals or of the influence of sex or smoking status. The effects of other factors, i.e., habitual diet, health status or country where the study was conducted, were inconsistent and require further investigation

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of ellagitannin- and anthocyanin-containing products at modifying cardiometabolic biomarkers: factors influencing variability of the individual responses

Understanding interindividual variability in response to dietary polyphenols remains essential to elucidate their effects on cardiometabolic disease development. A meta-analysis of 128 randomized clinical trials was conducted to investigate the effects of berries and red grapes/wine as sources of anthocyanins and of nuts and pomegranate as sources of ellagitannins on a range of cardiometabolic risk biomarkers. The potential influence of various demographic and lifestyle factors on the variability in the response to these products were explored. Both anthocyanin- and ellagitannin-containing products reduced total-cholesterol with nuts and berries yielding more significant effects than pomegranate and grapes. Blood pressure was significantly reduced by the two main sources of anthocyanins, berries and red grapes/wine, whereas waist circumference, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose weremost significantly lowered by the ellagitannin-products, particularly nuts. Additionally, we found an indication of a small increase in HDL-cholesterol most significant with nuts and, in flow-mediated dilation by nuts and berries. Most of these effects were detected in obese/overweight people but we found limited or non-evidence in normoweight individuals or of the influence of sex or smoking status. The effects of other factors, i.e., habitual diet, health status or country where the study was conducted, were inconsistent and require further investigation