The peroxidation of leukocytes index ratio reveals the prooxidant effect of green tea extract

Despite tea increased plasma nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity, the European Food Safety Administration (EFSA) denied claims related to tea and its protection from oxidative damage. Furthermore, the Supplement Information Expert Committee (DSI EC) expressed some doubts on the safety of green tea extract (GTE). We performed a pilot study in order to evaluate the effect of a single dose of two capsules of a GTE supplement (200mg x 2) on the peroxidation of leukocytes index ratio (PLIR) in relation to uric acid (UA) and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP), as well as the sample size to reach statistical significance. GTE induced a prooxidant effect on leukocytes, whereas FRAP did not change, in agreement with the EFSA and the DSI EC conclusions. Besides, our results confirm the primary role of UA in the antioxidant defences. The ratio based calculation of the PLIR reduced the sample size to reach statistical significance, compared to the resistance to an exogenous oxidative stress and to the functional capacity of oxidative burst. Therefore, PLIR could be a sensitive marker of redox status

Nutraceutical-based integrative medicine: adopting a mediterranean diet pyramid for attaining healthy ageing in veterans with disabilities

Veterans with disability represent a big burden worldwide and often require long-term rehabilitation. Unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits, including smoke and alcohol abuse, are common in veterans. In the context of integrative medicine approaches, the "complementary and alternative medicine" has been suggested for the management of chronic diseases. However, the potential risk of interaction between herbal products, dietary supplements and drugs must be considered in veterans. The Mediterranean diet has been suggested as a natural, non-pharmacological nutraceutical for healthy ageing. Although there is a broad consensus on the positive effect of plant foods consumption, the presence of glucosinolates, flavonoids and furanocoumarins in some plant foods and beverages must be taken into consideration owing to their potential interfering with drugs metabolism and bioavailability. Albeit seasonality could ensure the maintenance of the single dose of phytochemical below that at which adverse effects in some individuals genetically predisposed or unpleasant drug interactions in diseased subjects can occur, a personalized nutrition is recommended in veterans who are in treatment for comorbidities. Furthermore, sports practice can lead veterans with motor disabilities and mental impairments to excel in some disciplines, giving rise to the phenomenon of the Paralympics and the development of "recreational therapy". Moreover, outdoor lifestyle, through vitamin D synthesis, and conviviality, improving socialization, could account for the Mediterranean lifestyle health benefits. In this work we propose for veterans a Mediterranean Pyramid, which could be the basis for integrative medicine for veterans with disabilities, patient-centered approaches and interprofessional (including physical medicine and rehabilitation clinicians, pharmacists and nutritionists) interventions

Italian Wild Rocket (Diplotaxis Tenuifolia (L.) DC.): Influence of Agricultural Practices on Antioxidant Molecules and on Cytotoxicity and Antiproliferative Effects

Wild rocket [ Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.] belongs to the Brassicaceae family and has its origin in the Mediterranean region. The effect of conventional and integrated cultivation practices on the nutritional properties and benefits of wild rocket [ Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.] were studied. Bioactive molecules content (vitamin C, quercetin, lutein), antioxidant properties and bioactivity of polyphenolic extracts from the edible part of rocket in Caco-2 cells were determined. Regarding antioxidant properties, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) values ranged from 4.44 ± 0.11 mmol/kg fw to 9.92 ± 0.46 mmol/kg fw for conventional rocket and from 4.13 ± 0.17 fw mmol/kg to 11.02 ± 0.45 mmol/kg fw for integrated rocket. The characteristics of wild rocket as a dietary source of antioxidants have been pointed out. Significant differences in the quality of conventional and integrated rocket have been shown, while no influence of agronomic practice on biological activity was reported. A significant accumulation of cells in G1 phase and a consequent reduction in the S and G2 + M phases were observed in Caco-2 cells treated with rocket polyphenol extract

Overlap of orthorexia, eating attitude and psychological distress in some Italian and Spanish university students

Background Orthorexia nervosa (ON) is the persistent concern of maintaining the self-imposed diet to improve one's health. Many factors have been associated to ON in university students. AIM To assess the prevalence of ON in Italian and Spanish university students in relation to eating attitude and psychological distress, and the possible overlaps between ON (evaluated with different scored questionnaires from the originally proposed ORTO-15), distress and risk of eating disorders. Methods This study was carried out on 160 students recruited at La Sapienza University of Rome and at the Catholic University of Murcia. Questionnaires were administered to evaluate ON (ORTO-15 and sub-scores), body concerns (Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire, MBSRQ, and Body Uneasiness test, BUT), psychological distress (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, K10), physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ), eating attitude (Eating Attitudes Test, EAT-26) and malnutrition (Starvation Symptom Inventory, SSI). Sex differences, within the same country, and differences between Italian and Spanish students, within the same sex, were evaluated. RESULTS The ORTO-15 positive subjects, assessed with the originally proposed cut-off, were above 70% in both Italian and Spanish students, with a higher prevalence in the Spanish sample (Italian females 76.3%, Italian males 70.7%; Spanish females 97.0%, Spanish males 96.3%). According to ORTO-7, about 30% of Italian and 48% of Spanish students were positive to ON with no significant sex differences. When excluding students underweight (UW), overweight (OW) or obese (OB), as well as those potentially at risk of eating disorders or presenting mild, moderate and severe distress, in the resultant normal weight (NW)-K10neg-EAT26neg subgroup, we did not find many correlations observed in the whole sample, including those between ORTO scores and BUT, SSI, Total MBSRQ and some of its components. Moreover, ORTO7 resulted in the only ON score unrelated with Body Mass Index, MBSRQ components and IPAQassessed intense activity, in the NW-K10neg-EAT-26neg subgroup. After this sort of “exclusion diagnosis”, the prevalence of ON of these students on the overall sample resulted in 16.9%, 12.2%, 15.2% and 25.9% for Italian females, Italian males, Spanish females and Spanish males, respectively. Conclusion In some university students ON could be a symptom of other conditions related to body image concerns and distress, as well as to high physical activity and appearance, fitness, health or illness orientation (from MBSRQ). However, ORTO-7 became independent from these confounding variables, after the exclusion of UW, OW, OB and students positive to EAT-26 and K10, suggesting the possibility of identifying orthorexic subjects with this specific questionnaire

Cranberry for Bacteriuria in Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background. Urinary tract infection (UTI) is common in individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) and neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction (NLUTD) and in veterans with SCI who use antibiotics improperly for asymptomatic bacteriuria. Cranberry (CB) has been suggested for UTI prevention. Methods. We performed a systematic search up to May 2020 in the following databases: AccessMedicine, BioMed Central, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, and PubMed. Quality assessment was performed using a specifically designed quality score. Risk ratio was calculated with both random effect model analysis (DerSimonian-Laird method) and quality effect model analysis (Doi Thalib method). Results. Six studies on bacteriuria and SCI were reviewed. From the four studies available for meta-analysis, two of which with individuals taking both CB and control, 477 data from 415 participants were analysed (241 CB and 236 control). No significant differences were detected with meta-analysis. However, bias, limitations, and incompleteness were observed in the reviewed studies. Conclusion. Although further studies are needed, we suggest an accurate monitoring of diet and fluid intake, the evaluation of risk for potential food or nutraceutical interactions with drugs, and the inclusion of inflammatory markers among the outcomes in addition to UTI

Menopausal symptoms: from soy isoflavones to combined soy-exercise interventions

Diet and physical activity affect menopausal symptoms. We aimed to review recent evidence based on clinical trials and meta-analysis on the effect of soy isoflavones on menopausal symptoms and the potential synergistic effect of soy consumption and exercise on menopausal women. Many studies have investigated the effect of soy isoflavones on menopausal symptoms and the data indicates that equol status is the main determinant for efficacy. Despite this, it is well known that exercise changes microbiota composition. Only one study has investigated the combined intervention with soy and exercise and reported that soy extract did not improve the positive impact of mixed exercise training. Moreover, soy proteins have anti-nutrient effects on iron and zinc, and negatively influence protein digestibility. In conclusion, although isoflavones could improve menopausal symptoms in equol-producers, postmenopausal women doing exercise should avoid high soy consumption. Furthermore, a recent prospective study has suggested caution against the use of supplements containing soy isoflavones in women with a family history of breast cancer

Assessment of lifestyle, metabolic status and prevalence of orthorexia nervosa in a population of Italian and Spanish university students

Over the past 20 years there has been an increase in obesity rates among university students1. The interest in a healthy diet can lead to a psychological obsession known as orthorexia nervosa (ON)2,3. The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of ON in Italian and Spanish university students in relation to eating attitude and psychological distress, and to compare obesity prevalence and biomarkers of metabolic status, in relation with the consumption of fruits and vegetables. This study was carried out on 160 students recruited at La Sapienza University of Rome and at the Catholic University of Murcia. Food consumption, blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides and ketones, blood pressure, and body composition were evaluated. Questionnaires were administered to assessed adherence to Mediterranean diet4-6, level of physical activity (PA)7, ON (ORTO-15 and sub-scores)8-11, body concerns (MBSRQ and BUT12), psychological distress (K1013), eating attitude (EAT-2614) and malnutrition (SSI15). The ORTO-15 positive subjects were above 70% in both Italians and Spaniards, with a higher prevalence in the Spanish sample. According to ORTO-7, about 30% of Italian and 48% of Spanish students were positive to ON. Orthorexia nervosa is an indicator/symptom of other problems related to body image perception, as well as high PA, and psychological distress. ORTO-7 was found to be independent from these confounders, after the exclusion of underweight, overweight, obese and EAT-26 and K10 positive students, suggesting the possibility of defining subjects with ON. Students who consumed at least four servings of fruit and vegetables (FV group) showed better values for pressure and metabolic parameters than the no FV group. Students who consumed more vegetables than fruit reported a better body composition profile and lower glucose concentrations. As previously suggested, in addition to PA, two servings of fruit and three servings of vegetables per day should be recommended. [1] ISSN: 0973-709X. 2014. 8(5):CC05-7. [2] ISSN: 1873-7358. 2016. 21:11-17. [3] ISSN: 1545-7206. 2015. 56(4):397-403. [4] ISSN: 0169-2607. 2006. 83(1):73-77. [5] ISSN: 1932-6203. 2012. 7(8):e43134. [6] ISSN: 1590-3729. 2018. 28(11): 1140-1147. [7] ISSN: 1368-9800. 2006. 9(6):755-762. [8] ISSN: 1124-4909. 2005. 10(2):e28-32. [9] ISSN: 1590-1262. 2020. 25(6): 1771-1778. [10] ISSN: 1932-6203. 2015. 10(8): e135772. [11] ISSN: 1590-1262. 2019. 24(1): 21-28. [12] ISSN: 1590-1262. 2006. 11(1): 1-13. [13] ISSN: 0003-990X. 2003. 60(2): 184-189. [14] ISSN: 0033-2917. 1979. 9(2): 273-279. [15] ISSN: 2072-6643. 2017. 9(9):967

Dietary Habits and Musculoskeletal Pain in Statin and Red Yeast Rice Users: A Pilot Study

(1) Background: Diet and statins are commonly used to treat high cholesterol (CHOL) levels. (2) Aim: To compare adherence to Mediterranean diet (Med-D), orthorexia nervosa (ON), and musculoskeletal pain in individuals in treatment with statins metabolized by CYP3A4, not metabolized by CYP3A4 or red yeast rice (RYR, containing monacolin K: MON-K). (3) Methods: starting from 80 individuals, after the exclusion of those with other causes of possible pain, 56 individuals were selected and divided into three groups according to the type of statin (CYP3A4, NO-CYP3A4 and MON-K). Adherence to the Med-D was evaluated with the MEDScore and a sub-score was calculated for fruit and vegetables consumption (MEDScore-FV). ON and musculoskeletal pain were assessed with the ORTO-15 and with the Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaires, respectively. A retrospective analysis of CHOL decrease after treatment was conducted. (4) Results: CHOL levels were lower in CYP3A4 and NO-CYP3A4 after treatment (182.4 ± 6.3 and 177.0 ± 7.8 mg/dL, respectively), compared with MON-K (204.2 ± 7.1 mg/dL, p p p < 0.05). (5) Conclusions: This study suggests that individuals receiving treatment with statins and RYR should be monitored from the perspective of plant foods’ consumption and nutraceutical use, to prevent musculoskeletal pain