Exploring health and toxicity in food choices: 10 examples navigating the gray area

People’s perception on what is healthy and what is toxic food, determines food preferences and eating behavior. The difference between heathy and toxic food and food ingredients is however not always clear. This is illustrated with 10 examples. Unjustly, all-natural food is regarded as safe. Regulation on health claims on food and food risks is not balanced. Biphasic responses of the physiological effect of food ingredients show that mild toxicity of these substances results in health promotion. Nutritional substances with drugs may have either a negative or a positive effect on health. New toxicological methodologies can be brought into play, to better understand the dynamics of health and disease. Unfortunately, we still cannot taste toxicity

The beneficial effect of sulforaphane on platelet responsiveness during caloric load:a single-intake, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in healthy participants

Background and aims: As our understanding of platelet activation in response to infections and/or inflammatory conditions is growing, it is becoming clearer that safe, yet efficacious, platelet-targeted phytochemicals could improve public health beyond the field of cardiovascular diseases. The phytonutrient sulforaphane shows promise for clinical use due to its effect on inflammatory pathways, favorable pharmacokinetic profile, and high bioavailability. The potential of sulforaphane to improve platelet functionality in impaired metabolic processes has however hardly been studied in humans. This study investigated the effects of broccoli sprout consumption, as a source of sulforaphane, on urinary 11-dehydro-thromboxane B2 (TXB2), a stable thromboxane metabolite used to monitor eicosanoid biosynthesis and response to antithrombotic therapy, in healthy participants exposed to caloric overload. Methods: In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial 12 healthy participants were administered 16g of broccoli sprouts, or pea sprouts (placebo) followed by the standardized high-caloric drink PhenFlex given to challenge healthy homeostasis. Urine samples were collected during the study visits and analyzed for 11-dehydro-TXB2, sulforaphane and its metabolites. Genotyping was performed using Illumina GSA v3.0 DTCBooster. Results: Administration of broccoli sprouts before the caloric load reduced urinary 11-dehydro-TXB2 levels by 50% (p = 0.018). The amount of sulforaphane excreted in the urine during the study visits correlated negatively with 11-dehydro-TXB2 (rs = −0.377, p = 0.025). Participants carrying the polymorphic variant NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1*2) showed decreased excretion of sulforaphane (p = 0.035). Conclusion: Sulforaphane was shown to be effective in targeting platelet responsiveness after a single intake. Our results indicate an inverse causal relationship between sulforaphane and 11-dehydro-TXB2, which is unaffected by the concomitant intake of the metabolic challenge. 11-Dehydro-TXB2 shows promise as a non-invasive, sensitive, and suitable biomarker to investigate the effects of phytonutrients on platelet aggregation within hours. Clinical trial registration: [https://clinicaltrials.gov/], identifier [NCT05146804].</p

Effects of Monomeric and Oligomeric Flavanols on Kidney Function, Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Runners: A Randomized Double-Blind Pilot Study

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are frequently used by athletes in order to prevent musculoskeletal pain and improve performance. In combination with strenuous exercise, they can contribute to a reduction of renal blood flow and promote development of kidney damage. We aimed to investigate whether monomeric and oligomeric flavanols (MOF) could reduce the severity of kidney injuries associated with the intake of 400-mg ibuprofen followed by the completion of a half-marathon in recreational athletes. In this double-blind, randomized study, the original MOF blend of extracts from grape seeds (Vitis vinifera L.) and pine bark (Pinus pinaster L.) or placebo were taken for 14 days preceding the ibuprofen/half-marathon. Urine samples were collected before and after the ibuprofen/half-marathon, and biomarkers of kidney injury, inflammation and oxidative stress were assessed. Intake of MOF significantly reduced the incidence of post-race hematuria (p = 0.0004) and lowered concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6 in the urine (p = 0.032). Urinary neutrophil-associated lipocalin, creatine, albumin, IL-8 and malondialdehyde tended to decrease. The supplementation with MOF in recreational runners appears to safely preserve kidney function, reduce inflammation and promote antioxidant defense during strenuous exercise and intake of a single dose of ibuprofen

Towards improved pharmacotherapy in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Can diet play a role?

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare, progressive disease of the pulmonary vasculature. Recent advances in pharmacotherapy improved life expectancy of PAH patients and, thus, signified the role of general measures, including diet, in the management of the disease.Methods: In the present narrative review we will briefly summarize information about current and novel PAH therapies and analyze preclinical evidence on the influence of certain nutrients on the pathogenesis of PAH.Results: Although the evidence on the role of dietary deficiencies in the development and progression of PAH in humans is limited, preclinical studies demonstrate that dietary components such as quercetin, genistein, n-3 PUFAs, vitamin D, coenzyme Q10 and resveratrol may influence various aspects of PAH pathobiology.Conclusions: Further research on the role of diet in PAH is needed. Taking into account pleiotropic and subtle effects of dietary constituents as well as the rare and severe nature of PAH, clinical studies on the disease-specific nutritional patterns rather than on single dietary components may help to reveal if diet can be an important tool to improve the efficacy of pharmacotherapy in PAH. (C) 2019 European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.</p

Heart rate variability correlates with the effect of sulforaphane on calorie-induced inflammation in healthy participants: a randomized placebo-controlled study

Summary: Background &amp; Aims: The role of nutrition in modulating the inflammatory response is increasingly recognized. The phytonutrient sulforaphane shows promise for clinical use due to its effect on inflammatory pathways, favorable pharmacokinetic profile, and high bioavailability. The inflammatory status has been linked to autonomic activity, which can be assessed by the study of heart rate variability (HRV). However, monitoring of HRV for assessment of inflammation in humans has hardly been used. We investigated the potential of HRV as a non-invasive tool to monitor inflammation induced by the caloric load and assessed the effects of sulforaphane on caloric load-induced inflammation in healthy participants. Methods: In this double-blind, crossover, randomized, placebo-controlled trial twelve healthy participants (26.9 (3.6) years) were administered 25 mg of sulforaphane, or placebo followed over 90 min by the standardized high-calorie drink PhenFlex given to induce an inflammatory response. Levels of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interleukin (IL)-6 were measured in plasma before and two hours after the PhenFlex challenge. Changes in the autonomic function were assessed by HRV on four timepoints. Results: The caloric challenge triggered a significant increase in total power (TP) (P = 0.028) and very low frequency (VLF) component (P = 0.013) 30 min after its administration. Those changes were followed by reduction of TP (P = 0.028) and low frequency (LF) component (P = 0.005), suggesting marked decrease in the sympathetic activity two hours after the caloric load. When sulforaphane was given prior to the caloric challenge, decreased parasympathetic activity was observed via a reduction of RMSSD (P = 0.007), pNN50 (P = 0.013) and HF (P = 0.047). In addition, sulforaphane elicited a pro-inflammatory response as measured by the change of hs-CRP with caloric exposure (sulforaphane 2.7 (4.2) vs. placebo -1.8 (3.1) ng/mL, P = 0.048). The pro-inflammatory effect of sulforaphane was associated with vagal withdrawal and sympathetic dominance as suggested by correlations between the changes in hs-CRP and HF (rs = -0.68, P = 0.029) as well as LF/HF (rs = 0.56, P = 0.093) components assessed before and two hours after the PhenFlex challenge. Conclusions: Monitoring of HRV might be a sensitive tool to follow activity of the inflammatory response in various clinical conditions. The standardized caloric PhenFlex challenge induced significant changes in the autonomic regulation in healthy young individuals. Administration of sulforaphane prior to the caloric challenge caused a pro-inflammatory effect which was accompanied by vagal withdrawal and sympathetic dominance. Trial registration number: NCT05146804 at www.clinicaltrials.gov

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin in recreational runners

Objectives To study the effects of running with/without the use of pain killers on urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and other parameters of kidney function in recreational runners. Methods Participants of the 10- and 21.1-km Weir Venloop race were enrolled and their urine samples collected before and after the run. Urine dipstick and other conventional tests used to assess kidney function were performed. The presence of ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, and/or paracetamol was assessed by LC-MS/MS. uNGAL was measured with a two-step chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results NSAIDs/analgesics were detected in urine of 5 (14.4%) 10-km runners and 13 (28.9%) 21.1-km runners. Only half-marathon participants showed significant increases in uNGAL (pre: 11.7 [7.1-34.3] ng/mL; post: 33.4 [17.4-50.4] ng/mL;P = .0038). There was a significant effect of NSAID/analgesic use on uNGAL increase (F-2,F- 76 = 4.210,P = .004). Post hoc tests revealed that uNGAL increased significantly in runners who tested positive for ibuprofen/naproxen compared to runners who did not use any medications (P = .045) or those who tested positive for paracetamol (P = .033). Running distance had a significant influence on the increase in uNGAL (F-1,F- 53 = 4.741,P <.05), specific gravity (F-1,F- 60 = 9.231,P <.01), urinary creatinine (F-1,F- 61 = 10.574,P <.01), albumin (F-1,F- 59 = 4.888,P <.05), and development of hematuria (chi(2)(4) = 18.44,P = .001). Conclusions Running distance and use of ibuprofen/naproxen were identified as risk factors for uNGAL increase in recreational runners

Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs increase urinary neutrophil gelatinase‐associated lipocalin in recreational runners

Objectives To study the effects of running with/without the use of pain killers on urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) and other parameters of kidney function in recreational runners. Methods Participants of the 10- and 21.1-km Weir Venloop race were enrolled and their urine samples collected before and after the run. Urine dipstick and other conventional tests used to assess kidney function were performed. The presence of ibuprofen, diclofenac, naproxen, and/or paracetamol was assessed by LC-MS/MS. uNGAL was measured with a two-step chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results NSAIDs/analgesics were detected in urine of 5 (14.4%) 10-km runners and 13 (28.9%) 21.1-km runners. Only half-marathon participants showed significant increases in uNGAL (pre: 11.7 [7.1-34.3] ng/mL; post: 33.4 [17.4-50.4] ng/mL;P = .0038). There was a significant effect of NSAID/analgesic use on uNGAL increase (F-2,F- 76 = 4.210,P = .004). Post hoc tests revealed that uNGAL increased significantly in runners who tested positive for ibuprofen/naproxen compared to runners who did not use any medications (P = .045) or those who tested positive for paracetamol (P = .033). Running distance had a significant influence on the increase in uNGAL (F-1,F- 53 = 4.741,P <.05), specific gravity (F-1,F- 60 = 9.231,P <.01), urinary creatinine (F-1,F- 61 = 10.574,P <.01), albumin (F-1,F- 59 = 4.888,P <.05), and development of hematuria (chi(2)(4) = 18.44,P = .001). Conclusions Running distance and use of ibuprofen/naproxen were identified as risk factors for uNGAL increase in recreational runners