Effect of consuming a grape seed supplement with abundant phenolic compounds on the oxidative status of healthy human volunteers

et al.[Background]: Diverse enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants provide protection against reactive oxygen species in humans and other organisms. The nonenzymatic antioxidants include low molecular mass molecules such as plant-derived phenols. [Aim of study]: This study identified the major phenolic compounds of a grape seed extract by HPLC and analyzed the effect of consumption of biscuits enriched with this extract on the urinary oxidative status of healthy subjects by measurement of urine redox potential. [Methods]: The major phenolic compounds were characterized in a red grape seed extract separated by HPLC with detection by a photodiode array (PDA), fluorescence (FL) and quadrupole mass spectrometer (MS). A nutritional study in a healthy volunteers group was done. Each volunteer ate eight traditional biscuits with no red grape seed extract supplementation. The second day each volunteer ate eight traditional biscuits supplemented with 0.6 % (wt/wt) of grape seed extract. An overnight urine sample was obtained for each treatment. The redox potential was measured at 25 °C using a potentiometer in each urine sample. [Results]: Epicatechin, catechin, procyanidin dimers B1 to B4, and the procyanidin trimer C2 were the major phenolic components in the extract. Epicatechin gallate and procyanidin dimers B1-3-G and B2-3′-G were the major galloylated flavan-3-ols. The forty-six healthy volunteers each shown a reduction of the urine redox potential after the treatment by traditional biscuits supplemented with the grape seed extract. [Conclusions]: This simple dietary intervention significantly reduced (33 %) the urine redox potential, reflecting an overall increase in antioxidant status. Incorporation of plant-derived phenols in the diet may increase anti-oxidative status.This work was supported by grant CTQ2010-18271 from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Gobierno de España), by FEDER funds (European Union), and by grant 9/2011 from the Conselleria d’Educació, Cultura i Universitat (Govern de les Illes Balears). CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CB06/03), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain, also provided support.Peer Reviewe

Calcificaciones cardiovasculares: factores etiológicos implicados

Las calcificaciones cardiovasculares afectan a un importante sector de la población y pueden ser causa de serios problemas de salud. Así, alteran la flexibilidad de las arterias y facilitan la trombosis y su ruptura. Las calcificaciones valvulares dan lugar a diversos desórdenes que acaban en fallo cardíaco. En todos los casos la fase mineral corresponde a fosfatos cálcicos (fundamentalmente hidroxiapatita) y en las arterias puede localizarse en la media o en la íntima. En las válvulas cardíacas naturales, la calcificación suele comenzar en la parte interna, mientras que en las prostéticas es superficial. El mecanismo general del proceso de calcificación implica la existencia de una lesión previa (debida a agentes citotóxicos, hipercolesterolemia, insuficiencia renal terminal, edad avanzada, hiperlipemia, obesidad, diabetes, infecciones bacterianas) que actúa como inductora (nucleante heterogéneo) de la calcificación. Si los factores represores (inhibidores de la cristalización, moduladores de la acción celular) no poseen capacidad suficiente para impedir las primeras fases del proceso de calcificación, acabarán formándose placas calcificadas que ya será imposible eliminar sin utilizar cirugía. Puede concluirse, por lo tanto, que la prevención es fundamental para evitar el desarrollo de calcificaciones cardiovasculares, siendo necesario tanto identificar los factores promotores, relacionarlos con el tipo de calcificación y estudiar las vías de su control, como identificar los factores inhibidores de la cristalización y estudiar sus efectos.Cardiovascular calcifications affect to a wide sector of the population and can cause serious health problems. Thus, they alter arterial flexibility and facilitate thrombosis and arterial rupture. Calcification of heart valves generates several disorders responsible for heart failure. In all cases the mineral phase corresponds to calcium phosphates (fundamentally hydroxyapatite) that can be located in the media or intimal layers. In native heart valves, calcification is usually generated in the internal part, while in the bioprosthetic is superficial. The basic mechanism of the calcification process implies the existence of an underlying lesion (due to cytotoxic agents, hypercholesterolemia, endstage renal disease, ageing, hyperlipidaemia, obesity, diabetes, bacterial infections) that acts as inducer (heterogeneous nucleant) of the calcification. If the repressive factors (crystallization inhibitors, modulators of cellular action) are not capable enough to avoid the first steps of the calcification process, calcified plaques will developed and will become impossible to eliminate them without surgery. Therefore, it can be concluded that prevention is fundamental to avoid the development of cardiovascular calcifications, being necessary: 1) to identify the trigger factors, to relate them with the type of calcification, and to study the ways of their control, and 2) to identify the crystallization inhibitor factors and to study their effects

Myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (phytate) inhibits calcium carbonate crystallisation in hard water

A batch system and a flow system with synthetic water were used to study calcium carbonate precipitation and phytate crystallisation inhibitory effects. Afterwards, phytate inhibitory effects on calcium carbonate crystallisation were tested in a real system, working with a cistern filled with hard water. Finally, the effects of phytate on calcium carbonate crystallisation were compared with another phosphate derivative and with a chelating agent. The results obtained with the batch system demonstrated that 1.52 μM of phytate completely avoided calcium carbonate crystallisation when the calcium concentration was less than 7.9 mM and the carbonate concentration was 5.83 mM. The results corresponding to the flow system showed that 3.03 μM of phytate led to a 95% reduction of calcium carbonate scale formation on a copper pipe after 48 h, operating at 30ºC. In addition, in a full-scale system, the dissolved calcium and bicarbonate concentration was increased for a given time when adding phytate to the cistern. Finally, using a batch system, it was demonstrated that phytate effects on calcium carbonate crystallisation reduction were superior to those shown by triphosphate and EDTA. The results presented demonstrate that phytate at very low concentrations can be used to prevent calcium carbonate scale formation without changing the mineral composition of water due to its capacity as a crystallisation inhibitor.Keywords: phytate, inhibition, calcium carbonate, scale formation, water hardnes

Fosfatos de origen vegetal, fitato y calcificaciones patológicas en la enfermedad renal crónica

ResumenEl fitato o myo-inositol-1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis dihidrogenofostato (InsP6) es un compuesto fosforado de origen natural que está presente en numerosos alimentos, principalmente en legumbres, cereales integrales y frutos secos. Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) experimentan una mortalidad por enfermedad cardiovascular hasta 30veces mayor que la población en general. Las calcificaciones vasculares (CV) contribuyen directamente en la morbimortalidad general, y de forma especial en la ERC. Esta elevada mortalidad se debe, en parte, a la elevación en los niveles de fósforo en sangre. Por ello, el control de fósforo en la dieta es fundamental. El fósforo dietético puede clasificarse en función de su estructura en fósforo orgánico (origen vegetal y animal) e inorgánico (conservantes y aditivos). El fósforo de origen vegetal (legumbres y frutos secos), principalmente asociado a InsP6, es menos absorbible por el tracto gastrointestinal humano siendo la biodisponibilidad del fósforo procedente de estos alimentos muy baja. Datos recientes indican que la restricción impuesta de alimentos que contienen fosfatos vegetales puede comprometer el aporte adecuado de nutrientes que tienen un efecto beneficioso en la prevención de episodios cardiovasculares, como pueda ser la fibra o al propio InsP6 presente en frutos secos y legumbres. Estudios experimentales en animales y observacionales en humanos sugieren que el InsP6 puede prevenir la litiasis, las CV y proteger de la osteoporosis. En conclusión, creemos necesario realizar estudios prospectivos para elucidar los posibles beneficios y riesgos de una dieta rica en fitato (InP6) en la ERC o de su uso como fármaco intravenoso en pacientes en hemodiálisis.AbstractPhytate, or myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis dihydrogen phosphate (InsP6), is a naturally occurring phosphorus compound that is present in many foods, mainly legumes, whole grains and nuts. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have cardiovascular disease mortality up to 30times higher than the general population. Vascular calcifications (VCs) directly contribute to overall morbidity and mortality, especially in CKD. In part, this high mortality is due to elevated levels of phosphorus in the blood. Therefore, control of dietary phosphorus is essential. Dietary phosphorus can be classified according to its structure in organic phosphorus (plant and animal) and inorganic (preservatives and additives). Plant-phosphorus (legumes and nuts), mainly associated with InsP6, is less absorbable by the human gastrointestinal tract as the bioavailability of phosphorous from plant-derived foods is very low. Recent data indicate that restriction of foods containing plant phosphates may compromise the adequate supply of nutrients that have a beneficial effect in preventing cardiovascular events, such as InsP6 or fibre found in legumes and nuts. Experimental studies in animals and observational studies in humans suggest that InsP6 can prevent lithiasis and VCs and protect from osteoporosis. In conclusion, we need prospective studies to elucidate the potential benefits and risks of phytate (InsP6) through the diet and as an intravenous drug in patients on haemodialysis

Reduction of ureteral stent encrustation by modulating the urine pH and inhibiting the crystal film with a new oral composition: a multicenter, placebo controlled, double blind, randomized clinical trial

Background: Encrustation of ureteral double J stents is a common complication that may affect its removal. The aim of the proposed study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a new oral composition to prevent double J stent encrustation in indwelling times up to 8 weeks. Methods: A double-blinded, multicenter, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with 105 patients with indwelling double J stents enrolled across 9 public hospitals in Spain. The patients were randomly assigned (1:1) into intervention (53 patients) or placebo (52 patients) groups for 3 to 8 weeks and both groups self-monitored daily their morning urine pH levels. The primary outcome of analysis was the degree of stent ends encrustation, defined by a 4-point score (0 - none; 3 - global encrustation) using macroscopic and electron microscopy analysis of crystals, after 3 to 8-w indwelling period. Score was exponentially transformed according to calcium levels. Secondary endpoints included urine pH decrease, stent removal, and incidence of adverse events. Results: The intervention group benefits from a lower global encrustation rate of stent ends than placebo group (1% vs 8.2%; p < 0.018). Mean encrustation score was 85.12 (274.5) in the placebo group and 18.91 (102.27) in the intervention group (p < 0.025). Considering the secondary end points, treated patients reported greater urine pH decreases (p = 0.002). No differences in the incidence of adverse events were identified between the groups. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the use of this new oral composition is beneficial in the context of ureteral double J indwelling by decreasing mean, as well as global encrustation

La prevenció dietètica dels càlculs renals: el fitat

Sense resu

Plant phosphates, phytate and pathological calcifications in chronic kidney disease

Phytate, or myo-inositol 1,2,3,4,5,6-hexakis dihydrogen phosphate (InsP6), is a naturally occurring phosphorus compound that is present in many foods, mainly legumes, whole grains and nuts. Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have cardiovascular disease mortality up to 30 times higher than the general population. Vascular calcifications (VCs) directly contribute to overall morbidity and mortality, especially in CKD. In part, this high mortality is due to elevated levels of phosphorus in the blood. Therefore, control of dietary phosphorus is essential. Dietary phosphorus can be classified according to its structure in organic phosphorus (plant and animal) and inorganic (preservatives and additives). Plant-phosphorus (legumes and nuts), mainly associated with InsP6, is less absorbable by the human gastrointestinal tract as the bioavailability of phosphorous from plant-derived foods is very low. Recent data indicate that restriction of foods containing plant phosphates may compromise the adequate supply of nutrients that have a beneficial effect in preventing cardiovascular events, such as InsP6 or fibre found in legumes and nuts. Experimental studies in animals and observational studies in humans suggest that InsP6 can prevent lithiasis and VCs and protect from osteoporosis. In conclusion, we need prospective studies to elucidate the potential benefits and risks of phytate (InsP6) through the diet and as an intravenous drug in patients on haemodialysis

Tracheal oxalosis associated with Aspergillus niger tracheobronchitis

Peer reviewe

Lemon juice has protective activity in a rat urolithiasis model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of herbal medicines (medicinal plants or phytotherapy) has recently gained popularity in Europe and the United States. Nevertheless the exact mechanism of the preventive effects of these products is still far to be clearly established, being its knowledge necessary to successfully apply these therapies to avoid stone formation.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effect of oral lemon juice administration on calcium oxalate urolithiasis was studied in male Wistar rats. Rats were rendered nephrolithic by providing drinking water containing 0.75% ethylene glycol [v/v] (EG) and 2% ammonium chloride [w/v] (AC) for 10 days. In addition to EG/AC treatment, three groups of rats were also gavage-administered solutions containing 100%, 75% or 50% lemon juice [v/v] (6 μl solution/g body weight). Positive control rats were treated with EG/AC but not lemon juice. Negative control rats were provided with normal drinking water, and were administered normal water by gavage. Each group contained 6 rats. After 10 days, serum samples were collected for analysis, the left kidney was removed and assessed for calcium levels using flame spectroscopy, and the right kidney was sectioned for histopathological analysis using light microscopy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis showed that the rats treated with EG/AC alone had higher amounts of calcium in the kidneys compared to negative control rats. This EG/AC-induced increase in kidney calcium levels was inhibited by the administration of lemon juice. Histology showed that rats treated with EG/AC alone had large deposits of calcium oxalate crystals in all parts of the kidney, and that such deposits were not present in rats also treated with either 100% or 75% lemon juice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data suggest that lemon juice has a protective activity against urolithiasis.</p