Open Access
Effects of long-term consumption of broccoli sprouts on inflammatory markers in overweight subjects
(Elsevier, 2018-03-13) López-Chillón, María Teresa; Carazo-Díaz, Carmen; Prieto-Merino, David; Zafrilla, Pilar; Moreno, Diego A.; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Background & aims. Broccoli sprouts represent an interesting choice of healthy food product as they are rich in glucosinolates and their cognate bioactive metabolites, isothiocyanates able to counteract the negative effects of diverse pathologies. As obesity is linked to an inflammatory component, the aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory action of broccoli sprouts in overweight adult subjects. Methods. An in vivo controlled study was performed in 40 healthy overweight subjects (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT 03390855). Treatment phase consisted on the consumption of broccoli sprouts (30 g/day) during 10 weeks and the follow-up phase of 10 weeks of normal diet without consumption of these broccoli sprouts. Anthropometric parameters as body fat mass, body weight, and BMI were determined. Inflammation status was assessed by measuring levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β and C-reactive protein. Results. IL-6 levels significantly decreased (mean values from 4.76 pg/mL to 2.11 pg/mL with 70 days of broccoli consumption, p < 0.001) and during control phase the inflammatory levels were maintained at low grade (mean values from 1.20 pg/mL to 2.66 pg/mL, p < 0.001). C-reactive protein significantly decreased as well. Conclusions. This study represents an advance in intervention studies as the broccoli sprouts were included in a daily dietary pattern in quantities that reflect a real consumption. Further studies are necessary to elucidate the role of this healthy rich and nutritious food product, but these promising results support the current evidence on the healthy properties of Brassica varieties.
Open Access
Non-provitamin A and provitamin A carotenoids as immunomodulators: recommended dietary allowance, therapeutic index, or personalized nutrition?
(Hindawi, 2018) Toti, Elisabetta; Chen, Oliver; Palmery, Maura; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Peluso, Ilaria; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Vegetables and fruits contain non-provitamin A (lycopene, lutein, and zeaxanthin) and provitamin A (β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and α-carotene) carotenoids. Within these compounds, β-carotene has been extensively studied for its health benefits, but its supplementation at doses higher than recommended intakes induces adverse effects. β-Carotene is converted to retinoic acid (RA), a well-known immunomodulatory molecule. Human interventions suggest that β-carotene and lycopene at pharmacological doses affect immune functions after a depletion period of low carotenoid diet. However, these effects appear unrelated to carotenoids and retinol levels in plasma. Local production of RA in the gut-associated lymphoid tissue, as well as the dependency of RA-induced effects on local inflammation, suggests that personalized nutrition/supplementation should be considered in the future. On the other hand, the differential effect of RA and lycopene on transforming growth factor-beta suggests that lycopene supplementation could improve immune functions without increasing risk for cancers. However, such preclinical evidence must be confirmed in human interventions before any recommendations can be made.
Open Access
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microbial-modulating activities of nutraceuticals and functional foods
(Hindawi, 2017) Peluso, Ilaria; Magrone, Thea; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Chen, Oliver; Palmery, Maura; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
This special issue highlights the importance of using different methodological approaches in order to clarify the mechanisms of the potential health effects of nutraceuticals.
Open Access
Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microbial-modulating activities of nutraceuticals and functional foods 2018
(Hindawi, 2018) Peluso, Ilaria; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Chen, Oliver; Palmery, Maura; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
We hope that this special issue adds knowledge of preclinical data of the potential health effects of nutraceuticals. However, these results only provide supports for future studies, particularly human trials, but not give indications for supplementation.
Open Access
Soil and climate determine antioxidant capacity of walnuts
(United Arab Emirates University, 2017) Figueroa, Fernando; Marhuenda, Javier; Gironés-Vilaplana, Amadeo; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Martínez-Cachá, Adela; Mulero, Juana; Cerdá, Begoña; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The aim of this work was to study the influence of soil and climate factors in the antioxidant capacity of 10 different varieties of nuts, obtained from two experimental cultivars with different weather and soil conditions. Ten different varieties of walnut samples were obtained from two experimental cultivars, analyzing the antioxidant capacity by ORAC, DPPH• and ABTS+ methods. Eureka and Tehama walnuts showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Only Chico and Serr varieties (measured by ABTS+ method) and Franquette variety (measured by ORAC assay) increased their antioxidant capacity when cultured in Torre Blanca plots. The growing in El Chaparral plots increased the antioxidant capacity of every different variety. Minor temperature (especially when it reaches over -0 ºC) and humidity, as well as an increase on the annual rainfall are noteworthy factors that influence on the increase of antioxidant capacity of the wide majority of the analyzed walnuts.
Open Access
Bioavailability of broccoli sprouts in different human overweight populations
(Elsevier, 2019-06-10) Villaño Valencia, Débora; López-Chillón, María Teresa; Zafrilla, Pilar; Moreno, Diego A.; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Broccoli sprouts rich in glucosinolates have shown interesting properties mitigating the inflammatory status linked to obesity. Studies performed in healthy lean subjects have shown that these compounds possess good bioavailability, however long-term studies in overweight populations are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bioavailability of broccoli sprouts in overweight adults: men, non-menopausal women and post-menopausal women. An in vivo controlled parallel study was performed in 69 healthy overweight subjects that consumed broccoli sprouts (30 g/day) during 5 weeks, with a follow-up phase of 5 weeks of normal diet without broccoli sprouts. Trial registered at ClinicalTrials.gov as NCT03390855. Metabolites from glutathione detoxification pathway increased in all groups after 5 weeks of broccoli consumption, especially in post-menopausal women (Sulphoraphane-N-Acetyl cysteine levels from 0.0656 nmol/mg creatinine to 1.8191 nmol/mg creatinine, p < 0.001) and similar behaviour was observed for Sulphoraphane and Sulphoraphane-Cysteine. Post-menopausal condition was associated with higher levels of metabolites.