Open Access
Alginate edible coating and cold storage for improving the physicochemical quality of cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana l.)
(Herald Scholarsly Open Access, 2015) Pedro Carvalho, Catarina; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Moreno, Diego A.; Serrano, María; Valero, Daniel; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The Cape gooseberry is an exotic tropical fruit and, nowadays, is the second most exported fruit from Colombia. Therefore, the high demand for quality required research for a better understanding of fruit behavior. Furthermore, postharvest quality properties play an important role in meeting consumer demands. Cold storage and edible coatings are reported as efficient technologies for extending shelf life and preserve the quality of fruits in postharvest. As there are no reports of studies about the effect of these technologies on shelf life, quality and antioxidant activity in Cape gooseberry, this work aim to evaluate the use of alginate 1% during 21 days of storage at 2ºC as an alternative for postharvest handling of this fruit. Cape gooseberry exhibits a high respiration rate and ethylene production at 20ºC. Alginate coat decreased significantly the metabolism activity of fruit during the cold storage without change significantly the fruit organoleptic quality and showing total phenolic, carotenoid contents and antioxidant activity. Alginate is an efficient edible coat for preserve the quality and bioactivity of Cape gooseberry during 21 days of storage at 2ºC.
Open Access
Melatonin in wine and beer: beneficial effects
(MDPI, 2021) Marhuenda, Javier; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Arcusa, Raúl; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Melatonin is a hormone secreted in the pineal gland with several functions, especially regulation of circadian sleep cycle and the biological processes related to it. This review evaluates the bioavailability of melatonin and resulting metabolites, the presence of melatonin in wine and beer and factors that influence it, and finally the different benefits related to treatment with melatonin. When administered orally, melatonin is mainly absorbed in the rectum and the ileum; it has a half-life of about 0.45–1 h and is extensively inactivated in the liver by phase 2 enzymes. Melatonin (MEL) concentration varies from picograms to ng/mL in fermented beverages such as wine and beer, depending on the fermentation process. These low quantities, within a dietary intake, are enough to reach significant plasma concentrations of melatonin, and are thus able to exert beneficial effects. Melatonin has demonstrated antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, immunomodulatory and neuroprotective actions. These benefits are related to its free radical scavenging properties as well and the direct interaction with melatonin receptors, which are involved in complex intracellular signaling pathways, including inhibition of angiogenesis and cell proliferation, among others. In the present review, the current evidence on the effects of melatonin on different pathophysiological conditions is also discussed.
Open Access
Biological effects of stevia, sucralose and sucrose in citrus-maqui juices on overweight subjects
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021-07-01) Zafrilla, Pilar; Masoodi, Hedyeh; Cerdá, Begoña; García-Viguera, Cristina; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Background: In the last few years there has been emerging interest in substituting added sugars from juices with other sweeteners to make them healthier. But their long-term effects have been poorly evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the addition of stevia, sucralose and sucrose (control) to maqui-citrus beverages on antioxidant and inflammatory status. Methods: a 3-arm parallel, randomized and triple blind clinical trial was performed in overweight subjects (n = 138), who consumed the test beverage (330 mL day-1) for 60 days. The following markers were determined: antioxidant status (ORAC, homocysteine, and oxidized LDL), safety parameters (ALP, AST, ALT, and total bilirubin), lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides) and inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-10). Results: The homocysteine levels significantly increased after consumption of sucralose (27%, p = 0.001) and sucrose (40%, p = 0.006). A significant increase in the IL-10 concentration after consumption of the stevia sweetened beverage, and in ORAC values (21%) in subjects with lower basal antioxidant status were observed. The HDL and total cholesterol levels significantly increased after consumption of sucralose (p = 0.039) and sucrose (p = 0.001), respectively. No changes in triglycerides, LDL or oxidized LDL were observed. Conclusions: Oxidative stress and an inflammatory response were observed after consumption of these sweetened beverages, with the exception of stevia, which produced an anti-inflammatory response. The possible antioxidative effects of this polyphenol-rich beverage may only benefit those individuals with poorer antioxidant status. Many randomized controlled trials at normal levels of consumption using commonly consumed sweeteners are necessary to clarify their roles in health.
Open Access
El fruto de la acerola: composición y posibles usos alimenticios
(Sociedad Latinoamericana de Nutrición, 2006) Mezadri, Tatiana; Fernández-Pachón, María Soledad; Villaño Valencia, Débora; García-Parrilla, María Carmen; Troncoso, Ana M.; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
El objetivo de esta revisión es caracterizar el fruto de la acerola, detallando así sus aspectos taxonómicos, vegetativos, de composición y de mercado. También se evalúa su posible utilización como ingrediente alimentario en vistas a la producción de alimentos funcionales. Para la realización de esta revisión bibliográfica se han consultado bases de datos internacionales (Scifinder Scholar y Medline) y artículos originales que han sido localizados y proveídos principalmente por los Recursos Electrónicos de la Biblioteca de la Universidad de Sevilla y la Universidad do Vale do Itajaí (Santa Catarina, Brazil). La acerola (Malpighia emarginata Sessé y Mociño ex DC) es una especie arbustiva que se desarrolla en zonas de climas tropical y subtropical. Su origen se centra en el sur de México, América Central y zona septentrional de Sudamérica. Su denominación se adoptó en 1986 por el Consejo Internacional de Recursos Genéticos Vegetales. Malpighia emarginata presenta un fruto subglobuloso en forma de drupa, el cual posee tres semillas que representan entre el 19 y el 25% del peso total. El diámetro del fruto varía de 1 a 4 cm y el peso de 2 a 15 g. Presenta una coloración verde cuando está en desarrollo, cambiando a tonos amarillos y rojos cuando está maduro. La maduración ocurre en corto espacio de tiempo. El período de fructificación es de 3 a 4 veces al año. Cada planta produce cerca de 20 a 30 kg de frutos anualmente. La fruta de acerola proporciona macro y micronutrientes: proteínas (0,21 g/100 g), grasas (0,23 g/100 g), carbohidratos (3,57 g/100 g), sales minerales (hierro (0,24 mg/100 g, calcio 11,7 mg/100 g, fósforo 17,1 mg/100g) y vitaminas (tiamina (0,02 mg/100 g, riboflavina 0,07 mg/100 g, piridoxina 8,7 mg/100 g). Hay que destacar su elevado contenido en vitamina C (695 a 4827 mg/100 g), el cual ha inducido un gran consumo de esta fruta en los últimos años, de ahí su importante valor económico. La acerola también presenta carotenoides y bioflavonoides, que le otorgan gran valor nutritivo y su uso potencial como antioxidante. La composición de la fruta depende de factores geográficos, agrícolas y de procesado. Brasil, por su clima y suelo favorables, es el principal productor mundial de acerola, que comercializa en forma de zumos, mermeladas, helados, compotas, gelatinas, confituras, dulces y licores. Debido a la heterogeneidad que presenta la acerola, resulta útil a nivel comercial seleccionar y clonar las variedades más óptimas por su valor nutritivo y su palatabilidad.
Open Access
Relationship between the ingestion of a polyphenol-rich drink, hepcidin hormone, and long-term training
(MDPI, 2016) Villaño Valencia, Débora; Vilaplana, Cristina; Medina, Sonia; Algaba-Chueca, Francisco; Cejuela-Anta, Roberto; Martínez-Sanz, José Miguel; Ferreres, Federico; Gil-Izquierdo, Ángel; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The effects of polyphenol-rich foods on the iron status of athletes, as well as the effect of physical training on the hormone hepcidin, implicated in iron metabolism, are not clear. We investigated the influence on iron metabolism of a long-term training intervention of 120 days, measuring the hepcidin concentration in the plasma of 16 elite triathletes, and the effect of the ingestion of 200 mL of either aronia-citrus juice or a placebo drink for 45 days, in a crossover design. The highest plasma hepcidin concentrations were observed at the beginning of the study (116 ± 63 nM) and levels steadily decreased until the end of the intervention (final value 10 ± 7.5 nM). Long-term training might reduce inflammation and, hence, could be responsible for the decrease in hepcidin in triathletes. Polyphenols from aronia-citrus juice did not interfere in iron absorption, as we did not observe significant differences between the intake of the placebo drink or juice with regard to hepcidin levels. Further studies are required to ascertain the time and conditions necessary to restore hepcidin levels, which reflect the iron status of triathletes.
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
Nutrición y dietética en el climaterio
(Eunate, 2024) Villaño Valencia, Débora; Zornoza Cebeiro, Arantza; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Es necesario establecer unos conceptos para definir una de las etapas vitales de la mujer como son: la menopausia es una fecha, el momento en que cesan de modo permanente las funciones del ovario y, por ello, los ciclos fisiológicos de la menstruación; la perimenopausia es el período caracterizado por el conjunto de fenómenos que se manifiestan por una serie de cambios biológicos, endocrinológicos y clínicos; y la transición menopáusica es el período que precede al período menstrual final y que se caracteriza por un aumento de la variabilidad menstrual. Actualmente existe un consenso sobre el establecimiento de tres fases principales en el patrón reproductivo feme-nino, según los criterios STRAW10+ (Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop): etapa reproductiva, transición a la menopausia, y postmenopausia (Harlow y cols., 2012). A su vez estas fases están divididas en función del momento de menopausia1, que es una fecha concreta (cese de periodo menstrual durante 12 meses consecutivos) y tiene lugar en torno a los 50 años. En este sentido, puede decirse que hay un paralelismo entre la menopausia y la pubertad. En la pubertad, existe un momento, la menarquia y luego hay un período, el período puberal que se extiende antes, durante y después de la menarquia. Actualmente existe un consenso sobre el establecimiento de tres fases principales en el patrón reproductivo femenino, según los criterios STRAW10+ (Stages of Reproductive Aging Workshop): etapa reproductiva, transición a la menopausia, y postmenopausia. A su vez estas fases están divididas en función del momento de menopausia, que es una fecha concreta (cese de periodo menstrual durante 12 meses consecutivos) y tiene lugar en torno a los 50 años. En este sentido, puede decirse que hay un paralelismo entre la menopausia y la pubertad. En la pubertad, existe un momento, la menarquia y luego hay un período, el período puberal que se extiende antes, durante y después de la menarquia.
Open Access
Nutrición y dietética en la vejez
(Eunate, 2024) Baleztena Gurrea, Joaquín; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
La vejez, ancianidad, o edad avanzada constituye un grupo extraordinariamente heterogéneo, de tal modo que la fecha de comienzo de esta etapa fisiológica no está claramente delimitada. Algunos autores la definen a partir de la edad de jubilación. La OMS indica como cifra los 65 años, aunque debido al aumento de la esperanza de vida cada vez se considera población de edad avanzada a personas más mayores (en torno a los 75 años en adelante) tendiendo a conceder menor importancia a la edad cronológica respecto a la situación funcional.
Open Access
Effects of a fruit and vegetable-based nutraceutical on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative status in the plasma of a healthy population: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, and randomized clinical trial
(MDPI, 2021) Arcusa, Raúl; Carrillo, Juan Ángel; Xandri-Martínez, Raquel; Cerdá, Begoña; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Marhuenda, Javier; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
There is scientific evidence of the positive effect of polyphenols from plant foods on inflammation and oxidative status. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether treatment with a high-polyphenolic nutraceutical reduces the plasmatic concentration of certain oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in a healthy population. One hundred and eight subjects were selected and stratified by sex in the intervention group (n = 53) and the placebo group (n = 55). Ninety-two subjects completed the study after two 16-week treatment periods separated by a four-week washout period. The results revealed statistically significant differences in subjects treated with the polyphenolic extract compared to the placebo: A decrease in homocysteine, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), TNF-α, sTNFR1, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The most significant decrease was observed for OxLDL (from 78.98 ± 24.48 to 69.52 ± 15.64; p < 0.05) and CRP (from 1.50 ± 0.33 to 1.39 ± 0.37; p < 0.05), both showing significant differences compared to the placebo (p < 0.001). Moreover, catecholamines increased after the administration of the product under investigation, especially in the case of dopamine (from 15.43 ± 2.66 to 19.61 ± 5.73; p < 0.05). Therefore, the consumption of a nutraceutical based on fruit and vegetables with a high polyphenol content seems to improve the parameters related to health benefits (oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers), including remarkable changes in the expression of catecholamines.
Open Access
Anthocyanin metabolites in human urine after the intake of new functional beverages
(MDPI, 2020) Agulló, Vicente; Villaño Valencia, Débora; García-Viguera, Cristina; Domínguez-Perles, Raúl; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Sugar intake abuse is directly related with the increase of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, obesity, and insulin resistance. Along this line, the development of new beverages using alternative sweeteners could help with combatting the pathophysiological disorders associated to the consumption of sugar. To provide evidence on this issue, in the present work, the bioavailability of anthocyanins was evaluated after the acute ingestion of a new maqui-citrus-based functional beverage rich in polyphenols, and supplemented with a range of sweeteners including sucrose (natural high caloric), stevia (natural non-caloric), and sucralose (artificial non-caloric), as an approach that would allow reducing the intake of sugars while providing bioactive phenolic compounds (anthocyanins). This approach allowed the evaluation of the maximum absorption and the diversity of metabolites excreted through urine. The beverages created were ingested by volunteers (n = 20) and the resulting anthocyanin metabolites in their urine were analyzed by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS. A total of 29 degradation metabolites were detected: Caffeic acid, catechol, 3,4-dihidroxifenilacetic acid, hippuric acid, trans-ferulic acid, 2,4,6-trihydroxybenzaldehyde, trans-isoferulic acid, and vanillic acid derivatives, where peak concentrations were attained at 3.5 h after beverage intake. Sucralose was the sweetener that provided a higher bioavailability for most compounds, followed by stevia. Sucrose did not provide a remarkably higher bioavailability of any compounds in comparison with sucralose or stevia. The results propose two sweetener alternatives (sucralose and stevia) to sucrose, an overused high calorie sweetener that promotes some metabolic diseases.