A comprehensive review of healthy effects of vegetarian diets.

AIMS: A comprehensive review comparing the effect of vegetarian (V) and non-vegetarian (NV) diets on the major cardiometabolic diseases' outcomes was performed. DATA SYNTHESIS: We performed literature research (up to December 31, 2022) of the evidence separately for vascular disease (VD), obesity (OB), dyslipidemia (Dysl), hypertension (HPT), type 2 diabetes (T2D), metabolic syndrome (MetS), analyzing only cohort studies and randomized controlled studies (RCTs) and comparing the effect of V and NV diets. Cohort studies showed advantages of V diets compared to NV diets on incidence and/or mortality risk for ischemic heart disease, overweight and OB risk. Most cohort studies showed V had lower risk of HPT and lower blood pressure (BP) than NV and V diets had positive effects on T2D risk or plasma parameters. The few cohort studies on the risk of MetS reported mixed results. In RCTs, V diets, mainly low-fat-vegan ones, led to greater weight loss and improved glycemic control than NV diets and in the only one RCT a partial regression of coronary atherosclerosis. In most RCTs, V diets significantly reduced LDL-C levels (but also decreased HDL-C levels) and BP. CONCLUSIONS: In this comprehensive review of the association between V diets and cardiometabolic outcomes, we found that following this type of diet may help to prevent most of these diseases. However, the non-uniformity of the studies, due to ethnic, cultural, and methodological differences, does not allow for generalizing the present results and drawing definitive conclusions. Further, well-designed studies are warranted to confirm the consistency of our conclusions.

Evaluation of nutritional quality of biscuits and sweet snacks sold on the Italian market: the Food Labelling of Italian Products (FLIP) study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed at surveying the nutritional quality of prepacked biscuits and sweet snacks sold on the Italian market, and at identifying whether the product type and other information reported on the pack could discriminate the overall quality of products analysed. DESIGN: Data on energy, nutrient and salt content of the products from two different categories of prepacked sweet cereal products (i.e. biscuits and sweet snacks) were collected from thirteen retailers present on the Italian market. Based on the product type, nutrition and health claim (NHC) and gluten-free (GF) declaration, a comparison of nutrient profile within each category was performed. SETTING: This work is part of the Food Labelling of Italian Products (FLIP) study that aims at systematically investigating the overall quality of the prepacked foods sold on the Italian market. RESULTS: A total of 1290 products were analysed (63 % biscuits and 37 % sweet snacks). After comparing different product types within each category, a high intra-type product variability was evidenced, which was more pronounced for biscuits. Overall, NHC-carrying products seemed to have a better nutrition profile than those without claims, except for salt content. Conversely, a comparison between GF and gluten-containing products did not show consistent results within the two categories analysed. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the high intra-type variability within each category, the different characteristics and regulated information reported on the pack do not seem to be a clear marker of the overall nutritional quality of biscuits and snacks.

Are the dietary habits of treated individuals with celiac disease adherent to a Mediterranean diet?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The only treatment for celiac disease (CD) is strict, lifelong adherence to a gluten-free (GF) diet. To date, there are contrasting data concerning the nutritional adequacy of GF products and diet. There have been no studies that have assessed the adherence of individuals with CD to a Mediterranean diet (MD), a protective dietary regimen against major non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Therefore, we examined the adherence to an MD of a group of Italian individuals with CD and compared it with that of a healthy control group. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a cross-sectional study, a sample of individuals with CD and a group of healthy subjects were included. The dietary habits of all participants were recorded using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and the adherence to an MD was determined using the Italian Mediterranean Index. Typical Mediterranean food consumption was not significantly different between individuals with CD and the healthy participants, except for fruits (P = 0.017). However, individuals with CD consumed significantly higher amounts of potatoes (P = 0.003) and red and processed meat (P = 0.005) than healthy participants. The resulting mean Italian Mediterranean Index was significantly higher in healthy participants than in individuals with CD (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results raise questions concerning the food choices of individuals with CD, suggesting the need of encouraging them to make better food choices more in line with an MD, which would improve their nutritional status and better protect them from NCDs at long term. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (ID NCT01975155) on November 4 2013.

Dietary glycemic index, glycemic load and metabolic profile in children with phenylketonuria.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: No data exist in the current literature on the glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) of the diet of phenylketonuric (PKU) children. The aims of this study were to examine the dietary GI and GL in PKU children on a low-phenylalanine (Phe)-diet and to evaluate whether an association may exist between the carbohydrate quality and the metabolic profile. METHODS: Twenty-one PKU children (age 5-11 years) and 21 healthy children, gender and age matched, were enrolled. Dietary (including GI and GL) and blood biochemical assessments were performed. RESULTS: No difference was observed for daily energy intake between PKU and healthy children. Compared to healthy controls, PKU children consumed less protein (p = 0.001) and fat (p = 0.028), and more carbohydrate (% of total energy, p = 0.004) and fiber (p = 0.009). PKU children had higher daily GI than healthy children (mean difference (95% confidence interval), 13.7 (9.3-18.3)) and higher GL (31.7 (10.1-53.2)). PKU children exhibited lower blood total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) levels (p < 0.01) and higher triglyceride level (p = 0.014) than healthy children, while glucose and insulin concentrations did not differ. In PKU children the dietary GL was associated with triglyceride glucose index (Spearman's correlation coefficient = 0.515, p = 0.034). CONCLUSION: In PKU children a relationship of the dietary treatment with GI and GL, blood triglycerides and triglyceride glucose index may exist. Improvement towards an optimal diet for PKU children could include additional attention to the management of dietary carbohydrate quality.

Position paper on vegetarian diets from the working group of the Italian Society of Human Nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Interest in vegetarian diets is growing in Italy and elsewhere, as government agencies and health/nutrition organizations are emphasizing that regular consumption of plant foods may provide health benefits and help prevent certain diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted a Pubmed search, up to September, 2015, for studies on key nutrients (proteins, vitamin B12, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin D, and n-3 fatty acids) in vegetarian diets. From 295 eligible publications the following emerged: Vegetarians should be encouraged to supplement their diets with a reliable source of vitamin B12 (vitamin-fortified foods or supplements). Since the plant protein digestibility is lower than that of animal proteins it may be appropriate for vegetarians to consume more proteins than recommended for the general population. Vegetarians should also be encouraged to habitually consume good sources of calcium, iron and zinc - particularly vegetables that are low in oxalate and phytate (e.g. Brassicaceae), nuts and seeds, and calcium-rich mineral water. Calcium, iron, and zinc bioavailability can be improved by soaking, germination, and sour-dough leavening that lower the phytate content of pulses and cereals. Vegetarians can ensure good n-3 fatty acid status by habitually consuming good sources of a-linolenic acid (walnuts, flaxseeds, chia seeds, and their oils) and limiting linoleic acid intake (corn and sunflower oils). CONCLUSIONS: Well-planned vegetarian diets that include a wide variety of plant foods, and a reliable source of vitamin B12, provide adequate nutrient intake. Government agencies and health/nutrition organizations should provide more educational resources to help Italians consume nutritionally adequate vegetarian diets.

Glycemic index and glycemic load of commercial Italian foods.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) are useful parameters in the nutritional classification of carbohydrate foods. Diets characterized by a low GI and/or a low GL have been repeatedly and independently associated with decreased risk of diabetes and other chronic diseases. The aim of this study is to report the GI and GL value of carbohydrate-rich foods available on the Italian market and mostly consumed in Italy. METHODS AND RESULTS: GI values were determined according to FAO/WHO (1997) and ISO (2010). Overall, the 141 commercial foods that were analyzed represent food categories that are the source of >80% carbohydrate intake in Italy. The food items chosen were based mainly on the market share of the brand within each food category and grouped into 13 food categories: 1) beverages: fermented milk drink, juice, smoothie, soft drink; 2) biscuits; 3) breads; 4) bread substitutes; 5) breakfast cereals; 6) cakes and snacks; 7) candy and confectionery; 8) cereals; 9) desserts and ice-creams; 10) marmalade and jam; 11) pasta; 12) pizza; 13) sugar and sweetener. CONCLUSION: This database of commercial Italian foods partly overcomes the lack of information on GI and GL of local foods, contributing to a better understanding of the association between GI/GL and health and providing a more informed choice to Italian consumers and health practitioners.

Knowledge about dietary fibres (KADF): development and validation of an evaluation instrument through structural equation modelling (SEM).

OBJECTIVES: Because there is scientific evidence that an appropriate intake of dietary fibre should be part of a healthy diet, given its importance in promoting health, the present study aimed to develop and validate an instrument to evaluate the knowledge of the general population about dietary fibres. STUDY DESIGN: The present study was a cross sectional study. METHODS: The methodological study of psychometric validation was conducted with 6010 participants, residing in 10 countries from three continents. The instrument is a questionnaire of self-response, aimed at collecting information on knowledge about food fibres. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was chosen as the analysis of the main components using varimax orthogonal rotation and eigenvalues greater than 1. In confirmatory factor analysis by structural equation modelling (SEM) was considered the covariance matrix and adopted the maximum likelihood estimation algorithm for parameter estimation. RESULTS: Exploratory factor analysis retained two factors. The first was called dietary fibre and promotion of health (DFPH) and included seven questions that explained 33.94% of total variance (α = 0.852). The second was named sources of dietary fibre (SDF) and included four questions that explained 22.46% of total variance (α = 0.786). The model was tested by SEM giving a final solution with four questions in each factor. This model showed a very good fit in practically all the indexes considered, except for the ratio χ(2)/df. The values of average variance extracted (0.458 and 0.483) demonstrate the existence of convergent validity; the results also prove the existence of discriminant validity of the factors (r(2) = 0.028) and finally good internal consistency was confirmed by the values of composite reliability (0.854 and 0.787). CONCLUSIONS: This study allowed validating the KADF scale, increasing the degree of confidence in the information obtained through this instrument in this and in future studies.

Knowledge about sources of dietary fibres and health effects using a validated scale: a cross-country study.

OBJECTIVES: Dietary fibre (DF) is one of the components of diet that strongly contributes to health improvements, particularly on the gastrointestinal system. Hence, this work intended to evaluate the relations between some sociodemographic variables such as age, gender, level of education, living environment or country on the levels of knowledge about dietary fibre (KADF), its sources and its effects on human health, using a validated scale. STUDY DESIGN: The present study was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: A methodological study was conducted with 6010 participants, residing in 10 countries from different continents (Europe, America, Africa). The instrument was a questionnaire of self-response, aimed at collecting information on knowledge about food fibres. The instrument was used to validate a scale (KADF) which model was used in the present work to identify the best predictors of knowledge. The statistical tools used were as follows: basic descriptive statistics, decision trees, inferential analysis (t-test for independent samples with Levene test and one-way ANOVA with multiple comparisons post hoc tests). RESULTS: The results showed that the best predictor for the three types of knowledge evaluated (about DF, about its sources and about its effects on human health) was always the country, meaning that the social, cultural and/or political conditions greatly determine the level of knowledge. On the other hand, the tests also showed that statistically significant differences were encountered regarding the three types of knowledge for all sociodemographic variables evaluated: age, gender, level of education, living environment and country. CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that to improve the level of knowledge the actions planned should not be delineated in general as to reach all sectors of the populations, and that in addressing different people, different methodologies must be designed so as to provide an effective health education.

Food selection based on high total antioxidant capacity improves endothelial function in a low cardiovascular risk population.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Oxidative stress has been advocated as a major cause for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and low plasma antioxidant concentrations are associated with endothelial dysfunction, the first step towards atherosclerosis. However, although the antioxidant content in fruits and vegetables may explain at least in part their protective effect against CVD, supplementation with antioxidant vitamins fails to improve endothelial function and reduce CVD risk. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of a diet rich in antioxidants on endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) in volunteers at low cardiovascular risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: In a crossover trial, 24 subjects (13 women, mean age 61 ± 3 years), received, in a randomised order, a 14-day high (HT) and a 14-day low (LT) antioxidant diets, with a 2-week wash-out (WO) in between. Both diets were comparable in daily portions of fruits and vegetables, and in alcohol, fibre and macronutrient intake, but differed in their total antioxidant capacity. Before and after each diet, anthropometrics, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile, hepatic enzymes, circulating antioxidant concentrations, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and FMD were assessed. FMD increased significantly during the HT diet compared to the LT (p < 0.000). FMD values were 2.3% higher after HT compared with LT (p < 0.001) after adjustment for age, gender and diet order. α-tocopherol increased significantly (p < 0.05) and hs-CRP and of γ-glutamyltranspeptidase decreased significantly (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01, respectively) during the HT diet, compared with the LT diet. CONCLUSIONS: A short-term HT diet improves endothelial function in volunteers at low cardiovascular risk, which may further reduce their risk of CVD.

The effect of breakfasts varying in glycemic index and glycemic load on dietary induced thermogenesis and respiratory quotient.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Glycemic index (GI) and Glycemic Load (GL) are parameters of carbohydrate bioavailability able to influence risk of chronic diseases. GL can be lowered either by reducing carbohydrate intake or by reducing the GI of the carbohydrate moiety of a mixed meal. These two approaches might have a different impact on Dietary-Induced Thermogenesis (DIT) and preferential substrate oxidation in the postprandial period, which are variables known to be involved in the regulation of body weight and body composition. This dietary, crossover intervention trial was designed to evaluate the effect on DIT and Respiratory Quotient (RQ) of three isocaloric breakfasts different in GI and/or GL (high GI and high GL [HGI-HGL] vs. low GI and low GL [LGI-LGL]; vs. high GI and low GL [HGI-LGL]) followed by a standard meal. METHODS AND RESULTS: RQ and DIT were measured in 16 lean young males by indirect calorimetry for 8h. DIT resulted significantly higher after the LGI-LGL compared to the HGI-HGL breakfast (p<0.05). Postprandial changes in RQ differed among all breakfasts (p<0.001). RQ increased from baseline after the two breakfasts with highest carbohydrate content and significantly more after the HGI-HGL than after the LGI-LGL (p<0.02), whereas it decreased after the HGI-LGL breakfast, which contained a higher amount of fat. CONCLUSIONS: Reducing the GL of a meal by reducing GI seems an effective strategy to increase energy expenditure while maintaining a good rate of lipid oxidation. This might be related to different profiles of postprandial hormones affecting substrate oxidation.

Intake of the plant lignans matairesinol, secoisolariciresinol, pinoresinol, and lariciresinol in relation to vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in middle age-elderly men and post-menopausal women living in Northern Italy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: It has been suggested that lignan intake may decrease the risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) by modifying traditional risk factors as well as aortic stiffness. However, the role of dietary lignans on the vascular system is largely unknown. The objective was to investigate whether dietary intake of plant lignans in a free-living population was associated with markers of vascular inflammation and function. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a cross-sectional study in 242 (151 males) men and post-menopausal women. Anthropometric characteristics and lignan intake were evaluated. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), insulin, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, glucose, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerols were measured in fasting blood samples. Brachial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measurements were available for 101 subjects (56 males). Median (interquartile range) daily intake of matairesinol (MAT), secoisolariciresinol (SECO), pinoresinol (PINO), lariciresinol (LARI), and total lignans was 20.9 microg (17.4), 335.3 microg (289.1), 96.7 microg (91.1), 175.7 microg (135.8), and 665.5 microg (413.7), respectively, as assessed by 3-day weighed food record. Plasma concentrations of sICAM-1 (whole sample) significantly decreased (mean (95%CI) = 358 microg/L (320-401), 276 microg/L (252-303), 298 microg/L (271-326), and 269 microg/L (239-303), P per trend 0.013) and FMD values (FMD sub-group) significantly increased (4.1% (2.2-6.0), 5.7% (4.3-7.2), 6.4% (4.9-7.8), and 8.1% (6.3-10.0), P per trend 0.016) across quartiles of energy-adjusted MAT intake, even after adjustment for relevant clinical and dietary variables. Intake of SECO was also inversely related to plasma sICAM-1 (P per trend 0.018), but not to FMD values. No relationship between intake of PINO, LARI or total lignans and either sICAM-1 or FMD values was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Higher MAT intakes in the context of a typical Northern Italian diet are associated to lower vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which could have some implications in CVD prevention.

The total antioxidant capacity of the diet is an independent predictor of plasma beta-carotene.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the contribution of the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of the diet to plasma concentrations of beta-carotene. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Department of Public Health and Department of Internal Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Parma. SUBJECTS: A total of 247 apparently healthy adult men (n=140) and women (n=107). METHODS: A medical history, a physical exam including height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure measurements, a fasting blood draw, an oral glucose tolerance test and a 3-day food record. RESULTS: We observe a negative trend across quartiles of plasma beta-carotene for most biological variables clustering in the insulin resistance syndrome, as well as for traditional and new risk factors for type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), including C-reactive protein and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (P<0.05). Regarding dietary characteristics, energy-adjusted intake of fat, fiber, fruits, vegetables, beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E and dietary TAC significantly increased with increasing plasma beta-carotene (P<0.05), whereas alcohol intake decreased (P=0.013). Adjusted geometric means (95% confidence interval) of plasma beta-carotene significantly increased across quartiles of dietary TAC, even when single dietary antioxidants were considered in the model (QI=0.087 mg/dl (0.073-0.102); QII=0.087 mg/dl (0.075-0.103); QIII=0.114 mg/dl (0.098-0.132) and QIV=0.110 mg/dl (0.093-0.130); P for linear trend=0.026). When the population was divided on the basis of alcohol consumption, this trend was also observed in subjects drinking <20 g alcohol/day (P=0.034), but not in those with higher alcohol intake (P=0.448). CONCLUSIONS: Dietary TAC is an independent predictor of plasma beta-carotene, especially in moderate alcohol drinkers. This may explain, at least in part, the inverse relationship observed between plasma beta-carotene and risk of chronic diseases associated to high levels of oxidative stress (i.e., diabetes and CVD), as well as the failure of beta-carotene supplements alone in reducing such risk.

Dietary glycemic index, glycemic load, and cancer risk: results from the EPIC-Italy study.

Factors linked to glucose metabolism are involved in the etiology of several cancers. High glycemic index (GI) or high glycemic load (GL) diets, which chronically raise postprandial blood glucose, may increase cancer risk by affecting insulin-like growth factor. We prospectively investigated cancer risk and dietary GI/GL in the EPIC-Italy cohort. After a median 14.9 years, 5112 incident cancers and 2460 deaths were identified among 45,148 recruited adults. High GI was associated with increased risk of colon and bladder cancer. High GL was associated with: increased risk of colon cancer; increased risk of diabetes-related cancers; and decreased risk of rectal cancer. High intake of carbohydrate from high GI foods was significantly associated with increased risk of colon and diabetes-related cancers, but decreased risk of stomach cancer; whereas high intake of carbohydrates from low GI foods was associated with reduced colon cancer risk. In a Mediterranean population with high and varied carbohydrate intake, carbohydrates that strongly raise postprandial blood glucose may increase colon and bladder cancer risk, while the quantity of carbohydrate consumed may be involved in diabetes-related cancers. Further studies are needed to confirm the opposing effects of high dietary GL on risks of colon and rectal cancers.

Infusion of donor-derived peripheral blood leukocytes after transplantation of cord blood progenitor cells can increase the graft-versus-leukaemia effect.

We describe the case of a child affected by acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who received adoptive immunotherapy after cord blood transplantation (CBT). The patient, transplanted in second relapse resistant to chemotherapy, still showed lung and costal leukaemic nodular lesions 2 months after CBT. For this reason, three infusions of donor peripheral blood leukocytes 1 x 10(7)/kg each were administered on days +60, +80 and +100. The procedure was well tolerated by both patient and donor, and a complete disappearance of the lung lesions was documented 2 months after the last infusion. The patient remains in continuous complete haematological remission 13 months after CBT. This experience suggests that adoptive immunotherapy may be safely employed after CBT in order to increase the contribution of immune-mediated anti-leukaemia effect.

Antioxidant activity applying an improved ABTS radical cation decolorization assay.

A method for the screening of antioxidant activity is reported as a decolorization assay applicable to both lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidants, including flavonoids, hydroxycinnamates, carotenoids, and plasma antioxidants. The pre-formed radical monocation of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS*+) is generated by oxidation of ABTS with potassium persulfate and is reduced in the presence of such hydrogen-donating antioxidants. The influences of both the concentration of antioxidant and duration of reaction on the inhibition of the radical cation absorption are taken into account when determining the antioxidant activity. This assay clearly improves the original TEAC assay (the ferryl myoglobin/ABTS assay) for the determination of antioxidant activity in a number of ways. First, the chemistry involves the direct generation of the ABTS radical monocation with no involvement of an intermediary radical. Second, it is a decolorization assay; thus the radical cation is pre-formed prior to addition of antioxidant test systems, rather than the generation of the radical taking place continually in the presence of the antioxidant. Hence the results obtained with the improved system may not always be directly comparable with those obtained using the original TEAC assay. Third, it is applicable to both aqueous and lipophilic systems.

Composition of platelet phospholipids after moderate consumption of red wine in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of moderate consumption of red wine on composition of platelet phospholipids, discriminating the effect of alcohol from that of non-alcoholic components. DESIGN: A randomised crossover study. SETTING: The Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Milan. SUBJECTS: Eleven healthy male volunteers who were moderate drinkers. INTERVENTIONS: For three periods of 4 weeks, subjects drank three different beverages [320 ml of red wine (providing 30 g/day of alcohol), 30 g/day of alcohol diluted in 320 ml of clear fruit juice or 320 ml of dealcoholised red wine] during the two main meals. Each treatment was preceded by a period of 4 weeks of complete withdrawal from any alcoholic beverage. At the end of each period the fatty acid composition of individual phospholipids was determined on isolated platelets. RESULTS: Consumption for a period of 4 weeks of non-alcoholic components either from 320 ml of red wine or from the same amount of dealcoholised red wine resulted in similar increases in polyunsaturated fatty acids in all phospholipid fractions of platelet, with the exception of sphingomyelin. No differences were detected when we compared the composition of phospholipids at the end of red wine and alcohol treatments with findings at the end of dealcoholised treatment and abstinence. CONCLUSIONS: The increase of polyunsaturated fatty acids in platelet phospholipids due to the non-alcoholic components of red wine suggests an antioxidant effect that could be relevant in justifying the protective effect of red wine shown in epidemiological studies.

Effects of moderate consumption of red wine on platelet aggregation and haemostatic variables in healthy volunteers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of moderate consumption of red wine on platelet aggregation and haemostatic variables, discriminating the effect of alcohol from that of non-alcoholic components. DESIGN: A randomised crossover study. SETTING: The Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Milan. SUBJECTS: Eleven healthy male volunteers who were moderate drinkers. INTERVENTIONS: For three periods of four weeks, subjects drank three different beverages [320 ml of red wine (providing 30 g/day of alcohol), 30 g/day of alcohol diluted in 320 ml of clear fruit juice or 320 ml of dealcoholised red wine] during the two main meals. Each treatment was preceded by a period of four weeks of complete withdrawal from any alcoholic beverage. At the end of each period platelet aggregation after collagen and ADP stimulus, and levels of fibrinogen, plasminogen, tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen and von Willebrand factor (vWF) were determined. RESULTS: Consumption for a period of four weeks of 30 g/day of alcohol either from red wine or alcohol resulted in similar decreases of collagen-induced platelet aggregation and fibrinogen levels. ADP-induced platelet aggregation, t-PA antigen, vWF and plasminogen levels were not affected by any treatment. No differences were detected when we compared platelet function and the other haemostatic variables at the end of red wine and dealcoholised treatments with findings at the end of alcohol treatment and abstinence. CONCLUSIONS: The well known positive effect of moderate consumption of red wine on haemostasis seems due to alcohol and not to the non-alcoholic fraction present in red wine.

Tomato consumption does not affect the total antioxidant capacity of plasma.

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of tomato intake on total antioxidant activity of plasma measured by the radical trapping antioxidant parameter assay in 11 healthy female subjects. After 7 d of a diet low in carotenoids and free from lycopene, subjects ate 25 g tomato puree daily (containing 7.0 mg lycopene and 0.25 mg beta-carotene) for 14 consecutive days. At the beginning and end of tomato supplementation, the carotenoid plasma concentration and the total antioxidant activity of plasma were assessed. Before tomato puree consumption, mean +/- SE total lycopene and beta-carotene plasma concentrations were 0.13 +/- 0.02 micromol/L and 0.24 +/- 0.04 micromol/L, respectively. After tomato puree supplementation, both concentrations increased significantly (0.57 +/- 0.06 micromol/L, P < 0.0001 for total lycopene, and 0.31 +/- 0. 04 micromol/L, P = 0.0036 for beta-carotene); however, total plasma antioxidant capacity values did not change significantly. From our results, intake of a food rich in carotenoids does not seem to modify the antioxidant capacity of plasma as evaluated by the radical trapping antioxidant parameter assay.

Direct analysis of total antioxidant activity of olive oil and studies on the influence of heating.

Aim of this study was to evaluate the total antioxidant activity (TAA) of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and the effect of heating on the alpha-tocopherol content and TAA in relation to the presence of polyphenols, heating time, and temperature. Experiments included the measurement by ABTS decolorization assay of antioxidant capacity of alpha-tocopherol and 14 simple phenolic compounds present in EVOO, either dissolved in ethanol or added to refined olive oil, and the evaluation of TAA, total phenols, and alpha-tocopherol of six commercial EVOO and three olive oils. Finally, four experimental oils were prepared from refined olive oil containing a fixed amount (300 ppm) of alpha-tocopherol and increasing amounts of polyphenols (25, 125, 225, and 326 ppm) extracted from EVOO. The thermal stability of experimental oils under domestic heating conditions (heating time from 30 to 120 min, heating temperature from 160 to 190 degrees C) was studied by evaluating the loss of alpha-tocopherol and TAA according to a Latin square design. Results indicate that TAA of commercial oils is mainly due to their phenol and alpha-tocopherol content. Heating experiments suggest that polyphenols from EVOO are effective stabilizers of alpha-tocopherol during olive oil heating, thus contributing to the nutritional value of cooked foods.

Rapid electrochemical method for the evaluation of the antioxidant power of some lipophilic food extracts.

In this paper, a novel electrochemical method to evaluate the antioxidant power of lipophilic compounds present in vegetables, such as carotenoids, chlorophylls, tocopherols, and capsaicin, is reported. The method is based on a flow injection system with an electrochemical detector equipped with a glassy carbon working electrode operating amperometrically at a potential of + 0.5 V (vs Ag/AgCl). The proposed method is selective for lipophilic compounds having antioxidant power. When applied to pure compounds, the order of antioxidant power resulted as follows: lycopene > beta-carotene > zeaxanthin > alpha-carotene > beta-cryptoxanthin > lutein > alpha-tocopherol > capsaicin > chlorophyll a > chlorophyll b > astaxanthin > canthaxanthin. Results obtained on five vegetable and two fruit extracts were compared to those obtained by the 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid (ABTS) radical cation decolorization assay, one of the most used methods to evaluate the total antioxidant capacity of foods. A good correlation between the two methods was found, except for spinach, because of the different antioxidant powers assigned by the two methods to chlorophylls. In conclusion, results suggest that the proposed electrochemical method can be successfully employed for the direct, rapid, and reliable monitoring of the antioxidant power of lipophilic food extracts.