Flavonoid intakes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, adult asthma, and lung function: a cohort study in the UK Biobank.

BACKGROUND: Given their antioxidative stress, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating effects, flavonoids are hypothesized to play a role in preventing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. OBJECTIVES: This cohort study aimed to examine associations between flavonoid intake and COPD, asthma, and lung function. METHODS: Among 119,466 participants of the UK Biobank, median [interquartile range] age of 60 [53, 65] y, we estimated intakes of flavonoids, flavonoid-rich foods, and a flavodiet score from 24-h diet assessments. Prospective associations with both incident COPD and asthma and cross-sectional associations with measures of lung function [%predicted forced expiratory volume in 1s (FEV1); and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC)] were examined using multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards and linear regression models, respectively. We investigated mediation by inflammation--represented by the INFLA score--and stratified analyses by smoking status. RESULTS: Compared with low intakes, moderate intakes of total flavonoids, flavonols, theaflavins + thearubigins, and flavanones, and moderate-to-high intakes of flavanol monomers, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins, flavones, and the flavodiet score were associated with up to an 18% lower risk of incident COPD {e.g., [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) for total flavonoids: 0.83 (0.75, 0.92)]} but not incident asthma. Furthermore, compared with low intakes, higher intakes of all flavonoid subclasses (except theaflavins + thearubigins), and the flavodiet score were associated with better percent predicted FEV1 baseline. Associations were most apparent in ever (current or former) smokers. Flavonoid intakes were inversely associated with the INFLA score, which appeared to mediate 11%-14% of the association between intakes of proanthocyanidins and flavones and incident COPD. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate-to-high flavonoid intakes were associated with a lower risk of COPD and better lung function, particularly among ever smokers. Promoting intakes of healthy flavonoid-rich foods, namely, tea, apples, and berries, may improve respiratory health and lower COPD risk, particularly in individuals with a smoking history.

Unlocking the power of polyphenols: A promising biomarker of improved metabolic health and anti-inflammatory diet in adolescents.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adolescence is a risk factor for future cardiovascular disease. The chronic inflammation associated with MetS can be attenuated by the anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenols. We aimed to evaluate total urinary polyphenols as a biomarker of anti-inflammatory diets and their effect on MetS in adolescents. METHODS: In this retrospective analysis of a longitudinal cohort study, the relationship between total polyphenol excretion (TPE) in urine, the inflammatory potential of the diet measured through the Children's Dietary Inflammatory Index (C-DII), and the presence of metabolic syndrome was evaluated. The study population consisted of adolescents enrolled in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial, who had completed all the study forms and provided urine samples at baseline and at the two-year follow-up. Multivariate linear regression and multinominal logistic regression models were generated to evaluate the relationship of changes in TPE with changes in the C-DII score and changes in MetS status, respectively. An analysis of the ROC curve was performed to assess the potential of TPE as a biomarker of an anti-inflammatory diet. RESULTS: This study included 662 adolescents, 51.2% were males, and 48.8% were females, with a mean age of 12 (0.38) years at baseline. The relationship between changes in TPE and changes in the C-DII score was stratified by sex with a p-value <0.001 for the interaction. TPE and C-DII were inversely associated in males (-0.13 mg GAE/g creatinine [-0.26; -0.01] per 1-SD increase, p-value = 0.037). In addition, an increase in changes in TPE levels were associated with a reversal in MetS status in all adolescents (1.30 [1.27; 1.34] per 1-SD increase, p-value<0.001). The ROC curve showed that urinary TPE levels can predict dietary inflammatory potential with an AUC = 0.793 (0.725; 0.863) in males. CONCLUSION: Polyphenols excreted in urine are a potential biomarker of anti-inflammatory diets in males and are associated with a reversal of MetS status in adolescents. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03504059, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03504059.

Unlocking the potential of olive residues for functional purposes: update on human intervention trials with health and cosmetic products.

Olive mill waste (OMW) is a promising source of valuable compounds such as polyphenols, terpenes, sterols, and other bioactive compounds, which are of interest to the pharmaceuticals and cosmeceutical industries. This review examines the potential of OMW extracts for health and beauty applications based on evidence reports from human clinical trials. The results achieved to date indicate health-enhancing properties, but little is known about the underlying mechanisms of action, dose-response relationships, and long-term impacts. Therefore, while olive by-products, extracted using eco-friendly methods, present opportunities for the development of high-value health and cosmetic products, further studies are necessary to determine the full range of their effects and establish specific therapeutic strategies. © 2024 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Cardiovascular Health Trajectories in Adolescence and Their Association With Sociodemographic and Cardiometabolic Outcomes in Spain.

PURPOSE: To determine cardiovascular health (CVH) trajectories and their association with sociodemographic and cardiometabolic outcomes in adolescence. METHODS: One thousand eighty adolescents attending 24 secondary schools enrolled in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools trial in Spain were assessed at approximately 12, 14, and 16 years of age. CVH was assessed according to American Heart Association criteria based on seven metrics (smoking status, body mass index, physical activity, diet, blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood glucose), and CVH trajectories were identified by latent class trajectory modeling. Associations between CVH trajectories, sociodemographic characteristics, and cardiometabolic outcomes were analyzed using generalized linear and Poisson models. RESULTS: Five CVH trajectory groups were identified: poor-stable (27 adolescents [2.5%]), intermediate-substantial rise (79 [7.3%]), intermediate-substantial decline (63 [5.8%]), intermediate-mild decline (403 [37.3%]), and intermediate-mild rise (508 [47.1%]). Boys and adolescents from families with low-average income, low-intermediate educational attainment, and a migrant background more frequently belonged to groups with lower baseline CVH and poor or declining trajectories. The intermediate-substantial decline group had the highest prevalence ratio for overweight/obesity (3.84; 95% confidence interval: 2.86-5.16) and metabolic syndrome (4.93; 95% confidence interval: 1.21-20.04) at age 16, whereas prevalence was lowest in the intermediate-mild rise group. DISCUSSION: Adolescent CVH trajectories differ according to socioeconomic characteristics and are associated with cardiometabolic outcomes. Primordial prevention interventions should be implemented early in life, taking into account CVH trajectories and with a particular focus on vulnerable populations.

A healthful plant-based diet is associated with lower type 2 diabetes risk via improved metabolic state and organ function: A prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular due to favourable environmental footprints and have been associated with lower risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Here, we investigated the potential mechanisms to explain the lower T2DM risk observed among individuals following plant-based diets. METHODS: Prospective data from the UK Biobank, a cohort study of participants aged 40 to 69 years at baseline, was evaluated. Associations between healthful and unhealthful plant-based indices (hPDI and uPDI) and T2DM risk were analysed by multivariable Cox regression models, followed by causal mediation analyses to investigate which cardiometabolic risk factors explained the observed associations. RESULTS: Of 113,097 study participants 2,628 developed T2DM over 12 years of follow-up. Participants with the highest hPDI scores (Quartile 4) had a 24 % lower T2DM risk compared to those with the lowest scores (Quartile 1) [Hazard Ratio (HR): 0.76, 95 % Confidence Interval (CI): 0.68-0.85]. This association was mediated by a lower BMI (proportion mediated: 28 %), lower waist circumference (28 %), and lower concentrations of HBA1c (11 %), triglycerides (9 %), alanine aminotransferase (5 %), gamma glutamyl transferase (4 %), C-reactive protein (4 %), insulin-like growth factor 1 (4 %), cystatin C (4 %) and urate (4 %). Higher uPDI scores were associated with a 37 % higher T2DM risk [HR: 1.37, 95 % CI:1.22- 1.53], with higher waist circumference (proportion mediated: 17 %), BMI (7 %), and higher concentrations of triglycerides (13 %) potentially playing mediating roles. CONCLUSION: Healthful plant-based diets may protect against T2DM via lower body fatness, but also via normoglycaemia, lower basal inflammation as well as improved kidney and liver function.

Effect of moderate beer consumption (with and without ethanol) on cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: The main aim of this 2-year non-randomized parallel controlled clinical pilot trial was to evaluate the long-term effect of a moderate daily intake of beer (with and without alcohol) on cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women. A total of 34 participants were grouped into three study arms: 16 were administered alcoholic beer, 6 consumed non-alcoholic beer, and 12 were in the control group. Changes in glucose metabolism, lipid profile, liver enzymes, anthropometric measurements, body composition, and blood pressure variables were monitored. Data on medical history, diet, and exercise were collected, and gustatory capacities were determined. RESULTS: Moderate consumption of beer, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, seemed to have positive effects on biochemical indicators of cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women, with 660 mL day-1 of non-alcoholic beer reducing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol blood levels, and 330 mL day-1 of alcoholic beer increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The evolution of changes in android and gynoid fat percentage and their ratio differed significantly between study groups, which was attributable to either the interventions or the disparity between groups regarding the time elapsed since menopause onset. Iso-α-acids recognition threshold could be involved in intervention group election, whereas the sensory phenotypes studied were not associated with alcohol drinking frequency. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate beer consumption was found to improve the lipid profile of postmenopausal women, although their effects in preventing cardiometabolic alterations deserve further research (trial registration number: ISRCTN13825020; https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13825020). © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Recent advances in bio-based extraction processes for the recovery of bound phenolics from agro-industrial by-products and their biological activity.

Usually found bound to other complex molecules (e.g., lignin, hemicellulose), phenolic compounds (PC) are widely present in agro-industrial by-products, and their extraction is challenging. In recent times, research is starting to highlight the bioactive roles played by bound phenolics (BPC) in human health. This review aims at providing a critical update on recent advances in green techniques for the recovery of BPC, focusing on enzymatic-assisted (EAE) and fermentation-assisted extraction (FAE) as well as in the combination of technologies, showing variable yield and features. The present review also summarizes the most recent biological activities attributed to BPC extracts until now. The higher antioxidant activity of BPC-compared to FPC-coupled with their affordable by-product source make them medicinally potent and economically viable, promoting their integral upcycling and generating new revenue streams, business, and employment opportunities. In addition, EAE and FAE can have a biotransformative effect on the PC itself or its moiety, leading to improved extraction outcomes. Moreover, recent research on BPC extracts has reported promising anti-cancer and anti-diabetic activity. Yet further research is needed to elucidate their biological mechanisms and exploit the true potential of their applications in terms of new food products or ingredient development for human consumption.

Total urinary polyphenol excretion: a biomarker of an anti-inflammatory diet and metabolic syndrome status.

BACKGROUND: Chronic inflammation is associated with noncommunicable diseases, including obesity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), and CVDs. The Mediterranean diet has been shown to have strong anti-inflammatory effects, attributed in part to the polyphenol richness of many of its components. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the value of polyphenols as a urinary biomarker of an anti-inflammatory diet and their influence on MetS status. METHODS: A longitudinal analysis was performed in Spain considering 543 participants with high CVD risk in a PREDIMED study. Approximately 52% of the participants were women and 48% were men with a mean age of 67.5 (5.9) y. Total polyphenol excretion (TPE) in urine was determined at baseline and 5 y of intervention using a validated Folin-Ciocalteu spectrophotometric method, and the dietary inflammatory index (DII) was calculated from a validated 137-item food-frequency questionnaire. Three categories were built according to tertiles of change in the DII score. Multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association of changes in TPE with changes in the DII scores and with MetS status at 5 y. RESULTS: Tertiles 2 and 3 compared with tertile 1 presented a lower anti-inflammatory potential of the diet and were inversely associated with TPE in women [-0.30 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g creatinine; 95% CI: -0.46, -0.15; P value = 0.006 and -0.29 mg GAE/g creatinine; 95% CI: -0.43, -0.15; P value = 0.005], respectively. The mean changes in TPE were 7.9 (56.1) mg GAE/g creatinine in women and 7.7 (48.2) mg GAE/g creatinine in men. In addition, TPE was inversely associated with changes in MetS status [-0.06 (-0.09; -0.02), P value = 0.009] in both men and women. CONCLUSIONS: Urinary polyphenols may be a potential biomarker of anti-inflammatory diet consumption in women and are prospectively associated with improvement in MetS.

Association of microbiota polyphenols with cardiovascular health in the context of a Mediterranean diet.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is rich in polyphenols, phytochemicals that are beneficial for cardiovascular health. Phenolic compounds have poor bioavailability but they are extensively metabolized by the gut microbiota. Therefore, we aimed to assess the association of microbial phenolic metabolites (MPM) with adherence to the MedDiet, and their relationship with ideal cardiovascular health (ICVH) and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: This cross-sectional substudy within the PREDIMED trial included 200 participants from the Barcelona-Clinic recruitment center. Five MPM were identified and quantified using a novel method based on liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry: protocatechuic acid (PCA), enterodiol glucuronide (EDG), enterolactone glucuronide (ELG), vanillic acid glucuronide (VAG) and urolithin B glucuronide (UBG). Multivariable-adjusted regressions were used to evaluate the associations between MPM and MedDiet adherence, ICVH score, biochemical parameters, and blood pressure. Additionally, an MPM score was calculated as the weighted sum of MedDiet adherence and ICVH and found to be directly associated. Among individual polyphenols, UBG was inversely associated with LDL-cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: A score of urinary MPM was associated with higher adherence to the MedDiet and ICVH, and individual MPM were related to better cardiovascular health. These findings suggest that the MedDiet may affect gut microbiota, whose metabolites are linked with cardiovascular health.

Association of Healthful Plant-based Diet Adherence With Risk of Mortality and Major Chronic Diseases Among Adults in the UK.

Importance: Plant-based diets have gained popularity for both environmental and health reasons, but a comprehensive assessment of their quality in relation to risk of mortality and major chronic diseases is lacking. Objective: To examine whether healthful vs unhealthful plant-based dietary patterns are associated with mortality and major chronic diseases among UK adults. Design, Setting, and Participants: This prospective cohort study used data from adults in the UK Biobank, a large-scale population-based study. Participants were recruited between 2006 and 2010 and followed up using record linkage data until 2021; follow-up for different outcomes ranged between 10.6 and 12.2 years. Data analysis was conducted from November 2021 to October 2022. Exposures: Adherence to a healthful vs unhealthful plant-based diet index (hPDI vs uPDI) derived from 24-hour dietary assessments. Main Outcomes and Measures: The main outcomes were hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of mortality (overall and cause specific), cardiovascular disease (CVD [total, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and hemorrhagic stroke]), cancer (total, breast, prostate, and colorectal), and fracture (total, vertebrae, and hip) across quartiles of hPDI and uPDI adherence. Results: This study included 126 394 UK Biobank participants. They had a mean (SD) age of 56.1 (7.8) years; 70 618 (55.9%) were women. The majority of participants (115 371 [91.3%]) were White. Greater adherence to the hPDI was associated with lower risks of total mortality, cancer, and CVD, with HRs (95% CIs) of 0.84 (0.78-0.91), 0.93 (0.88-0.99), and 0.92 (0.86-0.99), respectively, for participants in the highest hPDI quartile compared with the lowest. The hPDI was also associated with lower risks of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke, with HRs (95% CIs) of 0.86 (0.78-0.95) and 0.84 (0.71-0.99), respectively. By contrast, higher uPDI scores were associated with higher risks of mortality, CVD, and cancer. The associations observed did not show heterogeneity across strata of sex, smoking status, body mass index, or socioeconomic status or with polygenic risk scores (specifically with regard to CVD end points). Conclusions and Relevance: The findings of this cohort study of middle-aged UK adults suggest that a diet characterized by high-quality plant-based foods and lower intakes of animal products may be beneficial for health, irrespective of established chronic disease risk factors and genetic predisposition.

Loss of Visceral Fat is Associated with a Reduction in Inflammatory Status in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome.

SCOPE: Excessive visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with higher secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules, contributing to systemic inflammation and obesity-related metabolic disturbances. METHODS AND RESULTS: This prospective analysis includes 117 overweight/obese adults (55-75 years) from the PREDIMED-Plus study. Fourteen inflammatory markers and adipokines are measured using a Bio-Plex assay with multiplex technology: insulin, glucagon, IL-6, visfatin, ghrelin, GLP-1, TNF-α, MCP-1, PAI-1, resistin, C-peptide, leptin, adipsin, and adiponectin. Participants are categorized into tertiles according to changes in VAT after 1-year of follow-up, determined by dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry. Participants allocate in tertile 3, which represent an increase of VAT content after 1-year of follow-up compared to tertile 1, show significant differences in insulin (T3 vs T1, fully adjusted model: p = 0.037, p for trend 0.042), PAI-1 (fully adjusted model: p = 0.05, p for trend 0.06), c-peptide (fully adjusted model: p = 0.037, p for trend 0.042), and TNF-α (fully adjusted model p = 0.037, p for trend 0.042). CONCLUSION: The results evidence that a reduction in VAT is associated with clinical improvements in several inflammatory and adiposity markers, mainly in insulin, c-peptide, and PAI-1 levels, and these improvements may contribute to a reduction in cardiometabolic disturbances observe in obesity.

Effect of moderate beer consumption (with and without ethanol) on osteoporosis in early postmenopausal women: Results of a pilot parallel clinical trial.

Introduction: Osteoporosis is a chronic progressive bone disease characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to an increase in bone fragility and the risk of fractures. A well-known risk factor for bone loss is postmenopausal status. Beer may have a protective effect against osteoporosis associated with its content of silicon, polyphenols, iso-α-acids and ethanol, and its moderate consumption may therefore help to reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. Methods: Accordingly, a 2-year controlled clinical intervention study was conducted to evaluate if a moderate daily intake of beer with (AB) or without alcohol (NAB) could have beneficial effects on bone tissue. A total of 31 postmenopausal women were assigned to three study groups: 15 were administered AB (330 mL/day) and six, NAB (660 mL/day), whereas, the 10 in the control group refrained from consuming alcohol, NAB, and hop-related products. At baseline and subsequent assessment visits, samples of plasma and urine were taken to analyze biochemical parameters, and data on medical history, diet, and exercise were collected. BMD and the trabecular bone score (TBS) were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Markers of bone formation (bone alkaline phosphatase [BAP] and N-propeptide of type I collagen [PINP]) and bone resorption (N-telopeptide of type I collagen [NTX] and C-telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX]) were determined annually. Results: Bone formation markers had increased in the AB and NAB groups compared to the control after the 2-year intervention. However, the evolution of BMD and TBS did not differ among the three groups throughout the study period. Discussion: Therefore, according to the findings of this pilot study, moderate beer intake does not seem to have a protective effect against bone loss in early post-menopausal women.

Urinary Nitric Oxide Levels Are Associated with Blood Pressure, Fruit and Vegetable Intake and Total Polyphenol Excretion in Adolescents from the SI! Program.

Nitric oxide (NO) is important to cardiovascular health (CVH), and its bioavailability could be regulated by the antioxidant effect of polyphenols, improving endothelial function and consequently blood pressure (BP). However, scant research has been carried out on NO and CVH correlates in adolescent populations. Therefore, our aim was to investigate the association between NO and the CVH status and other health factors in adolescents. NO, total polyphenol excretion (TPE), anthropometric measurements, BP, blood lipid profile, blood glucose, diet, physical activity, and smoking status were recorded, while CVH score was classified as ideal, intermediate, and poor. Negative associations were observed between NO and body mass index, body fat percentage, BP, and triglycerides; and positive associations between NO and skeletal muscle percentage, HDL-cholesterol, fruit and vegetable intake, and TPE was observed. To capture more complex interactions among different factors, multiple linear regression was performed, obtaining a significant association between NO and fruit and vegetable intake (ß = 0.175), TPE (ß = 0.225), and systolic BP (ß = -0.235). We conclude that urinary NO levels are positively associated with the consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants such as polyphenols and negatively associated with systolic BP.

Association Among Polyphenol Intake, Uric Acid, and Hyperuricemia: A Cross-Sectional Analysis in a Population at High Cardiovascular Risk.

Background Dietary polyphenol intake has been associated with a decreased risk of hyperuricemia, but most of this knowledge comes from preclinical studies. The aim of the present study was to assess the association of the intake of different classes of polyphenols with serum uric acid and hyperuricemia. Methods and Results This cross-sectional analysis involved baseline data of 6332 participants. Food polyphenol content was estimated by a validated semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire and from the Phenol-Explorer database. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models with serum uric acid (milligrams per deciliter) as the outcome and polyphenol intake (quintiles) as the main independent variable were fitted. Cox regression models with constant follow-up time (t=1) were performed to estimate the prevalence ratios (PRs) of hyperuricemia (≥7 mg/dL in men and ≥6 mg/dL in women). An inverse association between the intake of the phenolic acid class (ß coefficient, -0.17 mg/dL for quintile 5 versus quintile 1 [95% CI, -0.27 to -0.06]) and hydroxycinnamic acids (ß coefficient, -0.19 [95% CI, -0.3 to -0.09]), alkylmethoxyphenols (ß coefficient, -0.2 [95% CI, -0.31 to -0.1]), and methoxyphenols (ß coefficient, -0.24 [95% CI, -0.34 to -0.13]) subclasses with serum uric acid levels and hyperuricemia (PR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.71-0.95]; PR, 0.82 [95% CI, 0.71-0.95]; PR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.70-0.92]; and PR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.69-0.91]; respectively) was found. The intake of hydroxybenzoic acids was directly and significantly associated with mean serum uric acid levels (ß coefficient, 0.14 for quintile 5 versus quintile 1 [95% CI, 0.02-0.26]) but not with hyperuricemia. Conclusions In individuals with metabolic syndrome, a higher intake of some polyphenol subclasses (hydroxycinnamic acids, alkylmethoxyphenol, and methoxyphenol) was inversely associated with serum uric acid levels and hyperuricemia. Nevertheless, our findings warrant further research.

Total urinary polyphenols and ideal cardiovascular health metrics in Spanish adolescents enrolled in the SI Program: a cross-sectional study.

To study the relationship between urinary total polyphenol excretion (TPE) in adolescents and ideal cardiovascular (CVH) metrics. 1151 adolescents aged 12.04 (0.46) years participating in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools were selected based on the availability of urine samples and information required to assess CVH metrics. Data on health behaviours (smoking status, body mass index, physical activity, and healthy diet) and health factors (blood pressure, total cholesterol, and blood glucose) were used to calculate the CVH metrics. TPE in urine was analysed by a Folin-Ciocalteu method after solid-phase extraction. Associations between TPE (categorized into tertiles) and CVH metrics (total and separate scores) were assessed using multilevel mixed-effect regression models. Higher TPE levels were associated with higher (healthier) CVH scores and ideal smoking status (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.10; 1.87, p value = 0.007), physical activity (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.02; 1.23, p value = 0.022) and total cholesterol (OR 1.78, 95% CI 1.16; 2.73, p value = 0.009) after multivariate adjustment. An association between TPE and total CVH scores was observed only in boys. Girls with higher TPE had higher rates of ideal total cholesterol and blood pressure. According to our findings, higher urinary TPE is related to better CVH scores, with relevant differences in this association by gender.

Identification and Quantification of Urinary Microbial Phenolic Metabolites by HPLC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-HRMS and Their Relationship with Dietary Polyphenols in Adolescents.

This study aimed to develop and validate a liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization-linear ion trap quadrupole-Orbitrap-high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC/ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-HRMS) method to identify and quantify urinary microbial phenolic metabolites (MPM), as well as to explore the relationship between MPM and dietary (poly)phenols in Spanish adolescents. A total of 601 spot urine samples of adolescents aged 12.02 ± 0.41 years were analyzed. The quantitative method was validated for linearity, limit of detection, limit of quantification, recovery, intra- and inter-day accuracy and precision, as well as postpreparative stability according to the criteria established by the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists International. A total of 17 aglycones and 37 phase II MPM were identified and quantified in 601 spot urine samples. Phenolic acids were the most abundant urinary MPM, whereas stilbenes, hydroxytyrosol, and enterodiol were the least abundant. Urinary hydroxycoumarin acids (urolithins) were positively correlated with flavonoid and total (poly)phenol intake. An HPLC-ESI-LTQ-Orbitrap-HRMS method was developed and fully validated to quantify MPM. The new method was performed accurately and is suitable for MPM quantification in large epidemiological studies. Urinary lignans and urolithins are proposed as potential biomarkers of grain and nut intake in an adolescent population.

Changes in plasma total saturated fatty acids and palmitic acid are related to pro-inflammatory molecule IL-6 concentrations after nutritional intervention for one year.

Systemic inflammation is associated with an increased risk of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Circulating fatty acids (FA) are known to be related to these conditions, possibly through their role in inflammation, although different types of FAs can have opposite effects on inflammatory mediators. The aim of the present study was to analyze the association of plasma FAs with inflammatory biomarkers in a PREDIMED trial subsample after one year of intervention. In a one-year longitudinal study of 91 participants of the PREDIMED trial (Barcelona-Clinic center), plasma FAs and inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed using gas chromatography and ELISA, respectively. In baseline plasma, a multivariable-adjusted ordinary least squares regression model showed that n-3 polyunsaturated FAs concentrations were inversely associated with concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and E-selectin, whereas the level of the most abundant saturated FA, palmitic acid, was directly associated with concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) (ß = 0.48 pg/mL, 95% CI: 0.03, 0.93 per 1-SD increase, p-value = 0.037). After one year of nutritional intervention, changes of plasma diet-derived total saturated FAs and palmitic acid were directly associated with changes in IL-6 (ß = 0.59 pg/mL [95% CI: 0.28, 0.89] per 1-SD, p-value = 0.001; ß = 0.64 pg/mL, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.98, p-value = 0.001), respectively, after correction for multiple testing. Our findings suggest that saturated FAs of dietary origin, especially palmitic acid, are directly involved in the increase of IL-6 in plasma.

A Review of Web-Based Nutrition Information in Spanish for Cancer Patients and Survivors.

Nutrition education resources are of interest for cancer patients and survivors throughout the cancer continuum. We examined the web-based nutrition information in Spanish for cancer patients and survivors provided by national cancer organizations (NCOs). The Guide to Internet Resources for Cancer and the membership list of the Union for International Cancer Control were searched to identify the NCOs. The International Patients Decisions Aid Standards (IPDAS) was used to describe the quality of the available information. We identified 20 NCOs that provided nutrition information aimed at a general audience on their websites. Web-based resources of nine NCOs were selected for presentation in this review. Website scores ranged between 20 and 24 in the IPDAS scale (maximum score = 31). The selected NCOs offered reliable and safe information. Healthy eating information for cancer patients and management of side-effects was provided by all websites. Information was more limited for cancer survivors. We recommend that NCOs increase the possibilities for personalized recommendations and interaction with the content by including instrumental tools on their websites.

Adopting a High-Polyphenolic Diet Is Associated with an Improved Glucose Profile: Prospective Analysis within the PREDIMED-Plus Trial.

Previous studies suggested that dietary polyphenols could reduce the incidence and complications of type-2 diabetes (T2D); although the evidence is still limited and inconsistent. This work analyzes whether changing to a diet with a higher polyphenolic content is associated with an improved glucose profile. At baseline, and at 1 year of follow-up visits, 5921 participants (mean age 65.0 ± 4.9, 48.2% women) who had overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome filled out a validated 143-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), from which polyphenol intakes were calculated. Energy-adjusted total polyphenols and subclasses were categorized in tertiles of changes. Linear mixed-effect models with random intercepts (the recruitment centers) were used to assess associations between changes in polyphenol subclasses intake and 1-year plasma glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Increments in total polyphenol intake and some classes were inversely associated with better glucose levels and HbA1c after one year of follow-up. These associations were modified when the analyses were run considering diabetes status separately. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the relationship between changes in the intake of all polyphenolic groups and T2D-related parameters in a senior population with T2D or at high-risk of developing T2D.