The Chemistry Behind the Folin-Ciocalteu Method for the Estimation of (Poly)phenol Content in Food: Total Phenolic Intake in a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern.

The Folin-Ciocalteu assay is a reference method for the quantification of total (poly)phenols in food. This review explains the fundamental mechanism of the redox reaction on which the method is based and looks at some of the practical considerations concerning its application. To accurately estimate the antioxidant capacity of (poly)phenolic compounds, a thorough knowledge of their structural characteristics is essential, as the two are closely associated. Therefore, to help researchers interpret the results of the Folin-Ciocalteu method, this review also summarizes some of the main phenolic structural features. Finally, we have used the Folin-Ciocalteu method to estimate the total phenolic intake associated with high adherence to a Mediterranean diet, ranked as one of the healthiest dietary patterns, which is characterized by a high consumption of (poly)phenol-rich food such as wine, virgin olive oil, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes.

Milk fat globule membrane plus milk fat increase docosahexaenoic acid availability in infant formulas.

PURPOSE: Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) has components with emulsifier properties that could affect the provision of substrates to the brain. We evaluated the effects of MFGM plus milk fat addition to infant formulas on docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) availability and gut development. METHODS: In Experiment 1, suckling piglets were divided into 3 groups: Group L1 (n = 8): fed with a vegetal fat formula with palm oil; L2 (n = 8): canola oil formula and L3 (n = 8): milk fat + canola oil + 1% Lacprodan (3% MFGM of total protein content). In Experiment 2, Group L4 (n = 7): fed with canola oil + 1% Lacprodan (3% MFGM) and Group L5 (n = 5): milk fat + canola oil + 2% Lacprodan (6% MFGM). All formulas contained 0.2% DHA and 0.2% arachidonic acid. RESULTS: In Experiment 1, DHA was similar among the groups in both total fatty acids and plasma phospholipids (PL). However, 3% MFGM (L3) increased significantly the proportion of DHA and LC-PUFA n-3 in liver total fatty acids, jejunum, and also in jejunum PL respect to the other formulas. There were no changes in gut histology, cell proliferation, apoptosis, or brain DHA content. In Experiment 2, higher MFGM dose was used. Then, higher DHA was not only found in peripheral tissues of 6% MFGM (L5) piglets but also in plasma PL, while a similar trend was observed in cortex PL (p = 0.123). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, MFGM plus milk fat may increase DHA availability of infant formulas which could contribute to their beneficial health effects.

Current strategies to guarantee the authenticity of coffee.

As they become more health conscious, consumers are paying increasing attention to food quality and safety. In coffee production, fraudulent strategies to reduce costs and maximize profits include mixing beans from two species of different economic value, the addition of other substances and/or foods, and mislabeling. Therefore, testing for coffee authenticity and detecting adulterants is required for value assessment and consumer protection. Here we provide an overview of the chromatography, spectroscopy, and single-nucleotide polymorphism-based methods used to distinguish between the major coffee species Arabica and Robusta. This review also describes the techniques applied to trace the geographical origin of coffee, based mainly on the chemical composition of the beans, an approach that can discriminate between coffee-growing regions on a continental or more local level. Finally, the analytical techniques used to detect coffee adulteration with other foods and/or coffee by-products are discussed, with a look at the practice of adding pharmacologically active compounds to coffee, and their harmful effects on health.

Effects of Dietary Phytoestrogens on Hormones throughout a Human Lifespan: A Review.

Dietary phytoestrogens are bioactive compounds with estrogenic activity. With the growing popularity of plant-based diets, the intake of phytoestrogen-rich legumes (especially soy) and legume-derived foods has increased. Evidence from preclinical studies suggests these compounds may have an effect on hormones and health, although the results of human trials are unclear. The effects of dietary phytoestrogens depend on the exposure (phytoestrogen type, matrix, concentration, and bioavailability), ethnicity, hormone levels (related to age, sex, and physiological condition), and health status of the consumer. In this review, we have summarized the results of human studies on dietary phytoestrogens with the aim of assessing the possible hormone-dependent outcomes and health effects of their consumption throughout a lifespan, focusing on pregnancy, childhood, adulthood, and the premenopausal and postmenopausal stages. In pregnant women, an improvement of insulin metabolism has been reported in only one study. Sex hormone alterations have been found in the late stages of childhood, and goitrogenic effects in children with hypothyroidism. In premenopausal and postmenopausal women, the reported impacts on hormones are inconsistent, although beneficial goitrogenic effects and improved glycemic control and cardiovascular risk markers have been described in postmenopausal individuals. In adult men, different authors report goitrogenic effects and a reduction of insulin in non-alcoholic fatty liver patients. Further carefully designed studies are warranted to better elucidate the impact of phytoestrogen consumption on the endocrine system at different life stages.