Vitamin E and Metabolic Health: Relevance of Interactions with Other Micronutrients.

A hundred years have passed since vitamin E was identified as an essential micronutrient for mammals. Since then, many biological functions of vitamin E have been unraveled in both cell and animal models, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as regulatory activities on cell signaling and gene expression. However, the bioavailability and physiological functions of vitamin E have been considerably shown to depend on lifestyle, genetic factors, and individual health conditions. Another important facet that has been considered less so far is the endogenous interaction with other nutrients. Accumulating evidence indicates that the interaction between vitamin E and other nutrients, especially those that are enriched by supplementation in humans, may explain at least some of the discrepancies observed in clinical trials. Meanwhile, increasing evidence suggests that the different forms of vitamin E metabolites and derivates also exhibit physiological activities, which are more potent and mediated via different pathways compared to the respective vitamin E precursors. In this review, possible molecular mechanisms between vitamin E and other nutritional factors are discussed and their potential impact on physiological and pathophysiological processes is evaluated using published co-supplementation studies.

Rapid direct analysis of retinyl palmitate (vitamin A) in fortified vegetable oils by HPLC-FLD.

Large-scale food fortification of vegetable oils with vitamin A has been implemented successfully for decades in numerous African and Asian countries, contributing demonstrably to reductions in vitamin A deficiency. For these programmes, reliable and validated analytical data are essential to demonstrate compliance with legal standards and fortification levels. Commonly, many analytical laboratories use a saponification method for the quantitative analysis of retinyl palmitate (the mostly used form of vitamin A for fortification) in fortified oils, which implies a multiple-step procedure with long analysis times and the potential risk of analyte loss. The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a direct High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) method that reduces these sample preparation steps, leading to the cost- and time-efficient quantification of retinyl palmitate in fortified oils. Oil samples are dissolved into the HPLC solvents, then injected directly into a common C18 column, and subsequently detected by a fluorescence detector. The limit of quantification (1.0 mg retinyl palmitate kg-1) and the working range of 1.0-100 mg retinyl palmitate kg-1 with a linearity of R2 = 0.9989 are appropriate to analyse fortified oil samples. The method also showed adequate precision (RSD between 1.1% and 3.1%) and recoveries (86-103%) at two different concentration levels. The accuracy of the direct HPLC method was additionally proven by the comparison of spiked samples with two external laboratories that used the saponification method. The robustness of the method was confirmed by the analysis of various spiked edible oils. The HPLC column is not deteriorated by the lipid matrix and shows excellent stability and long lifetime. Also, 9-cis-retinyl palmitate formed mainly by light exposure could be detected by this method. The direct HPLC method is a well-suited alternative to the saponification method for the rapid and reliable routine analysis of fortified oil samples.

Update from TASCI, a Nationwide, Randomized, Sham-controlled, Double-blind Clinical Trial on Transcutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation in Patients with Acute Spinal Cord Injury to Prevent Neurogenic Detrusor Overactivity.

Transcutaneous tibial nerve stimulation has the potential to revolutionize the management of lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with acute spinal cord injury. TASCI is a nationwide randomized, sham-controlled, double-blind clinical trial for which the preparatory phase has been successfully completed.

Unravelling functional neurology: does spinal manipulation have an effect on the brain? - a systematic literature review.

Background: A recent hypothesis purports that spinal manipulation may cause changes at a brain level. Functional Neurology, a mainly chiropractic approach, promotes the use of spinal manipulation to improve 'brain function' as if it were a proven construct. No systematic review has been performed to investigate how well founded this hypothesis is. Objective: To investigate whether spinal manipulation has an effect on 'brain function' that is associated with any clinical benefits. Method: In this systematic review, the literature was searched in PubMed, Embase, and PEDro (final search February 2018). We included randomized or non-randomized controlled studies, in which spinal manipulation was performed to any region of the spine, applied on either symptomatic or asymptomatic humans, and compared to a sham or to another type of control. The outcome measures had to be stated as direct or proxy markers of 'brain function'. Articles were reviewed blindly by at least two reviewers, using a quality checklist designed for the specific needs of the review. Studies were classified as of 'acceptable', 'medium', or 'low' methodological quality. Results were reported in relation to (i) control intervention (sham, 'inactive control', or 'another physical stimulus') and (ii) study subjects (healthy, symptomatic, or with spinal pain" subjects/spinal pain"), taking into account the quality. Only results obtained from between-group or between-intervention comparisons were considered in the final analysis. Results: Eighteen of 1514 articles were included. Studies were generally of 'low' or 'medium' methodological quality, most comparing spinal manipulation to a control other than a sham. Thirteen out of the 18 studies could be included in the final analysis. Transitory effects of different types of 'brain function' were reported in the three studies comparing spinal manipulation to sham (but of uncertain credibility), in "subclinical neck/spinal pain" subjects or in symptomatic subjects. None of these three studies, of 'medium' or 'acceptable' quality, investigated whether the neurophysiological effects reported were associated with clinical benefits. The remaining 10 studies, generally of 'low' or 'medium' quality, compared spinal manipulation to 'inactive control' or 'another physical stimulus' and similarly reported significant between-group differences but inconsistently. Conclusion: The available evidence suggests that changes occur in 'brain function' in response to spinal manipulation but are inconsistent across and - sometimes - within studies. The clinical relevance of these changes is unknown. It is therefore premature to promote the use of spinal manipulation as a treatment to improve 'brain function'.

Introduction: Une hypothèse récente propose que la manipulation vertébrale causerait des changements neurophysiologiques au niveau du cerveau. En Neurologie Fonctionnelle, approche principalement présente en chiropraxie, l'utilisation de la manipulation vertébrale est déjà promue comme capable d'améliorer le fonctionnement du cerveau. A ce jour, aucune revue systématique de la littérature n'a été conduite afin de connaître l'étendue et la qualité de l'évidence scientifique susceptible de justifier cet usage de la manipulation vertébrale. Objectif: Déterminer, à travers une revue systématique et critique de la littérature, si la manipulation vertébrale a un effet (spécifique) sur le cerveau et, si oui, si celui-ci est associé à un effet clinique. Méthode: Le moteur de recherche PubMed et deux bases de données, Embase et PEDro, ont fait l'objet d'une recherche bibliographique (actualisée en février 2018). Les critères d'inclusion étaient: essais contrôlés, randomisés ou non, dans lesquels la manipulation vertébrale avait été comparée à un placébo ou à un autre type de contrôle, chez des sujets symptomatiques ou asymptomatiques. La manipulation vertébrale pouvait avoir été effectuée au niveau de n'importe quelle région de la colonne vertébrale et les critères de jugement utilisés devaient être indiqués comme capables de mesurer, directement ou indirectement, une forme 'd'activité cérébrale'. La qualité méthodologique des études a été évaluée de manière indépendante par au moins deux chercheurs à l'aide d'une grille de qualité créée pour les besoins de cette revue. Les études ont été classifiées comme étant de qualité méthodologique 'acceptable', 'moyenne', ou 'faible'. Les résultats ont été rapportés de façon narrative, en fonction du type de contrôle utilisé (placébo, 'inactif', ou 'autre stimulus physique') et du type de sujets d'étude (sans problème de santé, symptomatiques, ou présentant des « douleurs rachidiennes subcliniques ¼), en tenant compte de la qualité méthodologique. Seuls les résultats issus de comparaisons inter-groupes ont été pris en compte dans notre analyse finale. Résultats: Dix-huit articles parmi les 1514 titres obtenus ont été inclus. Les études étaient pour la plupart de qualité méthodologique 'faible' ou 'moyenne' et avaient principalement comparé la manipulation vertébrale à une intervention autre que placébo. Les résultats rapportés dans 13 des 18 articles inclus ont finalement été pris en compte. Un effet transitoire sur différentes formes 'd'activité cérébrale' a été rapporté à l'issue de trois études dans lesquelles la manipulation vertébrale avait été comparée à un placébo (de crédibilité cependant incertaine), chez des sujets présentant des « douleurs rachidiennes subcliniques ¼ (n = 2) ou souffrant de cervicalgies non spécifiques aiguës / subaiguës (n = 1). Une potentielle association avec un effet clinique n'a pas été étudiée dans ces trois études, de qualité méthodologique 'moyenne' (n = 2) ou 'acceptable' (n = 1). Dans les 10 études restantes, la plupart de qualité méthodologique 'faible' ou 'moyenne', la manipulation vertébrale avait été comparée à un contrôle 'inactif' ou à un 'autre stimulus physique'. Des différences inter-groupes y ont également été rapportées, parfois de façon inconsistante. Conclusion: La littérature scientifique suggère que des changements neurophysiologiques surviennent au niveau du cerveau en réponse à la manipulation vertébrale mais, de façon inconsistante. La pertinence clinique de ces changements n'est pas connue. Ainsi, il est prématuré d'attribuer à la manipulation vertébrale des bénéfices cliniques via un effet sur le cerveau.

The vitamin E derivative garcinoic acid from Garcinia kola nut seeds attenuates the inflammatory response.

The plant Garcinia kola is used in African ethno-medicine to treat various oxidation- and inflammation-related diseases but its bioactive compounds are not well characterized. Garcinoic acid (GA) is one of the few phytochemicals that have been isolated from Garcinia kola. We investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of the methanol extract of Garcinia kola seeds (NE) and purified GA, as a major phytochemical in these seeds, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated mouse RAW264.7 macrophages and its anti-atherosclerotic potential in high fat diet fed ApoE-/- mice. This study outlines an optimized procedure for the extraction and purification of GA from Garcinia kola seeds with an increased yield and a purity of >99%. We found that LPS-induced upregulation of iNos and Cox2 expression, and the formation of the respective signaling molecules nitric oxide and prostanoids, were significantly diminished by both the NE and GA. In addition, GA treatment in mice decreased intra-plaque inflammation by attenuating nitrotyrosinylation. Further, modulation of lymphocyte sub-populations in blood and spleen have been detected, showing immune regulative properties of GA. Our study provides molecular insights into the anti-inflammatory activities of Garcinia kola and reveals GA as promising natural lead for the development of multi-target drugs to treat inflammation-driven diseases.

In Vitro Digested Nut Oils Attenuate the Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response in Macrophages.

Nut consumption is known for its health benefits, in particular in inflammatory diseases. A possible mechanism for these effects could be their beneficial fatty acid composition. Nuts mainly contain mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory properties. However, studies investigating the effects of nut extracts on inflammatory processes on the molecular level are rare. We therefore prepared oily nut extracts after in vitro digestion and saponification of the fat-soluble constituents. Besides chromatographic analysis, cell culture experiments were performed using murine macrophages (RAW264.7) to study the capacity of different nut extracts (hazelnut, almond, walnut, macadamia, and pistachio) to modulate inflammatory processes. Oleic acid was the main fatty acid in hazelnut, almond, macadamia, and pistachio extracts. Both oily nut extracts and pure oleic acid significantly reduced the LPS-induced expression of iNos, Cox2, Tnfα, Il1ß, and Il6 mRNAs. iNos protein expression was down-regulated followed by reduced nitric oxide formation. Thus, nut extracts at concentrations achievable in the digestive tract inhibit the expression and formation of inflammatory mediators in macrophages. Hence, a beneficial contribution of nut consumption to inflammatory diseases can be assumed. We are convinced that these results provide new insights on the molecular mechanisms involved in the health-beneficial effects of nuts.

Improved color rendering and luminous efficacy in phosphor-converted white light-emitting diodes by use of dual-blue emitting active regions.

Conventional white-light sources suffer from a fundamental trade-off between color rendering index and the luminous efficacy; increasing one generally comes at the expense of the other. We demonstrate through simulation that dual-wavelength blue-emitting active regions in phosphor-converted white light sources maximize the output luminous flux while significantly increasing the color rendering ability. Our results indicate that such improvements can be achieved over a broad range of correlated color temperatures.