Eicosapentaenoic and Docosahexaenoic Acid Supplementation Increases HDL Content in n-3 Fatty Acids and Improves Endothelial Function in Hypertriglyceridemic Patients.

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are known to enhance vascular function through different mechanisms, including the delivery of functional lipids to endothelial cells. Therefore, we hypothesized that omega-3 (n-3) eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content of HDLs would improve the beneficial vascular effects of these lipoproteins. To explore this hypothesis, we performed a placebo-controlled crossover clinical trial in 18 hypertriglyceridemic patients without clinical symptoms of coronary heart disease who received highly purified EPA 460 mg and DHA 380 mg, twice a day for 5 weeks or placebo. After 5 weeks of treatment, patients followed a 4-week washout period before crossover. HDLs were isolated using sequential ultracentrifugation for characterization and determination of fatty acid content. Our results showed that n-3 supplementation induced a significant decrease in body mass index, waist circumference as well as triglycerides and HDL-triglyceride plasma concentrations, whilst HDL-cholesterol and HDL-phospholipids significantly increased. On the other hand, HDL, EPA, and DHA content increased by 131% and 62%, respectively, whereas 3 omega-6 fatty acids significantly decreased in HDL structures. In addition, the EPA-to-arachidonic acid (AA) ratio increased more than twice within HDLs suggesting an improvement in their anti-inflammatory properties. All HDL-fatty acid modifications did not affect the size distribution or the stability of these lipoproteins and were concomitant with a significant increase in endothelial function assessed using a flow-mediated dilatation test (FMD) after n-3 supplementation. However, endothelial function was not improved in vitro using a model of rat aortic rings co-incubated with HDLs before or after treatment with n-3. These results suggest a beneficial effect of n-3 on endothelial function through a mechanism independent of HDL composition. In conclusion, we demonstrated that EPA and DHA supplementation for 5 weeks improved vascular function in hypertriglyceridemic patients, and induced enrichment of HDLs with EPA and DHA to the detriment of some n-6 fatty acids. The significant increase in the EPA-to-AA ratio in HDLs is indicative of a more anti-inflammatory profile of these lipoproteins.

Effect of a parenteral fish-oil-containing lipid emulsion on liver lipid perioxidation and antioxidative defenses in Lewis rats.

BACKGROUND: Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), naturally abundant in fish oil (FO), are known for their anti-inflammatory and potential antioxidant properties. The aim in this article is to evaluate the effect of the infusion of a parenteral FO-containing lipid emulsion on markers of liver lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in rats undergoing central venous catheterization (CVC). METHODS: After 5-day acclimatization, adult Lewis rats (n = 42) receiving a 20-g/day AIN-93M oral diet were randomly subdivided into four groups: (1) basal control (BC) (n = 6), without CVC or LE infusion; (2) SHAM (n = 12), with CVC but without LE infusion; (3) soybean oil (SO)/medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) (n = 12), with CVC and receiving LE without FO (4.3 g/kg fat); and (4) SO/MCT/FO (n = 12), with CVC and receiving LE containing 10% FO (4.3 g/kg fat). Animals from the BC group were euthanized immediately after acclimatization. The remaining groups of animals were euthanized after 48 or 72 h of surgical follow-up to assess profiles of liver and plasma fatty acids by gas chromatography, liver gene transcription factor Nrf2, F2-isoprostane lipid peroxidation biomarker, and the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. R program (version 3.2.2) was utilized for data analysis. RESULTS: Compared with the other groups, liver EPA and DHA levels were higher in the SO/MCT/FO group, which also showed the highest liver Nrf2, GPx, SOD, and CAT levels and lower liver F2-isoprostane (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Experimental delivery of FO via EPA and DHA sources in a parenteral LE was associated with a liver antioxidant effect.

Effect of guarana seed powder on cholesterol absorption in vitro and in Caco-2 cells.

Cardiovascular disease risk is related to oxidative stress and hypercholesterolemia. Guarana seed powder contains flavanols that possess antioxidant properties and cholesterol-lowering effects. However, the molecular mechanism through which guarana seed powder may decrease cholesterol uptake from the intestinal lumen remains unclear. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the effect of guarana powder aqueous extract on cholesterol absorption mechanisms. After simulated gastrointestinal digestion, we performed assays to determine enzymatic inhibitory capacity, bile acid binding capacity, and cholesterol micellar solubilization. Caco-2 cells were used for permeation and protein identification assays. Digested guarana powder extract inhibited pancreatic lipase in a dose-dependent manner (half-maximal inhibitory capacity: 1.033 µg/mL) and, at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, bound 45.63 % of sodium taurocholate and decreased cholesterol micellar solubilization by 10.14 %. Moreover, incubation with the extract reduced cholesterol absorption by Caco-2 cells and decreased intracellular cholesterol transporter levels. These results indicate that guarana seed powder have potential applications for blood cholesterol management, presenting hypocholesterolemic effects owing to the presence of bioacessible polyphenols.

Coffee simulated inhibition of pancreatic lipase and antioxidant activities: Effect of milk and decaffeination.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Dietary intake of polyphenols may protect against the development of NCDs. Coffee is a rich source of phenolic acids in the Western diet that may prevent or treat hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, chronic liver diseases, and obesity. These health effects are attributed, at least partially, to the antioxidant properties and inhibitory activity of phenolic acids on lipases. However, the effect of milk on these properties is not clear. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the antiradical properties and inhibitory activity on pancreatic lipase in vitro of phenolic acids from coffee. We obtained commercial traditional and decaffeinated espresso coffee capsules and prepared the beverages according to the manufacturer's instructions using a domestic coffee maker. Espresso prepared with traditional and decaffeinated coffee capsules were evaluated with and without the addition of milk following in vitro digestion.The total phenolic content ranged from 168.21 to 397.38 mg equivalent to chlorogenic acid/mL. All coffee-based beverages showed antioxidant activity, with emphasis on decaffeinated and milk-added beverages, respectively. Caffeic acid was the most abundant phenolic compound followed by 5-caffeoylquinic acid before digestion. In contrast after in vitro digestion, only caffeic acid was bioaccessible. The addition of milk improved the bioaccessibility of caffeic acid and caffeine. Overall, the half-maximal inhibitory concentration of the samples for pancreatic lipase varied between 222 and 3035.8 µg/mL. Decaffeinated coffee had a greater inhibitory effect than regular coffee regardless of milk addition. In conclusion, decaffeinated and milk-added coffee beverages have a greater effect on lipase inhibition. This may be related to the greater bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds in these samples. Further studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms of enzymatic inhibition by phenolic acids.

Vitamin C and Phenolic Antioxidants of Jua (Ziziphus joazeiro M.) Pulp: A Rich Underexplored Brazilian Source of Ellagic Acid Recovered by Aqueous Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction.

Jua (juá in Portuguese) is an underexplored fruit from Brazil's northeast. This fruit is rich in antioxidant substances. However, there is a dearth of information about jua's bioactive potential. The present study evaluated two extraction methods (continuous agitation and ultrasound-assisted extraction-UAE) and employed three different solvents (water, ethanol, and acetone) to efficiently recover soluble phenolic compounds. Aqueous extracts obtained by UAE showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antiradical activity. Besides being an eco-friendly procedure, extraction and/or solubility in an aqueous medium is also important for food application. Ellagic acids were the predominant phenolics (80%) found in aqueous jua pulp extract obtained by UAE, as determined by HPLC, while its TPC was 405.8 gallic acid equivalent per gram of fruit. This extract also exhibited a higher scavenging activity towards peroxyl radicals when compared to that of several other fruits from the literature, including grape, strawberry, cranberry, and walnuts, which are known references in terms of antioxidants. This is the first report that demonstrates jua pulp's potential as an alternative source of ellagic acid and other phenolic acids and flavonoids. Therefore, the outcome of this study provides new information that can be useful for functional food and nutraceutical industries.

Bioactive compounds of parsley (Petroselinum crispum), chives (Allium schoenoprasum L) and their mixture (Brazilian cheiro-verde) as promising antioxidant and anti-cholesterol oxidation agents in a food system.

This study determined the bioactive composition and antioxidant potential of parsley, chives and their mixture (Brazilian cheiro-verde). Additionally, the effect of these herbs against cholesterol oxidation in grilled sardines (Sardinella brasiliensis) was also investigated. Ultra-high Performance Liquid Chromatography-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS) analyses revealed the presence of phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids) and flavonoids (apigenin, kaempferol, catechin) in the herbs. Higher levels of phenolics (2.10 ± 0.02 mg GAE/g) and carotenoids (205.95 ± 0.17 µg/g) were determined in parsley extracts. Moreover, parsley also presented higher antioxidant capacity by DPPH (59.21 ± 0.07 %) and ORAC (109.94 ± 18.7 µM TE/g) than the other herbs. In vivo analyses demonstrated that the herbs' extracts decreased the damage on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells exposed to H2O2, except the chives extract at 10 µg/mL. Higher levels of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) were determined after grilling. The total COPs increased from 61.8 ± 0.7 (raw fish) to 139.7 ± 10.1 µg/g (control). However, the addition of herbs effectively reduced cholesterol oxides formation, this effect was more pronounced in fish containing 4% parsley and 4% cheiro-verde. Promising results were found for cheiro-verde; however, it did not present synergic antioxidant effects.

Effects of the consumption of guarana on human health: A narrative review.

Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a plant from the Amazon region with cultural importance. Despite its early ancestral use by indigenous tribes, the first reports regarding the benefits of guarana consumption for human health were published in the 19th century. Since then, the use of guarana seed in powder and extract forms has been studied for its diverse effects on human health, such as stimulating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, and anti-obesity effects. These effects are attributed to the high content of bioactive compounds found in guarana seeds, especially methylxanthines and flavonoids. In fact, the Brazilian Food Supplement Law has officially acknowledged guarana as a source of bioactive compounds. The number and diversity of studies focused on guarana and human health are increasing; thus, organizing and describing the available evidence on guarana and its applications is necessary to provide a framework for future studies. In this narrative review, we have organized the available information regarding guarana and its potential effects on human health. Guarana produces unique fruits with great potential for human health applications. However, the available evidence lacks human studies and mechanistic investigations. Future studies should be designed considering its applicability to human health, including intake levels and toxicity studies.

A Systematic Approach for Liposome and Lipodisk Preclinical Formulation Development by Microfluidic Technology.

Lipid nanoparticles have transformed the drug delivery field enhancing the therapeutic drug performance of small molecules and biologics with several approved drug products. However, in industry, these more complex drug delivery systems such as liposomes require more material and time to develop. Here, we report a liposome and lipodisk decision tree with model compounds of diverse physicochemical properties to understand how to resourcefully optimize encapsulation efficiency (EE) for these lipid-based drug delivery systems. We have identified trends with physicochemical properties such as Log P, where higher Log P compounds such as curcumin were able to efficiently load into the lipid bilayer resulting in high EE with altering the drug/lipid (D/L) ratio. Moderate Log P compounds such as cyclosporine A and dexamethasone had significantly higher encapsulation in lipodisks, which contain higher amounts of PEG lipid compared to liposomes. The EE of negative Log P compounds, like acyclovir, remained low regardless of altering the D/L ratio and PEG concentrations. In this study, microfluidic techniques were employed to fabricate liposomes and lipodisks formulations allowing for a reproducible strategy for formulation development. Both liposome and lipodisk of curcumin demonstrated enhanced in vivo performance compared with a conventional formulation in the rat pharmacokinetic study. This combination of approaches with multiple model compounds and lipid-based drug delivery systems provides a systematic guidance to effective strategies to generate higher EE with minimal drug waste and expedite the process for preclinical development when applied to industry compounds.

Effects of extra virgin olive oil and pecans on plasma fatty acids in patients with stable coronary artery disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of a healthy diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil or pecans on plasma fatty acids (PFAs) in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Patients 40 to 80 y of age were randomized to one of three dietary interventions (allocation ratio 1: 1: 1): healthy diet based on guidelines (control group [CG]), healthy diet supplemented with 30 g/d of pecans (PNG), or a healthy diet supplemented with 30 mL/d of extra virgin olive oil (OOG). PFAs were identified at baseline and at the end of follow-up (12 wk), and correlations between dietary fatty acids intake, PFAs, and clinical biomarkers of the lipid profile were also assessed before and after the interventions. RESULTS: Among 149 participants included in the analysis (43 CG; 51 PNG; and 55 OOG), correlations were observed between food intake, PFAs, and lipid profile before and after interventions independent of statins used, but all were considered weak. At the end of the study, the OOG showed increased concentrations of oleic fatty acid independently of the type of statin in use (1.49%; 95% confidence interval, 0.08-2.89; P = 0.029); however, there were no significant differences between the groups regarding the final mean values of oleic fatty acid or in the other PFAs. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with stable CAD, there were no significant differences in PFAs after 12 wk according to dietary interventions evaluated.

The anticholesterol oxidation effects of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.) in frozen fish burgers submitted to grilling.

This study determined the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of garlic (Allium sativum L.) and leek (Allium ampeloprasum L.), as well as evaluated their anticholesterol oxidation potential in fish burgers. The total phenolic contents were 1.1 ± 0.1 mg GAE/g FW to garlic and 1.3 ± 0.4 mg GAE/g FW for leek. Leek extract showed antioxidant activity index (1.3 ± 0.01) in DPPH and ß-carotene/linoleic acid assay (66.5 ± 1.6%); however, in ORAC assay, no statistic differences were observed (P > 0.05). Besides that, bioactive compounds of garlic and leek extracts were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray by ionization-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS). Fish burgers were prepared using different concentrations of leek and garlic and stored at -18 °C for 90 days. Thus, at days 0, 30, 60, and 90, the samples were grilled and analyzed as to their cholesterol and cholesterol oxidation products contents. Storage and grilling led to an increase in cholesterol oxidation products; however, addition of garlic and leek minimized cholesterol oxidation products formation. After 90 days, samples containing 3% leek + 0.5% garlic ware the most effective in inhibiting the cholesterol oxides formation during storage and showed the lowest increase in cholesterol oxidation products content (21.16%). Thus, the findings of this research indicate the potential application of garlic and leek as natural inhibitors of cholesterol oxidation in food. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Garlic and leek have a set of bioactive compounds with a wide antioxidant capacity when used in meat foods such as fish burgers. Garlic and leek used as natural antioxidants perform well in the shelf life of fish burgers and can be substitutes for synthetic antioxidants in this type of product. The presence of both vegetables reduced the formation of prejudicial products to human health generated during the shelf life of the food.

Microencapsulated Pomegranate Modifies the Composition and Function of High-Density Lipoproteins (HDL) in New Zealand Rabbits.

Previous studies demonstrated that pomegranate, which is a source of several bioactive molecules, induces modifications of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) lipid composition and functionality. However, it remains unclear whether the beneficial effects of pomegranate are related to improvement in the lipid components of HDL. Therefore, in this placebo-controlled study, we characterized the size and lipid composition of HDL subclasses and assessed the functionality of these lipoproteins after 30 days of supplementation with a pomegranate microencapsulated (MiPo) in New Zealand white rabbits. We observed a significant decrease in plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, and non-HDL sphingomyelin, as well as increases in HDL cholesterol and HDL phospholipids after supplementation with MiPo. Concomitantly, the triglycerides of the five HDL subclasses isolated by electrophoresis significantly decreased, whereas phospholipids, cholesterol, and sphingomyelin of HDL subclasses, as well as the HDL size distribution remained unchanged. Of particular interest, the triglycerides content of HDL, estimated by the triglycerides-to-phospholipids ratio, decreased significantly after MiPo supplementation. The modification on the lipid content after the supplementation was associated with an increased resistance of HDL to oxidation as determined by the conjugated dienes formation catalyzed by Cu2+. Accordingly, paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity determined with phenylacetate as substrate increased after MiPo. The effect of HDL on endothelial function was analyzed by the response to increasing doses of acetylcholine of aorta rings co-incubated with the lipoproteins in an isolated organ bath. The HDL from rabbits that received placebo partially inhibited the endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In contrast, the negative effect of HDL on endothelial function was reverted by MiPo supplementation. These results show that the beneficial effects of pomegranate are mediated at least in part by improving the functionality of HDL, probably via the reduction of the content of triglycerides in these lipoproteins.

Effect of aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) fruit against polyunsaturated fatty acids and cholesterol thermo-oxidation in model systems containing sardine oil (Sardinella brasiliensis).

This study evaluated the protective effect of ground aroeira (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) fruit addition against fatty acids and cholesterol oxidation in model systems containing sardine oil (Sardinella brasiliensis) during heating (150 and 180 °C). High temperatures reduced the amount of essential polyunsaturated fatty acids and caused the formation of oxidized products. Total cholesterol oxides content increased from 58.9 ± 0.26 to 577.5 ± 2.14 µg/g oil, after heating at 180 °C. However, aroeira significantly protected lipids from oxidation. Although the synthetic antioxidant applied as standard (butylated hydroxytoluene) showed greater results, it was used in the maximum concentration permitted by Brazilian legislation (0.01%), suggesting that aroeira fruit could be used as a natural antioxidant for the food industry. The protective effect of aroeira may be correlated to its antioxidant capacity and the presence of bioactive compounds which were identified by UHPLC-ESI-MS in the aroeira extract.

Insoluble-Bound Polyphenols Released from Guarana Powder: Inhibition of Alpha-Glucosidase and Proanthocyanidin Profile.

The Brazilian Food Supplement Law recently recognized that guarana (Paullinia cupana) contains bioactive substances, hence supporting its role as a functional food ingredient. The health benefits of guarana are associated, at least in part, to its phenolic compounds. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no literature addressing the presence of phenolic compounds in the fraction containing insoluble-bound compounds and its contribution in terms of alpha-glucosidase inhibition. The concentration of phenolic extracts released from the insoluble-bound fraction required to inhibit 50% of alpha-glucosidase (IC50) activity was 5.8-fold lower than that present in the soluble counterpart. Both fractions exhibited a mixed inhibition mode. Fourteen proanthocyanidins (dimers to tetramers) present in the insoluble-bound fraction were tentatively identified by MALDi-TOF-MS. Future studies aiming at increasing the concentration of the soluble counterpart are deemed necessary. The results presented here enhance the phenolic database of guarana and have a practical impact on the procurement of nutraceuticals and functional ingredients related to the prevention and/or management of type 2 diabetes. The Brazilian normative on food supplements has been recently revised. This study lends support to the future inclusion of guarana powder in the list of sources of proanthocyanidins for the industry of food supplements.

Aroeira fruit (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) as a natural antioxidant: Chemical constituents, bioactive compounds and in vitro and in vivo antioxidant capacity.

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi fruit, known as Brazilian pepper or aroeira, is a natural source of bioactive compounds. However, studies about the antioxidant and nutritional contribution of this fruit in food systems are limited. Regarding the presence of bioactive compounds, flavonoids showed the highest level (10.33 ± 0.34 mg QE/g), and potential antioxidant components such biflavonoids were determined by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The aroeira fruit extract showed antioxidant potential in DPPH (42.68 ± 0.05%), ORAC (43.40 ± 6.22 µM TE/g) and ß- carotene/linoleic acid (61.41 ± 5.30%) assays. Besides that, in vivo analyses demonstrated the ability of aroeira extracts to decrease the damage caused by oxidative stress promoted by H2O2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells. Thus, the presence of phytochemicals with functional properties and the antioxidant capacity of aroeira fruit indicate its use as a potential natural antioxidant for the food industry.

Phytosterols Content in Vegetable Oils of Brazil: Coconut, Safflower, Linseed and Evening Primrose

Abstract In the last years phytosterols, natural components of plants, have received more attention due to association of their consumption with reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. There are several scientific studies about phytosterols in vegetable oils, but they are scarce in unconventional oils. The objective of this research was evaluating the content of phytosterols (β-sitosterol, stigmasterol and campesterol) in vegetable oils sold in São Paulo city, in Brazil. The analysis included cold alkaline saponification, derivatization with hexamethyldisilazane and trimethylchlorosilane reagents, and quantification by gas chromatography using flame ionization detection and internal standardization. The quality control parameters indicated that the method was suitable for analysis. Total sterols were between 272.3 mg kg-1 (coconut oil) to 6169.7 mg kg-1 (evening primrose oil). β-sitosterol was the component found in higher concentrations and evening primrose oil was the most representative in quantity of phytosterols.

Microencapsulated Pomegranate Reverts High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction and Reduces Postprandial Triglyceridemia in Women with Acute Coronary Syndrome.

(1) Background: the composition of high-density lipoproteins (HDL) becomes altered during the postprandial state, probably affecting their functionality vis-à-vis the endothelium. Since acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in women is frequently associated with endothelial dysfunction, it is likely that HDL are unable to improve artery vasodilation in these patients. Therefore, we characterized HDL from women with ACS in fasting and postprandial conditions. We also determined whether microencapsulated pomegranate (MiPo) reverts the HDL abnormalities, since previous studies have suggested that this fruit improves HDL functionality. (2) Methods: Eleven women with a history of ACS were supplemented daily with 20 g of MiPo, for 30 days. Plasma samples were obtained during fasting and at different times, after a lipid load test to determine the lipid profile and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) activity. HDL were isolated by sequential ultracentrifugation to determine their size distribution and to assess their effect on endothelial function, by using an in vitro model of rat aorta rings. (3) Results: MiPo improved the lipid profile and increased PON1 activity, as previously reported, with fresh pomegranate juice. After supplementation with MiPo, the incremental area under the curve of triglycerides decreased to half of the initial values. The HDL distribution shifted from large HDL to intermediate and small-size particles during the postprandial period in the basal conditions, whereas such a shift was no longer observed after MiPo supplementation. Consistently, HDL isolated from postprandial plasma samples hindered the vasodilation of aorta rings, and this endothelial dysfunction was reverted after MiPo consumption. (4) Conclusions: MiPo exhibited the same beneficial effects on the lipid profile and PON1 activity as the previously reported fresh pomegranate. In addition, MiPo supplementation reverted the negative effects of HDL on endothelial function generated during the postprandial period in women with ACS.

Plasma and erythrocyte ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids are associated with multiple inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in breast cancer.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to assess the association of plasma and erythrocyte ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids with multiple oxidative stress biomarkers in breast cancer patients. METHODS: Ninety-five women with recently diagnosed breast cancer and no previous treatment were selected for this study. The socioeconomic, clinical, and demographic profile of the patients was determined using a structured questionnaire and medical records. Body weight and height were measured to calculate body mass index. Blood samples were drawn after a 12-h fast for biochemical analyses. The oxidative stress biomarkers low-density lipoprotein (-) and its anti-low-density lipoprotein (-) antibodies, α-tocopherol, ß-carotene, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance, and adiponectin were measured. Plasma and erythrocyte fatty acids were assessed by gas chromatography. Factor and principal component analysis was used to identify three factors called factor 1 (anti-inflammatory), factor 2 (antioxidant), and factor 3 (oxidant). Linear regression, adjusted for confounding variables, was used to estimate the association of these factors with plasma and erythrocyte ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids and their ratios. RESULTS: ω-3 series fatty acids showed a positive association with Factor 1. A positive association of plasma and erythrocyte ω-6 fatty acids with factors 1 and 2, respectively, was found. ω-6/ω-3 ratio (plasma) was inversely associated with the anti-inflammatory factor. CONCLUSION: Polyunsaturated fatty acids of the plasma and erythrocyte ω-3 and ω-6 series were associated with multiple inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in breast cancer.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons content and fatty acids profile in coconut, safflower, evening primrose and linseed oils.

This study aimed at evaluating the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contamination of commercial vegetable oils and examined the identity through the fatty acids profiles. Coconut, safflower, evening primrose, and linseed oils marketed in São Paulo (Brazil) were investigated totaling 69 samples. Four PAHs, benzo[a]anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Chr), benzo[b]fluoranthene (BbF), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), were detected in 96% of the samples at individual levels ranging from not detected to 14.99 µg kg-1. Chrysene was the abundant hydrocarbon found among all types of oils, with the highest median values. The results of the fatty acid profiles revealed that 43% showed different profiles according to the ones on their labels, with a higher incidence of adulteration of evening primrose oils. The maximum tolerable limits by European Regulation No. 835/2011 were exceeded for BaP in 12%, and for total 4 PAHs in 28%, with a greater contribution of adulterated samples.

Optimization and validation of a method using UHPLC-fluorescence for the analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in cold-pressed vegetable oils.

Among the different food categories, the oils and fats are important sources of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a group of organic chemical contaminants. The use of a validated method is essential to obtain reliable analytical results since the legislation establishes maximum limits in different foods. The objective of this study was to optimize and validate a method for the quantification of four PAHs [benzo(a)anthracene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene] in vegetable oils. The samples were submitted to liquid-liquid extraction, followed by solid-phase extraction, and analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography. Under the optimized conditions, the validation parameters were evaluated according to the INMETRO Guidelines: linearity (r2 >0.99), selectivity (no matrix interference), limits of detection (0.08-0.30µgkg-1) and quantification (0.25-1.00µgkg-1), recovery (80.13-100.04%), repeatability and intermediate precision (<10% RSD). The method was found to be adequate for routine analysis of PAHs in the vegetable oils evaluated.

Bioavailability of catechins from guaraná (Paullinia cupana) and its effect on antioxidant enzymes and other oxidative stress markers in healthy human subjects.

We assessed the effects of guaraná (Paullinia cupana) consumption on plasma catechins, erythrocyte antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and biomarkers of oxidative stress (ex vivo LDL oxidation, plasma total antioxidant status and ORAC, and lymphocyte single cell gel electrophoresis) in healthy overweight subjects. Twelve participants completed a 15-day run-in period followed by a 15-day intervention with a daily intake of 3 g guaraná seed powder containing 90 mg (+)-catechin and 60 mg (-)-epicatechin. Blood samples were taken on the first and last day of the intervention period, fasting and 1 h post-dose. The administration of guaraná increased plasma ORAC, while reducing ex vivo LDL oxidation (only in the first study day) and hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage in lymphocytes, at 1 h post-dose. Plasma catechin (0.38 ± 0.12 and 0.44 ± 0.18 nmol mL(-1)), epicatechin (0.59 ± 0.18 and 0.64 ± 0.25 nmol mL(-1)) and their methylated metabolites were observed at 1 h post-dose but were almost negligible after overnight fasting. The activities of catalase (in both study days) and glutathione peroxidase (in the last intervention day) increased at 1 h post-dose. Furthermore, the activity of both enzymes remained higher than the basal levels in overnight-fasting individuals on the last intervention day, suggesting a prolonged effect of guaraná that continues even after plasma catechin clearance. In conclusion, guaraná catechins are bioavailable and contribute to reduce the oxidative stress of clinically healthy individuals, by direct antioxidant action of the absorbed phytochemicals and up-regulation of antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes.