Consumption of seafood and its estimated heavy metals are associated with lipid profile and oxidative lipid damage on healthy adults from a Spanish Mediterranean area: A cross-sectional study.

The association between the consumption of seafood and its benefits on cardiovascular (CVD) risk can be challenged by its heavy metal (HM) content. This study aimed to explore the association of seafood consumption and its estimated HM contents with the lipid profile and lipid oxidation biomarkers in adults from a Spanish Mediterranean area who do not present risk factors for CVD. In this cross-sectional study, the clinical history, three-day dietary record, lipid profile (LDLc, HDLc, APOB/A, and triglyceride levels), plasma oxidised LDL (oxLDL) and 8-isoprostane levels of 81 adults without risk factors for CVD [43% men, with a mean age of 43.6 years (95%CI: 40.1-47.1)] were assessed. The HM [arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb)] contents of seafood were estimated according to data from analyses of marine species in the same Mediterranean area. Moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet (score: 4.6 of 9) with a mean seafood consumption of 74.9g/day (95%CI: 59.9-89.9), including 22.7g of shellfish per day (95%CI: 13.5-31.9), was observed. The estimated HM contents were lower than the provisional tolerable weekly intakes (PTWIs): 21.12µg/kg/week As, 0.57µg/kg/week InAs, 0.15µg/kg/week Cd, 1.11µg/kg/week Hg and 0.28µg/kg/week Pb. After adjusting by confounder variables, an increase in shellfish consumption was associated with increases in the levels of LDLc (P=0.013), non-HDLc (P=0.015), APOB/A (P=0.02) and plasma oxLDL (P=0.002). Moreover, an increase in the estimated As and Hg levels in shellfish was associated with an increase in LDLc (P=0.015 and P=0.018, respectively), non-HDLc (P<0.008 and P<0.008, respectively), APOB/A ratio (P=0.008 and P=0.009, respectively), and oxLDL (P≤0.001 and P≤0.001, respectively) levels. In conclusion, in adults without risk factors for CVD, increasing shellfish consumption, even by a moderate amount, could favour a pro-atherogenic lipid profile and a higher level of oxidised LDL. These associations are likely influenced by the estimated exposure to As and Hg from shellfish despite these values are lower than the PTWIs.

Relative absorption of silicon from different formulations of dietary supplements: a pilot randomized, double-blind, crossover post-prandial study.

The purpose of the present study was to compare the relative absorption of a new powder presentation of silicon (Si) as orthosilicic acid with maltodextrin (Orgono Powder) compared to usual Si liquid presentations as orthosilicic acid with Equisetum arvense and Rosmarinus officinalis (G5 Siliplant) and orthosilicic acid with aloe vera (G7 Aloe). All dietary supplements were administered at the same Si oral dose (21.6 mg) in a randomized, double-blind, crossover post-prandial study conducted in 5 healthy men. Urine was collected at baseline and over the 6-h post-dose period in 2 separate 3-h collections for the analysis of Si concentration, which was conducted by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry as the gold standard method. No significant differences in total urinary Si excretion were found after the intake of these 3 dietary supplements; 34.6%, 32.4% and 27.2% of the ingested Si from G7 Aloe, G5 Siliplant and Orgono Powder, respectively, was excreted in urine over the 6-h follow-up period. The 3 different oral Si formulations tested, in powder and liquid presentations, provide highly bioavailable Si and present an equivalent relative absorption in healthy humans.

Effects of Hesperidin Consumption on the Cardiovascular System in Pre- and Stage 1 Hypertensive Subjects: Targeted and Non-Targeted Metabolomic Approaches (CITRUS Study).

SCOPE: The aim of the present work is to determine new biomarkers of the biological effects of hesperidin in orange juice (OJ) applying a non-targeted metabolomics approach validated by targeted metabolomics analyses of compliance biomarkers. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma/serum and urine targeted (HPLC-MS/MS) and untargeted (1 H-NMR) metabolomics signatures are explored in a subsample with pre- and stage-1 hypertension subjects of the CITRUS study (N = 159). Volunteers received 500 mL day-1 of control drink, OJ, or hesperidin-enriched OJ (EOJ) for 12-weeks. A 6-h postprandrial study is performed at baseline. Targeted analyses reveals plasma and urine hesperetin 7-O-ß-d-glucuronide as the only metabolite differing between OJ and EOJ groups after 12-weeks consumption, and in urine is correlated with a decreased systolic blood pressure level. The non-targeted approach shows that after single dose and 12-weeks consumption of OJ and EOJ change several metabolites related with an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions, lower blood pressure levels and uremic toxins. CONCLUSIONS: Hesperetin 7-O-ß-d-glucuronide can be a candidate marker for distinguishing between the consumption of different hesperidin doses at 12-weeks consumption as well as a potential agent mediating blood pressure reduction. Moreover, changes in different endogenous metabolites can explain the mechanisms of action and the biological effects of hesperidin consumption.

Effects of hesperidin consumption on cardiovascular risk biomarkers: a systematic review of animal studies and human randomized clinical trials.

CONTEXT: The cardioprotective effects of the flavonoid hesperidin, which is present in citrus products, are controversial and unclear. This systematic review was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA 2015 guidelines. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the current evidence from animal and human clinical studies and thus determine whether the consumption of hesperidin exerts beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors. DATA SOURCES: PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study Design) criteria defined the research question. Searches of the PubMed and Cochrane Plus databases were conducted and studies that met the inclusion criteria and were published in English in the last 15 years were included. DATA EXTRACTION: The first author, year of publication, study design, characteristics of animals and humans, intervention groups, dose of hesperidin, route of administration, duration of the intervention, cardiovascular risk biomarkers assessed, and results observed were extracted from the included articles. RESULTS: A total of 12 animal studies and 11 randomized clinical trials met the inclusion criteria. In the animal studies, the glucose, total and LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels decreased with chronic flavonoid consumption. In the human studies, endothelial function improved with flavonoid consumption, whereas no conclusive results were observed for the other biomarkers. CONCLUSIONS: Animal studies have revealed that hesperidin and hesperetin consumption reduces glucose levels and various lipid profile parameters. However, a definitive conclusion cannot be drawn from the existing human clinical trials. Further research is needed to confirm whether the findings observed in animal models can also be observed in humans. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: Prospero registration number CRD42018088942.

Architectural, functional and molecular responses to concentric and eccentric loading in human skeletal muscle.

AIM: We investigated architectural, functional and molecular responses of human skeletal muscle to concentric (CON) or eccentric (ECC) resistance training (RT). METHODS: Twelve young males performed 10 weeks of concentric (CON) or eccentric (ECC) resistance training (RT) (n = 6 CON, 6 ECC). An additional 14 males were recruited to evaluate acute muscle fascicle behaviour and molecular signalling in biopsies collected from vastus lateralis (VL) after 30 min of single bouts of CON or ECC exercise. VL volume was measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Muscle architecture (fascicle length, Lf; pennation angle, PA) was evaluated by ultrasonography. Muscle remodelling signals to CON or ECC loading [MAPK/AKT-mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling] and inflammatory pathway (TNFαMurf-1-MAFbx) were evaluated by immunoblotting. RESULTS: Despite the ~1.2-fold greater load of the ECC group, similar increases in muscle volume (+8% CON and +6% ECC) and in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (+9% CON and +11% ECC) were found after RT. However, increases in Lf were greater after ECC than CON (+12 vs. +5%) while increases in PA were greater in CON than ECC (+30 vs. +5%). Distinct architectural adaptations were associated with preferential growth in the distal regions of VL for ECC (+ECC +8% vs. +CON +2) and mid belly for CON (ECC +7 vs. CON +11%). While MAPK activation (p38MAPK, ERK1/2, p90RSK) was specific to ECC, neither mode affected AKT-mTOR or inflammatory signalling 30 min after exercise. CONCLUSION: Muscle growth with CON and ECC RT occurs with different morphological adaptations reflecting distinct fibre fascicle behaviour and molecular responses.