The effect of bioactive complex of quercetin, selenium, catechins and curcumin on cardiovascular risk markers in healthy population after a two month consumption.

BACKGROUND: Nutrition is an important factor in prevention of degenerative age-related diseases. Health benefits of the functional food - cereal selenized onion biscuits with bioactive complex such as selenium in organic form, quercetin (onion), curcumin (curcuma) and catechins (green tea) were evaluated. METHODS: In a group of randomly selected 50 apparently healthy men, aged 30-50 years, the levels of total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), homocysteine (HCy) and its nutritional determinants (methionine, vitamin B12, folic acid, cysteine, vitamin B6) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were measured and the LDL cholesterol and atherogenic index was calculated before and after a 2-month consumption period and after a 2-month wash-out period. RESULTS: The significant reduction of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, atherogenic index, HCy and ADMA was found after onion biscuit consumption. Alternative pathway for HCy degradation using betaine as methyl donor is probably a sole argument for reduced HCy value at the significantly reduced concentrations of the methionine, folic acid, cysteine and vitamin B6. Value of hs-CRP was non-significantly reduced after biscuit consumption. CONCLUSION: The results of improved lipid profile, significantly reduced values of HCy and ADMA document a beneficial effect of cereal biscuit with selenized onion, curcuma and green tea in prevention of cardiovascular disease (Tab. 2, Ref. 19).

Antioxidant status in vegetarians and nonvegetarians in Bratislava region (Slovakia).

The level of antioxidant vitamins (C, A, E) and the activity of a selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase as indicators of antioxidant status and lipid peroxides as markers of oxidative damage were investigated in blood of 196 healthy middle-aged inhabitants of Bratislava region. The group consisted of 78 vegearians (32 men and 46 women) and 118 nonvegetarians (61 men and 57 women). The aim of the study was to compare the effect of the diet on the antioxidant status in vegetarians and nonvegetarians. The most important differences were found in the level of ascorbic acid and in the activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase; the ascorbic acid in serum was significantly higher, while the selenium and the activity of selenium-dependent glutathione peroxidase was lower both in plasma and erythrocytes of vegetarians.

Changed serum trace element profile in Down's syndrome.

Being cofactors of important antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), which are significantly modified in Down's syndrome (trisomy 21), serum levels of microtrace elements zinc, copper, and selenium and of macroelement magnesium are reported in 16 subjects with Down's syndrome (DS) and their respective well age- and sex-matched controls. Serum zinc and selenium levels were significantly lowered in DS subjects, whereas copper levels were elevated. Consequently, a marked increase (40%) of the copper/zinc ratio in DS persons was observed. There were no differences in serum levels of magnesium between DS and control subjects.

Selenium status, plasma zinc, copper, and magnesium in vegetarians.

Plasma zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations, copper/zinc ratio, and selenium (Se) status were studied in 44 vegetarians (22 males and 22 females) and their age- and sex-matched nonvegetarians in the Bratislava region (Slovakia). Vegetarians had statistically significant lower levels of plasma Zn and Cu than nonvegetarians, which may be the result of lower bioavailability of Zn and Cu from this type of diet. No differences in plasma Mg levels were found between vegetarians and nonvegetarians. Se status, as expressed by plasma and erythrocyte concentrations and plasma and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase activities (GPx), was significantly lower in vegetarians when compared to nonvegetarians. In the series as a whole, there were significantly higher correlations between plasma and erythrocyte Se concentrations and between plasma and erythrocyte GPx activities. Significant positive correlations were also found between plasma Se concentrations and erythrocyte GPx activities, and between erythrocyte Se concentrations and erythrocyte GPx activities. A vegetarian diet does not provide a sufficient supply of essential antioxidant trace elements, like Zn, Cu, and especially Se. Se supplementation should be recommended to this risk group of the population.

The effect of graded ascorbic acid intake on the activity of GSH-Px in the liver of female guinea pigs.

Differing antioxidant potentials created by graded ascorbic acid supplementation (1, 10, 100 mg per animal daily) evoked changes in the level of glutathione peroxidase activity and lipid peroxides in the liver of female guinea pigs. The group with the lowest ascorbic acid intake (1 mg) had the lowest activity of glutathione peroxidase and the highest level of lipid peroxides. The two other groups (10 and 100 mg) showed enhancement of glutathione peroxidase activity and decline in lipid peroxides. There was no difference between the groups with 10 and 100 mg ascorbic acid intake.

Selenium concentration in plasma and erythrocytes in a healthy Slovak population.

To obtain reference values for plasma and erythrocyte selenium concentrations blood specimens were collected from healthy adults from the Bratislava region. In 174 people, 20 to 60 years old, a plasma Se concentration of 56.2 +/- 8.5 micrograms/L and in 133 persons an erythrocyte Se level of 95.3 +/- 16.3 micrograms/kg were found (mean +/- SD). Selenium levels showed a normal distribution in plasma and erythrocytes. No differences were found according to sex or age. These results indicate that the Slovak population has a low Se status, with values for plasma Se being among the lowest in Europe.

Serum copper, zinc and copper/zinc ratio in males: influence of aging.

Apparently healthy free-living (non-hospitalized) men aged 8-89 years (n = 408) were studied to determine the effect of age on serum copper and zinc concentrations and the copper/zinc ratio. Mean values +/- S.D. for age, serum copper and zinc levels and the copper/zinc ratio were as follow: 41.9 +/- 22.9 years, 1.15 +/- 0.17 micrograms/ml, 0.93 +/- 0.14 micrograms/ml and 1.25 +/- 0.19, respectively. In the elderly subjects above 75 years, a marked increase in serum copper concentrations and the copper/zinc ratio as well as a decrease in serum zinc concentrations were observed. Serum copper concentrations and the copper/zinc ratio correlated positively with age (p < 0.0001).

Zinc and copper in the tissues and serum of cadmium intoxicated guinea-pigs: influence of vitamin C.

Cadmium in the dose of 1 mg/animal/day was administered to guinea-pigs in the form of CdCl2 dissolved in drinking water during short-term (5 weeks) and subchronic (12 weeks) experiments. Both the control and cadmium-treated groups were divided into two subgroups, according to low (2 mg/animal/day) and high (100 mg/animal/day) vitamin C intake. Subchronic cadmium treatment caused copper deficiency indicated by a dramatic decrease of copper concentration in the liver and serum and by its moderate decrease in the testes and brain. Cadmium significantly increased zinc concentrations in the kidneys during the whole experiment and decreased the level of zinc in the serum after subchronic cadmium treatment. In the control groups, the levels of zinc and copper in the serum were lowered after 5 weeks of high vitamin C doses. High doses of vitamin C in cadmium-treated guinea-pigs decreased the levels of copper in the testes, brain and serum. These observations suggest that cadmium intake in relatively high doses might potentiate the development of copper deficiency, and high doses of vitamin C aggravate, to a certain extent, copper depletion in some important organs and serum of guinea-pigs.

The effect of ascorbic acid on cadmium accumulation in guinea pig tissues.

Accumulation of cadmium in organs of guinea pigs after subchronic oral cadmium treatment (1 mg Cd/animal/24 h) was in the following order: kidneys > liver > heart > testes > brain. The preventive effects of high doses of ascorbic acid (AA) against cadmium deposition were more pronounced in the testes, heart and brain, and in the kidney only after short-term cadmium treatment. Ascorbic acid had no protective effect on cadmium accumulation in the liver.

Dynamics of hexachlorobenzene residues in the food chain.

Epidemiological studies of food contamination in an area of intensive agriculture for the years 1975-1983 showed that hexachlorobenzene (HCB) was present in all food-chain links, although HCB has not been used in Czechoslovakian agriculture since 1980. Samples of potatoes, wheat, milk fat, eggs, meat and human milk were analysed by gas-liquid chromatography with electron-capture detector. Levels of HCB residues ranged from 0.02 (potatoes) to 2.5 mg/kg (human milk, fat basis). A study of HCB accumulation in eggs from a poultry experiment showed that HCB levels in eggs can reach about twice the level given in feed at 7-10 weeks.

Synergism between vitamins C and E: effect on microsomal hydroxylation in guinea pig liver.

A separate administration of high doses of L-ascorbic acid or DL-alpha-tocopherylacetate to guinea pigs, fed a cholesterol diet with low content of vitamins C and E enhances the activity of aniline hydroxylase and p-nitro-anisole O-demethylase in hepatal microsomes. A simultaneous administration of the two vitamins exerts a synergic action on aniline hydroxylase. An optimum combination of vitamins C and E may substantially enhance the detoxicating ability of the liver.

Distribution of 14C-lindane in Japanese quail using autoradiography of whole body sections.

Information on the distribution of lindane in Japanese quails was obtained by autoradiography of whole body sections. The most part of lindane was found in fatty tissues of the animals and the distribution in the other parts of the organism was equal. A single dose of 14C-lindane is found in the organism of Japanese quails mainly in the gastro-intestinal tract and is excreted within 72 hours after the application.

Relative cumulation of beta-BHC in ecological and biological system.

During 1971-1974 a study was undertaken to analyze 1234 samples of different elements of food chain from three regions of Slovakia in order to obtain information on ecological relations of the dynamics of residues of four isomers of BHC compared with p,p-DDT and DDE. In contrast to most literature data, a higher relative cumulation of beta-BHC in animal food products compared to the other isomers was noted. The observed relations between the individual BHC isomers were verified in a model feeding experiment on poultry. Dynamics of the transfer of the BHC isomers between fodder, meat, liver, and eggs were studied in broilers and laying hens. All results of the model feeding experiment confirmed the conclusions of the ecological studies concerning beta-, gamma-, and -delta -BHC. The persistence of the alpha-BHC was not confirmed in this manner.