Effect of watercress extract supplementation on lipid profile and oxidative stress markers in overweight people with physical disability: A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial.

Studies have demonstrated that diet rich in cruciferous vegetables of the Brassicaceae family can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and oxidative stress levels. Nasturtium officinale (Brassicaceae), commonly known as watercress is a perennial dicotyledonous plant usually found close to water. Although previous investigations have demonstrated the beneficial effects of watercress on hypercholesterolemia in animal studies, until now no such studies have been conducted with humans, up to this time. This study aimed to investigate whether overweight individuals were able to improve or maintain their serum lipid and oxidative stress markers when given standardized extract of Nasturtium officinale (SENO) as a supplement. This was a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial conducted over 5 weeks. Thirty-four overweight people with physical disabilities were selected randomly to participate in this study and then they were assigned randomly to two groups, one treated with 750 mg//kg/d of SENO and the other treated with 750 mg/kg/d of placebo. The results indicated that SENO caused a significant improvement in the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, creatinine, and lipid peroxidation. However, SENO did not cause a significant statistical change in total serum cholesterol, triacylglycerol, and high-density lipoprotein levels; catalase, superoxide dismutase, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and urea parameters. The present data might provide supportive evidence that SENO did not cause any harm and positively affected low-density lipoprotein cholesterol profile and creatinine as well as lipid peroxidation levels in the participants. Nevertheless, further studies are suggested to clarify the results presented in this clinical trial.

Casein-derived peptides as an alternative ingredient for low-phenylalanine diets / Péptidos derivados de la caseína como ingrediente alternativo para las dietas bajas en fenilalanina

Introduction: casein-derived peptides can be liberated both in vivo via normal digestion of casein, as well as in vitro via enzymatic hydrolysis. These peptides were suggested to have biological activity. Objectives: the aim of this study was to describe the production and characterization of casein peptides and to explore the potential of these peptides as an option for low-phenylalanine diets. Methods: peptides were produced by tryptic hydrolysis of sodium caseinate and acid precipitation with HCl, followed by precipitation with ethanol or aggregation of CaCl2 or ZnSO4. Results: the amino acid analysis revealed a significant reduction in the amount of phenylalanine from the original protein. Conclusion: casein-derived peptides could be a future alternative of short chain peptides to low-phenylalanine formulations

Introducción: los péptidos derivados de la caseína se pueden liberar tanto in vivo, a través de la digestión normal de la caseína, como in vitro a través de la hidrólisis enzimática. Se sugirió que estos péptidos tenían actividad biológica. Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio fue describir la producción y caracterización de péptidos de caseína y explorar el potencial de estos péptidos como una opción para las dietas con bajo contenido de fenilalanina. Métodos: los péptidos se produjeron por hidrólisis tríptica de caseinato de sodio y precipitación ácida con HCl, seguido de precipitación con etanol o agregación de CaCl2 o ZnSO4. Resultados: el análisis de aminoácidos reveló una reducción significativa en la cantidad de fenilalanina de la proteína original. Conclusión: los péptidos derivados de la caseína podrían ser una alternativa futura de los péptidos de cadena corta a las formulaciones con bajo contenido de fenilalanina