The Gary Null Show Notes - 01.26.23

Videos:

Berry compounds’ heart health benefits linked to impact on platelets

Sun Yat-sen University (Taiwan), January 18, 2023

The potential cardiovascular benefits of anthocyanins may be associated with their ability to influence the expression of chemicals by platelets in the blood, says new data from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The study, published in Nutrition & Metabolism , deepens our understanding of the heart health benefits of anthocyanins, pigments found in many fruit like black raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and blackcurrants. Chinese scientists report that 320 mg per day of purified anthocyanins, equivalent to about 100 g of fresh blueberries and blackcurrants, for 24 weeks were associated with significant reductions in platelet chemokine levels, which correlated to lower levels of inflammatory markers in people with elevated cholesterol levels. “Platelet chemokines are involved in inflammatory reactions, immune responses, and other aspects of the development of atherosclerosis,” explained researchers from Sun Yat-sen University.“In the present study, we found that the decreased levels of some platelet chemokines after anthocyanin treatment were closely correlated with the serum lipid and inflammatory molecule levels. “These results indicated that anthocyanins exerted beneficial effects on the platelet chemokine levels, serum lipids and inflammatory factors, thereby inhibiting atherosclerosis.” Results showed that a number of platelet chemokines decreased after anthocyanin intake, including CXCL7 (12.3% decrease versus a 4% increase in the placebo group), CXCL5 (10% decrease vs 2% increase), CXCL8 (6% decrease vs. 0.7% increase), CXCL12 (8.1% decrease vs. 5.4% increase) and CCL2 levels (11.6% decrease vs. 12.8% increase. “Interestingly, the decreases in the CXCL7 and CCL2 levels were both positively correlated with the decreases in the serum low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels after anthocyanin supplementation for 24 weeks,” said the researchers.In addition, lower CXCL8 levels were correlated with increased HDL-Cholesterol levels, and with lower levels of soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin).

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Update on Anti-Inflammatory Molecular Mechanisms Induced by Oleic Acid
University of Seville (Spain), January 17, 2023

In 2010, the Mediterranean diet was recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Olive oil is the most characteristic food of this diet due to its high nutraceutical value.

The positive effects of olive oil have often been attributed to its minor components; however, its oleic acid (OA) content (70–80%) is responsible for its many health properties. OA is an effective biomolecule, although the mechanism by which OA mediates beneficial physiological effects is not fully understood.

OA influences cell membrane fluidity, receptors, intracellular signaling pathways, and gene expression. OA may directly regulate both the synthesis and activities of antioxidant enzymes. The anti-inflammatory effect may be related to the inhibition of proinflammatory cytokines and the activation of anti-inflammatory ones. The best-characterized mechanism highlights OA as a natural activator of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1).

Oleoylethanolamide (OEA), derived from OA, is an endogenous ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) nuclear receptor. OEA regulates dietary fat intake and energy homeostasis and has therefore been suggested to be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of obesity. OEA has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

The beneficial effects of olive oil may be related to the actions of OEA.

New evidence suggests that oleic acid may influence epigenetic mechanisms, opening a new avenue in the exploration of therapies based on these mechanisms. OA can exert beneficial anti-inflammatory effects by regulating microRNA expression.

We conclude that OA is an immunomodulator with an anti-inflammatory function that, along with an unsaponifiable fraction from olive oil, supports the use of this dietary fat in the Mediterranean diet.

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Going for a walk outside found to have more mental health benefits than walking indoors
University of Victoria (Canada), January 24, 2023

A team of researchers at the University of Victoria, working with a colleague from York University, both in Canada, has found that going for a short walk outdoors provides people with more mental health benefits than going for a same-length walk inside. In their study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, the group asked volunteers to walk indoors or outdoors and tested them before and after their walk.

Prior research has shown that regular exercise can provide both mental and physical health benefits for most people. But as the researchers with this effort note, little research has been conducted to find out if exercising in some environments compared to others is more or less beneficial. To address this gap, the researchers designed and carried out a study that involved 30 college student volunteers.

Each of the volunteers took two 15-minute walks, either inside or outside. Each also had electroencephalography exams before and after each walk. To assess whether walking had any impact on mental performance, the researchers used grades on the oddball task and changes in amplitude of neural response measured using the electroencephalography exams

The researchers found improvements in response time on the oddball task after walks regardless of where they occurred. But they only found changes in amplitudes, which measure neural response, in those people who had walked outside. All such changes were represented by increases, which prior research has shown indicates heightened attention and better memory skills.

The researchers suggest that people gain more mental health benefits (cognitive function) if they go for a short walk outside rather than a walk indoors. They do acknowledge that their study was limited and suggest that larger experiments might confirm their findings. They also note that it is still not clear if such differences might exist for longer walks or when engaging in more strenuous exercise.

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Supplementation with amino acid serine eases neuropathy in diabetic mice
Salk Institute, January 25, 2023

Approximately half of people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes experience peripheral neuropathy—weakness, numbness, and pain, primarily in the hands and feet. The condition occurs when high levels of sugar circulating in the blood damage peripheral nerves. Now, working with mice, Salk Institute researchers have identified another factor contributing to diabetes-associated peripheral neuropathy: altered amino acid metabolism. The team found that diabetic mice with low levels of two related amino acids, serine and glycine, are at higher risk for peripheral neuropathy. What’s more, the researchers were able to alleviate neuropathy symptoms in diabetic mice by supplementing their diets with serine. The study, published in Nature, adds to growing evidence that some often-underappreciated, “non-essential” amino acids play important roles in the nervous system. The findings may provide a new way to identify people at high risk for peripheral neuropathy, as well as a potential treatment option. “We were surprised that dialing up and down a non-essential amino acid had such a profound effect on metabolism and diabetic complications,” says senior author Christian Metallo, a professor in Salk’s Molecular and Cell Biology Laboratory. “It just goes to show that what we think of as dogma can change under different circumstances, such as in disease conditions.” Metallo led the study with first author Michal Handzlik, a postdoctoral researcher in his lab. To determine whether long-term, chronic serine deficiency drives peripheral neuropathy, Metallo’s team fed mice either control or serine-free diets in combination with either low-fat or high-fat diets for up to 12 months. The researchers were surprised to find that low serine, in combination with a high-fat diet, accelerated the onset of peripheral neuropathy in the mice. In contrast, serine supplementation in diabetic mice slowed the progression of peripheral neuropathy, and the mice fared better. The researchers also tested the compound myriocin, which inhibits the enzyme that switches out serine for another amino acid as sphingolipids are assembled. Myriocin treatment reduced peripheral neuropathy symptoms in mice fed a high-fat, serine-free diet. These findings underscore the importance of amino acid metabolism and sphingolipid production in the maintenance of a healthy peripheral nervous system. Serine deficiency has also been associated with various neurodegenerative disorders. For example, Metallo and collaborators previously found a link between altered serine and sphingolipid metabolism in patients with macular telangiectasia type 2, a condition that causes vision loss. In mice, reduced serine led to increased levels of atypical retinal sphingolipids and reduced vision. Serine is currently being tested in clinical trials for its safety and efficacy in treating macular telangiectasia and Alzheimer’s disease. Peripheral neuropathy is typically managed with dietary changes to reduce blood sugar levels, as well as pain relievers, physical therapy, and mobility aids, such as canes and wheelchairs. Foods naturally rich in serine include soybeans, nuts, eggs, chickpeas, lentils, meat, and fish, and serine supplements are inexpensive and available over the counter. Yet the researchers say it’s premature to advise people with diabetes to take serine supplements to prevent neuropathy. “You would likely need to take a lot to make a difference, and not everyone needs extra serine,” Metallo says. “We need more time to understand serine physiology in humans and explore potential downsides to supplementation.”

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High Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages Is Associated with Low Bone Mineral Density in Young People
Federal University of Maranhao & University of Pelotas (Brazil), January 14, 2023
Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) consumption may be associated with a reduction in bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between the consumption of SSB and BMD among young people. We performed a cross-sectional study that evaluated 6620 young people (18–23 years of age) from three Brazilian birth cohorts (Ribeirão Preto, Pelotas, and São Luís). We analyzed the daily frequency and the amount and energy contribution of the SSB, which were obtained through a food frequency questionnaire. Total body and lumbar spine BMD (g/cm2), measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, were the outcomes. Unadjusted linear regression models, adjusted for sex, socioeconomic class, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and body mass index were used.The highest tertile of SSB consumption frequency (2.1–16.7 times/day) was associated with a lower lumbar spine BMD (β = −0.009; 95% CI: −0.017; −0.001; standardized β = −0.03). This association persisted after adjustment for confounders (β = −0.008; 95% CI: −0.016; −0.001; standardized β = −0.03). No association was observed between SSB consumption frequency and total body BMD or between the amount and energy contribution of SSB and total body or lumbar spine BMD. A high frequency of SSB consumption was associated with a low lumbar spine BMD.

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Prolonged exposure to work-related stress thought to be related to certain cancers

University of Montreal, January 17, 2023

For men, prolonged exposure to work-related stress has been linked to an increased likelihood of lung, colon, rectal, and stomach cancer and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The findings are among the results obtained by researchers at INRS and Université de Montréal who conducted the first study to assess the link between cancer and work-related stress perceived by men throughout their working life. The research results were published in Preventive Medicine.
On average, the study participants had held four jobs, with some holding up to a dozen or more during their working lifetime. Significant links to five of the eleven cancers considered in the study were revealed. These links were observed in men who had been exposed to 15 to 30 years of work-related stress, and in some cases, more than 30 years. A link between work-related stress and cancer was not found in participants who had held stressful jobs for less than 15 years.The most stressful jobs included firefighter, industrial engineer, aerospace engineer, mechanic foreman, and vehicle and railway-equipment repair worker. For the same individual, stress varied depending on the job held. Researchers were able to document changes in perceived work-related stress.The study also shows that perceived stress is not limited to high work load and time constraints. Customer service, sales commissions, responsibilities, the participant’s anxious temperament, job insecurity, financial problems, challenging or dangerous work conditions, employee supervision, interpersonal conflict, and a difficult commute were all sources of stress listed by the participants.”One of the biggest flaws in previous cancer studies is that none of them assessed work-related stress over a full working lifetime, making it impossible to determine how the duration of exposure to work-related stress affects cancer development. Our study shows the importance of measuring stress at different points in an individual’s working life,” explain the authors of the study.

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The Gary Null Show Notes - 01.26.23