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Glycemic index and insulin index after a standard carbohydrate meal consumed with live kombucha
University of Sydney, February 13, 2023
Kombucha is a complex probiotic beverage made from fermented tea, yet despite extensive historical, anecdotal, and in-vivo evidence for its health benefits, no controlled trials have been published on its effect on humans. We conducted a randomised placebo-controlled, cross-over study that examined the Glycemic Index (GI) and Insulin Index (II) responses after a standardised high-GI meal consumed with three different test beverages (soda water, diet lemonade soft drink and an unpasteurised kombucha). Soda water was used as the control beverage. GI or II values were calculated by expressing the 2-h blood glucose or insulin response as a percentage of the response produced by 50 g of glucose dissolved in water. There was no statistically significant difference in GI or II between the standard meal consumed with soda water or diet soft drink . In contrast, when kombucha was consumed there was a clinically significant reduction in GI and II (GI: 68, p = 0.041 and II: 70, p = 0.041) compared to the meal consumed with soda water. This study demonstrated a realistic, standard serve of kombucha can produce clinically significant reductions in postprandial glycemia and insulinemia in healthy adults when consumed with a high-GI, rice-based meal. Further studies examining the mechanisms and the potential therapeutic benefits of kombucha on postprandial glycemia in different populations are warranted.
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Polyphenols may be missing component in regulating inflammatory immune responses
Shinshu University (Japan), February 21, 2023
PCB2DG, a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory properties, works by targeting and directly interacting with the major glutamine transporter protein, alanine serine cysteine transporter 2 (ASCT2), to inhibit the uptake of glutamine, an important amino acid found in the blood. This reduction of intracellular glutamine accumulation in CD4+ T cells also reduces the production of interferon-gamma, or IFN-γ showing promise in the future of dietary polyphenol treatment for those suffering from autoimmune diseases. Additionally, the identification of ASCT2 as the target protein of PCB2DG is one of the main achievements of the study, giving way to new opportunities to study the effects dietary polyphenols have on immune responses. Researchers published in International Immunopharmacology where the target molecule of polyphenols in immune cells was identified, as well as clarification on how PCB2DG works to suppress glutamine influxes within CD4+ T cells. The study used previous research by the same team to build upon their original hypothesis of cytokine inhibition in the presence of PCB2DG and other common food-derived polyphenols. “Since activated T cells have been suggested to cause autoimmune diseases, it is expected that administration of PCB2DG will improve the pathologies of these diseases” said Katsunori Endo, first author of the paper and researcher at Shinshu University. Procyanidins are dietary polyphenol compounds found in many commonly consumed plant materials, such as tea leaves, grapes (and therefore wine), and cacao. These procyanidins are combined with the functional group “gallate, “allowing for greater interactions with various protein surfaces. Combine the two and we have our subject: PCB2DG. This subject has been shown to inhibit glutamine uptake in CD4+ T cells thanks to its ability to bind to the glutamine transporter protein discovered in this study, ASCT2. By “starving” cells of glutamine, an amino acid response (AAR) is generated, then inducing the activity of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) which promotes gene expression to synthesize amino acids. Since T cell activation depends on the presence of extracellular amino acids like glutamine for use as a base to build upon, glutamine and other amino-acid deficient cells are unable to supply the requirements for such T cell activation, leading to a reduced inflammatory response. “We showed previously that the immunomodulatory effects of PCB2, PCB2 3-O-gallate, and PCB2 3′′-O- gallate were obviously lower than those of PCB2DG. Therefore, the specific structure of PCB2DG, i.e. a dimeric polyphenol including two gallate groups, is likely important for its binding to ASCT2 and remarkable immunomodulatory effects,” Endo said. Configuration and structure of molecules are crucial when it comes to physiological responses, as most interactions are not possible unless a “lock and key” mechanism is present to set off a chain of reactions. Understanding exactly what structure is needed to unlock the immunomodulating capabilities of polyphenols on immune cells was a large part of the question this research has helped to answer.
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Plant extract fights brain tumor
Silibinin from milk thistle seeds as novel, non-invasive treatment strategy for Cushing Disease
Max Planck Institute (Germany), February 11, 2023
Cushing Disease, not to be confused with Cushing’s Syndrome, is caused by a tumour in the pituitary gland in the brain. The tumour secrets increased amounts of the stress hormone adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) followed by cortisol release from the adrenal glands leading to rapid weight gain, elevated blood pressure and muscular weakness. Patients are prone to osteoporosis, infections and may show cognitive dysfunction or even depression. In 80 to 85 % of the patients the tumour can be removed by uncomfortable brain surgery. For inoperable cases, there is currently only one targeted therapy approved which unfortunately causes intense side effects such as hyperglycemia in more than 20 % of the patients. Scientists around Günter Stalla, endocrinologist at the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich, now discovered in cell cultures, animal models and human tumour tissue that a harmless plant extract can be applied to treat Cushing Disease. “Silibinin is the major active constituent of milk thistle seeds. It has an outstanding safety profile in humans and is already used for the treatment of liver disease and poisoning,” explains Marcelo Paez-Pereda, leading scientist of the current study published in the renowned scientific journal Nature Medicine. After silibinin treatment, tumour cells resumed normal ACTH production, tumour growth slowed down and symptoms of Cushing Disease disappeared in mice. The Max Planck scientists filed on a broad family of chemical and natural compounds, including silibinin, to treat pituitary tumours. Compared to humans, of which only 5.5 in 100,000 people worldwide develop Cushing Disease, this condition is very common in several pets. For example, 4 % of dogs and even 7 % of horses suffer from Cushing Disease. Thus, the researchers now plan to test special formulations with a very pure substance and slow release of the active component silibinin in clinical trials.
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Any kind of regular exercise at any age helps the brain fight off dementia later in life
University College London Medical School, February 21, 2023
No matter what you choose to do, from a walk down the street to running a marathon, can help fight off dementia during old age. Researchers at University College London Medical School say any kind of physical activity at any age leads to better brain function later in life. Moreover, researchers note that maintaining a fitness routine throughout adulthood is the best for preserving memory and mental sharpness. The long-term study, published online in the Journal of Neurology Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, reveals that the findings remained “statistically significant” even after factoring in childhood cognitive ability, household income, and education. The team wanted to know if physical activity might be most beneficial in specific “sensitive” periods during the course of someone’s life, or across multiple time periods. Researchers examined the strength of links between a series of cognitive tests at age 69 and that person’s reported leisure time activity at the ages of 36, 43, 53, 60 to 64, and 69 among more than 1,400 British men and women. The team categorized physical activity levels as inactive, moderately active (1 to 4 times a month), most active (5 or more times per month), and then summed up all five assessments to create a total score ranging from zero (inactive at all ages) to five (active at all ages). Results show one in nine participants (11%) were physically inactive at all five time points in their lives, 17 percent were active during one time period, 20 percent were active during two or three, 17 percent were active during four age periods, and 15 percent were still active during all five. Overall, study authors find that being physically active at all five time points in time leads to higher cognitive performance, verbal memory, and processing speed at the age of 69. The team adds that the effect is similar across all adult ages, and for those who are moderately and most physically active, “suggesting that being physically active at any time in adulthood, even if participating as little as once per month, is linked with higher cognition.” The UCL notes the strongest association appears among people with sustained cumulative physical activity and later life cognition, as well as those who were most physically active at all ages. The positive association between cumulative physical activity and later life cognitive performance may also have a connection to childhood cognition, socioeconomic position, and education, the team says.
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Polyphenol-rich tomato extract supports cardiovascular health through modulation of gut microbiome
University College Cork (Ireland) & University of Oslo (Norway), February 18, 2023
New research1 has found evidence that a water-soluble tomato extract (Fruitflow) may activate the gut-heart axis. In double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, 22 overweight and obese subjects were given either placebo or 150 mg of the tomato extract daily for four weeks, with a six-week washout period between interventions. Researchers collected stool, blood, and urine samples to test changes in trimethylamine-n-oxide (TMAO; primary outcome) as well as fecal microbiota, fecal and plasma metabolites, and urine TMAO (secondary outcomes). The researchers explain that “TMAO is derived from trimethylamine (TMA), a microbial metabolite produced by various taxa of the gut microbiota primarily from dietary phosphatidylcholine and L-carnitine, commonly found in red meat, cheese, and eggs.” Absorbed through the intestinal epithelium and transported to the liver, TMA is converted into TMAO, which is known to proinflammatory and proatherogenic. High baseline levels of TMAO are associated with major adverse cardiovascular events. Results showed that supplementation with the tomato extract was associated with reduced fasting levels of plasma and urine TMAO as well as plasma lipopolysaccharides from baseline to the end of intervention, while placebo did not. These changes, however, were only significant in the urine TMAO levels when compared between groups. Researchers also observed significant differences in the microbial beta diversity with the consumption of the tomato extract, as well as decreases in Bacteroides, Ruminococccus, and Hungatella and increases in Alistipes when comparing between and within groups. The researchers attribute these results to the polyphenols found in the extract, and their impact on the composition of the gut microbiota. “DSM is committed to helping people improve their gut health and use this as a gateway to overall wellbeing,” said Robert E. Steinert, PhD, principal scientist at DSM, in a press release. “The results of this study are incredibly encouraging and support earlier findings that polyphenol-rich extracts can lower TMAO concentrations through a targeted and beneficial modulation of the gut microbiota. We’re looking forward to working with our customers to develop new dietary supplement solutions targeting the gut-heart axis. Looking ahead, this study paves the way for future research into the gut-brain axis, especially age-related cognitive decline. This is an exciting time for gut-health research.”
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Vaping can cause even more DNA damage than smoking regular cigarettes, study reveals
University of Southern California, February 21, 2023
E-cigarettes—used regularly by more than 10% of U.S. teens and more than 3% of adults—were once pitched as a healthy alternative to tobacco cigarettes. But research increasingly links the use of e-cigarettes, or vaping, to many of the same life-threatening diseases that plague smokers. In a breakthrough study, a group of researchers from the Keck School of Medicine of USC analyzed epithelial cells taken from the mouths of vapers, smokers, and people who had never vaped or smoked. They found that vapers and smokers had similar levels of DNA damage—more than twice the amount found in non-users. DNA damage was higher among those who vaped or smoked more frequently. It was also higher in vapers who used vape pods and mods, as well as sweet-, fruit- or mint-flavored vapes. “For the first time, we showed that the more vapers used e-cigarettes, and the longer they used them, the more DNA damage occurred in their oral cells,” said Ahmad Besaratinia, PhD, MPH, the study’s senior author. DNA damage to oral epithelial cells, which line the mouth, is an early change that is associated with an increased risk for many types of chronic disease, including cancer and inflammatory diseases. The research, just published in the journal Nicotine & Tobacco Research, is the first to clearly distinguish between the DNA damage that occurs in exclusive vapers versus smokers and to provide details about the risks vapers face based on how often they vape and what devices and flavors they use. Vapers are difficult to study because they typically have a history of cigarette smoking or are dual users, who both vape and smoke tobacco cigarettes. The researchers recruited 72 healthy adults and split them into three groups, matched for age, race and gender: current vapers (who had never smoked), current smokers (who had never vaped) and people with no history of smoking or vaping. They verified the history of each participant using detailed questionnaires, interviews and biochemical tests to ensure that any observed effects could be directly linked to either vaping or smoking. The tests showed similar levels of DNA damage between vapers and smokers: 2.6 times and 2.2 times that of non-users, respectively. In terms of devices, vapers who used pods had the highest levels of DNA damage, followed by those who used mods. In terms of flavors, sweet-flavored vapes were linked to the highest levels of DNA damage, followed by mint/menthol- and fruit-flavored vapes.