Search Results (43)

Background: Epidemiological research has shown that regular walnut (from Juglans regia L.) consumption is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), potentially attributable to their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), a protein upregulated in CVD, has been previously examined in relation to walnut consumption. However, the clinical findings regarding the effects of walnuts on endothelial function among middle-aged individuals susceptible to metabolic syndrome (MetS) remain inconclusive. Objective: This study examined the effects of daily walnut consumption over a four-week period on cardiometabolic parameters (lipid and glycemic profiles, as well as soluble VCAM-1 levels) and anthropometric measurements in middle-aged individuals with at least one altered MetS parameter and no medication. Methods: In a randomized controlled cross-over trial, 22 eligible Caucasian participants (48.81 ± 4.3 years) were selected and randomly assigned to receive either 45 g of walnuts per day or no walnuts within a controlled diet. There were two 28-day intervention periods, with a one-month washout period in between. Clinical and biochemical evaluations were conducted at the beginning and end of each intervention period. Results: A total of 20 participants completed the intervention and were analyzed, with walnuts being well tolerated. A significant decrease in waist circumference (p = 0.049) and a slight change in fasting blood glucose (p = 0.089) were noted following walnut intake. Conclusions: Short-term (4 weeks) dietary supplementation with walnuts resulted in a statistically significant reduction in waist circumference while not impacting the overall health status of participants. Longer-term studies are necessary to investigate the benefits of daily walnut consumption and its impact on the onset and development of MetS in this age group. Full article

Hypoxia due to stroke is a major cause of neuronal damage, leading to loss of cognition and other brain functions. Sevoflurane preconditioning improves recovery after hypoxia. Hypoxia interferes with protein expression at the translational level; however, its effect on mRNA levels for neuronal protein kinase and anti-apoptotic genes is unclear. To investigate the link between sevoflurane preconditioning and gene expression, hippocampal slices were treated with 4% sevoflurane for 15 min, a 5 min washout, 10 min of hypoxia, and 60 min of recovery. We used quantitative PCR to measure mRNA levels in the CA1 region of rat hippocampi. The mRNA levels for specific critical proteins were examined, as follows: Protein kinases, PKCγ (0.22), PKCε (0.38), and PKMζ (0.55) mRNAs, and anti-apoptotic, bcl-2 (0.44) and bcl-xl (0.41), were reduced 60 min after hypoxia relative to their expression in tissue not subjected to hypoxia (set to 1.0). Sevoflurane preconditioning prevented the reduction in PKMζ (0.88 vs. 1.0) mRNA levels after hypoxia. Pro-apoptotic BAD mRNA was not significantly changed after hypoxia, even with sevoflurane preconditioning (hypoxia 0.81, sevo hypoxia 0.84 vs. normoxia 1.0). However, BAD mRNA was increased by sevoflurane in non-hypoxic conditions (1.48 vs. 1.0), which may partially explain the deleterious effects of volatile anesthetics under certain conditions. The DNA repair enzyme poly ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP-1) was increased by sevoflurane in tissue not subjected to hypoxia (1.23). PARP-1 mRNA was reduced in untreated tissue after hypoxia (0.21 vs. 1.0); sevoflurane did not improve PARP-1 after hypoxia (0.27). Interestingly, the mRNA level of the cognitive kinase PKMζ, a kinase essential for learning and memory, was the only one protected against hypoxic downregulation by sevoflurane preconditioning. These findings correlate with previous studies that found that sevoflurane-induced improvement of neuronal survival after hypoxia was dependent on PKMζ. Maintaining mRNA levels for critical proteins may provide an important mechanism for preserving neuronal function after stroke. Full article

Background: Adequate nutrition is crucial for athletes to enhance performance and recovery. This study investigates the acute effects of omega-3 and whey protein supplementation before and after exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) on lower-body strength, explosive power, and delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in female futsal players. Method: A randomized, cross-over, placebo-controlled, double-blind study involved 15 female futsal players (Age: 22.93 ± 0.54 years; Height: 159.60 ± 1.16 cm; Weight: 56.95 ± 1.79 kg). Participants completed three conditions: pre-EIMD (1000 mg fish oil, 30 g whey protein, 2 h before EIMD), post-EIMD (same supplementation, within 2 h after EIMD), and placebo (PLA, 2 g starch). EIMD involved 200 vertical jumps with 15% body-weighted vests. Metrics including Sargent jump height (VJH), thigh swelling (Sw-T), pressure pain threshold (PPT), V-sit and reach flexibility test (VSFT), range of motion (ROM), relative peak torque (RPT), average power (AP), and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) were recorded 48 h post-EIMD. DOMS was assessed via a visual analog scale (VAS) multiple times. A one-week washout period was employed. Results: Pre-EIMD supplementation significantly increased VJH (p = 0.001) compared to PLA and Post-EIMD (p = 0.033). MVIC45° improved significantly in Pre-EIMD vs. PLA (p = 0.001). Improvements were observed in muscle strength metrics, with significant increases in APflx60°/s (pre-EIMD vs. PLA, p = 0.001; pre-EIMD vs. post-EIMD, p = 0.008), APext60°/s (Pre-EIMD vs. PLA, p = 0.030), and APext180°/s (Post-EIMD vs. PLA, p = 0.023). DOMS was lower in both Pre-EIMD and Post-EIMD conditions immediately and at 12 h post-EIMD (p = 0.009; p = 0.030) than PLA. No significant differences were found in Sw-T, PPT, VSFT, ROM, or APflx180°/s. Conclusions: Acute omega-3 and whey protein supplementation, particularly before EIMD, improves strength and power and reduces DOMS in female futsal players. Supplement timing may be critical for optimizing recovery and performance in high-demand sports. Full article

Metabolic conditions, such as gout, can result from elevated uric acid (UA) levels. Consuming high-purine meals increases UA levels. Therefore, people with hyperuricemia typically must avoid ingesting such foods. Polyphenols have been shown to reduce uric acid levels and tart cherries (TCs) are a rich source of phenolic and anthocyanin compounds. This proof-of-concept study evaluated whether ingesting TCs with a purine-rich meal affects the uricemic response. Methods: A total of 25 adults (15 males and 10 females, 85.0 ± 17 kg, 40.6 ± 9 years, 29.1 ± 4.9 kg/m²) with elevated fasting UA levels (5.8 ± 1.3 mg/dL) donated a fasting blood sample. In a randomized, double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced manner, participants ingested capsules containing 960 mg of a placebo (PLA) or concentrated TC powder containing 20.7 mg of proanthocyanins with a serving of hot soup (10 g of carbohydrate, 2 g protein, and 1 g fat) containing 3 g of purines (1 g of adenosine 5′-monophosphate, 1 g of disodium 5′-guanylate, and 1 g of disodium 5′-inosinate). Blood samples were obtained at 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min after ingestion to assess changes in uric acid levels and pharmacokinetic profiles. Cell blood counts, a comprehensive metabolic panel, cytokines, inflammatory markers, and subjective side effects ratings were analyzed on baseline (0 min) and post-treatment (240 min) samples. Participants continued consuming two capsules/day of the assigned treatment for one week and then repeated the experiment. Participants observed a 14-day washout and then repeated the experiment while ingesting the alternate treatment. Data were analyzed using general linear model (GLM) statistics with repeated measures, pairwise comparisons, and percentage change from baseline with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: No statistically significant interaction effects or differences between treatments were seen in uric acid levels or PK profiles. Analysis of percent changes from baseline revealed that TC ingestion reduced the blood glucose levels following the ingestion of the high-purine meal (−4.2% [−7.7, −0.7], p = 0017). Additionally, there was some evidence that TC ingestion attenuated the increase from baseline in IL-1β and IL-10 and increased INF-γ. No significant differences were seen in the remaining health markers or subjective side effects ratings. Conclusions: Acute and one-week TC supplementation did not affect the uricemic response to ingesting a high-purine meal in individuals with mildly elevated UA levels. However, there was some evidence that TC supplementation may blunt the glycemic response to ingesting a meal and influence some inflammatory cytokines. Registered clinical trial NCT04837274. Full article

Objectives: This study examined the effect of a 4-week unsweetened cranberry beverage (CRAN) (317 mg polyphenols) versus placebo beverage (PLAC) ingestion (240 mL/day) on moderating exercise-induced changes in innate immunity. Methods: Participants included 25 male and female non-elite cyclists. A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover design was used with two 4-week supplementation periods and a 2-week washout period. Supplementation periods were followed by an intensive 2.25 h cycling bout. Six blood samples were collected before and after supplementation (in an overnight fasted state) and at 0 h, 1.5 h, 3 h, and 24 h post-exercise. Stool and urine samples were collected pre- and post-supplementation. Outcome measures included serum creatine kinase, myoglobin, and cortisol, complete blood counts, plasma untargeted proteomics, plasma-targeted oxylipins, untargeted urine metabolomics, and stool microbiome composition via whole genome shotgun (WGS) sequencing. Results: Urine CRAN-linked metabolites increased significantly after supplementation, but no trial differences in alpha or beta microbiota diversity were found in the stool samples. The 2.25 h cycling bout caused significant increases in plasma arachidonic acid (ARA) and 53 oxylipins (FDR q-value < 0.05). The patterns of increase for ARA, four oxylipins generated from ARA-cytochrome P-450 (CYP) (5,6-, 8,9-, 11,12-, and 14,15-diHETrEs), two oxylipins from linoleic acid (LA) and CYP (9,10-DiHOME, 12,13-DiHOME), and two oxylipins generated from LA and lipoxygenase (LOX) (9-HODE, 13-HODE) were slightly but significantly higher for the CRAN versus PLAC trial (all interaction effects, p < 0.05). The untargeted proteomics analysis showed that two protein clusters differed significantly between the CRAN and PLAC trials, with CRAN-related elevations in proteins related to innate immune activation and reduced levels of proteins related to the regulation of the complement cascade, platelet activation, and binding and uptake of ligands by scavenger receptors. No trial differences were found for cortisol and muscle damage biomarkers. Conclusions: CRAN versus PLAC juice resulted in a significant increase in CRAN-related metabolites but no differences in the gut microbiome. CRAN supplementation was associated with a transient and modest but significant post-exercise elevation in selected oxylipins and proteins associated with the innate immune system. Full article

Human health, sustainable development, numerous environmental issues, and animal welfare are increasingly driving research and development of plant-based protein products that can serve as meat substitutes. This trend is expected to continue in the coming years due to growing consumer awareness, with people gradually shifting from animal-based foods to more sustainable plant-based options. Soy proteins are a valuable source of plant proteins and are widely used in human and animal diets due to their nutritional value and health benefits. In this study, soybean protein extraction by two methods was compared: water extraction (lower salt content) and Tris-HCl extraction (higher salt content), aiming to characterize the resulting protein fractions. These fractions were studied using differential precipitation based on the isoelectric point. Protein identification by SDS-PAGE, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for cellular structure assessment, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to determine residual protein left in the solid fraction after extraction using the two methods. Electrophoresis assays revealed the presence of the four main protein fractions (2S, 7S, 11S, and soy whey proteins) in the defatted soybean flakes, establishing the protein profile of Brazilian soybeans and for the two main waste streams of the production process—spent flakes and whey. The separation of fractions was carried out by differential precipitation. FTIR analysis indicated higher residual protein levels in solid residues after the water extraction method compared to the Tris-HCl extraction method. SEM analysis revealed the removal of protein bodies in both extraction methods and the presence of residual oil-containing bodies. Both methodologies are viable alternatives for the industrial separation of soybean protein fractions. Differential precipitation could be implemented to produce isolated products and improve the nutritional profile, increase process yield thus generating less industrial waste and driving the process towards environmental sustainability. Full article

Background: Ischemic preconditioning (IP) is a powerful cellular protection mechanism. The cellular pathways underlying IP are extremely complex and involve the participation of cell triggers, intracellular signaling pathways, and end-effectors. Experimental studies have shown that sodium-glucose transport protein 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors promote activation of 5′-adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), the main regulator of adenosine 5′-triphosphate homeostasis and energy metabolism in the body. Despite its cardioprotective profile demonstrated by numerous clinical trials, the results of studies on the action of SGLT2 inhibitors in IP are scarce. This study will investigate the effects of dapagliflozin on IP in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: The study will include 50 patients with multivessel CAD, ischemia documented by stress testing, and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Patients will undergo four exercise tests, the first two with a time interval of 30 min between them after washout of cardiovascular or hypoglycemic medications and the last two after 7 days of dapagliflozin 10 mg once a day, also with a time interval of 30 min between them. Discussion: The role of SGLT2 inhibitors on IP is not clearly established. Several clinical trials have shown that SGLT2 inhibitors reduce the occurrence cardiovascular events, notably heart failure. However, such studies have not shown beneficial metabolic effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, such as reducing myocardial infarction or stroke. On the other hand, experimental studies with animal models have shown the beneficial effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on IP, a mechanism that confers cardiac and vascular protection from subsequent ischemia–reperfusion (IR) injury. This is the first clinical study to evaluate the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on IP, which could result in an important advance in the treatment of patients with stable CAD. Full article

Background: Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has presented a breakthrough in the treatment of malignant tumors and increased the overall survival of patients with various tumor entities. ICB may also cause immune-related adverse events, such as pneumonitis or interstitial lung disease. The lung clearance index (LCI) is a multiple-breath washout technique offering information on lung pathology in addition to conventional spirometry. It measures the degree of pulmonary ventilation inhomogeneity and allows early detection of pulmonary damage, especially that to peripheral airways. Methods: This cross-sectional study compared the lung function of patients with melanoma or metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma who received programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) and cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte-associated Protein 4 (CTLA-4) antibodies, alone or in combination, to age- and sex-matched controls. Lung function was assessed using spirometry, according to American Thoracic Society and European Respiratory Society standards, the LCI, and a diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) measurement. Results: Sixty-one screened patients and thirty-eight screened controls led to nineteen successfully included pairs. The LCI in the ICB-treated patients was 8.41 ± 1.15 (mean ± SD), which was 0.32 higher compared to 8.07 ± 1.17 in the control group, but the difference was not significant (p = 0.452). The patients receiving their ICB therapy for under five months showed a significantly lower LCI (7.98 ± 0.77) compared to the ICB patients undergoing therapy for over five months (9.63 ± 1.22) at the point of testing (p = 0.014). Spirometric analysis revealed that the forced expiratory volume between 25 and 75% of the forced vital capacity (FEF25–75%) in the ICB-treated patients was significantly reduced (p = 0.047) compared to the control group. DLCO (%predicted and adjusted for hemoglobin) was 94.4 ± 19.7 in the ICB patients and 93.4 ± 21.7 in the control group (p = 0.734). Conclusions: The patients undergoing ICB therapy showed slightly impaired lung function compared to the controls. Longer periods of ICB treatment led to deterioration of the LCI, which may be a sign of a subclinical inflammatory process. The LCI is feasible and may be easily integrated into the clinical daily routine and could contribute to early detection of pulmonary (auto-)inflammation. Full article

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that a preload including orange fruit juice (FJ) enriched with 50 μg of vitamin D3, 8.33 g of n-3 PUFA, and 108 cfu/mL of Lacticaseibacillus casei Shirota and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG probiotics, consumed as a snack before a meal, would (a) have greater short-term effects on satiety, as measured by the subsequent ad libitum meal intake, and (b) induce greater satiety, as assessed using visual analogue scales (VAS), in normal-weight and overweight healthy individuals compared to the same orange FJ without any fortification. Methods: Forty-six healthy individuals (normal weight: n = 24, 25 ± 1 years, BMI: 21 ± 1 kg/m²; overweight: n = 22, 28 ± 2 years, BMI: 27 ± 1 kg/m²) participated in this randomized, double-blind, within-subject crossover study. The participants consumed a standardized breakfast after 12 h of fasting. Two hours later, they were given 50 g of available carbohydrates from the two preloads (enriched orange FJ or control FJ) in random order, with a one-week washout period, and three hours later, they were offered an ad libitum lunch. The participants rated their hunger, desire to eat, perceived fullness, thirst, preoccupation with food, and pleasure of eating on visual analogue scales (VAS) at the baseline and at 15–30 min intervals up to 7 h of the intervention. Results: A statistical analysis of the results showed that when the individuals consumed the preload that included the FJ enriched with biofunctional ingredients, they had lower feeling of hunger, desire to eat, and preoccupation with food, and a higher perceived fullness at all time points between the preload and the meal. Additionally, the overweight individuals had a lower total energy intake at the meal and a lower energy intake 24 h post intervention day, as well as lower protein and fat intakes, compared to the normal-weight individuals. Discussion: Since the macronutrient contents of both preloads were similar, the satiating power of the enriched FJ indicates that the added ingredients (vitamin D3, n-3, and probiotics) have biofunctional properties that induce fullness and reduce the total energy intake, particularly in overweight individuals. The addition of enriched FJ to a snack seems to promote satiety besides providing valuable nutrients, and it may be an effective strategy for body weight control. Full article

Although whey protein isolate (WPI) has been shown to be immunomodulatory, its ability to modulate production of a broad array of inflammatory markers has not previously been investigated in healthy adults. We investigated the effects of daily supplementation with 35 g of WPI for 3 weeks on inflammatory marker concentrations in the blood serum and feces of 14 older adult subjects (mean age: 59). Serum was analyzed using a multiplex assay to quantify the cytokines IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-17A and TNF-α. Fecal samples were analyzed using an ELISA for the inflammatory markers calprotectin and lactoferrin. Our results yielded high inter-subject variability and a significant proportion of cytokine concentrations that were below our method’s limit of quantification. We observed decreases in serum IL-12p70 in the washout phase compared with baseline, as well as the washout stage for fecal lactoferrin relative to the intervention stage. Serum IL-13 was also significantly reduced during the intervention and washout stages. Our data suggest that whey protein supplementation did not significantly alter most inflammatory markers measured but can alter concentrations of some inflammatory markers in healthy older adults. However, our study power of 35% suggests the number of participants was too low to draw strong conclusions from our data. Full article

Valorization and utilization of brewers’ spent grain (BSG) are of great interest in terms of reducing food waste and promoting more sustainable food systems. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the nutritional value of upcycled barley/rice proteins (BRP) extracted from BSG and compare this with pea proteins (PP). A randomized, cross-over, double-blind controlled trial was conducted with twelve participants (age: 24 ± 2.8 years, BMI: 23.3 ± 3.0 kg/m²). During three separate visits with a one-week washout period between visits, participants received 20 g BRP, PP, or the benchmark protein whey (WP). Blood-free amino acids (AA) were measured to determine postprandial AA uptake kinetics. The estimated total AA (TAA) uptake of BRP was 69% when compared to WP and 87% when compared to PP. The time to reach the maximum values was similar between the three protein sources. When comparing individual essential AA responses between BRP and PP, we observed higher responses in methionine and tryptophane and lower responses in lysine, histidine, and isoleucine for BRP compared to PP. This study demonstrates that BRP exhibits comparable postprandial TAA uptake profiles to PP. The findings highlight the complementarity of BRP and PP, which may offer the potential for blending approaches to optimize protein quality for overall health. Full article

Polyphenols are a diverse and widely distributed class of secondary metabolites, which possess numerous beneficial properties including a modulation of glucose and lipid metabolism. This placebo-controlled human intervention study was performed to explore effects of polyphenol-rich beverage (PRB) uptake on lipid metabolism, as well as DNA integrity. In this case, 36 healthy men were randomly divided to consume either 750 mL of a PRB (containing 51% chokeberry, cranberry, and pomegranate) or a placebo drink daily for eight weeks. Only PRB consumption was found to decrease fat and protein intakes significantly compared to the preceding one-week washout period. During the intervention with PRB an increased fat-free mass was shown after four weeks, whereas a significant elevation in body weight and leptin was observed in placebo group. Blood lipids were not significantly altered after PRB consumption, while triglyceride levels increased after placebo drink intake. In platelets, a significant inhibition of phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity was observed, more pronounced in test group. Consuming the PRB decreased total DNA strand breaks in whole blood as well as H₂O₂-induced breaks in isolated lymphocytes. Overall, our study suggested beneficial effects on lipid metabolism by reduced energy intake, modulation of biomarkers such as PDE activity and improved DNA integrity associated with PRB consumption. Full article

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a devastating interstitial lung disease with dire consequences and in urgent need of improved therapies. Compelling evidence indicates that damage or dysfunction of AT2s is of central importance in the development of IPF. We recently identified a novel AT2 subpopulation characterized by low SFTPC expression but that is enriched for PD-L1 in mice. These cells represent quiescent, immature AT2 cells during normal homeostasis and expand upon pneumonectomy (PNX) and were consequently named injury-activated alveolar progenitors (IAAPs). FGF10 is shown to play critical roles in lung development, homeostasis, and injury repair demonstrated in genetically engineered mice. In an effort to bridge the gap between the promising properties of endogenous Fgf10 manipulation and therapeutic reality, we here investigated whether the administration of exogenous recombinant FGF10 protein (rFGF10) can provide preventive and/or therapeutic benefit in a mouse model of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis with a focus on its impact on IAAP dynamics. C57BL/6 mice and Sftpc^CreERT2/+; tdTomato^flox/+ mice aged 8–10 weeks old were used in this study. To induce the bleomycin (BLM) model, mice were intratracheally (i.t.) instilled with BLM (2 μg/g body weight). BLM injury was induced after a 7-day washout period following tamoxifen induction. A single i.t. injection of rFGF10 (0.05 μg/g body weight) was given on days 0, 7, 14, and 21 after BLM injury. Then, the effects of rFGF10 on BLM-induced fibrosis in lung tissues were assessed by H&E, IHC, Masson’s trichrome staining, hydroxyproline and Western blot assays. Immunofluorescence staining and flow cytometry was used to assess the dynamic behavior of AT2 lineage-labeled Sftpc^Pos (IAAPs and mature AT2) during the course of pulmonary fibrosis. We observed that, depending on the timing of administration, rFGF10 exhibited robust preventive or therapeutic efficacy toward BLM-induced fibrosis based on the evaluation of various pathological parameters. Flow cytometric analysis revealed a dynamic expansion of IAAPs for up to 4 weeks following BLM injury while the number of mature AT2s was drastically reduced. Significantly, rFGF10 administration increased both the peak ratio and the duration of IAAPs expansion relative to EpCAM^Pos cells. Altogether, our results suggest that the administration of rFGF10 exhibits therapeutic potential for IPF most likely by promoting IAAP proliferation and alveolar repair. Full article

A fish-rich diet has a beneficial effect on cardiovascular health. The platelet activating factor (PAF) is involved in the development of atherosclerosis, and in vitro results support the regulating action of bioactive nutrients on PAF metabolism. The purpose of this study is to examine whether the consumption of farmed fish fed with an olive-pomace enriched diet (EF) affects PAF metabolism and the markers of inflammation and oxidative stress compared to the consumption of conventionally fed farmed fish (CF). Thirty apparently healthy adults completed a randomized double-blind crossover trial, during which they consumed both CF and EF twice a week for 8 weeks with a six-week washout period in between. The activities of PAF acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH), lysoPAF acetyltransferase (lysoPAF-AT), DTT-insensitive CDP-choline: 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-choline-phosphotransferase (PAF-CPT) in leukocytes, and lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A₂ (LpPLA₂) in serum were determined. The quantities of interleukin-6 (IL-6), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), oxidized LDL (ox-LDL), thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), as well as the serum oxidation, were also determined. Both types of fish exerted similar effects as there were no statistically significant differences between the two interventions except for an elevated PAF-CPT and reduced arachidonic acid (AA) in the red blood cell (RBC) membrane lipids after the EF intake. Full article

We recently reported that the inclusion of whole eggs in plant-based diets (PBD) increased plasma choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). The objective of the current study was to evaluate whether this dietary pattern would protect against oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation, two common characteristics of MetS. We recruited 24 men and women with MetS, who, after following a PBD for 2 weeks (baseline), were randomly allocated to consume either two whole eggs with 70 g of spinach/day (EGG) or the equivalent amount of egg substitute with spinach (SUB) as breakfast for 4 weeks. After a 3-week washout, they were allocated to the alternate breakfast. We measured biomarkers of oxidation and inflammation at baseline and at the end of each intervention. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, monocyte protein attractant-1, liver enzymes, and C-reactive protein, as well as total antioxidant capacity, paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) activity, and other biomarkers of oxidation were not different at the end of EGG or SUB or when compared to baseline. However, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were lower (p < 0.05) during the EGG and baseline compared to SUB. In addition, the increases in dietary lutein and zeaxanthin previously observed had a strong positive correlation with PON-1 activity (r = 0.522, p < 0.01) only during the EGG period, whereas plasma zeaxanthin was negatively correlated with MDA (r = −0.437, p < 0.01). The number of participants with MetS was reduced from 24 during screening to 21, 13, and 17 during the BL, EGG, and SUB periods, respectively, indicating that eggs were more effective in reversing the characteristics of MetS. These data suggest that adding eggs to a PBD does not detrimentally affect inflammation or oxidative stress; on the contrary, eggs seem to provide additional protection against the biomarkers that define MetS. Full article