Prebiotic Effect of Lycopene and Dark Chocolate on Gut Microbiome with Systemic Changes in Liver Metabolism, Skeletal Muscles and Skin in Moderately Obese Persons.

Lycopene rich food and dark chocolate are among the best-documented products with a broad health benefit. This study explored the systemic effect of lycopene and dark chocolate (DC) on gut microbiota, blood, liver metabolism, skeletal muscle tissue oxygenation and skin. 30 volunteers were recruited for this trial, 15 women and 15 men with a mean age of 55 ± 5.

Ingestion of Lycosome L-tug Formulation of Dark Chocolate Ameliorates Postprandial Hyperlipidemia and Hyperglycemia in Healthy Volunteers.

Twenty-eight healthy middle-aged volunteers (40-60 years old) with equal gender representation were randomized into 3 study groups to investigate the changes in postprandial glucose and lipids after ingestion of different formulations of dark chocolate (DC). The volunteers from the first group were requested to ingest 100 g of regular DC whereas the individuals from the third group were given 100 g of highly bioavailable lycosome formulated L-tug formulation of DC containing 23.3 mg of lycopene.

Lycopene presence in facial skin corneocytes and sebum and its association with circulating lycopene isomer profile: Effects of age and dietary supplementation.

Lycopene is a dietary antioxidant known to prevent skin photodamage. This study aimed to examine age-dependent presence of this carotenoid on the surface of the facial skin and in the serum as well as to measure the same parameters during supplementation with lycopene. Serum samples and samples from facial skin surface were obtained from 60 young (under 25 years old) and 60 middle-aged (over 50 years old) volunteers.

Reduction of elevated lipids and low-density lipoprotein oxidation in serum of individuals with subclinical hypoxia and oxidative stress supplemented with lycosome formulation of docosahexaenoic acid.

Thirty two individuals aged 40-65 years old with a moderate hyperlipidemia (serum triglycerides > 150 mg/dl and LDL from 130 to 160 mg/dl) were supplemented once daily for 30 days with a 250 mg conventional formulation of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) without lycopene (CF-DHA) or 250 mg of lycosome-formulated DHA containing 7 mg of lycopene (LF-DHA). It was shown that ingestion of CF-DHA led to a transient increase in serum DHA level after 2 weeks of the trial, whereas LF-DHA did not cause significant changes in serum DHA. However, there was a noticeable increase in serum eicosapentaenoic acid levels exceeding the pretreatment value by 42.

Systemic and skin-targeting beneficial effects of lycopene-enriched ice cream: A pilot study.

The health-promoting dietary antioxidant lycopene has limited natural bioavailability, but lycopene-rich functional foods can improve its bioavailability. We assessed a new lycopene-enriched ice cream for systemic antioxidant effects and influence on morphological characteristics of facial skin surface in healthy volunteers. In a randomized crossover study, we used 4-wk dietary interventions with either control or lycopene-enriched ice cream.

Markers of Hypoxia and Oxidative Stress in Aging Volunteers Ingesting Lycosomal Formulation of Dark Chocolate Containing Astaxanthin.

Objective: To determine if ingestion of lycosome-formulated dark chocolate (DC) containing astaxanthin (ASTX) improves bioavailability of ASTX and affects markers of hypoxia and oxidative stress in aging individuals.

Design: Randomized, blinded, four-arm, prospective study.

Settings: Lycotec Ltd, Cambridge, United Kingdom and Institute of Cardiology, Saratov, Russian Federation.

Continuous Dark Chocolate Consumption Affects Human Facial Skin Surface by Stimulating Corneocyte Desquamation and Promoting Bacterial Colonization.

Nutrition can influence skin health. Dark chocolate possesses health promoting properties, but its consumption can exacerbate acne vulgaris in young people. We evaluated effects of continuous dark chocolate intake on morphological characteristics of the residual skin surface components (RSSCs) collected from the facial skin of young and middle-aged men.

Effect of lycopene supplementation on cardiovascular parameters and markers of inflammation and oxidation in patients with coronary vascular disease.

Oxidative stress and antioxidant deficiency play a pivotal role in initiation, development, and outcomes of cardiovascular disease. Pharmacokinetic parameters as well as the impact of highly bioavailable lycopene on cardiovascular variables, markers of inflammation and oxidation were investigated during a 30-day clinical trial in patients with coronary vascular disease. The patients were randomized into two major groups and were supplemented with a single 7 mg daily dose of lycopene ingested either in the form of lactolycopene (68 patients) or in the form of lycosome-formulated GA lycopene (74 patients).

Effect of Lycosome-Formulated Phosphatidylcholine on Parameters of Biological Oxidation after Single Intake of Moderate Amount of Alcohol.

Ingestion of a single dose of alcohol, ranging from the intake of a moderate amount alcohol to binge drinking, is the most frequent form of alcohol consumption with poorly understood medical consequences and obscure prophylactics. The study was aimed to determine whether lycosome formulated phosphatidylcholine (PC-Lyc) containing two highly bioavailable antioxidants (PC and lycopene) ingested shortly before the alcohol-containing beverage may alleviate the biochemical markers of liver damage and parameters of biological oxidation associated with the intake of a moderate amount of alcohol. Healthy middle-aged volunteers were requested to consume a moderate amount of alcohol - 0.

Pharmacokinetics and Oxidation Parameters in Volunteers Supplemented with Microencapsulated Docosahexaenoic Acid.

Context: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an omega-3 fatty acid essential for cardiovascular health, brain development, and reproductive function. Due to hydrophobicity and low DHA bioavailability, new microencapsulated DHA formulations are under development.

Aim: This study aims to evaluate DHA pharmacokinetics (PKs) and biological oxidation parameters in volunteers ingesting a newly developed lutein-containing lycosomal formulation of DHA (LF-DHA).

Non-Invasive Immunofluorescence Assessment of Lycopene Supplementation Status in Skin Smears.

Circulating lycopene level is negatively associated with the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, cancers (prostate and breast), type 2 diabetes mellitus, and aging. Traditionally, lycopene is measured in biological specimens by a combination of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry methods. Moreover, as we recently reported, tissue/cell lycopene depositions can be observed by the immunohistochemistry method with a newly developed monoclonal antibody (mAb) against lycopene.

Reduction of Liver Span and Parameters of Inflammation in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Patients Treated with Lycosome Formulation of Phosphatidylcholine: A Preliminary Report.

Twenty-nine newly diagnosed individuals with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) remaining on habitual dietary regimen were supplemented with regular or lycosome formulations of phosphatidylcholine (PC) during a pilot, randomized, double-blinded clinical study. After two months of oral PC intake (450 mg daily) the liver size as well as serum levels of hepatic enzymes and markers of inflammation were evaluated by ultrasonography and biochemical analysis. It was shown that there was a statistically significant reduction of medians for the Mid-Clavicular liver size from 16.

Continuous astaxanthin intake reduces oxidative stress and reverses age-related morphological changes of residual skin surface components in middle-aged volunteers.

Oxidative stress accelerates skin aging, and dietary supplementation with antioxidants may alleviate it. Morphological analysis of the residual skin surface components (RSSCs) allows detecting age-related changes in corneocyte desquamation, microbial presence, and lipid droplet size. We hypothesized that continuous ingestion of carotenoid antioxidant astaxanthin (4 mg/d) for 4 weeks could influence RSCC morphology and evaluated RSSC samples taken from middle-aged subjects before and after this dietary intervention.

Morphological Characteristics of Residual Skin Surface Components Collected from the Surface of Facial Skin in Women of Different Age.

Background: Problems of skin aging and its prevention currently attract increasing attention with the growth of human life expectancy. The morphology of the stratum corneum (SC) is well known, but investigation of age-related changes of its structure is difficult in the absence of non-invasive sampling methods. The residual skin surface components (RSSC) that overlay the SC can be easily collected non-invasively.

Generation and Application of Monoclonal Antibody Against Lycopene.

A monoclonal antibody (Mab) against lycopene was developed from hybridoma clones obtained from BALB/c mice immunized with trans-isomer of lycopene (t-lycopene, t-LC) conjugated with colloidal gold particles. An alternating immunization schedule which included injection of both formulations of immunogen (without and with Freund's adjuvant) was most effective in the elucidation of a measurable immune response to the t-Lycopene conjugate. Selected hybridoma clones were able to produce an Mab positive in competition assay.

Age-related differences in morphological characteristics of residual skin surface components collected from the surface of facial skin of healthy male volunteers.

Background/purpose: Global increase of human longevity results in the emergence of previously ignored ageing-related problems. Skin ageing is a well-known phenomenon, but active search for scientific approaches to its prevention and even skin rejuvenation is a relatively new area. Although the structure and composition of the stratum corneum (SC), the superficial layer of epidermis, is well studied, relatively little is known about the residual skin surface components (RSSC) that overlay the surface of the SC.

Reduction in blood pressure and serum lipids by lycosome formulation of dark chocolate and lycopene in prehypertension.

Twenty-nine healthy volunteers aged 47-69 years old were randomly assigned to a 28-day oral intake of different dark chocolate (DC) formulations. The main group received daily 30 g of proprietary lycopene-containing (L-tug) lycosome formulation of DC with enhanced bioavailability of cocoa flavanols. Two control groups daily consumed either 30 g of regular DC alone or along with 7 mg of lycopene, which corresponds to the amount of lycopene ingested with L-tug formulation.

Whey protein lycosome formulation improves vascular functions and plasma lipids with reduction of markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in prehypertension.

Parameters reflecting cardiovascular health and inflammation were studied in a pilot clinical trial conducted on 40 patients with prehypertension. The patients were treated with a new proprietary formulation of a whey protein (WP) isolate embedded into lycopene micelles (WPL) during a 1-month period. Control groups received lycopene or WP as a singular formulation or placebo pills for the same period of time.

[Significance of determination of lipid-oxidizing catalytic antibodies in patients with ischemic heart diseases].

From the previously examined patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), the authors formed two groups in whom an original method was used to detect the abnormal lipid-oxidizing anti-Chlamydia antibodies abzymes that increased the serum concentration of malondialdehyde. The effects of the statin rosuvastatin and the antioxidant licopin on abzymes were comparatively studied. Despite the positive impact of therapy with rosuvastatin on lipid metabolism of IHD patients, the agent exerted no effect on the rate of lipid peroxidation and the activity of lipid-oxidizing antibodies.

[Effect of therapy with antibiotics on lipid metabolism and antioxidant reserve of patients with ischemic heart disease during Chlamydia pneumoniae infection].

Effect of therapy with azithromycin and doxycycline on lipid metabolism, processes of lipid peroxidation and state of antioxidant defense was studied in patients with ischemic heart disease with elevated titer of antibodies to Chlamydia Pneumonia. Therapy with azithromycin (500 mg/day for 2 months) was associated with lowering of antibody titer, moderate improvement of lipid spectrum, marked decrease of activity of lipid peroxidation and augmentation of blood plasma antioxidant reserve. There were no such changes in a group of doxycycline treated patients.