Food-Derived Bioactives Can Protect the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cortisol with Antioxidant-Dependent and -Independent Mechanisms.

In chronic inflammatory diseases the anti-inflammatory effect of glucocorticoids (GCs) is often decreased, leading to GC resistance. Inflammation is related with increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to oxidative stress which is thought to contribute to the development of GC resistance. Plant-derived compounds such as flavonoids are known for their ability to protect against ROS.

The cocoa flavanol (-)-epicatechin protects the cortisol response.

Various health benefits of the cocoa flavanol (-)-epicatechin (EC) have been attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potency. In the present study we investigated whether EC is able to prevent deterioration of the anti-inflammatory effect of the glucocorticoid (GC) cortisol in the presence of oxidative stress. It was found that cortisol reduces inflammation in differentiated monocytes.

The flavanol (-)-epicatechin and its metabolites protect against oxidative stress in primary endothelial cells via a direct antioxidant effect.

Accumulating evidence suggests that foods rich in flavanols decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Attenuation of oxidative stress was suggested to contribute to the cardiovascular benefit of flavanols. Up to now it was unclear whether flavanol metabolites can also protect cells from oxidative stress.

Pleiotropic benefit of monomeric and oligomeric flavanols on vascular health--a randomized controlled clinical pilot study.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are expanding to a major social-economic burden in the Western World and undermine man's deep desire for healthy ageing. Epidemiological studies suggest that flavanol-rich foods (e.g.