Effect of Enzyme-Treated Asparagus Extract (ETAS) on Psychological Stress in Healthy Individuals.

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of Enzyme-Treated Asparagus Extract (ETAS) on improving stress response. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over trial was undertaken in healthy volunteers. ETAS (150 mg/d) or a placebo was consumed for 28 d, with a washout period.

Limited lactational transfer of acrylamide to rat offspring on maternal oral administration during the gestation and lactation periods.

To evaluate the developmental exposure effects of acrylamide (ACR) on the nervous and male reproductive systems, pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given ACR at 0, 25, 50 or 100 ppm in the drinking water from gestational day 6 to postnatal day (PND) 21 and histopathological assessment was performed at PND 21. Exposure levels in offspring were examined by measurement of free ACR and hemoglobin (Hb)-ACR adducts on PND 14, and compared with maternal levels on PND 21. Additionally, a group of offspring that received ACR at 50 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injections directly three times a week from PND 2 to 21 was subjected to analysis for comparison with maternal exposure groups.