Dried fruits: excellent in vitro and in vivo antioxidants.

Objective: The goal of this work is to determine the amount and quality of phenol antioxidants in dried fruits and compare them with the corresponding fresh fruits; to compare the nutrients in fresh and dried fruits; to determine if figs are a source of in vivo antioxidants when eaten.

Methods: Commercial samples of dried fruits and fresh fruits were compared in the in vitro studies using a colorimetric method to measure phenolic antioxidants. The quality of the antioxidants was measured by inhibition of lower density lipoprotein oxidation.

Vitamin E supplementation suppresses macrophage accumulation and endothelial cell expression of adhesion molecules in the aorta of hypercholesterolemic rabbits.

Suppression of cell adhesion molecule expression and macrophage accumulation by the endothelium is believed to play an important role in preventing the development of atherosclerosis. Earlier, we have shown that in vitro supplementation of human aortic endothelial cells with Vitamin E dose-dependently reduced expression of adhesion molecules and monocyte adhesion. Here, we report the in vivo down-regulation of endothelial cell adhesion molecules expression and macrophage accumulation in the aortas of hypercholesterolemic rabbits supplemented with Vitamin E.

The antiatherogenic potential of oat phenolic compounds.

Avenanthramides are phenolic antioxidants, which are present in oats. Avenanthramides A, B, and C are the major constituents of the total soluble antioxidant phenolic compounds in oats. We tested the potential antiatherogenic activity of partially purified avenanthramides from oats by examining their effects on adhesion of monocytes to human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) monolayers, expression of adhesion molecules, and production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines by HAEC.

Bioavailability of soybean isoflavones from aglycone and glucoside forms in American women.

Background: Test results on the bioavailability of isoflavones in the aglycone or glucoside form in Eastern and Western human subjects are contradictory.

Objective: The objective was to investigate the bioavailability of the soy isoflavones daidzein and genistein in American women with typical American dietary habits after ingestion of the aglycone or glucoside form of isoflavones.

Design: Fifteen American women aged 46 +/- 6 y participated in a randomized, double-blind study.

Phenol antioxidant quantity and quality in foods: fruits.

The free and bound phenols have been measured in 20 fruits commonly consumed in the American diet. Phenols were measured colorimetrically using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent with catechin as the standard after correction for ascorbic acid contribution. On a fresh weight basis, cranberry had the highest total phenols, and was distantly followed by red grape.