Publications by authors named "Mena P"

Introduction: Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD) demonstrate ancestry-specific loci. Previous studies in the regulatory architecture have only been conducted in Europeans (EUs), thus studies in additional ancestries are needed. Given the prevalence of AD genes expressed in microglia, we initiated our studies in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) -derived microglia.

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Impairment of gut barrier integrity is associated with the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, colorectal cancer, and coeliac disease. While many aspects of diet have been linked to improved barrier function, (poly)phenols, a broad group of bioactive phytochemicals, are of potential interest. The (poly)phenolic sub-class, flavan-3-ols, have been investigated in some detail owing to their abundance in commonly consumed foods, including grapes, tea, apples, cocoa, berries, and nuts.

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Cocoa shell is a by-product generated by the cocoa processing industry, notable for its high content of phenolic compounds and methylxanthines, and recognized for their biological properties. The majority of cocoa phenolic compounds are not absorbed in the small intestine and reach the colon, where they can be catabolized by the gut microbiota, influencing their bioavailability and bioactivity. This research aimed to study the changes that phenolic compounds from cocoa shell flour (CSF) and extract (CSE) undergo during colonic fermentation after gastrointestinal digestion, using an model and a targeted metabolomics approach.

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Background: This study aims to elucidate ancestry-specific changes to the genomic regulatory architecture in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived oligodendroglia, focusing on their implications for Alzheimer's disease (AD). This work addresses the lack of diversity in previous iPSC studies by including ancestries that contribute to African American (European/African) and Hispanic/Latino populations (Amerindian/African/European).

Methods: We generated 12 iPSC lines-four African, four Amerindian, and four European- from both AD patients and non-cognitively impaired individuals, with varying genotypes ( and ).

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The Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP) is a national initiative to understand the genetic architecture of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (AD/ADRD) by sequencing whole genomes of affected participants and age-matched cognitive controls from diverse populations. The Genome Center for Alzheimer's Disease (GCAD) processed whole-genome sequencing data from 36,361 ADSP participants, including 35,014 genetically unique participants of which 45% are from non-European ancestry, across 17 cohorts in 14 countries in this fourth release (R4). This sequencing effort identified 387 million bi-allelic variants, 42 million short insertions/deletions, and 2.

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Flavan-3-ols are the most found flavonoid compounds in the human diet. Polymeric and monomeric flavan-3-ols reach the colonic region intact, where the gut microbiota utilizes them as substrates. In this research work, we investigated the pattern of colonic metabolites associated with flavan-3-ols, conducting a comprehensive analysis that combined (un)targeted metabolomics and in vitro colonic models.

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Background: Orange juices are widely known for their organoleptic characteristics and potential health benefits derived from their nutritional and functional composition.

Objectives: The aim of this work was to provide comprehensive, up-to-date information on the content of folates and some minerals (Ca, K, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn) present in different fresh and commercial orange juices available in the European market, including juices from concentrate (FC) and not from concentrate (NFC).

Methods: A total of twenty-five juice samples were selected, comprising the most purchased types of commercial juices from France, the United Kingdom (UK), Germany, and Spain, and four fresh squeezed juices (FSJ) made from Spanish oranges.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates how N-methylpyridinium (NMP), an alkaloid found in coffee, affects lipid metabolism in liver cells influenced by Type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLDs).
  • NMP was tested in a diabetes cell model, showing that it reduces lipid droplet accumulation and regulates gene expression related to lipogenesis by improving cellular oxidative status and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response.
  • The findings indicate that NMP could be beneficial for managing Type 2 diabetes and NAFLD by enhancing lipid metabolism and restoring cellular homeostasis.
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Article Synopsis
  • - Recent research in nutrition omics has significantly advanced our understanding of cardiovascular disease epidemiology and prevention, particularly through the findings of the PREDIMED trial, which linked specific diet-related metabolites to cardiovascular health.
  • - Key metabolites associated with cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes include ceramides, acyl-carnitines, branched-chain amino acids, tryptophan, urea cycle byproducts, and various lipids.
  • - Future research aims to create detailed metabolomic scores for better risk prediction, include diverse populations with varied dietary habits, and focus on practical applications of precision nutrition in clinical settings.
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Coffee pulp is a by-product characterized by its richness in phenolic compounds. This study examined the catabolism of (poly)phenols in digested coffee pulp flour (CPF) and extract (CPE) during in vitro colonic fermentation. After a simulated gastrointestinal digestion, samples were fermented using human microbiota and (poly)phenol transformations were analyzed by UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hispanic/Latino populations, particularly Puerto Ricans, are underrepresented in Alzheimer Disease (AD) genetics research, prompting a study to identify new AD risk loci in this group.
  • The study involved Whole Genome Sequencing and analyzed data from 648 Puerto Ricans, adjusting for various factors to ensure accurate results and inferring local ancestry.
  • Results revealed a suggestive AD risk locus on chromosome 12 and replicated several known AD genetic loci, emphasizing the need for including diverse populations in genetic studies to improve understanding of AD.
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Menopause is a critical stage in a woman's life in which cardiometabolic alterations appear, such as insulin resistance or a predisposition to visceral fat deposits, leading to an increased risk of cardiometabolic diseases (R-CMBs). New strategies to reduce the R-CMBs in postmenopausal women using natural compounds without adverse effects are desirable. In this sense, plant-based diets rich in fruits and vegetables could play a fundamental role due to the high content of bioactive compounds found in these diets, such as (poly)phenols, known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and vasodilator properties.

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The demand for bioactive secondary metabolites of natural origin is increasing every day. Micropropagation could be a strategy to respond more quickly to market demands, regardless of seasonality. This research aims to evaluate in vitro-grown plants of two hop varieties, namely Columbus and Magnum, as a potential source of bioactive compounds.

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Introduction: Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are highly prevalent in Alzheimer's disease (AD). There are no effective treatments targeting these symptoms.

Methods: To facilitate identification of causative mechanistic pathways, we initiated an effort (NIH: U01AG079850) to collate, harmonize, and analyze all available NPS data (≈ 100,000 samples) of diverse ancestries with whole-genome sequencing data from the Alzheimer's Disease Sequencing Project (ADSP).

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"We are what, when, and how we eat": the evolution of human dietary habits mirrors the evolution of humans themselves. Key developments in human history, such as the advent of stone tool technology, the shift to a meat-based diet, control of fire, advancements in cooking and fermentation techniques, and the domestication of plants and animals, have significantly influenced human anatomical, physiological, social, cognitive, and behavioral changes. Advancements in scientific methods, such as the analysis of microfossils like starch granules, plant-derived phytoliths, and coprolites, have yielded unprecedented insights into past diets.

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: Pure bergamot juice exerts lipid lowering effects in dyslipidemic subjects. It is unknown whether bergamot-based beverages exert similar effects in healthy subjects. : To assess the effects, if any, of a bergamot-based beverage (BBB, bergamot juice ≤25%) on lipid, metabolic and inflammatory biomarkers.

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This study investigated the impact of available colon-mango (poly)phenols on stress-induced impairment of intestinal barrier function. Caco-2/HT29-MTX cells were incubated with six extracts of ileal fluid collected pre- and 4-8 h post-mango consumption before being subjected to inflammatory stress. (Poly)phenols in ileal fluids were analysed by UHPLC-HR-MS.

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Milk holds a high nutritional value and is associated with diverse health benefits. The understanding of its composition of (poly)phenolic metabolites is limited, which necessitates a comprehensive evaluation of the subject. This study aimed at analyzing the (poly)phenolic profile of commercial milk samples from cows and goats and investigating their sterilization treatments, fat content, and lactose content.

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Introduction: Plasma phosphorylated threonine-181 of Tau and amyloid beta are biomarkers for differential diagnosis and preclinical detection of Alzheimer disease (AD). Given differences in AD risk across diverse populations, generalizability of existing biomarker data is not assured.

Methods: In 2,086 individuals of diverse genetic ancestries (African American, Caribbean Hispanic, and Peruvians) we measured plasma pTau-181 and Aβ42/Aβ40.

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Correction for 'Nutrikinetics and urinary excretion of phenolic compounds after a 16-week supplementation with a flavanone-rich ingredient' by Jananee Muralidharan , , 2023, , 10506-10519, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3FO02820H.

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Age-related changes in intestinal microbiome composition and function are increasingly recognized as pivotal in the pathophysiology of aging and are associated with the aging phenotype. Diet is a major determinant of gut-microbiota composition throughout the entire lifespan, and several of the benefits of a healthy diet in aging could be mediated by the microbiome. Mediterranean diet (MD) is a traditional dietary pattern regarded as the healthy diet paradigm, and a large number of studies have demonstrated its benefits in promoting healthy aging.

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This systematic review provides an overview of the available evidence on the inter-individual variability (IIV) in the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of phenolic metabolites and its determinants. Human studies were included investigating the metabolism and bioavailability of (poly)phenols and reporting IIV. One hundred fifty-three studies met the inclusion criteria.

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Following ingestion of fruits, vegetables and derived products, (poly)phenols that are not absorbed in the upper gastrointestinal tract pass to the colon, where they undergo microbiota-mediated ring fission resulting in the production of a diversity of low molecular weight phenolic catabolites, which appear in the circulatory system and are excreted in urine along with their phase II metabolites. There is increasing interest in these catabolites because of their potential bioactivity and their use as biomarkers of (poly)phenol intake. Investigating the fate of dietary (poly)phenolics in the colon has become confounded as a result of the recent realisation that many of the phenolics appearing in biofluids can also be derived from the aromatic amino acids, l-phenylalanine and l-tyrosine, and to a lesser extent catecholamines, in reactions that can be catalysed by both colonic microbiota and endogenous mammalian enzymes.

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Knowing the true levels of nutrients and dietary bioactives in fruit juices at the point of consumption is key to properly understand their potential health benefits. The objective was to characterise the vitamin C and flavanone content in commercial orange juices consumed in Europe, compared with fresh-squeezed juices. Commercial juices were a rich source of vitamin C (>30% of the Nutrient Reference Value).

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