Role of coffee in modulation of diabetes risk.

Coffee consumption has been associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes. This association does not depend on race, gender, geographic distribution of the study populations, or the type of coffee consumed (i.e.

A protocol for differentiation of human intestinal Caco-2 cells in asymmetric serum-containing medium.

The human intestinal Caco-2 cell line still represents the best available in vitro model of absorptive enterocytes, despite its origin from a colon adenocarcinoma. Caco-2 cells seeded on filter inserts undergo in culture a process of spontaneous differentiation that leads to the formation, after two to three weeks, of a monolayer of polarized cell, coupled by tight junctions and expressing several morphological and functional features of small intestinal enterocytes. The medium normally used for differentiation of Caco-2 cells contains a supplement of foetal bovine serum (FBS) in both the apical (AP) and basolateral (BL) compartments.

Apical localization of zinc transporter ZnT4 in human airway epithelial cells and its loss in a murine model of allergic airway inflammation.

The apical cytoplasm of airway epithelium (AE) contains abundant labile zinc (Zn) ions that are involved in the protection of AE from oxidants and inhaled noxious substances. A major question is how dietary Zn traffics to this compartment. In rat airways, in vivo selenite autometallographic (Se-AMG)-electron microscopy revealed labile Zn-selenium nanocrystals in structures resembling secretory vesicles in the apical cytoplasm.

A protocol for in situ enzyme assays to assess the differentiation of human intestinal Caco-2 cells.

The Caco-2 cell line spontaneously differentiates into polarised enterocytes expressing high levels of brush border enzymes typical of small intestinal epithelial cells (peptidases, alkaline phosphatase, disaccharidases). The activities of these enzymes gradually increase after cell confluence reaching a plateau after 2-3 weeks of culture and can be used as reliable markers to evaluate differentiation of Caco-2 cells. We have developed a rapid in situ method on live cells to measure activities of alkaline phosphatase, alanyl amino peptidase and sucrase.

Mediterranean Diet Effect: an Italian picture.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall diet quality effects, mainly on antioxidant nutritional status and some cytokines related to the cellular immune response as well as oxidative stress in a healthy Italian population group.

Methods: An observational study was conducted on 131 healthy free-living subjects. Dietary intake was assessed by dietary diary.

Quantification of allyl hexanoate in pineapple beverages and yogurts as a case study to characterise a source of uncertainty in dietary exposure assessment to flavouring substances.

One source of uncertainty in the estimation of dietary exposure to flavouring substances is the uncertainty in the occurrence and concentration levels of these substances naturally present or added to foodstuffs. The aim of this study was to assess the variability of concentration levels of allyl hexanoate, considered as a case study, in two main food categories to which it is often added: pineapple juice-based beverages and yogurts containing pineapple. Thirty-four beverages and 29 yogurts, with pineapple fruit or juice and added flavourings declared as ingredients on the package, were purchased from the local market (in Rome) and analysed.

The new murine hepatic 3A cell line responds to stress stimuli by activating an efficient Unfolded Protein Response (UPR).

In the present study we have investigated the properties of a novel cell line (3A cells) obtained from the liver of 14.5 days post coitum (dpc) wild-type mouse embryo. 3A cells morphology was characterized by fluorescent localization of F-actin and β-catenin.

Differential effect of cheese fatty acid composition on blood lipid profile and redox status in normolipidemic volunteers: a pilot study.

The present study investigated the effect of the consumption of two cheese varieties differing for fat quality on blood lipid profile and redox status biomarkers in 30 selected healthy volunteers, consuming either the experimental cheese (from milk produced by cows fed a grass and maize silage based diet with 5% of linseed oil added) or the control cheese (from normal cows' milk) for 4 weeks according to a crossover design. The experimental cheese had a lower content of medium-chain saturated fatty acids and a higher content of stearic acid and polyunsaturated fatty acids; its consumption led to higher levels of vitamins C and E and stearic acid in blood, while myristic acid and oxidized low-density lipoprotein concentrations were significantly lower. As myristic acid and oxidized low-density lipoprotein are highly correlated with increased atherogenic risk and vitamins C and E with antioxidant activity, the enrichment of cows' diet with linseed oil could provide a dietary option to prevent cardiovascular diseases risk.

Antibiotic resistance determinants in the interplay between food and gut microbiota.

A complex and heterogeneous microflora performs sugar and lactic acid fermentations in food products. Depending on the fermentable food matrix (dairy, meat, vegetable etc.) as well as on the species composition of the microbiota, specific combinations of molecules are produced that confer unique flavor, texture, and taste to each product.

Evaluation of iron status in European adolescents through biochemical iron indicators: the HELENA Study.

Background/objectives: To assess the iron status among European adolescents through selected biochemical parameters in a cross-sectional study performed in 10 European cities.

Subjects/methods: Iron status was defined utilising biochemical indicators. Iron depletion was defined as low serum ferritin (SF<15 μg/l).

Connecting the Human Variome Project to nutrigenomics.

Nutrigenomics is the science of analyzing and understanding gene-nutrient interactions, which because of the genetic heterogeneity, varying degrees of interaction among gene products, and the environmental diversity is a complex science. Although much knowledge of human diversity has been accumulated, estimates suggest that ~90% of genetic variation has not yet been characterized. Identification of the DNA sequence variants that contribute to nutrition-related disease risk is essential for developing a better understanding of the complex causes of disease in humans, including nutrition-related disease.

Quantification of estragole in fennel herbal teas: implications on the assessment of dietary exposure to estragole.

Quantification of estragole content in commercial fennel herbal teas was carried out in order to allow for a more accurate estimate of the dietary exposure to estragole. A simple and rapid analytical method, based on Stir Bar Sorptive Extraction and GC-MS, was developed for this purpose. Fennel teas obtained from different types of commercial products were analysed.

Overview of existing European food consumption databases: critical aspects in relation to their use for the assessment of dietary exposure to additives, flavourings and residues of food contact materials.

A critical analysis of existing food consumption databases was performed with particular regard for their current and potential use for the assessment of dietary exposure to additives, flavourings and residues of food contact materials. Within the European Food Consumption Validation project (EFCOVAL), a questionnaire on critical aspects of such datasets was developed and administered to researchers responsible for the collection/analysis of national food consumption data in European countries. Information collected was complemented through a review of the literature and of grey publications in order to provide an inventory of the main food consumption surveys performed in Europe from 1994 to 2007, for a total of 23 countries and 37 surveys.

Stability of Pycnogenol® as an ingredient in fruit juices subjected to in vitro gastrointestinal digestion.

Background: The enrichment of fruit juices with concentrated polyphenolic extracts is an expedient strategy to compensate possible phenolic loss through gastrointestinal processing. Pycnogenol, a standardised procyanidin-rich extract from pine bark, has been proposed as a potential candidate for polyphenol enrichment of foods. In this study the effects of in vitro digestion on the phenolic profile of fruit juices enriched with Pycnogenol were investigated.

The third Italian National Food Consumption Survey, INRAN-SCAI 2005-06--part 1: nutrient intakes in Italy.

Background And Aims: Italian National Food Consumption Survey, INRAN-SCAI 2005-06, is the third national food consumption survey performed in Italy. This study describes energy and nutrient intakes in Italy.

Methods And Results: A national cross-sectional food consumption survey was conducted using consecutive 3-day food records between October 2005 and December 2006.

Design and preparation of market baskets of European Union commercial baby foods for the assessment of infant exposure to food chemicals and to their effects.

The assessment of acute and chronic dietary exposure to contaminants in baby foods is needed to ensure healthy infant growth. Monthly European Union market baskets of commercial baby foods were designed for the first 9 months of life by the 'babyfood' study group of the CASCADE Network of Excellence for the specific purpose of assessing exposure to potentially toxic substances in infants fed with such foods. The present paper reports the different steps that led to the preparation of monthly pooled samples of commercial baby foods ('Infant formulae and follow-on formulae' and 'Other baby foods') that may constitute the extreme case of the diet for an infant who would not be breast fed at all.

Bioavailability of strawberry antioxidants in human subjects.

Strawberries contain many antioxidant phytochemicals such as vitamin C, carotenoids and phenolic compounds including anthocyanins (ACN). In the present study, antioxidant composition of fresh strawberries (FS) and stored strawberries (SS) and the bioavailability of the main strawberry bioactive compounds were determined in human subjects. Thirteen healthy volunteers consumed 300 g of FS and SS on two separate occasions.

4-methylcoumarins as antioxidants: scavenging of peroxyl radicals and inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein oxidation.

The antioxidant activity of eight synthetic 4-methylcoumarins was systematically studied. The antioxidant capacity was measured using: (i) a competition kinetic test, to measure the relative capacity to quench peroxyl radical; (ii) the in vitro oxidative modification of human low-density lipoprotein, initiated by AAPH or catalyzed by copper. In both models, the ortho-OH substitutes were found to be better antioxidant than the meta one.

Tocotrienols activity in MCF-7 breast cancer cells: involvement of ERbeta signal transduction.

The term Vitamin E is utilized to describe eight molecules, subdivided into two groups, tocopherols and tocotrienols (TTs). It has been shown that specific TTs affect the growth of several lines of tumour cells, and that this activity is not shared by tocopherols. In agreement with these observations, a TTs-rich fraction from palm oil (PTRF) was reported to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in several cancer cells.

Identification of tetracycline- and erythromycin-resistant Gram-positive cocci within the fermenting microflora of an Italian dairy food product.

Aims: Microbiological and molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance in Gram-positive cocci derived from the Italian PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) dairy food product Mozzarella di Bufala Campana.

Methods And Results: One hundred and seven coccal colonies were assigned to Enterococcus faecalis, Lactococcus lactis and Streptococcus bovis genera by ARDRA analysis (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis). Among them, 16 Ent.

Effect of quercetin on paraoxonase 2 levels in RAW264.7 macrophages and in human monocytes--role of quercetin metabolism.

There is increasing evidence that the intracellular antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase 2 (PON2) may have a protective function in the prevention of atherogenesis. An enhancement of PON2 activity by dietary factors including flavonoids is therefore of interest. In the present study we determined the effect of quercetin on paraoxonase 2 levels in cultured murine macrophages in vitro and in overweight subjects with a high cardiovascular risk phenotype supplemented with 150 mg quercetin/day for 42 days in vivo.

Red wine metabolites modulate NF-kappaB, activator protein-1 and cAMP response element-binding proteins in human endothelial cells.

We have studied the effect of human serum, collected after red wine consumption (RWS), on TNF-alpha-dependent activation of transcription factors (NF-kappaB, activator protein-1 (AP-1) and cAMP response element-binding proteins) and on the expression of selected genes involved in cell adhesion or fibrinolysis processes in human primary endothelial cells (human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC)). Our data indicate that RWS containing RW metabolites, isolated after 40 min from an acute consume of wine (5 ml/kg body weight), induces nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in the absence of any further stimulus. On the other hand, TNF-alpha treatment in the presence of RWS is associated with a delay in transcription factor activation and to a negative modulation on the expression of specific genes.

Intracellular zinc stores protect the intestinal epithelium from Ochratoxin A toxicity.

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a harmful mycotoxin frequently contaminating foods, feeds and beverages. OTA was reported to be nephrotoxic, immunotoxic, hepatotoxic and a potential carcinogen, with yet poorly characterized mechanisms. Although intestinal cells are relatively resistant to high concentrations of OTA, interaction with other dietary factors or specific nutritional conditions may increase OTA toxicity to the intestinal mucosa.

The anti-inflammatory pharmacology of Pycnogenol in humans involves COX-2 and 5-LOX mRNA expression in leukocytes.

We investigated the effects of Pycnogenol supplementation on the arachidonic acid pathway in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in response to an inflammatory stimulus. Pycnogenol is a standardised extract of French maritime pine bark consisting of procyanidins and polyphenolic monomers. Healthy volunteers aged 35 to 50 years were supplemented with 150 mg Pycnogenol a day for five days.

A novel mechanism of natural vitamin E tocotrienol activity: involvement of ERbeta signal transduction.

Vitamin E is a generic term used to indicate all tocopherol (TOC) and tocotrienol (TT) derivates. In the last few years, several papers have shown that a TT-rich fraction (TTRF) extracted from palm oil inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis in a large number of cancer cells. However, the molecular mechanism(s) involved in TT action is still unclear.