NUTR*4090 Functional Foods and Nutraceuticals - part 4

2nd half: lectures 5-9

Why are alcohol limits lower for women?

Physiological differences

• body composition
  - alcohol distributes in water —> women have less water and more fat

• lower alcohol metabolism (ADH - alcohol dehydrogenase)

• hormonal influences

Canada’s new low-risk drinking guidelines do not differentiate between different types of alcohol (T/F)

True

What was the low-risk guideline change?

“low risk” was previously ~2 drinks/day

In 2023 it was changed to 1-2 drinks/week

Is there a lower risk threshol?

No

no amount of alcohol consumed is deemed “risk free”

What is the French paradox?

Hypothesis: Mortality would be strongly associated with economic factors than with health-service and dietary factors

Results: Franch has higher wine consumption (higher SFA intake) but lower mortality rate from CHD —> while Canada is the opposite

Moderate alcohol consumption results in what kind of mortality?

reduced risk of all-cause mrotality

(J-shaped association)

Are certain types of alcoholic beverages better than others?

Wine and beer intake was associated wtih decreased mortality risk from CVD and total mortality

Polyphenol content in wine vs gin

Wine —> contains polyphenols

Gin —> does not contain polyphenols

• Both showed anti-inflammatory effects

• However, wine also showed:
  —> decreased oxidation of LDL-cholesterol in plasma
  —> decreased more markers of inflammation

Conclusion: red wine confers additional cardio-protection despite the same alcohol content

People should start to use alcohol or increase their alcohol use for health benefits (T/F)

False

What is RSV and what are its characteristics?

Resveratrol

Non-alcoholic component of red wine

• hydrophobic polyphenol

• phytoalexin

• metabolized quickly

• found in many plants

• viticulture practices can affect concentrations in wine
  **not the only bioactive in wine

What has RSV been proposed to do in animal models?

Prevent —> aging, T2DM, CVD, cancer, Alzheimer’s

Decrease —> inflammation, fat mass

Improve —> physical performance and metabolism

Is there any data on RSV in humans?

• rapidly and extensively absorbed/metabolized by intestine and liver

• excreted in urine

• the dose of RSV in wine is not sufficient to provide a change

Is there any efficacy data available in humans? (Chronic diseases)

e.g. CVD and T2D

• 1 year supplementation resulted in favourable changes in several inflammatory biomarkers

Systematic reviews and meta-analysis:

• concluded red wine confers the greatest CVD protection

• beer may also be protective (contains polyphenolic compounds)

• mostly biomarkers seem to be affected

RSV supplementation decreased glucose response to an OGTT in older patients with impaired fasting glucose

Is there any efficacy data available in humans? (Anti-aging)

Caloric restriction has been associated with increased lifespan

• also decrease cancer, CVD and cognitive decline

• increase glucose homeostasis

How does caloric restriction increase lifespan?

• CR acts on the SIRT1 pathway —> RSV acts on the same pathway

• RSV activates SIRT1 in humans

• Activation of SIRT1 increases gluconeogenesis and insulin secretion

Due to dose requirements, RSV as a nutraceutical is a more realistic approach than drinking wine (T/F)

True

What are EFA?

essential fatty acids

• required for normal physiological function but cannot be synthesized by the body in sufficient amounts or at all

• must be obtained from the diet

Fat free diet study in rats vs humans

Rats:

• stunted growth

• lost fur

• inflamed and scaly tails

Humans:

• those that had no linoleic acid in the diet showed poor growth and thickened, dry skin

What are D5D and D6D?

Desaturases —> add double bond

What are ELOVL2 & 5?

elongases —> add carbon

Omega-3 consumption influences the physiochemical properties of the cell membrane (T/F)

True

LCPUFA act as signaling molecules and ligands of transcription factors, influencing gene expression (T/F)

True

Omega-3 LCPUFA and cardiovascular health

• reduction in BP

• anti-inflammatory effects

Omega-3 LCPUFA and neurological development

• required in the development and functioning of the brain and visual system (DHA and AA)

• lipids bilayer of neuronal membranes consists of phospholipids

• during 3rd trimester up to 24 months after birth —> brain accumulates DHA as preparation for a growth spurt

What happens to a pre-maturely born child?

• miss peak accumulation of DHA from the mother

• long-term —> general decline in development quotient + lower performance in tests assessing visual-motor integration, spatial relations, quantitative concepts, and classroom behavior when compared to reference scores

Non-dietary factors that influence LCPUFA synthesis

• alcohol

• smoking

• body weight

• sex (m vs f)

Dietary factors that influence LCPUFA synthesis

high protein diet can influence pathway

How is omega-3 synthesis studied?

• stable isotope tracer

• gas chromatography

• product-to-precursor ratios

• microsomes

Effects of type of dietary protein on omega-3 LCPUFA synthesis

• decreased microsomal D6D activity in soy-fed rats compared to casein-fed rats

• lower D6D actvity results in lower LCPUFA synthesis

Blood glucose/diabetes treatments

Medication: metformin —> stops glucose from forming

Nutraceutical: berberine —> glucose lowering effects

Functional food: cinnamon —> shows potential in reducing blood sugar in the body

Metformin results

• demonstrated long-term diabetes prevention in pre-diabetic patients
  - improved insulin sensitivity
  - removed glucose from blood
  - HbA1C reduced

Berberine results

• no statistically significant differences in blood glucose changes

• side effects:
  - increased risk with increased dose
  - incidence of adverse reactions was low

Cinnamon results

• possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-diabetic properties

• meta-analysis: found to decrease fasting blood glucose

• no effect on HbA1C and serum insulin

What is hypertension also known as and why?

the silent killer

• doesn’t have early symptoms —> when hypertension is spotted, damage has already been done

Hypertension treatments

Medication: ACE inhibitors

Nutraceutical: magnesium

Functional Food: raw garlic

ACE inhibitors function and results

• target renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS)

• characterized by decrease in bradykinin degradation

• shown significant decrease in all-cause mortality in hypertensive patients

Magnesium function and results

• calcium antagonist on smooth muscle —> stops calcium influx, induces relaxationa and vasodilation

• meta-analysis: significant decrease of systolic and diastolic BP

Raw garlic function and results

• exerts antihypertensive effects
  - inhibit ACE activity
  - reduces synthesis of vasoconstricting prostanoids
  - enhances NO activity —> vasodilation and lower BP

• benefits from bioactive: allicin

• meta-analysis: significant decrease in SBP and DBP

Chronic inflammation treatments

Medication: NSAIDs

Nutraceutical: Curcumin

Functional Food: Nuts

NSAIDs function and results

• used to reduce pain and inflammation

• meta-analysis: no effect on CRP

• many side effects

Curcumin function and results

• bioactive polyphenol found in tumeric

• more effective at lowering CRP concentrations as the duration of consumptions increased

Nuts function and results

• meta-analysis: no significant effect on levels of CRP