Browsing by Person "Smail, Nacer Foudil"

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Anthocyanin-rich Potato Improves Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Healthy Human Adults
(2017) Tsang, Catherine; Almoosawi, S; Smail, Nacer Foudil; Al-Dujaili, Emad
Arterial stiffness is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and dietary polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, may play an important role in mediating vascular tone. The present single-blind randomised cross-over placebo controlled study investigated the effect of consumption of an anthocyanin-rich potato, Purple Majesty (PM) in 14 healthy male and female adults. Participants consumed 200 g of cooked PM containing 114 mg anthocyanins, or placebo (Osprey) with negligible anthocyanin content for 14 days, separated by a 1-week washout period. Non-invasive assessment of vascular tone (arterial stiffness) by pulse wave velocity (PWV) was determined in addition to systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), high density lipoproteins (HDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), triglycerides, glucose, insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and c-reactive protein (CRP). Arterial stiffness was significantly reduced (p=0.001) following PM consumption. There were no significant changes with any other clinical parameter measured, and no changes were observed following placebo. PM contained higher levels of total phenolics, total anthocyanins and antioxidant capacity and daily consumption of PM over 14 days was well tolerated by participants. The findings from this study suggest improved vascular tone following daily consumption of PM and inclusion in the diet could provide a rich and valuable source of anthocyanins.
Antioxidant Rich Potato Improves Arterial Stiffness in Healthy Adults
(Springer, 2018-06-26) Tsang, Catherine; Smail, Nacer Foudil; McDougall, G. J. M.; Al-Dujaili, Emad
Arterial stiffness is an emerging risk factor for cardiovascular disease and dietary anthocyanins may be important in mediating vascular tone. The present study investigated the effect of consumption of an anthocyanin-rich potato, Purple Majesty on arterial stiffness measured as pulse wave velocity in 14 healthy male and female adults. Participants consumed 200 g/day of cooked purple potato containing 288 mg anthocyanins, or a white potato containing negligible anthocyanins for 14 days, separated by a 7-day washout period. Non-invasive assessment of vascular tone by pulse wave velocity was determined in addition to systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, glucose, insulin and C-reactive protein. Pulse wave velocity was significantly reduced (p = 0.001) following Purple Majesty consumption for 14-days. There were no significant changes with any other clinical parameter measured, and no changes following white potato consumption. The findings from this short-term study indicate a potential effect of Purple Majesty consumption on arterial stiffness.
Assessment of Plasma Antioxidants, Oxidative Stress and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Paediatric Cancer Patients: A Prospective Cohort Pilot Study
(ECronicon Open Access, 2015-10-07) Revuelta-Iniesta, Raquel; Wilson, David C.; Brougham, Mark FH; Smail, Nacer Foudil; Davidson, Isobel; McKenzie, Jane; Fergus Maclay Leukaemia Trust; Queen Margaret University; Cancer and Leukaemia Trust
Background: Paediatric cancer patients may have a limited dietary intake, particularly nutrients high in antioxidants, docosahexanoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA). Objective: To investigate the antioxidant status (TAS), antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress, DHA and EPA of paediatric cancer patients during treatment. Methods: A prospective cohort study of Scottish children aged <18 years, diagnosed with and treated for cancer between April-2013 to Jan-2014 was performed. Clinical data and blood samples were collected at baseline and 6 months. Data were stratified by treatment risk (low, medium and high) and nutritional support. We used Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Antioxidant Assay to measure TAC, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) for lipid peroxidation and high performance liquid chromatography and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry for TAS. The analyses of DHA and EPA were performed by analysing fatty acidmethyl esters (FAME) using gas-liquid chromatography. The reference ranges used were: Yagi 1998 (1.86-3.94) _mol for lipid peroxidation and Damsgaard.,et al. 2014 for EPA (0.45-0.77) % and DHA (2.22-3.76) %. Results: 20 patients (median (IQR) age 4.2 (1.5-8.5) years; 50% males) were recruited. There were no significant changes in plasma TAS, TAC and EPA, but lipid peroxidation significantly decreased from 7.4 (6.2-9.0) at baseline to 5.3 (4.5-6.4) _mol/MDA at 6 months(p = 0.003). The median (IQR) blood percentage of DHA significantly increased from 1.3 (0.9-1.9) to 1.8 (1.3-2.1) (p = 0.001). Lipid peroxidation was high in 95% (19/20) of patients at baseline and 94% (15/16) at 6 months; whilst DHA and EPA were low in 95%(19/20) and 70% (14/20) at baseline and 87.5% (14/16) and 60% (12/16) at 6 months. Children on high-treatment risk exhibited the highest oxidative stress levels. No statitically significant differences were found between non-supplemented and supplemented children in any of the following parameters (TAS, TAC, oxidative stress, EPA and DHA). Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of oxidative stress, especially in children treated with high-risk protocols and during the initial phases of treatment. Nutritional support does not appear to provide enough TAS, EPA and DHA in this cohort; however, larger high-quality population based studies are warranted to confirm these findings. Keywords: Paediatric cancer; Antioxidants; Oxidative stress; Docosahexanoic acid; Eicosapentanoic acid
Intake of polyphenol-rich pomegranate pure juice influences urinary glucocorticoids, blood pressure and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance in human volunteers
(2012-08) Tsang, Catherine; Smail, Nacer Foudil; Almoosawi, Suzana; Davidson, Isobel; Al-Dujaili, Emad A. S.
Pomegranate juice (PJ; also known as pomegreat pure juice) provides a rich and varied source of polyphenolic compounds that may offer cardioprotective, anti-atherogenic and antihypertensive effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PJ consumption on glucocorticoids levels, blood pressure (BP) and insulin resistance in volunteers at high CVD risk. Subjects (twelve males and sixteen females) participated in a randomised, placebo-controlled cross-over study (BMI: 2677 (sd 336) kg/m2; mean age: 504 (sd 61) years). Volunteers were assessed at baseline, and at weeks 2 and 4 for anthropometry, BP and pulse wave velocity. Cortisol and cortisone levels in urine and saliva were determined by specific ELISA methods, and the cortisol/cortisone ratio was calculated. Fasting blood samples were obtained to assess plasma lipids, glucose, insulin and insulin resistance (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance). Volunteers consumed 500 ml of PJ or 500 ml of a placebo drink containing a similar amount of energy. Cortisol urinary output was reduced but not significant. However, cortisol/cortisone ratios in urine (P = 0009) and saliva (P = 0024) were significantly decreased. Systolic BP decreased from 1364 (sd 63) to 1289 (sd 51) mmHg (P = 0034), and diastolic BP from 803 (sd 429) to 755 (sd 517) mmHg (P = 0031) after 4 weeks of fruit juice consumption. Pulse wave velocity decreased from 75 (sd 086) to 744 (sd 094) m/s (P = 0035). There was also a significant reduction in fasting plasma insulin from 936 (sd 58) to 753 (sd 412) mIU/l (P = 0025) and of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (from 2216 (sd 143) to 182 (sd 112), P = 0028). No significant changes were seen in the placebo arm of the study. These results suggest that PJ consumption can alleviate key cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese subjects that might be due to a reduction in both systolic and diastolic BP, possibly through the inhibition of 11_-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 enzyme activity as evidenced by the reduction in the cortisol/cortisone ratio. The reduction in insulin resistance might have therapeutic benefits for patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes, obesity and the metabolic syndrome.
Monitoring salivary testosterone and cortisol concentrations across an international sports competition: Data comparison using two enzyme immunoassays and two sample preparations
(Elsevier, 2013-03) Crewther, B. T.; Al-Dujaili, Emad A. S.; Smail, Nacer Foudil; Anastasova, S.; Kilduff, L. P.; Cook, C. J.
Objectives: Salivary testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) concentrations were monitored across a sports competition. Data were compared using two enzyme-immunoassay (EIA) methods and two sample preparations to determine their influence on hormone concentrations. Design and methods: A group of male athletes (n=19) provided a saliva sample the morning before and one day after (24h post) an international rugby union match. Following an extraction procedure, the samples were analysed for T and C concentrations using a commercial kit (CME) and an in-house method (IHE). Raw samples (no extraction procedure) were also tested using the commercial kit (CMR). Results: There were no significant changes in T and C levels from pre to post competition with each EIA method and sample preparation, but significant differences in T (IHE>CME>CMR) and C (CMR>IHE and CME) concentrations were seen when both samples were pooled. Bland-Altman analyses confirmed the presence of fixed and proportional bias. Strong and significant correlations were demonstrated between the IHE and CME measures of salivary T (r=0.93-0.97) and C (r=0.95-0.97). The T and C values from the raw and extracted samples were also strongly correlated (r=0.93-0.96). Conclusions: The measurement of salivary T and C concentrations across an international sports event was influenced by different EIA methods and sample preparations, but all measures were strongly correlated with some bias. Both T and C were unresponsive to the sports event, but within the group results large individual variation was seen. 2012 The Canadian Society of Clinical Chemists.