Repository logo
 

Dietetics, Nutrition and Biological Sciences

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/23

Browse

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 10 of 12
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Bioavailability and Urinary Excretion of Phenolic-Derived Metabolites after Acute Consumption of Purple Majesty Potato in Humans
    (E-Cronicon, 2015-03-18) Tsang, Catherine; Smail, Nacer F.; McDougall, Gordon J.; Almoosawi, Suzana; Al-Dujaili, Emad A. S.
    A novel purple potato variety, Purple Majesty (PM) contains an abundance of phenolic compounds, especially anthocyanins. The aim of this study was to assess the bioavailability of phenolic compounds in plasma measured as total polyphenols and urinary excretion of phenolic-derived metabolites after acute consumption of cooked PM. Five healthy male subjects (27-60 years; mean BMI: 26.7 ± 4.1) participated in a bioavailability study. Blood and urine were sampled at baseline and following consumption of 400 g cooked PM at 1h, 2h, 4h and 24h. A peak plasma antioxidant capacity was reached 1-2 hours post-consumption (from 1044 ± 281 µmol/L Fe(II) at baseline and increased to 1257 ± 180 after 1 hour (p = 0.045) and 1112 ± 251 µmol/L Fe(II) after 2 hours (borderline significance of p = 0.06). Total phenols level in plasma was reached after 2 hours (from 342.4 ± 28.3 at baseline to 368.4 ± 25 mg/L GAE). Liquid chromatography mass spectrometric (LC-MS) analysis was used to track the levels of anthocyanin-like derivatives and metabolites in the urine of volunteers after intake of the cooked Purple Majesty potatoes. No anthocyanin derivatives were detected in urine by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry indicating levels were < 2 nM. The majority of peaks that increased after intake were putatively identified as sulphated phenolic metabolites. Phenolic glucuronides were identified but other peaks remain unidentified. Hippuric acid was identified as a major phenolic derivative. Hydroxy benzoic derivatives, characteristic of intake of anthocyanins, were not detected in urine, however metabolites expected from the B-ring of petunidin (i.e. methyl gallic acid) may have been obscured by other peaks. Some metabolites could have arisen through metabolism of chlorogenic acid, which is present at ~ equivalent amounts to anthocyanins in cooked PM. In conclusion, acute consumption of PM resulted in an increase in excretion of urinary phenolic-derived metabolites. Identifying these unknown phenolic derivatives warrants further investigation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Consumption of Pomegranate Juice Attenuates Exercise - Induced Oxidative Stress, Blood Pressure and Urinary Cortisol/Cortisone Ratio in Human Adults
    (E-Cronicon, 2016-08-23) Al-Dujaili, Emad A. S.; Good, Gillian; Tsang, Catherine
    Background: Oxidative stress is exacerbated in overweight and obese individuals after acute exercise compared with their nonobese counterparts. Antioxidants supplementation of the diet may be one intervention to reduce exercise-induced oxidative stress in this vulnerable population. The aim of this study was to investigate whether polyphenol-rich pomegranate juice attenuates postexercise oxidative stress and contributors to oxidative stress (glucocorticoids) and blood pressure in healthy overweight subjects. Methods: Males and females participated in a randomized placebo controlled parallel pilot-study (mean BMI: 26.7 ± 6.6 kg/m2 ). Two groups of (n = 12) participants received either pomegranate pure juice (500 mL/day containing total polyphenols of 1685 mg GAE/L) or placebo (water matched for total energy) and all participants completed two standardized 30 min treadmill tests (50% Wmax) at baseline and after one week of the intervention. Results: Exercise induced lipid peroxidation (MDA) was lower following pomegranate juice consumption compared with placebo (31.2 ± 10.6 to 26.5 ± 9.8 MDA µmole/day) after 1 week (P = 0.035). Urinary free cortisol was reduced from 179.4 ± 53.2 to 125.6 ± 43.5 nmole/24h which was significant (p = 0.042). In addition, there was a statistically significant increase in urinary free cortisone: from 112.2 ± 40.4 to 187.6 ± 90.2 nmole/24 h (p = 0.045), and a significant decrease in the urinary free cortisol/cortisone ratio (p=0.009) from 1.6 ± 1.1 to 0.67 ± 0.55 following one week of pomegranate juice intake. Pomegranate juice consumption was also found to decrease systolic blood pressure pre-exercise (136.7 ± 11.7 to 131.8 ± 8.8 mmHg (p = 0.007), and post-exercise from 158.8 ± 15.8 to 148.1 ± 12.3 mmHg (p < 0.01) and diastolic blood pressure (86.3 ± 10.6 to 82.5 ± 6.8 mmHg (p = 0.04) and 103.1 ±12.5 to 93.9 ± 11.5 mmHg (p = 0.001), pre and post exercise, respectively. Correlation results between the change in Cortisol/cortisone ratio with the effect on blood pressure showed a negative significant association post pomegranate juice intake (p = 0.028 for systolic and p = 0,008 for diastolic BP). There were no changes in lipid peroxidation or blood pressure following placebo treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that pomegranate juice consumption prior to an acute bout of moderate intensity exercise can alleviate blood pressure and exercise-induced stress in the overweight and obese population.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Functional Foods and Lifestyle Approaches for Diabetes Prevention and Management
    (MDPI, 2017-12-01) Alkhatib, Ahmad; Tsang, Catherine; Tiss, Ali; Bahorun, Theeshan; Arefanian, Hossein; Barake, Roula; Khadir, Abdelkrim; Tuomilehto, Jaakko
    Functional foods contain biologically active ingredients associated with physiological health benefits for preventing and managing chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). A regular consumption of functional foods may be associated with enhanced anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, insulin sensitivity, and anti-cholesterol functions, which are considered integral to prevent and manage T2DM. Components of the Mediterranean diet (MD)—such as fruits, vegetables, oily fish, olive oil, and tree nuts—serve as a model for functional foods based on their natural contents of nutraceuticals, including polyphenols, terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, sterols, pigments, and unsaturated fatty acids. Polyphenols within MD and polyphenol-rich herbs—such as coffee, green tea, black tea, and yerba maté—have shown clinically-meaningful benefits on metabolic and microvascular activities, cholesterol and fasting glucose lowering, and anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation in high-risk and T2DM patients. However, combining exercise with functional food consumption can trigger and augment several metabolic and cardiovascular protective benefits, but it is under-investigated in people with T2DM and bariatric surgery patients. Detecting functional food benefits can now rely on an “omics” biological profiling of individuals’ molecular, genetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, but is under-investigated in multi-component interventions. A personalized approach for preventing and managing T2DM should consider biological and behavioral models, and embed nutrition education as part of lifestyle diabetes prevention studies. Functional foods may provide additional benefits in such an approach.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Olive Oil Nutraceuticals in the Prevention and Management of Diabetes: From Molecules to Lifestyle
    (MDPI, 2018-07-12) Alkhatib, Ahmad; Tsang, Catherine; Tuomilehto, Jaakko
    Lifestyle is the primary prevention of diabetes, especially type-2 diabetes (T2D). Nutritional intake of olive oil (OO), the key Mediterranean diet component has been associated with the prevention and management of many chronic diseases including T2D. Several OO bioactive compounds such as monounsaturated fatty acids, and key biophenols including hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, have been associated with preventing inflammation and cytokine-induced oxidative damage, glucose lowering, reducing carbohydrate absorption, and increasing insulin sensitivity and related gene expression. However, research into the interaction of OO nutraceuticals with lifestyle components, especially physical activity, is lacking. Promising postprandial effects have been reported when OO or other similar monounsaturated fatty acids were the main dietary fat compared with other diets. Animal studies have shown a potential anabolic effect of oleuropein. Such effects could be further potentiated via exercise, especially strength training, which is an essential exercise prescription for individuals with T2D. There is also an evidence from in vitro, animal, and limited human studies for a dual preventative role of OO biophenols in diabetes and cancer, especially that they share similar risk factors. Putative antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms and associated gene expressions resulting from OO biophenols have produced paradoxical results, making suggested inferences from dual prevention T2D and cancer outcomes difficult. Well-designed human interventions and clinical trials are needed to decipher such a potential dual anticancer and antidiabetic effects of OO nutraceuticals. Exercise combined with OO consumption, individually or as part of a healthy diet is likely to induce reciprocal action for T2D prevention outcomes.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    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.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effect of Polyphenol-Rich Dark Chocolate on Salivary Cortisol and Mood in Adults
    (MDPI, 2019-05-29) Tsang, Catherine; Hodgson, Lindsay; Bussu, Anna; Farhat, Grace; Al-Dujaili, Emad
    The aim of the present study was to investigate whether ingestion of polyphenol-rich dark chocolate improved salivary cortisol levels and subjective mood states in adults recruited from a health and social care setting. Twenty-six participants ingested 25 g/day of a high polyphenol dark chocolate (containing 500 mg of total flavonoids) or a similar amount of a control dark chocolate containing negligible flavonoids for four weeks. Twenty-four-hour salivary glucocorticoid levels (cortisol and cortisone) were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and subjective mood was assessed using a validated Positive Affect and Negative Affect Schedule. Total daily cortisol, morning cortisol, and the cortisol/cortisone ratio were significantly reduced (p < 0.001) after ingestion of only the high polyphenol dark chocolate. There were no significant differences between groups for overall scores for positive affect and negative affect. No changes were observed after the control dark chocolate, or any other parameter measured. In conclusion, the findings from this small-scale study indicate lowering of salivary cortisol levels following polyphenol-rich dark chocolate in adults recruited from a health and social care setting. Such changes may be attributable to their ability to inhibit 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 activity and warrant further investigation.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effect of N-Acetylcysteine on Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale associated with Schizophrenia: A Meta-Analysis
    (Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, 2020-10) Ghaderi, Amir; Bussu, Anna; Tsang, Catherine; Jafarnejad, Sadegh
    Background and objective: N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a precursor of L-cysteine with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neurotropic effects, is a promising agent in alleviating symptoms associated with schizophrenia. However, the role of NAC on parameters of Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) remain uncertain. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the effect of NAC on parameters of PANSS in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Methods: We searchedPubmed/MEDLINE™, PsycNET™, PsycLIT™, Scopus™ and Google Scholar™ for studies on the effect of NAC on PANSS in patients with schizophrenia from inception to March 2019. We adopted medical and non-medical subjects headings (MeSH, non-MeSH) and several keywords, including “NAC”, “N-acetylcysteine”, “N-acetyl cysteine”, “Acetylcysteine”, “N-Acetyl-L-cysteine”, “schizophrenia”, “psychotic disorder”, “psychosis”, “schizoaffective” and “dementia praecox”. Results: We identified seven trials with274 patients meeting the inclusion criteria, with follow up between 8-52 weeks, and NAC supplementation between 1200-3600 mg/day. Significant improvements in PANSS were identified following NAC for total (SMD=-0.61, 95% CI = -0.91, -0.31 ; P<0.001), general (SMD = -0.58; 95% CI = -0.90, -0.26; P=0.0004); and negative (SMD = -0.56; 95% CI = -0.92, -0.21; P = 0.001) scores, respectively. No significant heterogeneity was found among studies. Significant reductions were observed following sub-group analysis in trials ≤ 24 weeks duration, with appreciable effect size for total (SMD= -0.83), general (SMD= -0.67) and negative (SMD=-1.09) scores. Conclusion: Supplementation of NAC was effective in alleviating PANSS symptoms associated with schizophrenia in trials ≤ 24 weeks duration. The use of NAC as an adjunct seems promising and further investigation is warranted to determine its precise role.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Polyphenol supplementation and executive functioning in overweight and obese adults at risk of cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis
    (Public Library of Science, 2023-05-25) Farag, Sara; Tsang, Catherine; Murphy, Philip N.
    Background and objectives Increasing evidence indicates a link between obesity and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, there is limited literature regarding the effect of polyphenols, a plant derived compounds, on executive functioning in an overweight/obese population at-risk of cognitive impairment. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials is to examine the effect of polyphenol supplementation on executive functions in overweight and/or obese populations at risk of cognitive impairment. Methods A comprehensive literature search was conducted from inception to March 2023 using four electronic databases: PubMed/Medline, PsycInfo, Scopus and Cochrane trials library. Published primary research studies in English that compared the effect of polyphenols with placebo on executive function in overweight/obese adults were considered eligible for the meta-analysis. Jadad scale was used for the methodological quality rating of the included studies. Hedges g with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for endpoints were calculated using random effect model where applicable. Rosenthal’s Fail-safe N, funnel plots, the Begg and Mazumdar’s rank correlation test (Kendall’s S statistic P-Q), Egger’s linear regression test, and Duval and Tweedie’s trim-and-fill test were identified for potential use as appropriate, to examine publication bias. Sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the robustness of the results. Results and conclusion A total of 23 RCT studies involving N = 1,976 participants were included in the review. The results of the meta-analysis revealed a non-significant effect for polyphenol supplementation on executive function (g = 0.076, CI = -0.018 to 0.170). Observations from primary studies within the meta-analysis showed a potential positive effect of polyphenol supplementation in a younger population at-risk of cognitive impairment and it is recommended to investigate this further in future studies. Moreover, the variability of the tasks used to examine executive functions as well as the adequate reporting of supplement’s phenolic composition is a limitation that future work should also consider.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Effect of Polyphenol Supplementation on Memory Functioning in Overweight and Obese Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
    (MDPI, 2024-02-06) Farag, Sara; Tsang, Catherine; Al-Dujaili, Emad A. S.; Murphy, Philip N.
    Negative health consequences of obesity include impaired neuronal functioning and cell death, thus bringing the risk of impaired cognitive functioning. Antioxidant properties of polyphenols offer a possible intervention for overweight people, but evidence for their effectiveness in supporting cognitive functioning is mixed. This review examined evidence from randomized controlled trials concerning the effect of polyphenols on tasks requiring either immediate or delayed retrieval of learned information, respectively, thus controlling for differences in cognitive processes and related neural substrates supporting respective task demands. Searches of the PubMed/Medline, PsycInfo, and Scopus databases identified 24 relevant primary studies with N = 2336 participants having a BMI ≥ 25.0 kg/m2. The participants’ mean age for the 24 studies exceeded 60 years. Respective meta-analyses produced a significant summary effect for immediate retrieval but not for delayed retrieval. The present findings support a potential positive effect of chronic supplementation with polyphenols, most notably flavonoids, on immediate retrieval in participants aged over 60 years with obesity being a risk factor for cognitive impairment. We recommend further investigation of this potential positive effect in participants with such risk factors. Future research on all populations should report the phenolic content of the supplementation administered and be specific regarding the cognitive processes tested.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A short study exploring the effect of the glycaemic index of the diet on energy intake and salivary steroid hormones
    (2019-01-24) Al-Dujaili, Emad A. S.; Ashmore, Sophie; Tsang, Catherine
    The glycaemic index or load (GI or GL) is a concept for ranking carbohydrate-rich foods based on the postprandial blood glucose response compared with a reference food (glucose). Due to the limited research investigating the effect of the GI or GL of the diet on salivary steroidal hormones, this explorative short study was conducted. 12 female participants consumed a low GI and a high GI diet for three days each, followed by a washout period between each intervention. Saliva was collected at baseline, and following the low or high GI diets. Cortisol and testosterone concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA). GI and GL were significantly different between the low and high GI diets ( < 0.001). There was a small but significant increase in salivary cortisol after the high GI diet (7.38 to 10.93 ng/mL, = 0.036). No effect was observed after the low GI diet. Higher levels of testosterone were produced after the low GI diet (83.7 to 125.9 pg/mL, = 0.002), and no effect was found after the high GI diet. The total intake of calories consumed on the low GI diet was significantly lower compared to the high GI diet ( = 0.019). A low GI diet was associated with a small but significant increase in salivary testosterone, while a high GI diet increased cortisol levels. Altering the GI of the diet may influence overall energy intake and the health and wellbeing of female volunteers.