Biomedical subjects

E Azzini

Publications and source records attributed to E Azzini.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2005

Screening and recruitment procedure of late-middle aged and older subjects: the ZENITH study.

OBJECTIVE: To report the rational, design, recruitment, baseline characteristics and preliminary overview of volunteers in the ZENITH study. DESIGN: A multicentre prospective intervention study employing a randomised double-blind design. SETTING: Clermont-Ferrand, Theix (France), Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Grenoble (France), Rome (Italy). PARTICIPANTS: Healthy men and women middle-aged (55-70 y) and older volunteers (70-87 y). INTERVENTIONS: At baseline (prior to zinc (Zn) supplementation), all volunteers underwent a full clinical examination, anthropometric measurements, health and lifestyle questionnaire, Mini Mental State Examination, Geriatric Depression Scale, and biochemistry profile. RESULTS: In total, 842 volunteers (378 men and 464 women) were invited to take part in the study. A total of 49% of these volunteers were excluded on the basis of inclusion/exclusion criteria. In total, 433 participants were admitted to the Zn supplementation for 6 months. During this period, about 10% of volunteers dropped out from the study. CONCLUSIONS: A total of 387 subjects (197 male and 190 female subjects) successfully completed the supplementation phase of the ZENITH study.

Aged↗

PubMed2005

Estimation of intake and status of vitamin A, vitamin E and folate in older European adults: the ZENITH.

OBJECTIVE: To report selected dietary intake and vitamin status at baseline of volunteers participating in the ZENITH study and the correlation of vitamin status with zinc. DESIGN: A multicentre prospective intervention study employing a randomised double-blind design. SETTING: Clermont-Ferrand, Theix (France), Coleraine (Northern Ireland), Grenoble (France), Rome (Italy). PARTICIPANTS: In total, 387 healthy middle-aged (55-70 y) and older (70-87 y) men and women participated in the study. METHODS: Dietary intake was assessed by means of a validated 4-d recall record. Fasting blood samples were simultaneously analysed for retinol and alpha-tocopherol by the HLPC method. Erythrocyte folates were measured by a competitive immunoassay with direct chemiluminescence detection on an automatised immunoanalyser. RESULTS: In all centres, men had a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher mean nutrient intake than women. Comparison between age-groups showed that older individuals had significantly lower intakes of macro- and selected micronutrients than middle-aged subjects (P < 0.0001). A high fat intake (from 36 to 40% of total energy) was observed in all examined groups. In relation to biochemical measures of vitamin status, all parameters were above their respective cut-off values for normality and, thus, none of the subjects had biochemical evidence of deficiency of these selected vitamins. A moderate correlation was found with plasma vitamin A and serum zinc (r = 0.12, P < 0.05) or red blood cell zinc (r = 0.12, P < 0.01) and with erythrocyte folates and red blood cell zinc (r = 0.11, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: There were only moderate differences in the nutrient intake of the ZENITH study volunteers among the four European centres. Their biochemical status for retinol, alpha-tocopherol and folate appeared adequate.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Effect of domestic cooking on human bioavailability of naringenin, chlorogenic acid, lycopene and beta-carotene in cherry tomatoes.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiological data showed that tomato and tomato product (sauce, paste) consumption is associated with a protective effect against the development of some chronic-degenerative diseases. Tomato antioxidant bioactive molecules such as carotenoids and polyphenols could be responsible, at least in part, for the healthy effect observed. The bioavailability of these compounds is an essential requirement to sustain their in vivo role. While it is well known that many factors can influence the bioaccessibility of carotenoids from the food matrix, there is little information about the factors affecting phenolic compounds' bioaccessibility. AIM OF THE STUDY: This investigation was carried out to evaluate the effect of domestic cooking on the bioavailability in humans of antioxidant molecules after the administration of a test meal containing cherry tomatoes. METHODS: A cross-over design was conducted. Subjects (3 females and 2 males) consumed experimental meals containing fresh and cooked cherry tomatoes. Blood collection was performed at different time intervals (0, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 24 h). RESULTS: Carotenoid and phenol plasma concentrations were measured. Plasma levels of lycopene and beta-carotene were not significantly different with respect to the baseline after ingestion of both the test meals, while plasma concentrations of naringenin and chlorogenic acid increased significantly with respect to the baseline (P<0.05) after administration of cooked cherry tomatoes, but not after administration of fresh cherry tomatoes. CONCLUSIONS: The present study indicated that domestically cooked tomatoes significantly increase naringenin and chlorogenic acid plasma levels. Considering that both naringenin and chlorogenic acid are widely studied for their potential healthy properties, evidence of their bioavailability and of the factors influencing their bioaccessibility is an important tool to sustain the possibility that these polyphenols play a biological role in human physiology.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Accumulation and interactions of beta-carotene and alpha-tocopherol in patients with adenomatous polyps.

OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were: (1) to determine whether short-term supplementation of beta-carotene (BC) or vitamin E (VE; alpha-tocopherol) would result in their respective accumulation in normal colonic mucosa and in adenomatous polyps; (2) to determine whether the intake of BC would interfere with the concentration of VE in these target tissues. DESIGN: Blood and colonic biopsy samples were taken before and after supplementation. SUBJECTS: Eighteen volunteers with colonic adenomatous polyps were enrolled into this study. INTERVENTIONS: The supplementation lasted for 43 days and patients were examined over the whole period. Subjects were randomised into four groups according to the four different supplementations: placebo, natural BC (25 000 IU/day), natural VE (400 IU/day), combination BC/VE. RESULTS: Initially we were aiming for recruitment of 20 patients in each group, however after 2 y of study (1997-1999), we terminated the study because of slow recruitment and analysed the data. In placebo subjects after supplementation, the plasma concentrations of BC and VE remained unchanged, however only two patients were recruited in this group and therefore we did not include this group in our final analysis. In BC group, the plasma BC concentrations increased significantly (P<0.001), while VE concentrations were unchanged. In VE group, VE concentrations increased (P<0.01) and BC did not change, and in BC/VE group both BC (P<0.001) and VE levels (P<0.01) increased significantly. After supplementation, the tissue concentration of BC in normal colonic mucosa in BC group increased significantly (P<0.01) while the VE concentration did not change. In VE group, the concentration of VE in normal colonic mucosa increased slightly but did not reach statistical significance. However, VE concentration increased significantly (P<0.05) in the polyps of this group. In BC/VE group, in which patients received the combination treatment, the BC concentration of normal colonic mucosa increased (P<0.05) but, surprisingly, the VE concentration decreased significantly (P<0.01). Interestingly in the polyps, although the BC concentration increased (P<0.01), the concentration of VE was reduced moderately but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation of BC in doses used in this study may have significantly interfered with the VE concentration in the examined tissue and probably with its metabolic pathway.

Adenomatous Polyps↗

PubMed2000

High-performance liquid chromatography with coulometric electrode array detector for the determination of quercetin levels in cells of the immune system.

There is mounting evidence emphasizing the importance of intracellular antioxidant levels for maintenance of the immune function. The flavonoid quercetin, a natural antioxidant, has been shown to modulate enzymes involved in the regulation of the inflammatory response. However, up to now, there have been no studies describing quercetin levels in cells of the immune system. A gradient reversed-phase HPLC technique to identify and quantify intracellular levels of quercetin and its application in mice splenocytes are described. Mobile phases were a 0.01 M sodium phosphate monobasic solution adjusted to pH 2.8 with 85% orthophosphoric acid (buffer, Solvent A) and methanol (Solvent B) with a flow rate of 1 ml/min. An eight-channel coulometric electrode array detector was used. In vitro supplementation with increasing concentration of quercetin (25, 50, and 100 microM) raises intracellular quercetin levels in a dose-dependent manner. The method has the required features of specificity and sensitivity for monitoring quercetin uptake in cells of the immune system.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Supplementation with quercetin markedly increases plasma quercetin concentration without effect on selected risk factors for heart disease in healthy subjects.

The purpose of this double-blind study was to investigate the influence of adding a quercetin-containing supplement to the diet on plasma quercetin status, serum/platelet fatty acid levels and risk factors for heart disease. Healthy men and women with cholesterol levels of 4.0-7.2 mmol/L, consumed four capsules daily of either a quercetin-containing supplement (1.0 g quercetin/d) or rice flour placebo for 28 d. Quercetin intakes were approximately 50-fold greater than the dietary intakes associated with lower coronary heart disease mortality on the basis of epidemiologic studies. Subjects consuming quercetin-containing capsules had plasma quercetin concentrations approximately 23-fold higher than those of subjects consuming the control capsules. Quercetin supplementation did not modify serum total, LDL or HDL cholesterol or triglyceride levels. There were also no alterations of other cardiovascular disease or thrombogenic risk factors, including platelet aggregation, platelet thromboxane B2 production, blood pressure or resting heart rate. Furthermore, there was no effect on the levels of (n-6) or (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in serum or platelet phospholipids. In conclusion, supplementation with quercetin-containing capsules markedly enhanced the plasma quercetin concentration but had no effect on other cardiovascular or thrombogenic risk factors.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Application of a new high-performance liquid chromatographic method for measuring selected polyphenols in human plasma.

We developed a method to measure plasma levels of selected polyphenols before and after ingestion of green tea. Blood samples were obtained from four healthy women before and 30 and 50 min after the ingestion of 300 ml of green tea infusion. A 1-ml volume of plasma was hydrolysed with 0.5 M HCl-methanol (1:1, v/v) for 30 min at room temperature, extracted with ethyl acetate and separated by reversed-phase chromatography. Polyphenols were identified on the basis of their retention times and by spectrum analysis. Green tea caffeine has the same retention times as caffeic acid. Consumption of green tea produces a notable increase in the plasma levels of caffeine plus caffeic acid and the appearance of measurable levels of epigallocatechingallate. In conclusion, the method was found to have the requisite features of specificity and sensitivity for monitoring plasma levels of selected tea polyphenols.

Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid↗

PubMed1997

Plasma (carotenoids, retinol, alpha-tocopherol) and tissue (carotenoids) levels after supplementation with beta-carotene in subjects with precancerous and cancerous lesions of sigmoid colon.

OBJECTIVES: (1) To compare tissue and plasma carotenoids status of healthy subjects and subjects with pre-cancer and cancer lesions; (2) to evaluate the effect of beta-carotene supplementation on the concentrations of other carotenoids in tissue (luteine + zeaxanthin, cryptoxanthin, lycopene, alpha-carotene) and in plasma and also retinol and alpha-tocopherol levels. DESIGN: Eighteen subjects were divided into three groups on the basis of colonoscopy and histological analytical findings: four healthy subjects (control group A); seven subjects affected by adenomatous polyps (group B with pre-cancer lesions); seven subjects suffering from colonic cancer (group C). Blood and colonic biopsy samples were taken (of colon and rectal mucosa) before and after beta-carotene supplementation in all subjects. Groups A and B received a daily dose of beta-carotene (30 mg/die) for 43 d. Group C's supplementation was terminated at the time which was performed, usually within 15 d. The tissue and plasma concentration of carotenoids, retinol and alpha-tocopherol were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The tissue concentrations of each carotenoid were similar in all the intestinal sites examined as regards groups A and B, although there was a high degree of intra individual variability within each group. Only beta-carotene made significant increases (P < 0.001) after supplementation. The subjects with cancer show tissue levels for each carotenoid lower than those of healthy subjects or subjects with polypous. The plasma levels of alpha-tocopherol did not change after supplementation while significant increases were noted of retinol, alpha-carotene (P < 0.01) and of beta-carotene (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The patients with colonic cancer seemed to undergo a significant reduction in their antioxidant reserves with respect to the normal subjects and or polyps. We can confirm that oral B-carotene supplementation induces also an increase in plasma alpha-carotene in all groups.

Adenomatous Polyposis Coli↗

PubMed1996

Dietary profiles and anti-oxidants in a rural population of central Italy with a low frequency of cancer.

This descriptive, cross-sectional study reports the anti-oxidant activities of a population sample of 736 individuals, randomly selected from residents of two small towns of the Latina province of Italy (an area at low frequency of cancer). The circulating levels of vitamins A, C and E, ceruloplasmin, carotenoids (lutein + zeaxanthin, lycopene, alpha- and beta-carotene, cryptoxanthin), cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as anthropometric measurements (skin-folds, height, weight) were evaluated. A dietary interview was also performed by means of a semi-quantitative questionnaire. All the anti-oxidants were above the cut-off points for normality, whereas body mass index, % fat and serum lipids were not clearly suggestive of a protected population. The data obtained could be useful to estimate the baseline values of protective microelements and to assess dietary profiles in populations following a Mediterranean diet.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

A fluorescence-based method for measuring total plasma antioxidant capability.

The Total Radical-Trapping Antioxidant Parameter (TRAP) of 10 freshly prepared human plasmas was measured by a new fluorometric assay. In this method, the rate of peroxidation induced by 2,2'-diazobis (2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (ABAP) was monitored through the loss of fluorescence of the protein R-Phycoerythrin (R-PE). The lag-phase induced by plasma was compared to that induced by 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2- carboxylic acid (Trolox, a water-soluble analogue of vitamin E). Proteins (but not their sulphydryl groups) interfere with the analysis, partially protecting R-PE when all plasma antioxidants are exhausted. A Trolox-induced lag-phase must therefore be measured on each plasma sample. We found that ascorbate (2.5-5.3%), alpha-tocopherol (2.9-8.5%), urate (19.6-61.0), and thiol groups (17.3-42.3%) jointly explain up to 70% of TRAP. Thus, either other compounds present in plasma are likely to exert antioxidant action, or a marked synergistic action between antioxidants should be postulated to exist. This latter hypothesis is supported by the finding that the simultaneous inactivation of ascorbate and thiol groups produces a loss in antioxidant capacity of plasma greater (26%) than the sum of the decreases produced by the separate inactivation of each of the two compounds. The proposed method appears simple, reliable, and allows the rapid handling of a reasonable number of freshly prepared plasma samples. Given the rapid loss of TRAP upon storage, the latter characteristic is crucial in studies on humans, involving a large number of subjects.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Accumulation of beta-carotene in normal colorectal mucosa and colonic neoplastic lesions in humans.

The quantity of beta-carotene (BC) accumulated in colonic polyps and colonic cancerous tissue in humans in situ was determined relative to the quantity accumulated in normal colon and rectal tissue. Serum concentration of BC, retinol, and alpha-tocopherol and tissue BC concentration were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography in samples obtained before and after oral supplementation with BC (30 mg/day). The serum BC and retinol concentrations significantly increased in response to supplementation in control, polyp, and cancer patients, but there was no change in serum alpha-tocopherol concentration. The BC concentration in tissue (colon, rectum, and tumor) of cancer patients was significantly less than that in tissue samples from control and polyp patients. Relative to baseline values, BC accumulated to a significant extent in tissues from all patients, including polyp and tumor tissue, during supplementation. The results indicate that BC does accumulate in colonic neoplastic tissue in humans and may potentially be utilized to augment cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutics or to prevent malignant transformation of cells.

Adenomatous Polyps↗

PubMed1993

Vitamin C.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Ascorbic Acid↗

PubMed1988

Habitual alcohol consumption and nutritional status of the elderly.

The interrelationship between habitual alcohol consumption, dietary intakes and vitamin status was examined in 393 elderly subjects (188 men, 205 women, age range 65-90 years) resident in seven retirement homes throughout Italy. Individual food intake was assessed by the 7-day precise weighing method. Fasting blood was tested for riboflavin (erythrocyte glutathione reductase activity coefficient), thiamine (erythrocyte transketolase activity), retinol (fluorimetry) and folic acid status. Alcohol contributed on average 12 per cent of total energy intake in men, and 6 per cent in women. Forty-eight per cent of males and 39 per cent of females were classified as heavy drinkers (HD) with 48 and 28 g/d average alcohol intakes respectively. There was a general tendency for women to add alcohol to their habitual diet, as revealed by the positive correlation between total energy intake and alcohol intake. The higher energy intakes of HD women were also reflected in their higher body weights. Men tended to displace food energy partially by alcohol. Dietary risk of malnutrition, high for vitamin A, and moderate to low for vitamins B1 and B2, did not increase with alcohol consumption. Biochemical evidence of malnutrition indicated a significant deterioration of folate status in HD of both sexes, and for B1 in HD males only; there was no change in riboflavin status. Plasma levels of retinol were higher, and prevalence of vitamin A deficiency lower, in HD, a finding that warrants further investigation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Determinants of nutritional status in hospital patients in Italy.

The prevalence of protein-calorie malnutrition (PCM) and micronutrient deficiency (MND) at the time of admission and discharge from hospital was evaluated in 91 patients consecutively admitted to the Surgery Clinic of the University Hospital of Rome. Anthropometric parameters and circulating levels of vitamins (A, E, C, B1, and B2) and visceral proteins [retinol-binding protein (RBP, prealbumin (PA), and transferrin] were measured. Twenty-one patients (23%) had moderate to severe PCM, and 70 patients (77%) had normal nutritional status (NNS) at admission. Two patients with PCM died in the hospital. At discharge, the prevalence of PCM was unchanged in the remaining 19 patients. Single or multiple MND was observed initially in 71% of patients with PCM and in 36% with apparently normal nutritional status. Despite vitamin supplementation, MND was present at the time of discharge in 73% of patients with PCM and 44% with NNS. Nutritional status at the time of admission was assessed in hospitals in six different Italian cities. The criterion for admission to the study was the diagnosis of chronic (greater than 1 yr duration) illness (excluding cancer and multiple organ disorders). Two hundred eighty-four patients (145 males, 139 females), ages 25-88 yr, were selected. The findings indicated a high prevalence of MND (64%). Also, in disorders that usually do not have significant alterations of digestion or absorption, such as uncomplicated cardiorespiratory disease, the prevalence of MND was high (9-38%). The prevalence of MND was not related to body mass index (BMI). PCM was more common among patients with chronic gastrointestinal disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adult↗