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Biomedical subjects

H M Mykkänen

Publications and source records attributed to H M Mykkänen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Influence of domestic processing and storage on flavonol contents in berries.

Effects of domestic processing and storage on the flavonols quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol in five berries were studied using an optimized RP-HPLC method with UV and diode array detection after an acid hydrolysis of the corresponding glycosides. In fresh berries, the total content of flavonols was highest in lingonberry (169 mg/kg) and black currant (157 mg/kg), intermediate in bilberry (41 mg/kg) and strawberry (17 mg/kg), and lowest in red raspberry (9.5 mg/kg). Cooking strawberries with sugar to make jam resulted in minor losses (quercetin 15%, kaempferol 18%). During cooking of bilberries with water and sugar to make soup, 40% of quercetin was lost. Traditional preservation of crushed lingonberries in their own juice caused a considerable (40%) loss of quercetin. Only 15% of quercetin and 30% of myricetin present in unprocessed berries were retained in juices made by common domestic methods (steam-extracted black currant juice, unpasteurized lingonberry juice). Cold-pressing was superior to steam-extraction in extracting flavonols from black currants. During 9 months of storage at 20 C, quercetin content decreased markedly (40%) in bilberries and lingonberries, but not in black currants or red raspberries. Myricetin and kaempferol were more susceptible than quercetin to losses during storage.

Flavonoids↗

Rye bread decreases serum total and LDL cholesterol in men with moderately elevated serum cholesterol.

The objective of this study was to determine the hypocholesterolemic effects of whole meal rye and white wheat breads in healthy humans with elevated serum cholesterol concentrations, and the changes in plasma glucose and insulin concentrations during rye and wheat bread periods. The subjects were 18 men and 22 women with baseline serum cholesterol concentration of 6.4+/-0.2 mmol/L. The study design was a 2x4-wk crossover trial during which each subject randomly consumed rye and wheat breads (20% of daily energy) as part of their usual diet for 4 wk. The bread periods were separated by a 4-wk washout period. Blood samples (after fasting) were collected on two consecutive days at the beginning and end of the bread periods. Serum total cholesterol decreased by 8% (P = 0.002) in men but was not significantly altered in women during the rye bread period. The wheat bread period did not affect any of the variables studied. Analysis of the serum lipids in tertiles of rye bread consumption confirmed the reduction in total cholesterol (P = 0.048) in men and revealed the reduction in LDL cholesterol (P = 0.032); both were dependent on the amount of rye bread consumed (-2, -14 and -10% in total cholesterol and 0, -12 and -12% in LDL cholesterol). Neither rye nor wheat bread influenced the concentrations of glucose and insulin. In conclusion, rye bread is effective in reducing serum total and LDL cholesterol concentrations in men with elevated serum cholesterol. Good compliance with consuming a relatively large amount of rye bread in the usual diet indicates that rye bread offers a practical dietary means of reducing serum cholesterol in men.

Adult↗

Rye bread improves bowel function and decreases the concentrations of some compounds that are putative colon cancer risk markers in middle-aged women and men.

Cereal fiber may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer by diluting colonic contents due to increased fecal output, by accelerating intestinal transit, by increasing fecal frequency and by altering bacterial metabolism. The effects of whole-meal rye bread on some putative colon cancer risk markers were investigated in 17 healthy Finnish subjects using a randomized crossover trial with two 4-wk bread consumption periods and a 4-wk washout period between the bread periods. White wheat bread was used as a control. Test breads covered a minimum of 20% of the daily energy intake (range, 4330-14, 033 kJ/d). Intestinal transit time, stool weight, fecal bacterial enzyme activities and short-chain fatty acid, ammonia, diacylglycerol (DAG) and bile acid concentrations in feces (expressed per gram wet feces) were measured. Whole-meal rye bread significantly increased fecal output and fecal frequency and shortened mean intestinal transit time compared with wheat bread in both women and men. Activities of beta-glucuronidase and beta-glucosidase (expressed per gram wet feces) were significantly lower in men and urease activity significantly higher in women during the rye bread period (RBP). Fecal butyrate concentration was higher during the RBP in men. Fecal ammonia and DAG concentrations did not differ between bread periods. Fecal total and secondary bile acid concentrations were significantly lower during RBP in both women and men. This study shows that whole-meal rye bread significantly improves bowel function in healthy adults and may decrease the concentration of some compounds that are putative colon cancer risk markers.

Adult↗

Consumption of wholemeal rye bread increases serum concentrations and urinary excretion of enterolactone compared with consumption of white wheat bread in healthy Finnish men and women.

Rye is an important source of plant lignans in Finland. In the present crossover trial we wanted to study the effect of rye bread as part of the usual diet on serum and urine enterolactone (ENL) concentrations in healthy volunteers. Eighteen men aged 43 (sem 2.0) years and twenty-one women aged 43 (sem 1.6) years consumed wholemeal rye bread and white wheat bread in random order for 4 weeks. The bread periods were separated by a 4 week wash-out period. The breads provided at least 20% of the daily energy intake. The mean intakes of rye bread were 219 (sem 14.6) and 162 (sem 5.3) g/d and those of wheat bread were 200 (sem 9.6) and 153 (sem 5.8) g/d for men and women respectively. Blood samples were collected from all subjects and three 24 h urine samples were collected from ten men and twelve women at the end of both bread periods for the determination of serum concentration and urinary excretion of ENL. The mean serum ENL concentrations in both men and women at the beginning of baseline period and at the end of the rye-bread period remained constant and were significantly higher than those at the end of the wheat-bread period. Correspondingly, daily urinary ENL excretion increased significantly during the rye-bread period compared with the wheat-bread period and was 5- and 10-fold higher in men and women respectively in comparison with the amount of plant lignan precursors measured in the rye bread. These data indicate the presence of other precursors for ENL in rye which are not detected by the current method of measuring plant lignans in food. The possible role of fibre in enhancement of the formation of mammalian lignans from their plant precursors in the gut also remains to be determined.

4-Butyrolactone↗

Content of the flavonols quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol in 25 edible berries.

The amounts of quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol aglycons in 25 edible berries were analyzed by an optimized RP-HPLC method with UV detection and identified with diode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry detection. Sixteen species of cultivated berries and nine species of wild berries were collected in Finland in 1997. Quercetin was found in all berries, the contents being highest in bog whortleberry (158 mg/kg, fresh weight), lingonberry (74 and 146 mg/kg), cranberry (83 and 121 mg/kg), chokeberry (89 mg/kg), sweet rowan (85 mg/kg), rowanberry (63 mg/kg), sea buckthorn berry (62 mg/kg), and crowberry (53 and 56 mg/kg). Amounts between 14 and 142 mg/kg of myricetin were detected in cranberry, black currant, crowberry, bog whortleberry, blueberries, and bilberry. Kaempferol was detected only in gooseberries (16 and 19 mg/kg) and strawberries (5 and 8 mg/kg). Total contents of these flavonols (100-263 mg/kg) in cranberry, bog whortleberry, lingonberry, black currant, and crowberry were higher than those in the commonly consumed fruits or vegetables, except for onion, kale, and broccoli.

Flavonoids↗

Effect of cheese on intestinal transit time and other indicators of bowel function in residents of a retirement home.

Effects of increased intake of cheese on intestinal transit time and other indicators of bowel function were studied in 21 retirement home residents (18 women and 3 men; age, 68-87 years). The study was divided into four succeeding periods: 1) 1-week basal period (usual diet); 2)3-week cheese period (extra cheese was offered as such on bread or used in cooking); 3) 3-week no-cheese period (all cheese on bread was replaced with cured meats and cold cuts, and no cheese was used in cooking); 4) 3-week follow-up period (usual diet). During the last week of each period a questionnaire was filled out on fecal frequencies, consistency of feces (soft, normal, hard), and occurrence of abdominal pain and flatulence. Use of laxative medications and therapeutic foods (prunes) was registered. Eleven of the 21 subjects collected fecal samples for the determination of fecal wet weight and intestinal transit time by means of radiopaque Sitzmark capsules. Intakes of cheese, fiber-containing foods, and fluids by these 11 subjects during meals offered in the cafeteria were recorded on a prefilled questionnaire. In spite of a 10-fold increase in the intake of cheese no change in intestinal transit time, fecal frequency, fecal wet weight, consistency of feces, and occurrence of gastrointestinal symptoms was observed. The use of laxative medication was higher during the cheese period, but no change in the combined use of laxative medication and therapeutic foods (prunes) was observed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Selenium supplementation does not alter platelet activation in subjects with normal selenium status.

The effect of Se supplementation on the plasma concentrations of platelet specific proteins, beta-thromboglobulin (beta TG) and platelet factor 4 (PF4), was determined in twenty young women with normal selenium (Se) status using a double blind protocol. Selenium supplementation for 4 weeks (150 micrograms/day), did not elevate the initial mean plasma Se level 95 +/- 4 ng/ml above this level, nor did it alter the plasma beta TG/PF4. Moreover, all the other parameters of the body antioxidative status (plasma alpha-tocopherol, retinol and uric acid and whole blood glutathione) measured in this experiment stayed unaltered during the 4-week supplementation period. The results indicate no relationship between Se supplementation and platelet function in subjects with normal Se status.

Adult↗

Selenium-mercury interaction during intestinal absorption of 75Se compounds in chicks.

The effects of inorganic (HgCl2) and organic (CH3HgCl) mercury on the intestinal absorption of Se compounds [Na2(75)SeO3, Na2(75)SeO4, L-[75Se]methionine ([75Se]Met)] were determined in 3-wk-old White Leghorn cockerels by the in vivo ligated duodenal loop procedure. The intraduodenal dose contained 0.05 microCi 75Se, 0.01 mM Se, 150 mM NaCl and 0-1.0 mM Hg. In the presence of 1 mM inorganic Hg in the intraduodenal dose, the absorption of the inorganic 75Se compounds was only about 65% of that in the control group, whereas only a slight inhibitory effect on [75Se]Met absorption was observed. Methylmercury had no effect on [75Se]selenite absorption. Precipitation of the 75Se-selenite in the intestinal lumen partly explained the direct interaction between inorganic Hg and Se compounds. Absorption of [75Se]Met and [75Se]selenite was also determined in chicks fed after hatching a purified diet supplemented with varying amounts of Hg (0-500 mg/kg) and Se (0-4 mg/kg). Dietary Hg significantly reduced the transfer of [75Se]selenite to body by enhancing the accumulation of the isotope in the intestinal tissue. Dietary Hg did not affect the absorption of [75Se]Met, but altered the whole-body distribution of this Se compound. Because interaction between Se and Hg was observed mainly between the inorganic compounds and with use of a manyfold excess of Hg over Se, the data suggest that intestinal interaction between these metals is not of great nutritional importance.

Animals↗

Intestinal absorption of 75Se-labeled sodium selenite and selenomethionine in chicks: effects of time, segment, selenium concentration and method of measurement.

The purpose of the present experiments was to obtain information on the intestinal transport of different selenium compounds in chicks. Absorption of selenium was studied in 3-wk-old white Leghorn cockerels both by introducing the radiolabeled selenium compounds into ligated intestinal loops of the anesthetized birds and after oral or parenteral administration of the isotope to previously fasted animals. Increasing the stable selenite concentration slightly reduced the percentage of [75Se]selenite transferred from the intestinal lumen to the body, while the transport of [75Se]selenomethionine was not similarly affected by the carrier concentration. Selenomethionine was more rapidly removed from the ligated intestinal segment and more efficiently retained after oral or parenteral administration. It was shown that the liver selenium cannot be used as an indicator of the efficiency of selenium absorption in short-term studies, since after dosing the liver accumulates sodium selenite more efficiently than selenomethionine, in spite of the greater percentage absorption of the latter compound. The percentage absorption of both selenium compounds was greatest from the duodenal segment of the small intestine. The transport of these selenium compounds does not appear to depend on the dietary level of selenium since the percentage absorption was not altered by feeding the birds diets supplemented with 0.4 or 4.0 ppm selenium prior to the measurement of absorption. The data imply that there are differences, in the chick, in the processes by which various selenium compounds are transported across the intestinal epithelium and retained in the body. The differences in absorption are not of nutritional importance, since, regardless of the chemical form, selenium is efficiently absorbed.

Administration, Oral↗

Bioavailability to rats of selenium in milk of cows fed sodium selenite or selenited barley.

The nutritional availability of Se to rats in two experimental Finnish milks were compared to that in American milk naturally high in Se. The experimental milks had their Se content increased by feeding cows either sodium selenite (selenited milk) or selenited barley (selenited-barley milk). Weanling male rats were fed a low-Se milk powder diet for 4 weeks followed by continued depletion or repletion with graded levels of Se as sodium selenite (standard) or different milks for 4 weeks. Plasma Se level and plasma and liver glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities were used as criteria of body Se status. The bioavailability of Se was calculated with the slope-ratio method. The Se in the selenited-barley milk was significantly (p less than 0.01) more available than that in the selenited milk when the plasma Se level was the response criterion. On the other hand, the bioavailability of Se from the various milks was not different when plasma or liver GSH-Px activities were used as the response criteria. Overall bioavailability for the selenited milk, selenited-barley milk and American milk was only slightly less than that for the standard (sodium selenite = 1.00), showing that milk is a relatively readily available source of dietary Se.

Animal Feed↗

Effect of ascorbic acid supplementation on selenium bioavailability in humans.

The study was designed to investigate the effect of supplemental ascorbic acid on the bioavailability of selenium (Se) in humans by using plasma Se levels and plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity as indicators of the body Se status. Three groups of female university students were supplemented for 4 weeks with either 50 micrograms sodium selenate, 50 micrograms sodium selenate together with 200 mg ascorbic acid, or with 200 mg ascorbic acid three times daily during meals. Plasma Se levels increased significantly (P less than 0.01) in all three groups regardless of the type of supplementation. The increase was highest in the group having both Se and ascorbic acid and smallest in the group receiving only ascorbic acid. The changes in plasma GSH-Px activities reflected those in plasma Se, but the increases were smaller (P less than 0.05). These results suggest that supplemental ascorbic acid may have a beneficial effect on the bioavailability of the natural Se in foods. However, ascorbic acid did not seem to affect the availability of the supplemental sodium selenate. Therefore, the effect of ascorbic acid on the bioavailability of selenium may vary depending on the ingested selenium compound.

Adult↗

Effect of dietary fat on plasma glutathione peroxidase levels and intestinal absorption of 75Se-labeled sodium selenite in chicks.

The effect of dietary fat on the availability of selenium was investigated in chicks fed either 4 or 20% butter, olive oil, rape oil, corn oil or sunflower oil in the diet for 3 weeks after hatching. Plasma glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity was used as an indicator of the body selenium status. In addition, the intestinal absorption of sodium selenite (75Se-labeled) was determined by using both the in vivo ligated loop procedure and oral administration of the isotope. The plasma GSH-Px levels increased with increasing proportion of the polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diet. Increasing the amount of fat from 4 to 20% significantly enhanced the GSH-Px activity in the groups receiving butter or olive oil, but had no effect in animals fed the unsaturated fats. The absorption of [75Se]selenite from the ligated duodenal loops tended to be reduced in chicks fed corn oil or sunflower oil as compared to the animals receiving butter in their diet. On the other hand, the type of dietary fat did not appear to affect the absorption of the orally administered selenite. The present study demonstrates that the type of dietary fat can affect the plasma GSH-Px levels in chicks without altering the intestinal absorption of selenite. However, the results on the absorption of the intraduodenally injected sodium selenite suggest that dietary fat plays some role in the intestinal transport of selenium.

Animals↗

Effect of vitamin D on the intestinal absorption of 203Pb and 47Ca in chicks.

The transfer of 203Pb and/or 47Ca across the intestinal epithelium of the chick was investigated, with emphasis given to the functional role of cholecalciferol (vitamin D-3). 203Pb, after introduction in the intestinal lumen, is rapidly accumulated by the intestinal tissue, and only a fraction of 203Pb is translocated parenterally (absorbed). Cholecalciferol did not significantly affect the accumulation of 203Pb by intestinal tissue but did accelerate 203Pb movement across the basal-lateral membrane. In contrast, cholecalciferol both decreased 47Ca tissue levels and increased 47Ca absorption. In rachitic chicks, the rate of absorption of 203Pb was greater in the distal than in the proximal segments of the intestine; after cholecalciferol repletion, the degree of absorption in al segments was similar, indicting the order of cholecalciferol effectiveness as duodenum greater than or equal to jejunum greater than ileum. An acute dose of 1,25(OH)2D3 to rachitic chicks also enhanced both 203Pb and 47Ca absorption, but the time course and pattern of absorption of these metal cations differed. The time at which the absorption of 203Pb peaked and returned to base-line occurred sooner than for 47Ca. Also the back-flux (blood leads to intestinal lumen) of 47Ca was enhanced by cholecalciferol, whereas no effect on the back-flux of 203Pb was noted. These studies show that cholecalciferol and 1,25(OH)2D3 affects both the 203Pb and 47Ca absorptive processes, but the nature of these responses are not identical, suggesting differences in the transport path or the macromolecular interactions of these metal ions during the course of absorption, or both.

Animals↗

Gastrointestinal absorption of lead (203Pb) in chicks: influence of lead, calcium, and age.

The present study was designed to investigate, in more detail, the mechanism of lead transport by the gastrointestinal tract and particularly the similarities or dissimilarities between lead and calcium in this process. The absorption of these metals was determined in 3-week-old white Leghorn cockerels, raised on a commercial diet or special diets, using an in vivo ligated loop procedure. The dose administered into the loop usually contained 0.5 microCi 203Pb (and/or 0.1 microCi 47Ca), 0.01 mM lead acetate (and/or 1 mM CaCl2) in 0.5 ml of 0.15 M NaCl, pH 6.5. It was shown that lead is rapidly taken up by the intestinal tissue, and only slowly transferred into the circulation whereas calcium, also accumulated rapidly by the tissue, is rapidly released from the tissue in the serosal direction. The absorption processes of these cations show similar responses to various experimental conditions (low calcium intake, age of the animal, pH of the dosing solution). However, increasing luminal stable lead concentration from 0.01 to 1 mM Pb, significantly reduced the percentage of radiolead absorbed, but did not inhibit the absorption of radiocalcium, Also, luminal Ca (0-25 mM) did not significantly affect the absorption of 203Pb. These data imply that, in spite of the similarities in the response of the lead and calcium absorptive processes to various treatments, there is no direct interaction between these cations in the intestine of the chick.

Aging↗