Effect of short term hazelnut consumption on DNA damage and oxidized-LDL in children and adolescents with primary hyperlipidemia: a randomised controlled trial.
Children with primary hyperlipidemia are prone to develop premature atherosclerosis, possibly associated with increased oxidative stress. Nutritional therapy is the primary strategy in the treatment of hyperlipidemia and associated conditions. Dietary interventions with bioactive-rich foods, such as nuts, may contribute to the modulation of both lipid profile and the oxidative/antioxidant status. Our study aimed to assess the impact of a dietary intervention with hazelnuts on selected oxidative stress markers in children and adolescents with primary hyperlipidemia. A single-blind, 8-week, randomized, controlled, three-arm, parallel-group study was performed. Children and adolescents diagnosed with primary hyperlipidemia (n=60) received dietary guidelines and were randomized into three groups: group 1 received hazelnuts with skin (HZN+S), and group 2 hazelnuts without skin (HZN-S), at equivalent doses (15-30 g/day, based on body weight); group 3 (controls) received only dietary recommendations (no nuts). At baseline and after 8 weeks, plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) concentrations, oxidative levels of DNA damage in PBMCs and potential correlation with changes in serum lipids were examined. A reduction of endogenous DNA damage by 18.9%±51.3% (P=.002) and 23.1%±47.9% (P=.007) was observed after HZN+S and HZN-S, respectively. Oxidatively induced DNA strand breaks decreased by 16.0%±38.2% (P=.02) following HZN+S treatment. Ox-LDL levels did not change after HZN+S intervention but positively correlated with total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol. A short-term hazelnut intervention improves cell DNA protection and resistance against oxidative stress but not ox-LDL in hyperlipidemic pediatric patients. The trial was registered at ISRCTN.com, ID no. ISRCTN12261900.
Better diet quality relates to larger brain tissue volumes: The Rotterdam Study.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relation of diet quality with structural brain tissue volumes and focal vascular lesions in a dementia-free population. METHODS: From the population-based Rotterdam Study, 4,447 participants underwent dietary assessment and brain MRI scanning between 2005 and 2015. We excluded participants with an implausible energy intake, prevalent dementia, or cortical infarcts, leaving 4,213 participants for the current analysis. A diet quality score (0-14) was calculated reflecting adherence to Dutch dietary guidelines. Brain MRI was performed to obtain information on brain tissue volumes, white matter lesion volume, lacunes, and cerebral microbleeds. The associations of diet quality score and separate food groups with brain structures were assessed using multivariable linear and logistic regression. RESULTS: We found that better diet quality related to larger brain volume, gray matter volume, white matter volume, and hippocampal volume. Diet quality was not associated with white matter lesion volume, lacunes, or microbleeds. High intake of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, nuts, dairy, and fish and low intake of sugar-containing beverages were associated with larger brain volumes. CONCLUSIONS: A better diet quality is associated with larger brain tissue volumes. These results suggest that the effect of nutrition on neurodegeneration may act via brain structure. More research, in particular longitudinal research, is needed to unravel direct vs indirect effects between diet quality and brain health.
Metabolic influence of walnut phenolic extract on mitochondria in a colon cancer stem cell model.
PURPOSE: Walnut phenolic extract (WPE) reduces proliferation and enhances differentiation of colon cancer stem cells (CSCs). The present study investigated the metabolic influence of WPE on the mitochondrial function of colon CSCs to determine its underlying mechanism. METHODS: CD133+CD44+ HCT116 colon cancer cells were selected by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and were treated with or without 40 µg/mL WPE. RNA-sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were further validated with RT-PCR. WPE-induced alterations in mitochondrial function were investigated through a mitochondrial stress test by determining cellular oxygen consumption rate (OCR), an indicator of mitochondrial respiration, and extracellular acidification rate (ECAR), an indicator of glycolysis, which were further confirmed by glucose uptake and lactate production tests. RESULTS: RNA-Seq analysis identified two major functional clusters: metabolic and mitochondrial clusters. WPE treatment shifted the metabolic profile of cells towards the glycolysis pathway (ΔECAR = 36.98 mpH/min/ptn, p = 0.02) and oxidative pathway (ΔOCR = 29.18 pmol/min/ptn, p = 0.00001). Serial mitochondrial stimulations using respiration modulators, oligomycin, carbonyl cyanide-4 (trifluoromethoxy) phenylhydrazone, and rotenone/antimycin A, found an increased potential of mitochondrial respiration (ΔOCR = 111.5 pmol/min/ptn, p = 0.0006). WPE treatment also increased glucose uptake (Δ = 0.39 pmol/µL, p = 0.002) and lactate production (Δ = 0.08 nmol/µL, p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: WPE treatment shifts the mitochondrial metabolism of colon CSC towards more aerobic glycolysis, which might be associated with the alterations in the characteristics of colon CSC.
Nuts and Cardiovascular Disease.
There is compelling evidence showing that nut intake confers protection against cardiovascular disease (CVD). We conducted a review of the literature with respect to observational studies and randomized trials completed in the past ≈25 years that examined nut intake and CVD endpoints. We included findings from major cohort studies, a large intervention trial, and numerous smaller nut trials. Collectively, data from observational and intervention studies indicate strong and significant association between nut intake and decreased risk of fatal and non-fatal coronary heart disease , myocardial infarction, and sudden death; and somewhat weak association with stroke. The primary mechanism by which nuts protect against CVD is through the improvement of lipid and apolipoprotein profile. Increasing evidence also indicates that nut consumption may confer protection against CVD via lowering of oxidative stress, inflammation; and improvement in endothelial function. Nut components, such as unsaturated fatty acids, L-arginine, beneficial minerals, phenolic compounds and phytosterols, appear to be of paramount importance for their health effects.
EU: MRLs Update, Draft Commission Regulations
As for nuts and dried fruits, the drafts set the following MRLs:
- The MRL for bromadiolone is set at 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, apricots, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts.
- The MRL for etofenprox is set at 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, plums, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts; at 0.6 ppm in apricots; and at 4 ppm in grapes.
- The MRL for paclobutrazol is set at 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, plums, grapes, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts; and at 0.15 ppm in apricots.
- The MRL for penconazole is set at 0.01* ppm in tree nuts, cranberries, dates, figs and peanuts; at 0.08 ppm in apricots; at 0.09 ppm in plums; and at 0.5 ppm in grapes.
*Indicates lower limit of determination.
The final date for comments is July 15, 2018. The proposed date of adoption is February 2019.
For further information, please contact us at inc@nutfruit.org.
EU: Commercial Policy Measures
The Regulation listed the products that shall be subjected to additional customs duties. At the first stage, additional ad valorem duty of a maximum rate of 25% may be applied on imports of products listed in Annex I from June 22, 2018. Peanut butter is included in this group. At the second stage, further additional ad valorem duty of a maximum rate of 10%, 25%, 35% or 50% may be applied on imports of products listed in Annex II. Dried cranberries are included in Annex II.
The suspension of import duty concessions may be exercised as long as, and to the extent that, the United States applies or re-applies its safeguard measures in a manner that would affect products from the European Union.
The Regulation entered into force on May 17, 2018.
Commission Implementing Regulation 2018/724 of 16 May 2018
First INC Academia Executive Program a Huge Success
The objective of this educational program was to learn the basics of the nut and dried fruit industry, main characteristics, applications and information resources. It combined a 10-unit online course of approximately 50 hours, and a final three-day on-site experience (10+ hours of preparatory tasks & reading material) to learn through case studies, network and visits to orchards and factories. The course was presented as a full package, although it was possible to undertake only the online part.
The contents of the online course were created by top experts from the world’s most prestigious institutions and companies. The program consisted of 10 units covering the key aspects of the nut and dried fruit sector, including soil and climate, varieties and uses, nutrition facts, processing, food safety and quality standards, production, trade and consumption trends, arbitration and negotiation.
The on-site course took place on May 17-19, 2018, in Sevilla, Spain, just before the INC Congress. The course allowed students to network, visit orchards and factories and learn through case studies, which were presented by Prof. Dr. Kandarp Mehta and Prof. Dr. Miguel Mediavilla, from the prestigious IESE Business School -the IESE Executive Education and Custom Programmes have been ranked best in the world three years running (2016 and 2017) by The Financial Times.
The first day, La Fortaleza factory kindly opened its doors to show students how its confectionary products are manufactured. La Fortaleza, a family business originated in 1928, makes confectionary almond-based products like mantecados and polvorones (typical soft and crumbly Spanish shortbread) and a wide range of Christmas sweets.
During the second day, students visited walnut, pistachio and almond plantations in El Carquí, a 297.8 ha estate owned by Borges in the province of Granada. They also visited the factory Almendras de Almería, a company specialized in the shelling and processing of almonds. In addition, students had the opportunity to learn about almond processing and machinery thanks to experts from Maseto Technologies.
The last day was dedicated to discuss different case studies presented by Prof. Dr. Kandarp Mehta and Prof. Dr. Miguel Mediavilla. During the morning, the students actively discussed two “Operations” case studies: Porsche and PACECO guided by the Prof. Dr. Miguel Mediavilla. In the afternoon session, Prof. Dr. Kandarp Mehta conducted two “Negotiation” simulations, where students learnt and had fun at the same time.
“One of the best aspects about the INC Academia is the diversity of themes its program offers. It also gives an in-depth overview of the nuts and dried fruits sector.” Mr. Kristoffer Dahlinger, ATCO - August Töpfer, Germany.
“The on-site course was a fantastic three days, both the factory visits and the indoor lessons. Besides this, I also enjoyed was friendly and cooperative feeling I got from the INC team and with all the other attendees. I will definitely recommend the INC Academia to other companies that are interested.” Mr. Guido Contrada, New Factor, Italy.
More information
EU: New Organic Regulation
The Regulation proposal will amend the current rules covering organic production and labeling. This Regulation shall enter into force on the third day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall apply from 1 January 2021.
Draft Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007
2018 Annual Call for Research Projects
On May 20, 2018, the INC Executive Committee approved to award the clinical study “Optimizing gut health: physiological, microbiological and metabolomic effects of dried fruit”, Principal Investigator: Prof. Kevin Whelan, Head of Department of Nutritional Sciences, King’s College London, UK.
This study aims to investigate the effect of a mixture of dried fruits (prunes, apricots and cranberries) on physiological, microbiological and metabolomic outcomes related to gut health, compared to their corresponding fruit juices, and a placebo control. A range of state of the art technologies will be used to assess study outcomes.
EU: Changes on Border Controls
Regarding nuts and dried fruits, dried vine fruit from Iran (currently with a control frequency of 5% for Ochratoxin A) will be delisted from Regulation 669/2009 and will no longer be subject to increased controls.
In addition, "in the case of consignments entering the Union by sea or by air transport from a third country, which are unloaded for the purposes of being loaded on respectively another vessel or aircraft in the same port or airport for onward travel to another port or airport in one of the territories referred to in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 882/2004, the designated point of entry shall be the latter port or airport."
For further information, please contact us at inc@nutfruit.org.