Current Nutrition & Food Science - Volume 6, Issue 4, 2010

Olive oil, the major source of mono-unsaturated fatty acids in the Mediterranean basin, appears to be protective against various human diseases including cancer. Recent studies have reported that major and minor components of olive oil can significantly counteract carcinogenesis in mutant cells by activating specific metabolic pathways involved in the apoptosis. Apoptosis is a cell suicide programme essential for developing and maintaining adult tissue homeostasis. Apoptosis eliminates redundant cells during embryonic development, exhausted cells during ageing, and damaged or mutated cells in pathological conditions. The induction of apoptosis in tumour cells and key molecules involved therein are important targets for setting up successful chemotherapeutic strategies. This review reports recent studies concerning metabolic pathways involved in the apoptotic-mediated cell death of cancer cells exerted by different olive oil compounds.

Prospective longevity is overshadowed by the high prevalence of mental decline in aging. Hence, nutritional indications are a crucial element in today's observed aging of the population. There is now growing epidemiological evidence suggesting that reduced levels of docosahexaenoic acid [DHA, 22:6, (n-3)] may be indicative of an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). On the other hand, the Mediterranean diet includes high intake of fatty fish and has been associated with lower AD risk; fish is the major food source of DHA. Recently three new families of DHA-derived mediators - termed D series resolvins (RvDs, 17S epimers), protectins (NPDs, 17S epimers) and maresins - have been uncovered; these new bioactive lipids confer potent cellular protection. In the presence of aspirin (ASA), equipotent ASA-triggered 17R epimers (ASA-RvDs and ASA-NPDs) were produced in vivo. However, while enzymatic oxidation dramatically reduced the bioactivity of 17S epimers RvDs and NPDs, enzymatic conversion of ASA-17R epimers was sharply reduced. Specifically, as ASA-DHA-derived lipids have cellular protective actions, the resistance to rapid inactivation may contribute to the beneficial actions of omega-3 (n-3) fish oils and ASA in humans and offers new insights into the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease. RA causes pain, swelling, and stiffness in a person's joints and problems with functioning. Conventional medicine is used to relieve pain, reduce swelling, slow down or stop the damage to joints, help the person function better, and improve the person's sense of well-being. RA medications include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biological response modifiers, and corticosteroids. Other alternative therapies include physical therapy; modified exercise programs; devices such as canes, special shoes, and splints (rigid supports that keep a part of the body from moving while it heals); and lifestyle changes—such as balancing activity with rest, eating a healthy diet, and reducing stress. Poor nutritional status in RA population is thought to be the result of the weight loss and cachexia linked to cytokine production. RA patients are encouraged to consume a diet rich in natural anti-inflammatory, antioxidants, and joint-supporting nutrients while avoiding pro-inflammatory foods that are high in sugar, saturated and trans-fatty acids. The most commonly observed essential vitamin and mineral deficiencies in patients with RA, are folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, folic acid, calcium, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Increased intake of antioxidants such as selenium and vitamin E may decrease free-radical damage to joint linings, which diminish swelling and pain. However, to date, there have been no human clinical trials that convincingly prove or disprove the efficacy of antioxidant use. Supplementation of calcium and vitamin D is also recommended to decrease the risk of osteoporosis. Results from research are showing some encouragement to find alternative therapies along with their regular medications to treat RA. Further research is required to confirm these findings.

Iron deficiency is one of the leading nutritional problems worldwide, affecting an estimated total of about 2 billion individuals. Nearly 40% of children younger than 5 years and about 50% of pregnant women in developing countries are anaemic. However, iron deficiency is also common in women and young children in industrialised countries. Due to developmental and maturational processes and needs, there are some particularities of iron metabolism in infancy and the general regulative mechanisms seem not to be easily applicable in infants. Infants and young children in the period of rapid growth (six to 24 months) are at high risk to develop iron deficiency (ID) or even iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), when their high physiological requirements can not be met by iron absorption from diet. The physiology of iron metabolism during infancy is characterized by developmental changes e.g. in regulation of key intestinal and hepatic proteins regulating iron absorption in response to changing iron status. Considering the long term consequences of ID on the development of motor and cognitive performance, a better understanding of the physiology of iron homeostasis during infancy may help further to improve the control of iron deficiency in infants.

Due to the low iron content of human milk, the dietary iron intake during the period of exclusive breast-feeding is very low. During the first months this low intake does not seem to severely impair the iron status of breast-fed infants, rather prenatally acquired iron stores are used. However, with iron requirements expanding related to rapid growth, additional dietary iron is needed in full-term appropriate-for-gestational-age breast-fed infants at four to six months of age. Supplemental iron is usually introduced via iron-rich complementary food at this age. Programs to control iron deficiency during infancy in developing countries emphasize the role of a dietary approach with strategies like targeted iron supplementation and iron fortification of foods. Bioavailability of alimentary iron is a key issue to be considered. Meat, a good source of well bioavailable heme iron, is advocated to be part of the first complementary food in children with sound infant diets in some affluent countries (e.g. in Germany). This review compiles data and recommendations related to the use of dietary iron in order to control iron deficiency during infancy with a special focus on affluent countries.

Selenium (Se) content in soils varies greatly depending upon the parent rock, weathering, pH and texture. In general, total soil Se content of 0.1 to 0.6 mg kg-1 is considered deficient. Selenium deficiency regions in New Zealand, Denmark and the Atlantic Region of Canada contain 0.1 to 0.6 mg Se kg-1 in the soil. Soil acidity is an important factor resulting in decreased Se availability to crops. Selenium concentration in plants can range from 0.005 mg kg-1 in deficient crops to more than 1000 mg kg-1 in Se accumulators on seleniferous soils. Brassicas and legumes, particularly soybeans, contain higher Se than other crops. Selenium fertilization of crops is now permitted in a few countries, such as, New Zealand, Finland and to a limited extent in China, the United States, and Canada. Feed crops containing more than 0.1 mg Se kg-1 should protect livestock from Se deficiency disorders. Selenium is an essential mineral for livestock as well as for humans, but its essentiality for the growth of cultivated crops has so far not been demonstrated. Inadequate Se in animal rations can cause white muscle disease in calves, sheep and goat, exudative diathesis in poultry and mulberry heart disease in pigs. Selenium deficiency can be prevented by Se injections to females at late gestation and/or to the young stock shortly after birth. In humans, lack of Se has been linked to several kinds of cancer, heart disease and other chronic and life threatening conditions. Adequate Se nutrition supports efficient thyroid hormone synthesis and metabolism and protects the thyroid gland from damage by excessive iodide exposure. Inadequate plasma Se can adversely affect the maintenance of optimal health. Selenium appears to play a key role in health maintenance of aging individuals. Oral Se therapy has been reported to produce significant decreases in lung, prostate and colorectal cancer. Selenium has been shown to help prevent cardiomyopathy in young children in China. Pills containing Se alone or in combination with vitamins and or minerals are available in several countries as human supplements. Eating Se enriched foods and animal products and/or Se pills may protect humans from pathology associated with Se deficiency.

Glucosinolates are the substituted esters of thio amino acids and their synthesis is based on the corresponding amino acids. Methionine and cysteine are the natural donors in the case of the Brassica plants and L tryptophane in the indole glucosinolates, respectively. In Brassica genus, alkenyl glucosinolates are mostly present and their content and composition differ as far as the development stage and the part of the plant are concerned. The indole glucosinolates are present in minority. Their role of sulphur supply is questioned by their very low content between 2 % in the beginning of vegetation and 0.1 % in its end. Glucosinolates are discussed mostly from the aspect of their anti-nutrition, anti-microbial, anti-fungicidal, and antibacterial effects and as being natural bio-fumigants. Their decomposition products have the mentioned properties. The products originate through prepared passive protection of the two-component system. From the aspect of these properties, it is useful to divide them into the following three groups according to the characters of their decomposition products. The first group (I), which hydrolyses in the neutral and alkaline environment creates isothio- cyanates. These bio-active compounds form the natural protection of the plant with bio-fumigatory effects, particularly. With their chemical composition they are ranked among natural pesticides with active and passive resistance against diseases and pests, isothiocyanates.Their anti-nutritive effects can be compensated by iodine, contrary to the second group (II). This group is created by hydroxy - glucosinolates, whose decomposition products - iso-thio-cyanates - are not stable and they cycle while producing substituted 2 - oxazolidimethione (goitrine - VTO). These glucosinolates represent a serious problem in feed industry since the VTO has a strong goitrogenic property. The third group (III) - glucosinolates contain the indole group or the benzene ring (Sinalbin), create thio-cyanates during their hydrolysis. The role of indole glucosinolates has not been completely clarified so far. Their anti-carcinogenic effects are studied and they fulfil the role of an active protection.

Ethnoveterinary remedies used for poultry and rabbits in British Columbia were obtained from interviews and a participatory workshop held with organic poultry and rabbit keepers in British Columbia. Medicinal plants are used to treat a range of conditions in small-scale organic agriculture. Nineteen species of plants representing 12 plant families were documented for treating poultry and eleven species from eight families for treating rabbits. More than 19 plant species from 12 families were identified as poultry feed and at least 20 plants from eight families are fed to rabbits. Furthermore, specific trees were used to maintain dental health of rabbits. Among the remedies reported, Echinacea spp., Chenopodium spp., Artemisia spp., and Nicotiana spp. are well known. Thirty-six plants used in British Columbia were tropical in origin or grow in the tropics. The use of medicinal plants in animal health care can help maintain on-farm plant biodiversity.