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Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse association between dietary intake of whole grains and the risk of chronic disease. This may be related to the ability to mediate a prebiotic modulation of gut microbiota. However, no studies have been conducted on the microbiota modulatory capability of whole-grain (WG) cereals. In the present study, the impact of WG wheat on the human intestinal microbiota compared to wheat bran (WB) was determined. A double-blind, randomised, crossover study was carried out in thirty-one volunteers who were randomised into two groups and consumed daily 48 g breakfast cereals, either WG or WB, in two 3-week study periods, separated by a 2-week washout period. Numbers of faecal bifidobacteria and lactobacilli (the target genera for prebiotic intake), were significantly higher upon WG ingestion compared with WB. Ingestion of both breakfast cereals resulted in a significant increase in ferulic acid concentrations in blood but no discernible difference in faeces or urine. No significant differences in faecal SCFA, fasting blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), TAG or HDL-cholesterol were observed upon ingestion of WG compared with WB. However, a significant reduction in TC was observed in volunteers in the top quartile of TC concentrations upon ingestion of either cereal. No adverse intestinal symptoms were reported and WB ingestion increased stool frequency. Daily consumption of WG wheat exerted a pronounced prebiotic effect on the human gut microbiota composition. This prebiotic activity may contribute towards the beneficial physiological effects of WG wheat.

Background: Fresh fruit and vegetables exert multiple biological effects on the gastrointestinal mucosa. Aim: To assess whether apple extracts counteract oxidative or indomethacin induced damage to gastric epithelial cells in vitro and to rat gastric mucosa in vivo. Methods: Apple extracts were obtained from freeze dried apple flesh of the “Annurca” variety. Cell damage was induced by incubating MKN 28 cells with xanthine-xanthine oxidase or indomethacin and quantitated by MTT. In vivo gastric damage was induced by indomethacin 35 mg/kg. Intracellular antioxidant activity was determined using the (2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonate) method. Malondialdehyde intracellular concentration, an index of lipid peroxidation, was determined by high pressure liquid chromatography with fluorometric detection. Results: (1) Apple extracts decreased xanthine-xanthine oxidase or indomethacin induced injury to gastric epithelial cells by 50%; (2) catechin or chlorogenic acid (the main phenolic components of apple extracts) were equally effective as apple extracts in preventing oxidative injury to gastric cells; and (3) apple extracts (i) caused a fourfold increase in intracellular antioxidant activity, (ii) prevented its decrease induced by xanthine-xanthine oxidase, (iii) counteracted xanthine-xanthine oxidase induced lipid peroxidation, and (iv) decreased indomethacin injury to the rat gastric mucosa by 40%. Conclusions: Apple extracts prevent exogenous damage to human gastric epithelial cells in vitro and to the rat gastric mucosa in vivo. This effect seems to be associated with the antioxidant activity of apple phenolic compounds. A diet rich in apple antioxidants might exert a beneficial effect in the prevention of gastric diseases related to generation of reactive oxygen species.

Objective: The present study aimed to develop a food for special medical purposes (FSMP) and to assess its efficacy as adjuvant therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV). Design: Open randomized clinical trials with a tomato-based FSMP used as adjuvant treatment to the pharmacological therapy with pegilated interferon and ribavirin. Subjects: Eight healthy volunteers and 39 HCV patients. Interventions: For the bioavailability study, healthy subjects consumed 100 g/die FSMP for a week and their serum carotenoid profile at baseline, after the week of administration and 7 days later was determined. The same quantity of FSMP for 6 months by 20 of the 39 HCV patients was consumed in the clinical trial. Serum transaminase, haemoglobin (Hb) and hydroperoxide concentrations during the therapy were monitored in all patients. Results: FSMP consumption caused a fourfold increase of lycopene serum concentration in healthy subjects. A significant increase of carotenoids after 1 month of consumption also in patients with HCV was recorded. Transaminase and Hb serum levels, as well as therapeutic response, were not influenced by FSMP. The decrease in serum hydroperoxides was independent from FSMP consumption in long-term responder patients, whereas nonresponder (NR) patients of FSMP group showed higher reductions than NR patients of Control group. Conclusions: The FSMP was effective in improving carotenoid status in healthy subjects. In HCV patients, it did not influence the therapeutic response, but it prevented carotenoid serum depletion and it was effective in improving the oxidative status during antiviral therapy in NR patients.

Purpose A strategy to reduce starch digestibility is to limit its accessibility to α-amylase by preserving the integrity of cells where starch is encapsulated. Coarse flour is rich in intact cells and can be used for this purpose. However, making bread with coarse flour negatively affects crumb cohesiveness, which may increase the gastric disintegration rate, and enhance starch accessibility. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the combined effect of coarse semolina and its 20% gluten substitution in bread in healthy volunteers on glycemic and insulinemic responses, oral processing and bolus characteristics. Methods Apparently, healthy volunteers ( n  = 16) randomly consumed bread made with coarse semolina and 20% gluten substitution (80CS_20G), its counterpart with fine semolina (80FS_20G), and bread with fine semolina and 5% gluten (95FS_5G). The glycemic and insulinemic responses were measured over 2 h after bread consumption. Mastication behaviour, bolus properties and reducing sugar were also evaluated. Results No differences in glycemic responses and mastication were observed among the samples. 80CS_20G and 80FS_20G exhibited similar textural properties but 80CS_20G released less reducing sugars and elicited a lower insulin response at 30 min than 80FS_20G, probably due to intact cells that limit starch accessibility. Also, 95FS_5G released lower reducing sugars and had lower insulin peak than 80FS_20G. The compact structure of 95FS_5G may have delayed starch hydrolysis by restricting α-amylase accessibility. Conclusion Combining gluten and coarse semolina resulted in bread with a lower release of reducing sugars, a reduced insulinemic peak and textural properties similar to the counterpart with fine semolina. Clinical trial Registration Number The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06152874.

Fruit flavour of traditional tomato ecotypes differs from that of modern varieties, the latter being often blamed for lack of flavour. To respond to consumer complaints breeders should know the range of genetic variability available in tomato resources, including local ecotypes, for improving flavour. For this purpose, multitrait characterization, including biochemical, sensorial and molecular analyses, was performed on 12 Italian tomato ecotypes that belong to different types (San Marzano, Sorrento, and Vesuvio). The ecotypes showed a significant variation both in glucose and citric acid content. As for amino acid determination, lysine, aspartic acid and serine showed significant variation among the three types analyzed. Sensory analysis clearly evidenced differences among genotypes: the San Marzano ecotypes revealed sensory profiles that differ from the control processing variety in perception of sweetness and sourness, whereas the Sorrento and Vesuvio ecotype profiles were similar to the fresh market control. In particular, Vesuvio genotypes exhibited a good intensity of tomato aroma and sweetness and an intermediate level of acidity. Finally, molecular characterization performed through AFLP markers provided evidence for a very high level of polymorphism: an ecotype-specific AFLP pattern was identified for at least 11 genotypes, thus defining their molecular fingerprints.

Mounting evidence showed that bitter-tasting compounds modulate eating behaviour through bitter taste receptors in the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of microencapsulated bitter compounds on human appetite and energy intakes. A microencapsulated bitter ingredient (EBI) with a core of bitter Gentiana lutea root extract and a coating of ethylcellulose–stearate was developed and included in a vanilla microencapsulated bitter ingredient-enriched pudding (EBIP). The coating masked bitterness in the mouth, allowing the release of bitter secoiridoids in the gastrointestinal tract. A cross-over randomised study was performed: twenty healthy subjects consumed at breakfast EBIP (providing 100 mg of secoiridoids) or the control pudding (CP) on two different occasions. Blood samples, glycaemia and appetite ratings were collected at baseline and 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after breakfast. Gastrointestinal peptides, endocannabinoids (EC) and N-acylethanolamines (NAE) were measured in plasma samples. Energy intakes were measured at an ad libitum lunch 3 h after breakfast and over the rest of the day (post lunch) through food diaries. No significant difference in postprandial plasma responses of gastrointestinal hormones, glucose, EC and NAE and of appetite between EBIP and CP was found. However, a trend for a higher response of glucagon-like peptide-1 after EBIP than after CP was observed. EBIP determined a significant 30 % lower energy intake over the post-lunch period compared with CP. These findings were consistent with the tailored release of bitter-tasting compounds from EBIP along the gastrointestinal tract. This study demonstrated that microencapsulated bitter secoiridoids were effective in reducing daily energy intake in humans.

Tomato is a food of great relevance both due to its large-scale consumption and its richness in bioactive components. It is an important component of the traditional Mediterranean diet as well as of other diets. Nowadays, concerns about human health and environment preservation have changed the objectives of tomato breeding. In this study, eight tomato F 1 hybrids and their parental lines were analyzed for nutritional properties and agronomic traits using a new selection method that combines biochemical and agronomic evaluation. Eight traits contributing to the nutritional quality of tomato (lycopene, β-carotene, other carotenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, vitamins C and E, dry residue) and average yield were assessed in fifteen tomato genotypes. Furthermore the pathogen resistances possessed from these genotypes were, also, considered. In order to select valuable tomato hybrids, a nutritional index (I QUAN ) and an agronomic index (AI) were calculated. Our results suggested that the I QUAN nutritional index may be very useful to forecast the nutritional value of F 1 hybrids based on parental performance. Combining the use of the I QUAN and AI indexes, we were able to select two hybrids (MR 48 and MR 47) that contain considerable amounts of antioxidants and acceptable parameters for commercial production.

Chronic liver damage is a widespread pathology characterized by a progressive evolution from steatosis to chronic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. As the oxidative stress plays a central role in liver diseases pathogenesis and progression, the use of antioxidants have been proposed as therapeutic agents, as well as drug coadjuvants, to counteract liver damage. In this work in vitro and in vivo studies, with emphasis on humans and animals experiments, have been considered and reviewed according to antioxidant typologies. Great differences emerge as far as ingested doses, bioavailability and liver ability to accumulate the various compounds. Results available up to now suggest that lycopene-rich foods could be proposed in therapeutic treatment of some liver pathologies. On the other hand contradictory results have been obtained with alpha-tocopherol, beta-carotene and trans-resveratrol. Quercetin, silymarin, esculetin and thyme and rosemary among phenolic compounds need further studies.

Background Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common urologic disease among elderly men. The diagnosis of BPH is usually driven by lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that can significantly affect patients’ quality of life. This phase II prospective, randomized double-blinded, placebo-controlled study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of a novel whole tomato-based food supplement on LUTS of patients diagnosed with BPH. Methods Forty consecutive patients with histologically proved BPH were randomized 1:1 to receive daily for 2 months a sachet (5 g) of a newly developed whole tomato food supplement (WTFS) (treatment = Group A) or placebo (Group B). Patients were asked to fill the International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) questionnaire before and after treatment. Results All but 1 patient in Group B successfully completed the scheduled regimen. No side effects were recorded. Unlike placebo, treatment significantly reduced (P < 0.0002) LUTS since mean IPSS decreased from 9.05 ± 1.15 to 7.15 ± 1.04 (paired t-test, two-tailed P-value < 0.001), and improved life quality (P < 0.0001). A trend toward a reduction of total PSA levels was observed in WTFS treated patients (8.98 ng/mL ± 1.52 vs 6.95 ± 0.76, P = 0.065), with changes being statistically significant only in the subgroup of patients with baseline levels above 10 ng/mL (18.5 ng/mL ± 2.7 vs 10.3 ± 2.1, P = 0.009). Conclusions The new WTFS may represent a valid option for the treatment of symptomatic BPH patients. Unlike pharmacological treatments, the supplement is side effects free and highly accepted among patients.

The formation of the Amadori products (APs) is the first key step of Maillard reaction. Only few papers have dealt with simultaneous quantitation of amino acids and corresponding APs (1-amino-1-deoxy-2-ketose). Chromatographic separation of APs is affected by several drawbacks mainly related to their poor retention in conventional reversed phase separation. In this paper, a method for the simultaneous quantification of amino acids and their respective APs was developed combining high-resolution mass spectrometry with ion-pairing liquid chromatography. The limit of detection was 0.1 ng/mL for tryptophan, valine and arginine, while the limit of quantification ranged from 2 to 5 ng/mL according to the specific sensitivity of each analyte. The relative standard deviation % was lower than 10 % and the coefficient of correlation was higher than 0.99 for each calibration curve. The method was applied to milk, milk-based products, raw and processed tomato. Among the analyzed products, the most abundant amino acid was glutamic acid (16,646.89 ± 1,385.40 µg/g) and the most abundant AP was fructosyl-arginine in tomato puree (774.82 ± 10.01 µg/g). The easiness of sample preparation coupled to the analytical performances of the proposed method introduced the possibility to use the pattern of free amino acids and corresponding APs in the evaluation of the quality of raw food as well as the extent of thermal treatments in different food products.