Wine, alcohol and pills: What future for the French paradox?

Potential Transformation of Food Resveratrol: Mechanisms and Biological Impact

Resveratrol is a naturally occurring phenolic compound found in foods like grapes, berries, and peanuts. It has attracted substantial interest for its potential human health benefits, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Research indicates that resveratrol may contribute to cardiovascular health, protect cognitive function, and exhibit anticancer properties. However, various factors such as pH levels, exposure to light, specific enzymes, and metal ions can alter its chemical structure, affecting its biological activities. These reactions can lead to the formation of different metabolites and polymers, which may affect the stability and bioactivity of resveratrol. This review examines the transformation of resveratrol from its natural sources to its consumption by humans. Additionally, we explore the biological activities of the resulting compounds of resveratrol transformations.

Resveratrol inhibits the formation and accumulation of lipid droplets through AdipoQ signal pathway and lipid metabolism lncRNAs

Resveratrol (RES) is one of the best-known bioactive polyphenols that has received much attention in recent years because of its importance to anti-obesity. However, the exact mechanism underlying this effect and whether it can improve lipid metabolism by regulating the long-chain non-coding RNA (lncRNA) remains unclear. In this study, twenty-four healthy crossbred castrated boars were fed a basal diet (control) and a basal diet supplemented with 200 mg, 400 mg or 600 mg RES per Kilogram (kg) of feed for 41 days, respectively. We founded that 400mg/kg and 600mg/kg RES-supplemented diet did not affect growth rate, but reduced significantly subcutaneous adipose thickness, carcass fat rate, greater dramatically the serum concentration of adiponectin and high-density lipoprotein in pigs. Further, we verified that RES could inhibit the formation and accumulation of lipid droplets by AdipoQ-AdipoR1-AMPKα and AdipoQ-AdipoR2-PPARα signal pathway in vivo and vitro (3T3-L1 preadipocytes). Transcriptome analyses founded that 5 differently expressed (DE) lncRNAs and 77 mRNAs in subcutaneous adipose between control group and 400 mg/kg RES group, which mainly involved in "adipocytokine signaling pathway", "Wnt signaling pathway", "PI3K-Akt signaling pathway" and "MAPK signaling pathway". In conclusion, RES can inhibit the formation and accumulation of lipid droplets through AdipoQ signal pathway and lipid metabolism-related lncRNAs. Our results provide a new insight on the molecular mechanism of RES as a nutritional agents to the prevention and treatment for obesity.

Polyphenols: From Theory to Practice

BACKGROUND

The importance of polyphenols in human health is well known; these compounds are common in foods, such as fruits, vegetables, spices, extra virgin olive oil and wine. On the other hand, the different factors that modulate the biological activity of these compounds are less well known. Conceptualization of the work: In this review we took into account about 200 relevant and recent papers on the following topics: "polyphenols bioavailability", "polyphenols matrix effect", "food matrix effect", "polyphenols-cytochromes interaction", after having reviewed and updated information on chemical classification and main biological properties of polyphenols, such as the antioxidant, anti-radical and anti-inflammatory activity, together with the tricky link between in vitro tests and clinical trials.

KEY FINDINGS

the issue of polyphenols bioavailability and matrix effect should be better taken into account when health claims are referred to polyphenols, thus considering the matrix effect, enzymatic interactions, reactions with other foods or genetic or gender characteristics that could interfere. We also discovered that in vitro studies often underrate the role of phytocomplexes and thus we provided practical hints to describe a clearer way to approach an investigation on polyphenols for a more resounding transfer to their use in medicine.

Assessment of Antioxidant and Antimutagenic Properties of Red and White Wine Extracts In Vitro

Wine is an alcoholic beverage of complex composition obtained through the fermentation of grape must. The consumption of wine has already been associated with a multitude of beneficial effects due to its high polyphenolic content. In this study, four Greek emblematic wines from two red (i.e., Xinomavro and Agiorgitiko) and two white (i.e., Assyrtiko and Malagouzia) varieties were analyzed for the estimation of their antioxidant profiles. To address this question, we assessed their ability to scavenge both synthetic and endogenous free radicals, such as DPPH^•, ABTS^+•, OH^•, O₂⁻, their potential reducing power, and their antimutagenic and antigenotoxic properties. All varieties exhibited potent antioxidant activity, as indicated by the results of methods above, with the red wines appearing more effective than the white ones regarding antioxidant capacity. Our small-scale study is the first to reveal that these wine varieties may have the ability to scavenge the most reactive endogenous radicals. In the future, this finding must be accompanied by larger studies to fill a knowledge gap in the scientific literature concerning a holistic approach of the in vitro antioxidant action of plant polyphenolic compounds. Conclusively, we believe that wines possess high bioactivity that allow them to settle in the industry of food additives and medicinal products.

Resveratrol Butyrate Esters Inhibit BPA-Induced Liver Damage in Male Offspring Rats by Modulating Antioxidant Capacity and Gut Microbiota

Resveratrol can affect the physiology or biochemistry of offspring in the maternal-fetal animal model. However, it exhibits low bioavailability in humans and animals. Fifteen-week SD pregnant female rats were orally administered bisphenol A (BPA) and/or resveratrol butyrate ester (RBE), and the male offspring rats (n = 4-8 per group) were evaluated. The results show that RBE treatment (BPA + R30) compared with the BPA group can reduce the damage caused by BPA (p < 0.05). RBE enhanced the expression of selected genes and induced extramedullary hematopoiesis and mononuclear cell infiltration. RBE increased the abundance of S24-7 and Adlercreutzia in the intestines of the male offspring rats, as well as the concentrations of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the feces. RBE also increased the antioxidant capacity of the liver by inducing Nrf2, promoting the expression of HO-1, SOD, and CAT. It also increased the concentration of intestinal SCFAs, enhancing the barrier formed by intestinal cells, thereby preventing BPA-induced metabolic disruption in the male offspring rats, and reduced liver inflammation. This study identified a potential mechanism underlying the protective effects of RBE against the liver damage caused by BPA exposure during the peri-pregnancy period, and the influence of the gut microbiota on the gut-liver axis in the offspring.

Resveratrol suppresses insulin-like growth factor I-induced osteoblast migration: attenuation of the p44/p42 MAP kinase pathway

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol with beneficial antioxidant properties. It suppresses the migration of osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells induced by epidermal growth factor, via SIRT1-mediated inhibition of SAPK/JNK and Akt. Moreover, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) stimulates the migration involving the pathways of p44/p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase and Akt. Therefore, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on IGF-I-induced cell migration. Resveratrol and SRT1720, an activator of SIRT1, suppressed IGF-I-induced migration. Inauhzin, a SIRT1 inhibitor, significantly rescued the inhibition of IGF-I-induced cell migration by resveratrol. Resveratrol inhibited IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase but not Akt. SRT1720 inhibited IGF-I-induced phosphorylation of p44/p42 MAP kinase. Furthermore, PD98059, p44/p42 MAP kinase inhibitor, alone suppressed IGF-I-induced osteoblast migration, but did not affect the suppressive effect of resveratrol when administered concomitantly. These findings strongly suggest that resveratrol suppresses IGF-I-induced osteoblast migration via SIRT1 activation at least partially by attenuating the p44/p42 MAP kinase pathway.

Nanotechnology advances towards development of targeted-treatment for obesity

Obesity through its association with type 2 diabetes (T2D), cancer and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), poses a serious health threat, as these diseases contribute to high mortality rates. Pharmacotherapy alone or in combination with either lifestyle modification or surgery, is reliable in maintaining a healthy body weight, and preventing progression to obesity-induced diseases. However, the anti-obesity drugs are limited by non-specificity and unsustainable weight loss effects. As such, novel and improved approaches for treatment of obesity are urgently needed. Nanotechnology-based therapies are investigated as an alternative strategy that can treat obesity and be able to overcome the drawbacks associated with conventional therapies. The review presents three nanotechnology-based anti-obesity strategies that target the white adipose tissues (WATs) and its vasculature for the reversal of obesity. These include inhibition of angiogenesis in the WATs, transformation of WATs to brown adipose tissues (BATs), and photothermal lipolysis of WATs. Compared to conventional therapy, the targeted-nanosystems have high tolerability, reduced side effects, and enhanced efficacy. These effects are reproducible using various nanocarriers (liposomes, polymeric and gold nanoparticles), thus providing a proof of concept that targeted nanotherapy can be a feasible strategy that can combat obesity and prevent its comorbidities.

Effects of Resveratrol in Goto-Kakizaki Rat, a Model of Type 2 Diabetes

Resveratrol exhibits a pleiotropic, favorable action under various pathological conditions, including type 2 diabetes. However, its anti-diabetic effects in animal models and human trials have not been fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to determine whether resveratrol is capable of inducing beneficial changes in the Goto-Kakizaki rat, a spontaneous model of diabetes, which in several aspects is similar to type 2 diabetes in humans. Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats and control Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats were treated intragastrically with resveratrol (20 mg/kg b.w./day) for 10 weeks. Then, a glucose tolerance test was performed and levels of some adipokines in blood were measured. Moreover, lipid contents in skeletal muscle and liver tissues, along with the expression and phosphorylation of pivotal enzymes (AMP—activated protein kinase—AMPK, acetyl-CoA carboxylase—ACC, protein kinase B—Akt) in these tissues were determined. Histology of pancreatic islets was also compared. GK rats non-treated with resveratrol displayed a marked glucose intolerance and had increased lipid accumulation in the skeletal muscle. Moreover, upregulation of the expression and phosphorylation of AMPK, ACC and Akt was shown in the muscle tissue of GK rats. Those rats also had an abnormal structure of pancreatic islets compared with control animals. However, treatment with resveratrol improved glucose tolerance and prevented lipid accumulation in the skeletal muscle of GK rats. This effect was associated with a substantial normalization of expression and phosphorylation of ACC and Akt. In GK rats subjected to resveratrol therapy, the structure of pancreatic islets was also clearly improved. Moreover, blood adiponectin and leptin levels were partially normalized by resveratrol in GK rats. It was revealed that resveratrol ameliorates key symptoms of diabetes in GK rats. This compound improved glucose tolerance, which was largely linked to beneficial changes in skeletal muscle. Resveratrol also positively affected pancreatic islets. Our new findings show that resveratrol has therapeutic potential in GK rats.

Can Resveratrol Treatment Control the Progression of Induced Periodontal Disease? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies

Resveratrol is an anti-inflammatory compound found in several foods. Periodontal disease (PD) is associated to other systemic diseases, and inflammation may be responsible for the association. Consequently, controlling inflammation not only may benefit oral health but also may assist with the management of other chronic inflammatory conditions. We aimed to investigate the effects of resveratrol administration on PD control in preclinical studies. A systematic search was performed for scientific articles using both electronic databases and a manual search using combinations of the following keywords: "resveratrol" OR "3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene" AND "periodontal disease" OR "periodontitis" OR "gingivitis". Only in vivo original studies investigating resveratrol treatment on experimental animal models of PD were selected. A quality assessment of the studies was performed using the Animal Research Reporting In Vivo Experiment (ARRIVE) guidelines, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Syrcle tool. The search returned 570 articles, and 11 matched the inclusion criteria. A meta-analysis showed that resveratrol treatment attenuated alveolar bone loss (τ2 = 0.0041; 95% CI: -0.14; -0.04). The ARRIVE criteria reported a good quality of studies in general (mean score 28.5 ± 2.5). However, five Syrcle domains indicated a high risk of bias or did not present information clearly. We concluded that, in preclinical studies, resveratrol treatment prevented PD progression.

Role of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the Anticancer Activity of Natural Compounds

Cancer represents a serious global health problem, and its incidence and mortality are rapidly growing worldwide. One of the main causes of the failure of an anticancer treatment is the development of drug resistance by cancer cells. Therefore, it is necessary to develop new drugs characterized by better pharmacological and toxicological profiles. Natural compounds can represent an optimal collection of bioactive molecules. Many natural compounds have been proven to possess anticancer effects in different types of tumors, but often the molecular mechanisms associated with their cytotoxicity are not completely understood. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is an organelle involved in multiple cellular processes. Alteration of ER homeostasis and its appropriate functioning originates a cascade of signaling events known as ER stress response or unfolded protein response (UPR). The UPR pathways involve three different sensors (protein kinase RNA(PKR)-like ER kinase (PERK), inositol requiring enzyme1α (IRE1) and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6)) residing on the ER membranes. Although the main purpose of UPR is to restore this organelle's homeostasis, a persistent UPR can trigger cell death pathways such as apoptosis. There is a growing body of evidence showing that ER stress may play a role in the cytotoxicity of many natural compounds. In this review we present an overview of different plant-derived natural compounds, such as curcumin, resveratrol, green tea polyphenols, tocotrienols, and garcinia derivates, that exert their anticancer activity via ER stress modulation in different human cancers.

Acquired Resilience: An Evolved System of Tissue Protection in Mammals

This review brings together observations on the stress-induced regulation of resilience mechanisms in body tissues. It is argued that the stresses that induce tissue resilience in mammals arise from everyday sources: sunlight, food, lack of food, hypoxia and physical stresses. At low levels, these stresses induce an organised protective response in probably all tissues; and, at some higher level, cause tissue destruction. This pattern of response to stress is well known to toxicologists, who have termed it hormesis. The phenotypes of resilience are diverse and reports of stress-induced resilience are to be found in journals of neuroscience, sports medicine, cancer, healthy ageing, dementia, parkinsonism, ophthalmology and more. This diversity makes the proposing of a general concept of induced resilience a significant task, which this review attempts. We suggest that a system of stress-induced tissue resilience has evolved to enhance the survival of animals. By analogy with acquired immunity, we term this system 'acquired resilience'. Evidence is reviewed that acquired resilience, like acquired immunity, fades with age. This fading is, we suggest, a major component of ageing. Understanding of acquired resilience may, we argue, open pathways for the maintenance of good health in the later decades of human life.

The Synergistic Effects of Resveratrol combined with Resistant Training on Exercise Performance and Physiological Adaption

The comprehensive studies done on resveratrol (RES) support that this polyphenol has multiple bioactivities and is widely accepted for dietary supplementation. Furthermore, regular exercise is known to have benefits on health and is considered as a form of preventive medicine. Although the vast majority of prior studies emphasize the efficacy of aerobic exercise in promoting physiological adaptions, other types of exercise, such as resistance exercise and high-intensity interval training (HIIT), may achieve similar or different physiological outcomes. Few studies have looked into the effectiveness of a combinational, synergistic approach to exercise using a weight-loading ladder climbing animal platform. In this study, ICR mice were allocated randomly to the RES and training groups using a two-way ANOVA (RES × Training) design. Exercise capacities, including grip strength, aerobic performance, and anaerobic performance, were assessed and the physiological adaptions were evaluated using fatigue-associated indexes that were implemented immediately after the exercise intervention. In addition, glycogen levels, muscular characteristics, and safety issues, including body composition, histopathology, and biochemistry, were further elucidated. Synergistic effects were observed on grip strength, anaerobic capacities, and exercise lactate, with significant interaction effects. Moreover, the training or RES may have contributed significantly to elevating aerobic capacity, tissue glycogen, and muscle hypertrophy. Toxic and other deleterious effects were also considered to evaluate the safety of the intervention. Resistance exercise in combination with resveratrol supplementation may be applied in the general population to achieve better physiological benefits, promote overall health, and promote participation in regular physical activities.

Association of longitudinal alcohol consumption trajectories with coronary heart disease: a meta-analysis of six cohort studies using individual participant data

BACKGROUND

Studies have shown that alcohol intake trajectories differ in their associations with biomarkers of cardiovascular functioning, but it remains unclear if they also differ in their relationship to actual coronary heart disease (CHD) incidence. Using multiple longitudinal cohort studies, we evaluated the association between long-term alcohol consumption trajectories and CHD.

METHODS

Data were drawn from six cohorts (five British and one French). The combined analytic sample comprised 35,132 individuals (62.1% male; individual cohorts ranging from 869 to 14,247 participants) of whom 4.9% experienced an incident (fatal or non-fatal) CHD event. Alcohol intake across three assessment periods of each cohort was used to determine participants' intake trajectories over approximately 10 years. Time to onset for (i) incident CHD and (ii) fatal CHD was established using surveys and linked medical record data. A meta-analysis of individual participant data was employed to estimate the intake trajectories' association with CHD onset, adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

Compared to consistently moderate drinkers (males: 1-168 g ethanol/week; females: 1-112 g ethanol/week), inconsistently moderate drinkers had a significantly greater risk of incident CHD [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.18, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.37]. An elevated risk of incident CHD was also found for former drinkers (HR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.13-1.52) and consistent non-drinkers (HR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.21-1.78), although, after sex stratification, the latter effect was only evident for females. When examining fatal CHD outcomes alone, only former drinkers had a significantly elevated risk, though hazard ratios for consistent non-drinkers were near identical. No evidence of elevated CHD risk was found for consistently heavy drinkers, and a weak association with fatal CHD for inconsistently heavy drinkers was attenuated following adjustment for confounding factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Using prospectively recorded alcohol data, this study has shown how instability in drinking behaviours over time is associated with risk of CHD. As well as individuals who abstain from drinking (long term or more recently), those who are inconsistently moderate in their alcohol intake have a higher risk of experiencing CHD. This finding suggests that policies and interventions specifically encouraging consistency in adherence to lower-risk drinking guidelines could have public health benefits in reducing the population burden of CHD. The absence of an effect amongst heavy drinkers should be interpreted with caution given the known wider health risks associated with such intake.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03133689 .

Potential of resveratrol in mitigating metabolic disturbances induced by ethanol

Alcohol abuse is associated with numerous health problems, including metabolic disturbances and liver damage. Therefore, different compounds are continuously being tested to evaluate their potential effectiveness in reducing these harmful changes. Animal studies clearly show that resveratrol is capable of ameliorating some consequences of ethanol ingestion. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring diphenolic compound having pleiotropic, health-promoting properties. Its beneficial action have been also demonstrated in animal models with ethanol-induced metabolic disturbances and liver injury. In ethanol treated animals, resveratrol effectively reduced liver lipid accumulation. Moreover, this compound diminished necrosis of hepatocytes, and also reduced liver fibrosis. The hepatoprotective action of resveratrol is largely associated with its ant-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and also covers changes in activities of some enzymes. It is known that this compound upregulates the adiponectin-SIRT1-AMPK signaling pathway in the liver. Resveratrol was also found to positively affect blood lipids in animals exposed to ethanol. Moreover, administration of resveratrol to animals with ethanol-induced hypoinsulinemia and insulin resistance was shown to alleviate these disturbances. These outcomes clearly indicate that resveratrol holds great potential to reduce some consequences of ethanol ingestion. However, human studies are required to fully assess its therapeutic value.

Resveratrol's Hidden Hand: A Route to the Optical Detection of Biomolecular Binding

Resveratrol is a stilbenoid phytoalexin with promising myriad health benefits predominantly contributed by the trans ( E) diastereomeric form. A recent study has implicated the cis ( Z) diastereomer in human health. This stereoisomer binds with high affinity to human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, initiating a downstream cascade that promotes the expression of genes associated with the cellular stress response. We discovered that the nonplanar structure of the cis-resveratrol conformer possesses certain chiral signals in its simulated vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and Raman optical activity (ROA) spectra. These features may be used for the optical detection of the binding event and in understanding the more diversified biological roles of trans-resveratrol over cis-resveratrol. We use a density functional theory model, which is validated against the known results for the E diastereomer. The Z diastereomer is significantly nonplanar and can exist in two helical atropisomeric forms. These forms exchange rapidly in solution, but only one is observed to bind with the synthetase. This suggests that the binding may generate an enantiomeric excess, leading to detectable changes in the vibrational optical activity spectra. We identify candidate features at 998, 1649, and 1677 cm^-1 in the ROA and at 1642 and 3834 cm^-1 in the VCD spectra of Z-resveratrol that may be useful for this purpose.

A Novel Solubility-Enhanced Rubusoside-Based Micelles for Increased Cancer Therapy

Many anti-cancer drugs have a common problem of poor solubility. Increasing the solubility of the drugs is very important for its clinical applications. In the present study, we revealed that the solubility of insoluble drugs was significantly enhanced by adding rubusoside (RUB). Further, it was demonstrated that RUB could form micelles, which was well characterized by Langmuir monolayer investigation, transmission electron microscopy, atomic-force microscopy, and cryogenic transmission electron microscopy. The RUB micelles were ellipsoid with the horizontal distance of ~25 nm and vertical distance of ~1.2 nm. Insoluble synergistic anti-cancer drugs including curcumin and resveratrol were loaded in RUB to form anti-cancer micelles RUB/CUR + RES. MTT assay showed that RUB/CUR + RES micelles had more significant toxicity on MCF-7 cells compared to RUB/CUR micelles + RUB/RES micelles. More importantly, it was confirmed that RUB could load other two insoluble drugs together for remarkably enhanced anti-cancer effect compared to that of RUB/one drug + RUB/another drug. Overall, we concluded that RUB-based micelles could efficiently load insoluble drugs for enhanced anti-cancer effect.

Effects of low sulfur dioxide concentrations on bioactive compounds and antioxidant properties of Aglianico red wine

This study analyzed the effect of low sulfur dioxide concentrations on the chromatic properties, phytochemical composition and antioxidant activity of Aglianico red wines with respect to wines produced from conventional winemaking. We determined the phytochemical composition by spectrophotometric methods and HPLC-DAD analysis and the in vitro antioxidant activity of different wine samples by the ORAC assay. The main important classes of fluorophore molecules in red wine were identified by Front-Face fluorescence spectroscopy, and the emission intensity trend was investigated at various sulfur dioxide concentrations. Lastly, we tested the effects of both conventional and low sulfite wines on ex vivo human erythrocytes under oxidative stimulus by the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay and the hemolysis test. The addition of sulfur dioxide, which has well-known side effects, increased the content of certain bioactive components but did not raise the erythrocyte antioxidant capacity.

A Hypothesis: Moderate Consumption of Alcohol Contributes to Lower Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Due to the Scavenging of Alpha-Dicarbonyls by Dietary Polyphenols

The world is experiencing an epidemic of type-2-diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This has led to increased morbidity and mortality, explosive growth in health care budgets, and an even greater adverse, if indirect, impact on societies and economies of affected countries. While genetic susceptibility to T2DM is a major determinant of its prevalence, changes in lifestyles also play a role. One such change has been a transition from traditional diets characterized by low caloric and high nutrient density to calorie-rich but nutrient-poor Western diets. Given this, one solution to the epidemic of T2DM would be to abandon Western diets and revert to traditional eating patterns. However, traditional diets cannot provide enough calories for the increasing global population, so transition from traditional to Western foodstuffs appears to be irreversible. Consequently, the only practical solution to problems caused by these changes is to modify Western diets, possibly by supplementing them with functional foods containing nutrients that would compensate for these dietary deficits. I present in this study a hypothesis to explain why shifts from traditional to Western diets have been so problematic and to suggest nutrients that may counteract these adverse effects. I postulate that the components of traditional diets that may compensate for deficiencies of Westerns diets are scavengers of reactive α-dicarbonyls produced as unavoidable by-products of glucose and lipid metabolism. Most important among these scavengers are some plant secondary metabolites: polyphenols, phlorotannins, and carotenoids. They are found in alcoholic beverages and are abundant in seasonings, cocoa, coffee, tea, whole grains, pigmented vegetables, fruits, and berries.

Red Wine, Resveratrol and Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common cardiac arrhythmia that is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease and overall mortality. Excessive alcohol intake is a well-known risk factor for AF, but this correlation is less clear with light and moderate drinking. Besides, low doses of red wine may acutely prolong repolarization and slow cardiac conduction. Resveratrol, a bioactive polyphenol found in grapes and red wine, has been linked to antiarrhythmic properties and may act as an inhibitor of both intracellular calcium release and pathological signaling cascades in AF, eliminating calcium overload and preserving the cardiomyocyte contractile function. However, there are still no clinical trials at all that prove that resveratrol supplementation leads to improved outcomes. Besides, no observational study supports a beneficial effect of light or moderate alcohol intake and a lower risk of AF. The purpose of this review is to briefly describe possible beneficial effects of red wine and resveratrol in AF, and also present studies conducted in humans regarding chronic red wine consumption, resveratrol, and AF.

Resveratrol suppresses thyroid hormone‑induced osteocalcin synthesis in osteoblasts

Resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound that is present in grape skins, berries and red wine, may be beneficial for human health through its anti‑inflammatory and anti‑oxidant effects. It has been previously demonstrated that resveratrol exerts its biological effects primarily via sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) activation. We previously reported that triiodothyronine (T3) induces osteocalcin synthesis in osteoblast‑like MC3T3‑E1 cells, and that p38 mitogen‑activated protein (MAP) kinase mediates the T3‑stimulated synthesis of osteocalcin. The present study investigated the effect of resveratrol on T3‑induced osteocalcin synthesis and its underlying mechanism in MC3T3‑E1 cells. Cultured cells were stimulated with T3, and osteocalcin release from MC3T3‑E1 cells was measured by ELISA and phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase was analyzed by western blotting. Resveratrol significantly suppressed the release of osteocalcin stimulated by T3, and SRT1720, a SIRT1 activator, significantly reduced T3‑induced osteocalcin release. The expression level of osteocalcin mRNA stimulated by T3 was significantly attenuated by resveratrol and T3‑induced transactivation activity of the thyroid hormone‑responsive element was significantly diminished by resveratrol. However, only limited effects of resveratrol on the T3‑induced phosphorylation of p38 MAP kinase were observed. The results of the present study demonstrated that resveratrol suppresses T3‑stimulated osteocalcin synthesis at a point upstream of transcription in osteoblasts, and that the inhibitory effect of resveratrol is mediated, at least partially, through SIRT1 activation. These results indicate that there may be a novel role for the polyphenol in the modulation of bone metabolism.

Impact of Proteins on the Uptake, Distribution, and Excretion of Phenolics in the Human Body

Polyphenols, a complex group of secondary plant metabolites, including flavonoids and phenolic acids, have been studied in depth for their health-related benefits. The activity of polyphenols may, however, be hampered when consumed together with protein-rich food products, due to the interaction between polyphenols and proteins. To that end we have tested the bioavailability of representatives of a range of polyphenol classes when consumed for five days in different beverage matrices. In a placebo-controlled, randomized, cross-over study, 35 healthy males received either six placebo gelatine capsules consumed with 200 mL of water, six capsules with 800 mg polyphenols derived from red wine and grape extracts, or the same dose of polyphenols incorporated into 200 mL of either pasteurized dairy drink, soy drink (both containing 3.4% proteins) or fruit-flavoured protein-free drink . At the end of the intervention urine and blood was collected and analysed for a broad range of phenolic compounds using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), Liquid Chromatography–Multiple Reaction Monitoring–Mass Spectrometry (LC-MRM-MS), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy techniques. The plasma and urine concentrations of the polyphenols identified increased with all formats, including the protein-rich beverages. Compared to capsule ingestion, consumption of polyphenol-rich beverages containing either dairy, soy or no proteins had minor to no effect on the bioavailability and excretion of phenolic compounds in plasma (118% ± 9%) and urine (98% ± 2%). We conclude that intake of polyphenols incorporated in protein-rich drinks does not have a major impact on the bioavailability of a range of different polyphenols and phenolic metabolites.

The Use of Grape Seed Byproducts Rich in Flavonoids to Improve the Antioxidant Potential of Red Wines

The influence of adding seeds from grape pomace during Syrah wine fermentation in a warm climate has been studied. Seeds of Pedro Ximenez variety were rich in phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids such as catechin and procyanidins. Changes in total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity of red wines were observed. These changes depended on the vinification stage and the amount of seeds (SW: 450 g or DW: 900 g seeds/150 kg grapes) applied. In general, antioxidant activity was greater when a simple dose (SW) was considered. Results indicate that seeds rich in flavonoids could be used as wine additives, which could improve the antioxidant potential of red wines in a warm climate.

Development of resveratrol-curcumin hybrids as potential therapeutic agents for inflammatory lung diseases

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a major cause of acute respiratory failure in critically-ill patients. Resveratrol and curcumin are proven to have potent anti-inflammatory efficacy, but their clinical application is limited by their metabolic instability. Here, a series of resveratrol and the Mono-carbonyl analogs of curcumin (MCAs) hybrids were designed and synthesized by efficient aldol construction strategy, and then screened for anti-inflammatory activities in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the majority of analogs effectively inhibited the LPS-induced production of IL-6 and TNF-α. Five analogs, a9, a18, a19, a20 and a24 exhibited excellent anti-inflammatory activity in a dose-dependent manner along with low toxicity in vitro. Structure activity relationship study revealed that the electron-withdrawing groups at meta-position and methoxyl group (OCH₃) at the para position of the phenyl ring were important for anti-inflammatory activities. The most promising compound a18 decreased LPS induced TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, and IL-33 mRNA expression. Additionally, a18 significantly protected against LPS-induced acute lung injury in the in vivo mouse model. The research of resveratrol and MCAs hybrids could bring insight into the treatment of inflammatory diseases and compound a18 may serve as a lead compound for the development of anti-ALI agents.

The role of alcohol in the management of hypertension in patients in European primary health care practices - a survey in the largest European Union countries

BACKGROUND

Even though addressing lifestyle problems is a major recommendation in most guidelines for the treatment of hypertension (HTN), alcohol problems are not routinely addressed in the management of hypertension in primary health care.

METHODS

Internet based survey of 3081 primary care physicians, recruited via the mailing lists of associations for general practitioners (GPs) in France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. Clinical practice, attitudes, knowledge, education and training were assessed. Logistic regression to predict screening, brief intervention and treatment for alcohol dependence in the management of hypertension were assessed.

RESULTS

Overall, about one third of the interviewed GPs reported sufficient screening in cases with HTN (34.0 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI):32.1-35.8 %). One out of five GPs screened and delivered brief interventions in HTN patients with hazardous consumption (22.2 %, 95 % CI: 20.6-23.8 %) and about one in 13 GPs provided treatment for HTN patients with alcohol dependence other than advice or brief intervention (7.8 %, 95 % CI: 6.8-8.9 %). Post-graduate training and belief in their effectiveness predicted interventions. There were marked differences between countries.

CONCLUSIONS

While current interventions were overall low, marked differences between countries indicate that current practices could be improved. Education and post-graduate training seems to be key in improving clinical practice of including interventions for problematic alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence in primary health care.

Piceatannol and resveratrol share inhibitory effects on hydrogen peroxide release, monoamine oxidase and lipogenic activities in adipose tissue, but differ in their antilipolytic properties

Piceatannol is a hydroxylated derivative of resveratrol. While both dietary polyphenols coexist in edible plants and fruits, and share equivalent concentrations in several wines, the influence of piceatannol on adiposity has been less studied than that of resveratrol. Though resveratrol is now recognized to limit fat deposition in various obesity models, the benefit of its dietary supplementation remains under debate regarding human obesity treatment or prevention. The research for more potent resveratrol analogs is therefore still undergoing. This prompted us to compare various effects of piceatannol and resveratrol directly on human adipose tissue (hAT). Hydrogen peroxide release was measured by Amplex Red-based fluorescence in subcutaneous hAT samples from obese patients. Interactions of stilbenes with human amine oxidases and quinone reductase were assessed by radiometric methods, computational docking and electron paramagnetic resonance. Influences on lipogenic and lipolytic activities were compared in mouse adipocytes. Resveratrol and piceatannol inhibited monoamine oxidase (MAO) with respective IC50 of 18.5 and 133.7 μM, but not semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) in hAT. For both stilbenes, the docking scores were better for MAO than for SSAO. Piceatannol and resveratrol similarly hampered hydrogen peroxide detection in assays with and without hAT, while they shared pro-oxidant activities when incubated with purified quinone reductase. They exhibited similar dose-dependent inhibition of adipocyte lipogenic activity. Only piceatannol inhibited basal and stimulated lipolysis when incubated at a dose ≥100 μM. Thus, piceatannol exerted on fat cells dose-dependent effects similar to those of resveratrol, except for a stronger antilipolytic action. In this regard, piceatannol should be useful in limiting the lipotoxicity related to obesity when ingested or administered alone - or might hamper the fat mobilization induced by resveratrol when simultaneously administered with it.

Antioxidants and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), the world’s primary cause of death and disability, represents a global health problem and involves a great public financial commitment in terms of both inability to work and pharmaceutical costs. CVD is characterized by a cluster of disorders, associated with complex interactions between multiple risk factors. The early identification of high cardiovascular risk subjects is one of the main targets of primary prevention in order to reduce the adverse impact of modifiable factors, from lifestyle changes to pharmacological treatments. The cardioprotective effect of food antioxidants is well known. Indeed, a diet rich in fruits and vegetables results in an increase in serum antioxidant capacity and a decrease in oxidative stress. In contrast, studies on antioxidant supplementation, even those that are numerically significant, have revealed no clear benefit in prevention and therapy of CVD. Both short- and long-term clinical trials have failed to consistently support cardioprotective effects of supplemental antioxidant intake. The aim of this review is to evaluate the antioxidant effects on the main cardiovascular risk factors including hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes.