[Fruit and vegetable consumption: what benefits, what risks?] / Consommation des fruits et légumes : quels avantages, quels risques ?

Fruit and vegetable consumption: what benefits, what risks? Epidemiological studies on the relationships between fruit and vegetable consumption and the risk of chronic non-communicable diseases indicate a convincing protective effect against cardiovascular diseases, and suggestive protective effect on weight gain, diabetes, colorectal cancer and ER-negative breast cancer. For cardiovascular diseases the risk reductions are observed up to 800 g/day and for cancer up to 600 g/day. Interestingly, each additional portion of fruit or vegetable reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of protective constituents: fibres, vitamins -B9, C-, minerals, polyphenols, carotenoids and sulphur compounds -glucosinolates and allyl sulphides-. White fruits -apples, pears-, cruciferous vegetables, green leafy vegetables, fruits and vegetables rich in beta-carotene, and those rich in vitamin C were shown to protective against cardiovascular diseases and, cruciferous and green-yellow vegetables appeared protective against cancer incidence. Promoting the consumption of sufficient quantities of all types of fruits and vegetables, raw and cooked, is essential in a balanced diet in which ultra-processed and sweet products must be limited. An increase in fruit and vegetable consumption up to 800 g/day does not lead to exceeding the toxicological reference values of the contaminants.

Consommation des fruits et légumes : quels avantages, quels risques ? Les études sur les relations entre consommation de fruits et légumes et risque de maladies chroniques non transmissibles indiquent clairement un effet protecteur vis-à-vis des maladies cardiovasculaires avec un niveau de preuve convaincant, et sur la prise de poids, le diabète, le cancer colorectal et le cancer du sein de statut ER négatif avec un niveau de preuve suggestif mais limité. Des réductions du risque sont observées jusqu'à 800 g par jour pour les maladies cardiovasculaires et jusqu'à 600 g par jour pour le cancer. Chaque portion supplémentaire de fruit ou de légume réduit le risque. Les fruits et légumes sont source de constituants protecteurs : fibres, vitamines -B9, C-, minéraux, polyphénols, caroténoïdes et composés soufrés -glucosinolates et sulfures d'allyle-. Les fruits de couleur blanche -pommes, poires-, les légumes crucifères, les légumes à feuilles vertes, les fruits et légumes riches en bêtacarotène, et ceux riches en vitamine C sont apparus protecteurs vis-à-vis des maladies cardiovasculaires et les légumes crucifères et vert-jaune vis-à-vis du cancer. Consommer en quantité suffisante divers fruits et légumes sous toutes leurs formes, crus et cuits, est essentiel dans une alimentation équilibrée, en limitant les produits transformés sucrés. Une augmentation de la consommation de fruits et légumes jusqu'à 800 g par jour n'entraîne pas de dépassement des valeurs toxicologiques de référence des contaminants.

The Transcriptional Effects of PCB118 and PCB153 on the Liver, Adipose Tissue, Muscle and Colon of Mice: Highlighting of Glut4 and Lipin1 as Main Target Genes for PCB Induced Metabolic Disorders.

Epidemiological studies have associated environmental exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes; however, little is known about the underlying mechanisms involved in the metabolic side-effects of PCB. Our study evaluated the transcriptional effects of a subchronic exposure (gavage at Day 0 and Day 15 with 10 or 100 µmol/Kg bw) to PCB118 (dioxin-like PCB), PCB153 (non-dioxin-like PCB), or an equimolar mixture of PCB118 and PCB153 on various tissues (liver, visceral adipose tissue, muscle, and colon) in mice. Our results showed that a short-term exposure to PCB118 and/or PCB153 enhanced circulating triglyceride levels but did not affect glycemia. Among the studied tissues, we did not observe any modification of the expression of inflammation-related genes, such as cytokines or chemokines. The main transcriptional effects were observed in visceral adipose and liver tissues. We found a downregulation of lipin1 and glut4 expression in these two target organs. In adipose tissue, we also showed a downregulation of Agpat2, Slc25a1, and Fasn. All of these genes are involved in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance. In muscles, we observed an induction of CnR1 and Foxo3 expression, which may be partly involved in PCB metabolic effects. In summary, our results suggest that lipin1 and glut4, notably in adipose tissue, are the main targeted genes in PCB-induced metabolic disorders, however, further studies are required to fully elucidate the mechanisms involved.

Can we trust untargeted metabolomics? Results of the metabo-ring initiative, a large-scale, multi-instrument inter-laboratory study.

The metabo-ring initiative brought together five nuclear magnetic resonance instruments (NMR) and 11 different mass spectrometers with the objective of assessing the reliability of untargeted metabolomics approaches in obtaining comparable metabolomics profiles. This was estimated by measuring the proportion of common spectral information extracted from the different LCMS and NMR platforms. Biological samples obtained from 2 different conditions were analysed by the partners using their own in-house protocols. Test #1 examined urine samples from adult volunteers either spiked or not spiked with 32 metabolite standards. Test #2 involved a low biological contrast situation comparing the plasma of rats fed a diet either supplemented or not with vitamin D. The spectral information from each instrument was assembled into separate statistical blocks. Correlations between blocks (e.g., instruments) were examined (RV coefficients) along with the structure of the common spectral information (common components and specific weights analysis). In addition, in Test #1, an outlier individual was blindly introduced, and its identification by the various platforms was evaluated. Despite large differences in the number of spectral features produced after post-processing and the heterogeneity of the analytical conditions and the data treatment, the spectral information both within (NMR and LCMS) and across methods (NMR vs. LCMS) was highly convergent (from 64 to 91 % on average). No effect of the LCMS instrumentation (TOF, QTOF, LTQ-Orbitrap) was noted. The outlier individual was best detected and characterised by LCMS instruments. In conclusion, untargeted metabolomics analyses report consistent information within and across instruments of various technologies, even without prior standardisation.

The Medi-RIVAGE study: reduction of cardiovascular disease risk factors after a 3-mo intervention with a Mediterranean-type diet or a low-fat diet.

BACKGROUND: Epidemiologic studies link Mediterranean-type diets to a low incidence of cardiovascular disease; however, few dietary intervention studies have been undertaken, especially in primary prevention. OBJECTIVES: In the Mediterranean Diet, Cardiovascular Risks and Gene Polymorphisms (Medi-RIVAGE) study, the effects of a Mediterranean-type diet (Med group) or a low-fat diet (low-fat group) on risk factors were evaluated in 212 volunteers (men and women) with moderate risk factors for cardiovascular disease. DESIGN: After the 3-mo dietary intervention, changes in many risk factors were evaluated. Dietary questionnaires and plasma nutritional markers were used to test compliance. RESULTS: Although the dietary goals were only partially reached, changes in dietary habits were observed in both groups (n = 169): protein, carbohydrate, and fiber intakes increased and fat quality (decreased saturated fat and increased monounsaturated or polyunsaturated fat) improved. BMI, total and triacylglycerol-rich lipoprotein (TRL) cholesterol, triacylglycerols, TRL triacylglycerols, apolipoproteins A-I and B, insulinemia, glycemia, and the homeostasis model assessment score were significantly lower after 3 mo. The reductions in total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, and insulinemia remained significant after adjustment for BMI. There was a trend for a diet-by-time interaction for LDL cholesterol (P = 0.09). Our data predicted a 9% reduction in cardiovascular disease risk with the low-fat diet and a 15% reduction with this particular Mediterranean diet. CONCLUSION: After a 3-mo intervention, both diets significantly reduced cardiovascular disease risk factors to an overall comparable extent.

Effect of tomato product consumption on the plasma status of antioxidant microconstituents and on the plasma total antioxidant capacity in healthy subjects.

OBJECTIVES: to identify the plasma antioxidant microconstituents mainly affected by tomato product consumption, to check whether tomato product consumption can affect antioxidant status, and to identify tomato-product antioxidant-microconstituents mainly involved in the effect of these products on oxidative stress. DESIGN: Medium-term dietary supplementation study. SETTING: Human Nutrition Laboratory, Clermont-Ferrand, France. SUBJECTS: Twenty healthy young (20 < years < 40), non obese (18 < BMI (kg/m2) < 25), females were recruited by advertisement. All of them completed the study. INTERVENTION: The usual diet of the subjects was supplemented for three weeks with 96 g/day tomato puree. The volunteers then avoided tomato-product-rich foods for a subsequent three-week period. MEASURES OF OUTCOME: Fasting blood samples were collected the day before supplementation, the day after the supplementation period, and the day after the depletion period. The status of several antioxidant microconstituents (plasma microconstituent concentrations), and the antioxidant status (plasma total antioxidant capacity) were assessed. RESULTS: Supplementation with tomato puree significantly increased plasma lycopene, beta-carotene and lutein. Conversely it did not significantly affect plasma vitamin C and E, plasma antioxidant trace metals (Cu, Zn and Se), and plasma total antioxidant capacity. Avoidance of tomato-product-rich foods for three weeks significantly (p < 0.05) decreased plasma lycopene, beta-carotene, lutein and vitamin C, as well as plasma total antioxidant capacity. Plasma total antioxidant capacity, as measured by chemiluminescence, was positively related (p < 0.05) to the status of lycopene, vitamin C and beta-carotene. CONCLUSIONS: Tomato product consumption can affect not only the lycopene status, but also that of other antioxidant microconstituents (beta-carotene and lutein). Lycopene, but also beta-carotene, are apparently the main tomato microconstituents responsible for the effect of tomato products on antioxidant status.