Dosimetry of human exposure to furan and 2-methylfuran by monitoring urinary biomarkers.

Furan and 2-methylfuran (2-MF) can form during food processing and accumulate in foods at various concentrations depending on processing technology and beverage/meal preparation methods applied prior to consumption. Here, we report a controlled dosimetry study with 20 volunteers (10 male, 10 female) to monitor dietary furan/2-MF exposure. The volunteers followed an eleven-day furan/2-MF-restricted diet in which they consumed freshly prepared coffee brew containing known amounts of furan and 2-MF on two separate occasions (250 mL and 500 mL on days 4 and 8, respectively). Urine was collected over the whole study period and analyzed for key metabolites derived from the primary oxidative furan metabolite cis-2-butene-1,4-dial (BDA) (i.e., Lys-BDA, AcLys-BDA and cyclic GSH-BDA) and the primary 2-MF metabolite acetylacrolein (AcA, 4-oxo-pent-2-enal) (i.e., Lys-AcA and AcLys-AcA). A previously established stable isotope dilution analysis (SIDA) method was utilized. Excretion kinetics revealed two peaks (at 0-2 and 24-36 h) for AcLys-BDA, Lys-BDA, AcLysAcA and LysAcA, whereas GSH-BDA showed a single peak. Notably, women on average excreted the metabolite GSH-BDA slightly faster than men, indicating gender differences. Overall, the study provided further insights into the spectrum of possible biomarkers of furan and 2-methyfuran metabolites occurring in the urine of volunteers after coffee consumption.

Effects of isoflavones on breast tissue and the thyroid hormone system in humans: a comprehensive safety evaluation.

Isoflavones are secondary plant constituents of certain foods and feeds such as soy, linseeds, and red clover. Furthermore, isoflavone-containing preparations are marketed as food supplements and so-called dietary food for special medical purposes to alleviate health complaints of peri- and postmenopausal women. Based on the bioactivity of isoflavones, especially their hormonal properties, there is an ongoing discussion regarding their potential adverse effects on human health. This review evaluates and summarises the evidence from interventional and observational studies addressing potential unintended effects of isoflavones on the female breast in healthy women as well as in breast cancer patients and on the thyroid hormone system. In addition, evidence from animal and in vitro studies considered relevant in this context was taken into account along with their strengths and limitations. Key factors influencing the biological effects of isoflavones, e.g., bioavailability, plasma and tissue concentrations, metabolism, temporality (pre- vs. postmenopausal women), and duration of isoflavone exposure, were also addressed. Final conclusions on the safety of isoflavones are guided by the aim of precautionary consumer protection.

Current issues and perspectives in food safety and risk assessment.

In this review, current issues and opportunities in food safety assessment are discussed. Food safety is considered an essential element inherent in global food security. Hazard characterization is pivotal within the continuum of risk assessment, but it may be conceived only within a very limited frame as a true alternative to risk assessment. Elucidation of the mode of action underlying a given hazard is vital to create a plausible basis for human toxicology evaluation. Risk assessment, to convey meaningful risk communication, must be based on appropriate and reliable consideration of both exposure and mode of action. New perspectives, provided by monitoring human exogenous and endogenous exposure biomarkers, are considered of great promise to support classical risk extrapolation from animal toxicology.

Assessment of mechanisms driving non-linear dose-response relationships in genotoxicity testing.

In genetic toxicology, risk assessment has traditionally adopted linear dose-responses for any compound that causes genotoxic effects. Increasing evidence of non-linear dose-responses, however, suggests potential cellular tolerance to low levels of many genotoxicants with diverse modes of action. Such putative non-linear dose-responses need to be substantiated by strong mechanistic data that identifies the mechanisms responsible for the tolerance to low doses. This can be achieved by experimental demonstration of cytoprotective mechanisms and by providing experimental support for the existence of tolerance mechanisms against low dose effects. By highlighting key experiments into low dose mechanisms, this review aims to clarify which mechanistic data are required to support the use of non-linear dose-response models in risk assessment. Such key experiments are presented and discussed for alkylating agents, oxidants, particulate matter, nucleoside analogues, topoisomerase inhibitors and aneugens and exemplify the use of gene knockout models or transgenic models as well as chemical modulators of key effectors of relevant pathways and their impact on dose-response relationships. In vitro studies are particularly valuable to elucidate mechanisms of low-dose protection or lack thereof, while in vivo experiments are most appropriate for deriving a safe dose. In order to evaluate the existence of non-linear dose-response relationships for genotoxicants, we suggest that careful attention should be given to the mode of genotoxic action, relevant biomarkers of exposure, as well as to the existence and impact of potential cytoprotective mechanisms like detoxifying metabolism and DNA repair.

Consumption of a dark roast coffee decreases the level of spontaneous DNA strand breaks: a randomized controlled trial.

PURPOSE: Coffee consumption has been reported to decrease oxidative damage in peripheral white blood cells (WBC). However, effects on the level of spontaneous DNA strand breaks, a well established marker of health risk, have not been specifically reported yet. We analyzed the impact of consuming a dark roast coffee blend on the level of spontaneous DNA strand breaks. METHODS: Healthy men (n = 84) were randomized to consume daily for 4 weeks either 750 ml of fresh coffee brew or 750 ml of water, subsequent to a run in washout phase of 4 weeks. The study coffee was a blend providing high amounts of both caffeoylquinic acids (10.18 ± 0.33 mg/g) and the roast product N-methylpyridinium (1.10 ± 0.05 mg/g). Before and after the coffee/water consumption phase, spontaneous strand breaks were determined by comet assay. RESULTS: At baseline, both groups exhibited a similar level of spontaneous DNA strand breaks. In the intervention phase, spontaneous DNA strand breaks slightly increased in the control (water only) group whereas they significantly decreased in the coffee group, leading to a 27% difference within both arms (p = 0.0002). Food frequency questionnaires indicated no differences in the overall diet between groups, and mean body weight during the intervention phases remained stable. The consumption of the study coffee substantially lowered the level of spontaneous DNA strand breaks in WBC. CONCLUSION: We conclude that regular coffee consumption contributes to DNA integrity.

[Scientific policy advice on food safety provided by the Senate Commission on Food Safety]. / Politikberatung zur Lebensmittelsicherheit durch die Senatskommission zur gesundheitlichen Bewertung von Lebensmitteln (SKLM).

The Senate Commission on Food Safety (SKLM, Senatskommission zur gesundheitlichen Bewertung von Lebensmitteln) of the German Research Foundation (DFG, Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft) is a transdisciplinary expert committee, providing advice on food safety to the government, parliament, and authorities. Consultation is based on a scientific assessment with the aim to give expert advice to authorities, so that they can make appropriate decisions. The SKLM is independent in its scientific deliberations and under no directive in the selection of issues to work on. Topics considered may result from requests of the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Consumer Protection (BMELV, Bundesministeriums für Ernährung, Landwirtschaft und Verbraucherschutz). Other issues may be raised by the SKLM, if they are regarded to be of particular importance for consumer health protection. Issues encompass the scientific assessment of safety and nutritional benefit of food ingredients and additives, of novel and functional food, as well as of novel food technologies. The SKLM identifies gaps in knowledge, research needs, and need for action.

Risk assessment of substances that are both genotoxic and carcinogenic report of an International Conference organized by EFSA and WHO with support of ILSI Europe.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), with the support of the International Life Sciences Institute, European Branch (ILSI Europe), organized an international conference on 16-18 November 2005 to discuss how regulatory and advisory bodies evaluate the potential risks of the presence in food of substances that are both genotoxic and carcinogenic. The objectives of the conference were to discuss the possible approaches for risk assessment of such substances, how the approaches may be interpreted and whether they meet the needs of risk managers. ALARA (as low as reasonably achievable) provides advice based solely on hazard identification and does not take into account either potency or human exposure. The use of quantitative low-dose extrapolation of dose-response data from an animal bioassay raises numerous scientific uncertainties related to the selection of mathematical models and extrapolation down to levels of human exposure. There was consensus that the margin of exposure (MOE) was the preferred approach because it is based on the available animal dose-response data, without extrapolation, and on human exposures. The MOE can be used for prioritisation of risk management actions but the conference recognised that it is difficult to interpret it in terms of health risk.

[Tasks and functions of the "Senate Commission for the Evaluation of Healthy Harmless aspects of Food" of the German Research Foundation]. / Aufgaben und Funktionen der "Senatskommission zur Beurteilung der gesundheitlichen Unbedenklichkeit von Lebensmitteln" der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft.

The Senate Commission on Food Safety (SKLM) of the German Research Foundation (DFG) advises authorities and the government on food safety. The risk assessment of foodstuffs, including novel and functional foods, covers the evaluation of food ingredients and additives as well as the evaluation of novel processing methods. In carrying out this task the Commission expresses its opinion primarily on those aspects which are concerned with the safety assessment. In addition, questions relating to the technological need and to nutritional or physiological benefits are also considered. The topics considered may originate from enquiries of the Ministry for Consumer Protection, Nutrition and Agriculture (BMVEL). Other topics may be selected by the Commission on its own initiative, if they are considered to be of particular importance for consumer protection. Within the context of this activity the SKLM also organises symposia and expert discussions, their outcome subsequently being published as resolutions, conclusions or opinions.

Alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds: induction of oxidative DNA damage in mammalian cells.

Alpha,beta-unsaturated carbonyl compounds occur in food and other environmental media. Due to their reactivity with cellular nucleophiles (e.g. Michael adduct formation with DNA bases and with glutathione) they might represent a potential health risk. In this study, induction of oxidative DNA damage was investigated in mammalian cells, as a consequence of glutathione depletion induced by selected food relevant 2-alkenals, including E-(2)-hexenal (HEX), (2E,4E)-2,4-hexadienal (HEXDI) and (E)-2-cinnamaldehyde (CA) and the cyclic analogue 2-cyclohexen-1-one (CHX). Oxidative DNA breakage was monitored with the Comet assay, using treatment with formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG). Total cellular glutathione (tGSH) was determined in a kinetic, photometric assay. After 1 h incubation of V79 cells with HEX (100 microM) and CHX (300 microM), HEXDI and CA (300 microM each), tGSH was depleted down to <20% of control (viability >85%). Under these conditions, FPG-sensitive sites were not observed; moderate direct DNA breakage, however, was detectable. During 3 h post-incubation (without test compound) distinct oxidative DNA breakage occurred in HEX- and CA-, but not in CHX- and HEXDI-pretreated cells. Direct DNA breakage was markedly diminished, most probably by repair processes, and tGSH concentrations were observed to increase again within 3 h post-treatment. The results give strong evidence for alkenal-mediated oxidative stress contributing to cytotoxic/genotoxic cell damage. The extent of oxidative stress appears to be influenced by structure-specific properties of the alkenals.

Mutagenic and cytotoxic effectiveness of diisopropyl xanthogen polysulphide in human lymphocyte cultures.

The mutagenic and cytotoxic effectiveness of the new rubber vulcanisation accelerator diisopropyl xanthogen polysulphide (Robac AS 100) was tested in human lymphocyte cultures of four healthy probands. The concentrations of Robac AS 100 were 0.57, 5.7 and 57.0 microg/ml. Higher concentrations showed too high cytotoxicity to be evaluable. Without external activation, incubation time with Robac AS 100 was 21 h. In the presence of rat liver microsomes from aroclor-induced rats (2mg microsomal protein/ml), incubation of the test compound was 2h. Mutagenicity testing was performed by analysis of micronuclei (MN), structural chromosome aberrations (CAs) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs). The MN-rate was determined using the cytochalasin B (cyt B) block method. For evaluation of cytotoxicity, mitotic index (MI) and nuclear division index (NDI) were determined. The validity of the test methods was ascertained by positive controls: mitomycin C (MMC) and bleomycin (BLM) were used in experiments without exogenous activation and cyclophosphamide (CP) in experiments with exogenous activation. The presence of rat liver microsomes increased the mutagenic effect of Robac AS 100 in the SCE- and MN-test. But only the highest Robac AS 100-concentration (57.0 microg/ml) showed significantly increased mutagenic activity in all tests. However, cytotoxicity at this concentration was already substantial. Therefore, we consider the evidence for mutagenicity of Robac AS 100 as limited.

Methods of in vitro toxicology.

In vitro methods are common and widely used for screening and ranking chemicals, and have also been taken into account sporadically for risk assessment purposes in the case of food additives. However, the range of food-associated compounds amenable to in vitro toxicology is considered much broader, comprising not only natural ingredients, including those from food preparation, but also compounds formed endogenously after exposure, permissible/authorised chemicals including additives, residues, supplements, chemicals from processing and packaging and contaminants. A major promise of in vitro systems is to obtain mechanism-derived information that is considered pivotal for adequate risk assessment. This paper critically reviews the entire process of risk assessment by in vitro toxicology, encompassing ongoing and future developments, with major emphasis on cytotoxicity, cellular responses, toxicokinetics, modelling, metabolism, cancer-related endpoints, developmental toxicity, prediction of allergenicity, and finally, development and application of biomarkers. It describes in depth the use of in vitro methods in strategies for characterising and predicting hazards to the human. Major weaknesses and strengths of these assay systems are addressed, together with some key issues concerning major research priorities to improve hazard identification and characterisation of food-associated chemicals.

Lycobetaine acts as a selective topoisomerase II beta poison and inhibits the growth of human tumour cells.

The phenanthridine alkaloid lycobetaine is a minor constituent of Amaryllidaceae. Inhibition of cell growth was studied in the clonogenic assay on 21 human tumour xenografts (mean IC(50) = 0.8 microM). The growth of human leukaemia cell lines was also potently inhibited (mean IC(50) = 1.3 microM). Athymic nude mice, carrying s.c. implanted human gastric tumour xenograft GXF251, were treated i.p. with lycobetaine for 4 weeks, resulting in a marked tumour growth delay. Lycobetaine was found to act as a specific topoisomerase II beta poison. In the presence of calf thymus DNA, pure recombinant human topoisomerase II beta protein was selectively depleted from SDS-gels, whereas no depletion of topoisomerase II alpha protein was observed. In A431 cells immunoband-depletion of topoisomerase II beta was induced, suggesting stabilization of the covalent catalytic DNA-intermediate in living cells. It is reasonable to assume that this mechanism will cause or at least contribute significantly to the antitumour activity.

Mutagenic and cytotoxic effectiveness of zinc dimethyl and zinc diisononyldithiocarbamate in human lymphocyte cultures.

The mutagenic and cytotoxic effectiveness of the vulcanisation accelerators zinc dimethyldithiocarbamate (ZDMC; ziram) and zinc diisononyldithiocarbamate (ZDINDC; arbestab Z) was tested in lymphocyte cultures of five healthy probands. ZDMC and ZDINDC (c=0.1, 1.0 and 10.0microg/ml) were studied in lymphocyte cultures without external metabolic activation. Additionally, incubation of the compounds (c=10.0microg/ml) was performed in the presence of liver microsomes from aroclor-induced rats (1 and 2h, 1 and 2mg microsomal protein). Genotoxicity testing was performed by analysis of chromosomal aberrations (CA), sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and micronuclei (MN). For evaluation of antiproliferative effects, mitotic index (MI) and cell cycle kinetics (CCK) were determined. In contrast to earlier investigations we found no significantly increased mutagenic or cytotoxic activity of ZDMC; ZDINDC also was inactive under these conditions.

DNA-damaging potential and glutathione depletion of 2-cyclohexene-1-one in mammalian cells, compared to food relevant 2-alkenals.

2-Cyclohexene-1-one (CHX) occurs as a natural ingredient in some tropical fruits and has been detected as a contaminant in certain artificially sweetened soft drinks. To elucidate its cytotoxic/genotoxic effectiveness, CHX was tested in mammalian cell lines (V79 and Caco-2) and in primary human colon cells in comparison to structurally related 2-alkenals. Inhibition of cell growth (IC(50)) and cytotoxicity (LC(50)) were determined by protein staining with sulforhodamin B (SRB) and by trypan blue exclusion, respectively. DNA damage--both strand breaks and oxidised purines--was quantified by comet assay. Depletion of glutathione was measured in a kinetic assay, based on 5-thio-2-nitrobenzoate (TNB) formation. For CHX, a moderate cytotoxicity was observed after 1h incubation in V79 cells (LC(50): 4.75mM). The 2-alkenals ((E)-2-octenal (OCTE), (2E,4Z)-2,4-hexadienal (HEXDI), (E)-2-nonenal (NONE), (2E,6Z)-2,6-nonadienal (NONDI)) exhibited a distinctly higher cytotoxicity, except for (E)-2-hexenal (HEX) (LC(50): 3.67mM) and cinnamaldehyde (CA) (LC(50): 4.45mM). If the incubation time was prolonged to 24h, an IC(50) of 15microM was obtained for CHX which is well within the range obtained for the 2-alkenals (4 and 17microM). Concentration-dependent DNA damage was observed after 1h incubation with CHX. The respective DC(50) values (concentration inducing DNA damage in 50% of cells) were 272microM (V79) and 455microM (Caco-2). All 2-alkenals were more active under these conditions, except for CA. In primary human colon cells, CHX (800microM, 30min) exhibited a weak, but still significant DNA-damaging potential. Glutathione levels in V79 cells were effectively depleted (down to approximately 20%) by CHX concentrations not yet inducing DNA damage (c < or = 50microM). Incubation with CHX or 2-alkenals (50 and 100microM, 1h), followed by H2O2 treatment (5min, 25microM) resulted in increased levels of oxidised purines in the modified comet assay. CHX and HEX, additionally tested in primary human colon cells, depleted glutathione and increased the sensitivity towards oxidative stress.