ABSTRACT
A method involving the coupling of high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) for the quantitative determination of the mammalian lignans enterolactone and enterodiol in human blood and urine has been developed. In contrast to techniques previously published, the method allows direct measurement of free enterolignans as well as their monoglucuronide conjugates in human biofluids with minimal sample preparation. Thereby the method is suitable for large-scale intervention, case-control and epidemiologic studies. Comprehensive, high-precision (1)H and (13)C nuclear magnetic resonance data (CD3OD as solvent) obtained at 11.7 T in combination with polarimetric data show that the major form of lignan precursor in the linseeds used is (-)-secoisolariciresinol diglucoside ((2R,3R)-2,3-bis(4'-hydroxy-3'-methoxy-benzyl)-1,4-butanediyl-bis-beta-d-glucopyranoside) which is transformed by human intestinal bacteria into (+)-enterodiol and (+)-enterolactone. However, these metabolites are mono-glucuronidated after absorption and are detected as (-)-enterodiol 3'-beta-d-glucuronide=(2R,3R)-2-(3'-O-(beta-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid)benzyl)-3-(3''-hydroxybenzyl)-butane-1,4,diol and (-)-enterolactone 3'-beta-d-glucuronide=(2R,3R)-2-(3'-O-(beta-d-glucopyranosyluronic acid)benzyl)-3-(3''-hydroxybenzyl)-beta-butyrolactone in blood and urine.
Subject(s)
Flax/chemistry , Lignans/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Fermentation , Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry , Glucuronides , Humans , Lignans/blood , Lignans/urine , Reference Standards , Seeds/chemistry , Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray IonizationABSTRACT
Linseeds are a rich source of lignans, secondary plant substances which are suggested to possess chemopreventive effects inter alia with regard to breast cancer. In a randomised controlled trial 40 German women were informed about "5-a-day" and encouraged to increase their dietary intake of fruit and vegetables. Moreover 19 participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group supplemented with ground linseeds (20 g/d) over a 2-month period. Before and after intervention, urine and blood samples were collected after an overnight fast. Analysis was by intention-to-treat and the outcome parameters of interest were enterolignan concentrations. After linseed supplementation, enterolignan concentrations (mean) measured as their glucuronides by a newly developed high performance liquid chromatography electrospray mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) in serum (122 nmol/l) as well as in urine (72 micromol/l) showed a significant increase (P<0.01) compared to pre-intervention values (47 nmol/l and 29 micromol/l). In the control group enterolignan levels were raised slightly but did not reach significance. Serum and urinary enterolignans of the whole collective showed a good pairwise correlation.
Subject(s)
Lignans/blood , Lignans/urine , Linseed Oil/pharmacology , Adult , Butylene Glycols/analysis , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Diet , Dietary Supplements , Female , Fruit , Germany , Glucosides/analysis , Humans , Linseed Oil/chemistry , Middle Aged , Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization , VegetablesABSTRACT
15 patients with a severe degree of essential hypertension, which had not responded satisfactorily to pharmacological management, received an additional regimen of psychophysiological treatment. This schedule consisted of relaxation training, self-recording of the blood pressure by the patients and conversations geared at improving stress management. After 1 year 9 patients showed a lowered mean blood pressure from 162/106 mmHg to 141/95 mmHg (responders). 2 patients were excluded from the study and 4 patients failed to show any lowering of their blood pressure (non-responders). In 6 responders it was possible to reduce the dose of antihypertensive drugs by 8-71%. These results were confirmed over a 4-year follow-up period. Responders and non-responders did not differ with regard to their age, stages and duration of hypertension. Patients with a very high reactivity of blood pressure under psychological stress and a low frankness with regard to their own weaknesses and problems seem to respond to the therapy with a lower probability of success.
Subject(s)
Antihypertensive Agents/therapeutic use , Behavior Therapy , Hypertension/therapy , Adult , Blood Pressure Determination , Combined Modality Therapy , Female , Humans , Hypertension/psychology , Male , Middle Aged , Personality , Pilot Projects , Relaxation Therapy , Self CareABSTRACT
Examination of 110 patients with essential hypertension (EH) carried out in the USSR and GDR revealed, by the end of the observation period (one year), a significant lowering and normalization of arterial pressure at rest and a certain reduction of the intensity of the hypertensive response to psychoemotional stress influences in the presence of psychological relaxation therapy (PRT). The survey made it possible to try the designed methods for PRT in both countries and demonstrated that the intensity of the hypotensive action of the methods appeared comparable in different populations of patients suffering from essential hypertension. The intensity of the hypotensive action of PRT correlated with the level of arterial pressure before treatment, with the age of EH patients, and with their psychological characteristics.