Monthly Archives: October 2012

More on Manganese Absorption

Posted on October 21, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Manganese is a trace mineral needed in humans for the enzymes prolidase, glucosyl transferase, arginase, superoxide dismutase, pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. Manganese may also bind to ATP and ADP to prevent cyclic AMP accumulation in cells. Manganese deficiency is … Continue reading →

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Fructo-oligosaccharides and Calcium Absorption

Posted on October 20, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) are non-digestible plant components that comprise of fructose residues linked by β(2-1), creating fructosyl to fructose chains of various lengths. Fructo-oligosaccharides are classed as fructans, and if the polymerisation increases further, inulin is formed. Because FOS are not … Continue reading →

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Whole Grains for Obesity

Posted on October 19, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Evidence suggests that whole grains are beneficial in maintaining correct body weight. Whole grains appear to be beneficial in weight control because they aid appetite regulation through improved glycaemic control and increase short-chain fatty acid production in the colon. Whole … Continue reading →

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Honey Versus Sucrose

Posted on October 18, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Evidence suggests that increased consumption of calorific sweeteners such as fructose, high fructose corn syrup, glucose and sucrose are responsible for the rise in obesity cases over the last half a century. In particular, the consumption of these products in … Continue reading →

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Grape Seed Extract Benefits the Vasculature

Posted on October 17, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Dietary flavonoids are a diverse group of polphenolic plant chemicals that are found in high concentrations in fruits and vegetables. Evidence suggests that flavonoids are important dietary components that decrease the risk of disease. Grapes contain flavonoids in their fruits … Continue reading →

Posted in Antioxidant, Cardiovascular Disease, Flavonoids, Grapes, Heart Disease, Nitric Oxide, Oxidative Stress, Polyphenols | Comments Off on Grape Seed Extract Benefits the Vasculature

Probotics and Immunity

Posted on October 16, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Evidence suggest that colonic bacteria are able to modulate immunity. Probiotic supplements have been shown to produce immune benefits, and modification to immune parameters has been reported. Changes following supplementation include increases in natural killer cells, lymphocytes and immunoglobulin A. … Continue reading →

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Green Tea Has Antiviral Properties

Posted on October 15, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Green tea differs from black tea in that during processing the leaves of the former are steamed, while the leave of the latter are fermented. The result is that green tea maintains many of the original photochemicals present in the … Continue reading →

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Vegetable Intake and Plasma Carotenoids

Posted on October 14, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Oxidative stress is associated with the aetiology of many major Western lifestyle diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and arthritis. Recently, evidence has been accumulating to show that obesity, and the related metabolic syndrome, are conditions characterised by inflammation and … Continue reading →

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Creatine and Fatty Liver in Rats

Posted on October 13, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Animal studies have limited relevance to human nutrition, but sometimes a study appears that is of sufficient interest to warrant discussion. One such paper published in the Journal of Nutrition is 20111, involved creatine supplementation to rats with non-alcoholic fatty … Continue reading →

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More on Coffee and Hypertension

Posted on October 12, 2012 by Robert Barrington

Coffee consumption amongst normotensive individuals has been shown to cause an acute increased in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure, but does not result in long term changes in pressure. The acute effects are likely a result of caffeine causing … Continue reading →

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