Browsing by Subject "Ascorbic acid"

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Plant-based burger patties are a source of bioaccessible iron and zinc
(2025) Pospiech, Jonas; Kruger, Johanita; Frank, Jan
Background: The consumption of plant-based meat alternatives has increased substantially in recent years. However, due to the presence of absorption inhibitors, such as phytate, oxalate, and condensed tannins, the uptake of zinc and iron from plant foods may be low. We therefore quantified minerals (Fe, Zn), inhibitors (phytate, oxalate, condensed tannins), and enhancers (ascorbic acid, carotenoids) of mineral absorption in pea protein-, soy protein-, soy flour-, and sunflower protein-based burger patties and the resulting bioaccessibility of the contained iron and zinc conducting in vitro digestion experiments. Results: The soy flour-based burger had nearly complete bioaccessibility for zinc (105 ± 6 %) and iron (101 ± 11 %), while the three other plant burgers had significantly lower bioaccessibilities (zinc, 9–12 %; iron, 43–57 %). The phytate but not the oxalate and condensed tannin contents of the patties were negatively correlated with the bioaccessibility of iron and zinc (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Plant-based meat alternatives may be an important source of bioaccessible iron and zinc, if they contain low amounts of phytate, and may contribute to an adequate supply of these minerals. Conclusion: Plant-based meat alternatives may be an important source of bioaccessible iron and zinc, if they contain low amounts of phytate, and may contribute to an adequate supply of these minerals.
Stability of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in rosehip juice (Rosa spp.)
(2024) Peña, Fabiola; González, Felipe; Jiménez-Aspee, Felipe; Bustamante, Luis; Ruiz, Antonieta
Rosehip fruits, characterized by their high concentrations of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity (AA), have been traditionally used to make jams, infusions, and juices. Thus, the objective of this research was to evaluate the stability of rosehip juice by determining the concentrations of bioactive compounds and total phenols and the AA using chromatographic and spectroscopic methods. The stability of the juice was evaluated with three treatments and different storage conditions, namely, unpasteurized–refrigerated, pasteurized–room temperature, and pasteurized–refrigerated, and measurements were taken for eight months. Individual and total phenolic compounds, evaluated by chromatographic methods, reported differences until the end of this study. The total phenolic compounds by Folin–Ciocalteu method presented an average decrease of 57% in the three treatments in relation to the initial conditions. On the other hand, the ascorbic acid content decreased considerably, disappearing at week six. Furthermore, for the unpasteurized–refrigerated and pasteurized–refrigerated samples, a correlation was found between flavonols, total phenols, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant activity determined by the TEAC method. For the pasteurized–room temperature samples, correlations were found between the levels of several flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acid, total phenols, and ascorbic acid and the antioxidant activity determined by the CUPRAC method. The stability of the compounds was mainly correlated with the storage conditions of the juice and not with pasteurization. The highest stability was observed for the unpasteurized–refrigerated and pasteurized–refrigerated samples. Although the concentrations of the compounds evaluated decreased during this study, significant levels of AA persisted, providing beneficial characteristics for consumer health.
The therapeutic potential of vitamins A, C, and D in pancreatic cancer
(2025) Piotrowsky, Alban; Burkard, Markus; Schmieder, Hendrik; Venturelli, Sascha; Renner, Olga; Marongiu, Luigi
The pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is among the deadliest tumor diseases worldwide. While treatment options have generally become more diverse, little progress has been made in the treatment of PDAC and the median survival time for patients with locally advanced PDAC is between 8.7 and 13.7 months despite treatment. The aim of this review was to explore the therapeutic potential of complementing standard therapy with natural or synthetic forms of vitamins A, C, and D. The therapeutic use of vitamins A, C, and D could be a promising addition to the treatment of PDAC. For all three vitamins and their derivatives, tumor cell-specific cytotoxicity and growth inhibition against PDAC cells has been demonstrated in vitro and in preclinical animal models. While the antitumor effect of vitamin C is probably mainly due to its pro-oxidative effect in supraphysiological concentrations, vitamin A and vitamin D exert their effect by activating nuclear receptors and influencing gene transcription. In addition, there is increasing evidence that vitamin A and vitamin D influence the tumor stroma, making the tumor tissue more accessible to other therapeutic agents. Based on these promising findings, there is a high urgency to investigate vitamins A, C, and D in a clinical context as a supplement to standard therapy in PDAC. Further studies are needed to better understand the exact mechanism of action of the individual compounds and to develop the best possible treatment regimen. This could contribute to the long-awaited progress in the treatment of this highly lethal tumor entity.