Polyphenols in Human Health and Disease documents antioxidant actions of polyphenols in protection of cells and cell organelles, critical for understanding their health-promoting actions to help the dietary supplement industry. The book begins by describing the fundamentals of absorption, metabolism and bioavailability of polyphenols, as well as the effect of microbes on polyphenol structure and function and toxicity. It then examines the role of polyphenols in the treatment of chronic disease, including vascular and cardiac health, obesity and diabetes therapy, cancer treatment and prevention, and more. - Explores neuronal protection by polyphenol metabolites and their application to medical care - Defines modulation of enzyme actions to help researchers see and study polyphenols' mechanisms of action, leading to clinical applications - Includes insights on polyphenols in brain and neurological functions to apply them to the wide range of aging diseases

Polyphenols: Mechanisms of Action in Human Health and Disease, Second Edition describes the mechanisms of polyphenol antioxidant activities and their use in disease prevention. Chapters highlight the anti-inflammatory activity of polyphenols on key dendritic cells, how they modulate and suppress inflammation, and how they are inactivated or activated by metabolism in the gut and circulating blood. Polyphenols have proven effective for key health benefits, including bone health, organ health, cardiac and vascular conditions, absorption and metabolism, and cancer and diseases of the immune system. They are a unique group of phytochemicals that are present in all fruits, vegetables and other plant products. This very diverse and multi-functional group of active plant compounds contain powerful antioxidant properties and exhibit remarkable chemical, biological and physiological properties, including cancer prevention and cardio-protective activities. - Expands coverage on green tea, cocoa, wine, cumin and herbs - Outlines their chemical properties, bioavailability and metabolomics - Provides a self-teaching guide to learn the mechanisms of action and health benefits of polyphenols

Polyphenols in Prevention and Treatment of Human Disease, Second Edition authoritatively covers evidence of the powerful health benefits of polyphenols, touching on cardiovascular disease, cancer, obesity, diabetes and osteoporosis. This collection represents the contributions of an international group of experts in polyphenol research who share their expertise in endocrinology, public health, cardiology, pharmacology, agriculture and veterinary science. Researchers from diverse backgrounds will gain insight into how clinical observations and practices can feed back into the research cycle, thus allowing them to develop more targeted insights into the mechanisms of disease. This reference fills a void in research where nutritionists and alternative therapies may be applicable. - Describes polyphenol modulation of blood flow and oxygenation as a potential mechanism of protection against vascular atherosclerosis - Describes how polyphenols and antioxidants frequently change immune defenses and actions - Focuses on the most important areas of research and provides insights into their relationships and translational opportunities

This book offers a collection of expert reviews on the use of plant-based antioxidant therapies in disease prevention and treatment. Topics discussed include the uses of plant and nutritional antioxidants in the contexts of reproductive health and prenatal development, healthcare and aging, noncommunicable chronic diseases, and environmental pollution. The text is complemented by a wealth of color figures and summary tables.

Presents recent research on metabolism and the health effects of polyphenols Consumer interest in the health benefits of many phenolic compounds found in plant foods and derivatives has grown considerably in recent years, giving rise to an increased demand for functional foods. Although preclinical and observational studies have promoted the protective properties of polyphenols for a range of chronic diseases, evidence has shown that most dietary polyphenols have little bioavailability. Once ingested, most of them are metabolized by either the intestinal enzymes or by the gut microbiota and then undergo extensive phase-II metabolism reaching significant concentrations of conjugated metabolites. They remain in the systemic circulation and target systemic tissues where trigger biological effects. The polyphenol-derived metabolites produced in humans are dependent upon the composition of the gut microbiota and the subject genetics. Thus all the metabolites do not show the same biological activity in different individuals. To fully understand the health effects of polyphenols, further clinical investigations are required. Dietary Polyphenols describes the latest findings on the polyphenol metabolism and reviews the current evidence on their health effects and that of their bioavailable metabolites. Emphasizing the importance of interindividual variability and the critical role of gut microbiota, this authoritative volume features contributions from recognized experts in the field, exploring specific families of extractable and non-extractable phenolic compounds that exhibit potential health effects. Topics include structural diversity of polyphenols and distribution in foods, bioavailability and bioaccessibility of phenolics, metabolism, and gastrointestinal absorption of various metabolites and their health effects. This comprehensive volume: Discusses the bioavailability, bioaccessibility, pharmacokinetics studies, and microbial metabolism of different groups of phenolic compounds Examines the interaction between polyphenols and gut microbiota Describes analytical methods for identifying and quantifying polyphenols in foods and biological samples Reviews recent epidemiological and clinical intervention studies showing protective effects of polyphenols Dietary Polyphenols: Metabolism and Health Effects is an important resource for scientists working in the area of dietary polyphenols and health effects, microbiota, and their interaction with other nutritional compounds, and for health professionals, nutritionists, dieticians, and clinical researchers with interest in the role of polyphenols in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

The use of antioxidants in sports is controversial due to existing evidence that they both support and hinder athletic performance. Antioxidants in Sport Nutrition covers antioxidant use in the athlete ́s basic nutrition and discusses the controversies surrounding the usefulness of antioxidant supplementation. The book also stresses how antioxidants may affect immunity, health, and exercise performance. The book contains scientifically based chapters explaining the basic mechanisms of exercise-induced oxidative damage. Also covered are methodological approaches to assess the effectiveness of antioxidant treatment. Biomarkers are discussed as a method to estimate the bioefficacy of dietary/supplemental antioxidants in sports. This book is useful for sport nutrition scientists, physicians, exercise physiologists, product developers, sport practitioners, coaches, top athletes, and recreational athletes. In it, they will find objective information and practical guidance.

This volume includes contributions presented at the Second International Sym posium on Nutrition and Cancer, held in Naples, Italy, in October 1998 at the National Tumor Institute "Fondazione Pascale." During the Conference, experts from different disciplines discussed pivotal and timely subjects on the interactions between human nutrition and the development of malignancies. Comparing the themes of this Meeting with those discussed at the First Sympo sium in 1992, the major scientific advancements certainly derive from the extensive use of molecular approaches to perform research in nutrition. Moreover, the fundamental observation of R. Doll and R. Peto (1981), which suggested that at least 35% of all cancers (with large differences among different tumors) might be prevented by dietary regimens, has been definitively confirmed by epidemiological studies. On the other hand, the relationships between diet and cancer are quite intricate and complex; it is difficult, and at the same time not methodologically correct, to reduce them to simple terms. Metabolic and hormonal factors, contaminants and biological agents, and deficiency of specific protective nutrients are all pieces of the same puzzle.