778

This article on 1M role of vitamin E. caro/enoids and

~

other antioxidants bt protecting against polywuallUllkd~t t. lipid peroxidation tJ1fd dis~ was p~ b] A.I.. 1bp-

pe~Dqxmmml of FoodScim<w and T_o. UIII·.. mty ofColifomUr, _ CalifomiD, os lite pvb/katioII

"mion ofhis QCCIIptturce address ofllte 1995 Stqhen S. Chang "want. Dr.Tappel received the awonJ during lhe 1995 AOCS Ann&uU Muting &: Expoheld recently in San Antonio. Taas. The Stepha S. Chang Awan/ was esrdJ..lisMd by fo ..... r AOCS p,.,ident Suphm S. Chang and his wI/<. Locy. 10recogniu a .scientist or r«lurologist who htu mtJ1le tkcisiveaccompUslunotts ill the IIIiIhotion of btu;c rueon:h to solve $ignifictmJ andimportanl practical problems leading to ~ ortltwlopmmt offoodproducts ",1Dl.d'0 lipids. Eligibility "".., be dmrorrsrrautl rIurnqhhigh-quality scientific papers, pateNs or rite mar/cains of COIJ'IIPfercial prod-ucts ~/oJNd through the awanlee:r scientific or technological qJorts. Theaward cmrsi.rts of a Jade ho~ symbo/il.ing the award as WflU as WI honorru-irmr of approxirrrorely $.5.000.

HEALTH & NUTRITION

mate that millions of person years arebeing saved. A study by Pracon(Reston, Virginia) suggests thatantioxidant vitamin use by the U.S.population could save $8.7 billion inhealth-care costs annually by reduc-tion of cardiovascular disease andsome cancers.

The knowledge of oxidative dam-age and antioxidants might be thoughtof as a pyramid of knowledge withchemistry and biochemistry as thebasic information. Most of the bio-chemical knowledge concerns theeffects of disease and the biochem-istry of tissues. At the apex of theknowledge pyramid is applications forpeople. Epidemiologic data of antioxi-dant protection is the gold standard ofthe field near the applicanons-for-peo-pie portion of the pyramid. Betweenthe basic information and epidemio-logic data, I would put experimentalanimal studies of oxidant damage andantioxidant protection.

There are certain questions impor-tant to the field and related to theresearch done in our laboratory: (a)the importance of animal testing of theeffectiveness of antioxidants; (b) thequantitation of antioxidant protection;(c) the achievement of maximumantioxidant protection; and (d) theantioxidant strength of fl-carotene.

Antioxidants' protection against peroxidation

Newspapers, popular maga-zines, and TV are all focussingon health implications of lipid

peroxidation and on nutrient antioxi-dants to prevent oxidative damage tometabolic processes and oxidativedamage to human tissues. Headlinesabound: "Studies find use of vitaminE reduces risk of heart disease;"Carotenoids may help decreasecataract risk; Selenium, essential tracemineral, part of one of the antioxidantenzymes that complements vitamin Eto fight cell damage."

Scientists working in this area havefound oxidative lipid damage in agingand exercise and the following chron-ic diseases: cancer, ischemic heart dis-ease, circulatory conditions, cataracts,and air pollution (I). Of these condi-tions, our experience has been mainlywith air-pollution damage, oxidativedamage caused by ozone, nitrogendioxide and halogenated hydrocar-bons. We found that vitamin E pro-tects experimental animals fromoxidative air pollution.

The fields of lipid peroxidation andvitamin E are in explosive growth. Forexample, publications on lipid peroxt-dation in animal tissues ill vivo startedwith some of our studies around 1960.Now there are 1,200 publications peryear on this subject. Vitamin E activi-ty was discovered on our Berkeleycampus. We entered the field in 1950and were able to do some of the earlystudies in the next two decades. Thevolume of publications per year isnow 800.

Concerning practical applicationsof this developing knowledge, thereare few overall summaries. Approxi-mately 100 million people in the Unit-ed States take vitamins, with morethan one-third taking vitamin E andover one-third taking vitamin C. Glob-al vitamin E production is estimated at20 million kg, of which 95% goes intoanimal feeds. The U.S. market is esti-mated at $100 million for j}-catOteneand over $300 million for vitamin E.From the above information and pre-sent knowledge of beneficial healtheffects of anti oxygenic nutrients.some scientists in this area approxi-

In the human situation, there arevarious dietary intakes of antioxidantnutrients and diverse detrimental con-sequences of oxidative damage lead-ing to aging and diseases. An animalmodel of this situation consists ofusing a refined diet with defined addi-tion of dietary antioxidants. Afterdeposition of the antioxidants in theanimal's tissues-perhaps taking sev-eral weeks to a month-acceleratedoxidation can be induced. The ensu-ing oxidatively damaged products canbe measured by analytical proceduressuch as the thiobarbituric acid assay(TBARS) and heme protein oxida-tion.

Work on oxidative damage to liv-ing animals and animal tissue hasdefined lipid peroxidation as a majoroxidative and deteriorative process(I). During the past 50 years, vitaminE has been found to be the primarylipid antioxidant of nature (2), a factof major importance to the lipid bio-chemist. Other antioxidants of somesignificance include ~-carotene. con-taining a hydrogen more difficult toextract than that of vitamin E forantioxidant protection. Further, whena hydrogen is abstracted from fl-carotene, this antioxidant cannot be

[continued 0/1 page 780)

INFORM. Vol. 6. no. 7 (July 1995)

780

and the antioxidants, tissues are takenfrom the animal and kept in metabol-ic integrity as they are shaken in airwith or without an oxidizing agent.After a period of time. tissues areanalyzed by methods such asTBARS, which measures lipid perox-idation products, and a test for oxi-dized heme proteins.

An example of this type of researchaddresses the quantifying of antioxi-dant protection and the question of thestrength of ~-carotene as all antioxi-dant (4). The protocol is shown inTable t. The protocol involves 0 vita-min E with the addition of increasingamounts of p-carolene fed to chicks asshown under "Dietary." Another partof the experiment uses 50 IU vitaminE per kilogram of diet fed to chickswith increasing doses of p-carotene.The dietary amount per kilogram ofanimal diets is similar to the dietaryamounts of the constituent aruioxi-dams expressed as units or milligramsper day in human diet. The analyses ofthe chick liver show that p-carotene isincorporated as a function of itsdietary concentration. However, at thehighest amount of p-carotene in thechicks' diet, there is a mutual interfer-ence in the hepatic absorption of vita-min E and p-carotene, with both beingreduced. Particularly, the poor hepaticabsorption of vitamin E results inincreased lipid peroxidation in liver asmeasured by TBARS. Figure Irecords, via decreasing TBARS, theprotection to liver slices offered byincreased amounts of dietary vitaminE and p-carotene in a biological sys-tem wherein iron is used to inducelipid peroxidation. Figure I indicateslowered concentration of TBARS in

HEALTH & NUTRITION

[continued from page 778)

functionally regenerated as can vita-min E. Therefore, compared to theactivity of vitamin E, Bcarotene is aweak antioxidant. Another importantantioxidant group is coenzyme Q inthe reduced fonn. Coenzyme Q is notonly in the mitochondrial electrontransport chain but also in other mem-branes and lipids of the body and con-sequently can act as a chain-breakingantioxidant. Another important nutri-ent for antioxygenic activity is seleni-um, which becomes incorporated asthe active site of the enzyme seleniumglutathione peroxidase (3). Thisenzyme reduces and thereby inacti-vates hydrogen peroxide and lipid per-oxides which are oxidative com-pounds.

In addition to early studies on vita-min E, members of our laboratoryhave investigated coenzyme Q as animportant lipid antioxidant and alsoselenium's incorporation into animaltissue to form the enzyme seleniumglutathione peroxidase.

Antioxidants in tissuesIn these dietary studies to investigate

Table 1Hepatic vitamin E and f:k:arotene concentration

Dietary Livervitamin E ~Carolene vitamin E ~Carolene

Diet OUII<g) (mglkg) (JtWgliver) (pgfg liver)

EO, CO 0 0 <4 0.6EO. C30 0 30 <4 2.4EO. ClOD 0 [00 <4 7.JESO. CO 50 0 28 1.[ESO. C30 50 30 25 3.0ESO. ClOO 50 [00 9 3.4

antioxidant protection against oxida-tion, control rats and chicks were fedvitamin E- and selenium-deficientdiets. The basal diet for the rats con-tained 10% tocopherol-stripped cornoil, 30% torula yeast, 56% sucrose,and 4% minerals and vitamins. Thebasal diet for chicks contained 5%tocopherol-stripped corn oil, 20% soyprotein, 68% starch, dextrose, etc.,and 7% minerals and vitamins. Theantioxidants to be tested for protec-tion against oxidative damage wereadded to the basal diets and fed to therats or chicks. After the animal hasincorporated the elements of the diet

14 [] E-O, CoO§il E-O, C-30

12 III E-O, C-lOO~ .. E-50, COO<ll.2: 10 !!II E-50, C-30 b-'0> iii E-50, C-lOO-"' 8 bbb0Ec: 6uic:-c 4IDf-

2

00 0.25Fe, urnol/L

Figure 1. Effect 01 diet and iron on the TBARS produced by liver slices in t-hrIncubation. (Bars show TBARS meanl:l: ltandlrd devlltion. TBARS with differentletter' within the same iron CQneentration ere slgniflCllnliy different 8t PS 0.05.)

INFORM, Vol. 6, no. 7 (July 1995)

761

Polyunsaturatedlipids '"Polyunsaturated

lipids Oxidized Peroxidizabjl~yTIssue Activator """:- ~

Enzymes (P450J ) C Total ~. HydroperoxiOes Activated

ActIVatorInducerEnzymes Destroyed /

-....,--------~~

Inducer Used

,, Induced~Peroddalion~ ,,,, ------..

IJ'lduced LipidHydroperoxide

"----Total +Hydroperoxide

~

Inducer Added ,,•------"'-------------~"' ••• - • - • - - ... AuIO)(idalion

F Total 01 lipidsHydroperoxideS '

VAnlioxidantsOxidized

Anlioxidants(vitamin E)

Lipid .:HydroperoxidesFrom AutoxidationGlutathione

"'"GlutathioneOxidized

GlutathioneHydroperoxides ••0------ Peroxidase ••0-----------1

Reduced Reaction

Thiobarbiluric Acid· Reacting Subslances (TBARS) ••;------------- Hydroperoxides

Flgur. 2. Schematic model of milin c:omponents and reaetlons in biological lipid peroxldatJon systems

liver when the concentration of vita-min E reaches 25 micrograms pergram of liver. The liver is protected bythis amount of vitamin E. The resultsalso show in the sixth bar thai theinterference between elevatedamounts of vitamin E and Jl-carotenein the diet decreases the protectionrecorded by the fourth and firth bar(50 IU vitamin Elkg diet and 0 or 30mg Jl-carotenelkg diet).

is catalyzed by inducers that can beactivated by tissue enzymes. Thisreaction is being controlled also bythe peroxidizabiliry of the PUFA andinhibited by antioxidants such asvitamin E. The simulation model alsoincorporates the autoxidation cycleand the reduction by selenium glu-tathione peroxidase of the hydrcper-oxides formed in the oxidation oflipids. Finally, the model producesTBARS reactants, the measurementof compounds formed in the oxida-tion. Although empirical, this modelincorporates some of the mainparameters and relationships in thescientific literature and is a dynamicworking model of chemical reactionsthai ensue in tissues. This is the firstsimulation model of lipid peroxida-non. bUI further study and moredetailed models are needed.

For the experimental results shownin Figure I. a simplified model can bedeveloped which presents the maindetermining parameters of the oxida-tion reaction, vitamin E and Jl-carotene:

"Lipid percxidation components" is acomposite of the factors involved inthe reaction which are not otherwiseexpressed in the equation. In themodel. Jl-carotene is assigned astrength of 0.5 compared to that ofvitamin E. However, low concentra-tion of ~-carotene in the tissue dimin-ishes its effect as a viable antioxidant.A correlation for the experimentalresults in a particular study, with theresults predicted by a simulationmodel of the reaction, can test thevalidity of the simulation model in itshighly aggregated form as a goodmodel of the actual experimentalresults. In this experiment, the correla-tion between simulated TBARS andexperimental TBARS is very good, R= 0.68, P = 0.00 1.

Qunntitation of antioxidantprotectionThe quantitation of the effects ofmultiple antioxidants is a challenge.At a basal level of metabolism, theanimal always has some antioxidantactivity, and this needs to be mea-sured. In this experiment, vitamin Eand ~-carotene are two importantvariables. There is the problem ofexpressing these values in a way thattakes into account all the data in thescientific literature. Simulation mod-eling (Figure 2) develops a morequantitative perspective of the datagathered in many experiments (5).The main reaction is thnt of inducedlipid peroxidation. The simulation ofthe peroxidation of the substrate,polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA),

Heme protein oxidation andmulliantioxidantsThere is need for new methods ofmeasuring tissue oxidation and theoxidative processes in animals that arebeing studied. We have developed anew method of measuring heme pro-

TBARS = lipid peroxidation components x log (Fe) + basal lipid peroxidationvitamin E + 0.5 ~-carotene

III

INFORM. Vol. 6. no. 7 (July 1995)

782

HEALTH 8< NUTRITION

Table 2Addition of antioxidant nutrients to bassi diet

Amount of antioxidant (mglkg)Diet group

Antioxidant B E+So ALLVitamin E 0 25 25Selenium 0.3 0.3~-Carolene 0 0 45Coenzyme Q]O 0 0 30Ascorbic acid6-Palmitale 0 0 ]00Canthaxanthin 0 0 45Trolox C 0 0 50Acetylcysreme 0 0 200CoenzymeQo 0 0 ]00(+)-Calechin 0 0 ]00

tein oxidation to delineate tissue oxi-dation, the Heme Protein SpectraAnalysis Program (HPSAP) (6). Inanimal tissue studies. heme proteinsare the major chromophoric com-pounds in the visible region of thespectrum. Heme compounds changefrom one compound to another uponoxidation. HP$AP transmission spec-tra of tissue slices or homogenatesreveal the spectral absorption of allthe elements in the tissue and thushave high turbidity. Turbidity is amajor problem in the use of themethod. On top of the spectrum of theturbidity are the spectra of the hemecompounds. To deccnvolure the spec-rra. the literature standard spectra ofhemoglobin and its derivatives-deoxyhemoglobin, oxyhemoglobin,

methemoglobin. and ferrihe-moglobin-are used. We also incorpo-rate the standard spectra of thehemochromes and hemichomes thatcan be formed as weU as minor com-ponents, such as the cytochromes ofmitochondria and mtcrosomes.Because all these pigments are presentin tissue, for example heart tissue. it isa major problem to deconvolute thespectra of the combined absorptionsof all pigments into the spectralabsorption of each component andthus determine the quantity of eachoxidized heme pigment. We have beenable to do this. The spectrum of hearthomogenate shows in the visibleregion tbe major peak of oxyhe-moglobin and in the near-ultravioletregion the corresponding y peak of the

...Wavelength

INFORM. Vol. 6, 00. 7 (July 1995)

heme protein (Figure 3). After thehomogenate is allowed to oxidize. thespectrum indicates principaUy methe-moglobin with the corresponding ypeak in the near-ultraviolet region.The spectrum also incorporates theturbidity absorption shown under thespectrum of the major heme proteinswbich must be subtracted from theabsorption of the heme proteins. Thestudy of oxidized heme proteins isuseful in experiments of tissues andbomogenates being oxidized. Elevatedlevels of berne protein oxidation cor-relate with increases in TBARS andenzyme inactivation, another methodof measuring oxidative damage.

In another experiment (7). antioxi-dant nutrients are added to the basaldiet (B) to provide maximum protec-tion (Table 2). No antioxidants areadded to the control basal diet (B).The second diet (E + Se) containsenough vitamin E and selenium 10offer sufficient protection against nor-mal conditions. For maximum defenseagainst oxidative conditions, the thirddiet (ALL) contains multiantioxidantnutrients including ~-carotene, can-thaxanthin, coenzyme Q 10 and coen-zyme QO to provide the antioxygenicactivity of coenzyme Q, trolcx C, amore water-soluble model of vitaminE, ascorbyl palmitate as an ascorbicacid amloxygenic agent since the ratmakes its own ascorbic acid and (+)-catechin. a polypbenol such as thosepresent in fruits and vegetables. Asummary of the results is shown in

5.r-----------------," 40"•£ 30

~~ 20

~" 1./;

o 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0Incubation Time (hr)

Figure 4. Production of oxidized hemeproteins during the spontaneousoxidative reactlon In1I~ slices

783

Figure 4. Oxidized heme proteinsdevelop as a function of lime with thehighest amount forming in the liver ofanimals on the basal diet. Some pro-tection is given by the vitamin E andselenium diet. Further protectionagainst oxidative damage to the liveris provided by the diet containingmultiantioxygenic agents. From apractical standpoint, this is probablymaximum protection of tissue. Theamounts of amloxygentc nutrientsadded to the diets are within the rangehumans can receive from their foodsupply or supplementary additions totheir diets.

In conclusion, focussing on experi-mental results from our laboratory, wefind that animal tissue experiments arevery valuable. Antioxidant protectionby multiantioxygenic agents can bequantitated. The evidence indicatesthat multiantioxygenic nutrients can

achieve maximum protection. Consid-ering the biochemistry of ~-caroteneand our studies of its activity, appar-ently, the popular Bccerorene is a weakantioxidant.

Against Heme Protein Oxidationand Lipid Peroxidation in ChickenLiver Slices, 1. Nutr. Biochem.H79-484 (1994).

5. Tappet, A.L., A.A. Tappel andC.B. Fraga, Article Application ofSimulation Modeling to Lipid Per-oxidation Processes, Free Rad.Bioi. Med. 7:361-368 (1989).

6. Boyle, R.C., AL Tappel, A.A Tap-pel, H. Chen and H.J. Andersen,Quantitation of Heme Proteins fromSpectra of Mixtures. 1. Agric. FoodChem 42;100-104 (1994).

7. Chen, H.• and A.L. Tappel, Protec-tion by Vitamin E, Selenium.Trolox C, Ascorbic Acid. Palmitate,Acetyfcysteine, Coenzyme Q, ~-Carotene, Canthaxanthin, and (+)-Catechin Against Oxidation Dam-age to Liver Slices Measured byOxidized Heme Proteins, Free Rad.Bioi. Med. 16:437-444 (1994).

Referencesl. Davies, K.J.A .• Oxidative Damage

and Repair, Pergamon Press, NewYork, New York, 1991.

2. Packer, L.. and J. Fuchs, VitaminE in Health and Disease, MarcelDekker, New York, New York,1993.

3. TappeJ, A.L.. W.C. Hawkes, E.C.Wilhelmsen and M.A. Motsen-boeker, Selenocystein-ContainingProteins and Glutathione Peroxi-dase. Meth. Enzymoi,107,602-619 (1984).

4. Pellett, L.J., H.J. Andersen, H.Chen and AL Tappel, p-CaroteneAlters Vitamin E Protection

Trans Fatty Acids in the Food Supply:A Comprehensive Report Covering 60 Years

of Research, 2nd Edition'"?"by Dr. Mary G. Enig

There is little question that trans fatty acids are the new pariah of the Nineties.Don't you owe it to yourself to leam why? Don't play "catch up" with yourcompetitors in the international marketing for edible fats and oils. The time toleam is now!

Authored by Or. Mary G. Enig, an intemationally recognized trans fatty acidexpert, Director of the Nutritional Sciences Division of Enig Aesoclates. tnc., andformer Faculty Research Associate with the lipid Research Group of theUniversity of Maryland, this second edition - over 200 pages with more than 55tables and figures - includes the followinQ topics: health effects reported inanimals and humans; physical and chemical properties; the hydrogenationprocess; analysiS by, e.g., IR, GLC; natural and man-made sources; levels in thediet based on consumption surveys and availability; who's doing the research;labeling; dietary guidelines; and database issues. This report will be of greatinterest to those involved in manufacturing, marketing, sales, and distribution ofedible fats and oils, and nutritionaVmedical scientists and clinicians.

For a copy of Trans Fatty Acids in the Food Supply, 2nd ed. (available Summer1995), please send US$145.00 (shipping and handling included; additional copiesat $100.00 per copy) by check payable to Enig Associates, Inc.

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For Information circle '112

INFORM. VOl.6. no. 7 (July 1995)

'SAHEALTH Be NUTRITION

A symposium on nutrition, atherosclerosisA symposium on Nutrition andAtherosclerosis was held at the LoewsLe Concorde Hotel in Quebec City onOct. 6-8, 1994. as a satellite of theXth International Symposium onAtherosclerosis held in Montreal thefollowing week. The host society forthese events was the CanadianAtherosclerosis Society.

The satellite symposium openedwith an introductory session on theevening of Thursday, 0<:1. 6. The dele-gates were welcomed by the honorarychairman of the 10th InternationalSymposium. M. Daria Haust. Depart-ment of Pathology. The University ofwestern Ontario, London. Ontario.There followed presentations by PaulNestel. Chief. CSJRO Division ofHuman Nutrition. Adelaide. Australia.and Henry McGill Jr.. Department ofPhysiology and Medicine. SouthwestFoundation for Biomedical Research.San Antonio. Texas.

Dr. Nesrel emphasized the rapidityand magnitude of changes in coronaryheart disease (CHO) that haveoccurred during the past 25 years indifferent parts of the world. Whereasthe prevalence has declined markedlyin countries such as Australia and theUnited Stales. it has risen dramaticallyin Eastern European countries.Increases also arc being observed insome Asian and Pacific countries.These data emphasize the reversibilityofCHD by factors such as diet.

In dietary recommendationsregarding CHD. reduction of saturatedfat has been stressed most. but there isstrong evidence from epidemiologicaldata that other dietary components.such as fish and plnnt foods. mayexert protective effects. In particular.there is increasing evidence thatdietary antioxidants play an importantrole in preventing CHD. Dietary mod-ification also can play an importantrole in reducing the impact on CHD ofrisk factors such as obesity and hyper-tension.

Dr. McGill reviewed the literatureon individual variations in lipemicresponses to dietary fat and choles-terol in both humans and experimentalanimals. These variations appear to be

11I;sarticle was preparedfor INFORM byK~nnl!Ih K. Carroll of the Department ofBjodl~mislry and Director of 1M Censerfor Human Nutrition. Th~Uni,'ersity ofWestern Ontario, London. Ontario N6A

5C I, Canada. assisted by }\·~s{ks!uJiu.Pierre Julien. H~nry Gituberg and Scali

Grund}'. Full presentations will IH primedin the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.

due to genetic control of metabolicvariables such as cholesterol absorp-tion. bile acid secretion and apo Bproduction rate. The mechanism maydiffer between species and also amongindividuals.

The Friday morning session wasdevoted to effects of dietary macronu-trients of various aspects of choles-terol metabolism. Emile Levy. Centrede Recherche. Hopital Ste-Justine andDepartment of Nutrition. ljniversitede Montreal. Montreal. Quebec.reponed results showing that essentialfatty acid deficiency in rats decreasedthe rate of bile acid secretion as wellas the activity of HMG-CoA reduc-tase and acyl CoA:cholesterol acyl-transferase. K.C. Hayes. FosterBiomedical Research Laboratory.Brandeis University, Waltham. Mas-sachusetts, reviewed evidence that sat-urated fatty acids differ in their effectson serum cholesterol and lipoproteinlevels. In particular. fats rich in lauric(12:0) and myristic (14:0) acids werefound to be more hypercholes-terolemic than those rich in palmiticacid (16:0) or stearic acid (18:0). Theeffect of palmitic acid appears todepend on other factors such as thelevel of cholesterol in the diet. Theposition of fatty acids on the triglyc-eride molecule also may be a factor.Manijn Katan. Department of HumanNutrition. Agricultural University.Wageningen. The Netherlands. dis-cussed the effects of dietary trellisfatty acids. which have been shown in

his work to raise the levels of LDL(low-density lipoprotein) and Lp(a)(lipoprotein (a)], which are athero-genic. and to lower the level of HDL(high-density lipoprotein), which isamiatherogenic. It was suggested thatthese effects may be mediated throughcholesterol ester transfer protein.

Christian Drevcn, Institute forNutrition Research, University ofOslo. Oslo. Norway, reviewed nutri-tional aspects of n-S fatty acids, foundmainly in fatty fish and fish oils.which reduce plasma triglycerides.probably by decreasing hepatic secre-tion of VLDL (very low densitylipoprotein) and by increasingcatabolism of chylomicrons. Thesehighly unsaturated fatty acids are sus-ceptible to peroxidarlon, but sucheffects may be counteracted by dietaryantioxidants. The role of dietary fishprotein in regulation of plasma lipidswas discussed by Helene Jacques,Department de Nutrition Humaine etde Consommauon, Laval Unlversire,Quebec. Quebec. Studies on rabbitsand on pre- and postmenopausalwomen indicated that substitution oflean white fish for protein from otheranimal sources did not improve theplasma lipid profile. The relationshipbetween dietary fiber and coronaryheart disease was the subject of thepresentation by James W. Anderson,Metabolic Research Group, VA Medi-cal Center and University of Ken-tucky. Lexington, Kentucky. Animalstudies and clinical trials have both

INFORM. VOl. 6. no. 7 (JulY 1995)

765

provided evidence of hypocbotes-terclemic effects of viscous. solublefibers, such as psyllium. oat gum. guargum and pectin. Increased fiber intakemay also decrease blood pressure,assist in weight management afterblood clotting and increase insulinsensitivity.

The Friday afternoon session wasdevoted 10 presentations on nutrient-genetic interactions. The intent of thissession was to examine the variabilityin response to diets due to lipoproteinlipase (lPL) regulation and 10 poly-morphism in apcllpoproreln genes.Thomas Olivecrona, Department ofMedical Biochemistry and Bio-physics. Umea University in Umea.Sweden. reviewed the various stepsinvolved in the modulation of LPLactivity and pointed OUI the tissuespecificity of LPL regulation in vari-ous physiological states. It was con-cluded that LPL is a multifunctionalprotein which acts not only as alipolytic enzyme. but also as a ligandinvolved in the binding of lipoproteinto cell surfaces and receptors. MavisAbbey, CSlRO Division of HumanNutrition. Adelaide. Australia.addressed the controversial issue ofapotipoprotein polymorphisms in theresponse to dietary changes. Apo Bpolymorphisms have been reported 10be associated with coronary diseaseand hyperlipidemia. but present stud-ies indicate that the apo B EcoR IRFLP phenotype is not associatedwith response to diets. It was indicat-ed that response to dietary changes ismost likely polygenic, and analyses ofmultiple haplotypes would be requiredto strengthen the association betweengenetic factors and individualresponse to dietary lipids. In a similarvein. Gustav Schonfeld, WashingtonUniversity School of Medicine. SI.Louis. Missouri. studied polymorphicmarkers of the apo B gene scatteredalong the length of the gene. Thelargest effects on fasting lipid levelswere demonstrated by gene mutationsaffecting the ape B structure, as seenin familial hypobetalipoproteinemiawhere a number of truncated apo Bproteins have been described. It waspointed out that the kinetics of apo Blipoproteins depend on the lengths ofthe various apo B truncations. Finally.

the symposium parttctpnnts heardfrom Matti J. Tikkancn. University ofHelsinki. Helsinki. Finland, that therole of apo E gene variations in themodulation of the response to dietarycholesterol remains controversial.Lipid metabolism associated withpolymorphisms in the ape E allele wasinitially reviewed and showed ussocla-

The potentialof antioxidants,

especially vitamin E,for preventing

the developmentof atherosclerosis is

promising, but clinicaltrials are needed to

prove thatthese antioxidants

are beneficial.

The Saturday morning session fea-tured three presentations on selectedtopics. followed by a workshop onThe Optimal Diet for Reducing Riskof Atherosclerosis. The first speakerin the selected topics session was I.Jiulal. Center for Human Nutrition,University of Texas SouthwesternMedical Center, Dallas, Texas. Hispresentation focused on effects ofvitamin E. vitamin C and p-caroteneon LDL oxidation and atherosclerosis.Natural antioxidants are preferable toantioxidant drugs, which may haveundesirable side effects. The potentialof antioxidants. especially vitamin E.for preventing the development ofatherosclerosis is promising. but clini-cal trials are needed to prove thatthese antioxidants are beneficial.Barry Lewis, SI. Thomas' Hospital,University of London. London. UnitedKingdom. reported results of the SI.Thomas Atherosclerosis RegressionStudy (STARS) on men with symp-tomatic coronary heart disease whowere given a lipid-lowering diet. withor without cholestyramine. or man-aged with usual care. The resultsshowed that the treatment was benefi-cial. as measured by quantitative coro-nary angiography and measurement ofblood lipids. Dietary saturated fattyacids from Cl4 to CIS were all posi-tively associated with progression ofatherosclerosis.

The third speaker in this sessionwas Mario Mancini. Institute of Inter-nal Medicine and Metabolic Diseases.Federico II University. Naples. italy.whose topic was the Mediterraneandiet in relation to cardiovascular dis-ease. A comparison of diets ofhealthy young people in Naples andin Bristol. England. showed that theNaples group consumed more toma-toes and tomato juice. more monoun-saturated fat. with higher levels ofvitamin E and p-carotene. Plasmalipid peroxidation was significantlylower in the Naples group. which maycontribute to lower risk of cardiovas-cular disease.

The workshop on the optimal dietbegan with brief presentations byRoger Illingworth. Department ofMedicine. Oregon Health SciencesUniversity. Portland. Oregon: DonaldMcNamam. Department of NutritionaJ

tion between the E4 genotype and theresponse to plasma lipids. Furtherdietary studies are required to eluci-date the potential effect of ape Egenetic variation on the regulation ofdietary response. In summary. eventhough it is evident that genetic fac-tors have determinant effects on thedietary response. the enormous com-plexity of nutrient metabolism interac-tions with genetic variants of plasmaapolipoprotein is readily evident.

The latter part of the afternoon wasdevoted to a poster session of morethan two dozen posters from a dozendifferent countries. including Aus-tralia, Denmark. Finland. France. Ger-many. Russia, South Africa. Spain andSweden. as well as Canada and theUnited States. They covered a widerange of topics. from epidemiologyand food labelling to a variety ofexperimental studies on both animalmodels and humans. At the banquetthat evening. a number of the posterpresenters described. in very enter-taining fashion, the path of events thatled them to become involved inresearch on nutrition and atherosclero-sis.

tNFORM.Vol.6, no. 7 (July 1995)

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HEALTH Be NUTRITION

Sciences, University of Arizona. Tuc-son, Arizona; Ernst Schaefer. USDAHuman Nutrition Research Center onAging, Tufts University, Boston, Mas-sachusetts; David Jenkins, Departmentof Nutritional Sciences, University ofToronto. Toronto, Ontario; andBernard Wolfe, Department ofMedicine, University Hospital, Lon-don, Ontario. This was followed by ageneral discussion moderated byHenry Ginsberg. Department ofMedicine, Columbia University Col-lege of Physicians and Surgeons. NewYork, New York, and Scott Grundy,Center for Human Nutrition, Universi-ty of Texas Southwestern MedicalCenter, Dallas, Texas.

Dr. Illingworth presented data forsubjects on high, medium and lowcholesterol diets to show that dietarycholesterol increases LDL cholesteroland suppresses endogenous choles-terol synthesis. The effect on LDLcholesterol was greatest in the sub-jects with pre-existing hypercholes-terolemia. Dr. McNamara concludedfrom an analysis of 128 cholesterolfeeding studies involving 2,750 sub--jects conducted over a period of 30years that, on average, a change incholesterol intake of 100 mg/dayalters plasma total cholesterol by only0.07 mmollL (2.5 mg/dL). Theresponse was independent of amountof dietary fat and baseline plasmacholesterol level and showed consid-erable individual variability. Dr.Schaefer reviewed current recommen-dations on dietary fat for risk reduc-tion of coronary heart disease in thegeneral population. 11is still nor clearwhether 30% of energy is the optimallevel for total fat. Although Mediter-ranean diets are relatively high in fat,principally olive oil, age-adjustedmortality rates are lower in southerncompared to northern European coun-tries or the United States. However.both fat intake and mortality are lowerin Japan. Fat restriction promotesweight reduction as welt as loweringLOL, so greater restriction of dietaryfat can be recommended for over-weight individuals. Dr. Jenkinsstressed the desirability of increasedconsumption of plant foods. includinggreen leafy vegetables, nuts and seed,and dried legumes. Such foods can

improve the overall nutritional qualityof the diet by providing specific ingre-dients, such as soluble viscous fibers,vegetable proteins, antioxidants suchas vitamin E and flavancids, as welJ aspolyunsaturated fatty acids. This rep-resents a return to a more primitivediet on the evolutionary scale. Dr.Wolfe presented evidence that substi-

Average body weightin the United States

had increasedduring a decade

when artificial sweetenersand fat substitutes

had filledthe grocery stores.

rise significamly in males. Dr. Carrollreminded the audience that the Cana-dian dietary guidelines make no spe-cific recommendations regardingdietary cholesterol; the approach inCanada is to recommend a diet thatwill reduce all chronic disease, andthis means focussing on dietary fatand caloric intake. Dr. Mc Namaraconcluded this discussion by suggest-ing thai the primary focus should beon saturated fats.

Drs. Jenkins and Ginsberg initiateda discussion regarding the significanceof HDL cholesterol, particularly in thecontext of diet-induced reductions.Both felt that too much attention wasfocussed on lower HDL-cholesterollevels seen on very low-fat diets. Dr.Grundy remarked that he continues tobe concerned about the pattern of lowHDL and elevated triglyceride levels,even in the context of a low-fat diet.Dr. Schaefer rerurned to the theme oflow-fat diets and weight loss. He feltthat weight reduction would result inlower LDL and higher HDL choles-terol levels, even when the diet washigb in carbohydrates. Dr. Ginsbergmentioned that a multicenter studycomparing diets in which saturated fathas been replaced by either carboby-drate or monounsaturated fats isunderway in the United States.

The meeting ended with discus-sions centering on weight loss andobesity. It was agreed that artificial fatsubstitutes might increase obesityeven more, and that mean bodyweight in the United States hadincreased during a decade when artifi-cial sweeteners and fat substitutes hadfilled the grocery stores. Obesity andcaloric excess were felt to be thegreatest problems facing both Westernnations and nations emerging fromsubsistence.

Although the many problems weface in designing the optimum diet, andin gaining acceptance of such a diet bysociety, seem significant, the potentialbenefit to be gained by facing theseproblems and solving them is great.

Members of the meeting planningcommittee were K.K. Carroll, chair-person; Paul Nestle, cochairperson;Murray Huff, Helene Jacques, PierreJulien, Emile Levy and BernardWolfe.

INFORM, Vol. 6, no, 7 (July 1995)

toting protein for carbohydrate in thediets of moderately hypercholes-terolemic or familial hypercholes-terolemic subjects significantly low-ered total and LDL-cholesterol andtriglycerides, while raising HDL-cholesterol. He suggested that thismay be of practical value in the treat-ment of patients with commonmetabolic disorders underlying coro-nary heart disease.

In the discussion following thesepresentations, Dr. Grundy noted thatthe small decrease in serum choles-terol that could be achieved by reduc-ing dietary cholesterol intake is nottrivial in terms of reduced risk foratherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.Dr. Hayes commented that the interac-tion of dietary cholesterol with dietaryfat was quite significant, as least inanimals. He thought this interactionmade individuals consuming low-cholesterol diets less responsive tosaturated fatty acids. Dr. Neste! notedthat HDL-cholesterol increases withincreased dietary cholesterol intake,particularly in young females. In thelatter, both LDL and HDL increase.Dr. Ginsberg stated that his group hadobserved similar responses in youngfemales. HDL concentrations do not

787

~ Saturated fatty acids highlighted by DenkeBecause it appears that heart diseasealready begins in youth. what peopleeat can affect their health manyyears later, Margo Denke remindedattendees at the Edible ApplicationsDivision luncheon held Tuesday,May 9. Approximately 40 personswere present.

Denke , assistant professor ofinternal medicine and a researcher atthe Center for Human Nutrition.University of Texas SouthwesternMedical Center at Dallas. added thatalthough many risk factors-such assmoking, age, high blood pressureand serum cholesterol-have beenidentified for coronary heart disease(CHD), there are other dietaryeffects that are unknown. Some epi-demiological studies have indicateda slight correlation between total fatand higher risk. However, an evengreater correlation has been foundlinking saturated fat intake toincreased risk.

"In fact, saturated fauy acids arethe most potent dietary factor thataffects LDL (low-density lipoprotein)cholesterol levels," Denke said. "Themore saturates you eat, the higheryour LDLs."

She added, "Diet changes seem tohave more effect on persons withmild to moderate cholesterol levels

Saturated fatty Klda Hem to be themo.t potent dleWry fmor .tfK1inglow-denalty lipoprotein cholnCerollevels, Mergo Denke told attendees.t the Edible Application. Divisionluncheon.

and thus could be used to reduce thenumber of individuals at risk for heartdisease."

Other developments in the area oflipids and health include workshowing LDL oxidation as a factorin atherosclerosis and the potentialfor antioxidant vitamins to reduceoxidative susceptibility. Polyunsatu-rated fatty acids appear to be moresusceptible to oxidation, whilemonounsaturated fatty acids. whichdon't raise blood cholesterol, areless susceptible.

Willie Loh (standing, right) fletds questions after his talk on genetically modified oils .tthe Edible Application. Division luncheon.

Although there is no conclusiveepidemiological proof yet that vita-mins lower risk. Dente told those lak-ing antioxidant vitamins. ''GoOO luck.Maybe it will work. and maybe itwon't."

She added, "My guess is theanswer is a little more complicatedthan that. My theory is that saturatedfats are more important than antioxi-dant vitamins."

Meanwhile, a diet-and-cancer linkis even more difficult to ascertainthan that for CHD. One challenge isthat specific types of cancers aremuch less common than CHD, andthus it is difficult to study a popula-tion sample.

U.S. 1989 data indicated 34% ofdeaths (734,000 persons) were fromCHD, and 23% (496,000) were fromcancer. Of these deaths, 6% wereattributed to lung cancer (137,000 per-sons), 3% 10 colon/rectal cancer(57,(X)() persons), 2% to breast cancer(43,(X)() persons) and I % to prostatecancer (30.000 persons).

"Also, risk factors and diseasemarkers have yet 10 be. identified formany cancers," Denke said. "It's a dif-ficult nut to crack."

"We do know that increased fruitand vegetable consumption is associ-ated with reduced cancer rates, butwhether this is due to the vitamins orsomething else or because the fruits orvegetables replace other foods in thediet is unknown," Denke said. Theantioxidant hypothesis, she said. is anexciting area, "but we don't yet havethe answers."

Luncheon attendees also weregiven a look at biotechnology and itsapplication to food, fats and oils.Willie Lob. director of research anddevelopment for Cargill Foods, out-lined both technology and productionaspects related to genetically modifiedoils.

Currently, the only modified oilsavailable on the market have beenproduced using conventional rnuta-lion procedures, Loh said. However,work is under way by various com-

[continued on page 788)

INFORM. Vol. 6. no. 7 (July 1995)

788

HEALTH 8. NUTRITION

DevId~

~

ADnual meeting participants auendingt t. the Health and Nutrition Division noon

• luncheon on Wednesday. May 10. were• entertained with a special performance

by David Kritcbevsky of the WistarInstitute.

Kritchevsky, a member of AOCS for 36 years and apioneer in the area of atherosclerosis and Lipids. gave abrief talk On "Fifty Years of Lipid Research-So WhatHave We Learned?" followed by a performance at thepiano. Familiar tunes such as the Battle Hymn of theRepublic, Jingle Bells and from the musicals Okla-

I

homa! and Fiddler on the Roof were given a new twistas Kritchevsky sang lipid-related lyrics he has penned.In his lyrics. Kritchevsky demonstrated how he teachesbiochemistry. providing a musical commentary onresearch grants ("If I had a big grant") and poked fun atlipid research ("We feed them. then we bleed them").

In his talk. Kritchevsky urged lhose in the health andnutrition field to not take tbermelves too seriously. ''Youhave to keep an open mind. because there are very fewthings that are absolute."

Noting the complexity of nutritional issues.Kntchevsky cited various areas that have been studiedover the years: first fat. then saturated and unsaturatedfats, the polyunsaturated-to-saturated fat ratio, choles-terol. high-density lipoproteins and low-density lipopro-teins (LOL) and now the size of LOL. "AII of theadvances march on the feet of methodology," he said,pointing to the advances in analytical tools available toresearchers.

However. U.S. consumers may be too preoccupiedover health and nutrition, he said, pointing out. "We're anation of the worried well." Americans, he said. "thinkdeath is an option:'

Also, he pointed out, the trouble with diet recall

tcominued from page 787) pany/Bunge. Modified oils eithercommercially available or underdevelopment include: low-linoleniccanota: high-oleic canota: low-linolenic, high-oleic canol a; high-oleic sunflower: low-linolenic soy;and high-oleic soy oil.

Current division officers are FrankOrthoefer of Riceland Foods, chair-person; Neil R. Widlak of CampbellSoup, vice chairperson; and AnthonyV. Petricca of SVO Specialty ProductsInc., secretary. Jerry Hasenhuettl ofKraft General Foods was appointed toa committee to nominate officer can-didates.

In other division business, Widlakannounced that he will serve as chair-person for an AOCS world conferenceon structured lipids that is beingplanned for 1997. Hershey. Pennsyl-vania, is being considered as a possi-ble site for the conference.

The division had 33 paid membersat the time of its luncheon meeting inMay and $1.300 in its treasury. Ithelped organize nine technical ses-sions at this year's AOCS annualmeeting.

panies to produce "strategic prod-uots" using gene cloning, geneexpression and plant transformation.

"There will come a time whenstrategic products will take over," Lohpredicted.

The advantage currently of usingconventional mutation is that theresulting products do not requireregulatory review. However, eventu-ally. companies probably will useboth conventional mutation andgene cloning and transformation, hesaid. "Right now, patents are animportant issue. The dilemma is willwe be able to use the traits devel-oped?"

Identity preservation is an impor-rant consideration in producing andsafeguarding genetically modifiedoils. Loh said. He presented data list-ing the main players and partners-Dupont/Cargill, MycogenlSVO, Pio-neerlKraft, Calgene/Hunt Wesson,the University of ManitobaiCanAm-era and Western Grower Seed Com-

Red wine is topicfor protein dinnerIf you're planning to drink a toast togood health, make it red, red wine.Such was the recommendation of RoyWilliams of the oenology (wine sci-ence) program inthe department ofchemistry at OldDominion Uni-versity in Vir-ginia. He pre-sented his enter-taining and infor-mativc messageto approximately45 members of Roy Williamsthe Protein andCo-Products Division at their annualdinner meeting held in conjunctionwith the AOCS 86th Annual Meetingand Expo in Sun Amonio.Texes.

Canoons by a professional illusrra-lor accompanied Williams' review ofthe international aspects and long his-tory of wine production and consump-tion. He joshed about AustralianKanga Rouge red wine, TexasChateau Infidel Zinfandel, showed a

INFORM. Vol.6. no. 7 (July 1995)

studies is that people don't accurately recall what theyate and when questioned, "compensate on the side ofless, not more."

The approximately 90 luncheon attendees gaveKritchevsky a standing ovation after his talk and perfor-mance at the piano.

Mark Bieber of Best Foods. division chairperson,reponed that the section has 414 members. Studentsmay become members of the division without charge.

Bieber told the approximately 90 persons al the lun-cheon they had until the end of May to cast ballots toelect division board members. Richard Cantrill andMargaret Craig-Schmidt were listed as candidates forsecretaryltreasurer, while Susan Czarnecki. Mary Enig.Robert Nicolosi and Ronald Yarger were candidates fortwo member-at-large positions. Bieber will continue aschairperson. with Vic Huang of Ross Products Divi-sion. Abbott Labs, as vice chairperson. Mel Mathias ofthe U.S. Depanment of Agriculture will continue as aboard member-at-large until 1997.

AI tbis year's annual meeting, tbe division helpedorganize ten sessions. including two symposia-one ontram fatty acids and a second on gamma-linolenic acids.

In a roundtable discussion Monday afternoon. May 8.

A~ III1MHeeIth lind NutrttIon Dtvt.6on ~.... their delight with Dr. I(,tlct .... y. per10nMnce lindend up gIvtng him. "'MII'II ovdon.

division representatives worked on session planning forthe next several years. Plans for 1996 include possiblesessions on conjugated dienes. patient-adapted modi-fied fats, nutritional regulation of gene expression,lipids and signal transduction. animal and dairy lipids.general health and nutrition and biochemistry topics.fat nutrition policy. and a joint session with the Oxida-tion Division on antioxidants, nutrients and fatty acidmetabolism.

menage of ethnic groups washinggrape vines (vEthnic Cleansing:' hesaid). and termed the current debateabout wine trade in Europe as the"European Community Festival ofSour Grapes."

Then he zoomed in on France, longrevered for its fine wine and recentlyin the news because of "The FrenchParadox."

The French Paradox first appearedin the literature reporting a WorldHealth Organization (WHO) surveylong ago covering the age, diet andother demographic factors of peoplearound the world and examining thecountries' rates of heart disease.Williams said. Data indicated that theFrench. who consume saturated fat athigh levels.didn't have the rate of heartdisease expected. The French areknown not only for making and export-ing wine.They drink it--copiously.

However, the WHO report waslargely ignored until 1992, when sci-entists postulated that the French wineconsumption might have a role indeterring heart disease, Williams said.

Although fine wine often is linkedwith romance and young love.

Williams' task was 10 study how wineliterally could be good for the heart.

His work has identified the keycompound as polyphenolics in theseeds and skin of varietalgrapes used 10make wine. Polyphenolic compoundsare antioxidants,Williamssaid.

Red wines have more polyphcno-lies than white wine. according toWilliams, because in making red winethe grapes are crushed with the seedsand skins and then fermented In mak-ing white wine, the grapes are pressed

into juice and the seeds and skins arefiltered out before the juice is ferment-edt Thus. while white wine may havefrom 10 to 35 mglL, red will havefrom 200-300 mglL. Williams said.Two glasses of red wine may deliver120 or so mg of polyphenolics to theimbiber's blood.

People have known about thehealth benefits of polyphenollcs forhundreds of years, according toWilliams. French sailors in the 1600stook a potion concocted from pine

HirOShiHarada (left) accept.The ADMAward lor

chemietry-nutrilion IromProtein and Co-Product.

DivIsion Chalrperaon Ferel-doon Shahldl.

INFORM. Vol. 6. no. 7 (July 1995)

789

790

HEALTH & NUTRITION

bark and needles to ward off scurvy.The bark and needles were high inpolyphenolics. Luter, scurvy preven-tives were made from grapeseedextract.

In Japan. a drink brewed fromknotweed has been used as a potentantioxidant because knot weed ishigh in poiyphenolics, Williams said.

Today's anti-aging skin creamscontain polyphenolics. and the Frenchare conducting a variety of hospital-based clinical trials on polyphenolics.In 1993 there were some papers onpolyphenolics published in the UnitedStares. "but America hasn't kept upwith work being done in Europe,"Williams said.

"You can buy pills thai are theequivalent of two glasses of wine;'Williams said. However, if youwant 10 get your polyphenolics frompills. go to Canada to buy them;they're illegal to sell in the UnitedStates. "But I'm a firm believer ingetting polyphenolics from a goodglass of wine," Williams said.Polyphenolics also occur in onions.garlic and tea.

Williams has conducted researchinto the effects of polyphenolics oncell cultures and said "it looked likethe cells are being rejuvenated. Theylooked better than the untreated COIl-

trol cells." He has also inducedthrombus in canine aorta to simulateheart disease and then injectedpolyphenolic compounds. The dis-eased condition was eliminated. hereported.

He has also been experimentingwith fermenting white wine (Chardon-nay) on grape seeds to increase thewine's polyphenolic levels whilemaintaining the wine's traditional flu-vor, color and character. He also hasdata showing that polyphenolic levelsincrease as alcohol levels increasebecause the alcohol is a solvent thatextracts the polyphenolics from theseeds and skins used in the Iermenra-tion process.

Also at the dinner, the ArcherDaniels Midland Award for chem-istry-nutrition was accepted byHiroshi Harada for a team-writtenpaper. "Determination of SoybeanAntigenicity and Reduction by Twin-screw Extrusion". Co-authors were

Akio Ohishi, Kazunori Watanabe.Masumi Urushibata. Kimiko Utsuno.Kazuya lkuta and Karou Sugimoto.

New officers were elected: FredShih. chairperson; Edith Ccnkenon.vice chairperson; and ChunynngWang, secretary/treasurer.

The Protein and Co-Products Divi-sion reported membership of 103.Treasurer Edith Conkerton said thatthe division treasury had a balance of$5,995 and that sales of sponsored T-shirts were expected to add to thattotal.

President Fereidoon Shahidireported that the division will produceeight technical sessions at the 1996AOCS Annual Meeting & Expo inIndianapolis and asked for ideas andinformation from members.

Deland Myers reported that theAOCS national effort to increasemembership will focus on universitieswith programs whose participantsmight become interested in AOCSmembership and noted the offer offree membership for students in theirfirst year of membership.

tuin death programs called apoptosis,a topic that now has generated 2,500published papers, he said.

Zeisel said that cells apoptosis is"turned on" at some point duringnormal cell life and the cell destroys

itself, or "com-mits suicide,"he said. Thisidea was pre-sented in 1971and confirmedby research thatshowed that acertain speciesof caterpillarhas to kill off131 cells. viaapoptosts, III

order to become a butterfly. accord-ing to Zeisel. "But the concept wasignored by mainstream scientists."

"Cells have a number of divisionsto make before they tum on apcpto-sis," Zeisel said.

He presented a brief summary ofthe biochemistry of choline and itsderivatives such as phosphatidyl-choline and protein kinase C.

Some of Zeisel's research hasshown that choline availability dur-ing pregnancy and lactation isimportant to the development ofmemory areas in the brain of off-spring. At the luncheon he discusseddevelopment of liver cancer in ratsdeprived of choline. "Worldwide,liver cancer is the leading form ofcancers," he said.

He also said.vlt has also beenshown that choline-deficient animalsare more sensitive to environmentaland chemical carcinogens" than areanimals with normal levels ofcholine.

It is possible to cuhure liver cellsfrom choline-deficient animals andcreate choline-deficient cells forresearch. This research has shownthat choline is essential for cell sur-vival. he said, adding that cellsdeprived of choline die by apopto-sis.

He reviewed how genes and aseries of known molecules interact 10tum on the apoptosis signal, and how

Stelle Zelsel

INfORM. VOl. 6. no. 7 (July 1995)

(continued on page 792J

Phosphatidylcholine'srole in cancer discussedForty-five persons attended the Phos-pholipid Division luncheon on Mon-day. May 8 to hear Steve Zeiselreview his research on how phos-phatidylcholine helps cells ward offcancer.

From his 20-year perspective ofresearch, Zeisel said that scientificthought on phospholipids has changeddramatically from viewing them asmerely structural components support-ing proteins to recognizing their func-tions in cell signaling.

"They are key players in how sig-nals are sent from outside of a cell tothe inside of the cell:' Zeisel said.

Some of those signals trigger theinitiation and growth of cancers. Themost recent development in the fieldhas been the study of how cellsdie-it is now known that cells con-

792

HEALTH & NUTRITION

(continued from fXlge 790)

the lack of a cell death signal allowscancer cells 10 develop.

He summarized research involvingreducing the amount of choline pro-vided 10 cell cultures over severalmonths. The cells that survived werecells "that wouldn't die for lack ofcholine," he said. "They may have lostthe ability to commit suicide and theybecame cancer cells that formedtumors when injected into mice."Thus, choline is an important factor incell regulation.

'This is a model of a nutrient defi-ciency thai leads to cancer," he said.

conference on "Dietary Phytochemi-cals in Cancer Prevention and Treat-ment" Aug. 31-Sept. I, 1995, atLoews L'Enfant Plaza Hotel, Wash-ington, D.C.

The program will include sepa-rate sessions on iscrhiocyanates,polyphenols. Oavonoids. monoter-penes and organosulfides. as wellas a session on phytochemicals inthe U.S. diet and their role in can-cer prevention. This last sessionwill feature two panels: one on edu-cational and practical aspects ofplants in human nutrition, and oneon phytochemicals and the foodindustry. There also will be a postersession.

For further information, contactAICR Conference Secretariat, ThePearson Group, Suite 210. 1150 SouthWashington St .. Alexandria, VA22314 (phone: 703-683-6334; fax:703-68H407).

L.L.M. van Deenen,noted researcher, diesDr. Laurens L.M. van Deenen, recipi-ent of the 1981 AOCS Award in LipidChemistry, has died.

A recent newsletter from the Inter-national Conferences on the Biochem-istry of Lipids said Dr. van Deenendied Sept. 4, 1994. He was interna-tionally known for his research onmembranes and was a pioneer inresearch on the role of phospholipidsin membrane permeability.

He was a long-time faculty member atthe University of Utrecht, where he hadreceived his doctorate in 1957. Dr. vanDeenen had served on the editorial boardfor several scholarly journals. Among hisother awards were the Heinrich WielandAward in 1971, the Dr. H.P. HeinekenPrize in 1976. and the Diplome d 'Hen-neur of the Federation of European Bio-chemical Societies in 1979. •

AICR plans meetingon phytochemicalsThe American Institute for CancerResearch (AICR) will hold a research

Brain Development: Relationship to Dietary~""""Lipid and Lipid Metabolism ..

J. Jumpsen and M.T. Clandinin I II I

The development of the brain is an important consideration for studentsof nutrition, lipid scientists, and other health-care professionals concerned with thegrowth of premature infants and for researchers involved in developing new infant formu-las and infant foods. With an increase in the number of surviving premature infants and agrowing interest in developing the "gold standard" for infant formulas, bringing togetherinformation regarding brain development and lipids may be beneficial and useful farmany. The requirement and timely availability of the correct nutrients are critical becausebrain development is such a precise, complex, and one-time-only event. Limiting thisbook to only a concise discussion of lipids was not easy. It was accomplished by exam In-ing the different lipids and their roles in the brain, an organ highly concentrated in lipids.This book's objectives are to both provide a focused overview (morphological, biocherni-cal, and functional) of brain development and to exemplify the role of lipids in the irnpor-tant developmental events and the concepts that are potentially altered by physiologicalchanges in brain lipid composition.

To order, conlnc!:AOCS PreSSpunncanon Orders Dept.P.O, acx 3489Champ<lIgn.IL 61826·3489Phone: 1-217·359-5401. ext. 128: Fax 1·217·351·8091TolI·tree: 1·800-336·AOCS in the United States and Canada

&KX;SPRESS

Hardbound. 1995

ISBN 0-935315-65-9

Item: 1092Price to be determined

INFORM, Vol. 6, no, 7 (July 1995)