An article, to be published in a future issue of the British Journal of nutrition, highlights the hypotensive effects of a beetroot juice. This study, conducted in 18 healthy subjects, has evaluated the effects of a beetroot juice consumption (0, 100, 250, or 500 g) on blood pressure over a 24-h period. The authors have shown a dose-dependent reduction in systolic (p<0.01) and in diastolic blood pressure (p<0.001). A second experiment conducted in 14 healthy subjects and reported also in this article, has confirmed these hypotensive effects by using beetroot-enriched bread (corresponding 100 g of beetroot).

Moreover, total urinary nitrate/nitrite has been increase in both experiments. The authors hypothesized that this hypotensive effect may be explained by the conversion of nitrate by oral bacteria into nitrite, known to have vasoprotective effects. These results must be of course confirmed in subjects with hypertension, but support a higher consumption of dietary nitrate-rich vegetables like beetroot, spinach or radish.

Reference: Hoobs et al. (2012) “Blood pressure-lowering effects of beetroot juice and novel beetroot-enriched bread products in normotensive male subjects” British Journal of Nutrition. In press

Last march 21th, EFSA has published guidance for applicants seeking approval of products carrying health claims related to appetite ratings, weight management and blood glucose concentrations. The document follows previous guidance on claims related to gut and immune function; and those related to antioxidants and cardiovascular health.
The public consultation of the draft permits to bring clarification about markers, methods and times, but no addition information about appetite rating was brought.
Even if this guidance brings new recommendation, it is not sufficient to perform high quality clinical trials in order to receive a positive opinion from EFSA.

Opinion of a Nutraveris’ expert:
http://www.nutraingredients.com/Regulation/EFSA-weight-management-guidance-Useful-for-novices-says-EU-consultant/?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter%2BDaily&c=RMoSHsT5xNJSBCDe%2F99TJQ%3D%3D

References: EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies (NDA); Guidance on the scientific requirements for health claims related to appetite ratings, weight management, and blood glucose concentrations. EFSA Journal 2012;10(3):2604.

In the Nutrition & health market, scientific and regulatory data is of strategic importance. It often makes the difference against competition, especially when used for innovation, to identify ingredients with best proven activity, or for international development, leading to chose more reachable markets.

However, it is difficult to turn this data into a clear and complete overview, as information is spread over the web, sometimes expensive or even not accessible, and constantly changing. This is the need Nutraveris intends to satisfy, launching today the advanced version of its world-reference database: Nutraveris On-Line 2.0.

“Previous version has already convinced a large number of users in only 3 years”, says Cedric Bourges, CEO of the European-leading scientific and regulatory consultancy. Indeed, Nutraveris On-Line has been chosen as a premium source of data by more than 150 industrialists.

“Nutraveris On-Line access includes scientific and regulatory monthly reports, providing new scientific substantiation, and last requirements from European administrations” says a subscribing project director at L’Oréal. Nutraveris On-Line also brings a lot to regulatory affairs, especially concerning health claims, as mentions a marketing manager at Forever Living: “we are continuously adapting our communications on our brochure. With the help of Nutraveris On-Line database, we are able to evaluate health claims still usable from those we should stop rapidly”.

Today, the 2.0 version makes this strategic information even quicker, enabling to be extremely reactive. The new “personalized watch” function sends notifications as soon as new studies or regulations are published about a pre-selected health application or ingredient, with clear and objective synthesis. With this new function comes the possibility to cumulate research criteria (e.g. to obtain all clinical studies and EFSA 13.1 positive opinions on a particular ingredient and health application), plus a whole lot of visual and ergonomic improvements.

The database is still being live-updated by Nutraveris experts, involving a weekly research and analysis of more than 1,500 publications and opinions. It provides complete answers on all ingredients and health applications that could possibly be used in Europe, which means more than 2,100 ingredients (vitamins, minerals, plants) and 132 health applications (weight management, joint health, immune system…). Subscription is accessible via Nutraveris On Line 2.0

An observational study, performed in more than 50,000 American nurses for 10 years, surprisingly comes to the conclusion that drinking coffee decreases depression risk.

Indeed, information on coffee consumption but also on other beverages (cola, tea, chocolate) with or without caffeine, were collected from 1996 to 2006 by validated questionnaires. Caffeine intake was also evaluated. Clinical depression was defined as self-reported physician-diagnosed depression and antidepressant use.

The results show that, compared with women consuming 1 or less cup of caffeinated coffee per week, the risk to develop depression was reduced by 15% for those consuming 2 to 3 cups per day and was reduced by 20% for those consuming 4 cups per day or more. Similarly, high intakes of caffeine (> 550 mg/day) were associated with a significant decrease in the incidence of depression (-20%) compared with low intake (<100 mg/d). However, decaffeinated coffee was not associated with depression risk.

This study obviously does not recommend drinking coffee for health reasons or an anti-depressive action. But the results are primarily reassuring for high consumers of coffee. However, beware that this consumption is not associated with an excessive intake of sugar and has no deleterious effect on anxiety and sleep quality as can be seen in some people.

Reference : Lucas M, Mirzaei F, Pan A, Okereke OI, Willett WC, O’Reilly ÉJ, Koenen K, Ascherio A, “Coffee, caffeine, and risk of depression among women”, Arch Intern Med. 2011 Sep 26;171(17):1571-8.

The relationship between a sodium overconsumption and cardiovascular events has been widely described. Moreover, nutritional recommendations argue for a reduction of salt intakes. But, is a too large reduction good for health? According to a recent study published in the journal of the american medical association, it seems not to be the case.

By estimating the sodium intakes through its urinary excretion in two cohorts of patients with established cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus, the authors have examined the relation between salt consumption and cardiovascular events (cardiovascular deaths, myocardial infarction, stroke, or congestive heart failure). The follow-up has been made during more than 6 years in 28880 patients. The results confirm the association between a high sodium intake and cardiovascular events, with for instance an 11% increase of the risk of cardiovascular death. But interestingly, too limited sodium intakes were associated with congestive heart failure (+5%) and cardiovascular death (+11%). Consequently, nutritional recommendations recognizing a reduction in salt consumption may be reviewed in order to add a minimal recommended intake.

Reference: O’Donnell, M. J., S. Yusuf, A. Mente, P. Gao, J. F. Mann, K. Teo, M. McQueen, P. Sleight, A. M. Sharma, A. Dans, J. Probstfield and R. E. Schmieder (2011). “Urinary sodium and potassium excretion and risk of cardiovascular events.” JAMA 306(20): 2229-2238.