Antioxidant-Enriched Diet on Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Gene Expression: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

The Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) is associated with beneficial effects against chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs). In particular, the content of micronutrients leads to an improvement of the oxidative and inflammatory profiles. A randomized, parallel, controlled study, on 24 subjects, was conducted to evaluate if 2-week supplementation with a mixed apple and bergamot juice (MAB juice), had a positive impact on the body composition, the biochemical profile, and oxidative and inflammatory gene expression (Superoxide dismutase (SOD1), Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ), catalase (CAT), chemokine C-C motif ligand 5 (CCL5), Nuclear Factor Kappa B Subunit 1 (NFKB1), Vitamin D Receptor (VDR), and Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF)), respect to a MedDiet. Body composition evaluation analysis showed a gain in lean mass (p < 0.01). Moreover, a significant reduction in total cholesterol/HDL index (p < 0.01) was pointed out between the two groups. Gene expression analysis highlighted an increase in MIF (p ≤ 0.05), PPARγ (p < 0.001), SOD1 (p ≤ 0.05), and VDR (p ≤ 0.05) expressions when comparing MedDiet and MedDiet + MAB juice groups. These data based on the nutrigenomics approach demonstrated that supplementing 2 weeks of MAB juice to the MedDiet could contribute to a reduction in the risk of CNCDs.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01890070.

Keywords: Mediterranean Diet; anti-inflammatory activity; antioxidant; gene expression; nutrigenomics; polyphenols.

Figure 1

Study design. The randomized crossover study was divided into two treatment interventions: MedDiet, Mediterranean Diet; MedDiet + MAB juice, mixed apple, and bergamot juice. Between the 2-week dietary treatment, a 3-week wash-out period was inserted. Nutritional status was evaluated at baseline. The blood sample for nutrigenomic and biochemical analysis was collected at baseline and the end of each treatment period.

Figure 2

Gene expression between MedDiet and MedDiet + MAB juice. Gene expression is expressed as 2^−ΔCT. A paired t-test was made to assess differences. Statistical significance was assigned as * p < 0.05. Abbreviations: Catalase (CAT); Chemokine C-C motif ligand 5 (CCL5); Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor (MIF); Nuclear Factor Kappa B Subunit 1 (NFKB1); Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor γ (PPARγ); Superoxide Dismutase (SOD1); Vitamin D Receptor (VDR).