Numerous studies over several decades suggest that following the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and cancer, and improve cognitive health. However, there are inconsistencies among methods used for evaluating and defining the MedDiet. Through a review of the literature, we aimed to quantitatively define the MedDiet by food groups and nutrients. Databases PubMed, MEDLINE, Science Direct, Academic Search Premier and the University of South Australia Library Catalogue were searched. Articles were included if they defined the MedDiet in at least two of the following ways: (1) general descriptive definitions; (2) diet pyramids/numbers of servings of key foods; (3) grams of key foods/food groups; and (4) nutrient and flavonoid content. Quantity of key foods and nutrient content was recorded and the mean was calculated. The MedDiet contained three to nine serves of vegetables, half to two serves of fruit, one to 13 serves of cereals and up to eight serves of olive oil daily. It contained approximately 9300 kJ, 37% as total fat, 18% as monounsaturated and 9% as saturated, and 33 g of fibre per day. Our results provide a defined nutrient content and range of servings for the MedDiet based on past and current literature. More detailed reporting amongst studies could refine the definition further.

The United Nations declared 2016 as the International Year of Pulses (grain legumes) under the banner 'nutritious seeds for a sustainable future'. A second green revolution is required to ensure food and nutritional security in the face of global climate change. Grain legumes provide an unparalleled solution to this problem because of their inherent capacity for symbiotic atmospheric nitrogen fixation, which provides economically sustainable advantages for farming. In addition, a legume-rich diet has health benefits for humans and livestock alike. However, grain legumes form only a minor part of most current human diets, and legume crops are greatly under-used. Food security and soil fertility could be significantly improved by greater grain legume usage and increased improvement of a range of grain legumes. The current lack of coordinated focus on grain legumes has compromised human health, nutritional security and sustainable food production.

Background: Dietary flavonoids may improve endothelial function and ultimately lead to beneficial cardiovascular effects. Objective: The objective was to assess whether pure dietary flavonoids can modulate nitric oxide and endothelin-1 production and thereby improve endothelial function. Design: A randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial in 12 healthy men was conducted to compare the acute effects of the oral administration of 200 mg quercetin, (Ҁ)-epicatechin, or epigallocatechin gallate on nitric oxide, endothelin-1, and oxidative stress after nitric oxide production was assessed via the measurement of plasma S-nitrosothiols and plasma and urinary nitrite and nitrate concentrations. The effects on oxidative stress were assessed by measuring plasma and urinary F 2 -isoprostanes. Plasma and urinary concentrations of quercetin, (Ҁ)-epicatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate were measured to establish the absorption of these flavonoids. Results: Relative to water (control), quercetin and (Ҁ)-epicatechin resulted in a significant increase in plasma S-nitrosothiols, plasma nitrite, and urinary nitrate concentrations (P 0.05), but not in plasma nitrate or urinary nitrite. Epigallocatechin gallate did not alter any of the measures of nitric oxide production. Quercetin and (Ҁ)-epicatechin resulted in a significant reduction in plasma endothelin-1 concentration (P 0.05), but only quercetin significantly decreased the urinary endothelin-1 concentration. None of the 3 treatments significantly changed plasma or urinary F 2 -isoprostane concentrations. Significant increases in the circulating concentrations of the 3 flavonoids were observed (P 0.05) after the corresponding treatment. Conclusions: Dietary flavonoids, such as quercetin and (Ҁ)-epicatechin, can augment nitric oxide status and reduce endothelin-1 concentrations and may thereby improve endothelial function.

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Objective— Animal and clinical studies have suggested that polyphenols in fruits, red wine, and tea may delay the development of atherosclerosis through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated whether individual dietary polyphenols representing different polyphenolic classes, namely quercetin (flavonol), (−)-epicatechin (flavan-3-ol), theaflavin (dimeric catechin), sesamin (lignan), or chlorogenic acid (phenolic acid), reduce atherosclerotic lesion formation in the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) −/− gene–knockout mouse. Methods and Results— Quercetin and theaflavin (64-mg/kg body mass daily) significantly attenuated atherosclerotic lesion size in the aortic sinus and thoracic aorta ( P <0.05 versus ApoE −/− control mice). Quercetin significantly reduced aortic F 2 -isoprostane, vascular superoxide, vascular leukotriene B 4 , and plasma-sP-selectin concentrations; and augmented vascular endothelial NO synthase activity, heme oxygenase-1 protein, and urinary nitrate excretion ( P <0.05 versus control ApoE −/− mice). Theaflavin showed similar, although less extensive, significant effects. Although (−)-epicatechin significantly reduced F 2 -isoprostane, superoxide, and endothelin-1 production ( P <0.05 versus control ApoE −/− mice), it had no significant effect on lesion size. Sesamin and chlorogenic acid treatments exerted no significant effects. Quercetin, but not (−)-epicatechin, significantly increased the expression of heme oxygenase-1 protein in lesions versus ApoE −/− controls. Conclusion— Specific dietary polyphenols, in particular quercetin and theaflavin, may attenuate atherosclerosis in ApoE −/− gene–knockout mice by alleviating inflammation, improving NO bioavailability, and inducing heme oxygenase-1. These data suggest that the cardiovascular protection associated with diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and some beverages may in part be the result of flavonoids, such as quercetin.

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Objective: Our objective was to assess effects of dietary supplementation with coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ) on blood pressure and glycaemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes, and to consider oxidative stress as a potential mechanism for any effects. Subjects and design: Seventy-four subjects with uncomplicated type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia were involved in a randomised double blind placebo-controlled 2Â2 factorial intervention. Setting: The study was performed at the University of Western Australia, Department of Medicine at Royal Perth Hospital, Australia. Interventions: Subjects were randomly assigned to receive an oral dose of 100 mg CoQ twice daily (200 mg=day), 200 mg fenofibrate each morning, both or neither for 12 weeks. Main outcome measures: We report an analysis and discussion of the effects of CoQ on blood pressure, on long-term glycaemic control measured by glycated haemoglobin (HbA 1c ), and on oxidative stress assessed by measurement of plasma F 2 -isoprostanes. Results: Fenofibrate did not alter blood pressure, HbA 1c , or plasma F 2 -isoprostanes. There was a 3-fold increase in plasma CoQ concentration (3.4 AE 0.3 mmol=l, P < 0.001) as a result of CoQ supplementation. The main effect of CoQ was to significantly decrease systolic ( 7 6.1 AE 2.6 mmHg, P ¼ 0.021) and diastolic ( 7 2.9 AE 1.4 mmHg, P ¼ 0.048) blood pressure and HbA 1c ( 7 0.37 AE 0.17%, P ¼ 0.032). Plasma F 2 -isoprostane concentrations were not altered by CoQ (0.14 AE 0.15 nmol=l, P ¼ 0.345). Conclusions: These results show that CoQ supplementation may improve blood pressure and long-term glycaemic control in subjects with type 2 diabetes, but these improvements were not associated with reduced oxidative stress, as assessed by F 2 -isoprostanes.

Abstract-Arachidonic acid is a major fatty acid that can be metabolized by the cytochrome P450 enzyme to a number of bioactive eicosanoids. A major metabolite of this oxidation is 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, which acts as a potent vasoconstrictor. However, in the kidney, its vasoconstrictor actions can be offset by its natriuretic properties. A guanine-to-adenine polymorphism in the CYP4F2 gene was associated with a reduction in 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid production in vitro. A thymidine-to-cytosine polymorphism in the CYP4A11 gene reduced catalytic activity by Ͼ50% in vitro and was associated with hypertension. The aim was to determine whether these 2 mutations are associated with urinary 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid excretion and blood pressure in humans. For the CYP4F2, 51% were homozygous for the G allele, 40% were carriers, and 9% were homozygous for the A allele. For CYP4A11, 72% were homozygous for the T allele, 25% were carriers, and 3% were homozygous for the C allele. The CYP4F2 GA/AA genotype was significantly associated with an increase in both 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid excretion and systolic blood pressure. The CYP4A11 CC/TC genotype was significantly associated with a reduction in 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid excretion but was not associated with blood pressure. We have demonstrated for the first time in humans that polymorphisms of the CYP4F2 and CYP4A11 genes have opposite effects on 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid excretion. The positive association between the CYP4F2 GA/AA genotype and both systolic blood pressure and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid excretion strengthens a role for 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid in the modulation of blood pressure. A rachidonic acid is a major membrane fatty acid that can be metabolized by the cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes to a range of bioactive compounds. These compounds are thought to play a central role in the regulation of blood pressure (BP), vascular tone, and renal function. 1,2 Within the vasculature, the CYP450 enzymes belonging to the 2-gene family (CYP 2B, 2C8, 2C9, 2C10, and 2J2) are responsible for the production of epoxides, whereas the -hydroxylases belonging to the CYP 4A and 4F families are involved in the production of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). 3,4 Animal studies have previously shown that disruption of the murine Cyp450 4a14 gene results in hypertension, possibly via increased expression of Cyp4a12. 5 20-HETE has been shown to play a role in vasoconstriction and renal salt handling in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. 2,6 -8 In humans, 20-HETE has been shown to play a role in regulation of natriuresis in salt-sensitive and salt-resistant hypertension, 9 and we have previously demonstrated a significant association between urinary 20-HETE excretion and both hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. 10 Paradoxically, within the kidney, 20-HETE can have either prohypertensive or antihypertensive actions, depending on its site of production. In the renal tubule, 20-HETE inhibits tubular sodium reabsorpti...