The Nutritional Profiles and Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables NEC White Paper

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1 The Nutritional Profiles and Benefits of Fruits and Vegetables NEC White Paper By: Dr. Devin Houston, Ph.D., scientific consultant December 2014 From the time we start eating solid foods, many of us have been told to eat more fruits and vegetables. Eat your vegetables is the mantra of all parents trying to get children to eat more nutritious foods. Public service announcements remind us to have at least six servings of fruits and vegetables per day, but more than 70 percent of adults and 90 percent of adolescents are not meeting the dietary guidelines (1). So doctors hound their patients to eat less meat and more plants. But rarely are we given an explanation as to why we should hop on the bandwagon. What are the reasons we should concentrate on eating more salads and fruit cups; is there any real science to the urgings of nutritionists to eat more fruits and vegetables? In a word, yes. A number of studies indicate real benefits to human health by adding more fruits and vegetables to our diet. What is often not expressed is how a plant-based diet specifically helps our nutritional health. The number of helpful compounds found in fruits and vegetables is large, and most all appear to help by relieving oxidative stress. Oxidative stress (OS) is best defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen and a biological system s ability to detoxify these reactive intermediates and/or repair any resulting damage to cells, organs and tissues. When cells are exposed to OS, they more easily undergo oxidative damage, potentially leading to a number of undesired health effects. Because active cells use oxygen, they produce byproducts known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) and include superoxide, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical and peroxynitrite. OS often manifests as a continuum, with low levels of oxidation helpful in fighting infection and higher levels wreaking havoc on whole organ systems. Hydrogen peroxide would represent a class of low-level OS while hydroxyl radicals represent the species most likely to attack cellular components. OS attacks the lipid components of cell membranes, reducing the membrane s flexibility and permeability, resulting in damage and loss of cellular communication. This is especially damaging in cellular organelles, such as the energyproducing mitochondria. OS can also directly attack and change DNA structure, meaning that OS is mutagenic. Antioxidants represent the most effective method for controlling OS and avoiding oxidative damage (2). Antioxidants can neutralize OS by a variety of methods: preventing formation of free radicals; interrupting auto-oxidation reactions; up-regulating cellular defenses; chelating pro-oxidant metals; inhibiting pro-oxidative enzymes; and increasing activities of endogenous antioxidant enzymes (3). So how are fruits and vegetables related to oxidative stress? Fruits and vegetables contain polyphenolic compounds that possess antioxidant and antimutagenic properties. By eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, we can supply our bodies with many 2014 National Enzyme Company. All Rights Reserved.

2 different polyphenols. Once absorbed from the gut, polyphenols interfere with pathways that promote inflammation and tissue damage. Polyphenols can be subdivided into different types, of which many fall into the categories of: flavonoids, anthocyanins and stilbenes. Table 1. Flavonoid categories and sources. Flavonoid Subclasses Flavonols Flavones Examples Quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin Luteolin, apigenin, tangeretin Present in Foods Goji, apples, elderberries, cranberries Parsley, artichokes, green peppers Flavanones Naringenin, hesperetin Grapefruit, lemons, artichokes Isoflavones Genistein, daidzein Soy Flavanols Catechin, epigallocatechin Blackberries, apples, peaches, tea Flavonoids are the most abundant polyphenol in the human diet and are well recognized for their antioxidant properties. More than 4,000 types of flavonoids have been identified. Multiple studies looking at key cardiovascular health markers have shown that higher intakes of plant flavonoids are associated with superior cardiovascular health profiles. This is particularly true when looking at markers that can be impacted by oxidative stress, such as vascular integrity and lipid oxidation. (4). When low-density lipoproteins (LDL) become oxidized, along with blood vessel inflammation and coagulation disorders, the chances of atherosclerosis occurring become much greater (5, 6). The antioxidant and chelating properties of flavonoids can inactivate reactive oxygen species (ROS) and counteracts the LDL oxidation. In addition, flavonoids decrease activity of xanthine oxidase, NADPH oxidase and lipoxygenase, enzymes involved in the production of ROS. Flavonoids also decrease production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes through inactivation of cyclooxygenase and lipooxygenase enzyme systems. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol belonging to the catechin family, is abundant in green tea. There is evidence for tea polyphenols to support key aspects of cardiovascular health, including endothelial function and cellular health (7, 8, 9). Quercetin, a polyphenol found in a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, supports cardiovascular health by acting as an indirect antioxidant by increasing activities of antioxidant enzymes already present within cells (10). Flavonoids also lend protection to the nervous system. Diets high in these compounds positively affected maintenance of cognitive function (11, 12, 13). Studies indicate that some flavonoids pass through the blood-brain barrier to protect certain brain pathways from oxidative stress (14). Anthocyanins (AC) are water-soluble pigments found in higher plants. AC are intensely colored compounds conferring blue, red, purple and orange colors to many edible plants. The major food sources of AC are red fruits, red wine, red cabbage and cereals. Many epidemiological reports indicate that consumption of fruits containing high concentrations of AC are associated with a healthy cardiovascular profile. The mechanism by which AC exerts its action is not clear as multiple studies indicate AC acts to increase nitric oxide metabolism as well as to activate antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (15, 16). Stilbene compounds are best represented by resveratrol found in high concentrations in pigmented berries and red wines. Consumption of such foods supports key markers of cardiovascular health. The mechanism by which resveratrol works differs from that of other plant antioxidants: Resveratrol stimulates certain compounds that regulate the expression of

3 genes involved in stress response and cellular aging, particularly those influencing fatty acid and lipid metabolism (17, 18). Proponents of resveratrol have described it as having longevity enhancing and cardio-protective properties that may be due in large part to mitigation of oxidative stress (19). With so much evidence of plant-based diets promoting health benefits, one would think that intake of fruits and vegetables would be much higher than currently reported (20). One of the top-stated reasons for not including more fruits and vegetables in diets is that it is not convenient. Others state the waste involved from spoiled foods, not knowing how to serve fruits and vegetables, or they eat out much of the time. Many of these concerns can be alleviated by the use of dietary supplements that include highly concentrated fruits, vegetables and greens ingredients either encapsulated or in a drink powder mix form that can be taken with meals. The BioCore Fruggie product line from National Enzyme Company is formulated with superfruits, vegetables, greens, botanicals and enzymes and offers a wide variety of phytonutrient benefits, including antioxidant, immunity, energy, digestive and liver-health promoting activities in three ways: 1. BioCore Fruggie FVE is a soy- and gluten-free nutrient premix blend that may be beneficial as a greens food supplement base formula for those who wish to create a new product without reinventing the formula. 2. BioCore Fruggie FVE Encapsulated is just that the soyand gluten-free BioCore Fruggie FVE blend in vegetarianfriendly capsules for those that desire the health benefits of superfruits, vegetables and greens but have a taste or texture aversion to such foods and drinks. 3. BioCore Fruggie uses the FVE blend as its base and adds to it barley ingredients, wheat grass, apple pectin and a natural mixed berry flavor for a delicious greens food drink mix. Each of these natural proprietary blends is a hearty phytonutrient mixture of superfoods, offering additional benefits from Actazin TM and CereCalase. Actazin TM is a clinically studied whole-fruit supplement ingredient made of the nutrient dense New Zealand green kiwifruit that uses 4-way action to support digestive health and well-being: prebiotics, fiber, polyphenols and enzymes. CereCalase is designed with specialized enzymes to disrupt the fibrous nature of plant cell walls and release the minerals, vitamins and phytonutrients from fruits, vegetables, greens and herbs. With its various delivery methods, the BioCore Fruggie product line has been developed with 80 percent of consumers in mind. Use it as a standalone product or as a base for your own formula, contact NEC today to discover how BioCore Fruggie can help you reach your goals. Dr. Devin Houston, Ph.D., an accomplished researcher and entrepreneur, is most notably recognized as a pioneer in enzyme-based research for children. Even in the early beginnings of his medical career, Dr. Houston was focused on enzymes in the body. In fact, his graduate work focused on how the aging process affected certain enzyme systems. Since March of 2000, Dr. Houston has been a scientific consultant to the dietary supplement industry. REFERENCES 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. State Indicator Report on Fruits and Vegetables, May Sugamura K, Keaney JJF. Reactive oxygen species in cardiovascular disease. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 51: , 2011.

4 3. Carocho M, Ferreira ICFR. A review on antioxidants, prooxidants and related controversy: Natural and synthetic compounds, screening and analysis methodologies and future perspectives. Food Chem. Toxicol. 51:15-25, Cassidy A, O Reilly EJ, Kay C, Samson L, Franz M, Forman JP, Curhan G. Rimm EB. Habitual intake of flavonoid subclasses and incident hypertension in adults. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 93: , Majewska-Wierzbicka M, Czeczot H. Flavonoids in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Pol. Merk. Lek. 32:50-54, Szostak-Wegierek D. The role of flavonoids in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Med. Metabol. 3(2):28-40, Nagoa T, Komine Y, Soga S, Meguro S, Hase T, Tanaka Y, Tokimitsu I. Ingestion of a tea rich in catechins leads to a reduction in body fat and malondialdehyde-modified LDL in men. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 81: , Hao J, Kim CH, Ha TS, Ahn HY. Epigallocatechin-3 gallate prevents cardiac hypertrophy induced by pressure overload in rats. J. Vet. Sci. 8: , Sheng R, Gu Z, Xie M, Zhou W, Guo C. EGCG inhibits cardiomyocyte apoptosis in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy and protects cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress in rats. Acta Pharmacol. Sin. 28: , Angeloni C, Leoncini E, Malaguti M, Angelini S, Hrelia P, Hrelia S. Role of quercetin in modulating rat cardiomyocyte gene expression profile. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 294:H1233-H1243, Macready AL, Kennedy OB, Ellis JA, Williams CM, Spencer JPE, Butler LT. Flavonoids and cognitive function: a review of human randomized controlled trial studies and recommendations for future studies. Genes Nutr. 4: , Prasain JK, Carlson SH, Wyss JM. Flavonoids and age related disease: risk, benefits and critical windows. Maturitas 66(2): , Vauzour D, Vafeiadou K, Rodrigues-Mateos A, Rendeiro C, Spencer JPE. The neuroprotective potential of flavonoids: a multiplicity of effects. Genes Nutr. 3: , Datla KP, Christidou M, Widmer WW, Rooprai HK, Dexter DT. Tissue distribution and neuroprotective effects of citrus flavonoid tangeretin in a rat model of Parkinson s disease. NeuroReport 12: , Zhu Y, Xia M, Yang Y, Liu F, Li Z, Hao Y, Mi M, Jin T, Ling W. Purified anthocyanin supplementation improves endothelial function via NO-cGMP activation in hypercholesterolemic individuals. Clin. Chem. 57(11): , Lazze MC, Pizzala R, Perucca P, Cazzalini O, Savio M, Forti L, Vannini V, Bianchi L. Anthocyanidins decrease endothelin-1 production and increase endothelial nitric oxide synthase in human endothelial cells. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 50(1):44-51, Chung S, Yao H, Caito S, Hwang JW, Arunachalam G, Rahman I. Regulation of SIRT1 in cellular functions: role of polyphenols. Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 501:79-90, Zang M, Xu S, Maitland-Toolan KA, Zuccollo A, Hou X, Jiang B, Wierzbicki M, Verbeuren TJ, Cohen RA. Polyphenols stimulate

5 AMP-activated protein kinase, lower lipids, and inhibit accelerated atherosclerosis in diabetic LDL receptor-deficient mice. Diabetes 55: , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention news release. September 29, Vita JA. Polyphenols and cardiovascular disease: effects on endothelial and platelet function. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 81: , 2005.