euroFEDA Dietary antioxidants in the promotion of health Introducing

euroFEDA •2 Dietary antioxidants in the promotion of health Introducing EUROFEDA news June 2000 Issue 1 EUROFEDA is the acronym for the EU Concerted Action ‘European Research on Functional Effects of Dietary Antioxidants’. The project began in February 2000 and will run for three years. It comprises part of a portfolio of projects that are being supported by the European Commission within the Fifth Framework Programme’s ‘Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources' Key Action, ‘Food, Nutrition and Health’ sub-programme. What EUROFEDA will do The major focus of EUROFEDA will be to review the information that is currently available regarding antioxidant compounds, and their ability to modulate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) especially during periods of stress. Particular emphasis will be placed on whether or not the effects observed are meaningful, with respect to human health and disease, in terms of the experimental systems used, the doses and whether or not the compounds are likely to reach target tissues. The project will define where there are gaps in existing research and prioritise the work that needs to be done. We hope that this will encourage more collaborative research at the European level to address the issues raised, and ensure that whatever benefits there are can be fully exploited for public health. Scientific Focus The scientific focus of EUROFEDA will address three critical issues:1. whether or not antioxidants in the diet are capable of preventing oxidative damage; 2. what research is required to determine meaningful doseresponse relationships; and 3. what is likely to be an optimal intake of the various bioactive compounds. In order to answer these questions, it will be necessary for us to:1. identify the most useful, reproducible and reliable biomarkers of oxidative damage; 2. assess what is known about the bioavailability of dietary antioxidants; how best to determine this; and what factors influence uptake, metabolism and tissue distribution of dietary antioxidants; 3. determine the role of dietary antioxidants in the minimisation of oxidative damage in tissues, particularly with regard to those tissues that have a high metabolic energy requirement; and 4. ascertain the role of dietary antioxidants in gene expression, and consider how these effects maybe used to better determine dose-response relationships. Benefits for Consumers People in developed countries are living longer but the disabilities that reduce their perceived quality of life and independence are making high demands on national health budgets. First-world Governments are seeking ways of encouraging healthy ageing by focussing more resources on preventive medicine, and understanding lifestyle and genetic factors that predispose people to years of dependency, pain and poor quality of life. The EUROFEDA Team We introduce the EUROFEDA team on page 4 of this newsletter. You can also contact EUROFEDA via our website. EUROFEDA’s Emphasis will be on • • How antioxidants are best delivered - as part of a balanced diet or supplements? What amounts are needed for healthy ageing and a reduction in age-related diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disease? Profiles and Publications The interests of the members of each EUROFEDA Task Group will be profiled in future newsletters. We plan to publish a newsletter every six months. These will contain not only information about EUROFEDA but other relevant projects and recent publications. If you wish to be on the mailing list for the newsletter please contact the Administrative Secretary. By identifying the most important research challenges and encouraging scientific collaboration, EUROFEDA will provide information for consumers (Governments and individuals) and assist industry in the development of products that aid consumers in achieving a healthy life style. EUROFEDA Website Our webpages are hosted at www.ifr.bbsrc.ac.uk/EUROFEDA The site provides facts about the project and issues surrounding it. It will also offer additional information on a selected group of the most recent relevant publications. The site will be used by members of the project to share and pass on information about EUROFEDA to other research workers in this field. The website will also be a source of information regarding relevant meetings - both those for EUROFEDA and other important societies. On-line facilities will be provided for expressing an interest in the work of the project and the receipt of any relevant publications. Ultimately, the site will also be used to handle registration and submission of abstracts for a Plenary meeting in September 2001 and an International conference in 2002. Tony Diplock This project was to have been co-ordinated by Professor Antony Diplock, formally Professor of Biochemistry at Guy’s, Kings and St Thomas’s Medical Schools in London, who was internationally respected for his research in this field. He had had a long-standing interest in antioxidants and fervently believed these compounds had an important role in disease prevention. Sadly, Tony Diplock died just as the project was beginning. With the support of the Commission, the project management has been reorganised. The completion of EUROFEDA will be a fitting tribute to Tony's memory. . . . w w w . i f r. b b s r c . a c . u k / E U R O F E D A . . . w w w . i f r. b b s r c . a c . u k / E U R O F E D A . . . w w w . i f r. b b s A project funded by the European Union under the Fifth Framework Programme ISSN 1471-258X Reactive Oxygen Species There is enormous interest in the role that free radicals or reactive oxidative species (ROS) may play in the aetiology of many agerelated diseases and in the ageing process itself. ROS arise during normal oxidative metabolism as well as being produced in response to infection and other forms of stress. However, their role in protecting an organism against its external environment has associated risks. In particular, unless ROS production is kept under very strict regulation, it has the potential to cause wide-spread damage to cells. ROS have been implicated in a long list of disease processes including cancer, and cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, autoimmune and other diseases associated with ageing. There are many components in our diets that have the potential to influence ROS production for good, or bad. These include substances that are antioxidants per se and ones capable of inducing an antioxidant response. Those components that have been the subject of most interest are the antioxidant vitamins _ vitamins C and E, which are commonly found in plant foods. This interest has been extended to the possible role of other plant compounds that possess a strong antioxidant potential but are not vitamins. These include a range of phenolics and the carotenoids, both of which are abundent in plant foods. Research into antioxidants to-date has been mainly phenomenological. It has focussed on the potential of these compounds to show protective effects in animal model systems, and human observational and intervention studies. Whilst animal studies have generally shown these compounds to offer protection against ROS-derived damage, human intervention studies have been equivocal and may even have highlighted the potential for increased risk in vulnerable population groups. Clearly, more needs to be known about the mechanisms leading to ROS production at the cellular level, which, in turn, will form the basis for understanding what benefit antioxidant from our diets can provide by reducing/ eliminating the adverse effects of ROS. Task Groups From an organisational perspective, given the wide scope of the work that needs to be covered, we felt that these topics were best approached through the establishment of three Task Groups (TG). The Task Groups that have been set up are: TG1 ‘Biomarkers of Oxidative Damage’, TG2 ‘Bioavailability’, and TG3 ‘Gene Expression and Mitochondrial Function’. The responsibilities of each Task Group will be to: • • • • • Review the current literature; Exchange information on the strengths and limitations of methodology; Identify the major research challenges; Provide draft contributions to 'position papers' for publication. Provide material for distribution to end users (consumers, industry, and regulators). Timetable The exact schedule for EUROFEDA has still to be agreed but approximate dates for the planned meetings have already been agreed by the Management Committee. The TG will meet independently to agree the content of their reports. The following dates are proposed: Task Group 2 February 2001 - Cork, Eire Task Group 3 March 2001 - Bari, Italy Task Group 1 April 2001 - Bydgoszcz, Poland The Scope of EUROFEDA An issue of crucial importance to the project is its scope. The Management Committee have considered the need for EUROFEDA to be as inclusive as possible. Changes in REDOX potential of a cell are known to influence ROS production. Thus, all those compounds that could influence REDOX potential have been included as well as those substances that have been traditionally regarded as antioxidants or play an important role in maximising the activity of antioxidant enzyme systems. The compounds that will be included are: Plenary Meeting September 2001 - Salamanca, Spain A meeting of all members of the project to finalise the report, to present papers on the latest results of their research, and discuss opportunities for further collaborative research. International Meeting in 2002 There will be an International Conference on the Functional Effects of Dietary Antioxidants at Churchill College, Cambridge (UK) from the 5 - 9th July 2002. Please make a note of this date in your diaries now. Given the exciting developments in our knowledge of the functions of ROS, the factors leading to their dysregulation and the contribution that this can make to human disease, there will be intense world-wide interest in the meeting. The critical question to be reviewed will be “to what extent are antioxidants able to delay the onset of human disease and its progression?”. Precursors of cell constituents that maintain the REDOX state Glutathione precursors and biosynthetic co-enzymes Thioredoxin precursors and biosynthetic co-enzymes Lipoic acid Antioxidants Vitamin E (_, `, a, b tocopherol and trienols) Vitamin C Pro/non-pro-vitamin A carotenoids Simple and complex phenols Co-enzyme Q Inducers of Antioxidant Enzymes Glucosinolates and breakdown products Flavonoids and phenols in general Alkyl sulphides and disulphides Related Projects Funded Under the Food, Nutrition & Health Sub-programme Two projects funded under the first call-for-proposals in the FPV sub-programme on Food, Nutrition and Health that are investigating issues of relevance to EUROFEDA are: Other Relevant Links Society for Free Radical Research The Society promotes interest in all aspects of research into the reactions and properties of free radicals, and their physical, chemical, biological, medical and industrial roles. Founded in 1982, and now with over 2800 members worldwide, the Society consists of four autonomous regional groups: SFRR Asia, SFRR Europe, SFRR Australasia and the Oxygen Society (Pan America). Details can be obtained from their website at www.sfrr.org European Standards Committee on Oxidative DNA Damage (ESCODD) This Concerted Action is focussing on the exchange of standard samples between laboratories, which contain 8-oxo-guanine/ deoxyguanosine in the form of oligonucleotides, extracted DNA, and tissues or cells. The overall aim is to establish a validated universal method for the analysis of this commonly oxidised DNA base, which is used as a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage. Participants will assist in determining the extent of current inter- and intra-laboratory variation and its minimisation in the final method. The project is co-ordinated by Dr Andrew Collins at the Rowett Research Institute who should be contacted for further information. a.collins@rri.sari.ac.uk Tel + 44 (0)1224 716 634 Fax + 44 (0)1224 716 629 Rowett Research Institute, Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, Aberdeen, AB21 9SB, Scotland Oxygen Society Established in 1987, The Oxygen Society is a professional organisation comprised of over 1,100 scientists, researchers and clincians with an interest in the field of free radical biology, chemistry and medicine. The association is the North and South American affiliate chapter of the International Society for Free Radical Research. Its journal - Free Radical Biology and Medicine publishes much of interest to this project. Further details from their website at www.oxygen society.org Veris The VERIS Research Information Service is a non-profit corporation, based in La Grange Illinois (USA) that strives to provide a responsible source of information on the role of nutrition in health - with an emphasis on antioxidants - to health professionals, researchers and health and nutrition educators/communicators worldwide. The information included in VERIS publications is derived from technical articles that have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Their publications are distributed free-of-charge to qualified recipients. Veris provides regular updates to subscribers on current research-documented benefits published in peer-reviewed literature; educates health professionals on the benefits and safety of vitamin E, carotenoids and other antioxidants; responds to questions on vitamin E, beta-carotene and other antioxidants; and gives natural-source vitamin E and natural mixed carotenoids to researchers to encourage clinical research. Regular communications and publications include: quarterly written reports, quarterly newsletters, research summaries, annual abstract books, vitamin E fact book and educational programmes. Additional details can be obtained from their website at www.veris-online.org Health Implications of Natural Non-Nutrient Antioxidants (Polyphenols): Bioavailability and Colon Carcinognesis (POLYBIND) The scientific objectives of this Shared Cost project are to determine how dietary polyphenols are metabolised, how they alter the rates of carcinogen metabolism, and how these compounds modulate early events in the aetiology of colon carcinogenesis. The project co-ordinator is Dr Gary Williamson at the Institute of Food Research who is happy to provide further information. gary.williamson@bbsrc.ac.uk Tel. + 44 (0)1603 255259 Fax + 44 (0)1603 507723 Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich, NR4 7UA, UK Highlights from Recent Literature Three comprehensive reviews in project-related areas have appeared recently. These are: Mates, J.M. & Jimenez, F.M. (2000) Role of reactive oxygen species in apoptosis: implications for cancer therapy. Int. J. Biochem. & Cell Biol. 32: 157-170 Allen, R.G. & Tresini, M. (2000) Oxidative stress and gene regulation. Free Rad. Biol. & Med. 28: 463-499 Marnett, L.J. (2000) Oxyradicals and DNA damage. Carcinogenesis 21: 361-370 Relevant Future Meetings On the 20th-22nd July 2000, the Society for Free Radical Research - European Section is meeting in Liverpool (UK). The meeting will be divided into several sessions including: free radicals and genomic stability, ageing, peroxynitrite and selenium, and antioxidant nutrition. Speakers will include: Bruce Ames (USA), Melinda Beck (USA), Thomas Kirkwood (UK), Thomas Lindahl (UK), Lester Packer (USA), Helmut Sies (Germany), Rex Tyrell (UK), Jose Viña (Spain) and Richard Weindruch (USA). Further information and application forms can be obtained from the address below. Liverpool 2000, University of Liverpool, Department of Medicine, UCD, Duncan Building, Liverpool, L69 3GA UK Tel: +44 (0)151 706 4074 / 4070 Fax: +44 (0)151 706 5802 Papers of Particular Interest include: Barja, G. & Herrero, A. (2000) Oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA is inversely related to maximum life span in the heart and brain of mammals. FASEB J. 14: 312-318 Fliss, M.A., Usadel, H., Caballero, O.L., Wu, L., Buta, M., Eleff, S.M. & Sidransky, D. (2000) Facile detection of mitochondrial DNA mutations in tumours and bodily fluids. Science 287: 2017-2019 Managing EUROFEDA Overall, EUROFEDA is being directed by a Management Committee that consists of the following people: Siân Astley is the overall Project Co-ordinator. She is based at the Institute of Food Research (UK) where her research interests lie in DNA damage and repair, and the effect of dietary antioxidants, in particular the carotenoids, on these processes. Siân will be pleased to provide any information about the project. She can be contacted at sian.astley@bbsrc.ac.uk Tel. +44 (0)1603 255368 and Fax. +44 (0)1603 255237. David Lindsay is the Scientific Advisor to the project. He has been closely involved with European research activities for some years as a member of the Management Committees of a number of EU Framework Programmes. He was responsible for setting up the UK co-ordinated antioxidant research programme, which is supported by the Food Standards Agency and acts as a research programme advisor to the Agency (www.foodstandards.gov.uk). David is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Institute of Food Research and can be contacted at dlindsay@mcmail.com Helen Griffiths is a Reader at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Aston in Birmingham (UK). Her research is focused on characterising the effects of oxidative stress on biomolecules, and in particular proteins. She has published over 40 papers in this area. Helen has been actively engaged in the UK Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (now Food Standards Agency)-funded Antioxidants in Food programme since 1991 investigating the effects of vitamin C and E on biomarkers of lipid and DNA oxidation. The experience gained in these areas is currently being applied to the development, validation and application of biomarkers of protein oxidation in vivo. Helen is the Task Group Co-ordinator for TG1 and can be contacted at h.r.griffiths@aston.ac.uk, Tel. + 44 (0)121 359 3611 #5226 and Fax. + 44 (0)121 359 0733. Lilian Tijburg is a manager in the Nutrition Centre at Unilever’s research laboratory in Vlaardingen (The Netherlands). Her main area of research is in the health benefits of dietary antioxidants (vitamin E, the carotenoids and tea flavonoids). This research includes the cardiovascular benefits of tea flavonoids, the bioavailability of flavonoids from tea, and the effects of processing on the bioavailability of carotenoids from vegetables. Lilian is the author or co-author of 19 peer-reviewed papers since 1995 and is the Chairperson of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Task Force on Antioxidants. In this capacity, Lilian will provide an important link with industrial interest in this field. Lilian can be contacted at lilian.tijburg@unilever.com, Tel. + 31 10 460 5180 and Fax. + 31 10 460 5953 Wilhelm Stahl is a reader at the Institut für Physiologische Chemie I, University of Düsseldorf (Germany). His current research interests lie in the area of biokinetics and biological activities of carotenoids, retinoids and vitamin E, with over 75 papers to his credit. He has specific expertise in the development, validation and application of HPLC, biokinetic studies, and in vitro and in vivo studies of nutrients on cell differentiation and communication. He has participated in the EU Shared Cost project 'Model systems in vitro and in vivo for predicting the bioavailability of lipid soluble components of food', and the Concerted Actions 'Functional food science in Europe' (FUFOSE) and 'Nutritional enhancement of plant-derived foods in Europe' (NEODIET). Wilhelm is the Task Group Co-ordinator for TG2 and he can be contacted at wilhelm.stahl@uni-duesseldorf.de, Tel. + 49 211 811 2711 and Fax. + 49 211 811 3029. Malcolm Jackson is Professor of Cellular Pathophysiology and head of the Department of Medicine at the University of Liverpool, UK. His research group is examining the molecular and cellular physiology of oxidative stress and adaptation with a particular emphasis on the biological roles of antioxidant nutrients. Malcolm is the Task Group Co-odinator for TG3 and can be contacted at mjj@liv.ac.uk Tel. +44 (0)151 706 4072 and Fax. + 44 (0)151 706 5802. Lynn Rawlings acts as the Administrative Secretary to EUROFEDA and is based at the Institute of Food Research. Lynn can be contacted at lynn.rawlings@bbsrc.ac.uk, Tel. + 44 (0)1603 255318 and Fax. + 44 (0)1603 255237. Alessandra Luchetti is the Commission’s Scientific Officer for the project. She is based in DG (Science) in Brussels. Her responsibility will be to ensure that the project delivers its objectives, and to deal with any issues that affect the contractual agreements that have been made with the Commission. She can be contacted on alessandra.luchetti@cec.eu.int, Tel. + 32 22 960 874 and Fax. + 32 22 964 322. Data Protection If you have received this newsletter by post (rather than, for example, through an internal distribution system or at a conference) details of your name and address are held on a secure mailing list database at the Institute of Food Research. If at any time you would like your details to be removed from our database, please contact us and we will do so. The IFR's mailing list databases are not sold, or otherwise distributed, outside IFR. Editorial Coordinator: Siân Astley Design: Di Mitchell Design Print: Keely Print, Beccles Contact: Eurofeda Institute of Food Research, Norwich Research Park, Colney, Norwich NR4 7UA Tel: +44 (0)1603 255000 Fax: +44 (0)1603 507723 At the leading edge of food research QLK1 - 1999 - 00179