Antonio Cilla

• PhD
• Professor (Associate) at University of Valencia

Goldenberry and purple passion fruit contain bioactive compounds (BCs) that can prevent gastrointestinal cancers; hydrogel beads can protect and control their release in the gastrointestinal tract. This study aimed to develop an encapsulating material for fruit hydrogel beads (FHBs) to increase their bioaccessibility and to assess antiproliferative...

Eryptotic erythrocytes are prone to adhere to the vascular endothelium, provoking atherosclerosis. As statins do not prevent eryptosis compounds with anti-eryptotic effects could help treated hypercholesterolemic subjects in decreasing cardiovascular disease risk. Plant sterols (PSs) have shown this anti-eryptotic effect ex vivo, along with their c...

Introduction: Fruit by-products are a source of bioactive compounds (carotenoid and phenolic compounds) with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and ultrasound-assisted extraction, high-pressure processing, and encapsulation are sustainable technologies for their extraction and protection. Methodology: Total carotenoid and phenolic compou...

Background/Objectives: When prooxidants outweigh antioxidants, oxidative stress can occur, causing an accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This process can lead to cellular damage and plays a role in the development of numerous health conditions. This study aimed to investigate the cytoprotective effects on differentiated Caco-2 cells of...

The potential of a plant sterol food supplement (PS-FS) in addressing intestinal inflammation in vivo and in vitro was evaluated. As in vivo model, C57BL/6J mice were exposed to 1.5% dextran sulfate sodium in three 5-day periods, with 10-day rest intervals in between, daily reciving PS-FS (35 mg PS/kg). The in vitro approach involved a bi-cameral s...

This study investigates the gut anti-inflammatory activity of a plant sterol (PS) food supplement (PS-FS), alongside PS-enriched milk-based fruit beverage and PS-enriched rye bread. A co-culture model based on a dual-chamber system with differentiated intestinal-like Caco-2 cells (apical) and RAW264.7 macrophages (basolateral) was used. The bioacce...

A physiological mechanism of programmed cell death called eryptosis occurs in aged or damaged red blood cells (RBCs). Dysregulated eryptosis contributes to abnormal microcirculation and prothrombotic risk. Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) induces a p38 MAPK‐initiated, Fas‐mediated eryptosis, activating the death‐inducing signaling complex (DISC). Indi...

Diet is crucial for the prevention of colorectal cancer. Whole grains are the source of beneficial compounds for this, such as fiber. The enrichment of wholemeal rye bread with plant sterols (PSs) could increase its beneficial effects. This study aimed to assess the potential antiproliferative effect of this enriched food on colon adenocarcinoma ce...

Sterols can be metabolized by gut microbiota. The cholesterol metabolites have been proposed as promoters of colorectal cancer (CRC), while the effect of plant sterol metabolites is unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity of metabolites from cholesterol (coprostanol, cholestanol, coprostanone and cholestenone) and β-sitosterol (ethyl...

Plant sterols (PSs) have reported benefits in alleviating colitis in mice, but the mechanisms involved require further investigation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a dietary supplement containing PSs (PS-DS) on inflammation biomarkers in a mice model of chronic ulcerative colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). C57BL/6J mice (...

Las infografías permiten adquirir el aprendizaje de forma constructiva por el estudiantado. Su asociación a una red social como Instagram en el ámbito educativo universitario puede contribuir a desarrollar capacidades y habilidades divulgativas útiles en su futuro desarrollo profesional. El estudio se llevó a cabo en el primer cuatrimestre del curs...

The prevention of cardiovascular disease using foods fortified with plant sterols (PS), with a hypocholesterolemic effect, is important for the elderly population. This study aimed at identifying the different PS present in PS-enriched wholemeal rye bread (WRB) and in the ingredient source of PS, to evaluate their bioaccessibility in WRB by simulat...

Rice, tiger nut and carob are Mediterranean products suitable for developing new foods, such as fermented beverages, due to their nutritional properties. These crops have a high carbohydrate content, are gluten and lactose-free and have a low allergenicity index. The development of fermented beverages from these crops can contribute to the Sustaina...

As food transits the gastrointestinal tract, food structures are disrupted and nutrients are absorbed across the gut barrier. In the past decade, great efforts have focused on the creation of a consensus gastrointestinal digestion protocol (i.e., INFOGEST method) to mimic digestion in the upper gut. However, to better determine the fate of food com...

Cell death program of red blood cells (RBCs), called eryptosis, is characterized by activation of caspases and scrambling of membrane phospholipids with externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS). Excessive eryptosis confers a procoagulant phenotype and is implicated in impairment of microcirculation and increased prothrombotic risk. It has recentl...

Bread is one of the staple foods of many countries, and its enrichment with bioactive compounds is trending. This phenomenon is focused on breads with a good nutritional profile, such as wholemeal rye bread (WRB), in which enrichment with plant sterols (PSs) is allowed in accordance with European regulations. The objective of the present study was...

In vitro digestion models for assessing the bioaccessibility of lipophilic compounds from foodstuffs can either be static or dynamic. Carotenoids are the most widely studied compounds, while there is hardly any information on sterols and fat-soluble vitamins available, nor on the use of dynamic methods. There is a large variability in the parameter...

Cell death program of red blood cells (RBCs), called eryptosis, is characterized by activation of caspases and scrambling of membrane phospholipids with externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS). Excessive eryptosis is implicated in many inflammatory pathologies and is associated to endothelial cell injury and thrombosis. It has recently been repo...

The techniques for the determination of minerals, vitamins, cholesterol and enzymes in meat, and their respective major advantages and disadvantages are addressed in this article. The determination of fat-soluble vitamins by traditional methods required the use of organic solvents and long times, but, recently, novel methods as ultrasound assisted...

Background The increase in the senior population has enhanced the interest in evaluating the food digestibility in that age group, using simulated digestion methods. Scope and approach The effects of gastrointestinal changes on food digestion in the elderly were reviewed. Articles with an elderly-adapted simulated gastrointestinal digestion were s...

The fortification of foods with cholesterol-lowering agents such as plant sterols (PS) is allowed in Europe and could be of interest to the elderly since aging may lead to higher cardiovascular risk. To date, no studies have analyzed how the gastrointestinal conditions of the elderly affect PS bioaccessibility. Thus, this study evaluates the impact...

Bioaccessibility of plant sterols (PS) in an enriched wholemeal rye bread was evaluated, for the first time, using the INFOGEST protocol without gastric lipase (GL) and cholesterol esterase (CE), with GL or GL + CE. Moreover, human chewing and an in vitro oral phase (simulated salivary fluid and α-amylase) were evaluated for this purpose. The addit...

The effect of the incorporation of key enzymes of the lipidic metabolism to the INFOGEST (Improving health properties of food by sharing the knowledge on the digestive process) digestion method on plant sterol (PS) bioaccessibility is evaluated in a PS-enriched wholemeal rye bread. The assayed conditions were: (i) INFOGEST method; (ii) INFOGEST+gas...

Eryptosis, red blood cells(RBCs) programmed death is characterized by cell surface externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) and alteration of the cell volume. Several pathologies are linked with excessive eryptosis including anaemia, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, thrombosis, obesity and metabolic syndrome[1]. In addition, cigarette smoke...

In recent years, the food industry has increased its interest in the development of functional foods, including fruit juices, due to the increased demand among consumers for foods and beverages that benefit and improve our health [...]

Elderly people suffer from a higher cardiovascular risk. Thus, the fortification of foods with plant sterols (PSs), which have a cholesterol-lowering function, could be of great interest for this target group. To date, no studies have analyzed how the gastrointestinal conditions of the elderly affect PS bioaccessibility. Therefore, this study evalu...

Human red blood cells (RBCs), senescent or damaged due to particular stress, can be removed by programmed suicidal death, a process called eryptosis. There are various molecular mechanisms underlying eryptosis. The most frequent is the increase in the cytoplasmic concentration of Ca2+ ions, later exposure of erythrocytes to oxidative stress, hypero...

This study evaluates the influence of increasing bile salts and the addition of key enzymes of the lipidic metabolism in the INFOGEST digestion method on sterol bioaccessibility from a plant sterol (PS)-enriched beverage. The assayed modifications were increasing concentration of bovine bile salts (10 vs. 17.5mM), and addition of gastric lipase (GL...

Plant sterols and stanols (PS) are well known for their cholesterol-lowering effect by reducing intestinal absorption of cholesterol. However, genetic factors modulate the low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) response to PS therapy. This review examines clinical trials evaluating the impact of the main genes associated with response of plasm...

The INFOGEST digestion method was adapted for the evaluation of sterol bioaccessibility in a plant sterol (PS)-enriched beverage. Recent modifications of the method, such as the addition of gastric lipase and cholesterol esterase, showed that the presence of sterols in digestion reagents has an important role on sterol bioaccessibility. However, th...

Background: Phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization out of the membrane facilitates the eryptotic erythrocytes (EE) binding to endothelial cells (EC), potentially leading to atherosclerosis. Thus, the levels of eryptosis and interactions of EE-EC in hypercholesterolemic patients either non-medicated or medicated, compared with healthy subjects wer...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of bioaccessible fractions (BFs) obtained by the internationally standardized INFOGEST static digestion method to Sicilian honeys of three distinct floral origins (Sulla, Thistle and Dill) and the Manuka honey (gold standard), and to compare their effects based on total polyphenol...

Plant sterols (PS) (phytosterols and phytostanols) are bioactive compounds of all vegetable foods where can be found as free sterol alcohols and as conjugates. These latter forms have been less studied, although they may have potential beneficial effects, whereas some PS have several approved health claims, especially in lowering blood cholesterol...

Plant sterol-enriched foods have proved to lower serum total and low-density lipoproteins-cholesterol concentration, so they have faced a great increase in the market over the past 20 years through accepted health claims. This chapter provides an overall and critical picture on the current knowledge and future perspectives regarding bioaccessibilit...

The low bioavailability of iron is one factor that contributes to its deficiency in the human diet. For this reason, it is necessary to find compounds that can form iron chelates so that these can be added to foods that contain iron to improve its bioavailability at the intracellular level. In this study, we assessed the relationship between bovine...

Unabsorbed cholesterol, along with that of bile secretions and flaked colon cells, can be metabolized by colonic microbiota. The generated metabolites have been proposed as promoters of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, the cytotoxicity (MTT assay) of the main commercially available cholesterol-derived metabolites (coprostanol, cholestanol, c...

Mandarin juice is a rich source of antioxidant bioactive compounds. While the content and profile of bioactives are known, the impact of high-pressure processing (HPP) on their stability and bioaccessibility (BA) is unknown, but may allow obtaining safe, nutritious, and fresh-tasting juices with highly extractable bioactive compounds. The stability...

Iron deficiencies continue to cause significant health problems in vulnerable populations. A good strategy to combat mineral deficiency includes fortification with iron-binding peptides. This research aims to determine the optimal conditions to hydrolyze red tilapia viscera (RTV) using Alcalase 2.4 L and recovery of iron-binding protein hydrolysate...

Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves and tea (Camellia sinensis) are rich sources of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols. Our previous studies have evidenced the potential use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a natural delivery system for these antioxidants and a means to improve their bioaccessibility in the human gut. In the present work, the an...

Olive (Olea europaea L.) leaves and tea (Camellia sinensis) are rich sources of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols. Our previous studies have evidenced the potential use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a natural delivery system for these antioxidants and a means to improve their bioaccessibility in the human gut. In the present work, the an...

Bioactive peptides derived from food protein sources have been widely studied in the last years, and scientific researchers have been proving their role in human health, beyond their nutritional value. Several bioactivities have been attributed to these peptides, such as immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and opioid. Am...

The antiproliferative effect of the bioaccessible fractions (BFs) of four hydroponic Brassicaceae microgreens (broccoli, kale, mustard and radish) was evaluated on colon cancer Caco-2 cells vs. normal colon CCD18-Co cells after 24 h treatment with BFs diluted 1:10 v/v in cell culture medium. Their bioactivity was compared with the digestion blank,...

Nutritional food labeling has two components, a nutrient declaration on the back-of-package (usually mandatory) and supplementary simple graphical nutrition information on the front-of-package (commonly voluntary), which are aimed at assisting consumers to be aware of the nutritional value of foods in order to make healthy food choices. This is an...

Background/aims: We showed that patho-physiological concentrations of either 7-keto-cholesterol (7-KC), or cholestane-3beta, 5alpha, 6beta-triol (TRIOL) caused the eryptotic death of human red blood cells (RBC), strictly dependent on the early production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The goal of the current study was to assess the contribution...

This study evaluates the impact of two plant sterol (PS) enriched fruit beverages (0.6 g /100 ml), without (MfB) or with GOS (MfB-G) (1.2 g/100 ml) on the resistance against oxidative stress induced by non-conventional (cholesterol oxidation products (COPs)) and conventional (H2O2) oxidant compounds, as well as their impact on C. elegans longevity....

Plant sterol (PS) (1g/100mL) enriched milk-based fruit beverages with or without galactooligosaccharides (GOS) (1.8 g/100mL) were used in differentiated Caco-2 cells. Their potential cytopreventive effect against oxidative stress induced by cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) and their anti-inflammatory properties were evaluated. Pre-incubation (...

Microgreens constitute an emerging class of fresh, healthy foods due to their nutritional composition. In this study the content of minerals and antioxidant bioactive compounds, and for the first time bioaccessibility, were evaluated in broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Plenck), green curly kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.), red...

The potential anti-inflammatory effect of plant sterols (PS) enriched milk-based fruit beverages (PS, 1 g/100 mL) (MfB) with/without galactooligosaccharides (GOS, 2 g/100 mL) (MfB-G) in an experimental mice model of chronic ulcerative colitis was evaluated. Beverages were orally administered to mice every day by gavage to achieve PS and GOS doses o...

The aim of this study was to assess the effect of temperature, solvent (hydroethanolic mixtures) and pH on the recovery of individual phenolic compounds from “horchata” by-products. These parameters were optimized by response surface methodology and triple-TOF-LC-MS-MS was selected as the analytical tool to identify and quantify the individual comp...

The antioxidant capacity of red tilapia viscera hydrolysates (RTVH) with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH) as well as their ultrafiltration membrane fractions, were analyzed using different chemical assays. Their protective effects against oxidative stress were evaluated using H 2 O 2 -stressed human intestinal differentiated Caco-2. The highest...

A review is made of the influence of processing on the bioaccessibility/bioavailability of macrominerals (Ca, P, Mg and K) and microminerals (Fe, Cu, Zn and Se). In vegetable foods, household processes (dehulling, soaking, germination and fermentation) alone or with thermal processing increase mineral bioaccessibility, mainly referred to Fe, Cu, Zn...

Breast, prostate, and colon cancer account for the highest incidents of all cancers in the human population. Plant extracts, used as food or in traditional medicine, contain different phytochemicals (including phytosterols) that could exert anticarcinogenic effects. Plant extracts comprise a complex series of bioactive compounds, with a low percent...

Combining natural products as co-adjuvants in 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy might enhance the effectiveness of 5-FU by avoiding a high dosage and/or reducing treatment times. We explored the anticancer efficacy of the phytosterols (PS) at concentrations achievable in the human colon, as well as their potential as sensitizing agents of human co...

Cigarette smoking has been linked with oxidative stress and inflammation. In turn, eryptosis, the suicidal erythrocyte death similar to apoptosis that can be triggered by oxidative stress, has been associated with chronic inflammatory diseases including atherosclerosis. However, the link between smoking and eryptosis has not been explored so far. T...

Dietary interventions may effectively control cancer development, with phytosterols (PS) being a class of cancer chemopreventive dietary phytochemicals. The present study, for the first time, evaluates the antiproliferative effects of a PS-ingredient used for the enrichment of several foods and its main PS, β-sitosterol, at physiological serum leve...

The hypocholesterolemic effect and the modification of serum biomarkers of dietary plant sterols (PS) intake, cholesterol precursors and cytokines after the consumption of a PS-enriched milk-based fruit beverage with milk fat globule membrane was evaluated. Daily diet of post-menopausal women (n=38) was supplemented with 2 g of PS added to 250 mL o...

The effect of the addition of galactooligosaccharides (GOS) upon sterol bioaccessibility in three plant sterol (PS)-enriched milk-based fruit beverages (without GOS addition (MfB) and with 2.5 g (MfB-G2) and 5.0 g of GOS/250 mL (MfB-G5)) was evaluated after micellar gastrointestinal digestion. Cholesterol bioaccessibility was very similar among bev...

The eryptotic and hemolytic effects of a phytosterol (PS) mixture (β-sitosterol, campesterol, stigmasterol) and/or β-cryptoxanthin (β-Cx) at physiological serum concentration and their effect against oxidative stress induced by tert-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH) (75 and 300 µM) were evaluated. β-Cryptoxanthin produced an increase in eryptotic cells, c...

Plant sterols (PS) have been incorporated to foods due to their cholesterol-lowering effect. Because of their low intestinal absorption (0.5–2%), they can reach the colon and exert local actions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferative effect of individual (β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol) and combined PS in colon can...

Fruit pulps from Navel (N) and Cara Cara (CC) oranges, and Clementine mandarin freshly harvested (M) and refrigerated stored (M12) were used to evaluate the cytoprotective effect of their bioaccessible fractions (BF) against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells. BF of samples preserved viability vs. H2O2 treated cells, reaching values simi...

Polyphenols, ascorbic acid content and antioxidant activity of two sweet oranges (Navel-N and Cara Cara-CC) and mandarin (Clementine-M) as well as their bioaccessibilities were evaluated in pulps and compared to those in fresh juice. Thus, pulps of oranges and mandarins displayed higher hesperidin (HES), narirutin (NAR), total flavonoids (TF), tota...

Antioxidant capacity (AC), total phenolics (TPs), furan compounds (HMF and furfural F) and cytoprotective/cytotoxic effects upon Caco-2 cells (MTT, cell cycle and reactive oxygen species (ROS)) were evaluated in Colombian coffee (2 ground and 4 soluble samples). The AC (ABTS and FRAP), TPs and HMF ranged between 124–722, 95–802 μmoles Trolox/g, 21–...

Sterol oxidation products (SOPs) have shown cytotoxic effect in human intestinal cells; however, their effect within a food matrix has not been assayed yet. This study evaluated the possible cytotoxic effect of SOPs within bioaccessible fractions (BFs) of two milk-based fruit beverages with (BFA)/without (BFB) plant sterols in differentiated Caco-2...

The intake of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced incidence of many chronic diseases. These foods contain phytochemicals that often possess antioxidant and free radical scavenging capacity and show anti-inflammatory action, which are also the basis of other bioactivities and health benefits, such as anticancer, anti-aging, and protecti...

Finding alternatives for food fortification in a bioavailable form of iron is needed because iron deficiency leads to several diseases. Iron solubility and in vitro iron absorption were evaluated in free and complexed forms, as iron salts or peptide-iron complexes. Whey peptide-iron complexes were synthesized with various ligands (whey protein hydr...

Sterols in foods are susceptible to oxidation to form oxysterols. It is interesting for consumer health to know real intake and the possible associated adverse effects associated to oxysterols. This study measured oxysterol formation and bioaccessibility (BA) in a plant sterol (PS)-enriched milk-based fruit beverage with milk fat globule membrane (...

Health benefits of bioactive compounds depends not only on the intake levels but also on their bioavailability (BAv). In vitro methods to simulate gastro-intestinal digestion allow to determine the bioaccessibility (BAcs) of these compounds, as a first step of BAv, and can be used to evaluate the effect of processing on them to design functional fo...

Background. In vitro digestion models show great promise in facilitating the rationale design of foods. This paper provides a look into the current state of the art and outlines possible future paths for developments of digestion models recreating the diverse physiological conditions of specific groups of the human population. Scope and Approach....

Cereals are a staple food in both developed and developing countries, and are considered to be the best vehicle for iron and calcium fortification, as an important strategy for combating dietary deficits. Inadequate dietary intake of iron and calcium is related to a number of disease conditions such as anemia, osteoporosis, hypertension, and differ...

Sterol bioaccessibility (BA) of three plant sterol (PS)-enriched milk-based fruit beverages (MFb) with different fat contents (1.1-2.4%), lipid sources (animal or vegetable), and without or with emulsifiers (whey proteins enriched with milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), or soy lecithin) was evaluated after simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The B...

Polar lipid (PL) contents in human milk (HM) from two different geographic zones in Spain (central and coastal) were determined. These PLs were also analysed in several infant formulas (IFs), three of which contained milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), an ingredient used to resemble the PL profile of HM. Total PL in HM decreased significantly (p < 0....

Calcium’s importance in health and disease is clear when listing its multiple roles in the body, which include building strong bones and teeth, vascular calcification, muscle function, hormonal regulation and maintaining a normal heartbeat. This book will examine these roles and will also cover areas such as chemical analysis, sources of calcium ba...

The bioaccessibility (BA) of total and individual plant sterols (PS) of four commercial PS-enriched fermented milk beverages (designated as A to D) was evaluated using in vitro gastrointestinal digestion including the formation of mixed micelles. The fat content of the samples ranged from 1.1 to 2.2% (w/w), and PS enrichment was between 1.5 and 2.9...

The composition of human milk has served as a basis for the development of infant formulas, which are used when breastfeeding is not possible. Among the human milk nutrients, 50% of the total energetic value corresponds to fat, with a high level of fatty acids and 0.2-2.0% present in the form of phospholipids (PLs). The PL contents and fatty acid d...

Citrus fruits are a good source of carotenoids for the human diet; however, comparative studies of carotenoids in different citrus food matrices are scarce. In this work the concentration and bioaccessibility of carotenoids in sweet oranges and mandarins with marked differences in carotenoid composition were evaluated in pulp and compared to those...

Various secondary plant metabolites or phytochemicals, including polyphenols and carotenoids, have been associated with a variety of health benefits, such as reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes, cardio-vascular diseases, and several types of cancer, most likely due to their involvement in ameliorating inflammatory and oxidative stress. However, di...

This study for the first time compares the in vivo (response in serum from individuals of an interventional study) and in vitro effects (bioaccessibility determined from simulated gastrointestinal digestion) of two plant sterol (PS)-enriched milk-based fruit beverages (with and without tangerine fruit juice rich in β-cryptoxanthin (β-Cx)) in order...

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic enteropathy of immune origin triggered by gluten and some other cereal-related proteins in genetically predisposed individuals. Increasing data started to appear reinforcing the need to maintain adequate macro- and micronutrient intake as well as vitamins and naturally occurring prebiotic fructans that appear defici...

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional deficiency in humans. Not all dietary ingested iron, heme or non-heme, will be available to absorption and negative imbalance between iron requirements and absorption leads to iron deficiency and/or anemia. The recommended iron values usually are based on the genetic and on diet iron-bioavailabi...

The bioavailability of ingested components is an extremely important area of food and pharmaceutical research. The main issue is to determine which fraction of ingested nutrients or food pollutants can be truly used by the body and exert its healthy or deleterious effects. In this sense, knowledge of bioavailability is essential to estimate the qua...

β-cryptoxanthin (β-Cx) and phytosterols (Ps) have potential against different cancer types, including colon cancer. However, their combined action has not been reported so far. Human colon cancer Caco-2 cells were treated 24 h with β-Cx and/or main dietary Ps (β-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol), alone or in combination, at concentrations c...

Several in vitro methods have been developed to simulate the physiological conditions of the human gastrointestinal digestion, the simplest being the static methods. The following chapter clarifies the concepts of bioaccessibility and dialyzability, and describes the conditions (pH, enzymes, agitation, etc.) to be applied in oral, gastric and intes...

The aim of this article is to provide an overall view of lipids and fat-soluble compounds involved in human biology. A description of the chemical composition of major and minor lipid classes in fats and oils is provided, together with their metabolism and biological functions in the organism. A picture of main food sources and dietary recommendati...

Background/Aims: Oxysterol activity on the erythrocyte (RBC) programmed cell death (eryptosis) had not been studied yet. Effects of an oxysterol mixture in hyper-cholesterolemic-relevant proportion, and of individual compounds, were investigated on RBCs from healthy humans. Methods: Membrane phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, calcium entry, R...

The consumption of antioxidant-rich foods, e.g. vegetables and fruits, has been linked to a lessened risk of chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular disorders. Fruit juices can be as effective as fruits and vegetables in decreasing this risk. Indeed, fruit juices can be considered natural functional foods since beyond their...