Jeffrey B. Blumberg

Tufts University | Tufts · Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging

Dietary supplements for weight management include myriad ingredients with thermogenic, lipotropic, satiety, and other metabolic effects. Recently, the safety of this product category has been questioned. In this review, we summarize the safety evidence as well as relevant clinical findings on weight management and metabolic effects of six represent...

Polypharmacy regimens may increase the susceptibility of older adults to micronutrient inadequacy and deficiency via impairment of nutritional status. We hypothesized that a multi-vitamin-mineral supplement (MVMS) could improve nutritional status in older adults prescribed diuretics, metformin, and/or proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). We conducted a r...

This cross‐sectional study analyzed the impact of occupational waste anesthetic gases on genetic material, oxidative stress and inflammation status in young physicians exposed to inhalational anesthetics at the end of their medical residency. Concentrations of waste anesthetic gases were measured in the operating rooms to assess anesthetic pollutio...

Objectives: To assess whether plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress predict diffusion-perfusion mismatch in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: We measured plasma levels of oxidative stress biomarkers such as F2-isoprostanes (F2-isoPs), total and perchloric acid Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORACTOT and ORACPCA), urinary le...

Fruit and vegetables (F&V) have been a cornerstone of healthy dietary recommendations; the 2015–2020 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that F&V constitute one-half of the plate at each meal. F&V include a diverse collection of plant foods that vary in their energy, nutrient, and dietary bioactive contents. F&V have potential health-pr...

Almond skins are a waste byproduct of blanched almond production. Polyphenols extracted from almond skins possess antioxidant activities in vitro and in vivo. Thus, we examined the pharmacokinetic profile of almond skin polyphenols (ASP) and their effect on measures of oxidative stress. In a randomized crossover trial, seven adults consumed two acu...

Purpose: We studied the health benefits of low calorie cranberry beverage consumption on glucoregulation, oxidative damage, inflammation, and lipid metabolism in overweight but otherwise healthy humans. Methods: 78 overweight or obese men and women (30-70 years; BMI 27-35 kg/m2) with abdominal adiposity (waist: hip > 0.8 for women and > 0.9 for...

Purpose: Almonds have shown to beneficially modify some cardiovascular risk factors in clinical trials conducted in diverse ethnic populations but this relationship has never been tested in Koreans. Thus, we tested the impact of almonds consumed as a snack within the context of a typical Korean diet on cardiovascular risk factors. Methods: We co...

Evidence from observational and intervention studies has shown a high intake of tree nuts is associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), mortality from type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and all-cause mortality. However, there is limited data regarding their effects on indicators of cardiometabolic risk other than hypercholesterolemia, and...

Background and purpose: Oxidative stress is an early response to cerebral ischemia and is likely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemic injury. We sought to evaluate whether hyperacute plasma concentrations of biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue damage predict infarct growth (IG). Methods: We pros...

Background Consumption of almonds or dark chocolate and cocoa has favorable effects on markers of coronary heart disease; however, the combined effects have not been evaluated in a well‐controlled feeding study. The aim of this study was to examine the individual and combined effects of consumption of dark chocolate and cocoa and almonds on markers...

The health-promoting effects of phenolic compounds depend on their bioaccessibility from the food matrix and their consequent bioavailability. We carried out a randomized crossover pilot clinical trial to evaluate the matrix effect (raw flesh and juice) of ‘Ataulfo’ mango on the bioavailability of its phenolic compounds. Twelve healthy male subject...

Oat avenanthramides (AVAs) are a group of phenolic alkaloids, consisting of an anthranilic acid and a hydroxycinnamic acid linked by a pseudo-peptide bond. Bioavailability of AVA is poor in humans, suggesting transformations for rapid excretion. Thus, we aim to identify metabolites of AVA isomers in plasma of humans after consuming AVA-enriched oat...

The effects of hydroethanolic extract of Yacon leaves (HEYL) on antioxidant, glycemic, and inflammatory biomarkers were tested in diabetic rats. Outcome parameters included glucose, insulin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and hydrophilic antioxidant capacity (HAC) in serum and IL-6, HAC, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during ultraviolet (UV) light exposure can induce skin damage and aging. Antioxidants can provide protection against oxidative injury to skin via “quenching” ROS. Using a validated 3-dimensional (3D) human skin equivalent (HSE) tissue model that closely mimics human skin, we examined whether pistachio antioxi...

Antioxidants play a vital role in reproductive health and fertility. The local cellular environment influences oocyte development, ovulation, successful fertilization, and maintenance of early pregnancy. An offset of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cellular oxidative stress can adversely affect function of reproductive organs and fertility. R...

While dietary fiber plays an important role in the health benefits associated with whole grain consumption, other ingredients concentrated in the outer bran layer, including alkylresorcinols, lignans, phenolic acids, phytosterols, and tocols, may also contribute to these outcomes. To determine the acute bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of the m...

Shalgam juice is a dark red-colored and sour fermented beverage produced and consumed in Turkey. The main ingredient of shalgam juice is black carrot, which is rich in anthocyanins. In this study, commercially available shalgam juice was characterized by determining its chemical composition and antioxidant capacity and by identifying its microflora...

Recent advances in cranberry research have expanded the evidence for the role of this Vaccinium berry fruit in modulating gut microbiota function and cardiometabolic risk factors. The A-type structure of cranberry proanthocyanidins seems to be responsible for much of this fruit's efficacy as a natural antimicrobial. Cranberry proanthocyanidins inte...

Evidence from in vitro and observational studies indicates tree nuts may reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), though support from controlled feeding trials is limited. Most nut intervention studies to date have counseled subjects to incorporate nuts into their usual diet, an approach that can neither...

Early exposures that promote gut microbiome dysbiosis are associated with childhood and adult disease. The ability of whole (vs refined) grains to enhance gut microbiome composition and function and host immunometabolic health remains controversial. We assessed the impact of whole vs refined wheat on gut microbiome maturation in Sprague Dawley rats...

Tyrosol (Tyr), a phenolic present in olive oil and wine, is converted to hydroxytyrosol (Hty) via hepatic phase I enzymes in vitro and in vivo . Tyr and Hty possess an array of potential bioactions, including antioxidant, cardioprotectant, antitumor, antimicrobial, antidiabetic and neuroprotection. However, the relative efficacy of these 2 compound...

Dysfunction of tight junctions in the intestinal barrier promotes enhanced antigen uptake, bacteria translocation, and induction of abnormal immune responses, which contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease and necrotizing enterocolitis. Tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNFα) is a key proinflammatory cytokine regulating the function and...

Grape pomace (GP) derived from wine production is rich in glycosidic phenolics which may possess a lower bioefficacy than their respective aglycones. Thus, we examined whether GP treated with Paecilomyces variotii tannin acyl hydrolase (tannase) to hydrolyze the ester and the depside bonds between conjugates and phenolics enhances anti‐inflammatory...

Avenanthramides (AVs) are phytochemicals unique to oats consisting of an anthranilic acid and hydroxycinnamic acid linked by a pseudo‐peptide bond. We have demonstrated AV bioavailability to be low in hamsters and humans, suggesting they may be metabolized by phase II enzymes to facilitate their rapid excretion. Thus, we sought to identify the pres...

A high glucose (Glu) milieu promotes generation of reactive oxygen species, which may not only cause cellular damage, but also modulate phase II enzymes that are responsible for the metabolism of flavonoids. Thus, we examined the effect of a high Glu milieu on quercetin (Q) metabolism in HepG2 cells. HepG2 cells were grown for 3 days in Glu ranging...

Pure fruit juices provide nutritional value with evidence suggesting some of their benefits on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk may be derived from their constituent polyphenols, particularly flavonoids. However, few data from clinical trials are available on the dose-response relationship of fruit juice flavonoids to these outcomes. Utili...

The lack of a biomarker for the consumption of cranberries has confounded the interpretation of several studies investigating the effect of cranberry products, especially juices, on health outcomes. The objectives of this pilot study were to develop a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometric method for the quantification of the proanthocyani...

Almonds reduce cardiovascular disease risk via cholesterol reduction, anti-inflammation, glucoregulation, and antioxidation. The objective of this randomized, controlled, cross-over trial was to determine whether the addition of 85 g almonds daily to a National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Step 1 diet (ALM) for 6 weeks would improve vascula...

Alkylresorcinols (AR) are phenolic lipids present in the bran of wheat and rye. Plasma AR and their urinary metabolites may be suitable biomarkers of whole-grain (WG) wheat and rye consumption. The objective of this study was to examine plasma AR and urinary AR metabolites in response to WG wheat consumption. In a randomized crossover study, 19 sub...

Dietary polyphenols in plant foods are associated with many health benefits but generally have very low bioavailability after consumption. Providing these bioactive nutrients via nanosized colloidal carriers such as polymeric nanoparticles offers a novel strategy for improving their absorption from food products. The attributes of polymeric nanopar...

Constituents of whole wheat, such as fiber, phytosterols, and phenolic acids, may act to reduce the development of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). This study examined whether the addition of whole wheat rusk would ameliorate risk factors of MetS in male Wistar rats induced by human snack foods (SF). Seventeen highly palatable, energy dense SF were mixed...

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated principally by irradiation from ultraviolet light (UV) exposure mediate many pathways leading to skin damage and skin aging. Antioxidants provide protection against oxidative injury to the skin through “quenching” ROS. Pistachios contain several antioxidants, including β‐carotene, lutein, anthocyanins, and γ‐...

Abstract Whole wheat contains an array of phytochemicals. We quantified alkylresorcinols (AR), phenolic acids, phytosterols, and tocols in six whole wheat products and characterized their antioxidant capacity and ability to induce quinone reductase activity (QR). Total AR content ranged from 136.8 to 233.9 µg/g and was correlated with whole wheat c...

Jeffrey B. Blumberg1*, Bradley W. Bolling2, C. Y. Oliver Chen1 and Hang Xiao3 1Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, 711 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA. 2Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1605 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA. 3Department of Food Science, University of Massachuse...

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Angelica keiskei is a green leafy vegetable rich in plant pigment phytochemicals such as flavonoids and carotenoids. This study examined bioavailability of flavonoids and carotenoids in Angelica keiskei and the alteration of the antioxidant performance in vivo. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS Absorption kinetics of phytochemicals in A...

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States and other developed countries, and is fast growing in developing countries, particularly as life expectancy in all parts of the world increases. Current recommendations for the prevention of cardiovascular diseaseissued jointly from the American Academy...

Abstract To investigate the effect of phenolics in mulberry leaves (mulberry leaf phenolics; MLP) on hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) in HepG2 cells; we treated HepG2 with glucose [5.5 (N-Glc) or 50 mmol/L (Hi-Glc)] with or without MLP at 10 or 100 µmol/L gallic acid equivalents and assessed level of...

Background Almonds are a healthy tree nut food with high nutrient density. Their consumption has been shown to ameliorate oxidative stress, inflammation, etc. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of almonds on elements of endurance exercise performance in trained athletes. Methods A 10-week crossover, placebo controlled study was c...

The absence of a validated biomarker of cranberry intake has limited the ability to interpret results from many human studies, particularly long‐term clinical trials examining the effect of cranberries on health outcomes. Cranberries are rich in type A proanthocyanins, a flavonoid found in very few other foods. The objective of this study was to de...

Unabsorbed polyphenols are subject to metabolism catalyzed by colonic microbiota into a wide range of phenolic acids (PA) with implications for gut health. The aim of this study was to develop a reliable, sensitive method for quantification of PA generated from in vitro anaerobic fecal fermentation. Fecal ferment containing 2% fecal matter (w/v) we...

Pistachios ( Pistacia vera L.) contain an array of bioactives including carotenoids, chlorophylls, phenolics, and tocols. The content of these constituents has not been methodically quantified. Our objective was to optimize extraction protocols for lipophilic nutrients and then quantify the content of 20 bioactives (2 phenolic acids, 9 flavonoids,...

Lutein bioavailability is influenced by dietary fat which facilitates absorption via micelles. Permeable support systems are employed in in vitro nutrient absorption studies but data are absent on whether this approach generates results more relevant to in vivo absorption than a monolayer system (MONO). We used Caco‐2 colorectal cells to compare th...

Few studies are available on the putative cardioprotective role of cranberry juice. We studied the health benefits of chronic cranberry beverage consumption on glucoregulation and cholesterol metabolism in overweight but otherwise healthy humans. Seventy eight men and women (30‐70 y) with abdominal adiposity (BMI: 27‐35 kg/m ² ; waist:hip >0.8 for...

Clinical trials with cranberry products have mainly focused on urinary tract health. We studied the effects of chronic cranberry beverage consumption on oxidative damage, inflammation, and endothelial function in overweight but otherwise healthy humans. Seventy eight men and women (30‐70 y) with abdominal adiposity (BMI: 27‐35 kg/m ² ; waist:hip >0...

The content of carotenoids, chlorophylls, phenolics, and tocols in Pistachios (Pistacia vera L.) has not been methodically quantified. The objective of this study was to first optimize extraction protocols for lipophilic nutrients and then quantify the content of 2 phenolic acids, 9 flavonoids, 4 carotenoids, 2 chlorophylls, and 3 tocols in the ski...

White matter hyperintensity (WMH), a common radiographic finding associated with stroke risk and outcome, has been linked to matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and increased levels of oxidative stress in nonstroke populations. We sought to determine whether WMH severity is associated with plasma levels of MMPs and oxidative stress (F2-isoprost...

Recent observational and clinical studies have raised interest in the potential health effects of cranberry consumption, an association that appears to be due to the phytochemical content of this fruit. The profile of cranberry bioactives is distinct from that of other berry fruit, being rich in A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) in contrast to the B-...

To investigate the association between pre-game snacks varying in macronutrient content and exercise intensity, physiological stress, and fatigue in young soccer players. One hour prior to a 50-min soccer game, children (n=79; 9.1 ± 0.8 y) were randomly assigned to consume a raisin-, peanut butter-, or cereal-based snack. Body mass index, blood glu...

Walnut consumption improves cardiovascular disease risk; however, to our knowledge, the contribution of individual walnut components has not been assessed. This study evaluated the acute consumption of whole walnuts (85 g), separated nut skins (5.6 g), de-fatted nutmeat (34 g), and nut oil (51 g) on postprandial lipemia, endothelial function, and o...

Alkylresorcinols (AR) are phenolic lipids present in the bran of whole grains, particularly in wheat and rye kernels. AR may serve as a biomarker of whole grain intake. While AR pharmacokinetics and principal end metabolites have been reported, the metabolic pathways contributing to their relatively rapid elimination from the circulation remain to...

Phenolic acids and dietary fiber contribute to the health benefits from consuming plant foods. However, fiber may interact with phenolic acids via an affinity to their functional antioxidant moieties. We tested whether fiber (soluble pectin or insoluble cellulose) under different pH in vitro affects the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) and...

The biological activity of flavonoids is principally exerted by their metabolites formed via phase II enzymes. The activity of these enzymes is subject to the influence of genetic, physiological, and dietary factors. We examined the effect of glucose (Glc) and the anthocyanidin cyanidin‐3‐glucose (C3G) on metabolism of the flavonol quercetin (Q) in...

Almonds are recognized for their cholesterol‐lowering effects and polyphenolic‐rich dark chocolate/cocoa for blood pressure and vascular health benefits. This research seeks to evaluate the individual, additive, and synergistic effects of almonds and/or dark chocolate/cocoa on CVD risk. A randomized, 4‐period, crossover controlled feeding study was...

Objectives: Identifying underlying stroke etiology plays critical role in acute management and secondary prevention strategies. Despite advanced diagnostics, up to 35% of ischemic strokes (IS) remain undetermined. We sought to evaluate the association between IS subtypes and plasma levels of biomarkers as representative of distinct etiologies under...

Objectives: Oxidative stress occurs as part of the earliest response to ischemia and is likely to play an important role in the pathogenesis of ischemic cerebral injury. We sought to evaluate whether hyperacute plasma concentrations of F2-isoprostane (F2-isoP), a biomarker of lipid peroxidation, predict infarct growth (IG), as a mediator of brain d...

There is increasing evidence that nutrition and other lifestyle factors are important in the etiology of reproductive failure. Diet and its constituent antioxidants as well as oxidative stress in females may be influential in the timing and continuation of viable pregnancies. This chapter reviews oxidative stress with particular reference to follic...

Phytochemicals are reported to provide various biological functions leading to the promotion of health as well as the reduced risk of chronic diseases. Fat-soluble plant pigments, carotenoids, are extensively studied micronutrient phytochemicals for their potential health benefits. It is noteworthy that specific carotenoids may be responsible for d...

The insights gained from the last 100 years of vitamin research and applications have contributed substantially to our fundamental understanding of biology and importantly to the promotion of human health. There is no reason to think that the next 100 years will be any less fruitful if we are committed to preparing for them, particularly by changin...