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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BHNRC) » Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center » Food Components and Health Laboratory » Research » Research Project #426315

Research Project: Absorption, Metabolism, and Health Impacts of Bioactive Food Components

Location: Food Components and Health Laboratory

Project Number: 8040-51000-056-000-D
Project Type: In-House Appropriated

Start Date: May 9, 2014
End Date: Apr 29, 2019

Objective:
Diet is a lifestyle factor that is fairly easy to change and can have a significant impact on health. The human diet contains thousands of bioactive food components which have a multitude of physiologic actions, some of which can interrupt processes in the development of a host of chronic diseases. The goal of this project plan is to enhance the understanding of biological actions of food-based bioactive compounds to improve their efficacy in promoting health and preventing disease. We have organized the research team to broadly address the main factors affecting health benefits of dietary bioactive compounds: how much is in the food (content), how much we absorb from the food and how well we retain it (bioavailability/metabolism/elimination), and how the bioactive compounds work in the body (mechanisms of action). With respect to content, we intend to address agricultural practices that impact the amount of bioactive compounds present in crops and how to extend the shelf life of agricultural products. With respect to bioavailability, metabolism, and elimination, we intend to study both phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of individuals that impact the body’s nutrient handling. With respect to mechanisms of action, we will address reduction of risk for cancer, as well as other obesity related diseases. Bioactive compounds will include polyphenols, carotenoids, and sulfur compounds, because all demonstrate promising health benefits, and work with these compounds capitalizes on previous progress in our laboratory. Objective 1. Delineate bioavailability, pathways of metabolism, and rates of elimination of bioactive substances from common foods (e.g., polyphenols, sulfur compounds, and other compounds as appropriate), and identify characteristics of humans that influence the body’s utilization of those bioactive substances. Objective 2. Determine the impact of bioactive substances from common foods (e.g., polyphenols, sulfur compounds, and other compounds as appropriate) on markers of cancer risk in human and cell models. Objective 3. Elucidate efficacy of bioactive substances from common foods (e.g. polyphenols, sulfur compounds, and other compounds as appropriate) on risk factors for diseases related to obesity. Objective 4. Determine the impact of food composition heterogeneity (as influenced by genetics, environment, and agricultural production) on the variability in response of biomarkers of chronic disease to consumption of specific bioactive substances and its interaction with an individual’s nutrigenomic profile. Objective 5. Determine the impact of agriculture, food production, and post-harvest practices on bioactive component content and variability, nutrient-nutrient interactions, and shelf life, with emphasis on fruits and vegetables.

Approach:
Epidemiological studies have shown that diets high in fruits and vegetables are associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases. However, the scientific foundation necessary to translate these epidemiological findings into dietary recommendations is weak. Studies will be conducted to determine the effect of postharvest processing on phytonutrient content. The initial focus of the postharvest studies will be leaf lettuce and tomatoes, and these studies will be expanded to include kale, spinach, swiss chard, and/or strawberries. Several studies will be conducted on phytonutrient (anthocyanins) bioavailability and metabolism. Methods will be developed to isotopically label quercetin in lettuce and isoflavones in soy. The influence of phytonutrients on biomarkers of chronic disease will be investigated, with an initial focus on phytonutrients found in garlic due to possible roles in cancer prevention. Genotyping will be included in clinical studies whenever sufficient scientific justification exists. This research will be conducted through plant growth and postharvest studies, human feeding trials, quantitative and qualitative chemistry, molecular biology, and kinetic mathematical modeling techniques. Information generated from this project can be used to develop recommendations for dietary intakes of phytonutrients that will improve health and reduce risk of chronic disease.