Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
antioxidants. However, the increased intake of refined food and deficient intake of
fresh fruits and vegetables among Westerners has led to a significant reduction in
both density and diversity of the flora. This reduction is especially pronounced for
strong fiber-fermenting lactic acid bacteria (LAB), such as
Lactobacillus plantarum
and
L. paracasei;
75 percent of omnivorous Americans and 25 percent of vegetar-
ians in the United States lack
L. plantarum.
108
A more recent Scandinavan study
found
L. plantarum
in only 52 percent
and
L. paracasei
in only 17 percent of healthy
individuals.
109
This information is particularly interesting as
L. plantarum
and
L.
paracasei
belong to the small group of intestinal bacteria with ability to break down
semiresistant fibers, such as inulin,
110
reduce inflammation, reduce infection, and
eliminate pathogenic bacteria, such as
Clostridium difficile.111
.
111
Some LAB may well
have the ability to eliminate AGEs/ALEs from foods, similar to what has been dem-
onstrated for gluten
112
and heterocyclic amines.
113
In vitro
studies have shown that
fructoselysine, the dominating AGE in heated milk, can be effectively eliminated
when incubated with fresh intestinal flora.114
114
7.12 FuTurE AsPECTs
Recent studies in the United States demonstrate an 83 percent reduction in rate
of coronary heart disease,
115
a 91 percent reduction in diabetes in women,
116
and a
71 percent reduction in colon cancer in men
117
in patients adhering to what today is
regarded as an “healthy lifestyle”: no use of tobacco, moderate use of alcohol, regular
physical exercise, and controlled eating. To these four factors should be added control
of stress. Numerous studies demonstrate that both physical and mental stress increase
the degree of inflammation in the body and activate RAGE.
118 -120
It is likely that con-
trol of both intake and endogenous production of AGEs/ALEs might further add to a
healthy lifestyle and further improve health and well-being. It is unfortunate that only
a small fraction of us will give priority to issues related to active control of health and
prevention of disease. A recent study in the United States suggests that only a small
minority of 3 percent adhere to the four principles mentioned above.
121
Among these
are mainly individuals who are otherwise fortunate in life, have a higher education,
and a good financial status. Those who have low income and low level of education,
including their children, are reported to be about 50 percent more unhealthy.
Too long have we ignored measures to control health by referring to the impor-
tance of genetic factors, which we thought we could not do much about. However, the
message from numerous studies in monocygotic twins and in immigrants, especially
Japanese and Italians, where one immigrated to the United States while the other
remained in the home country is clear: lifestyle is significantly more important for
health than genetic inheritance. The message from the winners of the 2006 Nobel
prize in medicine and physiology is encouraging: it might well be possible to silence
genes which might have a negative influence on health. Increasing evidence sug-
gests that control of exaggerated systemic inflammation in the body is of the greatest
importance for sustained health. For this, diet is a necessary, easily accessible, and
most powerful tool.
