Validation of a food-frequency questionnaire for measurement of nutrient intake in a dietary intervention study

OBJECTIVE: To validate a 171-item semi-quantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for measurement of nutrient intake in an intervention trial based on walnut supplementation. DESIGN AND SETTING: Free-living adults from Southern California were randomly assigned to either an intervention (walnut-supplemented) or a control diet. The prescribed 6-month intervention was > or = 28 g of walnuts per […]

Antioxidant phytochemicals in hazelnut kernel (Corylus avellana L.) and hazelnut byproducts.

Antioxidant efficacies of ethanol extracts of defatted raw hazelnut kernel and hazelnut byproducts (skin; hard shell; green leafy cover; and tree leaf) were evaluated by monitoring total antioxidant activity (TAA) and free-radical scavenging activity tests [hydrogen peroxide; superoxide radical; and 2;2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical]; together with antioxidant activity in a beta-carotene-linoleate model system; inhibition of oxidation […]

Scalping of flavors in packaged foods.

Food packaging, although an integral part of the food chain, has a major drawback in that, often, the packaging material interacts with the flavor constituents of the food, causing either a selective or an extensive loss of desirable food flavors or absorption of undesirable off-flavors from the packaging material, thereby resulting in an eventual loss […]

Selenium and Aflatoxin levels in raw Brazil nuts from the Amazon Basin.

Whereas selenium (Se) is an important antioxidant in human metabolism to prevent cancer; aflatoxins are highly carcinogenic. Brazil nuts from Eastern and Western Amazon regions were evaluated to find any relationship between Se and aflatoxins levels. A total of 80 (in-shell and shelled) nuts samples were collected directly from different forest sites and analyzed for […]

Long-term adoption of a Mediterranean diet is associated with a better health status in elderly people; a cross-sectional survey in Cyprus

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that there are protective health effects from diets which are high in fruits; vegetables; legumes; and whole grains; and which include fish; nuts; and low-fat dairy products. We sought to investigate the association of Mediterranean diet on clinical status of 150 elderly men and women. METHODS: During 2004 – 2005; […]

Walnut extract (Juglans regia L.) and its component ellagic acid exhibit anti-inflammatory activity in human aorta endothelial cells and osteoblastic activity in the cell line KS483.

Epidemiological studies suggest that the incidence of CVD and postmenopausal osteoporosis is low in the Mediterranean area; where herbs and nuts; among others; play an important role in nutrition. In the present study; we sought a role of walnuts (Juglans regia L.) in endothelial and bone-cell function. As the endothelial cell expression of adhesion molecules […]

Antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of grapes; sun-dried raisins; and golden raisins and their effect on ex vivo serum antioxidant capacity.

Grapes and raisins provide phenolic antioxidants; which contribute to their potential health benefits. The objectives of this study were to compare the antioxidant capacity and phenolic content of green Thompson seedless grapes (the most common variety of grapes consumed in the United States); sun-dried raisins; and golden raisins (both produced from Thompson seedless grapes) and […]

Elemental composition and chemical characteristics of five edible nuts (almond; Brazil; pecan; macadamia and walnut) consumed in Southern Africa.

The total elemental concentrations and proximate chemical composition of five different tree nuts; almond (Prunus dulcus); Brazil (Bertholletia excelsa); pecan (Carya pecan); macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia) and walnut (Juglans nigra) that are consumed in South African households were investigated. In addition; six physicochemical properties of the extracted nut oils; namely acid value; iodine value; saponification value; […]