Effect of natural polyphenol on the oxidative stability of pecan oil.
We evaluated the antioxidant activity of natural polyphenols which gives high oxidative stability to the pecan oil. The in vitro DPPH radical scavenging, reducing power and total antioxidant activity of tested antioxidants demonstrated that tannic acid displayed the highest DPPH scavenging activity and provided the largest reducing power. During storage of pecan oil, based on oxidative stability tests, we further evaluated the protective effect of polyphenols and synthetic antioxidants on the oxidative stability of pecan oil. The results showed that caffeic acid inhibited oxidation of pecan oil effectively. Sesamol and catechin showed slight improvement in oxidative stability, while ferulic acid, erucic acid and rutin had no effect. Taken together, compared with synthetic antioxidants (TBHQ, BHT, BHA), caffeic acid was observed to be stronger than BHT and BHA and was close to TBHQ.
Fatty acid profile of pecan nut oils obtained from pressurized n-butane and cold pressing compared with commercial oils.
This short note compares the chemical profile of pecan nut oil samples obtained from pressurized n-butane and cold pressing with two commercial oils. The conventional cold pressing technique yielded 58.9 wt%, while pressurized n-butane yielded from 53 to 65 wt%, being the highest yield at 55 °C, and pressure of 40 bar. The n-butane behaves nearly like a piston fluid within the experimental conditions used. The results showed that the extraction variables had a slight influence on the fatty acid composition of the samples. Extraction with n-butane thus showed to be a promising alternative technique to conventional extraction methods, as very mild operating conditions and eco-friendly solvent can be used to provide good results without any residues in the final product.
Pecan walnut (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch) oil quality and phenolic compounds as affected by microwave and conventional roasting.
In this study, the effects of conventional and microwave roasting on phenolic compounds, free acidity, peroxide value, fatty acid composition and tocopherol content of pecan walnut kernel and oil was investigated. The oil content of pecan kernels was 73.78% for microwave oven roasted at 720 W and 73.56% for conventional oven roasted at 110 °C. The highest free fatty acid content (0.50%) and the lowest peroxide value (2.48 meq O2/kg) were observed during microwave roasting at 720 W. The fatty acid profiles and tocopherol contents of pecan kernel oils did not show significant differences compared to raw samples. Roasting process in microwave oven at 720 W caused the reduction of some phenolic compounds, while the content of gallic acid exhibited a significant increase.
A critical approach to the toxic metal ion removal by hazelnut and almond shells.
The adsorption capacity of ground hazelnut (HS) and almond (AS) shells towards Pb(II) and Cd(II) has been studied at pH = 5, in NaNO3 and NaCl ionic media, in the ionic strength range 0.05-0.5 mol L-1. Kinetic and equilibrium experiments were carried out by using the Differential Pulse Anodic Stripping Voltammetry technique to check the amount of the metal ion removed by HS and AS materials. Different kinetic and equilibrium equations were used to fit experimental data and a statistical study was done to establish the suitable model for the data fitting. A speciation study of the metal ions in solution was also done in order to evaluate the influence of the ionic medium on the adsorption process. TGA-DSC, FT-IR, and SEM-EDX techniques were used to characterize the adsorbent materials. The mechanism of metal ions adsorption was explained on the basis of the results obtained by the metal ions speciation study and the characterization of materials.
The longitudinal impact of probiotic and peanut oral immunotherapy on health‐related quality of life.
BACKGROUND: We previously reported that probiotic and peanut oral immunotherapy (PPOIT) was effective at inducing sustained unresponsiveness compared with placebo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial. This study evaluated the impact of PPOIT on health-related quality of life (HRQL). METHOD: Fifty-one participants (PPOIT 24; placebo 27) from the PPOIT trial completed Food Allergy Quality of Life Questionnaire (FAQLQ-PF) and Food Allergy Independent Measure (FAIM) at pre-treatment, end-of-treatment and 3 months after end-of-treatment. A total of 42 participants (20 PPOIT; 22 placebo) completed measures at 12 months post-treatment. Changes over time in PPOIT and placebo groups were examined by repeated-measures analysis of variance and paired t tests. RESULTS: Probiotic and peanut oral immunotherapy was associated with significant improvement in FAQLQ-PF (F = 3.63, P = .02), with mean difference 0.8 at 3 months post-treatment (P = .05) and 1.3 at 12 months post-treatment (P = .005), exceeding the 0.5 minimal clinically important difference for FAQLQ-PF. For FAIM, mean difference was 0.5 (P = .03) at 3 months and 0.4 (P = .04) at 12 months post-treatment. In placebo group, post-treatment FAQLQ and FAIM remained unchanged from pretreatment. Improvement in FAQLQ-PF and FAIM scores related specifically to acquisition of sustained unresponsiveness rather than to receiving PPOIT treatment or participation in the trial. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic and peanut oral immunotherapy has a sustained beneficial effect on psychosocial impact of food allergy at 3 and 12 months after end-of-treatment. Treatment was not associated with reduced HRQL relative to baseline in either PPOIT or placebo groups, indicating that PPOIT was well tolerated and psychological well-being was not negatively impacted. Improved HRQL was specifically associated with acquisition of sustained unresponsiveness.
Early Introduction of Allergenic Foods for the Prevention of Food Allergy from an Asian Perspective–An APAPARI Consensus Statement.
Emerging evidence for the early introduction of allergenic foods for the prevention of food allergies, such as peanut allergy in Western populations, has led to the recent publication of guidelines in the USA and Europe recommending early peanut introduction for high-risk infants with severe eczema or egg allergy. Peanut allergy is, however, much less prevalent in Asia compared to the West. Varying patterns of food allergy are seen even within Asian countries-such as a predominance of wheat allergy in Japan and Thailand and shellfish allergy in Singapore and the Philippines. Customs and traditions, such as diet and infant feeding practices, also differ between Asian populations. Hence, there are unique challenges in adapting guidelines on early allergenic food introduction to the Asian setting. In this paper, we review the evidence and discuss the possible approaches to guide the timely introduction of allergenic food in high-risk infants in Asia.
Effect of Varying Doses of Epicutaneous Immunotherapy vs Placebo on Reaction to Peanut Protein Exposure Among Patients With Peanut Sensitivity: A Randomized Clinical Trial.
IMPORTANCE: Epicutaneous immunotherapy may have potential for treating peanut allergy but has been assessed only in preclinical and early human trials. OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimal dose, adverse events (AEs), and efficacy of a peanut patch for peanut allergy treatment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Phase 2b double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-ranging trial of a peanut patch in peanut-allergic patients (6-55 years) from 22 centers, with a 2-year, open-label extension (July 31, 2012-July 31, 2014; extension completed September 29, 2016). Patients (n = 221) had peanut sensitivity and positive double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenges to an eliciting dose of 300 mg or less of peanut protein. INTERVENTIONS: Randomly assigned patients (1:1:1:1) received an epicutaneous peanut patch containing 50 μg (n = 53), 100 μg (n = 56), or 250 μg (n = 56) of peanut protein or a placebo patch (n = 56). Following daily patch application for 12 months, patients underwent a double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge to establish changes in eliciting dose. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary efficacy end point was percentage of treatment responders (eliciting dose: ≥10-times increase and/or reaching ≥1000 mg of peanut protein) in each group vs placebo patch after 12 months. Secondary end points included percentage of responders by age strata and treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). RESULTS: Of 221 patients randomized (median age, 11 years [quartile 1, quartile 3: 8, 16]; 37.6% female), 93.7% completed the trial. A significant absolute difference in response rates was observed at month 12 between the 250-μg (n = 28; 50.0%) and placebo (n = 14; 25.0%) patches (difference, 25.0%; 95% CI, 7.7%-42.3%; P = .01). No significant difference was seen between the placebo patch vs the 100-μg patch. Because of statistical testing hierarchical rules, the 50-μg patch was not compared with placebo. Interaction by age group was only significant for the 250-μg patch (P = .04). In the 6- to 11-year stratum, the response rate difference between the 250-μg (n = 15; 53.6%) and placebo (n = 6; 19.4%) patches was 34.2% (95% CI, 11.1%-57.3%; P = .008); adolescents/adults showed no difference between the 250-μg (n = 13; 46.4%) and placebo (n = 8; 32.0%) patches: 14.4% (95% CI, -11.6% to 40.4%; P = .40). No dose-related serious AEs were observed. The percentage of patients with 1 or more TEAEs (largely local skin reactions) was similar across all groups in year 1: 50-μg patch = 100%, 100-μg patch = 98.2%, 250-μg patch = 100%, and placebo patch = 92.9%. The overall median adherence was 97.6% after 1 year; the dropout rate for treatment-related AEs was 0.9%. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In this dose-ranging trial of peanut-allergic patients, the 250-μg peanut patch resulted in significant treatment response vs placebo patch following 12 months of therapy. These findings warrant a phase 3 trial.
Prevention of Food Allergies.
This review summarizes the current state of play with regard to food allergy prevention. Food allergy prevention strategies focused on promoting timely introduction of allergenic foods (predominantly peanut) into the infant diet have recently been introduced in several countries. Additional prevention strategies currently under investigation include optimizing infant vitamin D levels, modulating the gut microbiota through use of probiotics, and preventing eczema to reduce the risk of food sensitization through a damaged skin barrier.
Food Allergy: A review and update on epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, prevention and management.
This review provides general information to serve as a primer for those embarking on understanding food allergy and also details advances and updates in epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment that have occurred over the four years since our last comprehensive review. Although firm prevalence data are lacking, there is a strong impression that food allergy has increased, and rates as high as ∼10% have been documented. Genetic, epigenetic and environmental risk factors are being increasingly elucidated, opening the potential for improved prevention and treatment strategies targeted to those at risk. Insights on pathophysiology are revealing a complex interplay of epithelial barrier, mucosal and systemic immune response, route of exposure and microbiome among other influences resulting in allergy or tolerance. The diagnosis of food allergy is largely reliant on the medical history, tests for sensitization, and oral food challenges, but emerging use of component resolved diagnostics are improving diagnostic accuracy. Additional novel diagnostics such as basophil activation tests, determination of epitope binding, DNA methylation signatures and bioinformatics approaches will further change the landscape. A number of prevention strategies are under investigation, but early introduction of peanut has been advised as a public health measure based on existing data. Management remains largely based on allergen avoidance, but a panoply of promising treatment strategies are in phase 2 and 3 studies, giving immense hope that better treatment will be imminently and widely available, while numerous additional promising treatments are in the preclinical and clinical pipeline.
Food Allergy: Update on Prevention and Tolerance.
Of the many possible hypotheses which explain the recent rise in childhood food allergy, the dual allergen exposure hypothesis has been the most extensively investigated. This chapter serves as a review and update on the prevention of food allergy, and focuses on recently published Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) exploring the efficacy of oral tolerance induction in infancy for the prevention of food allergy. As a result of these RCTs, National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommendations now actively encourage the early introduction of peanut for the prevention of peanut allergy and other countries/settings recommend the inclusion of potential common food allergens including peanut and egg in complementary feeding regimens commencing at approximately 6 months of age, but not before 4 months.1-3 Further studies which explore the efficacy of oral tolerance induction to other common food allergens, and which focus on optimal timing, duration and adherence are required.