Using Nutrition for Intervention and Prevention against Environmental Chemical Toxicity and Associated Diseases

Abstract

BackgroundNutrition and lifestyle are well-defined modulators of chronic diseases. Poor dietary habits (such as high intake of processed foods rich in fat and low intake of fruits and vegetables), as well as a sedentary lifestyle clearly contribute to today’s compromised quality of life in the United States. It is becoming increasingly clear that nutrition can modulate the toxicity of environmental pollutants.ObjectivesOur goal in this commentary is to discuss the recommendation that nutrition should be considered a necessary variable in the study of human disease associated with exposure to environmental pollutants.DiscussionCertain diets can contribute to compromised health by being a source of exposure to environmental toxic pollutants. Many of these pollutants are fat soluble, and thus fatty foods often contain higher levels of persistent organics than does vegetable matter. Nutrition can dictate the lipid milieu, oxidative stress, and antioxidant status within cells. The modulation of these parameters by an individual’s nutritional status may have profound affects on biological processes, and in turn influence the effects of environmental pollutants to cause disease or dysfunction. For example, potential adverse health effects associated with exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls may increase as a result of ingestion of certain dietary fats, whereas ingestion of fruits and vegetables, rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nutrients or bioactive compounds, may provide protection.ConclusionsWe recommend that future directions in environmental health research explore this nutritional paradigm that incorporates a consideration of the relationships between nutrition and lifestyle, exposure to environmental toxicants, and disease. Nutritional interventions may provide the most sensible means to develop primary prevention strategies of diseases associated with many environmental toxic insults.

Antioxidant activity and storage regime of defatted grape seeds flour

“…6 Antioxidants have the ability to capture free radicals before to influence on human health. According to Henning et al, 7 the consumption of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants was prevention of the effect of free radicals.…”

Fish oil rich in eicosapentaenoic acid protects against oxidative stress-related renal dysfunction induced by TCDD in Wistar rats

“…However, an overall protection strategy against TCDD-induced toxicity can be achieved by targeting both CYP1A1 and AA metabolites. Nutrition can modulate the toxicity of environmental pollutants by influencing the lipid milieu and antioxidant status and thus protect from health and disease outcome (Hennig et al 2007). The levels of n3 and n6 fatty acid content in the cell and organelle membrane and membrane micro domain strongly influence membrane function and numerous cellular processes such as cell death and survival (Ross et al 1992).…”

Influence of concentration and type of microcrystalline cellulose on the physical properties of tablets containing Cornelian cherry fruits

“…Flow rate was expressed as the time that 100.0 g of sample needed to flow out of the funnel. Angle of repose was calculated using equation (1).…”

“…Therefore, new approaches to preventing the onset and progression of these diseases are being implemented. Antioxidants represent a promising supplement group with proven positive effects in the prevention of lifestyle diseases (1). Less commonly used plants and herbal remedies are becoming more and more popular sources of such antioxidants (2).…”