This document discusses phytochemicals, which are plant-derived compounds that provide color, flavor and odor to plants and may offer disease protection. It outlines several potential health benefits of phytochemicals such as lowering disease incidence and having antioxidant, hormonal, and anti-bacterial effects. Specific phytochemicals like phenols, flavonoids, resveratrol, catechins and curcumin are examined for their neuroprotective properties and ability to influence cognition and protect against neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Food sources of various phytochemicals and recommendations to incorporate more fruits and vegetables containing phytochemicals into one's diet are provided.
Whole foods schaumburg nutrition and mental health
Food for Thought- Phytochemicals
1. E M I L Y G E R L A C H
Food for Thought:
PHYTOCHEMICALS
2. Objectives
Accurately define phytochemicals and food sources of
phytochemicals.
State potential health benefits of phytochemicals.
Recognize neurodegenerative conditions that may be
affected by phytochemicals.
Understand the connection between aging and cognition.
Understand the connection between phytochemicals and
neurological function, particularly related to cognition.
Discuss how to incorporate this information into
practice.
6. Aging and Cognition
Oxidative stress and inflammation
Domains most affected
Attention
Memory
Affect brain and the development of
neurodegenerative diseases
Alzheimer’s
Parkinson’s
Huntington’s
(Harada CN, 2014), (Harada CN, 2013), (Emory University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, 2016), (Gilsky EL,
2007)
7. Phytochemicals and Cognition
Exhibit neuroprotective effects
Control oxidative damage
Reverse cell damage, slow progression of neuron loss
Influence neurotransmitter receptor function
(Kumar GP, 2012), (Kumar GP, 2012)
15. Others
Terpenoids and Saponins
Foods: soy, beans, garlic
Learning and memory
Allium and allicin
Foods: onions, garlic, leeks
Neuroprotection
(Kumar GP, 2012)
16. Other Possible Interventions
Diet
Mono- and polyunsaturated fats (omega 3s)
Fiber
Exercise
Moderate alcohol consumption
Medication
Cognitive stimulation
Chess
Speaking multiple languages
(Life Extensions, 2016)
17. Recommendations
Fruits and vegetables!
Follow guidelines for minimum, encourage more
5-9 servings daily
Focus on variety
Color your plate!
(Schaeffer J, 2008)
18. References
Heneman K, Zidenberg-Cherr S. Some Facts About Phytochemicals.
http://nutrition.ucdavis.edu/content/infosheets/fact-pro-phytochemical.pdf. Published
October 2008. Accessed March 17, 2016.
Phytochemicals. Phytochemicals. http://www.phytochemicals.info/. Accessed March 17, 2016.
Webb D. Phytochemicals’ Role in Good Health. Today’s Dietitian.
http://www.todaysdietitian.com/newarchives/090313p70.shtml. Published September 2013.
Accessed March 17, 2016.
Davinelli S, Sapere N, Zella D, Bracale R, Intrieri M, Scapagnini G. Pleiotropic protective effects
of phytochemicals in Alzheimer’s Disease. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2012;2012:386527.
Mythri RB, Bharath MM. Curcumin: a potential neuroprotective agent in Parkinson’s
disease.Curr Pharm Des. 2012;18(1):91-99.
Howes MJ, Perry E. The role of phytochemicals in the treatment ad prevention of dementia.
Drugs Aging. 201128(6):439-68.
Kumar GP, Khanum F. Neuroprotective potential of phytochemicals. Pharmacogn Rev.
2012;6(12):81-90.
Cancalon PF. Brain and cognitive processes beneficial roles of
citrus.http://www.fdocgrower.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/CNS-and-cognition-comsec-
042011.pdf
Alvarez-Parilla E, Gonzalez-Aguilar GA. Fruit and Vegetable Phytochemicals: Chemistry,
Nutritional Value and Stability. 2nd ed. City, State: Wiley-Blackwell; 2010.
Harada CN, Natelson Love MC, Triebel K. Normal cognitive aging. Clin Geriatr Med.
2013;29(4):737-752.
Editor's Notes
Print this for reference: http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals.php
READ: http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/mph-modules/ph/aging/aging_print.html, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2995895/
Non-essential
Thousands known
All have cognitive implications
Parkinson’s disease: 1 million people in US http://www.healthcommunities.com/parkinsons-disease/incidence-prevalence.shtml (risk increases with age)
Huntington’s disease: nearly 30,000 in US http://www.healthcommunities.com/huntingtons-disease/overview-of-huntingtons.shtml (appears between ages 30-50 usually)
Alzheimer’s: 5.4 million in US (5.2 million of those over age 65) https://www.google.com/search?q=parkinson%27s+disease&oq=parkinsons&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l5.3551j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#q=prevalence+of+alzheimer+disease
Impt because aging population is growing, we will likely be working with older adults with impaired cognition
Americans over 65: 40.2 million in 2010, projected to be 88.5 million in 2050
Gray matter volume decline – shows atrophy in brain (cause: death of neurons coupled with decline in cell division), decrease in size, volume, and connections of neurons
White matter changes – leads to decreased communicaiton between hippocampal structures
Additional factors: mood changes, medications, sensory changes (loss of hearing)
Changes not uniform between all individuals
Domains most affected by aging:
1. attention
Selective (when told to identify the color ink in which a different color is printed: word red written in green ink; slower response), divided (two tasks at once), sustained
2. memory
Short term ok (not necessarily short-term memory, but in activities of reorganization/manipulation of short term memory – memorize 7 digits, fine, but state them backwards=decline)
Long term: retrieval of info; aging most affects EPISODIC/(autobiographical) (personally experienced events; subjective- shows decline over lifetime) most of the current research discusses this
Perception also declines (related to sensory capacity declines)
Other domains may also be affected: language processing, decision making
Brain consumes 20% of oxygen – high potential for oxidative stress, but brain has limited ability to counteract oxidative stress
Capsaicin (red pepper), curcumin (turmeric), epigallocatechin gallate (catechin in tea- EGCG), resveratrol (grapes, wine, peanuts)- may have neuroprotective effects
Over 4,000 different phytochemicals and are categorized based on chemical structure and functional properties… the ones we are discussing today are well-researched for cognitive-enhancing properties and are commonly occurring in foods.
Wanted to quickly brush on phenols bc much research done on phenols and cognition
Phenols is such a broad category- sooo many foods have phenols
Can be mono or poly- overall…. Associated with…
Other phenolic compounds: capsaicin, phytoestrogens
Largest, most diverse group
Associated with reduced mortality rates
Well-studied for cardiovascular health - Inverse association with MI
As for neurological health-
(7) Difficult for substances to cross blood-brain barrier, but flavonoids effective
Antioxidant for brain tissue (8), cell-signaling processes through gene interactions and anti-inflammatory properties
Studies done in various mammals, including humans, that have shown that flavonoids are effective in:
Reversing age related declines
Increasing number and strength of neuron connections
Increasing blood flow to the brain, and initating neurogenesis
Reducing neuronal damage and losses
(3, 6) Cocoa (rich in flavanol) consumption improves cerebral blood flow – good for brain function, associated with decreases in dementia and Alzheimer’s
Phytoestrogens (soy and whole grains) may prevent cognitive decline following menopauseAlkaloids (hyperzine A and galantamine) improve cognitive function in AD patients (6)
A flavanol belonging to the group of flavanoids
Stroke model in rats
Protected neuronal cells from death by amyloid beta-peptide and promoted clearance of amyloid beta-peptide
Rats- reversed after resveratrol treatment- increases in BDNF level and inhibition TNF-a and IL-1B expression levels in the hippocampus; resveratrol suppressed expression of pro-inflammatory mediator and promoted anti-inflammatory mediator
potential effects on delaying dementia (6)
Alzheimer’s: protect against nerve damage and prevent plaque build-up
Reverse defects: interesting bc many phytochemical actions are prophylactic, however this is a more detoxification effect
(7) Catechins (flavanol category of flavonoids)
Neuroprotective activities
Suppress pathogenesis of alzheimers and protect neurons against alzheimers processes
Catechins and metabolites active signaling pathways that stimulate cell-survival and anti-inflammatory actions
Epigallocatechin:
(catechin which is flavanol which is flavanoid) – Green***, oolong, and black teas
HDAC activity is associated with neurodegeneration
HDAC inhibitors- therapeutic for Alzheimer’s disease
Beta-amyloid: gunk that builds up and leads to cognitive deterioration
Circuminoid
Animal model of stroke:
Stress-induced hippocampal neurogenesis impairment
Depression: increase expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor
potential effects on delaying dementia (6)
T & S: ameliorated learning and memory impairments, improved spatial working memory
Revitalize and strengthen nervous function
A&A: garlic and onions- neuroprotective; activate stress-response pathways- upregulated protective channels; adaptive cellular responses
Research overwhelmingly focused on the diet
Switching from diet high in saturated fat and simple sugars to…
Exercise: increase brain-derived neurotropic factorenhanced cog function
Consumption of fruits and vegetables along with other plant-based foods
Vegetables: 2-2.5 for women, 2.5-3 for men (lower end for older adults)
Fruit: 1.5-2 cups
No recommendations yet on proportion of phytochemicals is the right balance – eat a variety of colors
Most Americans not eating enough fruits and vegetables – use color as a guide for increasing produce consumption