Transcript
Micronutrients & Phytonutrients
Milly Ryan-Harshman, PhD, RD
Micronutrients: Classic Definition
A micronutrient (vitamin or mineral) is needed by the body to perform its tasks properly.
Removing a particular micronutrient from the diet results in a well-characterized deficiency disease.
Adding the micronutrient back into the diet restores normal function, i.e., the deficiency disease is cleared up.
Phytonutrients
Phytonutrients (phytochemicals) are plant substances that have biological activity in the body.
They are not necessary for normal metabolism, and their absence will not result in a deficiency disease.
Now, what was that we said about long-latency deficiency diseases?!
Nutrient: A New Definition
A nutrient is any substance that brings about a physiological effect (JA Milner, National Cancer Institute).
Read (and remember!) the article “Molecular Targets for Nutrients Involved With Cancer Prevention” posted to WebCT.
Phytochemicals: Family, Source
Family
Source
Flavonoids
Berries, herbs, vegetables
Isoflavones (phytoestrogens)
Soy
isothiocyanates
Cruciferous vegetables
Monoterpenes
Citrus peels, essential oils
Organosulfur compounds
Garlic, onions, chives
Saponins
Beans, cereals, herbs
Capsaicinoids
Hot peppers
Phytosterols
Vegetable oils
Phytochemicals: Family, Source
Phenolic compounds
Flavonoids (polyphenols)
Flavanols
Quercetin – wine, cranberries, apples
Kaempferol – strawberries
Myricetin – grapes
Resveratrol – grape skins and seeds
Flavanones
Hesperidin – citrus fruit
Phytochemicals: Family, Source
Flavones
Apigenin – celery, parsley
Flavan-3-ols
Catechins – tea, wine, cocoa, black-eyed peas
Theaflavin
Anthocyanins – blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries
Isoflavones
Genistein – soy, chick peas, peanuts
Phytochemicals: Family, Source
Phenolic acids
Ellagic acid – strawberries
Gallic acid – tea
Capsaicin – hot peppers
Vanillin – vanilla beans
Lignans (phytoestrogens) – flax
Terpenes
Carotenoids
Carotenes
Lycopene
Phytochemicals: Family, Source
Xanthophylls
Zeaxanthin – spinach, pepper, pumpkin
Lutein – squash, sweet potatoes, marigold flowers
Monoterpenes
Limonene – citrus oils
Saponins – legumes
Lipids
Phytosterols
Tocopherols
Omega fatty acids
Phytochemicals: Family, Source
Organosulfides
Isothiocyanates
Sulphoraphane – broccoli
Thiosulfanates (allium compounds) – garlic, onions
Indoles
Indole-3-carbinol - cabbage
The top twelve phytonutrient
rich foods
Soy
Tomato
Broccoli
Garlic
Flax seeds
Citrus fruits
Blueberries
Sweet potatoes
Hot peppers
Beans
Peas
Lentils
And there are probably two dozen other foods that are rich in
phytonutrients so the main message is…
Eat your vegetables
and fruit!
Nutrients and Their Molecular Targets
A variety of nutrients influence genetic and epigenetic processes and gene-regulated metabolic pathways through interactions with specific molecular targets.
These targets may be individual genes, molecules that result from gene expression or are otherwise affected by gene expression, or any other molecular events that are relevant
Nutrients and Their Molecular Targets
Milner’s article covers vitamin D, calcium, folate, selenium, genistein, and resveratrol.
This article will be useful later for the Online Lecture “Nutritional epidemiology: Strengthening the evidence”.
Nutrients and Their Molecular Targets
The connection between phytonutrients and functional foods is that researchers are attempting to identify and characterize functional ingredients in foods that confer health benefits. Many of these functional ingredients will be phytonutrients, as well as our “classic” micronutrients.
Agriculture and food researchers and industry will likely work together to develop “crops” with enhanced phytonutrients that bring health benefits to consumers.
And, what, exactly, are these?!
Purple Tomatoes!
Researchers have attempted to introduce genes into tomatoes that will code for the synthesis of anthocyanins, phytochemicals found traditionally in blueberries etc.
The question to ask is: Is there a negative impact on lycopene content because tomatoes are the principle source of this important phytochemical?
