Cola Research Articles

Lifestyle and prevalence of dysmenorrhea among Spanish female university students.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of primary dysmenorrhea in a sample of Spanish university students, and to describe their menstrual characteristics, lifestyle habits and associated risk factors. This cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 258 young female university students recruited from the Ciudad Real Faculty of Nursing, with a mean age of 20.63± 3.32 years. An anonymous self-report questionnaire was used to collect data from students. This included sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle habits, gynecological personal history and the severity of pain using the visual analogue scale. The statistical analysis of the data included calculation of the mean, percentages, chi-square analysis of the data and logistic regression. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was of 74.8% (n = 193) with a mean pain severity of 6.88 (±1.71). Our results show that 38.3% of students described their menstrual pain as severe and 58% as moderate. The bivariate analysis showed statistically significant differences between students with and without dysmenorrhea: a higher proportion of women with dysmenorrhea had a greater duration of the menstruation flow (p = .003), a longer duration of the menstrual cycle (p = .046), were not using the oral contraceptive pill (p = .026) and had a family history of dysmenorrhea (p = .001). Backward step-wise binary logistic regression analysis using all the significant bivariate variables including lifestyle variables revealed the following risk factors: drinking cola drinks, duration of the menstrual flow, eating meat and having a first-degree relative affected by dysmenorrhea.

In situ effect of Tooth Mousse containing CPP-ACP on human enamel subjected to in vivo acid attacks

ObjectiveThis in situ study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Tooth Mousse (GC) containing casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) on human enamel erosion and to compare the difference in erosion between the anteriorly and posteriorly positioned human enamel. MethodsThis study used a 2-treatment (7 days each) crossover design with 12 healthy volunteers wearing intraoral appliances. Each appliance contained 4 human enamel specimens positioned on the buccal surfaces of the volunteers’ maxillary central incisors and first molars. The specimens were intraorally treated withTooth Mousse (CPP-ACP group) or deionized water (control group) for 3 min and then exposed to in vivo acid attacks by rinsing with 150 ml of a cola drink (4 × 5 min/day). The surface microhardness (SMH) of the specimens was measured and used to calculate the percentage of SMH loss (%SMHl). Erosion effect on enamel was also investigated by scanning electron microscopy (n = 4) at the end of study. The data were statistically analysed using two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey’s test at a level of P < 0.05. ResultsA significant decrease in %SMHl was observed for the specimens of CPP-ACP group compared to that for the controls (P = 0.007). The specimens positioned posteriorly exhibited a significantly lower %SMHl than those positioned anteriorly (P = 0.033). Samples of CPP-ACP group showed fewer etching patterns than those of the control group. ConclusionsIn this in situ model, application of Tooth Mousse containing CPP-ACP before erosion reduced the %SMHl of human enamel. Enamel located in different positions showed different patterns of erosion. Clinical significanceApplication of Tooth Mousse containing CPP-ACP could be considered as a suitable preventive strategy against enamel erosion.ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03426150.

Age and gender differences in the prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency.

Vitamin D deficiency is a public health concern. This study's objective was to measure the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and determine its correlates among Saudi adults in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 2835 Saudi males and females aged 30-75years in 18 different primary health care centers (PHCC) in Riyadh. Detailed interviews on sociodemographic and lifestyle factors and anthropometric measurements were conducted. Serum calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid, alkaline phosphatase, and 25(OH) vitamin D were measured. Multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted. The mean age (SD) of male and female participants was 43.0 (± 11.7) and 42.8 (± 10.3) years, respectively. Serum 25(OH) vitamin D assays for participants revealed that 72.0% (n = 695) of males and 64.0% (n = 1191) of females had levels < 50nmol/L (deficiency), whereas 17.3% (n = 166) and 19.4% (n = 362), respectively, had levels of 50-75nmol/L (insufficiency). Multivariate analyses for males revealed that lack of use of vitamin D supplements [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.0, 95% CI 1.7, 9.4], younger age [30-40years aOR = 3.6, 95% CI 1.7, 7.3 and 41-50years aOR = 4.2, 95% CI 2.0, 8.8], low milk intake [aOR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.0, 2.8], consumption of cola drinks [aOR = 2.0, 95% CI 1.1, 3.9], and central obesity [aOR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.0, 3.4] were associated with low vitamin D. In females, lack of use of vitamin D supplements [aOR = 3.7, 95% CI 2.8, 4.9], younger age [30-40years aOR = 3.4, 95% CI 2.0, 5.8 and 41-50years aOR = 2.8, 95% CI 1.6, 4.7], central obesity [aOR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.0, 2.2], and seasonal variation [aOR = 1.6, 95% CI 1.3, 2.1] had higher odds for vitamin D deficiency. Significantly lower levels were observed for men than women for mean serum 25(OH) vitamin D [42.6 (± 24.1) vs. 46.8 (± 30.5)], parathyroid hormone [5.3 (± 2.9) vs. 5.9 (± 2.7)], and phosphorus [1.1 (± 0.2) vs. 1.2 (± 0.2)], respectively; alkaline phosphatase levels [106 (± 32.8) vs. 99 (± 27.8)] [p < 0.01] were significantly higher in males than females. Vitamin D deficiency was highly prevalent, particularly among young adults and those with central obesity. Proper fortification policy, health education, and regular screening PHCCs may help prevent and treat vitamin D deficiency.

The Effect of Pepsi Cola Beverage on Surface Roughness of Two Composite Resins (In Vitro study)

An acidic environment causes surface changes of resin composites. Filler particlesize and filler distribution also have a direct effect on these surface changes. This invitro study evaluated the influence of Pepsi Cola drink on the surface roughness ofComposan LCM and Composan Ceram over time. Sixteen disc shaped specimens(10mm diameter, 2mm thickness) of each resin composite were fabricated, therebyforming two groups (n= 8). Surface roughness (Ra) was analyzed after 24 hrs beforeexposure to beverage. The specimens were submitted to a five minutes immersion inPepsi Cola three times daily interrupted by immersion in deionized distilled water (37C˚). Surface roughness measurements were done at 10, 30, and 60 days intervals. Datawere submitted to paired t-test. There was a statistically highly significant (p &lt;0.001)increase in surface roughness values of the tested composites after 30 days and 60days immersion in Cola drink. Composan LCM exhibited a significantly (p &lt;0.05)higher surface roughness values than Composan Ceram.The surface roughness of the composite materials are significantly affected byexposure to acidic drink over time, highly filled micro hybrid composites with smallfiller particle size are significantly more resistant to acid erosion.

PET ŞİŞELERDEKİ GAZLI İÇECEKLERİN İHTİVA ETTİĞİ KARBONDİOKSİT GAZ MİKTARININ ZAMANA BAĞLI AZALMASININ İYİLEŞTİRİLMESİ

In this study, the change of the gas loss in the carbonated beverages depending on the different temperature and pet bottle thickness was investigated experimentally. In order to examine the effect of these basic parameters on the time-dependent reduction of carbon dioxide gas in carbonated beverages, a 2.5 liter cola beverage was considered. In the study, the two main production stations were evaluated separately, and their production conditions and effects were considered as variable. The time-dependent change in the amount of gas contained in the beverage by temperature, pressure, and PET bottle material distribution, which are production inputs, was investigated separately by taking samples from a 2.5 liter cola beverage production line. In this context, 2.5 liters of cola beverage production conditions are examined in detail and variables are determined via filler and PET blowing process parameters. According to the experimental results obtained, production conditions of filling and PET blowing units were restructured and ideal production conditions were defined and contributed to serial production. Keywords: PET bottle, blowing, carbon dioxide, time dependent variation

CO2 Diffusion in Various Carbonated Beverages: A Molecular Dynamics Study.

Carbonated beverages are widely enjoyed in spare time, yet there remain many physical and chemical processes clouded at the molecular level. In this report, we employ molecular dynamics simulations to estimate the diffusion coefficients of CO2 and the molecular origin of its variations in three model systems with characteristic features of champagnes, sugar-based cola drinks, and club sodas. The computed diffusion coefficients of CO2 are in good agreement with experimental data. Analyses of hydrogen bonding and the solvent's structural and dynamic properties reveal that the change of CO2 diffusion coefficient is closely associated with the diffusional behavior of the solvent water itself, as a result of changes in the number and strength of hydrogen bonding interactions among the species and solvent.

The effect of aspartame and pH changes on the erosive potential of cola drinks in bovine enamel: An in vitro study.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to clarify the mechanism behind the different erosive potential of regular and light cola drinks: pH difference and/or aspartame presence.Material and MethodsSixty bovine enamel blocks were randomly divided into 5 groups: RC - regular cola, RCpH - addition of base to increase regular cola pH, RCAS - addition of aspartame to regular cola, LC - light cola, and LCpH - addition of acid to decrease light cola pH. Two-thirds of the blocks surface was coated with nail varnish for reference. The samples were daily subjected to four erosive challenges for 2 minutes. Between the erosive challenges (2h) and overnight the samples were maintained in artificial saliva. The response variable was the percentage surface hardness change (%SHC) after 1st experimental day and enamel surface loss (µm) measured at the 5th day by profilometry. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p<0.05).ResultsIndependently of the cola modifications, all groups promoted similar hardness change of enamel surface. RC promoted higher enamel loss (6.69±0.71µm) than LC (4.80±0.77µm). The acid addition to light cola (LCpH: 6.60±1.78µm) significantly enhanced its erosive potential, which did not differ from RC. The base addition to regular cola (RCpH-4.00±0.64µm) resulted in similar wear to LC. The addition of aspartame to the regular cola (RCAS 5.44±0.65µm) resulted in similar wear to LC and RC.ConclusionsThe data suggest that the pH alteration has a major impact on the erosive potential of cola drinks, however, the sweetener also has some influence. Key words:Tooth erosion, dental enamel, soft drinks, ph, sweetener.

Cariogenicity induced by commercial carbonated beverages in an experimental biofilm-caries model.

Objectives:Frequent consumption of sugars-containing carbonated beverages has been associated with caries, but the consequences on the dental biofilm remain unclear. The aim was to evaluate the effect of commercial carbonated beverages and their sugar-free version on enamel and dentine demineralization and on the cariogenic properties of Streptococcus mutans biofilms.Materials and Methods:Biofilms of S. mutans UA159 were grown on enamel and dentin slabs and exposed 3 times/day for 5 min, to a commercial cola or orange-flavored carbonated beverage or to their sugar-free version. Biofilms/slabs were recovered to assess biomass, viable microorganisms, protein content and polysaccharides. Demineralization was estimated by the variation of Knoop surface microhardness.Results:Exposures to the biofilm with sugars-containing carbonated beverages resulted in similar biomass, viable microorganisms, proteins, and polysaccharides than sucrose (P < 0.05). The sugar-free cola and orange-flavored drink showed lower effect on the biofilm, as compared with sucrose or their sugared version (P < 0.05). All of the products tested, included the sugar-free, showed higher demineralization than the negative control (P < 0.05).Conclusions:Sugars-containing carbonated beverages enhance cariogenic activity of S. mutans biofilms, comparable with sucrose. Sugar-free carbonated beverages also have a high demineralizing potential, without affecting biofilm properties.

The effect of commonly consumed beverages on colour stability and surface roughness of two metal ceramic materials: An in-vitro study

Aims: The aim of this study was to compare color stability and surface topography of two different feldspathic porcelains, both qualitatively and quantitatively, after exposure to routinely consumed beverages over different time periods using a spectrophotometer and surface noncontact profilometer, respectively.Materials and Methods: In this in-vitro study, a total of 120 base metal alloy discs with a thickness of 0.5 mm were made following the conventional casting technique. They were randomly divided into two categories. Category-I was built with IPS.d.Sign (Ivoclar), Category-II was built with Ceramco 3 (Dentsply) each containing 60 samples. The samples were immersed into different beverages. Color stability and surface roughness were measured by a spectrophotometer and profilometer, respectively.Statistical Analysis: t-test between two categories and ANOVA within the same group. Results and Conclusion: Color difference (ΔE) between different test solutions at different intervals showed clinically acceptable range (below 3.3 units). Thus, ceramics were considered color stable and resistant to external staining. Scanning electron microscope and profilometer study revealed that there were significant surface roughness changes in both IPS.d.Sign and Dentsply metal ceramic materials when immersed in soft cola drink and coffee solutions for 90 days and compared to the control group which was immersed in distilled water.

Price discrimination in value chains for cola drinks in the Czech Republic

The sale of beverages whose production has the character of a monopoly due to the original recipe used in their production has been chosen as the subject of this research. The purpose of this paper is to express the rate of exploitation of the consumer surplus in second-degree price discrimination in relation to selected drinks of monopolistic character. This concerns the advantage of consumers' buying individual drinks compared with buying large (cumulative) packages of the product. The methodology of scientific research is based on monitoring the prices of selected beverages in international retail chains and a comparative analysis of collected data. The survey shows that, thanks to second-degree price discrimination, the seller receives a consumer surplus amounting to 1/3 for the sale of individual pieces of the product.

The role of ionic liquids in the biocatalytic evaluation of bisphenol levels as contaminant: an automatic approach.

An automatic assay was developed that is intended to be a generic tool for evaluation of a horseradish peroxidase activity in different ionic liquids (ILs). Ionic liquids with different characteristics were used and their effects on the enzymatic reaction, were compared with those obtained with conventional organic solvents. In addition, ILs were tested as solvents for the enzyme substrate (bisphenol A (BPA)). ILs were shown to be a good alternative to conventional organic solvents from either the effect on enzymatic activity or the solubilization of bisphenol. Since bisphenol A is an endocrine disruptor frequently used in plastic industries, it was also applied the developed enzymatic methodology for quantification of this compound in real beverage samples. To increase the sensitivity (already increased by the use of an IL) and the selectivity of the methodology, a sample pre-treatment using a molecular recognition solid phase extraction was applied. Finally, the methodology presented detection and quantification limits of 7.73 × 10-4 and 1.29 × 10-3 mmol L-1 and a linear range up to 1.00 mmol L-1, allowing accurate and reliable quantifications of bisphenol in beer and cola drink samples. This work confirmed the potential of a sequential injection analysis (SIA) system as a simple, versatile, robust, and rapid analytical tool for automating enzymatic assays in ILs medium and, at the same time, showed it to be a relevant automatic alternative for routine determinations of bisphenol A in food samples.

Price discrimination in value chains for cola drinks in the Czech Republic

The sale of beverages whose production has the character of a monopoly due to the original recipe used in their production has been chosen as the subject of this research. The purpose of this paper is to express the rate of exploitation of the consumer surplus in second-degree price discrimination in relation to selected drinks of monopolistic character. This concerns the advantage of consumers' buying individual drinks compared with buying large (cumulative) packages of the product. The methodology of scientific research is based on monitoring the prices of selected beverages in international retail chains and a comparative analysis of collected data. The survey shows that, thanks to second-degree price discrimination, the seller receives a consumer surplus amounting to 1/3 for the sale of individual pieces of the product.

Electrochemical Study of Three Stainless Steel Alloys and Titanium Metal in Cola Soft Drinks

Electrochemical Study of Three Stainless Steel Alloys and Titanium Metal in Cola Soft Drinks

Reply to Areta et al.: Time to withdraw and let the myth rest

Letter to the EditorReply to Areta et al.: Time to withdraw and let the myth restB. Gualano, L. d. S. Gonçalves, V. d. S. Painelli, G. Yamaguchi, L. F. de Oliveira, B. Saunders, R. P. da Silva, E. Maciel, G. G. Artioli, and H. RoschelB. GualanoUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, L. d. S. GonçalvesUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, V. d. S. PainelliUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, G. YamaguchiUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, L. F. de OliveiraUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, B. SaundersUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, R. P. da SilvaUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, E. MacielUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, G. G. ArtioliUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil, and H. RoschelUniversity of Sao Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilPublished Online:22 Nov 2017https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00567.2017MoreSectionsPDF (30 KB)Download PDF ToolsExport citationAdd to favoritesGet permissionsTrack citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinkedInWeChat to the editor: It is undisputable that caffeine variation in coffee—which is not as dramatic in Brazil as reported elsewhere (2)—is a potential bias pertaining to our, and any, study assessing its habitual dietary intake. In fact, such variability exists in any natural food due to differences in environment, genetics, and food processing. Therefore, if one is to take the point made by Areta et al. (1), the entire literature involving assessment of natural foods should be disregarded, which is obviously not the case. The suggestion that “reported caffeine intakes” could be verified through direct measurement of caffeine is, at least, curious; considering that caffeine half-life is ~5 h, it is puzzling how this measure could reflect one’s habitual caffeine consumption.Notably, we carefully assessed caffeine intake following Food and Drug Administration recommendations for high-quality food composition assessment. Briefly, caffeine intake was determined using a questionnaire adapted (and not replicated, as incorrectly assumed) from a validated instrument; the questionnaire was completed with the help of a qualified nutritionist who extracted as much detail and specific information as possible. Exact brands of products were identified to determine exact caffeine content. Although Areta et al. claimed that our dietary assessment was flawed, no scientific evidence was provided to support this assumption.We used a 24-h caffeine withdrawal to isolate the acute effect of supplementation from diet. Areta et al. argue that this influenced our results. Nonetheless, meta-analytical data show that caffeine withdrawal does not influence the ergogenic effect of caffeine (3). Indeed, caffeine consumption has previously been shown to be equally effective in habitual consumers following no, 2 days, and 4 days of withdrawal. In fact, some of the authors themselves have confirmed that a withdrawal period from dietary caffeine does not enhance or reduce the effect of an acute dose of caffeine on exercise performance. Thus we feel justified in our use of a withdrawal period to ensure rigorous control of our protocol.Although we acknowledge that our rationale regarding increased adenosine upregulation has been shown only in experimental (animal) models, which we drew attention to within the text, if true as hypothesized, 24-h withdrawal will not have led to any significant reduction herein and therefore will unlikely have influenced results.The criticism of our sample size is unfounded: 1) the lack of correlation between habitual intake and performance improvements was based on our entire sample; and 2) even when broken down to habitual intake, each tertile showed a greater number of subjects than in previous studies addressing this topic. Certainly, the numerous analyses performed in this study mitigate the odds of type-2 error.Since Areta et al. doubt our conclusions due to supposed inaccuracies in caffeine measurement, we provide a requiem to their uncertainties by reanalyzing all data following removal of coffee as the “less stable” source of caffeine, thus considering only other sources (e.g., cola drinks, tea, supplements). Only two participants moved between tertiles, which remained significantly different regarding intake (P < 0.0001). Neither significant between-group differences in performance (P = 0.81) nor correlation between habitual intake and performance changes (r = 0.00023; P = 0.92) was shown. Finally, when participants were distributed into quintiles, with the lower quintile consuming no coffee at all and the higher quintile consuming 6–8 coffees/day, differences in performance were still absent. These sensitivity analyses reinforce our original conclusion that habitual dietary caffeine does not affect the response to caffeine supplementation (4), putting this myth to rest.GRANTSThis work was supported by CAPES-PROEX.AUTHOR CONTRIBUTIONSL.d.S.G., V.d.S.P., B.S., and B.G. drafted manuscript; L.d.S.G., V.d.S.P., B.S., G.G.A., H.R., and B.G. edited and revised manuscript; L.d.S.G., V.d.S.P., G.Y., L.F.d.O., B.S., R.P.d.S., E.M., G.G.A., H.R., and B.G. approved final version of manuscript.DISCLOSURESNo conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, are declared by the authors.

High-Capacitance Hybrid Supercapacitor Based on Multi-Colored Fluorescent Carbon-Dots

Multi-colored, water soluble fluorescent carbon nanodots (C-Dots) with quantum yield changing from 4.6 to 18.3% were synthesized in multi-gram using dated cola beverage through a simple thermal synthesis method and implemented as conductive and ion donating supercapacitor component. Various properties of C-Dots, including size, crystal structure, morphology and surface properties along with their Raman and electron paramagnetic resonance spectra were analyzed and compared by means of their fluorescence and electronic properties. α-Manganese Oxide-Polypyrrole (PPy) nanorods decorated with C-Dots were further conducted as anode materials in a supercapacitor. Reduced graphene oxide was used as cathode along with the dicationic bis-imidazolium based ionic liquid in order to enhance the charge transfer and wetting capacity of electrode surfaces. For this purpose, we used octyl-bis(3-methylimidazolium)diiodide (C8H16BImI) synthesized by N-alkylation reaction as liquid ionic membrane electrolyte. Paramagnetic resonance and impedance spectroscopy have been undertaken in order to understand the origin of the performance of hybrid capacitor in more depth. In particular, we obtained high capacitance value (C = 17.3 μF/cm2) which is exceptionally related not only the quality of synthesis but also the choice of electrode and electrolyte materials. Moreover, each component used in the construction of the hybrid supercapacitor is also played a key role to achieve high capacitance value.

Protective Effect of Chicken Egg Shell Powder Solution (CESP) on Artificially Induced Dental Erosion: An in Vitro Atomic Force Microscope Study

Aim: The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of chicken egg shell powder solution (CESP) on the dental erosion produced by Coca Cola drink in permanent teeth. Material and methods: Thirty extracted human incisors were collected for this study purpose. After extraction all the specimens were cleaned and sectioned longitudinally resulting in 60 samples from a total of 30 tooth samples. All samples were randomly assigned to the following three groups. Group 1: Untreated group, Group 2: Demineralization by soft cola drink (4 cycles of 2 minutes’ immersion at 6 hours’ interval), Group 3: Demineralization by soft cola drink (4 cycles of 2 minutes’ immersion at 6 hours’ interval) followed by 7 days’ immersion in CESP. For surface roughness assessment images were taken from AFM. The root means square roughness (Rrms) was calculated from the AFM images. The differences in the mean roughness values between the three groups were analyzed by Anova and Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: One way Anova analysis revealed a statistically significant differences with p-value of 0.00, between the mean roughness values of three groups. Tuckey’s post hoc test revealed that there is a statistically significant difference (0.158±0.012) between the surface roughness of Group 2 and Group 3 as well as between Group 1 and Group 3(0.085±0.012) with a p-value of 0.00, indicating that following treatment by CESP the mean roughness values decreased significantly. Conclusion: CESP reduces the surface roughness of all treated teeth samples giving encorughment to the protective effect of CESP againts erosive enamel loss.

Long-term consumption of caffeine-free high sucrose cola beverages aggravates the pathogenesis of EAE in mice

Epidemiological data provide strong evidence of dramatically increasing incidences of many autoimmune diseases in the past few decades, mainly in western and westernized countries. Recent studies clearly revealed that ‘Western diet’ increases the risk of autoimmune diseases at least partially via disrupting intestinal tight junctions and altering the construction and metabolites of microbiota. However, the role of high sucrose cola beverages (HSCBs), which are one of the main sources of added sugar in the western diet, is barely known. Recently, a population study showed that regular consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages is associated with increased risk of seropositive rheumatoid arthritis in women, which provokes interest in the genuine effects of these beverages on the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases and the underlying mechanisms. Here we showed that long-term consumption of caffeine-free HSCBs aggravated the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice in a microbiota-dependent manner. Further investigation revealed that HSCBs altered community structure of microbiota and increased Th17 cells. High sucrose consumption had similar detrimental effects while caffeine contamination limited the infiltrated pathogenic immune cells and counteracted these effects. These results uncovered a deleterious role of decaffeinated HSCBs in aggravating the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in mice.

In situ effect of CPP-ACP chewing gum upon erosive enamel loss.

Casein phosphopeptide-amorphous calcium phosphate (CPP-ACP) is able to increase salivary calcium and phosphate levels at an acidic pH. Previous studies demonstrated that a CPP-ACP chewing gum was able to enhance the re-hardening of erosion lesions, but could not diminish enamel hardness loss. Therefore, there is no consensus regarding the effectiveness of CPP-ACP on dental erosion. ObjectiveThis in situ study investigated the ability of a CPP-ACP chewing gum in preventing erosive enamel loss. Material and Methods: During three experimental crossover phases (one phase per group) of seven days each, eight volunteers wore palatal devices with human enamel blocks. The groups were: GI – Sugar free chewing gum with CPP-ACP; GII – Conventional sugar free chewing gum; and GIII – No chewing gum (control). Erosive challenge was extraorally performed by immersion of the enamel blocks in cola drink (5 min, 4x/day). After each challenge, in groups CPP and No CPP, volunteers chewed one unit of the corresponding chewing gum for 30 minutes. Quantitative analysis of enamel loss was performed by profilometry (µm). Data were analyzed by Repeated-Measures ANOVA and Tukey’s test (p<0.05).ResultsThe use of chewing gum (CPP and No CPP) resulted in lower erosive enamel loss compared with the control group (p<0.05). CPP-ACP chewing gum (CPP) did not improve the protection against erosive enamel loss compared with conventional chewing gum (No CPP) (p>0.05).ConclusionThe CPP-ACP chewing gum was not able to enhance the anti-erosive effect of conventional chewing gum against enamel loss.

Effect of caffeine, caffeic acid and their various combinations on enzymes of cholinergic, monoaminergic and purinergic systems critical to neurodegeneration in rat brain—In vitro

Caffeine and caffeic acid are two bioactive compounds that are present in plant foods and are major constituent of coffee, cocoa, tea, cola drinks and chocolate. Although not structurally related, caffeine and caffeic acid has been reported to elicit neuroprotective properties. However, their different proportional distribution in food sources and possible effect of such interactions are not often taken into consideration. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of caffeine, caffeic acid and their various combinations on activities of some enzymes [acetylcholinesterase (AChE), monoamine oxidase (MAO) ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (E-NTPase), ecto-51-nucleotidase (E-NTDase) and Na+/K+ ATPase relevant to neurodegeneration in vitro in rat brain. The stock concentration of caffeine and caffiec acid and their various proportional combinations were prepared and their interactions with the activities of these enzymes were assessed (in vitro) in different brain structures. The Fe2+ and Cu2+ chelating abilities of the samples were also investigated. The results revealed that caffeine, caffeic acid and their various combinations exhibited inhibitory effect on activities of AChE, MAO, E-NTPase and E-NTDase, but stimulatory effect on Na+/K+ ATPase activity. The combinations also exhibited Fe2+ and Cu2+ chelating abilities. Considering the various combinations, a higher caffeine to caffeic acid ratio produced significantly highest enzyme modulatory effects; these were significantly lower to the effect of caffeine alone but significantly higher than the effect of caffeic acid alone. These findings may provide new insight into the effect of proportional combination of these bioactive compounds as obtained in many foods especially with respect to their neuroprotective effects.

Impact of bottle size on in-home consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages: a feasibility and acceptability study

BackgroundConsumption of sugars-sweetened beverages (SSB) increases energy intake and the risk of obesity. Large packages increase consumption of food, implying that smaller bottle sizes may help curb SSB consumption, but there is a lack of relevant evidence relating to these products. This study explores the feasibility and acceptability of conducting a randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of different bottle sizes on SSB consumption at home.MethodsHouseholds in Cambridge, England, which purchased at least 2 l of regular cola drinks per week, received a set amount of cola each week for four weeks, in bottles of one of four sizes (1500 ml, 1000 ml, 500 ml, or 250 ml) in random order. The total volume received consisted of a modest excess of households’ typical weekly purchasing, but was further increased for half the study households to avoid ceiling effects. Consumption was measured by recording the number of empty bottles at the end of each week. Eligible households were invited to complete a run-in period to assess levels of active participation.ResultsThirty-seven of 111 eligible households with an interest in the study completed the run-in period. The study procedures proved feasible. The target for recruitment (n = 16 households) was exceeded. Measuring consumption was feasible: over three quarters (n = 30/37) of households returned all bottles on the majority (n = 88/101) of the study weeks completed across households. The validity of this measure was compromised by guests from outside the household who drank the study cola (n = 18/37 households on 48/101 study weeks) and consumption of the study cola outside the home. Supplying enhanced volumes of cola to nine households was associated with higher consumption (11,592 ml vs 7869 ml). The intervention and study procedures were considered acceptable. Thirteen households correctly identified the study aims.ConclusionThe findings support the feasibility and acceptability of running a randomised controlled trial to assess the impact of presenting a fixed volume of SSB in different bottle sizes on in-home consumption. However, methods that avoid consumption being influenced by the amount of cola supplied weekly by the study and that capture out of home consumption are needed before conducting a randomised controlled trial.Trial registrationISRCTN14964130; Registered on 18th May, 2015.