BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Carrots are a major source of beta-carotene, but comparative studies on different consumption methods are limited. This study compared the rates of β-carotene absorption from fresh carrots versus fresh carrot juice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: For β-carotene absorption, a separate randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted with 16 healthy adults. The participants consumed 25 mg of β-carotene from raw carrots or fresh carrot juice. Blood samples were collected at the baseline (0 h) and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h post-consumption. RESULTS: The carrot juice group exhibited 2.33 times higher peak plasma concentrations 1.5 h post-consumption than those in the raw carrot group. The area under the curve for β-carotene absorption was 2.09 times greater in the carrot juice group than in the raw carrot group. The plasma α-carotene levels increased in both groups, but no significant differences were found. Similarly, no significant changes in the plasma levels of other fat-soluble vitamins were observed. In addition, no significant differences in antioxidant capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential) were found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Consuming fresh carrot juice, without added sugars, may enhance the bioavailability of β-carotene compared to raw produce.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Carrots are a major source of beta-carotene, but comparative studies on different consumption methods are limited. This study compared the rates of β-carotene absorption from fresh carrots versus fresh carrot juice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: For β-carotene absorption, a separate randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted with 16 healthy adults. The participants consumed 25 mg of β-carotene from raw carrots or fresh carrot juice. Blood samples were collected at the baseline (0 h) and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h post-consumption. RESULTS: The carrot juice group exhibited 2.33 times higher peak plasma concentrations 1.5 h post-consumption than those in the raw carrot group. The area under the curve for β-carotene absorption was 2.09 times greater in the carrot juice group than in the raw carrot group. The plasma α-carotene levels increased in both groups, but no significant differences were found. Similarly, no significant changes in the plasma levels of other fat-soluble vitamins were observed. In addition, no significant differences in antioxidant capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential) were found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Consuming fresh carrot juice, without added sugars, may enhance the bioavailability of β-carotene compared to raw produce.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Carrots are a major source of beta-carotene, but comparative studies on different consumption methods are limited. This study compared the rates of β-carotene absorption from fresh carrots versus fresh carrot juice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: For β-carotene absorption, a separate randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted with 16 healthy adults. The participants consumed 25 mg of β-carotene from raw carrots or fresh carrot juice. Blood samples were collected at the baseline (0 h) and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h post-consumption. RESULTS: The carrot juice group exhibited 2.33 times higher peak plasma concentrations 1.5 h post-consumption than those in the raw carrot group. The area under the curve for β-carotene absorption was 2.09 times greater in the carrot juice group than in the raw carrot group. The plasma α-carotene levels increased in both groups, but no significant differences were found. Similarly, no significant changes in the plasma levels of other fat-soluble vitamins were observed. In addition, no significant differences in antioxidant capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential) were found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Consuming fresh carrot juice, without added sugars, may enhance the bioavailability of β-carotene compared to raw produce.

Background and Objectives: Understanding worsening heart failure events (WHFEs) and clinical practices in the real world is essential in heart failure (HF) management. The primary objective of this single-center, retrospective, observational study, including a patient survey, was to characterize WHFEs and associated factors during the first year after the incident HF diagnosis in Finnish patients. Secondly, implementation and adherence to guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) and mortality during the whole follow-up were assessed. Methods: Incident HF patients (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision: I50) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF; <40%) were identified between 2013–2019 from the hospital data lake of Southwest Finland. Clinical characteristics, healthcare resource utilization, medication prescriptions and purchases, and deaths were collected from hospital records and national registers between 2011–2021. A survey was linked with register data for a subgroup of patients. Associations between explanatory factors, WHFEs, and mortality were studied using logistic and Cox regression models. Results: Among 570 HFrEF patients, 23% (n=133) experienced a WHFE within the first year after the incident diagnosis. During this 1-year period, 85% used angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, 90% beta-blockers, and 44% mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and >80% of patients were adherent to these medications. WHFEs were associated with higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31–2.53; p<0.001), whereas adherence was associated with a lower risk of WHFEs (odds ratio, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.20–0.48; p<0.001) and mortality (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47–0.94; p=0.021) in multivariate models. Quality of life was lower in patients with (n=47) than without WHFEs (n=100). Conclusions Improving adherence is crucial for mitigating adverse outcomes in HF.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Carrots are a major source of beta-carotene, but comparative studies on different consumption methods are limited. This study compared the rates of β-carotene absorption from fresh carrots versus fresh carrot juice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: For β-carotene absorption, a separate randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted with 16 healthy adults. The participants consumed 25 mg of β-carotene from raw carrots or fresh carrot juice. Blood samples were collected at the baseline (0 h) and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h post-consumption. RESULTS: The carrot juice group exhibited 2.33 times higher peak plasma concentrations 1.5 h post-consumption than those in the raw carrot group. The area under the curve for β-carotene absorption was 2.09 times greater in the carrot juice group than in the raw carrot group. The plasma α-carotene levels increased in both groups, but no significant differences were found. Similarly, no significant changes in the plasma levels of other fat-soluble vitamins were observed. In addition, no significant differences in antioxidant capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential) were found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Consuming fresh carrot juice, without added sugars, may enhance the bioavailability of β-carotene compared to raw produce.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Carrots are a major source of beta-carotene, but comparative studies on different consumption methods are limited. This study compared the rates of β-carotene absorption from fresh carrots versus fresh carrot juice. SUBJECTS/METHODS: For β-carotene absorption, a separate randomized controlled crossover trial was conducted with 16 healthy adults. The participants consumed 25 mg of β-carotene from raw carrots or fresh carrot juice. Blood samples were collected at the baseline (0 h) and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24 h post-consumption. RESULTS: The carrot juice group exhibited 2.33 times higher peak plasma concentrations 1.5 h post-consumption than those in the raw carrot group. The area under the curve for β-carotene absorption was 2.09 times greater in the carrot juice group than in the raw carrot group. The plasma α-carotene levels increased in both groups, but no significant differences were found. Similarly, no significant changes in the plasma levels of other fat-soluble vitamins were observed. In addition, no significant differences in antioxidant capacity (oxygen radical absorbance capacity and total radical-trapping antioxidant potential) were found between the 2 groups. CONCLUSION Consuming fresh carrot juice, without added sugars, may enhance the bioavailability of β-carotene compared to raw produce.

This study examined the antioxidant compounds and functional properties of superior potato (SP) after various cooking methods (sun drying: SD, roasting after sun drying: SR, hot-air drying: HD, roasting after hot-air drying: HR, boiling: B, roasting: R, and air-frying: AF) and compared with uncooked SP. As a result, the total phenolic contents (TPC) in the hot water extract (HWE) were the highest in SR. B showed the highest TPC in the ethanol extract (EE). In the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, S was the highest in the HWE, whereas R was the highest in the EE. At 50 μg/mL concentration, AF showed the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity in both HWE and EE compared to others. SP protected HepG2 cells against H 2O 2-induced DNA damage. Based on the results, the antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity differed by the cooking method. Thus, the findings from the current study may provide suitable SP cooking methods for attaining their maximum biological activity.

This study examined the antioxidant compounds and functional properties of superior potato (SP) after various cooking methods (sun drying: SD, roasting after sun drying: SR, hot-air drying: HD, roasting after hot-air drying: HR, boiling: B, roasting: R, and air-frying: AF) and compared with uncooked SP. As a result, the total phenolic contents (TPC) in the hot water extract (HWE) were the highest in SR. B showed the highest TPC in the ethanol extract (EE). In the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, S was the highest in the HWE, whereas R was the highest in the EE. At 50 μg/mL concentration, AF showed the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity in both HWE and EE compared to others. SP protected HepG2 cells against H 2O 2-induced DNA damage. Based on the results, the antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity differed by the cooking method. Thus, the findings from the current study may provide suitable SP cooking methods for attaining their maximum biological activity.

This study examined the antioxidant compounds and functional properties of superior potato (SP) after various cooking methods (sun drying: SD, roasting after sun drying: SR, hot-air drying: HD, roasting after hot-air drying: HR, boiling: B, roasting: R, and air-frying: AF) and compared with uncooked SP. As a result, the total phenolic contents (TPC) in the hot water extract (HWE) were the highest in SR. B showed the highest TPC in the ethanol extract (EE). In the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, S was the highest in the HWE, whereas R was the highest in the EE. At 50 μg/mL concentration, AF showed the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity in both HWE and EE compared to others. SP protected HepG2 cells against H 2O 2-induced DNA damage. Based on the results, the antioxidant compounds and antioxidant activity differed by the cooking method. Thus, the findings from the current study may provide suitable SP cooking methods for attaining their maximum biological activity.

Purpose: We evaluated the residual vascular and adipose tissue inflammation in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) using positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: Our study population consisted of 98 patients with known CAD and 94 control subjects who had undergone 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET due to non-cardiac reasons. Aortic root and vena cava superior 18F-FDG uptakewere measured to obtain the aortic root target-to-background ratio (TBR). In addition, adipose tissue PET measurements were done in pericoronary, epicardial, subcutaneous, and thoracic adipose tissue. Adipose tissue TBR was calculated using the left atrium as a reference region. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or as median (interquartile range). Results: The aortic root TBR was higher in CAD patients compared to control subjects, 1.68 (1.55–1.81) vs. 1.53 (1.43–1.64), p < 0.001. Subcutaneous adipose tissue uptake was elevated in CAD patients 0.30 (0.24–0.35) vs. 0.27 (0.23–0.31), p < 0.001. Metabolic activity of CAD patients and control subjects was comparable in the pericoronary (0.81 ± 0.18 vs. 0.80 ± 0.16, p = 0.59), epicardial (0.53 ± 0.21 vs. 0.51 ± 0.18, p = 0.38) and thoracic (0.31 ± 0.12 vs. 0.28 ± 0.12, p = 0.21) adipose tissue regions. Aortic root or adipose tissue 18F-FDG uptake was not associated with the common CAD risk factors, coronary calcium score, or aortic calcium score (p value > 0.05). Conclusion Patients with a chronic CAD had a higher aortic root and subcutaneous adipose tissue 18F-FDG uptake compared to control patients, which suggests residual inflammatory risk.