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Lactulose can be used as a functional food ingredient. During manufacturing as liquid or crystalline formulation, impurities with different sugars occur. Lactulose may also be consumed by people with impaired glucose tolerance, including diabetics. For these consumers, it is of interest whether the described carbohydrate impurities may increase blood glucose levels after ingestion. This study was performed to investigate possible changes of blood glucose levels after oral intake of 10 g and 20 g of liquid and crystalline lactulose in healthy subjects. The small amounts of carbohydrate impurities did not influence blood glucose levels, indicating potential applicability to people with impaired glucose tolerance.

There is growing interest in the health effects of dietary polyphenols on cardiovascular risk factors. In this context, the effect of hydroxytyrosol on lipid status was investigated in healthy subjects. Hydroxytyrosol, a polyphenol especially known from olive oil, is available on the market from different sources. Absorption from those sources is prerequisite for its effects.

Intake of hormonal contraceptives (HC) is associated with higher total 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations, but the effect of HC on free 25(OH)D is unclear. We investigated whether free 25(OH)D concentrations differ according to use of HC.

Due to the successful implementation of vaccination strategies early-life morbidity and mortality due to infectious disease has been reduced dramatically. Vaccines against tetanus and diphtheria are among the most frequently used vaccines worldwide, but various studies in different European countries have shown that protection against tetanus and particularly against diphtheria is unsatisfactory in adults and older persons. In this study we analyzed tetanus- and diphtheria-specific antibody concentrations in 2100 adults of different age from 6 selected European countries (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland) in order to investigate differences in the level of protection against tetanus and diphtheria across Europe.

Metallothionein (MT) family are cysteine-rich proteins that regulate zinc (Zn) homeostasis and protect against oxidative damage. Studies in transgenic mice have shown that MT favorably influence longevity, although their role in human aging is not completely understood. Within the European multicenter study MARK-AGE, we analyzed MT induction after Zn treatment in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and its relation with redox biomarkers in 2,936 age-stratified subjects (35-75 years) including the general population (RASIG), centenarian offspring (GO), and their spouses (SGO).

Frailty among elderly people leads to an increased risk for negative health outcomes. To prevent frailty, we need a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and early detection of individuals at risk. Both may be served by identifying candidate (bio)markers, i.e. biomarkers and markers, for the physical, cognitive, and psychological frailty domains. We used univariate (Rank-ANOVA) and multivariate (elastic net) approaches on the RASIG study population (age range: 35-74 years, n = 2220) of the MARK-AGE study to study up to 331 (bio)markers between individuals with and without frailty for each domain. Biomarkers and markers identified by both approaches were studied further regarding their association with frailty using logistic regression. Univariately, we found lower levels of antioxidants, including β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, in those who were physically, cognitively or psychologically frail. Additionally, self-reported health was worse in these three frail groups. Multivariately, we observed lower levels of β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin in the cognitively frail. Levels of these carotenoids were inversely associated with the risk of being cognitively frail after adjusting for confounders. Antioxidants and self-reported health are potential (bio)markers to detect persons at risk of becoming frail. The biomarkers identified may indicate the involvement of inflammation in frailty, especially for physical and cognitive frailty.