Medical updates: A potential anti-inflammatory benefit of coffee with milk

Medical updates: Can something as simple as a cup of coffee with milk reduce inflammation in humans? According to a new study from the University of Copenhagen, this appears to be the case. The anti-inflammatory effects of immune cells are doubled when proteins and antioxidants are combined. The researchers intend to explore the effects on human health.

When bacteria, viruses, or other foreign substances enter the body, our immune systems defend us by deploying white blood cells and chemical substances. This reaction, known as inflammation, happens when tendons and muscles are overworked and are symptomatic of disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.

Polyphenols are antioxidants found in humans, plants, fruits, and vegetables. The food industry also uses this class of antioxidants to prevent oxidation and deterioration of food quality, avoiding off-flavors and rancidity. Polyphenols are also recognized to be beneficial to humans because they help lower oxidative stress in the body, which causes inflammation.

However, there is still a lot we don’t know about polyphenols. Few studies have looked at what occurs when polyphenols combine with other molecules, such as proteins included into meals that we eat. Also read: https://medicalupdates.in/medical-updates-8-foods-that-can-relieve-menstrual-cramps/

In a recent study, researchers from the Department of Food Science at the University of Copenhagen collaborated with researchers from the Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences to study how polyphenols react when combined with amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. The outcomes have been promising.

“In the study, we show that as a polyphenol reacts with an amino acid, its inhibitory effect on inflammation in immune cells is enhanced. As such, it is clearly imaginable that this cocktail could also have a beneficial effect on inflammation in humans. We will now investigate further, initially in animals. After that, we hope to receive research funding which will allow us to study the effect in humans,” says Professor Marianne Nissen Lund from the Department of Food Science, who headed the study.

The study was published recently in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Twice as good at fighting inflammation

The researchers employed artificial inflammation to test the anti-inflammatory impact of combining polyphenols with proteins. Some cells were given various doses of polyphenols that had reacted with an amino acid, whereas others were just given polyphenols in identical amounts. A control group received nothing.

The scientists found that immune cells treated with a combination of polyphenols and amino acids were twice as effective in combating inflammation than cells treated only with polyphenols. Also read: https://medicalupdates.in/medical-updates-medical-news/

“It is intriguing that the anti-inflammatory impact has now been seen in cell experiments. 

And, obviously, this has sparked our curiosity in learning more about these health implications. 

The next stage will be to look into the effects animals “says Associate Professor Andrew Williams of the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, who is also the study’s senior author.

Found in coffee with milk

The researchers’ earlier investigations showed that polyphenols attach to proteins in milk, beer, and meat products. 

Another recent study investigated whether the molecules attach to one other in a coffee drink with milk. 

Coffee beans are rich in polyphenols, whereas milk is high in protein.

 “Our results indicate that the interaction between polyphenols and proteins occurs in some of the coffee beverages with milk that we investigated. Indeed, the response occurs so swiftly that it has been difficult to prevent in any of the meals investigated thus far “Marianne Nissen Lund concurred.

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As a result, the researcher believes that the response and potentially helpful anti-inflammatory impact occur when other foods containing proteins and fruits or vegetables are combined.

“I can imagine that something similar happens in, for example, a meat dish with vegetables or a smoothie, if you make sure to add some protein like milk or yogurt,” says Marianne Nissen Lund.

Polyphenols’ significant benefits have been recognized by both industry and the research community. As a result, they are investigating ways to add the appropriate amounts of polyphenols to meals in order to get the greatest quality. In this regard, new results of the study are also promising:

“Because humans do not absorb that much polyphenol, many researchers are studying how to encapsulate polyphenols in protein structures which improve their absorption in the body. This strategy has the added advantage of enhancing the anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols,” explains Marianne Nissen Lund.

The study is supported by the Independent Research Fund Denmark and is being carried out in partnership with the Technical University of Dresden in Germany.

Polyphenol Facts

• Polyphenols are a group of naturally occurring antioxidant that is beneficial to humans.

• They safeguard our bodies by preventing and delaying the oxidation of beneficial chemical compounds and organs.

• Polyphenols may be found in a wide range of fruits and vegetables, as well as tea, coffee, red wine, and beer.

• Polyphenols are utilized in the food industry to reduce oxidation of lipids in particular, as well as quality degradation of foods, in order to avoid off-flavors and rancidity.