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“Anti-Aging” Effect of Polyphenols. © Inra

News

05 Sep 2018

“Anti-Aging” Effect of Grape and Blueberry Polyphenols in the Elderly

The French-Canadian research project Neurophenol, which brings together both researchers and industrial partners, has demonstrated the beneficial effects of a mixture of polyphenols extracted from grapes and blueberries in elderly subjects suffering from advanced non-pathological cognitive decline.

Brain

Press release

30 Aug 2018

A brain mechanism involved in mediated learning is identified

Researchers from INRA and INSERM have just identified the brain mechanism involved in the mediated learning process. Their results, published online on 30 August 2018 in Neuron, show that cannabinoid receptors in the hippocampus play a key role in establishing these types of associations.

Nutrigenetics and nutrigenomics aim at helping us better understand the interactions between our DNA and nutrients and micronutrients. INRA researchers are studying fat-soluble vitamins and particularly vitamin D.. © Inra

Press release

22 Aug 2018

The influence of genetics on nutritional requirements

Approximately 0.1%: that is the average genetic difference between two individuals. This small percentage is responsible for the variations of certain physical traits, such as eyes, hair, and height, but also for differences in our susceptibility to certain diseases and our capacity to absorb vitamins and phytomicronutrients (carotenoids, polyphenols, etc.), involved in the prevention of chronic disease. Based on the study of genetic interindividual variability, researchers from INRA and Aix-Marseille University have published a review on current knowledge of nutrigenetics in the Annual Review of Nutrition on 21 August 2018. The objective of this emerging science is to personalize nutritional recommendations in order to optimize nutrient, micronutrient, and phytomicronutrient allowances by taking into account genetic differences between individuals and groups of individuals.

Histological section of male mouse liver exposed to pesticides for a year. © Inra

Press release

27 Jun 2018

The effect of a cocktail of low-dose pesticides via the diet: initial findings in animals have demonstrated metabolic disturbances

INRA scientists, working with their colleagues from INSERM, have studied in mice the effects of chronic oral exposure to a low-dose pesticide cocktail. Their results have demonstrated metabolic disturbances in vivo that differ as a function of sex. Indeed, males exposed to the pesticides gained weight and became diabetic, while females were protected from these effects but displayed other disturbances. These results have just been published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Vue en coupe d’un épithélium intestinal en bas avec des cryptes colorées en bleu. L’épithélium est surmonté de la couche de mucus (blanc et bleu clair) et du microbiote colique (partie supérieure) dans lequel on distingue des fibres végétales (en vert). © Inra - Jasper Kamphuis. © INRA

News

20 Jun 2018

Titanium dioxide does not negatively affect intestinal mucus in animals

There are currently major concerns about the health consequences of dietary nanoparticles. Last year, researchers in INRA's Joint Research Unit for Food Toxicology (TOXALIM) discovered that titanium dioxide, a food additive, could penetrate the intestinal wall and thus reach other organs. They decided to pursue this line of research by collaborating with other INRA scientists and CNRS researchers. More specifically, they looked at the impact of titanium dioxide on intestinal mucus. Their findings have been published in Journal of Nanobiotechnology.

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