Insights & Discussion
Moderate consumption of beer, due to its melatonin content, can beneficially contribute to healthy diets and improve quality of life in certain physiological conditions.
The methodology of the study primarily involved a comprehensive review of data, partially acquired from a MEDLINE/PubMed search spanning nearly five decades, from 1975 to April 2022. Supplementary data was also sourced from personal experiences and previously published studies about melatonin, the immune system, and beer. The aim was to examine the generation mechanisms of melatonin in beer, its concentrations, and potential impacts on health.
In discussing the results, the study highlighted the rich melatonin content of beer and its echoes in potent antioxidant, oncostatic, immunomodulatory, and cytoprotective properties. Diving further into the beneficial aspects of beer consumption, the study found that the melatonin content of beer, when consumed moderately, could serve as a protective factor. This was particularly applicable in certain scenarios such as a on healthy diet, during pregnancy, menopause and in old age. The paper strongly suggests that moderate beer consumption can enhance the quality of life.
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Beer, specifically low-purine and high-active ingredient beer such as ginger, ginseng, and coix-lily, possess functional ingredients contributing to controlling chronic human diseases.
2024 Molecules Physiological Mechanisms by Which the Functional Ingredients in Beer Impact Human Health Zeng Y, Ahmed HGMD, Li X, Yang L, Pu X, Yang X, et al.
Beer
The study incorporated a comprehensive analysis of information derived from PubMed, Google, CNKI, and ISI Web of Science databases, integrating published data from 1997 to 2024. The researchers set out to elucidate the physiological impacts of beer's functional ingredients, with an intense concentration on those exerting potential health benefits. The types of beer explored encompass those produced from pure barley malt, presenting low purine and high active ingredients. More specific attention was directed towards uniquely brewed variants such as ginger, ginseng, and coix-lily beer, which replicate ancestral practices from approximately 9000 years ago.
The discussion of results inferred the observable health benefits of beer in combating 26 chronic diseases, attributing these effects primarily to the physiological behavior of the beer's polyphenols, melatonin, minerals, bitter acids, vitamins, and peptides. Importantly, these health impacts of beer were found to closely resemble those demonstrated by barley, signifying the consequential role of barley's functionality in the equation. Furthermore, it was highlighted that the production of low-purine beer could be facilitated through enzymatic and biological degradation and adsorption of purines, in conjunction with the addition of dandelion. This research, hence, provides a crucial scientific foundation for the advancement of functional beers that foster health benefits.
Recent revelations of L-DOPA, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, tryptamine, serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, melatonin, 2-hydroxymelatonin, AFMK, AMK, and vitamin D3 derivatives in honey expand its health benefits.
2022 Melatonin Research Serotonin, melatonin and their precursors and metabolites and vitamin D3 derivatives in honey Kim TK, Fabisiak A, Brzeminski P, Reiter RJ, Slominski AT
Review Article Honey Melatonin Vitamin D
The identification of L-DOPA, dopamine, 5-hydroxytryptophan, tryptamine, serotonin, N-acetylserotonin, melatonin, 2-hydroxymelatonin, AFMK, AMK, and vitamin D3 derivatives in honey aligns with their presence in insects and plants. Serotonin and melatonin, integral to tryptophan metabolism, serve diverse roles as hormones, neurotransmitters, and antioxidants. Dopamine and tryptamine, essential neurotransmitters, have broad significance across species. The detection of these molecules in honey, a widely consumed health-promoting substance, enhances its beneficial effects on human health.
The findings highlight the multifaceted composition of honey, encompassing compounds with recognized roles in neurotransmission, antioxidant activity, and hormonal regulation. The presence of these molecules not only broadens honey's spectrum of health benefits for humans but also implies their significance in the intricate physiology of social insects, influencing bee development and colony functions. The co-detection of these compounds with vitamin D3 derivatives further underscores the interconnectedness of honey with insect and plant biology, shedding light on potential synergies that contribute to the diverse positive effects of honey on human health.
Ginger, peppermint and caraway oil combination showed strong effectiveness in managing upper gastrointestinal complaints, with melatonin and marine alginate demonstrating moderate evidence.
2022 Nutrients Effectiveness of Nutritional Ingredients on Upper Gastrointestinal Conditions and Symptoms: A Narrative Review Schulz RM, Ahuja NK, Slavin JL
Review Article Alginate Caraway GERD
The methodology consisted of a literature review of the scientific studies pertaining to nutritional ingredients for upper gastrointestinal relief. The selection was based on recurring mentions within the literature and frequent appearance in consumer products. A predefined search for specific nutritional ingredients and terms related to upper GI health was conducted in five databases - Embase, Medline, Derwent drug file, ToXfile, and PubMed. A manual search was also undertaken for each ingredient to ensure comprehensive review.
The studies that gained inclusion encompassed 16 human clinical trials assessing nine different ingredients. The products investigated were divided into categories, including botanicals - with sub-categories of fiber and combinations, and non-botanical extracts. Several products demonstrated good potential, others showed promising but moderate results, while some had limited support from the scientific research.
Moderate beer intake does not show a protective effect against bone loss in early post-menopausal women.
2022 Frontiers in Nutrition Effect of moderate beer consumption (with and without ethanol) on osteoporosis in early postmenopausal women: Results of a pilot parallel clinical trial Trius-Soler M, Tresserra-Rimbau A, Moreno JJ, Peris P, Estruch R, Lamuela-Raventós RM
Beer Osteoporosis
In a 2-year controlled clinical intervention study, 31 postmenopausal women were divided into three groups: 15 consumed beer with alcohol daily, 6 consumed non-alcoholic beer daily, and 10 refrained from consuming any alcohol, non-alcoholic beer, and hop-related products. All participants underwent baseline and follow-up assessments, wherein plasma and urine samples were collected for biochemical testing, and data about their medical history, diet, and exercise habits were also gathered. The comprehensive, detailed examination involved the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry to determine bone mineral density and trabecular bone score. Furthermore, yearly determinations of bone formation and bone resorption markers were made.
The study showed that the markers of bone formation had indeed increased in the groups consuming beer with alcohol and non-alcoholic beer compared to the control group over the course of 2 years. However, there were no significant changes noted in the bone mineral density and trabecular bone score among the three groups throughout the study period. These findings contradict the hypothesis that moderate beer consumption could have protective effects against bone loss in early post-menopausal women.
The combinations of hop-derived polyphenols found in beer can collaboratively enhance estrogenic effects, especially when mixed with certain estrogenic pesticides.
2021 Frontiers in Nutrition Systemically Achievable Doses of Beer Flavonoids Induce Estrogenicity in Human Endometrial Cells and Cause Synergistic Effects With Selected Pesticides Aichinger G, Bliem G, Marko D
Beer Flavonoids Oestrogen
Researchers utilized the alkaline phosphatase assay testing on Ishikawa cells to investigate the combined estrogenic effects of three signature compounds - xanthohumol, 8-prenylnaringenin, and iso-xanthohumol which mirror their concentration ratios in beer. Additionally, the natural flavonoid pattern was added to a mixture of representative estrogenic pesticides to measure their combined effects.
The results indicated cumulative to slightly synergistic effects between isolated flavonoids, as well as between the flavonoid and the pesticide mixtures. Notably, these impacts were observed at low nanomolar hop polyphenol concentrations, corresponding to levels realistically found after consumption of strongly hopped beer, suggesting a potential health concern.
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