Dietary Calcium for Reducing the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species

A method of identifying or screening compounds or compositions suitable for reducing the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) comprising:

• a) orally administering a composition comprising dietary material containing dietary calcium;
• and
• b) measuring one or more of the following parameters:
• i) intracellular calcium concentrations in cells of said at least one test subject and at least one control subject, wherein a decrease of intracellular calcium concentration in the cells of a test subject as compared to the intracellular concentrations of calcium in the cells of at least one control subject is indicative of a compound, composition, combination of compounds or combination of compositions suitable for use in reducing the production of ROS in a subject;
• ii) UCP2 expression in cells of said at least one test subject and at least one control subject, wherein an increase of UCP2 expression in the cells of a test subject as compared to the UCP2 expression in the cells of at least one control subject is indicative of a compound, composition, combination of compounds or combination of compositions suitable for use in reducing the production of ROS in a subject;
• iii) NADPH oxidase expression in cells of said at least one test subject and at least one control subject, wherein a decrease of NADPH oxidase expression in the cells of a test subject as compared to the NADPH oxidase expression in the cells of at least one control subject is indicative of a compound, composition, combination of compounds or combination of compositions suitable for use in reducing the production of ROS in a subject;
• iv) UCP3 expression in skeletal muscle cells of said at least one test subject and at least one control subject, wherein an increase in UCP3 expression in the skeletal muscle cells of a test subject as compared to UCP3 expression in the skeletal muscle cells of at least one control subject is indicative of a compound, composition, combination of compounds or combination of compositions suitable for use in reducing the production of ROS in a subject;
• v) NADPH oxidase expression in skeletal muscle cells of said at least one test subject and at least one control subject, wherein a decrease of NADPH oxidase expression in the skeletal muscle cells of a test subject as compared to the NADPH oxidase expression in the skeletal muscle cells of at least one control subject is indicative of a compound, composition, combination of compounds or combination of compositions suitable for use in reducing the production of ROS in a subject;
• vi) 11 β-HSD expression in visceral adipocyte tissue or cells of said at least one test subject and at least one control subject, wherein a decrease of 11 β-HSD expression in the visceral adipocyte tissue or cells of a test subject as compared to the 11 β-HSD expression in the visceral adipocyte tissue or cells of at least one control subject is indicative of a compound, composition, combination of compounds or combination of compositions suitable for use in reducing the production of ROS in a subject;
• vii) TNF-α, CD14, MIF, MIP, M-CSF, MCP-1, G-CSF or IL-6 expression in said one or more cell(s), wherein a decrease in the expression of TNF-α, CD14, MIF, MIP, M-CSF, MCP-1, G-CSF or IL-6 in said cell(s) is indicative of a compound or composition suitable for use in reducing the production of ROS;
• or
• viii) IL-15 or adiponectin expression in said one or more cell(s), wherein an increase in the expression of IL-15 or adiponectin in said cell(s) is indicative of a compound or composition suitable for use in reducing the production of ROS.