Chemistry and biochemistry of antioxidants Antioxidants in health, disease and food safety-practical assessment 5 th International Advanced Course 22-27 November 2004 Wageningen, The Netherlands Co-funded by the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS), and organised by the Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University (WU) in co-operation with the Graduate School VLAG.

Introduction Background Antioxidants are important constituents of fruits and vegetables and often claimed to be responsible for the protective effects of these foods against cardiovascular disease and cancer. Many of the benefits of antioxidants stated in health claims on food and drink products still require substantial validation. New advanced techniques and methods are developed aiming at defining ways to understand the structure-activity relationship for the efficiency of antioxidants in biological systems. A thorough understanding of the chemistry and biochemistry of antioxidants, including ways to quantify the bioavailability and mechanism of action is of paramount importance. Wageningen University obtained funding from the EC to organise again two more editions of an Advanced Course dealing with these aspects. Through this brochure the third edition is announced.

Target group
This course is designed for European junior scientists involved in research on antioxidants. The course participants should themselves be applying chemical and biochemical research methods in their research work. Basic theoretical knowledge and the level of experimental expertise will be important criteria in the selection of the participants.

Course contents

Course design
This course provides an up-to-date overview of advanced techniques recently developed to investigate the chemistry and biochemistry of antioxidants. Theoretical aspects and practical training will be combined to provide the latest information to the participants. Five practicals are included in the programme focusing on:

• chemical/biological assays and HPLC analysis,
• computer calculations and modelling,
• (LC-)NMR
• LC-MS and Maldi-tof, and
• risk evaluation.

Each practical takes half a day and group work is part of the practicals.

Provisional programme

Monday 22 November (starting at 8.00 hrs.)

• biochemistry and mechanisms of antioxidants
• dietary antioxidants - benefits & risks
• bioavailability of antioxidants
• screening of antioxidant activity in food
• presentation by participants
• computational analysis of anti- and pro-oxidant chemistry
• risk evaluation

Tuesday 23 November

• NMR spectroscopy, an introduction
• NMR detection of antioxidants
• mass sprectrometry
• practicals
  • chemical/biological assays and HPLC analysis,
  • computer calculations and modelling,
  • (LC-)NMR
  • LC-MS and Maldi-tof, and
  • risk evaluation.

Wednesday 24 November

• practicals

Thursday 25 November

• practicals (2x)
• course dinner

Friday 26 November

• apprication of vibrational spectroscopy methods (NIR, IR, Raman) for antioxidant research
• genetic regulation of the biosynthesis of antioxidant flavonoids.
• practicals

Saturday 27 November

• nutrional and life style determinants of oxidation damage in a Mediterranean population: studies with olive oil supplementation.
• DNA mircoarray technology and its application in dietary exposure studies.
• presentation of risk evaluation reports
• evaluation and closing

Organisation

Course coordinators

• Professor I.M.C.M Rietjens, Division of Toxicology, WU
• Professor W. Stahl, University of Düsseldorf, Germany
• Mrs. I van Leeuwen-Bol, Graduate School VLAG

Other faculty

• Dr GM Alink, WU
• Prof A Bast, University of Maastricht
• Prof A Bruins, University of Groningen
• Prof P Dolara, University of Florence, Italy
• Prof I. Geronthanassis, Univ.of Ioaninna, Greece
• Dr PCH Hollman, RIKILT-Institute of Food Safety
• Dr KJ Hunter, Unilever, UK
• Dr J Keijer, RIKILT-Institute of Food Safety
• Dr HA Schols, WU
• Prof H Schulz, BAZ-Institute for Quality Analyisis, Germany
• D. J Vervoort, WU
• Dr CH de Vos, Plant Research International

General information

Date & duration
7 days, November 22-27, 2004

Study load
The study load of this course is 2.0 ECTS credits.

Language
The course will be conducted in English.

Location & accommodation
Wageningen, a small university town, is situated about 100 kms southeast of Amsterdam. Lectures and practicials will be given at the department of Toxicology (Wageningen University), Hotel accommodation will be booked at the Conference Centre De Wageningse Berg that can be reached by train and bus/taxi in less than two hours from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.

Contact information
More information can be obtained from:
Mrs. Ingeborg van Leeuwen-Bol,
E-mail: Ingeborg.vanLeeuwen-Bol@wur.nl

Registration fee and application

The number of participants is restricted to 25. The course fee for PhD-students is € 250 (includes course material coffee/tea and lunches/dinner).
Through the FEBS grants are available, that include travel costs to and from Wageningen, course fee and full board/lodging at the Conference Centre De Wageningse Berg.
Applicants have to submit a letter in which they are clearly indicating their motivation to participate in this course and how their research work will benefit from participation in the course. A curriculum vitae (maximum 2 pages) should be added as well as a letter of recommendation of the supervisor/head of department including written permission to attend this course.
Applications for the fifth edition of this course should be received by August 15, 2004.
A committee comprising faculty members of Wageningen University will do the selection. Participants will be notified of acceptance before September 30, 2004.

Applications should be sent to:
Graduate School VLAG,
Mrs. Ingeborg van Leeuwen-Bol
PO Box 8129, 6700 EV Wageningen,
The Netherlands
Fax: +31 317 483342

Photos

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