Hops

Best known for their role in brewing, female hop flowers are increasingly used in insomnia supplements, anxiety and menopause symptoms. In addition, research into their ingredients revealed new activities with promising clinical applications.

Hops Anti-indications and Hazards:

Although no side effects have been reported resulting from its use as a therapeutic supplement, hops may cause allergic reactions in susceptible individuals, especially in those exposed to large quantities.

In the collection and processing of hops, the inhalation of hop dust caused diseases such as:

• Asthma
• Allergic rhinitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Bronchitis and inflammation
• Dry cough
• Difficulty in breathing
• Decreased lung function

In addition, exposure to hops may cause other allergic symptoms such as:

• Contact dermatitis
• Skin redness
• Eye fluid accumulation
• Conjunctivitis

Due to the lack of studies on its effects, hop extract should not be used by children under 3 years of age or pregnant or breast-feeding women.

Although hops have proven anticancer activity, it can stimulate cancer growth using female sex hormone receptors (estrogen-positive) and interfere with some breast cancer therapies due to its ability to bind to estrogen receptors. People with estrogen-positive or breast cancer should contact their physicians before taking out hops.

Chmiel (8-prenylningenin) changes the production and action of female sex hormones, which can lead to fertility problems in women before menopause. Therefore young women may want to avoid high doses of phytoestrogen supplements for a long time.

General characteristics of the hops

Hops are female hop flowers (Humulus lupulus L.), a plant belonging to the same family as hemp (Cannabaceae). The hops most likely come from China, South Caucasus and Siberia or Mesopotamia, from where it spread to Japan, America and Central Europe.

Due to its role in brewing, which accounts for 98% of its use, hops are now grown in all warmer regions. Various compounds in the hops give the beer a bitter taste, prevent the growth of unwanted microorganisms during the brewing process and stabilize the foam.

Hops have long been used in traditional medicine, especially in diseases such as:

• Insomnia
• Nervousness
• Anxiety
• No appetite
• Digestive problems
• Painful teeth, ears and nerves
• Head pain
• Rheumatism
• tuberculosis
• Silica
• Azbestosis
• Leprosy
• Pneumonia
• Renal stones and urinary tract inflammation
• Water retention
• Contractions
• Skin ulcers and injuries
• Foot smell
• Convulsion
• Blood purification

In 2003, the European Phytotherapy Research Cooperative approved the use of hops as a remedy for mood disorders such as agitation, anxiety, sleep disturbances.

The research has therefore recently focused on identifying the main biological compounds present in the hops. Supplements containing hop extract are sold to improve mood disorders and menopause symptoms.

Hops — Application

Improvement of menopause symptoms

Menopause is the cessation of menstrual cycles in women. This is accompanied by decreased levels of female sex hormones, which causes symptoms such as

• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Sleep disorders
• Tiredness
• Mood changes (depression, irritability)
• Loss of bone and muscle mass
• Reduced sexual desire
• Vaginal Dryness

The consumption of hop extract improved these symptoms and quality of life in three randomised studies on 223 postmenopausal women.

Anxiety and mood disorders

In a study involving 36 people with at least mild depression, stress or anxiety, the intake of hop extract improved all symptoms.

In rats, the extract of hops showed antidepressant activity measured as shortening the time spent by rats floating still in a cylinder filled with water.

Hops can help you fall asleep

In a clinical trial on 17 people, the intake of just over 1 glass (333 ml) of non-alcoholic beer improved sleep quality. The hops were suggested as the main ingredient of beer responsible for this effect.

The hops increased sleep time and reduced physical activity and body temperature in mice and rats taking sedatives. In the study of quails whose sleep and wake rhythm is very similar to human rhythm, a dose of 2 mg of hop extract was most effective in reducing night activity while maintaining normal daily rhythm/ rest rhythm.

Hops often combine with valerian to combat insomnia. In three studies involving 256 people, this combination was more effective than placebo. Two of them showed that the combination was also more effective than the Valerian itself.

Hops can help with weight loss and metabolic health

In a study involving 200 healthy overweight subjects (DB-RCT), the intake of hop extract reduced fat tissue, especially in the stomach [R].

Both the hop extract and its xanthohumol components and iso-α acids reduced body weight in many studies in overweight mice and rats.

Ksantohumol also reduced the development, growth and accumulation of fat in fat cells while increasing their mortality.

The combination of isohumulone hops and acanth proantocyanidine improves several symptoms of metabolic syndrome. Along with diet changes and physical exercise, he reduced blood triglycerides and cholesterol (total, LDL, APOP) in a randomised study of 23 subjects. The combination also reduced insulin levels by increasing insulin sensitivity in 91 subjects.

Hops can improve tooth health

In 2 studies in 57 subjects, hop polyphenols (used as oral lavage or as 7 and 20 mg tablets) reduced the growth of the plaque.

Hop polyphenols reduced the ability of two species of bacteria (Streptococcus mutants and Streptococcus sobrinus) to cause contagion.

In two studies on human gum cells, the addition of hop polyphenols blocked the inflammatory response caused by the gingivalis disease micro-organism (Porphyromonas gingivalis).

Hops can help fight allergies

In a randomised study involving 39 people with pollen allergy, the intake of 100 mg hop extract improved nasal swelling, nasal colour, secretion and secretion characteristics.

In mice with pollen/dust allergy, 500 mg of hop water extract reduced nasal friction and sneezing. Extract also reduced the release of histamine by mast cells and human cancer cells. In another mouse study, 100-500 mg of hop extract reduced the release of histamine by mast cells and basophiles.

In a study on human nasal cells, the water extract from hops limited cytokine production that activates allergic inflammatory reactions.

Hops can improve heart health

In a study of 23 people, the intake of hop isohumulons improved blood flow, both in smokers and non-smokers.

In two studies in mice, xanthohumol prevented and reversed the accumulation of triglyceride and cholesterol platelets in the arteries.

In rats, hops extract relaxed blood vessels, which may reduce the risk of heart disease.

After injury, the vessels can be narrowed from the growth of blood vessels cells and lead to heart disease. Ksantohumol was able to mitigate these effects.

Hops Helps balance blood sugar

In a study involving 20 diabetic patients, the intake of isohumulones of hops decreased blood sugar.

In many studies in mice and rats, the intake of hop extract, its xanthohumol and isohumulone components, or a mixture of hop isohumulones and acanthic proantocyanidine reduced blood sugar levels and insulin resistance.

Mechanism
Concomitant activation of PPAR-alpha and PPAR-gamma by isohumulated decreases blood sugar levels by reducing insulin resistance. Bitter hop acids also activate bitter flavor receptors and stimulate GLP-1 production, proteins that trigger insulin production in response to sugar.

Hops can help with neurodegenerative diseases

Hop extract reduces brain damage and maintains brain function in rats with stroke or aluminium nitrate poisoning. Long-term consumption of hop extract reduced protein accumulation, which is likely to cause Alzheimer's disease (β-amyloid) in the brain of old mice and retained their cognitive functions.

Ksantohumol protected brain cells from inflammation and oxidative damage, suggesting its therapeutic potential in neurodegenerative diseases.

Since xanthohumol (among other flavonoids) may block the enzyme involved in Alzheimer's disease (BACE1), it has been suggested as a therapeutic preventive candidate for that disease.

The consumption of hop extract or its ingredients, xanthohumol and lupulon, reduced the inflammation of the skin (measured as ear swelling) in three studies in mice with mite dermatitis, contact allergic dermatitis, and exposure to a tumour promoter.

In an antimicrobial study, xanthohumol and lupulones reduced the growth of five acne-producing organisms (Propioniabacterium acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, Kocuria rhizophila and Staphylococcus pyogenes). Hop compounds also blocked the two activities of these bacteria, which also contribute to the development of acne (anti-collagenase and oxidation).

Hops can prevent liver damage (in animals)

In several studies in mice, hops or their xanthohumol and isohumulone components had protective effects against the following liver diseases:

• Alcoholic steatosis
• Non-alcoholic steatosis,
• Oxidative damage, inflammation and death of cells associated with aging,
• Tissue scarring in response to liver damage
• Ksantohumol, humulons and lupulones prevented inflammatory processes in liver cells and the activation process of individuals causing tissue scarring in response to liver damage.

Hops and digestive functions (animal)

In rats, hops take increased production of gastric juice without changing acid levels. In another study, the intake of hop extract reduced the movements of the small intestine.

In a study in pigs, dietary supplementation with hops (or grape product also rich in polyphenols) increased weight gain on feed intake. The new diet did not alter intestinal morphology or digestibility of feed, but changed the composition of intestinal microorganisms and reduced proinflammatory protein production.

Products containing hops: