Alimentos artesanales y tradicionales: el queso Oaxaca como un caso de estudio del Centro de México

Los productos alimenticios artesanales han sido ampliamente estudiados por sus características y potencialidades. Sin embargo, todavía no se cuenta con un concepto unificado de lo que se entiende por artesanal. Aunque se tienen disponibles algunas definiciones que hacen referencia a productos comestibles hechos a mano, no toman en cuenta la existencia de regulaciones, con parámetros específicos, que un producto alimenticio debe cumplir para ser comercializado. El aumento de la demanda de estos productos, sus valores cultural, saludable, de sabor y textura, aunado a su potencial para constituirse como una estrategia factible de desarrollo rural, ha llamado nuestra atención para investigar si los productos artesanales alimenticios podrían sobrevivir en un mundo regularizado lleno de especificaciones que deben reunirse. El caso de estudio del queso de Oaxaca producido en el centro de México da un ejemplo de la incapacidad de los artesanos para cumplir los requisitos legales actuales, diseñados principalmente para los productos alimenticios industrializados. Se propone un nuevo término para referirse a los productos comestibles elaborados con métodos tradicionales, que emplean el conocimiento tradicional, para que los artesanos pudieran continuar existiendo con su estilo de vida. Se sugiere también un enfoque nuevo para que se considere en el sistema de regulación para este tipo de productos, en el que no debe olvidarse que se debe informar al consumidor sobre la variabilidad natural del producto comprado debida al origen artesanal del mismo, esto es a su "artesanalidad"

Radical scavenging activity of an inulin-gallic acid graft and its prebiotic effect on Lactobacillus acidophilus in vitro growth

Dietary fibre contained in some vegetable food products can be associated with phenolic compounds and therefore exhibits a significant antioxidant activity (Saura-Calixto, Pérez-Jiménez, & Goñi, 2009). This kind of fibre is known as antioxidant dietary fibre (ADF) and because of its polymer structure it could show a considerable prebiotic capacity as well. Some studies have suggested that polyphenols associated with this dietary fibre could be released in the gastrointestinal tract during digestion (Mercado-Mercado et al., 2015). Hence, besides its prebiotic activity ADF could increase the radical scavenging activity of the human gut environment.In order to generate a new antioxidant and prebiotic dietary fibre, gallic acid (GA) was grafted onto native inulin. Inulin-gallic acid (IGA) graft was confirmed by UV and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by spectroscopic methods and the prebiotic activity of IGA was determined by In-Vitro growth of Lactobacillus acidophilus. UV spectra show absorbance peaks at 214 and 266–268 nm showing aromatic ring presence in the IGA graft and FT-IR spectra showed a band at 1743 cm 1, confirming the covalent bond between the polymer and GA. GA provides a significant antioxidant capacity to IGA graft. Inulin shows a significant capacity to stimulate the growth of L. acidophilus and GA grafted onto inulin (16.3 mg/g polymer) does not interfere with its prebiotic capacity. It is possible to provide radicalscavenging capacity to inulin-type fructo-oligosaccharides avoiding the decrease of its prebiotic properties, which could extend their potential use as functional foods.CONACYT 37057

Manual para la elaboración estandarizada de tamales a pequeña escala

El interés de los autores es hacer llegar a la población los resultados del trabajo de Instituciones de Educación Superior, así como utilizar los recursos del Estado en beneficio de los contribuyentes, es por esto que este Manual se pone a disposición del público en general a través del Repositorio de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. El presente Manual es resultado del financiamiento del Proyecto PRODEP Nuevo PTC 511-6/17-7766.El documento muestra la formulación y el procedimiento estandarizado para la elaboración de tamales de harina de maíz nixtamalizado. Se ilustra con fotografías que apoyan el proceso con el fin de hacer más didáctico este procedimiento. Si bien la elaboración de tamales es un proceso tradicional con sus variantes dependiendo del productor, si se sigue el proceso propuesto las variaciones serán mínimas y se conseguirá un producto estandarizado.SEP Proyecto Nuevo PTC Prodep, convenio 511-6/17-776

Alimentos funcionales, alfalfa y fitoestrógenos

Functional food development has been increased during the last years due to the population interest in foods that have not only a nutritional function but a health benefit as well reducing the risk of suffering several diseases. Alfalfa has been intended as cattle feed, although several investigations have reported that alfalfa contains bioactive compounds –phytochemicals- proteins with an estrogenic effect, and antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds, being classified as a functional food with protection against cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular and other diseases. The aim of the present study is to offer a general information outline, through a bibliographic review, of functional foods status, focusing on alfalfa and its phytochemicals (phytoestrogens), compounds that give it its functional food character and its adverse effects shown in the reproductive system of experimental animals as well. Such dichotomy between adverse and beneficial effects is the sign that shows that it is needed more information and more studies to be done in order to establish the effect of phytoestrogens in the development and reproductive function in animals, its agonistic and antagonistic effect and risk-benefit balance in its consumption.El desarrollo de alimentos funcionales en los últimos años ha ido en aumento debido principalmente, al interés de la población por alimentos que no solo cumplan con la función nutricional sino también por que tengan un efecto benéfico en salud reduciendo así el riesgo a padecer diversas enfermedades. La alfalfa ha sido generalmente un alimento destinado para la alimentación del ganado, sin embargo, en diversas investigaciones alrededor del mundo se ha reportado que contiene compuestos bioactivos –fitoquímicos– y proteínas con efecto estrogénico, antimicrobiano y antioxidante, así como también protector contra enfermedades cardiovasculares, cáncer y diabetes, entre otras, clasificándola potencialmente como un alimento funcional. El presente documento tiene como objetivo dar un bosquejo general informativo a través de la búsqueda y revisión bibliográfica acerca de los alimentos funcionales y en especial de la alfalfa y constituyentes fitoquímicos (fitoestrógenos) que la ubican dentro de este grupo de alimentos; así como los hallazgos que se han reportado como efectos adversos en animales experimentales específicamente en el aparato reproductivo debido al consumo de este tipo de fitocompuestos. Esta dicotomía entre los efectos adversos y benéficos no es más que la señalización de que aún falta mucha más información y estudios que realizar respecto al resultado que pueden tener los fitoestrógenos en el desarrollo y función reproductiva de animales, el agonismo y antagonismo de su efecto así como la concordancia en el riesgo-beneficio de su consumo

Alimentos funcionales, alfalfa y fitoestrógenos

Functional food development has been increased during the last years due to the population interest in foods that have not only a nutritional function but a health benefit as well reducing the risk of suffering several diseases. Alfalfa has been intended as cattle feed, although several investigations have reported that alfalfa contains bioactive compounds –phytochemicals- proteins with an estrogenic effect, and antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds, being classified as a functional food with protection against cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular and other diseases. The aim of the present study is to offer a general information outline, through a bibliographic review, of functional foods status, focusing on alfalfa and its phytochemicals (phytoestrogens), compounds that give it its functional food character and its adverse effects shown in the reproductive system of experimental animals as well. Such dichotomy between adverse and beneficial effects is the sign that shows that it is needed more information and more studies to be done in order to establish the effect of phytoestrogens in the development and reproductive function in animals, its agonistic and antagonistic effect and risk-benefit balance in its consumption.El desarrollo de alimentos funcionales en los últimos años ha ido en aumento debido principalmente, al interés de la población por alimentos que no solo cumplan con la función nutricional sino también por que tengan un efecto benéfico en salud reduciendo así el riesgo a padecer diversas enfermedades. La alfalfa ha sido generalmente un alimento destinado para la alimentación del ganado, sin embargo, en diversas investigaciones alrededor del mundo se ha reportado que contiene compuestos bioactivos –fitoquímicos– y proteínas con efecto estrogénico, antimicrobiano y antioxidante, así como también protector contra enfermedades cardiovasculares, cáncer y diabetes, entre otras, clasificándola potencialmente como un alimento funcional. El presente documento tiene como objetivo dar un bosquejo general informativo a través de la búsqueda y revisión bibliográfica acerca de los alimentos funcionales y en especial de la alfalfa y constituyentes fitoquímicos (fitoestrógenos) que la ubican dentro de este grupo de alimentos; así como los hallazgos que se han reportado como efectos adversos en animales experimentales específicamente en el aparato reproductivo debido al consumo de este tipo de fitocompuestos. Esta dicotomía entre los efectos adversos y benéficos no es más que la señalización de que aún falta mucha más información y estudios que realizar respecto al resultado que pueden tener los fitoestrógenos en el desarrollo y función reproductiva de animales, el agonismo y antagonismo de su efecto así como la concordancia en el riesgo-beneficio de su consumo

Caracterización físico-química de maíz (Zea mays L.) criollo (azul y rojo) del Estado de México

Objective: To evaluate the physical and chemical characteristics of the creole corn (blue and red) from the Estado de México. Design / methodology / approach: Size (mm), hectoliter weight (kg/Hl-1), color and aw were evaluated on blue and red creole corn. Besides, moisture, ash, ethereal extract, and protein content were evaluated. Statistical analysis was performed to assess possible significant differences using the Tukey test (p <0.05). Results: Red creole corn had lower moisture and higher protein and ethereal extract contents also it was larger and had higher hectoliter weight therefore the flour yield of red corn could be higher than in blue corn. Study limitations / implications: Biological activity of the evaluated creole corn kernels is necessary for it use as a functional food. Findings / Conclusions: Red corn had better physicochemical characteristics than blue cornObjetivo: Evaluar las caracterísicas físicas y químicas de maíz criollo azul y rojo del Estado de México. Diseño/metodología/aproximación: Para la caracterización físicoquímica del maíz criollo azul y rojo, las variables que se evaluaron fueron tamaño (mm), peso hectolítrico (kg/Hl-1), color (escala LAB) así como la  actividad de agua (aw). Además se realizó un análisis químico proximal determinando humedad, cenizas, extracto etéreo y proteína. Se realizó un análisis estadístico para evaluar las posibles diferencias significativas utilizando la prueba de Tukey (p<0.05). Resultados: El maíz rojo tuvo menor valor de humedad, mayor contenido de extracto etéreo y proteína que el maíz azul, además tiene mayor tamaño y peso hectolítrico lo que lo hace buen candidato para la obtención de harina. Limitaciones del estudio/implicaciones: La determinación de la actividad biológica es necesaria para poder recomendar el uso de estos maíces criollos como alimentos funcionales. Hallazgos/conclusiones: El maíz rojo tiene mejores características físicoquímicas que el maíz azul

Global age-sex-specific mortality, life expectancy, and population estimates in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1950–2021, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: a comprehensive demographic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Estimates of demographic metrics are crucial to assess levels and trends of population health outcomes. The profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on populations worldwide has underscored the need for timely estimates to understand this unprecedented event within the context of long-term population health trends. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 provides new demographic estimates for 204 countries and territories and 811 additional subnational locations from 1950 to 2021, with a particular emphasis on changes in mortality and life expectancy that occurred during the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: 22 223 data sources from vital registration, sample registration, surveys, censuses, and other sources were used to estimate mortality, with a subset of these sources used exclusively to estimate excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 2026 data sources were used for population estimation. Additional sources were used to estimate migration; the effects of the HIV epidemic; and demographic discontinuities due to conflicts, famines, natural disasters, and pandemics, which are used as inputs for estimating mortality and population. Spatiotemporal Gaussian process regression (ST-GPR) was used to generate under-5 mortality rates, which synthesised 30 763 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 1365 surveys and censuses, and 80 other sources. ST-GPR was also used to estimate adult mortality (between ages 15 and 59 years) based on information from 31 642 location-years of vital registration and sample registration data, 355 surveys and censuses, and 24 other sources. Estimates of child and adult mortality rates were then used to generate life tables with a relational model life table system. For countries with large HIV epidemics, life tables were adjusted using independent estimates of HIV-specific mortality generated via an epidemiological analysis of HIV prevalence surveys, antenatal clinic serosurveillance, and other data sources. Excess mortality due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 was determined by subtracting observed all-cause mortality (adjusted for late registration and mortality anomalies) from the mortality expected in the absence of the pandemic. Expected mortality was calculated based on historical trends using an ensemble of models. In location-years where all-cause mortality data were unavailable, we estimated excess mortality rates using a regression model with covariates pertaining to the pandemic. Population size was computed using a Bayesian hierarchical cohort component model. Life expectancy was calculated using age-specific mortality rates and standard demographic methods. Uncertainty intervals (UIs) were calculated for every metric using the 25th and 975th ordered values from a 1000-draw posterior distribution. Findings: Global all-cause mortality followed two distinct patterns over the study period: age-standardised mortality rates declined between 1950 and 2019 (a 62·8% [95% UI 60·5–65·1] decline), and increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period (2020–21; 5·1% [0·9–9·6] increase). In contrast with the overall reverse in mortality trends during the pandemic period, child mortality continued to decline, with 4·66 million (3·98–5·50) global deaths in children younger than 5 years in 2021 compared with 5·21 million (4·50–6·01) in 2019. An estimated 131 million (126–137) people died globally from all causes in 2020 and 2021 combined, of which 15·9 million (14·7–17·2) were due to the COVID-19 pandemic (measured by excess mortality, which includes deaths directly due to SARS-CoV-2 infection and those indirectly due to other social, economic, or behavioural changes associated with the pandemic). Excess mortality rates exceeded 150 deaths per 100 000 population during at least one year of the pandemic in 80 countries and territories, whereas 20 nations had a negative excess mortality rate in 2020 or 2021, indicating that all-cause mortality in these countries was lower during the pandemic than expected based on historical trends. Between 1950 and 2021, global life expectancy at birth increased by 22·7 years (20·8–24·8), from 49·0 years (46·7–51·3) to 71·7 years (70·9–72·5). Global life expectancy at birth declined by 1·6 years (1·0–2·2) between 2019 and 2021, reversing historical trends. An increase in life expectancy was only observed in 32 (15·7%) of 204 countries and territories between 2019 and 2021. The global population reached 7·89 billion (7·67–8·13) people in 2021, by which time 56 of 204 countries and territories had peaked and subsequently populations have declined. The largest proportion of population growth between 2020 and 2021 was in sub-Saharan Africa (39·5% [28·4–52·7]) and south Asia (26·3% [9·0–44·7]). From 2000 to 2021, the ratio of the population aged 65 years and older to the population aged younger than 15 years increased in 188 (92·2%) of 204 nations. Interpretation: Global adult mortality rates markedly increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021, reversing past decreasing trends, while child mortality rates continued to decline, albeit more slowly than in earlier years. Although COVID-19 had a substantial impact on many demographic indicators during the first 2 years of the pandemic, overall global health progress over the 72 years evaluated has been profound, with considerable improvements in mortality and life expectancy. Additionally, we observed a deceleration of global population growth since 2017, despite steady or increasing growth in lower-income countries, combined with a continued global shift of population age structures towards older ages. These demographic changes will likely present future challenges to health systems, economies, and societies. The comprehensive demographic estimates reported here will enable researchers, policy makers, health practitioners, and other key stakeholders to better understand and address the profound changes that have occurred in the global health landscape following the first 2 years of the COVID-19 pandemic, and longer-term trends beyond the pandemic

Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Background: Understanding the health consequences associated with exposure to risk factors is necessary to inform public health policy and practice. To systematically quantify the contributions of risk factor exposures to specific health outcomes, the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 aims to provide comprehensive estimates of exposure levels, relative health risks, and attributable burden of disease for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, from 1990 to 2021. Methods: The GBD 2021 risk factor analysis used data from 54 561 total distinct sources to produce epidemiological estimates for 88 risk factors and their associated health outcomes for a total of 631 risk–outcome pairs. Pairs were included on the basis of data-driven determination of a risk–outcome association. Age-sex-location-year-specific estimates were generated at global, regional, and national levels. Our approach followed the comparative risk assessment framework predicated on a causal web of hierarchically organised, potentially combinative, modifiable risks. Relative risks (RRs) of a given outcome occurring as a function of risk factor exposure were estimated separately for each risk–outcome pair, and summary exposure values (SEVs), representing risk-weighted exposure prevalence, and theoretical minimum risk exposure levels (TMRELs) were estimated for each risk factor. These estimates were used to calculate the population attributable fraction (PAF; ie, the proportional change in health risk that would occur if exposure to a risk factor were reduced to the TMREL). The product of PAFs and disease burden associated with a given outcome, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), yielded measures of attributable burden (ie, the proportion of total disease burden attributable to a particular risk factor or combination of risk factors). Adjustments for mediation were applied to account for relationships involving risk factors that act indirectly on outcomes via intermediate risks. Attributable burden estimates were stratified by Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile and presented as counts, age-standardised rates, and rankings. To complement estimates of RR and attributable burden, newly developed burden of proof risk function (BPRF) methods were applied to yield supplementary, conservative interpretations of risk–outcome associations based on the consistency of underlying evidence, accounting for unexplained heterogeneity between input data from different studies. Estimates reported represent the mean value across 500 draws from the estimate's distribution, with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) calculated as the 2·5th and 97·5th percentile values across the draws. Findings: Among the specific risk factors analysed for this study, particulate matter air pollution was the leading contributor to the global disease burden in 2021, contributing 8·0% (95% UI 6·7–9·4) of total DALYs, followed by high systolic blood pressure (SBP; 7·8% [6·4–9·2]), smoking (5·7% [4·7–6·8]), low birthweight and short gestation (5·6% [4·8–6·3]), and high fasting plasma glucose (FPG; 5·4% [4·8–6·0]). For younger demographics (ie, those aged 0–4 years and 5–14 years), risks such as low birthweight and short gestation and unsafe water, sanitation, and handwashing (WaSH) were among the leading risk factors, while for older age groups, metabolic risks such as high SBP, high body-mass index (BMI), high FPG, and high LDL cholesterol had a greater impact. From 2000 to 2021, there was an observable shift in global health challenges, marked by a decline in the number of all-age DALYs broadly attributable to behavioural risks (decrease of 20·7% [13·9–27·7]) and environmental and occupational risks (decrease of 22·0% [15·5–28·8]), coupled with a 49·4% (42·3–56·9) increase in DALYs attributable to metabolic risks, all reflecting ageing populations and changing lifestyles on a global scale. Age-standardised global DALY rates attributable to high BMI and high FPG rose considerably (15·7% [9·9–21·7] for high BMI and 7·9% [3·3–12·9] for high FPG) over this period, with exposure to these risks increasing annually at rates of 1·8% (1·6–1·9) for high BMI and 1·3% (1·1–1·5) for high FPG. By contrast, the global risk-attributable burden and exposure to many other risk factors declined, notably for risks such as child growth failure and unsafe water source, with age-standardised attributable DALYs decreasing by 71·5% (64·4–78·8) for child growth failure and 66·3% (60·2–72·0) for unsafe water source. We separated risk factors into three groups according to trajectory over time: those with a decreasing attributable burden, due largely to declining risk exposure (eg, diet high in trans-fat and household air pollution) but also to proportionally smaller child and youth populations (eg, child and maternal malnutrition); those for which the burden increased moderately in spite of declining risk exposure, due largely to population ageing (eg, smoking); and those for which the burden increased considerably due to both increasing risk exposure and population ageing (eg, ambient particulate matter air pollution, high BMI, high FPG, and high SBP). Interpretation: Substantial progress has been made in reducing the global disease burden attributable to a range of risk factors, particularly those related to maternal and child health, WaSH, and household air pollution. Maintaining efforts to minimise the impact of these risk factors, especially in low SDI locations, is necessary to sustain progress. Successes in moderating the smoking-related burden by reducing risk exposure highlight the need to advance policies that reduce exposure to other leading risk factors such as ambient particulate matter air pollution and high SBP. Troubling increases in high FPG, high BMI, and other risk factors related to obesity and metabolic syndrome indicate an urgent need to identify and implement interventions

Inocuidad en alimentos tradicionales: el queso de Poro de Balancán como un caso de estudio

La variabilidad de los alimentos tradicionales producidos de manera artesanal es admisible, pero su inocuidad debe garantizarse. La ejecución de Buenas Prácticas de Manufactura (BPM) es fundamental para la construcción de sistemas de gestión de la inocuidad como el Análisis de Riesgos y Puntos Críticos de Control (HACCP) e ISO-22000-Food Safety Management System. El cumplimiento de este tipo de prácticas en la producción de alimentos tradicionales en México es escaso. Tomando al queso de Poro, como ejemplo de este tipo de alimentos, el presente docu- mento describe las condiciones y controles de su proceso de producción. Ello como el primer paso para documentar la factibilidad de implementar sistemas de gestión de la inocuidad. Esto es dado que la legislación en México permite la comercialización de este tipo de quesos si su producción cumple con controles basados en BPM