Pro198Leu polymorphism affects the selenium status and GPx activity in response to Brazil nut intake

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015. Selenoproteins play important roles in antioxidant mechanisms, and are thus hypothesised to have some involvement in the pathology of certain types of dementia. Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) are both thought to involve impaired biological activity of certain selenoproteins. Previously, supplementation with a selenium-rich Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa) has shown potential in reducing cognitive decline in MCI patients, and could prove to be a safe and effective nutritional approach early in the disease process to slow decline. Here, we have conducted a pilot study that examined the effects of a range of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes encoding the selenoproteins glutathione peroxidase (GPX1) and selenoprotein P (SEPP) in response to selenium supplementation via dietary Brazil nuts, including selenium status, oxidative stress parameters and GPX1 and SEPP gene expression. Our data suggest that GPX1 Pro198Leu rs1050450 genotypes may differentially affect the selenium status and GPx activity. Moreover, rs7579 and rs3877899 SNPs in SEPP gene, as well as GPX1 rs1050450 genotypes can influence the expression of GPX1 and SEPP mRNA in response to Brazil nuts intake. This small study gives cause for larger investigations into the role of these SNPs in both the selenium status and response to selenium dietary intake, especially in chronic degenerative conditions like MCI and AD

Antioxidant intake among Brazilian adults - The Brazilian Osteoporosis Study (BRAZOS): a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antioxidant nutrient intake and the lesser formation of free radicals seem to contribute to chronic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intake profile of the main dietary antioxidants in a representative sample of the adult Brazilian population and discuss the main consequences of a low intake of these micronutrients on overall health.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The sample comprised 2344 individuals aged 40 years or older from 150 cities and was based on a probabilistic sample from official data. The research was conducted through in-home interviews administered by a team trained for this purpose. Dietary intake information was obtained through 24-h recall. The Nutrition Data System for Research software program was used to analyze data on the intake of vitamins A, C and E, selenium and zinc, which was compared to Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs). Differences in intake according to sex, anthropometrics, socioeconomic status and region were also evaluated. The SPSS statistical package (version 13) was used for the statistical analysis. P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Higher proportions of low intake in relation to recommended values were found for vitamin E (99.7%), vitamin A (92.4%) and vitamin C (85.1%) in both genders. Intake variations were found between different regions, which may reflect cultural habits.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results should lead to the development of public health policies that encourage educational strategies for improving the intake of micronutrients, which are essential to overall health and prevention of non-communicable diseases.</p

Importance and management of micronutrient deficiencies in patients with Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease

B&aacute;rbara Rita Cardoso,1 Cristiane Cominetti,2 Silvia Maria Franciscato Cozzolino11Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of S&atilde;o Paulo (USP), S&atilde;o Paulo, Brazil; 2Faculty of Nutrition, Federal University of Goi&aacute;s, Goi&aacute;s, BrazilAbstract: Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, and it generally affects the elderly. It has been suggested that diet is an intensively modifiable lifestyle factor that might reduce the risk of AD. Because epidemiological studies generally report the potential neuronal protective effects of various micronutrients, the aim of this study was to perform a literature review on the major nutrients that are related to AD, including selenium, vitamins C and E, transition metals, vitamin D, B-complex vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids.Keywords: Alzheimer&rsquo;s disease, nutritional deficiencies, diet, oxidative stress, lipid, vitamin

Iron and zinc status of patients with chronic renal failure who are not on dialysis

Objective: the purpose of this study was to assess the zinc and iron status in patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) who were not receiving dialysis.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Outclinic patients of the Nephrology Division at Federal University of São Paulo.Patients: This study was performed on 29 stable patients with CRF who were not receiving dialysis.Main outcome measure: the parameters for determining iron and zinc status were transferrin saturation, zinc protoporphyrin, serum ferritin, hematocrit, serum iron, total iron binding capacity, erythrocyte, and plasma zinc levels (measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry).Results: the serum ferritin level was reduced to 85.5 +/- 67.1 ng/mL and the zinc protoporphyrin level was high (68 +/- 32.9 mumol/mol heme), serum transferrin saturation was 19.9% +/- 7.85%, mean serum iron level was 66.6 +/- 26.3 mug/dL, and mean total iron binding capacity was 336 +/- 45.7 mug/dL. Absolute iron deficiency was found in 34.5% of the patients. Zinc level in erythrocytes was high (50.0 +/- 7.2 mug/g hemoglobin), whereas plasma zinc was at a borderline level (74 +/- 17.7 mug/dL) when compared with normal values. There were significant correlations among plasma zinc and serum iron and transferrin saturation, zinc erythrocyte, and parameters of iron.Conclusion: These results show that absolute iron deficiency can occur in patients who are not receiving dialysis and that there is an abnormal distribution of zinc levels in these patients. Moreover, a possible relationship between iron deficiency and zinc distribution was observed. (C) 2002 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.Univ São Paulo, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut, Lab Minerals, BR-05508030 Butantan, SP, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Div Nephrol, BR-04024002 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc