Breakfast habits and knowledge: Study involving participants from Brazil and Portugal

Breakfast has been considered one of the most important meals of the day. While breakfast habits and their consequences on children’s health and performance are well documented, studies on the adult population are still lacking. The aim of this study is to observe the breakfast consumption habits of Portuguese and Brazilian adults to understand the importance attributed to this meal, which leads people to have breakfast or to skip it, and also what types of food are consumed. To achieve these objectives, a questionnaire survey was carried out in both countries, and the data were collected through the internet. A convenience sample consisting of 694 participants (380 from Brazil and 314 from Portugal) were used in this study, all were adults who gave informed consent to participate in the research. The results showed that the majority of participants consumed breakfast every day (74.4% in Brazil and 78.3% in Portugal), and they did it at home (94.4 and 94.3% for Brazilians and Portuguese, respectively). The results also showed that the reasons for consuming breakfast and skipping it are very similar in both countries. People say they do not have breakfast because they do not want to eat in the morning or they do not have time. The reasons to always have breakfast include providing energy, satiety from night fasting, preventing hunger until lunch, because they like it, or simply because it is a habit. The level of knowledge was slightly higher among Portuguese than Brazilian participants and was found to vary according to the habits of having breakfast or skipping it and also according to country, sex, BMI class, and school level. In conclusion, breakfast habits were found to be very similar in both countries’, but the knowledge was higher among the Portuguese than the Brazilian participants. Breakfast is linked to a healthy lifestyle, and individuals’ behaviours and beliefs must be taken into account to promote health and well-being, thus diminishing the burden of noncommunicable diseases related to improper eating habits and dietary patterns.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dynamic gastrointestinal system as a tool to evaluate the behaviour of carbohydrates after ingestion: from macro to nano scale

GLUPOR 12 - 12nd International Meeting of the Portuguese Carbohydrate Chemistry GroupIn the recent years, much effort has been dedicated to the development of in vitro gastrointestinal systems that closely mimic the physiological processes occurring during human digestion , i.e ., systems that provide accurate results in short time , serving as a tool for rapid screening of foods or delivery systems with different compositions and structures [1] . Static gastrointestinal systems are extensively used , however , most of the times , their simplified gastrointestinal conditions do not accurately simulate the complex physicochemical and physiological processes that occur within the human gastrointestinal tract. A dynamic gastrointestinal system , composed of stomach, duodenum, jejunum and ileum and that simulates the main events that occur during human digestion has been used by our group to evaluate the behaviour of food structures (from macro to nano scale ) under digestion . This dynamic gastrointestinal system can be used for example to predict the glycemic index of food (e .g ., rice) , predicting the blood glucose response after their ingestion and allowing the se lection of the appropriate diet for people that suffer from glucose intol erance. Also , the knowledge of the behaviour of nanostructures (e .g ., carbohydrate- based nanostructures) as well as the fate of the bioactive compounds encapsulated within them in the gastrointestinal tract is of utmost importance for optimizing the bioactivity of encapsulated compounds and to ensure that these structures are safe for human consumption . In fact, the development of novel delivery systems for food applications through the use of nanotechnology has been extensive ly explored [2] . Although the encapsulation of bioactive compounds in bio-based nanostructures have been reported as promising mean of protecting the valuable bioactive compounds and providing new functiona li ties (e.g. increase of bioavailab ility ), the use of very small particle sizes may alter the biological fate of the ingested materials and bioactive compounds , wh i ch could potentially have adverse effects on human health [3]Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for her fellowship (SFRH/BPD/1011811/2014). This work was supported by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the Project PTDC/AGR-TEC/52151/2014 and of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/044691/2013 unit, and COMPETE 2020 (POCl-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020 -Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. The authors would also like to thank the investement project n° 017931, co-funded by Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) through Programa Operacional Competitividade e lnternacionalização (COMPETE 2020)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Unravelling nanoemulsions vs excipient nanoemulsions: formulation optimization, particle characterization and behavior as α-tocopherol delivery systems

The consumption of functional foods incorporating bioactive compounds as a way to promote a healthier lifestyle has gained particular interest in research community and food industry. Firstly, 3D printing has been used in food manufacturing as a novel technology in this field to improve food sensorial properties (e.g., appearance and texture) as well as nutritional/functional content. Secondly, since bioactive compounds bioavailability can be compromised during post-processing, storage, and digestion, their association with nanostructures may enhance their bioavailability and consequently be used for food fortification. In this sense, a novel functional food concept is being developed by printing perishable healthy food products (i.e., vegetables and fruits) previously fortified with nanostructures incorporating bioactive compounds. Whey protein isolate (WPI) nanostructures were developed to associate riboflavin (Rb), and their storage stability, safety and Rb bioaccessibility were evaluated. Storage stability was evaluated by assessing nanostructures size and polydispersity (PdI) over 45 days at 4 °C and 25 °C. Rb bioaccessibility was determined by quantifying Rb concentration in soluble fraction after digestion, that was performed using INFOGEST static in vitro gastrointestinal model. Nanostructures effect on cell viability was assessed by performing a MTT assay using Caco 2 cell line. Rb-loaded WPI nanostructures showed no statistically significant differences in terms of size (ca. 120 nm) and PdI (0.2) during storage period, at both temperatures tested. Rb bioaccessibility was enhanced in ca. 11 % when associated in WPI nanostructures, and Caco 2 cell viability was not affected up to 0 1 mg/mL-1 of Rb in WPI nanostructures. Finally, some pre-tests results regarding the 3D printing of a carrot paste are given, where its shape and rheological profile were evaluated. These results may contribute to validate the use of WPI nanostructures as effective encapsulating systems allied with 3D-food printing towards the development of functional foods with personalized structure and nutrition.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Bio-based nanocarriers incorporating curcumin bioaccessibility and cell viability evaluation

Book of Abstracts of CEB Annual Meeting 2017[Excerpt] For decades, curcumin (Cur), a natural polyphenol product derived from turmeric (Curcuma longa) has been considered one of the most promising bioactive compounds due to its health benefits such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticarcinogenic properties. However, Cur application as functional compound in food products has been limited due to light, heat, and oxidation sensitive and mainly, to poor aqueous solubility which limit its bioavailability [1]. To increase Cur bioaccessibility and consequently, increase bioavailability, several carriers have been investigated, particularly nanocarriers. Among the various nanocarriers described in the literature, lipid-based nanocarriers may offer a promising tool to increase the stability, efficacy and safety of lipophilic compounds, namely Cur [2]. Moreover, the understanding of Cur-loaded nanocarriers’ behaviour under gastrointestinal (GI) conditions is fundamental to produce safe and customized nanocarriers with optimized bioactivity for oral consumption. The aim of this study was to comparatively analyze the impact of two different lipid nanocarriers incorporating Cur - solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN) and nanoemulsions (NE) – on bioaccessibility and Caco-2 cells viability. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Anion Colorimetric Chemosensor Based on a Benzimidazole-Functionalized BODIPY Derivative

A BODIPY derivative bearing a benzimidazole unit at position 2 and an electron donor group (anthracene) at the meso position was synthetized and characterized by the usual spectroscopic techniques. The evaluation of the compound as a colorimetric chemosensor was performed in solutions of acetonitrile/water (75:25) in the presence of several anions (HSO4−, NO3−, H2PO4−, CN−, BzO−, ClO4−, Br−, F−, I− and CH3CO2−) with biomedical and environmental relevance. The in-vestigated BODIPY derivative demonstrated a selective color change from pink to yellow upon interaction with a hydrogen sulfate anion (HSO4−).The authors acknowledge Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia-FCT (Portugal) for funding through CQUM (UID/QUI/00686/2020) and project PTDC/QUI-COL/28052/2017 and a PhD grant to. R. C. R. Gonçalves (SFRH/BD/05278/2020). The NMR spectrometer Bruker Avance III 400 was part of the National NMR Network and was purchased within the framework of the National Program for Scientific Re-equipment, contract REDE/1517/RMN/2005, with funds from POCI 2010 (FEDER) and FCT

Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of a carbazolyl-BODIPY as a fluorimetric chemosensor for F-

BODIPY dyes have received great attention in the last few years as optical chemosensors since they can recognize metal ions in solutions through optical signals (colorimetric and/or fluorimetric). In this context, our research group reports the synthesis of a carbazolyl-BODIPY derivative and its respective characterization by 1H NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Furthermore, a preliminary study of the chemosensory capacity of this BODIPY derivative was carried out in acetonitrile solution in the presence of several anions and a highly selective fluorimetric response was obtained for F-

Sun-dried pears: Phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity.

Two different regional varieties of pears, S. Bartolomeu and Amêndoa, were analyzed fresh and after sun-drying. The total phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of these pears were determined. The total antioxidant capacity was compared using two different methods: DMPD (N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediamine) and the method of ABTS (2,2’-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) radical scavenging. The ABTS method, when compared with the DMPD method, showed a better correlation between the content of phenolic compounds of the pears and their antioxidant activity. The fresh pear possessed higher amounts of phenolic compounds and higher antioxidant capacity when compared to sun-dried pear. The antioxidant efficiency was expressed as Trolox equivalent and as ascorbic acid equivalent. For both methods, the Trolox equivalent was higher than the ascorbic acid equivalent

A meso-triphenylamine-BODIPY derivative for the optical chemosensing of metal ions

The design and synthesis of organic molecules for recognition of biologically/environmentally important metal ions has emerged as a highly regarded research field. The BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene) core is a versatile signaling molecule that can be fine-tuned with functional groups to create selective binding sites to improve its optical proper-ties. As an extension of the work developed in our research group, we report the synthesis and characterization of a BODIPY functionalized with triphenylamino and a formyl group at the meso and 2-position, respectively, for the highly selective detection of Cu2+ and Fe3+. The preliminary study of the BODIPY derivative as optical chemosensor was carried out in acetonitrile solution in the presence of different cations, and interactions with Cu2+ and Fe3+ induced a perceptible color change. UV-visible titrations showed changes in the absorption spectra upon the addition of three equivalents of each cation, with the appearance of a new absorption band at 693 nm.This research was funded by Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for financial support to CQ/UM (UID/QUI/00686/2020) and project PTDC/QUI-COL/28052/2017. Thanks are also due to Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (Portugal) for financial support to the Portuguese NMR network (PTNMR, Bruker Avance III 400-Univ. Minho)

Synthesis and characterization of a meso-anthracene-BODIPY derivative for colorimetric recognition of Cu2+ and Fe3+

: Ions exist widely in biological and environmental media, and the scarcity or excess of these species can have adverse consequences. BODIPY dyes appear as heterocyclic organic compounds capable of recognizing metal ions in solution and in cells, through optical signals (colorimetric and/or fluorimetric), and their photophysical properties can be adjusted through the func-tionalization of the BODIPY core. In continuation of the work developed recently, our research group reports the synthesis of a meso-anthracene-BODIPY derivative and the respective charac-terization by 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and UV-Vis absorption spectrosco-pies. The preliminary study of the chemosensory capacity of the BODIPY derivative was also car-ried out in the presence of several cations in acetonitrile solution, which shows a selective colori-metric response for Cu2+ and Fe3+.This research was funded by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for financial support to CQ/UM (UIDB/QUI/00686/2020) and project PTDC/QUI-COL/28052/2017. Thanks are also due to Fundação para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (Portugal) for financial support to the Portuguese NMR Network (PTNMR, Bruker Avance III 400-Univ. Minho)

In vitro digestion and storage stability of riboflavin-loaded WPI nanostructures towards foods fortification

The consumption of fortified foods incorporating bioactive compounds as a way to promote a healthier lifestyle has gain particular interest in research community and food industry. However, due to their chemical instabilities, bioactive compounds bioavailability can be compromised during post-processing, storage, and digestion. Their encapsulation/association in nanostructures offers a good strategy to enhance bioactive compounds bioavailability. Whey protein isolate (WPI) nanostructures were developed to associate riboflavin (Rb), aiming at its incorporation in foods, and their storage stability and digestion behavior were evaluated. Rb bioaccessibility was determined through spectrofluorimetry by quantifying Rb concentration in the soluble fraction after digestion, that was performed using INFOGEST static in vitro gastrointestinal model. Also, storage stability was evaluated by assessing nanostructures size and polydispersity (PdI) through dynamic light scattering, over 45 days at 4 °C and 25 °C. Rb-loaded WPI nanostructures showed no statistically significant differences in terms of size (ca. 120 nm) and PdI (0.2) during storage period, at both temperatures tested. Rb showed a bioaccessibility of 56 % when associated in WPI nanostructures, enhancing Rb bioaccessibility. These results contribute to improve the knowledge on the use of WPI nanostructures as effective encapsulating systems to augment hydrophilic bioactive compounds bioaccessibility, towards food fortification.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio