Sugars and alcoholic byproducts from henequen (Agave fourcroydes) as influenced by plant age and climate [Azúcares y subproductos alcohólicos de henequén (Agave fourcroydes) en función de la edad de la planta y el clima]

Henequen (Agave fourcroydes Lem.) is a well known fiber producing plant cultivated in the Yucatán peninsula in México. Recent studies revealed that the stem locally known as "piña" is a reservoir of non structural carbohydrates, which may be fermented to produce an alcoholic spirit similar to mezcal and tequila. In this work we determined the effect of plant age and climatic conditions through the year on sugars and alcohol production. "Piñas" from 5, 8, 15, 18 and 19 year-old plants were harvested in the spring and autumn dry seasons, as well as in the rainy season of one single year. "Piñas" fresh weight varied from 5.2 to 6.7 kg. Harvested "piñas" were cut into small pieces and cooked, followed by pressing to extract their juice; then the juice was fermented with Kluyveromyces marxianus native yeast isolated from henequen, and distilled to obtain two alcoholic products: "ordinary" (monodistilled) and "white" (bidistilled). Results showed that 19 year-old plants yielded the highest volume of ordinary alcohol production (159 mL per liter of juice). "Piñas" harvested in the dry spring season produced greater quantities of "ordinary" alcohol than those harvested during the dry autumn and in the rainy seasons

Functionality of Bread and Beverage Added with Brosimum alicastrum Sw. Seed Flour on the Nutritional and Health Status of the Elderly

Physiological changes in elderly individuals (EI) can contribute to nutritional deteriora‐ tion and comorbidities that reduce their quality of life. Factors such as diet can modulate some of these effects. The aim was to evaluate the functionality of foods added with Brosimum alicastrum Sw. seed flour in EI. EI (n = 23) living in nursing home conditions agreed to participate. A control stage was carried out (30 days) and subsequently, an intervention stage (30 days) was realized in which a muffin and a beverage, designed for EI, were added to the participants’ their usual diet. In both stages, anthropometric parameters, body composition, nutritional status, dietary intake, sarcopenic status, cognitive and affective states, biometric parameters, and total phenolic compounds (TPC), and antioxidant capacity in foods and plasma of EI were determined. The results showed that the consumption of the foods improved the energy intake and preserved the muscle reserves of the EI. The EI gained body weight (+1.1 kg), increased their protein (+18.6 g/day; 1.5 g/kg BW/day), dietary fiber (+13.4 g/day), iron (+4.4 mg/day), zinc (+1.8 mg/day), folic acid (+83.4 μg/day) consumption while reducing their cholesterol (−66 mg/day) and sodium (−319.5 mg/day) consumption. LDL‐C lipoproteins reduced (14.8%) and urea (33.1%) and BUN (33.3%) increased. The TPC increased (7.8%) in the plasma, particularly in women (10.7%). The foods improve the EI nutritional status, and this has a cardiovascular protective effect that can benefit the health of the EI