Optimization of total carotenoids extraction from pequi pulp (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) using a mixture planning method/ Otimização da extração de carotenoides totais da polpa de pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) usando método de planejamento de misturas

The pequi is a native fruit of the Brazilian Savanna and the consumption of its carotenoid-rich pulp has been associated with several health benefits. However, there are considerable differences in carotenoid content reported for this fruit, mainly due to the diversity of extraction methods used in the recovery of these compounds from pequi pulp. The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different organic solvents and mixtures in the extraction of total carotenoids from pequi pulp. For the carotenoids extraction, pure solvents and the mixtures of acetone, ethyl alcohol and petroleum ether were used. The mixture planning was used to determine the proportions of the solvents in each treatment. To our knowledge, this is the first study to identify that the most efficient treatment for total carotenoid extraction from pequi pulp is pure petroleum ether solvent (234.40 μg/g). In contrast, ethyl alcohol was the solvent that extracted the lowest concentration of total carotenoids (124.03 μg/g). Pure acetone, one of the most used solvents in the extraction of carotenoids from pequi, showed intermediate efficiency (166.07 μg/g). Thus, pure petroleum ether is the solvent recommended for total carotenoid extraction, mainly in the samples rich in carotenoid and lipids, such as pequi pulp

Effect of dietary fat intake and genetic risk on glucose and insulin-related traits in Brazilian young adults

Purpose The development of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes (T2D) is closely linked to a complex interplay between genetic and dietary factors. The prevalence of abdominal obesity, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidaemia, and high blood pressure among Brazilian adolescents is increasing and hence, early lifestyle interventions targeting these factors might be an efective strategy to prevent or slow the progression of T2D. Methods We aimed to assess the interaction between dietary and genetic factors on metabolic disease-related traits in 200 healthy Brazilian young adults. Dietary intake was assessed using 3-day food records. Ten metabolic disease-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were used to construct a metabolic-genetic risk score (metabolic-GRS). Results We found significant interactions between the metabolic-GRS and total fat intake on fasting insulin level (Pinteraction=0.017), insulin-glucose ratio (Pinteraction=0.010) and HOMA-B (Pinteraction=0.002), respectively, in addition to a borderline GRS-fat intake interaction on HOMA-IR (Pinteraction=0.051). Within the high-fat intake category [37.98±3.39% of total energy intake (TEI)], individuals with≥5 risk alleles had increased fasting insulin level (P=0.021), insulin-glucose ratio (P=0.010), HOMA-B (P=0.001) and HOMA-IR (P=0.053) than those with<5 risk alleles. Conclusion Our study has demonstrated a novel GRS-fat intake interaction in young Brazilian adults, where individuals with higher genetic risk and fat intake had increased glucose and insulin-related traits than those with lower genetic risk. Large intervention and follow-up studies with an objective assessment of dietary factors are needed to confirm our findings

EDUCAÇÃO CONTINUADA DE ADULTOS: NOÇÕES DE ALIMENTAÇÃO SAUDÁVEL E MANIPULAÇÃO DE ALIMENTOS

Considerando a demanda para o desenvolvimento de habilidades para geração de renda de famílias de comunidades carentes atendidas pelo Instituto Brasileiro de Benemerência e Integração do Ser (IBBIS), Goiânia, Estado de Goiás, Brasil, diagnosticou-se a necessidade de criar estratégias para compartilhar e fornecer conhecimentos básicos sobre produção, manipulação e consumo de alimentos, visando à promoção da saúde, aplicabilidade ocupacional e geração de renda. Assim, foram ministrados os cursos Noções Básicas de Higiene e Manipulação de Alimentos e Aproveitamento Integral dos Alimentos, para adultos de ambos os sexos de famílias de baixo poder aquisitivo, nas dependências do IBBIS. As aulas teóricas corresponderam a 30 a 40% e as práticas a 60 a 70% da carga horária total. Após a realização dos cursos, o desempenho dos participantes foi determinado por meio de testes oral e escrito. Por sua vez, os participantes responderam a questionários sobre os cursos e professores, contendo questões abertas e fechadas. O desempenho dos participantes foi satisfatório e houve ampla aprovação dos cursos, professores e conhecimentos compartilhados. Os cursos atenderam as expectativas dos participantes com relação à manipulação segura de alimentos e o aproveitamento de alimentos em preparações nutritivas. Palavras-chave: Higiene, Alimentos, Educação, Segurança Alimentar e Nutricional.   Continued education of adults: notions of healthy food and food manipulation Abstract: Considering the demand for the development of skills for income generation of families from underprivileged assisted communities by the Instituto Brasileiro de Benemerência e Integração do Ser (IBBIS) in Goiânia city, Goiás State, Brazil, it was diagnosed the need to create strategies to share and provide basic knowledge about food production, manipulation and consumption, aiming at health promotion, occupational applicability and income generation. The courses of Basic Notions of Food Hygiene and Manipulation and Whole Food Utilization were given to adults of both sexes from low-income families in the dependencies of the IBBIS. The theoretical classes corresponded to 30 up 40 % of the total course and practices, 60 to 70%. After the end of the courses, the participant´s performance was assessed through oral and written test. In turn, the participants answered the questionnaires, about the courses and teachers, containing direct and indirect questions. The performance of the participants was satisfactory and there was great approval of the courses, teachers and shared knowledge. The participants considered that the courses of safe food handling and the use of food in nutritional preparations were satisfactory. Keywords: Food, Hygiene, Education, Food and Nutrition Security    Educación continua de adultos: conceptos de alimentación saludable y manipulación de alimentos Resumen: Considerando la necesidad de desarrollar habilidades para generar renta de familias de comunidades carentes atendidas por el Instituto Brasileiro de Benemerência e Integração do Ser (IBBIS), Goiânia, Estado de Goiás, Brasil, se observó la necesidad de crear estrategias para compartir y proporcionar conocimientos básicos sobre producción, manipulación y consumo de alimentos, buscando promoción de la salud, aplicabilidad ocupacional y generación de renta. Se ofrecieron los cursos Nociones Básicas de Higiene y Manipulación de Alimentos y Aprovechamiento Integral de los Alimentos, para adultos de ambos géneros de familias de bajo poder adquisitivo en las dependencias del IBBIS. Las clases teóricas correspondieron a 30-40% y las prácticas a 60-70% de la carga horaria total. Después de la realización de los cursos, el desempeño de los participantes fue evaluado por medio de prueba oral y escrita. Los participantes respondieron los cuestionarios, sobre cursos y profesores, conteniendo cinco cuestiones abiertas y cerradas. El desempeño de los participantes fue satisfactorio y hubo amplia aprobación de los cursos, profesores y conocimientos compartidos por parte de los alumnos. Los cursos atendieron las expectativas de los participantes con relación a la manipulación segura de alimentos y el aprovechamiento de alimentos en preparaciones nutritivas. Palabras-clave: Higiene, Alimentos, Educación, Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutriciona

Organic beet leaves and stalk juice attenuates the glutathione peroxidase increase induced by high-fat meal in dyslipidemic patients : a pilot double-blind, randomized, controlled trial

The beet, including the leaves and stalk (BLS), is a vegetable with great antioxidant potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the differences in the nutritional composition and the concentration of total phenolics between the organic and conventional BLS and to verify whether the ingestion of an organic BLS juice containing different concentrations of polyphenols modulated some biomarkers of oxidative stress after the ingestion of a high-fat meal in individuals with dyslipidemia. A controlled, randomized, double-blind, crossover clinical trial with a washout period of 1 week was carried out. A 12-h fasting blood sample was collected. Afterward, the participants consumed a high-fat meal, followed by the ingestion of a placebo or one of the organic BLS juices containing either 32.0 or 77.5 mg/100 mL of polyphenols. Blood samples were obtained 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after the first blood collection. The composition analysis showed that organic BLS had a better nutritional composition than conventional ones. The high-fat meal induced postprandial hypertriglyceridemia after 120 min (p < 0.001) and increased the concentration of malondialdehyde after 30 min (p < 0.001). In addition, there was a significant increase in GPx in 30 min (p = 0.026). This increase was attenuated in the group that received the highest dose of polyphenols when compared with the placebo after 30 min (p = 0.045). Therefore, the organic BLS juice containing 77.5 mg of polyphenols was efficient at modulating one of the postprandial mechanisms of enzymatic antioxidant protection in individuals with dyslipidemia

Inhibition in DNA damages and differential gene expression in Wistar rats treated with kale and cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and submitted to chemical hepatocarcinogenesis

O câncer é a segunda maior causa de morte no mundo, sendo responsável por aproximadamente 7,6 milhões de óbitos. Entretanto, pesquisadores alertam para uma associação inversa entre o consumo de frutas e hortaliças e o desenvolvimento de neoplasias, desta forma a organização mundial da saúde sugere, dentre outras medidas para controle do câncer, o aumento do consumo de frutas e hortaliças. Nesse contexto o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os eventuais efeitos quimiopreventivos das hortaliças Brassicas, couve (C) e repolho (R). Realizaram-se dois experimentos sendo o primeiro, o modelo de hepatocacinogênese de Ito, onde as hortaliças foram fornecidas durante 8 semanas na água de beber (10% p/v), animais que receberam apenas água foram utilizados como controle. Nesse experimento não houve inibição (P>0,05) de lesões pré-neoplásicas hepáticas positivas para glutationa S-transferase forma placental e não houve indução (P>0,05) da apoptose nos grupos tratados com C ou R. Contudo, observou-se redução (P0,05) de danos em DNA, contudo a concentração do aduto de DNA 8-hidroxi-2-deoxiguanosina (8-OHdG) e foi elevada (P<0,05) em animais tratados com R quando comparados a tratados com C e controles. Com relação à expressão diferencial de genes, 29 genes foram diferencialmente expressos em fígado, dentre eles o gene da 8-oxoguanina-DNA-glicosilase (enzima de reparo do DNA), foi hipoexpressa no grupo tratado com R, o que pode explicar o aumentado valor de adutos no mesmo grupo. O cólon apresentou 31 genes com diferença de expressão, onde 5 genes estão relacionados ao metabolismo de xenobióticos.Cancer is the major cause of death in the world, being responsible for approximately 7.6 million deaths. However, there is a hypothesis of an inverse association between fruit and vegetable consumption and the development of cancer. Therefore, the World Health Organization suggests, among other actions for controlling cancer, the increase in vegetable and fruit consumption. The aim of this work was to evaluate eventual chemopreventive effects of Brassicas vegetables, kale (K) and cabbage (C). Two experiments were done: the first one was Ito´s hepatocarcinogenesis model, where vegetables were provided during 8 weeks in the rats´ drinking water (10% w/v). Animals that received only water were considered control. In this experiment, there was no inhibition (P<0,05) of glutathione S-transferase placental form positive preneoplastic lesions and, also, there was no induction (P<0,05) of apoptosis in the groups treated with K or C However, it was observed a reduction (P<0,05) in hepatic DNA damages and an increase (P<0,05) in lutein hepatic concentration of rats treated with K or C, when compared to the control. In the second experiment, the vegetables were provided during 8 weeks in the rats´ drinking water (20% w/v), and animals were submitted to carcinogenic application 24h before euthanasia. There was no reduction (P<0,05) in DNA damages, however there was an increase (P<0,05) in the concentration of 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) DNA in animals treated with C when compared to the ones treated with K and control. In relation to the differential gene expression, 29 genes were differently expressed in the liver, such as the 8-oxoguanine-DNA-glycosylase gene, which was downregulated in the group treated with C. This might explain the increased value of adducts in the same group. Colon presented 31 genes with difference in expression, whereas 5 genes are related to xenobiotic metabolism

Brazilian Society for Food and Nutrition position statement: nutrigenetic tests

Abstract Position statement: The Brazilian Society for Food and Nutrition (SBAN) bases the following position statement on a critical analysis of the literature on nutritional genomics and nutrigenetic tests: (1) Nutrigenetic tests are predictive and not diagnostic, should not replace other evaluations required to treatment, and should only be used as an additional tool to nutritional prescription; (2) Nutritionists/registered dietitians and other health professionals must be able to interpret the nutrigenetic tests and properly guide their patients, as well as build their professional practice on general ethical principles and those established by regulatory authorities; (3) It is extremely important to highlight that the misinterpretation of nutrigenetic tests can cause psychological and health problems to the patient; (4) Currently, there is insufficient scientific evidence for the recommendation of dietary planning and nutritional supplementation based only on nutrigenetic tests. This position statement has been externally reviewed and approved by the board of SBAN and has not gone through the journal’s standard peer review process

miR-296 as prognostic and predictive molecular marker for recurrence in early-stage laryngeal carcinoma treated with definitive radiotherapy

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilHosp Canc Barretos, Barretos, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Peel and pulp of baru (Dipteryx Alata Vog.) provide high fiber, phenolic content and antioxidant capacity

<div><p>Abstract Baru (Dipteryx alata Vog.) is a native fruit of the Brazilian Savannah that can be used in the food industry and may contribute to the economy of the Brazilian Midwest. The proximate composition, the phenolic content and the antioxidant capacity of the peel, pulp and raw and roasted baru almond were examined and compared. Peel showed higher concentrations of dietary fibers (24.1 g/100 g) followed by pulp and roasted almond (18 g/100 g and 16 g/100 g, respectively), and raw almond (12.0 g/100 g). However, the almonds presented the highest lipid and protein concentrations compared to baru peel and pulp. In addition, raw almond showed the highest total phenolic contents (1,107.0 mg GAE/100 g) and antioxidant capacity, but the roasted almond, and baru peel with its pulp, also presented high phenolic contents. The correlation coefficients between phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (via ABTS and FRAP) were strong and significant. The chemical composition of baru peel has not previously been reported. The results showed promising prospects for the consumption of baru pulp with its peel, the fruit component richest in fiber, whose phenolic content and antioxidant capacity are comparable to those of the baru almond.</p></div

Chemoprevention of rat hepatocarcinogenesis with histone deacetylase inhibitors: Efficacy of tributyrin, a butyric acid prodrug

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks in prevalence and mortality among top 10 cancers worldwide. Butyric acid (BA), a member of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) has been proposed as an anticareinogenic agent. However, its short half-life is a therapeutical limitation. This problem could be circumvented with tributyrin (TB), a proposed BA prodrug. To investigate TB effectiveness for chemoprevention, rats were treated with the compound during initial phases of ""resistant hepatocyte"" model of hepatocarcinogenesis, and cellular and molecular parameters were evaluated. TB inhibited (p < 0.05) development of hepatic preneoplastic lesions (PNL) including persistent ones considered HCC progression sites. TB increased (p < 0.05) PNL remodeling, a process whereby they tend to disappear. TB did not inhibit cell proliferation in PNL, but induced (p < 0.05) apoptosis in remodeling ones. Compared to controls, rats treated with TB presented increased (P < 0.05) hepatic levels of BA indicating its effectiveness as a prodrug. Molecular mechanisms of TB-induced hepatocarcinogenesis chemoprevention were investigated. TB increased (p < 0.05) hepatic nuclear histone H3K9 hyperacetylation specifically in PNL and p21 protein expression, which could be associated with inhibitory HDAC effects. Moreover, it reduced (p < 0.05) the frequency of persistent PNL with aberrant cytoplasmic p53 accumulation, an alteration associated with increased malignancy. Original data observed in our study support the effectiveness of TB as a prodrug of BA and as an HDACi in hepatocarcinogenesis chemoprevention. Besides histone acetylation and p21 restored expression, molecular mechanisms involved with TB anticarcinogenic actions could also be related to modulation of p53 pathways. (C) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.FAPESP (Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo)CAPES (Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior)CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico

Chemopreventive effects of beta-ionone and geraniol during rat hepatocarcinogenesis promotion: distinct actions on cell proliferation, apoptosis, HMGCoA reductase, and RhoA

Chemopreventive activities of the dietary isoprenoids beta-ionone (beta I) and geraniol (GOH) were evaluated during the promotion phase of hepatocarcinogenesis. Over 5 consecutive weeks, rats received daily 16 mg/100 g body weight (b.w.) of beta I (beta I group), 25 mg/100 g b.w. of GOH (GOH group), or only corn oil (CO group, controls). Compared to the CO group, the following was observed: only the beta I group showed a decrease in the mean number of visible hepatocyte nodules (P<.05); beta I and GOH groups had reduced mean number of persistent preneoplastic lesions (pPNLs) (P<.05), but no differences regarding number of remodeling PNL (rPNLs) were observed; only the beta I group exhibited smaller rPNL size and percentage of liver sections occupied by pPNLs (P<.05), whereas the GOH group displayed a smaller percentage of liver sections occupied by rPNLs (P<.05); a trend was observed in the beta I group, which showed reduced cell proliferation of pPNLs (P<.10), and the GOH group had increased apoptosis in pPNLs and rPNLs (P<.05); only the beta I group displayed reduced total plasma cholesterol concentrations (P<.05) and increased hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMGCoA) reductase mRNA levels (P<.05): only the GOH group had lower hepatic membrane RhoA protein levels (P<.05); both the beta I- and GOH-treated groups had higher hepatic concentrations of beta I and GOH, respectively (P<.05). Given these data, beta I and GOH show promising chemopreventive effects during promotion of hepatocarcinogenesis by acting through distinct mechanism of actions: beta I may inhibit cell proliferation and modulate HMGCoA reductase, and GOH can induce apoptosis and inhibit RhoA activation. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq