Dietary calcium: strategies to optimize intake

Calcium is an essential nutrient required for numerous biological functions. Studies have demonstrated an association between low calcium intake and chronic diseases, such as osteoporosis, colon cancer, hypertension, and obesity. However, most Brazilians do not meet the adequate intake for calcium. This review focuses on the endogenous (age, hormonal state) and exogenous (phytate, oxalate, sodium, bioactive compounds and vitamin D) factors that can influence calcium absorption. The main methods used for evaluating calcium absorption and bioavailability. The potential factors for the low calcium intake: 1) Food habits - substitution of milk for soft drinks, eating away from home and skipping meals specially breakfast; 2) High cost of dairy food. Besides, this article discuss strategies to optimize calcium intake: 1) Increase knowledge of the relationship between calcium and health and the main food sources; 2) Increase availability of calcium-fortified foods; 3) Supplement use for target groups - when and how administrate calcium salts.O cálcio é um nutriente essencial necessário em diversas funções biológicas. Estudos têm demonstrado a associação entre o baixo consumo de cálcio e doenças crônicas, entre elas osteoporose, câncer de colón, hipertensão arterial e obesidade. Entretanto, grande parte da população brasileira apresenta consumo de cálcio abaixo do recomendado. Este artigo objetiva revisar os fatores endógenos (idade e estado hormonal) e exógenos (fitatos, oxalatos, sódio, compostos bioativos e vitamina D) que influenciam a absorção do cálcio, bem como as principais metodologias utilizadas para avaliar a absorção e biodisponibilidade desse nutriente. Discorre-se sobre os possíveis fatores para o baixo consumo de cálcio: 1) Hábito alimentar - substituição de leite por bebidas com baixo teor de cálcio como o refrigerante, refeições realizadas fora de casa e a não realização de refeições como o café da manhã; 2) Alto custo dos alimentos fontes de cálcio. Além disso, este artigo discute as estratégias para otimizar o consumo do cálcio, que incluem: 1) Aumentar o conhecimento sobre a importância do consumo de cálcio para a saúde e as principais fontes alimentares desse nutriente; 2) Aumentar a disponibilidade de alimentos fortificados com cálcio; 3) Uso de suplementos em grupos específicos - quando e como administrar os sais de cálcio.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Saúde Pública Departamento de NutriçãoUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) EPMUNIFESP, EPMSciEL

Characterization Of Chemically Induced Ovarian Carcinomas In An Ethanol-preferring Rat Model: Influence Of Long-term Melatonin Treatment.

Ovarian cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer deaths among women, and chronic alcoholism may exert co-carcinogenic effects. Because melatonin (mel) has oncostatic properties, we aimed to investigate and characterize the chemical induction of ovarian tumors in a model of ethanol-preferring rats and to verify the influence of mel treatment on the overall features of these tumors. After rats were selected to receive ethanol (EtOH), they were surgically injected with 100 µg of 7,12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene (DMBA) plus sesame oil directly under the left ovarian bursa. At 260 days old, half of the animals received i.p. injections of 200 µg mel/100 g b.w. for 60 days. Four experimental groups were established: Group C, rats bearing ovarian carcinomas (OC); Group C+EtOH, rats voluntarily consuming 10% (v/v) EtOH and bearing OC; Group C+M, rats bearing OC and receiving mel; and Group C+EtOH+M, rats with OC consuming EtOH and receiving mel. Estrous cycle and nutritional parameters were evaluated, and anatomopathological analyses of the ovarian tumors were conducted. The incidence of ovarian tumors was higher in EtOH drinking animals 120 days post-DMBA administration, and mel efficiently reduced the prevalence of some aggressive tumors. Although mel promoted high EtOH consumption, it was effective in synchronizing the estrous cycle and reducing ovarian tumor mass by 20%. While rats in the C group displayed cysts containing serous fluid, C+EtOH rats showed solid tumor masses. After mel treatment, the ovaries of these rats presented as soft and mobile tissues. EtOH consumption increased the incidence of serous papillary carcinomas and sarcomas but not clear cell carcinomas. In contrast, mel reduced the incidence of sarcomas, endometrioid carcinomas and cystic teratomas. Combination of DMBA with EtOH intake potentiated the incidence of OC with malignant histologic subtypes. We concluded that mel reduces ovarian masses and the incidence of adenocarcinomas in ethanol-deprived rats.8e8167

Slipper lobsters (Scyllaridae) off the southeastern coast of Brazil: relative growth, population structure, and reproductive biology

The hooded slipper lobster (Scyllarides deceptor) and Brazilian\ud slipper lobster (S. brasiliensis) are commonly caught by fishing fleets (with double-trawling and longline pots and traps) off the southeastern coast of Brazil. Their reproductive biology is poorly known and research on these 2 species would benefit efforts in resource management. This study characterized the population structure of these exploited species on the basis of sampling from May 2006 to April 2007 off the coast of Santos, Brazil. Data for the absolute fecundity, size at maturity in females, reproductive period, and morphometric relationships of the dominant species, the hooded slipper lobster, are presented. Significant differential growth was not observed between juveniles and adults of each sex, although there was a small investment of energy in the width and length of the abdomen in females and in the carapace length for males in larger animals (>25 cm in total length [TL]). Ovigerous females were caught more frequently in shallow waters in August–September than in January–February, indicating a possible migration to spawn. Fecundity ranged from 55,800 to 184,200 eggs (mean fecundity: 115,000 [standard deviation 43,938] eggs). The spawning period occurred twice a year, with a higher relative frequency between July and October, and the length at 50% maturity for females was ~25 cm TL; both these findings should be considered by resource managers. Proper management of catches of slipper lobsters is important because of the high economic value of this fishery

Hydrological influence on the evolution of a subtropical mangrove ecosystem during the late Holocene from Babitonga Bay, Brazil

Mangroves are key ecosystems which respond to global changes in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide. We describe late Holocene mangroves that established close to the southernmost limit (28°S) for this type of ecosystem in South America. Our findings are based on a C dated core obtained from Babitonga Bay, Santa Catarina State, Brazil (26°12′S, 48°33′W). Analysis of palynology, sedimentary facies, isotopic and elemental data shows that mangrove establishment took place ~500 yrs. B.C.E., following an increase in humidity, and expanded further during the Roman Warm Period and at the end of Dark Age Cold Period. Mangrove and precipitation proxies records appear to be sensitive to rainfall patterns imposed both by the expansion/retraction of the Intertropical Convergence Zone and also the interaction with the South Atlantic Subtropical Anticyclone which affects coastal region due to sea surface temperature variations.The authors thank the Coastal Dynamic Laboratory (LADIC-UFPA) , C-14 Laboratory of the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA-USP) , University of Joinville (UNIVILLE) and Radiocarbon Laboratory (LAC-UFF) for all infrastructure and support. We also thank three anonymous Reviewers and Prof. H. Falcon-Lang for their constructive comments. The first and third author thanks Brazilian Council for Technology and Science-CNPq for fellowship (process 131813/2016-1 , 165911/2015-8 and 305074/2017-2 ). This study was financed by CNPq ( 445111/2014-3 , 405060/2013- 0 ) and FAPESP ( 2011/00995-7 , 2017/03304-1, and 2020/13715-1 ). This study also was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal Nível Superior – Brazil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001

Relationship of excessive daytime sleepiness with bruxism, depression, anxiety, stress, and sex in odontology students: a cross sectional study

To verify if there is a correlation of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) with bruxism, depression, anxiety, stress, and sex in odontology students. Four hundred dental students were selected. Students included in the study were those that were healthy