Impulsivity influences food intake in women with generalized anxiety disorder

Objective: Eating behavior is affected by psychological and neurocognitive factors. However, little is known about this relationship in anxious patients. Our aim was to investigate the associations between impulsivity, inhibitory control, energy-dense food consumption, and body mass index (BMI) in women with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 51 adult females with GAD answered the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and participated in a go/no-go task using food images. Anthropometric measurements were evaluated. A food frequency questionnaire and a snack test were used to study eating behavior. Pearson correlation and multiple linear regression were performed to analyze the variables of interest, adjusted by age. Results: Impulsivity predicted intake of sugar (p = 0.016, 95%CI 0.67-6.05), total fat (p = 0.007, 95% CI 0.62-3.71), and saturated fat (p = 0.004, 95%CI 0.30-1.48). The snack test showed a positive correlation between presence of impulsivity and intake of biscuits (R = 0.296; p = 0.051). Response inhibition to food images in the go/no-go task paradigm did not predict BMI or food intake. Conclusion: Impulsivity was predictive of higher sugar and saturated fat intake in women diagnosed with GAD. Our findings add to the literature regarding the association between neuropsychological factors and food consumption in this specific population

Correlação entre o consumo de açúcar e gordura e os níveis de autocompaixão em indivíduos com transtorno de ansiedade generalizada

Introdução: Transtornos psiquiátricos e sintomas emocionais podem influenciar nos tratamentos para perda ou manutenção de peso e desempenhar um papel significativo no desenvolvimento da obesidade. A autocompaixão, que é uma abordagem mais gentil em relação a si mesmo, pode atuar na proteção contra comportamentos alimentares disfuncionais por meio de diversos mecanismos. O objetivo desse estudo foi investigar a correlação entre os níveis de autocompaixão e o consumo de alimentos hiperpalatáveis em mulheres com Transtorno de Ansiedade Generalizada (TAG). Métodos: Estudo transversal, incluídas cinquenta e uma mulheres com TAG que tiveram seus dados antropométricos aferidos e responderam à Escala de Autocompaixão (SCS) e ao Questionário de Frequência Alimentar (QFA-Porto Alegre). Foi utilizada a correlação de Pearson para analisar a correlação entre autocompaixão e fatores que representam o consumo de alimentos energeticamente densos e hiperpalatáveis, como gordura total, gordura saturada, açúcar e calorias totais. Resultados: Foi encontrada uma correlação negativa entre as variáveis de gordura total (r = -0,29, p = 0,046) e gordura saturada (r = -0,29, p = 0,043)com os níveis de autocompaixão em mulheres adultas com TAG. Já o consumo de calorias totais e açúcar não se correlacionou com nenhum fator em estudo. Conclusão: Foi observado que quanto menor a autocompaixão, maior o consumo de gordura total e gordura saturada nessas mulheres com TAG. Esses resultados podem contribuir para a literatura a respeito de melhor conhecer o comportamento alimentar dessa população específica, vulnerável a distúrbios alimentares. Estratégias que visam incluir a autocompaixão no tratamento podem facilitar a mudança de comportamentos relacionados à saúde e à alimentação.Introduction: Psychiatric disorders and emotional symptoms can influence weight loss or weight maintenance procedures and play a significant role in the development of obesity. Self-compassion, which is a kinder approach to oneself, can protect against dysfunctional eating behaviors through a variety of mechanisms. The focus of this study was to investigate the association between self-pity levels and the consumption of hyperpalatable foods in women with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Methods: Fifty-one women with GAD had their anthropometric data measured and answered the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ-Porto Alegre). Pearson's correlation was used to analyse the association between self-compassion and factors that represent the consumption of energy dense and hyperpalatable foods such as total fat, saturated fat, sugar and total calories. Results: A negative correlation was found between the variables total fat (r = -0.29, p = 0.046) and saturated fat (r = -0.29, p = 0.043) with self-compassion levels in adult women with GAD. The consumption of total calories and sugar did not correlate with any factor under study. Conclusion: It was observed that the lower the self-pity, the higher the total fat and saturated fat consumption in these women with GAD. These results may contribute to the literature on better understanding the eating behavior of this specific population, vulnerable to developing eating disorders. Strategies to include self-compassion in treatment can facilitate the change in health and dietary behaviors

In vitro activity of the hydroethanolic extract and biflavonoids isolated from Selaginella sellowii on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

This study is the first phytochemical investigation of Selaginella sellowii and demonstrates the antileishmanial activity of the hydroethanolic extract from this plant (SSHE), as well as of the biflavonoids amentoflavone and robustaflavone, isolated from this species. The effects of these substances were evaluated on intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, an aetiological agent of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. SSHE was highly active against intracellular amastigotes [the half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 20.2 µg/mL]. Fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of the two bioflavonoids with the highest activity: amentoflavone, which was about 200 times more active (IC50 = 0.1 μg/mL) and less cytotoxic than SSHE (IC50 = 2.2 and 3 μg/mL, respectively on NIH/3T3 and J774.A1 cells), with a high selectivity index (SI) (22 and 30), robustaflavone, which was also active against L. amazonensis (IC50 = 2.8 µg/mL), but more cytotoxic, with IC50 = 25.5 µg/mL (SI = 9.1) on NIH/3T3 cells and IC50 = 3.1 µg/mL (SI = 1.1) on J774.A1 cells. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was lower in cells treated with amentoflavone (suggesting that NO does not contribute to the leishmanicidal mechanism in this case), while NO release was higher after treatment with robustaflavone. S. sellowii may be a potential source of biflavonoids that could provide promising compounds for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis