Fatty Acids, Gut Microbiota, and the Genesis of Obesity

Obesity is a major public health problem, which is growing around the world. It is a multifactorial disease and a risk factor for other noncommunicable diseases (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and hepatic steatosis). Among the etiological factors, gut microbiota and diet, especially lipids, have been highlighted, which seem to have an important potential as a modulator of its composition, being the key factor in the link between microbiota and obesity. Gut microbiota interacts with the host metabolism in the development of this disease through dietary fatty acids or when produced by intestinal bacteria. Short-chain, saturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids have an impact with respect to gut microbiota and health, presenting central and systemic effects associated with the genesis of obesity. Finally, gut microbiota seems to play a significant role in controlling the endocannabinoid system, and imbalance in this system can be associated with obesity

Preterm infant language development: a role for breast milk fatty acids

Premature infants have an increased risk of developmental disabilities during infancy and childhood. A crucial period of fetal polyunsaturated fatty acid accretion bypassed with prematurity. Objective: to study how the fatty acid composition of breast milk in breast-fed premature infants is associated with cognitive, language, and motor development. Methods: participants included twenty-five healthy preterms, born adequate for gestational age at the Fernandez Figueira Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fatty acid composition of breast milk samples from the first week postpartum was analyzed using gas-liquid chromatography. Bayley-III developmental scales were applied at 9 or 12 months corrected age. Results: regression analyses revealed that the ratio of linoleic acid to alpha-linolenic acid was positively associated with receptive language development (â = 1.49, p = 0.03). Women with preterm infants showed breast milk long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids concentrations consistent with worldwide levels and a high ratio of linoleic acid to alpha-linolenic acid that might be beneficial for language development in the premature infant. Conclusion: a higher ratio of linoleic to alpha-linolenic acid in breast milk could exert beneficial effects for receptive language development in preterm infants fed breast milk. Larger adequately powered longitudinal studies are recommended to better understand the breast milk composition of this population and its association to developmental indices during infancy

Were policies in Brazil effective to reducing trans fat from industrial origin in foods?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the trans fatty acids content of processed foods frequently consumed by adults living in a Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, after the enactment of a mandatory trans fatty acids labelling policy. METHODS: Between February 2014 and January 2015, a specifically dietary questionnaire was completed by 107 adults to assess the frequency of processed foods consumption. The most commonly consumed products from the survey, including vegetable oils, margarine, biscuits, snacks, cheese bread (pão de queijo), french fries, cheeseburger and ice cream, were then analyzed for their trans fatty acids content using gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. RESULTS: Differences in the levels of trans fatty acids were observed among 22 products analyzed, considering that trans fatty acids content ranged between 0.0 g/100 g in samples of cream cracker biscuit 1 and olive oil to 0.83 g/100 g in samples of cheeseburger ( fast food), 0.51 g/100 g in samples of frozen pão de queijo and 12.92 g/100 g in samples of chocolate sandwich cookies with cream filling 2. The overall trans fatty acids content of the different samples of margarine brands was 0.20 g/100 g for brand 1 and 0.0 g/100 g for brand 2. These data are significantly lower than those observed in a survey conducted in 2003, when the regulation had been enacted. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that Brazilian regulation is very likely implicated in the observed drop in trans fatty acids of the most processed foods but has yet to eliminate them, which reinforces the urgent need to revise the legislation, since a minimum amount of trans fat does not mean that the food product does not contain this type of fat

Nutritional Interventions In The Treatment Of Acne Vulgaris: A Systematic Review Of Clinical Trials / Intervenções Nutricionais No Tratamento Da Acne Vulgaris: Uma Revisão Sistemática Dos Ensaios Clínicos

The aim of this study is to review the literature about dietary interventions on acne vulgaris in order to support the development of more effective treatments in clinical practice. A systematic review of the literature, from clinical trials over the last five years, available in Pub Med and SciELO. The selected articles were analyzed according to the Jadad scale, CONSORT and risk of bias using the Cochrane protocol. CONSORT indicated that most of the evidence score was attributed in the titles, abstracts and some of the methods. In particular, the methods of the studies evaluated, when lacking detail, received lower scores, among the evidence, expressed as a percentage. The results, after using the Jadad scale, indicated a similar profile to that obtained with the CONSORT protocol. However, this tool is limited with regard to randomization and blinding. Using the Cochrane method, the risk of bias was evaluated. Results corroborated the evaluations by CONSORT and Jadad scale. Supplementation with n-3 fatty acids, Camellia sinensis, Berberis vulgaris, chromium, selenium and probiotics were significant, but results were limited for the treatment of acne vulgaris. Consumption of foods with increased glycemic load and chocolate indicated a correlation with an increase in acneiform lesions. Changes in nutritional status of alfa-tocopherol, cobalamin and folic acid were associated with the use of isotretinoin. There is a need to increase the quantity and quality of scientific evidence on the nutritional treatment of acne vulgaris in order to more effectively and safely guide the nutritional actions of clinical practice today

Educação Superior no Brasil e a disputa pela concepção de qualidade no Sinaes

Qualidade é conceito polissêmico, conforme concepções e interesses das arenas de poder da Educação Superior. Essas concepções têm assimetrias entre a iniciativa privada e o setor público, podendo mascarar pedagogias de gerenciamento e performatividade. O artigo aborda a qualidade na avaliação da Educação Superior como conceito em disputa entre a avaliação como um processo de caráter formativo e emancipatório e como um referencial básico da regulação. Essa disputa explicita a polissemia da qualidade na avaliação, ressaltando a perspectiva regulatória presente no sistema educacional brasileiro

Conhecimentos maternos sobre amamentação entre puérperas inscritas em programa de pré-natal

O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer o nível de informação sobre amamentação entre as mulheres que participam do programa de pré-natal na Maternidade-Escola da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. A amostra totalizou 135 puérperas que responderam a questionário estruturado, contendo perguntas objetivas sobre aspectos práticos e teóricos do aleitamento materno. Os resultados mostraram que as mulheres iniciaram o pré-natal, em média, com 16 semanas de gravidez e realizaram cerca de oito consultas. Dentre elas, 53,3% afirmaram ter recebido informações sobre aleitamento materno durante o acompanhamento pré-natal e a informação mais lembrada por 22,2% foi a de amamentar até os seis meses de vida do bebê. Quanto ao momento ideal para a primeira mamada, 50,4% consideraram ser logo após o parto e 47,4% apontaram o leite materno como benéfico para proteger o bebê contra doenças. Embora as mães tenham conhecimentos básicos sobre aleitamento materno, questões como o momento ideal para a primeira mamada, a importância do colostro e aspectos nutricionais relacionados à nutriz ainda precisam ser melhor esclarecidos durante o pré-natal e no período pós-parto imediato

Importância dos ácidos graxos essenciais e os efeitos dos ácidos graxos trans do leite materno para o desenvolvimento fetal e neonatal

A prática da amamentação tem grande impacto do ponto de vista da saúde pública, pois o leite materno é o melhor alimento a ser oferecido até o sexto mês de vida da criança. A fração lipídica do leite representa a maior fonte de energia para crianças e fornece nutrientes essenciais, tais como vitaminas lipossolúveis e ácidos graxos poliinsaturados (AGPI). Os ácidos graxos essenciais (AGE) linoléico (LA, 18:2n-6) e alfa-linolênico (ALA, 18:3n-3) são precursores dos ácidos graxos poliinsaturados de cadeia longa (AGPI-CL), incluindo os ácidos docosahexaenóico (DHA) e araquidônico (ARA). A qualidade dos lipídios no leite secretado está diretamente relacionada com a ingestão materna. Os AGPI-CL são importantes na proteção contra alergia e infecções, no processo visual e no desenvolvimento cognitivo na infância. O processamento industrial de alimentos introduziu os ácidos graxos trans (AGT) entre os nutrientes disponíveis à população. Os AGT podem interferir no metabolismo dos AGE, diminuindo a síntese de DHA e ARA. Portanto, nos parece relevante esclarecer a população sobre a importância de um aporte adequado de AGPI e reduzido de AGT durante o período de desenvolvimento pré e pós-natal