Quality Evaluation of Dietary Supplements for Weight Loss Based on Garcinia cambogia.

Food supplements of plant origin for weight control are increasingly being demanded by consumers as a way to promote good health. Among them, those based on Garcinia cambogia (GCFS) are widely commercialized considering their bioactive properties, mainly due to (-)-hydroxycitric acid ((-)-HCA). However, recently, controversy has arisen over their safety; thus, further research and continuous monitoring of their composition is required. Hence, in this work, a multi-analytical approach was followed to determine not only (-)-HCA but also other constituents of 18 GCFS, which could be used as quality markers to detect fraudulent practices in these samples. Discrepancies between the declared (-)-HCA content and that experimentally determined were detected by LC-UV in 33% of the samples. Moreover, GC-MS analyses of GCFS allowed the detection of different compounds not present in G. cambogia fruits and not declared on supplement labels, probably related to heat exposure or to the addition of excipients or other extracts. This multi-analytical methodology is shown to be advantageous to address different fraudulent practices affecting the quality of these supplements.

Quality indicators in lactose hydrolyzed milks and soy beverages from Colombia.

Worldwide there is great interest in producing low lactose milk and drinks, such as soy beverages, suitable for consumption by lactose-intolerant people. These products have different carbohydrate compositions, which affect quality indicators derived from Maillard reaction (furosine and 5-hydroxyl-methyl furfural, HMF). In this study, quality parameters have been determined in 11 commercial samples (8 lactose-hydrolyzed milks and 3 soy beverages). Presence of ß-galactooligosaccharides in milks (22.2-458.1 mg/100 mL) correlating roughly with the remaining lactose content (1.9-357.7 mg/100 mL). Soy beverages contained α-galactosides in concentrations of 30-75 mg/100 mL. HMF and furosine were detected in all milk samples. In addition, powdered milks subjected to controlled storage (40 °C, aw 0.44) showed a furosine increase up to 88%. In conclusion, a great composition diversity was observed in the different products, probably favored by the lack of regulation and underline the importance of controlling processing and storage conditions to preserve product quality.

Microwave Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Carbohydrates from Different Morphological Parts of Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.).

Despite the nutritional properties of alfalfa, its production is mainly for animal feed and it is undervalued as a food source. In this study, the valorization of alfalfa as a potential source of bioactive carbohydrates [inositols, α-galactooligosaccharides (α-GOS)] is presented. A Box-Behnken experimental design was used to optimize the extraction of these carbohydrates from leaves, stems, and seeds of alfalfa by solid-liquid extraction (SLE) and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Optimal extraction temperatures were similar for both treatments (40 °C leaves, 80 °C seeds); however, SLE required longer times (32.5 and 60 min vs. 5 min). In general, under similar extraction conditions, MAE provided higher yields of inositols (up to twice) and α-GOS (up to 7 times); hence, MAE was selected for their extraction from 13 alfalfa samples. Pinitol was the most abundant inositol of leaves and stems (24.2-31.0 mg·g-1 and 15.5-22.5 mg·g-1, respectively) while seed extracts were rich in α-GOS, mainly in stachyose (48.8-84.7 mg·g-1). In addition, inositols and α-GOS concentrations of lyophilized MAE extracts were stable for up to 26 days at 50 °C. These findings demonstrate that alfalfa is a valuable source of bioactive carbohydrates and MAE a promising alternative technique to obtain functional extracts.

Development of a microwave-assisted extraction method for the recovery of bioactive inositols from lettuce (Lactuca sativa) byproducts.

A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method was developed for the extraction of bioactive inositols (D-chiro- and myo-inositols) from lettuce (Lactuca sativa) leaves as a strategy for the revalorization of these agrofood residues. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was selected for the simultaneous determination of inositols and sugars (glucose, fructose, and sucrose) in these samples. A Box-Behnken experimental design was used to maximize the extraction of inositols based on the results of single factor tests. Optimal conditions of the extraction process were as follows: liquid-to-solid ratio of 100:1 v/w, 40°C, 30 min extraction time, 20:80 ethanol:water (v/v), and one extraction cycle. When compared with conventional solid-liquid extraction (SLE), MAE was found to be more effective for the extraction of target bioactive carbohydrates (MAE 5.42 mg/g dry sample versus SLE 4.01 mg/g dry sample). Then, MAE methodology was applied to the extraction of inositols from L. sativa leaves of different varieties (var. longifolia, var. capitata and var. crispa). D-chiro- and myo-inositol contents varied between 0.57-7.15 and 0.83-3.48 mg/g dry sample, respectively. Interfering sugars were removed from the extracts using a biotechnological procedure based on the use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for 24 h. The developed methodology was a good alternative to classical procedures to obtain extracts enriched in inositols from lettuce residues, which could be of interest for the agrofood industry.

Quality of life and health of breast cancer woman survivors in Popayan-Colombia / Calidad de vida y salud en mujeres sobrevivientes al cáncer de mama en Popayán- Colombia / Qualidade de vida e saúde em mulheres sobreviventes ao câncer de mama em Popayán, Colômbia

Objective: Identify the quality of life and its association with health parameters for breast cancer women survivors in Popayan, Colombia. Methods: Analytic crosssectional descriptive correlated study, with nonprobability sampling, according to the inclusion criteria of 39 women who survived breast cancer, who received a survey made by the authors which included sociodemographic aspects, evaluation of the quality of life through the questionnaire EORTC QLQ ­ BR23 and measurements such as the Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and blood sugar levels, according to international standards. Results: The health indicators (blood pressure and blood sugar) are found under the normal ranges, while the BMI has a tendency for overweight. Regarding quality of life, high measurements for body image and sexual function were evidenced, while the dimensions of sexual pleasure and future perception showed intermediate measures. Regarding association, moderate correlations were observed between blood pressure and blood sugar levels, with body image and the sexual aspect. Conclusions: An association between the health indicators and the quality of life was observed, demonstrating the need to formulate prevention and intervention actions from an interdisciplinary vision. Also, it was observed that the quality of life requires a review toward self-confidence and relationship with oneself, through workshops or talks that allow to overcome limitations proper of the disease and to move on.

Objetivo: Identificar la calidad de vida y su asociación con parámetros de salud en mujeres sobrevivientes al cáncer de mama en Popayán, Colombia. Métodos: Estudio descriptivo-correlacional de corte transversal analítico, con una muestra no probabilística, de acuerdo con criterios de inclusión de 39 mujeres sobrevivientes al cáncer, a quienes se les aplicó una encuesta de elaboración propia con aspectos socio-demográficos, valoración de la calidad de vida mediante el cuestionario EORTC QLQ - BR23 y mediciones como el Índice de Masa corporal (IMC), presión arterial y niveles de glucemia, según estándares internacionales. Resultados: Los índices de salud (presión arterial y glucemia) se encontraron bajo los rangos de normalidad, mientras que para IMC hay tendencia de sobrepeso. Respecto a la calidad de vida, se evidenciaron mediciones elevadas para la imagen corporal y la función sexual, mientras que las dimensiones de disfrute sexual y percepción a futuro presentaron mediciones intermedias. Respecto a la asociación, se observaron correlaciones moderadas entre la presión arterial y los niveles de glucemia, con la imagen corporal y la parte sexual. Conclusiones: Se evidenció una asociación entre los indicadores de salud y calidad de vida, demostrando la necesidad de plantear acciones de prevención e intervención desde una visión interdisciplinaria. De la misma manera, se observó que la calidad de vida requiere una revisión hacia la autoconfianza y relación consigo misma, a través de talleres o charlas que permitan superar las limitaciones propias de la enfermedad y salir adelante.

Objetivo: Identificar a qualidade de vida e a sua associação com parâmetro de saúde em mulheres sobreviventes ao câncer de mama em Popayán, Colômbia. Métodos: Estudo descritivo-correlacional de corte transversal analítico, estudando uma a mostra probabilística de 39 mulheres sobreviventes ao câncer de mama, que responderam um instrumento de formulação própria com aspectos sociais e demográficos, avaliação da qualidade de vida empregando o questionário EORTC QLQ - BR23 e foram estabelecidos o índice de massa corporal (IMC), a pressão arterial e níveis de glicemia segundo padrões internacionais. Resultados: Os níveis de pressão arterial e glicemia encontraram-se nos rangos de normalidade, entretanto, o IMC mostrou a tendência ao sobrepeso. Na aferição da qualidade de vida, observaram-se medições elevadas na imagem corporal e função sexual, enquanto que as dimensões desfrute sexual e percepção do futuro presentaram aferições intermediarias. Na associação de variáveis houve uma moderada relação entre a pressão arterial e os níveis de glicemia com a imagem corporal e a parte sexual. Conclusões: Evidenciou-se a associação entre os indicadores de saúde e a qualidade de vida, demostrando a necessidade de formular ações de prevenção e intervenção desde uma perspectiva interdisciplinar. Do mesmo modo, observou-se que a qualidade de vida requer uma revisão dirigida à autoconfiança e relação com se mesma, através de oficinas ou conferencias que permitam superar as limitações próprias da doença e seguir em frente.

Furosine as indicator of maillard reaction in jams and fruit-based infant foods.

To investigate the presence of furosine in commercial samples of jams and fruit-based infant foods a simple method by ion-pair reversed-phase liquid chromatography is described. The yield of furosine during the hydrolysis with hydrochloric acid was optimized. The reproducibility in the repeatability and recovery of the method, expressed in relative standard deviation percentages, proved to be in the ranges of 4.1-8.3% and 1.0-4.4%, respectively. The recovery percentages of furosine varied between 86.7 and 95.3%. The obtained results support the suitability of the method. Furosine was detected in all studied samples. Although a high variability in the content of furosine was noticed, in general terms, the lowest levels of furosine were observed in samples of fruit-based infant foods and the highest were observed in jams of more than 60% sugar. These results could be due to different heat treatment, storage conditions, and/or differences in the values of water activity (a(w)) and amounts of sugar. The results obtained in the present paper point out the usefulness of furosine as an indicator of Maillard reaction for jams and fruit-based infant foods.