Nutritional Composition and Bioactive Compounds of Quelites Consumed by Indigenous Communities in the Municipality of Juquila Vijanos, Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico.

The indigenous communities of Mexico have a long tradition of consuming quelites. In this research, eight species of quelites that are traditionally consumed by indigenous communities of the Sierra Norte of Oaxaca, Mexico, were characterized: Eryngium foetidum L., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Calceolaria mexicana Benth., Andinocleome magnifica (Briq.) Iltis & Cochrane, Cleoserrata speciosa (Raf.) H.H. Iltis, Phytolacca icosandra L., Cestrum nocturnum L. and Solanum nigrescens M.Martens & Galeotti. The ethnobotanical information of these species was recorded and the proximate composition, mineral content, and total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined. The antioxidant capacity of the samples was also investigated using ABTS (2,2'-Azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), DPPH (2,2-di(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl), and ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) methods. Quelites are available in the dry and rainy season. Quelites were found to have low energy contents while being good sources of fiber, of which A. magnifica possessed the highest concentration (8.61 ± 0.35 g/100 g fresh weight FW). Quelites were also found to provide essential minerals, with the primary contributions being potassium (4097.35 ± 12.28 mg/100 g FW) in C. mexicana, calcium (2418.63 ± 22.91 mg/100 g FW) in S. nigrescens, magnesium (1021.83 ± 10.58 mg/100 g FW) in E. foetidum, among others. C. speciosa and C. mexicana exhibited the highest concentration of phenols and flavonoids, which were found to be associated with higher antioxidant capacity. The quelites analyzed in this study are a potential source of accessible, nutritious, and healthy food, and can potentially help improve food security and health.

Contribution of the biodiversity of edible plants to the diet and nutritional status of women in a Zapotec communities of the Sierra Norte, Oaxaca, Mexico.

We explored the relationship between the diversity of edible plants and the nutritional status of housewives from a Zapotec municipality in Oaxaca, Mexico, during the dry and rainy seasons, and analyzed how sociodemographic variables influences this relationship. Edible plant availability, women's dietary diversity score (WDDS), nutrient intake, and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. WDDS, intakes of energy and nutrients were mainly influenced by seasonality. Older housewives with less schooling had a higher consumption of edible plants, and better nutritional status.

Association of total and pancreatic serum amylase enzymatic activity with insulin resistance and the glucose and insulin responses to oral starch test in Mexican children.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the effect of serum amylase enzymatic activity on glucose metabolism. We investigated the association of serum amylase enzymatic activity with fasting plasma glucose, insulin resistance (IR), and the plasma glucose and insulin response to an oral starch test (OST) in Mexican children. METHODS: Anthropometric data, glucose and insulin levels, and the serum enzymatic activity of total (AMYt), salivary (AMY1), and pancreatic (AMY2) amylase were analysed in 764 children (Nnormal weight  = 427/Nobesity  = 337). After categorization into low (LA) and high (HA) AMYt, an OST with commercial white bread was performed in 39 children (Nnormal weight  = 17/Nobesity  = 22). RESULTS: A positive association between serum enzymatic activity of AMY2 and IR was observed in children with obesity (p = 0.018). Children with normal weight had lower plasma glucose and insulin response to OST than children with obesity (Pglucose  = 4.1 × 10-12 ; Pinsulin  = 2.1 × 10-15 ). Compared with the LA group, children with HA showed lower plasma glucose and insulin response to OST (Pglucose ≤ 0.040; Pinsulin ≤ 0.015). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that AMY2 is positively associated with IR. A high level of AMYt is related to lower glucose and insulin responses to OST in Mexican children, regardless of their weight status.

Dietary Supplementation with Oyster Culinary-Medicinal Mushroom, Pleurotus ostreatus (Agaricomycetes), Reduces Visceral Fat and Hyperlipidemia in Inhabitants of a Rural Community in Mexico.

The abandonment of traditional foods in the Mexican diet is one of the causes for the increase in diseases associated with obesity. Edible mushrooms have been a part of the Mexican diet since pre-Hispanic times. There is clear evidence that Pleurotus ostreatus (Po) contains bioactive compounds that have beneficial health effects. In the present study, we carried out a 3-month nutritional intervention in which we randomized 30 participants into two groups: one that consumed a healthy diet with regional foods without the inclusion of edible mushrooms (HD, n = 15) and one that consumed a healthy diet with regional foods alongside 1 kg of P. ostreatus (four portions of 250 g) per week (HD+ P. ostreatus, n = 15). We evaluated anthropometric measurements, lipid parameters, glucose levels, and blood pressure in inhabitants of San Miguel Tianguistenco, Puebla, a rural area of Mexico. For the HD group, the triglyceride levels decreased in women and the glucose levels decreased in men, and in the HD+ P. ostreatus group, visceral fat, glucose, triglyceride, and cholesterol levels decreased in women, and glucose and triglyceride levels decreased in men. Analysis of the intake of macro- and micronutrients in the community showed a high intake of energy, fat, and sugar, and a low intake of fiber, B complex vitamins, and minerals, indicators of an unbalanced diet. It is essential to create strategies that promote the inclusion of edible mushrooms as a part of a heathy diet in rural areas of Mexico to improve the actual health and nutrition of the residents.

The MC4R p.Ile269Asn mutation confers a high risk for type 2 diabetes in the Mexican population via obesity dependent and independent effects.

We investigated the association between the loss-of-function mutation MC4R p.Ile269Asn and T2D risk in the Mexican population. We enrolled 6929 adults [3175 T2D cases and 3754 normal glucose tolerant (NGT) controls] and 994 NGT children in the study. Anthropometric data and T2D-related quantitative traits were studied in 994 NGT children and 3754 NGT adults. The MC4R p.Ile269Asn mutation was genotyped using TaqMan. The MC4R p.Ile269Asn mutation was associated with T2D [OR = 2.00, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.35-2.97, p = 0.00057] in Mexican adults. Additional adjustment for body-mass index (BMI) attenuated but did not remove the association (OR = 1.70, 95% CI 1.13-2.56, p = 0.011). The MC4R p.Ile269Asn mutation was associated with T2D (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.14-3.08, p = 0.013) in a subset of 1269 T2D cases and 1269 NGT controls matched for sex, age, and BMI. A mediation analysis estimated that BMI accounts for 22.7% of the association between MC4R p.Ile269Asn mutation and T2D risk (p = 4.55 × 10-6). An association was observed between the MC4R p.Ile269Asn mutation and BMI in NGT children and adults (children: beta = 3.731 ± 0.958, p = 0.0001; adults: beta = 2.269 ± 0.536, p = 2.3 × 10-5). In contrast, the mutation was not associated with T2D-related quantitative traits. We demonstrate that the MC4R p.Ile269Asn mutation predisposes to T2D via obesity-dependent and independent effects in the Mexican population.

Association of gut microbiome with fasting triglycerides, fasting insulin and obesity status in Mexican children.

BACKGROUND: The association of gut microbiota with obesity and its cardio-metabolic complications in paediatric populations is still controversial. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of obesity and cardio-metabolic traits with gut microbiota on 167 and 163 children with normal weight and obesity from Mexico City and Oaxaca, Mexico. METHODS: Anthropometric and biochemical traits were measured. The microbial communities were determined by high-throughput sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA gene v3-v4 region. RESULTS: The gut microbial community structure was associated with obesity and fasting plasma insulin (FPI) in Mexico City (PObesity = 0.012, PFPI = 0.0003) and Oaxaca (PObesity = 0.034, PFPI = 0.016), and with triglycerides (TG) in Oaxaca (P = .0002). The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio was positively associated with TG in Oaxaca (P = .003). Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes phyla were positively and negatively associated with obesity (Mexico City: PFirmicutes = 0.013, PBacteroidetes = 0.009) and TG (Oaxaca: PFirmicutes = 0.002, PBacteroidetes = 0.004). In Oaxaca, Verrucomicrobia was negatively associated with obesity (P = .004). In Mexico City, the bacterial genus Fusicatenibacter, Romboutsia, Ruminococcaceae, Ruminiclostridium, Blautia, Clostridium, Anaerostipes and Intestinibacter were associated with obesity and FPI, while in Oaxaca, Bacteroides, Alistipes and Clostridium were associated with TG. CONCLUSION: The gut microbial community structure in children is associated with obesity and FPI in Mexico City, and with obesity, FPI and TG in Oaxaca.

Causal Association of Haptoglobin With Obesity in Mexican Children: A Mendelian Randomization Study.

CONTEXT: Little is known about the association between haptoglobin level and cardiometabolic traits. A previous genome-wide association study identified rs2000999 in the HP gene as the stronger genetic contributor to serum haptoglobin level in European populations. OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: We investigated the association of HP rs2000999 with serum haptoglobin and childhood and adult obesity in up to 540/697 and 592/691 Mexican cases and controls, respectively. Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected. Serum haptoglobin was measured by an immunoturbidimetry assay. HP rs2000999 was genotyped using the TaqMan technology. Mendelian randomization analysis was performed using the Wald and inverse variance weighting methods. RESULTS: Haptoglobin level was positively associated with childhood and adult obesity. HP rs2000999 G allele was positively associated with haptoglobin level in children and adults. HP rs2000999 G allele was positively associated with childhood but not adult obesity. The association between HP rs2000999 and childhood obesity was removed after adjusting for haptoglobin level. In a Mendelian randomization analysis, haptoglobin level genetically predicted by HP rs2000999 showed a significant causal effect on childhood obesity by the Wald and inverse variance weighting methods. CONCLUSION: Our data provide evidence for the first time for a causal positive association between serum haptoglobin level and childhood obesity in the Mexican population. Our study contributes to the genetic elucidation of childhood obesity and proposes haptoglobin as an important biomarker and treatment target for obesity.

Traditional Mushroom Consumption Associated to Lower Levels of Triglycerides and Blood Pressure in an Indigenous Peasant Community from Oaxaca, Mexico.

Traditional consumption of edible mushrooms is supported by ethnomycological studies worldwide. However, the potential impact of mushroom consumption on the nutritional and health status of remote rural communities has not yet been studied. We carried out these initial standard studies in the indigenous peasant community of Benito Juarez, Oaxaca, Mexico. Participant adults (45) were grouped as follows: optimal body mass index (BMI: 17.8%), overweight (48.9%), obesity type I (24.5%), obesity type II (4.4%), and obesity type III (4.4%). A high proportion of women (90.3%) and men (64.3%) had a high risk of cardiovascular disease (WHI: waist/hip index). Most women (93.6%) and men (57.1%) showed abdominal obesity. In biochemical parameters, subjects had hypertriglyceridemia (75.6%), hypercholesterolemia (26.7%), hyperglycemia (53.3%), and hypertension (46.7%). There was an excessive intake in the diet of energy, proteins, carbohydrates, sugar, and lipids, as well as a deficiency in the consumption of several vitamins and minerals. A high frequency of mushroom consumption (> 3 times per week) was significantly correlated to lower energy, lipids, saturated fatty acids (SFA), and sodium intake, as well as to higher intake of cobalamin and zinc. The levels of triglycerides and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lower in adults consuming edible mushrooms every day. Total cholesterol also tended to be lower. These associations allow to promote healthier diets in remote indigenous communities by keeping or increasing the consumption of edible mushrooms, either wild or cultivated. Edible mushrooms can play a more important role in community nutrition and health, considering their unique functional and medicinal properties.

The effect of the presence of seeds on the nutraceutical, sensory and rheological properties of Physalis spp. Fruits jam: A comparative analysis.

Four jams were made using two wild species of Physalis spp., two containing seeds (P1WS and P2WS) and two without seeds (P1WHS and P2WHS). Physicochemical, nutraceutical and rheological properties of the jams were determined and a sensory evaluation made. P1WS and P2WS jams had lower carbohydrates contents, reducing sugars and calories, and higher fiber contents than P1WHS and P2WHS. The presence of seeds in the jams increased phenols and flavonoids. However, the seedless jams had better sensory acceptance. The dynamic rheological testing indicated a gel-like behavior (G'>G'') in whole jams. Also, shearing flow testing showed shear-thinning and thixotropic behaviors, which are shared characteristics with others fruit jams, such as mango or gabiroba. The presence of seeds in the jam affected directly yield stress, apparent viscosity, hysteresis area, and viscoelastic parameters, which were described in the sensory analysis as a "less desirable texture". The use of seeds from wild species of Physalis spp., increased the nutritional value of jam. However, it would be necessary to improve consumer acceptance through technological processes prior to marketing.

Childhood obesity: current situation in Mexico. / Situación actual de la obesidad infantil en México

Introduction: Mexico has reported in 2016 a combined prevalence of obesity and overweight of 33.2% in children. The objective of this work was to make a literature review of the factors associated with obesity in Mexican children, such as genetic factors, feeding patterns, sedentary lifestyle and gut microbiota. We found that in Mexican children SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) is present in genes such as MC4R, FTO and ADRB1, associated with obesity, and that PON-1192 polymorphism increases the risk of suffering insulin resistance. On the other hand, the variant of the ADIPOR2 gene (rs11061971) protects Mexican children against obesity, as well as a greater number of copies of the AMY gene was found in children with normal weight. The evidence of the number of copies is very important, since the current diet of the Mexican population is rich in carbohydrates and fats, origin of a nutritional transition that includes sedentary activities and a high consumption of sugary drinks. The consumption of certain foods causes important changes in the gut microbiota that contribute to the development of obesity and insulin resistance. It has been found that Mexican children with obesity have a higher abundance of phylum Firmicutes and B. eggerhii bacteria. Therefore, as obesity is so diverse, it is essential to diversify the treatment in which government authorities, parents and health authorities should get involved, as well as reinforcing nutrition and healthy eating issues in primary education in the country in order to reverse the prevalence and prevent the development of other pathologies in Mexican children.

Introducción: México ha reportado en el año 2016 una prevalencia combinada de obesidad y sobrepeso del 33,2% en niños. El objetivo de este trabajo fue hacer una revisión bibliográfica de los factores asociados a la obesidad en niños mexicanos, como factores genéticos, patrones de alimentación, sedentarismo y microbiota intestinal. Se encontró que en niños mexicanos existe la presencia de SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) en genes como MC4R, FTO y ADRB1, asociados a la obesidad, y que el polimorfismo PON1-192 incrementa el riesgo de padecer resistencia a la insulina. Por otro lado, la variante del gen ADIPOR2 (rs11061971) protege a los niños mexicanos contra la obesidad, al tiempo que un mayor número de copias del gen AMY fue encontrada en niños con peso normal. La evidencia del número de copias es de gran importancia, ya que la dieta actual del mexicano es rica en carbohidratos y grasas, origen de una transición nutricional que incluye actividades sedentarias y un alto consumo de bebidas azucaradas. El consumo de determinados alimentos provoca cambios importantes en la microbiota intestinal que contribuyen al desarrollo de la obesidad y la resistencia a la insulina. Se ha encontrado que niños mexicanos con obesidad presentan mayor abundancia de bacterias del phylum Firmicutes y de la especie B. eggerhii. Al ser tan diverso el tema de obesidad, es indispensable diversificar el tratamiento en el que se involucren autoridades gubernamentales, padres de familia e instancias sanitarias, así como reforzar temas de nutrición y alimentación saludable en la educación primaria del país para revertir las cifras y prevenir el desarrollo de otras patologías en los niños mexicanos.

Effect of natalizumab on oxidative damage biomarkers in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: Natalizumab is a monoclonal antibody used to treat multiple sclerosis. This study sought to determine whether the protective action of natalizumab involved a reduction in oxidative damage. METHODS: Twenty-two multiple sclerosis patients fulfilling the revised McDonald criteria were assigned to treatment with 300 mg natalizumab intravenously once monthly (infusion every 4 weeks) in accordance with Spanish guidelines. Carbonylated proteins, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, total glutathione, reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and myeloperoxidase levels were measured at baseline and after 14 months' treatment, and the antioxidant gap was calculated. RESULTS: Natalizumab prompted a drop in oxidative-damage biomarker levels, together with a reduction both in myeloperoxidase levels and in the myeloperoxidase/neutrophil granulocyte ratio. Interestingly, natalizumab induced nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and a fall in serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that natalizumab has a beneficial effect on oxidative damage found in MS patients.

The antioxidants in oils heated at frying temperature, whether natural or added, could protect against postprandial oxidative stress in obese people.

We have investigated the effects of the intake of oils heated at frying temperature in order to find an oil model for deep-frying that prevents postprandial oxidative stress. Twenty obese people received four breakfasts following a randomised crossover design consisting of different oils (virgin olive oil (VOO), sunflower oil (SFO), and a mixed seed oil (SFO/canola oil) with added dimethylpolysiloxane (SOX) or natural antioxidants from olives (SOP)), which were subjected to 20 heating cycles. The intake of SFO-breakfast reduced plasma GSH levels and the GSH/GSSG ratio, increased protein carbonyl levels, and induced a higher gene expression of the different NADPH-oxidase subunits, Nrf2-Keap1 activation, gene expression of the antioxidant enzymes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and antioxidant plasma activities than the intake of the breakfasts prepared with VOO, SOP and SOX. Oils with phenolic compounds, whether natural (VOO) or artificially added (SOP), or with artificial antioxidant (SOX), could reduce postprandial oxidative stress compared with sunflower oil.

Extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields activate the antioxidant pathway Nrf2 in a Huntington's disease-like rat model.

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive technique used recently to treat different neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders. Despite its proven value, the mechanisms through which TMS exerts its beneficial action on neuronal function remain unclear. Recent studies have shown that its beneficial effects may be at least partly due to a neuroprotective effect on oxidative and cell damage. This study shows that TMS can modulate the Nrf2 transcriptor factor in a Huntington's disease-like rat model induced by 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP). Western blot analysis demonstrated that 3-NP caused a reduction in Nrf2 in both cytoplasm and nucleus, while TMS applied to 3-NP-treated rats triggered an increase in cytoplasm and nucleus Nrf2 levels. It was therefore concluded that TMS modulates Nrf2 expression and translocation and that these mechanisms may partly explain the neuroprotective effect of TMS, as well as its antioxidant and cell protection capacity.