A multiple-strain probiotic product provides a better enzymatic antioxidant response in individuals with constipation in a double-blind randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: Probiotics may have beneficial effects on intestinal dysbiosis. However, the effects of probiotics on redox and inflammatory responses in intestinal constipation remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a multiple-strain probiotic on the redox and inflammatory responses in individuals with intestinal constipation. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled clinical trial was conducted with individuals diagnosed with constipation (defined according to the Rome IV criteria). The participants were randomized into two groups to receive either a probiotic capsule (PC; n = 25) containing probiotic strains or to receive a control capsule (CC; n = 20) containing a matching placebo for 30 d. In the baseline and at the end of the study, biomarkers of the redox (malondialdehyde, carbonylated protein, antioxidant enzymes, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power) and inflammatory responses, and Rome IV criteria for constipation were analyzed. RESULTS: The consumption of a multiple-strain probiotic attenuated the reduction of glutathione peroxidase (PC = -9.41 and CC = -19.60; P = 0.041) and glutathione-s-transferase activity (PC = -3.28 and CC = -12.08, P < 0.0001) in erythrocytes and marginally improved the symptom of feeling incomplete defecation in ≥25% of bowel movements, compared with the placebo group. No changes were observed in total antioxidant capacity, oxidative damage, and levels of inflammatory markers in the serum. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggested that a multiple-strain probiotic may provide a better enzymatic antioxidant response and partially alleviate the feeling of incomplete defecation in ≥25% of bowel movements in individuals with intestinal constipation.

Minerals, phytic acid and tannin contents of 18 fruits from the Brazilian savanna.

The present study evaluated the nutritious potential of 18 fruits, all native of the Brazilian Cerrado biome. Mineral contents were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission; phytic acid and tannin contents by a colorimetric and titrimetric method, respectively; and the potential mineral bioavailability by the molar ratio of phytic acid/mineral. Baru nut showed the highest zinc, copper, iron, phosphorus and magnesium content, and, together with macaúba, showed also the highest calcium content and caloric value. Macaúba, pitomba, ingá and murici fruits were classified as a source of iron. The jatoba and baru nut had the highest concentration of phytic acid and tannins. The [phytic acid]/[iron] and [phytic acid]/[zinc] molar ratios were higher than the critical values (14 and 10, respectively) only in the baru nuts, which suggests that iron and zinc bioavailability is low in this nut. The [phytic acid]/[calcium] molar ratios were lower than the critical value (1.56) in all analyzed fruits, which suggests that calcium is bioavailable in the fruits.

Tucum-do-cerrado (Bactris setosa Mart.) modulates oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis-related proteins in rats treated with azoxymethane.

Oxidative and inflammatory responses play an important role in the development and prevention of cancer, with both responses being modulated by phytochemical compounds. This study investigated the chemopreventive effect of tucum-do-cerrado fruit in rats treated with azoxymethane. Wistar rats were treated for 12 weeks with: a control diet (CT); a control diet + AOM (CT/DR); a control diet + 15% tucum-do-cerrado (TU); or a control diet + 15% tucum-do-cerrado + AOM (TU/DR). The association of tucum-do-cerrado and AOM (TU/DR) increased glutathione-S-transferase activity, decreased MDA levels, increased levels of COX2, TNFα and BAX, and decreased Bcl2/Bax ratio, compared to the CT/DR group. Carbonyl levels, IL-1ß and IL-6 mRNA levels, and aberrant crypt foci showed no difference between the treatments. In conclusion, tucum-do-cerrado reduced lipid oxidative damage, induced a pro-inflammatory effect, and promoted a pro-apoptotic "environment" in rats treated with AOM; however no changes in aberrant crypts were observed.

Bocaiuva (Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd) improved Vitamin A status in rats.

Carotenoid bioavailability is influenced by various factors including the food matrix. The release of those molecules from the food matrix is the initial and most important step in the absorption process. The relative bioavailability of bocaiuva pulp beta-carotene in relation to pure beta-carotene was assayed by a hepatic retinol store, in vitamin A deficient Wistar rats. After the depletion period, the vitamin A deficient rats were separated into two groups and fed an AIN-93G modified diet, which contained 14 400 microg of pure beta-carotene (beta-carotene diet) or 13 475 microg of beta-carotene from 275 g of bocaiuva pulp (bocaiuva diet) per 1 kg of the diet as a vitamin A source. Both experimental diets resulted in similar body weight gains. The bioavailability, estimated as Retinol Accumulation Factor, was 7.3 and 3.5 for the beta-carotene and the Bocaiuva group, respectively. These results show that in spite of the matrix of the bocaiuva pulp, the beta-carotene bioavailability from this fruit was higher than the pure beta-carotene.

Phytochemical Compounds and Antioxidant Capacity of Tucum-Do-Cerrado (Bactris setosa Mart), Brazil's Native Fruit.

This study identified major phenolic compounds of the tucum-do-cerrado (Bactris setosa) peel, as well as antioxidant activity and total phytochemical compound concentration of different extracts of the peel and pulp of this fruit. Phenolic compounds of the different extracts of tucum-do-cerrado peel were identified and quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatography system coupled to a diode array detector (DAD). Total phytochemical compound content was determined by spectrophotometric assays and the antioxidant activity by ferric reducing antioxidant power and ß-carotene/linoleic assays. Total phenolic, flavanols, total anthocyanins and yellow flavonoids concentration of tucum-do-cerrado were 122-, 14-, 264- and 61-fold higher in the peel than in the pulp, respectively. The aqueous, methanolic and ethanolic extracts of the tucum-do-cerrado peel exhibited higher antioxidant activity compared to its pulp. Flavanols, anthocyanins, flavones, phenolic acids and stilbenes were the main phenolic classes identified in the tucum-do-cerrado peel extracts. Results suggest that the antioxidant capacity and the phytochemical compound content of the tucum-do-cerrado are mainly associated with the peel. Although flavonoids are the main compounds identified in tucum-do-cerrado peel, other phenolics identified in minor amounts, such as phenolic acids and stilbenes, may be responsible for the high antioxidant capacity of the fruit.

Tucum-Do-Cerrado (Bactris setosa Mart.) Consumption Modulates Iron Homeostasis and Prevents Iron-Induced Oxidative Stress in the Rat Liver.

This study investigated the effect of tucum-do-cerrado consumption in the oxidative status of iron-supplemented rats. Four groups of rats were treated: Control (AIN-93G), Tuc (AIN-93G added of tucum-do-cerrado), Fe (AIN-93G iron-enriched), or TucFe (AIN-93G with tucum-do-cerrado and iron-enriched) diet, for 30 days. Iron-enriched diet increased serum, liver, spleen, and intestine iron levels; transferrin saturation; liver lipid oxidation; mRNA levels of hepatic Hamp and Bmp6, and Nrf2 in the intestine. Tucum-do-cerrado consumption reduced spleen lipid and protein oxidation; mRNA levels of hepatic Hamp and Ftl, and increased serum antioxidant capacity and hepatic mRNA levels of Bmp6, Hmox1, Nqo1, and Nrf2. TucFe diet consumption abrogated the liver Hamp iron-induced up-regulation, prevented intestinal iron accumulation; hepatic lipid peroxidation; splenic protein damage, and the increase of catalase, glutathione reductase, and glutathione peroxidase activity in some tissues. These results suggest that tucum-do-cerrado protects tissues against oxidative damage, by reducing iron availability in liver and consequently inhibiting liver Hamp expression.

Vitamin A deficiency modulates iron metabolism via ineffective erythropoiesis.

Vitamin A modulates inflammatory status, iron metabolism and erythropoiesis. Given that these factors modulate the expression of the hormone hepcidin (Hamp), we investigated the effect of vitamin A deficiency on molecular biomarkers of iron metabolism, the inflammatory response and the erythropoietic system. Five groups of male Wistar rats were treated: control (AIN-93G), the vitamin A-deficient (VAD) diet, the iron-deficient (FeD) diet, the vitamin A- and iron-deficient (VAFeD) diet or the diet with 12 mg atRA/kg diet replacing all-trans-retinyl palmitate by all-trans retinoic acid (atRA). Vitamin A deficiency reduced serum iron and transferrin saturation levels, increased spleen iron concentrations, reduced hepatic Hamp and kidney erythropoietin messenger RNA (mRNA) levels and up-regulated hepatic and spleen heme oxygenase-1 gene expression while reducing the liver HO-1 specific activity compared with the control. The FeD and VAFeD rats exhibited lower levels of serum iron and transferrin saturation, lower iron concentrations in tissues and lower hepatic Hamp mRNA levels compared with the control. The treatment with atRA resulted in lower serum iron and transferrin concentrations, an increased iron concentration in the liver, a decreased iron concentration in the spleen and in the gut, and decreased hepatic Hamp mRNA levels. In summary, these findings suggest that vitamin A deficiency leads to ineffective erythropoiesis by the down-regulation of renal erythropoietin expression in the kidney, resulting in erythrocyte malformation and the consequent accumulation of the heme group in the spleen. Vitamin A deficiency indirectly modulates systemic iron homeostasis by enhancing erythrophagocytosis of undifferentiated erythrocytes.

Malanga (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) and purslane (Portulaca oleracea) leaves reduce oxidative stress in vitamin A-deficient rats.

AIM: This study examined the ability of tropical vegetables to reduce oxidative stress induced by vitamin A deficiency. METHODS: Vitamin A-deficient male Wistar rats were divided into four groups which were treated for 30 days with different diets: AIN-93G vitamin A-deficient diet (DD), DD supplemented with pure beta-carotene (beta-D) and DD supplemented with malanga (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) (MD) or purslane (Portulaca oleracea) (PD) leaves as the only source of vitamin A. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined in the heart and liver. RESULTS: The rats fed beta-D, MDand PD showed liver and heart TBARS concentrations lower than did DD rats. The liver GSH concentration of beta-D, MD and PD rats was lower compared to DD rats. The heart GSSG concentration of the vegetable groups was significantly lower than in DD rats. Liver and heart catalase activities were not significantly different among the groups, nor was heart glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, however the beta-D rats showed the highest liver GPX activity. There was no difference in liver glutathione-S-transferase level among the groups, while heart activity was higher in rats fed the vegetable leaves. CONCLUSION: This study evidences that the ingestion of purslane or malanga leaves may have a protective effect against oxidative stress caused by vitamin A deficiency.

Phytate from an alternative dietary supplement has no effect on the calcium, iron and zinc status in undernourished rats

A mixture of cereal bran, eggshells and cassava leaf powder, known as multimixture (MM), has been widely used in developing countries as a dietary supplement to combat malnutrition in children. The introduction of phytate from cereal bran in infant diets has generated serious controversy about MM due to the mineral chelating effect of phytate. This paper reports on a study to investigate the bioavailability of calcium, iron and zinc in rats fed with a deficient diet supplemented with MM. Undernourished rats were treated with a deficient diet (DD) to which MM containing different phytate and mineral concentrations was added. Body weight gains, Ca, Fe, Zn and phytate balances, blood hemoglobin concentration and the mineral content of tissue were determined. DD supplemented with 5 and 25 of MM increased the rats' hemoglobin blood concentration, fur regrowth, Ca concentration in the femur and promoted body weight gain 40 times higher than did the DD. Extra calcium, iron and zinc added to the diet with 25 of MM did not increase the rats' growth rates. Both the addition of NaCl, KF and KI in MM and the use of dephytinized bran in the MM composition led to a significant increase in the rats' growth (P < 0.0001); however, these changes failed to increase Ca, Fe and Zn bioavailability. Our findings suggest that the Ca, Fe and Zn bioavailability was not affected by the MM phytate content or by the concentrations of NaCl, KF and KI in the diet.