Perspectives in the design and development of new products for enteral nutrition.

Enteral nutrition is a technique that even though it was used in times immemorial, in the last 25 years has suffered a considerable development, from being considered a secondary therapeutic weapon destined only to feed the patient, to occupying an important status that goes beyond the single act of nourishing. The quantitative composition but overall the qualitative one, is object of an interesting argument in which a profile allowing the modulation of certain aspects of the organism response through the supplementation with different nutrients is searched. That includes from the keeping of the intestinal trophism and of the anti-bacteria intestinal barrier, so important to avoid the frightening multiple organ dysfunction, up to the lessening of the Systemic Response Inflammatory Syndrome (SRIS), going through the immuno-modulative feeding concepts, specific-feeding, pharmaco-nutrient or eco-nutrition. In this new dynamic not only certain nutrients such as glutamine, arginine, nucleotides, omega-3 fatty acids and many antioxidants have acquired importance, but also the manipulation of other molecules of a non- nutritional nature, such as hormones, cytokines and blockers. These aspects that imply passionate ways of investigation for the future are born from the better knowledge that is being acquired from such a severe pathophysiology processes such as sepsis and the organism response before fast and severe aggression; therefore, the modulation of that response through changes in the quantitative and qualitative formulas composition is being attempted.

Vascular effects of 7-epiclusianone, a prenylated benzophenone from Rheedia gardneriana, on the rat aorta.

The vascular effects of 7-epiclusianone on the rat aorta were investigated. In the rat aortic rings with functional endothelia, 7-epiclusianone up to 10microM induced a concentration-dependent vasodilatation of the sustained contractions induced by phenylephrine (0.3microM). At concentrations higher than 10microM, 7-epiclusianone induced a concentration-dependent contraction in the aortic rings. The vasodilator effect of 7-epiclusianone was drastically decreased with L-NAME (100microM) as well as in endothelium-denuded aortic rings. Moreover, indomethacin (10microM) induced a significant shift to the left in the vasodilator but did not modify the vasoconstrictor effect of 7-epiclusianone. In arteries without pre-contraction, 7-epiclusianone (3-100microM) induced concentration-dependent contraction only in endothelium-intact and in the presence of L-NAME (100microM). This effect was inhibited by indomethacin (10microM) and ZM230487 (1microM), selective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and of 5-lipoxygenase, respectively. We can conclude that at low concentrations 7-epiclusianone induces an endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect in rat aortic rings. At higher concentrations and in conditions where NO synthase was inhibited, 7-epiclusianone induces a vasocontractile effect. Nitric oxide seems to participate in the vasodilatation, while endothelial cyclooxygenase- and 5-lipoxygenase-derived products play a role in the vasoconstrictor effect.

Survey on awareness, perception, and extent of usage of nutraceuticals and dietary supplements in metro manila.

ABSTRACT A total of 502 subjects (222 men, 280 women), age 20 years and older from 82 randomly selected barangays in Metro Manila were interviewed during the Fifth National Nutrition Survey in 1998 to determine their awareness, perceptions, and extent of usage of nutraceuticals. The majority of respondents, 62.5%, were not aware of nutraceutical products. Among those who were aware, 77.1% were nonusers, 11.7 were regular users, and the rest (11.2%) were sporadic users of nutraceuticals. The duration of use ranged from 1 day only to 2 years; most subjects had used nutraceutical products intermittently for 1 month. The majority of users reported that nutraceuticals made them healthy and that someone had influenced them to take the products. The most popular supplement used was fish oil, followed by aloe vera and multivitamins plus minerals. Calcium and iron supplements were used by some sporadic users. The respondents' agreement or disagreement with six health belief statements revealed their perception of nutraceuticals. There were no significant differences in the perception of users and nonusers with respect to health belief statements. In general, the level of awareness and usage of nutraceutical products in Metro Manila may be considered low.