Effects of the consumption of guarana on human health: A narrative review.

Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a plant from the Amazon region with cultural importance. Despite its early ancestral use by indigenous tribes, the first reports regarding the benefits of guarana consumption for human health were published in the 19th century. Since then, the use of guarana seed in powder and extract forms has been studied for its diverse effects on human health, such as stimulating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, and anti-obesity effects. These effects are attributed to the high content of bioactive compounds found in guarana seeds, especially methylxanthines and flavonoids. In fact, the Brazilian Food Supplement Law has officially acknowledged guarana as a source of bioactive compounds. The number and diversity of studies focused on guarana and human health are increasing; thus, organizing and describing the available evidence on guarana and its applications is necessary to provide a framework for future studies. In this narrative review, we have organized the available information regarding guarana and its potential effects on human health. Guarana produces unique fruits with great potential for human health applications. However, the available evidence lacks human studies and mechanistic investigations. Future studies should be designed considering its applicability to human health, including intake levels and toxicity studies.

Insoluble-Bound Polyphenols Released from Guarana Powder: Inhibition of Alpha-Glucosidase and Proanthocyanidin Profile.

The Brazilian Food Supplement Law recently recognized that guarana (Paullinia cupana) contains bioactive substances, hence supporting its role as a functional food ingredient. The health benefits of guarana are associated, at least in part, to its phenolic compounds. However, to the best of our knowledge, there is no literature addressing the presence of phenolic compounds in the fraction containing insoluble-bound compounds and its contribution in terms of alpha-glucosidase inhibition. The concentration of phenolic extracts released from the insoluble-bound fraction required to inhibit 50% of alpha-glucosidase (IC50) activity was 5.8-fold lower than that present in the soluble counterpart. Both fractions exhibited a mixed inhibition mode. Fourteen proanthocyanidins (dimers to tetramers) present in the insoluble-bound fraction were tentatively identified by MALDi-TOF-MS. Future studies aiming at increasing the concentration of the soluble counterpart are deemed necessary. The results presented here enhance the phenolic database of guarana and have a practical impact on the procurement of nutraceuticals and functional ingredients related to the prevention and/or management of type 2 diabetes. The Brazilian normative on food supplements has been recently revised. This study lends support to the future inclusion of guarana powder in the list of sources of proanthocyanidins for the industry of food supplements.

Coffee modulates transcription factor Nrf2 and highly increases the activity of antioxidant enzymes in rats.

This study investigated the effect of a 28 day administration of coffee brew on the activity of antioxidant enzymes in rats. After this period of 2.0 mL/day dosages of this beverage, the activities of hepatic superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase increased 74.8, 59.4, and 135.2%, respectively, whereas the cytosolic level of Nrf2 increased 131.3%. At the same time, the total antioxidant capacity of the hepatic tissue increased 25.1%, improving the defensive status against oxidative stress. At the end of the experiment, the levels of biomarkers alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase remained equal to the control group, and no changes were observed in the hepatic histoarchiteture of the animals, suggesting that the liver tissue was not impaired by the exposure to coffee. The changes in enzyme activities and antioxidant capacity were statistically significant (p < 0.05), indicating that coffee could be considered an important alternative against oxidative stress and its correlated degenerative diseases.

Paper-filtered coffee increases cholesterol and inflammation biomarkers independent of roasting degree: a clinical trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of medium light roast (MLR) and medium roast (MR) paper-filtered coffee on cardiovascular risk factors in healthy volunteers. METHODS: This randomized crossover trial compared the effects of consuming three or four cups (150 mL) of MLR or MR coffee per day for 4 wk in 20 healthy volunteers. Plasma lipids, lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]), total homocysteine, and endothelial dysfunction-related inflammation biomarkers, serum glycemic biomarkers, and blood pressure were measured at baseline and after each intervention. RESULTS: Both roasts increased plasma total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) concentrations (10%, 12%, and 18% for MLR; 12%, 14%, and 14% for MR, respectively) (P < 0.05). MR also increased high-density lipoportein-cholesterol concentration by 7% (P = 0.003). Plasma fibrinogen concentration increased 8% after MR intake (P = 0.01), and soluble E-selectin increased 12% after MLR intake (P = 0.02). No changes were observed for Lp(a), total homocysteine, glycemic biomarkers, and blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Moderate paper-filtered coffee consumption may have an undesirable effect on plasma cholesterol and inflammation biomarkers in healthy individuals regardless of its antioxidant content.

Nutritional value of crustaceans from Lagoone-Estuary Complex Mundaú/Manguaba-Alagoas

In order to evaluate the nutritional value of Pilar soft crab (Callinectes bocourt A.) and uçá crab (Ucides cordatus L.), 20 samples of both crustaceans were collected from lagoone-estuary complex Mundaú/Manguaba, located in the state of Alagoas, Brazil. Results from this analysis showed a high levels of moisture (sof crab - 79.82%; crab 78.85%), proteins (soft crab - 17.71; crab - 17.99%) and ash (soft crab - 2.18%; crab - 2,06%), and reduced values of lipids (soft crab - 2.78%; - crab 2.57%). Caloric values reached to 96.0 kcal in soft crab and 95.0 kcal in crab. Cholesterol levels were very low, being 34.65mg/100mg in Pilar soft crab and 35.37mg/100mg in crab-uçá. As for fatty acids contents, the Pilar soft crab presented 37.9% of saturated, 23.2% of monounsaturated and 29.9% of poyunsaturated; while uçá-crab presented 30.0% of saturated, 31.4% of monounsaturated and 34.9% of polyunsturated. In view of these results, both species should be considered a healthy food, and their xonsuption should be stimulated.

Teor em vitamina A, de alguns alimentos distribuídos na cidade de Säo Paulo / Vitamin A content, of some food in city of Säo Paulo

Devido ao pequeno número de estudos referentes à composiçäo química de alimentos brasileiros, principalmente no que se refere ao conteúdo de vitamina A, alguns profissionais da área de alimentos, especialmente nutricionistas e médicos, ressentem-se da falta de uma Tabela de Composiçäo de Alimentos nacional. Avaliou-se o teor de vitamina A em alimentos mais consumidos pela populaçäo local. E para tal, as amostras como leite, queijo, manteiga e ovo foram adquiridas no comércio da cidade de Säo Paulo. O método usado para determinaçäo de vitamina A foi o de Carr-Price, descrito por Arroyave et al. (1982), com modificaçöes em nosso laboratório. Foram encontrados os seguintes valores de vitamina A (microgramas de equivalente de retinol/100g de alimento analisado); Leite em pó integral, 210,6; Leite tipo A, 21,4; Leite tipo B, 25,0; Leite tipo C, 21,5; Queijo Minas 178,4; Queijo mussarela, 195,5; Queijo parmesäo, 196,7; Queijo Polenguinho 169,1; Queijo prato, 193,8; Manteiga, 563,3; Ovo de galinha (gema), 788,4; Iogurte natural, 11,4; Fígado de frango, 10.455,1; Fígado bovino, 27.833,3; Doce de leite, 64,8 Ovas de peixe 86,6.