Anaemia among school children of different socioeconomical status in a city of Southern Brazil.

Background: Iron deficiency is one of the leading causes of anaemia, with those most affected being children and women of childbearing age, in Brazil there is a scarcity of studies involving the local prevalence of anaemia. Aim: To evaluate anaemia and associated factors in schoolchildren in Santa Cruz do Sul through the analysis of biochemical and haematological markers and parasitological examination of faeces. Subjects and methods: School children from 10 to 12 years of age were evaluated through complete blood count, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein and stool parasitological examination, as well as socio-demographic characteristics and prophylaxis with ferrous sulphate in childhood. Results: It was found that 13.0% of the population was anaemic, girls were very slightly overrepresented among the anaemic children. Only 5.3% had altered haematocrit levels; 26.6% had low Mean Corpuscular Volume levels; 18.4% had low ferritin levels; 2.4% had increased C-reactive protein levels, and 21.7% had altered eosinophils. As for the socioeconomic level, classes A2 and D presented lower haemoglobin levels, as well as class D presenting lower ferritin levels, although without statistical significance. Only 6.0% of the population presented iron-deficiency anaemia and 46.0% of the schoolchildren had used ferrous sulphate supplementation in childhood. Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia in the studied municipality is low, probably due to the high municipal human development index. Epidemiological studies are essential to characterise the population in a systematic form, to prevent future problems.

Iron supplementation does not aggravate impaired glucose tolerance and sugar overload-induced genotoxicity in rats.

High sugar intake is a major risk factor for metabolic disorders. Genotoxicity is an important factor in diabetes onset, and iron (Fe) may be an aggravating element. However, this relationship is still poorly established. Thus, this study evaluated whether Fe supplementation could aggravate obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and sugar overload-induced genotoxicity in rats. A total of 24 rats were treated with different diets: standard diet (SD, n = 8), invert sugar overload (320 g/L, HSD, n = 8), or Fe plus invert sugar overload (2.56 mg/L of Fe2+, Fe-HSD, n = 8) for four months. After treatment, the Fe-HSD group showed no excessive weight gain or impaired glucose tolerance. DNA damage in blood, as assessed by comet assay, gradually increased in HSD during treatment (p < 0.001), whereas Fe-HSD showed a nonlinear increase in DNA damage. Moreover, Fe-HSD presented 0.6-fold more DNA damage compared with SD (p = 0.0055) in the 1st month of treatment. At months 2 and 3, results show a ≥ 1.4-fold increase in HSD and Fe-HSD DNA damage, respectively, compared with SD (p < 0.01). At the end of the experiment, only HSD DNA damage differed from SD (1.5-fold more, p = 0.0196). Fe supplementation did not aggravate the invert sugar-induced DNA damage (p > 0.05). In the pancreas, results showed no differences in DNA damage. Mutagenicity, evaluated by micronucleus testing, was not observed regardless of treatment (p = 0.428). Fe supplementation, in the evaluated concentration, did not aggravate weight gain, impaired glucose tolerance, and sugar overload-induced genotoxicity in rats.

Potential Ameliorative Effects of Chromium Supplementation on Glucose Metabolism, Obesity, and Genomic Stability in Prediabetic Rat Model.

Chromium (III) (Cr(III)) effect on improving glucose, body mass loss, and genomic stability has been extensively studied in models of type 2 diabetes. However, there is a lack of studies evaluating its effect on prediabetes. Thus, this study evaluates the effects of Cr(III) as dietetic supplementation on glucose metabolism, obesity, and genomic stability on prediabetic rat model using high-invert sugar. Male Wistar rats were divided randomly into four treatment groups: (1) control, receiving standard diet (control); (2) prediabetic (PD), receiving a 32% of invert sugar; (3) Cr(III), receiving chromium (III) chloride (CrCl3•6H2O) (58.4 mg/L); and (4) Cr(III) + PD, receiving CrCl3•6H2O in combination with high-invert sugar. Cr(III) supplementation significantly reduced blood glucose (123.00 ± 8.29 mg/dL vs. 115.30 ± 9.31 mg/dL, p = 0.015) and partially reduced area under the 120-min blood glucose response curve (AUC) in PD rats (p = 0.227). Moreover, Cr(III) attenuated weight gain (187.29 ± 38.56 g vs. 167.22 ± 29.30 g, p = 0.004), significantly reducing body mass index (0.68 ± 0.04 g/cm2 vs. 0.63 ± 0.04 g/cm2, p < 0.001), Lee index (0.30 ± 0.01 vs. 0.28 ± 0.01, p < 0.001), and peritoneal fat (p < 0.001). Regarding genomic stability, high-invert sugar, Cr(III), or the combination of both did not produce changes in oxidative stress, DNA damage in pancreas, or cytotoxicity markers. These data suggest that Cr(III) supplementation improved partially glucose metabolism and reduced obesity in rat model PD due to high-invert sugar without influence in genomic stability.

Anemia no diabetes mellitus gestacional: implicações na instabilidade genômica / Anemia in gestational diabetes mellitus: implications for genomic instability

Introdução: Evidências têm mostrado uma associação entre anemia e Diabetes Mellitus. Contudo, a relação entre anemia e Diabetes Mellitus Gestacional (DMG) ainda não está bem estabelecida, bem como sua repercussão na instabilidade genômica. Portanto, objetivou-se verificar a associação entre anemia e instabilidade genômica em mulheres com DMG atendidas em um hospital universitário. Métodos: Estudo transversal com mulheres apresentando diagnóstico de DMG que realizaram pré-natal no Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria (RS). Informações referentes ao DMG, anemia e suplementação de ferro foram obtidas nos prontuários. A instabilidade genômica foi avaliada pelo ensaio de citoma em micronúcleos em células bucais (BMCyt). Resultados: Das 44 gestantes avaliadas, 28,6% apresentaram anemia e 79,5% foram suplementadas com ferro. Das gestantes que realizaram suplementação, 75,0% não apresentaram anemia gestacional. Níveis de hemoglobina não se associaram com a instabilidade genomica (p > 0,05), mas foi observada uma associação entre brotos nucleares e os níveis de glicemia (r = 0,977; p = 0,003). Conclusão: Não foi verificado associação entre anemia e instabilidade genômica em mulheres com DMG.(AU)

Introduction: There is evidence of an association between anemia and diabetes mellitus. However, the relationship between anemia and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) remains to be established, as well as its impact on genomic instability. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association between anemia and genomic instability in women with GDM treated at a university hospital. Methods: A cross-sectional study of women with a diagnosis of GDM who received prenatal care at the University Hospital of Santa Maria, southern Brazil. Data on GDM, anemia, and iron supplementation were obtained from medical records. Genomic instability was assessed by the buccal micronucleus cytome (BMCyt) assay. Results: Of 44 pregnant women evaluated, 28.6% had anemia and 79.5% received iron supplementation; of the latter, 75.0% did not have gestational anemia. Hemoglobin levels were not associated with genomic instability (p > 0.05), but an association was found between nuclear buds and blood glucose levels (r = 0.977; p = 0.003). Conclusion: There was no association between anemia and genomic instability in women with GDM.(AU)

Vitamin C decreases the obesogenic and hyperglycemic effect of invert sugar in prediabetic rats / Vitamina C reduz o efeito obesogênico e hiperglicemiante do açúcar invertido em ratos pré-diabéticos

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate whether vitamin C can help to prevent obesity and hyperglycemia in Wistar rats treated with excess invert sugar to induce prediabetes. Methods: One hundred-day-old Male Wistar rats with a mean weight of 336.58±23.43g were randomly assigned to the following groups: (1) control, receiving water (C); (2) invert sugar control, receiving a 32% watery solution of invert sugar; (3) vitamin C control, receiving a watery solution of vitamin C (60mg/L), and (4) vitamin C plus invert sugar, receiving a watery solution of vitamin C and invert sugar. All animals had access to chow and water ad libitum and were treated for 17 weeks. Prediabetes was assessed according to two criteria: obesity (based on body mass indexand peritoneal fat content) and impaired glucose tolerance (assessed by the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test and expressed as area under the curve) . Results: Group invert sugar control gained significantly more weight (p=0.035) and visceral fat (p<0.001) than groups vitamin C control and vitamin C plus invert sugar. Consequently, groups vitamin C control and vitamin C plus invert sugar had gained as little body mass index as group C by the end of the experiment. Vitamin C decreased the fasting glycemia of both groups supplemented with vitamin C and normalized the glucose tolerance of group vitamin C plus invert sugar, whose area under the curve matched that of group C. Conclusion: Vitamin C has anti-obesogenic and glycemia-lowering effects in Wistar rats, which might be promising to prediabetics. Future studies are needed to understand the anti-obesogenic and anti-hyperglycemic mechanisms of vitamin C in prediabetes.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da vitamina C na prevenção da obesidade e da hiperglicemia, em ratos Wistar tratados com sobrecarga de açúcar invertido, para induzir o estágio de pré-diabetes. Métodos: Ratos Wistar machos (100 dias de vida e peso médio de 336,58±23,43g) foram distribuídos aleatoriamente nos grupos: (1) controle água; (2) controle açúcar invertido, recebendo 32% de açúcar invertido diluído em água; (3) controle vitamina C, recebendo vitamina C (60mg/L) diluído em água e, (4) açúcar invertido+vitamina C, tratados com vitamina C e açúcar invertido diluídos em água. Todos os animais receberam ração e água ad libitum, sendo tratados por 17 semanas. O estágio de pré-diabetes foi avaliado considerando-se obesidade (índice de massa corporal e quantidade de gordura peritoneal) e tolerância à glicose diminuída (Teste de Tolerância à Glicose Intraperitoneal, expresso pela área sob a curva) . Resultados: Os grupos vitamina C e açúcar invertido + vitamina C apresentaram redução significativa do peso (p=0,035) e da gordura visceral (p<0,001) em relação ao grupo açúcar invertido. Consequentemente, verificou-se uma diminuição do índice de massa corporal dos grupos vitamina C e açúcar invertido+vitamina C, assemelhando-se ao do grupo C no final do experimento. A vitamina C reduziu a glicemia de jejum dos animais de ambos os grupos suplementados com Vitamina C e normalizou a tolerância à glicose do grupo açúcar invertido+vitamina C, igualando-se a área sob a curva a do grupo C. Conclusão: A suplementação de vitamina C teve efeito anti-obesogênico e hipoglicemiante, mostrando-se promissora no pré-diabetes. Estudos futuros são necessários para entender os mecanismos anti-obesogênicos e anti-hiperglicemiantes da vitamina C no pré-diabetes.

Biological functions of selenium and its potential influence on Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease is characterized by the death of dopaminergic neurons, mainly in the substantia nigra, and causes serious locomotor dysfunctions. It is likely that the oxidative damage to cellular biomolecules is among the leading causes of neurodegeneration that occurs in the disease. Selenium is an essential mineral for proper functioning of the brain, and mainly due to its antioxidant activity, it is possible to exert a special role in the prevention and in the nutritional management of Parkinson's disease. Currently, few researchers have investigated the effects of selenium on Parkinson´s disease. However, it is known that very high or very low body levels of selenium can (possibly) contribute to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease, because this imbalance results in increased levels of oxidative stress. Therefore, the aim of this work is to review and discuss studies that have addressed these topics and to finally associate the information obtained from them so that these data and associations serve as input to new research.

Selenium reduces bradykinesia and DNA damage in a rat model of Parkinson's disease.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to explore the effects of selenium (Se) on locomotor activity and DNA damage in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD) induced by paraquat (PQ). METHODS: Forty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control group (n = 12), Se group (n = 12), PQ group (n = 12), and Se + PQ group (n = 12). PQ was administered intraperitoneally (10 mg/kg). Se was offered in the drinking water at a concentration of 11.18 µg/L. Locomotor activity was evaluated weekly using the narrow beam test. The comet assay was performed to assess the level of DNA damage in leukocytes and in brain cells. RESULTS: As expected, increased DNA damage was found in the PQ group compared with the control and Se groups (P < 0.001). Interestingly, coadministration of Se and PQ effectively prevented the harmful effects of the toxin in locomotor activity and at the molecular level, reducing bradykinesia (P < 0.01) and DNA damage in leukocytes compared with the PQ-only group (P < 0.001), whereas the levels of DNA damage were comparable to those found in the control and Se groups (P > 0.05). Using the comet assay to analyze brain cells, no differences were found between the groups with regard to damage index (P = 0.774), damage frequency (P = 0.817), or non-detectable cell nuclei (P = 0.481). CONCLUSION: In this experimental model of PQ-induced PD, the use of Se could contribute to the maintenance of locomotor activity and the integrity of leukocytes DNA. No changes in the levels of DNA damage in brain cells were observed between the experimental groups.

Water quality of urban streams: the Allium cepa seeds/seedlings test as a tool for surface water monitoring.

The present study investigates the genotoxic, mutagenic, and cytotoxic potential of surface waters in urban streams using Allium cepa and analyzes the applicability of this assay for environmental monitoring. Water samples were collected from three streams located in the urban area of a municipality in the south of Brazil. For each stream, two samples were collected, one upstream and one downstream of the pollution discharge site. Physicochemical evaluation indicated that all samples had various degrees of environmental impact, but substantial impact was seen for the downstream samples of the Preto and Pedras streams. All samples increased the frequency of chromosome aberrations (P < 0.05). The sample from Pedras downstream site also caused a decrease in mitotic index (P < 0.08) and increase in micronuclei (P < 0.08) frequency, indicating potential cytotoxicity and mutagenicity. The Pedras stream receives mixed industrial and urban wastewater, while the Lajeado and Preto streams receive wastewater predominantly domestic in nature, which may partially explain the difference in toxicity among the samples. Moreover, the Allium cepa seeds/seedlings were shown to be extremely sensitive in detecting the genotoxicity of environmental water samples and can be applied as the first tool for environmental health hazard identification and prediction.

Vitamin C intake reduces the cytotoxicity associated with hyperglycemia in prediabetes and type 2 diabetes.

Hyperglycemia leads to the formation of free radicals and advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Antioxidants can reduce the level of protein glycation and DNA damage. In this study, we compared the levels of vitamin C intake, which is among the most abundant antioxidants obtained from diet, with the levels of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), glycated hemoglobin (A1C), DNA damage, and cytotoxicity in prediabetic subjects and type 2 diabetic subjects. Our results indicated that there was no significant correlation between FPG or A1C and DNA damage parameters (micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, and nuclear buds). FPG and A1C correlated with necrosis (r = 0.294; P = 0.013 and r = 0.401; P = 0.001, resp.). Vitamin C intake correlated negatively with necrosis and apoptosis (r = -0.246; P = 0.040, and r = -0.276; P = 0.021, resp.). The lack of a correlation between the FPG and A1C and DNA damage could be explained, at least in part, by the elimination of cells with DNA damage by either necrosis or apoptosis (cytotoxicity). Vitamin C appeared to improve cell survival by reducing cytotoxicity. Therefore, the present results indicate the need for clinical studies to evaluate the effect of low-dose vitamin C supplementation in type 2 diabetes.

Orange juice and cancer chemoprevention.

Orange juice (OJ) is among the most consumed fruit juices worldwide, and its chemopreventive action is fairly addressed in the literature. This review critically presents the available evidence linking OJ with cancer chemoprevention and on discussing the putative mechanisms and negative health effects. The chemopreventive action of OJ is related to its effect on metabolic enzymes and its antiinflammatory, cytoprotective/apoptotic, hormonal, cell signaling-modulating, antioxidant, and antigenotoxic effects. Most studies on OJ are in vitro, and few are conducted in vivo. Results from in vitro studies must be interpreted carefully because these findings do not consider in vivo bioavailability. However, such results are useful for studying the impact of different processing and storage methods on OJ's chemopreventive effect. Evidence of OJ's chemoprevention in humans is limited. OJ is antimutagenic in bacteria and antigenotoxic in humans and rodents. Studies using rodent cancer models showed that OJ is cancer chemopreventive, influencing either the induction stage or the promotion stage. The composition and, therefore, the chemopreventive action of OJ might be influenced by different cultivars, climates, extraction methods, packaging, storage temperatures, and shelf lives, among other factors. Epidemiological studies and randomized controlled intervention studies in humans evaluating the chemopreventive effect of OJ, taking into consideration variability in OJ composition, are needed.

The influence of micronutrients in cell culture: a reflection on viability and genomic stability.

Micronutrients, including minerals and vitamins, are indispensable to DNA metabolic pathways and thus are as important for life as macronutrients. Without the proper nutrients, genomic instability compromises homeostasis, leading to chronic diseases and certain types of cancer. Cell-culture media try to mimic the in vivo environment, providing in vitro models used to infer cells' responses to different stimuli. This review summarizes and discusses studies of cell-culture supplementation with micronutrients that can increase cell viability and genomic stability, with a particular focus on previous in vitro experiments. In these studies, the cell-culture media include certain vitamins and minerals at concentrations not equal to the physiological levels. In many common culture media, the sole source of micronutrients is fetal bovine serum (FBS), which contributes to only 5-10% of the media composition. Minimal attention has been dedicated to FBS composition, micronutrients in cell cultures as a whole, or the influence of micronutrients on the viability and genetics of cultured cells. Further studies better evaluating micronutrients' roles at a molecular level and influence on the genomic stability of cells are still needed.

Biomonitoring genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of Microcystis aeruginosa (Chroococcales, cyanobacteria) using the Allium cepa test.

Water pollution caused by toxic cyanobacteria is a problem worldwide, increasing with eutrophication. Due to its biological significance, genotoxicity should be a focus for biomonitoring pollution owing to the increasing complexity of the toxicological environment in which organisms are exposed. Cyanobacteria produce a large number of bioactive compounds, most of which lack toxicological data. Microcystins comprise a class of potent cyclic heptapeptide toxins produced mainly by Microcystis aeruginosa. Other natural products can also be synthesized by cyanobacteria, such as the protease inhibitor, aeruginosin. The hepatotoxicity of microcystins has been well documented, but information on the genotoxic effects of aeruginosins is relatively scarce. In this study, the genotoxicity and ecotoxicity of methanolic extracts from two strains of M. aeruginosa NPLJ-4, containing high levels of microcystin, and M. aeruginosa NPCD-1, with high levels of aeruginosin, were evaluated. Four endpoints, using plant assays in Allium cepa were applied: rootlet growth inhibition, chromosomal aberrations, mitotic divisions, and micronucleus assays. The microcystin content of M. aeruginosa NPLJ-4 was confirmed through ELISA, while M. aeruginosa NPCD-1 did not produce microcystins. The extracts of M. aeruginosa NPLJ-4 were diluted at 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 ppb of microcystins; the same procedure was used to dilute M. aeruginosa NPCD-1 used as a parameter for comparison, and water was used as the control. The results demonstrated that both strains inhibited root growth and induced rootlet abnormalities. The strain rich in aeruginosin was more genotoxic, altering the cell cycle, while microcystins were more mitogenic. These findings indicate the need for future research on non-microcystin producing cyanobacterial strains. Understanding the genotoxicity of M. aeruginosa extracts can help determine a possible link between contamination by aquatic cyanobacteria and high risk of primary liver cancer found in some areas as well as establish water level limits for compounds not yet studied.

Influência do estado nutricional de selênio sobre a progressão da infecção pelo HIV / Influence of selenium nutritional status on the progression of HIV infection

Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a public health problem of global scale, the nutritional status of infected individual shaving a great influence on the progression of HIV infection. In this context, the mineral selenium seems to play an important role. Therefore, this study aimed to discuss the influence of selenium status on HIV infection progression from a literature review. It was found that, among many approaches, in vivo and in vitro studies showed that seleniummay cause changes in health status of HIV patients, as well as suppress virus replication, respectively. However, the results of several studies are contradictory. Thus, we conclude that it is extremely important to develop further studies aiming to elucidate the way in which the effects of selenium can be achieved by improving the diet therapy of patients with HIV.

La infección por el virus de la inmuno deficiencia humana (VIH) es un problema de salud pública de escala global, siendo que el estado nutricional de los individuos infectados por elvirus tiene gran influencia en el desarrollo de la enfermedad. En este contexto, el mineral selenio parece desempeñar un papel destacado. Por lotanto, este estudio tuvo por objetivo discutir la influencia del estado nutricional de selenio en el avance de la infección por el VIH por medio de una revisión de la literatura. Se encontró que, diversos estudios, "in vivo" e "in vitro" muestran que el micronutriente puede ejercer modificaciones en la salud de los portadores de VIH, bien como suprimir la replicación del virus, respectivamente. Pero, los resultados de los estudios muestran contradicciones. Portanto, es importante la realización de más investigación destinada a aclarar la influencia del selenio en la evolución de los pacientes con VIH, lo cual podría ayudar a mejorar el tratamiento dietoterápico de los portadores.

A infecção pelo vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV) é um problema de saúde pública de escala global, sendo que o estado nutricional dos indivíduos infectados pelo vírus exerce grande influência na progressão da infecção pelo HIV. Nesse contexto, o mineral selênio parece desempenhar papel de destaque. Com isso, este trabalho teve como objetivo discutir a influência do estado nutricional de selênio sobre a progressão da infecção pelo HIV a partir de revisão da literatura. Verificou-se que, entre muitas abordagens, estudos in vivo e in vitro mostraram que o micronutriente pode exercer modificações no estado de saúde de portadores do HIV, bem como suprimir a replicação do vírus, respectivamente. Porém, os resultados de vários trabalhos se mostram contraditórios. Assim, conclui-se que é de extrema necessidade a realização de mais estudos com o objetivo de elucidar a forma pela qual os efeitos do uso de selênio podem ser alcançados, aprimorando o tratamento dietoterápico dos pacientes portadores do HIV.

Antioxidant activity and phenolic and mineral content of rose grape juice.

There are many studies related to the antioxidant activity of grape products; however, they concern only purple and white grape varieties. Up to now, there are no reports of studies on the Goethe rose grape variety, either on its antioxidant activity or on its phenolic and mineral quantification. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity, as well as to quantify total phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, and mineral content, in a Goethe rose grape juice. The results obtained showed that the Goethe rose grape juice is a great polyphenol source, which contains catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidins (B(1), B(2), B(3), and B(4)). Of all metals analyzed, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron showed the highest values. We found that this rose grape juice shows an important antioxidant activity in in vitro (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity) and in vivo (using the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells) assays. The antioxidant activity could be explained by the significant phenolic content and ascorbic acid levels found in the juice. The results showed that rose grape juice is an excellent antioxidant source, which could contribute to the prevention of many diseases related to oxidative stress, such as atherosclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

Influence of orange juice in the levels and in the genotoxicity of iron and copper.

World consumption of natural juices is increasing as a consequence of the human search for a healthier life. The juice production industry, especially for orange juice, is expanding in several countries and particularly in Brazil. Despite scientific data reporting beneficial properties derived from juice consumption, some components of juices have been identified as mutagenic or carcinogenic. Carcinogenic or genotoxic effects may be mediated by the interaction of juice components with transition metals or by sub-products of juice auto-oxidation. In this study, the mutagenic potential of orange juice and two metallic agents used in dietary supplementation, FeSO(4) and CuSO(4), were investigated using the comet assay in mouse blood cells (in vivo). Both metal compounds were genotoxic for eukaryotic cells after 24h treatment at the doses used. Significant damage repair was observed after 48h of treatment with the same compounds. Orange juice had a modulating effect on the action of metallic sulfates. In the case of iron treatment, the presence of the orange juice had a preventive, but not restorative, effect. On the other hand, in the case of copper treatment, the effects were both preventive and restorative. PIXE (particle induced X-ray emission) analysis indicated a positive correlation between DNA damage and the hepatic levels of iron and a negative correlation between whole blood copper and DNA damage. A negative correlation between hepatic iron and whole blood copper content was also seen in the treatment with both ferrous and cupric sulfates.