Dietary non-nutrients in the prevention of non-communicable diseases: Potentially related mechanisms.

Among the 10 leading causes of death in developed countries are chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The effect of these multifactorial diseases on public health has stimulated considerable research aimed at investigating their primary risk factors (genetic factors, stress, food intake, and amount of physical exercise). Thus, healthful foods (e.g., fruits, vegetables, oils, grains, and seeds) are sources of bioactive compounds that promote good health and disease prevention. Among their components are non-caloric substances identified as non-nutrients (polyphenols, phytosterols, saponins, and phytates), which have been found to have a role in modulating metabolic pathways, maintaining health, and preventing NCDs. The aim of this study is to demonstrate and review the performance of some non-nutrients, such as their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action, modulation of the antiatherogenic lipid profile (higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lower oxidized low-density lipoprotein, and triacylglycerols), reduction of glucose and fat intestinal absorption, increase in insulin sensitivity, and stimulation of nitic oxide synthesis.

Nutritional risk in pediatrics by StrongKids: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: The nutritional risk in hospitalized children and adolescents is a frequent and under-diagnosed reality. There is still no consensus regarding the best nutritional screening method in pediatrics, with StrongKids being one of the existing proposals. A systematic review was performed to evaluate the scientific evidence about StrongKids, with emphasis on the world frequency of nutritional risk, associations of interest in health, validation and reproducibility studies. METHODS: Databases Pubmed, Lilacs, Scielo, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane Library were searched, using keyword "StrongKids," without limit on the year of publication, in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. RESULTS: From 125 papers initially identified, 22 original were included in analysis. The sample size ranged from 43 to 2874, with a maximum of 44 hospitals. The frequency of nutritional risk (medium or high) ranged from 35.7 to 100%. The nutritional risk was mainly associated with acute and/or chronic malnutrition already installed, lower anthropometric indexes and longer length of hospital stay. The method presented satisfactory inter-rater and intra-rater agreements and was validated in the three studies performed with this proposal. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of nutritional risk in hospitalized children and adolescents is high. StrongKids is a valid, easy-to-use, and reproducible method, with significant associations of interest in health.

Impact of nutrients and food components on dyslipidemias: what is the evidence?

Dyslipidemias have been shown to bear a close association with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis in particular. As efforts are being made to find alternative therapies and ways to prevent disease, there is a corresponding rise in public interest in food and/or active food components that contribute to an improved lipid profile and, thus, to better health. Besides supplying the basic nutrients necessary for well-being, some foods add further physiologic benefits. In fact, specific foods and bioactive components could be beneficial in controlling dyslipidemias. From a review of the literature on foods and bioactive compounds, their recommended quantities, and expected effects, we found that the following nutrients and food components could positively impact the lipid profile: monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, soluble fiber, vegetable proteins, phytosterols, and polyphenols. Therefore, incorporating these components into the regular diets of individuals is justified, because they contribute additional positive effects. This suggests that they also be recommended in clinical practice.

[Depression, cognitive deficit and factors associated with malnutrition in elderly people with cancer]. / Depressão, déficit cognitivo e fatores associados à desnutrição em idosos com câncer.

The study sought to analyze the presence of depression, cognitive function, nutritional status and factors associated with malnutrition in the elderly undergoing treatment for cancer. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a cancer clinic in Minas Gerais, which included the application of a sociodemographic and health questionnaire, assessment of depressive symptoms, cognitive function and nutritional status. 96 elderly people were evaluated, 50% of which were female and the mean age was 70.6 years. Cognitive impairment was identified in 39.6% and the presence of depression in 17.7%, with a higher number of depressive symptoms in females (p = 0,017). Moderate malnutrition or suspected malnutrition was diagnosed in 29.2%, severe malnutrition in 14.6% and 47.9% had a critical need for nutritional intervention. In multivariate analysis, functional impairment was independently associated with malnutrition (PR: 3.40; CI: 1.23-9.45), the presence of two or more symptoms of nutritional impact (PR: 3.22; CI: 10.03-10.10) and current treatment by chemotherapy (PR: 2.96; CI: 1.16-7.56). The elderly with cancer showed a high prevalence of malnutrition and a need for nutritional intervention. The assessment of depression and cognitive impairment should also be an integral part in addressing this group.

Intestinal microbiota; relevance to obesity and modulation by prebiotics and probiotics.

INTRODUCTION: The intestinal microbiota has several beneficial functions related to host health. Studies suggest that it may be related to the presence of metabolic diseases, including obesity. OBJECTIVE: A bibliographic survey was carried out upon the relationship between the intestinal microbiota and obesity and the possible impacts of the use of prebiotics and probiotics, aiming to understand this complex and promising interaction. METHODS: A search was conducted in the Lilacs, PubMed, SciElo and ScienceDirect databases, using the keywords "gut microbiota" and "obesity". RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We identified 613 original studies. After careful selection, 61 original articles were included in this review. The others indicated that there are differences in the microbial composition between obese and non-obese patients and the possible mechanisms involved. Alteration is caused in the energy homeostasis, in the use of dietary intake and storage of lipids due to the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Among the studies that evaluated the microbiota modulation, seven used probiotics; 24 used prebiotics, and five studies were performed using food. After dietary manipulation, the growth of bifidobacteria was obtained in 10 studies, in association with weight reduction, adipogenic effects of diet, intestinal permeability and inflammatory markers. CONCLUSION: Knowledge on the impact of the microbiota on metabolic pathways allows to conceive new factors associated with obesity and modulation by prebiotics and probiotics. In this sense, the main effect observed was the increase in bifidobacteria, usually accompanied by weight loss and enhancement of parameters related to obesity.

Introducción: La microbiota intestinal tiene varias funciones beneficiosas relacionadas con la salud del hombre y estudios sugieren una posible relación con la presencia de enfermedades metabólicas como la obesidad. Objetivos: Se realizó una revisión sobre la relación entre la microbiota intestinal y la obesidad, así como los posibles impactos del uso de pre y probióticos, a fin de conocer como ocurre esta compleja interacción. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda electrónica de la literatura en las bases de datos Lilacs, PubMed, Science Direct y Scielo utilizandose las palabras clave "microbiota intestinal" y "obesidad". Resultados y discusión: Se identificaron 613 estudios. Después de aplicar los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, 61 artículos originales fueron incluidos. La composición de la microbiota intestinal promueve alteración en la homeostasis energética, en la utilización de la dieta ingerida y en el almacenamiento de los lípidos. De los estudios que evaluaron la modulación de la microbiota, siete utilizaron probióticos y 24 prebióticos, de estos cinco estudios con alimentos. El aumento de bifidobacterias tras la manipulación dietética se observó en 10 estudios, asociándose a la reducción de peso, a los efectos adipogénicos de la dieta, a la permeabilidad intestinal y a los marcadores inflamatorios. Conclusiones: La aclaración del impacto de la microbiota en las vías metabólicas permite encontrar nuevos factores asociados a la obesidad y la modulación por prey probióticos. En este sentido, el principal efecto observado fue un aumento de bifidobacterias, que usualmente está acompañado por la pérdida de peso y los parámetros relacionados con la obesidad.