Structural and functional properties of a high moisture extruded mixture of pea proteins (Pisum sativum), amaranth flour (Amaranthus hypochondriacus), and oat flour (Avena sativa).

Textured vegetable proteins (TVP) are an alternative to meet the increasing demand for non-animal food. This study aimed to develop a TVP from mixtures with 45 % pea protein isolate (PPI) enriched with amaranth (AF) and oat (OF) flours using high-moisture extrusion technology (HME) varying the moisture (50-70 %) and the temperature in the second heating zone of the extruder (110-140 °C). After extrusion, all samples demonstrated higher values of water absorption capacity (WAC) than non-extruded mixtures. Mixture of AF:OF:PPI (40:15:45 %) extruded at 60 % moisture and 135 °C showed promising functional properties with WAC and WSI values of 3.2 ± 0.2 g H2O/g and 24.89 ± 2.31 %, respectively, and oil absorption capacity (OAC) of 1.3 g oil/g. The extrusion process altered the thermal and structural properties of proteins promoting a desirable fibrous structure. This confirms the feasibility of using HME to develop TVP based on PPI, AF, and OF.

Consumer food environments change over a 5-year period.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the 5-year changes in the consumers' food environment in the area of a health promotion service in Brazilian primary health care. Our hypothesis is that the consumers' food environment in the areas with primary healthcare services has changes that may favour healthy eating habits over time. DESIGN: Longitudinal study. SETTING: The territory around the primary healthcare services in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: All food stores and open-air food markets that sell fruits and vegetables around the primary healthcare services in 2013 (n 272) and in 2018 (n 265). RESULTS: Fruit diversity increased by 13·4 % (P < 0·001) and vegetables variety and quality by 16·1 % (P = 0·003) and 12·5 % (P < 0·001), respectively. Corn snacks showed an increase in availability (13·5 %; P = 0·002). The increase in advertising was observed for fruits and vegetables (34·6 %; P < 0·001) and ultra-processed foods (47·6 %; P < 0·001). Supermarkets showed an increase in the Healthy Food Store Index (three points; P < 0·001), while fruits and vegetables stores showed a decrease of one point in the index (P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: The unequal changes in the consumers' food environment according to the food stores types demonstrate the importance of food supply policies that promote a healthy environment and favour the maintenance of traditional healthy food retailers.

Combining capillary electrophoresis and chemometric tools for the straightforward determination of imidazolinone herbicides in plant-based milks.

BACKGROUND: Highly polar herbicides, such as imidazolinones, are used for weed control to increase agricultural productivity and crop quality. However, their misapplication can lead to residues in ready-to-eat food with a potential health risk for consumers. Hence, the fast determination of these herbicides is necessary for timely action. In this work, an eco-friendly method based on capillary zone electrophoresis combined with chemometrics was used for the determination of imazapyr and imazamox in vegetable-based beverages such as soy and quinoa milk. RESULTS: The analytical strategy consisted of only three steps: (i) protein precipitation prior to sample injection (ii) data pre-processing to reduce the background and make corrections on electrophoretic times shift, and (iii) resolution of fully overlapped capillary electrophoresis (CE) peaks by the well-known partial least square (PLS) algorithm, which extracts quantitative information attributed to the analytes. The method was successfully applied in the concentration range between 1.00 and 100 µg L-1 with coefficient of determination of the calibration (R2 cal) and prediction (R2 pred) > 0.90, residual prediction deviation of calibration (RPDcal) and of prediction (RPDpred) > 3, and relative error of prediction (REP) > 11 in the analyzed sample matrices, in the three built methods (quinoa samples, soy samples, and joint quinoa and soy samples). CONCLUSION: The proposed methodology offers a simple and quick alternative for determining imidazolinones at trace concentrations in vegetable beverages, such as quinoa and soy milk, without complex sample preparation. The results were consistent with those obtained using more complex techniques, confirming the applicability of this method. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Toward "clean label" processed meat using starter culture and beetroot powder: A case-study in restructured cooked ham.

This study evaluated the effects of the combination of beet powder, starter culture, and sodium erythorbate as a curing agent on the chemical and microbiological characteristics of restructured cooked ham during cold storage. Five treatments were developed: the positive control group (COP) with the addition of nitrite and sodium erythorbate, negative control treatment (CON) with the addition of sodium erythorbate; ham added with beet powder (AP), ham added with beet powder and starter culture (APC), ham added with beet powder, starter culture, and sodium erythorbate (APCE). The ham's curing properties and oxidative stability were analyzed for 30 days under refrigeration. The APCE treatment showed better conversion of nitrate to nitrite at time 0 (46.6 mg/kg). The COP sample showed higher residual nitrite content at time 0 (73.1 mg/kg) and nitrosohemochrome pigment (35.67 ppm). Combining beet powder with the commercial starter culture and sodium erythorbate in the formulation of restructured cooked hams positively affected the control of lipid and protein oxidation, making it an alternative to commercial sodium nitrite. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Beetroot and arugula powders are added to the restructured cooked ham to prepare a clean-label meat product without sodium nitrite. The effects of starter culture and sodium erythorbate are also evaluated. .

Goat Cheese Produced with Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) Seed Extract and a Native Culture of Limosilactobacillus mucosae: Characterization and Probiotic Survival.

The microbiological and biochemical properties of a goat cheese produced using Helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed extract as a coagulant and the potentially probiotic autochthonous culture Limosilactobacillus mucosae CNPC007 were examined in comparison to a control cheese devoid of the autochthonous culture. Throughout a 60-day storage period at 6 ± 1 °C, lactobacilli maintained a count of above 8 log CFU/g. Additionally, its viability in cheeses subjected to the in vitro gastrointestinal conditions demonstrated improvement over this period. Specifically, the recovery of lactobacilli above 6 log CFU/g was observed in 16.66% of the samples in the first day, increasing to 66.66% at both 30 and 60 days. While total coliforms were detected in both cheese trials, this sanitary parameter exhibited a decline in L. mucosae cheeses during storage, falling below the method threshold (<3 MPN/g) at 60 days. This observation suggests a potential biopreservative effect exerted by this microorganism, likely attributed to the higher acidity of L. mucosae cheeses at that point (1.80 g/100 g), which was twice that of the control trial (0.97 g/100 g). Furthermore, distinct relative proportions of >30 kDa, 30-20 kDa, and <20 kDa proteins during storage was verified for L. mucosae and control cheeses. Consequently, either the H. annuus seed extract or the L. mucosae CNPC007 autochthonous culture influenced the biochemical properties of the cheese, particularly in terms of proteolysis. Moreover, L. mucosae CNPC007 acidification property resulted in a biopreservative effect throughout the storage period, indicating the potential as a promising source of probiotics for this product.

Food Additives Derived from Fruits and Vegetables for Sustainable Animal Production and Their Impact in Latin America: An Alternative to the Use of Antibiotics.

The production of healthy animal-derived food entails the effective control of foodborne pathogens and strategies to mitigate microbial threats during rearing. Antibiotics have been traditionally employed in animal farming to manage bacterial infections. However, the prohibition of antibiotic growth promoters in livestock farming has brought significant changes in animal production practices. Although antibiotics are now restricted to treating and preventing bacterial infections, their overuse has caused serious public health issues, including antibiotic resistance and the presence of antibiotic residues in food and wastewater. Therefore, sustainable animal production is crucial in reducing the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Annually, 40-50% of fruit and vegetable production is discarded worldwide. These discards present significant potential for extracting value-added ingredients, which can reduce costs, decrease waste, and enhance the food economy. This review highlights the negative impacts of antibiotic use in livestock farming and stresses the importance of analyzing the challenges and safety concerns of extracting value-added ingredients from fruit and vegetable co-products at an industrial scale. It also explores the current trends in reducing antibiotic use in livestock, with a focus on Latin American contexts. Finally, the suitability of using value-added ingredients derived from fruit and vegetable co-products for animal feeds is also discussed.

Single-Person Households: Insights from a Household Survey of Fruit and Vegetable Purchases.

Despite the efforts made to promote consumption, some countries are not increasing their fruit and vegetable intake, while household structures are undergoing relevant changes. Fruit and vegetable consumption is necessary but not sufficient for a healthy diet. Previous research has linked adequate fruit and vegetable consumption to a lower risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and some mental health conditions. Furthermore, millions of deaths are reported annually worldwide due to diets low in fruit and vegetables, highlighting their critical public health importance. This study aims to separately analyze the purchases of fruit and vegetables in single-person households. We used three waves of the Family Budget Survey, Encuesta de Presupuestos Familiares, in Chile, which is nationally representative of urban areas and includes over 10,000 households in each wave. We employed descriptive statistics to examine the characteristics of the head of household and the food shopper as well as the structure, composition, and overall characteristics of households. Additionally, we performed separate analyses for fruit and vegetable purchases, using these variables to determine the marginal effect on the probability of purchasing fruit or vegetables through probit models. Results show that, from 2011-2012 to 2021-2022, the share of households not purchasing fruit and vegetables increased from 5.0% to 8.4% and that, in single-person households, it rose from 11.2% to 19.1%. Male-headed, single-person households with low education and income were more likely not to purchase fruit, and these households also have decreasing vegetable purchases. Additionally, household income significantly impacts fruit purchases but does not significantly affect vegetable purchases. Our findings highlight the importance of considering single-person households as a target population segment for future public policies to promote fruit and vegetable consumption.

Lipids from the purple and white açaí (Euterpe oleracea Mart) varieties: nutritional, functional, and physicochemical properties.

The Brazilian superfruit called Açaí or Assaí has gained interested from researcher and consumers worldwide, due to its health-related properties. In this context, this pioneering study aimed to compare the physicochemical, nutritional, and thermal properties of vegetable oils obtained from two varieties of açaí (Euterpe oleracea), purple and white. Both açaí oils from white (WAO) and purple (PAO) varieties were obtained by using the conventional solid-liquid extraction, which resulted in oil yields ranging from 52 to 61%. WAO and PAO were analyzed by their edibility quality parameters given the recommendations from Codex Alimentarius; their nutritional functionality indices and their composition of fatty acids and triglycerides content were estimated. Both oils showed low levels of acidity and peroxides, <1.8 mg KOH g-1 and < 1.7 mEq kg-1, respectively, which are good indicators of their preservation status, agreeing with the food regulations. PAO and WAO showed differences among the composition of fatty acids, mainly related to the content of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), which were 62.5 and 39.5%, respectively, mainly oleic acid. Regarding the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), the WAO showed up to 23% of linoleic acid, whereas the PAO exhibited up to 11% of it. These differences reflect on the values of the nutritional functionality indices, atherogenic (AI), thrombogenic (IT), and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic ratio (H/H). Both PAO and WAO showed low levels of AI and TI and superior values of H/H than other oilseeds from the literature. These results indicate the nutritional properties of açaí oils regarding a potential cardioprotective effect when included in a regular dietary intake. The thermogravimetric behavior and the evaluation of oxidation status by infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were also studied. Both açaí oils demonstrated higher thermal stability (with an onset temperature ranging from 344 to 350 °C) and low indications of oxidation status, as no chemical groups related to it were noted in the FTIR spectrum, which agrees with the determined acidity and peroxide content. Moreover, the FTIR analysis unveiled characteristic chemical groups related to fatty acids and triglycerides, agreeing with the literature reports. These findings collectively contribute to a deeper comprehension of the nutritional and functional properties between white and purple açaí oils, offering valuable insights into their potential health, food, and industrial applications.

Antimicrobial Activity of Essential-Oil-Based Nanostructured Lipid Carriers against Campylobacter Spp. Isolated from Chicken Carcasses.

Campylobacter is a virulent Gram-negative bacterial genus mainly found in the intestines of poultry. The indiscriminate use of traditional antibiotics has led to drug resistance in these pathogens, necessitating the development of more efficient and less toxic therapies. Despite their complex biologically active structures, the clinical applications of essential oils (EOs) remain limited. Therefore, this study aimed to increase the bioavailability, stability, and biocompatibility and decrease the photodegradation and toxicity of EO using nanotechnology. The diffusion disk test revealed the potent anti-Campylobacter activity of cinnamon, lemongrass, clove, geranium, and oregano EOs (>50 mm). These were subsequently used to prepare nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs). Formulations containing these EOs inhibited Campylobacter spp. growth at low concentrations (0.2 mg/mL). The particle size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential of these systems were monitored, confirming its physicochemical stability for 210 days at 25 °C. FTIR-ATR and DSC analyses confirmed excellent miscibility among the excipients, and FE-SEM elucidated a spherical shape with well-delimited contours of nanoparticles. The best NLCs were tested regarding nanotoxicity in a chicken embryo model. These results indicate that the NLC-based geranium EO is the most promising and safe system for the control and treatment of multidrug-resistant strains of Campylobacter spp.

Nano-silicon and sodium mitigate damage by potassium deficiency in chicory.

Chicory is a food with high nutritional. The use of beneficial elements in plants, such as sodium (Na) and silicon (Si), may be important to mitigate nutritional disorders, such as potassium (K) deficiency, but research is lacking on this topic. The objective was to evaluate the effects of sodium and nano-silicon on the nutritional, physiological, growth, and quality parameters of chicory under K deficiency and sufficiency. We used a concentration for sufficient K (3.0 mmol L-1), K-deficiency (1.5 mmol L-1), combined with the lack or presence of Na (2.0 mmol L-1) and Si (2.0 mmol L-1). The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse with six treatments corresponding to K sufficiency, K-sufficiency with Na, K-sufficiency with Si, K deficiency, K-deficiency with Na, and K-deficiency with Si, with six replications. The following growth variables were evaluated: (i) plant height, (ii) stem diameter, (iii) number of leaves, (iv) leaf area, and (v) plant biomass. Potassium and Si contents in the above ground part and K utilization efficiency were assessed, and the accumulation of K, Na, and Si was calculated. The efficiency of the quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and the photosynthetic pigments was determined. Electrolyte leakage index and relative water content, as well as phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, and leaf firmness index were also determined. We found that supplying nano-Si and Na to a K-deficient nutrient solution increased K accumulation by 60% and 50% and K use efficiency by 79% and 62% compared to plants without supply of those elements. Nano-Si reduced electrolyte leakage, being 41% less than Na in K-deficient chicory. However, when Na was added to a nutrient solution with sufficient potassium, the K use efficiency decreased by 48% compared to sufficient potassium without Na. Under the same condition of sufficient supply of potassium and Na, K accumulation decreased by 20% in chicory compared to sufficient potassium without Na, and the photosynthetic pigments-total chlorophyll and carotenoids-were reduced by 5% and 10%, respectively. Our findings contribute to improve cultivation systems with low supply of K as the supply of Na and nano-Si mitigates the damage caused to the metabolism of chicory under K deficiency.

Utilização de probióticos em bebidas não fermentadas / Use of probiotics in non-fermented drinks

Os probióticos, microrganismos vivos que, quando administrados aos hospedeiros em quantidades adequadas, fornecem benefícios à saúde, têm sido amplamente utilizados na indústria de alimentos como ingrediente importante no desenvolvimento de produtos com alegação funcional. Produtos lácteos são as matrizes mais utilizadas como veículo de probióticos, mas observa-se um crescente interesse pelas matrizes vegetais, entre elas bebidas à base de frutas e cereais. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo a realização de uma revisão bibliográfica sobre a utilização de probióticos em bebidas não fermentadas, usando o Google Acadêmico, Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), PubMed® e Science Direct como motores de busca. A utilização de microrganismos probióticos em bebidas representa um grande desafio devido a fatores como multiplicação, sobrevivência, viabilidade, estabilidade e funcionalidade no processamento, armazenamento e consumo, além das possibilidades de mudanças nas características sensoriais. Portanto, o desenvolvimento de bebidas não fermentadas enriquecidas com bactérias probióticas deve considerar a estipe, a matriz e tecnologia empregada na produção, para que de fato elas tenham alegação funcional e possam ser uma possibilidade de alimento prático e saudável.(AU)

Probiotics, living microorganisms that, when administered in appropriate quantities to hosts, provide health benefits, have been widely used in the food industry as an important ingredient in the development of products with functional claims. Dairy products are the most commonly used matrices as probiotic carriers, but there is a growing interest in plant-based matrices, including fruit and cereal-based beverages. This study aimed to conduct a literature review on the use of probiotics in non-fermented beverages using search engines such as Google Scholar, Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), PubMed®, and Science Direct. The use of probiotic microorganisms in beverages represents a significant challenge because factors such as growth, survival, viability, stability, and functionality in processing, storage, and consumption, as well as potential changes in sensory characteristics, are crucial for product quality. Therefore, the development of non-fermented beverages enriched with probiotic bacteria should consider the strain, matrix, and technology employed in production, so that they can truly have functional claims and be a practical and healthy food option.(AU)

Co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors and their implications for mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: a study with university students.

BACKGROUND: The university years are a critical period for young adults, as they are more exposed to obesogenic behaviors and experience stressful situations that compromise their mental health. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms and evaluate the association between the combined occurrence of obesogenic behaviors among university students. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on students from a public university in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected from July to August 2020 using an online questionnaire. The outcome variables (anxiety and depression symptoms) were assessed using the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). The co-occurrence of obesogenic behaviors was measured based on irregular consumption of fruits and vegetables, frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods, physical inactivity during leisure time, and sedentary behavior. A Venn diagram was used for the exploratory analysis. To verify the association between the outcome and explanatory variables, a directed acyclic graph model was constructed, and multivariate logistic regression was performed to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). RESULTS: A total of 1,353 students aged 18-24 years participated in this study. Symptoms of anxiety and depression were present in 46.1% and 54.6% of the participants, respectively. The most prevalent combination of obesogenic behaviors was frequent consumption of ultra-processed foods, physical inactivity during leisure time, and sedentary behavior (17.2%). The greater the number of simultaneous obesogenic behaviors, the higher the chance to present symptoms of anxiety [OR: 2.81 (95%CI: 1.77-4.46)] and depression [OR: 3.46 (95%CI: 2.20-5.43)]. CONCLUSION: These findings reinforce the need to take actions to promote mental health in the university environment in conjunction with programs to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve the physical and mental well-being of students.

Insect pests and natural enemies associated with lettuce Lactuca sativa L. (Asteraceae) in an aquaponics system.

Although food is produced in aquaponics systems worldwide, no information is available on the occurrence of insect pests and natural enemies in aquaponic lettuce, Lactuca sativa L. In this study, a survey was carried out in an aquaponic system combining lettuce with lambari, Astyanax altiparanae (Garutti & Briski), aiming to determine the insect pests and natural enemies associated with this system. We also determined the predominant insect species and the effect of meteorological factors on their populations. Insect abundance was estimated by visual sampling during 13 cultivation cycles, totaling 27 sampling dates. The meteorological factors considered were air temperature and relative humidity, and their effects were determined using the Pearson correlation. The thrips Frankliniella schultzei (Trybom) and Caliothrips phaseoli (Hood) and the aphid Aphis spiraecola (Patch) predominated. Ambient temperature and relative humidity were essential factors affecting C. phaseoli and F. schultzei. The natural enemies found on the lettuce plants were the thrips Franklinothrips vespiformis (Crawford) and Stomatothrips angustipennis (Hood) and the ladybugs Cycloneda sanguinea L., Eriopis connexa (Germar), and Hippodamia convergens (Guérin-Méneville). These results constitute the first step for a lettuce-integrated pest-management program in aquaponics systems.

Enhancing biodegradation of vegetable oil-contaminated soil with soybean texturized waste, spent mushroom substrate, and stabilized poultry litter in microcosm systems.

Industrial activities contribute to environmental pollution, particularly through unregulated effluent discharges, causing adverse effects on ecosystems. Vegetable oils, as insoluble substances, exacerbate this pollution, forming impermeable films and affecting the oxygen transfer, leading to serious habitat disruption. Organic wastes, such as soybean texturized waste, spent mushroom substrate, and stabilized poultry litter, were assessed for their efficacy in enhancing the degradation of vegetable oil in contaminated soil. For this purpose, contaminated soil was amended with each of the wastes (10% w/w) using microcosm systems, which were monitored physico-chemically, microbiologically and toxicologically. Results indicate that the wastes promoted significant oil degradation, achieving 83.1, 90.7, and 86.2% removal for soybean texturized waste, spent mushroom substrate, and stabilized poultry litter, respectively, within a 90-day period. Additionally, they positively influenced soil microbial activity, as evidenced by increased levels of culturable microorganisms and hydrolytic microbial activity. While bioassays indicated no phytotoxicity in most cases, soybean texturized waste exhibited inhibitory effects on seed germination and root elongation of Lactuca sativa. This study significantly enhances our comprehension of remediation techniques for sites tainted with vegetable oils, highlighting the critical role of organic waste as eco-friendly agents in soil restoration. Emphasizing the practical implications of these findings is imperative to underscore the relevance and urgency of addressing vegetable oil contamination in soil. Moving forward, tailored strategies considering both contaminant characteristics and soil ecosystem traits are vital for ensuring effective and sustainable soil remediation.

Use of simulation to optimize a sweet corn breeding program: implementing genomic selection and doubled haploid technology.

Genomic selection and doubled haploids hold significant potential to enhance genetic gains and shorten breeding cycles across various crops. Here, we utilized stochastic simulations to investigate the best strategies for optimize a sweet corn breeding program. We assessed the effects of incorporating varying proportions of old and new parents into the crossing block (3:1, 1:1, 1:3, and 0:1 ratio, representing different degrees of parental substitution), as well as the implementation of genomic selection in two distinct pipelines: one calibrated using the phenotypes of testcross parents (GSTC scenario) and another using F1 individuals (GSF1). Additionally, we examined scenarios with doubled haploids, both with (DH) and without (DHGS) genomic selection. Across 20 years of simulated breeding, we evaluated scenarios considering traits with varying heritabilities, the presence or absence of genotype-by-environment effects, and two program sizes (50 vs 200 crosses per generation). We also assessed parameters such as parental genetic mean, average genetic variance, hybrid mean, and implementation costs for each scenario. Results indicated that within a conventional selection program, a 1:3 parental substitution ratio (replacing 75% of parents each generation with new lines) yielded the highest performance. Furthermore, the GSTC model outperformed the GSF1 model in enhancing genetic gain. The DHGS model emerged as the most effective, reducing cycle time from 5 to 4 years and enhancing hybrid gains despite increased costs. In conclusion, our findings strongly advocate for the integration of genomic selection and doubled haploids into sweet corn breeding programs, offering accelerated genetic gains and efficiency improvements.

Differences of skin carotenoids and adherence to the Mediterranean Diet pattern in adults from Southern Italy and Dominican Republic.

BACKGROUND: The measurement of the skin carotenoids using the Veggie Meter® has emerged as a rapid objective method for assessing fruit and vegetable intake, highly recommended by the Mediterranean Diet (MD), which represents one of the healthiest dietary patterns, worldwide. This study aimed to examine differences in skin carotenoid content and degree of adherence to the MD pattern between two adult populations from Southern Italy and the Dominican Republic. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled a total of 995 adults, 601 subjects from Italy and 394 from the Dominican Republic. All participants underwent anthropometric measurements and skin carotenoid assessment by Veggie Meter®. Adherence to the MD and lifestyle were evaluated using the Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS) and the Mediterranean Lifestyle Index (MEDLIFE) questionnaires. Correlations between the skin carotenoid and MEDAS score were estimated using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Multiple linear regression models were created to determine variables that affect skin carotenoid score for both populations. RESULTS: Mean total skin carotenoids were higher in the Italian compared to the Dominican Republic population (342.4 ± 92.4 vs 282.9 ± 90.3; p < 0.005) regardless of sex (women: 318.5 ± 88.9 vs 277.3 ± 91.9, p < 0.005 and men: 371.7 ± 88.3 vs 289.5 ± 88.1, p < 0.005), and remaining statistically significant after age-adjustment of the Dominican Republic sample. Using the MEDAS questionnaire, we found a higher MD adherence score in the Italian than in the Dominican Republic population also after age-adjusting data (7.8 ± 2.1 vs 6.2 ± 3.7; p < 0.005) and even when categorized by sex (Italian vs age-adjusted Dominican Republic women: 7.9 ± 2.1 vs 6.3 ± 2.6; Italian vs age-adjusted Dominican Republic men: 7.7 ± 2.2 vs 6.0 ± 4.7; p < 0.005). Using the MEDLIFE test, total Italians presented a lower score with respect to the age-adjusted Dominican Republic population (3.2 ± 1.2 vs 3.4 ± 1.4; p < 0.05). In multiple regression analysis, skin carotenoids were associated with sex and negatively associated with BMI in the Italian population (sex: ß: 54.95; 95% CI: 40.11, 69.78; p < 0.0001; BMI: ß: - 1.60; 95% CI: - 2.98,0.86; p = 0.03), while they resulted associated with age and sex in the Dominican Republic population (age: ß: 2.76; 95% CI: 1.92, 3.56; p < 0.001; sex: ß: 23.29; 95% CI: 5.93, 40.64; p = 0.009). Interestingly, skin carotenoids were positively correlated with MEDAS score in both populations (Italy: r = 0.03, p < 0.0001, Dominican Republic: r = 0.16, p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the assessment of the adherence to the MD and skin carotenoid content in adults living in Southern Italy and the Dominican Republic, showing a higher MD adherence score and a skin carotenoid content in inhabitants from the Mediterranean region. Our findings highlight the need to globally encourage fruit and vegetable intake, particularly in non-Mediterranean area.

Almond fixed oil from Syagrus coronata (Mart.) Becc. has antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential, without showing oral toxicity in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Syagrus coronata, a palm tree found in northeastern Brazil, popularly known as licuri, has socioeconomic importance for the production of vegetable oil rich in fatty acids with nutritional and pharmacological effects. Licuri oil is used in traditional medicine to treat inflammation, wound healing, mycosis, back discomfort, eye irritation, and other conditions. AIM OF THE STUDY: The study aimed to evaluate the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic effects of treatment with Syagrus coronata fixed oil (ScFO), as well as to determine the safety of use in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Initially, the chemical characterization was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Acute single-dose oral toxicity was evaluated in mice at a dose of 2000 mg/kg. Antinociceptive activity was evaluated through abdominal writhing, formalin, and tail dipping tests, and the anti-inflammatory potential was evaluated through the model of acute inflammation of ear edema, peritonitis, and fever at concentrations of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg from ScFO. RESULTS: In the chemical analysis of ScFO, lauric (43.64%), caprylic (11.7%), and capric (7.2%) acids were detected as major. No mortality or behavioral abnormalities in the mice were evidenced over the 14 days of observation in the acute toxicity test. ScFO treatment decreased abdominal writhing by 27.07, 28.23, and 51.78% at 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg. ScFO demonstrated central and peripheral action in the formalin test, possibly via opioidergic and muscarinic systems. In the tail dipping test, ScFO showed action from the first hour after treatment at all concentrations. ScFO (100 mg/kg) reduced ear edema by 63.76% and leukocyte and neutrophil migration and IL-1ß and TNF-α production in the peritonitis test. CONCLUSION: Mice treated with ScFO had a reduction in fever after 60 min at all concentrations regardless of dose. Therefore, the fixed oil of S. coronata has the potential for the development of new pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of pain, inflammation, and fever.

Optimization and Characterization of Protein Extraction from Asparagus Leafy By-Products.

Asparagus production generates significant amounts of by-products during the summer and post-harvest growth period. By-products can be good sources of nutrients and phytochemicals. The interest in increasing the availability of proteins for human consumption has led to the use of new plant sources rich in proteins. The objective of this study was to use response surface methodology (RSM) to optimize the aqueous extraction process of proteins from asparagus leafy by-products, for the production of new protein ingredients. The optimum extraction condition was at pH 9, with 40 min of extraction at 50 °C, and the concentration was fixed at 5 g·L-1. The isolate obtained presented 90.48% protein with 43.47% protein yield. Amino acids such as alanine, proline, valine, leucine/isoleucine, asparagine, and phenylalanine were identified, and the antioxidant activity for 2,2 AZINO BIS (3-ethylbenzo thiazoline 6 sulfonic acid diammonium salt) was 145.76 equivalent to Trolox µmol.100g-1 and for DPPH 65.21 equivalent to Trolox µmol.100g-1. The product presented favorable technological properties (water absorption capacity 4.49 g·g-1 and oil absorption capacity 3.47 g·g-1) and the color tended towards dark green (L* 31.91, a* -1.01, b* -2.11). The protein isolate obtained through the extraction optimization process showed high potential to be used as a protein ingredient.

Association between parental feeding styles, body mass index, and consumption of fruits, vegetables and processed foods with mothers´ perceptions of feeding difficulties in children.

BACKGROUND: Feeding difficulties (FDs) are complex phenomena influenced by parental factors, feeding behaviour, and cultural factors. However, studies of the influences of these factors on FDs incidence are scarce. Thus, this study aimed to identify the associations between mothers' perceptions of FDs in children and parental feeding styles, body mass index, and the consumption of fruits, vegetables and processed foods. METHOD: Two hundred and fifty-seven mothers of children aged 1 to 6 years and 11 months participated in this cross-sectional study and self-completed electronic questionnaires on sociographic variables, parental feeding styles, the consumption of fruits, vegetables and processed foods and FDs. Nutritional status was classified by body mass index (kg/m2). RESULTS: The prevalence of FDs in children was 48.2%, and the mean age was 43.8 (± 17.6) months. The indulgent parental feeding style was the most common (40.1%), followed by the authoritative (31.1%), authoritarian (23.7%), and uninvolved (5.1%) styles. An indulgent parental feeding style (OR: 4.66; 95% CI: 2.20-9.85), a high body mass index (OR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.09-1.68), and the consumption of processed foods (OR: 5.21; 95% CI: 2.85-9.53) were positively associated with increased odds of the absence of FDs in children. The associations of authoritarian and uninvolved parental feeding styles and the consumption of fruits and vegetables with FDs in children were not significant. CONCLUSION: This study identified multiple factors that are possibly associated with feeding behaviours in young children. However, further studies need to be undertaken to evaluate how such behaviours affect FDs.

Actividad biológica in vitro de los extractos acuosos y alcohólicos de tubérculos andinos

Introducción: La medicina ancestral ha utilizado plantas con cualidades medicinales para prevenir y tratar enfermedades; aun cuando este tipo de investigaciones se han incrementado, son escasos los estudios con tubérculos andinos. Objetivo: Determinar la actividad biológica de extractos acuosos y etanólicos de los tubérculos andinos Tropaeolum tuberosum (mashua) y Ullucus tuberosus (melloco). Métodos: La investigación fue experimental y se desarrolló in vitro. La muestra estuvo constituida por 2 tubérculos andinos utilizados en la medicina ancestral. Se aplicaron técnicas de extracción en medio acuoso y etanólico. Los extractos fueron evaluados para determinar la actividad hemoaglutinante, anticoagulante y antimicrobiana con cepas ATCC. Resultados: Se demostró actividad hemoaglutinante en el extracto acuoso de T. tuberosum sobre eritrocitos A. Todos los extractos acuosos mostraron actividad anticoagulante, Tropaeolum tuberosum inhibió la actividad de la coagulación sanguínea (vía intrínseca) con un TTPa> 300 seg. Tanto los extractos acuosos y etanólicos exhibieron actividad antimicrobiana contra cepas ATCC, Tropaeolum tuberosum inhibió el crecimiento de Staphylococcus aureus 25923 con halos de 17 y 22 mm y Ullucus tuberosus (blanco) con halos de 10 y 30 mm, respectivamente. Los extractos acuosos de Tropaeolum tuberosum y Ullucus tuberosus (rojo) inhibieron el crecimiento de Candida tropicalis 66029 con halos de 27 y 12 mm y respectivamente. Conclusiones: Determinada la actividad biológica, se evidencia que los tubérculos andinos estudiados aglutinan eritrocitos humanos, específicamente eritrocitos del grupo A, así mismo, capacidad de inhibir las proteínas plasmáticas de la coagulación y de inhibir el crecimiento bacteriano y micótico de cepas ATTC.

Introduction: Ancestral medicine has used plants with medicinal qualities to prevent and treat diseases, even though this type of research has increased, studies with Andean tubers are scarce. Objective: To determine the biological activity of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of the Andean tubers Tropaeolum tuberosum (mashua) and Ullucus tuberosus (melloco). Methods: The research was experimental and was developed in vitro. The sample consisted of 2 Andean tubers used in ancestral medicine. Extraction techniques were applied in aqueous and ethanolic medium. The extracts were evaluated for hemagglutinating, anticoagulant and antimicrobial activity with ATCC strains. Results: Hemagglutinating activity was demonstrated in the aqueous extract of T. tuberosum on A erythrocyte. All aqueous extracts showed anticoagulant activity, Tropaeolum tuberosum inhibited blood coagulation activity (intrinsic pathway) with an aPTT>300 sec. Both aqueous and ethanolic extracts exhibited antimicrobial activity against ATCC strains, Tropaeolum tuberosum inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus 25923 with halos of 17 and 22 mm and Ullucus tuberosus (white) with halos of 10 and 30 mm, respectively. The aqueous extracts of Tropaeolum tuberosum and Ullucus tuberosus (red) inhibited the growth of Candida tropicalis 66029 with halos of 27 and 12 mm, respectively. Conclusions: Once the biological activity was determined, it was evident that the Andean tubers studied agglutinated human erythrocytes, specifically group A erythrocytes, as well as the ability to inhibit plasma coagulation proteins and inhibit the bacterial and fungal growth of ATTC strains.