Hymenaea rubriflora Ducke stem bark extract has vasorelaxant and contractile inhibition capacity

Abstract We investigated the vasodilatory effects of Hymenaea rubriflora Ducke stem bark extract (HR- HAc). Vascular reactivity of the aortic rings of Wistar rats was tested by in vitro cumulative doses (0.1 - 729 μg/mL). Rats (n=5) were treated with 25 (G25), 50 (G50) and 100 (G100) mg/ kg of HR-HAc or saline (control group - CG) for four weeks. An in vitro assay resulted in dose-dependent relaxation of the aortic rings with functional endothelium, which was inhibited in the presence of L-NAME. Rings of the treated animals increased acetylcholine relaxing potency at all doses, with a greater effect on G50 (pD2 = 7.8±0.1, Emax = 95.6±1.1) and a decreased contractile potency to phenylephrine in G25 (pD2 = 6.9±0.06, Emax = 61.5±6.0%) and G50 (pD2= 6.6±0.06, Emax = 71.0±8.5%) when compared to the CG in the presence and absence of endothelium (pD2= 6.4± 0.1, 6.4±0.1 and 6.9±0.1, respectively). Cumulative doses of nitroprusside resulted in increased relaxing potency in all treated groups and maintained Emax at 100%. It is concluded that HR-HAc has vasorelaxant capacity and inhibitory vascular contraction activity applied either directly to aortic rings or after treatment with in vivo supplementation, which places this extract as a potential nutraceutical or pharmacological agent for treating diseases associated with vascular dysfunction.

Supplementation with Spirulina platensis Prevents Damage to Rat Erections in a Model of Erectile Dysfunction Promoted by Hypercaloric Diet-Induced Obesity.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to achieve and/or maintain a penile erection sufficient for sexual satisfaction. Currently, many patients do not respond to the pharmacotherapy. The effects of a supplementation with Spirulina platensis, were evaluated in a model of ED induced by hypercaloric diet consumption. Wistar rats were divided into groups fed with standard diet (SD) or hypercaloric diet (HD) and supplemented with this alga at doses of 25, 50 or 100 mg/kg. Experimental adiposity parameters and erectile function were analyzed. In SD groups, Spirulina platensis reduced food intake, final body mass and adiposity index, and increased the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of adipose tissue. However, no change was observed in erectile function. In the HD group, without Spirulina supplementation, a decrease in food intake was observed, in addition to an increase of final body mass, weight gain, adipose reserves, and adiposity index. Additionally, reduction in the number and increase in the latency of penile erection and adipose malondialdehyde levels, as well as a reduction in TCA was noted. Furthermore, cavernous contractility was increased, and the relaxing response was decreased. Interestingly, these deleterious effects were prevented by the algae at doses of 25, 50 and/or 100 mg/kg. Therefore, the supplementation with S. platensis prevents damages associated to a hypercaloric diet consumption and emerges as an adjuvant the prevention of ED.

Ergogenic potential of foods for performance and recovery: a new alternative in sports supplementation? A systematic review.

In recent years, there have been studies in the literature reporting the ergogenic effect of some different foods on sports performance. Given the reasonable number of studies in which some food has shown improvement in some physiological variables related to physical performance, a review is pertinent in order to produce a compilation of these studies, providing new elements for athletes and coaches which aim to optimize their performance. Thus, the objective of this work was to present a systematic review of the findings regarding the potential ergogenic effect of food for athletes. Researchers performed a double-blind research in Medline/PubMed considering articles published until January 2019 which resulted in 71 articles. Increased time until exhaustion, improved aerobic capacity and strength recovery were the most commonly reported physical effects. In general, food showed equal or superior ergogenic activity over supplements. Although the number of foods investigated is reasonable, there is still no body of evidence for each studied food, except beets. The current data support the possibility of certain foods being able to enhance athletic performance, as well as serving as an energy source. However, a larger volume of studies is needed to form a body of evidence on each of these foods.

Avaliação de fatores de risco associados à deficiência de vitamina A em idosos institucionalizados da cidade de João Pessoa-PB / Evaluation of risk factors associated with vitamin a deficiency in institutionalized elderly in the city of João Pessoa- PB

A deficiência de vitamina A e os distúrbios neurológicos em idosos constituem problemas de Saúde Pública que devem ter mais atenção por parte das políticas públicas do idoso institucionalizado, devido à sua gravidade e diversidade de causas. Assim, este estudo objetiva avaliar os fatores de risco associados à deficiência de vitamina A em idosos institucionalizados da cidade de João Pessoa-PB. Trata-se de um estudo transversal e analítico, em que foram selecionados 105 idosos, ≥60 anos, de cinco Instituições de Longa Permanência para Idosos. Avaliaram-se parâmetros sociodemográficos, clínicos, antropométricos, de retinolemia, de consumo de vitamina A, de estresse oxidativo e inflamação. Encontrou-se uma prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A (<1,05 micromol/L) em 30,5% da amostra (32 idosos). Em relação ao consumo de alimentos-fonte de vita- mina A, 68,6% (72 idosos) da amostra consumiam os de origem animal numa frequência maior do que 3x/semana, enquanto que os alimentos de origem vegetal eram consumidos por 64,8% (68 idosos) da amostra, nessa mesma frequência. A capacidade antioxidante total foi quantificada em 10±17 % e o malondialdeído 3,3±1µmol; a alfa glicoproteína ácida em 38±33 mg/dL (p>0,05). Os indivíduos esquizofrênicos possuem 7,75 (p =0,00; IC 95% = 2,56-26,59) vezes mais chances de serem deficientes de retinol sérico, independen- temente de outros fatores de risco. Assim, existe a necessidade de adoção de medidas de saúde pública e um maior controle desses fatores de risco que podem piorar/afetar a qualidade de vida dessa população idosa institucionalizada.(AU)

Vitamin A deficiency and neurological disorders in the elderly are Public Health problems that should be given more attention by public policies for institutionalized elderly people, due to their severity and diversity of causes. Thus, this study aims to assess the risk factors associated with vitamin A deficiency in institutionalized elderly in the city of João Pessoa-PB. This is a cross-sectional and analytical study, in which 105 elderly, ≥60 years old, from five Long Term Care Institutions for the Elderly were selected. Sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric, retinolemia, vitamin A consumption, oxidative stress and inflammation parameters were evaluated. A prevalence of vitamin A deficiency (<1.05 micromol / L) was found in 30.5% of the sample (32 elderly). Regarding the consumption of vitamin A source foods, 68.6% (72 elderly) of the sample consumed those of animal origin at a frequency greater than 3x/week, while foods of plant origin were consumed by 64.8% (68 elderly) of the sample, at the same frequency. The total antioxidant capacity was quantified at 10 ± 17% and malondialdehyde 3.3 ± 1 µmol; alpha acid glycoprotein at 38 ± 33 mg / dL (p> 0.05). Schizophrenic individuals are 7.75 (p = 0.00; 95% CI = 2.56-26.59) times more likely to be serum retinol deficient, regardless of other risk factors. Thus, there is a need for the adoption of public health measures and greater control of these risk factors that can worsen/affect the quality of life of this institutionalized elderly population.(AU)