[Trans fatty acids: consumption effect on human health and regulation challenges]. / Ácidos grasos trans: un análisis del efecto de su consumo en la salud humana, regulación del contenido en alimentos y alternativas para disminuirlos.

Trans fatty acids (TFA) are stable to oxidative rancidity which allows them to have a long shelf-life: also they have an intermediate melting point between saturated and unsaturated fats. For these reasons they have been widely used by the food industry. However, in recent years a large number of epidemiological and clinical evidence has indicated that trans fats are a significant risk factor to suffer a cardiovascular event and appear to be involved in the process of inflammation, diabetes and cancer. The increase of 2% of the daily energy by TFA is associated with a 23% increase cardiovascular risk. Therefore, international organizations like WHO and PAHO recommend virtually eliminate them or make their consumption as low as possible, less than 1%. Considering this recommendation and the risk involved in its consumption, some countries in Europe and America have legislated to achieve a gradual reduction of these fats. Denmark is a country that has shown a reduced prevalence of cardiovascular disease by reducing sources of trans fats in the diet. Despite the evidence of their impact on health in many countries still do not take any action and significant amounts of TFA remain in their foods and therefore in the diet of its population.

[Intake of dietary fiber, sodium, potassium, and calcium and its relation with arterial blood pressure in normotensive adult men]. / Consumo de fibra dietética, sodio, potasio y calcio y su relación con la presión arterial en hombres adultos normotensos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of dietary fiber, energy, sodium, calcium and potassium intake on the blood pressure of a group of normotensive adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Subjects were 38 healthy normotensive adult males aged 30-45 years, resident of Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico. Blood pressure, diet, anthropometric data and physical activity were recorded. RESULTS: Their diet was high in fiber and fat. Sodium intake was 56% above the recommended values in 87% of the subjects, and the variable with the highest correlation to diastolic blood pressure. Of the subjects, 36.9% were overweight and obese, and a significant statistic association was found between BMI and diastolic and systolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: A significant relationship was found between hypertension and high consumption of sodium, overweight and obesity in healthy adult normotensive males.