Beneficial effects of fish oil and cranberry juice on disease activity and inflammatory biomarkers in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine whether cranberry juice consumption would ameliorate laboratory and clinical measurements of disease activity in people with rheumatoid arthritis receiving fish oil supplementation. METHODS: A prospective study was performed with 62 people with rheumatoid arthritis. We analyzed C-reactive protein modification of the Disease Activity Score-28 (DAS28-CRP) and inflammatory markers. The first group was assigned to eat their typical diet, a second group was asked to consume 3 g of fish oil ω-3 fatty acids daily, and a third group received both 3 g of fish oil n-3 fatty acids and 500 mL of reduced-calorie cranberry juice daily. RESULTS: Compared with baseline values, the group receiving both fish oil and cranberry juice showed reductions in erythrocyte sedimentation rate (P = 0.033), C-reactive protein (P = 0.002), DAS28-CRP (P = 0.001), adiponectin (P = 0.021), and interleukin-6 levels (P = 0.045), whereas the fish oil group showed decreased DAS28-CRP (P = 0.0261) and adiponectin (P = 0.0239). Differences across treatments showed that the group receiving both fish oil and cranberry experienced reductions (P < 0.05) in erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein compared to the control group and the group treated with fish oil alone, and a reduction in DAS28-CRP was verified when the fish oil and cranberry group was compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: The ingestion of cranberry juice adds beneficial effects to fish oil supplementation, decreasing disease activity and inflammatory biomarkers in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

Cranberry juice decreases disease activity in women with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES: Studies have shown that cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) has antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects; however, to our knowledge, the effects of cranberry juice consumption have not been studied in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The aim of this study was to verify the effect of cranberry juice consumption on several inflammatory biomarkers and on the disease activity of patients with RA. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted with 41 women diagnosed with RA. The disease activity measured by Disease Activity Score 28 (DAS28) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies, and several inflammatory and biochemical biomarkers were analyzed. The control group (n = 18) maintained their usual diet. The cranberry group (n = 23) consumed 500 mL/d of low-calorie cranberry juice. RESULTS: Regarding the baseline values, the cranberry group presented a decrease in the values of DAS28 (P = 0.048) and anti-CCP (P = 0.034) after 90 d of treatment, whereas changes in inflammatory biomarkers were not found. CONCLUSION: The present study indicated that cranberry juice decreases disease activity and therefore has beneficial effects for RA patients, although larger and long-term studies are needed to definitively probe this effect and to clarify the mechanisms involved.

Adipokines in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis affects millions of people worldwide and is considered a chronic multisystem disease whose causes are unknown. In general, the main objective of rheumatoid arthritis treatment is to improve the quality of life of patients by relieving pain, maintaining or improving functional capacity, preventing thus, disability. In recent years the role of adipokines in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis has been discussed but results are still conflicting. Although results from some studies have shown the implications of adipokines in the pathophysiology of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, their role in the pathogenesis of disease progression is not clear. Thus, this review aimed to describe the association of key adipokines (leptin, resistin, visfatin and adiponectin) and rheumatoid arthritis, given the high prevalence of this disease and the important social impact caused by this chronic disabling disease.

Ingestão de lipídios na dieta e indicadores antropométricos de adiposidade em policiais militares / Dietary fats and measures of adiposity in military policemen

OBJETIVO: Investigar se há relação entre a ingestão de lipídios e os indicadores antropométricos de adiposidade em policiais militares do Município de Cascavel, (PR). MÉTODOS: A amostra constituiu-se de 183 policiais militares do sexo masculino do 6º Batalhão da Polícia Militar de Cascavel (PR), com idade entre 21 e 50 anos. Avaliou-se o peso, a estatura, o índice de massa corporal, a circunferência abdominal e a ingestão alimentar, por meio do recordatório de 24horas. Relacionaram-se os resultados de ingestão de lipídios da dieta com os indicadores antropométricos índice de massa corporal, circunferência abdominal e percentual de gordura corporal. RESULTADOS: O diagnóstico nutricional mais freqüente em 117 (63,9 por cento) dos policiais, segundo o índice de massa corporal, foi de sobrepeso e obesidade; 22 (12,0 por cento) apresentaram risco elevado para complicações metabólicas associadas à obesidade pelo indicador circunferência abdominal e 26 (18,6 por cento) elevado percentual de gordura corporal. A ingestão de lipídios se mostrou aumentada em 53 (70,7 por cento) dos 75 inquéritos validados, no entanto apenas 24 (32,0 por cento) ingeriam lipídios saturados acima da recomendação. Houve correlação positiva apenas entre a ingestão de lipídios totais e o indicador antropométrico de adiposidade circunferência abdominal (p=0,03). CONCLUSÃO: Este estudo sugere que a ingestão de lipídios acima das recomendações pode ser um fator relacionado à adiposidade abdominal na população estudada.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is any relationship between dietary fats and measures of adiposity in military policemen from Cascavel (PR), Brazil. METHODS: The study evaluated 183 male military policemen from the 6th. Military Police Force of Cascavel (PR), aged from 21 to 50 years. Weight, height, body mass index and waist circumference were measured and food intake was determined by the 24-hour dietary recall. Dietary fats were related with the anthropometric indicators body mass index, waist circumference and percentage of body fat. RESULTS: The most common nutritional diagnoses found in 117 (63.9 percent) of the policemen were overweight and obesity. Waist circumference showed that 22 (12.0 percent) of these men were at high risk of metabolic complications associated with obesity and 26 (18.6 percent) had high body fat percentiles. Fat intake was high in 53 (70.7 percent) of the 75 validated surveys, however, only 24 (32.0 percent) ingested saturated fats above the recommended levels. There was a positive correlation only between total fat intake and the anthropometric indicator waist circumference (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that fat intake above the recommended levels may be associated with abdominal adiposity in this population.

Avaliação microbiológica de dietas enterais administradas para pacientes hospitalizados no município de Cascavel, PR / Microbiological evaluation of enteral diets administered to patients hospitalized in Cascavel, PR

A terapia de nutrição enteral consiste em uma alimentação para fins especiais como a ingestão controlada de nutrientes, especialmente elaborada para pacientes clínicos e cirúrgicos, em uso de sondas ou via oral, podendo ser industrializada ou artesanal, utilizada para substituir a alimentação em pacientes desnutridos ou não, conforme suas necessidades nutricionais. Este tipo de dieta pode sofrer em sua manipulação contaminação microbiológica, devido à não capacitação dos técnicos, pouco treinamento e equipamentos contaminados. Diante destas informações, este trabalho objetivou analisar a qualidade das dietas enterais administrados em setor hospitalar na cidade de Cascavel, PR. Os resultados mostraram contaminação por bacilos Gran positivos, bacilos Gran negativas, cocos Gran positivos e cocos Gran negativos; os dados obtidos alertam para a necessidade de estar sempre relembrando aos manipuladores, o controle rigoroso das manipulações com as dietas enterais.

Association between soy and green tea (Camellia sinensis) diminishes hypercholesterolemia and increases total plasma antioxidant potential in dyslipidemic subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the hypolipemic and antioxidant effects of soy and green tea alone and/or in association in dyslipidemic subjects. METHODS: One hundred dyslipidemic individuals were allocated into four groups. The soy group ingested 50 g of soy (kinako) daily, and the green tea group ingested 3 g of green tea in 500 mL of water per day. A third group ingested 50 g of soy and 3 g of green tea daily, and the control group had a hypocholesterolemic diet. Evaluations were performed at baseline and after 45 and 90 d. Plasma levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, and triacylglycerols were evaluated by automated methods. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol was calculated using the Friedewald equation. LDL was isolated by ultracentrifugation. Total plasma antioxidant capacity and plasma levels of total lipid hydroperoxides and those linked to LDL were evaluated by chemiluminescence. The results were expressed as median values and their 25th to 75th percentiles, with a 5% level of significance. RESULTS: No significant difference occurred in LDL, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerol levels across groups. However, a statistically significant difference in total cholesterol occurred within the soy/green tea group 45 and 90 d after intervention. No statistically significant difference occurred in plasma levels of lipid hydroperoxides or those linked to LDL in any of the groups studied. All the groups that used soy and/or green tea presented increased total plasma antioxidant potential. CONCLUSION: Soy and green tea, alone or in combination, increased the total antioxidant potential of hypercholesterolemic patients, whereas only the combination decreased total cholesterol levels.

Qualidade higiênico-sanitária da merenda escolar oferecida no município de Lindoeste, PR / Hygienic quality of school feeding offered in the city of Lindoeste, PR

Escolas municipais e estaduais têm como principal objetivo oferecer refeições que atendam critérios nutricionais e sanitários, preservando a saúde do consumidor. Várias enfermidades podem ser evitadas quando se procede a manipulação de alimentos dentro das normas técnicas de higiene, aproveitando melhor os princípios nutricionais presentes nos alimentos quando se obedecem a regras da técnica dietética. A má qualidade da alimentação nas escolas, portanto, é um dos principais fatores que comprometem a segurança alimentar da população jovem brasileira.(...) Tratando-se do consumo alimentar de escolas da região oeste, optou-se por realizar uma avaliação higiênico-sanitária de todas as escolas, devido à importância de uma merenda bem preparada, livre de microrganismos e contaminantes, fundamental na promoção da saúde dos escolares. Através de swab das mãos dos manipuladores avaliou-se a higiene das mãos, visto que estas veiculam microrganismos com um simples contato, ocasionando contaminações constantes e intermitentes...

Avaliação higiênico-sanitária de fornecedores cadastrados para o serviço de nutrição e dietética de um hospital da cidade de Cascavel, PR / Sanitary-hygienic evaluation of furnishers registered for the service of nutrition and dietetics in a hospital in the city of Cascavel, PR

Uma unidade de Alimentação e Nutrição (UAN) no âmbito hospitalar é denominada SND – Serviço de Nutrição e Dietética. Esta tem por objetivo o fornecimento de uma alimentação adequada, balanceada e segura, que atenda às exigências sanitárias e às necessidades do cliente / paciente, visto que a saúde deste pode estar debilitada. Através da elaboração e aplicação de um check list, foram avaliadas as condições higiênico-sanitárias de fornecedores de matéria-prima para o SND de um hospital da cidade de Cascavel – PR, com o objetivo de identificar a existência de empresas em desacordo com os padrões exigidos pela Agencia Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (ANVISA). Observou-se nos resultados a não aprovação de um (1) dos sete (7) fornecedores visitados e, a partir deste fato, conclui-se que há necessidade de implantação de visitas técnicas de rotina a fornecedores, devendo ser realizado a aplicação do check list para cadastramento dos mesmos e este deve ser efetuado preferencialmente, pelo profissional nutricionista responsável pela UAN, fornecendo desta forma, subsídios para a qualificação e triagem dos mesmos.