Jaboticaba peel improves postprandial glucose and inflammation: A randomized controlled trial in adults with metabolic syndrome.

The modulation of glucose metabolism through dietary sources has been recognized as 1 of the most sustainable approaches for preventing of cardiometabolic diseases. Although fibers and phenolic compounds derived from jaboticaba (Plinia jaboticaba) peel have demonstrated improvements in metabolic pathways in preclinical models, their beneficial effects in clinical trials remain to be fully determined. This study aimed to assess the impact of jaboticaba peel (JP) powder supplementation on glucose metabolism compared with a placebo in individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS). A single-blind, parallel, randomized, placebo-controlled trial involving 49 individuals with MetS was conducted. Participants were assigned to receive either a JP supplement (15 g/day) or a matched placebo. Anthropometry measurements, body composition, blood pressure, metabolic and inflammatory parameters, and a mixed-meal tolerance test were assessed at weeks 0 and 5. Daily intake of JP improved the area under the curve of glucose (P = .025) and the interleukin-6 (IL-6) (P = .045). No significant time × treatment effects were observed for blood pressure, body weight, body composition, lipid metabolism, glucagon-like peptide-1, inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-1ß), C-reactive protein, and insulin sensitivity and resistance indexes. JP supplementation may be a promising approach for managing MetS disorders, potentially by reducing the area under the curve for glucose and the proinflammatory cytokine IL-6. This research is registered at the Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials (RBR-8wwq9t).

Effect of Paternal Diet on Spermatogenesis and Offspring Health: Focus on Epigenetics and Interventions with Food Bioactive Compounds.

Infertility is a growing public health problem. Consumption of antioxidant bioactive food compounds (BFCs) that include micronutrients and non-nutrients has been highlighted as a potential strategy to protect against oxidative and inflammatory damage in the male reproductive system induced by obesity, alcohol, and toxicants and, thus, improve spermatogenesis and the fertility parameters. Paternal consumption of such dietary compounds could not only benefit the fathers but their offspring as well. Studies in the new field of paternal origins of health and disease show that paternal malnutrition can alter sperm epigenome, and this can alter fetal development and program an increased risk of metabolic diseases and breast cancer in adulthood. BFCs, such as ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, polyunsaturated fatty acids, trace elements, carnitines, N-acetylcysteine, and coenzyme Q10, have been shown to improve male gametogenesis, modulate epigenetics of germ cells, and the epigenetic signature of the offspring, restoring offspring metabolic health induced by stressors during early life. This indicates that, from a father's perspective, preconception is a valuable window of opportunity to start potential nutritional interventions with these BFCs to maximize sperm epigenetic integrity and promote adequate fetal growth and development, thus preventing chronic disease in adulthood.

Polyphenols from food by-products: An alternative or complementary therapy to IBD conventional treatments.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are illnesses characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation and microbial dysbiosis that have emerged as a public health challenge worldwide. It comprises two main conditions: Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Currently, conventional therapy to treat IBD are not free from side effects, such as liver and kidney toxicity, drug resistance, and allergic reactions. In view of this, there is growing research for alternative and complementary therapies that, in addition to acting in the prevention or the control of the disease, do not compromise the quality of life and health of individuals. In this sense, a growing body of evidence has confirmed the benefits of natural phenolic compounds in intestinal health. Phenolic compounds or polyphenols are molecules widely distributed throughout the plant kingdom (flowers, vegetables, leaves, and fruits), including plant materials remaining of the handling and food industrial processing, referred to in the scientific literature as by-products, food waste, or bagasse. Since by-products are low-cost, abundant, easily accessible, safe, and rich in bioactive compounds, it becomes an exciting option to extract, concentrate or isolate phenolic compounds to be posteriorly applied in the therapeutic approach of IBD. In this article, we have reviewed the main phenolic compounds present in various plants and by-products that have shown beneficial and/or promising effects in experimental pre-clinical, clinical, and in vitro research with IBD. In addition, we have mentioned and suggested several plants and by-products originated and produced in Latin America that could be part of future research as good sources of specific phenolic compounds to be applied in the prevention and development of alternative treatments for IBD. This review may offer a valuable reference for studies related to IBD administering phenolic compounds from natural, cheap, and easily accessible raw and undervalued materials.

Review on the potential application of non-phenolic compounds from native Latin American food byproducts in inflammatory bowel diseases.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), mainly Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, are high-prevalent chronic gastrointestinal disorders that may cause an important reduction in life quality. Such diseases are characterized by their immune-mediated inflammatory, oxidative and dysbiotic events, which can lead to important symptoms in patients, such as abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and body weicght loss. In the last years, alternative natural options have been postulated for the prevention or treatment of IBDs, since common drug therapy may not be well accepted due to recurrent adverse effects and/or partial efficacy. Among those new natural products, agro-industrial byproducts, such as the peel and seed of foods, are emerging as cheap and pro-ecological options, as they are rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, but also in non-phenolic compounds, like unsaturated fatty acids, dietary fibers and prebiotics, carotenoids, bioactive peptides, and vitamins. In that sense, Latin America is rich in little explored native fruits and vegetables, from which great amounts of byproducts can be produced. Studies have shown that the byproducts from Latin American vegetables, such as passion-fruit (Passiflora edulis), pineapple (Ananas comosus) and pumpkin (Cucurbita spp.), for example, could represent interesting tools against IBDs, judging by the results of in vitro and animal studies. Therefore, the aim of this review is to discuss the potential role of non-phenolic compounds from native Latin American food byproducts in the prevention or treatment of IBDs, by highlighting their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative and/or anti-dysbiotic effects.

Is Chickpea a Potential Substitute for Soybean? Phenolic Bioactives and Potential Health Benefits.

Legume seeds are rich sources of protein, fiber, and minerals. In addition, their phenolic compounds as secondary metabolites render health benefits beyond basic nutrition. Lowering apolipoprotein B secretion from HepG2 cells and decreasing the level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol oxidation are mechanisms related to the prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Likewise, low-level chronic inflammation and related disorders of the immune system are clinical predictors of cardiovascular pathology. Furthermore, DNA-damage signaling and repair are crucial pathways to the etiology of human cancers. Along CVD and cancer, the prevalence of obesity and diabetes is constantly increasing. Screening the ability of polyphenols in inactivating digestive enzymes is a good option in pre-clinical studies. In addition, in vivo studies support the role of polyphenols in the prevention and/or management of diabetes and obesity. Soybean, a well-recognized source of phenolic isoflavones, exerts health benefits by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation related to the above-mentioned chronic ailments. Similar to soybeans, chickpeas are good sources of nutrients and phenolic compounds, especially isoflavones. This review summarizes the potential of chickpea as a substitute for soybean in terms of health beneficial outcomes. Therefore, this contribution may guide the industry in manufacturing functional foods and/or ingredients by using an undervalued feedstock.

Pictorial instrument to guide the classification of foods in the dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population / Instrumento iconográfico para orientação da classificação de alimentos do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira

ABSTRACT This communication describes an instrument for food and nutrition education of food categories based on the new classification according to type of commercial processing, used by the Dietary Guidelines for the Brazilian Population published by the Ministry of Health. The instrument uses, in a practical and schematic manner, the visual resources of food "circles", colors and images. This scheme aims to guide the most appropriate and healthy proportions, as follows: the largest circle contains the foods that should be consumed in the greatest amounts, and so on, until the smallest circle. The front of the circles presents images of foods of each food category, and the back contains a brief explanation about what the foods are and the recommended intake for each category. The instrument aims to mediate and facilitate the guidance of this classification by using a pictorial resource, helping individuals to make food choices autonomously. It is not only aimed at the population, but also at health professionals and educators who seek to promote the population's health. The instrument may be used as a visual aid in individual nutrition care and in groups of food and nutrition education.

RESUMO Esta comunicação descreve um instrumento para educação alimentar e nutricional de categorias de alimentos de acordo com a nova classificação baseada no tipo de processamento industrial, usada no Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira do Ministério da Saúde. O instrumento foi desenvolvido utilizando-se de forma prática e esquemática os recursos visuais de proporção dos "círculos", cores e imagens de alimentos. Esse esquema é usado para orientar as proporções mais adequadas e saudáveis, de modo que, no círculo maior, constam os alimentos que devem ser consumidos em maior quantidade e, no menor deles, os que devem ser consumidos em menor quantidade. Utilizando-se da face principal de cada círculo, são apresentadas imagens de alimentos os quais representam cada categoria alimentar e, no verso, uma breve explicação sobre o que são e as recomendações de ingestão de cada categoria. O instrumento visa mediar e facilitar a orientação dessa classificação por meio de recurso visual iconográfico, de modo a apoiar indivíduos em escolhas alimentares com autonomia. Dirige-se à população e, também, a profissionais de saúde e educadores que buscam a promoção da saúde na população. O instrumento pode ser utilizado como material de apoio em atendimentos nutricionais individuais e em grupos de educação alimentar e nutricional.

Avaliação da composição corporal e índices prognósticos em pacientes hospitalizados nas enfermarias de Hematologia e Transplante de Medula Óssea do HCFMRP-USP / Evaluation of body composition and prognostic indexes in hospitalized patients in hematology and bone marrow transplantation at HCFMRP-USP

O câncer e seu tratamento afetam diretamente a qualidade de vida dos pacientes e pode levar à desnutrição com perda de músculo esquelético, afetando, tanto a capacidade funcional, como a saúde metabólica dos sobreviventes de câncer. O presente estudo tem como objetivo fazer uma descrição da composição corporal, ângulo de fase da BIA e os respectivos índice de massa livre de gordura (IMLG) e índice de massa gorda (IMG) e traçar indicadores nutricionais prognósticos em pacientes hospitalizados em tratamento de doenças hematológicas na Unidade de Transplante de Medula Óssea e Enfermaria de Hematologia do HCRP...