Efficacy of Carotenoid-Loaded Gelatin Nanoparticles in Reducing Plasma Cytokines and Adipocyte Hypertrophy in Wistar Rats.

The present study investigated the effect of gelatin-based nanoparticles (EPG) loaded with a carotenoid-rich crude extract (CE) on systemic and adipose tissue inflammatory response in a model with inflammation induced by a high glycemic index and high glycemic load diet (HGLI). Nanoparticles synthesized were characterized by different physical and chemical methods. The in vivo investigation evaluated Wistar rats (n = 20, 11 days, adult male with 21 weeks) subdivided into untreated (HGLI diet), conventional treatment (nutritionally adequate diet), treatment 1 (HGLI + crude extract (12.5 mg/kg)), and treatment 2 (HGLI + EPG (50 mg/kg)) groups. Dietary intake, caloric intake and efficiency, weight, inflammatory cytokines tissue concentration, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) weight, histopathological analysis, and antioxidant activity in plasma and VAT were investigated. EPG showed the same physical and chemical characteristics as previous batches (95.2 nm, smooth surface, and chemical interactions between materials). The EPG-treated group was the only group promoting negative ∆dietary intake, ∆caloric efficiency, and ∆weight. In addition, it presented a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in IL-6 and leptin levels and a greater presence of multilocular adipocytes. The results suggest that EPG can act as a nutraceutical in adjuvant therapy for treating inflammatory diseases associated with adipose tissue accumulation.

Nanoparticles Containing Tamarind Isolate Protein Potentiate the Satiety without Promoting the Anti-Inflammatory Effect in a Preclinical Model of Diet-Induced Obesity.

The study aimed to evaluate the nanoparticles (ECW) containing tamarind trypsin inhibitor (TTI) concerning the storage effect under different conditions on antitrypsin activity and the bioactive potential in a preclinical model. ECW was exposed to different pH and temperatures to evaluate the interaction between TTI and its encapsulating agents, monitored by antitrypsin activity. Wistar rats (n = 25) with obesity induced by diet were divided into groups: untreated; treatment with nutritionally adequate diet; treatment with nutritionally adequate diet and ECW/12.5 mg/kg; treatment with ECW/12.5 mg/kg; and treatment with TTI/25 mg/kg. The groups were evaluated over ten days with regards to satiety, zoometric, biochemical, and inflammatory parameters, using ten times less TTI (2.5 mg/kg) contained in ECW. TTI was protected and encapsulated in ECW without showing residual inhibitory activity. Only at gastric pH did ECW show antitrypsin activity. At different temperatures, it showed high antitrypsin activity, similar to TTI. The animals treated with ECW had significantly reduced body weight variation (p < 0.05), and only TTI treatment reduced the inflammatory parameters significantly (p < 0.05). The study showed that by using lower concentrations of TTI in ECW it was possible to perceive promising effects with perspectives of use in functional products for managing obesity and its complications.

Anti-Inflammatory Protein Isolated from Tamarind Promotes Better Histological Aspects in the Intestine Regardless of the Improvement of Intestinal Permeability in a Preclinical Study of Diet-Induced Obesity.

Obesity is associated with metabolic and physiological effects in the gut. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of trypsin inhibitor isolated from tamarind seeds (TTI) in vitro (interaction with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inhibitory activity against human neutrophil elastase (HNE)), and using intestinal co-cultures of Caco-2:HT29-MTX cell lines inflamed with TNF-α (50 ng/mL) and a Wistar rat model of diet-induced obesity (n = 15). TTI was administered to animals by gavage (10 days), and the treated group (25 mg/kg/day) was compared to animals without treatment or treated with a nutritionally adequate diet. In the in vitro study, it showed inhibitory activity against HNE (93%). In co-cultures, there was no protection or recovery of the integrity of inflamed cell monolayers treated with TTI (1.0 mg/mL). In animals, TTI led to lower plasma concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6, total leukocytes, fasting glucose, and LDL-c (p < 0.05). The intestines demonstrated a lower degree of chronic enteritis, greater preservation of the submucosa, and greater intestinal wall thickness than the other groups (p = 0.042). Therefore, the better appearance of the intestine not reflected in the intestinal permeability added to the in vitro activity against HNE point to possibilities for new studies and applications related to this activity.

Breast Milk Retinol Levels after Vitamin A Supplementation at Different Postpartum Amounts and Intervals.

Maternal vitamin A (VA) supplementation in risk areas for Vitamin A deficiency (VAD) was launched to improve the level of this nutrient in nursing mothers and in their breast milk. This longitudinal and randomized study aimed to evaluate the levels of retinol in breast milk after supplementation with VA in varying amounts (200,000 IU or 400,000 IU) and different postpartum intervals. Women were distributed into four intervention groups and given a single 200,000 IU postnatal dosage of VA at time 0 h (postnatal morning) (G200 0H); a single 200,000 IU dosage of VA in week four (G200 4W); 200,000 IU of VA at time 0 h + 200,000 IU of VA 24 h after the first supplementation (G400 24H); and 200,000 IU of VA at time 0 h + 200,000 IU of VA one week after the first supplementation (G400 1W). Breast milk samples were collected over a 12-week period (0 h, 24 h and 1, 4, 12 weeks post-natal). Retinol levels were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The Generalized Estimated Equation (GEE) assessed the different retinol levels. The G200 (0H), G400 (24H), and G400 (1W) groups presented higher retinol levels at 24 h than the G200 (4W) group (p < 0.001). The retinol levels of all groups were similar at times 1, 4 and 12 weeks after delivery (p > 0.05). Maternal VA supplementation increased retinol levels in the colostrum. Different supplementation dosages or postpartum administration times did not result in added benefit to retinol levels in mature breast milk.

Dietary share of ultra-processed foods and its association with vitamin E biomarkers in Brazilian lactating women.

Despite evidence showing that the intake of ultra-processed food has a negative impact on health, diet quality and dietary vitamin E, its impact on vitamin E nutritional status and breast milk remains unknown. This study aimed to assess the influence of the consumption of ultra-processed foods on vitamin E biomarkers of lactating women. A cross-sectional study was performed with 294 lactating women. Food consumption was obtained by 24-h dietary recall, and foods were grouped according to the NOVA classification. Levels of α-tocopherol were analysed by HPLC. Breast milk vitamin E (BMVE) adequacy was based on the quantity of the vitamin in the estimated intake volume. The Kruskal­Wallis test was used to compare the tertiles and linear regression to association between ultra-processed food consumption and biomarkers. Ultra-processed foods accounted for 16 % of energy intake and vitamin E intakes by all women were considered low. Serum α-tocopherol was 26·55 (sd 7·98) µmol/l, 5 % (n 11) showed inadequate vitamin E (< 12 µmol/l) and 78 % had an inadequate BMVE content (< 4 mg/780 ml). The regression showed that a higher dietary share of ultra-processed foods was associated with lower concentrations of serum α-tocopherol (ß = ­0·168, 95 % CI ­0·047, 0·010, P = 0·003) and inadequate BMVE content (ß = ­0·144, 95 % CI = ­0·505, 0·063, P = 0·012) (adjustment for income and maternal age). Thus, higher dietary shares of ultra-processed foods had an impact on vitamin E biomarkers, suggesting that inadequate dietary intake practices during lactation may reduce the supply of vitamin E to women and breast milk.

Dietary Lipid Intake Influences the Alpha-tocopherol Levels in Human Milk.

OBJECTIVE: Dietary lipid intake is associated with serum alpha-tocopherol levels; however, its impact on human milk is unknown. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between maternal intake of vitamin E, lipids, and fatty acids and the concentration of alpha-tocopherol in human milk. METHODS: We conducted a longitudinal observational study, including 143 lactating women on 7, 30, and 90 days postpartum. Dietary intake was collected using 24-hour recall. On day 90, a human milk sample was collected and analyzed for alpha-tocopherol concentration. The prevalence of inadequate vitamin E intake was determined by the Estimated Average Requirement (16 mg/day), and the alpha-tocopherol concentration was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Dietary intake of vitamin E was associated with the intake of lipids (r = 0.237, P = 0.004) and fatty acids (P < 0.05), and 100% of the participants had inadequate vitamin intake. Mean alpha-tocopherol concentration in the human milk samples was 7.11 (standard deviation 3.95) µmol/L and was correlated with lipid (r = 0.201, P = 0.042) and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake (r = 0.235, P = 0.017). Higher vitamin E levels were found in participants with the highest quartile of polyunsaturated fatty acid intake. CONCLUSIONS: Alpha-tocopherol concentration was associated with the dietary intake of lipids and fatty acids, demonstrating that its bioavailability is associated with fats in the mammary gland. These results suggest development of appropriate strategies to increase the levels of vitamin E in breast milk that may help to prevent and treat vitamin E deficiency.

Gestational diabetes: a risk of puerperal hypovitaminosis A?

The influence of gestational diabetes on vitamin A deficiency in lactating women and, consequently, in their newborn has been verified through a cross-sectional case-control study conducted with volunteer puerperal women. The control group consisted of healthy women and the test group was composed of women with gestational diabetes. One hundred and seven women were recruited, corresponding to 71 controls and 36 cases. Personal, gestational and newborn data were collected directly from medical records during hospitalization. The retinol was determined in maternal colostrum and serum by High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Postpartum women with gestational diabetes were older, had more children and a higher prevalence of cesarean delivery. No difference was found in retinol concentration in maternal milk and serum between the groups. However, it was observed that 16.7% had vitamin A deficiency in the group of patients with diabetes and only 4.1% had such deficiency in the control group. Although no difference was found in colostrum and serum retinol concentration between women with and without gestational diabetes, the individual analysis shows that those with diabetes are at higher risk of being vitamin A deficient.

Effect of maternal vitamin A supplementation on retinol concentration in colostrum / Efeito da suplementação materna com vitamina A sobre a concentração de retinol no colostro

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of vitamin A supplementation on the retinol concentration in colostrum under fasting and postprandial conditions. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study, with before and after assessments, conducted with 33 patients treated at a public maternity hospital. Blood and colostrum samples were collected under fasting conditions in the immediate postpartum period. A second colostrum collection occurred two hours after the first meal of the day, at which time a mega dose of 200,000 IU of retinyl palmitate was administered. On the following day, the colostrum was collected again under fasting and postprandial conditions. Serum and colostrum retinol concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The serum retinol concentration was 37.3 (16.8-62.2) µg/dL, indicating adequate nutritional status. The colostrum retinol concentration before supplementation was 46.8 (29.7-158.9) µg/dL in fasting and 67.3 (31.1-148.7) µg/dL in postprandial condition (p < 0.05), showing an increase of 43.8%. After supplementation, the values were 89.5 (32.9-264.2) µg/dL and 102.7 (37.3-378.3) µg/dL in fasting and postprandial conditions, respectively (p < 0.05), representing an increase of 14.7%. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that maternal supplementation with high doses of vitamin A in postpartum resulted in a significant increase of the retinol concentration in colostrum under fasting conditions, with an even greater increase after a meal. .

OBJETIVO: Investigar o efeito da suplementação com vitamina A sobre a concentração de retinol no leite colostro em condições de jejum e pós-prandial. MÉTODOS: Estudo quase-experimental, do tipo antes e depois, realizado com 33 parturientes atendidas em uma maternidade pública, das quais foram coletadas, em jejum, amostras de sangue e leite colostro, no pós-parto imediato. Uma segunda coleta de colostro ocorreu duas horas após a primeira refeição do dia, momento em que uma megadose de 200.000 UI de palmitato de retinila foi administrada. No dia seguinte, uma nova coleta de colostro foi realizada em condições de jejum e pós-prandial. As concentrações de retinol no soro e no colostro foram determinadas por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência. RESULTADOS: A concentração de retinol sérico foi de 37,3 (16,8-62,2) µg/dL, evidenciando um estado nutricional adequado. No colostro, a concentração de retinol antes da suplementação foi de 46,8 (29,7-158,9) µg/dL em jejum e 67,3 (31,1-148,7) µg/dL em condições pós-prandiais (p < 0,05), mostrando um aumento de 43,8%. Após a suplementação, os valores foram de 89,5 (32,9-264,2) µg/dL e 102,7 (37,3-378,3) µg/dL em jejum e pós-prandial, respectivamente (p < 0,05), representando um aumento de 14,7%. CONCLUSÕES: Este trabalho demonstrou que a suplementação materna com altas doses de vitamina A no pós-parto resultou em um aumento significativo da concentração de retinol no colostro em condições de jejum, sendo este valor ainda maior após a refeição. .

Effect of maternal vitamin A supplementation on retinol concentration in colostrum.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of vitamin A supplementation on the retinol concentration in colostrum under fasting and postprandial conditions. METHODS: This was a quasi-experimental study, with before and after assessments, conducted with 33 patients treated at a public maternity hospital. Blood and colostrum samples were collected under fasting conditions in the immediate postpartum period. A second colostrum collection occurred two hours after the first meal of the day, at which time a mega dose of 200,000 IU of retinyl palmitate was administered. On the following day, the colostrum was collected again under fasting and postprandial conditions. Serum and colostrum retinol concentrations were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The serum retinol concentration was 37.3 (16.8-62.2) µg/dL, indicating adequate nutritional status. The colostrum retinol concentration before supplementation was 46.8 (29.7-158.9) µg/dL in fasting and 67.3 (31.1-148.7) µg/dL in postprandial condition (p < 0.05), showing an increase of 43.8%. After supplementation, the values were 89.5 (32.9-264.2) µg/dL and 102.7 (37.3-378.3) µg/dL in fasting and postprandial conditions, respectively (p < 0.05), representing an increase of 14.7%. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that maternal supplementation with high doses of vitamin A in postpartum resulted in a significant increase of the retinol concentration in colostrum under fasting conditions, with an even greater increase after a meal.

Maternal supplementation with natural or synthetic vitamin E and its levels in human colostrum.

OBJECTIVES: Newborns are considered a high-risk group for vitamin E deficiency. Breast milk is a source of alpha-tocopherol (α-TOH), a form of vitamin E that prevents deficiency. The present study aimed to assess whether supplementation with a natural or synthetic form of α-TOH, in addition to maternal sources of vitamin E, would increase the concentration of α-TOH in colostrum. METHODS: A total of 109 healthy lactating women were recruited from a Brazilian public maternity clinic and randomized into 3 groups: control without supplementation (n = 36), natural α-TOH supplementation (n = 40), and synthetic α-TOH supplementation (n = 33). Blood and colostrum samples were collected before and after supplementation to check the nutritional status of these women by high-performance liquid chromatography. The Kruskal-Wallis test was applied for independent samples, and Tukey test was used for 2-way analysis of the averages of the groups. The baseline nutritional status of vitamin E of all of the lactating women enrolled in the trial was considered adequate. RESULTS: Women who received supplementation had higher concentrations of α-TOH in colostrum than the control group, with 57% and 39% increases in women supplemented with the natural and synthetic forms of α-TOH, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with both forms of α-TOH increased vitamin E concentrations in colostrum; however, the natural form was more efficient in increasing the levels.

Vitamin E concentration in human milk and associated factors: a literature review, / Concentração de vitamina E no leite humano e fatores associados: uma revisão de literatura,

Objective: To systematize information about vitamin E concentration in human milk and the variables associated with this composition in order to find possible causes of deficiency, supporting strategies to prevent it in postpartum women and infants. Source: Studies published between 2004 and 2014 that assayed alpha-tocopherol in human milk of healthy women by high performance liquid chromatography were evaluated. The keywords used were "vitamin E", "alpha-tocopherol", "milk, human", "lactation", and equivalents in Portuguese, in the BIREME, CAPES, PubMed, SciELO, ISI Web of Knowledge, HighWire Press, Ingenta, and Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations databases. Summary of the findings: Of the 41 publications found on the subject, 25 whose full text was available and met the inclusion criteria were selected. The alpha-tocopherol concentrations found in milk were similar in most populations studied. The variable phase of lactation was shown to influence vitamin E content in milk, which is reduced until the mature milk appears. Maternal variables parity, anthropometric nutritional status, socioeconomic status, and habitual dietary intake did not appear to affect the alpha-tocopherol levels in milk. However, the influence of the variables maternal age, gestational age, biochemical nutritional status in alpha-tocopherol, and maternal supplementation with vitamin E had conflicting results in the literature. Conclusion: Alpha-tocopherol concentration in milk decreases during lactation, until the mature milk appears. To confirm the influence of some maternal and child variables on milk vitamin E content, further studies with adequate design are needed. .

Objetivo: Sistematizar informações sobre a concentração de vitamina E no leite humano e variáveis associadas a essa composição, a fim de encontrar possíveis causas de deficiência, subsidiando estratégias para prevenção desta em puérperas e lactentes. Fonte dos dados: Foram avaliados estudos publicados entre 2004 e 2014 que determinaram o alfa-tocoferol no leite humano de mulheres saudáveis por Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência. Os descritores utilizados foram "leite humano", "alfa-tocoferol", "vitamina E", "lactação" e seus equivalentes em inglês, nas bases de dados BIREME, Periódicos CAPES, Pub-Med, SciELO, ISI Web of Knowledge, HighWire Press, Ingenta e Biblioteca Digital Brasileira de Teses e Dissertações. Síntese dos dados: Das 41 publicações encontradas sobre a temática, 25 foram selecionadas, por possuirem texto completo disponível e se encaixarem nos critérios de inclusão. As concentrações encontradas de alfa-tocoferol no leite foram semelhantes na maioria das populações estudadas. A variável fase de lactação mostrou influenciar o conteúdo dessa vitamina no leite, que vai sendo reduzido até o leite maduro. As variáveis maternas paridade, estado nutricional antropométrico, condição socioeconômica e ingestão dietética habitual parecem não afetar os níveis de alfa-tocoferol no leite. Entretanto, a influência das variáveis idade materna, idade gestacional, estado nutricional bioquímico em alfa-tocoferol e suplementação materna com vitamina E possui resultados conflitantes na literatura. Conclusão: A concentração de alfa-tocoferol no leite diminui durante a lactação, até chegar ao leite maduro. Para confirmar a influência de algumas ...

Vitamin E concentration in human milk and associated factors: a literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To systematize information about vitamin E concentration in human milk and the variables associated with this composition in order to find possible causes of deficiency, supporting strategies to prevent it in postpartum women and infants. SOURCE: Studies published between 2004 and 2014 that assayed alpha-tocopherol in human milk of healthy women by high performance liquid chromatography were evaluated. The keywords used were "vitamin E", "alpha-tocopherol", "milk, human", "lactation", and equivalents in Portuguese, in the BIREME, CAPES, PubMed, SciELO, ISI Web of Knowledge, HighWire Press, Ingenta, and Brazilian Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations databases. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS: Of the 41 publications found on the subject, 25 whose full text was available and met the inclusion criteria were selected. The alpha-tocopherol concentrations found in milk were similar in most populations studied. The variable phase of lactation was shown to influence vitamin E content in milk, which is reduced until the mature milk appears. Maternal variables parity, anthropometric nutritional status, socioeconomic status, and habitual dietary intake did not appear to affect the alpha-tocopherol levels in milk. However, the influence of the variables maternal age, gestational age, biochemical nutritional status in alpha-tocopherol, and maternal supplementation with vitamin E had conflicting results in the literature. CONCLUSION: Alpha-tocopherol concentration in milk decreases during lactation, until the mature milk appears. To confirm the influence of some maternal and child variables on milk vitamin E content, further studies with adequate design are needed.

Influência da suplementação pós-parto de vitamina A sobre os níveis de imunoglobulina A no colostro humano / Influence of postpartum supplementation with vitamin A on the levels of immunoglobulin A in human colostrum

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência da suplementação com palmitato de retinol no pós-parto imediato sobre os níveis de imunoglobulina A secretora (SIgA) no colostro. MÉTODOS: Ensaio clínico realizado com 96 parturientes atendidas em uma maternidade pública, divididas em grupo controle, que não foi suplementado (n = 44), e teste, suplementado no primeiro dia pós-parto (n = 52). Coletaram-se amostras de 2 mL de colostro nos dois primeiros dias pós-parto. A SIgA foi quantificada por turbidimetria, e os dados, analisados por teste t de Student. RESULTADOS: Antes da suplementação, a média de SIgA foi de 829,1±337,6 mg/dL no grupo controle e 827,3±249,8 mg/dL no teste (p = 0,52). Após a suplementação, a média foi de 343,9±177,2 mg/dL no grupo não suplementado e 501,2±54,5 mg/dL no suplementado (p < 0,00001). CONCLUSÃO: O colostro de mulheres suplementadas com palmitato de retinol possui mais SIgA, sugerindo modulação da produção de anticorpos pela vitamina A.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of supplementation with retinyl palmitate in the immediate postpartum period on the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in colostrum. METHODS: A clinical trial was conducted among 96 recently-delivered mothers treated at a public maternity hospital, divided into control group, which was not supplemented (n = 44), and test group, supplemented on the first day postpartum (n = 52). Samples of 2 mL of colostrum were collected on the first 2 days postpartum. SIgA was measured by turbidimetry and data were analyzed by the Student t test. RESULTS: Before supplementation, the average SIgA was 829.1±337.6 mg/dL in the control group and 827.3±249.8 mg/dL in the test group (p = 0.52). After supplementation, the average SIgA was 343.9±177.2 mg/dL in the unsupplemented group and 501.2±54.5 mg/dL in the supplemented group (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: The colostrum of women supplemented with retinyl palmitate has higher levels of SIgA, which suggests that the production of antibodies is modulated by vitamin A.

Influence of postpartum supplementation with vitamin A on the levels of immunoglobulin A in human colostrum.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of supplementation with retinyl palmitate in the immediate postpartum period on the levels of secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA) in colostrum. METHODS: A clinical trial was conducted among 96 recently-delivered mothers treated at a public maternity hospital, divided into control group, which was not supplemented (n = 44), and test group, supplemented on the first day postpartum (n = 52). Samples of 2 mL of colostrum were collected on the first 2 days postpartum. SIgA was measured by turbidimetry and data were analyzed by the Student t test. RESULTS: Before supplementation, the average SIgA was 829.1±337.6 mg/dL in the control group and 827.3±249.8 mg/dL in the test group (p = 0.52). After supplementation, the average SIgA was 343.9±177.2 mg/dL in the unsupplemented group and 501.2±54.5 mg/dL in the supplemented group (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION: The colostrum of women supplemented with retinyl palmitate has higher levels of SIgA, which suggests that the production of antibodies is modulated by vitamin A.