Development and Evaluation of a Low-cost Dairy Food Supplement with Mauritia Flexuosa (Buriti) to Combat Malnutrition: Translational Study in Mice and Institutionalized Elderly Woman.

AIMS: The present study aimed to develop and evaluate a new dairy by-product nutritional supplement with Buriti fruit to improve malnutrition in mice and elderly woman. BACKGROUND: Malnutrition is a prevalent problem in the elderly; therefore, oral dietary supplementation is an important strategy to reduce this health problem incidence. OBJECTIVE: The present study evaluated the effects of a low-cost food supplement, made from byproducts of the dairy and fruit industry in the Brazilian Cerrado (Buriti), on the nutritional status and on the recovery of the metabolic profile of malnourished animals and elderly women. METHODS: In the pre-clinical phase, Swiss mice were divided into six groups and subjected to malnutrition and renutrition. The clinical phase was carried out with 25 elderly women residing in a long-term institution, aged ≥ 65 years and with malnutrition or risk of malnutrition. RESULTS: The main results showed improvements in anthropometric parameters and an increase in serum albumin levels, in addition to lipid profile improvement in the preclinical phase and an increase in the red blood cells and hemoglobin in the clinical phase. CONCLUSION: The supplement based on Buriti was able to reverse malnutrition promoting improvements in anthropometric and biochemical parameters.

Association between lifestyle and emotional aspects of food consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Adequate nutrition during infectious outbreaks require a personal management strategy, especially when there are emotional factors involved. To evaluate the association between lifestyle and emotional aspects of food consumption during the pandemic COVID-19. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cross-sectional study using online self-applied questionnaire with 15,372 active schoolteachers who worked in primary education (kindergarten, elementary and high school) from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Poisson Regression model with robust variance was used to determine the association between lifestyle and emotional aspects and food consumption. Greater adherence to the healthy consumption profile showed a statistically significant association with decreased weight (PR = 1.58; p = 0.000), decreased physical activity (PR = 1.27; p = 0.000), reduced income, (PR = 1.26; p = 0.000), reduced alcohol consumption (PR = 1.22; p = 0.000), and changes in mental health (PR = 1.19; p = 0.000). Unhealthy consumption profile was significantly correlated with weight gain (PR = 1.54; p = 0.000), consuming more alcohol, or started drinking during the pandemic (PR = 1.44; p = 0.000), increased physical activity (PR = 1.43; p = 0.000); increased cigarette consumption (PR = 1.17; p = 0.000), and being a younger adult (PR = 1.17; p = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the food profiles of basic education teachers in the Minas Gerais state education system in a bidirectional manner, favoring the practice of consuming healthy or unhealthy foods.

Liver Damage Produced by Malnutrition is Improved by Dietary Supplementation in Mice: Assessment of a Supplement Based on Buriti (A Cerrado Fruit) and Dairy By-products.

BACKGROUND: Malnutrition induced by dietary restriction produces several metabolic changes that affect body weight, the digestive system, and annex organs, including the liver. Malnutrition generates an inflammatory state and increases oxidative stress. The liver is one of the body vital organs, becoming necessary to analyze the impact of food supplementation on the repair of possible changes that may occur in this organ due to malnutrition. AIMS: To evaluate the effects of a low-cost supplementation derived from Buriti and dairy byproducts on liver recovery in malnourished mice, focusing on the expression of oxidative stressrelated genes, as well as biochemical and histological parameters. METHODS: Swiss mice were divided into six groups and submitted to two treatment phases: food restriction, for malnutrition onset; and renutrition, with mice being fed with different diets. RESULTS: Our results indicate that dietary supplementation was successful in recovering liver damage caused by malnutrition in animal models. The new supplement has been shown to recover liver damage with similar or superior results compared to the commercial reference supplement on the market. CONCLUSION: Our work presents a new composition of low cost food supplement based on buriti and dairy by-products, proven to be effective in the malnutrition treatment of malnutrition. The improvements were proven through the recovery of body weight, reduction of inflammation and oxidative stress.

Impacto de uma intervenção para redução do desperdício em uma Unidade de Alimentação e Nutrição / Impact of an intervention to reduce waste in a Food and Nutrition Unit

In this study, we aimed to determine the influence of a campaign against food waste and the adoption of a self-service system on the consumption variables of students and employees in a public education institution. To this end, we quantified the following variables: number of meals, amount of food produced, leftovers not distributed, amount of food distributed, per capita consumption, total rest-ingestion, per capita rest-ingestion, percentage of leftovers, and percentage of food scraps. After the campaign, there was a significant reduction in per capita consumption and per capita rest-ingestion, showing the influence of this awareness on the amount of food to be consumed as well as on waste reduction, indicated by the rest-ingestion values. A significant decrease in the rest-ingestion index was observed in the self-service system, showing that this practice contributes to food waste reduction. There was a significant reduction in the amount of food wasted after the campaign and the adoption of the self-service distribution system; however, the values found are still above those recommended in the literature. The results indicate the need to implement not only measures to reduce waste, but also more effective interventions for the planning and distribution of adequate preparations.

El objetivo fue verificar tanto la influencia de la campaña contra el desperdicio de alimentos como la adopción de un sistema de autoservicio sobre las variables de consumo de los estudiantes y empleados de una universidad pública. Para esto, se cuantificó el número de comidas, la cantidad de alimentos producidos, los restos de alimentos no distribuidos, la cantidad de alimentos distribuidos, el consumo per capita, el residuo de la ingesta total, el residuo de la ingesta per capita, el porcentaje de restos y el porcentaje de residuos. Después de la campaña se observó una reducción significativa en el consumo per capita y en los residuos de ingesta per capita, evidenciándose la influencia de esta concienciación sobre la cantidad de alimento que se consume y sobre la reducción del desperdicio, indicada por las cifras de residuos de ingestión. Se observó que en el sistema de tipo autoservicio, el porcentaje de residuo ingesta disminuyó significativamente en comparación con el servicio proporcionado, mostrando que esta práctica se confirmó con la reducción de residuo de alimentos. Se concluye que hubo una reducción significativa en la cantidad de comida desperdiciada, tanto después de la campaña como después del cambio de la distribución de alimentos para el sistema de autoservicio. Sin embargo, los valores encontrados todavía continúan por encima de lo recomendado por la literatura. Los resultados indican la necesidad de implementar medidas para reducir los residuos y de intervenciones más eficaces para la planificación y la adecuada distribución de los preparativos.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a influência da campanha contra o desperdício de alimentos e da adoção do sistema self-service sobre as variáveis de consumo de alunos e servidores em uma instituição pública de ensino. Para tal, quantificou-se o número de refeições, a quantidade de alimentos produzida, as sobras de alimentos não distribuídos, a quantidade de alimentos distribuída, o consumo per capita, o resto ingestão total, o resto ingestão per capita, o percentual de sobras e o percentual de restos. Após a campanha, houve uma redução significativa no consumo per capita e nos restos de ingestão per capita, evidenciando a influência dessa conscientização sobre a quantidade de alimentos a ser consumida e na redução do desperdício, indicada pelos valores de restos de ingestão. Observou-se que, no sistema do tipo self-service, o percentual de resto ingestão sofreu uma redução significativa quando comparado com aquele do serviço proporcionado, mostrando que essa prática corroborou com menor desperdício de alimentos. Conclui-se que houve uma redução significativa na quantidade de alimentos desperdiçada, tanto após a campanha quanto após a mudança para a distribuição de alimentos para o sistema self-service. Entretanto, os valores encontrados ainda continuam acima do recomendado pela literatura. Os resultados apontam a necessidade de implantação de medidas de redução de desperdícios e intervenções mais eficazes para o planejamento e a distribuição adequada das preparações.

Síndrome pré-menstrual e aspectos relacionados à antropometria e aocomportamento alimentar / Premenstrual syndrome and related anthropometry andfeeding behavior aspects

O estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar o ciclo menstrual no tocante à síndrome pré-menstrual, à antropometria e aoconsumo alimentar. Foi realizada a avaliação de medidas antropométricas e do consumo alimentar na fase folicular e nafase lútea do ciclo menstrual. Sintomas pré-menstruais foram averiguados por meio de um diário padronizado. Foramavaliadas 40 estudantes, com média de idade de 22,57 ± 1,97 anos. Não houve diferença de peso entre as duas fasesdo ciclo menstrual (p > 0,05), porém verificou-se maior média de circunferência de cintura (p=0,021) e de percentualde gordura corporal (p=0,019) na fase lútea, maior frequência de consumo excessivo de doces (p=0,020), chocolate(p=0,029), refrigerantes do tipo diet (p=0,009) e café (p < 0,001) nessa fase, apesar da similaridade na ingestão de macroe micronutrientes (p > 0,05). Concluiu-se que ocorrem mudanças na composição corporal e no comportamento alimentare maior gravidade de sintomas na fase lútea do ciclo menstrual, denotando a importância do aconselhamento nutricional.

The study aimed to portray the menstrual cycle relating it to premenstrual syndrome, to anthropometry and to feedingbehavior aspects. Anthropometric and dietary intake assessments were conducted on follicular and luteal phases of themenstrual cycle. Premenstrual symptoms were investigated through an outlined journal. Forty students, with a mean ageof 22.57 ± 1.97 years were assessed. It was not attested any differences in weight between the two phases (p > 0.05). However,a higher waist circumference (p=0.021) and a higher body fat percentage (p = 0.019) were noticed during the lutealphase. An excessive ingestion of sweets (p=0.020), chocolate (p=0.029), diet soft drinks (p=0.009) and coffee (p < 0.001)was also noted in this phase, despite the similarity in the macro and micronutrient consumption. It was concluded thatchanges in body composition and food behavior and more severe symptoms occur on the luteal phase of the menstrualcycle indicating the importance of nutritional counseling.