A dietary pattern including nopal, chia seed, soy protein, and oat reduces serum triglycerides and glucose intolerance in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a health problem throughout the world and is associated with cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Thus, the purpose of the present work was to evaluate the effects of a dietary pattern (DP; soy protein, nopal, chia seed, and oat) on the biochemical variables of MetS, the AUC for glucose and insulin, glucose intolerance (GI), the relationship of the presence of certain polymorphisms related to MetS, and the response to the DP. In this randomized trial, the participants consumed their habitual diet but reduced by 500 kcal for 2 wk. They were then assigned to the placebo (P; n = 35) or DP (n = 32) group and consumed the reduced energy diet plus the P or DP beverage (235 kcal) minus the energy provided by these for 2 mo. All participants had decreases in body weight (BW), BMI, and waist circumference during the 2-mo treatment (P < 0.0001); however, only the DP group had decreases in serum TG, C-reactive protein (CRP), and AUC for insulin and GI after a glucose tolerance test. Interestingly, participants in the DP group with MetS and the ABCA1 R230C variant had a greater decrease in BW and an increase in serum adiponectin concentration after 2 mo of dietary treatment than those with the ABCA1 R230R variant. The results from this study suggest that lifestyle interventions involving specific DP for the treatment of MetS could be more effective if local foods and genetic variations of the population are considered.

Complementary feeding and future health in Mexico. Introduction to the XI Nestlé Nutrition Conference.

Nutrition in infancy provides an important window of opportunity to shape good health during childhood and adult life. The objective of this manuscript is to provide an introduction to the review articles that bring together the proceedings of the XI Nestlé Nutrition Conference "Complementary Feeding: A Piece of the Puzzle to Understand Future Health". The studies and description of complementary feeding practices in Mexico, from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2012 (ENSANUT 2012), support the urgent need for strong policy actions to promote healthy eating and appropriate complementary feeding practices. Early interventions considering a life course approach and maternal and child nutrition are essential to prevent obesity, chronic disease and to ensure better health for the Mexican population.

Preparation and characterization of protein isolate from fresh and hardened beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

The purpose of the present work was to determine the effect of accelerated hardening of beans on yield and physicochemical, functional, and toxicological properties. Protein isolates were obtained from fresh and hardened common beans (Phaseolusvulgaris L.). Acid treatment was an effective method to produce hardened bean. Protein recovery in the isolation procedure for fresh bean isolate (FBI) was 45.5% and 36.15% for hardened bean isolate (HBI); however, the amount of protein was similar in both isolates. In general, the amino acid pattern was similar in both isolates. Electrophoresis analysis showed that the main protein (phaseolin) remained unchanged during the isolation procedure. HBI showed a decrease in the bands of 14 to 26 kDa corresponding to the phytohemagglutinin group, and this was associated with a 56.6% decrease in the concentration of the trypsin inhibitor (TI). Heat treatment of FBI reduced 89.4% of the TI and the hemagglutining activities, and it was reflected in an adequate weight gain of young animals. FBI showed better functional properties than HBI, and both isolates showed the same amount of flavonoids.