Gabrielle de Souza Rocha

Resistance exercise training does not affect plasma irisin levels of hemodialysis patients.

Irisin, a hormone secreted by myocytes induced in exercise, acts as a muscle-derived energy-expenditure signal that binds to undetermined receptors on the white adipose tissue surface, stimulating its browning and uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) expression. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of an intradialytic resistance exercise training program (RETP) on plasma irisin levels of hemodialysis (HD) patients and compare the baseline plasma irisin levels of HD patients to healthy subjects. This longitudinal study enrolled 26 patients undergoing HD (50% men, 44.8±14.1 years, body mass index (BMI) 23.5±3.9 kg/m²). The healthy subjects group consisted of 11 women and 7 men with mean age of 50.9±6.6 years and BMI, 24.2±2.7 kg/m². Anthropometric and biochemistry parameters (Irisin by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) were measured at the baseline and after 6 months of RETP (in both lower limbs). There was no difference regarding gender, age, and BMI between HD patients and healthy subjects. Plasma irisin levels in HD patients were lower than in healthy subjects (71.0±41.6 vs. 101.3±12.5 ng/ml, p<0.05). Although the muscle mass increased in consequence of exercise [evaluated by arm muscle area from 27.9 (24.1) to 33.1 (19.0) cm²], plasma irisin did not differ significantly after exercises (71.0±41.6 vs. 73.3±36.0 ng/ml). HD patients seem to have lower plasma irisin when compared to healthy subjects. Moreover, a resistance exercise training program was unable to augment plasma irisin despite increasing muscle mass.

Effect of different cooking methods on the polyphenol concentration and antioxidant capacity of selected vegetables

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different methods of cooking on the concentration of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity found in vegetables. Squash, broccoli, carrots, kale, cabbage, green beans, and tomato were submitted to different cooking methods and then compared with their fresh form. Heat treatment was shown to have a significant effect on the antioxidant capacity and soluble and hydrolysable polyphenolic content of most vegetables analyzed, either increasing or decreasing the concentration of these compounds. The results suggest that the best cooking method for increasing the concentration of polyphenols and antioxidants was steaming, while microwave cooking was the least recommended method.

Association of Central Obesity with The Incidence of Cardiovascular Diseases and Risk Factors

Fundamento: A obesidade tem sido apontada como um dos principais fatores de risco para doencas cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Avaliar a associacao da obesidade central com a incidencia de doencas e fatores de risco cardiovascular. Metodos: Estudo transversal, realizado com pacientes atendidos em um ambulatorio de sindrome metabolica, que apresentavam indice de massa corporal ≥ 24,9 kg/m2. Foram analisados o estado nutricional, os exames laboratoriais (perfil lipidico e glicemia) e o uso de anti-hipertensivos. Os participantes foram estratificados em grupos em relacao a presenca ou a ausencia dos seguintes fatores de risco: diabetes, hipertensao e dislipidemia. Resultados: Mulheres (n = 39), com idade media de 44,18 ± 14,42 anos, sendo 70% obesos e 38% hipertensos corresponderam a maioria da amostra estudada. A circunferencia abdominal encontrada foi de 110,19 cm ± 15,88 cm; os triglicerideos de 153,72 mg/dL ± 7,07 mg/dL; a glicemia de jejum de 188,6 mg/dL ± 116 mg/dL. Foi encontrada associacao significativa entre a relacao cintura/estatura e os achados de hipertensao (p = 0,007); entre o volume de gordura visceral e diabetes (p = 0,01); entre o indice de conicidade e os achados de hipertensao (p = 0,009) e diabetes (p = 0,006). Nao foi encontrada associacao significativa entre o indice de massa corporal e circunferencia abdominal com os achados de hipertensao, diabetes e dislipidemia. Conclusao: A obesidade central esteve associada a uma maior incidencia de desenvolvimento de fatores de risco relacionados a doencas cardiovasculares.

The influence of a diet based on flaxseed, an omega-3 source, during different developmental periods, on the blood pressure of rats submitted to stress

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to investigate a flaxseed diet during different developmental periods, and its effect on the blood pressure of rats submitted to stress. Methods: Fifty-six male rats (F1), born from 14 rats (F0), were divided into seven groups (n = 8): flaxseed group (FG); flaxseed group gestation and lactation (FG-GL); flaxseed group weaning (FG-W); flaxseed group weaning and stress (FG-WS); flaxseed group stress (FG-S); flaxseed group gestation lactation and weaning (FG-GLW), and control Group (CG). Stress protocol was undertaken for 1 month. Blood pressure was analysed before and after the stress protocol. The left adrenal glands and serum corticosterone levels were analysed. Results: Systolic blood pressure before stress was lower in all groups with flaxseed diet compared with the CG (p = .00001). After stress, CG showed higher blood pressure compared with FG, FG-GL, and FG-GLW (p = .004). The levels of corticosterone were lower in the FG between all groups (p < .000001) and the CG showed higher compared with FG-W, FG-WS, FG-GL, and FG-GLW (p < .0001). The adrenal gland did not show differences. Conclusions: Results suggest a possible factor from a flaxseed diet against the effects of stress on a blood pressure in all periods of life but especially in the gestation and lactation periods.

Effects of red wine, grape juice and resveratrol consumption on bone parameters of Wistar rats submitted to high-fat diet and physical training

INTRODUCTION intake of diets with high saturated fat may produce deleterious effects on bone mineralization. Lifestyle changes help reduce the bone loss observed in osteoporosis. Resveratrol, present in grape juice and red wine, has osteogenic and osteoinductive effects, being potentially beneficial for bone health. OBJECTIVE to evaluate the effects of red grape juice, red wine and resveratrol consumption on bone parameters in Wistar rats submitted to a high-fat diet and physical training. METHOD female Wistar rats, with 90 days of age, were divided into five groups and followed up for 60 days: a) control group; b) high-fat group; c) grape juice group; d) red wine group; and e) resveratrol group. The different groups of animals performed a physical training protocol. Animals weight and consumption were monitored weekly. After 60 days, femoral dimensions, bone mineral density (BMD) and bone mineral content (BMC) were evaluated. RESULTS there was no difference in body mass; however, all groups consuming the high-fat diet had higher consumption (p < 0.05). RWG presented a greater distance between the epiphyses, femoral mass and BMC (p < 0.05). RWG and RG presented greater mean diaphysis point width and BMD (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION the results suggest that the bioactive compounds present in red wine and resveratrol solution together with regular exercise were able to promote beneficial effects on bone health, even when associated with a high saturated fat diet.

High fat diet and high polyphenols beverages effects in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity

BACKGROUND High fat diets have been implicated in the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Polyphenols from grapes may reduce ROS and restore oxidative balance. The aim of this study is to investigate the antioxidant properties of high polyphenols beverages associated with a high fat diet in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS Fifty female rats were divided into five groups: a) control group (CG) - control diet (4% fat); b) high fat diet group (HFD) - high fat diet (20% fat); c) grape juice group (GJ) - grape juice (15 ml/day) + high fat diet; d) red wine group (RW) - red wine (10 ml/day) + high fat diet; and e) resveratrol solution group (RS) - resveratrol solution (15 ml/day) + high fat diet. Eight weeks later, the superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were measured. Superoxide dismutase activity was assayed by measuring the inhibition of adrenaline auto-oxidation, catalase by the decrease rate in hydrogen peroxide and glutathione peroxidase by monitoring the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. Non-enzymatic antioxidant activity was assessed by oxygen radical absorbance capacity and DDPH (free radical sequestration 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydracil) method in the animals plasma. RESULTS GC and GJ presented the lowest glutathione peroxidase activity, pointing to a possible protective effect of grape juice against high levels of ROS (p < 0.05). RW increased catalase activity when compared to the RS (p <0 .05). Superoxide dismutase activity and non-enzymatic antioxidant plasma activity were similar in all groups. CONCLUSION Grape juice showed to be the most effective in minimizing the deleterious effects of a high fat diet. Resveratrol did not present any benefit and red wine possibly shows a harmful effect due to ethanol content.

Association of fiber intake and cardiovascular risk in elderly patients

Risk factors for developing CVD can be classified into non-modifiable (age, gender and family history) and modifiable (high blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, physical inactivity and smoking). It is suggested that insulin resistance, which is a contributor to the metabolic syndrome, plays an important role in cardiovascular risk3. Internacional Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2015;28(6):464-471

Effects of functional foods consumption on the lipid profile and nutritional status of elderly

Many countries have nowadays a low, or even negative/ neutral, demographic growth rate, with the number of older inhabitants increasing in a higher pace than that of newly born. Such population aging results, naturally, in a higher incidence of diseases1. Meanwhile, the growing modernization and urbanization in the latest decades generate changes in the populations’ food standards, which has also collaborated significantly to the increase in the prevalence of non-transmissible chronic diseases (NTCD)1. Aging causes important alterations in the individual’s body composition, with changes in muscle mass and in the body fat distribution standard2. The body mass index (BMI) has shown to be useful for diagnosing obesity, but it is limited regarding body composition data2. Thus, the waist circumference (WC) has been considered as an efficient manner of estimating volume and distribution of that fat. Moreover, the fat central distribution standard, revealed by WC, is correlated to some infirmities, like diabetes mellitus (DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD)3. Internacional Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2015;28(5):400-408