Karoline de Macêdo Gonçalves Frota

Composição química do feijão caupi (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp), cultivar BRS-Milênio

Cowpea is one of the major food cultures of the northeastern region of Brazil. To improve its resistance against plagues and to increase its productivity, a new cultivar (BRS-Milenio) was obtained by genetic improvement. This study aimed at determining the proximate composition, amino acid and fatty acid profiles, mineral constituents and trypsin inhibitory activity of this cultivar. The seed presents (g.100 g-1): 24.5 protein, 51.4 carbohydrates, 16.6 insoluble fiber and 2.7 soluble fiber, 2.6 ash; major mineral constituents (mg.100 g-1) were: iron - 6.8, zinc - 4.1, manganese - 1.5, phosphorus - 510.0 and potassium - 1430.0. Lipid content was 2.2%, and its fatty acids profile: 29.4% saturated and 70.7% unsaturated. The caloric value was estimated as 323.4 kcal.100 g-1 of seeds. A low trypsin inhibitory activity was found (8.0 TIU.mg-1 of sample). The amino acid profile is in accordance with the reference amino acid standard, except for the sulfur amino acid deficiency, suggesting the need to encourage the combination of this bean with other food sources. Results suggest that cowpea presents high contents of energy, protein, dietary fiber, minerals and a low trypsin inhibitory activity. Although it contains low amounts of lipids, its composition presents a high unsaturated fatty acid profile.

Cowpea protein reduces LDL-cholesterol and apolipoprotein B concentrations, but does not improve biomarkers of inflammation or endothelial dysfunction in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia

INTRODUCTION The risks of cardiovascular diseases, the leading cause of death in the world, can be reduced by diet. Cowpea protein has been shown to significantly reduce total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and liver steatosis in hamsters. OBJECTIVE The objective of this proof-of-concept study was to verify whether the consumption of cowpea protein improves lipid profile and biomarkers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in adults with moderate hypercholesterolemia. METHODS In a randomized, double-blind, crossover design, 38 hypercholesterolemic subjects (LDL-cholesterol = 182.5 ± 2.7 mg/dL) consumed 25 g/day of cowpea protein isolate or 25 g/day of casein (control group) for 6 weeks each, separated by a 4-week washout interval. Fasting blood samples were collected at baseline and at the end of each diet period. Lipids (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol) were determined by enzymatic methods, apolipoproteins (apoA-I and apoB) by standardized immunoassays, inflammatory biomarkers (C-reactive protein) by turbidimetry, and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Consumption of cowpea protein significantly reduced total cholesterol ( 12 %), LDL cholesterol ( 18.9 %), non HDL-cholesterol ( 16 %) and apoB ( 14 %), and increased HDL cholesterol (+2.7 %). No significant differences between treatment groups were observed for any of the serum inflammatory or endothelial dysfunction biomarkers. CONCLUSION The present findings demonstrated the favorable effect of cowpea protein consumption on proatherogenic serum lipids and apoB in subjects with moderate hypercholesterolemia, similar to what was observed in a previous studies on animals.

Utilização da farinha de feijão-caupi (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp) na elaboração de produtos de panificação

Este trabalho teve como objetivo enriquecer produtos de panificacao do tipo biscoito e rocambole com farinha de feijao-caupi (FFC), avaliar sua aceitabilidade e composicao quimica, incluindo o conteudo dos minerais (ferro, zinco, magnesio, potassio e fosforo) e das vitaminas (tiamina e piridoxina). Foram desenvolvidas tres formulacoes de biscoito contendo 10, 20 e 30% FFC e duas formulacoes de rocambole contendo 10 e 20% FFC. Observou-se um aumento no teor proteico do biscoito 30% FFC e do rocambole 20% FFC e na quantidade de cinzas dos biscoitos 20 e 30% FFC e rocambole 20% FFC, quando comparados as formulacoes padrao. O teor dos minerais analisados e de piridoxina aumentou a medida que FFC foi adicionada, enquanto a concentracao de tiamina aumentou somente no rocambole 20% FFC. O biscoito com 10% FFC apresentou maior aceitacao (84,4%), dentre os biscoitos formulados com FFC, alem disso, os rocamboles com 10 e 20% FFC tiveram boa aceitacao (86,7 e 77,8%, respectivamente). Todas as formulacoes contendo FFC tiveram notas superiores a 6, mostrando que os produtos foram aceitos sensorialmente. Desta forma, a adicao de FFC visando melhorar o valor nutritivo de formulacoes a base de cereais e viavel.

Effect of magnesium supplementation on insulin resistance in humans: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES Recent studies have demonstrated that minerals play a role in glucose metabolism disorders in humans. Magnesium, in particular, is an extensively studied mineral that has been shown to function in the management of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia, and insulin resistance (IR) action. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of magnesium supplementation on IR in humans via systematic review of the available clinical trials. METHODS This review was conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations. A survey was conducted to select clinical trials related to the effects of this mineral in insulin sensitivity using the following databases: PubMed, SciVerse Scopus, ScienceDirect, and SciVerse Cochrane. RESULTS After the selection process, 12 articles were identified as eligible, representing different clinical conditions and being free of restriction with regard to sex, age, ethnicity, and differential dosing/shape of magnesium. The results of eight clinical trials showed that supplementation with magnesium influences serum fasting glucose concentrations, and five trials determined an effect on fasting insulin levels. The results of seven studies demonstrated that mineral supplementation reduced homeostasis model assessment for IR values. CONCLUSIONS The data of this systematic review provide evidence as to the benefits of magnesium supplementation in reducing IR in patients with hypomagnesemia presenting IR. However, new intervention studies are needed to elucidate the role of the nutrient in protection against this metabolic disorder, as well as the standardization of the type, dose, and time of magnesium supplementation.

Effect of storage and processing of Brazilian flaxseed on lipid and lignan contents

Flaxseed has been widely studied around the world; its incorporation into products habitually consumed by human populations has been stimulated due to its unique nutritional value. The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition of Brazilian flaxseed, to analyze the stability of lipids present in whole flaxseed flour (WFF) or partially defatted flaxseed flour (DFF) stored under several temperatures, and to investigate the effect of bread making on a product containing flaxseed. Whole flaxseed flour presented (g.100 g-1) 25.7 of insoluble fiber, 10.7 of soluble fiber, 38.9 of lipids, and 2.65 of lignan. Defatted flaxseed flour presented 65% less lipids, 36% more fiber and 56% more lignan than whole flaxseed flour. The fatty acid profile was maintained in the defatted flaxseed flour, and it presented a stable composition during storage under ambient temperature, refrigeration, and freezing. The fatty acid profile was similar in the bread containing defatted flaxseed flour after dough development, baking, and storage at room temperature or refrigerated. After baking, 89% of the lignan content was kept in bread. Results show that Brazilian flaxseed has an interesting chemical composition, and that defatted flaxseed, by-product of lipid extraction, presents a good stability to grind and storage under several temperatures. Thus, defatted flaxseed flour can be incorporated in bread, increasing its nutritional and functional value.

Influence of food components on lipid metabolism: scenarios and perspective on the control and prevention of dyslipidemias

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main causes of death in the Western world. Among the risk factors that are modifiable by diet, for reducing cardiovascular disease risks, the total plasma concentrations of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, and HDL-C are the most important. Dietary measures can balance these components of the lipid profile thus reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The main food components that affect the lipid profile and can be modified by diet are the saturated and trans fats, unsaturated fats, cholesterol, phytosterols, plant protein, and soluble fiber. A wealth of evidence suggests that saturated and trans fats and cholesterol in the diet raise the total plasma cholesterol and LDL-C. Trans fats also reduce HDL-C, an important lipoprotein for mediating the reverse cholesterol transport. On the other hand, phytosterols, plant proteins, isoflavones, and soluble fiber are protective diet factors against cardiovascular diseases by modulating plasma lipoprotein levels. These food components at certain concentrations are able to reduce the total cholesterol, TG, and LDL-C and raise the plasma levels of HDL-C. Therefore, diet is an important tool for the prevention and control of cardiovascular diseases, and should be taken into account as a whole, i.e., not only the food components that modulate plasma concentrations of lipoproteins, but also the diet content of macro nutrients and micronutrients should be considered.

Nutritional quality of the protein of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp and its protein isolate

A protein’s true digestibility and amino acid composition are important characteristics for its nutritional characterisation. This study determined the true digestibility of the protein from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) and of its protein isolate, and their nutritional values were estimated after correcting for the amino acid score. The protein was isolated from the defatted whole bean by its alkaline solubilisation and isoelectric precipitation. The amino acid composition of the protein from the whole bean and from the isolate was determined by ion-exchange chromatography. Protein digestibility was assessed by the nitrogen balance method. The amino acid score is the lowest value obtained from the ratio between the individual amount of each essential amino acid present within the protein and the recommendation of each one for preschool infants. Methionine was the limiting amino acid in both the whole bean and the isolate. The true digestibility of the protein corrected by the amino acid score is an estimate of its nutritional value. The amino acid score for the whole bean was 0.44, and protein digestibility was 86.7%. For the isolate, these values were 0.60 and 96.7%, respectively. Correcting each score by the digestibility resulted in an estimated nutritive value of 38% and 58% for the whole bean and the isolate, respectively. Therefore, by having higher digestibility and increasing the bioavailability of essential amino acids, cowpea protein isolate is of interest for inclusion in food products, especially cereal-based products, which contain lysine as a limiting amino acid and are rich in methionine.

Cholesterol-Lowering and Liver-Protective Effects of Cooked and Germinated Mung Beans (Vigna radiata L.)

We investigated the hypocholesterolemic and liver-protective effects of cooked and germinated whole mung beans. Hamsters were fed for 28 days on diets rich in saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, differing only in protein source (20%): casein, cooked whole mung bean, and germinated mung bean. After 28 days, we found reduced plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, increased faecal cholesterol excretion, and reduced levels of asparagine aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase enzymes in the liver. Reduction in hepatic lipid deposition was observed between each of the mung bean groups relative to the casein group. In addition, the animals of the geminated mung bean group showed a lack of inflammatory infiltrate and better vascularisation of the hepatic tissue. Results from this study show significant hypocholesterolemic and liver-protective properties of the mung bean, which are further enhanced after germination.

Relationship between C -reactive protein and other cardiovascular risk factors in hypercholesterolemic individ alsa

Objective: To evaluate the correlation between ultrasensitive C-reactive protein (us‑CRP) and markers of cardiovascular risk in hypercholesterolemic adults of differing nutritional status.

Fatores de risco cardiovascular e prevalência de síndrome metabólica em idosos

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in elderly patients seen at a Basic Health Unit (BHU) and the relationship between anthropometric, hemodynamic and biochemical measures. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 94 elderly seen at Cecilia de Sousa Neri UBS, in Picos, Piaui, in the period from August to October 2011. Weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure were evaluated, and biochemical data was collected. The metabolic syndrome was characterized by the presence of three or more risk factors, in accordance with the National Cholesterol Education Program. The study applied t-test and Mann-Whitney test for comparison of means between the sexes, Pearson’s correlation between the anthropometric, hemodynamic and biochemical variables, and associations between variables using chi-square test, with 5% significance level. Results: Of the sample, 68.1% (n=64) were women. Mean WC was 102.4 ± 11.4 cm (males) and 96.2 ± 13.2 cm (females), (p=0.031). MS was diagnosed in 38.64% (n=34) of the participants, being 28.40% (n=25) for women (p=0.252). There was a significant correlation between weight and SBP (r=0.273; p=0.0076), weight and DBP (r=0.379; p=0.0002), WC and SBP (r=0.248; p=0.0158), WC and DBP (r=0.255; p=0.0129), BMI and SBP (r=0.294; p=0.0041), BMI and DBP (r=0.318; p=0.0018), weight and blood glucose (r=0.184; p=0.0855) and DBP and blood glucose (r=0.219; p=0.0403). Conclusion: There was high prevalence of MS, as well as positive relationships between the anthropometric variables, blood glucose, triglycerides and arterial blood pressure, showing the need for monitoring and control of these cardiovascular risk factors. doi: 10.5020/18061230.2014.p477