Martha Elisa Ferreira de Almeida

Lipídeos séricos e morfologia hepática de ratos alimentados com diferentes fontes lipídicas (óleo de soja, gordura de peixe e porco, margarina e manteiga)

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed serum lipids and hepatics morphological changes in rats fed different lipid sources (soybean oil, fish fat and lard, margarine and butter). METHODS: Fifty Wistar rats were divided into five groups. They were given semi-synthetic diets with different lipid sources for 28 days: soybean oil, lard, butter, margarine and fish fat. Body weight, food intake, food efficiency coefficient, lipoprotein lipase activity, serum concentrations of total cholesterol and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triacylglycerols and albumin were assessed. The heart and liver tissues underwent histological assessment. RESULTS: The type of lipid source did not influence food intake, weight gain or food efficiency coefficient. The activity of the lipoprotein lipase was also unaffected; however, there were changes in the serum concentration of total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triacylglycerols and albumin. All groups presented lipid droplets on the coronary walls and heart capillaries. The fat deposition on the liver of animals given soybean oil, fish fat and lard, and butter was characterized as steatosis. CONCLUSION: The lipid source that presented the best results was soybean oil. Fish fat affected the serum and tissues similarly to other lipid sources (lard, butter and margarine). This may contribute to the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases.

Perfil lipídico tecidual de ratos alimentados com diferentes fontes lipídicas

OBJETIVO:Determinar se fontes lipidicas com diferentes razoes de acidos graxos insaturados e saturados (PUFA+MUFA)/SFA na dieta altera o perfil lipidico tecidual, a concentracao de lipidios (mg/g) dos tecidos hepaticos e mesenterico e a digestibilidade lipidica. METODOS: Foi realizada cromatografia gasosa para determinar o perfil de acidos graxos nos tecidos hepatico e adiposo de ratos alimentados com diferentes fontes lipidicas. O coeficiente de digestibilidade foi determinado a partir da relacao entre a quantidade de lipidios consumidos e a quantidade fecal excretada. RESULTADOS:Diferentes fontes lipidicas (oleo de soja, manteiga, margarina e gorduras de porco e de peixe) nao alteraram o coeficiente de digestibilidade e o peso hepatico, mas alteraram a deposicao de lipidios em todos os tecidos adiposos estudados. Nao foi possivel fazer a correlacao direta entre o perfil dietario dos acidos graxos nao essenciais e sua deposicao nos tecidos estudados, visto que a lipogenese de novo impede a identificacao dos acidos graxos dietarios. CONCLUSAO:Nao foi constatada uma relacao direta entre o perfil dietario dos acidos graxos e sua deposicao nos tecidos estudados, exceto para os acidos graxos trans e linoleico (C18:2) que nao sao sintetizados no rato. Esses acidos graxos apresentaram uma concentracao tecidual diretamente proporcional aquela das fontes dietarias. Quanto a razao (PUFA+MUFA)/SFA, encontrada no tecido hepatico dos diferentes grupos, observa-se que esta foi diretamente proporcional aos valores apresentados pelas fontes lipidicas dietarias. Entretanto, essa associacao nao foi observada nos tecidos adiposos analisados.

Efeito da prática de trabalhos manuais sobre a autoimagem de idosos

The world population is aging rapidly; thus life expectancy is increasing and people are extending their years of life. Art enables man to release their feelings and emotions, increasing the affective quality of interpersonal relationships by improving communication, strengthening self-image and rediscovery of creative potentials. This study aimed to investigate how the practice of manual works can influence the self-image of the elderly. It evaluated art through semi-structured interviews, focusing on issues related to aging and self-image as a therapeutic, creative, artistic process, self-image, self-concept, self-esteem, feelings and emotions. It was evident that the crafts strengthen self-image of the elderly, through the completion of the work, as well as socialization, minimizing any impacts associated with aging, and even arising artistic skills and their improvement. It is through the benefits category and subcategories: mental ability, socialization, and medicine, that manual activities are valuable tools in recovering biological, psychological, social and immunological elderly.

Development and sensory evaluation of products containing the Brazilian Savannah fruits araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) and cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica Mart.)

The objective of this study was to use the pulp of the Brazilian Savannah fruits araticum and cagaita to develop new products, and to evaluate their sensory acceptance by children from 7 to 9 years of age. The products developed were: three milk caramel formulations: DP (standard), DA (araticum pulp) and DB (araticum pulp and grated coconut); three cagaita refresher formulations: RP (cagaita pulp), RA (cagaita pulp and orange juice) and RB (cagaita pulp and carrot juice); and a cagaita jam formulation. It was found that the three formulations of milk caramels were equally accepted (p>0.05), whereas the RA refresher was more accepted (p 0.05) of gender on the sensory acceptability of the products evaluated. It was concluded that the products developed showed good acceptability from a sensory point of view, which suggests high market potential.

Can lychee reducing the adipose tissue mass in rats

Lychee fruit has been studied owing to the presence of several bioactive compounds that can contribute to weight loss in obese individuals. However, the anti-obese potential of the fruit has not been explored yet. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different parts of lychee in reducing the adipose tissue mass of cafeteria diet-fed rats. Phenolic compounds and scavenging capacities were quantified. The food intake, apparent digestibility, weight of the body and liver, body mass, Lee Index, and the mass of epididymal and visceral adipose tissues were evaluated. The results were estimated by Tukey’s Test at 5% probability. A higher amount of phenolic compounds and scavenging capacity were observed in the peel of lychee as compared to the other parts of the fruit. The hypercaloric diet with lychee flour resulted in a higher apparent digestibility. There was no difference between groups control (C), hypercaloric (H), hypercaloric with lychee flour 50.00% peel and 50.00% seeds (H2F), and hypercaloric with lychee flour 33.33% peel, 33.33% pulp and 33.34% seeds (H3F) with respect to body and liver weight, corporal mass, and Lee Index. The hypercaloric diet-fed group exhibited an increase in visceral and epididymal adipose tissue mass, whereas the group fed with hypercaloric diets and flour made from the peel and seed of lychee presented a lower visceral adipose tissue mass. In conclusion, the use of lychee flour was considered viable because it decreased visceral adipose tissue mass in rats.

Gastronomy’s influence on fruits and vegetables acceptance by overweight children

Submit Manuscript | http://medcraveonline.com children between 5 and 9 years old [1]. The weight excess can be resulted from the interaction between biological, behavioral and environmental factors. Inadequate eating habits besides fruits and vegetables low consumption are among the 10 risk factors for the occurrence of overweight in the whole world [2,3]. The obesity is a serious public health problem which can induce cardiovascular diseases in young adults [4]. According to Food and Nutrition Surveillance System Survey, in 2008 the consumption of fruits and vegetables was considered inadequate to 30% of 26,000 surveyed children and teenagers, since this amount did not report consuming these kinds of food during the week [5]. Fruits and vegetables consumption of the general population is lower than the recommended amount, which is 400 to 500 g per day [6]. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the consumption of these foods is lower than the recommended to more than 90% of Brazilian citizens [1].

Improvement of physiological parameters of rats subjected to hypercaloric diet, with the use of Pereskia grandifolia (Cactaceae) leaf flour

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of Pereskia grandifolia leaf flour on rats fed a hypercaloric diet. METHODS After a hypercaloric diet for 10 weeks, 21 animals were divided into the following groups and were fed the following diets for 4 weeks: control (CH), hypercaloric diet with P. grandifolia flour (PGF) 5%, and hypercaloric diet with PGF 10%. Several measurements were performed including body weight, food consumption, body mass index, Lee index, liver weight, liver and body moisture content, and body and hepatic lipid level. Data were analyzed by Tukeys test at 5% probability. RESULTS Rats fed PGF diet had decreased food consumption and body weight and showed lower body mass and Lee indices compared to control group. At week 2, weight of the PGF 10% group was statistically lower than the control group (CH). At week 4, the PGF 10% group demonstrated the highest body weight loss compared to the other two groups. There were no significant difference in total lipids and moisture level between the groups; however, rats fed PGF diet had lower hepatic lipids levels than control group and reduced liver weight. CONCLUSION This suggests that PGF induced weight loss and decreased hepatic lipid level and may be effective in treating obesity and related metabolic diseases.