Roberta Ribeiro Silva

Avaliação nutricional e prevalência de doenças crônicas não transmissíveis em idosos pertencentes a um programa assistencial

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the nutritional state and the prevalence of not transmissible chronic disease in elderly, who were participating in an assistance program of the Federal University of Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Socio-economical, anthropometric and biochemical variables, as well as systemic blood pressure were collected from 82 individuals between 60 and 87 years of age, 90,2 % of them female. According to the body mass index (BMI) 52,4% of the studied sample were overweight, 28,0% eutrophic and 19,5% underweight; 37,8% presented high body fat percentage (BF%). With regard to the relation BMI/BF%, 63,4% of the elderly with overweight, 12,5% of the eutrophic and 11,8% of the underweight presented high BF%. The waist-to-hip ratio revealed 40,2% at high risk and 12,2% at very high risk of developing cardiovascular disease. In addition, 22,0% had high blood pressure. The biochemical tests revealed that 39,3%, 39,3% and 3,3% presented higher plasma cholesterol, triglyceride and glucose levels respectively. There is a need for continuous nutritional education programs and monitoring of the nutritional and health status for improving the quality of life of the studied individuals.

Avaliação antropométrica e análise dietética de pré-escolares em centros educacionais municipais no sul de Minas Gerais

The objective of this article is to evaluate socioeconomic conditions, nutritional status and food intake of preschool children assisted at Municipal Educational Centers (CEMs) of Alfenas, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A transverse study involving 186 children was performed. The socioeconomic profile, weight, height, age, sex and food intake by a direct weighting tool were evaluated. It was observed an income family of one to three minimum wages, incomplete fundamental learning, private house with basic sanitation, four to five inhabitants per house of whom two worked at most. The average age was 49.2 +/- 12.9 months. The stunting rates were more prevalent among the children (20.5%). The whole, 72.6% of children have energy intake below Estimated Energy Intake (EER). However, when stratifying for age group, 78.4% of the children from 1 to 3 years old have high energy intake and 74.1% from 4 to 6 years old have inadequate energy intake. All children presented consumption below the Adequate Intake (AI) of calcium and most of them below to Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) of iron. Despite some biosocioeconomic factors be favorable to the nutritional status, malnutrition, and inadequate nutrient intake were present, which demanded the implementation of nutritional programs in CEMs.

Physical and sensorial properties of potato breads fortified with whole soybean flour

The aim of this work was to study the effects of fortification of potato bread with whole soybean flour on their physicochemical and sensory properties. Cont...

PREVALENCE OF PARACOCCIDIOIDOMYCOSIS INFECTION BY INTRADERMAL REACTION IN RURAL AREAS IN ALFENAS, MINAS GERAIS, BRAZIL

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of paracoccidioidal infection by intradermal reaction (Delayed-Type Hypersensitivity, DTH) to Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in rural areas in Alfenas, Southern Minas Gerais (MG) State, Brazil, and to assess risk factors (gender, occupation, age, alcohol intake and smoking) associated with infection. We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study using intradermal tests with gp 43 paracoccidioidin in 542 participants, who were previously contacted by local health agents and so spontaneously attended the test. Participants underwent an interview by filling out a registration form with epidemiological data and were tested with an intradermal administration of 0.1 mL of paracoccidioidin in the left forearm. The test was read 48 hours after injection and was considered positive if induration was greater than or equal to 5 mm. Out of 542 participants, 46.67% were positive to the skin test. Prevalence increased in accordance with an increase of age. There was statistical significance only for males. Occupation, alcohol intake and smoking habits were not significantly associated with the risk of paracoccidioidomycosis infection. There is relevance of paracoccidioidomycosis infection in such rural areas, which suggests that further epidemiological and clinical studies on this mycosis should be done in the southern part of Minas Gerais State.

Effects of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) on calcium bioavailability and inflammation in Wistar rats

Chia is a good source of calcium, however it is not been previously reported its bioavailability associated with an inflammatory condition. Thus, the present study evaluated the effect of chia on calcium bioavailability, inflammation, and oxidative stress in Wistar rats fed a high-fat diet or standard diet for 35 days. Chia consumption resulted in lower calcium balance and calcium absorption and retention rates. In addition, the urinary calcium concentration was lower in groups that were fed chia. The bone resistance of animals feed chia was lower than that in rats fed the standard diet receiving calcium carbonate. Animals that were fed chia showed lower total, very low-density lipoprotein, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels than animalsfed calcium carbonate. Animals fed standard diet showed higher superoxide dismutase plasma concentrations than animals in the high fat calcium carbonate group. PPAR-α protein levels were higher in animals fed chia whereas TNF-α and IL-10 were lower in these animals. NFκB mRNA expression and protein levels were lower in the groups that received chia compared with HFD + CC. Chia intake presented low calcium bioavailability regardless of the type of diet consumed and was able to improved inflammation and the lipid profile in young Wistar rat. Besides this, the consumption of this seed increased the activity of antioxidants enzymes.