Sandra Maria Lima Ribeiro

Listas de alimentos relacionadas ao consumo alimentar de um grupo de idosos: análises e perspectivas

BACKGROUND: Despite the phenomena of population aging, Brazilian studies related to the feeding practices of elderly individuals are scarce. AIMS: To develop a list of the most ingested foods from community-dwelling elderly persons in the east-zone of Sao Paulo- Brazil and to analyse the foods that contribute most to relevant health-related nutrients of these individuals. METHODS: The study was performed with 100 individuals aged 60 years and above, registered at a local reference center. To describe the nutritional status, the weight and stature were measured and the BMI- body mass index was calculated. To develop the food lists, two 24h food recalls were applied, during two different seasons of the year. The food recalls were analysed for food intake frequency and for percentage contribution of each food and each nutrient: energy, macronutrients, calcium and vitamin D. RESULTS: The participants were classified as following: 52% with BMI 35 kg/m2. The positive aspects related to food intake were rice, bean and green vegetable consumption. As negative aspects, we observed that the diet pattern was repetitive, since few foods contributed to a high number of nutrients. Furthermore, a high ingestion of refined carbohydrates was observed instead of whole foods. CONCLUSION: The food lists allowed reflecting on educative interventions, and also allow future development of different food frequency questionnaires that are specific for this group.

Leptina: aspectos sobre o balanço energético, exercício físico e amenorréia do esforço

The aim of this manuscript was to review the knowledge about leptin, detailing its relationship with energetic intake and physical activity. Leptin is an adipocyte hormone, recognized mainly for its putative role in control of energy expenditure, food intake, body weight and reproductive function. Leptin has still important peripheral actions, including its role on the ovarian tissue. The intracellular signaling mechanisms are recognized in hypothalamus, but in peripheral tissue are not fully understood. The exercise, when practiced by women, if not appropriately planned according to food intake, can modify the leptin release. When energy imbalances induced by exercise and/or deficient food ingestion occurs, low leptin levels are observed, leading to a reduction in GnRH (gonadotropin-release hormone), in LH (luteinizing hormone) and FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) in pituitary, and consequently a minor release of ovarian estrogens. This process is named hypothalamic amenorrhea, and has repercussions in the womans health. In this perspective, it is important to emphasize the need to evaluate the energy expenditure from exercise and to formulate adequate alimentary plans to these individuals.

Efeito do exercício físico nos fatores de risco de doenças crônicas em mulheres obesas

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of physical exercise on body weight reduction. For 12 weeks, 22 obese women (BMI>;30 kg/m²) were submitted to a physical exercise program. At the beginning and at the final of the program there were evaluated: BMI, waist (WC) and hip circumferences (HC), and waist-hip ratio (WHR); body composition by DEXA; hemoglobin and erythrocyte, total cholesterol, HDL and LDL, triacylglycerol and blood glucose; aerobic power. At the final of the program, aerobic power, hemoglobin and erythrocyte values were significantly increased, confirming the physical training effects. Related to anthropometric values, only the visceral fat (WC, HC and WHR) were reduced. The exercise shows to be an important supporting in the body weight loss program, not exactly promoting body weight loss, but lowering risk factors to develop chronic diseases.

Exercise prevents the effects of experimental arthritis on the metabolism and function of immune cells

Active lymphocytes (LY) and macrophages (MΦ) are involved in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Due to its anti‐inflammatory effect, physical exercise may be beneficial in RA by acting on the immune system (IS). Thus, female Wistar rats with type II collagen‐induced arthritis (CIA) were submitted to swimming training (6 weeks, 5 days/week, 60 min/day) and some biochemical and immune parameters, such as the metabolism of glucose and glutamine and function of LY and MΦ, were evaluated. In addition, plasma levels of some hormones and of interleukin‐2 (IL‐2) were also determined. Results demonstrate that CIA increased lymphocyte proliferation (1.9‐ and 1.7‐fold, respectively, in response to concanavalin A (ConA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)), as well as macrophage H2O2 production (1.6‐fold), in comparison to control. Exercise training prevented the activation of immune cells, induced by CIA, and established a pattern of substrate utilization similar to that described as normal for these cells. Exercise also promoted an elevation of plasma levels of corticosterone (22.2%), progesterone (1.7‐fold) and IL‐2 (2.6‐fold). Our data suggest that chronic exercise is able to counterbalance the effects of CIA on cells of the IS, reinforcing the proposal that the benefits of exercise may not be restricted to aerobic capacity and/or strength improvement. Copyright

Effects of Three-Month Intake of Synbiotic on Inflammation and Body Composition in the Elderly: A Pilot Study

We hypothesize that improvements in the gut microbiota are capable of ameliorating gut permeability and, consequently, reducing systemic inflammation and the risk of frailty. This study aims to evaluate some effects of synbiotic supplementation on inflammatory markers and the body composition of the elderly at risk of frailty. In a double-blind study that lasted three months, 17 elderly individuals fulfilling one frailty criteria (grip strength) were randomly distributed into two groups: SYN (n = 9), daily intake of synbiotic (6 g Frutooligossacarides, 108 to 109 CFU Lactobacillus paracasei, 108 to 109 CFU Lactobacillus rhamnosus, 108 to 109 CFU Lactobacillus acidophilus and 108 to 109 CFU Bifidobacterium lactis), or placebo (maltodextrin; PLA; n = 8). Subjects were analyzed for anthropometric measurements, bioelectric impedance with vectorial analysis (BIVA), IL-6 and TNF-α. A comparison between groups did not show any difference for the variables investigated. In turn, individual analysis of electrical impedance (BIVA) demonstrated that the majority of SYN individuals maintained or improved their tissue hydration, when compared to the PLA group after supplementation. In conclusion, three months of synbiotic supplementation did not promote any significant changes in inflammatory cytokines or body composition, but demonstrated a trend towards a preservation of hydration status in apparently healthy elderly individuals.

Dehydration is difficult to detect and prevent in nursing homes.

“One should know that living beings are moist and warm.however old age is dry and cold”wAristotleThe ancient Greeks, as attested to not only by Aristotle, but also byHomer, who compared old age with a dried olive branch, and Galen,who saw a major feature of aging as a loss of body water, perceiveddehydration to be a central part of aging. The reality of this concept isfurther recognized by 2 recent articles in our Journal, examining theproblems of maintaining fluid intake in residents in the nursinghome.

Consumo alimentar e perfil antropométrico de tenistas amadores e profissionais

aBStRaCt The anthropometric profile and food intake play a key role in sports performance; however, there is little information available regarding Brazilian tennis players. Aim: the present study aimed to evaluate the food intake and the anthropometric profile of professional and amateur tennis players. Methods: twenty-four tennis players were distributed in two groups: professionals (PRO; n = 9) and amateurs (AM; n = 15). The athletes were evaluated on their anthropometric measurements (body weight, height, circumferences and skin folders). Body fat was estimated from three different equations. Food intake was determined by a 3-day food diary. Results: there were no significant differences from anthropometric profile between PRO and AM (body weight: 69.5 ± 9.8 kg and 66.0 ± 5.0 kg; height: 177.9 ± 4.3 cm and 175.6 ± 2.7 cm, BMI: 23.5 ± 1.4 kg/m 2 and 22.6 ± 0.8 kg/m 2 and body fat: 13.0 ± 5.5% and 13.7 ± 2.4%, respectively). Significant difference between the energy expenditure and estimation and reported energy intake was observed. Both groups showed low carbohydrate (AM: 6.3 ± 0.5 g/kg/day and PRO: 6.5 ± 0.7 g/kg/day) and high protein intake AM: 2.4 ± 0.2 g/kg/day and PRO: 2.3 ± 0.3 g/kg/day) compared to the current recommendations. Very low calcium intake was observed (AM: 798.1 ± 786.3 mg/day and PRO: 766.9 ± 602.4 mg/day). Conclusion: no significant differences were detected for food intake pattern and anthropometric profile between PRO and AM. The results presented herein reinforce the relevance of nutritional planning in order to achieve specific demands of tennis and maximize performance.Keywords: tennis, diet, anthropometric profile

Effect of protein deficiency on plasma insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-I) level and protein and proteoglycan synthesis rates in skeletal muscle and bone

Although protein deficiency in young children or young animals is frequently associated with growth retardation, the mechanism for impaired growth has not been established. In this article studies on rats investigate changes in plasma concentration of IGF-I in relation to the inhibition of bone and muscle growth are reported. This article also examines protein and proteoglycan synthesis through protein deficiency and recovery afterwards. A marked reduction in weight, food intake, muscle and bone growth was detected in the protein-deficient rats. The decrease of protein and proteoglycan synthesis in the tissues was also observed. The concentration of IGF-I plasma correlated with both protein and tibial proteoglycan synthesis rates and with the increase of protein content in the diet. However, in the 7.5% casein group these parameters were well maintained due to the increase of food intake. The recovered groups showed an increase in the protein and proteoglycan synthesis and this change correlated with the concentration of IGF-I. Thus protein deficiency impaired growth by a combination of reduced food intake and a reduced anabolic response to food due to a reduced protein and proteoglycan synthesis possibly reflecting impaired IGF-I secretion.

Aging, low-grade systemic inflammation and vitamin D: a mini-review

We conducted a mini-review of the literature, focusing on aging-related systemic inflammation and its association with vitamin D (VitD). As main findings, data indicate that inflammation in aging seems to have multiple origins, including immunosenescence, and from intestinal and adipose tissue, where VitD may modulate these three factors, through mechanisms not totally known. From the selected studies, three randomized clinical trials of VitD supplementation showed improvements in inflammatory status, whereas two studies did not. Ten epidemiological studies showed associations between VitD and inflammation, whereas two studies did not. One case study reinforced this association. As such, we can assume a reasonable association between VitD and inflammation in the elderly, and a promising role of supplementation in some situations. However, most studies did not take into account environmental and individual factors such as the season of the year, latitude, skin color or even the use of some medicines; in addition, the doses, time of intervention and the sample sizes differed between the studies. In conclusion, although more controlled VitD studies, both clinical and epidemiological, are necessary, it is important to remember the network of factors involved in systemic inflammation in the elderly; an understanding of the dietetic and non-dietetic factors is needed to offer a realistic approach.

Fruit and vegetable intake and physical activity as predictors of disability risk factors in African-American middle-aged individuals

ObjectiveTo investigate fruit and vegetable intake (FVI) and different dimensions of physical activity (PA) as predictors of change in disabilities and other known precursors of progressive disability in a populationbased sample of African Americans.DesignLongitudinal investigation of the independent associations of reported FVI and PA with six-year changes in disabilities and other known precursors of progressive disability.SettingLongitudinal study of a population-representative cohort of late middle-aged African Americans.Participants432 cohort participants with complete information on all measures.Measurements and Analytic ApproachDuring wave 8 (2008), FVI was measured using 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System questions and PA dimensions using the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS). Disability measures included basic activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental ADLs (IADLs); other precursors included measured gait speed, grip strength, and short physical performance battery (SPPB) and reported lower body functional limitations (LBFLs) and FRAIL scale; these were measured at wave 4 (2004) and wave 10 (2010). Residualchange score linear regression was used to identify FVI and PA factors that were independently associated with six-year changes in disability and other precursors.ResultsThe study cohort was less active than the YPASdevelopment group. Longitudinally, leisurely walking was independently associated with better ADL, IADL, grip strength, SPPB, LBFL, and frailty outcomes; standing with better IADL and SPPB; intake of vegetables other than carrots, salads, or potatoes with better grip strength and frailty; and fruit juice intake with worse grip strength and frailty.ConclusionsIn this relatively inactive cohort, leisurely walking was associated with multiple beneficial outcomes. Benefits were also seen with vegetables other than potato intake, and fruit juice intake was associated with detrimental effects. This study highlights the importance of finding strategies to help this population increase PA (especially leisurely walking) and intake of whole fruits and vegetables.