Effect of fortification of drinking water with iron plus ascorbic acid or with ascorbic acid alone on hemoglobin values and anthropometric indicators in preschool children in day-care centers in Southeast Brazil

Background. Iron-deficiency anemia currently is the most frequently occurring nutritional disorder worldwide. Previous Brazilian studies have demonstrated that drinking water fortified with iron and ascorbic acid is an adequate vehicle for improving the iron supply for children frequenting day-care centers. Objective. The objective of this study was to clarify the role of ascorbic acid as a vehicle for improving iron intake in children in day-care centers in Brazil. Methods. A six-month study was conducted on 150 children frequenting six day-care centers divided into two groups of three day-care centers by drawing lots: the iron-C group (3 day-care centers, n = 74), which used water fortified with 10 mg elemental iron and 100 mg ascorbic acid per liter, and the comparison group (3 day-care centers, n = 76), which used water containing only 100 mg ascorbic acid per liter. Anthropometric measurements and determinations of capillary hemoglobin were performed at the beginning of the study and after six months of intervention. The food offered at the day-care centers was also analyzed. Results. The fo od offered at the day-care center was found to be deficient in ascorbic acid, poor in heme iron, and adequate in non-heme iron. Supplementation with fortified drinking water resulted in a decrease in the prevalence of anemia and an increase in mean hemoglobin levels associated with height gain in both groups. Conclusions. Fortification of drinking water with iron has previously demonstrated effectiveness in increasing iron supplies. This simple strategy was confirmed in the present study. The present study also demonstrated that for populations receiving an abundant supply of non-heme iron, it is possible to control anemia in a simple, safe, and inexpensive manner by adding ascorbic acid to drinking water. © 2005, The United Nations University.

Supercritical fluid extraction for pesticide multiresidue analysis in honey: determination by gas chromatography with electron-capture and mass spectrometry detection

An analytical procedure using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) and capillary gas chromatography with electron-capture detection was developed to determine simultaneously residues of different pesticides (organochlorine, organophosphorus, organonitrogen and pyrethroid) in honey samples. Fortification experiments were conducted to test conventional extraction (liquid-liquid) and optimize the extraction procedure in SFE by varying the CO2-modifier, temperature, extraction time and pressure. Best efficiency was achieved at 400 bar using acetonitrile as modifier at 90 degreesC. For the clean-up step, Florisil cartridges were used for both methods LLE and SFE. Recoveries for majority of pesticides from fortified samples of honey at fortification level of 0.01-0.10 mg/kg ranged 75-94% from both methods. Limits of detection found were less than 0.01 mg/kg for ECD and confirmation of pesticide identity was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected-ion monitoring mode. The multiresidue methods in real honey samples were applied and the results of developed methods were compared. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Multiresidue analysis of pesticides in soil by supercritical fluid extraction/gas chromatography with electron-capture detection and confirmation by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The applicability of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) in pesticide multiresidue analysis (organohalogen, organonitrogen, organophosphorus, and pyrethroid) in soil samples was investigated. Fortification experiments were conducted to test the conventional extraction (solid-liquid) and to optimize the extraction procedure in SFE by varying the CO2 Modifier, temperature, extraction time, and pressure. The best efficiency was achieved at 400 bar using methanol as modifier at 60 degreesC. For the SFE method, C-18 cartridges were used for the cleanup. The analytical screening was performed by gas chromatography equipped with electron-capture detection (ECD). Recoveries for the majority of pesticides from spiked samples of soil at different residence times were 1, 20, and 40 days at the fortification level of 0.04-0.10 mg/kg ranging from 70 to 97% for both methods. The detection limits found were <0.01 mg/kg for ECD, and the confirmation of pesticide identity was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in a selected-ion monitoring mode. Multiresidue methods were applied in real soil samples, and the results of the methods developed were compared.

Folic acid supplementation during early hepatocarcinogenesis: cellular and molecular effects

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Tratamento dietético da hiper-homocisteinemia na doença arterial periférica

A homocisteína está envolvida na gênese da aterosclerose e, assim, é considerada um importante e prevalente fator de risco na doença arterial periférica. O estado nutricional vitamínico deficiente, em especial do folato, é a principal causa de hiper-homocisteinemia nesses casos. Embora ainda não haja consenso sobre a dose exata e a forma de utilização do folato em suplementos e sobre adequação alimentar ou fortificação de cereais para o tratamento da hiper-homocisteinemia, diversos estudos realizados em pacientes com doença vascular periférica mostraram que o folato, isoladamente, pode reduzir as concentrações de homocisteína, bem como a concentração de alguns marcadores biológicos do processo de aterosclerose. No entanto, estudos recentes não comprovaram esse benefício sobre o processo inflamatório associado à hiper-homocisteinemia. Desta forma, embora a utilização isolada do folato seja uma terapêutica custo-efetiva no controle da hiper-homocisteinemia, seu impacto na evolução das doenças arteriais ainda persiste inconclusivo. Esta revisão abordará os efeitos obtidos com as diversas formas de utilização do folato no tratamento da hiper-homocisteinemia.

Coordination polymer adsorbent for matrix solid-phase dispersion extraction of pesticides during analysis of dehydrated Hyptis pectinata medicinal plant by GC/MS

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Extração por fluido supercrítico de alguns inseticidas carbamatos em amostras de batata, com determinação por HPLC/fluorescência e confirmação por HPLC/espectrometria de massas

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Evaluation of the addition of ascorbic acid to the ration of cultivated Piaractus mesopotamicus (Characidae) on the infrapopulation of Anacanthorus penilabiatus (Monogenea)

Sixty Piaractus mesopotamicus Holmberg, 1887 (pacu) fry fed a diet containing 0, 50, 100 and 200 mg ascorbic acid/kg dry feed were studied to evaluate the effect on parasitic infestation by the monogenean Anacanthorus penilabiatus Boeger, Husak and Martins, 1995 (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) for a period of 24 weeks. The temperature of the aquaria was measured daily and remained between 28 and 31oC. At the beginning of the experiment, fish showed 6.15 ± 0.33 cm standard length and 8.64 ± 1.62 g average body weight. A sample of fish was examined and showed 43 ± 17 monogeneans per fish. At the end of the experiment, the gills of control and vitamin C-treated fish were collected for parasite counts. Control fish had 42.5 parasites per fish, a significantly higher number (P<0.05) when compared with fish fed vitamin C, that showed 16.5 parasites per fish. Ascorbic acid fortification in the food promoted an increase in fish resistance to parasites. It is suggested that an optimum level of 139 mg/kg vitamin C supplementation either elicited better nutritional conditions by stimulating the appetite of the fish or improved the immune response.

Simplified multiresidue method for the determination of organophosphorus insecticides in olive oil

A simple and rapid method for the determination of 13 organophosphorus insecticides and their metabolites in olive oil by GC is described. The pesticide was extracted from oil with acetonitrile and no cleanup was needed. GC-nitrogen-phosphorus detection response factors of pesticides were affected by solvents and coextractive substances. Pesticides in hexane showed on average higher response factors. Standards were prepared in the residue-free oil extract solubilized in hexane to handle effects of matrix and solvent. The low amount of coextractive substances does not decrease the column efficiency, even after a few hundred analyses. Recovery at three fortification levels (ca. 0.1, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg) ranged from 74 to 118%, With coefficients of variation ranging from 1 to 16.

A simplified method for the determination of fenpropathrin residues in fruits

A simple and efficient method is described for the determination of fenpropathrin in oranges, pears, apples and strawberries. The procedure: is based on the extraction of each homogenized fruit sample with hexane:acetone (1:1, v/v) mixture, followed, by a cleanup technique on a column packed with florisil, using a hexane:ethyl ether (7:3, v/v) mixture, and gas chromatographic, analysis with electron capture detection (ECD). The fortification levels (0.5; 1.0; 2.0 mg kg(-1)) were selected according to the maximum residue limits (MRLs) established for fenpropathrin by Brazilian legislation. Mean recoveries from five replicates of fortified fruit samples ranged from 83 % to 98 %, with:coefficients of variation from 1.4 to 13.5 and detection limits varying from 0.1 to 0.2 mg kg(-1).

Determination of carbamate residues in crop samples by cholinesterase-based biosensors and chromatographic techniques

An amperometric biosensor based on cholinesterase (ChE) has been used for the determination of selected carbamate insecticides in vegetable samples. The linear range of the biosensor for the N-methylcarbamates (aldicarb, carbaryl, carbofuran, methomyl and propoxur) varied from 5 x 10(-5) to 50 mg kg(-1). Limits of detection were calculated on the basis that the ChE enzymes were 10% inhibited and varied, depending of the combination ChE (as acetyl- or butyrylcholinesterase) vs. inhibitor (pesticide), from 1 x 10(-4) to 3.5 mg kg(-1). The biosensor-based carbamate determination was compared to liquid chromatography/UV methods. Three vegetable samples were spiked with carbofuran and propoxur at 125 mu g kg(-1) followed by conventional procedures. Good correlations were observed for carbofuran in the vegetable extracts (79, 96 and 91% recoveries for potato, carrot and sweet pepper, respectively), whereas for propoxur unsatisfactory results were obtained. Potato and carrot samples were spiked with 10, 50 and 125 mu g kg(-1) carbofuran, followed by direct determination by the amperometric biosensor. The fortified sampler; resulted in very high inhibition values, and recoveries were: 28, 34 and 99% for potato, and 140, 90 and 101% for carrot, respectively, at these three fortification levels. (C) 1998 Elsevier B.V. B.V.

Excessive iodine intake in schoolchildren

Inadequate iodine intake may result in iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). Thus, for more than 50 years, policies for the regulation of salt fortification with iodine have existed in Brazil. In 2003, a study on 6-14-year-old schoolchildren from regions of the state of So Paulo showed a median urinary iodine concentration of 360 mu g/L. The objective of the present study was to assess the iodine nutrition status among schoolchildren.The study was conducted on 828 schoolchildren aged 4-13 years from eight schools in the interior of the state of So Paulo. A casual urine sample was collected from each volunteer for iodine determination by the adapted method of Sandell-Kalthoff.Only 1.9% (n = 16) of the children evaluated had low values of urinary iodine (< 100 mu g/L), while 24.6% had urinary iodine excretion values between 200 and 300 mu g/L, and 67.1% had values above > 300 mu g/L.The results show that the iodine nutritional status of the schoolchildren studied is characterized by a high urinary iodine excretion, which might reveal an increase in iodine consumption by this population.

Fortificação do leite fluido na prevenção e tratamento da anemia carencial ferropriva em crianças menores de 4 anos

The effectiveness of the use of chelate aminoacid iron fortified fluid milk in the treatment of iron deficiency in children under four years of age was studied. The 269 children included in this trial received 1 liter/day of fluid milk fortified with 3 mg of chelate aminoacid iron and were evaluated at six monthly intervals. At the beginning of the study 62.3% of the children presented anemia. After 6 months, this percentage had decreased to 41.8% and at the end of one year to 26.4%. The greatest decreases occurred in the groups comprising the subjects who were of 12 to 23 months of age and those under one year of age. Among the children who presented initial hemoglobin levels under 9.5 g/ dl, 59.3% were free of anemia after one year of follow-up. Of those presenting initial hemoglobin levels between 9.5 and 10.9 g/dl, 66.7% recovered from their anemia. There was also greater hematological improvement in the children that ingested over 750 ml/day of fortified milk in those families that did not share the supply of supplement among their other members and in those families that had only one child under five years of age. These findings led to the conclusion that the fortification of fluid milk is a viable and effective method for the treatment of iron deficiency in pre-school children.

Development of a supercritical fluid extraction method for simultaneous determination of organophosphorus, organohalogen, organonitrogen and pyretroids pesticides in fruit and vegetables and its comparison with a conventional method by GC-ECD and GC-MS

The aim of this paper was to apply a multiresidue method using Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) and capillary gas chromatography with electron capture and mass spectrometry detections in the analysis of the levels of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. Single laboratory validation of both solid-liquid and supercritical fluid extraction methods was carried out for 32 compounds selected from four pesticide classes (organochlorine, organonitrogen, organophosphorus and pyretroid) in blank and fortified samples of fresh lettuce, potato, apple and tomato. Recoveries for the majority of pesticides from fortified samples at fortification level of 0.04-0.10 mg kg -1 ranged 74-96% for both methods and confirmation of pesticide identity was performed by gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry in a selected-ion monitoring mode. Both methods showed good limits of detection (less 0.01 mg kg-1, depending on the pesticide and matrix) and the SFE method minimized environmental concerns, time, and laboratory work. ©2005 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.

Multiresidue determination of herbicides in environmental waters from Primavera do Leste region (Middle West of Brazil) by SPE-GC-NPD

A study on the presence of herbicides, namely simazine, metribuzin, metolachlor, trifluralin, atrazine and two metabolites, deisopropylatrazine (DIA) and deethylatrazine (DEA), was performed in ground and surface waters from Primavera do Leste region, Mato Grosso state (Middle West of Brazil). The analytical procedure was based on solid-phase extraction (SPE) with Sep-Pak C18 disposable cartridges and ethyl acetate for elution solvent. Residue levels were determined by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection. For most of the pesticides average recoveries at different fortification levels were >with relative standard deviation < The recoveries of DIA and trifluralin in water were 25% and 56%, respectively, which were attributed to the incomplete retention of DIA and strong retention on the sorbing material and high volatility of trifluralin. Detection limits ranged from 0.023 to 0.088 μg L-1. This method was applied for the analysis of 5 superficial water samples and 28 groundwater samples, in places used for human consumption without previous treatment, collected in Primavera do Leste, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Results indicated that the highest level of contamination in a water sample was 1.732 μg L-1 for metolachlor, while metribuzin was the most frequently detected herbicide with maximum concentration of 0.351 μg L-1. ©2006 Sociedade Brasileira de Química.