Physicochemical and microbiological changes in dried small-spotted catshark (Scyliorhynus canicula): developing an alternative shark-based salted-dried seafood product

A relatively high proportion of harvested seafood is still wasted due to spoilage, particularly in developing countries, or because they are by-catches or have little economic value, seemingly related to inherent problems linked to unattractive color, flavor, texture, small size, and high-fat content. Thus, many fish and seafood species are still underutilized.

Exploring the role of miR-34a in regulating adipose inflammation during obesity

Background: Obesity is not a new disease, with roots that can be traced back to 400 BC. However, with the staggering increase in individuals that are overweight and obese since the 1980s, now over a quarter of individuals in Europe and the Americas are classed as obese. This presents a global health problem that needs to be addressed with novel therapies. It is now well accepted that obesity is a chronic, low-grade inflammatory condition that could predispose individuals to a number of comorbidities. Obesity is associated with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) as part of “the metabolic syndrome,” and as first identified by Dr Vauge, central distribution of white adipose tissue (WAT) is an important risk factor in the development of these diseases. Subsequently, visceral WAT (vWAT) was shown to be an important factor in this association with CVDs and T2D, and increasing inflammation. As the obese WAT expands, mainly through hypertrophy, there is an increase in inflammation that recruits numerous immune cells to the tissue that further exacerbate this inflammation, causing local and systemic inflammatory and metabolic effects. One of the main types of immune cell involved in this pathogenic process is pro-inflammatory M1 adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a species of small RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression by targeting gene mRNA, causing its degradation or translational repression. These miRNAs are promiscuous, regulating numerous genes and pathways involved in a disease, making them useful therapeutic targets, but also difficult to study. miR-34a has been shown to increase in the serum, liver, pancreas, and subcutaneous (sc)WAT of patients with obesity, non- alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and T2D. Additionally, miR-34a has been shown to regulate a number of metabolic and inflammatory genes in numerous cell types, including those in macrophages. However, the role of miR-34a in regulating vWAT metabolism and inflammation is poorly understood. Hypothesis: miR-34a is dysregulated in the adipose tissue during obesity, causing dysregulation of metabolic and inflammatory pathways in adipocytes and ATMs that contribute to adipose inflammation and obesity’s comorbidities, particularly T2D. Method/Results: The role of miR-34a in adipose inflammation was investigated using a murine miR-34a-/- diet-induced obesity model, and primary in vitro models of adipocyte differentiation and inflammatory bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs). miR-34a was shown to be ubiquitously expressed throughout the murine epididymal (e)WAT of obese high-fat diet (HFD)-fed WT mice and ob/ob mice, as well as omental WAT from patients with obesity. Additionally, miR-34a transcripts were increased in the liver and brown adipose tissue (BAT) of ob/ob and HFD-fed WT mice, compared to WT controls. When miR-34a-/- mice were fed HFD ad libitum for 24 weeks they were significantly heavier than their WT counterparts by the end of the study. Ex vivo examinations showed that miR-34a-/- eWAT had a smaller adipocyte area on chow, which significantly increased to WT levels during HFD-feeding. Additionally, miR-34a-/- eWAT showed basal increases in cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism genes Cd36, Hmgcr, Lxrα, Pgc1α, and Fasn. miR-34a-/- iBAT showed basal reductions in Cebpα and Cebpβ, with increased Pgc1α expression during HFD- feeding. The miR-34a-/- liver additionally showed increased basal transcript expression of Pgc1α, suggesting miR-34a may broadly regulate PGC1α. Accompanying the ex vivo changes in cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism genes, in vitro miR-34a-/- white adipocytes showed increased lipid content. An F4/80high macrophage population was identified in HFD-fed miR-34a-/- eWAT, with increased Il-10 transcripts and serum IL-5 protein. Following these ex vivo observations, BMDMs from WT mice upregulated miR-34a expression in response to TNFα stimulation. Additionally, miR-34a-/- BMDMs showed an ablated CXCL1 response to TNFα. Conclusion: These findings suggest miR-34a has a multi-factorial role in controlling a susceptibility to obesity, by regulating inflammatory and metabolic pathways, potentially through regulation of PGC1α.

Función endotelial y lipemia postprandial en adultos normolipídicos: Efecto del estado nutricional

El objetivo del presente estudio fue cuantificar la contribución del sobrepeso en la magnitud de la lipemia posprandial en sujetos normolipídicos. Se incluyeron 33 adultos normolipídicos en dos grupos (n=20, sobrepeso y (n=13 eutróficos, 66% hombres, edad media 31,2±7,6 años). Se midió la vasodilatación mediada por flujo (VMF), la velocidad de onda de pulso (VOP), el perfil lipídico, el cociente Log TG/c-HDL, la glucosa y presión arterial tras una ingesta estándar con alto contenido de grasa (79% Kcal/grasa). Se calculó, el Z-score de riesgo cardiovascular a partir de la suma de los residuos tipificados (Z) de las variables de riesgo cardiovascular. El estado de lipemia posprandial se midió en ayuno (0 min) y a los (60, 120, 180, y 240 min) posprandiales. El valor basal de la VMF y la VOP fue de 6,9±5,9% y 7.0±0.8 m/s, respectivamente. Se identificó que la lipemia posprandial reducía la WMF en 19,2% a los 60 min (5,9±1,5%) y a los 240 min (3,7±1,2%) (p<0,04), respectivamente. Este hallazgo se acompañó con un aumento en la VOP (p<0,05). Al dividir los sujetos en dos grupos según el IMC, los participantes en sobrepeso muestran cifras más elevadas en el Z-score de riesgo cardiovascular, la VOP, el Log TG/c-HDL y el Δ-VOP, (p<0,001). En conclusión los sujetos clasificados en sobrepeso muestran un perfil cardiometabolico asociado con un mayor riesgo cardiovascular.

Actitudes hacia la Enfermedad del Alzheimer según el género y la edad de adultos colombianos

La enfermedad de Alzheimer (EA) es la demencia más frecuente y su prevalencia continúa en aumento tanto en Colombia como en el mundo. Esta investigación tuvo como objetivo explorar si las actitudes hacia la EA varían según la edad y género de 450 personas adultas colombianas. Se realizó un estudio exploratorio de corte transversal en el que se aplicó un cuestionario autodiligenciado. Se encontró que efectivamente hay algunas diferencias según la edad y el género en el componente cognoscitivo (creencias y conocimiento) y conductual (intención conductual y conducta) de las actitudes; y diferencias según el género en el componente afectivo. Se concluye que los conocimientos sobre la EA son escasos, que la tristeza es la emoción predominante hacia la EA y que es un tema de interés en el que predomina la idea de que afecta especialmente la memoria. Se discutieron los resultados reconociendo que esta es una aproximación inicial a las actitudes hacia la EA.

Metabolic effects of a mixed and a high-carbohydrate low-fat diet in man, measured over 24 h in a respiration chamber.

1. The relation between dietary carbohydrate: lipid ratio and the fuel mixture oxidized during 24 h was investigated in eleven healthy volunteers (six females, and five males) in a respiration chamber. Values of the fuel mixture oxidized were estimated by continuous indirect calorimetry and urinary nitrogen measurements. 2. The subjects, were first given a mixed diet for 7 d and spent the last 24 h of the 7 d period in a respiration chamber for continuous gas-exchange measurement. The fuels oxidized during 2.5 h or moderate exercise were also measured in the respiration chamber. After an interval of 2 weeks from the end of the mixed-diet period, the same subjects were given an isoenergetic high-carbohydrate low-fat diet for 7 d, and the same experimental regimen was repeated. 3. Dietary composition markedly influenced the fuel mixture oxidized during 24 h and this effect was still present 12 h after the last meal in the postabsorptive state. However, the diets had no influence on the substrates oxidized above resting levels during exercise. With both diets, the 24 h energy balance was slightly negative and the energy deficit was covered by lipid oxidation. 4. With the high-carbohydrate low-fat diet, the energy expenditure during sleep was found to be higher than that with the mixed diet. 5. It is concluded that: (a) the composition of the diet did not influence the fuel mixture utilized for moderate exercise, (b) the energy deficit calculated for a 24 h period was compensated by lipid oxidation irrespective of the carbohydrate content of the diet, (c) energy expenditure during sleep was found to be higher with the high-carbohydrate low-fat diet than with the mixed diet.

Low-fat dairy products and blood pressure: follow-up of 2290 older persons at high cardiovascular risk participating in the PREDIMED study

High blood pressure (BP) has been ranked as the most important risk factor worldwide regarding attributable deaths. Dietary habits are major determinants of BP. Among them, frequent intake of low-fat dairy products may protect against hypertension. Our aim was to assess the relationship between low-fat dairy product intake and BP levels and their changes after 12 month follow-up in a cohort of asymptomatic older persons at high cardiovascular risk recruited into a large-scale trial assessing the effects of Mediterranean diets on cardiovascular outcomes. Data from 2290 participants, including 1845 with hypertension, were available for analyses. Dairy products were not a specific part of the intervention; thus, data were analysed as an observational cohort. Dietary information was collected with validated semi-quantitative FFQ and trained personnel measured BP. To assess BP changes, we undertook cross-sectional analyses at baseline and at the end of follow-up and longitudinal analyses. A statistically significant inverse association between low-fat dairy product intake and systolic BP was observed for the 12-month longitudinal analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, the adjusted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the highest quintile of low-fat dairy product intake ( 2 4·2 (95% CI 2 6·9, 2 1·4) and 2 1·8 (95% CI 2 3·2, 2 0·4) mmHg respectively), whereas the point estimates for the difference in diastolic BP indicated a modest non-significant inverse association. Intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with BP in an older population at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting a possible protective effect against hypertension.

Low-fat dairy products and blood pressure: follow-up of 2290 older persons at high cardiovascular risk participating in the PREDIMED study

High blood pressure (BP) has been ranked as the most important risk factor worldwide regarding attributable deaths. Dietary habits are major determinants of BP. Among them, frequent intake of low-fat dairy products may protect against hypertension. Our aim was to assess the relationship between low-fat dairy product intake and BP levels and their changes after 12 month follow-up in a cohort of asymptomatic older persons at high cardiovascular risk recruited into a large-scale trial assessing the effects of Mediterranean diets on cardiovascular outcomes. Data from 2290 participants, including 1845 with hypertension, were available for analyses. Dairy products were not a specific part of the intervention; thus, data were analysed as an observational cohort. Dietary information was collected with validated semi-quantitative FFQ and trained personnel measured BP. To assess BP changes, we undertook cross-sectional analyses at baseline and at the end of follow-up and longitudinal analyses. A statistically significant inverse association between low-fat dairy product intake and systolic BP was observed for the 12-month longitudinal analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, the adjusted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the highest quintile of low-fat dairy product intake ( 2 4·2 (95% CI 2 6·9, 2 1·4) and 2 1·8 (95% CI 2 3·2, 2 0·4) mmHg respectively), whereas the point estimates for the difference in diastolic BP indicated a modest non-significant inverse association. Intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with BP in an older population at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting a possible protective effect against hypertension.

Low-fat dairy products and blood pressure: follow-up of 2290 older persons at high cardiovascular risk participating in the PREDIMED study

High blood pressure (BP) has been ranked as the most important risk factor worldwide regarding attributable deaths. Dietary habits are major determinants of BP. Among them, frequent intake of low-fat dairy products may protect against hypertension. Our aim was to assess the relationship between low-fat dairy product intake and BP levels and their changes after 12 month follow-up in a cohort of asymptomatic older persons at high cardiovascular risk recruited into a large-scale trial assessing the effects of Mediterranean diets on cardiovascular outcomes. Data from 2290 participants, including 1845 with hypertension, were available for analyses. Dairy products were not a specific part of the intervention; thus, data were analysed as an observational cohort. Dietary information was collected with validated semi-quantitative FFQ and trained personnel measured BP. To assess BP changes, we undertook cross-sectional analyses at baseline and at the end of follow-up and longitudinal analyses. A statistically significant inverse association between low-fat dairy product intake and systolic BP was observed for the 12-month longitudinal analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, the adjusted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the highest quintile of low-fat dairy product intake ( 2 4·2 (95% CI 2 6·9, 2 1·4) and 2 1·8 (95% CI 2 3·2, 2 0·4) mmHg respectively), whereas the point estimates for the difference in diastolic BP indicated a modest non-significant inverse association. Intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with BP in an older population at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting a possible protective effect against hypertension.

Low-fat dairy products and blood pressure: follow-up of 2290 older persons at high cardiovascular risk participating in the PREDIMED study

High blood pressure (BP) has been ranked as the most important risk factor worldwide regarding attributable deaths. Dietary habits are major determinants of BP. Among them, frequent intake of low-fat dairy products may protect against hypertension. Our aim was to assess the relationship between low-fat dairy product intake and BP levels and their changes after 12 month follow-up in a cohort of asymptomatic older persons at high cardiovascular risk recruited into a large-scale trial assessing the effects of Mediterranean diets on cardiovascular outcomes. Data from 2290 participants, including 1845 with hypertension, were available for analyses. Dairy products were not a specific part of the intervention; thus, data were analysed as an observational cohort. Dietary information was collected with validated semi-quantitative FFQ and trained personnel measured BP. To assess BP changes, we undertook cross-sectional analyses at baseline and at the end of follow-up and longitudinal analyses. A statistically significant inverse association between low-fat dairy product intake and systolic BP was observed for the 12-month longitudinal analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, the adjusted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the highest quintile of low-fat dairy product intake ( 2 4·2 (95% CI 2 6·9, 2 1·4) and 2 1·8 (95% CI 2 3·2, 2 0·4) mmHg respectively), whereas the point estimates for the difference in diastolic BP indicated a modest non-significant inverse association. Intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with BP in an older population at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting a possible protective effect against hypertension.

Low-fat dairy products and blood pressure: follow-up of 2290 older persons at high cardiovascular risk participating in the PREDIMED study

High blood pressure (BP) has been ranked as the most important risk factor worldwide regarding attributable deaths. Dietary habits are major determinants of BP. Among them, frequent intake of low-fat dairy products may protect against hypertension. Our aim was to assess the relationship between low-fat dairy product intake and BP levels and their changes after 12 month follow-up in a cohort of asymptomatic older persons at high cardiovascular risk recruited into a large-scale trial assessing the effects of Mediterranean diets on cardiovascular outcomes. Data from 2290 participants, including 1845 with hypertension, were available for analyses. Dairy products were not a specific part of the intervention; thus, data were analysed as an observational cohort. Dietary information was collected with validated semi-quantitative FFQ and trained personnel measured BP. To assess BP changes, we undertook cross-sectional analyses at baseline and at the end of follow-up and longitudinal analyses. A statistically significant inverse association between low-fat dairy product intake and systolic BP was observed for the 12-month longitudinal analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, the adjusted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the highest quintile of low-fat dairy product intake ( 2 4·2 (95% CI 2 6·9, 2 1·4) and 2 1·8 (95% CI 2 3·2, 2 0·4) mmHg respectively), whereas the point estimates for the difference in diastolic BP indicated a modest non-significant inverse association. Intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with BP in an older population at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting a possible protective effect against hypertension.

Low-fat dairy products and blood pressure: follow-up of 2290 older persons at high cardiovascular risk participating in the PREDIMED study

High blood pressure (BP) has been ranked as the most important risk factor worldwide regarding attributable deaths. Dietary habits are major determinants of BP. Among them, frequent intake of low-fat dairy products may protect against hypertension. Our aim was to assess the relationship between low-fat dairy product intake and BP levels and their changes after 12 month follow-up in a cohort of asymptomatic older persons at high cardiovascular risk recruited into a large-scale trial assessing the effects of Mediterranean diets on cardiovascular outcomes. Data from 2290 participants, including 1845 with hypertension, were available for analyses. Dairy products were not a specific part of the intervention; thus, data were analysed as an observational cohort. Dietary information was collected with validated semi-quantitative FFQ and trained personnel measured BP. To assess BP changes, we undertook cross-sectional analyses at baseline and at the end of follow-up and longitudinal analyses. A statistically significant inverse association between low-fat dairy product intake and systolic BP was observed for the 12-month longitudinal analysis. In the longitudinal analysis, the adjusted systolic and diastolic BP were significantly lower in the highest quintile of low-fat dairy product intake ( 2 4·2 (95% CI 2 6·9, 2 1·4) and 2 1·8 (95% CI 2 3·2, 2 0·4) mmHg respectively), whereas the point estimates for the difference in diastolic BP indicated a modest non-significant inverse association. Intake of low-fat dairy products was inversely associated with BP in an older population at high cardiovascular risk, suggesting a possible protective effect against hypertension.

Nutritional characteristics of amazonian fish fat (Colossoma macropomum) and its effect on lipid metabolism of rats fed hypercholesterolemic diets

The effects of fat from tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum), an Amazonian fish, on some nutritional and lipid parameters in rats were evaluated. Weaned Wistar rats were fed for 6 weeks with hypercholesterolemic diets containing 7.5% of soybean oil (SO), cod liver oil (CO), lard (LA), or tambaqui fat (TF). Food consumption, weight gain, and food conversion were measured weekly. Plasma triglycerides was determined at the beginning and on the 6th week of experiment. Plasma cholesterol was determined at 0, 2, 4 and 6 weeks. After the sacrifice, hepatic lipids (triglycerides and cholesterol) and plasma triglycerides, total cholesterol and HDL fractions were determined. Food consumption and weight gain were the same for all groups. There were no differences in plasma triglycerides among the four groups in the 1st and 6th weeks. Regarding the cholesterolemia, TF animals were similar to those fed SO diet, significantly lower than in LA group but higher compared to the CO group. The levels of very low density lipoprotein + low density lipoprotein (VLDL+LDL) were higher in the TF and LA groups compared to the CO and SO groups. However, TA fed animals had high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels higher than the CO group. The ratio (VLDL+LDL)/HDL was higher in the LA group when compared with the remaining groups. In the TA group, the triglycerides and cholesterol concentrations in the liver were similar to the SO group. It may be concluded that tambaqui fat is a good dietary source of lipids as a substitute for lard and similar to soybean oil, as far as atherosclerosis risks is concerned.

SATgene dietary model to implement diets of differing fat composition in prospectively genotyped groups (apoE) using commercially available foods

esponse to dietary fat manipulation is highly heterogeneous, yet generic population-based recommendations aimed at reducing the burden of CVD are given. The APOE epsilon genotype has been proposed to be an important determinant of this response. The present study reports on the dietary strategy employed in the SATgenɛ (SATurated fat and gene APOE) study, to assess the impact of altered fat content and composition on the blood lipid profile according to the APOE genotype. A flexible dietary exchange model was developed to implement three isoenergetic diets: a low-fat (LF) diet (target composition: 24 % of energy (%E) as fat, 8 %E SFA and 59 %E carbohydrate), a high-saturated fat (HSF) diet (38 %E fat, 18 %E SFA and 45 %E carbohydrate) and a HSF-DHA diet (HSF diet with 3 g DHA/d). Free-living participants (n 88; n 44 E3/E3 and n 44 E3/E4) followed the diets in a sequential design for 8 weeks, each using commercially available spreads, oils and snacks with specific fatty acid profiles. Dietary compositional targets were broadly met with significantly higher total fat (42·8 %E and 41·0 %E v. 25·1 %E, P ≤ 0·0011) and SFA (19·3 %E and 18·6 %E v. 8·33 %E, P ≤ 0·0011) intakes during the HSF and HSF-DHA diets compared with the LF diet, in addition to significantly higher DHA intake during the HSF-DHA diet (P ≤ 0·0011). Plasma phospholipid fatty acid analysis revealed a 2-fold increase in the proportion of DHA after consumption of the HSF-DHA diet for 8 weeks, which was independent of the APOE genotype. In summary, the dietary strategy was successfully implemented in a free-living population resulting in well-tolerated diets which broadly met the dietary targets set.

Fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat from Nellore steers fed dry or high moisture corn and calcium salts of fatty acids

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the fatty acid composition of the Longissimus muscle from carcasses of Nellore steers fed diets with calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) and high moisture corn. Forty eight steers were fed during 70 days four diets containing dry corn (DC), high moisture corn (HM). dry corn plus CSFA (DC-CSFA) or high moisture corn plus CSFA (HM-CSFA). Fatty acid composition of the Longissimus muscle was determined by gas chromatography. Corn type had no effect on the ether extract percentage and in the content of the majority of the fatty acids, although steers fed HMC showed higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated/saturated ratio. Feeding CSFA increased ether extract percentage but had no effect on total of saturated, unsaturated and saturated: unsaturated ratio. Both high moisture corn and calcium salts of fatty acids increased CIA (cis9, trans11) and total CIA concentrations in intramuscular fat (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Growth, fat content and fatty acid profile of South American catfish, surubim (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum) juveniles fed live, commercial and formulated diets

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)