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This study determined the proximate composition and fatty acid profile of the lipid fraction in muscle tissue (fillet) of seven fish species from the Miranda River, Brazil. Total lipid content had the largest coefficient of variation among species (73%), while protein content had the smallest (4.5%), allowing Pimelodus argenteus (mandi-prateado) to be categorized as lean fish; Pimelodus maculatus (mandi-amarelo), Hemisorubim platyrhynchos (jurupoca), and Pinirampus pirinampu (barbado) as species with medium fat content, and Paulicea luetkeni (jau) and Surubim lima (jurupensem) as fatty fish. In all the species investigated, palmitic acid (23.76–25.99%) was the predominant saturated fatty acid. Oleic acid (16.09–32.90%) was the most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid. Total omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (5.99–15.56%) were the predominant polyunsaturated fatty acids, except in Ageneiosus brevifilis (palmito), in which total omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids predominated (10.30%). All the species had favorable indices of nutritional quality for total lipids, with respect to human consumption.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o risco nutricional de idosos institucionalizados por diferentes instrumentos de avaliação nutricional. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 37 idosos (60 a 100 anos) residentes em Instituição de Longa Permanência do Distrito Federal. A avaliação incluiu diferentes critérios antropométricos: índice de massa corporal, circunferência do braço, da panturrilha, da intura, razão cintura/quadril, perda e ganho ponderal, contagem total de linfócitos e a aplicação da Mini Avaliação Nutricional. RESULTADOS: As proporções de 36,1% de desnutridos, 16,7% de sobrepeso + obesidade e 47,2% de eutróficos foram verificadas, quando a medida de circunferência do braço foi o instrumento utilizado. A avaliação realizada com o índice de massa corporal mostrou a presença de 47,9% de eutrofia, menor proporção de baixo peso (27,0%) e de sobrepeso (27,0%). O risco para doenças cardiovasculares, segundo a circunferência da cintura, foi estimado em 86,4% das mulheres e 57,1% dos homens. Contudo, quando este mesmo risco foi julgado utilizando-se a razão entre a circunferência da cintura e a circunferência do quadril, a proporção de 95,5% foi significantemente maior no grupo de mulheres (42,9%, masculino). A depleção imunológica foi constatada em 46,7% dos homens e 66,7% das mulheres. O estado nutricional, classificado pela Mini Avaliação Nutricional, apontou 50,0% de mulheres e 40,0% de homens com risco de desnutrição. O risco nutricional foi observado em 83,8% dos idosos quando considerada, como critério para este diagnóstico, a presença de pelo menos um dos índices antropométricos abaixo da normalidade. Resultado semelhante, de 75,7% de risco, foi obtido com a Mini Avaliação Nutricional. CONCLUSÃO: Na instituição sob estudo uma maioria significativa de idosos, independentemente do sexo, apresentou risco nutricional, a julgar pelos indicadores antropométricos utilizados ou pela Mini Avaliação Nutricional.OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional risk of institutionalized elderly with different nutritional assessment tools. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 37 seniors aged 60 to 100 year living in a long-stay Institution of the Federal District. The assessment included different anthropometric measurements such as body mass index, arm circumference, calf circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and weight gain, total lymphocyte count and administration of the Mini Nutritional Assessment. RESULTS: Arm circumference revealed that 36.1% of the elderly were undernourished, 16.7% were overweight and obese and 47.2% were normal weight. Body mass index revealed 47.9% to be normal weight, a smaller proportion (27.0%) to be underweight and another 27.0% to be overweight. Most of the females (86.4%) and the majority of the males (57.1%) were at risk of cardiovascular diseases according to their waist circumferences. However, when this same risk was assessed by the waist-to-hip ratio, the proportion of females at risk was significantly higher (95.5%). The percentage of the males at risk according to the same parameter was 42.9%. Immunedepletion was found in 46.7% of the males and 66.7% of the females. The nutritional status determined by the Mini Nutritional Assessment showed that 50.0% of the women and 40.0% of the men were at risk of malnutrition. If nutritional risk was determined by having at least one anthropometric indicator below the normal range, most of the elderly (83.8%) were at risk. The Mini Nutritional Assessment showed a similar trend: 75.7% of subjects were at nutritional risk. CONCLUSION: In the institution under study, a significant majority of the elderly of both genders were at nutritional risk according to anthropometric indicators or the Mini Nutritional Assessment.

This study deals with the development of a graphic representation tool as a way to support educational planning in an elementary school in the rural area of Brasilia (Brazil’s capital), aiming at the implementation of an integrated action‐research project focusing on hunger and nutrition. The graphic tool made it possible to promote dialogical–reflexive interactions among school teachers as to the identification of competencies and skills in elementary education curriculum and generating apprenticeship themes, scientific concepts, and educational activities. It also constitutes a useful tool for the teaching staff to realize the interdependences among the many school subjects, and to understand their practices, thus leading to self‐evaluation with greater awareness for potential for transformation.

Os rios brasileiros possuem grande diversidade de peixes, no entanto, pouco se conhece sobre o potencial nutricional da maioria das espécies. O presente estudo avalia a composição centesimal e o perfil de ácidos graxos do tecido muscular dos peixes: pintado (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans), cachara (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) e dourado (Salminus maxillosus), nativos do Rio Miranda na região do Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense. O peixe dourado mostrou o maior teor de proteína (21,12%), enquanto o pintado o menor teor (17,90%), não havendo diferença significativa entre teores de proteínas dos peixes cachara e pacu (cerca de 18%). O filé de pacu revelou ser o mais calórico, mesmo quando considerada a amostra seca. Nas quatro espécies de peixes, o ácido oléico foi predominante (20,25 a 37,25%), seguido do ácido palmítico (19,96 a 21,37%) e esteárico (7,39 a 9,82%). O somatório dos teores do diferentes ácidos graxos poliinsaturados variou de 5,24 no pacu a 17,33% no pintado, e dos ácidos graxos saturados de 32,91 a 38,89%. As espécies cachara, pintado e dourado mostraram igual proporção de ácidos ω-3 (média 7,80%) e de ácidos ω-6 (média 8,40%), enquanto o pacu mostrou os menores teores (1,13 e 4,11%), respectivamente. Todas as amostras estudadas mostraram os índices ω-6/ω-3 e hipocolesterolêmicos/hipercolesterolêmicos (HH) favoráveis quanto à qualidade nutricional. Apenas o pacu apresentou níveis não recomendados em relação aos índices de Trombogenicidade (IT) e poliinsaturados/saturados (P/S).Brazilian rivers have a great diversity of fish, however, little is known about the nutritional potential of most native fish. The present study evaluates the centesimal composition and the fatty acid profile of the muscle tissue of four species of fish: pintado (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans), cachara (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) and dourado (Salminus maxillosus), from the Miranda River in the pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul. Dourado had the highest protein content (21.12%), while pintado had the lowest value (17.90%). There was no difference between the protein levels of cachara and pacu (approximately 18%). Pacu fillets were revealed to be the most caloric and this value did not change when the dry sample was considered. The four fish species presented oleic acid (20.25 to 37.25%) as the predominant fatty acid, followed by palmitic acid (19.96 to 21.37%) and stearic acid (7.39 to 9.82%). Total polyunsaturated fatty acid contents varied from 5.24 in pacu to 17.33% in pintado; and total saturated fatty acids from 32.91 to 38.89%. Cachara, pintado and dourado species presented equal proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the ω-3 family (average of 7.80%) and of the ω-6 family (average of 8.40%), while pacu presented the lowest contents of these fatty acids (1.13 and 4.11%, respectively). All the samples studied presented ω6/ω3 and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (HH) indexes that indicate good nutritional quality. Only pacu presented non-recommended levels in relation to trombogenicity (TI) and polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S) indexes.

The bioavailability of beta-carotene from cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaves was assayed in vitamin A deficient Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus). Rats were separated into three groups and fed with a modified AIN-93G--vitamin A deficient--diet. Deficient rat received this diet without any additional vitamin A source. Controls received the diet with 7200 microg of synthetic beta-carotene (control), while experimentals (test) received 19.5 g of cassava leaves powder per kg of diet. The cassava leaves with beta-carotene promotes similar growth and tissue weight in rats to the synthetic beta-carotene. The relative bioavailability, estimated as the Retinol Accumulation Factor (RAF), was 16.5 and 27.5 for control and test groups, respectively, indicating that control and test rats should have an intake of 16.5 microg or 27.5 microg of beta-carotene from synthetic form or cassava leaves powder for each 1 microg of hepatic retinol stored, respectively. The cassava leaves beta-carotene bioavailability was lower than the synthetic beta-carotene probably because the beta-carotene from the leaf matrix may be bounded to protein complex or inside organelles, which impair carotenoid absorption. Our findings showed that beside the hepatic retinol recovery, cassava leaf beta-carotene could maintain rat growth and avoid vitamin A deficient symptoms.

One of the major dietary sources of vitamin A in the human diet is provitamin A carotenoids. However, the activity of these carotenoids as a vitamin A source is uncertain due to concerns about the bioavailability of the carotenoids from vegetables. This study evaluated the bioavailability of provitamin A carotenoids from native Brazilian dark-green vegetables. Vitamin A–depleted rats were fed a basal diet (AIN-93G) in which the synthetic vitamin A content was replaced by non conventional leaves. At the end of the 30 day-repletion period, 1 μg of retinol accumulated in the liver after the intake of 43.1, 95.3 or 178.9 μg β-carotene from Sonchus oleraceus (So) , Amaranthus viridis (Av) and Xanthosoma sagittifolium (Xs) leaves, respectively. The relative bioavailability of β-carotene from the leaves was 36 %, 16%, and 9% for So, Av, and Xs leaf, respectively. The results showed that the carotenoids from the three dark-green leaves were absorbed, converted to retinol, and stored in the liver of rats. Because they are pest-resistant and widely distributed vegetables, they may be an inexpensive alternative source of vitamin A to reduce vitamin A deficiency.

Schizolobium parahyba chymotrypsin inhibitor (SPCI) was completely purified as a single polypeptide chain with two disulfide bonds, by TCA precipitation and ion exchange chromatography. This purification method is faster and more efficient than that previously reported: SPCI is stable from pH 2 to 12 at 25 degrees C, and is highly specific for chymotrypsin at pH 7-12. It weakly inhibits elastase and has no significant inhibitory effect against trypsin and alpha-amylase. SPCI is a thermostable protein and resists thermolysin digestion up to 70 degrees C.

Aim: This study examined the ability of tropical vegetables to reduce oxidative stress induced by vitamin A deficiency. Methods: Vitamin A-deficient male Wistar rats were divided into four groups which were treated for 30 days with different diets: AIN-93G vitamin A-deficient diet (DD), DD supplemented with pure β-carotene (β-D) and DD supplemented with malanga (Xanthosoma sagittifolium) (MD) or purslane (Portulaca oleracea) (PD) leaves as the only source of vitamin A. The thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) glutathione, and antioxidant enzyme activities were determined in the heart and liver. Results: The rats fed β-D, MDand PD showed liver and heart TBARS concentrations lower than did DD rats. The liver GSH concentration of β-D, MD and PD rats was lower compared to DD rats. The heart GSSG concentration of the vegetable groups was significantly lower than in DD rats. Liver and heart catalase activities were not significantly different among the groups, nor was heart glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, however the β-D rats showed the highest liver GPX activity. There was no difference in liver glutathione-S-transferase level among the groups, while heart activity was higher in rats fed the vegetable leaves. Conclusion: This study evidences that the ingestion of purslane or malanga leaves may have a protective effect against oxidative stress caused by vitamin A deficiency.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Brazil have used an alternative diet supplement known as multimixture (MM) composed of bran cereals, cassava leaf powder and eggshell powder. This study investigated the effectiveness of this MM supplement used concomitantly with other actions to improve children’s health. Thirty-one students enrolled in a rural school were examined for anthropometric and hematologic measures before and after the consumption of diet supplemented with MM. The results were compared with those from control group (n = 26) who consumed the same diet without MM. At the end of the study, the NGO intervention provided a beneficial effect on the nutritional status of children, since it improved their blood parameters and reduced the anemia independently of MM supplementation. The average height/age was significantly higher only in the group that received MM. The supplementation of the deficient diets with MM contributed significantly to the improvement of the children’s stature.

A mixture of bran cereals, cassava leaf and eggshell powder has been used as an alternative diet supplement to fight malnutrition in low-income communities in Brazil. Due to the high phytic acid content there are some concerns about the bioavailability of nutrients in this mixture (MM). This study investigated the effect of dietary concentrations of protein and NaCl on the bioavailability of MM calcium and phosphorus. Undernourished rats were given deficient diet supplemented with MM, with or without the addition of protein and NaCl. Calcium and phosphorus were found to be bioavailable, since rats fed MM supplemented diet showed higher femur calcium and phosphorus contents than did deficient rats (P

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE system, was adjusted to detect the presence of additional whey in dairy beverages distributed in a Brazilian Government School Meals Program. Aqueous solutions of samples in 8 M urea were submitted to a polyacrylamide gel gradient (10% to 18%). Gel scans from electrophoresis patterns of previously adulterated milk samples showed that caseins peak areas decreased while peak areas of beta -lactoglobulin plus alpha -lactalbumin increased as the percentage of raw milk powder replaced by whey powder increased. The relative densitometer areas of caseins or beta -lactoglobulin plus alpha -lactalbumin plotted against the percentage of whey added to the raw milk showed a linear correlation coefficient square higher than 0.97. The caseins plot was used to determine the percentage of additional whey in 116 dairy beverages, chocolate or coffee flavor. Considering that the lowest relative caseins concentration found in commercial milk powder samples by the present method was 72%, the dairy beverages containing caseins percentages equal to or higher than this value were considered free of additional whey. Based on this criterion, about 49% of the coffee-flavor dairy beverages and 29% of the chocolate-flavor beverages, among all the samples analyzed were adulterated with whey protein to reach the total protein contents specified on their labels. The present method showed a sensitivity of 5% to additional whey.A adulteração de bebidas lácteas, distribuídas no Programa Nacional da Merenda Escolar, pela adição de soro, foi investigada através da análise eletroforética em sistema de SDS-PAGE. Soluções aquosas de amostras em uréia 8M, foram submetidas a um gradiente de 10% a 18% de gel de poliacrilamida. Após a eletroforese, o gel corado com "Comassie Blue" foi submetido à densitometria para identificação e quantificação das proteínas lácteas. A partir de amostras de leite em pó, previamente adulteradas com diferentes proporções de soro em pó (0 a 100%) foi observada alta correlação linear entre a concentração relativa de soro adicionado ao leite e as concentrações de proteínas lácteas. Esta correlação foi inversamente proporcional ao percentual de caseínas (r² = 0,987) e diretamente proporcional à soma dos percentuais de beta -lactoglobulina e alfa -lactalbumina (r² = 0,979) apresentados nos densitogramas. A partir da curva padrão de caseínas versus soro adicionado foi estimada a magnitude das adulterações encontradas nas bebidas lácteas sabor chocolate e café do programa da merenda escolar. Tendo em vista que, amostras de leite em pó comerciais analisadas através deste método apresentaram uma concentração mínima de 72% de caseínas, as bebidas lácteas, contendo percentual igual ou superior a este valor, foram consideradas livres de soro adicional. Baseado neste critério, cerca de 49 % das bebidas lácteas, sabor café, e 29 % sabor chocolate, de um total de 58 amostras analisadas por sabor, apresentaram adulteração. O método proposto apresenta uma sensibilidade de 5% de soro adicionado.

Laser Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopies were applied in the investigation of conformational features of a chymotrypsin inhibitor (SPC), inactive on trypsin, isolated from Schizolobium parahyba, a Leguminosae of the Cesalpinoidae family, found in tropical and subtropical regions. As a serine protease inhibitor, its importance is related to the control of proteolytic activity, which in turn is involved in a wide range of critically important biotechnological issues, such as blood coagulation, tumour cell growth, and plant natural defences against predators. SPC is a 20 kDa molecular mass monomeric protein, with two disulfide bonds. Its complete aminoacid primary sequence has not yet been determined. We analysed protein backbone conformation for the lyophylized solid and for an evaporated film, through Raman scattering and FTIR, respectively. The presence of significant amounts of disordered structures and of non-negligible contributions from α -helical and β -sheet structures were reckoned in both cases. The geometries of the disulfide bonds were defined: a gauche - gauche - gauche geometry was verified for one of the two bridges and a transient gauche - gauche - trans / trans - gauche - trans geometry has been indicated for the second one.Two out of the three tyrosine residues were shown to be in external location in the solid protein, as well as the only tryptophan residue.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o risco nutricional de idosos institucionalizados por diferentes instrumentos de avaliação nutricional. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com 37 idosos (60 a 100 anos) residentes em Instituição de Longa Permanência do Distrito Federal. A avaliação incluiu diferentes critérios antropométricos: índice de massa corporal, circunferência do braço, da panturrilha, da intura, razão cintura/quadril, perda e ganho ponderal, contagem total de linfócitos e a aplicação da Mini Avaliação Nutricional. RESULTADOS: As proporções de 36,1% de desnutridos, 16,7% de sobrepeso + obesidade e 47,2% de eutróficos foram verificadas, quando a medida de circunferência do braço foi o instrumento utilizado. A avaliação realizada com o índice de massa corporal mostrou a presença de 47,9% de eutrofia, menor proporção de baixo peso (27,0%) e de sobrepeso (27,0%). O risco para doenças cardiovasculares, segundo a circunferência da cintura, foi estimado em 86,4% das mulheres e 57,1% dos homens. Contudo, quando este mesmo risco foi julgado utilizando-se a razão entre a circunferência da cintura e a circunferência do quadril, a proporção de 95,5% foi significantemente maior no grupo de mulheres (42,9%, masculino). A depleção imunológica foi constatada em 46,7% dos homens e 66,7% das mulheres. O estado nutricional, classificado pela Mini Avaliação Nutricional, apontou 50,0% de mulheres e 40,0% de homens com risco de desnutrição. O risco nutricional foi observado em 83,8% dos idosos quando considerada, como critério para este diagnóstico, a presença de pelo menos um dos índices antropométricos abaixo da normalidade. Resultado semelhante, de 75,7% de risco, foi obtido com a Mini Avaliação Nutricional. CONCLUSÃO: Na instituição sob estudo uma maioria significativa de idosos, independentemente do sexo, apresentou risco nutricional, a julgar pelos indicadores antropométricos utilizados ou pela Mini Avaliação Nutricional. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the nutritional risk of institutionalized elderly with different nutritional assessment tools. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 37 seniors aged 60 to 100 year living in a long-stay Institution of the Federal District. The assessment included different anthropometric measurements such as body mass index, arm circumference, calf circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and weight gain, total lymphocyte count and administration of the Mini Nutritional Assessment. RESULTS: Arm circumference revealed that 36.1% of the elderly were undernourished, 16.7% were overweight and obese and 47.2% were normal weight. Body mass index revealed 47.9% to be normal weight, a smaller proportion (27.0%) to be underweight and another 27.0% to be overweight. Most of the females (86.4%) and the majority of the males (57.1%) were at risk of cardiovascular diseases according to their waist circumferences. However, when this same risk was assessed by the waist-to-hip ratio, the proportion of females at risk was significantly higher (95.5%). The percentage of the males at risk according to the same parameter was 42.9%. Immunedepletion was found in 46.7% of the males and 66.7% of the females. The nutritional status determined by the Mini Nutritional Assessment showed that 50.0% of the women and 40.0% of the men were at risk of malnutrition. If nutritional risk was determined by having at least one anthropometric indicator below the normal range, most of the elderly (83.8%) were at risk. The Mini Nutritional Assessment showed a similar trend: 75.7% of subjects were at nutritional risk. CONCLUSION: In the institution under study, a significant majority of the elderly of both genders were at nutritional risk according to anthropometric indicators or the Mini Nutritional Assessment.

Os rios brasileiros possuem grande diversidade de peixes, no entanto, pouco se conhece sobre o potencial nutricional da maioria das espécies. O presente estudo avalia a composição centesimal e o perfil de ácidos graxos do tecido muscular dos peixes: pintado (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans), cachara (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) e dourado (Salminus maxillosus), nativos do Rio Miranda na região do Pantanal Sul-Mato-Grossense. O peixe dourado mostrou o maior teor de proteína (21,12%), enquanto o pintado o menor teor (17,90%), não havendo diferença significativa entre teores de proteínas dos peixes cachara e pacu (cerca de 18%). O filé de pacu revelou ser o mais calórico, mesmo quando considerada a amostra seca. Nas quatro espécies de peixes, o ácido oléico foi predominante (20,25 a 37,25%), seguido do ácido palmítico (19,96 a 21,37%) e esteárico (7,39 a 9,82%). O somatório dos teores do diferentes ácidos graxos poliinsaturados variou de 5,24 no pacu a 17,33% no pintado, e dos ácidos graxos saturados de 32,91 a 38,89%. As espécies cachara, pintado e dourado mostraram igual proporção de ácidos ω-3 (média 7,80%) e de ácidos ω-6 (média 8,40%), enquanto o pacu mostrou os menores teores (1,13 e 4,11%), respectivamente. Todas as amostras estudadas mostraram os índices ω-6/ω-3 e hipocolesterolêmicos/hipercolesterolêmicos (HH) favoráveis quanto à qualidade nutricional. Apenas o pacu apresentou níveis não recomendados em relação aos índices de Trombogenicidade (IT) e poliinsaturados/saturados (P/S). Brazilian rivers have a great diversity of fish, however, little is known about the nutritional potential of most native fish. The present study evaluates the centesimal composition and the fatty acid profile of the muscle tissue of four species of fish: pintado (Pseudoplatystoma coruscans), cachara (Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum), pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus) and dourado (Salminus maxillosus), from the Miranda River in the pantanal region of Mato Grosso do Sul. Dourado had the highest protein content (21.12%), while pintado had the lowest value (17.90%). There was no difference between the protein levels of cachara and pacu (approximately 18%). Pacu fillets were revealed to be the most caloric and this value did not change when the dry sample was considered. The four fish species presented oleic acid (20.25 to 37.25%) as the predominant fatty acid, followed by palmitic acid (19.96 to 21.37%) and stearic acid (7.39 to 9.82%). Total polyunsaturated fatty acid contents varied from 5.24 in pacu to 17.33% in pintado; and total saturated fatty acids from 32.91 to 38.89%. Cachara, pintado and dourado species presented equal proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids of the ω-3 family (average of 7.80%) and of the ω-6 family (average of 8.40%), while pacu presented the lowest contents of these fatty acids (1.13 and 4.11%, respectively). All the samples studied presented ω6/ω3 and hypocholesterolemic/hypercholesterolemic (HH) indexes that indicate good nutritional quality. Only pacu presented non-recommended levels in relation to trombogenicity (TI) and polyunsaturated/saturated (P/S) indexes.

OBJETIVO: Investigar a prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A em escolares de área rural do Distrito Federal e correlacionar com índices de anemia e desnutrição. MÉTODOS: Do total de 179 alunos, o estudo incluiu 155 escolares (5 a 18 anos), cujos pais autorizaram a participação na coleta de sangue. A concentração de retinol plasmático foi determinada por cromatografia líquida de alta resolução, e os níveis plasmáticos de vitamina A inferior a 20 µg/dL foram considerados como inadequação ou deficiência de vitamina A. A hemoglobina foi dosada em contador de células automatizado, e a anemia foi caracterizada para crianças e adolescentes com valor sérico menor que 11,5 e 12,0 g/dL, respectivamente. O estado nutricional foi avaliado com o índice escore z para peso/altura, altura/idade e percentil do índice de massa corporal. RESULTADOS: Os resultados mostraram que 33,55% dos escolares pesquisados apresentavam deficiência de vitamina A, com prevalência de 35,44% entre crianças (5-9 anos) e de 31,58% entre adolescentes (10-18 anos). Não foi encontrada correlação entre a prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A e prevalência de anemia ou desnutrição. A deficiência de vitamina A foi homogênea entre as idades e gêneros. CONCLUSÕES: A elevada prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A em crianças e adolescentes desta escola rural estudada identifica um problema de saúde pública na região. Esses resultados apontam para a necessidade de inclusão de faixas etárias maiores de 5 anos no grupo de risco de hipovitaminose A e sua inserção nas políticas públicas de combate à hipovitaminose A. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among schoolchildren from a rural area in the Distrito Federal, Brazil, and to correlate this with rates of anemia and malnutrition. METHODS: From a total of 179 students, the study recruited 155 schoolchildren (5 to 18 years), whose parents gave permission for blood tests. Plasma retinol concentration was assayed by high resolution liquid chromatography, and levels of plasma vitamin A lower than 20 µg/dL were defined as abnormal or deficient in vitamin A. Hemoglobin was measured by an automated cell counter, and anemia was defined as serum concentrations of less than 11.5 and 12.0 g/dL for children and adolescents, respectively. Nutritional status was assessed using z scores for weight/height, height/age and body mass index percentiles. RESULTS: The results indicated that 33.55% of the schoolchildren tested had a vitamin A deficiency, with a prevalence of 35.44% among children (5-9 years) and 31.58% among adolescents (10-18 years). No correlation was observed between the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and prevalence rates of anemia or malnutrition. Both sexes and all ages were homogeneous for vitamin A deficiency. CONCLUSIONS: The elevated prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among the children and adolescents attending this rural school identify a public health problem in the region. These results indicate that age groups from 5 years onwards should be included in those at risk of hypovitaminosis A and that they should be included in public policies aimed at combating hypovitaminosis A.

Objetivo: Investigar a prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A em escolares de área rural do Distrito Federal e correlacionar com índices de anemia e desnutrição. Métodos: Do total de 179 alunos, o estudo incluiu 155 escolares (5 a 18 anos), cujos pais autorizaram a participação na coleta de sangue. A concentração de retinol plasmático foi determinada por cromatografia líquida de alta resolução, e os níveis plasmáticos de vitamina A inferior a 20 μg/dL foram considerados como inadequação ou deficiência de vitamina A. A hemoglobina foi dosada em contador de células automatizado, e a anemia foi caracterizada para crianças e adolescentes com valor sérico menor que 11,5 e 12,0 g/dL, respectivamente. O estado nutricional foi avaliado com o índice escore z para peso/altura, altura/idade e percentil do índice de massa corporal. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que 33,55% dos escolares pesquisados apresentavamdeficiência de vitamina A, com prevalência de 35,44% entre crianças (5-9 anos) e de 31,58% entre adolescentes (10-18 anos). Não foi encontrada correlação entre a prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A e prevalência de anemia ou desnutrição. A deficiência de vitamina A foi homogênea entre as idades e gêneros. Conclusões: A elevada prevalência de deficiência de vitamina A em crianças e adolescentes desta escola rural estudada identifica um problema de saúde pública na região. Esses resultados apontam para a necessidade de inclusão de faixas etárias maiores de 5 anos no grupo de risco de hipovitaminoseAe sua inserção nas políticas públicas de combate à hipovitaminose A. _______________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT Objective: To investigate the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among schoolchildren from a rural area in the Distrito Federal, Brazil, and to correlate this with rates of anemia and malnutrition. Methods: From a total of 179 students, the study recruited 155 schoolchildren (5 to 18 years), whose parents gave permission for blood tests. Plasma retinol concentration was assayed by high resolution liquid chromatography, and levels of plasma vitamin A lower than 20 μg/dL were defined as abnormal or deficient in vitamin A. Hemoglobin was measured by an automated cell counter, and anemia was defined as serum concentrations of less than 11.5 and 12.0 g/dL for children and adolescents, respectively. Nutritional status was assessed using z scores for weight/height, height/age and body mass index percentiles. Results: The results indicated that 33.55% of the schoolchildren tested had a vitamin A deficiency, with a prevalence of 35.44% among children (5-9 years) and 31.58% among adolescents (10-18 years). No correlation was observed between the prevalence of vitamin A deficiency and prevalence rates of anemia or malnutrition. Both sexes and all ages were homogeneous for vitamin A deficiency. Conclusions: The elevated prevalence of vitamin A deficiency among the children and adolescents attending this rural school identify a public health problem in the region. These results indicate that age groups from 5 years onwards should be included in those at risk of hypovitaminosis A and that they should be included in public policies aimed at combating hypovitaminosis A.

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, SDS-PAGE system, was adjusted to detect the presence of additional whey in dairy beverages distributed in a Brazilian Government School Meals Program. Aqueous solutions of samples in 8 M urea were submitted to a polyacrylamide gel gradient (10% to 18%). Gel scans from electrophoresis patterns of previously adulterated milk samples showed that caseins peak areas decreased while peak areas of beta -lactoglobulin plus alpha -lactalbumin increased as the percentage of raw milk powder replaced by whey powder increased. The relative densitometer areas of caseins or beta -lactoglobulin plus alpha -lactalbumin plotted against the percentage of whey added to the raw milk showed a linear correlation coefficient square higher than 0.97. The caseins plot was used to determine the percentage of additional whey in 116 dairy beverages, chocolate or coffee flavor. Considering that the lowest relative caseins concentration found in commercial milk powder samples by the present method was 72%, the dairy beverages containing caseins percentages equal to or higher than this value were considered free of additional whey. Based on this criterion, about 49% of the coffee-flavor dairy beverages and 29% of the chocolate-flavor beverages, among all the samples analyzed were adulterated with whey protein to reach the total protein contents specified on their labels. The present method showed a sensitivity of 5% to additional whey. A adulteração de bebidas lácteas, distribuídas no Programa Nacional da Merenda Escolar, pela adição de soro, foi investigada através da análise eletroforética em sistema de SDS-PAGE. Soluções aquosas de amostras em uréia 8M, foram submetidas a um gradiente de 10% a 18% de gel de poliacrilamida. Após a eletroforese, o gel corado com "Comassie Blue" foi submetido à densitometria para identificação e quantificação das proteínas lácteas. A partir de amostras de leite em pó, previamente adulteradas com diferentes proporções de soro em pó (0 a 100%) foi observada alta correlação linear entre a concentração relativa de soro adicionado ao leite e as concentrações de proteínas lácteas. Esta correlação foi inversamente proporcional ao percentual de caseínas (r² = 0,987) e diretamente proporcional à soma dos percentuais de beta -lactoglobulina e alfa -lactalbumina (r² = 0,979) apresentados nos densitogramas. A partir da curva padrão de caseínas versus soro adicionado foi estimada a magnitude das adulterações encontradas nas bebidas lácteas sabor chocolate e café do programa da merenda escolar. Tendo em vista que, amostras de leite em pó comerciais analisadas através deste método apresentaram uma concentração mínima de 72% de caseínas, as bebidas lácteas, contendo percentual igual ou superior a este valor, foram consideradas livres de soro adicional. Baseado neste critério, cerca de 49 % das bebidas lácteas, sabor café, e 29 % sabor chocolate, de um total de 58 amostras analisadas por sabor, apresentaram adulteração. O método proposto apresenta uma sensibilidade de 5% de soro adicionado.

Schizolobium parahyba seed chymotrypsin inhibitor (SPC) is a protein with M r of 20 000 and four halfcystine residues and no free thiol group. SPC is stable at temperatures up to 75° at pH 7 but gradually loses activity when kept at 95° for 1 hr and total inactivation occurs after 5 hr. Amino acid analysis shows a high content of glycine, aspartate, glutamate and alanine residues. A pI of 4.52 predicted from the amino acid content agrees with experimental results. A stable binary complex with M r of 45 000, Ki = 5.85 × 10 −8 M and molar ratio of 1:1 is formed between SPC and chymotrypsin. The determined single N -terminal sequence of SPC shows homology with Kunitz type soybean trypsin inhibitors.