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Folate, vitamins B12, B6, and riboflavin are required for one-carbon metabolism and may affect bone health, but no previous randomized trial has investigated all four nutrients in this context. We investigated the effect of low-dose B-vitamins for 2 years on bone mineral density (BMD) in a dual-centered, 2-year randomized controlled trial (RCT) in adults aged ≥50 years. Eligible participants not consuming B-vitamin supplements or fortified foods4 times weekly were randomized to receive daily either combined folic acid (200 μg), vitamin B12 (10 μg), vitamin B6 (10 mg), and riboflavin (5 mg), or "active" placebo, whereby both the intervention and placebo groups received vitamin D (10 μg). BMD was assessed before and after intervention using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanning of the total hip, femoral neck, and lumbar spine (L1 to L4). Of 205 eligible participants randomized, 167 completed the trial in full. B-vitamin intervention resulted in increases in serum folate (p 0.001), serum B12 (p 0.001), and plasma pyridoxal-5-phosphate (p 0.001) and decreases in functional biomarkers of B-vitamin status, erythrocyte glutathione reductase activation coefficient (p 0.001), serum methylmalonic acid (MMA; p 0.001), and serum total homocysteine (p 0.001). B-vitamin intervention had no overall effect on BMD, which declined in both treatment groups by approximately 1% (ranging from -0.7% to -1.4%). However, in participants with lower baseline B12 status (serum B12 246 pmol/L or MMA ≥0.22 μmol/L), B-vitamin intervention reduced the 2-year BMD decline versus placebo: adjusted mean (95% confidence interval [CI]) change of -0.003 (-0.008, 0.002) versus -0.015 (-0.021, -0.010) g/cm

The association between bone mineral density (BMD) and hepatic glycogen storage diseases (GSDs) is still unclear. To evaluate the BMD of patients with GSD I, IIIa and IXα, a cross-sectional study was performed, including 23 patients (GSD Ia = 13, Ib = 5, IIIa = 2 and IXα = 3, median age = 11.9 years, IQ = 10.9–20.1) who underwent a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Osteocalcin (OC, n = 18), procollagen type 1 N-terminal propeptide (P1NP, n = 19), collagen type 1 C-terminal telopeptide (CTX, n = 18) and 25-OH Vitamin D (n = 23) were also measured. The participants completed a 3-day food diary (n = 20). Low BMD was defined as a Z-score ≤ −2.0. All participants were receiving uncooked cornstarch (median dosage = 6.3 g/kg/day) at inclusion, and 11 (47.8%) presented good metabolic control. Three (13%) patients (GSD Ia = 1, with poor metabolic control, IIIa = 2, both with high CPK levels) had a BMD ≤ −2.0. CTX, OC and P1NP correlated negatively with body weight and age. 25-OH Vitamin D concentration was decreased in seven (30.4%) patients. Our data suggest that patients with hepatic GSDs may have low BMD, especially in the presence of muscular involvement and poor metabolic control. Systematic nutritional monitoring of these patients is essential.

 A intolerância a lactose (IL) primária costuma se manifestar a partir dos 3-4 anos, com prevalência variando conforme etnia e idade. Lactose é um dissacarí­deo encontrado no leite dos mamí­feros em quantidade variável, em torno de 2-8% do volume de leite, com variações conforme as espécies. O quadro clí­nico conhecido popularmente como IL caracteriza-se por diminuição parcial ou total da atividade da enzima lactase na mucosa do intestino delgado dos indiví­duos acometidos pela doença. Esta revisão tem por objetivo pautar o tratamento adequado para intolerância í lactose, dando ênfase ao efeito da suplementação com probióticos. O possí­vel papel dos probióticos na IL não é completamente compreendido. As culturas bacterianas podem beneficiar indiretamente o hospedeiro, fornecendo enzima lactase para o intestino delgado. Lise das bactérias por ácidos biliares permite que a lactase seja administrada, o que hidrolisa lactose, permitindo a absorção do componente glicose e açúcares de galactose. Existem evidências na literatura que justificam o uso de algumas cepas especí­ficas na terapia destes pacientes. No entanto, mais estudos clí­nicos randomizados são necessários para verificar as possí­veis interferências do tratamento com probióticos na saúde humana a longo prazo.Palavras-chave: intolerância a lactose, probióticos, microbioma intestinal.

Introdução: A Sí­ndrome de Down (SD) é uma condição genética, na qual os indiví­duos podem apresentar vários problemas de saúde associados. Por isso, a alimentação é importante para garantir manutenção da saúde e prevenção de doenças. Objetivo: Avaliar o consumo alimentar e í­ndice de massa corporal, de crianças, adolescentes e adultos portadores de SD, matriculados na Associação de Pais e Amigos dos Excepcionais (APAE) de Frederico Westphalen e Tenente Portela/Rio Grande do Sul, durante o perí­odo de março a abril de 2014 e 2015. Métodos: Estudo transversal, onde foram realizadas medidas de peso, altura e aplicação de questionário de frequência alimentar. Resultados: Foram avaliados 19 indiví­duos, 52,6% eram do sexo masculino e em sua maioria crianças (42,1%). Nenhum dos indiví­duos apresentou baixa altura/idade, porém 42,1% apresentaram sobrepeso/obesidade. Houve um alto consumo de gorduras, 93,7% ultrapassaram a recomendação de 1 porção/dia. Nenhum dos indiví­duos avaliados consumiu as porções recomendadas de frutas. Apenas 15,8% dos pacientes consumiam recomendações nutricionais atuais de legumes e verduras (entre 3 ou 4 porções/dia). Conclusão: foi observada uma proporção de sobrepeso/obesidade crescente com a faixa etária e baixo consumo de alimentos protetores para doenças crônicas como frutas, verduras e legumes entre os portadores de SD.Palavras-chave: sí­ndrome de Down, avaliação nutricional, consumo de alimentos.

We describe body composition, lipid metabolism and Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1) indices in patients with classical homocystinuria (HCU).Eleven treated HCU patients and 16 healthy controls were included. Body composition and bone mineral density were assessed by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Sulfur amino acids (SAA) and their derivatives (total homocysteine, cysteine, methionine, S-adenosylmethionine, S-adenosylhomocysteine, and glutathione), lipids (free fatty acids, acylcarnitines, triglycerides and lipoproteins), glucose, insulin, leptin, adiponectin, and isoprostanes were measured in plasma. Insulin resistance was evaluated by HOMA-IR. To estimate liver SCD-1 activity, SCD-16 [16:1(n-7)/16:0] and SCD-18 [18:1(n-9)/18:0] desaturation indices were determined.In HCU patients, SCD-16 index was significantly reduced (p=0.03). A trend of an association of SCD-16 index with cysteine was observed (r=0.624, p=0.054). HCU patients displayed lower lean mass (p0.05), with no differences in fat mass percentage. Leptin and low-density lipoprotein concentrations were lower in HCU patients (p0.05). Femur bone mineral density Z-scores were correlated with plasma cysteine (r=0.829; p=0.04) and total homocysteine (r=-0.829; p=0.04) in HCU patients.We report alterations in leptin and SCD-1 in HCU patients. These results agree with previous findings from epidemiologic and animal studies, and support a role for SAA on lipid homeostasis.

IntroductionOsteoporosis is characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased susceptibility to low trauma fractures(1).The relationship between osteoporosis risk and general metabolic health parameters is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anthropometric and metabolic parameters with BMD in Adults.Materials and MethodsA total of 214 (100 male and 114 female) healthy adults were recruited. The mean age was 32 ± 10 years for males and 31 ± 11 years for females. BMD was assessed by whole body dual energy X ray- absorptiometry (Dexa scan). Dexa scores were reported as total bone mineral density, T-score and Z-score. Anthropotemetric measures included body weight, height, waist circumference. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) was assessed by indirect calorimetry. Tertiles of BMD were obtained for males and females. Assessment of parameters across BMD tertiles was performed in males and females separately using ANOVA. Relationships between parameters was assessed using Spearman correlation analysis controlling for gender and age where appropriate.ResultsBMI, Weight and BMR increased significantly across the tertiles for both genders. The mean weight, BMI and BMR were significantly increased in the males at the highest tertile of BMD. Positive correlations (adjusted for gender and age) were observed between weight, BMI, BMR and BMD (R2 = 0.404; p = 0.001, R2 = 0.348, p = 0.001; R2 = 0.363; p = 0.001, respectively).ConclusionsOverall, the results confirm the relationships between BMD and BMI and weight in a healthy cohort. Furthermore, it highlights a relationship between BMR and BMD. Targeting improvement in body composition and BMR may be a strategy for the age-related decline in BMD.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a syndrome caused by the progressive reduction of renal function. This study aimed to systematically examine the effects of supplementation with probiotics in the treatment of CKD. Searches were carried out on databases MEDLINE (PubMed), SciELO, Cochrane, and Clinical Trials. Two independent reviewers selected the studies from which data was extracted. The search included papers written in English and Portuguese published in the 2012-2016 period describing randomized clinical trials. Eight of the 82 eligible articles met the inclusion criteria. Sample size ranged from 18 to 101 individuals with CKD. The duration of the included studies varied from four to 24 weeks. Most of the included articles reported positive effects in renal function and decreased levels of urea, blood urea nitrogen, ammonia, plasma p-cresol, p-cresyl sulfate, and indoxyl sulfate.

Background Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is an important precursor of active steroid hormone, produced abundantly by the adrenal cortex with an age-dependent pattern. Objective We investigated whether chronic DHEA administration impacts on redox status and on Akt protein activation in skeletal muscle during the aging process (3 and 24 months-old rats). Methods Rats received one weekly dose/5 weeks of DHEA (10 mg/kg) or vehicle. Gastrocnemius muscle was removed to evaluate glutathione system, hydrogen peroxide, antioxidant enzymes, and expression of Akt kinase protein. Results In the 3-months-old rats DHEA induced an increase in hydrogen peroxide when compared both to its control (276%) and the 24-months-old DHEA group (485%). Moreover, in the 24- months-old rats DHEA caused an increase in GSSG (41 and 28%), a decrease in reduced-GSH (55 and 51%), and a more oxidized redox status (reduction in GSH/GSSG ratio, 47 and 65 %) when compared to 3-month-old DHEA and to 24-months-old control groups, respectively. Both older groups had increased G6PDH (2.7 fold) and GST (1.7 fold) activities when compared to younger groups, independently of any DHEA treatment. However, there was no modulation of Akt protein (phosphorylated/total isoform). Conclusion The results show that chronic DHEA administration to 3 and 24-months-old rats may not present positive effects regarding the redox environment in skeletal muscle without modulation of pro-survival Akt kinase. Due to the large-scale self-administration of DHEA as an "anti-aging" dietary supplement, it is crucial to investigate its molecular mechanisms over oxidative stressinduced related diseases.

Background Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is defined as any degree of glucose intolerance with onset or first recognition during pregnancy. The aim of this work was to systematically review all studies in which probiotic supplements were used during pregnancy and analyse the effects on GDM. Methods The data were collected using the medical subheading (MeSH) terms: ("diabetes, gestational"[MeSH Terms] OR ("diabetes"[All Fields] AND "gestational"[All Fields]) OR "gestational diabetes"[All Fields] OR ("gestational"[All Fields] AND "diabetes"[All Fields])) AND ("probiotics"[MeSH Terms] OR "probiotics"[All Fields]). The search included original articles written in English/Portuguese and published between 2012 and 2017. Results Of the 31 articles identified, seven met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. In these studies, the sample size ranged from 60 to 373 women with GDM, which was between 24 and 40 weeks of pregnancy (second and third trimesters). Results demonstrated that probiotics used during pregnancy in women with GDM may improve glycaemic control and reduce VDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and inflammatory markers. Conclusions The present systematic review highlights the importance of probiotics for glycemic control and decrease of inflammatory markers in GDM. Further long-term studies should be conducted to elucidate this interaction.

Introducao: Definido como uma proliferacao descontrolada de celulas malignas, o câncer colorretal (CCR) e um dos tumores malignos mais comuns, e a terceira causa de mortes relacionadas ao câncer. Varias estrategias tem sido estudadas para auxiliar na prevencao e no tratamento coadjuvante dos sintomas do CCR, entre elas a ingestao de probioticos, prebioticos ou simbioticos. Probioticos sao microrganismos vivos, que quando administrados em quantidade adequada afetam beneficamente o hospedeiro. Os probioticos sao comumente encontrados em alimentos fermentados como em iogurtes por exemplo, ou na forma de suplementos que contem culturas microbianas vivas. Prebioticos sao componentes alimentares nao digeriveis que afetam beneficamente o hospedeiro, estimulando seletivamente a multiplicacao ou atividade de populacoes microbianas desejaveis no colon. Ja, os simbioticos consistem na associacao de probioticos e prebioticos. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi definir a validade do uso dos probioticos, prebioticos ou simbioticos como coadjuvantes no tratamento do CCR por meio de uma revisao sistematica da literatura. Metodos: Foi realizada uma pesquisa nas bases de dados PUBMED, SCIELO, COCHRANE e CLINICAL TRIALS. Os termos de busca foram: “colorectal cancer AND probiotics”, “colorectal cancer AND prebiotics”. Resultados: Dos 68 artigos elegiveis, 14 foram revisados, com publicacao entre 2012 e 2017, escritos no idioma ingles, portugues ou espanhol. O numero amostral variou de 38 a 310 pacientes, com idade entre 18 e 75 anos, a duracao do tratamento foi de 3 dias a 3 meses. Em 3 dos estudos foram utilizados simbioticos, em 1 prebioticos, e em 10 probioticos. As cepas de probioticos continham entre 1 e 10 substâncias, prebioticos 4 substâncias e os simbioticos entre 5 e 8. Conclusao: O trabalho possibilitou o reconhecimento dos principais microrganismos que vem sendo estudados no tratamento concomitante do CCR. A maioria dos estudos analisados mostrou efeitos beneficos na diminuicao da proteina C reativa, da incidencia e severidade da diarreia, risco de complicacoes pos-operatorias como sepse, ventilacao mecânica e vazamento da anastomose, alem de propiciar uma recuperacao da funcao intestinal mais rapida. A presente revisao sistematica ressalta a importância dos pre e probioticos concomitante aos tratamentos de CCR, porem o numero limitado de artigos dificulta a generalizacao dos resultados obtidos, sendo necessarios futuros estudos de longa duracao para elucidar melhor esta relacao. Palavras-chave: Neoplasias colorretais; microbiota; terapias coadjuvantes

Introduction : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of isolated vitamin B 6 (VB 6 ) supplementation on experimental hyperhomocysteinemia (Hhe) induced by homocysteine thiolactone (HcyT). Methods: Fifteen male Wistar rats were divided into three groups according to their treatment. Animals received water and food ad libitum and an intragastric probe was used to administer water for 60 days (groups: CB 6, HcyT, and HB 6 ). On the 30th day of treatment, two groups were supplemented with VB 6 in the drinking water (groups: CB 6 and HB 6 ). After 60 days of treatment, homocysteine (Hcy), cysteine, and hydrogen peroxide concentration, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) immunocontent, and superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and GST activities were measured. Results: The HcyT group showed an increase in Hcy concentration (62%) in relation to the CB 6 group. Additionally, GST immunocontent was enhanced (51%) in the HB 6 group compared to the HcyT group. Also, SOD activity was lower (17%) in the HB 6 group compared to the CB 6 group, and CAT activity was higher in the HcyT group (53%) compared to the CB 6 group. Ejection fraction (EF) was improved in the HB 6 group compared to the HcyT group. E/A ratio was enhanced in the HB 6 group compared to the CB 6 group. Correlations were found between CAT activity with myocardial performance index (MPI) (r = 0.71; P = 0.06) and E/A ratio (r = 0.6; P = 0.01), and between EF and GST activity (r = 0.62; P = 0.02). Conclusions: These findings indicate that isolated VB 6 supplementation may lead to the reduction of Hcy concentration and promotes additional benefits to oxidative stress and heart function parameters. Keywords: Homocysteine; oxidative stress; vitamin B 6.

The association between the quality of maternal dietary fat intake during pregnancy and the infant's birthweight (BW) remains controversial. Our goal was to investigate the association between maternal dietary fat intake during pregnancy and the rate of large for gestational age (LGA) newborns. This study employed a cross‐sectional analysis of 297 pairs of mothers/children attending a public maternity at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. BW for gestational age according to the Intergrowth 21st was defined as follows: adequate for gestational age (AGA ≤ 90th percentile) and LGA (>90th percentile). The statistical analysis was a Poisson regression with robust estimations of the standard errors. Maternal dietary fat intake variables comprised lipids (% total energy); saturated (mg/1000 kcal), monounsaturated (mg/1000 kcal) and polyunsaturated (mg/1000 kcal) fats; and cholesterol (mg/1000 kcal), all of which were obtained with a Food Frequency Questionnaire. The mean BW was 3338 g (SD = 446.9), and the rate of LGA newborns was 13.1%. The mean maternal total energy intake was 2880 kcal (SD = 1074), cholesterol was 154.3 mg/1000 kcal (SD = 68.1) and monounsaturated fat was 6.9 mg/1000 kcal (SD = 2). Mothers of LGA newborns reported higher cholesterol dietary intake (195.8 vs. 148 mg/1000 kcal; P

Objective To evaluate the effect of leptin and other selected variables on gestational weight gain (GWG) according to pre-gestational body mass index (BMI). Design Prospective cohort. Setting Public Health Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sample Two hundred and twenty-eight pregnant women. Methods Women were followed at the 5–13, 20–26 and 30–36th gestational weeks. The effects of independent variables on GWG in normal weight (BMI 18.5–24.9 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m2) women were assessed using longitudinal linear mixed-effects models. Main outcome measure Maternal body weight (kg) throughout pregnancy. Results Leptin concentrations were associated with GWG in normal weight (β = 0.048, P

This article evaluates the association of hepatic, renal, and inflammatory biomarkers with changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure (BP) during healthy pregnancies. A prospective cohort study with 225 healthy pregnant women was conducted in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. SBP and DBP were evaluated throughout pregnancy (5th–13th, 20th–26th, and 30th–36th gestational weeks) and were the outcomes. The following biomarkers were measured at the first trimester and analyzed according to tertiles of the sample distribution and were considered the main independent predictors: alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), uric acid (UA), creatinine (Cr), and C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations. The statistical analysis included 3 stages of modeling with the longitudinal linear mixed-effects procedures: Model 1 was adjusted for gestational age and quadratic gestational age; Model 2 included interactions between the biomarkers and gestational age; and Model 3 was adjusted for self-reported skin color, education, parity, early-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) (under/normal

The aim of this study was to investigate Na + , K + -ATPase activity in cerebral cortex, hippocampus and hypothalamus of diabetic rats. The action of dietary soy protein on the effect produced by diabetes on this activity was also tested. Forty-nine-day-old Wistar were divided into two groups: diabetes streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight) and control (citrate solution). Rats were sacrificed 56 days later. In other set of experiments, rats received a dietary with casein (control) from day 21 to the 49 of postnatal-age and were subjected to diabetes or received citrate (control). One week later, rats received a special dietary with soy protein with isoflavones or casein (control) from day 56 to the 105 of postnatal-age. Results showed that diabetic rats presented a reduction (∼40%) of Na + , K + -ATPase activity in all structures studied. Pretreatment with soy protein prevented the inhibitory effects of diabetes on the enzyme activity. Assuming the possibility that these effects might also occur in the human condition, our findings may be relevant to explain, at least in part, the neurologic dysfunction associated with diabetes and might support a novel therapeutic strategy (soy protein) to slow the progression of neurodegeneration in this disorder.

Objective To evaluate the rate of change in serum lipids and the factors associated with their variations, stratifying for pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) categories. Design Prospective cohort. Setting Public Health centre, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Population Two hundred and twenty-five healthy pregnant women recruited between 2009 and 2011. Methods Women were evaluated during the three trimesters of pregnancy (5th–13th, 20th–26th and 30th–36th gestational weeks). Pre-pregnancy BMI (kg/m²) was classified as normal weight (NW = 18.5–24.9), overweight (OW = 25.0–29.9) or obese (OB ≥ 30.0). The independent variables included maternal socioeconomic, demographic, biochemical and lifestyle factors. We performed linear mixed-effects models adjusted for gestational age and body weight, reporting coefficient (β) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Main outcome measures Longitudinal total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c) and triglyceride (TG) measurements. Results OW and OB women presented higher mean TG, TC and LDL-c compared with their NW counterparts (P

Objective: To evaluate the association between dietary GL and systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) during healthy pregnancy. Methods: Prospective cohort of 155 healthy pregnant women f...

Objective: To evaluate the effect of leptin and other selected variables on maternal weight gain rate (MWGR) in women with normal and excessive pre-pregnancy weights. Methods: A prospective cohort of 236 pregnant women was followed at the 5-13th, 20-26th and 30-36th gestational weeks. The effects of independent variables on MWGR in normal weight (18.7kg/m2 ≤ Body Mass Index (BMI) < 25.0 kg/m2) and overweight/obese (25.0 kg/m2 ≤ BMI 蠅 45.5 kg/m2) women were assessed using longitudinal linear mixed-effects models. Results: In the final model of women with normal BMIs, the following covariates remained significantly associated with MWGR: leptin (β=0.053, SE=0.013), HDL-c (β=-0.075, SE=0.021), sleep duration (β=-0.267, SE=0.083) and maternal height (β=0.687, SE=0.071). For overweight/obese women, the associated variables were HDL-c (β=-0.069, SE=0.025), fasting glucose (β=-0.066, SE=0.021), smoking habit (former smoker: β=-4.555, SE=2.301) and maternal height (β=0.808, SE=0.151). Conclusion: Lepti...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes induced by isolated soy protein (ISP)-based diet on glycemia and oxidative stress biomarkers in diabetic rats. Fifteen male Wistar rats (35 ± 4 g, aged 21 days) were assigned to three groups: Casein (C group), which received casein-based diet during experimental protocol; Diabetic treated with Casein (D + C group) that received casein-based diet before and after diabetes induction; Diabetic treated with ISP (D + S group) that received casein-based diet before diabetes induction and after received ISP-based diet for the experimental protocol. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg body weight i.v.). After three weeks of dietary treatment, total nitrates, lipid peroxidation, antioxidant enzyme activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were measured in heart homogenates. ISP-based diet promoted an improvement in the glycemic levels of diabetic rats compared with casein-based diet (362 ± 25 vs 461 ± 30 mg/dL). CAT activity demonstrated a significant decrease in D + C and D + S groups. D + S group presented a significant increase in SOD and GST activities. Lipid peroxidation was not different among experimental groups. The overall results suggested the potential benefits of ISP-based diet consumption to improve the life quality of diabetic patients.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inborn error of metabolism associated with high blood levels of phenylalanine (Phe). A Phe-restricted diet supplemented with L-amino acids is the main treatment strategy for this disease; if started early, most neurological abnormalities can be prevented. The healthy human gut contains trillions of commensal bacteria, often referred to as the gut microbiota. The composition of the gut microbiota is known to be modulated by environmental factors, including diet. In this study, we compared the gut microbiota of 8 PKU patients on Phe-restricted dietary treatment with that of 10 healthy individuals. The microbiota were characterized by 16S rRNA sequencing using the Ion Torrent™ platform. The most dominant phyla detected in both groups were Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes. PKU patients showed reduced abundance of the Clostridiaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Lachnospiraceae families, Clostridiales class, Coprococcus, Dorea, Lachnospira, Odoribacter, Ruminococcus and Veillonella genera, and enrichment of Prevotella, Akkermansia, and Peptostreptococcaceae. Microbial function prediction suggested significant differences in starch/glucose and amino acid metabolism between PKU patients and controls. Together, our results suggest the presence of distinct taxonomic groups within the gut microbiome of PKU patients, which may be modulated by their plasma Phe concentration. Whether our findings represent an effect of the disease itself, or a consequence of the modified diet is unclear.

This study analyzed and compared the content of isoflavones in 2 soy products the effectiveness of isoflavones as antioxidants in vitro and demonstrated the antioxidant effect of a soy diet in rats with myocardial infarction (MI). Isoflavone content was analyzed in soybean hypocotyl (SH) and isolated soy protein (ISP). The quality (TAR) and quantity (TRAP) of antioxidants present in the samples was quantified. The amount of daidzin was higher in SH (9 times) and genistein in ISP (5 times). SH presented a 3-fold increase in TAR while both products exhibited same TRAP. The rats were fed an ISP diet for 9 weeks. Animals were distributed among 6 treatment groups: (i) Sham Casein; (ii) Infarct Casein < 25%; (iii) Infarct Casein > 25%; (iv) Sham Soy; (v) Infarct Soy < 25%; and (vi) Infarct Soy > 25%. MI was induced 5 weeks after the commencement of the diets. Lipid peroxidation (LPO) antioxidant enzyme activity and levels of nitrites/nitrates were determined in blood. Rats receiving the ISP diet demonstrated increased activity of antioxidant enzyme activity and nitrite/ nitrate content. In addition the increase in LPO seen in rats subjected to MI was significantly mitigated when the ISP diet was given. These findings suggest a nutritional approach of using a soy-based diet for the prevention of oxidative-stress-related diseases such as heart failure. Fil: Hagen, Martine Kienzle. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Ludke, Ana. University of Manitoba; Canadá Fil: Araujo, Alex Sander. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Mendes, Roberta Hack. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Fernandes, Tânia Gatelli. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Mandarino, Jose Marcos Gontijo. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Llesuy, Susana Francisca. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina Fil: Vogt de Jong, Erna. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil Fil: Belló Klein, Adriane. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil

This study investigates the cardiac functioning in male Wistar rats after treatments with methionine and homocysteine thiolactone (HcyT). The rats were distributed into 3 groups and treated for 8 weeks. Group I was the control (CO) group, given water, group II was treated with methionine, and group III with HcyT (100 mg/kg). Morphometric and functional cardiac parameters were evaluated by echocardiography. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione S-transferase activities, chemiluminescence, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and immunocontent were measured in the myocardium. Hyperhomocysteinemia was observed in rats submitted to the both treatments. The results showed diastolic function was compromised in HcyT group, seen by the increase of E/A (peak velocity of early (E) and late (A) diastolic filling) ratio, decrease in deceleration time of E wave and left ventricular isovolumic relaxation time. Myocardial performance index was increased in HcyT group and was found associated with increased SOD immunocontent. HcyT group demonstrated an increase in SOD, catalase, and glutatione S-transferase activity, and chemiluminescence and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Overall, these results indicated that HcyT induces a cardiac dysfunction and could be associated with oxidative stress increase in the myocardium.