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mudanças no comportamento alimentar, que estão associados com o desejo de comer alimentos altamente palatáveis. Embora não haja uma relação causal clara, existe uma associação entre o desejo excessivo de chocolate e as mudanças hormonais do ciclo menstrual. Examinamos o efeito dos consumos de chocolate de leite e chocolate com maior teor de cacau (50%) adicionado de fibras no desejo por doces e sintomas de sí­ndrome de tensão pré-menstrual em 19 participantes. Este estudo experimental aberto durou 2 ciclos menstruais, incluindo fase de controle (fase I) com ingestão de chocolate de leite (50 g/dia) e fase de intervenção (fase II) com o consumo de chocolate 50% cacau com fibras adicionadas (50 g/dia) durante a fase lútea de cada ciclo. Os sintomas de sí­ndrome de tensão pré-menstrual foram classificados por escala validada. A intervenção com de chocolate 50% cacau com fibras adicionadas, comparada com o baseline e controle com chocolate ao leite, mostrou uma redução nos sintomas fí­sicos (p = 0,0206), e tanto os perí­odos de intervenção como os de controle mostraram mudanças nos padrões alimentares (p = 0,0012), como redução do desejo por doces, chocolates entre outros.Palavras-chave: sí­ndrome de tensão pré-menstrual, sí­ndrome pré-menstrual, cacau, chocolate, compulsão alimentar, serotonina.

Objective: To characterize the profile of commercially available mineral waters in Brazil (from national and international sources) by calculating the potential renal acid load (PRAL). Methods: We evaluated 308 commercially available mineral waters in the five Brazilian macroregions. The content of sulfate, chloride, sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium from mineral waters were obtained to calculate the PRAL, using Remers & Manz formula, adapted for mineral waters. Results: From the 308 mineral waters collected, 256 were included in this analysis. We found a great variability in the composition of mineral waters according to the source and country of origin. All the components analyzed were present in greater quantities in the mineral waters from international sources and differed significantly from the values found in the mineral waters from Brazilian sources, with the exception of potassium and sodium (Mg: 1,9 vs 6,8, p=0,0008; Ca: 5,78 vs 32,9, p=0,001; SO4: 0,9 vs 13, p

Low-grade metabolic acidosis is a condition characterized by a slight decrease in blood pH, within the range considered normal, and feeding is one of the main factors that may influence the occurrence of such a condition. The excessive consumption of acid precursor foods (sources of phosphorus and proteins), to the detriment of those precursors of bases (sources of potassium, calcium, and magnesium), leads to acid-base balance volubility. If this condition occurs in a prolonged, chronic way, low-grade metabolic acidosis can become significant and predispose to metabolic imbalances such as kidney stone formation, increased bone resorption, reduced bone mineral density, and the loss of muscle mass, as well as the increased risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and non-alcoholic hepatic steatosis. Considering the increase in the number of studies investigating the influence of diet-induced metabolic acidosis on clinical outcomes, this review gathers the available evidence evaluating the association of this disturbance and metabolic imbalances, as well as related mechanisms. It is necessary to look at the western dietary pattern of most countries and the increasing incidence of non-comunicable diseases for the balance between fruit and vegetable intake and the appropriate supply of protein, mainly from animal sources, so that it does not exceed the daily recommendations.

Phytochemical-rich foods consumption may be a valid nutritional strategy to reduce the risk of weight gain and obesity. The phytochemical index (PI) is a simple and nonspecific method to evaluate the phytochemical intake, defined as the percentage of dietary calories derived from foods rich in phytochemicals. We aimed to conduct a systematic review to evaluate whether high consumption of phytochemical-rich foods evaluated by the PI is associated with lower values of anthropometric measurements. The available literature suggests that the PI seems to be inversely associated with body weight and waist circumference. Analyzing the longitudinal changes in anthropometric variables, individuals with high intake of phytochemicals gained less weight and fat mass when compared to those with lower PI. Our findings suggest that higher PI is associated with lower body mass index, waist circumference and adiposity. Whether the results are a reflex of a lower calorie intake or the anti-obesity properties of phytochemicals remains to be elucidated.

A obesidade, doença crônica não-transmissível, é prioritariamente causada por alterações nutricionais e no gasto energético, que desencadeiam desequilíbrios funcionais responsáveis pelo aumento do acúmulo de tecido adiposo (visceral e/ou subcutâneo) ou até mesmo pela resistência à sua perda. O conhecimento desses desequilíbrios funcionais e da fisiopatologia da doença contribui para o tratamento eficaz da obesidade.

The aim of this commentary was to discuss the last studies regarding the effect of antioxidant vitamins supplementation on oxidative stress in exercise in humans. The inclusion criteria encompassed published studies done in adult males and females between 2006 and 2013. The keywords used in the search engine were: endurance athlete, diet, oxidative stress, physical activity, diet, nutrition, antioxidant, antioxidant status, vitamin C, vitamin A, vitamin E, β-carotene and combinations. Twelve studies were identified and organized according to the methodology and results of supplementation: ergogenic, ergolytic, partial or no difference between groups. The results of these studies showed no effect on physiological parameters and activity of antioxidant enzymes (n = 07), better response of the placebo treatment (ergolytic effect; n = 02), partial results (n = 01) and ergogenic results of antioxidant supplementation (n = 02). It is concluded that supplementation with antioxidant vitamins has controversial effects to oxidative damage induced by endurance exercise. The discordances among the studies are presented and discussed.

Branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), mainly leucine, have been described as potential modulators of resistance exercise-induced muscle adaptations which includes stimulation of muscle protein synthesis and attenuation of proteolysis. However, until the moment, there are no well controlled chronic studies (randomized, doubleblind and placebo-controlled) in humans assessing the effects of BCAAs/leucine supplementation on muscle hypertrophy and strength. The most well documented benefits of BCAAs/leucine concerning exercise is the attenuation of muscle damage and soreness. Previous reports support the theory that BCAAs/leucine could act through innate immunity. However, recent studies have demonstrated similar effects in humans with β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMβ) supplementation. Since HMβ is a leucine metabolite, it appears that there is a metabolic relation among BCCAs/leucine, HMβ and the attenuation of exercise-induced muscle damage.

Chronic inflammation contributes to the pathophysiology of many chronic diseases. Dietary fibers and antioxidants may exert anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this study was to determine whether meals with different fibers and antioxidants may elicit a different response in inflammatory markers in healthy volunteers. On 3 separate days, subjects (n = 8) consumed one of three isocaloric meals with different antioxidant (vitamin E, selenium and β-carotene) and fiber content (high, intermediate and low) in a randomized crossover design. Blood samples were collected at different times: 0 min (before the meal), and 30 and 240 min after the meal. Plasma interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, glucose and insulin content were evaluated at each time point. There were no significant differences for any of the parameters at baseline. Furthermore, plasma levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10 were unchanged at the 30- and 240-min time points whatever meal consumed. Moreover, the cytokine responses to glucose and insulin intake were not significantly different between experimental conditions. In conclusion, isocaloric meals with different fiber, β-carotene, vitamin E and selenium contents do not acutely affect inflammatory markers in healthy young males.