Abstract Introduction: adequate iodine intake during pregnancy is essential for the synthesis of thyroid hormones, which are important for the physiological functions of the mother and appropriate maturation of the central nervous system of the fetus. Objective: the objective of the present study was to determine the levels of urinary iodine excretion and thyroid function, antioxidants and oxidative stress markers in pregnant women. Methods: the study was conducted on 191 pregnant women and 62 non-pregnant women who were evaluated regarding nutritional status. Analyses of urinary iodine, of oxidative stress markers and thyroid function were performed, revealing iodine insufficiency in 81 pregnant women. Results: there was no change in the thyroid stimulating hormone concentration in 89% of the pregnant women. Antithyroperoxidase antibody values were higher in the control group compared to the pregnant women's group (64.5% and 12.6%, respectively) and antithyroglobulin antibody values were also higher in the control group (11.6%). Assessment of oxidative stress revealed higher levels of advanced oxidation protein products, of total antioxidant capacity and of superoxide dismutase antioxidants in pregnant women. Classification of ioduria with respect to oxidative stress markers revealed lower α-tocopherol levels for the pregnant women with iodine insufficiency. Conclusion: on this basis, the results suggest that iodine insufficiency did not induce changes in thyroid stimulating hormone levels or antibodies and those pregnant women with adequate urinary iodine excretion had a better profile of the α-tocopherol antioxidant, indicating that iodine may play a significant role in antioxidant capacity during gestation.

Resumen Introducción: la ingesta adecuada de yodo durante el embarazo es esencial para la síntesis de las hormonas tiroideas, que son importantes para las funciones fisiológicas de la madre y la maduración apropiada del sistema nervioso central del feto. Objetivo: el objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar los niveles de excreción de yodo urinario y función tiroidea, antioxidantes y marcadores de estrés oxidativo en mujeres embarazadas. Métodos: el estudio se realizó en 191 mujeres embarazadas y 62 mujeres no embarazadas que fueron evaluadas con respecto al estado nutricional. Se realizaron análisis de yodo urinario, marcadores de estrés oxidativo y función tiroidea, que revelaron insuficiencia de yodo en 81 embarazadas. Resultados: no hubo cambios en la concentración de hormona estimulante tiroidea en el 89% de las mujeres embarazadas. Los valores de anticuerpos antitiroperoxidasa fueron mayores en el grupo control en comparación con el grupo de mujeres embarazadas (64,5% y 12,6%, respectivamente) y los de anticuerpos antitiroglobulina fueron también mayores en el grupo control (11,6%). La evaluación del estrés oxidativo reveló niveles más altos de productos avanzados de proteína de oxidación, de capacidad antioxidante total y de antioxidantes de superóxido dismutasa en mujeres embarazadas. La clasificación de la yoduria con respecto a marcadores de estrés oxidativo reveló menores niveles de α-tocopherol para las mujeres embarazadas con insuficiencia de yodo. Conclusión: sobre esta base, los resultados sugieren que la insuficiencia de yodo no indujo cambios en los niveles de hormona estimulante de la tiroides o anticuerpos y las mujeres embarazadas con excreción urinaria adecuada de yodo tuvieron un mejor perfil del antioxidante α-tocopherol, lo que indica que el yodo puede desempeñar un papel significativo en la capacidad antioxidante durante la gestación.

Resumo O presente estudo reporta as concentrações plasmáticas dos antioxidantes cobre (Cu), manganês (Mn), selênio (Se), zinco (Zn), β-caroteno, licopeno e vitaminas (A e E) em moradores da região do Rio Tapajós, Pará, Amazônia, e as relaciona com características sociodemográficas e sazonalidade (seca e cheia). Os teores de Mn, Se e Zn foram acima dos valores de referência (VR) e daqueles achados em outras regiões do Brasil, enquanto para o β-caroteno tal achado ocorreu apenas na estação da cheia. Os valores de licopeno foram dentro dos VR, porém abaixo dos achados em outras regiões do Brasil. Os níveis de Cu, Se, Zn, β-caroteno, licopeno e vitamina E variaram entre as estações. Variação intercomunitária foi constatada para β-caroteno, Mn e Se. Os teores de Se e Zn foram alterados, respectivamente, por tabagismo e sexo. Os níveis de β-caroteno e vitaminas (A e E) alteraram-se com o consumo de bebida alcoólica. A vitamina E foi dependente do estado de origem. Participantes que desempenhavam ambas as profissões de agricultor e pescador apresentavam teores de Cu superiores e de β-caroteno inferiores comparativamente àqueles que desempenhavam uma única profissão. Esses dados fornecem informações sobre os teores de antioxidantes para essa população amazônica.

Abstract This study associates blood antioxidants like copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), selenium (Se), zinc (Zn), β-carotene, lycopene and vitamins (A and E) to sociodemographic features and seasonality in communities from the Tapajós River region, Brazilian Amazon. We observed increased Mn, Se and Zn levels compared to the average Brazilian population, whereas this is only the case for β-carotene in the rainy season. Lycopene levels fall within the reference range, although lower than those found in other Brazilian regions. Cu, Se, Zn, β-carotene, lycopene and vitamin E levels vary among seasons. β-carotene, Mn and Se vary among communities. Se and Zn vary with smoking habits and sex, respectively. In addition, β-carotene and vitamins (A and E) are altered by alcohol consumption. Villagers who both farmed and fished present higher Cu and lower β-carotene levels than participants with a single occupation. Vitamin E levels depend upon the individual state of origin. These data provide important baseline information for antioxidant status in this Amazonian riparian population.

Objetivo Avaliar o estresse oxidativo, perfil antioxidante e de micronutrientes em pacientes portadores de hanseníase multibacilar e paucibacilar antes do tratamento poliquimioterápico. Métodos Analisaram-se 52 amostras de soro de pacientes portadores de hanseníase - 38 multibacilares e 14 paucibacilares -, usuários do ambulatório de dermatologia de um hospital público universitário, além de 30 amostras controles. Quantificaram-se marcador de peroxidação lipídica malondialdeído pelo método de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico, antioxidante glutationa reduzida pelo método baseado na quantificação de tiol solúvel em ácido, antioxidante vitamina E por cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência, minerais selênio, zinco, cobre, magnésio por espectrometria de massa com fonte plasma acoplado, e sorologia do anticorpo glicolipídio fenólico I pelo método Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Foi utilizado teste não paramétrico de Mann-Whitney para comparar as variáveis quantificadas neste estudo entre os diferentes grupos, e correlação de Pearson para verificar associação dessas variáveis com o anticorpo. O critério de significância adotado foi de p<0,05. Resultados Houve diferença significativa para o malondialdeído (p<0,001) e vitamina E (p<0,001) no grupo controle comparado aos grupos com hanseníase, multibacilar e paucibacilar. No entanto, essas mesmas variáveis não diferiram entre os grupos multibacilar e paucibacilar (p=0,495 e p=0,920 respectivamente). A glutationa reduzida foi superior no grupo controle em relação ao grupo com hanseníase (p=0,012) e multibacilar (p=0,001), no entanto não diferiu do grupo paucibacilar (p=0,920). Quando comparada com os multibacilares e paucibacilares, a glutationa reduzida também não diferiu (p=0,063). Quanto aos minerais, todos se apresentaram dentro da normalidade, exceto o magnésio, cujos níveis foram deficientes em todos os pacientes do estudo. Não foi possível observar correlação do anticorpo glicolipídio fenólico I com as demais variáveis. Conclusão Os pacientes paucibacilares parecem possuir maior defesa antioxidante de glutationa reduzida, semelhante à de indivíduos saudáveis. Baixos níveis de vitamina E nos pacientes com hanseníase são sugestivos dos benefícios de suplementação. As alterações metabólicas observadas não evidenciaram relação com a sorologia do glicolipídio fenólico I.

Objective To determine the oxidative stress and the antioxidant and micronutrient profile of patients with multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy before polychemotherapeutic treatment. Methods Thirty control samples and fifty-two serum samples from leprosy patients who attended the dermatology outpatient clinic of a public university hospital were analyzed; 38 of them had multibacillary and 14 paucibacillarty. Malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was determined using the thiobarbituric acid reacting substances assay; the antioxidant reduced glutathione was determined using a method based on the quantification of acid-soluble thiol; the antioxidant vitamin E was determined using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography; the minerals selenium, zinc, copper and magnesium were determined using coupled-mass spectrometry, and the serum phenol I glycolipid antibody was determined using Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay. The nonparametric Mann-Whitney test was used to compare the variables quantified in the present study between the different groups, and Pearson's correlation analysis was used to verify the association between these variables and the antibody. The significance level was set at p<0.05. Results There was a significant difference in the content of malondialdehyde (p<0.001) and vitamin E (p<0.001) between the groups with multibacillary and paucibacillary leprosy (p=0.495 and p=0.920, respectively) and the control groups. Reduced glutathione levels were higher in the control group compared with those of the group with leprosy (p=0.012) and multibacillary leprosy (p=0.001), but did it not differ from that of the paucibacillary group (p=0.920). Reduced glutathione levels did not differ between the multibacillary and paucibacillary groups (p=0.063) either. All minerals were within normal limits, except for magnesium; magnesium deficiency was detected in all groups studied. No correlation was observed between the anti-phenolic glycolipid I antibody and the remaining variables. Conclusion Paucibacillary patients seem to have more pronounced reduced glutathione antioxidant defense, similar to that of healthy individuals. The low vitamin E levels of leprosy patients suggest the benefits of supplementation. The metabolic changes observed did not demonstrate an association with anti-phenolic glycolipid I serology.

Arsenic is considered a semimetal, and its wide distribution in the Earth's crust in different chemical forms, including organic and inorganic species, has a great deal of influence on the mechanisms of toxicity. Exposure to arsenic can be either through occupational practice (use of pesticides) or by the consumption of water and food containing the element. Rice is considered a fundamental constituent of the basic diet of Brazilians and is usually cultivated in flooded conditions. Such a plantation system results in an increased amount of As in the soil and hence a greater accumulation of As in the plant, which is highlighted by the inorganic species' classification as highly toxic. Besides the use of mitigation techniques to reduce the toxicological risk, monitoring the concentration of As and its chemical species in rice and rice products is required through the establishment of legislation in the area. Thus, some world organizations are conducting improved research to determine and establish acceptable concentrations of As and its chemical species in rice, e. g., in 2012, FDA researchers described a chemical speciation methodology for As in rice and rice products. Hence, the application of existing chemical speciation methods and the establishment of parameters for ensuring food security and exposure risk assessment deserve particular consideration.