Introduction: The Health and Nutrition National Survey (ENSANUT) reports the panorama of the national and state nutritional epidemiology in Mexico. However, there are no reports of the capital cities of the country. The objective of this report was to evaluate the health and nutritional condition in a sample of the population of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. Material and Methods: Transversal, retrospective and descriptive study that used the methodological and diagnostic guidelines of ENSANUT, WHO and Official Mexican Standards. To know malnutrition, normal weight and overweight prevalence, hypertension probable cases (CPHA) and diabetes mellitus probable cases (CPDM) were determined and anthropometric measurements were performed. SPSS 20.0 and Excel 2013 were used to calculate proportions and the results were expressed in prevalence. Results: 4,324 subjects were evaluated (644 pre-school pupils, 1,881 school pupils, 133 adolescents and 1,666 adults). In adults the prevalence of CPHA and CPDM were 11.8% and 10.2%, respectively. For pre-school pupils the prevalence of low weight, emaciation and low height were 0.4%, 0.7% and 2.7%, respectively. For school pupils, adolescents and adults malnutrition prevalence was 3.3%, 2.2% and 1.2% respectively. The prevalence of normal weight and overweight in pre-school pupils, school pupils, adolescents and adults was 54.6%, 45.5%, 48.1%, 20.7% and 16.1%, 51%, 49.5% y 77.9%, respectively. Conclusions: High prevalence of diabetes mellitus probable cases in men and low prevalence of malnutrition in all ages were observed. The prevalence of overweight in pre-school pupils, school pupils and adolescents was higher than the national and estate average.

Introducción: La Encuesta Nacional de Salud y Nutrición (ENSANUT) reporta el panorama actual de la epidemiología nutricional nacional y estatal en México. Sin embargo, no existen reportes nutricionales de las capitales de los estados mexicanos. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar el estado de salud y nutrición en habitantes de Mérida, Yucatán, México. Material y Métodos: Estudio transversal, retrospectivo y descriptivo que utilizó los lineamientos metodológicos y diagnósticos de la ENSANUT, OMS y Normas Oficiales Mexicanas. Se determinaron casos probables de hipertensión arterial sistémica (CPHA), casos probables de diabetes mellitus (CPDM) y se realizaron mediciones antropométricas para establecer prevalencias de desnutrición, normopeso y exceso de peso. Se utilizó SPSS 20.0 y Excel 2013 para calcular proporciones y expresar los resultados en prevalencias. Resultados: Se evaluaron 4.324 sujetos (644 preescolares, 1.881 escolares, 133 adolescentes y 1.666 adultos). En adultos, la prevalencia de CPHA fue 11,8% y la de CPDM 10,2%. En preescolares las prevalencias de bajo peso, emaciación y talla baja fueron 0,4%, 0,7% y 2,7%, respectivamente. En escolares, adolescentes y adultos las prevalencias de desnutrición fueron 3,3%, 2,2% y 1,2%, respectivamente. Las proporciones de normopeso y de exceso de peso en preescolares, escolares, adolescentes y adultos fueron 54,6%, 45,5%, 48,1% y 20,7% y del 16,1%, 51%, 49,5% y 77,9%, respectivamente. Conclusiones: Se evidenciaron altas prevalencias de casos probables de diabetes mellitus en hombres y bajas prevalencias de desnutrición en todas las edades. La proporción de exceso de peso en menores de 20 años fue mayor a lo reportado tanto a nivel nacional como estatal.

Significant initiatives exist within the global food market to search for new, alternative protein sources with better technological, functional, and nutritional properties. Lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) protein isolate was hydrolyzed using a sequential pepsin-pancreatin enzymatic system. Hydrolysis was performed to produce limited (LH) and extensive hydrolysate (EH), each with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH). The effects of hydrolysis were evaluated in vitro in both hydrolysates based on structural, functional and bioactive properties. Structural properties analyzed by electrophoretic profile indicated that LH showed residual structures very similar to protein isolate (PI), although composed of mixtures of polypeptides that increased hydrophobic surface and denaturation temperature. Functionality of LH was associated with amino acid composition and hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance, which increased solubility at values close to the isoelectric point. Foaming and emulsifying activity index values were also higher than those of PI. EH showed a structure composed of mixtures of polypeptides and peptides of low molecular weight, whose intrinsic hydrophobicity and amino acid profile values were associated with antioxidant capacity, as well as inhibiting angiotensin-converting enzyme. The results obtained indicated the potential of Phaseolus lunatus hydrolysates to be incorporated into foods to improve techno-functional properties and impart bioactive properties.

As the last century saw a decline in the burden of nutritional deficiency and infectious disease, the global burden of chronic disease, cardiovascular disease (CVD) in particular, is increasing. CVD is the leading cause of death in the developed countries. Significant research efforts on the prevention and treatment of this disease have identified elevated plasma cholesterol as a primary risk factor for CVD. Although CVD progresses with hypercholesterolemia, it seems possibility to delay and prevent its development through improvement of diet. Recent findings demonstrate that protein concentrates, protein hydrolysates, and peptides derived from vegetables may promote a significant decrease in blood cholesterol concentration. This reduction in cholesterol and lipid levels by protein, protein hydrolysates, and peptides can be the result of dietary changes, reduced cholesterol biosynthesis, changes in bile acid synthesis, and reduced absorption of lipid cholesterol and bile acid. Combination drug/diet therapies may reduce the number of drug prescriptions, the progressive rise in "optimal" drug dosage and costs associated with pharmaceutical management of disease. These bioactive vegetable proteins, hydrolysates and peptides may be used in formulation of functional foods, nutraceuticals, and natural drugs because of their health benefit effects suggesting their use as an alternative in treatment of various dyslipidemias, and a potential agent for reducing cardiovascular diseases risk factors.

En el siglo pasado se observó un decaimiento tanto de la deficiencia nutricional como de las enfermedades infecciosas. Por el contrario se incrementó la mortalidad asociada a enfermedades crónicas, particularmente las enfermedades cardiovasculares. La investigación enfocada a la prevención y tratamiento de estas enfermedades ha identificado a la elevación del colesterol en plasma como un factor primario de riesgo para el desarrollo de enfermedades cardiovasculares. Sin embargo el desarrollo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares asociadas a la hipercolesterolemia puede retrasarse o prevenirse mediante mejoras en la dieta. Descubrimientos recientes han demostrado que la ingesta de concentrados proteínicos, hidrolizados proteínicos y péptidos de origen vegetal puede reducir la concentración de colesterol en sangre. La reducción de los niveles de lípidos y colesterol causada por proteínas, hidrolizados y péptidos podría deberse a la modificación en sí de la dieta, a la reducción de la síntesis de colesterol, a cambios en la síntesis de ácidos biliares o a la reducción de la absorción de colesterol y ácidos biliares. Las terapias que combinan fármacos con modificaciones de la dieta, pueden reducir significativamente la dosis de los fármacos ingeridos, el aumento progresivo de dicha dosis y los costos asociados al tratamiento de la enfermedad. Las proteínas, hidrolizados y péptidos de origen vegetal podrían ser utilizados como nutracéuticos, como parte de la formulación de alimentos funcionales o el diseño de medicamentos de origen natural, debido a sus efectos benéficos sobre la salud. Potenciado de esta forma su empleo en el tratamiento de dislipidemias y de patologías relacionadas.