Abstract Objectives: investigate whether prenatal characteristics were associated with dietary pattern of pregnant women. Methods: we studied 200 high-risk pregnant women in Fortaleza, Ceará. The identification of dietary patterns was performed through principal component analysis with the orthogonal Varimax rotation. Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and respective confidence intervals (CI95%). Results: three major dietary patterns were identified: ‘common Brazilian’, ‘healthy’ and ‘energy-dense’. After adjustments conducted with multivariate analysis, pregnant women who had not received dietary guidance in prenatal consultations (34%) were less likely to adhere to the ‘healthy’ pattern (PR = 0,81; CI95%= 0,67-0,95). Pregnant women who attended an appropriate number of consultations (≥ 6 consultations) (41%) showed greater adherence to the ‘healthy’ pattern (PR = 1,15; CI95%= 1,01-1,32) and lower adherence to the ‘energy-dense’ pattern (PR = 0,85; CI95%= 0,74-0,99). Conclusion: it was observed that the high-risk pregnant women who attended an adequate number of consultations during the prenatal care had a higher chance to adhere to the ‘healthy’ pattern and a lower chance to adhere to the ‘energy-dense’ pattern. Not receiving guidelines on prenatal nutrition was inversely associated with the healthy pattern. Thus, the importance of high-risk pregnant women undergoing an appropriate prenatal care is reinforced.

Resumo Objetivos: investigar o efeito potencial das características de acompanhamento do pré-natal em padrões alimentares identificados em gestantes de alto risco. Métodos: foram estudadas 200 gestantes de alto-risco de Fortaleza, Ceará. Os padrões alimentares foram identificados pela análise de componentes principais seguida de rotação ortogonal Varimax. Utilizou-se Regressão de Poisson para estimar as razões de prevalência (RP) e os intervalos de confança (IC95%). Resultados: três padrões alimentares foram identificados: ‘comum brasileiro’, ‘saudável’ e ‘denso em energia’. Após a realização de ajuste com análise multivariada, as gestantes que não receberam orientação sobre alimentação nas consultas do pré-natal (34%) apresentaram menores chances de adesão ao padrão ‘saudável’ (RP = 0.81, IC95%= 0.67-0.95). Aquelas que realizaram um número de consultas adequado (≥ 6 consultas) (41%) apresentaram maior adesão ao padrão ‘saudável’ (RP = 1.15, IC95%= 1.01-1.32) e menor adesão ao padrão ‘denso em energia’ (RP = 0.85, IC95%= 0.74-0.99). Conclusão: observou-se que as gestantes de alto risco que compareceram a um número adequado de consultas no pré-natal tiveram maior chance de aderir ao padrão ‘saudável’ e menor chance de aderir ao padrão ‘denso em energia’. Não receber orientações sobre nutrição durante o pré-natal foi inversamente associado ao padrão ‘saudável’. Reforçando a importância das gestantes de alto risco realizarem um pré-natal adequado.

Abstract Mineral profiles of eleven fruits from the northeastern Brazilian agrobiodiversity have been determined. Samples of cajui, murici, pequi, jenipapo, mangaba, bacuri, caja, umbu-caja, umbu, pitanga and araça fruits were digested and element content determined by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The accuracy of method was performed using SRM 2338 and all elements were statistically similar with 95% of confidence. Potassium is present in higher amounts in the edible part of the fruits, ranging from 107 to 402 mg 100 g-1, followed by P in the range 16 - 150 mg 100 g-1. Iron, presents the lowest content, ranges from 0.07 to 1.1 mg 100 g-1. Caja and umbu-caja fruits are noteworthy sources of P. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Principal Component Analysis were performed in order to check similarities between the fruit groups according to the trace element content. The data provide a source of information characterizing the Brazilian biodiversity and it may help the nutritional intake of these fruits in the region.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the association between skipping meals and excess weight in adolescents. This study used a secondary database based on cross-sectional research. Weight and height were measured for the classification of nutritional status and the omission of meals was determined from the 24-hour food record. Statistical analyses were performed on a sample stratified by age from 10 to 13 years and 14 to 19 years. There was a high prevalence of excess weight (overweight and obesity) in the sample and a high frequency of meal omission among adolescents. The omission of lunch and dinner among adolescents between 14 and 19 years and those between 10 to 13 years, respectively, was directly associated with excess weight.

RESUMEN El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre omisión de comidas y condición de exceso de peso en adolescentes. Este es un estudio con datos secundarios de una investigación transversal. El peso y la altura se midieron para clasificar el estado nutricional y la omisión de las comidas se determinó a partir del registro de alimentos de 24 horas. Los análisis estadísticos se realizaron en una muestra estratificada por edad de 10 a 13 años y de 14 a 19 años. Hubo una alta prevalencia de exceso de peso en la muestra y una alta frecuencia de omisión de comidas entre los adolescentes. La omisión del almuerzo y la cena, en los rangos de 14 a 19 años y de 10 a 13 años, respectivamente, se asoció directamente con el exceso de peso.

Abstract Objective: the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Chrysobalanus icaco on adiposity and its mechanism of action in the gene and protein expression of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), a key enzyme in lipogenesis. Method: Wistar rats were divided into a regular or control group (CG) and a high-fat diet (HFD) group. HFD was treated with saline or aqueous extract of Chrysobalanus icaco (AECI) for four weeks. Body weight and food intake were assessed. Subcutaneous, retroperitoneal and periepididymal adipose tissue samples were collected and weighed. Adipocytes from periepididymal tissue were isolated and analyzed. The gene and protein expression of ACC in subcutaneous tissue was determined. Results: AECI showed no effect on intake or body weight. However, the weight of the fat pads and the gene and protein expression of ACC were lower, and glucose tolerance was improved. Conclusion: the aqueous extract of Chrysobalanus icaco proved beneficial for the treatment of obesity, preventing fat storage and improving glycemic homeostasis.

Resumen Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar los efectos del extracto acuoso de Chrysobalanus icaco (AECI) en la adiposidad y su mecanismo de acción en la expresión génica y proteica de la acetil-CoA-carboxilasa (ACC), una enzima clave para la lipogénesis. Métodos: se usaron ratones macho Wistar que se asignaron a una dieta estándar de control (CG) o a una rica en grasa (HFD). La HFD se trató con solución salina o con extracto acuoso de Chrysobalanus icaco (AECI) durante cuatro semanas. Se evaluaron el peso corporal y el consumo alimentario. Se aislaron y analizaron muestras de tejido adiposo subcutáneo, retroperitoneal y periepididímico. Se determinó la expresión génica y proteica de ACC en el tejido subcutáneo. Resultados: el AECI no mostró ningún efecto sobre la ingesta de alimento y tampoco sobre el peso corporal. Sin embargo, el tratamiento con AECI redujo el peso de los tejidos adiposos y la expresión génica y proteica de ACC, y mejoró también la tolerancia a la glucosa. Conclusión: Chrysobalanus icaco (AECI) resultó ser beneficioso para el tratamiento de la obesidad, previniendo el almacenamiento de grasa y mejorando la homeostasis glucémica.

Abstract Three paste formulations were developed for four fruits: caja, murici with mango and pitanga, with differentiated percentages of fruit pulp, organic honey and gellan gum. Pulps, honey and fruit paste formulations were analyzed by antioxidant capacity, vitamin C and in vitro bioaccessibility. All formulations showed a high content of vitamin C, antioxidant action and the bioaccessibility. All the formulations were accepted regarding the overall impression, except MM3 (murici pulp:mango pulp:honey 50:50:00 and 0.25% gellan gum) and PI1 (pitanga pulp: honey 90:10 and 0.6% gellan gum). Therefore, fruit pastes are options to encourage consumption of tropical fruits of agro-biodiversity in the Brazilian Northeast.