Salt Preference is Linked to Hypertension and not to Aging / A Preferência ao Sal está Relacionada à Hipertensão e não ao Envelhecimento

Abstract Background: Seasoning is one of the recommended strategies to reduce salt in foods. However, only a few studies have studied salt preference changes using seasoning. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare preference for salty bread, and if seasoning can change preference in hypertensive and normotensive, young and older outpatients. Methods: Outpatients (n = 118) were classified in four groups: older hypertensive subjects (OH) (n = 32), young hypertensive (YH) (n = 25); older normotensive individuals (ON) (n = 28), and young normotensive (YN) (n = 33). First, volunteers random tasted bread samples with three different salt concentrations. After two weeks, they tasted the same types of breads, with seasoning added in all. Blood pressure (BP), 24-hour urinary sodium and potassium excretion (UNaV, UKV) were measured twice. Analysis: Fisher exact test, McNamer's test and ANCOVA. Statistical significance: p < 0.05. Results: Systolic BP, UNaV, and UKV were greater in HO and HY and they had a higher preference for saltier samples than normotensive groups (HO: 71.9%, HY: 56% vs. NO: 25%, NY; 6%, p<0.01). With oregano, hypertensive individuals preferred smaller concentrations of salt, with reduced choice for saltier samples (HO: 71.9% to 21.9%, and HY: 56% to 16%, p = 0.02), NO preferred the lowest salt concentration sample (53.6% vs. 14.3%, p < 0.01), and NY further increased the preference for the lowest one (63.6% vs. 39.4%, p = 0.03). Conclusions: Older and younger hypertensive individuals prefer and consume more salt than normotensive ones, and the seasoned bread induced all groups to choose food with less salt. Salt preference is linked to hypertension and not to aging in outpatients.

Resumo Fundamento: Adicionar temperos aos alimentos é umas das estratégias recomendadas para diminuir a quantidade de sal nos alimentos. No entanto, poucos estudos investigaram alterações na preferência ao sal através do uso de temperos. Objetivos: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a preferência pelo pão salgado, e até que ponto o uso de temperos pode alterar as preferências dos indivíduos hipertensos e normotensos, pacientes ambulatoriais jovens e idosos. Métodos: Os pacientes ambulatoriais (n = 118) foram classificados em quatro grupos: idosos com hipertensão (IH) (n = 32), jovens hipertensos (JH) (n = 25); indivíduos idosos normotensos (IN) (n = 28), e jovens normotensos (JN) (n = 33). Primeiro, os voluntários provaram amostras aleatórias de pão com três diferentes concentrações de sal. Após duas semanas, eles provaram os mesmos tipos de pão, porém acrescidos de temperos. A pressão arterial (PA), e a excreção urinária de sódio e potássio de 24 horas (UNaV, UKV) foram medidas duas vezes. Análise: Teste exato de Fisher, teste de McNemar e teste ANCOVA. Significância estatística: p < 0,05. Resultados: A PA sistólica e a excreção urinária de sódio e potássio foram maiores nos grupos IH e JH, e eles tiveram maior preferência por amostras mais salgadas quando comparados com os grupos de normotensos (IH: 71,9%, JH: 56% vs. IN: 25%, JN; 6%, p < 0,01). Quando o orégano foi adicionado, a preferência dos indivíduos hipertensos foi pelas amostras com menores concentrações de sal, com uma diminuição da escolha por amostras mais salgadas (IH: 71,9% a 21,9%, e JH: 56% a 16%, p = 0,02); o grupo IN preferiu a amostra com a concentração de sal mais baixa (53,6% vs. 14,3%, p < 0,01) e no grupo JN aumentou ainda mais o número de indivíduos com preferência pela amostra com concentrações mais baixas de sal (63,6% vs. 39,4%, p = 0,03). Conclusões: Os idosos e jovens hipertensos preferem e consomem mais sal do que os normotensos, e o pão adicionado de tempero ajudou todos os grupos a escolher alimentos menos salgados. A preferência ao sal está ligada à hipertensão e não à idade nos pacientes ambulatoriais.

Differential expression of miR-143, miR-145 and miR-150 in colorectal cancer

Background: Recent reports indicated the involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) deregulation in colorectal adenomatous mucosa and different stages of colorectal cancer (CRC). Aims: The purpose of this study was to analyze a panel of miRNAs previously selected by bioinformatics analysis from SAGE human colorectal cancer library compared to normal colorectal library in order to identify microRNA species with altered expression in colorectal cancer. Methods: We analyzed the expression of let-7a, miR-21, miR-15a, miR-141, miR-143, miR-145 and miR-150 in 15 tumor tissues from patients who undergone surgery for CRC and 4 non-tumor adjacent tissues. The expression of miRNAs was measured by real-time PCR. Relative quantification of miRNA expression was calculated using the 2(-Delta Delta C(T)) method. Results: Our findings showed under expression of miR-143, miR-150 and miR-145 in about 6-fold (p = 0.05), 5-fold and 4-fold (p = 0.01), respectively, in CRC compared to normal colorectal tissue. In addition, there was no association between each miRNA expression and tumor stage or tumor localization. Conclusion: Our results support that under expression of miR-143, miR-150 and miR-145 might be involved in colorectal carcinogenesis. However, the lack of knowledge about miRNA target genes postpones full understanding of the biological functions of downregulated miRNAs in CRC.