Brazil Nut (Bertholletia excelsa H.B.K) Retards Gastric Emptying and Modulates Enteric Glial Cells in a Dose-Dependent Manner.

BACKGROUND: The role of food and nutrients in the regulation of enteric glial cell functions is unclear. Some foods influence enteric neurophysiology and can affect glial cell functions that include regulation of the intestinal barrier, gastric emptying, and colonic transit. Brazil nuts are the most abundant natural source of selenium, unsaturated fatty acids, fibers, and polyphenols. OBJECTIVE: The study investigated the effects of a Brazil nut-enriched diet on enteric glial cells and gastrointestinal transit. METHODS: Two-month-old male Wistar rats were randomized to a standard diet (control group, CG), standard diet containing 5% (wt/wt) Brazil nut (BN5), and standard diet containing 10% (wt/wt) Brazil nut (BN10) (n = 9 per group). After eight weeks, the animals underwent constipation and gastric emptying tests to assess motility. Evaluations of colonic immunofluorescence staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myenteric ganglia area were performed. RESULTS: The BN5 group showed increased weight gain while the BN10 group did not (p < 0.0001). The BN10 group showed higher gastric residue amounts compared to the other groups (p = 0.0008). The colon exhibited an increase in GFAP immunoreactivity in the BN5 group compared to that in the other groups (p = 0.0016), and the BN10 group presented minor immunoreactivity compared to the CG (p = 0.04). The BN10 group presented a minor ganglia area compared to the CG (p = 0.0155). CONCLUSION: The Brazil nut-enriched diet modified the gastric residual, colonic GFAP immunoreactivity, and myenteric ganglia area after eight weeks in healthy male Wistar rats.

Fatores associados ao consumo de alimentos segundo o grau de processamento na Atenção Primária à Saúde / Factors associated with the consumption of food according to the degree of processing in the Primary Health Care

Introdução: O consumo alimentar de uma população pode estar relacionado a fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos e de estilo de vida, podendo sua qualidade ser avaliada de acordo com o grau de processamento de alimentos proposto pela Classificação NOVA. Objetivo: Avaliar o consumo de alimentos de acordo com o grau de processamento entre usuários da atenção primária à saúde em relação às condições socioeconômicas, demográficas e de estilo de vida. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado entre setembro de 2019 e março de 2020, com adultos e idosos usuários da atenção primária à saúde no município de Guidoval-MG. Foi aplicado um questionário estruturado com variáveis socioeconômicas e demográficas e um questionário de frequência alimentar qualitativo, no qual os alimentos foram classificados conforme a classificação NOVA. Foi realizada regressão de Poisson com variância robusta, permanecendo no modelo final as variáveis com nível de significância menor que 5%. A medida de efeito utilizada foi a razão de prevalência com intervalo de confiança de 95%. Resultados: Foram avaliados 361 indivíduos. Foi encontrada maior prevalência de consumo regular de alimentos ultraprocessados entre indivíduos negros, residentes em localidades urbanas, solteiros e com maior nível socioeconômico. O maior consumo regular de alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados foi associado à cor de pele branca, maior escolaridade e a prática de atividade física. Conclusões: Fatores individuais e contextuais estudados influenciaram o consumo de alimentos in natura ou minimamente processados e de ultraprocessados, sugerindo a necessidade de maior intervenção em grupos populacionais específicos e ressaltando a importância de se adotar uma alimentação saudável. (AU)

Introduction: The consumption of a population can be related to socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle factors, and its quality can be assessed according to the degree of food processing proposed by the NOVA Classification. Objective: Assess food consumption according to the degree of processing among users of primary health care in relation to socioeconomic, demographic and lifestyle conditions. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted between September 2019 and March 2020, with adults and elderly users of primary health care in the city of Guidoval-MG. We elaborated a structured questionnaire with socioeconomic and demographic variables and a qualitative food frequency questionnaire, in which foods were classified according to the NOVA classification. We made Poisson regression with robust variance, remaining in the final model as variables with a significance level of less than 5%. We used the prevalence ratio with a 95% confidence interval as measure of effect. Results: We took 361 requests. We found a higher prevalence of regular consumption of ultra-processed foods among black individuals, living in urban areas, single and with higher socioeconomic status. Higher regular consumption of in natura or minimally processed foods was associated with white skin color, higher educational level and the practice of physical activity. Conclusions: Individual and contextual factors studied influence the consumption of in natura or minimally processed and ultra-processed foods, suggesting the need for greater intervention in specific population groups and emphasizing the importance of adopting a healthy diet. (AU)