Nutritional status of selenium in Alzheimer's disease patients.

Studies have shown that various antioxidants are decreased in different age-related degenerative diseases and thus, oxidative stress would have a central role in the pathogenesis of many disorders that involve neuronal degeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The present study aimed to assess the nutritional status of Se in AD patients and to compare with control subjects with normal cognitive function. The case-control study was carried out on a group of elderly with AD (n 28) and compared with a control group (n 29), both aged between 60 and 89 years. Se intake was evaluated by using a 3-d dietary food record. Se was evaluated in plasma, erythrocytes and nails by using the method of hydride generation atomic absorption spectroscopy. Deficient Se intake was largely observed in the AD group. AD patients showed significantly lower Se levels in plasma, erythrocytes and nails (32.59 microg/l, 43.74 microg/l and 0.302 microg/g) when compared with the control group (50.99 microg/l, 79.16 microg/l and 0.400 microg/g). The results allowed us to suggest that AD has an important relation with Se deficiency.

Um, dois, feijäo com arroz: a alimentaçäo no Brasil de Norte a Sul / The feeding in Brazil from north to south

Enfoca a cultura alimentar do Brasil. Englobasse tanto o hábito alimentar do brasileiro nos primórdios do seu descobrimento e as influências culturais dos primeiros imigrantes que aqui chegaram, como as mudanças observadas através dos tempos. Desta forma, procurou-se resgatar nas diferentes regiöes, informaçöes existentes que pudessem trazer esta informaçäo de forma clara e objetiva, incluindo ainda alguns aspectos de ordem nutricional, como, por exemplo, o conteúdo de nutrientes de algumas receitas tradicionais, bem como de alguns alimentos isolados

Utilização de diferentes concentrações de ferro por adolescentes grávidas também suplementadas com zinco e ácido fólico / Utilization of different iron concentrations on pregnant adolescents also supplemented with zinc and folate

The pregnant teenager is considered at nutritional risk specially due to the fact that most of them still growing and developing. Therefore the demands of pregnancy compete with those of growth causing an extra need for her and the fetus (1). Iron, zinc and folate are essential nutrients that are frequently low on the teenagers diet. Besides that there is not much specific information available about these nutrient recommendations and their interaction among each other. The data available is limited and demands more investigation. This study was conducted at a Public Maternity Hospital located at Teresina, Piauf, Brazil. The main objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different concentrations of iron supplementation (80 and 120 mg of ferrous sulfate) together with folate (250 micrograms) and zinc (5 mg) on the hemoglobin concentration and iron stores (plasma ferritin) of pregnant adolescents. The supplementation was done from the 16th to 20th weeks of gestation until delivery. The data founded proved that either 80 mg or 120 mg of iron supplements had similar effect on the improvement of hemoglobin concentration although results showed no statistical significance.

Biodisponibilidade de minerais / Mineral biovailability

A importância da determinação da biodisponibilidade de minerais em dietas está centralizada no estabelecimento das recomendações de ingestão destes elementos em função das necessidades dos indivíduos. Assim, os estudos de biodisponibilidade de nutrientes devem ser específicos para cada país, tendo em vista a grande diversidade de dietas e de indivíduos. Nesta abordagem, procurou-se discutir as metodologias disponíveis para avaliação da biodisponibilidade de minerais e os fatores que podem interferir nesta medida, visando motivar jovens pesquisadores a se interessarem por esta área de pesquisa que promete grandes descobertas

The importance of mineral bioavailability determination in diets is focused on the establishment of these minerals intake recommendations, considering the individual necessities. So, researche of nutrients bioavailability should be specific to each country, taking into account the numerous types of diets and individuals. The purpose of this article is to discuss the available methodologies for mineral bioavailability assessment and the variables that interfere with this evaluation, trying to make young researcher interested in this area which is quite promising in new discoveries