New molecular features of cowpea bean (Vigna unguiculata, l. Walp) ß-vignin.

Cowpea seed ß-vignin, a vicilin-like globulin, proved to exert various health favourable effects, including blood cholesterol reduction in animal models. The need of a simple scalable enrichment procedure for further studies for tailored applications of this seed protein is crucial. A chromatography-independent fractionation method allowing to obtain a protein preparation with a high degree of homogeneity was used. Further purification was pursued to deep the molecular characterisation of ß-vignin. The results showed: (i) differing glycosylation patterns of the two constituent polypeptides, in agreement with amino acid sequence features; (ii) the seed accumulation of a gene product never identified before; (iii) metal binding capacity of native protein, a property observed only in few other legume seed vicilins.

Hypocholesterolaemic effect of rat-administered oral doses of the isolated 7S globulins from cowpeas and adzuki beans.

The role of seed proteins, especially soyabean 7S globulins, in controlling dyslipidaemia is widely acknowledged. Amino acid sequence homology among the proteins of this family could reflect similar biological functions in other species. The aim of the present study was to unveil a hypolipidaemic effect of the 7S globulins from cowpeas (7S-C) and adzuki beans (7S-A), administered orally to rats fed a hypercholesterolaemic (HC; high cholesterol and TAG) diet for 28 d. A total of forty-five rats were divided into five groups (nine rats per group): (1) standard (STD) diet; (2) HC diet; (3) HC diet + 7S-C (300 mg/kg per d); (4) HC diet + 7S-A (300 mg/kg per d); and (5) HC diet + simvastatin (SVT; 50 mg/kg per d), as a control. Significant decreases in food intake and final body weight of rats receiving HC + 7S-C and HC + 7S-A diets compared with groups fed the HC and STD diets were observed. Significant decreases in serum total and non-HDL-cholesterol of 7S-C, 7S-A and SVT groups were also observed. HDL-cholesterol levels increased in the 7S-C, 7S-A and SVT groups, while hepatic cholesterol and TAG concentrations were significantly lower than in the HC diet group for the 7S-C-supplemented group only. Faecal excretions of fat and cholesterol in HC diet groups were considerably higher in animals consuming the 7S globulins. The results show that cowpea and adzuki bean 7S globulins promote cholesterol-decreasing effects in hypercholesterolaemic rats even at low dosages, as already observed for other legume seed storage proteins of this family. This main effect is discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms of action.

ß-conglycinin combined with fenofibrate or rosuvastatin have exerted distinct hypocholesterolemic effects in rats.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in non-pharmacological control of cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the plasma and diet-drug association represent an important area of studies. The objective of this study was to observe the hypocholesterolemic effect of soybean ß-conglycinin (7S protein) alone and combined with fenofibrate and rosuvastatin, two hypolipidemic drugs. METHODS: The protein and drugs were administered orally once a day to rats and the effects were evaluated after 28 days. Wistar rats were divided into six groups (n = 9): hypercholesterolemic diet (HC), HC+7S protein (300 mg.kg-1 day-1) (HC-7S), HC+fenofibrate (30 mg.kg-1 day-1)(HC-FF), HC+rosuvastatin (10 mg.kg-1 day-1)(HC-RO), HC+7S+fenofibrate (HC-7S-FF) and HC+7S+rosuvastatin (HC-7S-RO). RESULTS: Animals in HC-7S, HC-FF and HC-RO exhibited reductions of 22.9, 35.8 and 18.8% in total plasma cholesterol, respectively. In HC-7S-FF, animals did not show significant alteration of the level in HC+FF while the group HC-7S-RO showed a negative effect in comparison with groups taking only protein (HC-7S) or drug (HC-RO). The administration of the protein, fenofibrate and rosuvastatin alone caused increases in the plasma HDL-C of the animals, while the protein-drug combinations led to an increase compared to HC-FF and HC-RO. The plasma concentration of triacylgycerides was significantly reduced in the groups without association, while HC-7S-FF showed no alteration and HC-7S-RO a little reduction. CONCLUSION: The results of our study indicate that conglycinin has effects comparable to fenofibrate and rosuvastatin on the control of plasma cholesterol, HDL-C and triacylglycerides, when given to hypercholesterolemic rats, and suggests that the association of this protein with rosuvastatin alters the action of drug in the homeostasis of cholesterol.

Soybean glycinin improves HDL-C and suppresses the effects of rosuvastatin on hypercholesterolemic rats.

BACKGROUND: This study was an investigation of the effects of ingesting a daily dose of isolated glycinin soy protein (11S globulin), in association with rosuvastatin, on the control of hypercholesterolemia in experimental animals. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were kept in individual cages under appropriate controlled conditions of temperature, light and humidity. The animals were divided into five groups (n = 9): 1) standard (STD): fed on casein as protein source; 2) hypercholesterolemic (HC): STD plus 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid; 3) HC+11S: hypercholesterolemic + glycinin (300 mg/kg/day); 4) HC+ROS: hypercholesterolemic + rosuvastatin (10 mg/kg/day); 5) HC+11S+ROS: HC diet, the 11S protein and the drug in the doses given in (3) and (4). The protein and the drug were administered by gavage for 28 days. The results indicated that the addition of 1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid induced hypercholesterolemia in the animals without interfering with their weight gain. RESULTS: A single daily dose of glycinin contributed an additional 2.8% of dietary protein intake and demonstrated its functional role, particularly in raising HDL-C, decreasing triglycerides in the liver and improving the atherogenic index in animals exposed to a hypercholesterolemic diet. CONCLUSION: Most of the beneficial effects of the isolated treatments disappeared when the drug (rosuvastatin) and the protein (glycinin) were taken simultaneously. The association was shown not to interact additively, as noted in the plasma levels of total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol, and in the significant increase of cholesterol in the liver. Studies are in progress to identify the effects of peptides derived from the 11S globulin and their role in cholesterol metabolism.

Soy ß-conglycinin (7S globulin) reduces plasma and liver cholesterol in rats fed hypercholesterolemic diet.

The aim of this study was to examine the comparative hypocholesterolemic effect of soybean 7S fraction in rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. Soybean 7S globulin (ß-conglycinin) was administered orally once a day to rats, and the effects were measured after 28 days. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: standard diet (STD) (casein alone), hypercholesterolemic (HC) diet (STD plus 1 g/100 g cholesterol and 0.5 g/100 g cholic acid), HC+7S(1) diet (HC diet plus 200 mg of 7S/kg of body weight/day), and HC+7S(2) diet (HC diet plus 300 mg of 7S/kg of body weight/day). Food intake, weight gain, animals' growth, and feeding efficiency ratio were similar among the STD and three HC groups, indicating that these parameters were not affected by treatments. Animals that had received different doses of soybean 7S globulin had lower total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio in serum and lower levels of hepatic TC and TG than those fed only the HC diet. The atherogenic indexes of HC+7S(1) and HC+7S(2) groups were 40% and 55% lower than that of the HC group, respectively. The results showed that the oral daily administration of ß-conglycinin in the diet to HC rats, at between 1.85% and 2.75% of total ingested protein, promotes the reduction of TC, LDL-cholesterol, and TG and an increase in HDL-cholesterol in the plasma, besides a small but significant reduction in cholesterol and TG levels in the liver of the animals as well as a reduced atherogenic index.

Teor lipídico da dieta, lipídios séricos e peso corporal em ratos exercitados / Dietary fat content, serum lipid levels and body weight of exercised rats

OBJETIVO: Analisar os efeitos de diferentes níveis de triglicerídeos fornecidos pela dieta sobre os parâmetros séricos triglicerídeos e lipoproteínas de alta densidade e o peso corporal de ratos sedentários e exercitados. MÉTODOS: Foram utilizados ratos Wistar, alimentados com dietas controle (7 por centopeso/peso) e hiperlipídica (14 por cento peso/peso) e subdivididos em sedentários e exercitados, por um período de 8 semanas. RESULTADOS: Verificou-se que o peso não diferiu entre os grupos, embora o consumo tenha sido reduzido nos grupos com dieta hiperlipídica. Os níveis de triglicerídeos não foram aumentados com a dieta rica em gordura e o HDL-colesterol se elevou apenas entre os animais exercitados que tiveram dieta normolipídica. CONCLUSÃO: A intensidade e o tempo de exercício físico influenciam de maneira mais aguda os níveis de HDL-colesterol em comparação aos níveis de triglicérides. Sugere-se que a dieta hiperlipídica deveria sobrepor (14 por centopeso/peso) de gordura para que houvesse alterações relevantes nos parâmetros lipídicos e supostamente um aumento da performance física.

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the effects of different amounts of dietary triglycerides on the serum lipids triglycerides and high-density lipoproteins and body weight of inactive and exercised rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: one fed a control diet (7 percent fat by weight) and another fed a high-fat diet (14 percent fat by weight). These two groups were further divided into two subgroups: one remained inactive and the other exercised for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Body weight did not differ among the groups although less food was consumed by the high-fat diet group. Triglyceride levels did not increase with the high-fat diet and HDL-cholesterol only increased in the normal-fat diet, exercised group. CONCLUSION: Physical exercise intensity and duration had a stronger influence on HDL-cholesterol levels than on triglyceride levels. The diet would probably need a higher fat content to actually affect serum lipid levels and supposedly increase physical performance.

Nutritional responses of rats to diets based on chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) seed meal or its protein fractions.

The aim of this study was to isolate the protein fractions from chickpea, var. IAC-Marrocos, as well as to evaluate its in vivo nutritional protein quality. Among the proteins, albumins showed better nutritional value in the in vivo assays and amino acid contents, despite their higher trypsin inhibitor contents. Trypsin inhibitors were found to be heat labile in all samples, but the digestibility results for unheated and heated flour and albumins suggest that their contents are not very decisive. The PER values for casein (not supplemented) were very similar to those of heated flour and unheated or heated albumin and total globulins. The albumin and glutelin fractions showed the best results for PDCAAS, however, lower than those of casein. Despite the high digestibility of the globulin the very low essential amino acid content lowered its PDCAAS, and it had the lowest values.

Correlações entre os níveis de L - carnitina plasmática, o estado nutricional e a função ventilatória de portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica / Correlations among the levels of plasmatic L - carnitine, the nutritional status, and the ventilatory function in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os níveis de L-carnitina livre no plasma, o estado nutricional, a função pulmonar e a tolerância ao exercício em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e verificar as correlações entre a composição corporal e as frações de L-carnitina no plasma. MÉTODOS: Quarenta pacientes entre 66,2±9 anos, com diagnóstico clínico de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, foram divididos em dois grupos: G1, com índice de massa corporal menor que 20kg/m², e G2, com índice de massa corporal maior que 20kg/m². Foram mensurados os parâmetros espirométricos, a tolerância ao exercício no teste de caminhada, a força muscular respiratória, a composição corporal por meio da impedância bioelétrica e as dosagens da L-carnitina plasmática, através de amostras de sangue. RESULTADOS: Foram observados menores valores das variáveis espirométricas (p<0,01), da força muscular respiratória e dos níveis de L-carnitina nos pacientes do G1; porém, não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à capacidade de realizar exercício físico dinâmico de baixa intensidade. Correlações significativas entre o percentual de gordura e os níveis de L-carnitina plasmática foram observadas nos pacientes (r=0,53 com p<0,002); sendo que, nos pacientes com índice de massa corporal menor que 18kg/m², essa relação aumentou (r<0,73 com p<0,01). CONCLUSAO: Na doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica, a desnutrição está associada tanto aos prejuízos da função pulmonar e da força muscular respiratória, quanto aos baixos níveis de L-Carnitina plasmática.

O mineral boro na alimentação, prevenção e tratamento da osteoporose / Intake of mineral borum, prevention and treatment of osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a disorder characterized by reduced bone density, which is more prevalent in post-menopausal women. Hormone replacement, use of calcium and Vitamin D has been used as the treatment of choice. Currently, studies have been conducted to search for alternative preventive treatments, based on changes in life style and feeding. Borum is a micromineral, which has shown satisfactory results in the maintenance of bone density. This review aims at presenting the action of borum on bone mineralization and in the treatment of bone loss in post-menopausal patients

La osteoporosis es una enfermedad que se caracteriza por la disminución de la masa óssea y se presenta principalmente en mujeres después de la menopausia. L reposición hormonal y la ingestión de calcio y vitamina D han sido los tratamientos de elección. Investigaciones recientes han procurado tratamentos preventivos alternativos a través de modificaciones en el estilo de vida y en la alimentación. El boro es un micro mineral que ha sido estudiado en ese sentido con resultados satisfactorios en la manutención de la densidade mineral ósea. Esta revisión tiene por objetivo relacionar la actividad del boro en la mineralización ósea y en el tratamiento de la pérdida ósea en pacientes después de la menopausia

A osteoporose é um distúrbio caracterizado pela diminuição da densidade mineral óssea que acomete principalmente mulheres pós-menopausa. A reposição hormonal, o uso de cálcio e vitamina D, têm sido o tratamento escolhido. Atualmente, pesquisas têm sido realizadas buscando alternativas de tratamentos preventivos baseados na alteração no estilo de vida e na alimentação. O boro é um micromineral que vem sendo estudado com resultados satisfatórios na manutenção da densidade mineral óssea. Esta revisão tem o objetivo de relacionar a atividade do boro na mineralização óssea e no tratamento da perda óssea em pacientes pós-menopausa

Efeitos da suplementação oral de L-carnitina associada ao treinamento físico na tolerância ao exercício de pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica / Influence of oral L-carnitine supplementation combined with physical training on exercise tolerance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

INTRODUÇAO: Pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica apresentam redução da tolerância ao exercício físico, principalmente devido à limitação ventilatória. A L-carnitina tem sido utilizada com o objetivo de melhorar a capacidade aeróbia de pacientes com doenças crônicas, porém não existem estudos em pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a influência da suplementação de L-carnitina, associada ao treinamento físico por seis semanas, três vezes por semana em pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica. MÉTODO: A amostra foi constituída de 30 pacientes portadores de doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica (69 ± 7 anos) com volume expiratório forçado no primeiro segundo < 65 por cento do previsto, dividida em três grupos de 10 pacientes: grupo 1 com treinamento físico e suplementação com 2g/dia de L-carnitina, grupo 2 que recebeu treinamento físico e placebo e grupo 3 que não foi submetido a treinamento físico e recebeu 2g/dia de L-carnitina. Os pacientes foram submetidos a avaliação espirométrica, a teste de caminhada de seis minutos e à mensuração dos níveis plasmáticos de carnitina livre no inicio e no final do estudo. RESULTADOS: Foi constatado aumento significativo (p < 0,05) da distância percorrida no teste de caminhada de seis minutos somente nos pacientes dos dois primeiros grupos (de 421 ± 100 para 508 ± 80,7 e de 496 ± 78,7 para 526 ± 64,3 respectivamente). Além disso, com intensidade de exercício semelhante, a subida da freqüência cardíaca foi menor no grupo 1 quando comparado com o grupo 2. As variáveis espirométricas, a saturação da oxihemoglobina e a dispnéia não se alteraram em nenhum dos grupos estudados. Os valores de L-carnitina livre no plasma aumentaram somente nos pacientes do terceiro grupo (59,2 ± 13,8 para 102,3 ± 15,32mmol/L). CONCLUSAO: A L-carnitina associada ao treinamento físico pode proporcionar maior tolerância ao exercício em pacientes com doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica.

O papel dos nutrientes na doença periodontal / The nutrient's role in the periodontal disease

A doença periodontal é resultado do acúmulo de placa supra e subgengival, sendo a extensäo e a intensidade do processo inflamatório afetadas pelo número e virulência de microorganismos e pela resistência orgânica do hospedeiro. Desta maneira o cirurgiäo-dentista, além de atuar removendo os agentes etiológicos locais através de raspagens e profilaxias, pode melhorar as caracteríticas gerais do paciente através de aconselhamento nutricional, desde que detenha um conhecimento interdisciplinar. Assim, a partir de revisäo de literatura, ressalta-se a interferência das vitaminas A, C, D e dos minerais cálcio, fósforo, ferro e zinco na etiologia das doenças periodontais