No abstract

Although folic acid (FA) supplementation is known to influence numerous physiological functions, especially during pregnancy, little is known about its direct effects on the mothers' health. However, this vitamin is essential for the health of the mother and for the normal growth and development of the fetus. Thus, the aim of this study was (1) to evaluate the cognitive effects and biochemical markers produced by the AIN-93 diet (control), the AIN-93 diet supplemented with different doses of FA (5, 10, and 50 mg/kg), and a FA-deficient diet during pregnancy and lactation in female mother rats (dams) and (2) to evaluate the effect of maternal diets on inflammatory parameters in the adult offspring which were subjected to an animal model of schizophrenia (SZ) induced by ketamine (Ket). Our study demonstrated through the Y-maze test that rats subjected to the FA-deficient diet showed significant deficits in spatial memory, while animals supplemented with FA (5 and 10 mg/kg) showed no deficit in spatial memory. Our results also suggest that the rats subjected to the FA-deficient diet had increased levels of carbonylated proteins in the frontal cortex and hippocampus and also increased plasma levels of homocysteine (Hcy). Folate was able to prevent cognitive impairments in the rats supplemented with FA (5 and 10 mg/kg), data which may be attributed to the antioxidant effect of the vitamin. Moreover, FA prevented protein damage and elevations in Hcy levels in the rats subjected to different doses of this vitamin (5, 10, and 50 mg/kg). We verified a significant increase of the anti-inflammatory cytokine (interleukin-4 (IL-4)) and a reduction in the plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin-6 (IL-6)) and TNF-α) in the dams that were subjected to the diets supplemented with FA (5, 10, and 50 mg/kg), showing the possible anti-inflammatory effects of FA during pregnancy and lactation. In general, we also found that in the adult offspring that were subjected to an animal model of SZ, FA had a protective effect in relation to the levels of IL-4, IL-6, and TNF-α, which indicates that the action of FA persisted in the adult offspring, since FA showed a lasting effect on the inflammatory response, which was similar in both the dams and their offspring. In conclusion, the importance of supplementation with FA during pregnancy and lactation should be emphasized, not only for the benefit of the offspring but also for the health of the mother. All this is due to the considerable protective effect of this vitamin against oxidative damage, cognitive impairment, hyperhomocysteinemia, immune function, and also its ability in preventing common processes in post-pregnancy stages, as well as in reducing the risks of neurodevelopmental disorders and enhancing fetal immune development.

No abstract

Studies have shown that schizophrenic patients seem to have nutritional deficiencies. Ascorbic acid (AA) has an important antioxidant effect and neuromodulatory properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of AA on locomotor activity and the acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) in an animal model of schizophrenia (SZ). Rats were supplemented with AA (0.1, 1, or 10 mg/kg), or water for 14 days (gavage). Between the 9th and 15th days, the animals received Ketamine (Ket) (25 mg/kg) or saline (i.p). After the last administration (30 min) rats were subjected to the behavioral test. Brain structures were dissected for biochemical analysis. There was a significant increase in the locomotor activity in Ket treated. AA prevented the hyperlocomotion induced by ket. Ket also showed an increase of AChE activity within the prefrontal cortex and striatum prevented by AA. Our data indicates an effect for AA in preventing alterations induced by Ket in an animal model of SZ, suggesting that it may be an adjuvant approach for the development of new therapeutic strategies within this psychiatric disorder.

No abstract

Cigarette smoking during the prenatal period has been investigated as a causative factor of obstetric abnormalities, which lead to cognitive and behavioural changes associated with schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate behaviour and AChE activity in brain structures in adult rats exposed to cigarette smoke during the prenatal period. Pregnant rats were divided into non-PCSE (non-prenatal cigarette smoke exposure) and PCSE (prenatal cigarette smoke exposure) groups. On post-natal day 60, the rats received saline or ketamine for 7days and were subjected to behavioural tasks. In the locomotor activity task, the non-PCSE+ketamine and PCSE+ketamine groups exhibited increased locomotor activity compared with the saline group. In the social interaction task, the non-PCSE+ketamine and PCSE+ketamine groups exhibited an increased latency compared with the control groups. However, the PCSE+ketamine group exhibited a decreased latency compared with the non-PCSE+ketamine group, which indicates that the cigarette exposure appeared to decrease, the social deficits generated by ketamine. In the inhibitory avoidance task, the non-PCSE+ketamine, PCSE, and PCSE+ketamine groups exhibited impairments in working memory, short-term memory, and long-term memory. In the pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) test, cigarette smoke associated with ketamine resulted in impaired PPI in 3 pre-pulse (PP) intensity groups compared with the control groups. In the biochemical analysis, the AChE activity in brain structures increased in the ketamine groups; however, the PCSE+ketamine group exhibited an exacerbated effect in all brain structures. The present study indicates that exposure to cigarette smoke during the prenatal period may affect behaviour and cerebral cholinergic structures during adulthood.

O câncer colorretal representa a neoplasia maligna mais comum do trato gastrointestinal e a terceira causa de morte relacionada ao câncer no mundo. Ele pode ter origem hereditária ou esporádica, sendo esta última responsável por aproximadamente 95% dos casos. Vários fatores de risco contribuem para o desenvolvimento dessa neoplasia, porém, a alimentação parece ser o fator mais influente, pois é capaz de modular a composição da microbiota intestinal. O objetivo desse estudo foi revisar a literatura referente à alimentação e o desencadeamento do câncer colorretal, a relação de uma dieta rica em carnes no desenvolvimento dessa patologia e investigar a alimentação vegetariana atuando como possível fator de prevenção. O método constitui-se de uma revisão bibliográfica narrativa, realizada a partir de buscas de artigos originais e de revisão. O alto consumo de carne vermelha e processada pode estar relacionado com o surgimento de câncer colorretal por causar alterações na microbiota, bem como produzir compostos N-nitrosos, aminas aromáticas policíclicas e hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos, compostos considerados genotóxicos. Além disso, o ferro heme pode elevar a síntese das espécies reativas de oxigênio e estimular a formação endógena de compostos N-nitrosos. No entanto, a alimentação vegetariana pode ser capaz prevenir a disbiose e manter a microbiota intestinal saudável devido ao consumo elevado de alimentos vegetais que disponibilizam fitoquímicos, antioxidantes e anti-inflamatorios, ou seja, potenciais agentes anti-tumorigênicos. Sugere-se que através de mudanças nos hábitos alimentares e comportamentais, torna-se possível retardar ou prevenir o surgimento de câncer.

Os fitoestrogênios são compostos naturais que se assemelham molecularmente aos hormônios estrogênios que apresentam semelhanças funcionais e estruturais com o estrogênio humano, 17 β-estradiol. A menopausa é a fase da vida da mulher que cessa a capacidade reprodutiva. Os ovários deixam de funcionar e a produção de esteroides e peptídeo hormonal diminui e consequentemente se produzem no organismo diversas mudanças fisiológicas. Quando se aproxima da menopausa, muitas mulheres experimentam certos sintomas, em geral passageiros e inócuos, porém não menos desagradáveis e às vezes incapacitantes. Neste período a terapia de reposição hormonal deve ser indicada por curto prazo para controle de manifestações vasomotoras. A reposição hormonal através de medicamentos ou de forma natural no período da menopausa tem, entre seus benefícios, uma provável proteção contra osteoporose e doenças cardiovasculares, bem como alívio dos sintomas vasomotores e outros que surgem com o climatério. Foi realizada uma revisão de literatura sistêmica de artigos publicados entre os anos de 2000 e 2010, nas bases de dados Scielo e Google Acadêmico, e os termos utilizados como estratégia de busca foram: fitoestrogênios, mulher, menopausa,isoflavonas. Muitos autores têm avaliado a possibilidade do uso dos fitoestrogênios como opção alternativa de terapia de reposição hormonal, relatando resultados sobre o climatério, colesterol, complicações vasomotoras, osteoporose, volume da parede do endométrio, entre outros. Contudo ainda não existem resultados concretos para suportar uma nova ferramenta terapêutica para a menopausa. Algumas limitações são observadas nos estudos como pouca população de estudo, pouco tempo de intervenção, variação da população estudada, entre outros. São necessários mais estudos sobre os fitoestrogênios na saúde da mulher e na menopausa, abrindo novas portas para a ciência descobrir os reais mecanismos envolvidos e poder contar com novas ferramentas terapêuticas na saúde da população.