Guarana (Paullinia cupana) is a plant from the Amazon region with cultural importance. Despite its early ancestral use by indigenous tribes, the first reports regarding the benefits of guarana consumption for human health were published in the 19th century. Since then, the use of guarana seed in powder and extract forms has been studied for its diverse effects on human health, such as stimulating, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, hypocholesterolemic, and antiobesity effects. These effects are attributed to the high content of bioactive compounds found in guarana seeds, especially methylxanthines and flavonoids. In fact, the Brazilian Food Supplement Law has officially acknowledged guarana as a source of bioactive compounds. The number and diversity of studies focused on guarana and human health are increasing; thus, organizing and describing the available evidence on guarana and its applications is necessary to provide a framework for future studies. In this narrative review, we have organized the available information regarding guarana and its potential effects on human health. Guarana produces unique fruits with great potential for human health applications. However, the available evidence lacks human studies and mechanistic investigations. Future studies should be designed considering its applicability to human health, including intake levels and toxicity studies.

The objective of this study was to obtain and characterize a freeze-dried powder of taioba leaves (Xanthosoma t aioba) as a source of bioactive substances and potential food applications. The fresh leaves were cooked and lyophilized for further analysis. Its bioactive contents expressed in flavonoids, ascorbic acid and total polyphenols were quantified. Total antioxidant activity (TAA) was determined by ABTS assays. The chemical composition via infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and its microstructure were visualized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The bioactive contents of flavonoids, ascorbic acid and polyphenols were 17.15 mg/100 g, 58.3 mg/100 g and 24.15 mg Eq. of gallic acid/100 g, respectively. A high content of TAA was found. ABTS 37.35 (µg TE/g). The FTIR spectrum revealed high-intensity bands at 3350 cm -1 , 2928 cm -1 , 1637 cm -1 , and 1055 cm -1 related to vibrations associated with typical bands of −OH groups present in cellulose membranes, hemicellulose, carbohydrates, lignin and water. The micrographs showed irregular structures of the ground leaves with a fibrous structure. These results indicate a high potential of this raw material in food formulations as a source of bioactives suitable for applications in various industrial segments.

Agroindustrial disposal generates tons of passion fruit albedo during pulp and juice processing. The reduction of this environmental pollution potential and its use involves research such as this one, which aims to determine the bioactive compounds in the passion fruit albedo (Passiflora edulis), its technological, functional potential and its morphological structures, aiming at food application. The methodologies applied followed internationally accepted and recommended guidelines. The results showed that the albedo flour obtained a yield of 9.76%, and from this, a semifine powder flour was prepared (75.8%), with 4.95% moisture, 40.72% reducing sugars, water activity of 0.37, pH of 5.29, total titratable acidity of 0.99 and total soluble solids of 1.5 °Brix. In addition, the presence of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols (18.88 mg AGE/100 g), flavonoids (13.51 mg/100 g), anthocyanins (1.74 mg/100 g) and chlorophyll b (69.65 mg/100 g) was evidenced, highlighting a considerable amount of vitamin C (377.36 mg/100 g) and pectin concentration (40.5%). In addition, the presence of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols (18.88 mg AGE/100 g), flavonoids (13.51 mg/100 g), anthocyanins (1.74 mg/100 g) and chlorophyll b (69.65 mg/100 g) was evidenced, highlighting a considerable amount of vitamin C (377.36 mg/100 g) and pectin concentration (40.5%).

Objetivo: analisar os efeitos de fitoterápicos no tratamento das dislipidemias. Metodologia: trata-se de uma revisão de literatura com pesquisas nos idiomas inglês, português e espanhol realizadas entre 2017 e 2021 disponíveis nas bases de dados PubMed, Scielo e Google Acadêmico. As pesquisas elegidas limitaram-se a seres humanos, sendo classificadas de acordo com seu nível de evidência. Resultados: os estudos apontaram a eficácia do Allium sativum L. (alho) na redução do colesterol total (CT) e do colesterol da lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-c), além de promover ação antitrombótica e auxiliar na redução da agregação plaquetária. Linum usitatissimun L. (linhaça), nas formas de semente, pó, biscoito e óleo, demonstrou benefícios na redução dos níveis de CT, LDL-c, lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL-c) e triglicerídeos (TG) devido ao seu teor de fibras e ômega-3. Avena sativa (Aveia) também apresentou resultados positivos na redução nos níveis de TG, LDL-c e não-HDL-c por conter alto teor de fibras solúveis do tipo beta-glucana. Conclusão: os fitoterápicos analisados apresentaram resultados satisfatórios para a redução e controle das dislipidemias por atuarem no equilíbrio do teor de lipídeos circulantes.

O presente estudo buscou testar a associação entre o estado nutricional e atitudes alimentares de pacientes bariátricos no contexto da pandemia de Covid-19 no Brasil. Trata-se de um estudo transversal, descritivo, analítico, on-line, com 412 indivíduos, distribuidos em 21 estados brasileiros, o estudo foi realizado após aprovação do Comitê de Ética e contemplou como público alvo indivíduos do sexo feminino ou masculino, com idade igual ou superior a 18 anos, que realizaram cirurgia bariátrica, e que aceitaram os termos da pesquisa. Foi utilizada a estatística descritiva (média, desvio padrão e frequência). Foi aplicado o teste de qui-quadrado de Pearson para testar a associação entre variáveis categóricas, com análise dos resíduos ajustados para identificar quais categorias estavam associadas.  Para todas as análises foi considerado o nível de significância estatística de p<0,05. Foram usados dados sócio demográficos: sexo, escolaridade, renda familiar, moradia, tempo de cirurgia, técnica cirúrgica, IMC e questionário EAT-26. Os resultados apresentaram indivíduos de maior participação o público feminino, com escolaridade de ensino médio completo e renda de um a três salários mínimos, tais fatores apresentaram associação ao desenvolvimento de atitudes alimentares o Bypass gástrico e os indivíduos submetidos entre três e seis meses de procedimento e o score total do EAT-26 pré-cirúrgico de valor 0,47 apresentaram correlação positiva para TA. Nesse sentindo, o acompanhamento multidisciplinar e nutricional de forma contínua é fundamental para garantir o sucesso do procedimento bariátrico.