Nut consumption is associated with a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of adding peanuts (whole or peanut butter) on first (0-240 min)-and second (240 -490 min)-meal glucose metabolism and selected gut satiety hormone responses, appetite ratings and food intake in obese women with high T2DM risk. A group of fifteen women participated in a randomised cross-over clinical trial in which 42·5 g of whole peanuts without skins (WP), peanut butter (PB) or no peanuts (control) were added to a 75 g available carbohydrate-matched breakfast meal. Postprandial concentrations (0-490 min) of glucose, insulin, NEFA, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), peptide YY (PYY), cholecystokinin (CCK), appetitive sensations and food intake were assessed after breakfast treatments and a standard lunch. Postprandial NEFA incremental AUC (IAUC) (0-240 min) and glucose IAUC (240 -490 min) responses were lower for the PB breakfast compared with the control breakfast. Insulin concentrations were higher at 120 and 370 min after the PB consumption than after the control consumption. Desire-to-eat ratings were lower, while PYY, GLP-1 and CCK concentrations were higher after the PB intake compared with the control intake. WP led to similar but non-significant effects. The addition of PB to breakfast moderated postprandial glucose and NEFA concentrations, enhanced gut satiety hormone secretion and reduced the desire to eat. The greater bioaccessibility of the lipid component in PB is probably responsible for the observed incremental post-ingestive responses between the nut forms. Inclusion of PB, and probably WP, to breakfast may help to moderate glucose concentrations and appetite in obese women.

RESUMO -O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de avaliar e comparar a composição florística de 18 reservatórios pertencentes a cinco bacias hidrográficas do Estado de São Paulo. Os levantamentos foram realizados no período de fevereiro a setembro de 2002, com o auxílio de um barco. Percorreu-se a margem dos reservatórios das bacias hidrográficas dos rios Paraíba, Paraná, Paranapanema, Grande e Tietê, à velocidade de 30 km h -1 . A cada 20 minutos, estabeleceu-se um ponto de amostragem, determinando-se sua posição por meio de GPS. Em cada ponto, em área de 1.000 m 2 , identificaram-se as espécies ocorrentes e respectivas densidades, em porcentagem da área amostrada. Foram identificadas 39 espécies, distribuídas em 21 famílias, destacando-se as flutuantes Salvinia auriculata, Eichhornia crassipes, Eichhornia azurea e Pistia stratiotes e as emersas Polygonum lapathifolium, Brachiaria arrecta, Brachiaria mutica, Cyperus sp. e Typha latifolia, considerando as quatro espécies com maior freqüência em cada bacia. O maior índice de similaridade (0,71) ocorreu entre as bacias dos rios Paranapanema e Grande, e o menor (0,49), entre as bacias dos rios Paraíba e Tietê.Palavras-chave: levantamento, planta daninha, hidrelétrica e macrófitas aquáticas.ABSTRACT -The objective of this work was to evaluate and compare the aquatic plant composition of 18 reservoirs in five watershed basins in SP-Brazil. The survey was carried out on a boat from February to September 2002, comprising the watersheds basins of the rivers Paraíba, Paraná, Paranapanema, Grande and Tietê. On average, every 20 minutes a sampling point was determined by means of a portable GPS, and the species were identified based on high density, average density and low density. A total of 39 species was identified, distributed in 21 families. The prominent species were the floating Salvinia auriculata, Eichhornia crassipes, Eichhornia azurea, Pistia stratiotes and the immersed Polygonum lapathifolium, Brachiaria arrecta, Brachiaria mutica, Cyperus sp. and Typha latifolia, considering the four species occurring most frequently in each basin. The largest similarity index (0.71) was verified for rivers Paranapanema and Grande basins, while the lowest (0.49) was observed for the rivers Paraíba and Tietê basins.

Objective: To explore the effects of peanut consumption on fecal energy excretion with a balanced, non-vegetarian diet. Design: Four arm parallel group design (that is, whole peanut (P), peanut butter (PB), peanut oil (PO) or peanut flour (PF) consumption) with one crossover (control and intervention). Subjects: In total 63 healthy men and women from Ghana, Brazil and USA (N ¼ 15-16 per group) with an average body mass index of 21.8 kg m À2 . Measurements: Percent fat of fecal wet weight daily energy excretion during the control and the treatment periods. Results: Compared to control, the percentage of fat in the feces increased significantly for the P group (5.2270.29%) relative to the other three groups ((PO ¼ 3.0770.36%, PB ¼ 3.1170.31% (P ¼ 0.001), and PF ¼ 3.7570.40% (P ¼ 0.019)). The same findings held for kJ g À1 of feces excreted. During the P supplementation period, the energy excretion was 21.471.0 kJ g À1 versus 18.771.0 kJ g À1 for PO (P ¼ 0.034), 18.870.7 kJ g À1 for PB (P ¼ 0.042) and 18.570.8 kJ g À1 for PF (P ¼ 0.028). Conclusion: Fecal fat and energy loss is greater with consumption of whole peanuts compared to peanut butter, oil or flour. This may contribute to the less than predicted change of body weight observed with peanut consumption. There were no cultural differences.

These data indicate that flaxseed is promising for dietary manipulation of hyperlipidemia.

Peanuts and peanut butter are commonly consumed as a snack, meal component and ingredient in various commercial products. Their consumption is associated with reduced CVD risk and they pose little threat to positive energy balance. However, questions have arisen as to whether product form (e.g. whole nut v. butter) and processing properties (e.g. roasting and adding flavours) may compromise their positive health effects. The present study investigated the effects of peanut form and processing on two CVD risk factors: fasting plasma lipids and body weight. One hundred and eighteen adults (forty-seven males and seventy-one females; age 29·2 (SD 8·4) years; BMI 30·0 (SD 4·5) kg/m 2 ) from Brazil, Ghana and the United States were randomised to consume 56 g of raw unsalted (n 23), roasted unsalted (n 24), roasted salted (n 23) or honey roasted (n 24) peanuts, or peanut butter (n 24) daily for 4 weeks. Peanut form and processing did not differentially affect body weight or fasting plasma lipid responses in the total sample. However, HDL-cholesterol increased significantly at the group level, and total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and TAG concentrations decreased significantly in individuals classified as having elevated fasting plasma lipids compared with those with normal fasting plasma lipids. These observations suggest that the processing attributes assessed in this trial do not compromise the lipid-lowering effects of peanuts, and do not negatively impact body weight. Further studies are warranted to determine the effects of form and processing on other health risk factors.

The adolescents consumed about half the daily amount provided, which may not have been sufficient to exert the health benefits of flaxseed reported in the literature, concerning the lipid profile, inflammation biomarkers and body composition.

O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar o período anterior à interferência e o período total de prevenção à interferência da comunidade infestante sobre a cultura do girassol (híbrido M 734). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos casualizados, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram compostos por parcelas constituídas por períodos de controle e de presença de plantas daninhas. Para os períodos de controle, o girassol foi mantido livre das plantas daninhas pelos períodos crescentes de 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 49 e 125 dias após a sua emergência (DAE). Quanto a convivência, a cultura foi mantida na presença da comunidade infestante pelos mesmos períodos. Foram avaliados a densidade e o peso da matéria seca das plantas daninhas e, no girassol, a altura de plantas, o diâmetro de capítulos e a produtividade de aquênios e de óleo. Para a produtividade de aquênios, o período anterior à interferência foi de 15 DAE da cultura, e o período total de prevenção à interferência, de 39 DAE. O período crítico de prevenção à interferência abrangeu 24 dias do ciclo da cultura. Quanto à produtividade de óleo, o período anterior à interferência foi de 32 DAE, e o período total de prevenção à interferência, de 28 DAE.

The acute consumption of peanuts delayed the increase in serum triacylglycerol and favoured the quicker return of insulin to basal concentrations, especially in the CVP group. Our results suggest that the consumption of conventional or high-oleic peanuts may help to reduce the risk of endotoxaemia and metabolic disorders.