Abstract:The health benefits of nutrients provided by edible insects are not properly studied, even though insect intake in Latin American and Asia is a cultural tradition since ancient times. Insects from the giant water bug (Belostomidae family) are consumed both in Mexico and Thailand, and are known as "Cucarachon de agua" (Lethocerus americanus) and "Mangda" (Lethocerus indicus), respectively. Raw samples of these insects were collected on 2014 at Xochimilco channels from Mexico and from Warorot night market in Chiang Mai, Thailand to further analyze nutrient composition of samples according to official methods of analysis (AOAC) techniques. The nutrient compositions were as following: proteins 60.12% and 53.11%; lipids 5.72% and 8.15%; minerals 5.46% and 6.75%; fiber 10.95 % and 12.23%; soluble carbohydrates 17.75% and 19.74%, for insects obtained from Mexico and Thailand, respectively. Giant water bug shows differences in nutrient composition. It may be the consequence of differences in the environment where they acquire the nutrients necessary for growth and reproduction. However, giant water bugs are available all year around and are a good source of proteins that could help people to obtain a cheaper source of this important macronutrient.
The objective of this study was to know the relationship between dietary intake (DI) and body composition (BC) with the metabolic syndrome (MS) among university students. A total of 50 students (56% female) among 19 and 25 years of age (M = 20.58, SD = 1.86), completed a questionnaire aimed at assessing DI, in addition biochemical and BC parameters were collected. According to the percentage of body fat (BF), a high prevalence of overweight (22%) and obesity (38%) was identified. In addition, visceral fat increased as the BF increased. In both sexes, there was a low consumption of carbohydrates and high in lipids, mostly of animal fat as well as high consumption of saturated fats, but low omegas 3 y 6. The MS was identified in 20% of the sample, mainly in women. The most frequently risk criteria were low levels of HDL cholesterol, followed by abdominal obesity; whereas the most frequent dyslipidemia was hypertriglyceridemia. In this study, although no direct relationship was found between DI and MS, it was found between MS and BC indicators. It is imminent the need to implement strategies that allow university students to acquire healthy eating and physical activity habits. Resumen El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la relación de la ingesta alimentaria (IA) y la composición corporal (CMC) con el síndrome metabólico (SM) entre estudiantes universitarios. Participaron 50 alumnos (56% mujeres) de entre 19 y 25 años de edad (M = 20.58, DE = 1.86), quienes completaron un cuestionario dirigido a evaluar IA, además se recabaron parámetros bioquímicos y de CMC. De acuerdo con el porcentaje de grasa corporal (PG), se identificó una alta ocurrencia de sobrepeso (22%) y obesidad (38%). Además, la grasa visceral incrementó conforme aumentó el PG. En ambos sexos existió un consumo bajo de hidratos de carbono y alto en lípidos, mayormente de origen animal, así como alto consumo de grasas saturadas, pero bajo de omegas 3 y 6. El SM fue identificado en 20% de la muestra, principalmente mujeres. El criterio de riesgo más frecuente fueron bajos niveles séricos de colesterol HDL, seguido de la obesidad abdominal; en tanto que la dislipidemia más frecuente fue la hipertrigliceridemia. En este estudio, aunque no se encontró relación directa entre IA y SM, si de éste con indicadores de CMC. Resulta inminente la necesidad de implementar estrategias que permitan a los estudiantes universitarios adquirir hábitos alimentarios y de actividad física saludables.
Insect's nutrient composition may provide a good source of macro-and micro-nutrients with nutraceutical functions that could help people from semirural areas, such as Ixcaquixtla, located southeast of the Puebla State, Mexico. The aim of this study was to assess macro-and micro-nutrients in Cuetlas (Arsenura armada C.) larvae and inform local people about the nutraceutical benefits that those insects could provide. Cuetlas larvae samples were collected from Jonote tree on August, 2014 to analyze minerals and macro-nutrient of raw larvae according to AOAC (1995) techniques. Results showed that Cuetlas larvae contained 56.93% proteins, 14.76% lipids, 2.95% minerals, 2.13% fiber and 23.23% soluble carbohydrates. Cuetlas larvae have a good amount of proteins, essential macromolecules for human life as well as essential fatty acids that are important sources of fuel for brain cells and in particular for cardiac and skeletal muscle, minerals, not determined individually, which are important for metabolism processes, fiber for digestive processes and soluble carbohydrates as energy source.
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