A balanced diet is essential in obesity control. Fruits stand out for the presence of various bioactive compounds, which represent promising tools in the prevention and treatment of various pathologies. In obesity, fruits phytochemicals present are related to different important mechanisms of action, such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. This narrative review aims to understand the main physiological alterations of obesity and the effects of bioactive compounds in fruits on them, identifying the best-known substances and their likely mechanisms of action on the main biomarkers. The research was carried out in the Google Scholar, Scielo, Pubmed and Science Direct databases, considering reviews published since 2015 and experimental studies since 2010. Inflammatory cytokines and adipokines are considered primary biomarkers of obesity, and are currently also considered the insulin resistance, lower glucose tolerance, oxidative stress, gut microbiota, nutrients and microRNAs. Three groups of fruits stood out for their effects: Citrus fruits, berries and tropical fruits, sources mainly of flavonoids, anthocyanins and carotenoids. Experimental results indicate that fruits and their compounds can help in the prevention and treatment of obesity through the regulation of inflammatory cytokines and adipokines involved in the mechanisms of this disease, as well as antioxidant properties and modulation of lipogenesis. More clinical studies are needed to understand the biochemical mechanisms involved, in order to favor not only the production of specific supplements but also the best clinical dietary prescription.

No abstract

The present study investigated the effects of murici and tapereba on improving hepatic and inflammatory biomarkers in high-fat-diet rats. Female Wistar rats were divided into five groups (n = 10/group): control (CON), high-fat diet (HF), murici drink + high-fat diet (Mu-HF), tapereba drink + high-fat diet (Tap-HF), and murici and tapereba blend drink + high-fat diet (MT-HF). Drinks were offered daily for 60 days, following which body and liver weights, hepatosomatic indexes, serum parameters, inflammatory profile, and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ORAC) were analyzed. The cell death of hepatic cells was evaluated using flow cytometry. It was observed that weight gain was similar among the groups, while glycemia was lower in the MT-HF group. A high-fat diet increased the concentration of cholesterol total, ALT, IL-1β (in plasma and liver), and TNF-α (in the liver), and this was reduced by treatment with the fruit-based beverages. The other evaluated parameters showed no statistically significant difference. Compared to the CON and HF groups, the groups that received the drinks had higher cellular antioxidant activity and reduced oxidative stress, lipid oxidation, and development of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β. A high-fat diet induced higher cell death in hepatic tissue, which was prevented by the murici, tapereba, and the fruit-blend drinks. The consumption of murici, tapereba, and fruit-blend-based beverages showed beneficial effects on liver metabolism; therefore, they may serve as a nutritional approach for preventing and treating non-alcoholic liver disease.

Students and orphans from Brazilian and Portuguese Vincentian institutions suffered outbreaks of a unknown disease in the 19th century, today called Beriberi. Primary cause was malnutrition, but part of the students did not present Beriberi. Our aim was investigate the effect of malnutrition, as well as secondary factors (consumption of infusions, fasting and depression) in the etiology of Beriberi. Ingestion of thiamine (vitamin B1) in both Caraça school and Asylum D’Ajuda was 815 µg dia-1 and 844 µg dia-1, respectively. Intake of vitamin B1 was of 24 % to 46 % lower than that recommended by RDA. Consumption of infusions from Luxemburghia polyandra (congonha) and Camellia sinensis (black tea) rich in anti-thiamine polyphenols was responsible for degradation of above 25 % of vitamin B1. Prolonged religious fasting decreases food ingestion and it could aggravate hypovitaminosis. The harsh way of life in the Vincentian institutions may contribute to depression emergence in susceptible students going to causing food inappetence. In conclusion, malnutrition associated with consumption of infusion, religious fasting and depression could have triggered the Beriberi in part of the student body of both Caraça school and Asylum D'Ajuda.