The increasing prevalence of obesity and, consequently, chronic inflammation and its complications has increased the search for new treatment methods. The effect of the purified tamarind seed trypsin inhibitor (TTIp) on metabolic alterations in Wistar rats with obesity and dyslipidemia was evaluated. Three groups of animals with obesity and dyslipidemia were formed, consuming a high glycemic index and glycemic load (HGLI) diet, for 10 days: Obese/HGLI diet; Obese/standard diet; Obese/HGLI diet + TTIp (730 μg/kg); and one eutrophic group of animals was fed a standard diet. Rats were evaluated daily for food intake and weight gain. On the 11th day, animals were anesthetized and sacrificed for blood and visceral adipose tissue collection. TTIp treated animals presented significantly lower food intake than the untreated group (p = 0.0065), TG (76.20 ± 18.73 mg/dL) and VLDL-C (15.24 ± 3.75 mg/dL). Plasma concentrations and TNF-α mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue also decreased in obese animals treated with TTIp (p < 0.05 and p = 0.025, respectively) with a negative immunostaining. We conclude that TTIp presented anti-TNF-α activity and an improved lipid profile of Wistar rats with dyslipidemia and obesity induced by a high glycemic index and load diet regardless of PPAR-γ induction.

We investigated the inflammatory effect of a pellet-diet with high glycemic index and load (HGLI) on the histological organization of adipocytes, intestinal epithelium, and fat in liver and pancreas in adult male Wistar rats. Two groups (n=10) received for 17 weeks: (1) HGLI diet or (2) Standard diet (Labina®). Histological analyses of adipose tissue, jejunum, liver, and pancreas were performed. Stereology analysis, visceral adiposity index, gene expression, and immunohistochemistry of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in visceral adipose tissue and plasma TNF-α were also assessed. The HGLI diet-induced hypertrophy of adipocytes with adipocyte volume density equal to 97.0%, cross-sectional area of adipocytes equivalent to 1387 µm² and a total volume of adipocytes of 6.97 cm³ an elevation of 8%, 25%, and 58%, respectively. Furthermore, the HGLI diet increased liver and pancreatic fat deposition, altered and inflamed the intestinal epithelia, and increased TNF-α gene expression (P=0.014) with a positive immunostaining in visceral adipose tissue and high plasma TNF-α in comparison with standard diet. The results suggest that this diet was able to generate changes commonly caused to solid diets with high fat or fructose-rich beverages. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in the literature concerning the properties of low-cost, sucrose-rich pellet-diet presenting high glycemic index and high glycemic load efficient on the development of obesity complications in Wistar rats that were subjected to diet-induced obesity. Therefore, the HGLI pellet-diet may be considered an effective tool to be used by the scientific community in experimental research.

Bioactive peptides derived from native proteins modulate physiological processes in the metabolic pathways. Given that multiple protocols in the literature mimic the digestion of dietary components, gathering studies that use such models directed at protein digestion processes is critical. This systematic review aimed to gather evidence that adopted adequate experimental models to simulate human protein digestion. The databases searched were PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Embase, Virtual Health Library, and Scopus. A total of 1985 articles were found, resulting in 20 eligible in vitro studies. The Office of Health Assessment and Translation was used to evaluate methodological quality. Seven studies used plant-based protein sources, twelve used animal protein sources, and one used both. The duration of the oral phase varied, although 60% of the studies employed a protein digestion period of 120 min. Amylase, pepsin, and pancreatin enzymes were utilized in 40% of the studies, with pH levels of 7, 3, and 7, respectively, during the oral, gastric, and intestinal phases. The INFOGEST harmonized static model was adopted by 65% of the studies; INFOGEST is the most effective model for simulating gastrointestinal protein processes in humans and can be used to answer several research questions because it describes experimental conditions close to the human physiological situation.

Inhibitors of enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion may be a potential option for glycemic control in Diabetes Mellitus. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the trypsin inhibitor isolated from tamarind seed (Tamarindus indica L.) (TTI) on α-amylase. After confirmation of the obtaining and characterization of the TTI, the in vitro inhibitory activity of the TTI against α-amylase was analyzed. The interaction of the modeled structures’ theoretical TTI (TTIp 56/287) and five of its derived peptides with α-amylase was also evaluated in silico using Docking and Molecular Dynamics, and their functional properties were examined. The Interaction Potential Energy (IPE) and the main interactions of the peptide-α-amylase complex were described using three-dimensional representations. TTI presented 100% antitryptic activity and a molecular mass of approximately 21 kDa. In vitro, inhibition of α-amylase was higher than 37%. These results were corroborated by computational analyses, which demonstrated strong interaction between the TTIp 56/287 complex and its peptides with the enzyme. The Root Mean Square Deviation (RMSD) and Root Mean Square Fluctuation (RMSF) analyses showed good stability. IPE was −705.08 kJ/mol for DTVHDTDGQVPL and −584.11 kJ/mol for TIAPACAPKPAR. Electrostatic interactions stand out, especially the salt bridge, between the main residues that interacted in the complexes (DTVHDTDGQVPL, TIAPACAPKPAR, and TVSQTPIDIPIGLPVR). Additionally, the bioactive potential predicted two candidates with good stability, a long half-life, and bioactivity in an intestinal simulation environment. This is the first report of tamarind trypsin inhibitor or its peptides inhibiting α-amylase. Thus, the amino acid sequences DTVHDTDGQVPL and TIAPACAPKPAR were revealed as candidates that could be tested for action against α-amylase and possibly for glycemic control.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hygiene and sanitary conditions of canteens in a Brazilian public university. A checklist was applied and coliform analysis at 45 °C. Aerobic mesophilic bacteria on surface boards used in food handling were also counted. It was observed that most of the canteens were considered unsatisfactory in terms of compliance with good handling practices. Presence of coliforms at 45 °C was noted in 72% of the food handling surface boards. With respect to mesophilic bacteria, 81% of the boards presented values above the recommended. According to the results, it is possible to say that based on hygienic-sanitary guidelines, the canteens were not in accordance with Brazilian law that regulates good manufacture practices of the food service industry and recommends that facilities, equipment and utensils used in food handling are in proper hygienic-sanitary conditions. The food production process for the university population was not properly carried out due to non-compliance with good handling practices. Thus, the health of thousands of students and staff who have their meals daily at the university canteens may be at risk.

A Educação Alimentar e Nutricional (EAN) deve ser realizada em ambientes escolares visando ao incentivo a hábitos alimentares saudáveis. Este trabalho teve como objetivo relatar uma atividade desenvolvida com base na versão mais atual do Guia Alimentar para a População Brasileira, com 90 estudantes de uma escola pública de um município do Recôncavo da Bahia. A ação foi dividida em dois momentos: o primeiro consistiu em uma dinâmica, utilizando placas coloridas para representar os níveis de processamento dos alimentos, e o segundo baseou-se em um jogo pedagógico. Pôde-se observar que os estudantes tinham algum conhecimento prévio sobre o tema, especialmente acerca dos alimentos in natura e ultraprocessados, apresentando certo grau de dificuldade para diferenciar os alimentos minimamente processados dos processados. Após a ação, percebeu-se um aumento do entendimento sobre os tópicos abordados. Ações de EAN, desenvolvidas com o emprego de linguagem acessível, podem contribuir para alcançar o público jovem, colaborando com a popularização da ciência e com a prevenção do desenvolvimento de Doenças Crônicas Não Transmissíveis por meio da redução do consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados.