Sabrina Grassiolli

Background/Objectives: Brazil nut (Bertholletia excelsa (Be)) consumption, in the form of oil or seed, has been associated with health benefits in both the lean and obese conditions; however, the influence of sex on these effects is unknown. We analyzed the effects of oral Be-oil supplementation on adiposity and glucose homeostasis in hypothalamic obese and lean male and female rodents. Methods: Male and female Wistar rats were submitted to hypothalamic lesions by monosodium glutamate (MSG; 4 g/kg). An equimolar saline solution was administered to lean, or control (CON), rats. The MSG (obese) and CON (lean) males and females were subdivided into Be-oil-supplemented (1 mL/kg; 3 times/week/8 weeks) and non-supplemented (Ns; saline) groups. Food consumption, feed efficiency ratio, body weight, and white and brown adipose tissue (WAT/BAT) content were recorded. Fasting values of glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and insulin resistance (IR) were assessed. Results: MSG-obese rats presented increased adiposity, IR, and metabolic dysfunction in both sexes without altering food intake. Independently of sex, long-term oral supplementation with Be-oil did not prevent obesity development and led to reduced feed efficiency. Sex-dependent effects of Be-oil supplementation were noted, with MSG_Be males showing slight improvements in glucose control and insulin responsiveness, despite worsened triglycerides and a reduction in islet number in the pancreas. In contrast, although MSG_Be females presented reduced visceral WAT hypertrophy, IR worsened without alterations in insulin secretion, islet histology, or oral glucose tolerance. Conclusions: In both sexes, oral Be-oil supplementation did not prevent obesity development in MSG-hypothalamic obese rats; however, it exerted sex-dependent metabolic effects, with more positive effects on glucose homeostasis in MSG-obese males.

Purpose: To investigate the associations of the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII), flavonoid intake (FI), and Dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity (DTAC) with obesity as defined by the 2025 diagnostic criteria, and with indicators of total and central adiposity in adults receiving outpatient nutritional care. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 183 adults attending a nutrition outpatient clinic in southwestern Paraná, Brazil (2023–2024). Sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric, and dietary data were obtained from nutritional records. DII, FI, and DTAC were energy-adjusted per 1,000 kcal/day. Total and central adiposity were assessed by body fat percentage (BF%), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR). Associations were examined using crude and adjusted linear and binary logistic regression models. Results: The sample was predominantly female, with a median age of 32 years. Obesity prevalence increased from 41.0% when defined by body mass index (BMI) to 64.5% according to the 2025 diagnostic criteria. Participants in the lowest DII tertile had lower BF% than those in the second tertile, although this difference was no longer significant after adjustment. In adjusted models, higher BF% (β = -0.418; 95% CI: -0.811 to -0.025; p = 0.037) and WC (β = -0.002; 95% CI: -0.004 to -0.001; p = 0.008) were associated with lower FI. No independent associations involving DII or DTAC were observed after adjustment. Conclusion: DII, FI and DTAC were not associated with obesity. However, higher BF% and WC were associated with lower FI, highlighting the potential relevance of these bioactive compounds in adults receiving outpatient nutritional care.

Oxidative stress is a characteristic of obesity dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease. Copaiba oil‐resin (Co‐resin) is known for its antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties; however, its effects on the oxidative system of obese rodents are unknown, particularly with regard to potential sex differences. Here, we evaluated the effects of the oral Co‐resin supplementation on plasma and hepatic oxidative parameters in male and female rodents with hypothalamic‐induced obesity. Hypothalamic obesity was induced during the early postnatal days (PND) by monosodium glutamate (MSG; 4 g kg ⁻¹ ) administration, while control (CON) animals received equimolar saline solution. From 30 to 90 PND, MSG, and CON groups (both sexes) were divided into Co‐resin‐supplemented (0.5 mL kg ⁻¹ , three times a week/8 weeks) or non‐supplemented animals. Adiposity, plasma, and hepatic metabolic and oxidative markers were assessed. Hepatic tissue was used for histological analysis. Male and female MSG‐obese rats presented higher adiposity and metabolic dysfunction, associated with reductions in plasma and hepatic antioxidative activities of glutathione reductase, glutathione‐S‐transferase, and catalase. Reduced hepatic glutathione peroxidase was also observed in MSG‐obese rats of both sexes. Moreover, plasma, and hepatic thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and reactive species were increased in MSG‐obese (male and female) animals. MSG‐obese rats of both sexes displayed abnormal hepatic histopathology and reduced liver superoxide dismutase and catalase contents. Co‐resin oral supplementation effectively restored plasma and hepatic oxidative systems in MSG‐obese males and females without significantly adiposity change. However Co‐resin supplementation had more positive effects on the metabolic parameters of MSG‐obese females, since it restored liver structural abnormalities, plasma triglyceride levels, and insulin responsiveness.

The vagus nerve (VN) and spleen are involved in the anti-inflammatory vagal reflex, which influences the metabolic state, with unknown effects on iron metabolism. Here, we evaluate the impact of subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (SV) and splenectomy (SPL) on iron homeostasis in lean and hypothalamic obese male rats after haemolytic anaemia induction. Hypothalamic obesity was induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG; 4 g/kg), administered subcutaneously (s.c.) once every other day from post-natal day 2 (PND2) to PND10. Lean or control (CTRL) rats received equimolar saline (1.25 g/kg; s.c.). On PND60, rats underwent SV, SPL, SV + SPL, or SHAM surgeries. At PND90, haemolytic anaemia was induced by intraperitoneal phenylhydrazine (PHZ; 40 mg/kg). At PND120, the rats were evaluated for adiposity and metabolism, and plasma samples were used to measure iron, hepcidin, total iron-binding capacity (TIBC), and transferrin saturation (TSAT). MSG-obese rats exhibited normal amounts of iron and hepcidin (P > 0.05), associated with increased values of TIBC and TSAT (P < 0.05), compared with CTRL rats. SV reduced adiposity in both CTRL and MSG-obese rats without altering iron levels. However, in MSG-obese animals only, the anti-adiposity effects of SV were accompanied by positive effects on metabolism, especially in association with SPL and PHZ (P < 0.05). SV increased TSAT in MSG-obese animals (P < 0.05). PHZ-induced haemolytic anaemia increased the circulating levels of hepcidin (P < 0.05) in MSG-obese rats, with this response being influenced by the VN and spleen. In conclusion, vagal and splenic mechanisms regulate the adiposity and metabolism of MSG-hypothalamic obese rats, modulating hepcidin and iron transport capacity, independently of fluctuations in plasma iron levels.

A questão agrária e a luta pela terra, no Brasil, são parte de um processo político-social no qual o enfrentamento mais efetivo tem ocorrido por meio do Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), o qual busca, na reforma agrária, justiça social e saúde para seus integrantes. Nesse processo, estão diretamente envolvidos os sujeitos integrantes do movimento, cujo estado de saúde é diretamente afetado pelas condições de vida nos assentamentos e acampamentos, bem como pelos princípios de alimentação saudável amplamente difundidos pelo MST. Atualmente, são mais de 1,5 milhão de pessoas integrantes do MST; no entanto, são escassos os estudos de avaliação da saúde dessa população, especialmente no que tange a aspectos relacionados a doenças crônico-degenerativas (DCNs), tais como obesidade, diabetes e hipertensão. Desse modo, no presente estudo, foi realizada uma revisão de escopo, a fim de avaliar quais são as patologias comumente encontradas entre os campesinos e de encontrar lacunas de avaliação de saúde nesse movimento. Usando as bases de dados LILACS, WOS, SCOPUS, EMBASE. PUBMED, CINAHL e GOOGLE, foram identificados e selecionados 66 estudos que abordam diferentes doenças e questões de saúde entre os assentados rurais do MST. Mais de 50% dos estudos avaliaram exclusivamente as doenças parasitárias, virais e bacterianas, dentre as quais nota-se maior prevalência de parasitoses. Por outro lado, as informações sobre doenças metabólicas e mentais são escassas, tendo sido observados apenas 16 estudos com esses temas. Assim, é urgente levantar esses aspectos para melhor traçar estratégias de intervenção nessa população.

Objetivo: Avaliar, quanto a concordância, as medidas de percentual de gordura corporal (%GC), percentual de massa muscular esquelética (%MME) e taxa metabólica basal (TMB) de adultos por meio de dois diferentes analisadores de bioimpedância elétrica tetrapolar (Biodynamics 450® e OMRON HBF-514C®). Materiais e Métodos: Estudo transversal, com amostra de 27 indivíduos adultos atendidos em um ambulatório de nutrição do Sudoeste do Paraná, entre os meses de agosto a dezembro de 2023. O teste t de Student para amostras dependentes ou Teste Wilcoxon-rank foram utilizados para a comparação entre os dois analisadores. A concordância foi medida pelo teste de Bland & Altman. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por mulheres (85,19%) e homens (14,81%), com média de idade de 36,29+14,65 anos. O analisador OMRON HBF-514C® apresentou valores mais elevados para %GC (p<0,0001) e menores para %MME (p<0,0001) e TMB (p=0,0003) em relação ao analisador Biodynamics 450®. Os vieses calculados pelo teste de Bland & Altman indicaram que os dois analisadores apresentam valores de limites de concordância distantes. Conclusão: Os resultados deste estudo demonstraram a existência de diferenças significativas entre os valores médios de %GC, %MME e TMB entre os dois analisadores, não havendo concordância entre as medidas.

Disruptions in iron homeostasis are common during obese states and are related to chronic inflammation and insulin resistance. Exercise exerts well-recognized anti-adiposity and anti-inflammatory effects, besides modulating iron control. The vagus nerve (VN) influences immune and metabolic responses, in a spleen-dependent manner with an unknown impact on iron. Here, we evaluated the effects of the absence of the VN and of the spleen on adiposity, metabolism, and iron homeostasis in non-obese and hypothalamic-obese rats submitted to swimming training. Hypothalamic obesity was induced by the administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG; 4 g/Kg) during the initial postnatal days (PNDs). Non-obese control (CTL) rats received equimolar saline. At PND 60, MSG and CTL were submitted to surgery consisting of bilateral subdiaphragmatic vagotomy (Sv), splenectomy (Spl), Sv + Spl, or sham surgery. At PND 80, the rats were subdivided into exercised (Ex) or sedentary (Sd). Exercised rats swam for 30 min/day for 40 days. At PND 120, the growth, adiposity, metabolism, and iron homeostasis of rats were evaluated. Major results indicate that the absence of the VN and spleen favors the anti-adiposity effects of exercise, particularly in MSG-obese rats. In CTL rats, exercise increased plasma iron, in association with changes in iron transport capacity and a reduction in circulating hepcidin levels, a response that is influenced by the VN and spleen. In contrast, in the MSG-obese animals, vagal and splenic absence resulted in increased hepcidin, including following exercise, via a response that is independent of systemic iron fluctuations, suggesting disturbed hepcidin–iron homeostasis during hypothalamic obesity.

Objectives: Serum ferritin (SF) reflects iron homeostasis, in addition to being an acute phase reactant protein. Since its levels are altered in the obesity state, we compared body composition, metabolic profile, liver alterations, and dietary patterns in adults stratified by SF levels (normal vs. high). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using secondary data from 113 adults (≥18 years) of both sexes, attended at an outpatient nutrition clinic in southern Brazil and categorized for normal or high SF. Socioeconomic, anthropometric, blood pressure, dietary, biochemical, and liver parameters were assessed and statistical analyses performed. Results: Participants with high SF were more frequently male (p < 0.0001), married or in a civil union (p = 0.012), and had lower educational levels (p = 0.009). Moreover, higher rates of obesity (p = 0.003), cardiovascular risk (p = 0.004), increased body fat percentage (BF%; p = 0.002) and metabolic disturbances such as elevated glucose (p = 0.023), triglycerides (p = 0.003), insulin resistance (p = 0.027), hypertension (p = 0.001), and metabolic syndrome (MS) (p = 0.001) were noted in this group. Liver-related findings comprised increased ALT (p = 0.008), uric acid (p = 0.016), and indicators of steatosis (p = 0.022). Logistic regression demonstrated a higher likelihood of elevated SF among men (OR = 16.82) and individuals with increased BF% (OR = 7.5), without significant influence of diet. Conclusions: Adults with elevated SF were predominantly obese men with excess adiposity, insulin resistance, and metabolic and hepatic dysfunctions, conditions that increase the risk of MS and liver injury. These findings suggest that SF and other iron biomarkers may serve as valuable tools for diagnosing metabolic dysfunctions and obesity-related liver diseases, particularly Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD).

Introduction: The Landless Rural Workers Movement (MST) is one of the largest social movements in Latin America, focused on the struggle for agrarian reform. The Brazilian rural population, especially in vulnerable contexts, faces the growing challenge of chronic non-communicable diseases, such as obesity, which coexist with nutritional deficiencies. Objective: To evaluate the nutritional status and characterize the dietary profile of adults and elderly people residing in MST encampments in western Paraná. Methods: This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under CAAE No. 63033021.9.0000.0107. This is a cross-sectional study with a non-probabilistic sample of 150 individuals (adults and elderly), of both sexes, conducted between December 2022 and December 2023, in an MST encampment located in a municipality in western Paraná state. Socioeconomic data were collected through a questionnaire. Nutritional status was obtained through anthropometric assessment of weight (kg) and height (m) to obtain the Body Mass Index (BMI – weight [kg]/height [m]²); and waist circumference (WC-cm) and hip circumference (HC-cm) were measured to identify the risk of cardiovascular disease. Laboratory data (fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, and cholesterol), blood pressure (BP), and heart rate (HR) were also collected. Dietary profile was assessed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire composed of 7 food groups, adapted from the Nutrition and Food Consumption Survey of the municipality of Campinas. For the statistical analysis of the quantitative variable "age" among individuals separated according to BMI classification as "Without Excess Weight" versus "With Excess Weight," the Mann-Whitney U test was used. To assess categorical variables between the "Without Excess Weight" versus "With Excess Weight" groups, the chi-square test of independence was performed. Spearman's correlation was applied between anthropometric, biochemical, blood pressure, heart rate, and dietary data variables. All statistical tests were two-tailed and performed using XLSTAT® software version 2014.5.03, considering a significance level of 5%. Results: The research revealed a high frequency of excess weight (65%) in the studied population, with obesity being the most prevalent condition (38.67%). Individuals with excess weight presented greater visceral adiposity and elevated levels of triglycerides and cholesterol, which increases cardiovascular risk. Correlation analysis showed that increased visceral fat was associated with the consumption of ultra-processed foods (cookies and soft drinks) and higher levels of blood pressure and glucose. Conclusion: The data demonstrate that the studied population presented a high frequency of overweight and risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, such as dyslipidemia. This health condition is multifactorial and not only a result of dietary habits, but also of exposure to vulnerable socio-environmental conditions. The struggle for land ownership and the transition to settlements are seen as fundamental processes for improving food security and living conditions, being crucial for the health and quality of life of this population.