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Obesity and overweight have reached epidemic proportions and their prevalence has increased dramatically in the last decades worldwide. This has resulted in a dramatic increase in the incidence of obesity-associated metabolic alterations including type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular complications, and certain types of cancer. Evidences suggest that bioactive compounds present in fruit and vegetables, including polyphenols (or phenolic compounds), may exert beneficial effects against the development of obesity and associated alterations. Brazil is the world's third largest fruit producer and the seventh largest producer of tropical fresh fruits; however, only a few of them are being exploited commercially, perhaps due to the limited amount of information available about their chemical composition, and biochemical, nutritional and functional properties. Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) and cambuci (Campomanesia phaea Berg.) are fruit species of the Myrtaceae family growing in the regions of the Brazilian Cerrado and Atlantic Coastal Forest biomes, respectively. Cagaita and cambuci fruits are used in various typical preparations, mainly jams, jellies, ice-cream, and liqueurs; whereas both fruit and leaves are used as popular alternative medicine by local communities to treat various disturbs such as diarrhea, diabetes, and jaundice. Previous studies have demonstrated the antioxidant and antidiabetic potential from cagaita and cambuci polyphenols in in vitro assays. Thus, in the present study, we investigated whether the administration of polyphenol-rich extracts from cagaita and cambuci, at two different doses, protect mice from diet-induced obesity and associated alterations. Two biological models, preventive and therapeutic, were designed for cagaita, and preventive for cambuci. For the preventive protocols, C57BL/6J mice fed either with a chow or a high-fat, high-sucrose (HFHS) diets were daily treated by gavage with water or polyphenols-rich extracts at two doses for 8 weeks. The findings demonstrate that polyphenols from cagaita prevented body weight and fat mass gains, attenuated fasting hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, and reduced hepatic lipid accumulation. On the other hand, polyphenols from cambuci showed absence of changes in body weight and adiposity; however, an attenuation of adipose tissue inflammation was observed for both doses tested. Additionally, polyphenols from cambuci were effective in ameliorating glucose tolerance, as well as reducing fasting hyperglycemia, and improving dyslipidemia. For the therapeutic protocol, C57BL/6J obese mice induced by the intake of a HFHS diet for six weeks were treated with polyphenols from cagaita at two doses by oral gavage for further 8 weeks. Polyphenols from cagaita improved glucose homeostasis and attenuated dyslipidemia in obese mice, without affecting body weight and adiposity. Mechanistically, these beneficial actions seem to be mediated, at least in part, through a reduction in hepatic inflammation. In conclusion, polyphenols from cagaita and cambuci have a potential protective role in diet-induced obesity and their metabolic alterations

A obesidade é considerada uma das grandes epidemias do século XXI, devido ao aumento de sua prevalência nos últimos anos e às diversas co-morbidades decorrentes destas alterações metabólicas como diabetes mellitus tipo 2, doenças cardiovasculares e alguns tipos de câncer. Evidências sugerem que compostos bioativos presentes em frutas e vegetais, incluindo os polifenóis (ou compostos fenólicos), podem exercer efeitos benéficos contra o desenvolvimento de obesidade e suas alterações associadas. O Brasil é o terceiro produtor mundial de frutas e o sétimo na produção de frutas tropicais, no entanto, um grande número de espécies frutíferas nativas permanece inexplorado em relação a seu potencial nutricional e funcional. Cagaita (Eugenia dysenterica DC.) e cambuci (Campomanesia phaea Berg.) são espécies frutíferas originárias das regiões do Cerrado e da Mata Atlântica, respectivamente, cujos frutos são usados na elaboração de diversos produtos alimentícios, e frutos e folhas de cagaita são usados na medicina popular. Estudos prévios têm demonstrado o potencial antioxidante e antidiabético in vitro dos polifenóis de ambas as frutas. Neste contexto, no presente estudo, foi investigado se a administração de extratos ricos em polifenóis de cagaita e cambuci, em duas doses diferentes, protegem camundongos de obesidade induzida por dieta a suas alterações associadas. Dois modelos biológicos, preventivo e terapêutico, foram desenvolvidos para cagaita, e preventivo para cambuci. Para os protocolos preventivos, foram usados camundongos da linhagem C57BL/6J alimentados com dieta rica em gorduras e sacarose (high-fat high-sucrose diet, HFHS), aos quais foram administrados água (controle) ou extratos ricos em polifenóis por gavagem em duas doses por 8 semanas. Os resultados demonstraram diferentes efeitos para os dois extratos. Os polifenóis de cagaita preveniram ganho de peso corporal e adiposidade, atenuaram hiperglicemia de jejum e dislipidemia, e reduziram acumulação de lipídeos hepáticos. Por outro lado, polifenóis de cambuci não contribuíram na prevenção do ganho de peso corporal e adiposidade, no entanto, foi observada uma atenuação na inflamação do tecido adiposo, em ambas as doses avaliadas. Adicionalmente, polifenóis de cambuci melhoraram a tolerância à glicose, assim como reduziram a hiperglicemia de jejum e atenuaram a dislipidemia. Para o protocolo terapêutico, camundongos da linhagem C57BL/6J foram induzidos à obesidade pela ingestão da dieta alta em gorduras e sacarose por 6 semanas e posteriormente foram tratados com polifenóis de cagaita, em duas doses, por gavagem por 8 semanas. Os polifenóis de cagaita melhoraram a homeostase glicêmica e atenuaram a dislipidemia em camundongos obesos, sem afetar peso corporal e adiposidade. Estes benefícios aparentam ser mediados, ao menos em parte, através da uma redução da inflamação hepática. Em conclusão, polifenóis de cagaita e cambuci têm um papel protetor potencial em obesidade induzida por dieta e suas alterações metabólicas

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Green tea has been shown to have thermogenic and antiobesity properties. Therefore, it is important to investigate its effect on weight loss in humans, especially in women. We investigated the effects of green tea consumption combined with resistance training on the body composition and the resting metabolic rate (RMR) in women who were overweight or obese (grade I). After 4 weeks on an adaptive diet, 36 women were divided into four groups (group 1 green tea; group 2 placebo; group 3 green tea plus resistance training; group 4 placebo plus resistance training). The study was double-blinded and placebo-controlled. The RMR and body composition were ascertained for each volunteer, blood tests were performed, and subjects in groups 3 and 4 were tested for their one repetition maximum. Each subject followed the protocol and continued the diet for eight additional weeks, and periodic evaluations were administered. The mean RMR of group 1 decreased significantly and was accompanied by weight loss, maintenance of lean body mass, and decreases in both waist circumference and body mass index. Group 2 showed no variations in anthropometric or blood variables and significantly decreased their mean RMR. Group 3 showed significant increases in RMR, lean body mass, and muscle strength, and significant decreases in body fat, triglycerides, and waist circumference as compared to group 4. Green tea combined with resistance training its potential is increased with decreasing body fat, waist circumference, and triacylglyceride levels and by increasing lean body mass and muscle strength.

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Cupuassu (Theobroma grandiflorum) is a fruit tree native to the Brazilian Amazon. Cupuassu beans are extensively used in the Brazilian food industry. Fat from cupuassu beans, which are a rich source of triacylglycerols and fatty acids, is used extensively in the production of candies and confectionery in the northern and northeastern regions of Brazil. The potential use of the agro-industrial by-products of cupuassu has only slightly been addressed by the scientific community. Often, such by-products are sources of bioactive compounds with functional properties. Thus, the aims of this study were to characterize the use of cupuassu peel flour (CPF) and to examine the potential of CPF as a partial replacement in the preparation of breads through various means: chemical analyses, determination of protein digestibility, tannins, phytic acid and phenolic contents, pH, color, volume, and acceptance tests. The results show that CPF is a potential source of dietary fiber (79.81%), mainly insoluble fiber (78.29%), and breads made with added CPF present high dietary fiber content (5.40 and 6.15 g/100 g for inclusions with 6 and 9% CPF, respectively) and phytochemical values. The use of this by-product did not produce substantial changes in the physical, chemical or rheological characteristics of breads. Therefore, breads enhanced with CPF may be a convenient functional food, offering a good source of dietary fiber and phytochemicals. Breads prepared with 6% added CPF presented an acceptable overall quality to consumers.

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