Polydextrose: Physiological Function, and Effects on Health.

Polydextrose (PDX) is a non-digestible oligosaccharide used widely across most sectors of the food industry. It is a randomly linked glucose oligomer containing small amounts of sorbitol and citric acid. The random bonds in PDX prevent mammalian digestive enzymes from readily hydrolyzing the molecule and it has a reported energy value of 1 kcal/g.

ω-3 in meat products: benefits and effects on lipid oxidative stability.

Although ω-3 intake has been associated with numerous health benefits, its addition to certain food matrices, and in particular meat products, may involve various technological barriers influencing the final quality of the products. Lipid oxidation must be highlighted due to the modification of both the sensory characteristics and the shelf-life of meat products. In order to reduce the impact of chemical changes and promote oxidative stability, the use of natural antioxidants has gained ground owing to the health and safety advantages linked to its effectiveness at reducing lipid oxidation.

Comparison of biochemical and immunological profile of pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia in relation to healthy individuals.

Objective: To compare the biochemical and immunological profiles of pediatric patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with healthy children and adolescents.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which 21 therapy-naïve patients with AML were compared with a group of 24 healthy individuals. The following data were analyzed: serum proteins, leucocytes and subgroups, erythrocytes, hematocrit, hemoglobin, platelets, cytokines in peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultures under spontaneous and BCG- or PHA-stimulated conditions, immunoglobulin A, and erythrocytic glutathione.

Whey and soy protein supplements changes body composition in patients with Crohn's disease undergoing azathioprine and anti-TNF-alpha therapy.

Background: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic transmural inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract of unknown cause. Malnutrition associated with active CD has been reduced although obesity has increased. Dietary strategies such as those with high-protein have been proposed to reduce body fat.

The impact of cystic fibrosis on the immunologic profile of pediatric patients.

Objective: To compare the immunologic state of 44 pediatric patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with a control group consisting of 16 healthy individuals.

Methods: CF patients aged 3 to 12 years with moderate to good clinical score were selected for the study. Erythrocytic glutathione, production of reactive oxygen species, cytokines (TNF-a, IFN-g, IL-8, IL-6, IL-10) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells cultures under spontaneous and BCG- or PHA-stimulated conditions, serum concentrations of TGF-b2, IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE, and salivary IgA were evaluated.