Browsing by Author "Santos, M."
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- Analysis of Carotenoids, Vitamins and Folates in Traditional Foods from Black Sea AreaPublication . Sanches-Silva, A.; Albuquerque, T.G.; Ribeiro, T.; Valente, A.; Finglas, P.; Flores, A.C.; Santos, M.; D’Antuono, L.F.; Costa, H.S.; on behalf of the BaSeFood Black Sea area partnersNowadays, consumers are much more aware of nutritional composition and show especially interest in compounds with putative health benefits. Therefore, in the last few years, great attention has been devoted to the study of bioactive compounds in order to promote the consumption of traditional foods. The European project BaSeFood (Sustainable Exploitation of Bioactive Components Black Sea Area Traditional Foods) aims to study the traditional foods from the Black Sea Area, namely their nutritional and bioactive composition. In the frame of this project, the present work has analysed carotenoids, vitamins and folates in 33 traditional foods. Carotenoids and retinol and -tocopherol were extracted from samples with hexane/ethanol (4:3, v/v) and quantified by Ultra-high Pressure Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) with diode array detection (DAD). Some samples required saponification with methanolic KOH prior to chromatographic analysis. In general, the most abundant carotenoid was β-carotene. Most of the samples contain -tocopherol and do not present retinol. In order to quantify L-ascorbic acid, samples were stabilized with perchloric acid and metaphosphoric acid in ultrapure water. After dilution with mobile phase, samples were quantified by High Performance LC (HPLC)-DAD. One of the samples with highest L-ascorbic content was fruit of the evergreen cherry laurel (29.7 mg/100 g). Vitamin B2 was extracted after acid hydrolysis followed by dephosphorylation and HPLC with fluorescence detection (method EN 14152:2003, accredited according to ISO 17025). The determination of the total folate content in foodstuffs was carried out by a microbiological assay (EN 14131:2003, accredited according to ISO 17025). One of the highest vitamin B2 and total folate levels was found for roasted sunflower seeds (0.19 mg and 113 µg per 100 g of edible portion, respectively).
- Are Portuguese women of childbearing age exposed to environmental mercury? The One Health perspectivePublication . Santiago, S; Namorado, S.; Dias, C.M.; Nascimento, A.; Martins, C.; Santos, M.; Carvalho, C.; Assunção, R.One health, a transdisciplinary approach, recognizes the interconnection between human, animals and their shared environment. Fish and seafood are important sources of high-biological value proteins, omega-3 fatty acids and essential minerals. However, it can contain environmental contaminants, such as mercury compounds. Long-lived predatory fish species, such as tuna or swordfish, are an important human exposure source. Thus, only through a transdisciplinary approach, namely using one health perspective, is it possible to properly tackle the issue of mercury at different levels. Methylmercury, the most toxic mercury form, mainly targets the central nervous system, and the prenatal period represents a period of greatest vulnerability regarding neurodevelopmental effects on the fetus. Portugal has a tradition of high consumption of fishery and aquaculture products, higher than in the European Union (EU) countries and above both EU and world averages. The present research aimed to evaluate the exposure of Portuguese women of childbearing age to mercury through human biomonitoring and to determine mercury contamination in fish available in Portuguese markets. For this study, 300 Portuguese women of childbearing age (25 to 44 years) were randomly selected in a cross-sectional epidemiological study carried out in Portugal (INSEF, http://www.insef.pt/) in 2015. Also, 24 different species of fish and fishery and aquaculture products acquired on the Portuguese market and representative of Portuguese consumption were selected. This study reinforces the need to develop and implement Portugal risk communication strategies focused on selecting fish species with lower mercury levels to protect susceptible populations from exposure to this chemical while simultaneously promoting the important health benefits of fish consumption and applying a One Health approach.
- Assessment of exposure to the Penicillium glabrum complex in cork industry using complementing methodsPublication . Viegas, C.; Sabino, Raquel; Botelho, D.; Santos, M.; Gomes, A.Q.Cork oak is the second most dominant forest species in Portugal and makes this country the world leader in cork export. Occupational exposure to Chrysonilia sitophila and the Penicillium glabrum complex in cork industry is common, and the latter fungus is associated with suberosis. However, as conventional methods seem to underestimate its presence in occupational environments, the aim of our study was to see whether information obtained by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a molecular-based method, can complement conventional findings and give a better insight into occupational exposure of cork industry workers. We assessed fungal contamination with the P. glabrum complex in three cork manufacturing plants in the outskirts of Lisbon using both conventional and molecular methods. Conventional culturing failed to detect the fungus at six sampling sites in which PCR did detect it. This confirms our assumption that the use of complementing methods can provide information for a more accurate assessment of occupational exposure to the P. glabrum complex in cork industry.
- Estudo-piloto de Health Impact Assessment sobre os possíveis efeitos da redução do sal no pão na doença cardiovascularPublication . Costa, L.; Costa, A.; Braz, P.; Santos, J.; Santos, M.; Brazão, R.; Guerreiro, A.; Lopes, I.; Alves, J.; Caldas de Almeida, T.As doenças cardiovasculares (DCV) representam atualmente uma das principais causas de morte em Portugal, sendo o consumo excessivo de sal um dos fatores de risco. A redução do consumo de sal é considerada uma das melhores abordagens (best buys) para a prevenção destas doenças. Considerando que o pão é um dos principais alimentos que contribuem para a ingestão de sal pela população portuguesa, foi assinado em outubro de 2017, um protocolo entre a Direção-Geral da Saúde, o Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge e as Associações dos Industriais da Panificação, Pastelaria e Similares, com o objetivo de reduzir o teor de sal no pão. Este protocolo foi escolhido para a realização de um estudo piloto utilizando a metodologia de Health Impact Assessment (HIA). O HIA combina procedimentos e métodos que permitem analisar os potenciais impactes de projetos, programas ou políticas, na saúde da população e sua distribuição. Objetivo: Desenvolver um estudo piloto de HIA para avaliar o possível impacte nas DCV da população portuguesa resultante da redução do sal adicionado ao pão, de acordo com as metas estabelecidas no referido protocolo.
- Guidelines for the Detection of Rickettsia spp.Publication . Portillo, A.; de Sousa, R.; Santibánez, S.; Duarte, A.; Edouard, S.; Fonseca, I.P.; Marques, C.; Novakova, M.; Palomar, A.M.; Santos, M.; Silaghi, C.; Tomassone, L.; Zúquete, S.; Oteo, J.A.The genus Rickettsia (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) includes Gram-negative, small, obligate intracellular, nonmotile, pleomorphic coccobacilli bacteria transmitted by arthropods. Some of them cause human and probably also animal disease (life threatening in some patients). In these guidelines, we give clinical practice advices (microscopy, serology, molecular tools, and culture) for the microbiological study of these microorganisms in clinical samples. Since in our environment rickettsioses are mainly transmitted by ticks, practical information for the identification of these arthropods and for the study of Rickettsia infections in ticks has also been added.
- Health Impact Assessment: Uma Ferramenta de Apoio à Adoção de Políticas Saudáveis na Área da AlimentaçãoPublication . Costa, L.; Costa, A.; Braz, P.; Santos, J.; Santos, M.; Assunção, R.; Brazão, R.; Guerreiro, A.; Lopes, I.; Alves, J .; Caldas Almeida, T .Introdução: O Health Impact Assessment (HIA) combina procedimentos e métodos que avaliam potenciais impactes de projetos, programas ou politicas na saúde e a sua distribuição nas populações. Visa informar e melhorar o processo de tomada de decisão baseada na melhor evidência disponível. Devidamente integrado nos processos de planeamento estratégico, o HIA pode contribuir para a implementação de “Políticas Saudáveis”, tal como definido num dos quatro eixos do Plano Nacional de Saúde. É, assim, um instrumento importante para a concretização de uma abordagem integrada da Saúde em todas as políticas. Objetivo: Desenvolver competências técnicas na área do HIA numa perspetiva de learning by doing, através da capacitação de profissionais de saúde e de outros setores.
- Improving influenza surveillance in Portuguese preschool children by parents' reportPublication . Paixão, P.; Piedade, C.; Papoila, A.; Caires, I.; Pedro, C.; Santos, M.; Silvestre, M.J.; Brum, L.; Nunes, Baltazar; Guiomar, R.; Curran, M.D.; Carvalho, A.; Marques, T.; Neuparth, N.Influenza surveillance is usually based on nationally organized sentinel networks of physicians and on hospital reports. This study aimed to test a different report system, based on parents’ phone contact to the research team and in home collection of samples by a dedicated team. The identification of influenza and other respiratory viruses in children who attended a Hospital Emergency Department was also recorded. Real-time PCR and reverse transcription PCR were performed for influenza A and B, parainfluenza 1-4, adenovirus, human metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus A and B, rhinovirus, enterovirus, group 1 coronaviruses, group 2 coronaviruses, and human bocavirus. One hundred children were included, 64 from the day care centers and 36 from the Hospital. Overall, 79 samples were positive for at least one respiratory virus. Influenza A (H3) was the virus most frequently detected: 25 cases, 20 of these in children under 5 years of age (ten from day care centers and ten who went to the hospital) which was higher than those reported by the National Influenza Surveillance Programme for this age. Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggest that a surveillance system based on parents’ reports could complement the implanted system of the National Influenza Surveillance Programme.
- Knowledge and attitude towards the gradual reduction of salt in bread – an online surveyPublication . Costa, A.; Costa, L.; Santos, J.; Braz, P.; Santos, M.; Brazão, R.; Lopes, I.; Guerreiro, A.; Alves, J.; Caldas Almeida, T.Aim: Assess knowledge and attitude towards the gradual reduction of salt in bread and the potential impact on eating habits of children (6-18 years) and their families, as part as a Health Impact Assessment pilot study.
- Levels of manganese, iron, zinc and mercury in vegetarian foodsPublication . Nascimento, A.; Santiago, S.; Lopes, M.; Santos, M.The increasing popularity of vegetarian diet has induced science to better study this foods. As long as it includes the necessary intake of nutrients, such as minerals, can be beneficial to health. In addition, concern about food safety has increased in recent years, leading to studies to evaluate food contamination by toxic metals, regarding food poisoning prevention and public health improvement. The purpose of this work was to quantify manganese, iron, zinc and mercury contents in different foods for a plant-based diet. Mineral levels were determined by Inductive Plasma Coupled Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). Total mercury content was determined by a thermal decomposition and amalgamation atomic absorption spectrophotometry (TDA/AAS). Manganese level ranged from 0.10 mg/100g (
- Lipid profile of nuts and oilseedsPublication . Albuquerque, T.G.; Sanches-Silva, A.; Fontes, T.; Santos, M.; Costa, H.S.Total fat and fatty acids profile are important factors for the nutritional evaluation of nuts and oilseeds. In the last years, several studies have reported the importance of consumption nuts and oilseeds to promote health benefits, especially those related with cardiovascular diseases. This is due to its high content of fat, which is mainly composed of unsaturated fatty acids. The overall objective of this study was to compare the total fat content and fatty acids profile of seven types of nuts and five types of oilseeds. Thereby, samples were randomly collected at supermarkets and herbal shops from Lisbon region, and three composite samples were prepared, in order to provide accurate data that covers all the possible variations among samples. For the lipid profile of oilseeds and nuts, either accredited methods or methods for which the laboratory has shown a successful participation in Proficiency testing schemes were used. Total fat determination was performed with an acid hydrolysis method followed by extraction using a Soxhlet apparatus with petroleum ether, as the extraction solvent (AOAC 948.15, 2000). Preparation of FA methyl esters was carried out by a combined method of methylation and transesterification. Chromatographic analysis was performed with a gas chromatograph equipped with a mass spectrophotometer detector. A HP-88, fused silica capillary column (100 m x 0.25 mm i.d., 0.25 mm) was used for FA determination. Samples were analyzed in triplicate. The applied GC-MS method allows separation and identification of more than fifty FA, including some trans-FA and ω3 or ω6 FA. Total fat content ranged between 39.8 ± 1.15 and 66.6 ± 0.11 g/100 g of edible portion, for brown flaxseeds and Brazil chestnuts, respectively. Linoleic acid was the major fatty acid found in sunflower seeds and walnuts. Sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, roasted peanuts and salted peanuts have similar quantities of oleic and linoleic acid. For brown and golden flaxseeds, the major fatty acid was linolenic acid (18.3 ± 1.99 and 21.8 ± 1.03 g/100 g of edible portion, respectively). Cashew, peeled almonds and salted pistachio have similar fatty acids profile with oleic acid being the major fatty acid. Nuts and oilseeds are rich sources of fat, specially unsaturated fatty acids which are related with several health benefits, namely cardiovascular diseases. In Portugal, circulatory system diseases still remain the leading cause of death. Therefore, increasing the consumption of nuts and oilseeds in Portugal is extremely required. With this study we intend to provide accurate data on nuts and seeds lipid profile to enhance its consumption based on its nutritional quality and related health benefits. Further studies will be carried out with respect to phytosterols composition, carotenoids and liposoluble vitamins.