Non-nutrients and nutrients from Latin American fruits for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Author(s)

Aguiar, Lais Marinho ^[1] ; Bicas, Juliano Lemos ^[1] ; Fuentes, Eduardo ^[2] ; Alarcon, Marcelo ^[2] ; Gonzalez, Ivan Palomo ^[2] ; Pastore, Glaucia Maria ^[1] ; Marostica Junior, Mario Roberto ^[1] ; Cazarin, Cinthia Bau Betim ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Sch Food Engn, Rua Monteiro Lobato 80, BR-13083862 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Talca, Thrombosis Res Ctr, Dept Clin Biochem & Immunohaematol, Med Technol Sch, Fac Hlth Sci, 2 Norte 685, Talca - Chile

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Food Research International; v. 139, JAN 2021.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been rapidly increasing; among them, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are responsible for around 1/3 of deaths in the world. Environmental factors play a central role in their development. Diet is a very important factor in this scenario, and the intake of fruits and vegetables has been considered as one of the critical strategies for reducing the risk of CVDs. Fruits are a source of micronutrients and bioactive compounds that could have cardioprotective effects through several distinct mechanisms, such as antioxidant, antithrombotic and antiplatelet activities, vasodilatation, improvement of plasma lipid profiles, and modulation of inflammatory signaling. Brazil has a very rich and unexplored biodiversity in its different biomes, with several types of fruit, which are a source of bioactive compounds and micronutrients with therapeutic properties. In this sense, this review shows the current knowledge regarding the cardioprotective properties of selected Latin American and Brazilian fruits, including their effects on the activation of platelets and on the inflammation processes involved in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/11069-5 - Action of Brazilian berries on metabolic parameters and cognitive performance of obese animals
• Grantee: Mário Roberto Maróstica Junior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/50333-1 - COBRA: a novel compound discovery pipeline for rapid and cost-effective identification of bioactives with health beneficial effects in Brazilian crops
• Grantee: Glaucia Maria Pastore
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 15/13320-9 - Effect of pulp oil and tea of leaves from avocado Hass variety associated with physical activity in the treatment of obesity induced by high-fat diet
• Grantee: Mário Roberto Maróstica Junior
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants