Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. e Endl.) H. Robinson) é uma cultura de raiz de reserva, originária dos planaltos andinos. As raízes frescas são perecíveis e escurecem facilmente durante o manuseio e o processamento. Com o objetivo de aumentar o tempo de prateleira e a preservação de antioxidantes nas raízes frescas, rodelas finas (chips) de raízes de 3 mm de tamanho foram secas numa estufa a 40, 50 e 60 ºC e pedaços de raízes também foram secas ao sol até apresentarem umidade de 10-14% e 15-20%, respectivamente. O conteúdo de fenóis totais foi determinado pelo método de Folin-Ciocalteu, e a estabilidade oxidativa foi avaliada através da determinação da quantidade de DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-pidrylhydrazyl) inibida nas amostras após a secagem e durante os 7 meses de armazenamento. Os resultados mostram que a secagem das raízes na estufa e ao sol permitiu manter a capacidade antioxidante das raízes de yacon. Ambos os produtos de secagem apresentaram teor de compostos fenólicos similares ao das raízes frescas e elevada inibição de 1,1-diphenyl-2-pidrylhydrazyl. Foi observada uma redução significativa do teor de fenóis em chips após o armazenamento o que indica que os pedaços secos ao sol são mais adequados para o armazenamento.

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. and Endl.) H. Robinson) is a storage root originally grown in the Andean highlands. The fresh roots are perishable and quickly turn brown during handling and processing. Aiming to prolong shelf-life and to preserve the antioxidant compounds in yacon roots, 3 mm thick yacon slices were dried in a drying cabinet at 40, 50, and 60 ºC to a moisture content of 10-14%, and yacon strips were sun dried to a moisture content of 15-20%. The total phenolic content was measured by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the quenching capacity was evaluated by measuring the amount of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-pidrylhydrazyl) inhibited in samples after drying and after 7 months of storage. The results showed that it is possible to preserve the antioxidant capacity in yacon after cabinet or sun drying. Both yacon chips and strips presented total phenolic content values similar to those of fresh yacon roots. Both products also showed a high inhibition capacity of DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-pidrylhydrazyl). A significant decrease in the phenolic content was observed in the yacon chips after storage, which indicates that the sun dried strips are more suitable for storage.

RESUMEN En el presente trabajo se ha estudiado la relación del síndrome metabólico con el nivel de ácidos grasos ω3 (omega 3) y ω6 (omega 6) presentes en el plasma sanguíneo. La población estudiada comprendió 96 pacientes de la Caja Nacional de Salud (CNS) de la ciudad de Cochabamba-Bolivia con edades entre los 18 y 65 años, de los cuales el 50% presenta Síndrome Metabólico. Para los estudios de relación se han tomado 50% de la población con Síndrome Metabólico (24 pacientes) y 50% sin Síndrome Metabólico (24 pacientes). Los análisis clínicos se han basado en métodos enzimáticos y los de composición en ácidos grasos en plasma, en métodos de cromatografía gaseosa. El contenido de ácidos grasos ω6 en plasma no muestra diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos de pacientes (con y sin Síndrome Metabólico). En cambio, el estudio del contenido de ácidos grasos ω3 mostró, una mayor proporción de EPA (acido eicosapentaenoico), de DHA (acido docosahexanoico) y de la suma de ácidos grasos ω3 en personas sin síndrome metabólico. Por otro lado, aunque se determinó una menor relación entre acido grasos ω6/ω3 (con un valor de 25.8938) en personas que no presentaban síndrome metabólico con respecto a aquellos que sí presentan, el mismo sobrepasa los límites establecidos por la FAO (2002, con un valor máximo de ω6/ω3 = 10). También se encontró una relación inversamente asociada del ácido DHA con la presión diastólica, la obesidad abdominal, la glicemia y los triglicéridos, así como, la suma de ácidos grasos ω3 con una relación inversamente asociada con la obesidad abdominal. Se puede establecer una asociación entre la presencia de ácidos grasos ω3 en el plasma y los factores del Síndrome Metabólico; consecuentemente, una adecuada ingesta de estos ácidos grasos podría prevenir la presencia de este Síndrome

ABSTRACT In the present work has been studied the relationship of the metabolic syndrome with the level of fatty acids ω3 (omega 3) and ω6 (omega 6) present in the sanguine plasma. The studied population comprised 96 patients of the Caja Nacional of Health (CNS) of the city of Cochabamba-Bolivia with ages between the 18 and 65 years, of which 50% present Metabolic Syndrome. For the relationship studies have been taken 50% of the population's with Metabolic Syndrome (24 patients) and 50% without Metabolic Syndrome (24 patients). The clinical analyses have been based on enzymatic methods and those of composition in fatty acids in plasma, in Gas Chromatography methods. The ω6 fatty acids content in plasma don't show significant differences between both groups of patients (with and without Metabolic Syndrome). On the other hand, the study of the ω3 fatty acids content showed a bigger proportion of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid), of DHA (docosahexanoic acid) and of the sum of ω3 acids in people without Metabolic Syndrome; although a smaller ω6/ω3 relationship among fatty acids was determined (with a value of 25.8938) in people that didn't present Metabolic Syndrome with regard to those that present it, the same one surpasses the limits settled down by the FAO (2002, with a maximum value of ω6/ω3 = 10). Also, an associated inverse relationship of the DHA acid with the diastolic pressure, abdominal obesity, glycaemia and triglycerides was found, as well as the sum of fatty acids ω3 with an inversely associated relationship with abdominal obesity. An association can be settled down among the presence of fatty acids ω3 in plasma and the factors of the Metabolic Syndrome; consequently, an appropriate intake of these fatty acids could prevent the presence of this Syndrome

ABSTRACT Six varieties of Cassava (Yucca) from Chapare (Provincia of Cochabamba-Bolivia) have been studied and a proximal analysis has been carried out

RESUMEN El consumo de alimentos con alto contenido de ácidos grasos trans tiene una estrecha relación con el desarrollo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Por otro lado, los productos alimenticios como la mantequilla y la margarina que son de alto consumo en la zona urbana de Cochabamba, tienen en su composición química ácidos grasos trans. En la presente investigación, se evaluaron el contenido y la estabilidad de ácidos grasos trans y omega (ω) en dos tipos de mantequillas: M1 y M2, y dos tipos de margarinas: P1 y P2. Para la evaluación del contenido de ácidos grasos por cada uno de los productos señalados se tomaron cinco muestras, de diferentes agencias o distribuidoras y supermercados de Cochabamba. La evaluación estadística de los resultados indican que: Entre las mantequillas M1 y M2 no hay diferencias significativas en la composición de los ácidos grasos trans (4,07 % y 4,26 %), cis (27,67 % y 28,63 %), ω3 (0,72 % y 0,72 %) y ω6 (2,60 % y 2,81 %). Mientras que la margarina P2 tiene un mínimo contenido en ácidos grasos trans 0,50 %, comparada con la margarina P1 33,36 % y las mantequillas M1 y M2; la margarina P2 también tiene alto contenido en ácidos grasos cis totales 52,55 % entre estos el ácido oleico 25,82 % y linoleico 26,34 %; la desventaja es que la relación ω6/ω3 de la margarina P2 es muy alta 97,56 comparada con la Norma Europea que establece un rango que va de 1 a 4,5. A pesar de la desventaja señalada, la Margarina P2 representaría un alimento con efectos benéficos, con respecto a las enfermedades cardiovasculares, comparada con la margarina P1 y las mantequillas M1 y M2, siempre que sea suplementado con ácidos grasos ω 3 o mezclado con un producto rico en ω3. El estudio de la estabilidad de los ácidos grasos trans en las mantequillas y margarinas muestra, que en las diferentes condiciones de almacenamiento (refrigerado, al ambiente y al sol) se produce un aumento de los ácidos grasos trans, con una disminución proporcional del contenido de ácidos grasos cis, lo que indica que existe una conversión de ácidos grasos cis a ácidos grasos trans, obteniéndose una conversión más significativa en la mantequilla almacenada al sol

ABSTRACT The food intake with high contents of trans-fatty acids has a close relation with the development of cardiovascular diseases. By other hand, food products like butter and margarine which are high consumed in the urban zone of Cochabamba, have in their chemical composition trans fatty acids. In the actual research, the content and stability of the trans and omega fatty acids were evaluated in two types of butters: M1 and M2, and two types of margarines,: P1 Y P2. For the evaluation of the fatty acids content by each of the appointed products five samples have been taken, from different agencies or distributors and supermarkets of Cochabamba. The statistic evaluation of the results appoints that: between the butter samples M1 and M2 there exist no significant difference in the composition of the trans fatty acids. (4,07 % y 4,26 %), cis (27,67 % y 28,63 %), ω3 (0,72 % y 0,72 %) and ω6 (2,60 % and 2,81 %). The margarine sample P2 has a minimum trans fatty acids content as 0,50 %, compared with the margarine sample P1 33,36 % and the butter simples M1 and M2; the “margarina simple” P2 also has a high content of total cis fatty acids 52,55 % including in these the oleic acid 25,82 % and linoleic acid 26,34 %; the disadvantage is that the relation ω6/ω3 of the margarine sample P2 97,56 is too high compared with the European Norm that establish a range that goes from 1 to 4,5. In spite of the appointed disadvantage, the Margarine sample P2 would represent a food with beneficent effects, with regard to cardiovascular diseases, compared with the Margarine sample P1 and the Butter samples M1 and M2, whenever it is supplemented with fatty acids ω3 or blended with a product rich in ω3. The study of the stability of the trans fatty acids in the butter and margarines samples, shows that under the different storage conditions (refrigerated, under ambient and under the sun) an increase of the trans fatty acids takes place, with a proportional decrease of the content of cis fatty acids, which appoints that there exists a conversion of cis fatty acids to trans fatty acids, being obtained a more significant conversion in the butter stored under the sun

An enzymatic method has been developed to simultaneously determine glucose, maltose and sucrose in tubers The principle of the method is based on an enzymatic cleavage of these disaccharides and specific measurement the resulting glucose using an enzymatic procedure described by Holm (3). The study comprises two parts; the first one includes modifications of the pretreatment method to minimize errors due to ethanol used to precipitate polymeric material interfering with the activity of α-glucosidase and invertase. In the second part the usability of the method has been probed by employing it on six samples of cassava that come from Chapare-Bolivia.