The purposes of the research presented in this thesis were to: (l) assess the nutritional status of vegetarian and nonvegetarian Seventh-day Adventists (SDA), non-SDA non-vegetarians, and non-vegetarian hormone dependent cancer subjects; (2) determine the relationship of various blood and urinary biochemical parameters to dietary intake; (3) determine hormonal status in these populations; (4) correlate hormonal status with nutrient intake; and (5) suggest alterations in the diet which may deter the incidence of breast cancer. Adult males and females were recruited from the Corvallis area, and the group was comprised of 51 SDA vegetarians (SV), 16 SDA non-vegetarians (SNV), 53 non-vegetarians (NV), and 18 hormone dependent cancer subjects (HDCS). A fasting blood sample, 24-hour urine collection, and 3-day dietary intake information were obtained from each subject. The nutrient intake parameters measured were: food energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, calcium, iron, vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6, ascorbic acid, saturated fat, linoleic and oleic acids, and cholesterol. The blood and urine parameters measured were: plasma estrone, estradiol, estriol, prolactin, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, cholesterol, triglyceride, pyridoxal phosphate, and whole blood selenium; urinary urea nitrogen, 4- pyridoxic acid, vitamin B-6, and creatinine. Three-day diet records were analyzed from a computerized nutrient data base. High levels of protein, vitamin A, ascorbic acid, thiamin, and riboflavin were consumed by males and females alike. Similar levels of vitamin A and linoleic acid were consumed by all groups. Overall, the SV were consuming significantly more carbohydrate, thiamin and ascorbic acid than non-vegetarian groups; while, the non-vegetarians were consuming significantly more energy, protein, fat, saturated fat, oleic acid, cholesterol, calcium, riboflavin, and niacin than SV. In 2$% and 26% of all women, iron and vitamin B-6 intakes were below two-thirds of the Recommended Dietary Allowances. Approximately 50% of the SDA population consume vegetarian diets, which may contain higher amounts of fiber than NV diets and may adversely affect their vitamin B-6 (B-6) and selenium (Se) status. Groups of male and female SV, SNV, NV, and HDCS were subdivided into vitamin users and non-users for B-6 comparisons. Plasma pyridoxal phosphate (PLP) was determined by an enzymatic method. Urinary B-6 (UB6), 4-pyridoxic acid (4PA) and whole blood Se were determined by microbiological and fluorometric methods. No significant differences were found for PLP, 4PA, UB6, dietary B-6 (DB6), B-6:protein ratios, or % of DB6 intake excreted as 4PA between male or female SV, SNV, and NV groups. Male PLP, 4PA, UB6 and DB6 intake mean values were higher than female levels. Hormone dependent cancer subjects currently receiving chemotherapy had significantly lower PLP levels than non-therapeutic HDCS. An extensive evaluation of the interrelationships among urine and blood B-6 metabolites was done to assess B-6 nutritional status. Vitamin B-6 status of SV, SNV, and NV did not differ. Selenium levels of the SV, SNV, NV, and HDCS were low and well below values reported elsewhere in the United States, but similar in all groups. Seventh-day Adventists endocrine related cancer rates are lower than the general population. Investigation of the relationships between diet and plasma estrone (El), estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and prolactin (PRL) levels for SV, SNV, NV, and HDCS was done. Also, estimation of dietary fat (F) intake from 32 F containing foods was determined from a questionnaire reflecting the dietary intakes of 14 SV and 9 NV premenopausal women during the past year. All hormone levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The premenopausal SV were consuming approximately 25% less F than NV, and used significantly less fried foods (P [less than or equal to] 0.01). Premenopausal NV plasma levels of El and E2, but not E3, were significantly greater than that of SV (P [less than or equal to] 0.02; P [less than or equal to] 0.05). Comparisons of the other male or female SV and NV groups El, E2, E3, DHEA-S, and PRL levels were not different. Regression analysis of the questionnaire data revealed no significant positive correlations between F intake and SV or NV premenopausal levels of any of the three estrogens. However, according to regression analysis involving 3-day dietary intake averages, premenopausal SV E2 and E3 levels were positively correlated with intakes of linoleic acid and protein (P [less than or equal to] 0.05; P [less than or equal to] 0.01); also, premenopausal NV prolactin levels were correlated with intakes of oleic and linoleic acids, and total fat (P [less than or equal to] 0.005; P [less than or equal to] 0.02; P [less than or equal to] O.Ol). Therefore, based on these findings and other current evidence, it may be wise for premenopausal women to reduce meat intake and other products of high fat content. / Graduation date: 1981

Orientador: Maria Cristina Cintra Gomes Marcondes / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-12T11:27:11Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cruz_BreadLeandroGomesda_M.pdf: 401647 bytes, checksum: bd87e2b677303756744ab1ef75ad2316 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Resumo: Câncer acomete, aproximadamente, uma entre 3000 gravidezes e causa um terço de mortes maternas. A leucina é usada experimentalmente para minimizar as alterações do metabolismo protéico durante o crescimento tumoral. Este trabalho investigou os efeitos do crescimento tumoral sobre o metabolismo protéico e estresse oxidativo nos fetos provenientes de ratas alimentadas com dieta suplementada com leucina. Os grupos de fêmeas prenhes foram divididos da seguinte forma: controle (C), controle com dieta suplementada com leucina (L), tumor (W), tumor com dieta suplementada com leucina (WL), dieta pareada á ingestão diária das ratas do grupo W (Cp), dieta suplementada com leucina e pareada á ingestão diária das ratas do grupo WL (Lp). Após 20 dias de prenhes os músculos fetais foram analisados. Os resultados mostraram que a síntese protéica fetal foi reduzida no grupo W quando comparados aos outros grupos. Houve significativa recuperação da síntese protéica no músculo dos fetos WL sugerindo efeito positivo do uso de aminoácido de cadeia ramificada nessa situação. Ocorreu aumento significativo da degradação protéica nos fetos W. Essa perda protéica foi amenizada pelo uso da dieta suplementada com leucina indicando efeito benéfico sobre a degradação protéica no grupo WL que obteve valores similares ao observado no grupo C. A atividade da enzima glutationa-S-transferase ficou elevada no músculo de fetos WL em comparação com o grupo W. Também houve aumento na atividade da enzima fosfatase alcalina no grupo WL indicando maior atividade celular nesse grupo quando comparado ao grupo W. A presença de MDA (Malondialdeído) no músculo fetal também ficou reduzida nos fetos WL. Com a análise desses parâmetros conclui-se que a dieta suplementada com leucina pode alterar o metabolismo muscular fetal aumentando a síntese protéica e reduzindo o efeito danoso do estresse oxidativo. / Abstract: Cancer occurs in approximately 1 per 3.000 pregnancies and accounts for one-third of maternal deaths. Leucine has been used experimentally to minimize the protein metabolism changes during tumor growth. The present work investigated the effects of tumor growth on muscle protein metabolism and oxidative stress in fetus pregnant rats fed a leucine-rich diet. Fetal groups from pregnant Wistar rats were: control (C), control fed leucine-rich diet (L), tumor-bearing (W), tumor-bearing fed leucine-rich diet (WL), Pair-fed control (P) and Pair-fed Leucine (PL). After 20 days the fetal muscles were analyzed. The results showed that fetal protein synthesis was decreased in W group, when compared to the other groups. The significantly recover on muscle protein synthesis in fetus of WL group suggested a positive effect of this branched-chain amino acid. There was a significant increase on protein degradation in W fetus and a protective effect of the leucine-rich diet on muscle protein waste in WL group, since it was similar to C group. The muscle enzyme glutathione-S-transferase activity was increased in WL fetus in comparison to W group. The muscle alkaline phosphatase activity increased in WL group. The malondialdehyde content (MDA) in fetal muscle was decreased in WL fetus. The leucine supplemented diet can alter the fetal muscle protein metabolism, improving the fetal muscle protein synthesis and reducing the oxidative stress. / Mestrado / Fisiologia / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular