Food and nutritional education: benefits of flavonoid consumption by children with Diabetes Mellitus

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14571/brajets.v18.n4.1375-1386

Keywords:

functional food, school feeding, nutrition, antioxidants, chronic disease

Abstract

Brazil is the third country among the five countries with the highest number of cases of type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) in children and adolescents. Although this subtype is more common in these stages of life, type 2 has been increasing due to overweight and obesity. Flavonoids, phenolic compounds widely present in the plant kingdom, have anti-hyperglycemic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. The National School Feeding Program offers specialized care for students with special dietary needs, with differentiated menus and actions of Food and Nutrition Education (FNE) aimed at promoting health. This study aimed to discuss the benefits of flavonoids for the care of DM1 in school-aged children and elucidate the importance of EAN to spread knowledge about these substances. An integrative literature review was carried out, with selected through the databases Scientific Electronic Library Online - SciELO, Public Medline - PubMed, cross references through these articles, documents from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Development and Social Assistance and Fight against Hunger, as well as data from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, the American Diabetes Association and the Brazilian Society of Diabetes. Flavonoids can act on DM by several mechanisms, such as modulation of the insulin signaling pathway, inflammation inhibition, lipotoxicity and oxidative stress. Thus, the consumption of flavonoids should be encouraged and EAN actions are effective to raise awareness about their benefits.

Author Biographies

  • Neila Ingrid dos Prazeres Santos, Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia
    Nutritionist (CRN-5 23957/P) and Bachelor of Health from the Federal University
    of Recôncavo da Bahia (UFRB), postgraduate student in sports nutrition.
    She was part of the Collaborating Center for School Food and Nutrition
    of the Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia (CECANE - UFRB).
    Active as a scholarship holder linked to the extension project
    "Family Farming of Quilombola Communities: Promoting the meeting between
    demand and supply". She worked as an intern in Clinical Nutrition at the Regional
    Hospital of Santo Antônio de Jesus (HRSAJ). She participated in the extension project
    "Health Promotion in Santo Antônio de Jesus (PROSAJ)". She offered teaching monitoring
    in the curricular component "Special Topics in Clinical Nutrition I". She worked as
    an intern in the Food and Nutrition Unit (UAN) at the Federal Institute of Bahia (IFBA),
    Santo Antônio de Jesus campus. She worked as an intern in Nutrition in Public Health
    at the Federal Institute of Bahia (IFBA), Santo Antônio de Jesus campus.
  • Karina Zanoti Fonseca, Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia

    Nutricionista, mestre em Ciências Farmacêuticas, doutora em Bioquímica Agrícola pela Universidade Federal de Viçosa. Professora Associada na Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia. Principais áreas: Flavonoides, Desenvolvimento de produtos, Inovação Tecnológica, Alimentação Coletiva e Ciência dos Alimentos. Principais linhas de pesquisa: Química de Produtos Naturais, Substâncias Bioativas em Alimentos, Desenvolvimento de Novos Produtos, Alimentação Coletiva e Gestão de Unidades de Alimentação e Nutrição

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Published

28-12-2025

Issue

Vol. 18 No. 4 (2025)

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Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 Neila Ingrid dos Prazeres Santos, Karina Zanoti Fonseca

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How to Cite

Ingrid dos Prazeres Santos, N., & Zanoti Fonseca, K. (2025). Food and nutritional education: benefits of flavonoid consumption by children with Diabetes Mellitus. Cadernos De Educação Tecnologia E Sociedade, 18(4), 1375-1386. https://doi.org/10.14571/brajets.v18.n4.1375-1386