Dietary Quality Index and Associated Factors among Adolescents of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Objective To assess dietary quality and associated factors in adolescents. Study design We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in a sample of 1584 adolescents living in areas of the state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Dietary intake was measured with the 24-hour recall method, and dietary quality was assessed by means of the Health Eating Index (HEI), adapted to fit to the local requirements. Linear regression analyses were performed to assess the association between the HEI and demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle variables. Results A total of 97.1% of the adolescents studied had an inadequate diet or a diet that needed improvement. The mean overall HEI score was 59.7. Lower mean HEI scores were found for fruits, dairy products, and vegetables. Male adolescents who were physically active and lived in a house or apartment had higher HEI scores. The multiple regression analyses showed that the quality of the diet improved as age decreased. Adolescents who lived in houses or apartments had higher HEI scores than adolescents living in shacks or slums, regardless of age and energy intake. Conclusions Dietary quality is associated with income and age. A better understanding of the factors associated can provide input to the formulation of policies and development of nutritional actions. (J Pediatr 2010; 156:456-60).

Water quality assessment of Toledo River and determination of metal concentrations by using SR-TXRF technique

The region of Toledo River, Parana, Brazil is characterized by intense anthropogenic activities. Hence, metal concentrations and physical-chemical parameters of Toledo River water were determined in order to complete an environmental evaluation catalog. Samples were collected monthly during one year period at seven different sites from the source down the river mouth, physical-chemical variables were analyzed, and major metallic ions were measured. Metal analysis was performed by using the synchrotron radiation total reflection X-ray fluorescence technique. A statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the reliability of experimental data. The analysis of obtained results have shown that a strong correlation between physical-chemical parameters existed among sites 1 and 7, suggesting that organic pollutants were mainly responsible for decreasing the Toledo River water quality.