Dietary omega-3 fatty acids and depression in a community sample

To evaluate the association between omega-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids and depression, data regarding prevalence rates of self-reported depression and median daily dietary intakes of these fatty acids were obtained from an age-stratified, population-based sample of women (n = 755; 23-97 year) in the Barwon Statistical Division of south-eastern Australia. A self-report questionnaire based on Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV criteria was utilised to determine 12-month prevalence rates of depression in this sample, and data from biennial food frequency questionnaires examining seafood and fish oil consumption over a 6-year period were examined. Differences in median dietary intakes of omega-3 fatty acids between the depressed and nondepressed cohorts were analysed and results were adjusted for age, weight and smoking status. No significant differences in median intakes were identified between the two groups of women (median, interquartile range; depressed = 0.09g/day, 0.04-0.18 versus nondepressed = 0.11 g/day, 0.05-0.22, p = 0.3), although overall average intakes of omega-3 fatty acids were lower than recommended and rates of depression within this sample higher than expected, based on previous data. Further research that takes into account ratios of omega-6 to omega-3 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids, as well as other dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids, is warranted.

Alcohol consumption and body composition in a population-based sample of elderly Australian men

Background: Alcohol is calorie dense, and impacts activity, appetite and lipid processing. The aim of this study was to therefore investigate the association between alcohol consumption and components of body composition including bone, fat and lean tissue.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a randomly selected, population-based sample of 534 men aged 65 years and older enrolled in the Geelong Osteoporosis Study. Alcohol intake was ascertained using a food frequency questionnaire and the sample categorised as nondrinkers or alcohol users who consumed B2, 3–4 or C5 standard drinks on a usual drinking day. Bone mineral density (BMD), lean body mass and body fat mass were measured using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry; overall adiposity (%body fat), central adiposity (%truncal fat) and body mass index (BMI) were calculated. Bone quality was determined by quantitative heel ultrasound (QUS).

Results: There were 90 current non-drinkers (16.9 %), 266 (49.8 %) consumed 1–2 drinks/day, 104 (19.5 %) 3–4 drinks/day and 74 (13.8 %) C5 drinks/day. Those consuming C5 drinks/day had greater BMI (?4.8 %), fat mass index (?20.1 %), waist circumference (?5.0 %), %body fat (?15.2 %) and proportion of trunk fat (?5.3 %) and lower lean mass (-5.0 %) than non-drinkers after adjustment for demographic and lifestyle factors. Furthermore, they were more likely to be obese than non-drinkers according to criteria based on BMI (OR = 2.83, 95 %CI 1.10–7.29) or waist circumference (OR = 3.36, 95 %CI 1.32–8.54). There was an inverse relationship between alcohol consumption and QUS parameters and BMD at the mid forearm site; no differences were detected for BMD at other skeletal sites.

Conclusion: Higher alcohol intake was associated with greater total and central adiposity and reduced bone quality.

Parents' food choice motives and their associations with children's food preferences

Objective The objective was to investigate parents' motives for selecting foods for their children and the associations between these motives and children's food preferences. Design Cross-sectional survey. A modified version of the Food Choice Questionnaire was used to assess parents' food choice motives. Parents also reported children's liking/disliking of 176 food and beverage items on 5-point Likert scales. Patterns of food choice motives were examined with exploratory principal component analysis. Associations between motives and children's food preferences were assessed with linear regression while one-way and two-way ANOVA were used to test for sociodemographic differences. Setting Two Australian cities. Subjects Parents (n 371) of 2-5-year-old children. Results Health, nutrition and taste were key motivators for parents, whereas price, political concerns and advertising were among the motives considered least important. The more parents' food choice for their children was driven by what their children wanted, the less children liked vegetables (β =-0·27, P<0·01), fruit (β=-0·19, P<0·01) and cereals (β=-0·28, P<0·01) and the higher the number of untried foods (r=0·17, P<0·01). The reverse was found for parents' focus on natural/ethical motives (vegetables β=0·17, P<0·01; fruit β=0·17, P<0·01; cereals β=0·14, P=0·01). Health and nutrition motives bordered on statistical significance as predictors of children's fruit and vegetable preferences. Conclusions Although parents appear well intentioned in their motives for selecting children's foods, there are gaps to be addressed in the nature of such motives (e.g. selecting foods in line with the child's desires) or the translation of health motives into healthy food choices.

Associação entre consumo alimentar e atividade física com a síndrome metabólica em mulheres na pós-menopausa

Post-menopause is characterized as the period beginning one year after the permanent cessation of menstrual cycles, which is typically related to medical disorders that, in association with Metabolic Syndrome (MS), represent a set of cardiovascular risk factors. Objective: To assess dietary intake and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women, according to the level of physical activity. Methods: The sample consisted of 82 women, evaluated in the Northern Zone of the city of Natal / RN who were participants in the Natal Active Program. People completed a Food Frequency Consumption Questionnaire (FFCQ) and were interviewed about physical activity. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical tests were used to diagnose MS (Metabolic Syndrome). Result: The active women consumed more protective foods (flaxseed, nuts, whole wheat bread, brown rice and olive oil) than inactive women. Risky foods (sugar, crackers, white bread, white rice, margarine and beef) were consumed more by the group of inactive women. The prevalence of MS was higher in inactive women (53.30%) than in physically active women (46.70%). Conclusion: Active post-menopausal women had a higher daily intake of protective foods in relation to cardiovascular disease, while the inactive post-menopausal women had higher intake of risky foods for such diseases

Avaliação do estado nutricional do micronutriente ferro em atletas femininas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Efeito combinado de polimorfismo nos genes do metabolismo lipídico (LIPC, APOA1 E APOE) e estilo de vida sobre os fatores de risco para doenças crônicas em adolescentes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Resultados de um processo educativo em alimentação e nutrição vivenciado por um grupo de mulheres com doenças crônicas metabólicas

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Dietary Intakes of Children From Food Insecure Households

The objective of this cross-sectional study is to compare the dietary behaviors of children from low food secure (LFS) households with children from very low food secure (VLFS) households over an entire day, and during meals specifically consumed at home —breakfast, snack, and dinner. Parents of the recruited children completed a demographic questionnaire, along with USDA's 6-item short form food security questionnaire. Children completed 24-hour dietary recalls in person. Complete data from 102 children 9 to 12 years old were used. Using ANOVA to assess the differences among groups in intakes over an entire day and during meals consumed at home, no significant differences were found, except for vitamin C intake during breakfast. Based on the definitions of LFS and VLFS, it was hypothesized that children from VLFS group would have lower dietary intakes compared to children from the LFS group. However, this study found little difference. Speculations have been made for these findings and implications for research have been presented.

Fast food influences among Hispanic women

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fast food influences such as restaurant frequency and restaurant choice among Hispanic women residing in Houston Texas. We also evaluated associations between BMI and frequency of fast food consumption. Methods: Data was obtained from the BOUNCE program and baseline data was evaluated from mothers enrolled in the study. Descriptive analysis and Fisher's exact test were conducted to evaluate patterns among fast food selection. Results: Nearly 88 percent of women were classified as overweight or obese, the population was predominately immigrants from Mexico with language preference of Spanish. Factors most influencing restaurant choice included quality of food, restaurant atmosphere, and healthy food availability. No associations were found between BMI and frequency of fast foods, however data show a slight association between duration in the U.S and increase in fast food frequency. Conclusion: Though statics are not statistically significant results demonstrate a possible trend in regards to length of stay and frequency eating out. This should be further explored. ^

Blood pressure and dietary factors in Mexican-Americans of Starr County, Texas

This study examined the cross-sectional associations between blood pressure, hypertension and dietary factors among 580 Mexican-American adults residing in Starr County, Texas. The data were collected as part of Gallbladder Disease Study between April, 1985 and December, 1986.^ Dietary intake was assessed for the month previous to the interview by means of a 38 food item quantified frequency questionnaire representing foods and mixed dishes commonly consumed in the community. From the dietary information intake of calcium, cholesterol, total kilocalories, and percent of kilocalories contributed by total fat, saturated fat, monounsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, protein, carbohydrates were calculated. The effect of other factors associated with blood pressure, such as age, body mass index, body fat distribution, smoking, and drinking were controlled.^ Age was the most important predictor of both systolic and diastolic blood pressure and hypertension. For both males and females, systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were consistently positively associated with body mass index but were not associated with waist hip ratio. However, a strong positive relationship between hypertension and waist hip ratio but not body mass index was observed.^ After controlling for age and body mass index it was noted that for males there were no significant associations between the dietary variables and systolic blood pressure. For diastolic blood pressure there were significant associations with percent fat, percent monounsaturated fatty acids, percent protein and percent carbohydrates.^ For females, there were significant associations between systolic blood pressure and percent protein, percent carbohydrates and cholesterol. There were no significant associations between dietary variables and diastolic blood pressure.^ After controlling for age and waist hip ratio significant associations between hypertension and percent fat, percent saturated fat, percent monounsaturated fatty acids, percent carbohydrate and percent protein were observed in males. Significant associations between hypertension and percent polyunsaturated fatty acids and percent protein were noted in females. ^

DIETARY RELATIONSHIPS TO FATAL BREAST CANCER AMONG SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISTS

Laboratory experiments in animals, correlational and migrant studies in humans suggest a role for diet in the etiology of breast cancer. Data gathered from individuals via case-control studies are less consistent. Seventh-day Adventist women experience lower mortality from breast cancer than comparable U.S. populations and this decrease is thought to be, at least in part, related to dietary practices (half are vegetarian). In 1960, 25,000 California Seventh-day Adventists completed a questionnaire which included a 21 item food frequency section. Cancer mortality in this population was monitored between 1960 and 1980 and the relationship of high fat food intake and fatal breast cancer was evaluated. Although established risk factors for breast cancer were observed in this population (e.g. age at menarche, age at first pregnancy, age at menopause and obesity) consumption of high fat foods were not observed to exert a strong influence on fatal breast cancer risk. Odds ratios (O.R.) for fatal breast cancer among non-vegetarians was 1.2. Increasing meat consumption bore little relation to risk; O.R. = 1.0, 1.2, 1.1 for consumption categories of none/occasional, 1-3 days/week and 4+ days/week respectively. Nor did the consumption of other high fat foods of animal origin (e.g. butter, cheese, milk, eggs) show any relationship to risk. These results remained unchanged after simultaneously controlling for the effect of other, potentially confounding variables (menstrual characteristics, obesity) via logistic regression analysis. ^

Tipo de bebidas consumidas por los estudiantes universitarios

Fundamentos: Existe una gran diferencia entre el consumo de agua y las bebidas que contiene agua (bebidas carbonatadas, azucaradas, zumos o bebidas alcohólicas). El consumo de estas bebidas está relacionado con el desarrollo de enfermedades crónicas (obesidad, diabetes tipo 2, hipertensión arterial o dislipemias). El objetivo es determinar la frecuencia de consumo de bebidas de los estudiantes de la Universidad de Alicante. Métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo. Población 26.273 estudiantes. Se seleccionaron 396 mediante muestreo aleatorio simple. Se utilizó un cuestionario frecuencia consumo para estimar la ingesta individual. Variables: bebidas (n=12) y frecuencia de consumo (n=4). Resultados: El 29,6% de hombres y el 13,0% de mujeres consumen bebidas carbonatadas con azúcar a diario (p-valor<0,001). El consumo diario de vino es nulo. El 41,4% de la población consume cerveza y destilados semanalmente. El 76,1% de hombres y el 58,7% de mujeres, consumen alcohol como mínimo una vez a la semana, p-valor=0,001. Conclusiones: Los resultados plantean la necesidad de estudios epidemiológicos que orienten el desarrollo de políticas nutricionales dirigidas a reducir el consumo de bebidas azucaradas y alcohólicas entre la población joven. Mediante un trabajo conjunto entre las autoridades gubernamentales, medios de comunicación, industria alimentaria y la sociedad en general.

Hábitos alimenticios en alumnos y trabajadores de la Universidad Miguel Hernández

Objetivo: Describir los hábitos alimenticios de una comunidad universitaria. Material y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo transversal. El instrumento utilizado fue un cuestionario de frecuencias de consumo, administrado por entrevista personal a una muestra accidental de 147 personas. Constaba de cuatro secciones: 1) número de comidas y lugar donde se realizan, 2) patrones de consumo de los distintos grupos de alimentos, 3) modos de preparación de los alimentos, 4) datos de identificación y demográficos. Resultados: En comparación con el patrón de Vivanco y Palacios, nuestra muestra se caracteriza por: alto consumo de carnes (4 veces/semana), disminución del consumo de huevos (2v/sem.), incremento del consumo de hidratos de carbono complejos (5v/sem.), consumo ligeramente inferior de frutas (5v/sem.), ingesta insuficiente de verduras (4v/sem), legumbres (2v/sem) y pescados (2,5v/sem). Conclusiones y Recomendaciones: Atendiendo a los estudios referenciados, es conveniente disminuir el consumo de carnes, aumentando los aportes de pescados, verduras, hortalizas y legumbres, alimentos que, habiendo sido habituales en nuestra dieta mediterránea, parecen haber sido abandonados en beneficio de la conformación de una dieta que tiende a la homogeneización cultural.

Food preferences and weight change during low-fat and low-carbohydrate diets.

UNLABELLED: Understanding associations between food preferences and weight loss during various effective diets could inform efforts to personalize dietary recommendations and provide insight into weight loss mechanisms. We conducted a secondary analysis of data from a clinical trial in which participants were randomized to either a 'choice' arm, in which they were allowed to select between a low-fat diet (n = 44) or low-carbohydrate diet (n = 61), or to a 'no choice' arm, in which they were randomly assigned to a low-fat diet (n = 49) or low-carbohydrate diet (n = 53). All participants were provided 48 weeks of lifestyle counseling. Food preferences were measured at baseline and every 12 weeks thereafter with the Geiselman Food Preference Questionnaire. Participants were 73% male and 51% African American, with a mean age of 55. Baseline food preferences, including congruency of food preferences with diet, were not associated with weight outcomes. In the low-fat diet group, no associations were found between changes in food preferences and weight over time. In the low-carbohydrate diet group, increased preference for low-carbohydrate diet congruent foods from baseline to 12 weeks was associated with weight loss from 12 to 24 weeks. Additionally, weight loss from baseline to 12 weeks was associated with increased preference for low-carbohydrate diet congruent foods from 12 to 24 weeks. Results suggest that basing selection of low-carbohydrate diet or low-fat diet on food preferences is unlikely to influence weight loss. Congruency of food preferences and weight loss may influence each other early during a low-carbohydrate diet but not low-fat diet, possibly due to different features of these diets. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY: NCT01152359.

Obésité abdominale et autres déterminants du risque cardiométabolique dans deux populations urbaines noires apparentées : Port-au-Prince (Haïti) et Cotonou (Bénin)

L’obésité est un problème de santé publique reconnu. Dans la dernière décennie l’obésité abdominale (OA) a été considérée comme une maladie métabolique qui contribue davantage au risque de diabète et de maladies cardiovasculaires que l’obésité générale définie par l’indice de masse corporelle. Toutefois, dans les populations d’origine africaine, la relation entre l’OA et les autres biomarqueurs de risque cardiométabolique (RCM) demeure obscure à cause du manque d’études chez ces populations et de l’absence de valeurs-seuils spécifiques pour juger d’une OA. Cette étude visait à comparer la prévalence des biomarqueurs de RCM (OA, hypertension artérielle, hyperglycémie, dyslipidémie, résistance à l'insuline et inflammation pré-clinique) chez les Béninois de Cotonou et les Haïtiens de Port-au-Prince (PAP), à étudier l’association de l’OA avec les autres biomarqueurs de RCM, à documenter le rôle du niveau socio-économique (NSE) et du mode de vie dans cette association et à ’identifier les indicateurs anthropométriques de l’OA -tour de taille (TT) et le ratio TT/hauteur (TT/H)- et les seuils qui prédisent le mieux le RCM à Cotonou et à PAP. Il s’est agi d’une analyse de données transversales chez 452 adultes (52 % hommes) apparemment en bonne santé, âgés de 25 à 60 ans, avec 200 sujets vivant à Cotonou (Bénin) et 252 sujets à PAP (Haïti). Les biomarqueurs de RCM considérés étaient : le syndrome métabolique (SMet) d’après les critères harmonisés de 2009 et ses composantes individuelles - une OA à partir d’un TT ≥ 94cm chez les hommes et ≥ 80cm chez les femmes, une hypertension, une dyslipidémie et une hyperglycémie; la résistance à l’insuline définie chez l’ensemble des sujets de l’étude à partir du 75e centile de l’Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA-IR); un ratio d’athérogénicité élevé (Cholestérol sérique total/HDL-Cholestérol); et l’inflammation pré-clinique mesurée à partir d’un niveau de protéine C-réactive ultrasensible (PCRus) entre 3 et 10 mg/l. Le ratio TT/H était aussi considéré pour définir l’OA à partir d’un seuil de 0,5. Les données sur les habitudes alimentaires, la consommation d’alcool, le tabagisme, les caractéristiques sociodémographiques et les conditions socio-économiques incluant le niveau d’éducation et un proxy du revenu (basé sur l’analyse par composante principale des biens et des possessions) ont été recueillies au moyen d’un questionnaire. Sur la base de données de fréquence de consommation d’aliments occidentaux, urbains et traditionnels, des schémas alimentaires des sujets de chaque ville ont été identifiés par analyse typologique. La validité et les valeurs-seuils de TT et du ratio TT/H prédictives du RCM ont été définies à partir des courbes ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristics). Le SMet était présent chez 21,5 % et 16,1 % des participants, respectivement à Cotonou et à PAP. La prévalence d’OA était élevée à Cotonou (52,5 %) qu’à PAP (36%), avec une prévalence plus élevée chez les femmes que chez les hommes. Le profil lipidique sérique était plus athérogène à PAP avec 89,3 % d’HDL-c bas à PAP contre 79,7 % à Cotonou et un ratio CT/HDL-c élevé de 73,4 % à PAP contre 42 % à Cotonou. Les valeurs-seuils spécifiques de TT et du TT/H étaient respectivement 94 cm et 0,59 chez les femmes et 80 cm et 0,50 chez les hommes. Les analyses multivariées de l’OA avec les biomarqueurs de RCM les plus fortement prévalents dans ces deux populations montraient que l’OA était associée à un risque accru de résistance à l’insuline, d’athérogénicité et de tension artérielle élevée et ceci, indépendamment des facteurs socio-économiques et du mode de vie. Deux schémas alimentaires ont émergé, transitionnel et traditionnel, dans chaque ville, mais ceux-ci ne se révélaient pas associés aux biomarqueurs de RCM bien qu’ils soient en lien avec les variables socio-économiques. La présente étude confirme la présence de plusieurs biomarqueurs de RCM chez des sujets apparemment sains. En outre, l’OA est un élément clé du RCM dans ces deux populations. Les seuils actuels de TT devraient être reconsidérés éventuellement à la lumière d’études de plus grande envergure, afin de mieux définir l’OA chez les Noirs africains ou d’origine africaine, ce qui permettra une surveillance épidémiologique plus adéquate des biomarqueurs de RCM.