Alimentación basada en plantas: la nueva tendencia nutricional / Plant-based diets: the new nutritional trend

En la actualidad cada vez más familias optan por seguir una alimentación basada en plantas (ABP). Es fundamental que pediatras y agentes de salud conozcan estos tipos de patrones alimentarios para asesorar adecuadamente a sus pacientes y derivarlos oportunamente a especialistas capacitados con el objetivo de garantizar un adecuado crecimiento y desarrollo principalmente en la edad pediátrica, evitando posibles consecuencias negativas sobre la salud. La mayoría de las sociedades científicas del mundo considera a las dietas vegetarianas apropiadas para todas las etapas de la vida si están correctamente planificadas, suplementadas y con un seguimiento adecuado por especialistas capacitados. Con respecto a las dietas veganas existen controversias por parte de las distintas sociedades con respecto a si son adecuadas o no en pediatría. Recientemente se han revisado las descripciones respecto a las tipificaciones de una ABP y se ha propuesto una definición estándar de estos tipos de dieta. Los riesgos más significativos asociados a la mala planificación de estas dietas son las deficiencias de calcio, vitamina D y vitamina B12, aunque también se debe tener en cuenta el estado del zinc, selenio, yodo y los ácidos grasos Omega 3. Es importante la planificación diaria de un plato nutricionalmente completo y es incuestionable que quienes siguen estos patrones alimentarios reciban suplementos con vitamina B12 adecuados para cada etapa de la vida. Se requieren más estudios en pediatría para evaluar los efectos de las distintas ABP sobre la ingesta de nutrientes, el estado nutricional, el crecimiento, desarrollo y la prevención de enfermedades no transmisibles (AU)

Currently, an increasing number of families are choosing to follow a plant-based diet (PBD). It is essential that pediatricians and healthcare agents know these types of dietary patterns in order to properly advise their patients and refer them to trained specialists to ensure adequate growth and development, especially in the pediatric age, avoiding possible negative health consequences. Most of the world's scientific societies consider vegetarian diets appropriate for all stages of life if they are adequately planned, supplemented and monitored by trained specialists. However, there is controversy among different societies regarding the appropriateness of vegan diets for children. Recently, there has been a review of descriptions concerning the characteristics of a plant-based diet, leading to a proposed standard definition for these types of diets. The most significant risks associated with poorly planned diets are calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B12 deficiencies, although zinc, selenium, iodine and omega-3 fatty acid status should also be considered. The daily planning of a nutritionally complete meal is important and it is imperative that those who follow these dietary patterns receive vitamin B12 supplementation appropriate for each stage of life. Further studies in children are needed to evaluate the effects of different PBDs on nutrient intake, nutritional status, growth, development, and prevention of noncommunicable diseases (AU)

Seguridad alimentaria en áreas rurales de la provincia Chimborazo, Ecuador / Food security in rural areas of the Chimborazo province, Ecuador

RESUMEN Introducción: La seguridad alimentaria es un amplio concepto que incluye múltiples factores que de una forma u otra inciden en que la población pueda acceder a una alimentación de calidad. Solo de esta forma se podrá cumplir con la ansiada meta de disponer de una alimentación saludable que no solo permita minimizar la aparición de enfermedades, sino que también contribuya a controlar las ya existentes. Objetivo: Determinar el comportamiento de la seguridad alimentaria en la población rural del cantón Colta, provincia de Chimborazo, Ecuador. Métodos: Investigación básica, de campo, descriptiva y de corte transversal realizada en el cantón Colta, provincia Chimborazo, con una población total de 410 familias dedicadas al cultivo de la quínoa. La muestra quedó conformada por 210 agricultores. Se utilizó la Escala Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Seguridad Alimentaria para determinar la seguridad alimentaria y sus elementos relacionados. Resultados: En el 56,67 % de las familias se identificó inseguridad alimentaria; y fue más significativa en familias con menores de 18 años (66,67 %). Predominó la inseguridad alimentaria ligera (73,95 %). La falta de recursos económicos (86,55 %), el elevado costo de los alimentos (76,49 %), los problemas relacionados con el acceso físico a los alimentos (74,79 %) y la inadecuada cobertura de salud (74,79 %) fueron las determinantes más referidas como causa de inseguridad alimentaria. Conclusiones: El elevado porcentaje de inseguridad alimentaria fue más predominante en las familias con personas menores de 18 años dentro de su composición familiar. Los elementos relacionados con el tema económico fueron los más referenciados como condicionantes de inseguridad alimentaria.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Food security is a broad concept that includes multiple factors that in one way or another affect the population's access to quality food. Only in this way will it be possible to meet the long-awaited goal of having a healthy diet that not only minimizes the appearance of diseases, but also helps to control existing ones. Objective: To determine the behavior of food security in the rural population of the Colta canton, Chimborazo province, Ecuador. Methods: Basic, field, descriptive and cross-sectional research carried out in the Colta canton, Chimborazo province, with a total population of 410 families dedicated to the cultivation of quinoa. The sample was made up of 210 farmers. The Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale was used to determine food security and its related elements. Results: In 56.67% of the families food insecurity was identified; being more significant in families with children under 18 years of age (66.67%). Slight food insecurity predominated (73.95%). The lack of economic resources (86.55%), the high cost of food (76.49%), problems related to physical access to food (74.79%) and inadequate health coverage (74, 79%) were the determinants most referred to as a cause of food insecurity. Conclusions: The high percentage of food insecurity was more prevalent in families with people under 18 years of age within their family composition. The elements related to the economic issue were the most referenced as determinants of food insecurity.

Perfil de la alimentación ofrecida en las cantinas escolares y sus reglamentaciones en Brasil / Profile of foods offered in school cafeterias and their regulation in Brazil

RESUMEN El objetivo fue realizar un estudio bibliográfico sobre el perfil de los alimentos ofrecidos en las cantinas escolares y reglamentaciones que existen sobre el tema en Brasil. Se investigaron en medios electrónicos publicaciones de revistas científicas, publicaciones oficiales y documentos recientes del gobierno brasileño sobre los tipos de alimentos ofrecidos en el ambiente escolar y las reglamentaciones sobre la venta de alimentos en cantinas comerciales de Brasil en el periodo de 2001 a febrero de 2016. En el país, no hay una estandarización de las legislaciones sobre los alimentos que pueden o no ser comercializados en la escuela. Hay regiones de Brasil en que el Estado aún no ha tenido la iniciativa de normalizar el asunto. Eso refleja la necesidad de una reglamentación federal para crear una estandarización de las legislaciones y de más estudios que evalúen la efectiva implementación de las leyes en las cantinas escolares, pues solo la promulgación de una ley no es capaz de modificar los paradigmas existentes en la comercialización de los alimentos en esos sitios.

ABSTRACT The objective was to carry out a bibliographic study on the profile of foods offered in school cafeterias and existing regulations on school cafeterias in Brazil. Publications in scientific journals, official publications and recent documents of the Brazilian government on the types of foods offered in the school environment and regulations on the sale of food in commercial cafeterias in Brazil from 2001 to February 2016 were reviewed in electronic media. In Brazil, there is no standardization of laws regarding food that may or may not be sold at schools. In many laws, there is no mention of the role of food and nutrition education. There are regions in Brazil where the state has not yet had the initiative to normalize the subject. This reflects the need for a federal regulation to create standardization of legislation and more studies that evaluate the effective implementation of laws for school cafeterias, since the enactment of a law alone is not capable of modifying the existing paradigms in marketing of food from those places.

A quasi-experimental study evaluating a health promotion program targeting healthy nutrition, physical activity and social network enhancement for low-income multi-problem households: study protocol

Background:Previous studies have shown that people living in multi-problem households are less physically active, eat less healthy, have unstable social networks, and worse self-perceived general health than other people. The aim of this paper is to describe the development and evaluation of a health promotion program called “Back2Balance” for low-income multi-problem households aimed at improving healthy nutrition, physical activity, social networks, and self-perceived health.Methods:The Back2Balance program was developed using input from two formative studies and a co-creation process together with the target group and social workers. We used the theoretical domains framework to identify the functional components of our program. The Back2Balance program consists of: 1) a walking group, 2) cooking workshops, 3) motivational talks, 4) discounts on existing health promotion programs, and 5) family trips and children’s activities. In a quasi-experimental study respondents in the intervention group receive the usual social services support for multi-problem households and have the possibility to enroll in the program. Respondents in the control group only receive usual social services support.The program will be evaluated among 272 respondents from low-income multi-problem households living in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. Conclusions: This protocol describes the development and evaluation of the Back2Balance program. We hypothesize that the program will lead to increased physical activity, healthy nutrition, social networks enhancement, and self-perceived health. The results of this study can be used as input for other national or international initiatives aiming to increase health of low-income multi-problem households.Trial registration: NTR6512

Alimentação saudável: acesso à informação via mapas de navegação na internet / Healthy Nutrition: access to information via navigation maps on the internet

Apresentam-se e discutem-se os resultados de uma pesquisa realizada com o objetivo de desenvolver uma tecnologia de informação e comunicação via web para a promoção da alimentação saudável, mediante a facilitação do acesso à informação na internet. Buscou-se, mediante entrevistas, conhecer as concepções e identificar demandas e necessidades de informações e conhecimentos sobre o tema, dentre ONGs que trabalham com saúde; e ainda, mapear informações e conhecimentos acerca da alimentação saudável na web, em sítios nacionais. A partir dos resultados, elaboraram-se mapas conceituais, colocados em diálogo mediado pelos pesquisadores, com os saberes dos especialistas. Descreve-se a metodologia utilizada para construir os mapas de navegação orientados por mapas conceituais e discutem-se os desafios da gestão e do acesso à informação e ao conhecimento em saúde na internet. Destaca-se o potencial para deslocar o modelo da oferta de informação para o de construção compartilhada do conhecimento mediada por tecnologias de informação e comunicação.

We present and discuss the results of a survey that aimed of develop an information and communication technology in the web in order to promote healthy nutrition, by facilitating access to information on the internet. We sought through interviews, knowing the concepts and identifying demands and needs for information and knowledge on the subject, among NGO's working with health. Besides, mapping information and knowledge about the healthy eating on the web at national sites. From the results, concept maps were prepared, placed in dialogue, mediated by researchers with the knowledge of experts. The paper also describes the methodology used to build navigation maps oriented by concept maps and discusses the challenges of management and access to health information and knowledge on the internet. We highlight the potential to shift the model of supply information for the shared construction of knowledge mediated by information and communication technologies.