Weight gain and reduced energy expenditure in low-income Brazilian women living in slums: a 4-year follow-up study.

The present study aimed to investigate the possible changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters in low-income women living in the outskirts of Maceió (northeast Brazil), and to explore the possible role of dietary intake and physical activity in these changes. A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in a cohort of mothers of malnourished children who attended the Center for Nutritional Recovery and Education, an outreach programme of the Federal University of Alagoas. Socio-economic, anthropometric, biochemical and dietary intake data were assessed at baseline and after a follow-up period of 4 years. Energy expenditure (using doubly labelled water) and physical activity (using triaxial accelerometers) were assessed only in a subgroup of women after 4 years. A total of eighty-five women were assessed. Participants showed an altered biochemical profile, increased systolic blood pressure, decreased thyroid hormone levels, and body-weight gain. However, dietary intakes of the participants did not include large quantities of highly processed and high-glycaemic index foods. The energy intake of the participants did not differ from their total energy expenditure (7990.3 (7173.7-8806.8) v. 8798.1 (8169.0-9432.4) kJ, respectively; P= 0.084). Multivariate analyses showed a significant effect of time spent watching television (ß = 0.639 (0.003 to 1.275); P= 0.048) and dietary diversity score (ß = -1.039 ( -2.010 to -0.067); P = 0.036) on weight gain. The present study indicates that poor women, who are mothers of malnourished children and have a reasonably balanced dietary intake, exhibit weight gain and are at risk of developing chronic diseases.

Evolution of the biochemical profile of children treated or undergoing treatment for moderate or severe stunting: consequences of metabolic programming? / Evolução do perfil bioquímico de crianças tratadas ou em tratamento para déficit estatural moderado ou grave: consequências da programação metabólica?

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate changes in the biochemical profile of children treated or being treated for moderate or severe stunting in a nutrition recovery and education center. METHODS: this was a retrospective longitudinal study of 263 children treated at this center between August of 2008 to August of 2011, aged 1 to 6 years, diagnosed with moderate (z-score of height-for-age [HAZ] < -2) or severe stunting (HAZ < -3). Data were collected on socioeconomic conditions, dietary habits, and biochemical changes, as well as height according to age. RESULTS: the nutritional intervention showed an increase in HAZ of children with moderate (0.51 ± 0.4, p = 0.001) and severe (0.91 ± 0.7, p = 0.001) stunting during the monitoring. Increased levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (initial: 71.7 ng/dL; final: 90.4 ng/dL; p = 0.01) were also observed, as well as a reduction in triglycerides (TG) in both severely (initial: 91.8 mg/dL; final: 79.1 mg/dL; p = 0.01) and in moderately malnourished children (initial: 109.2 mg/dL; final 88.7 mg/dL; p = 0.01), and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-C only in the third year of intervention (initial: 31.4 mg/dL; final: 42.2 mg/dL). The values of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels remained high throughout the treatment (initial: 165.1 mg/dL; final: 163.5 mg/dL and initial: 109.0 mg/dL; final: 107.3 mg/dL, respectively). CONCLUSION: the nutritional treatment for children with short stature was effective in reducing stunting and improving TG and HDL-C after three years of intervention. However, the levels of LDL-C and TC remained high even in treated children. It is therefore speculated that these changes may result from metabolic programming due to malnutrition. .

OBJETIVO: avaliar as mudanças no perfil bioquímico de crianças tratadas ou em tratamento para déficit estatural moderado ou grave em um centro de recuperação e educação nutricional. MÉTODOS: estudo longitudinal retrospectivo com 263 crianças semi-internas no Centro no período de agosto/2008 a agosto/2011, com idade entre 1 e 6 anos e diagnóstico de déficit estatural moderado, escore-Z da altura-para-idade (AIZ) < -2 e grave (AIZ < -3). Foram coletados dados socioeconômicos, dietéticos e bioquímicos e a evolução estatural segundo a idade. RESULTADOS: com a intervenção nutricional observou-se incremento no escore-z das crianças com déficit estatural moderado (0,51 ± 0,4; p = 0,001) e grave (0,91 ± 0,7; p = 0,001) durante o período de acompanhamento. Observou-se, ainda, aumento nos níveis de fator de crescimento insulina-símile (IGF-1) (inicial: 71,7 ng/dL; final: 90,4 ng/dL; p = 0,01), redução nos triglicérides (TG) tanto nas crianças graves (inicial: 91,8 mg/dL; final: 79,1 mg/dL; p = 0,01) como nas moderadamente desnutridas (109,2 mg/dL para 88,7 mg/dL; p = 0,01) e aumento significativo do lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL-C) apenas no terceiro ano de intervenção (inicial: 31,4 mg/dL; final: 42,2 mg/dL). Os valores de colesterol total (CT) e lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL-C) continuaram elevados durante todo o tratamento (inicial: 165,1 mg/dL; final: 163,5 mg/dL e inicial: 109,0 mg/dL; final: 107,3 mg/dL, respectivamente). CONCLUSÃO: o tratamento nutricional para as crianças de baixa estatura mostrou-se eficaz na redução do déficit estatural e dos TG e melhora dos níveis de HDL-C após três anos de intervenção. Porém, os níveis de LDL-C e CT mostraram-se sempre elevados mesmo nas ...

Evolution of the biochemical profile of children treated or undergoing treatment for moderate or severe stunting: consequences of metabolic programming?

OBJECTIVE: to evaluate changes in the biochemical profile of children treated or being treated for moderate or severe stunting in a nutrition recovery and education center. METHODS: this was a retrospective longitudinal study of 263 children treated at this center between August of 2008 to August of 2011, aged 1 to 6 years, diagnosed with moderate (z-score of height-for-age [HAZ] < -2) or severe stunting (HAZ < -3). Data were collected on socioeconomic conditions, dietary habits, and biochemical changes, as well as height according to age. RESULTS: the nutritional intervention showed an increase in HAZ of children with moderate (0.51 ± 0.4, p = 0.001) and severe (0.91 ± 0.7, p = 0.001) stunting during the monitoring. Increased levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (initial: 71.7 ng/dL; final: 90.4 ng/dL; p = 0.01) were also observed, as well as a reduction in triglycerides (TG) in both severely (initial: 91.8mg/dL; final: 79.1mg/dL; p = 0.01) and in moderately malnourished children (initial: 109.2mg/dL; final 88.7mg/dL; p = 0.01), and a significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-C only in the third year of intervention (initial: 31.4mg/dL; final: 42.2mg/dL). The values of total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels remained high throughout the treatment (initial: 165.1mg/dL; final: 163.5mg/dL and initial: 109.0mg/dL; final: 107.3mg/dL, respectively). CONCLUSION: the nutritional treatment for children with short stature was effective in reducing stunting and improving TG and HDL-C after three years of intervention. However, the levels of LDL-C and TC remained high even in treated children. It is therefore speculated that these changes may result from metabolic programming due to malnutrition.