Metabolically unhealthy and overweight phenotypes are associated with increased levels of inflammatory cytokines: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the association between cytokine levels in metabolic phenotypes. Our hypothesis was that an unhealthy metabolic profile is associated to higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines. METHODS: The study sample was composed of 743 Brazilian adults classified in four phenotypes: metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), metabolically healthy overweight (MHOW), and metabolically unhealthy overweight (MUOW). Sociodemographic, anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical parameters were collected. Six different cytokines were analyzed from blood samples using the CBA Human Inflammatory cytokines kit and the values divided in quartiles for analysis. Logistic regression models were constructed to assess the association between metabolic phenotypes and cytokines concentrations, adjusted for potential confounders and P < 0.05 was used. RESULTS: The MUOW phenotype showed a higher risk for increased levels of all cytokines analyzed compared with the reference group (MHNW). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that excess weight and altered metabolic profile are related to inflammation, especially when both conditions are associated, possibly linked to visceral adiposity. Therefore, the categorization of metabolic phenotypes in populations is an important factor for prevention of chronic diseases, as inflammation is associated with cardiovascular risk and obesity is not the only influencing factor.

Qualitative Analysis of Cognitive Interviews With School Children: A Web-Based Food Intake Questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: The use of computers to administer dietary assessment questionnaires has shown potential, particularly due to the variety of interactive features that can attract and sustain children's attention. Cognitive interviews can help researchers to gain insights into how children understand and elaborate their response processes in this type of questionnaire. OBJECTIVE: To present the cognitive interview results of children who answered the WebCAAFE, a Web-based questionnaire, to obtain an in-depth understanding of children's response processes. METHODS: Cognitive interviews were conducted with children (using a pretested interview script). Analyses were carried out using thematic analysis within a grounded theory framework of inductive coding. RESULTS: A total of 40 children participated in the study, and 4 themes were identified: (1) the meaning of words, (2) understanding instructions, (3) ways to resolve possible problems, and (4) suggestions for improving the questionnaire. Most children understood questions that assessed nutritional intake over the past 24 hours, although the structure of the questionnaire designed to facilitate recall of dietary intake was not always fully understood. Younger children (7 and 8 years old) had more difficulty relating the food images to mixed dishes and foods eaten with bread (eg, jam, cheese). Children were able to provide suggestions for improving future versions of the questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS: More attention should be paid to children aged 8 years or below, as they had the greatest difficulty completing the WebCAAFE.

Brazilian healthy eating index revised (BHEI-R) of women before and during adjuvant treatment for breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Different therapeutic modalities for cancer trigger side effects that affect the selection of food by changing dietary patterns. AIMS: To evaluate changes in the diet quality of women in adjuvant treatment for breast cancer. METHODS: Sociodemographic, clinical and anthropometric data of 78 women were collected. The Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised and its components were obtained from food frequency questionnaire applied before and after the treatment. At baseline, participants were classified according to tertiles of diet quality. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The score of the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index Revised (BHEI-R) in the lowest tertile was 48.4 to 75.2 points, the second tertile was 75.7 to 81.8 points, and the upper tertile was 82.0 to 95.7 points. During treatment, of the women classified in the first tertile, 62% improved their diet score quality passing to the upper tertiles. Women classified in the second tertile, did not significantly alter the diet quality during the treatment, although 46% went to the third tertile. Patients classified in the third tertile significantly reduced the average score of the Index by 7.3 points during the treatment. Among these women, 38% and 20% decreased their score for the second and first tertiles respectively, where the reduction in the diet quality was due to reducing the score of components Total fruits, Total vegetables, Dark Green and orange vegetables and Legumes, Total grains and Solid fats, Alcohol and Added sugar. CONCLUSION: Dietary changes, which were observed after breast cancer diagnosis, significantly altered the quality of diet among the women participating in the study. Future nutrition interventions are important to aid in food choices during the treatment.

Introducción: Diferentes modalidades terapéuticas para los efectos secundarios de activación de cáncer que afectan a la selección de los alimentos por el cambio de los patrones dietéticos. Objetivo: Evaluar los cambios en la calidad de la dieta de mujeres en tratamiento adyuvante para cáncer de mama. Métodos: se obtuvieron datos sociodemográficos, clínicos y antropométricos de 78 mujeres. El Índice Brasileño de Alimentación Saludable y sus componentes se obtuvieron a partir de cuestionarios de frecuencia alimentar aplicados antes y al final del tratamiento. Los participantes fueron clasificados según terciles de calidad de la dieta con base en las informaciones del inicio del estudio. Resultados: Las puntuaciones del Índice de Calidad de la dieta en el tercil inferior fue 48,4-75,2 puntos, en el segundo tercil fue 75,7-81,8 puntos, y en el tercil superior 82,0-95,7 puntos. Durante el tratamiento, 62 % de las mujeres pertenecientes al primer tercil mejoraron su calidad, pasando para los terciles medio o superior. Las mujeres clasificadas en el segundo tercil no alteraron significativamente la calidad de la dieta durante el tratamiento, a pesar de que 46 % pasó para el tercil superior. Las pacientes pertenecientes al tercer tercil redujeron significativamente la puntuación promedio del Índice en 7,3 puntos durante el tratamiento. Entre estas mujeres, 38% y 20% disminuyeron su puntuación para el segundo y primer tercil, respectivamente. La reducción de la calidad de la dieta fue el resultado de la disminución en la puntuación de los componentes Frutas totales, Verduras totales, Verduras y legumbres de color verde oscuro y naranja, Cereales totales y grasas sólidas, Alcohol y Azúcar añadido. Conclusión: Los cambios observados en la alimentación después del diagnóstico de cáncer de mama alteró significativamente la calidad de la dieta de las mujeres participantes del estudio. Intervenciones nutricionales futuras son importantes para ayudar en la elección de alimentos durante el tratamiento.