A new doubly labelled water anthropometry-based equation for prediction of total daily energy expenditure in older people from low- and middle-income countries.

BACKGROUND: For community-living older people, the ability to estimate total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) with validated predictive equations based on anthropometry is limited. To our knowledge no studies exist for non-Caucasian populations OBJECTIVE: To design and validate an anthropometry-based equation to estimate TDEE using doubly-labelled water (DLW) as the criterion measure, and to assess the performance of three other published equations in community-living older people from rural and urban areas of Brazil, Chile, Guatemala, Senegal, Cuba, and Mexico METHODS: This cross-sectional study measured anthropometry and TDEE using DLW in 69 men and 43 women aged 60-89 years. TDEE was also estimated with an anthropometry-based equation derived from the sub-sample of Mexico (n = 38) and with three other published equations. Predictive accuracy of the equations was tested by an external validation procedure RESULTS: TDEE by DLW in the six country sample was 2411 ± 41 kcal/day (mean ± SE) in men and 1939 ± 51 kcal/day in women. The best new Mexican equation was TDEE, kcal/d = [223.4 + (27.9 × weight, kg) + (239.7 × sex)]; where sex: Man = 1 and Woman = 0; having high precision; R2 = 0.89, lowest RMSE = 149.2, and Cp value of 2.0. This new Mexican equation estimated TDEE accurately in the five country sample and at country level after correction for Guatemalan older men, while the published equations performed poorly CONCLUSIONS: The Mexican equation performed better that other published equations and is recommended to accurately estimate energy requirements for community-living older people in five Latin American and one African country.

Poor management of low birth weight compounds obesity and chronic diseases in Cuba.

The Cuban population exhibits high prevalence of overweight and associated chronic non-communicable diseases, trends that begin in childhood. In addition to factors related to the mother's health, factors contributing to excess weight gain in Cuban children are: reduced prevalence of exclusive breastfeeding of infants up to six months of age, full-term low birth weight infants and nutritional mismanagement of this group, incorrect complementary feeding, obesogenic diet, family history and sedentary lifestyles. Thus, it is important to adopt comprehensive, multisectoral strategies that promote adequate nutrition and weight control. This is particularly important for full-term low birth weight infants, predisposed to body fat storage.

Envejecimiento / Aging

Embelleciendo la vida se puede alcanzar una tercera edad enriquecedora, edificante y larga. El adaptismo es una corriente explicativa de la nutrición y alimentación humana que pretende matizar la vergüenza de la existencia de malnutrición en el siglo xxi con pinceladas lingüísticas tranquilizantes para sus generadores. Las actuales generaciones son el resultado de alternos períodos de hambrunas y plétora, los cuales seleccionaron a los sobrevivientes. Según la hipótesis de la Programación Fetal o del Fenotipo Ahorrador, las enfermedades de la adultez se programan por hormonas y neurotransmisores, durante períodos críticos del desarrollo fetal. Ella centra la atención de los debates sobre el alarmante comportamiento epidemiológico de diabetes, obesidad y cáncer en la actualidad. La prolongación de la esperanza de vida, como resultado de una muy exitosa combinación de un sistema inmune bien preservado, buena capacidad para enfrentar al estrés, estilo de vida apropiado y carga genética, va acompañada de la prevención de enfermedades no transmisibles. Las acciones para ello deben comenzar antes de la vida intrauterina. La vejez, en si misma, no es un problema sin solución: el problema consiste en la marginación, la enfermedad y la pobreza, que no permiten alcanzar una vida digna en muchas regiones del mundo para este grupo de edad(AU)

Making life beautiful is a way of reaching a long, enriching and fruitful older age. Adaptism is an explanatory current of human nutrition and feeding that intends to attenuate the shameful existence of malnutrition in the 21st century with reassuring linguistic phrases for its generators. Today's generations are the result of alternative periods of famine and plethora which selected the survivors. According to the Fetal Programming or Saving Phenotype hypothesis, diseases at adulthood is programmed by hormones and neurotransmitters during the critical periods of fetal development. This hypothesis becomes the center of debates on the alarming epidemiological behavior of diabetes, obesity and cancer at present. Extension of life expectancy, as a result of a very successful combination of well-preserved system, good capacity to face stress, adequate life style and genetic load, is accompanied by the prevention of non-communicable diseases. The actions to attain this goal should begin before the intrauterine life of the fetus. Aging as such is not an unsolved issue; the problem lies in marginalization, disease and poverty that do not allow the elderly to have a decent life in many regions of the world(AU)

Envejecimiento / Aging

Embelleciendo la vida se puede alcanzar una tercera edad enriquecedora, edificante y larga. El adaptismo es una corriente explicativa de la nutrición y alimentación humana que pretende matizar la vergüenza de la existencia de malnutrición en el siglo xxi con pinceladas lingüísticas tranquilizantes para sus generadores. Las actuales generaciones son el resultado de alternos períodos de hambrunas y plétora, los cuales seleccionaron a los sobrevivientes. Según la hipótesis de la Programación Fetal o del Fenotipo Ahorrador, las enfermedades de la adultez se programan por hormonas y neurotransmisores, durante períodos críticos del desarrollo fetal. Ella centra la atención de los debates sobre el alarmante comportamiento epidemiológico de diabetes, obesidad y cáncer en la actualidad. La prolongación de la esperanza de vida, como resultado de una muy exitosa combinación de un sistema inmune bien preservado, buena capacidad para enfrentar al estrés, estilo de vida apropiado y carga genética, va acompañada de la prevención de enfermedades no transmisibles. Las acciones para ello deben comenzar antes de la vida intrauterina. La vejez, en si misma, no es un problema sin solución: el problema consiste en la marginación, la enfermedad y la pobreza, que no permiten alcanzar una vida digna en muchas regiones del mundo para este grupo de edad(AU)

Making life beautiful is a way of reaching a long, enriching and fruitful older age. Adaptism is an explanatory current of human nutrition and feeding that intends to attenuate the shameful existence of malnutrition in the 21st century with reassuring linguistic phrases for its generators. Today's generations are the result of alternative periods of famine and plethora which selected the survivors. According to the Fetal Programming or Saving Phenotype hypothesis, diseases at adulthood is programmed by hormones and neurotransmitters during the critical periods of fetal development. This hypothesis becomes the center of debates on the alarming epidemiological behavior of diabetes, obesity and cancer at present. Extension of life expectancy, as a result of a very successful combination of well-preserved system, good capacity to face stress, adequate life style and genetic load, is accompanied by the prevention of non-communicable diseases. The actions to attain this goal should begin before the intrauterine life of the fetus. Aging as such is not an unsolved issue; the problem lies in marginalization, disease and poverty that do not allow the elderly to have a decent life in many regions of the world(AU)

Actividad física de preescolares de La Habana / Physical activity among Havana preschoolers

Introducción: el sedentarismo es uno de los factores causales de la obesidad. Los niños deben realizar 60 minutos diarios de actividad física moderada o intensa. Objetivo: medir la actividad física de preescolares. Método: en círculos infantiles de La Habana se midió la actividad física en dos días de semana y uno de fin de semana de 40 niños normopeso de 4-6 años de edad mediante acelerometría con sensores TriTrac R3D y registro de la frecuencia cardiaca con cardiofrecuencímetros Polar. Los registros de 11-14 horas diarias de vigilia, fueron ponderados para una semana y clasificados por calibración para cada niño. Resultados: los preescolares de la ciudad emplearon el 70 por ciento de su tiempo de vigilia en actividades sedentarias, fueron 1,2-2 veces más sedentarios que niños rurales o de pueblo y apenas cumplieron la tercera parte de la recomendación diaria; no se observaron diferencias entre niñas y niños. Los resultados coincidieron con los de estudios isotópicos anteriores y con los de niños de países industrializados. Conclusión: el sobrepeso corporal de los preescolares cubanos está en relación con la inactividad física y requiere de acciones sociales y de salud integradas a nivel comunitario(AU)

Introduction: A sedentary lifestyle is one of the causal factors of obesity. Children should have at least 60 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity per day. Objective: Measure the physical activity of preschoolers. Method: The physical activity of 40 children with normal weight aged 4-6 years was measured in day care centers of Havana on two week days and one weekend day, using accelerometry with TriTrac-R3D sensors and heart rate monitoring with Polar heart rate meters. Daily records for 11-14 waking hours were estimated on a weekly basis and ranked by calibration for each child. Results: Urban preschoolers spent 70 percent of their waking time in sedentary activities. They were 1.2-2 times more sedentary than rural or small town children, and barely fulfilled one third of the recommended daily physical activity. No differences were found between boys and girls. Results coincided with previous studies on the subject and with studies about children from industrialized countries. Conclusion: Overweight among Cuban preschoolers is related to physical inactivity and requires the performance of social and health promotion actions in the community(AU)

Crecimiento pre y postnatal asociados a sobrepeso corporal en escolares de Bayamo / Pre and postnatal growth as related to overweight among Bayamo school-age children

Objetivo: identificar la asociación entre factores prenatales y relacionados con el primer año de vida y su influencia en el sobrepeso corporal de edades ulteriores. Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, retrospectivo, analítico, de casos y controles en el municipio Bayamo con 200 escolares con sobrepeso corporal y 200 niños normales de 6-11 años de edad, de la misma zona de residencia, nacidos de madres con similar edad gestacional de 37-42 semanas, homogéneos en edad y sexo y con historia de no afecciones de salud. En el análisis estadístico se estimó el riesgo asociado como Odd Ratio. Resultados: se mostró una fuerte asociación entre el sobrepeso corporal en la edad escolar y la ganancia de peso excesiva en los primeros 4 meses de vida, bajo peso, reducida longitud supina y circunferencia cefálica en el momento del nacimiento y hábito de fumar, insuficiente ganancia de peso corporal, bajo IMC y enfermedades de la madre durante el embarazo. Conclusiones: estos factores deben ser considerados en la prevención de la obesidad infantil. La ganancia de peso acelerada en los primeros meses de vida de niños nacidos con afectación del crecimiento fetal debe ser prevenida(AU)

Objective: Describe the relationship between prenatal factors and those occurring during the first year of life, and determine their influence on overweight in later stages. Methods: An analytical observational retrospective case-control study was conducted in the municipality of Bayamo with 200 overweight school-age children and 200 normal children aged 6-11 years from the same area of residence, born to mothers with similar gestational age of 37-42 weeks, homogeneous as to age and sex, and with a history of good health. The statistical analysis included estimation of the associated risk as odd ratio. Results: A strong association was found between overweight at school age and the following factors: excessive weight gain during the first 4 months of life, low weight, reduced supine length and head circumference at birth, smoking, insufficient weight gain, low BMI and maternal diseases during pregnancy. Conclusions: These factors should be borne in mind in the prevention of child obesity. Rapid weight gain during the first months of life should be prevented among children born with fetal growth disorders(AU)

Crecimiento pre y postnatal asociados a sobrepeso corporal en escolares de Bayamo / Pre and postnatal growth as related to overweight among Bayamo school-age children

OBJETIVO: identificar la asociación entre factores prenatales y relacionados con el primer año de vida y su influencia en el sobrepeso corporal de edades ulteriores. MÉTODOS: se realizó un estudio observacional, retrospectivo, analítico, de casos y controles en el municipio Bayamo con 200 escolares con sobrepeso corporal y 200 niños normales de 6-11 años de edad, de la misma zona de residencia, nacidos de madres con similar edad gestacional de 37-42 semanas, homogéneos en edad y sexo y con historia de no afecciones de salud. En el análisis estadístico se estimó el riesgo asociado como Odd Ratio. RESULTADOS: se mostró una fuerte asociación entre el sobrepeso corporal en la edad escolar y la ganancia de peso excesiva en los primeros 4 meses de vida, bajo peso, reducida longitud supina y circunferencia cefálica en el momento del nacimiento y hábito de fumar, insuficiente ganancia de peso corporal, bajo IMC y enfermedades de la madre durante el embarazo. CONCLUSIONES: estos factores deben ser considerados en la prevención de la obesidad infantil. La ganancia de peso acelerada en los primeros meses de vida de niños nacidos con afectación del crecimiento fetal debe ser prevenida.

OBJECTIVE: describe the relationship between prenatal factors and those occurring during the first year of life, and determine their influence on overweight in later stages. METHODS: an analytical observational retrospective case-control study was conducted in the municipality of Bayamo with 200 overweight school-age children and 200 normal children aged 6-11 years from the same area of residence, born to mothers with similar gestational age of 37-42 weeks, homogeneous as to age and sex, and with a history of good health. The statistical analysis included estimation of the associated risk as odd ratio. RESULTS: a strong association was found between overweight at school age and the following factors: excessive weight gain during the first 4 months of life, low weight, reduced supine length and head circumference at birth, smoking, insufficient weight gain, low BMI and maternal diseases during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: these factors should be borne in mind in the prevention of child obesity. Rapid weight gain during the first months of life should be prevented among children born with fetal growth disorders.

Actividad física de preescolares de La Habana / Physical activity among Havana preschoolers

INTRODUCCIÓN: el sedentarismo es uno de los factores causales de la obesidad. Los niños deben realizar 60 minutos diarios de actividad física moderada o intensa. OBJETIVO: medir la actividad física de preescolares. MÉTODO: en círculos infantiles de La Habana se midió la actividad física en dos días de semana y uno de fin de semana de 40 niños normopeso de 4-6 años de edad mediante acelerometría con sensores TriTrac R3D y registro de la frecuencia cardiaca con cardiofrecuencímetros Polar. Los registros de 11-14 horas diarias de vigilia, fueron ponderados para una semana y clasificados por calibración para cada niño. RESULTADOS: los preescolares de la ciudad emplearon el 70 % de su tiempo de vigilia en actividades sedentarias, fueron 1,2-2 veces más sedentarios que niños rurales o de pueblo y apenas cumplieron la tercera parte de la recomendación diaria; no se observaron diferencias entre niñas y niños. Los resultados coincidieron con los de estudios isotópicos anteriores y con los de niños de países industrializados. CONCLUSIÓN: el sobrepeso corporal de los preescolares cubanos está en relación con la inactividad física y requiere de acciones sociales y de salud integradas a nivel comunitario.

INTRODUCTION: a sedentary lifestyle is one of the causal factors of obesity. Children should have at least 60 minutes of moderate to intense physical activity per day. OBJECTIVE: measure the physical activity of preschoolers. METHOD: the physical activity of 40 children with normal weight aged 4-6 years was measured in day care centers of Havana on two week days and one weekend day, using accelerometry with TriTrac-R3D sensors and heart rate monitoring with Polar heart rate meters. Daily records for 11-14 waking hours were estimated on a weekly basis and ranked by calibration for each child. Results: urban preschoolers spent 70% of their waking time in sedentary activities. They were 1.2-2 times more sedentary than rural or small town children, and barely fulfilled one third of the recommended daily physical activity. No differences were found between boys and girls. RESULTS coincided with previous studies on the subject and with studies about children from industrialized countries. CONCLUSION: overweight among Cuban preschoolers is related to physical inactivity and requires the performance of social and health promotion actions in the community.

Medium- and short-term interventions with ma-pi 2 macrobiotic diet in type 2 diabetic adults of bauta, havana.

Background. In Cuba, the Ma-Pi 2 macrobiotic diet has shown positive results in 6-month assays with type 2 diabetic patients. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of this diet at short and medium terms. Methods. Sixty-five type 2 diabetic volunteers were included for dietary intervention, institutionally based for 21 days and followed later at home, until completing 3 months. 54 of them stayed until assay end. Before intervention, and after both assay periods, they were submitted to anthropometric records, body composition analyses and measurements of serum biochemical indicators, glycemic profile in capillary blood, blood pressure, and medication consumption; food intake was evaluated by the 3-day dietary recall. Results. During the intervention, the energy intake was 200 kcal higher at instance of more complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber and despite less fat and protein. Blood pressure and serum biochemical indicators decreased significantly in both periods; the safety nutritional indicators (hemoglobin, serum total proteins, and albumin) showed no variations. The global cardiovascular risk decreased and insulin consumption dropped by 46% and 64%, in both periods, respectively. Conclusions. The Ma-Pi 2 macrobiotic diet was a successful therapy at short term and after 3-month home-based intervention, for type 2 diabetics.

Fitness vs. obesity in Cuban children: battling the biases of gender and geography.

Más de la tercera parte de los adultos cubanos tiene un estilo de vida sedentario, conllevando una nada sorprendente prevalencia de sobrepeso corporal y obesidad de un 43% en el 2001, año en que se realizó la última encuesta nacional.[1] Hoy, podemos apostar a que esa cifra sea aún más abultada. Asociado con ella, el ascenso de las enfermedades crónicas está bien documentado en nuestro país y el mundo entero, amenazando con sobrepasar los recursos disponibles para controlar esa epidemia en auge. En Cuba, en específi co--un país en desarrollo donde todos tienen derecho a la atención en salud--el aumento de peso generalizado en la población presagia una carga de enfermedades crónicas mayor y una carga económica insostenible para el sistema de salud.

Ma-Pi 2 Macrobiotic Diet Intervention in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction Diet is a cornerstone of comprehensive treatment of diabetes mellitus. The macrobiotic diet is low in fat and rich in dietary fiber, vegetables and whole grains, and therefore may be a good therapeutic option. Objective Assess the influence of the Ma-Pi 2 macrobiotic diet on physical, hematologic and biochemical variables, as well as on hypoglycemic medication, in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods A 6-month dietary intervention was carried out in 16 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and poor glucide metabolism control (glycosylated hemoglobin, HbA1 >8,5 percent) receiving treatment at the Diabetic Care Center in Colón, Matanzas province, Cuba. The diet was prepared and served daily by macrobiotic specialists. Type and amount of food consumed and nutritional content were assessed using a weighted food-consumption survey. At onset and termination of the intervention, anthropometric and body composition variables were measured, as were biochemical (glucide and lipid metabolism) and other nutritional safety variables, and hypoglycemic drug use. Results The diet provided sufficient energy and protein. It was low in fat, high in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber, and provided adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, except for vitamin B12. At 6 months, anthropometric variables were significantly lower, lean body mass was preserved, and glucide and lipid metabolism was controlled. All participants were able to eliminate insulin treatment, and 25 percent continued treatment with glibenclamide only. Mean total cholesterol...

Helicobacter pylori is not associated with anaemia in Latin America: results from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Cuba, Mexico and Venezuela.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between Helicobacter pylori infection and anaemia. DESIGN: Six cross-sectional studies. H. pylori infection was assessed by the [13C]urea breath test using MS or IR analysis. Hb was measured for all countries. Ferritin and transferrin receptors were measured for Argentina, Bolivia, Mexico, and Venezuela. SETTING: Health services in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico or public schools in Bolivia, Cuba and Venezuela. SUBJECTS: In Argentina, 307 children aged 4-17 years referred to a gastroenterology unit; in Bolivia, 424 randomly selected schoolchildren aged 5-8 years; in Brazil, 1007 adults (157 men, 850 women) aged 18-45 years attending thirty-one primary health-care units; in Cuba, 996 randomly selected schoolchildren aged 6-14 years; in Mexico, seventy-one pregnant women in their first trimester attending public health clinics; in Venezuela, 418 children aged 4-13 years attending public schools. RESULTS: The lowest prevalence of H. pylori found was among children in Argentina (25.1%) and the highest in Bolivia (74.0%). In Bolivia, Cuba and Venezuela children showed similar prevalence of H. pylori infection as in Brazilian and Mexican adults (range 47.5% to 81.8%). Overall anaemia prevalence was 11.3% in Argentina, 15.4% in Bolivia, 20.6% in Brazil, 10.5% in Cuba and 8.9% in Venezuela. Adjusted analyses allowing for confounding variables showed no association between H. pylori colonization and anaemia in any study. Hb, ferritin and transferrin receptor levels were also not associated with H. pylori infection in any country. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed no evidence to support the hypothesis that H. pylori contributes to anaemia in children, adolescents, adults or pregnant women in six Latin American countries.

Dietary reference intakes for the cuban population, 2008.

Recommended dietary reference intakes (DRI) for energy and nutrients for the Cuban population were first established by the Nutrition and Food Hygiene Institute (INHA, its Spanish acronym) in 1996.[1] International organizations and Cuban public health research subsequently generated a considerable volume of new information on food-based energy and nutrient requirements,[2-4] resulting in the need for a revision. Updated DRIs were therefore compiled by a multidisciplinary group of specialists and published in 2008 by INHA and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health.[5,6].

Ma-pi 2 macrobiotic diet intervention in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Introduction Diet is a cornerstone of comprehensive treatment of diabetes mellitus. The macrobiotic diet is low in fat and rich in dietary fiber, vegetables and whole grains, and therefore may be a good therapeutic option. Objective Assess the influence of the Ma-Pi 2 macrobiotic diet on physical, hematologic and biochemical variables, as well as on hypoglycemic medication, in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and Methods A 6-month dietary intervention was carried out in 16 adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus and poor glucide metabolism control (glycosylated hemoglobin, HbA1 >8.5%) receiving treatment at the Diabetic Care Center in Colón, Matanzas province, Cuba. The diet was prepared and served daily by macrobiotic specialists. Type and amount of food consumed and nutritional content were assessed using a weighted food-consumption survey. At onset and termination of the intervention, anthropometric and body composition variables were measured, as were biochemical (glucide and lipid metabolism) and other nutritional safety variables, and hypoglycemic drug use. Results The diet provided sufficient energy and protein. It was low in fat, high in complex carbohydrates and dietary fiber, and provided adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals, except for vitamin B12. At 6 months, anthropometric variables were significantly lower, lean body mass was preserved, and glucide and lipid metabolism was controlled. All participants were able to eliminate insulin treatment, and 25% continued treatment with glibenclamide only. Mean total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglyceride values dropped 16.4%, 22.7% and 37.0%, respectively, while mean HDL cholesterol rose 97.8%. Mean glycemia and HbA1 values also decreased 63.8% and 54.5%, respectively. According to lipid levels and ratios, cardiovascular risk was also considerably reduced. Hemoglobin, total protein, albumin and creatinin levels indicated that nutritional safety was maintained. There were no adverse events. Conclusions In the 6-month intervention, the Ma-Pi 2 macrobiotic diet had a positive influence on weight control, body fat, and glucide and lipid metabolism in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Further research is needed to validate these encouraging results, particularly a clinical trial in which a control group receives the standard diet recommended for diabetic patients.

Caracterización y evaluación nutricional de las dietas macrobióticas Ma-Pi / Characterization and nutritional evaluation of the Ma-Pi macrobiotic diets

Existe desconocimiento y confusión general sobre la alimentación macrobiótica. En el Instituto Finlay se están realizando, desde hace siete años, diferentes ensayos clínicos con las dietas macrobióticas Ma-Pi, desarrolladas por Mario Pianesi, fundador y presidente de "Un Punto Macrobiótico", Italia, con el objetivo de comprobar su seguridad nutricional y los efectos terapéuticos atribuidos. Estas dietas se basan en el consumo de alimentos naturales, integrales y ecológicos. Predominan los cereales integrales, los vegetales y las leguminosas. Este trabajo ofrece información sobre estas dietas, su caracterización, principios básicos, contenido y evaluación nutricional. Se determinó el contenido nutricional de cinco ejemplos de patrones alimentarios correspondientes al mismo número de dietas Ma-Pi y se comparó con las recomendaciones propuestas por grupos de expertos. Las dietas se destacaron por ser bajas en grasas, proteínas de origen animal y carbohidratos simples y altas en carbohidratos complejos, fibra dietética y antioxidantes. Las dietas Ma-Pi evaluadas fueron seguras nutricionalmente. Sus principios tienen un fuerte aval científico, por lo que pueden ser utilizadas para promover salud, prevenir y tratar enfermedades crónicas, ya que están compuestas por una gran cantidad de alimentos funcionales con poder terapéutico reconocido. Las investigaciones sobre su potencialidad terapéutica están en desarrollo(AU)

There exist lack of knowledge and general confusion on macrobiotic feeding. During 7 years, different clinical tests have been made at the "Finlay" Institute with the Ma-pi macrobiotic diets, developed by Mario Pianesi, founder and president of "A Macrobiotic Point", Italy, in order to check its nutritional safety and the therapeutic effects attributed to it. These diets are based on the consumption of natural, integral and ecological foods, with a predominance of the integral cereals, vegetables and legumes. This work offers information on these diets, their characterization, basic principles, content and nutritional evaluation. The nutritional content of 5 examples of alimentary patterns corresponding to the same number of Ma-pi diets was determined and compared with the recommendations proposed by experts' groups. The diets proved to have a low fat content, proteins of animal origin, simple carbohydrates, a high content of complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber and antioxidants. The evaluated Ma-pi diets were nutritionally safe. Their principles have a strong scientific support; therefore, they can be used to promote health and to prevent and treat chronic diseases, since they are composed of a great number of functional foods with recognized therapeutic power. The investigations about their therapeutic potentiality are under development(AU)

Caracterización y evaluación nutricional de las dietas macrobióticas Ma-Pi / Characterization and nutritional evaluation of the Ma-Pi macrobiotic diets

Existe desconocimiento y confusión general sobre la alimentación macrobiótica. En el Instituto Finlay se están realizando, desde hace siete años, diferentes ensayos clínicos con las dietas macrobióticas Ma-Pi, desarrolladas por Mario Pianesi, fundador y presidente de "Un Punto Macrobiótico", Italia, con el objetivo de comprobar su seguridad nutricional y los efectos terapéuticos atribuidos. Estas dietas se basan en el consumo de alimentos naturales, integrales y ecológicos. Predominan los cereales integrales, los vegetales y las leguminosas. Este trabajo ofrece información sobre estas dietas, su caracterización, principios básicos, contenido y evaluación nutricional. Se determinó el contenido nutricional de cinco ejemplos de patrones alimentarios correspondientes al mismo número de dietas Ma-Pi y se comparó con las recomendaciones propuestas por grupos de expertos. Las dietas se destacaron por ser bajas en grasas, proteínas de origen animal y carbohidratos simples y altas en carbohidratos complejos, fibra dietética y antioxidantes. Las dietas Ma-Pi evaluadas fueron seguras nutricionalmente. Sus principios tienen un fuerte aval científico, por lo que pueden ser utilizadas para promover salud, prevenir y tratar enfermedades crónicas, ya que están compuestas por una gran cantidad de alimentos funcionales con poder terapéutico reconocido. Las investigaciones sobre su potencialidad terapéutica están en desarrollo.

There exist lack of knowledge and general confusion on macrobiotic feeding. During 7 years, different clinical tests have been made at the "Finlay" Institute with the Ma-pi macrobiotic diets, developed by Mario Pianesi, founder and president of "A Macrobiotic Point", Italy, in order to check its nutritional safety and the therapeutic effects attributed to it. These diets are based on the consumption of natural, integral and ecological foods, with a predominance of the integral cereals, vegetables and legumes. This work offers information on these diets, their characterization, basic principles, content and nutritional evaluation. The nutritional content of 5 examples of alimentary patterns corresponding to the same number of Ma-pi diets was determined and compared with the recommendations proposed by experts' groups. The diets proved to have a low fat content, proteins of animal origin, simple carbohydrates, a high content of complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber and antioxidants. The evaluated Ma-pi diets were nutritionally safe. Their principles have a strong scientific support; therefore, they can be used to promote health and to prevent and treat chronic diseases, since they are composed of a great number of functional foods with recognized therapeutic power. The investigations about their therapeutic potentiality are under development.

Recomendaciones nutricionales para adultos con sobrepeso corporal / Nutrition recommendations for adults presenting with excess weight

La salud puede mantenerse con el consumo de dietas que difieren asombrosamente en su contenido de grasas, carbohidratos y proteínas, cuya producción neta de ATP es 90 por ciento, 75 por ciento y 55 por ciento respectivamente. El cambio de sus proporciones en la dieta tiene un rango estrecho que genera despreciables diferencias en la disipación de energía. Por ello, las recomendaciones para el control del peso corporal deben basarse más en el efecto de los macronutrientes sobre el consumo alimentario y la ingestión de energía, que en el que muestran sobre el rendimiento de ATP. Ellas también deben considerar, que la selección de nutrientes no es similar para mantenimiento o reducción del peso corporal. Glucógeno corporal, carga genética y estilos de vida influencian la oxidación de grasa y la dimensión de tejido adiposo, de forma tal, que la ingestión y la oxidación de grasa resulten proporcionales. El incremento de la obesidad en Cuba esta generado por patrones culturales, hábitos alimentarios y por un efecto combinado de los cambios en la ingestión de nutrientes y en la actividad física sobre los niveles de glucógeno y la oxidación de grasa corporal. La evolución biológica y social en Cuba ha conducido hacia mecanismos más efectivos en la búsqueda de alimentos poco saludables y no hacia la reducción de la energía alimentaría. Una futura mejor disponibilidad de alimentos deseables conducirá a sobrepeso corporal en más del 50por ciento de la población adulta. Estas recomendaciones nutricionales deben contribuir a la prevención de ese incremento(AU)

Health can be supported with consumption of diets differing in a amazing way in its fats, carbohydrates and proteins content, whose net production of ATP is of 90 percent, 75 percent, and 55 percent, respectively. Change of its ratios in diet has a narrow rank generating poor differences in energy decrease. Thus, recommendations to control of body weight must be mainly based more on effect of micronutrients and energy ingestion than that showed in yielding of APT. These recommendations must to consider that the selection of nutrients isn't similar for maintenance or reduction of body weight. Body glycogen, genetic load, and life styles may influence on fat oxidation, and fatty tissue dimension, so, fat ingestion and oxidation be proportional. In Cuba, obesity increase is generated by cultural patterns, food habits, and by a combined effect of changes in nutrients ingestion and physical activity on glycogen levels and body fat oxidation. Biological and social evolution present in our country has leads to more effective mechanisms for searching of not much healthy foods, and not toward decrease of food energy. A future and better availability of desirable foods leads to an excess weight body in more than 50 percent of adult subjects. These nutrition recommendations must to contribute to prevention of this increase(AU)

Recomendaciones nutricionales para adultos con sobrepeso corporal / Nutrition recommendations for adults presenting with excess weight

La salud puede mantenerse con el consumo de dietas que difieren asombrosamente en su contenido de grasas, carbohidratos y proteínas, cuya producción neta de ATP es 90 por ciento, 75 por ciento y 55 por ciento respectivamente. El cambio de sus proporciones en la dieta tiene un rango estrecho que genera despreciables diferencias en la disipación de energía. Por ello, las recomendaciones para el control del peso corporal deben basarse más en el efecto de los macronutrientes sobre el consumo alimentario y la ingestión de energía, que en el que muestran sobre el rendimiento de ATP. Ellas también deben considerar, que la selección de nutrientes no es similar para mantenimiento o reducción del peso corporal. Glucógeno corporal, carga genética y estilos de vida influencian la oxidación de grasa y la dimensión de tejido adiposo, de forma tal, que la ingestión y la oxidación de grasa resulten proporcionales. El incremento de la obesidad en Cuba esta generado por patrones culturales, hábitos alimentarios y por un efecto combinado de los cambios en la ingestión de nutrientes y en la actividad física sobre los niveles de glucógeno y la oxidación de grasa corporal. La evolución biológica y social en Cuba ha conducido hacia mecanismos más efectivos en la búsqueda de alimentos poco saludables y no hacia la reducción de la energía alimentaría. Una futura mejor disponibilidad de alimentos deseables conducirá a sobrepeso corporal en más del 50por ciento de la población adulta. Estas recomendaciones nutricionales deben contribuir a la prevención de ese incremento.

Health can be supported with consumption of diets differing in a amazing way in its fats, carbohydrates and proteins content, whose net production of ATP is of 90 percent, 75 percent, and 55 percent, respectively. Change of its ratios in diet has a narrow rank generating poor differences in energy decrease. Thus, recommendations to control of body weight must be mainly based more on effect of micronutrients and energy ingestion than that showed in yielding of APT. These recommendations must to consider that the selection of nutrients isn't similar for maintenance or reduction of body weight. Body glycogen, genetic load, and life styles may influence on fat oxidation, and fatty tissue dimension, so, fat ingestion and oxidation be proportional. In Cuba, obesity increase is generated by cultural patterns, food habits, and by a combined effect of changes in nutrients ingestion and physical activity on glycogen levels and body fat oxidation. Biological and social evolution present in our country has leads to more effective mechanisms for searching of not much healthy foods, and not toward decrease of food energy. A future and better availability of desirable foods leads to an excess weight body in more than 50 percent of adult subjects. These nutrition recommendations must to contribute to prevention of this increase.