[The relationship between income and children's habitual consumption of ß-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E in food]. / Relação entre renda e consumo alimentar habitual de ß-caroteno, vitamina C e vitamina E de crianças.

OBJECTIVE: Examining the relationship between family income and daily b-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E consumption amongst children in the city of João Pessoa / PB, Brazil. METHOD: One hundred and eighty-three children aged 2 to <10 years were evaluated, in a sample stratified by income level which was representative of the population of Joao Pessoa. The research instrument consisted of questionnaires addressing socio-economic, demographic, epidemiological, anthropometric and food consumption variables. The results were analysedby using R software, using descriptive (mean, median, standard-deviation, simple and relative frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (correlation and regression). RESULTS: Participants were predominantly male (55 %) from income classes E (up to US$ 428.64) and C (> US$ 622.31-US$ 2,682.93) and mothers who had studied for nine years or more. Regarding vitamin intake, there was low vitamin C inadequacy (8 %) and high vitamin E inadequacy (59 %), the latter being more frequent in the 4-8 year-old age group (33 % of children). There was an inverse correlation between income and energy intake (r=-0.1525, p<0.05) and between income and vitamin E consumption (r=-0.3, p<0.05). The relationship between income and maternal education (p<0.05), between income and b-carotene consumption and between income and vitamin C consumption was significantly positive (r=0.33 and r=0.28, respectively, p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It was concluded that consuming vitamins having antioxidant properties was positively related to family income regarding vitamin C and b-carotene and negatively related regarding vitamin E and calories.

Relação entre renda e consumo alimentar habitual de β-caroteno, vitamina C e vitamina E de crianças / The relationship between income and children's habitual consumption of β-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E in food / Relación entre el ingreso y el consumo habitual de β-caroteno, vitamina C y vitamina en niños

Objetivo Analisar a relação entre renda e consumo alimentar de b-caroteno, vitamina C e vitamina E em crianças na cidade de João Pessoa, Brasil. Método Foram avaliadas 183 crianças com idade entre 2 e < 10 anos, em uma amostra representativa estratificada por níveis de renda da população de João Pessoa. O instrumento de pesquisa consistiu de questionários que abordaram aspectos sócio-econômicos, demográficos, antropométricos e de consumo alimentar. Analisou-se os resultados com o software R, por meio da estatística descritiva e inferencial (correlação e regressão). Resultados Observou-se predomínio do gênero masculino (55 por cento), das classes de renda E (até U.S. $ 428,64) e C (> U.S. $ 622,31-U.S. $ 2,682.93) e de mães que estudaram nove anos ou mais. Quanto à ingestão de vitaminas, houve baixa inadequação de vitamina C (8 por cento) e inadequação elevada de vitamina E (59 por cento), sendo esta última mais freqüente na faixa etária de 4-8 anos (33 por cento das crianças). Houve uma correlação inversa entre renda familiar e consumo energético (r=-0,1525, p <0,05) e entre renda e consumo de vitamina E (r =-0,3, p <0,05). As relações entre renda e escolaridade materna (p <0,05), renda e consumo de b-caroteno e renda e consumo de vitamina C (r=0,33 e r=0,28, respectivamente, p <0,05) foram significativamente positivas. Conclusão Concluiu-se que o consumo das vitaminas antioxidantes é positivamente relacionado com a renda familiar, em relação à vitamina C e b-caroteno e negativamente em relação à vitamina E e calorias.

Objective Examining the relationship between family income and daily b-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E consumption amongst children in the city of João Pessoa / PB, Brazil. Method One hundred and eighty-three children aged 2 to <10 years were evaluated, in a sample stratified by income level which was representative of the population of Joao Pessoa. The research instrument consisted of questionnaires addressing socio-economic, demographic, epidemiological, anthropometric and food consumption variables. The results were analysedby using R software, using descriptive (mean, median, standard-deviation, simple and relative frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (correlation and regression). Results Participants were predominantly male (55 percent) from income classes E (up to US$ 428.64) and C (> US$ 622.31-US$ 2,682.93) and mothers who had studied for nine years or more. Regarding vitamin intake, there was low vitamin C inadequacy (8 percent) and high vitamin E inadequacy (59 percent), the latter being more frequent in the 4-8 year-old age group (33 percent of children). There was an inverse correlation between income and energy intake (r=-0.1525, p<0.05) and between income and vitamin E consumption (r=-0.3, p<0.05). The relationship between income and maternal education (p<0.05), between income and b-carotene consumption and between income and vitamin C consumption was significantly positive (r=0.33 and r=0.28, respectively, p<0.05). Conclusion It was concluded that consuming vitamins having antioxidant properties was positively related to family income regarding vitamin C and b-carotene and negatively related regarding vitamin E and calories.

Objetivo Analizar la relación entre el ingreso y el consumo de b-caroteno, vitamina C y vitamina E en los niños en la ciudad de Joao Pessoa, Brasil. Métodos Se evaluaron 183 niños de edades comprendidas entre 2 y <10 años en una muestra representativa estratificada por nivel de ingresos de la población de Joao Pessoa. El instrumento de la encuesta consistió en cuestionarios que abordaban el consumo socio-económico, demográfico, antropométrico y dietético. Se analizaron los resultados con el software R, a través de la estadística descriptiva e inferencial (correlación y regresión). Resultados Se observó un predominio del sexo masculino (55 por ciento) de la E espectro de ingresos (hasta 428,64 dólares EE.UU.) y C (> EE.UU. $ 622.31 y US $ 2,682.93) y las madres que tenía nueve años o más. En cuanto a la ingesta de vitaminas mostraron insuficiencia bajos de vitamina C (8 por ciento) y alto contenido de vitamina E inadecuada (59 por ciento), siendo el segundo más frecuente en el grupo de edad de 4-8 años (33 por ciento de los niños). Hubo una correlación inversa entre ingreso familiar y el consumo de energía (r=-0,1525, p <0,05) y entre los ingresos y el consumo de vitamina E (r =-0.3, p <0,05). La relación entre el ingreso y la educación materna (p <0,05), los ingresos y el consumo de b-caroteno y el ingreso y el consumo de vitamina C (r=0,33 y r=0,28, respectivamente, p<0.05) significativamente positivo. Conclusiones Se concluye que el consumo de vitaminas antioxidantes se relaciona positivamente con los ingresos familiares, en relación a la vitamina C y b-caroteno y negativamente relacionado con la vitamina E y calorías.

The importance of habitual vitamin A dietary intake on the serum retinol concentration in the elderly: a population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: The aging population is one of the main results of population demographic trends during the twentieth century and will be the hallmark of populations during this century. OBJECTIVE: To assess the habitual dietary vitamin A intake and serum retinol concentration in the elderly. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a population-based epidemiological study conducted in João Pessoa, Paraiba, northeastern Brazil, from July 2008 to January 2010, with 212 individuals from 60 to 90 years of age, from both genders. Habitual food intake, retinolemia and C-reactive protein (CRP), as well as socioeconomic and anthropometric data were collected. RESULTS: The median of vitamin A intake was 1643.40 microg EAR/day (p25 = 1112.20-p75 = 2430.80). The average serum retinol concentration was 1.91 +/- 0.68 mmol/L. There was no correlation of CRP concentration with serum retinol (r = 0.061/p = 0.424), nor with the habitual dietary retinol intake (r = 0.000/p = 0.932). However, there was a direct relationship between food intake and serum retinol concentration (r = 0.173/p = 0.025). Only 3.98% (IC95% 6.88-1.08) of subjects had inadequate serum retinol concentrations 1.05 micromol/L), and 12.4% (IC95% 17.36-7.44) had inadequate vitamin A intake (< 625 microg for males and < 500 microg for females). Most individuals assessed in this study showed adequate retinolemia state and habitual dietary vitamin A intake, probably protecting them from this specific nutritional vulnerability, and no correlation between CRP concentration and serum and dietary retinol was found, possibly because these individuals had no acute inflammation and absence of chronic decompensated diseases.