Eating behaviour is associated with eating frequency and food consumption in 6-8 year-old children: The Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children (PANIC) study.

The association between eating behaviour and dietary factors has been studied narrowly in children. Therefore, we investigated whether eating frequency and food consumption are influenced by eating behaviour in a population sample of 406 children aged 6-8 years. We assessed features of eating behaviour by the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire and dietary factors by a 4-day food record. The results showed that enjoyment of food was directly associated with a number of main meals (p = 0.041) and consumption of vegetables (p = 0.041), cheese (p = 0.005), and meat (p = 0.002). Food responsiveness was directly associated with consumption of fruit and berries (p = 0.013) and meat (p = 0.016). Desire to drink was directly associated with consumption of fat-containing milk (p = 0.002) and inversely associated with consumption of skimmed milk (p = 0.001). Food fussiness was inversely associated with a number of main meals (p = 0.013) and consumption of vegetables (p < 0.001), cheese (p = 0.001), and meat (p = 0.027). Satiety responsiveness was inversely associated with consumption of vegetables (p = 0.031), cheese (p = 0.010), and meat (p < 0.001) and directly associated with consumption of candies and chocolate (p = 0.026). Slowness in eating was inversely associated with consumption of meat (p = 0.018). Where sex differences existed the associations tended to be observed mostly in girls but not in boys. Our study shows that enjoyment of food and food responsiveness are directly associated with consumption of protein-rich foods and vegetables, fruit and berries, whereas food fussiness and satiety responsiveness are inversely associated with consumption of these foods. Assessment of eating behaviour can help in identifying children with various dietary needs.

Plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids are directly associated with cognition in overweight children but not in normal weight children.

AIM: Polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential nutrients for the normal development of the brain. We investigated the associations between plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids and cognition in normal weight and overweight children. METHODS: The study recruited 386 normal weight children and 58 overweight children aged six to eight years and blood samples were drawn after a 12-hour fast. We assessed plasma polyunsaturated fatty acids using gas chromatography, cognition using Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices, and overweight and obesity using the age-specific and sex-specific cut-offs from the International Obesity Task Force. The data were analysed by linear regression analyses adjusted for age and sex. RESULTS: Higher proportions of eicosapentaenoic acid in plasma triacylglycerols (ß = 0.311, p = 0.020, p = 0.029 for interaction) and docosahexaenoic acid in plasma triacylglycerols (ß = 0.281, p = 0.038, p = 0.049 for interaction) were both associated with higher Raven's scores in overweight children but not in normal weight children. Higher eicosapentaenoic acid to arachidonic acid ratios in triacylglycerols (ß = 0.317, p = 0.019) and phospholipids (ß = 0.273, p = 0.046) were directly associated with the Raven's score in overweight children but not in normal weight children. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that increasing the consumption of fish and other sources of eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid may improve cognition among overweight children.

Dietary quality indices in relation to cardiometabolic risk among Finnish children aged 6-8 years - The PANIC study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: There are no studies on the relationships of dietary quality indices to the clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors in children. We therefore investigated the associations of four dietary quality indices with cardiometabolic risk score and cardiometabolic risk factors in Finnish children. METHODS AND RESULTS: Subjects were a population sample of 204 boys and 198 girls aged 6-8 years. We assessed diet by 4-day food records and calculated Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Score, Baltic Sea Diet Score (BSDS), Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS), and Finnish Children Healthy Eating Index (FCHEI). We calculated the age- and sex-adjusted cardiometabolic risk score summing up Z-scores for waist circumference, mean of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and concentrations of fasting serum insulin and fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, the last multiplying by -1. Higher FCHEI was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk score among boys (standardised regression coefficient ß = -0.14, P = 0.044) adjusted for age, physical activity, electronic media time and household income. Higher DASH Score was related to a lower serum insulin in boys (ß = -0.15, P = 0.028). Higher DASH Score (ß = -0.16, P = 0.023) and FCHEI (ß = -0.17, P = 0.014) were related to lower triglyceride concentration in boys. Higher FCHEI was associated with lower triglyceride concentration in girls (ß = -0.16, P = 0.033). Higher DASH Score (ß = -0.19, P = 0.011) and BSDS (ß = -0.23, P = 0.001) were associated with lower plasma HDL cholesterol concentration in girls. CONCLUSION: Higher FCHEI was associated with lower cardiometabolic risk among boys, whereas DASH Score, BSDS or MDS were not associated with cardiometabolic risk in children.

Association of plasma fatty acid composition with plasma irisin levels in normal weight and overweight/obese children.

BACKGROUND: Irisin has been suggested to protect against overweight. There are no previous data on the association of plasma fatty acid (FA) composition with plasma irisin. OBJECTIVES: We studied the association of FA composition with plasma irisin in normal weight and overweight/obese children. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included pre-pubertal children (388 normal weight children and 55 overweight/obese children); 6-9 years of age, taking part in the Physical Activity and Nutrition in Children Study. After an overnight fast, we measured plasma FA composition by gas chromatography and plasma irisin levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Higher proportion of total monounsaturated fatty acids in plasma cholesteryl esters (CEs) (ß = 0.139, P = 0.003) and phospholipids (PLs) (ß = 0.147, P = 0.002) and lower proportion of total polyunsaturated fatty acids in plasma CE (ß = -0.130, P = 0.006) and PL (ß = -0.165, P < 0.001) were associated with higher plasma irisin level in the whole study group. The association of plasma FA composition with plasma irisin level was stronger among overweight/obese children compared to normal weight children. Higher proportion of γ-linolenic acid (ß = 0.324, P = 0.017) and lower proportion of linoleic acid (ß = -0.397, P = 0.005) in plasma CE were related to higher plasma irisin level among overweight/obese children, indicating the direct association of estimated D6D activity in plasma CE (ß = 0.343, P = 0.011) with plasma irisin. Furthermore, higher proportion of oleic acid in plasma CE (ß = 0.345, P = 0.012) and PL (ß = 0.292, P = 0.033) and higher proportion of adrenic acid (ß = 0.366, P = 0.008) and docosapentaenoic acid (ß = 0.351, P = 0.010) in plasma PL were associated with higher plasma irisin level among overweight/obese children. CONCLUSION: Metabolically unfavourable plasma FA profile was associated with higher plasma irisin level especially in overweight/obese children, suggesting that excess body fat might modulate these relationships.

Dietary factors associated with metabolic risk score in Finnish children aged 6-8 years: the PANIC study.

PURPOSE: Previous evidence for the associations of eating frequency and food consumption with clustering of metabolic risk factors among children is limited. We therefore investigated association of the daily number of main meals and snacks and food consumption with a metabolic risk score and individual metabolic risk factors in primary school children. METHODS: The subjects were a population sample of Finnish girls and boys 6-8 years of age. Dietary factors were measured by a four-day food record. Metabolic risk score was calculated summing up the Z-scores of waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and concentrations of fasting serum insulin and fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the latest multiplying by -1. RESULTS: Skipping main meals (standardized regression coefficient ß = -0.18, P < 0.001), a higher consumption of non-root vegetables (ß = 0.18, P < 0.01), low-fat vegetable-oil-based margarine (ß = 0.13, P < 0.01) and sugar-sweetened beverages (ß = 0.11, P < 0.05) and a lower consumption of vegetable oils (ß = -0.10, P < 0.05) were associated with a higher metabolic risk score after adjustment for age, sex, total physical activity, electronic media time, energy intake and other dietary factors. The consumption of red meat was directly related to the metabolic risk score, but the association was not statistically significant after adjustment for energy intake. CONCLUSIONS: Eating main meals regularly, decreasing the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and low-fat margarine and increasing the consumption of vegetable oils should be emphasized to reduce metabolic risk among children.

Stability of an epidural analgesic admixture of levobupivacaine, fentanyl and epinephrine.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: Admixtures of levobupivacaine, fentanyl and epinephrine are increasingly used in epidural pain management. Neither the compatibility nor the stability of levobupivacaine with fentanyl and epinephrine is known and therefore we examined the chemical, physical and microbiological stability of levobupivacaine-fentanyl-epinephrine and levobupivacaine-fentanyl admixtures prepared in the hospital pharmacy. METHODS: Fentanyl and epinephrine were added into commercial levobupivacaine infusion bags. The components were analysed by HPLC and assays were performed up to 60 days of storage of the bags both protected and exposed to light at room temperature and stored in the refrigerator. In addition, sterility, bacterial endotoxins, organoleptic properties, pH and mass of the admixture were determined. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Levobupivacaine, fentanyl and epinephrine concentrations remained within the ± 10% specification limit during 60 days storage in the refrigerator in tightly closed secondary packing material and protected from light and for at least 40 days at room temperature. The degradation of epinephrine exceeded 10% within 60 hours when exposed to light. The solutions were microbiologically and physically stable. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: Epidural analgesic admixtures of levobupivacaine and fentanyl with or without epinephrine have to be stored in a tightly closed secondary package protected from light. The extended stability, up to 60 days, in a refrigerator enables the centralized preparation in the hospital pharmacy.