Assessment of the food patterns of immigrant Ecuadorian population in Southern Spain based on a 24-h food recall survey / Evaluación del patrón alimentario de la población ecuatoriana inmigrante en el sur de España basado en un estudio de recordatorio de alimentos de 24 horas

Introduction: Ecuador is a country with limited nutritional information, with exception of some general studies supported by Food Agriculture Organization (FAO) Aims: to carry out a nutritional assessment of the diet of Ecuadorian immigrant population in Southern Spain to determine differences in food patterns and possible nutritional deficiencies. Methods: the nutritional assessment was based on a 24-h food recall survey applied to the Ecuadorian population residing in Seville and Córdoba (Spain) in combination with the application of national and international food composition data bases. Nutrient intake levels and fulfillment of Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) were estimated and statistically tested for social, sex, age and geographical factors. Results: macronutrient distributions and nutrient intake levels in relation with DRIs were adequate in most cases. Importantly, Ecuadorian food habits were still present in immigrant population, with rice being the main energy source. Intakes levels were significantly different for several nutrients depending on age group, sex, place of residence and professional occupation. Comparison with previous nutritional data from Ecuador revealed a better nutritional status of immigrant population in Spain, though deficiencies in fiber, vitamin E, I and Se were detected in the diet of both populations. Nevertheless, data for these deficiencies were insufficient to be conclusive given both limitations in the food composition data bases (e.g. Se) and the lack of more adequate information tools for its assessment (e.g. long-term studies for vitamin E). Conclusions: the results in the present study evidenced that Ecuadorian immigrants in Spain showed more adequate food patterns that those reported for Ecuador. These data can be helpful to get further insight into the nutritional value of Ecuadorian diet and develop suitable nutrition intervention (AU)

Introducción: ecuador es un país con limitada información nutricional con la excepción de algunos estudios de carácter general realizados por FAO (Food Agriculture Organization). Objetivos: realizar una evaluación nutricional de la dieta de la población inmigrante ecuatoriana en el sur de España para determinar diferencias en los patrones alimentarios y posibles deficiencias nutricionales. Métodos: la evaluación nutricional se basa en un estudio de recordatorio de alimentos de 24 horas llevado acabo sobre la población ecuatoriana residente en Sevilla y Córdoba (España) en combinación con la aplicación de bases de datos nacionales e internacionales de composición de alimentos. Se estimaron los niveles de ingesta de nutrientes y el cumplimiento de las ingestas dietéticas de referencia (IDR) que se analizaron estadísticamente para los factores, genero, edad, profesión y ciudad. Resultados: según las IDR utilizadas, la distribución de macronutrientes y los niveles de ingesta de nutrientes fueron, en la mayoría de los casos, adecuadas. De manera destacada, se constató que los hábitos alimentarios ecuatorianos permanecieron en la población inmigrante, con el arroz como fuente principal de energía. Los niveles de ingesta fueron significativamente diferentes para diferentes nutrientes dependiendo del grupo de edad, sexo, lugar de residencia y ocupación profesional. Comparando estos datos con un estudio previo en Ecuador reveló que la población inmigrante en España presenta un mejor estado nutricional, si bien en ambas poblaciones se detectaron deficiencias en fibra, vitamina E, I y Se. En cuanto a estas deficiencias, los resultados no pueden considerarse concluyentes debido a limitaciones propias de las bases de datos (por ej. Se) y a la carencia de estudios adecuados que permitan una evaluación más precisa (por ej. estudios de larga duración para vitamina E). Conclusiones: estos resultados evidencian que la población inmigrante ecuatoriana presenta un patrón alimentario más adecuado que el documentado para la población Ecuador. Estos resultados pueden ser útiles para determinar el valor nutricional de la dieta ecuatoriana y desarrollar estrategias adecuadas de intervención nutricional (AU)

Associations between low consumption of fruits and vegetables and nutritional deficiencies in Brazilian schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: We examined associations between the frequency of fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and nutritional deficiencies among Brazilian schoolchildren. DESIGN: A cross-sectional, population-based study was performed. A short FFQ was used to assess consumption of fruits and vegetables (F&V) over the past month. The prevalence ratios (PR) and 95 % confidence intervals for stunting, obesity, anaemia, vitamin A and folate deficiencies, vitamin E and vitamin D insufficiencies were estimated for low F&V consumption frequency (vegetables ≤ 3 times/month and fruits ≤ 3 times/week) and compared with children with usual F&V consumption frequency (vegetables ≥ 1 time/week and fruits ≥ 4 times/week). SETTING: Acrelândia, Western Brazilian Amazon. SUBJECTS: A total of 702 children aged 4-10 years. RESULTS: Only 5 % of children consumed F&V ≥ 5 times/d. Prevalence of deficiency was 31 %, 15 %, 9 % and 2 % for vitamins D, A, E and folate, respectively. Overall, 6.3% of children were anaemic, 3.3% were stunted, 2.7% were obese and 33 % had multiple nutritional deficiencies. Low frequency of F&V consumption was associated with lower plasma concentrations of carotenoids and vitamin E. Nutritional deficiencies were higher among non-consumers of F&V when compared with usual consumers: anaemia (PR=1.9; 95 % CI 1.0, 3.7), vitamin E insufficiency (PR=2.5; 95% CI 1.5, 4.2), vitamin D insufficiency (PR=1.5; 95% CI 1.1, 1.9) and stunting (PR=2.6; 95% CI 1.1, 6.1). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the occurrence of nutritional deficiencies in children with low F&V consumption was twice as high as in children with usual F&V consumption, reinforcing the importance of effective actions to promote the consumption of F&V.

High prevalence rates of anemia, vitamin A deficiency and stunting imperil the health status of Bedouin schoolchildren in North Badia, Jordan.

AIMS: This survey aimed to identify nutritional deficits affecting Bedouin children as they enter school age and illustrate their families' dietary consumption patterns. METHODS: 560 healthy schoolchildren aged 5.5-10 years from 8 Badia hamlets were nutritionally investigated by applying anthropometric, laboratory and dietary assessment methods. RESULTS: Mean and median serum retinol concentrations (SRCs) were 228 and 218 microg/l, respectively. Mean prevalence of nutritional deficits among children were stunting (23.4%), anemia (57.5%), vitamin A deficiency (29.5%), iron deficiency (28.4%), and vitamin E deficiency (17.1%). Including those with borderline values, the proportion of children vulnerable to VAD threats reached 90%. Compared to normal subjects, anemic children had lower SRC (207 vs. 233 microg/l; p < 0.001) and ferritin (9.6 vs. 11.3 microg/l; p < 0.001) levels; stunted children had lower serum vitamin E (6.5 vs. 7.3 mg/l; p < 0.001) and ferritin (10.3 vs. 11.1 microg/l; p < 0.001) levels; vitamin A-deficient children had lower hemoglobin (11.3 vs. 11.8 g/dl; p < 0.001), serum vitamin E (6.69 vs. 7.23 mg/l; p < 0.01), and serum ferritin (10.4 vs. 11.2 microg/l; p < 0.001) levels, and vitamin E-deficient subjects had lower SRC levels (206 vs. 232 microg/l; p < 0.001). Except for hemoglobin status, no significant differences between genders were detected. SRC correlated strongly with hemoglobin, vitamin E, BMI and serum ferritin. The frequency of consumption of meat and fats seemed to be among the determinants of SRC and hemoglobin values. CONCLUSION: Urbanization has brought Bedouins towards poverty and undernutrition, with older children suffering more severe consequences in comparison with preschool-age children. This multifaceted nutritional problem requires implementation of multicomponent interventions.

Poor nutritional health of Bedouin preschool children in Jordan: the irony of urbanization.

AIMS: The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to assess growth and nutritional status of Bedouin preschool children with special focus on the extent of the interaction of anemia with iron deficiency and vitamin A deficiency as possible underlying factors. METHODS: Subjects aged 6-66 months were included by recruitment of 262 mothers having either an infant or a preschool child. Nutritional assessment by anthropometric, laboratory and dietary methods was carried out, with anthropometric indices expressed in z-score units. Serum retinol concentration, alpha-tocopherol, ferritin and blood hemoglobin and hematocrit were assessed. RESULTS: Stunting, vitamin A deficiency, anemia, and iron deficiency were prevalent at rates of 21.1, 25.2, 57.3, and 20.2%, respectively. Mean serum retinol concentration was 249 +/- 64 microg/l. More than 50% of the children were at risk of vitamin A deficiency. Compared to others, subjects with vitamin A deficiency tended to have lower hemoglobin (10.0 +/- 1.9 vs. 10.95 +/- 1.99 g/dl, p < 0.001) and lower serum ferritin concentrations (9.2 +/- 3.4 vs. 16.3 +/- 6.2 microg/l, p < 0.001). Serum retinol concentration correlated with hemoglobin (r = 0.41, p < 0.001) and ferritin (r = 0.42, p < 0.001). No gender differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: Bedouin preschool children are at risk for anemia, iron deficiency, nonocular vitamin A deficiency and stunting. Vitamin A deficiency exacerbates the development of anemia and iron deficiency among children. Urbanization has led Bedouins to the verge of poverty. They have been losing their characteristic lifestyle as traditional livestock keepers, with their children deprived of milk to drink or meat to eat. Coordinated interventional actions by the socioeconomic development planners and decision makers are needed.

Maternal-neonatal retinol and alpha-tocopherol serum concentrations in Greeks and Albanians.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A and E are required in physiological processes such as pregnancy and growth. AIM: To evaluate retinol and alpha-tocopherol serum levels in Greek and Albanian mothers and in their newborns. METHODS: Data concerned 1125 Greek and 898 Albanian mothers along with their newborns. Immediately after delivery, blood from the umbilical cord and from the mothers was collected into light-protected tubes. Retinol and alpha-tocopherol serum levels were measured with a reversed-phase HPLC method. A 60-d dietetic diary was kept by each woman during the last 2 mo of pregnancy. RESULTS: Retinol (1.3 +/- 0.1 micromol/l) and alpha-tocopherol (32.9 +/- 9.5 micromol/l) levels were estimated to be normal in Greek mothers and in most of their offspring (0.9 +/- 0.1 and 18.5 +/- 3.4 micromol/l, respectively). In contrast, in Albanian mothers, retinol concentration was found to be low (0.6 +/- 0.1 micromol/l), and in 1/3 significantly low (<0.45 micromol/l). Consequently, the vitamin was evaluated to be very low in their newborns (0.4 +/- 0.1 micromol/l), and in 1/2 extremely low. However, in 12% of the Albanian cord blood samples, retinol level was determined to be higher as compared with that of their mothers. alpha-Tocopherol was evaluated to be normal in most of the immigrant mothers (20.0 +/- 8.8 micromol/l) and low (<7.5 micromol/l) in 15% of their newborns. Vitamin A intake was found to be extremely low and vitamin E low (p < 0.05) in the Albanians. CONCLUSIONS: (a) The decreased vitamin A and vitamin E intake, and their low blood status in the Albanian mothers and in their newborns, could be due to their low socio-economic and nutritional status. (b) Immigrant Albanians, during their pregnancy, and their newborns should be "followed up", being at risk of developing symptoms from the very low levels of these lipid-soluble vitamins.