Dietary patterns, obesity markers and leukocyte telomere length among Brazilian civil servants: cross-sectional results from the Pro-Saude study.

OBJECTIVE: Dietary patterns express the combination and variety of foods in the diet. The partial least squares method allows extracting dietary patterns related to a specific health outcome. Few studies have evaluated obesity-related dietary patterns associated with telomeres length. This study aims to identify dietary patterns explaining obesity markers and to assess their association with leukocyte telomere length (LTL), a biological marker of the ageing process. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: University campuses in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PARTICIPANTS: 478 participants of a civil servants' cohort study with data on food consumption, obesity measurements (total body fat, visceral fat, BMI, leptin and adiponectin) and blood samples. RESULTS: Three dietary patterns were extracted: (1) fast food and meat; (2) healthy and (3) traditional pattern, which included rice and beans, the staple foods most consumed in Brazil. All three dietary patterns explained 23·2 % of food consumption variation and 10·7 % of the obesity-related variables. The fast food and meat pattern were the first factor extracted, explaining 11-13 % variation of the obesity-related response variables (BMI, total body fat and visceral fat), leptin and adiponectin showed the lowest percentage (4·5-0·1 %). The healthy pattern mostly explained leptin and adiponectin variations (10·7 and 3·3 %, respectively). The traditional pattern was associated with LTL (ß = 0·0117; 95 % CI 0·0001, 0·0233) after adjustment for the other patterns, age, sex, exercise practice, income and energy intake. CONCLUSION: Leukocyte telomere length was longer among participants eating a traditional dietary pattern that combines fruit, vegetables and beans.

Influence of sociodemographic and economic factors on physical activity among university students / Influência de fatores sociodemográficos e econômicos na atividade física entre estudantes universitários / La influencia de factores sociodemográficos y económicos para la actividad física de estudiantes universitarios

Objective: To estimate the influence of socioeconomic factors on the variation of time spent by university students on the practice of physical activity after the first academic year. Methods: Longitudinal quantitative study with 348 full-time university students, between 16 and 25 years old, from capital of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Change in time spent on the practice of moderate and vigorous physical activity was evaluated in minutes per week, through the short version of IPAQ - International Physical Activity Questionnaire. The following independent variables were analyzed: sex, age, race/skin color, economic class, students' housemates and field of study. Multinomial regression analysis was used to verify the association of physical activity time variation, in tertiles, with the independent variables. Results: The overall change in median physical activity time in one year was -90.0 minutes/week, the students of higher socioeconomic status maintained the same time of practice of physical activity, while those of other classes showed a decrease in this time after the first year at university. After adjustments, the lower economic class (OR=2.85; 95%CI= 1.26-6.43) and the fact that the student lives in a house shared by students (OR=2.84; 95%CI= 1.26-6.38) were associated with reduction in time spent on physical activity. Conclusion: There was a decrease in time spent on physical activity among students from the lower economic classes who lived in a share house after the first year at university.

Objetivo: Estimar a influência de fatores socioeconômicos na variação do tempo gasto por estudantes universitários na prática de atividade física após o primeiro ano letivo. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo longitudinal, realizado em 2015 e 2016, com 348 universitários em tempo integral, com idade entre 16 e 25 anos, da capital do Mato Grosso, Brasil. Avaliou-se a mudança no tempo gasto na prática de atividade física moderada e vigorosa em minutos por semana por meio da versão curta do International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). As variáveis independentes do estudo são sexo, idade, raça/cor da pele, classe econômica, colegas de casa dos alunos e campo de estudo. Utilizou-se a análise de regressão multinomial para verificar a associação da variação do tempo de atividade física, em tercis, com as variáveis independentes. Resultados: A mudança geral no tempo mediano de atividade física em um ano é de 90,0 minutos/semana. Os estudantes de maior nível socioeconômico mantiveram o mesmo tempo de prática de atividade física, enquanto os de outras classes apresentaram uma diminuição nesse tempo após o primeiro ano na universidade. Após os ajustes, a classe econômica mais baixa (OR=2,85; IC95%=1,26-6,43) e o fato de o aluno morar em uma casa compartilhada pelos alunos (OR=2,84; IC95%=1,26-6,38) associaram-se à redução no tempo gasto em atividade física. Conclusão: Houve diminuição do tempo gasto em atividade física entre estudantes das classes econômicas mais baixas, que viviam em uma casa compartilhada, após o primeiro ano na universidade.

Objetivo: Estimar la influencia de factores socioeconómicos en la variación del tiempo gasto por estudiantes universitarios en la práctica de actividad física después del primer año académico. Métodos: Estudio cuantitativo y longitudinal realizado entre 2015 y 2016 con 348 universitarios a jornada completa entre 16 y 25 años de la capital Mato Grosso, Brasil. El cambio del tiempo gasto con la práctica de actividad física moderada y vigorosa ha sido evaluada en minutos por semana con la versión corta del IPAQ- International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Las variables independientes fueron el sexo, la edad, la raza/el color de la piel, la clase económica, los compañeros de piso y el campo de estudio. El análisis de regresión multinomial ha sido utilizado para verificar la asociación de la variación del tiempo de actividad física en terciles y las variables independientes. Resultados: El cambio total del tiempo mediano de la actividad física en un año ha sido de -90.0 minutos/semana, los estudiantes con estatus socioeconómico más alto mantuvieron el mismo tiempo de práctica de actividad física mientras aquellos de otras clases socioeconómicas presentaron una reducción en el tiempo de actividad física después del primer año en la universidad. Tras los ajustes, la clase económica más baja (OR=2,85; 95%CI= 1,26-6,43) y el hecho de vivir en casa compartida con estudiantes (OR=2,84; 95%CI= 1,26-6,38) se asoció con la reducción del tiempo gasto con la actividad física. Conclusión: Hubo una reducción del tiempo gasto con la actividad física entre los estudiantes de clases económicas más bajas que vivían en casa compartida después del primer año en la universidad.

Use of Table Sugar and Artificial Sweeteners in Brazil: National Dietary Survey 2008-2009.

The study aimed to describe the use of table sugar and artificial sweeteners (AS) in Brazil. A representative sample (n = 32,749) of individuals aged > 10 years was examined from the Brazilian National Dietary Survey (2008-2009). Participants reported whether they use table sugar, AS, both, or none as sweeteners for their foods and beverages. Energy intake and the contribution of selected food groups to energy intake were evaluated according to the type of sweetener reported. Sample weights and design effects were considered in the analysis. The majority of the population (85.7%) used sugar to sweeten foods and beverages, 7.6% used AS, and 5.1% utilized both products. The use of AS was more frequent among the elderly (20%), women (10% versus 5.5%), overweight individuals (10% versus 6%), those who live in urban areas (8.5% versus 3%), and those who belong to the highest income quartile (14% versus 1.6%), compared with men, normal weight individuals, those who live in rural areas, and those who belong to the first income quartile, respectively. Overall, the mean daily energy intake of individuals using only sugar was approximately 16% higher than those who used AS exclusively. The contribution of staple foods to daily energy intake was higher in individuals who used sugar than those who used AS.