Dynamics of the components of energy intake between Spanish and Mexican preschool children: energy density and food volume in two contexts.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the differences in the dynamics of dietary energy density (ED), food volume (FV) and energy intake (EI) between two groups of healthy children, in normal conditions, from Spain and Mexico. METHODS: Crossectional study which analyses the habitual diet of two healthy children groups, 1-4 years old, from Reus (Spain, n = 203) and Guadalajara (Mexico, n = 147). Dietary intake was assessed using the 24-hour recall. Anthropometric data were also obtained. We estimated Z-score of weight, height and BMI, and EI (kcal/day), ED (kcal/g), FV (g/day), El/kg body weight (kcal/kg/day) and FV/kg body weight (g/kg/day). RESULTS: The Spanish children consumed significantly more cereals (p < 0.05), vegetables, meat, fish and eggs than the Mexican children (p < 0.001), while the latter consumed significantly more sweets (p < 0.001). The mean El/kg body weight was 107.7 ± 36.2 kcal/kg/day in the children from Reus, and 102.4 ± 38.8 kcal/kg/day in the children from Guadalajara, without significant differences. While the ED was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the Spanish sample (1.41 ± 0.35 kcal/g) that in the Mexican one (1.19 ± 0.37 kcal/g), we observed the contrary on FV per kilogram of weight: it was significantly (p < 0.001) greater in Mexicans (91.0 ± 36.1 g/kg/day) than in Spanish (79.5 ± 27.5 g/kg/day). CONCLUSION: In two populations with different contexts, the balance between energy intake and energy requirements is achieved in different ways, allowing energy intake per unit of weight and growth to be adequate. Future studies are needed to clarify the factors of a possible alteration of this equilibrium through time, in such a way, that it would probably contribute to the development of overweight and obesity in several environments.

Dynamics of the components of energy intake between Spanish and Mexican preschool children: energy density and food volume in two contexts / Dinámica de los componentes de la ingesta energética entre niños preescolares de España y México: densidad energética y volumen alimentario en dos contextos

Objective: To determine the differences in the dynamics of dietary energy density (ED), food volume (FV) and energy intake (EI) between two groups of healthy children, in normal conditions, from Spain and Mexico. Methods: Crossectional study which analyses the habitual diet of two healthy children groups, 1-4 years old, from Reus (Spain, n = 203) and Guadalajara (Mexico, n = 147).Dietary intake was assessed using the 24-hour recall. Anthropometric data were also obtained. We estimated Z-score of weight, height and BMI, and EI (kcal/day), ED(kcal/g), FV (g/day), EI/kg body weight (kcal/kg/day) and FV/kg body weight (g/kg/day). Results: The Spanish children consumed significantly more cereals (p < 0.05), vegetables, meat, fish and eggs than the Mexican children (p < 0.001), while the latter consumed significantly more sweets (p < 0.001). The mean EI/kg bodyweight was 107.7 ± 36.2 kcal/kg/day in the children from Reus, and 102.4 ± 38.8 kcal/kg/day in the children from Guadalajara, without significant differences. While the ED was significantly higher (p < 0.001) in the Spanish sample(1.41 ± 0.35 kcal/g) that in the Mexican one (1.19 ± 0.37kcal/g), we observed the contrary on FV per kilogram of weight: it was significantly (p < 0.001) greater in Mexicans(91.0 ± 36.1 g/kg/day) than in Spanish (79.5 ± 27.5 g/kg/day).Conclusion: In two populations with different contexts, the balance between energy intake and energy requirements is achieved in different ways, allowing energy in take per unit of weight and growth to be adequate. Future studies are needed to clarify the factors of a possible alteration of this equilibrium through time, in such away, that it would probably contribute to the development of overweight and obesity in several environments (AU)

Objetivo: Determinar las diferencias en la dinámica de la densidad energética (DE), volumen de alimentos (FV) e ingesta energética (IE), entre dos grupos de niños sanos, en condiciones de vida habitual, de España y México. Metodología: Estudio transversal que analiza la dieta habitual de niños sanos, entre 1-4 años, originarios de Reus (España, n = 203) y Guadalajara (México, n =147). La ingesta dietética fue evaluada con el recordatorio de 24 horas. Se valoraron algunos parámetros antropométricos. Se calculó puntuación-Z para el peso, talla e IMC, y la IE (kcal/día), DE (kcal/g), FV (g/día),IE/kg de peso corporal (kcal/kg/día) y FV/kg de peso corporal (g/kg/día).Resultados: Los niños españoles presentaron una mayor ingesta de cereales (p < 0,05), verduras, carne, pescado y huevo, que los mexicanos (p < 0,001), mientras que estos últimos tuvieron una mayor ingesta de azúcares (p <0,001). La media de IE/kg de peso fue de 107,7 ± 36,2kcal/kg/día en niños de Reus, y 102,4 ± 38,8 kcal/kg/día en niños de Guadalajara, sin diferencias significativas. Mientras la DE fue significativamente mayor (p < 0,001)en los españoles (1,41 ± 0,35 kcal/g) que en los mexicanos(1,19 ± 0,37 kcal/g), observamos lo contrario en FV/kg de peso: este fue significativamente mayor (p < 0,001) en los niños mexicanos (91,0 ± 36,1 g/kg/día) que en los españoles(79,5 ± 27,5 g/kg/día).Conclusión: En dos poblaciones con contextos diferentes, el equilibrio de la IE se logra por diferentes vías, permitiendo un aporte energético por unidad de peso y crecimiento adecuados. Se precisan futuros estudios que aclaren los factores mediante los cuales este equilibrio se altera a través del tiempo, y que quizá, contribuye al desarrollo de sobrepeso u obesidad, en diversos entornos (AU)

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Latin America: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the available data on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Latin-American countries. DESIGN: Systematic review. Searches were carried out in PubMed, ISIWeb, SCielo and Redalyc, using 'metabolic syndrome x' and 'prevalence' as keywords for titles and/or abstracts. Articles selected were cross-sectional studies in Latin-American countries, whose main objective was to study MS and whose study population is described below. MS must be determined using Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Twelve studies with these criteria were selected, one of which was multi-centric. SETTING: Latin America. SUBJECTS: Apparently healthy subjects aged 18-65 years (including young adult, mature adult and elderly populations) of both genders. RESULTS: The general prevalence (weighted mean) of MS in Latin-American countries was 24·9 (range: 18·8-43·3) %. MS was slightly more frequent in women (25·3 %) than in men (23·2 %), and the age group with the highest prevalence of MS consisted of those over 50 years of age. The most frequent components of MS were low HDL cholesterol levels (62·9 %) and abdominal obesity (45·8 %). Similar outcomes were obtained from the multi-centre study on Latin-American populations analysed. CONCLUSIONS: The present review brings us closer to an understanding of the prevalence of MS in Latin-American countries. However, it is not possible to know the full scope of the problem, partly because data from some countries are not available, and because the methodological differences among the studies published up to the present limit a joint analysis of their results.

Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and risk of metabolic syndrome and its components.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The role of diet in the aetiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not well understood. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) and MetS. METHODS AND RESULTS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 808 high cardiovascular risk participants of the Reus PREDIMED Centre. MetS was defined by the updated National Cholesterol and Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. An inverse association between quartiles of adherence to the MedDiet (14-point score) and the prevalence of MetS (P for trend<0.001) was observed. After adjusting for age, sex, total energy intake, smoking status and physical activity, participants with the highest score of adherence to the MedDiet (>/=9 points) had the lowest odds ratio of having MetS (OR [95% CI] of 0.44 [0.27-0.70]) compared to those in the lowest quartile. Participants with the highest MedDiet adherence had 47 and 54% lower odds of having low HDL-c and hypertriglyceridemia MetS criteria, respectively, than those in the lowest quartile. Some components of the MedDiet, such as olive oil, legumes and red wine were associated with lower prevalence of MetS. CONCLUSION: Higher adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with a significantly lower odds ratio of having MetS in a population with a high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Components of the Mediterranean-type food pattern and serum inflammatory markers among patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between components of the Mediterranean diet and circulating markers of inflammation in a large cohort of asymptomatic subjects at high risk for cardiovascular disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 339 men and 433 women aged between 55 and 80 years at high cardiovascular risk because of presence of diabetes or at least three classical cardiovascular risk factors, food consumption was determined by a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured by immunonephelometry and those of interleukin-6 (IL-6), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: After adjusting for age, gender, body mass index, diabetes, smoking, use of statins, non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs and aspirin, a higher consumption of fruits and cereals was associated with lower concentrations of IL-6 (P for trend 0.005;both). Subjects with the highest consumption of nuts and virgin olive oil showed the lowest concentrations of VCAM-1, ICAM-1, IL-6 and CRP; albeit only for ICAM-1 was this difference statistically significant in the case of nuts (for trend 0.003) and for VCAM-1 in the case of virgin olive oil (P for trend 0.02). Participants with higher adherence to the Mediterranean-type diet did not show significantly lower concentrations of inflammatory markers (P<0.1 for VCAM-1 and ICAM-1). CONCLUSIONS: The consumption of some typical Mediterranean foods (fruits, cereals, virgin olive oil and nuts) was associated with lower serum concentrations of inflammatory markers especially those related to endothelial function, in subjects with high cardiovascular risk living in a Mediterranean country.

Conjugated linoleic acid intake in humans: a systematic review focusing on its effect on body composition, glucose, and lipid metabolism.

Studies performed on different species show that the consumption of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) leads to a loss of fat and total body weight, reduces the plasma concentrations of total and LDL cholesterol, and has an antiinflammatory effect. This article reviews the clinical trials on human beings that evaluate how mixtures of CLA isomers administered as supplements or CLA-enriched products can affect total body weight, body composition, plasma lipid profile, glycemia, insulinemia, insulin sensitivity, lipid oxidation, and inflammation. After analyzing the few studies published to date in reduced samples of healthy humans or patients with overweight, obesity, metabolic syndrome, or diabetes, we deduce that there is not enough evidence to show that conjugated linoleic acid has an effect on weight and body composition in humans. However, some of these studies have observed that the administration of various CLA isomers has adverse effects on lipid profile (it decreases HDL cholesterol concentration and increases Lp(a) circulating levels), glucose metabolism (glycemia, insulinemia or insulin sensitivity), lipid oxidation, inflammation, or endothelial function. Therefore, long-term randomized clinical trials, controlled with placebo, need to be made in large samples of patients to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CLA isomers before its indiscriminate use in human beings can be recommended.