Nutritional Strategies for Optimizing Health, Sports Performance, and Recovery for Female Athletes and Other Physically Active Women: A Systematic Review.

CONTEXT: Despite the progress toward gender equality in events like the Olympic Games and other institutionalized competitions, and the rising number of women engaging in physical exercise programs, scientific studies focused on establishing specific nutritional recommendations for female athletes and other physically active women are scarce. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aimed to compile the scientific evidence available for addressing the question "What dietary strategies, including dietary and supplementation approaches, can improve sports performance, recovery, and health status in female athletes and other physically active women?" DATA SOURCES: The Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases were searched. DATA EXTRACTION: The review process involved a comprehensive search strategy using keywords connected by Boolean connectors. Data extracted from the selected studies included information on the number of participants and their characteristics related to sport practice, age, and menstrual function. DATA ANALYSIS: A total of 71 studies were included in this review: 17 focused on the analysis of dietary manipulation, and 54 focused on the effects of dietary supplementation. The total sample size was 1654 participants (32.5% categorized as competitive athletes, 30.7% as highly/moderately trained, and 37.2% as physically active/recreational athletes). The risk of bias was considered moderate, mainly for reasons such as a lack of access to the study protocol, insufficient description of how the hormonal phase during the menstrual cycle was controlled for, inadequate dietary control during the intervention, or a lack of blinding of the researchers. CONCLUSION: Diets with high carbohydrate (CHO) content enhance performance in activities that induce muscle glycogen depletion. In addition, pre-exercise meals with a high glycemic index or rich in CHOs increase CHO metabolism. Ingestion of 5-6 protein meals interspersed throughout the day, with each intake exceeding 25 g of protein favors anabolism of muscle proteins. Dietary supplements taken to enhance performance, such as caffeine, nitric oxide precursors, ß-alanine, and certain sport foods supplements (such as CHOs, proteins, or their combination, and micronutrients in cases of nutritional deficiencies), may positively influence sports performance and/or the health status of female athletes and other physically active women. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration no. CRD480674.

Current and past factors affecting the quality of aging in a sample of Spanish elderly.

Aging is a multifactorial process influenced by both biological and sociocultural factors. The objective of this study was to identify current and past factors with an impact on the quality of aging in a sample of people 65 years of age or older born in the postwar period after the Spanish civil war. Socioeconomic, health, anthropometric, and food consumption data were collected in public Leisure Centers for the elderly in Madrid. The sample consists of 587 people (64.6% women), with a mean age of 71.8 ±5.3 years. Following the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines regarding what is considered Healthy Aging, an index called the Index of Quality of Aging was calculated from four variables: the Mini Mental State Examination score, perception of health, satisfaction with life and the number of diseases that affect daily life. Another index called the Diet Inflammation Index was created based on the inflammatory or anti-inflammatory potential of different foods. The Index of Quality of Ageing was used as a dependent variable in linear regression models for men and women. Differences by gender were observed in the factors that influence the quality of aging. Education had a positive influence on men quality of ageing while it does not on women. In these, a relationship between the quality of the current diet and the quality of aging was observed.

Relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index and Cardiovascular Health among Children.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII®) and cardiovascular health indicators in children. METHODS: The sample consisted of 365 schoolchildren aged 8 to 12 from the Region of Madrid. Anthropometric and hemodynamic measurements were collected. Variables relating to habits and lifestyles, parental level of education, and data on their diet, through three 24 h food recall surveys, were also collected. The diet quality indicators considered are the DII based on 25 nutrients and the KIDMED index. RESULTS: Children with a more pro-inflammatory diet came from families with lower levels of parental education (p < 0.05). Predictive models show that in the group with a more pro-inflammatory diet (>P50), the likelihood of developing hypertension in childhood is 2.1 times higher (OR = 2.085 (1.107-3.927)) and they have more than twice the risk of developing obesity (OR = 2.3) or developing obesity and hypertension simultaneously (OR = 1.290 (1.316-3.985)). Furthermore, predictive models showed that the children with a pro-inflammatory diet (>P50) had higher values for BFM% (ß = 1.957; p = 0.026) and BMI (ß = 0.015; p = 0.012) than children with a lower inflammatory diet (

Changes in Eating Behaviors during the COVID-19 Lockdown and the Impact on the Potential Inflammatory Effects of Diet.

BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional study compares eating behaviors before and during the COVID-19 lockdown that was decreed in Spain on 14 March 2020. METHODS: The sample was made up of 1177 people aged 18 years or older who responded during the month of June 2020 to a questionnaire designed in Google Forms. Information was collected on the frequency of food consumption before and during lockdown. A dietary inflammatory index (DII) was created with positive or negative values depending on the inflammatory potential of different foods, vegetables, fruits, nuts, legumes, meat, fish, eggs, yogurt, milk, cheese, industrial pastries, salty snacks, fast food, and soft drinks. The scores from before and during confinement were compared. RESULTS: Most of the people in the sample maintained their eating pattern during lockdown. Among those who changed, the majority increased their consumption of healthy foods, which resulted in a decrease in the inflammatory potential of the diet; this was particularly the case in men. CONCLUSIONS: The improvement in the quality of the diet contributed to a significant decrease in DII during confinement, especially in men.

[RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PATTERNS OF BREASTFEEDING AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN BRAZILIAN AND SPANISH SCHOOLCHILDREN]. / RELACIÓN ENTRE PATRONES DE LACTANCIA MATERNA Y TENSIÓN ARTERIAL EN ESCOLARES BRASILEÑOS Y ESPAÑOLES.

INTRODUCTION: the relationship between early feeding and blood pressure in later life is still uncertain and sometimes contradictory. Some studies point to the protective effect of breastfeeding on cardiovascular disease, while others do not obtain conclusive results. OBJECTIVES: the aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between breastfeeding patterns during the first months of life and blood pressure in childhood, in two samples of children from two populations with different socio-cultural characteristics, controlling for quality feeding in infancy. METHODS: the study, with a transversal and retrospective design, was conducted with 492 schoolchildren aged between 8 and 10 years, it consists of two samples, both collected from public schools, one in Madrid (Spain) and one in Vitoria, Espirito Santo (Brazil). RESULTS: ninety percent of the sample was breastfed, 196 (44.2%) from Madrid and 247 (55.7%) from Vitória/ES. The average duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Madrid was 12.89 weeks (std = 9.6) and in Vitória/ES, 22.00 weeks (std = 13.4), with statistically significant differences. The mean values of systolic and dyastolic blood pressure, were significantly higher in the Brazilian sample. The prevalences of borderline hypertension and hypertension were also higher in Brazil than in Spanish, 68% vs 32% and 60% vs 40%, respectively. Association between shorter duration of EBF and higher prevalence of hypertension in childhood, was observed in the two samples. Regarding the association between diet quality and blood pressure values, this was only significant in the Brazilian sample, but not in Spanish. DISCUSSION: in both samples a protective effect of breastfeeding on blood pressure was observed, however when comparing the two samples appear to be a contradiction since the Brazilian children were breastfed for longer than the Spaniards but their Pressure Arterial values and the Hypertension prevalence were higher in the Spanish sample. This contradiction is resolved by controlling the effect of feeding in infancy. The food quality of Brazilian children is worse than that of Spaniards, mainly due to a higher consumption of processed foods very high in sodium content. CONCLUSION: the possible protective effect of breastfeeding, is reduced at later stages of the life cycle if food habit are not appropriate or do not meet minimum quality requirements. Therefore, although breastfeeding plays an important role in preventing the development of hypertension in children is not enough to support the practice of breastfeeding but prevention work is ongoing and should insist on eating habits and promote healthy lifestyles throughout the entire life cycle of people.

Introducción: la relación entre alimentación temprana y presión arterial en etapas posteriores de la vida todavía se muestra incierta y, a veces, contradictoria. Algunas investigaciones apuntan hacia el efecto protector de la lactancia materna sobre la enfermedad cardiovascular, mientras que otras no obtienen resultados concluyentes. Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la relación entre patrones de lactancia durante los primeros meses de vida y tensión arterial en la infancia, en dos muestras de niños y niñas procedentes de dos poblaciones con características socioculturales diferentes, controlando el efecto de la calidad de la alimentación en la infancia. Métodos: el estudio, de diseño transversal y retrospectivo, se realizó con 492 escolares de edades comprendidas entre los 8 y los 10 años, y se compone de dos muestras, ambas recogidas en colegios públicos, una en Madrid (España) y otra en Vitória, Espírito Santo (Brasil). Resultados: el 90% de la muestra fue amamantado en algún momento, 196 (44,2%) en Madrid y 247 (55,7%) en Vitória/ES. La duración media de la lactancia materna exclusiva (LME) en Madrid fue de 12,89 semanas (std=9,6) y en Vitória/ES de 22,00 semanas (std= 13,4), siendo estas diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Los valores medios de presión arterial sistólica, diastólica y media fueron significativamente superiores en la muestra brasileña. La prevalencia de hipertensión limítrofe y de hipertensión también fue mayor en la muestra brasileña que en la española, 68% vs 32% y 60% vs 40%, respectivamente. En las dos muestras se observó asociación entre una duración más corta de LME y mayor prevalencia de hipertensión en la infancia. Con respecto a la asociación entre calidad de la alimentación y valores de presión arterial, esta fue solo significativa en la muestra brasileña, pero no en la española. Discusión: en ambas muestras se observa un efecto protector de la LM sobre la presión arterial; sin embar go, al comparar las dos muestras parece verse una contradicción, puesto que los niños y niñas brasileños son amamantados durante más tiempo que los españoles y sin embargo sus valores de presión arterial y su prevalencia de hipertensión, son mayores que en la muestra española. Esta aparente contradicción se resuelve al controlar el efecto de la calidad de la alimentación actual: los niños y niñas brasileños tienen peor calidad de la alimentación y, además, una de las características de su dieta es el consumo elevado de alimentos muy procesados y ricos en sodio. Conclusión: el posible efecto protector de la LM queda reducido si la alimentación en etapas posteriores del ciclo vital no es la adecuada o no reúne unos requisitos mínimos de calidad. Por lo tanto, aunque la lactancia materna juega un papel importante en la prevención de la aparición de hipertensión en la infancia, no basta con apoyar la práctica del amamantamiento, sino que el trabajo de prevención es continuo y se debe insistir en potenciar hábitos de alimentación y estilos de vida saludables a lo largo de todo el ciclo vital de las personas.

Relación entre patrones de lactancia materna y tensión arterial en escolares brasileños y españoles / Relationship between patterns of breastfeeding and blood pressure in Brazilian and Spanish schoolchildren

Introducción: la relación entre alimentación temprana y presión arterial en etapas posteriores de la vida todavía se muestra incierta y, a veces, contradictoria. Algunas investigaciones apuntan hacia el efecto protector de la lactancia materna sobre la enfermedad cardiovascular, mientras que otras no obtienen resultados concluyentes. Objetivos: el objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la relación entre patrones de lactancia durante los primeros meses de vida y tensión arterial en la infancia, en dos muestras de niños y niñas procedentes de dos poblaciones con características socioculturales diferentes, controlando el efecto de la calidad de la alimentación en la infancia. Métodos: el estudio, de diseño transversal y retrospectivo, se realizó con 492 escolares de edades comprendidas entre los 8 y los 10 años, y se compone de dos muestras, ambas recogidas en colegios públicos, una en Madrid (España) y otra en Vitória, Espírito Santo (Brasil). Resultados: el 90% de la muestra fue amamantado en algún momento, 196 (44,2%) en Madrid y 247 (55,7%) en Vitória/ES. La duración media de la lactancia materna exclusiva (LME) en Madrid fue de 12,89 semanas (std=9,6) y en Vitória/ES de 22,00 semanas (std= 13,4), siendo estas diferencias estadísticamente significativas. Los valores medios de presión arterial sistólica, diastólica y media fueron significativamente superiores en la muestra brasileña. La prevalencia de hipertensión limítrofe y de hipertensión también fue mayor en la muestra brasileña que en la española, 68% vs 32% y 60% vs 40%, respectivamente. En las dos muestras se observó asociación entre una duración más corta de LME y mayor prevalencia de hipertensión en la infancia. Con respecto a la asociación entre calidad de la alimentación y valores de presión arterial, esta fue solo significativa en la muestra brasileña, pero no en la española. Discusión: en ambas muestras se observa un efecto protector de la LM sobre la presión arterial; sin embargo, al comparar las dos muestras parece verse una contradicción, puesto que los niños y niñas brasileños son amamantados durante más tiempo que los españoles y sin embargo sus valores de presión arterial y su prevalencia de hipertensión, son mayores que en la muestra española. Esta aparente contradicción se resuelve al controlar el efecto de la calidad de la alimentación actual: los niños y niñas brasileños tienen peor calidad de la alimentación y, además, una de las características de su dieta es el consumo elevado de alimentos muy procesados y ricos en sodio. Conclusión: el posible efecto protector de la LM queda reducido si la alimentación en etapas posteriores del ciclo vital no es la adecuada o no reúne unos requisitos mínimos de calidad. Por lo tanto, aunque la lactancia materna juega un papel importante en la prevención de la aparición de hipertensión en la infancia, no basta con apoyar la práctica del amamantamiento, sino que el trabajo de prevención es continuo y se debe insistir en potenciar hábitos de alimentación y estilos de vida saludables a lo largo de todo el ciclo vital de las personas (AU)

Introduction: the relationship between early feeding and blood pressure in later life is still uncertain and sometimes contradictory. Some studies point to the protective effect of breastfeeding on cardiovascular disease, while others do not obtain conclusive results. Objectives: the aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between breastfeeding patterns during the first months of life and blood pressure in childhood, in two samples of children from two populations with different socio-cultural characteristics, controlling for quality feeding in infancy. Methods: the study, with a transversal and retrospective design, was conducted with 492 schoolchildren aged between 8 and 10 years, it consists of two samples, both collected from public schools, one in Madrid (Spain) and one in Vitoria, Espirito Santo (Brazil). Results: ninety percent of the sample was breastfed, 196 (44.2%) from Madrid and 247 (55.7%) from Vitória/ES. The average duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in Madrid was 12.89 weeks (std = 9.6) and in Vitória/ES, 22.00 weeks (std = 13.4), with statistically significant differences. The mean values of systolic and dyastolic blood pressure, were significantly higher in the Brazilian sample. The prevalences of borderline hypertension and hypertension were also higher in Brazil than in Spanish, 68% vs 32% and 60% vs 40%, respectively. Association between shorter duration of EBF and higher prevalence of hypertension in childhood, was observed in the two samples. Regarding the association between diet quality and blood pressure values, this was only significant in the Brazilian sample, but not in Spanish. Discussion: in both samples a protective effect of breastfeeding on blood pressure was observed, however when comparing the two samples appear to be a contradiction since the Brazilian children were breastfed for longer than the Spaniards but their Pressure Arterial values and the Hypertension prevalence were higher in the Spanish sample. This contradiction is resolved by controlling the effect of feeding in infancy. The food quality of Brazilian children is worse than that of Spaniards, mainly due to a higher consumption of processed foods very high in sodium content. Conclusion: the possible protective effect of breastfeeding, is reduced at later stages of the life cycle if food habit are not appropriate or do not meet minimum quality requirements. Therefore, although breastfeeding plays an important role in preventing the development of hypertension in children is not enough to support the practice of breastfeeding but prevention work is ongoing and should insist on eating habits and promote healthy lifestyles throughout the entire life cycle of people (AU)