Anthropometric Evaluation and Assessment of Food Intake of Parents of Pediatric Patients with Chronic Rheumatic Diseases.

INTRODUCTION: Parents' eating behavior, lifestyle, and food choices can interfere with their children's eating habits, bringing new perspectives for the development of beneficial interventions in the context of chronic rheumatic diseases. OBJECTIVES: The objective is to evaluate BMI, dietary intake, physical activity, and biomarkers of lipid metabolism in parents of children and adolescents with chronic rheumatic diseases and to verify the association with those of their children. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study with 91 parents, and their respective children diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n = 30, 33.0%), juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 41, 45.0%), and juvenile dermatomyositis (n = 20, 22.0%). Anthropometric and dietary data, physical activity, lipid profile, and apolipoproteins A-I and B were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 67% of parents and 27.5% of children were overweight; 80% of overweight children/adolescents also had parents with the same nutritional diagnosis. We found a moderate association of total fat intake (Cramer's V test = 0.254; p = 0.037), and a weak association of saturated fat intake (Cramer's V test = 0.219; p = 0.050) and cholesterol intake (Cramer's V test = 0.234; p = 0.025) between parents and their children. A high prevalence of dyslipidemia was observed for parents (82.4%) and children (83.5%), however, with no association between both. A weak association was found between parents and children (Cramer's V test = 0.238; p = 0.024) for triglycerides, and no association was found between parents and children concerning physical activity. CONCLUSION: The high frequency of overweight and dyslipidemia observed in parents, combined with the association between the fat intake by parents and their children with chronic rheumatic diseases, points to the importance of intervention strategies with the engagement and participation of families.

Lack of association of homocysteine concentrations with oxidative stress, alterations in carotid intima media thickness and endothelial reactivity in prepubertal children.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Our purpose was to assess the presence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (alterations in the lipid profile, fasting glycaemia, high arterial pressure values, oxidative stress, increased intima media thickness and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation) in prepubertal children with elevated homocysteine (Hcy) levels. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 35 children with Hcy levels ≥7.3 µmol/l were matched by gender and age with 29 children with Hcy levels ≤4.1 µmol/l. Our collected data included weight, height, waist circumference, systemic arterial pressure, lipid profile, fasting glycaemia and oxidative stress markers. A Doppler ultrasound was performed to measure the carotid intima media thickness and the endothelium-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant differences between the groups regarding the lipid profile and fasting glycaemia, blood pressure or oxidative stress. Overweight and obesity (body mass index z-score > +1) were more frequent in the group with Hcy ≥7.3 µmol/l when compared to the group with Hcy ≤4.1 µmol/l [13/35 (37.1%) vs. 4/29 (13.8%); p = 0.035]. After adjusting for nutritional status, there were no differences in the intima media thickness and endothelium-dependent vasodilation between children with high and low Hcy levels. CONCLUSIONS: Among the cardiovascular risk factors investigated in the present study, which was based on prepubertal children, only overweight and obesity were associated with increased Hcy concentrations (≥7.3 µmol/l).

Nutrient intake of women 3 years after Roux-en-Y Gastric bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional deficiencies, especially micronutrient deficiencies, can occur in obese individuals. Surgical treatment may aggravate or cause these deficiencies, depending on the type of procedure, food intake and the use of multivitamins, minerals or other supplements. The objective of the study was to evaluate the nutrient intake of women who had undergone Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. METHODS: A cross-sectional, controlled study was conducted among 44 women after RYGB (operated-group, OG; mean years post-operation = 3.4) and a control group of 38 healthy women (non-operated group, NOG) matched by age and economic condition. The women reported their dietary intake using a 4-day record. The Dietary Reference Intakes was used as a reference. RESULTS: The macronutrient contributions to dietary energy intake presented an acceptable distribution for proteins and carbohydrates. Lipid intake was high among women in the OG and the NOG (43.2 and 55.3 %, respectively). In the evaluation of micronutrients, a statistically significant difference was observed between the groups for iron, zinc and vitamins B1 and B12. Both groups were at high risk for inadequate calcium intake, and the OG was at risk for inadequate zinc, iron and vitamin B1 intake. CONCLUSIONS: The nutrient intake of women who had undergone RYGB is very similar to that of non-operated women, with the exception of a reduced intake of iron, zinc and vitamins B1 and B12, which may be due to the difficulty of consuming meat and a balanced diet. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of appropriate nutritional intervention and the regular use of multivitamin and mineral supplements for these patients.

Prevalência de anemia ferropriva e níveis de depleçäo de ferro em escolares da regiäo do Vale do Ribeira Estado de Säo Paulo / Ferropenic anemia and levels of iron depletion in school children of the \"Vale do Ribeira\" (SP)

Avaliou-se a incidência de anemia ferropriva e níveis de depleçäo das reservas de ferro orgânico em crianças em idade escolar do Vale do Ribeira (SP), pelas determinaçöes da série vermelha e ferritina. As crianças foram divididas, conforme sua origem, em rurais e urbanas. Entre as crianças rurais, 9,4 por cento e, entre as urbanas, 7,7 por cento apresentavam anemia ferropriva de acordo com os critérios da Organizaçäo Mundial da Saúde. Os níveis de depleçäo das reservas de ferro (excluindo os grupos com anemia) foram, respectivamente, 5,5 por cento e 8,4 por cento.