Physical activity practice and sports preferences in a group of Spanish schoolchildren depending on sex and parental care: a gender perspective.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity plays an important role in the maintenance of health, and it is especially important during childhood. However, the lack of information about differences in physical activity practice and sports preferences of children considering gender differences can result in non-effective policies that enhance inequalities between sexes. The aim of this study is to identify the sports preferences of Spanish schoolchildren and their physical activity practice behaviors depending on their sex and their parental care, analyzing the possible differences from a gender perspective. METHOD: Three hundred sixty-four Spanish schoolchildren (179 girls, 185 boys) participated in this cross-sectional study. A daily physical activity questionnaire was used to evaluate physical activity level (PAL), moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sports preferences and a socio-health questionnaire were used to collect data about parental care. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and applying Student's T-test for normal variables, Mann-Whitney U-test for non-parametrical variables, and chi-square (χ2) test for categorical variables. Subsequently, odds ratios were used to analyze associations between the physical activity practice of the children and parental care. RESULTS: PAL and time spent in MVPA was significantly lower for girls compared to boys (1.44 ± 0.07 vs. 1.46 ± 0.07, p < 0.001 and 0.74 ± 0.40 h/day vs. 0.90 ± 0.45 h/day; p < 0.001, respectively). Dancing, rhythmic gymnastics, skating, and water sports were practiced more by girls, while football, wrestling sports, handball, and racket sports were practiced more by boys (p < 0.05). Children cared for by their fathers had higher odds for physical activity practice (OR = 1.995 (1.202-3.310), p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: Physical activity among girls was less frequent and less intense. Girls opted for individual sports with artistic connotations, while boys often practiced more team contact sports. Furthermore, children are more physically actives when their father is in charge of them.

ß-Carotene Concentration and Its Association with Inflammatory Biomarkers in Spanish Schoolchildren.

AIM: To examine the correlation between inflammatory biomarkers and plasma ß-carotene levels in children. METHODS: A total of 564 Spanish schoolchildren aged 9-12 were observed and studied. Plasma ß-carotene levels were assessed by HPLC. A ß-carotene level <4.83 µg/dL (0.09 µmol/L) was considered deficient. Plasma tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured by immunoenzyme assays. Serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) was tested by immunonephelometry. RESULTS: Subjects who were ß-carotene-deficient (23.1% of the studied children) had higher IL-6 levels than subjects with normal ß-carotene concentrations. The log-IL-6 and log-hs-CRP concentrations, but not the log-TNF-α level, were strongly and inversely related to the plasma log-ß-carotene level (taking into account log-age, energy intake, log-triglycerides, gender, log-body mass index, log-ß-carotene intake, energy from lipids and cholesterol as covariables). When the 3 inflammatory biomarkers were introduced into the regression model along with the corresponding covariables, only the log-IL-6 level was related to the plasma log-ß-carotene level (ß = -0.505 ± 0.078; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Inflammatory status, in particular IL-6 levels, appears to be negatively associated with plasma ß-carotene levels in schoolchildren.

Antioxidant status in a group of institutionalised elderly people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most important and prevalent diseases suffered by the elderly. Evidence exists that its onset and severity might be conditioned by antioxidant status. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between antioxidant status and COPD in institutionalised elderly people. In all, 183 elderly people aged >65 years (twenty-one had COPD and 160 healthy controls) were studied. The subjects' diets were investigated via the use of precise individual weighing for 7 d. Body weight, height, and biceps and triceps skinfold thickness were measured, and body fat (kg) and BMI (kg/m2) were calculated. Serum retinol, α-tocopherol, ß-carotene and vitamin C levels were determined. Subjects with COPD ate less fruits than healthy controls (117 (sd 52) v. 192 (sd 161) g/d), their coverage of the recommended intake of vitamin C was smaller (150 (sd 45) v. 191 (sd 88) %; note that both exceeded 100 %) and their diets had a lower antioxidant capacity (6558 (sd 2381) v. 9328 (sd 5367) mmol trolox equivalent/d). Those with COPD had lower serum vitamin C and α-tocopherol concentrations than healthy controls (32·4 (sd 15·3) v. 41·5 (sd 14·8) µmol/l and 12·1 (sd 3·2) v. 13·9 (sd 2·8) µmol/l, respectively). In addition, subjects with α-tocopherol <14·1µmol/l (50th percentile) were at 6·43 times greater risk of having COPD than those subjects with ≥14·1µmol/l (OR 6·43; 95 % CI 1·17, 35·24; P<0·05), taking sex, age, use of tobacco, body fat and vitamin E intake as covariables. Subjects with COPD had diets of poorer antioxidant quality, especially with respect to vitamins C and E, compared with healthy controls.

Chagas disease is related to structural changes of the gut microbiota in adults with chronic infection (TRIPOBIOME Study).

BACKGROUND: The implications of the gut microbial communities in the immune response against parasites and gut motility could explain the differences in clinical manifestations and treatment responses found in patients with chronic Chagas disease. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this pilot prospective cross-sectional study, we included 80 participants: 29 with indeterminate CD (ICD), 16 with cardiac CD (CCD), 15 with digestive CD (DCD), and 20 controls without CD. Stool was collected at the baseline visit and faecal microbial community structure DNA was analyzed by whole genome sequencing. We also performed a comprehensive dietary analysis. Ninety per cent (72/80) of subjects were of Bolivian origin with a median age of 47 years (IQR 39-54) and 48.3% (29/60) had received benznidazole treatment. There were no substantial differences in dietary habits between patients with CD and controls. We identified that the presence or absence of CD explained 5% of the observed microbiota variability. Subjects with CD exhibited consistent enrichment of Parabacteroides spp, while for Enterococcus hirae, Lactobacillus buchneri and Megamonas spp, the effect was less clear once excluded the outliers values. Sex, type of visceral involvement and previous treatment with benznidazole did not appear to have a confounding effect on gut microbiota structure. We also found that patients with DCD showed consistent Prevotella spp enrichment. CONCLUSIONS: We found a detectable effect of Chagas disease on overall microbiota structure with several potential disease biomarkers, which warrants further research in this field. The analysis of bacterial diversity could prove to be a viable target to improve the prognosis of this prevalent and neglected disease.

Young children with excess of weight show an impaired selenium status.

People who are overweight/obese commonly experience poorer antioxidant protection. The aim of the present study was to determine whether overweight/obesity is associated with children's selenium status. The study subjects were 573 Madrid schoolchildren aged 8 - 13 years. Their selenium intake was monitored via a three-day food record. Serum selenium concentration and blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity of each subject was also determined, as was body mass index (BMI). Children with excess of weight (BMI>P85) had lower serum selenium concentrations than those of normal weight (64.6 ± 16.8 µg/L compared to 75.3 ± 12.2 µg/L; p < 0.001). Their selenium intake was also lower (1.99 ± 0.62 µg/kg compared to 2.73 ± 0.88 µg/kg; p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between serum selenium and selenium intake (the best being obtained when intake was measured in µg/kg/day, r = 0.338, p < 0.05), while a negative relationship was seen between serum selenium and all the anthropometric variables recorded (the strongest correlation was seen between serum selenium and BMI, r = -0.390, p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed the risk of selenium deficiency (<70 µg/L) to increase with BMI [OR = 1.5031 (1.3828 - 1.6338)] and to decrease with selenium intake [OR = 0.9862 (0.9775 - 0.9949)] and age [OR = 0.6813 (0.5434 - 0.8542)] (p < 0.001). A correlation was also detected between serum selenium and GPx activity (r = 0.177; p < 0.05) but there were no significant relationships between GPx activity and any anthropometric variables, excluding the correlation with waist/hip ratio (r = -0.298; p < 0.01). Children with excess of weight have a poorer selenium status than children of normal weight, which can contribute to poor antioxidant protection. This situation could be more evident in children with central adiposity.

Relationship of Diet to Gut Microbiota and Inflammatory Biomarkers in People with HIV.

While changes in microbiome composition have been associated with HIV, the effect of diet and its potential impact on inflammation remains unclear. Methods: Twenty-seven people living with HIV (PWH) on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were studied. A comprehensive dietary analysis was performed and two types of dietary patterns were determined. We explored the associations of each dietary pattern with gut microbiota and plasma inflammatory biomarkers. Results: We appreciated two dietary patterns, Mediterranean-like (MEL) and one Western-like (WEL). Compared to participants with the WEL pattern, participants with MEL pattern showed higher abundance of Lachnospira (p-value = 0.02) and lower levels of the inflammatory biomarkers D-dimer (p-value = 0.050) and soluble TNF-alpha receptor 2 (sTNFR2) (p-value = 0.049). Men who have sex with men (MSM) with MEL pattern had lower abundance of Erysipelotrichaceae (p-value < 0.001) and lower levels of D-dimer (p-value = 0.026) than MSM with WEL pattern. Conclusion: MEL pattern favours Lachnospira abundance, and protects against Erysipelotrichaceae abundance and higher levels of the inflammatory biomarkers D-dimer and sTNFR2, precursors of inflammatory processes in HIV-infected patients. Our study contributes to understanding the determinants of a healthier diet and its connections with gut microbiota and inflammation.

Interactions among the mycobiome, bacteriome, inflammation, and diet in people living with HIV.

While the intestinal microbiome seems a major driver of persistent immune defects in people with HIV (PWH), little is known about its fungal component, the mycobiome. We assessed the inter-kingdom mycobiome-bacteriome interactions, the impact of diet, and the association with the innate and adaptive immunity in PWH on antiretroviral therapy. We included 24 PWH individuals and 12 healthy controls. We sequenced the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 amplicons, determined amplicon sequence variants, measured biomarkers of the innate and adaptive immunity in blood and relations with diet. Compared to healthy controls, PWH subjects exhibited a distinct and richer mycobiome and an enrichment for Debaryomyces hansenii, Candida albicans, and Candida parapsilosis. In PWH, Candida and Pichia species were strongly correlated with several bacterial genera, including Faecalibacterium genus. Regarding the links between the mycobiome and systemic immunology, we found a positive correlation between Candida species and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines (sTNF-R2 and IL-17), interleukin 22 (a cytokine implicated in the regulation of mucosal immunity), and CD8+ T cell counts. This suggests an important role of the yeasts in systemic innate and adaptive immune responses. Finally, we identified inter-kingdom interactions implicated in fiber degradation, short-chain fatty acid production, and lipid metabolism, and an effect of vegetable and fiber intake on the mycobiome. Therefore, despite the great differences in abundance and diversity between the bacterial and fungal communities of the gut, we defined the changes associated with HIV, determined several different inter-kingdom associations, and found links between the mycobiome, nutrient metabolism, and systemic immunity.

Fecal microbiota transplantation in HIV: A pilot placebo-controlled study.

Changes in the microbiota have been linked to persistent inflammation during treated HIV infection. In this pilot double-blind study, we study 30 HIV-infected subjects on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with a CD4/CD8 ratio < 1 randomized to either weekly fecal microbiota capsules or placebo for 8 weeks. Stool donors were rationally selected based on their microbiota signatures. We report that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is safe, not related to severe adverse events, and attenuates HIV-associated dysbiosis. FMT elicits changes in gut microbiota structure, including significant increases in alpha diversity, and a mild and transient engraftment of donor's microbiota during the treatment period. The greater engraftment seems to be achieved by recent antibiotic use before FMT. The Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae families, which are typically depleted in people with HIV, are the taxa more robustly engrafted across time-points. In exploratory analyses, we describe a significant amelioration in the FMT group in intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (IFABP), a biomarker of intestinal damage that independently predicts mortality. Gut microbiota manipulation using a non-invasive and safe strategy of FMT delivery is feasible and deserves further investigation. Trial number: NCT03008941.

Correction: Breakfast habits and differences regarding abdominal obesity in a cross-sectional study in Spanish adults: The ANIBES study.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188828.].

Breakfast habits and differences regarding abdominal obesity in a cross-sectional study in Spanish adults: The ANIBES study.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have indicated that breakfast has a protective effect against obesity. The aim of this study was to describe the breakfast habits of the Spanish adult population and to assess the possible association between breakfast frequency and the presence of abdominal obesity, in a cross-sectional analysis of the ANIBES Study. METHODS: A representative sample of 1655 Spanish adults (aged 39±12 y; (mean±sd)) from the ANIBES Study was investigated. The final field work was carried out from mid-September to November (three months) 2013. Collected data included a dietary data collected by a 3-days food record, and health, socioeconomic, physical activity and anthropometric (weight, height and waist circumference) data. Abdominal obesity was defined as having a waist-to-height ratio ≥0.5. The adults were also classified into three groups based on the number of days they ate breakfast (never (0/3 days), sometimes (1-2/3 days) and always (3/3 days)). Logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between breakfast and abdominal obesity. RESULTS: In total, 3.6% of adults skipped breakfast and 14.1% ate breakfast sometimes. Having always breakfast was negatively associated with abdominal obesity [OR = 0.738 (0.558-0.975) p = 0.033]. The odds of abdominal obesity after full adjustment (age, gender, and educational and activity level) were 1.5 times higher for those who skipped breakfast when compared to those who always have breakfast. By correcting the model considered for other variables, the odds among smokers decreased when they have breakfast sometimes [OR = 0.032 (0.003-0.387) p = 0.007] and always [OR = 0.023 (0.002-0.270) p = 0.003] comparing with smokers who skip breakfast. CONCLUSION: Breakfast frequency could be negatively associated with abdominal obesity, especially among smokers.

Sodium intake may promote weight gain; results of the FANPE study in a representative sample of the adult Spanish population.

INTRODUCTION: Recent studies have indicated that diets rich in sodium may predispose to the development of obesity, either directly, or be associated with the consumption of foods that promote weight gain. OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to analyze the association between urinary sodium and the presence of excess of weight. Additionally, the study investigated the relationships between salt intake and dietary habits, as a high salt intake may be associated with inadequate eating habits and a high incidence of obesity. METHODS: This study involved 418 adults (196 men and 222 women) aged 18 to 60 years old. Weight, height and waist circumference were measured, and we calculated, BMI and waist/height ratio. Dietary intake was estimated using a "24 h recalls", for two consecutive days, and sodium content was determined from 24 h urine sample. RESULTS: The 34.4% of the population had overweight and 13.6% had obesity. A positive association was seen between BMI and urinary sodium concentration. Urine sodium values were also positively associated with others adiposity indicators such as waist circumference and waist/height ratio. Body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and waist/height ratio were higher in the group of individuals with a urinary sodium excretion ≥154 mmol/l (Percentile 50) (P50). Additionally, individuals placed in this group presented a higher caloric intake and total food intake, in particular, more meat, processed food and snacks. Adjusting by energy intake, a higher sodium intake was a risk factor of being overweight or obese (OR = 1.0041, IC 95% 1.0015-1.0067, p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Salt intake was associated with obesity; since people with higher sodium intake consumed more energy and presented worse eating habits. Additionally, sodium intake itself appears to be related to obesity.

Introducción: Estudios recientes, han señalado que las dietas ricas en sodio podrían predisponer a la aparición de obesidad, ya sea de forma directa, o por estar asociadas con el consumo de alimentos que favorecen el aumento de peso. Objetivo: El objeto de este estudio fue analizar la asociación entre sodio urinario y presencia de sobrepeso y obesidad, en una muestra representativa de adultos españoles, así como conocer si el mayor consumo de sal, se asocia con unos peores hábitos alimentarios y con una mayor ingesta de alimentos, que puedan predisponer a la aparición de la misma. Métodos: Se ha estudiado un grupo de 418 adultos (196 hombres y 222 mujeres) de 18 a 60 años de edad. Se recogieron datos de peso, talla, circunferencia de cintura y se calculó, a partir de ellos, el IMC y el índice cintura/talla. Con el fin de conocer el consumo de alimentos, se aplicó un "Recuerdo de 24 horas" durante dos días consecutivos y se determinó el sodio en orina de 24 horas. Resultados: Un 34,4% de la población presentó sobrepeso y un 13,6% obesidad. Se observó una asociación positiva entre el IMC y la excreción urinaria de sodio. Los valores de sodio en orina también se relacionaron de forma directa con otros parámetros indicadores de adiposidad, como la circunferencia de la cintura o la relación cintura/talla. Tanto el peso, como el IMC, la circunferencia de la cintura y la relación cintura/talla, fueron mayores en el grupo con una excreción urinaria de sodio ≥154 mmol/l (Percentil 50) (P50). Además, las personas con una mayor eliminación urinaria de sodio presentaron una mayor ingesta calórica y un mayor consumo de alimentos totales y, en concreto, de carnes, precocinados y aperitivos. Tras ajustar por la ingesta de energía, la mayor ingesta de sodio resultó ser un factor de riesgo de tener un IMC más alto (OR = 1.0041, IC 95% 1.0015-1.0067, p < 0,01). Conclusiones: La ingesta de sal estuvo asociada con la presencia de obesidad, ya que las personas con una mayor ingesta de sodio ingirieron más energía y presentaron peores hábitos alimentarios. Sin embargo, la ingesta de sodio por sí misma, también parece estar relacionada con el padecimiento de obesidad.

Vitamin D in overweight/obese women and its relationship with dietetic and anthropometric variables.

Overweight/obese persons usually have an inadequate vitamin D status, a situation commonly made worse by an inadequate intake of this vitamin. For this reason, the aim of this study was to analyze dietetic and anthropometric differences in a group of young, overweight/obese Spanish women with respect to their vitamin D status. The study subjects were 66 white Spanish women (aged 20-35 years) with a BMI of 24-35 kg/m(2). Dietetic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected. Women were divided into two groups depending on their serum vitamin D concentrations: LD (women with <90 nmol/l 25(OH)D) and HD (women with >or=90 nmol/l 25(OH)D). The intakes of vitamin D, calcium, and supplements were similar in both groups. The body weight, BMI, and waist circumference of the HD subjects were smaller than those recorded for the LD subjects (68.6 +/- 4.2 kg, 26.0 +/- 1.3 kg/m(2), and 79.4 +/- 3.4 cm compared to 76.2 +/- 9.8, 28.6 +/- 3.2 kg/m(2), and 86.2 +/- 9.3 cm, respectively; P < 0.05). The hip circumference and the waist/hip ratio were similar in both groups. A BMI of <27.7 kg/m(2) (P50) was associated with serum vitamin D concentrations of >or=90 nmol/l (odds ratio = 0.1313; confidence interval: 0.0149-1.1599; P < 0.05). Overweight/obese women are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, largely due to excess adiposity rather than inadequate intake.

Smoking and passive smoking as conditioners of folate status in young women.

OBJECTIVE: For women of fertile age, an adequate supply of folate is important for preventing a range of health problems, especially congenital malformations in their offspring. Since congenital deformities are more common in children of mothers who smoke, the objective was to analyse the folate status of smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers. METHODS: Folate intake was monitored in 319 women aged 18-35 (112 smokers, 100 passive smokers and 107 non-smokers) using a three day food record. Serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Exposure to tobacco smoke was established by a questionnaire on present and past tobacco consumption, the number of hours in contact with smokers, and by assessing urine cotinine concentrations. RESULTS: The folate intake of smokers (S) (159.1 +/- 65.7 microg/day) and passive smokers (PS) (165.2 +/- 66.6 microg/day) was lower than that of non-smokers (N) (181.7 +/- 72.4 microg/day) (p < 0.05 between S and N). No subject fully met the recommended intake of the vitamin, but S and PS subjects both took less than N subjects (39.8 +/- 16.4% and 41.3 +/- 16.6% compared to 45.4 +/- 18.1% respectively). Serum folate concentrations were also lower in S and PS subjects grouped together (16.6 +/- 5.9 nmol/L) compared to N subjects (18.4 +/- 6.7 nmol/L) (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: None of the studied women took the 400 microg/day of folate recommended. 6.7% had serum folate concentrations of < 9.2 nmol/L. The situation was worse in S and PS subjects, which might contribute to an increased risk of developing certain diseases and to giving birth to children with congenital deformations.

Cognitive function in elderly people is influenced by vitamin E status.

The aim of this study was to examine associations between vitamin E status and cognitive performance in elderly people. The study subjects were a group of 34 men and 86 women, aged 65-91 y, who were free of significant cognitive impairment. Dietary intake was monitored using a "weighed food record" for 5 consecutive days including a Sunday. Serum levels of alpha-tocopherol and cholesterol were determined by HPLC and colorimetric methods, respectively. The cognitive capacity of subjects was tested using the Pfeiffer's Mental Status Questionnaire (PMSQ). Subjects with vitamin E intakes lower than 50% of those recommended had higher PMSQ scores, demonstrating a greater number of errors in comparison to participants with a greater intake of the vitamin (0.91 +/- 1.22 vs. 0.47 +/- 0.60, respectively, P < 0.05). Subjects who made no errors in the PMSQ test had significantly higher serum alpha-tocopherol concentrations (19.7 +/- 8.6 micromol/L in men and 20.0 +/- 8.4 micromol/L in women) and alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol ratios (3.5 +/- 2.0 micromol/mmol in men 2.9 +/- 1.4 micromol/mmol in women) compared with those who made errors (alpha-tocopherol 15.1 +/- 5.6 micromol/L in men and 14.9 +/- 6.1 micromol/L in women; alpha-tocopherol/cholesterol ratio 2.4 +/- 0.8 and 2.3 +/- 1.3 micromol/mmol in men and women, respectively). This study shows there to be a relationship between vitamin E status and cognitive function, and that vitamin E status could be improved in this population of elderly individuals.