Modeling Zinc Absorption in the Adult Population of Colombia: Insights for Nutritional Evaluation and Intervention Strategies.

Zinc is a vital trace element, yet its deficiency is common in various populations. This study addresses the gap in understanding zinc intake and its relationship with key nutritional parameters in a Colombian population. We analyzed data from 12,987 individuals, focusing on the daily intake of zinc, phytate, protein, and calcium, and used the phytate/zinc molar ratio as an input parameter in the Miller et al. (2013) model. This model was employed to estimate the total absorbed zinc (TAZ) and the fractional absorption of zinc (FAZ). Our findings highlight a general trend towards insufficient intake compared to the standards of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Colombia, with a significant percentage of the population falling below the estimated average requirement (EAR) and recommended daily allowance (RDA) for zinc, underscoring the need for targeted nutritional strategies. Our study contributes to a broader understanding of zinc nutrition and public health implications in Colombia, providing a basis for future dietary guidelines and health interventions.

Componentes del síndrome metabólico y factores de riesgo asociados en estudiantes de un programa de nutrición

RESUMEN La población universitaria presenta cambios en su estilo de vida, que se refleja en su composición corporal, y alteraciones metabólicas. Los estudiantes del área de la salud son futuros promotores de estilos de vida saludables. El objetivo de este trabajo fue identificar la frecuencia del Síndrome metabólico (SM) y sus componentes en los estudiantes del programa de Nutrición y Dietética. Noventa estudiantes de 18 a 25 años, en quienes se evaluaron los componentes del SM, la actividad física por acelerometría, el consumo de alcohol mediante el cuestionario Audit, tabaquismo y horas de sueño por el método Pittsburgh. Las prevalencias encontradas fueron: SM 1,1%, circunferencia de cintura elevada 4,5%, triglicéridos altos 11%, HDL bajos 32%, presión arterial elevada 1,1%. Se encontró que 73% cumplían con las recomendaciones de actividad física recomendadas por la OMS. Sin embargo, el 100% de los estudiantes pasaron más de 9 horas sedentarias por día, el 6,7% presentaron un consumo de alcohol catalogado como perjudicial, 19% estuvieron expuestos al humo o eran fumadores, y el 63,3% se consideraron como malos dormidores. No hubo asociación entre las variables del estilo de vida con los componentes del SM. En conclusión, los triglicéridos altos y las HDL bajas, el sedentarismo y la baja calidad de sueño son variables importantes para tener en consideración en programas de intervención con la finalidad de ser nutricionistas coherentes con la profesión.

ABSTRACT Changes to body composition and metabolic functions occur in the university population due to lifestyle choices. Students in the health programs are expected to fulfill a fundamental role in promoting healthy lifestyles. The objective of this work was to identify the frequency of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) and its components among students of a Nutrition and Dietetics program. Ninety students between 18 and 21 years old were evaluated for each of the components of the MS, physical activity by accelerometry, alcohol consumption by Audit questionnaire, smoking, and hours of sleep by Pittsburgh method. The prevalence found were: MS 1.1%, high waist circumference 4.5%, high triglycerides 11%, low HDL 32%, high blood pressure 1.1%. Regarding variables related to lifestyle habits, 73% complied with physical activity recommendations recommended by the WHO. However, 100% of the students were sedentary more than 9 hours per day, 6.7% had alcohol consumption classified as harmful, 19% were exposed to smoke or were smokers, and 63.3% were considered bad sleepers. There was no association between lifestyle variables and the MS components. In conclusion, high triglycerides, low HDL, sedentary lifestyle, and low sleep quality are crucial variables to consider in intervention programs aimed at training nutritionist, in keeping with the profession.

Examining for an association between candidate gene polymorphisms in the metabolic syndrome components on excess weight and adiposity measures in youth: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: A polymorphism in a gene may exert its effects on multiple phenotypes. The aim of this study is to explore the association of 10 metabolic syndrome candidate genes with excess weight and adiposity and evaluate the effect of perinatal and socioeconomic factors on these associations. METHODS: The anthropometry, socioeconomic and perinatal conditions and 10 polymorphisms were evaluated in 1081 young people between 10 and 18 years old. Genotypic associations were calculated using logistic and linear models adjusted by age, gender, and pubertal maturation, and a genetic risk score (GRS) was calculated by summing the number of effect alleles. RESULTS: We found that AGT-rs699 and the IRS2-rs1805097 variants were significantly associated with excess weight, OR = 1.25 (CI 95% 1.01-1.54; p = 0.034); OR = 0.77 (CI 95% 0.62-0.96; p = 0.022), respectively. AGT-rs699 and FTO-rs17817449 variants were significantly and directly associated with body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.036 and p = 0.031), while IRS2-rs1805097 and UCP3-rs1800849 were significantly and negatively associated with BMI and waist circumference, correspondingly. Each additional effect allele in GRS was associated with an increase of 0.020 log(BMI) (p = 0.004). No effects from the socioeconomic and perinatal factors evaluated on the association of the candidate genes with the phenotypes were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Our observation suggests that AGT-rs699 and FTO-rs17817449 variants may contribute to the risk development of excess weight and an increase in the BMI, while IRS2-rs1805097 showed a protector effect; in addition, UCP3- rs1800849 showed a decreasing waist circumference. Socioeconomic and perinatal factors had no effect on the associations of the candidate gene.

[Environmental risk factors and metabolic syndrome components in overweight youngsters]. / Factores de riesgo ambientales y componentes del síndrome metabólico en adolescentes con exceso de peso.

INTRODUCTION: The environmental risk factors such as food intake and physival activity, are determinants in the etiology of metabolic syndrome in overweight adolescents. OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between environmental risk factors and components presence of metabolic syndrome in overweight youngsters in Medellín. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 were selected for a cross sectional study. Body composition by anthropometry, blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose, insulin, food intake and physical activity level were assessed in the study population. RESULTS: The prevalence for metabolic syndrome components of hypertriglyceridemia was 40.9%; hypertension, 20.9%; low HDLc, 15.6%; high waist circumference, 4.0%, and hyperglycemia, 0.9%; the overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 3.1%. There was a statistical difference (p<0.005) between the consumption of calories, simple and total carbohydrates and the presence of the components; no association was found between the level of physical activity and the presence of components (p>0.05). The logistic regression model showed a higher probability of having at least one component if the youngster was male (p=0.022), with a higher BMI (Body Mass Index)(p=0.019) and was located in the fourth simple carbohydrates consumption quartile (p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Environmental risk factors associated with components of metabolic syndrome were the increased consumption of calories, simple and complex carbohydrates, all directly related to the BMI. In contrast, the level of physical activity, family history and personal risk factors showed no association. The metabolic syndrome only occurred in youngsters with obesity.

Factores de riesgo ambientales y componentes del síndrome metabólico en adolescentes con exceso de peso / Environmental risk factors and metabolic syndrome components in overweight youngsters

Introducción. Factores de riesgo ambientales, como el consumo de alimentos y la actividad física, son determinantes en la etiología del síndrome metabólico y sus componentes en jóvenes con exceso de peso. Objetivo. Explorar la asociación entre factores de riesgo ambientales y presencia de componentes del síndrome metabólico en jóvenes entre 10 y 18 años, con exceso de peso en Medellín. Materiales y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo de corte transversal. En la población de estudio se evaluaron la composición corporal por antropometría, la presión arterial, el perfil lipídico, la glucemia, la insulinemia, la ingestión de alimentos y la actividad física. Resultados. La prevalencia de los componentes del síndrome metabólico fue de 40,9 % para hipertrigliceridemia; 20,9 % para hipertensión; 15,6 % para c-HDL bajas; 4,0 % para circunferencia de cintura alta, y 0,9 % para la hiperglucemia; la prevalencia de síndrome metabólico fue de 3,1 %. Se encontró diferencia estadística (p<0,005) entre el consumo de kilocalorías, carbohidratos totales y simples, y la presencia de los componentes; no se encontró asociación entre el nivel de actividad física y la presencia de componentes (p>0,05). En el modelo de regresión logística se encontró una mayor probabilidad de tener, al menos, un componente si el joven era de sexo masculino (p=0,022), tenía un mayor índice de masa corporal (IMC) (p=0,019) y si se ubicaba en el cuarto cuartil de consumo de carbohidratos simples (p=0,036). Conclusiones. Los factores de riesgo ambientales asociados con los componentes del síndrome metabólico en este estudio fueron el mayor consumo de calorías, carbohidratos complejos y simples, todos relacionados directamente con el IMC; por el contrario, el nivel de actividad física, los antecedentes familiares y los personales no mostraron ninguna asociación. El síndrome metabólico sólo se presentó en jóvenes con obesidad.

Introduction. The environmental risk factors such as food intake and physival activity, are determinants in the etiology of metabolic syndrome in overweight adolescents. Objective. To explore the association between environmental risk factors and components presence of metabolic syndrome in overweight youngsters in Medellín. Materials and methods. Adolescents between the ages of 10 and 18 were selected for a cross sectional study. Body composition by anthropometry, blood pressure, lipid profile, glucose, insulin, food intake and physical activity level were assessed in the study population. Results. The prevalence for metabolic syndrome components of hypertriglyceridemia was 40.9%; hypertension, 20.9%; low HDLc, 15.6%; high waist circumference, 4.0%, and hyperglycemia, 0.9%; the overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 3.1%. There was a statistical difference (p<0.005) between the consumption of calories, simple and total carbohydrates and the presence of the components; no association was found between the level of physical activity and the presence of components (p>0.05). The logistic regression model showed a higher probability of having at least one component if the youngster was male (p=0.022), with a higher BMI (Body Mass Index)(p=0.019) and was located in the fourth simple carbohydrates consumption quartile (p=0.036). Conclusions. Environmental risk factors associated with components of metabolic syndrome were the increased consumption of calories, simple and complex carbohydrates, all directly related to the BMI. In contrast, the level of physical activity, family history and personal risk factors showed no association. The metabolic syndrome only occurred in youngsters with obesity.

[Nutritional condition in patients with Alzheimer-type dementia from the neurosciences' group, Medellín 2004]. / Diagnóstico del estado nutricional de los pacientes con demencia tipo Alzheimer registrados en el Grupo de Neurociencias, Medellín, 2004.

INTRODUCTION: Patients suffering clinical dementia caused by Alzheimer's disease have a high risk of developing malnutrition caused by all the physiological, socio-economic and psychological changes related to the disease, together with the ageing process. OBJECTIVE: To describe the nutritional condition of a group of patients with Alzheimer's dementia according to the degree of disease severity. Patients were selected from the University of Antioquia Neurosciences Group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive cross sectional study. Patients were assessed and information was collected about their body composition, food consumption behaviour, clinical, and psychosocial variables. RESULTS: 77 patients were studied; their mean age was 65, 5 +/- 12.8 years. 48 had a family history of Alzheimer's disease; 39 were diagnosed more than 60 months before the study started; the most frequently found degree of severity was moderate, the most common type of dementia was the early family form. 26 began the disease process before they were 50 years old. Significant differences for Body Mass Index, brachial adipose area and brachial lean area were found (p = 0.001, p = 0.000, p = 0.000, respectively) between patients with the different degrees of disease severity. These parameters measures were lowest in patients with severe disease. The intake of calcium and folate was the lowest amongst the nutrients studied. CONCLUSION: The nutritional state is impaired in patients suffering Alzheimer's dementia from the early stages of the disease. The most important nutritional and clinical abnormalities found were depletion of the lean and fat stores, low intake of calcium and folate and clinical signs of the disease. Changes in these parameters worsen as the disease progresses.

Diagnóstico del estado nutricional de los pacientes con demencia tipo Alzheimer registrados en el Grupo de Neurociencias, Medellín, 2004 / Nutritional condition in patients with Alzheimer type dementia from the neurosciences group, Medellín 2004

Introducción. Los pacientes con demencia tipo Alzheimer presentan riesgo de deterioro del estado nutricional por cambios fisiológicos, socioeconómicos y psicológicos relacionados con la enfermedad, lo que se suma al proceso de envejecimiento. Objetivo. Describir el estado nutricional de los pacientes con demencia tipo Alzheimer del Grupo de Neurociencias de la Universidad de Antioquia según el estadio de evolución. Materiales y métodos. Estudio descriptivo transversal. Cada paciente fue evaluado para obtener información general, de salud, composición corporal, alimentaria, signos clínicos y aspectos psicosociales. Resultados. Se evaluaron 77 pacientes con edad promedio de 65,5±12,8 años, 48 de ellos con antecedentes familiares de la enfermedad y 39 con más de 60 meses de diagnóstico; el estadio más frecuente fue el moderado y el tipo de demencia más común, la familiar precoz; la enfermedad se diagnosticó antes de los 50 años en 26 pacientes. Hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el índice de masa corporal, el área grasa braquial y el área magra braquial por estadio, y mayor compromiso en el estadio grave ( p=0,001, p=0,000 y p=0,000); en todos los estadios se presentó compromiso de la reserva energética y muscular. El calcio y los folatos fueron los nutrientes más comprometidos en el consumo. Conclusión. Aun en el estadio inicial, los pacientes presentaron compromiso del estado nutricional, evidenciado por déficit en la reserva energética y muscular, signos clínicos y consumo inadecuado de calcio y folatos. A medida que avanza la enfermedad, el compromiso de los indicadores nutricionales es mayor. Lo anterior evidencia la necesidad del cuidado nutricional individual de acuerdo con el estadio de la enfermedad.