Association between red meat consumption and metabolic syndrome in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk: cross-sectional and 1-year follow-up assessment.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Little is known about the role that red meat and processed red meat (RM) consumption plays in the development of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim was to assess the relationship between RM consumption and the prevalence or incidence of the MetS and its components in a Mediterranean population at high risk of cardiovascular disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Cross-sectional analyses were carried out at baseline and at 1-year follow-up and longitudinal analysis were conducted in a cohort of individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease from the PREDIMED study. A 137-item validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, anthropometric measurements, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose and lipid profile were evaluated both at baseline and after 1-year follow-up. The MetS was defined in accordance with the updated ATP III criteria. Subjects in the upper quartile of RM consumption were more likely to meet the criteria for the MetS at baseline (OR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.4-3.9; P-trend = 0.001) and after 1-year follow-up (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.3-3.7; P-trend = 0.034) compared with those in the quartile of reference, even after adjusting for potential confounders. The longitudinal analyses showed that individuals in the fourth quartile of RM consumption had an increased risk of MetS (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.1-6.8; P-trend = 0.009) or central obesity incidence (OR, 8.1; 95% CI, 1.4-46.0; P-trend = 0.077) at the end of the follow-up compared to the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS: Higher RM consumption is associated with a significantly higher prevalence and incidence of MetS and central obesity in individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

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.

Parents' perceptions of their neonates and their relation to infant development.

BACKGROUND: Father and mother neonatal perceptions can alter the parents' behaviour towards their child and influence their relationship and, consequently, his/her development. The aim of this study was to examine how mother-father perceptions of their neonates evolve during the first month of life, and whether these perceptions, and the psychological and social characteristics of the mothers are good predictors of infant development. METHODS: Seventy-two mother-father-child triads participated. Maternal personality, including neuroticism, and maternal depression and anxiety symptoms were assessed. Parents' neonatal perceptions and neonatal behaviour were assessed at 3 days and at 1 month post partum and infant development at 4 and 12 months post partum. RESULTS: Parents' initial perceptions were positive, decreased in both parents during the first month and evolved differently according to the child's gender. High maternal neuroticism was related to worse neonatal perceptions, and high father perception was related to better infant development at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the contribution of parents' neonatal perception on infant development and may have social implications regarding the role of fathers in the parenting of their children.

Ankle taping can improve proprioception in healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND: Taping is a common technique to treat inversion ankle sprains, but the effects of tape on proprioception are still not clear. The purpose of this study was to establish whether proprioception would be modified by the use of ankle tape. To do so we studied joint position sense (JPS) in healthy volunteers using three-dimensional (3D) movement analysis systems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Forty healthy volunteers (mean age and SD = 23.2 ± 4.2) were asked to actively reproduce four different ankle positions: 10 degrees of dorsiflexion, neutral, 10 degrees and 20 degrees of plantarflexion. The absolute difference between the estimated angle and the target angle was used to assess JPS. This difference was named Error. Subjects were randomly assigned to the control (n = 21) or the intervention (n = 19) groups. Members of the intervention group received ankle tape for a lateral ligament sprain in the non-dominant leg. A t-test was used to evaluate the results. RESULTS: Tape significantly improved JPS for the dorsiflexion position (p = 0.038). Neutral was the most accurately reproduced position, and the remaining positions were overestimated for both groups. CONCLUSION: Taping improved proprioception in healthy volunteers, and 3D movement analysis was a useful method to accurately quantify joint position sense. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Because ankle proprioception is critical to the functional success of surgical and rehabilitation treatments, these results regarding proprioception are of particular importance because ankle taping is often used in preventing ankle sprains and it is a common treatment after ankle injuries.

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.

Non-clinical adolescent girls at risk of eating disorder: under-reporters or restrained eaters?

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the plausibility of self-reported energy intake, Goldberg et al proposed a technique to identify the miss-reporters. SUBJECTS: After screening 2,967 adolescents by EAT-40 test, 132 at risk of ED and 151 as a control group were studied. AIM: To determine whether subjects at risk of eating disorders that are identified as under reporters can be considered as UR or in turn as restrained eaters. METHODS: We determined dietary energy intake, body mass index, body satisfaction, physical activity, psychopathology, dietary restraint factor, weight loss and diagnoses of eating disorders. We applied Goldberg's equations to identify under reporters. RESULTS: 40.9% of girls at risk of eating disorders were identified as under reporters and only 7.3% were in the control group. A total of 64.4% of the Eating Disorders Not Otherwise Specified were under reporters. The body mass index of under reporters was significantly higher than in the other of subjects regardless of whether they were at risk of eating disorders. Girls at risk of eating disorders and under reporter had significantly lower body satisfaction than other groups. Multiple logistic regressions in all subjects showed that the risk of being UR was associated with an increase in the body mass index, increase in dietary restraint scores and weight loss; whereas, that only the body mass index was associated with the control group. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of under reporter increases with the severity of the eating disorders several adolescent girls at risk of eating disorder and identified by Goldberg cut-off technique as under reporter may to be restricting their intake and therefore they would not be under reporter.

Dietary calcium and body mass index in a Mediterranean population.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the association between daily calcium intake and body mass index (BMI) in 647 subjects from Reus, Spain. 261 men and 313 women, aged 18 to 70 years, were randomly selected from the population census. Food intake was quantified by the 24-hour recall method, for three non-consecutive days including one holiday. Weight and height were measured. The study sample was divided into quartiles of calcium intake adjusted for age, energy, and total fat and fiber intake in both men and women. Average calcium intake was low (557.6 +/- 234.0 mg/day). Calcium intake was significantly (p < 0.0001) and positively associated with energy intake (r = 0.50 for men; r = 0.49 for women; p < 0.0001) and dietary fiber consumption (r = 0.27 for men; r = 0.25 for women; p < 0.0001). After adjusting for age, energy intake, fat intake, and dietary fiber, the odds ratio of being in the highest quartile of BMI was significantly reduced in the highest quartile of calcium intake [men: 0.63 (0.30-1.29); women: 0.36 (0.17-0.79)] compared to the lowest quartile in both sexes. We conclude that our study showed a negative relationship between calcium intake and BMI in a Mediterranean community.

Dietary patterns and associated lifestyles in preconception, pregnancy and postpartum.

OBJECTIVE: To identify dietary patterns in women who are planning immediate pregnancy in preconception, weeks 6, 10, 26 and 38 of pregnancy, and 6 months postpartum, and to describe how particular lifestyles, the body mass index (BMI) and sociodemographic factors are associated to these patterns. DESIGN: Longitudinal study throughout the reproductive cycle of food consumption carried out in a Spanish Mediterranean city. SETTING: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Rovira i Virgili University. SUBJECTS: In total, 80 healthy female volunteers who were planning immediate pregnancy. INTERVENTIONS: A seven-consecutive-day dietary record was used to evaluate the dietary intake. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify the main dietary patterns in each of the periods. Fitted multiple linear regression models were used to study the associations between the lifestyle and sociodemographic variables, and each dietary pattern. RESULTS: The 'sweetened beverages and sugars' pattern was identified from preconception to 6 months postpartum and the 'vegetables and meat' pattern to the end of pregnancy. The 'sweetened beverages and sugars' pattern is positively associated with smoking and negatively associated with physical activity before conception and in the first trimester of pregnancy. The 'vegetables and meat' pattern is negatively associated with the BMI during the preconception period and positively associated with age in weeks 10 and 38 of pregnancy. It is shown that the patterns do not change significantly throughout the period studied. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified two stable dietary patterns from preconception to postpartum. The 'sweetened beverages and sugars' pattern is associated with habits of risk for the health of the pregnant woman and her offspring. SPONSORSHIP: 'Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología' (CICYT: ALI89-0388) and 'Instituto de Salud Carlos III', RCMN (C03/08), Madrid, Spain'.

Food and nutritional profile of high energy density consumers in an adult Mediterranean population.

OBJECTIVE: To test if an adult Mediterranean population consumes different food volumes while spontaneously ingesting diets of different energy density and to estimate which are the food and nutritional profiles of these diets. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of food consumption. SETTING: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus. SUBJECTS: Five hundred and seventy two adult individuals (25 65 y) randomly selected from the population census of Reus. INTERVENTION: 24 hour recall method for 3 non-consecutive days including one holiday. The population was classified into three groups of differing energy densities by simple linear regression analysis. Means were compared by ANOVA. RESULTS: Both sexes consume similar food volumes across the different levels of energy density. High energy density consumers ingest significantly more red meat, olive oil, sweet cereals, cereals and sugars and less reduced fat milk, green vegetables and fruit compared to low energy density consumers. Male and female high energy density consumers show a significantly higher consumption of energy (1686 kJ and 2200 kJ, respectively) (P < 0.001), a 5.2% (P < 0.001) and 2.3% (P < 0.05) respectively higher energy intake derived from fat and a 1.3% (P < 0.05) and 1.3% (P < 0.05) respectively higher energy intake derived from saturated fatty acids compared to low energy density consumers. CONCLUSIONS: Our adult Mediterranean population normally consumes similar food volumes, independently of the energy density ingested. High energy dense diets in our population could represent an important health risk because they are excessively rich in energy, fats and saturated fatty acids.

The influence of nutrient intake on the biochemical parameters of iron status in a healthy paediatric Mediterranean population.

A random sample of 302 children, aged between 6 months and 15 years, of a healthy Mediterranean population were studied. Abnormal values of biochemical parameters of iron status were frequently found. In the 0.5-2 year group, erythrocyte protoporphyrin values were abnormal in 13.5% of subjects, serum ferritin in 9.7%, transferrin saturation capacity in 75.3%, mean red cell volume in 4.1% and haemoglobin in 9.7%. Comparing nutritional intake (24 h dietary recall over 3 days) between individuals at low and high values of biochemical iron status some significant differences were found in each age group but in no case with regard to heme iron intake. In the overall age-adjusted study population, the nutritional intake had a low but significant explanatory capacity of the variance of the measured biochemical iron status parameters (between 1.1% for transferrin saturation capacity and 4.5% for serum ferritin) and a non-significant capacity in those children younger than 3 years. In conclusion, although the dietary pattern in our area favours a good iron bioavailability, in our population the nutritional intake was shown to have a limited relationship with the parameters of biochemical iron status parameters. These data suggest that, in healthy children, abnormal biochemical iron status parameters may be related to factors other than nutritional intake.

Enzymic evaluation of thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine status of parturient mothers and their newborn infants in a Mediterranean area of Spain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the biochemical status of thiamin, riboflavin and pyridoxine in parturient mothers and their newborn infants in a Mediterranean region. DESIGN: Transveral study. SETTING: St Joan University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain. SUBJECTS: 131 healthy parturient mothers, with normal pregnancies and deliveries in St Joan University Hospital, and their newborn infants. INTERVENTIONS: Erythrocyte haemolysates were prepared from maternal blood at delivery and infants' umbilical cord blood and used to measure micronutrient status using the transketolase, glutathione reductase and aspartate aminotransferase coenzyme stimulation tests. RESULTS: Maternal and infant coenzyme activities were significantly correlated, but infant coenzyme status was better than maternal, with significantly higher basal and stimulated activity (P < 0.001) and significantly lower activation coefficients (P < 0.001). Inadequate thiamin, riboflavin or pyridoxine status occured in 38.2 62.6% (50-82) of the mothers and 3.1-37.4% (4 49) of the infants; 85.2% (46/54), 12.9% (4/31) and 24.1% (12/54) of infants born to mothers with biochemical deficiency of either thiamin, riboflavin or pyridoxine, respectively also had inadequate status. Maternal deficiencies in more than one vitamin further increased the risk of infant thiamin and pyridoxine deficiency. Maternal and infant riboflavin status were significantly correlated with fetal development (e.g. length at birth, P < 0.001). The incidence of thiamin deficiency in paturient mothers in Spain was the highest out of a 12-country comparison. CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate status for each vitamin was evident in mothers and infants. Maternal status of each individual vitamin, but especially riboflavin, was affected by maternal status of the other vitamins. Infant thiamin status was the most adversely affected by maternal deficiencies in more than one vitamin. Infant riboflavin status, however, was apparently protected from adverse maternal status.

Energy density of the diet, food volume and energy intake by age and sex in a healthy population.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the changes in energy intake (EI), food intake volume (FV) and energy density (ED) related to age and gender in a population in the Mediterranean area of Spain, and to determine the different role of FV and ED on the consecution of the adequate EI throughout lifespan. SUBJECTS: One thousand and eighty-eight individuals (1-65 y) randomly selected from the population census. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study in which food intake was quantified by 24 h dietary recall, three non-consecutive days. Height and weight measurements were taken in 885 individuals. RESULTS: EI, FV and ED increased progressively (P < 0.001) between 1-2 y and 10-12 y of age in both sexes. At 1-2 y the EI is 5.8+/-1.5 MJ/d, FV 1195+/-275 g/d and ED 4.8+/-0.9 kJ/g. Between 1-2 and 3-4 y, coinciding with an EI that increased up to 7.2+/-1.5 MJ/d, there was an increase in ED up to 6.1+/-0.8 kJ/g (P < 0.001), while the FV did not vary significantly. At the start of puberty, between 7-9 and 10-12 y, when the EI increased to 9.7+/-0.9 MJ/d (P < 0.001) in males, the ED rose to 7.1+/-0.9 kJ/g (P < 0.001) while the FV did not vary significantly. At this age, a significant difference between the genders was observed in the EI (P = 0.04), and in the ED (P = 0.02) but not, as yet, in the FV. During adulthood, a significant trend towards decrease (P < 0.001 in both sexes) was observed in EI and ED. However, FV decreased significantly only in females. CONCLUSIONS: The changes in energy intake that were observed with respect to age and gender were accommodated-for by changes in the ED of the diet rather than by variations in food volume intake. Autoregulation of the ED of the diet, sufficient for energy intake requirement changes, appears to be an essential human capacity for efficient nutrition.

Bioavailable iron density in French and Spanish meals.

Iron absorption from two typical French meals and three typical Spanish meals was measured, using the extrinsic tag technique (with 55Fe and 59Fe) on French and Spanish volunteers. The total iron absorption coefficient varied up to three-fold (between 3.4 and 11.4 per cent) according to the contents of haem and non-haem iron and the presence of non-haem iron absorption enhancers and inhibitors. Expressed for iron absorption of 40 per cent of the reference dose (corresponding to subjects with theoretical depleted iron stores), those coefficients varied up to four-fold (between 4.9 and 18.9 per cent). The bioavailable nutrient density ranged from 0.30 to 0.77 mg/1000 kcal in subjects with good iron stores and from 0.50 to 1.12 mg/1000 kcal for subjects with theoretical depleted iron stores. This low bioavailable iron density enabled understanding of why iron balance is especially critical in women of childbearing age in industrialized countries, where iron enrichment of food is not practised.

Iron deficiency risk in children: discrepancy between dietary and biochemical assessments.

A random sample group of 300 children and adolescents (aged 0.5 to 16 years) from a Mediterranean town of Spain, were investigated as part of a health education program. Analysis of dietary iron intake and the biochemical parameters of iron status (red cell volume, erythrocyte protoporphyrin concentration, transferrin saturation percentage and serum ferritin) were measured. Based on dietary assessment, the percentage of children with iron intake levels below the Catalonia Recommended Daily Amounts varied from 24% to 77% and showed age and sex differences. The percentage of children with iron intakes below their own individual requirements varied between 7% and 41%. The age groups with the highest risk of iron deficiency were girls aged between 6 and 24 months, and boys aged between 13 and 16 years. However, based on the biochemically assessed iron status, the results revealed an overall prevalence of iron deficiency varying from 0 to 23.3%. The highest prevalence was encountered in boys and girls between 6 and 24 months (23.3%), compared with only 3.3% between 13 and 16 years. Despite conducting the investigation with the recommended controlled methodology, the results from dietary assessed risk of iron deficiency were significantly different from those assessed biochemically. Hence, caution is required when designing health programme strategies based exclusively on nutritional intake assessments.

Nutrition of the elderly in a Mediterranean city in Spain: effects of life-style patterns.

We studied the food intake in a representative sample (121 males, 202 females) of the elderly people (greater than 60 years) of the city of Reus (Spain) living at home. The analysis of the consumption of nutrients revealed an energy intake lower than recommended but similar to that found in other surveys dealing with the same age group. We observed that in our elderly people, the major food sources of caloric intake were different in relation to those of adults of the same population. The distribution of energy percentage derived from several macronutrients is different in the elderly in relation to adults (35-64 yr) and children (3-4 yr) of the same population. In younger people there was a remarkably energy excess derived from lipids if compared with the recommended allowances, which does not occur in the elderly group. Among all the sociocultural characteristics of the individuals, the type of life-style is revealed as the major explanation of the differences in intake. The elderly males who live with younger people consume more energy (p less than 0.01), lipids (p less than 0.001) and carbohydrates (p less than 0.05) than those who live only with other old people. In elderly people living with younger ones, the energy sources become unbalanced in the same way as in the young people. We have not found any differences in the biotype of the elderly men in relation to the patterns of life-style which may explain the different intakes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Consumption, dietary habits and nutritional status of the Reus (IX) population. Evolution of food consumption, energy and nutrient intake and relationship with the socioeconomic and cultural level, 1983-1993]. / Consumo, hábitos alimentarios y estado nutricional de la población de Reus (IX). Evolución del consumo de alimentos, du su participación en la ingestión de energía y nutrientes y de su relación con el nivel socioeconómico y cultural entre 1983 y 1993.

BACKGROUND: Mediterranean diet (a greater intake of olive oil, cereals, legumes, fruits and vegetables), is related to a lower prevalence of some associated diseases. The aim of the study was to observe in a Spanish population the evolution of dietary intake, whether there could be changes in the contribution of different kinds of food in energy intake, and the importance of socioeconomic and cultural factors which could influence this phenomenon. METHODS: Dietary intake was evaluated using the 24 hours recall method in a representative sample (n = 941, age range = 10-69) of a Reus population (Spain). This longitudinal study consisted of 70% of the sample studied in 1983 using identical methodology. RESULTS: From 1983 to 1993, we observed a significant increment of lactic derivatives (50.0%), vegetables (12.5%) and fruit intake (10.6%), and a significant decrease in tubercles (-56%), eggs (-15.6%), sugars (-13.0%), milk (-9.2%), and cereal (-7.6%) intake. Meat, fish, and visible fat intake remained unchanged. The intake of the 9 groups of food was different for men and women along this time period. We observed an increment in animal sources to our diet, primarily because of an increment in lactic derivative intake and a decrease in tubercles intake. Differences observed in 1983 between social classes related to different kinds of nutrients had nearly disappeared in 1993. Medium and high social classes followed very similar diets. However, the group of population with lowest socioeconomic status had a lower intake of energy and nutrients. CONCLUSIONS: Our diet consisted of the main characteristics of the typical mediterranean diet, although we observed a decrease in cereal intake and an increase in food of animal origin. Differences observed in 1983 related to dietary habits and nutritional profile between medium and high social classes, disappeared in 1993. However, there exists a small group of people of low social class which had a lower intake of energy and other nutrients.

[Estimation of energy expenditure in patients with morbid obesity]. / Estimación del gasto energético en pacientes con obesidad mórbida.

BACKGROUND: The equations available for the prediction of basal energy expenditure (BEE) may not be applicable in morbid obese individuals since the contribution of the fat free mass (FFM) over the BEE is not constant. The aim of this study was to obtain new equations for the prediction of BEE which are specific for patients with morbid obesity. METHODS: In 26 women with morbid obesity age, weight, body composition by bioelectric impedance and BEE by open circuit indirect calorimetry were determined. The BEE observed was compared with that estimated from the previously described equations. The multiple regression method was used to obtain the BEE prediction equations. RESULTS: Upon comparison of the BEE observed with the BEE estimated by the described equations a significant relation was found between both parameters. The differences were also significant except when the Harris-Benedict equation was used. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that when the variables of body composition were included, the FFM explained 75% of the variation in BEE and on forcing the entrance of fatty mass, the explanation increased to 79%. When only the anthropometric variables were included, weight explained 69% of the variation. CONCLUSIONS: In morbid obesity, most of the equations described for estimating basal energy expenditure are not applicable. New equations are reported for the prediction of energy expenditure.

[Food consumption, habits, and nutritional status of the population of Reus (VIII). Evolution of energy and nutrient intake from 1983 to 1993]. / Consumo, hábitos alimentarios y estado nutricional de la población de Reus (VIII). Evolución de la ingestión de energía y nutrientes entre 1983 y 1993.

BACKGROUND: Nutritional characteristics of the mediterranean diet, with a high intake of complex carbohydrates, fibre, monounsatured fatty acids and vegetables, are related to a lower prevalence of some nutritional associated diseases. The aim of our study was to perform a longitudinal analysis of the evolution of food intake in a mediterranean population in order to observe its influence on the energy and nutritional intake and their balance. The latter could have some effects on health status. METHODS: Dietary intake was evaluated using the 24 hours recall method in a representative sample (n = 941, age range = 10-69) of a Reus population. This longitudinal study consisted of 70% of the samples studied in 1983 using identical methodology. RESULTS: During this decade (1983-1993), energy intake decreased significantly 180 kcal/day for men and 158 kcal/day for women, carbohydrates being the main cause for this drop (132 and 84 kcal/day less for men and women, respectively). Protein intake decreased significantly in both sexes, 5.6% for men and 8.0% for women. However, the evolution of fat intake was different for men (no changes) and for women (a significant decrease of 5.7%). Saturated and monounsatured fatty acids did not show significant changes in this decade. Cholesterol intake decreased significantly in both sexes. Energy percents obtained from lipids, saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids significantly increased. However, in absolute values very little changes in fat intake in both sexes were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary pattern evolved to a lower energy intake with an increment of the percentage of dietary lipids, but this feature was did not reflect a greater fat intake in absolute values. Moreover, the main characteristics of the typical mediterranean diet (which is basically different to the usual diet of other non mediterranean european countries mainly due to its richness in monounsaturated fatty acids) did not change in the period analyzed.

[Treatment with LHRH analogues in girls with precocious puberty does not improve final height. Longitudinal study compared with a control group]. / El tratamiento con análogos de la LHRH en la pubertad avanzada de la niña no modifica la talla final. Estudio longitudinal frente a un grupo control.

BACKGROUND: We analysed the effectiveness of therapy with LHRH analogues in girls with a puberty onset at age 8 years. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We performed a non-randomised clinical study of 32 girls with advanced puberty. These included 16 treated with triptorelin LHRH analogue(3.75 mg/month during 1 year) and 16 control subjects. We carried out anthropometric measurements and determined the pubertal height growth (gain in height from the puberty onset up to the final height) and the pubertal duration (time in years from the puberty onset up to the age at which final height is attained). RESULTS: Treatment with LHRH analogue delayed the menarche age (11.5 [1.46]vs 10.37 [0.67] years of age; p = 0.03), led to an involution in secondary sexual characteristics and a temporary decrease ingrowth rate, and delayed skeletal maturation. However, pubertal duration, pubertal height growth and final height were all similar in both groups. In addition, no significant differences in body fat mass were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with LHRH analogues in advanced puberty modifies pubertal development, without modifying pubertal duration or pubertal height growth. Furthermore, this treatment does not improve final height.

[Food intake, dietary habits and nutritional status of the population of Reus (X): Evolution of the diet and the contribution of macronutrients to energy intake (1983-1999) by age and sex]. / Consumo, hábitos alimentarios y estado nutricional de la población de Reus (X): Evolución de la ingestión alimentaria y de la contribución de los macronutrientes al aporte energético (1983-1999), según edad y sexo.

BACKGROUND: To study the evolution of the diet and the nutritional intake between 1983 and 1999, by age and sex. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We performed a series of analysis of the food intake on a representative sample of the population of Reus (aged 10-69 years). Dietary intake was estimated using the 24-hours recall method. In 1999 the sample size was 839 individuals, 41% of them having taken part in the studies since 1983. Results are shown as mean (standard deviation). RESULTS: In 1999, the energy intake was 2524 (582) kcal in men aged 35-44 years (n = 57), and 1827 (490) kcal in women (n = 95) (p < 0.001 between sexes). The energy intake decreases with age (significant trend [p < 0.001] between 15-69 years) and it is higher in men than in women in all the age groups studied. When comparing similar age groups, we observe that this energy intake has not changed significantly since 1983. Between 1983 and 1999 the contribution of the macronutrients to the total energy intake has become more similar between ages and sexes. In 1999, in men aged 35-44 years a 15.6% of the energy came from proteins, 42% from fat and 42.5% from carbohydrates; in women of the same age: a 17.3% of the energy came from proteins, 42.4% from fat and 40.3% from carbohydrates). During this period we observed, however, remarkable changes in the diet which imply the increasing participation of the dairy products, vegetables and meat in the energy intake, or the significant decrease of the role of tubers, eggs and visible fat. CONCLUSIONS: Our population maintains an energy intake without significant changes, and it presents a trend towards a progressive uniformity of the nutritional balance between the different ages and sexes, although there are significant changes in some components of the diet.