Caffeine consumption and association with sleep duration and screen time in Brazilian adolescents (ERICA Study).

OBJECTIVES: Some studies have demonstrated that caffeine consumption is a risk factor for insufficient sleep or poor sleep quality in adolescents. The aim of this study was to estimate the average daily caffeine consumption and to investigate the association between caffeine, sleep duration, and screen time in a large sample of Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: We evaluated data from 71 533 adolescents aged 12 to 17 y, who participated in the ERICA study (Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents). Caffeine intake was extracted from 24-h dietary recalls of caffeine-containing products. The mean daily intake of caffeine/mg and caffeine/mg/kg, the prevalence of caffeine intake, and their respective 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated according to the general characteristics. Associations between caffeine consumption, sleep duration, and screen time were analyzed by a multinomial logistic regression model, considering P < 0.05. RESULTS: The overall average daily caffeine intake was 99.45 mg (95% CI, 91.43-107.47) and 1.88 mg/kg (95% CI, 1.71-2.04). Daily caffeine intake >3 mg/kg was significantly associated with screen time ≤2 h/d (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.26) and sleep duration ≥8 h (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.17-1.46), which remained significant after adjustment. The time of day of the highest caffeine consumption was in the morning (05:00-12:59). The most consumed caffeine-containing product was coffee (35%), followed by soda (27%). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that caffeine consumption does not interfere with sleep duration or screen time. Moreover, the study provided important information about the source of caffeine most consumed by Brazilian adolescents, which could help professionals plan appropriate caffeine consumption.

Association between polyunsaturated fatty acids intake and insulin resistance in Brazilian adolescents (ERICA Study).

OBJECTIVE: Some studies have proposed a beneficial effect of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake with regard to insulin sensitivity. The aim of this study was to estimate the energy percentage and the daily PUFA intake to investigate the association between PUFAs and insulin resistance in a large sample of Brazilian adolescents. METHODS: We evaluated 37 023 adolescents ages 12 to 17 y, who were participants in ERICA (Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents). Energy percentage and PUFA daily intake were extracted from a 24-h dietary recall. The mean daily intake of total fat, median, and the respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of daily intake of linoleic acid (LA), α-linolenic acid (ALA) and the ratio of LA to ALA were estimated according to sociodemographic variables. Associations of PUFA and markers of glucose homeostasis were analyzed by Poisson regression model. RESULTS: Mean total fat intake was 30.1% of energy (95% CI, 29.9-30.4). Most participants met the current recommended values of PUFA and LA/ALA ratio ranging from 5:1 to 10:1 (80.9%, 95% CI, 79.8-81.8). ALA intake was inversely associated with higher waist circumference (prevalence ratio [PR], 0.996; 95% CI, 0.994-0.998). LA/ALA ratio ≥9:1 was significantly associated with higher levels of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; PR, 1.01; 95% CI, 1.006-1.02), and ratio >10:1 also showed significant association with higher levels of HOMA-IR (PR, 1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03) and glycated hemoglobin (PR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.04-1.26). These associations remained significant after adjustment. CONCLUSION: Promotion of ALA intake and balanced LA/ALA ratio should be considered as a possible health strategy aimed at contributing to better control of glucose homeostasis and insulin resistance in adolescents.

ERICA: prevalence of fish consumption and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and healthy behavior in Brazilian adolescents.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of fish consumption and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and healthy behavior in Brazilian adolescents. METHOD: The authors investigated data from 71,533 participants of the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes - ERICA), a nationwide, cross-sectional, school-based study. Of these, 37,815 adolescents were included for blood analyses. All prevalence estimates were presented proportionally with their 95% confidence intervals. Bivariate relationships were evaluated with Pearson's Chi-square test, and a multinomial logistic regression model was applied, considering p < 0.05. RESULTS: Prevalence of fish consumption in the 7 days prior to the interview was 28.6% (95%CI 26.9-30.3), significantly higher among male adolescents (p = 0.0049), Asian descendants (p = 0.0270), private and rural school students (p < 0.001), and who resided in the Northern region (p < 0.001). A positive association between fish consumption and healthy behavior (breakfast consumption: OR=1.16; 95%CI 1.10-1.22; meals with family members: lunch: OR = 1.07; 95%CI 1.01-1.13; dinner: OR = 1.13; 95%CI 1.04-1.23; physical activity: OR = 1.14; 95%CI 1.02-1.28) and an inverse association with hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.84; 95%CI 0.73-0.98) remained significant even after adjustment for possible confounding factors. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that fish consumption was associated with lower cardiovascular risk and may represent a marker of a healthy lifestyle in Brazilian adolescents.

Adolescents Emotional State and Behavioral and Dietary Habit Changes during Isolation Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was recognized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. As an infectious disease with no specific treatment, several measures have been established to minimize the outbreak of this disease, including social isolation. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the behavior of adolescents during the isolation period. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted at the Adolescent Health Studies Center. Data were obtained from a questionnaire prepared on Google Forms, sent by a multiplatform instant messaging application, and analyzed using the Stata 14 software. RESULTS: A total of 208 adolescents with a mean age of 15.3 years (SD ± 1.8) answered the questionnaire, 57.7% were female. About 93.3% of adolescents said they were in isolation with a changed routine, 67.3% increased their food consumption, 86.5% were inactive, and 58.7% reported screen time over 8 h/d. There was an association between anxiety and increased food consumption (odds ratio: 3.9; CI 95% 2-7.5; p = 0.00), sleeping difficulty (odds ratio: 3.6; CI 95% 1.9-6.8; p = 0.00), and conflicting family relationship (odds ratio: 5.7; CI 95% 1.6-7.8; p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The study revealed that social isolation due to an infectious disease was associated with several effects on the behavior and eating behavior of adolescents, which need to be acknowledged to encourage them to lead a healthy lifestyle after the COVID-19 confinement.

ERICA: prevalence of fish consumption and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and healthy behavior in Brazilian adolescents

Abstract Objective: To describe the prevalence of fish consumption and its association with cardiovascular risk factors and healthy behavior in Brazilian adolescents. Method: The authors investigated data from 71,533 participants of the Study of Cardiovascular Risk in Adolescents (Estudo de Riscos Cardiovasculares em Adolescentes - ERICA), a nationwide, cross-sectional, school-based study. Of these, 37,815 adolescents were included for blood analyses. All prevalence estimates were presented proportionally with their 95% confidence intervals. Bivariate relationships were evaluated with Pearson's Chi-square test, and a multinomial logistic regression model was applied, considering p < 0.05. Results: Prevalence of fish consumption in the 7 days prior to the interview was 28.6% (95%CI 26.9-30.3), significantly higher among male adolescents (p = 0.0049), Asian descendants (p = 0.0270), private and rural school students (p < 0.001), and who resided in the Northern region (p < 0.001). A positive association between fish consumption and healthy behavior (breakfast consumption: OR=1.16; 95%CI 1.10-1.22; meals with family members: lunch: OR=1.07; 95%CI 1.01-1.13; dinner: OR=1.13; 95%CI 1.04-1.23; physical activity: OR=1.14; 95%CI 1.02-1.28) and an inverse association with hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.84; 95%CI 0.73-0.98) remained significant even after adjustment for possible confounding factors. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that fish consumption was associated with lower cardiovascular risk and may represent a marker of a healthy lifestyle in Brazilian adolescents.