Iodine Intake and its Interindividual Variability in Brazilian Pregnant Women: EMDI Brazil Study.

Data on pregnant women's iodine intake are limited in Brazil. The aim of the study was to evaluate the contribution of foods, food groups, and food subgroups to the Brazilian pregnant women's iodine intake, and identify which food items explain the interindividual variability of their intake. A cross-sectional study with food consumption data of 2247 pregnant women from 24-h recalls was developed. Food items were classified according to the FAO/WHO GIFT classification, and their contribution to iodine intake and interindividual variability was assessed by the proportion of means method and linear regression, respectively. The mean usual iodine intake was 163.1 mcg (95% CI: 162.9-163.2). The food groups "spices and condiments," "cereals and their products," and "milk and milk products"; and the food subgroups "herbs and spices," "wheat and wheat-based products," "milk: fresh and processed," "dough-based sweets," and "eggs: fresh and processed" contributed to at least 80% of the iodine intake. Of these, only the food subgroups "milk," "dough-based sweets," and "eggs" did not explain the higher proportion (> 80%) of the interindividual variability. The contribution of "salt," "white French bread," "fluid whole milk," and "rice" to the iodine intake and its interindividual variability is highlighted. This study confirms the importance of "salt" as a dietary source of iodine and that few food groups and subgroups explained the difference in the iodine intake among pregnant women. Despite that, Brazilian staple foods, such as "rice," "beans," "eggs," "milk," and "bread" were identified as important for iodine intake and could be included in nutritional guidelines targeted to Brazilian pregnant women.

Sex-Dependent Effects of the Intake of NOVA Classified Ultra-Processed Foods on Syndrome Metabolic Components in Brazilian Adults.

Longitudinal studies evaluating the relationship between UPF consumption and the incidence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and its components are still scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of UPF consumption on the incidence of MetS and its components in adults. A prospective study was conducted with 896 participants from the 1978/79 Ribeirão Preto cohort, São Paulo, Brazil. UPF consumption was evaluated in %kcal and %g at ages 23-25 years. Incidence of MetS and its components were estimated at ages 37-39 years, according to the Joint Interim Statement criteria. Poisson regression was used to assess associations, and interactions with sex were investigated. UPF consumption had no association with MetS (%kcal Adjusted PR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.99-1.01; %g Adjusted PR: 1.00; 95% CI: 0.99-1.01). However, women with higher UPF consumption, in %kcal and %g, had a higher risk of abdominal obesity (%kcal: p = 0.030; %g: p = 0.003); and women with higher UPF consumption, in %g, had a higher risk of low HDL-cholesterol (p = 0.041). For the other components of MetS, no significant associations were observed in either sex. These findings suggest evidence of no association between UPF consumption and MetS; however, consumption of UPF was associated with increased WC and low HDL-c, but only in women.

Association of exclusive breastfeeding duration with consumption of ultra-processed foods, fruit and vegetables in Brazilian children.

BACKGROUND: There has been little evidence of the influence of breastfeeding on childhood eating habits. AIM: To evaluate the association between duration of exclusive breastfeeding (EB) and consumption of ultra-processed foods, fruits and vegetables by Brazilian children. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study nested in a cohort of 403 children age 4-7 years. Food consumption was evaluated by three food records and the foods were grouped by the amount of processing involved (minimal, including fruit and vegetables to ultra-processed foods). Adjusted linear and multinomial regression models were proposed to evaluate the association of EB with children's food intake. Median duration of EB was 4.0 (2.0-6.0) months and the prevalence of EB of 4 months or more was 60.9%. RESULTS: Mean energy consumption was 1536 kcal/day, 38% of energy was from ultra-processed foods. Mean intake of fruit and vegetables was 130 g/day. For each 1-month increase in duration of EB there was a 0.7% decrease in energy from ultra-processed foods (ß: - 0.7; 95% CI: - 1.3 to 0.1; p = 0.038). EB of less than 4 months was associated with the child being in the lowest tercile for consumption of fruit and vegetables (Adjusted OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.1-3.0; p = 0.030) and the highest for consumption of ultra-processed foods (adjusted OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1-2.9; p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: In addition to other benefits of EB, we emphasize its importance for the formation of healthy eating habits, contributing to a higher consumption of fruit and vegetables and lower consumption of ultra-processed foods in childhood.

Metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and other cardiovascular risk factors in university students.

A cross-sectional population-based study using questionnaire and anthropometric data was conducted on 968 university students of São Luís, Brazil, from which 590 showed up for blood collection. In the statistical analysis the Student t-test, Mann-Whitney and chi-square tests were used. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome by the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria was 20.5%, almost three times more prevalent in men (32.2%) than in women (13.5%) (P < 0.001). The prevalence of insulin resistance was 7.3% and the prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol was high (61.2%), both with no statistically significant differences by sex. Men showed a higher percentage of smoking, overweight, high blood pressure, high blood glucose and increased fasting hypertriglyceridemia. Women were more sedentary. University students of private institutions had higher prevalences of sedentary lifestyle, obesity, abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides and metabolic syndrome than students from public institutions. High prevalences of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and other cardiovascular risk factors were found in this young population. This suggests that the burden of these diseases in the future will be increased.

The association between cardiovascular risk factors and anthropometric obesity indicators in university students in São Luís in the State of Maranhão, Brazil.

The article aims to evaluate the relation between cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and anthropometric indicators in a sample of university students from São Luís-MA, Brazil. It is a cross-sectional study conducted with 968 university students, with median age of 22. Glycemia, triglycerides, HDL-c, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, metabolic syndrome (Joint Interim Statement criteria) and insulin resistance (IR), were associated and correlated with anthropometric indicators such as BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR. Associations were found between TGL, SH, SM and higher values of all anthropometric variables. The RI was associated with higher BMI values and WHtR in men and women. The low HDL-c was associated with higher values of all anthropometric variables in women. Consumption of alcohol was associated with higher values of BMI and WC in women and WHR in men and WHtR. Smoking was associated with higher values of WHtR in both sexes. Physical inactivity was associated with higher values of WHR in men only. The highest correlations were established for women between TGL and BMI CC, WHR and WHtR. The indicators most associated with CVRF were BMI, WC and WHtR in females and WHR and WHtR in men.