Consumption of ultra-processed food and its association with obesity in Chilean university students: A multi-center studyUltra-processed food and obesity in Chilean university students.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the associations between the consumption of three categories of ultra-processed food (sugary beverages, sweet, and salty snacks) and body mass index (BMI) among Chilean university students. METHODS: We conducted a multi-center, descriptive study among 2,039 students from 6 Chilean universities. Food consumption was surveyed using a validate food survey. That height and body weight were objectively measured to calculate BMI for determining weight status, and also, tobacco use and physical activity were measured. RESULTS: An intake equal to or higher than 1 serving of sugary beverage a day was associated with greater odds of obesity in university students (OR:1.32 [95% CI: 1.00, 1.74]), 2 servings/day (OR: 1.30 [95% CI: 1.04, 1.50]), and 3 servings/day (OR: 1.39 [95% CI: 1.05, 1.80]). Neither consumption of sweet nor salty snacks (≥1 servings/day) related to differential odds of obesity: (OR: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.42, 1.64]) and (OR: 1.79 [95% CI: 0.93, 3.41]), respectively. CONCLUSION: In a sample of Chilean university students, consumption of sugary beverages, and not consumption of sweet or salty snacks, was associated with obesity.

Tobacco consumption in Chilean university students and associations with anthropometry, eating habits and sleep quality multicentric study.

Tobacco Consumption (TC) is one of the main causes of the deterioration of health; however, there are few studies linking its consumption with diet and nutrition among university students. The objective of this study is to test the association of smoking with anthropometry, diet and sleep quality among Chilean university students. Cross-sectional study. University students (n = 1454) from the North, South and Central parts of Chile were evaluated. A self-assessment survey was used to evaluate healthy and unhealthy eating habits. Nutritional status was evaluated by Body Mass Index (BMI). Two surveys were used to assess sleep quality: the Questionnaire of Insomnia and the Epworth Scale. Finally, participants were consulted about Tobacco Consumption: 30% of the students consume tobacco and have a higher score in unhealthy food consumption, less frequent weekly breakfast consumption (< 0.01), lower daily fruit (< 0.01) and vegetables (< 0.05) consumption, higher alcohol consumption (< 0.05) and daily junk food consumption (< 0.05) compared to non-consuming students. Men who consume tobacco present greater insomnia (< 0.001), sleep latency (< 0.001) and daytime sleepiness (< 0.05) compared to non-consumers; and women who consume tobacco have a higher weight (< 0.001) and BMI (< 0.01). When performing logistic regression, tobacco consumption is positively associated with major alcohol consumption (< 0.001), whereas fish (< 0.05) and vegetable (< 0.05) consumption was negatively associated. In conclusion, students of both sexes who smoke have more unfavorable health factors and a poorer quality of life.

Consumo de frutas, verduras y legumbres en universitarios chilenos / Consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes among Chilean university students

RESUMEN Recomendaciones internacionales indican que se deben consumir diariamente 400 g/día o su equivalente a 5 porciones de frutas, verduras o legumbres. Nuestro objetivo fue determinar la frecuencia de consumo de frutas, verduras y legumbres en estudiantes universitarios chilenos. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio transversal. Fueron evaluados estudiantes universitarios (n= 1454) del norte, centro y sur de Chile. Ellos completaron una encuesta alimentaria que se utiliza para determinar hábitos alimentarios saludables (frutas, verduras y legumbres). El 78% era de sexo femenino. Al analizar la frecuencia de consumo de frutas, verduras y legumbres según universidad, sólo frutas y verduras mostraron de diferencia estadísticamente significativa (p< 0,01). El 70% de los estudiantes no cumple con la recomendación de consumo de frutas; 72% con la de verduras y 77% con la de legumbres. En mujeres, un 6,3% del total de la muestra cumple con la recomendación de frutas y en hombres el valor alcanza al 8,4%; en verduras se observa que la recomendación alcanza al 29,5% en mujeres y 21,3% en hombres, y en legumbres, es 2,4% en mujeres y 5% en hombres. Se observa un bajo consumo de frutas, verduras y legumbres en universitarios muy lejos de las recomendaciones internaciones.

ABSTRACT International recommendations indicate that 400 g/ day or its equivalent to 5 servings of fruits, vegetables or legumes should be consumed daily. Our aim was to determine patterns of consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes among Chilean university students. Materials and Methods: Cross-sectional study. University students (n= 1454) from the north, center and south of Chile were evaluated. A self-assessment survey was used to evaluate healthy eating habits (fruits, vegetables and legumes). Seventy-eight percent of participants were women. When analyzing the consumption frequency of fruits, vegetables and legumes according to different universities, only fruits and vegetables showed a statistically significant difference (p< 0.01). Seventy percent of students do not meet recommended amounts for fruit consumption; 72% for vegetables and 77% for legumes. Among women, 6.3% of the total sample met the recommendation for fruit, while, for men, the value was 8.4%; for vegetables, we observed that 29.5 and 21.3% of women and men, respectively, met the recommendation; for legumes, 2.4% of women and 5% of men met the recommendation. There was a low consumption of fruits, vegetables and legumes among university students, with levels far from the international recommendations.

Caracterización del estado nutricional, hábitos alimentarios y estilos de vida de estudiantes universitarios chilenos: estudio multicéntrico / Lifestyles, body mass index and sleep patterns among university students

Background Health surveys in Chile show a worrisome high prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles among adults. Aim To characterize the nutritional status, food intake and sleep patterns in university students of both genders. Material and Methods Cross sectional study in seven Chilean universities. Students from six universities answered a feeding habits survey, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Insomnia Severity Index and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. All were weighed and their height was measured. Results A total of 1,418 students aged 21 ± 3 years (22% males) were evaluated. Three percent were classified as underweight, 68% as normal weight, 24% as overweight and 4% as obese. Thirty three percent of males and 28% of females smoked. Twenty six percent consumed at least one glass of alcoholic beverages on the weekend, and only 18% of males and 5% of females were physically active. Men consumed unhealthy foods with a significantly higher frequency than females. Twenty seven percent had mild daytime somnolence, 24% had moderate daytime somnolence, 50% had subclinical insomnia, 19% moderate insomnia, and 1.4% had severe insomnia. Conclusions In this group of students a high frequency of unhealthy lifestyles and malnutrition caused by excess was observed. Also a high prevalence of insomnia, daytime somnolence, and inadequate sleep amounts were recorded.

Consumo de edulcorantes no nutritivos y estado nutricional de escolares de 10-16 años / Consumption of non-nutritive sweeteners and nutritional status in 10-16 year old students

Introducción. El impacto de los edulcorantes no nutritivos (ENN) sobre la ingesta energética y el peso corporal es poco claro, a pesar del nulo aporte energético que brindan en comparación con la sacarosa. Objetivo. Determinar si existen diferencias en el consumo de ENN según el estado nutricional y su asociación con el sobrepeso. Población, material y métodos. Estudio de corte transversal, que incluyó a 571 escolares de 10-16 años, de ambos sexos, de las ciudades de Viña del Mar y Santiago de Chile, a quienes se les aplicó una encuesta alimentaria adaptada con fotografías de productos con ENN, se les evaluó el estado nutricional y se denominó grupo (SP) a los escolares con sobrepeso y obesidad. Resultados. El 96,6% de los estudiantes consume ENN diariamente. Al comparar la ingesta de ENN total y según el estado nutricional de los hombres, se evidenció un mayor consumo de sucralosa (p < 0,05) y sacarina (p < 0,01) en el grupo SP, y, al comparar la ingesta por kilo de peso, el consumo de sacarina fue mayor en el grupo SP (p < 0,05). En las mujeres, el grupo normopeso presentó un consumo por kilo de peso de acesulfamo k mayor que el grupo SP (p < 0,05). No hubo asociación entre la ingesta de ENN en general y la obesidad en la muestra estudiada. Conclusión. El 96,6% de los estudiantes consume ENN diariamente y no se encontró asociación entre el consumo de ENN y el sobrepeso.

Introduction. The impact of non-nutritive sweeteners (NNS) on energy intake and body weight is not clear although they provide no energy compared to sucrose. Objective. To establish if there are differences in the consumption of NNS as per the nutritional status and its association with overweight. Population, Material and Methods. Cross-sectional study including 571 male and female students aged 10-16 years old from the cities of Viña del Mar and Santiago de Chile who were administered an adapted food survey using pictures of NNS-containing products; nutritional status was assessed and students with overweight and obesity were categorized as a the overweight group. Results. Of all surveyed students, 96.6% consume NNS on a daily basis. The comparison between the total NNS intake by nutritional status showed that male students in the overweight group consume more sucralose (p < 0.05) and saccharin (p < 0.01), while the comparison of NNS intake per kilogram of body weight showed that NNS consumption was higher in the overweight group (p < 0.05). Among female students, the normal weight group showed a higher consumption of acesulfame K per kilogram of body weight than the overweight group (p < 0.05). No association was observed in the studied sample between the overall NNS intake and obesity. Conclusion. Of all surveyed students, 96.6% consume NNS on a daily basis, and no association was found between NNS consumption and overweight.

Essential role of intracellular glutathione in controlling ascorbic acid transporter expression and function in rat hepatocytes and hepatoma cells.

Although there is in vivo evidence suggesting a role for glutathione in the metabolism and tissue distribution of vitamin C, no connection with the vitamin C transport systems has been reported. We show here that disruption of glutathione metabolism with buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) produced a sustained blockade of ascorbic acid transport in rat hepatocytes and rat hepatoma cells. Rat hepatocytes expressed the Na(+)-coupled ascorbic acid transporter-1 (SVCT1), while hepatoma cells expressed the transporters SVCT1 and SVCT2. BSO-treated rat hepatoma cells showed a two order of magnitude decrease in SVCT1 and SVCT2 mRNA levels, undetectable SVCT1 and SVCT2 protein expression, and lacked the capacity to transport ascorbic acid, effects that were fully reversible on glutathione repletion. Interestingly, although SVCT1 mRNA levels remained unchanged in rat hepatocytes made glutathione deficient by in vivo BSO treatment, SVCT1 protein was absent from the plasma membrane and the cells lacked the capacity to transport ascorbic acid. The specificity of the BSO treatment was indicated by the finding that transport of oxidized vitamin C (dehydroascorbic acid) and glucose transporter expression were unaffected by BSO treatment. Moreover, glutathione depletion failed to affect ascorbic acid transport, and SVCT1 and SVCT2 expression in human hepatoma cells. Therefore, our data indicate an essential role for glutathione in controlling vitamin C metabolism in rat hepatocytes and rat hepatoma cells, two cell types capable of synthesizing ascorbic acid, by regulating the expression and subcellular localization of the transporters involved in the acquisition of ascorbic acid from extracellular sources, an effect not observed in human cells incapable of synthesizing ascorbic acid.