Effect of intake of iron-fortified milk on levels of ferritin and hemoglobin in preschoolers: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Food fortification is often the simplest way to increase iron intake on a broad and sustainable basis. It is one of the most cost-effective global development efforts. OBJECTIVE: To systematize data from randomized and nonrandomized controlled trials investigating the effect of consumption of iron-fortified milk (IFM) on serum iron status in preschoolers. METHODS: The trials were systematically searched in five electronic databases that evaluated the effect of iron-fortified milk (IFM) consumption on hemoglobin and ferritin in children aged 1-6 years. The randomized the meta-analysis model was used to calculate total and stratified effects. RESULTS: Seven trials representing 1210 preschoolers showed a significant effect of IFM on hemoglobin [difference in means (MD) 0.33 g/dL (95% CI 0.23, 0.44; I2 = 3.85%, p (Q statistic) < 0.01)] and ferritin concentrations [effect size (SMD) 0.57 (95% CI 0.19, 0.95; I2 = 84.63%, p (Q statistic) < 0.01)]. In stratified analyses, hemoglobin showed an increase when subjects received iron with other co-interventions [MD 0.35 g/dL (95% CI 0.22, 0.48; I2 = 11.01%; p (Q statistic) = 0.36)]; and when the iron dose was above 5 mg/day [MD 0.34 g/dL (95% CI 0.23, 0.45; I2 = 2.33%; p (Q statistic) = 0.37)] and the intervention time was over 6 months [MD 0.39 g/dL (95% CI 0.18, 0.60; I2 = 37.90%; p (Q statistic) = 0.20)]. For ferritin, stratified analyses showed a larger effect size when they used dose higher than 5 mg/day [SMD 0.60 (95% CI 0.02, 1.18; I2 = 91.06, p (Q statistic) < 0.01)] and intervention was conducted longer than 6 months [SMD 0.96 (95% CI - 0.16, 1.76; I2 = 93.38%, p (Q statistic) < 0.01)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that although milk iron fortification modestly increases serum hemoglobin levels or the effect size of serum ferritin of participants, it cannot be considered in the coadjuvant treatment for anemia. Register: CRD42020213604.

Prevalence of vitamin B complex deficiencies in women in reproductive age, pregnant, or lactating woman in Brazil: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin B deficiencies are involved with several outcomes in fertility and pregnancy. In Brazil, the national prevalence rates of these micronutrient deficiencies in women of reproductive age were not known. This study aims to systematically identify, select, evaluate, analyze, and report the prevalence rates of vitamin B complex deficiencies in women of reproductive age in Brazil and identify variables that may modify the outcome rates. METHODS: A systematic review will be conducted guided by the following question: "What is the prevalence of vitamin B deficiencies in women of reproductive age in Brazil?". The studies will be identified and selected from a literature search using electronic databases, consultation with researchers/specialists, and reference lists of eligible studies and reviews on the topic. Major eligibility criteria include observational cross-sectional and cohort studies carried out in Brazil and performed in women 10-49 years old, or pregnant and lactating mothers, and investigated the deficiency of vitamin B complex by laboratory test. Two reviewers independently will perform the screening and selection of the studies, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment. For the data report, a narrative approach will be used to present the characteristics of the included studies and individual findings. A random meta-analysis model will be implemented to summarize the individual prevalence rates in a global value if the studies are sufficiently homogeneous. DISCUSSION: This study aims to identify the national and regional prevalence rates of vitamin B complex deficiencies in women of reproductive age; allow the policymakers discuss, plan, and implement public policies to screen; and prevent and/or treat these malnutrition conditions. This also aims to know the rates of nutritional deficiencies over the years, serving as an indirect indicator of the socioeconomic and dietary patterns of the population. Specifically for folate, this study allows to compare the prevalence rates of deficiency of this vitamin before and after the mandatory fortification of wheat and corn flours implemented since 2004 in Brazil, in this specific population. The evidence gathered may highlight the need for population-based studies to investigate the deficiency of these vitamins. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42020188474.

Caffeine and cerebral palsy: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies.

OBJECTIVE: To systematically review the effects of caffeine on the development of cerebral palsy (CP). DESIGN: Systematic review. SETTING: A search of five databases was performed to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) or cohort studies published through May 2022. Studies conducted on newborns at risk of developing CP upon receiving caffeine in the first days of life were included as well. Two independent researchers assessed the screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of children with CP. RESULTS: Four studies met our inclusion criteria. The only RCT found a decreased risk (approximately 40 %) of developing CP with 20 mg/kg caffeine citrate (OR 0.59, 95 % CI 0.39, 0.89). In addition, when comparing the period over which caffeine citrate was administered, one retrospective cohort study reported that infants who received caffeine up to the second day of life were also less likely to develop CP. Some methodological issues should be highlighted: in the RCT, the differences between the groups with respect to loss to follow-up were not explored. Similarly, intention-to-treat analyses were not performed. Most cohort studies have not adequately identified the primary confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Caffeine could be an important intervention in preventing CP. However, few studies have assessed the effects of caffeine on the risk of CP development. Due to methodological differences, no recommendation regarding its use can be safely made. The findings suggest a positive effect of caffeine citrate in the early stages of life with approximately 20 mg/kg of weight; however, well-designed RCTs with adequate sample size and power, randomization process, outcome measurement, and data analysis are still required.

Fish oil decreases the severity of treatment-related adverse events in gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: A randomized, placebo-controlled, triple-blind clinical trial.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Due to its high peroxidizable characteristics, n-3 fatty acids, present in fish oil, could increase tumor cells sensitivity to conventional cancer treatment while non-neoplastic cells remain unaffected, this may lead to an increase in cancer treatment response with no increase on adverse effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate anti-cancer treatment response, performance status and adverse events in gastrointestinal cancer patients supplemented with fish oil. Oxidative stress parameters were investigated in blood non-neoplastic cells as an indicator of cytotoxicity. METHODS: This is a randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Fish oil group (FOG) received two capsules of fish oil containing 1.55 g of EPA + DHA a day for nine weeks, placebo group (PG) received two capsules containing olive oil. Baseline was set right before the administration of the first chemotherapy, oxidative stress parameters, adverse events presence and grading and performance status were assessed at baseline and after nine weeks of supplementation. Tumor markers, response to treatment and survival were evaluated at baseline and after one year of study inclusion. RESULTS: 76 patients were considered eligible, 56 were randomized, and 51 remained for analysis. After nine weeks, although there were no differences between groups for treatment response and presence of adverse events, PG patients were graded with more severe diarrhea than FOG patients (p = 0.03) and with higher (worse) performance status score (p = 0.02). No differences in lipid peroxidation and activity of antioxidant enzymes were observed between groups. CONCLUSIONS: Fish oil may lead to a better performance status for gastrointestinal cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy while does not seem to increase treatment-related toxicity. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT02699047, www.clinicaltrials.gov.

Evidences of the association between individual attributes and bullying: a cross-sectional study with adolescents from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil.

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of bullying and to verify the association between nutritional status, demographic and socioeconomic factors, and individual attributes among schoolchildren aged from 11 to 14 years. This is cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample of 975 adolescents attending public and private schools in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Bullying was investigated with a self-administered questionnaire by applying Item Response Theory and dichotomized according to victimization or not. Body mass index (BMI) was classified according to the World Health Organization criteria. Data such as age, school type and location, household income, as well as the education background of the parents were collected by a questionnaire given to the parents. Crude and adjusted analyses were performed using logistic regression. The prevalence of victims of bullying and of overweight/obese adolescents was 13.2% and 29%, respectively. No association was found between bullying and age, sex, school type, mother's education, household income, and overweight/obesity. The crude analysis model indicated that overweight/obese adolescents and those with individual attributes (fat, thin, tall, short, good-looking, ugly, from a different ethnic background, rich, poor, with a disability and/or other) had a greater chance of being bullied. In the analysis model adjusted by household income and stratified by sex, boys were discriminated for being fat, good-looking, ugly, or for having a disability, while girls were discriminated for being fat, tall, short, ugly, rich, poor, among other individual attributes.

Evidences of the association between individual attributes and bullying: a cross-sectional study with adolescents from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil / Evidências da associação entre atributos individuais e bullying: um estudo transversal em adolescentes de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil / Evidencias de asociación entre atributos individuales y bullying: un estudio transversal con adolescentes de Florianópolis, Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of bullying and to verify the association between nutritional status, demographic and socioeconomic factors, and individual attributes among schoolchildren aged from 11 to 14 years. This is cross-sectional study with a probabilistic sample of 975 adolescents attending public and private schools in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Bullying was investigated with a self-administered questionnaire by applying Item Response Theory and dichotomized according to victimization or not. Body mass index (BMI) was classified according to the World Health Organization criteria. Data such as age, school type and location, household income, as well as the education background of the parents were collected by a questionnaire given to the parents. Crude and adjusted analyses were performed using logistic regression. The prevalence of victims of bullying and of overweight/obese adolescents was 13.2% and 29%, respectively. No association was found between bullying and age, sex, school type, mother's education, household income, and overweight/obesity. The crude analysis model indicated that overweight/obese adolescents and those with individual attributes (fat, thin, tall, short, good-looking, ugly, from a different ethnic background, rich, poor, with a disability and/or other) had a greater chance of being bullied. In the analysis model adjusted by household income and stratified by sex, boys were discriminated for being fat, good-looking, ugly, or for having a disability, while girls were discriminated for being fat, tall, short, ugly, rich, poor, among other individual attributes.

O estudo teve como objetivos estimar a prevalência de bullying e verificar a associação entre estado nutricional, fatores demográficos e socioeconômicos e atributos individuais em escolares entre 11 e 14 anos de idade. O estudo transversal usou uma amostra probabilística de 975 adolescentes matriculados em escolas públicas e privadas em Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil. O bullying foi investigado com um questionário auto-administrado, aplicando a Teoria da Resposta ao Item, e dicotomizado de acordo com a presença ou ausência de vitimização. O índice de massa corporal (IMC) foi classificado de acordo com os critérios da Organização Mundial da Saúde. Dados como idade, tipo e localização da escola, renda familiar e escolaridade dos pais foram coletados com um questionário entregue aos pais ou responsáveis. A regressão logística foi usada para as análises brutas e ajustadas. As taxas de prevalência de vitimização pelo bullying e de sobrepeso/obesidade foram 13,2% e 29%, respectivamente. Não houve associação entre bullying e idade, gênero, tipo de escola, escolaridade materna, renda familiar ou sobrepeso/obesidade. A análise não-ajustada indicou que os adolescentes com sobrepeso/obesidade e aqueles com determinados atributos individuais (gordo, magro, alto, baixo, bonito, feio, pertencente a outro grupo étnico, rico, pobre, portador de deficiência e/ou outros) tinham maior probabilidade de sofrerem bullying. Na análise ajustada para renda familiar e estratificada por gênero, os meninos eram discriminados por serem gordos, bonitos, feios, ou por serem portadores de deficiência, enquanto as meninas eram discriminadas por serem gordas, altas, baixas, feias, ricas ou pobres, entre outros atributos individuais.

El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar la prevalencia de bullying y verificar la asociación entre estatus nutricional, factores demográficos y socioeconómicos, así como atributos individuales, entre escolares con edades comprendidas entre los 11 a los 14 años. Este estudio transversal con una muestra probabilística de 975 adolescentes inscritos en escuelas públicas y privadas en Florianópolis, Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. El bullying se investigó mediante un cuestionario autoadministrado, a través de la aplicación de la teoría respuesta al ítem y con dicotomización, según la existencia de victimización o no. El índice de masa corporal (IMC) se clasificó según criterios de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se recogieron datos como: edad, tipo de escuela y ubicación, ingresos por hogar, así como formación educativa de los padres mediante un cuestionario entregado a los padres. Se realizaron análisis crudos y ajustados usando regresión logística. La prevalencia de víctimas de bullying y los adolescentes con sobrepeso/obesos fue de un 13,2% y un 29%, respectivamente. No se encontró asociación entre el bullying y la edad, sexo, tipo de escuela, educación de la madre, ingresos por hogar, y sobrepeso/obesidad. El modelo de análisis crudo de adolescentes con sobrepeso/obesos y aquellos con atributos individuales (gordo, flaco, alto, bajo, guapo, feo, procedente de un grupo étnico diferente, rico, pobre, con una discapacidad y/u otros) tenían mayores probabilidades de sufrir bullying. En el análisis del modelo ajustado por ingresos por hogar, y estratificado por sexo, los chicos fueron discriminados por ser gordos, guapos, feos, o por sufrir una discapacidad, mientras que las chicas lo fueron por ser gordas, altas, bajas, feas, ricas, pobres entre otros atributos individuales.

Fish oil supplementation during chemotherapy increases posterior time to tumor progression in colorectal cancer.

The authors evaluated clinical outcomes during and after chemotherapy in colorectal cancer patients supplemented with fish oil during the first 9 wk of treatment. Thirty individuals never submitted to chemotherapy were randomized into supplemented group (SG), which received 2 g/day of fish oil (0.6 g/day of EPA and DHA) for 9 wk or control group (CG), which received neither fish oil nor placebo. Outcomes assessed were number of chemotherapy cycles administered; days undergoing chemotherapy; number of delays and interruptions in the administration of chemotherapy; number of hospitalizations during chemotherapy; tumor progression; values of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA); days until events (death and progression); and 3 yr survival. Time to tumor progression was significantly longer in SG [S593 days (±211.5)] vs. CG [330 days (± 135.1); P = 0.04], other outcomes did not differ between groups. Subjects with advanced cancer who received fish oil presented longer time to tumor progression and lower CEA values after chemotherapy; however these differences were not statistically significant. Supplementation with 2 g/day of fish oil for the first 9 wk of chemotherapy may contribute to delay in tumor progression in colorectal patients, possibly by enhancing the antineoplastic action of the chemotherapeutic drug.

Fish oil decreases C-reactive protein/albumin ratio improving nutritional prognosis and plasma fatty acid profile in colorectal cancer patients.

Previous studies have shown that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids n-3 (n-3 PUFA) have several anticancer effects, especially attributed to their ability to modulate a variety of genomic and immune responses. In this context, this randomized, prospective, controlled clinical trial was conducted in order to check whether supplementation of 2 g/day of fish oil for 9 weeks alters the production of inflammatory markers, the plasma fatty acid profile and the nutritional status in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Eleven adults with CRC in chemotherapy were randomized into two groups: (a) supplemented (SG) daily with 2 g/day of encapsulated fish oil [providing 600 mg/day of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)] for 9 weeks (n = 6), and (b) control (CG) (n = 5). All outcomes were evaluated on the day before the first chemotherapy session and 9 weeks later. Plasma TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-10 and IL-17A, the pro/anti-inflammatory balance (ratio TNF-α/IL-10 and IL-1ß/IL10) and serum albumin, showed no significant changes between times and study groups (p > 0.05). C-reactive protein (CRP) and the CRP/albumin ratio showed opposite behavior in groups, significantly reducing their values in SG (p < 0.05). Plasma proportions of EPA and DHA increased 1.8 and 1.4 times, respectively, while the ARA reduced approximately 0.6 times with the supplementation (9 weeks vs baseline, p < 0.05). Patients from SG gained 1.2 kg (median) while the CG lost -0.5 kg (median) during the 9 weeks of chemotherapy (p = 0.72). These results demonstrate that 2 g/day of fish oil for 9 weeks of chemotherapy improves CRP values, CRP/albumin status, plasma fatty acid profile and potentially prevents weight loss during treatment.