Prevalence and predictors of vitamin D insufficiency in Brazilian children under 5 years of age: Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019).

To analyse the association of socio-demographic and health factors with vitamin D insufficiency and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentration in Brazilian children aged 6-59 months. Data from 8145 children from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) were analysed. The serum concentration of 25(OHD)D was measured using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D < 50 nmol/l) and 95 % CI was calculated. Logistic and linear regression models were used to identify the variables associated with vitamin D insufficiency and serum 25(OH)D concentrations, respectively. The mean 25(OH)D concentration was 98·6 ± 36·0 nmol/l, and 4·3 % of the children presented vitamin D insufficiency. Children aged 6-23 months (OR = 2·23; 95 % CI 1·52, 3·26); belonging to Southeast (OR = 5·55; 95 % CI 2·34, 13·17) and South (OR = 4·57; 95 % CI 1·77, 11·84) regions; the second tertile of the National Wealth Score (OR = 2·14; 95 % CI 1·16, 3·91) and winter (OR = 5·82; 95 % CI 2·67, 12·71) and spring (OR = 4·84; 95 % CI 2·17, 10·80) seasons of blood collection were associated with a higher chance of vitamin D insufficiency. Female sex (ß = -5·66, 95 % CI - 7·81, -3·51), urban location (ß = -14·19, 95 % CI -21·0, -7·22) and no vitamin D supplement use (ß = -6·01, 95 % CI -9·64, -2·39) were inversely associated with serum 25(OH)D concentration. The age of children and the Brazilian geographical region of household location were the main predictors of vitamin D insufficiency. In Brazil, vitamin D insufficiency among children aged 6-59 months is low and is not a relevant public health problem.

Minimum dietary diversity and consumption of ultra-processed foods among Brazilian children 6-23 months of age.

The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and consumption of ultra-processed foods in children 6-23 months of age according to sociodemographic variables. Three indicators of complementary feeding of 4,354 children from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) were built based on a questionnaire about food consumption on the day before the interview: MDD, consumption of ultra-processed foods, and MDD without the consumption of ultra-processed foods. The prevalence and 95%CI were calculated, stratified by macroregion; race/skin color, education and work status of the mother or caregiver; enrollment in the Brazilian Income Transfer Program; household food security; sanitation; and child enrollment in daycare/school. The overall prevalence of MDD was 63.4%, with lower prevalences among children who lived in the North Region (54.8%), whose mothers or caregivers had 0-7 years of education (50.6%), and lived under moderate or severe food insecurity (52.6%). Ultra-processed foods were consumed by 80.5% of the children, with the highest prevalence in the North Region (84.5%). The prevalence of MDD without ultra-processed foods was 8.4% and less prevalent among children with black mothers or caregivers (3.6%) and among those whose mother or caregiver had 8-10 years of education (3.6%). The most frequently consumed food groups from the MDD indicator were grains, roots and tubers (90.2%), dairy products (81%) and those from ultra-processed food were sweet or salty cookies/crackers (51.3%) and instant flours (41.4%). The ubiquitous presence of ultra-processed foods in the diets of Brazilian children and the low frequency of diversified foods, especially among the most vulnerable populations, indicate the need to strengthen policies and programs to ensure adequate and healthy infant nutrition.

Cross-breastfeeding and milk donation in Brazil.

The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of cross-breastfeeding, human milk donation to human milk banks and reception of human milk from human milk banks, and to investigate the intersection between cross-breastfeeding and breast milk donation practices. This study used data from the national household-based survey Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019), which collected information from 14,558 children < 5 years old between February 2019 and March 2020. The present study included data from 5,831 biological mothers who reported having breastfed their child < 2 years old at least once and replied questions about cross-breastfeeding, donation and recaption of human milk to human milk banks. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated for each stratifier, considering the study complex sample design. Among mothers of children < 2 years old who breastfed their child at least once, 21.1% practiced cross-breastfeeding; breastfeeding another child was more frequent (15.6%) than allowing a child to be breastfed by another woman (11.2%). Among this population, 4.8% of women donated human milk to a human milk bank, and 3.6% reported that their children had received donated human milk. The donation of human milk is a practice recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and has the potential to save thousands of newborns throughout Brazil. In contrast, cross-breastfeeding is contraindicated due to the potential risk of transmitting HIV. There is a need for a broad debate on these practices in Brazil and worldwide.

Cross-breastfeeding and milk donation in Brazil / Amamentação cruzada e a doação de leite no Brasil / Lactancia materna cruzada y donación de leche en Brasil

Abstract: The objective of this study was to describe the frequency of cross-breastfeeding, human milk donation to human milk banks and reception of human milk from human milk banks, and to investigate the intersection between cross-breastfeeding and breast milk donation practices. This study used data from the national household-based survey Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019), which collected information from 14,558 children < 5 years old between February 2019 and March 2020. The present study included data from 5,831 biological mothers who reported having breastfed their child < 2 years old at least once and replied questions about cross-breastfeeding, donation and recaption of human milk to human milk banks. Prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated for each stratifier, considering the study complex sample design. Among mothers of children < 2 years old who breastfed their child at least once, 21.1% practiced cross-breastfeeding; breastfeeding another child was more frequent (15.6%) than allowing a child to be breastfed by another woman (11.2%). Among this population, 4.8% of women donated human milk to a human milk bank, and 3.6% reported that their children had received donated human milk. The donation of human milk is a practice recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health and has the potential to save thousands of newborns throughout Brazil. In contrast, cross-breastfeeding is contraindicated due to the potential risk of transmitting HIV. There is a need for a broad debate on these practices in Brazil and worldwide.

Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a frequência de amamentação cruzada, doação de leite humano para bancos de leite humano e recepção de leite humano dos bancos de leite humano, além de investigar a interseção entre práticas de amamentação cruzada e a doação de leite materno. Este estudo utilizou dados do Estudo Nacional de Alimentação e Nutrição Infantil (ENANI-2019), uma pesquisa populacional de base domiciliar que coletou informações de 14.558 crianças < 5 anos entre fevereiro de 2019 e março de 2020. Dados de 5.831 mães biológicas que relataram ter amamentado seu filho com menos de dois anos de idade pelo menos uma vez e que responderam às perguntas sobre amamentação cruzada, doação e recepção de leite humano nos bancos de leite humano foram inclusos. Foram estimados as prevalências e os intervalos de 95% de confiança (IC95%) para cada estratificador, considerando o desenho amostral complexo do estudo. Entre as mães de crianças com menos de dois anos que amamentaram o filho pelo menos uma vez, 21,1% praticaram a amamentação cruzada. Amamentar outra criança foi mais frequente (15,6%) do que permitir que a sua criança fosse amamentada por outra mulher (11,2%). Entre essas mulheres, 4,8% doaram leite humano para um bancos de leite humano e 3,6% relataram que seus filhos receberam leite humano doado. A doação de leite humano é uma prática recomendada pelo Ministério da Saúde e tem o potencial de salvar milhares de recém-nascidos em todo o Brasil. Em contraste, a amamentação cruzada é contraindicada devido ao risco potencial de transmissão do HIV. Há necessidade de um amplo debate sobre essas práticas no Brasil e no mundo.

Resumen: El objetivo de este estudio fue describir la frecuencia de lactancia materna cruzada, la donación de leche humana a los bancos de leche humana y la recepción de leche humana de los bancos de leche humana, además de investigar la intersección entre las prácticas de lactancia materna cruzada y la donación de leche materna. Este estudio utilizó datos del Estudio Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición Infantil (ENANI-2019), una encuesta nacional de hogares que recopiló información de 14.558 niños < 5 años, en el periodo entre febrero de 2019 y marzo de 2020. Se incluyeron datos de 5.831 madres biológicas que reportaron haber amamantado a su hijo < 2 años, al menos una vez, y que respondieron preguntas sobre lactancia cruzada, donación y recepción de leche humana en los bancos de leche humana. Se estimaron prevalencias y los intervalos de 95% de confianza (IC95%) para cada estrato, considerando el diseño muestral complejo del estudio. Entre las madres de niños < 2 años que amamantaron a su hijo al menos una vez, el 21,1% practicaba la lactancia cruzada. Amamantar a otro hijo fue más frecuente (15,6%) que dejar que su hijo sea amamantado por otra mujer (11,2%). Entre estas mujeres, el 4,8% donó leche humana a un bancos de leche humana y el 3,6% informó que sus hijos recibieron leche humana donada. La donación de leche humana es una práctica recomendada por el Ministerio de Salud brasileño y puede salvar muchos recién nacidos en todo Brasil. Por el contrario, la lactancia cruzada está contraindicada debido al potencial riesgo de transmisión del VIH. Es necesario un amplio debate sobre estas prácticas en Brasil y en el mundo.

Minimum dietary diversity and consumption of ultra-processed foods among Brazilian children 6-23 months of age / Diversidade alimentar mínima e o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados em crianças brasileiras de 6-23 meses / Diversidad alimentaria mínima y consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados en niños brasileños de 6-23 meses de edad

Abstract: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence of minimum dietary diversity (MDD) and consumption of ultra-processed foods in children 6-23 months of age according to sociodemographic variables. Three indicators of complementary feeding of 4,354 children from the Brazilian National Survey on Child Nutrition (ENANI-2019) were built based on a questionnaire about food consumption on the day before the interview: MDD, consumption of ultra-processed foods, and MDD without the consumption of ultra-processed foods. The prevalence and 95%CI were calculated, stratified by macroregion; race/skin color, education and work status of the mother or caregiver; enrollment in the Brazilian Income Transfer Program; household food security; sanitation; and child enrollment in daycare/school. The overall prevalence of MDD was 63.4%, with lower prevalences among children who lived in the North Region (54.8%), whose mothers or caregivers had 0-7 years of education (50.6%), and lived under moderate or severe food insecurity (52.6%). Ultra-processed foods were consumed by 80.5% of the children, with the highest prevalence in the North Region (84.5%). The prevalence of MDD without ultra-processed foods was 8.4% and less prevalent among children with black mothers or caregivers (3.6%) and among those whose mother or caregiver had 8-10 years of education (3.6%). The most frequently consumed food groups from the MDD indicator were grains, roots and tubers (90.2%), dairy products (81%) and those from ultra-processed food were sweet or salty cookies/crackers (51.3%) and instant flours (41.4%). The ubiquitous presence of ultra-processed foods in the diets of Brazilian children and the low frequency of diversified foods, especially among the most vulnerable populations, indicate the need to strengthen policies and programs to ensure adequate and healthy infant nutrition.

Resumo: O objetivo do estudo foi estimar a prevalência de diversidade alimentar mínima (DAM) e consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados em crianças de 6-23 meses de acordo com variáveis sociodemográficas. Três indicadores de alimentação complementar de 4.354 crianças do Estudo Nacional de Alimentação e Nutrição Infantil (ENANI-2019) foram construídos com base em um questionário sobre o consumo alimentar do dia anterior à entrevista: DAM, consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados e DAM sem consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados. Foram calculadas as prevalências e IC95%, estratificados por macrorregião; raça/cor da pele, escolaridade e situação profissional da mãe ou cuidador; inscrição no Programa Bolsa Família; segurança alimentar do domicílio; saneamento; e matrícula da criança em creche/escola. A prevalência geral de DAM foi de 63,4%, com menores prevalências entre crianças que residiam na Região Norte (54,8%), cujas maẽs ou cuidadores tinham de 0-7 anos de estudo (50,6%) e entre aquelas que viviam em situação de insegurança alimentar moderada ou grave (52,6%). Os alimentos ultraprocessados foram consumidos por 80,5% das crianças, com maior prevalência na Região Norte (84,5%). A prevalência de DAM sem alimentos ultraprocessados foi de 8,4%, sendo menos prevalente entre crianças cuja mãe ou cuidador era negro (3,6%) e entre aquelas cuja mãe ou cuidador tinha 8-10 anos de estudo (3,6%). Os grupos de alimentos do indicador DAM mais consumidos foram os cereais, raizes e tubérculos (90,2%), os derivados do leite (81%) e os dos alimentos ultraprocessados foram os biscoitos (51,3%) e os cereais instantâneos (41,4%). A onipresença de alimentos ultraprocessados na alimentação das crianças brasileiras e a baixa frequência de diversidade alimentar, especialmente entre as populações mais vulneráveis, indicam a necessidade de fortalecer políticas e programas para garantir uma nutrição infantil adequada e saudável.

Resumen: El objetivo del estudio fue estimar la prevalencia de diversidad alimentaria mínima (DDM) y consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados en niños de 6-23 meses según variables sociodemográficas. Se construyeron tres indicadores de alimentación complementaria de 4.354 niños de el Estudio Nacional de Alimentación y Nutrición Infantil (ENANI-2019) a partir de un cuestionario sobre el consumo de alimentos el día anterior a la entrevista: DDM, consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados y DDM sin consumo de alimentos ultraprocesados. Se calcularon la prevalencia y los IC95%, estratificados por macrorregión; raza/color de piel, situación educativa y laboral de la madre o cuidador; inscripción al Programa Bolsa Familia; seguridad alimentaria del hogar; saneamiento; e inscripción de niños en guarderías/escuelas. La prevalencia general de DDM fue del 63,4%, con prevalencias menores entre los niños que vivían en la Región Norte (54,8%), cuyas madres o cuidadores tenían entre 0-7 años de escolaridad (50.6%) y los que vivían en inseguridad alimentaria moderada o grave (52,6%). Los alimentos ultraprocesados fueron consumidos por el 80,5% de los niños, con mayor prevalencia en la Región Norte (84,5%). La prevalencia de DDM sin alimentos ultraprocesados fue del 8,4%, siendo menos prevalente entre niños de padres negros (3,6%) y con 8-10 años de escolaridad (3,6%). Los grupos de alimentos más consumidos del indicador DDM fueron los granos, raíces y tubérculos (90,2%), y los productos lácteos (81%) y los de alimentos ultraprocesados fueron las galletas (51,3%) y los cereales instantáneos (41,4%). La presencia ubicua de alimentos ultraprocesados en las dietas de los niños brasileños y la baja frecuencia diversidad dietética, especialmente entre las poblaciones más vulnerables, indican la necesidad de fortalecer políticas y programas para garantizar una nutrición infantil adecuada y saludable.

Systemic oxidative stress in children with cystic fibrosis with bacterial infection including Pseudomonas Aeruginosa.

INTRODUCTION: Oxidative stress (OS) occurs in cystic fibrosis (CF). OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to evaluate the influence of bacterial infection on biomarkers of OS (catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidade [GPx], reduced glutathione [GSH]), markers of oxidative damage (protein carbonyls [PC], thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS]), together with the nutritional status and lung function in children with CF. METHODS: Cross-sectional study including CF group (CFG, n = 55) and control group (CG, n = 31), median age: 3.89 and 4.62 years, respectively. CFG was distributed into CFG negative bacteriology (CFGB-, n = 27) or CFG positive bacteriology (CFGB+, n = 28), and CFG negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CFGPa-, n = 36) or CFG positive Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CFGPa+, n = 19). RESULTS: Compared with CG, CFG (P = .034) and CFGB+ (P = .042) had lower body mass index-for-age z-score; forced expiratory volume in the first second was lower in CFGB+ and CFGPa+ (both P < .001). After adjusting for confounders and compared with CG: CFG showed higher TBARS (P ≤ .001) and PC (P = .048), and lower CAT (P = .004) and GPx (P = .003); the increase in PC levels was observed in CFGB+ (P = .011) and CFGPa+ (P = .001) but not in CFGB- (P = .510) and CFGPa- (P = .460). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate a systemic OS in children with CF. The presence of bacterial infection particularly Pseudomonas aeruginosa seems to be determinant to exacerbate the oxidative damage to proteins, in which PC may be a useful biomarker of OS in CF.

Relationship between oropharyngeal dysphagia, nutritional status, antioxidant vitamins and the inflammatory response in adults and elderly: A cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND & AIM: Oropharyngeal dysphagia (OD) can lead to a deficiency of antioxidant micronutrients. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relation between OD and nutritional status, antioxidant vitamins (ß-carotene, vitamin E and C) and serum markers of the inflammatory response [C-reactive protein, myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß and IL-6] in adults and elderly. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 69 individuals: 22 in the control group (CG) and 47 in the OD group (ODG). The ODG was subdivided into ODG-mild = normal oral feeding (OF, n = 14), ODG-moderate (OF-modified, n = 22) and ODG-severe (OF-suspended, n = 11). Associations were investigated using multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The body mass index (BMI) was higher in the ODG compared to the CG (p = 0.008), independently of sex, age, energy intake (EI) and score on the Functional Independence Measure. BMI was significantly lower in the ODG-severe compared to the ODG-mild (p = 0.012). OD was associated with lower concentrations of ß-carotene (p < 0.001) and vitamin C (p < 0.001), independently of sex, age and EI, and higher concentrations of MPO (p = 0.008) and NOx (p = 0.011), independently of sex, age and the presence of comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Adults and elderly with OD have lower levels of antioxidant vitamins (ß-carotene and vitamin C) and a high inflammatory response (MPO and NOx). The evaluation of antioxidant vitamins could be incorporated in nutritional status assessment in this population.

Altered intestinal microbiota composition, antibiotic therapy and intestinal inflammation in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cystic fibrosis and antibiotic therapy on intestinal microbiota composition and intestinal inflammation in children and adolescents. A cross-sectional controlled study was conducted with 36 children and adolescents: 19 in the cystic fibrosis group (CFG) and 17 in the control group (CG) matched for age and sex. The CFG was subdivided based on the use of antibiotic therapy (CFAB group) and non-use of antibiotic therapy (CFnAB group). The following data were evaluated: colonization, antibiotic therapy, mutation, breastfeeding, use of infant formula, type of delivery, introduction of solid foods, body mass index, fecal calprotectin and intestinal microbiota composition (fluorescence in situ hybridization). Intestinal inflammation evaluated by fecal calprotectin was significantly higher in the CFG (median: 40.80 µg/g, IQR: 19.80-87.10, p = 0.040) and CFAB group (median: 62.95 µg/g, IQR: 21.80-136.62, p = 0.045) compared to the CG (median: 20.15 µg/g, IQR: 16.20-31.00), and the Bacteroides, Firmicutes, Eubacterium rectale and Faecalibacterium prausnitzii were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in the CFG compared to the CG, whereas the bacteria Clostridium difficile, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were significantly increased in the CFG (p < 0.05). The main differences were found between the CG and CFAB group for Eubacterium rectale (p = 0.006), Bifidobacterium (p = 0.017), Escherichia coli (p = 0.030), Firmicutes (p = 0.002), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (p < 0.001) and Clostridium difficile (p = 0.006). The results of this study confirm intestinal inflammation in patients with CF, which may be related to changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiota.

Effect of synbiotic supplementation in children and adolescents with cystic fibrosis: a randomized controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is characterized by excessive activation of immune processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of synbiotic supplementation on the inflammatory response in children/adolescents with CF. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical-trial was conducted with control group (CG, n = 17), placebo-CF-group (PCFG, n = 19), synbiotic CF-group (SCFG, n = 22), PCFG negative (n = 8) and positive (n = 11) bacteriology, and SCFG negative (n = 12) and positive (n = 10) bacteriology. Markers of lung function (FEV1), nutritional status [body mass index-for age (BMI/A), height-for-age (H/A), weight-for-age (W/A), upper-arm fat area (UFA), upper-arm muscle area (UMA), body fat (%BF)], and inflammation [interleukin (IL)-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), IL-10, IL-6, IL-1ß, IL-8, myeloperoxidase (MPO), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx)] were evaluated before and after 90-day of supplementation with a synbiotic. RESULTS: No significance difference was found between the baseline and end evaluations of FEV1 and nutricional status markers. A significant interaction (time vs. group) was found for IL-12 (p = 0.010) and myeloperoxidase (p = 0.036) between PCFG and SCFG, however, the difference was not maintained after assessing the groups individually. NOx diminished significantly after supplementation in the SCFG (p = 0.030). In the SCFG with positive bacteriology, reductions were found in IL-6 (p = 0.033) and IL-8 (p = 0.009) after supplementation. CONCLUSIONS: Synbiotic supplementation shown promise at diminishing the pro-inflammatory markers IL-6, IL-8 in the SCFG with positive bacteriology and NOx in the SCFG in children/adolescents with CF.

Mechanisms of antidiarrhoeal effects by diosmectite in human intestinal cells.

BACKGROUND: Rotavirus (RV) induces diarrhoea through a sequence of enterotoxic and cytotoxic effects. The former are NSP4-dependent, induce calcium-dependent chloride secretion and involve oxidative stress. Diosmectite (DS) is a natural clay that has been recommended as an active therapy for diarrhoea, but the mechanism of its effect is not clear. Electrical parameters may be used to measure the direct enterotoxic and cytotoxic effects in polar epithelial intestinal cells. To investigate the effects of DS on RV-induced enterotoxic and cytotoxic damage. Caco-2 cells were used as a model of RV infection to evaluate chloride secretion, epithelial integrity, oxidative stress and viral infectivity in Ussing chambers. RESULTS: Diosmectite reduced the expression of NSP4 and oxidative stress, resulting in a strong inhibition of chloride secretion. Preincubating RV with DS reduced the cytotoxic effect. Finally, the viral load was reduced by DS but not by control clay. This result suggests that DS specifically affects the early events of RV infection protecting the enterocyte, whereas it does not restore already-established cell damage. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that DS exerts an anti-diarrhoeal effect by inhibiting viral replication and the expression of NSP4. Both ion secretion and cell damage induced by RV are strongly inhibited consequent to the antiviral effect, which explains its clinical efficacy.

Early-Life Intestine Microbiota and Lung Health in Children.

The gastrointestinal microbiota plays a critical role in nutritional, metabolic, and immune functions in infants and young children and has implications for future lung health status. Understanding the role of intestinal dysbiosis in chronic lung disease progression will provide opportunities to design early interventions to improve the course of the disease. Gut microbiota is established within the first 1 to 3 years of life and remains relatively stable throughout the life span. In this review, we report the recent development in research in gut-lung axis, with focus on the effects of targeting microbiota of infants and children at risk of or with progressive lung diseases. The basic concept is to exploit this approach in critical window to achieve the best results in the control of future health.