Cohort-Based Reference Values for Serum Ferritin and Transferrin and Longitudinal Determinants of Iron Status in European Children Aged 3-15 Years.

BACKGROUND: Reference values of ferritin and transferrin for European children do not exist. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to provide sex-, age-, and body mass index (BMI)-specific serum ferritin and transferrin reference percentiles of 3-15-y-old children based on cohort data and to investigate determinants of iron status. METHODS: A total of 3390 ferritin and 3416 transferrin measurements from children residing in 8 European countries participating in the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort (https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN62310987) at baseline (W0) and 6 y later (W3) were used to estimate percentiles using the generalized additive model for location, scale and shape. Associations of serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations with total iron intake, total iron intake additionally adjusted for vitamin C intake, and iron from heme sources were investigated separately with adjustment for sex, age, country of residence, parental education, usual energy intake and BMI z-score in regression models using cross-sectional and longitudinal data. RESULTS: The age-specific ferritin and transferrin 5th and 95th reference percentiles ranged from 10.9 to 81.1 µg/L and 2.23 to 3.56 g/L, respectively. A deficient iron status was observed in 3% of children at W0 and 7% of children and adolescents at W3, respectively. At both waves, a higher iron intake from heme sources was positively associated with serum ferritin {W0: ß = 3.21 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.71, 5.71]; W3: ß = 4.48 [95% CI: 2.09, 6.87]}, that is, children consuming one mg more heme iron had a 3.21 and 4.48 µg/L higher ferritin concentration. Adherence to a mainly vegetarian diet was associated with a lower chance for sufficient serum ferritin cross-sectionally at W3 [odds ratio (OR) 0.40 (95% CI: 0.21, 0.81)] and longitudinally [OR 0.35 (95% CI: 0.15, 0.93)]. CONCLUSIONS: Age-, sex-, and BMI-specific reference percentiles of serum ferritin and transferrin concentrations based on cohort data are provided for European children aged 3-15 y and may be used in clinical practice.

Physical activity in relation to metabolic health and obesity: The Feel4Diabetes study.

AIM: To examine physical activity levels in association with metabolic health and estimate the stability of metabolically healthy obese (MHO) phenotypes over a 2-year period. METHODS: In total, 2848 men and women from families at risk of the development of diabetes were recruited. Participants were classified as obese or non-obese and metabolic health was defined using five existing definitions. Physical activity was estimated with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire and pedometers. RESULTS: Prevalence of the MHO phenotype varied among definitions (0% to 20.2%). Overall, the MHO were more active than the metabolically unhealthy obese (MUO). Daily sitting hours (odds ratio [OR] = 1.055, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.009-1.104) and daily steps (per 500; OR = 0.934, 95% CI: 0.896-0.973) were remarkable predictors of metabolic health in individuals with obesity; and likewise, in individuals without obesity. After 2 years, 44.1% of baseline MHO adults transitioned to MUO, while 84.0% of the MUO at baseline remained at the same phenotype. Although physical activity was not a major determinant in phenotype transitioning, daily steps were associated with the maintenance of metabolic health over time in the non-obese group. CONCLUSION: A universally accepted definition for MHO is needed. Being physically active can contribute to a metabolically healthy profile even in the presence of obesity; still, MHO is a transient condition and physical activity alone may not be an adequate factor for its maintenance.

The role of psychosocial well-being and emotion-driven impulsiveness in food choices of European adolescents.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether a hypothetical intervention targeting either psychosocial well-being or emotion-driven impulsiveness is more effective in reducing unhealthy food choices. Therefore, we aimed to compare the (separate) causal effects of psychosocial well-being and emotion-driven impulsiveness on European adolescents' sweet and fat propensity. METHODS: We included 2,065 participants of the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort (mean age: 13.4) providing self-reported data on sweet propensity (score range: 0 to 68.4), fat propensity (range: 0 to 72.6), emotion-driven impulsiveness using the UPPS-P negative urgency subscale, and psychosocial well-being using the KINDLR Questionnaire. We estimated, separately, the average causal effects of psychosocial well-being and emotion-driven impulsiveness on sweet and fat propensity applying a semi-parametric doubly robust method (targeted maximum likelihood estimation). Further, we investigated a potential indirect effect of psychosocial well-being on sweet and fat propensity mediated via emotion-driven impulsiveness using a causal mediation analysis. RESULTS: If all adolescents, hypothetically, had high levels of psychosocial well-being, compared to low levels, we estimated a decrease in average sweet propensity by 1.43 [95%-confidence interval: 0.25 to 2.61]. A smaller effect was estimated for fat propensity. Similarly, if all adolescents had high levels of emotion-driven impulsiveness, compared to low levels, average sweet propensity would be decreased by 2.07 [0.87 to 3.26] and average fat propensity by 1.85 [0.81 to 2.88]. The indirect effect of psychosocial well-being via emotion-driven impulsiveness was 0.61 [0.24 to 1.09] for average sweet propensity and 0.55 [0.13 to 0.86] for average fat propensity. CONCLUSIONS: An intervention targeting emotion-driven impulsiveness, compared to psychosocial well-being, would be marginally more effective in reducing sweet and fat propensity in adolescents.

Interplay of the Mediterranean diet and genetic hypertension risk on blood pressure in European adolescents: Findings from the HELENA study.

Early-life onset of high blood pressure is associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. In adolescents, limited evidence exists regarding the association between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet) and normal blood pressure (BP) levels, as well as its potential to modulate genetic predisposition to HTN. This study investigated the interaction between a MedDiet score and a recently developed HTN-genetic risk score (HTN-GRS) on blood pressure levels in a European adolescent cohort. The MedDiet score was derived from two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls and ranged from 0 (indicating low adherence) to 9 (indicating high adherence). Multiple linear regression models, adjusted for covariates, were employed to examine the relationship between the MedDiet score and BP z-scores and to assess the interaction effects between the MedDiet score and HTN-GRS on BP z-scores. MedDiet score showed a negative association with z-systolic BP (SBP) (ß = -0.40, p < 0.001) and z-diastolic BP (DBP) (ß = -0.29, p = 0.001). Additionally, a significant interaction effect was identified between the MedDiet score and HTN-GRS on z-SBP (ß = 0.02, p < 0.001) and z-DBP (ß = 0.02, p < 0.001). The modulatory effect of the MedDiet was more pronounced in females than in males, and HTN-GRS exhibited a stronger influence on DBP than on SBP.   Conclusion: The study suggests that higher adherence to the MedDiet is associated with reduced BP levels in adolescents and provides evidence of a genetic-diet interaction influencing BP in adolescents. What is Known: • Adherence to the Mediterranean diet may reduce BP levels. What is New: • It is the first study to assess the connection between adherence to a Mediterranean diet, a hypertension genetic risk score, and how they interact in influencing blood pressure. • It is conducted within a multicenter cohort of European adolescents.

Adherence to a healthy lifestyle behavior composite score and cardiometabolic risk factors in Spanish children from the CORALS cohort.

To assess the associations between the adherence to a composite score comprised of 6 healthy lifestyle behaviors and its individual components with several cardiometabolic risk factors in Spanish preschool children. Cross-sectional analyses were conducted in 938 participants included in the CORALS cohort aged 3-6 years. Six recognized healthy lifestyle behaviors (breastfeeding, sleep duration, physical activity, screentime, adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and eating speed) were assessed in a composite score. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were fitted to assess the associations with cardiometabolic risk factors (weight status, waist circumference, fat mass index, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid profile). In the adjusted multiple linear and logistic regression models, compared with the reference category of adherence to the healthy lifestyle behavior composite score, those participants in the category of the highest adherence showed significant decreased prevalence risk of overweight or obesity [OR (95% CI), 0.4 (0.2, 0.6)] as well as significant lower waist circumference, fat mass index (FMI), systolic blood pressure and fasting plasma glucose concentration [ß (95% CI), - 1.4 cm (- 2.5, - 0.4); - 0.3 kg/m2 (- 0.5, - 0.1); and - 3.0 mmHg (- 5.2, - 0.9); - 1.9 mg/dL (- 3.5, - 0.4), respectively]. Slow eating speed was individually associated with most of the cardiometabolic risk factors.   Conclusions: Higher adherence to the healthy lifestyle behavior composite score was associated with lower waist circumference, FMI, other cardiometabolic risk factors, and risk of overweight or obesity in Spanish preschool children. Further studies are required to confirm these associations. What is Known: • Lifestyle is a well-recognized etiologic factor of obesity and its comorbidities. • Certain healthy behaviors such as adhering to a healthy diet, increasing physical activity, and decreasing screentime are strategies for prevention and treatment of childhood obesity. What is New: • Higher adherence to the healthy lifestyle behavior composite score to 6 healthy behaviors (breastfeeding, sleep duration, physical activity, screentime, eating speed, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet) was associated with decreased adiposity, including prevalence risk of overweight or obesity, and cardiometabolic risk in preschool children. • Slow eating and greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet were mainly associated to lower fasting plasma and serum triglycerides concentration, respectively.

Parental practices and children's lifestyle correlates of childhood overweight/obesity in Europe: The Feel4Diabetes study.

BACKGROUND: Parental influences on children's eating and physical activity (PA) and consequently on their weight are fundamental. The present study aimed to identify the predominant correlates of childhood overweight/obesity among a variety of parental practices and children's lifestyle indices in a large sample of children in Europe. METHODS: Families from low socio-economic status regions were recruited through schools, located in six European countries (Belgium, Finland, Greece, Spain, Bulgaria and Hungary). Seven thousand three hundred ninety-seven children 4-12 years old and their parents were selected using the FINDRISC-questionnaire. Parental practices assessed included parental role modelling, permissiveness and reward. Children's dietary intake and lifestyle behaviours were assessed through parent-reported questionnaires. RESULTS: Regarding parental practices, it was revealed that being sometimes (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-1.43) or rarely (OR = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.21-1.69) physically active with the child was associated with greater overweight/obesity risk, whereas rare permission of computer/mobile/tablet (OR = 0.81; 95% CI = 0.67-0.98) and sometimes (OR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.68-0.88) or rare (OR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.66-0.91) reward with PA were associated with lower risk. Regarding children's lifestyle factors, consuming > 3 cups/week fresh fruit juices (OR = 1.28; 95% CI = 1.13-1.45), skipping breakfast (OR = 1.37; 95% CI = 1.17-1.61), absence of 1 h of daily PA (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.24-1.58) and increased daily screen time (ST) (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 1.09-1.39) were associated with greater overweight/obesity risk. All the variables were adjusted for maternal education, child's sex and age. CONCLUSIONS: These findings emphasize the necessity of family-centered approaches in health promotion and obesity prevention programs for children. Such programs should focus on parents as the primary role models in exerting positive influence and encouraging healthy eating habits, PA, and ST behaviors in their children, which in turn, may have a substantial impact on children's overall weight status.

Genetic associations vary across the spectrum of fasting serum insulin: results from the European IDEFICS/I.Family children's cohort.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: There is increasing evidence for the existence of shared genetic predictors of metabolic traits and neurodegenerative disease. We previously observed a U-shaped association between fasting insulin in middle-aged women and dementia up to 34 years later. In the present study, we performed genome-wide association (GWA) analyses for fasting serum insulin in European children with a focus on variants associated with the tails of the insulin distribution. METHODS: Genotyping was successful in 2825 children aged 2-14 years at the time of insulin measurement. Because insulin levels vary during childhood, GWA analyses were based on age- and sex-specific z scores. Five percentile ranks of z-insulin were selected and modelled using logistic regression, i.e. the 15th, 25th, 50th, 75th and 85th percentile ranks (P15-P85). Additive genetic models were adjusted for age, sex, BMI, survey year, survey country and principal components derived from genetic data to account for ethnic heterogeneity. Quantile regression was used to determine whether associations with variants identified by GWA analyses differed across quantiles of log-insulin. RESULTS: A variant in the SLC28A1 gene (rs2122859) was associated with the 85th percentile rank of the insulin z score (P85, p value=3×10-8). Two variants associated with low z-insulin (P15, p value <5×10-6) were located on the RBFOX1 and SH3RF3 genes. These genes have previously been associated with both metabolic traits and dementia phenotypes. While variants associated with P50 showed stable associations across the insulin spectrum, we found that associations with variants identified through GWA analyses of P15 and P85 varied across quantiles of log-insulin. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The above results support the notion of a shared genetic architecture for dementia and metabolic traits. Our approach identified genetic variants that were associated with the tails of the insulin spectrum only. Because traditional heritability estimates assume that genetic effects are constant throughout the phenotype distribution, the new findings may have implications for understanding the discrepancy in heritability estimates from GWA and family studies and for the study of U-shaped biomarker-disease associations.

Cardiometabolic risk profile among children with migrant parents and role of parental education: the IDEFICS/I.Family cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Evidence shows that migrant children have a higher risk of developing obesity than those with native parents. We aimed to investigate the association between parental migration background and cardiometabolic health in children and adolescents in Europe. METHODS AND RESULTS: We included 8745 children aged 2-17 from the second follow-up of the European IDEFICS/I.Family cohort. Linear regression models were used to investigate the association between parental migration background (one or two migrant parent(s) vs native parents) and body mass index (BMI), metabolic syndrome (MetS) score and its individual components. Outcome variables were parametrized as age and sex-specific z-scores. We adjusted for age, sex, country, and parental education, and additionally for parental income, lifestyle including dietary factors, and maternal BMI. On average, children with two migrant parents had higher z-scores of BMI (+0.24 standard deviation (SD)) and MetS score (+0.30 SD) compared to those with native parents, whereas no significant differences were seen for children with one migrant parent. Associations were attenuated when controlling for maternal BMI and sports club activity. Parental education modified the associations with BMI and MetS z-scores such that they were more pronounced in children with low parental education. CONCLUSION: Children with two migrant parents were at higher risk for adverse cardiometabolic health compared to children with native parents, especially in families with low parental education. These associations were explained by lower physical activity and maternal body weight and encourages early intervention strategies by schools and communities.

Associations Between Eating Speed, Diet Quality, Adiposity, and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the associations between eating speed, adiposity, cardiometabolic risk factors, and diet quality in a cohort of Spanish preschool-children. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study in 1371 preschool age children (49% girls; mean age, 4.8 ± 1.0 years) from the Childhood Obesity Risk Assessment Longitudinal Study (CORALS) cohort was conducted. After exclusions, 956 participants were included in the analyses. The eating speed was estimated by summing the total minutes used in each of the 3 main meals and then categorized into slow, moderate, or fast. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were fitted to assess the ß-coefficient, or OR and 95% CI, between eating speed and body mass index, waist circumference, fat mass index (FMI), blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and lipid profile. RESULTS: Compared with participants in the slow-eating category, those in the fast-eating category had a higher prevalence risk of overweight/obesity (OR, 2.9; 95% CI, 1.8-4.4; P < .01); larger waist circumference (ß, 2.6 cm; 95% CI, 1.5-3.8 cm); and greater FMI (ß, 0.3 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.1-0.5 kg/m2), systolic blood pressure (ß, 2.8 mmHg; 95% CI, 0.6-4.9 mmHg), and fasting plasma glucose levels (ß, 2.7 mg/dL, 95% CI, 1.2-4.2 mg/dL) but lower adherence to the Mediterranean diet (ß, -0.5 points; 95% CI, -0.9 to -0.1 points). CONCLUSIONS: Eating fast is associated with higher adiposity, certain cardiometabolic risk factors, and lower adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Further long-term and interventional studies are warranted to confirm these associations.

The body mass index increases the genetic risk scores' ability to predict risk of hepatic damage in European adolescents: The HELENA study.

BACKGROUND: Hepatic disorders are often complex and multifactorial, modulated by genetic and environmental determinants. During the last years, the hepatic disease has been progressively established from early stages in life. The use of genetic risk scores (GRS) to predict the genetic susceptibility to a particular phenotype among youth has gained interest in recent years. Moreover, the alanine aminotransferase (ALT) blood biomarker is often considered as hepatic screening tool, in combination with imaging techniques. The aim of the present study was to develop an ALT-specific GRS to help in the evaluation of hepatic damage risk in European adolescents. METHODS: A total of 972 adolescents (51.3% females), aged 12.5-17.5 years, from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence study were included in the analyses. The sample incorporated adolescents in all body mass index (BMI) categories and was divided considering healthy/unhealthy ALT levels, using sex-specific cut-off points. From 1212 a priori ALT-related single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) extracted from candidate gene selection, a first screening of 234 SNPs univariately associated was established, selecting seven significant SNPs (p < .05) in the multivariate model. An unweighted GRS (uGRS) was developed by summing the number of reference alleles, and a weighted GRS (wGRS), by multiplying each allele to its estimated coefficient. RESULTS: The uGRS and wGRS were significantly associated with ALT (p < .001). The area under curve was obtained integrating BMI as clinical factor, improving the predictive ability for uGRS (.7039) and wGRS (.7035), using 10-fold internal cross-validation. CONCLUSIONS: Considering BMI status, both GRSs could contribute as complementary tools to help in the early diagnosis of hepatic damage risk in European adolescents.

Association between PTPN1 polymorphisms and obesity-related phenotypes in European adolescents: influence of physical activity.

BACKGROUND: To study the associations of Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-N1 (PTPN1) polymorphisms with obesity-related phenotypes in European adolescents, and the influence of physical activity on these relationships. METHODS: Five polymorphisms of PTPN1 were genotyped in 1057 European adolescents (12-18 years old). We measured several phenotypes related to obesity, such as adiposity markers, and biochemical and clinical parameters. Physical activity was objectively measured by accelerometry. RESULTS: The T, A, T, T and G alleles of the rs6067472, rs10485614, rs2143511, rs6020608 and rs968701 polymorphisms, respectively, were associated with lower levels of obesity-related phenotypes (i.e., body mass index, body fat percentage, hip circumference, fat mass index, systolic blood pressure and leptin) in European adolescents. In addition, the TATTG haplotype was associated with lower body fat percentage and fat mass index compared to the AACCA haplotype. Finally, when physical activity levels were considered, alleles of the rs6067472, rs2143511, rs6020608 and rs968701 polymorphisms were only associated with lower adiposity in active adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: PTPN1 polymorphisms were associated with adiposity in European adolescents. Specifically, alleles of these polymorphisms were associated with lower adiposity only in physically active adolescents. Therefore, meeting the recommendations of daily physical activity may reduce obesity risk by modulating the genetic predisposition to obesity. IMPACT: Using gene-phenotype and gene*environment analyses, we detected associations between polymorphisms of the Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-N1 (PTPN1) gene and obesity-related phenotypes, suggesting a mechanism that can be modulated by physical activity. This study shows that genetic variability of PTPN1 is associated with adiposity, while physical activity seems to modulate the genetic predisposition. This brings insights about the mechanisms by which physical activity positively influences obesity.

Adherence to the EAT-Lancet sustainable reference diet and cardiometabolic risk profile: cross-sectional results from the ELSA-Brasil cohort study.

PURPOSE: The EAT-Lancet Commission released a reference sustainable diet to improve human health and respect the planetary boundaries. The Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was developed with the purpose of evaluate the adherence to this reference diet. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet with cardiometabolic risk profile. METHODS: We used the cross-sectional baseline data from 14,155 participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil), a multicenter ongoing cohort study. Dietary data were collected using a 114-item validated food frequency questionnaire. The PHDI was used to assess the adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet. It consists of 16 components and the total score can range from 0 to 150 points. Linear, logistic and quasi-Poisson regression models were built to evaluate the associations between PHDI and the outcomes. RESULTS: Individuals with higher adherence to EAT-Lancet diet (PHDI, 5th quintile) had lower values for systolic blood pressure (ß - 0.84; 95% CI - 1.66: - 0.01), diastolic blood pressure (ß - 0.70; 95% CI - 1.24: - 0.15), total cholesterol (ß - 3.15; 95% CI - 5.30: - 1.01), LDL-c (ß - 4.10; 95% CI - 5.97: -  2.23), and non-HDL-cholesterol (ß - 2.57; 95% CI - 4.62: - 0.52). No association was observed for HDL-c, triglycerides and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that higher adherence to the EAT-Lancet diet is associated with lower levels of blood pressure, total cholesterol, LDL-c, and non-HDL-c.

Clinical and physical characteristics of thinness in adolescents: the HELENA study.

PURPOSE: Thinness in adolescence has not been studied as extensively as overweight or obesity. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and health impacts of thinness in a European adolescent population. METHODS: This study included 2711 adolescents (1479 girls, 1232 boys). Blood pressure, physical fitness, sedentary behaviors, physical activity (PA), and dietary intake were assessed. A medical questionnaire was used to report any associated diseases. A blood sample was collected in a subgroup of the population. Thinness and normal weight were identified using the IOTF scale. Thin adolescents were compared with adolescents of normal weight. RESULTS: Two hundred and fourteen adolescents (7.9%) were classified as being thin; the prevalence rates were 8.6% in girls and 7.1% in boys. Systolic blood pressure was significantly lower in adolescents with thinness. The age at the first menstrual cycle was significantly later in thin female adolescents than in those with normal weight. Upper-body muscular strength measured in performance tests and time spent in light PA were significantly lower in thin adolescents. The Diet Quality Index was not significantly lower in thin adolescents, but the percentage of adolescents who skipped breakfast was higher in adolescents with a normal weight (27.7% vs 17.1%). Serum creatinine level and HOMA-insulin resistance were lower and vitamin B12 level was higher in thin adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: Thinness affects a notable proportion of European adolescents with no physical adverse health consequences.

Relative validity of the Planetary Health Diet Index by comparison with usual nutrient intakes, plasma food consumption biomarkers, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet among European adolescents: the HELENA study.

PURPOSE: The EAT-Lancet Commission proposed an evidence-based global reference diet to improve human health within planetary boundaries. Recently, the Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI) was developed based on the EAT-Lancet recommendations and validated among Brazilian adults. However, the relative validity of the PHDI in adolescents has yet to be assessed. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the relative validity of the PHDI in European adolescents. METHODS: We used cross-sectional data from 1804 adolescents (12.5-17.5 years) enrolled in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence (HELENA) study. The PHDI (0-150 points) was calculated based on dietary intake data from two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls. Associations between the PHDI and usual nutrient intakes, plasma food consumption biomarkers, and adherence to the Mediterranean diet were evaluated using multivariable-adjusted mixed-effects linear regression models. RESULTS: Higher PHDI score was associated with greater intakes of nutrients predominantly from plant-source foods, such as vegetable protein, vitamin E, and folate and with lower intake of nutrients predominately from animal-source foods, such as total and saturated fat, cholesterol, and animal protein. Furthermore, a higher PHDI score was also positively associated with plasma ß-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin D, folate, and ferritin concentrations, while negatively associated with trans-fatty acids concentration. Moreover, higher PHDI was related to a greater adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern. CONCLUSIONS: The PHDI showed good relative validity among adolescents in the HELENA study. Hence, future research should assess adherence to the PHDI and long-term health outcomes.

New indices in predicting cardiometabolic risk and its relation to endothelial dysfunction in adolescents: The HELENA study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Blood pressure (BP) changes and insulin resistance (IR) are important cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors; their early identification can contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular events in adulthood. This necessitates the search for more accessible and easily applied indicators for their prediction. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the predictive power of the indices, TyG, TG/HDL-c, height-corrected lipid accumulation product (HLAP), and visceral adiposity index (VAI), in identifying the CMR obtained by high BP and IR and to verify their relationship with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in European adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: The anthropometric data and blood biomarkers of 744 adolescents (343 boys and 401 girls) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS), with a mean age of 14.67 (SD 1.15) years, were assessed. The adolescents were then classified according to the presence or absence of high BP and IR. The cut-off points of the indices evaluated for the identification of CMR were determined. The relationship between CMR diagnosed using these indices and ED biomarkers was tested. The HLAP and TG/HDL-c were fair predictors of CMR obtained by IR in male adolescents. These indices showed association with hsCRP in sVCAM-1 in boys, but it lost significance after adjusting for age and body mass index. CONCLUSION: TG/HDL-c and HLAP indices showed a fair performance in predicting CMR, obtained by IR, in male adolescents. ED showed no association with the CMR identified by the indices.

Changes in physical activity patterns from adolescence to young adulthood: the BELINDA study.

Physical activity (PA) is recognized as a marker of health. The aim was to investigate PA differences from adolescence to young adulthood. European adolescents included in the HELENA study were invited to participate in a follow-up study, 10 years later. The present study included 141 adults (25.0 ± 1.4 years) for whom valid accelerometer data were available in adolescence and adulthood. Changes in PA by sex, weight and maternal education level were explored with interactions. Time spent in sedentary activity, light PA (LPA) and moderate PA (MPA) increased by 39.1, 59.6 and 6.6 min/day, respectively, whereas the time spent in vigorous PA (VPA) decreased by 11.3 min/day compared with adolescent VPA (p < 0.05). Increases in MPA were greater on weekends compared with weekdays, but we found a greater decrease in VPA on weekdays compared with weekends. Moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) decreased significantly on weekdays (-9.6 min/day; 95%CI, -15.9 to -3.4), while it increased on weekends (8.4 min/day; 95%CI, 1.9 to 14.8). Significant heterogeneity was found across sexes for VPA and MVPA, with a stronger decrease in VPA in males compared with females and a significant decrease in MVPA (-12.5 min/day; 95%CI, -20.4 to -4.5) in males but not in females (1.9 min/day; 95%CI, -5.5 to 9.2). No significant heterogeneity was found to be linked to maternal education level or weight, irrespective of PA level.  Conclusion: Our data suggest that the transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a critical period for lifestyle PA habits. A decline in VPA and an increasingly sedentary time were observed. The observed changes are worrying and may increase the risk of developing adverse health consequences later in life. What is Known: • The transition from adolescence to adulthood is marked by many life changes affecting lifestyle habits. Most studies tracking physical activity from adolescence to adulthood were done using PA questionnaires, which is a subjective method. What is New: • Our study bring first data on objective changes in PA patterns between adolescence and young adulthood, taking account of BMI, sex and maternal educational level. Our results suggest that the transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a critical period for lifestyle PA habits, especially for time spent on sedentary activities.

Reproducibility and relative validity of a semi-quantitative food and beverage frequency questionnaire for Spanish children aged 3 to 11 years: the COME-Kids F&B-FQ.

A reliable food and beverage frequency questionnaire (F&B-FQ) to measure dietary intakes for children across Spain is currently unavailable. Thus, we designed and assessed the reproducibility and relative validity of a new F&B-FQ in 210 Spanish children aged 3-11 years. COME-Kids F&B-FQ contained 125 items to assess the usual diet intake in the past year among children. To explore the reproducibility, caregivers answered COME-Kids F&B-FQ twice over a 15-day period (± 1 week). To evaluate the relative validity, estimates from a third COME-Kids F&B-FQ administered at 1 year of follow-up were compared with the mean estimates from 3-day dietary records (3d-DR) collected at baseline, 6 months, and after 1 year of follow-up. Reproducibility and relative validity of the COME-Kids F&B-FQ in estimating food groups and nutrients were assessed using Pearson (r) and intra-class (ICC) correlation coefficients. We used the kappa index to evaluate the agreement in repeat administrations or with the 3d-DR. We used Bland-Altman plots to identify bias across levels of intake. A total of 195 children (105 boys, 90 girls) completed the study. The reproducibility of data estimated from COME-Kids F&B-FQ was substantial with mean r and ICC being 0.65 and 0.64 for food groups and 0.63 and 0.62 for nutrients, respectively. Validation assessments comparing the FFQ and 3d-DRs showed r = 0.36 and ICC = 0.30 for food groups and r = 0.29 and ICC = 0.24 for nutrients. The mean agreement for food group reproducibility and relative validity was 86% and 65%, respectively. These estimates were 85% for reproducibility and 64% for relative validity in the case of nutrients. For reproducibility and relative validity, the overall mean kappa index was 63% and 37% for all food groups and 52% and 27% for nutrients, respectively. Bland-Altman plots showed no specific bias relating to the level of intake of nutrients and several food groups. CONCLUSION: COME-Kids F&B-FQ showed substantial reproducibility and acceptable relative validity to assess food and beverage intake in Spanish children aged 3 to 11 years. Most children were correctly classified in relation to the intake of food groups and nutrients, and misclassification was unlikely with reference to 3d-DR. WHAT IS KNOWN: • The estimation of dietary intake in children is complex, especially in large cohorts. • The food frequency questionnaire is a well-recognized and the most frequently used method for assessing food consumption. WHAT IS NEW: • A new food and beverage frequency questionnaire including a beverage section and novel plant-based food items has been validated in Spanish children aged 3-11 years.

Clustering of lifestyle behaviors and adiposity in early adolescents in Spain: findings from the SI! Program for Secondary Schools.

BACKGROUND: Several unhealthy lifestyle behaviors in adolescence are often linked to overweight/obesity. Some of them may be present simultaneously, leading to combined effects on health. Therefore, the clustering of several unhealthy behaviors in adolescents might be associated with adiposity excess. PURPOSE: To identify lifestyle patterns and analyze their association with adiposity in early adolescents. METHODS: A cross-sectional cluster analysis was performed in 1183 adolescents (50.5% girls) with a mean age of 12.5 (0.4) years included in the SI! Program for Secondary Schools in Spain to identify lifestyle patterns based on healthy diet, step counts, sleep time, and leisure screen time. Generalized mixed models were applied to estimate the association between lifestyle patterns and adiposity indices. RESULTS: Four lifestyle patterns were derived: Cluster 1-higher screen time and poorer diet (n = 213), Cluster 2-lower activity and longer sleepers (n = 388), Cluster 3-active and shorter sleepers (n = 280), and Cluster 4-healthiest (n = 302). Except for the number of steps (12,008 (2357) day), the lifestyle behaviors in our sample presented levels far below the recommendations, especially for sleep duration. Cluster 4 included the largest proportion of adolescents from high socioeconomic status families (47.7%) and the lowest prevalence of overweight/obesity (23.1%). Compared to Cluster 4-healthiest, adolescents in the remaining clusters presented a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity and central obesity, showing Cluster 3 the highest prevalences (PR:1.31 [95%CI: 1.31, 1.31] and PR:1.40 [95%CI: 1.33, 1.47]). CONCLUSIONS: Clustering of lifestyle patterns in early adolescence allows the identification of individuals with excess adiposity, in whom health promotion strategies should be stressed, especially in socioeconomically disadvantaged groups. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinical Trial Registry, NCT03504059. Registered 20/04/2018-Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03504059 .

Children's food choices are highly dependent on patterns of parenting practices and food availability at home in families at high risk for type 2 diabetes in Europe: Cross-sectional results from the Feel4Diabetes study.

BACKGROUND: Food parenting practices, behaviours and food availability at home are associated with children's food choices; however, these associations have been mainly studied for each parenting practice separately and focused mostly on healthy populations. The aim of the study was to identify patterns of parenting practices (including data regarding food availability at home, food and physical activity-related behaviours and rewards) and to investigate their cross-sectional associations with children's food choices in families at high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D). METHODS: Data of parents and children (n = 2278), from the Feel4Diabetes study conducted in six European countries, were collected using validated questionnaires. The data analysed included children's food choices, food availability at home and food and physical activity-related parenting practices. Four patterns of parenting practices were identified using principal component analysis, and associations between those components and children's food choices were assessed using adjusted, individual linear regressions. RESULTS: Parenting patterns focusing on unhealthy habits, such as allowing unhealthy snacks and unlimited screen time, providing higher availability of unhealthy foods at home, rewarding with snacks and screen time, were positively associated with children's unhealthy food choices (consumption of savoury/sweet snacks, fizzy drinks, etc.). The parenting patterns providing fruit/vegetables at home, consuming fruit, and being physically active with the child were positively associated with children's healthier food choices (consumption of fruit, vegetables, whole grain cereals, etc.). CONCLUSIONS: Public health initiatives should focus on high-risk families for T2D, assisting them to adopt appropriate parenting practices and behaviours to promote healthier food choices for children.

Association between complementary food introduction before age 4 months and body mass index at age 5-7 years: A retrospective population-based longitudinal cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The optimal time of starting complementary foods (CFs) in infants remains a subject of debate. This population-based longitudinal cohort study evaluated the association between early CF introduction and body mass index (BMI) in children aged 5-7 years. METHODS: The present study included 917,707 children born in Korea during 2008-2009. Initial timing of CF introduction was obtained by questionnaires administered between 4 and 6 months and 9 and 12 months of age. The cohort consisted of 154,565 eligible individuals who properly completed the screening programme, including structured questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and physical examinations. To balance baseline characteristics, children were subjected to propensity score matching based on 95 covariates, including indicators of baseline health such as perinatal condition, birth weight, economic status, clinical disease and drug exposure. Exposure was defined as introduction to CF at age < 4 months, and outcomes were overweight (BMI z-score > 85th percentile) and obesity (BMI z-score > 95th percentile) at ages 5-7 years. RESULTS: Of the 154,565 eligible children in the observed cohort, 10,499 (6.8%) were introduced to CF at age < 4 months and 144,066 (93.2%) at age ≥ 4 months. Propensity score matching yielded 9680 children introduced to CF at age < 4 months and 35,396 at age ≥ 4 months. The risk for being overweight or obese at age 5-7 years was slightly higher among those who started CF at age < 4 months than at age ≥4 months (adjusted relative risk = 1.06; 95% confidence interval = 1.02-1.09). A similar but stronger association was observed for being obese at age 5-7 years (adjusted relative risk = 1.12; 95% confidence interval = 1.05-1.19). CONCLUSIONS: Early CF introduction before age 4 months was associated with increased BMI at age 5-7 years.