Stability and change in fruit and vegetable intake of Brazilian adolescents over a 3-year period: 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the stability and changes in fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption over a 3-year period during adolescence in a population-based birth cohort. DESIGN: Longitudinal descriptive study. FV consumption was collected in 2008 and 2011/12 using an FFQ. We conducted descriptive analyses of medians to assess the trends in FV intake over time. Stability of FV intake was assessed by percentage of agreement and kappa coefficients. SETTING: Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. SUBJECTS: Adolescents from 15 to 18 years of age (n 3915). RESULTS: We observed an overall slight decrease in FV consumption during adolescence and also a moderate stability, especially in those with higher socio-economic status (proportion of agreement 38.6% and 40.5% for boys and girls, respectively). About a half of those consuming low levels of FV at 15 years of age still consumed low levels 3 years later. CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed that FV consumption presented a moderate stability across a 3-year period during adolescence, especially in those with higher socio-economic status. Given the great proportions of non-communicable diseases such as CVD, diabetes and obesity, knowledge about the patterns of FV consumption during adolescence has implications for health promotion interventions.

Clustering of risk factors for chronic diseases among adolescents from Southern Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clustering of risk behaviors for chronic non-communicable diseases and their associated factors among adolescents from Southern Brazil. METHODS: In 2008, a survey was conducted with 3990 adolescents aged 14-15 years (mean: 14.3; SD: 0.6) from the 1993 Pelotas Birth Cohort Study. Clustering was determined by comparing observed (O) and expected (E) prevalence of all possible combinations of the four risk factors investigated (smoking, alcohol intake, low fruit intake, and physical inactivity). We carried out Poisson regression to evaluate the effect of individual characteristics on the presence of at least three risk behaviors. RESULTS: All risk factors tended to cluster together (O/E prevalence=3.0), especially smoking and alcohol intake (odds ratio to present on behavior in the presence of other >5.0). Approximately 15% of adolescents displayed three or more risk behaviors. Females (adjusted OR=1.55), people 15 years and older (OR=1.47), with black skin color (OR=1.23), and of low socioeconomic level (OR=1.29) were more likely to display three or more risk factors. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that lifestyle-related risk factors tend to cluster among adolescents. Identifying subgroups at greater risk of simultaneously engaging in multiple risk behaviors may aid in the planning of preventive strategies.

Predictors of body mass index change from 11 to 15 years of age: the 1993 Pelotas (Brazil) birth cohort study.

PURPOSE: We explored predictors of nutritional status change from 11 to 15 years of age by analyzing prospective data. METHODS: We collected data at 11 and 15 years of age from individuals born in 1993 in Pelotas, Brazil. We assessed nutritional status using body mass index (BMI) for age in z-score according to the World Health Organization 2007 standards. Independent variables collected at 11 years of age were socioeconomic position, adolescent's perception of own weight, body dissatisfaction, and weight loss dieting. RESULTS: Of the 4,032 adolescents whose nutritional status could be evaluated in the two follow-ups, 93% maintained their nutritional status classification from 11 to 15 years. A total of 102 (2.8%) became obese and 181 (4.5%) ceased to be obese in the 4-year period. The prevalence of obesity decreased from 11 to 15 years of age in both boys and girls. Low-income girls were more likely to become obese from 11 to 15 years of age compared with high-income ones. Among boys, those with high income were more likely to cease being obese compared those with low income. Those who perceived themselves to be obese, who wished to have a smaller silhouette, and who were on diets to lose weight were more likely to become obese or to achieve a normal BMI category at 15 years of age. CONCLUSIONS: BMI tracks strongly in early adolescence. This finding suggests that interventions to more effectively change nutritional status should be implemented in childhood and should consider emotional aspects as well as social and biological ones.

Association between paraoxonase 1 (PON1) enzyme activity, PON1 C(−107)T polymorphism, nutritional status, and lipid profile in children

BACKGROUND: Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is an enzyme that possesses anti-atherogenic and anti-inflammatory properties with serum levels determined by genetic and exogenous factors. Lower serum PON1 arylesterase activity is associated to metabolic alterations related to childhood overweight and onset and/or development of diabetes and CVD later in life. However, data on the relationship between genetic PON1 polymorphisms and nutritional status as well as lipid profile in children are limited. To investigate the distribution of the C(−107)T PON1 gene polymorphism and its relation with serum PON1 enzyme activity, nutritional status and lipid profile in children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed including 73 children aged 5 to 7 years who attended public pediatric clinics. PON1 C(−107)T, arylesterase activity, body mass index for the age, and serum lipid profile were evaluated. RESULTS: PON1 activity was higher in overweight children compared to the normal weight ones (p= 0.02). The genotypic frequency did not differ between the two groups (p> 0.05). Carriers of CC genotype had higher enzyme activity than T allele carriers, and this difference was greater among normal weight children. HDL levels were higher among normal weight children carrying CC genotype, compared to those carrying the T allele (p< 0.01).CONCLUSION: The PON1 C(−107)T polymorphism is associated with higher serum enzyme activity in children, as observed previously in adults. In addition, this polymorphism also shows association to higher high density lipoprotein (HDL) levels and serum PON1 arylesterase activity in the normal weight children studied.