A Mediterranean-like breakfast affects energy intake and appetite-related feelings.

Energy intake and appetite feelings after the consumption of two different types of breakfast, a high-fiber, traditional, Mediterranean-type breakfast and a low-fiber, Western-type breakfast were compared. Sixteen non-obese young men received the two treatments on separate days: the Mediterranean- and the Western-type breakfasts were isocaloric, similar in volume and macronutrient content, but different in fiber content. Following a 4-hour fast, subjects offered an ad libitum lunch. Food consumed and subjective feelings of hunger, fullness, and desire to eat were evaluated. Energy intake in the ad libitum lunch was significantly lower after the Mediterranean-type, compared to the Western-type breakfast, adjusting for previous day's energy intake (1488 ± 468 versus 1674 ± 416 kcal, respectively), whereas no energy compensation was made throughout the day. Furthermore, those who had the Mediterranean-type breakfast reported lower values in the desire to eat during study's course. These findings propose a fulfilling effect of a traditional, Mediterranean, high in fiber breakfast.

Academic performance in relation to adherence to the Mediterranean diet and energy balance behaviors in Greek primary schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVE: To explore possible links between adherence to the Mediterranean Diet (MeD), excess body weight, energy balance behaviors, and academic performance in Greek primary schoolchildren. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Primary schools in Athens, Greece. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 528 students (256 boys and 272 girls), 10-12 years of age, were recruited from 21 primary schools in the area of Athens, Greece. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Students completed a specifically designed energy balance behaviors questionnaire together with the KIDMED index, which evaluates the degree of adherence to the MeD. The teacher assessed academic performance through a specifically designed, 5-scale questionnaire. Standard anthropometric measurements were also taken. ANALYSIS: Block stepwise regression analysis was conducted. RESULTS: Adherence to the MeD (ß = .140; P = .001), obesity (ß = -.095; P = .001), physical activity levels (ß = .206; P = .001), hours of sleep (ß = .100; P = .003), television viewing (ß = -.068; P = .05), and global self-esteem levels (ß = .122; P = .001) are significant factors in predicting academic performance in primary schoolchildren. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Poor adherence to the MeD, obesity, and low physical activity levels seem to negatively affect academic performance in children. Understanding these interrelationships could facilitate the formation of policies focused on improving children's academic achievement.

Food consumption patterns in Mediterranean adolescents: are there differences between overweight and normal-weight adolescents?

OBJECTIVE: To quantify food consumption (based on food group classification) during several time periods in a sample of adolescents and to identify potential differences in food patterns between normal-weight and overweight participants. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. Participants were classified as normal weight and overweight/obese. Dietary intake was assessed by 3-day food records and analyzed at the food group level for 7 different time periods. To exploit the time dimension of the data and to further control for the influence of other covariates, the authors estimated a random effects regression model for panel data. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty students. SETTING: Two high schools. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis, no statistically significant differences were found between normal-weight and overweight adolescents with regard to their consumption patterns throughout the day. However, compared to females, male participants had higher intake of all food groups with the exception of fruit, and adolescents engaging in vigorous exercise tended to consume more servings from all food groups during any given time period. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: No preferential use of some food or food groups in specific day periods was found among overweight compared to normal-weight high school students.

XbaI GLUT1 gene polymorphism and the risk of type 2 diabetes with nephropathy.

Altered expression of the facilitated glucose transporter GLUT1 affects pathways implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. There is indication that variation of GLUT1 gene (SLC2A1) contributes to development of microangiopathy in diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM) patients. A genetic association study involving Caucasians was carried out to investigate the role of XbalphaI polymorphism in the GLUT1 gene in diabetic nephropathy (DN). Study population (n=240) consisted of 148 unrelated patients with DM (92 cases with diabetic nephropathy (DN)), and of 92 matched healthy control subjects. Diabetic nephropathy was defined as persistent albuminuria (>300 mg/24 h) and/or renal failure, in the absence of non-diabetes induced renal disease. The analysis showed that the risk of developing DM and DN in XbaI(-) carriers, when healthy individuals were considered as controls, was two-fold: odds ratio (OR) 2.08 [95% confidence interval (1.14-3.79)]. However, there was no evidence of association between XbaI(-) and DN when patients with DM and without DN were considered as controls: OR=1.12 (0.55-2.26). Thus, the GLUT1 XbaI(-) allele is associated with DM, and possibly with a more severe form of the disease that can lead to development of DN.