Exploring the dietary practices and perceptions of African immigrants in Illinois- a qualitative study of immigrants from Nigeria and Congo.

OBJECTIVE: Previous studies suggest an increased prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases among African immigrants with increased length of stay in the U.S. The objective of the current study is to understand the dietary practices and perceptions of recent African immigrant families. DESIGN: Focus group sessions were conducted with Nigerian and Congolese immigrant parents residing in Illinois. Participants were recruited using convenience sampling methods and focus group sessions were conducted via videoconference. Participants discussed dietary practices, meal preparation, and family mealtimes for their families. They also discussed experiences with eating different kinds of foods since arrival in the U.S. Verbatim transcription of focus group sessions were completed and deductive thematic analysis of transcribed data was conducted using NVivo (QSR International Pty Ltd. [2020] NVivo [version 12]). RESULTS: Twenty African immigrant parents (Mean age: 42 years, Female: 95%) residing in Northern and Central Illinois participated in a total of five focus group sessions. Seven themes were derived from the analysis. Participants had a positive attitude toward healthy diet and had a high level of interest in receiving educational resources to make healthier food choices. Participants preferred and mostly consumed foods they were familiar with before migration. A majority of the participants perceived 'American foods' as unhealthy, characterizing them as containing a high amount of sugar and salt. Parents reported that their school-aged children often preferred a western diet over traditional African meals. CONCLUSION: This study helps to understand unique diet-related practices and perceptions of recent Nigerian and Congolese African immigrants in Illinois. Findings could help to inform cultural adaptation of evidence-based nutrition education programs for these groups of African immigrants.

Predictors of Food and Water Stockpiling During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Latinos and Non-Latino Black People.

OBJECTIVE: The study examined factors associated with food and water stockpiling (FWS) during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A secondary analysis of online survey data collected in two waves: April 2020 (wave 1) and June/July 2020 (wave 2), was conducted through REDCap web application. A total of 2,271 Non-Latino Black and Latino adults (mean age: 36.8 years (SD = 16.0); 64.3% female) living in Illinois were recruited. Participants self-reported if they stockpiled food and/or water (FWS) seven days prior to survey completion because of the pandemic. Logistic regression was used to determine if each variable was associated with the odds of reporting FWS. RESULTS: Nearly a quarter (23.3%) of participants reported FWS. The adjusted model revealed that odds of FWS increase as the number of household members increased (OR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.05-1.41). Odds of FWS were lower among participants who were not self-quarantining compared to those self-quarantining all the time (OR: 0.32; 95% CI: 0.17 - 0.62). Furthermore, individuals with lower levels of concern about COVID-19 had lower odds of FWS than those extremely concerned. CONCLUSIONS: Household size, self-quarantine status, and concern about COVID-19 were significantly associated with FWS. These findings highlight the need to address the concerns of marginalized individuals to promote healthy behaviors.

Randomized control trial of a childhood obesity prevention family-based program: "Abriendo Caminos" and effects on BMI.

Background: Hispanic individuals are at increased risk for obesity and other chronic health conditions. This article evaluates the effect of a family-based, childhood obesity primary prevention intervention in a community setting. Methods: A multi-site, randomized controlled trial community program with assessments at pre (T0), post-program (T1), and 6-months post-program (T2). Participating families were recruited from five sites. Only families of Mexican or Puerto Rican heritage with a least one child between 6 and 18 years were included in the study, without weight restrictions. Families were randomized to the intervention and control arms. Intervention families received six-2 h weekly workshops. Control families received printed generic nutrition and wellness information. Heights and weights were measured at the 3-time points to calculate BMI z-scores, BMI-percentiles, and weight status using age- and sex-specific growth charts, according to the CDC guidelines. Results: There were no differences in BMI-z scores between children in the intervention (n = 239) and control groups (n = 187) at T0. BMI z-scores decreased in the intervention group (-0.03, 95% CI, -0.066, -0.003, p = 0.032) at T1, but not in the control group at T1. Changes in BMI z-scores were not statistically significant at T2. Conclusion: The Abriendo Caminos intervention effectively prevented unhealthy weight gain in Hispanic children in the short-term, but not at 6-months post-intervention. Younger children and girls benefited more from the program at 6-months post-intervention. Additional efforts are needed to sustain long-term changes. Culturally-tailored programs can provide families with the knowledge to produce short-term changes and a potential pathway for sustainable changes in implementing healthy behaviors.

Pathological bile acid concentrations in chronic cholestasis cause adipose mitochondrial defects.

Background & Aims: Although fat loss is observed in patients with cholestasis, how chronically elevated bile acids (BAs) impact white and brown fat depots remains obscure. Methods: To determine the direct effect of pathological levels of BAs on lipid accumulation and mitochondrial function, primary white and brown adipocyte cultures along with fat depots from two separate mouse models of cholestatic liver diseases, namely (i) genetic deletion of farnesoid X receptor (Fxr); small heterodimer (Shp) double knockout (DKO) and (ii) injury by 3,5-diethoxycarbonyl-1,4-dihydrocollidine (DDC), were used. Results: As expected, cholestatic mice accumulate high systemic BA levels and exhibit fat loss. Here, we demonstrate that chronic exposure to pathological BA levels results in mitochondrial dysfunction and defective thermogenesis. Consistently, both DKO and DDC-fed mice exhibit lower body temperature. Importantly, thermoneutral (30 °C) housing of the cholestatic DKO mice rescues the decrease in brown fat mass, and the expression of genes responsible for lipogenesis and regulation of mitochondrial function. To overcome systemic effects, primary adipocyte cultures were treated with pathological BA concentrations. Mitochondrial permeability and respiration analysis revealed that BA overload is sufficient to reduce mitochondrial function in primary adipocytes, which is not as a result of cytotoxicity. Instead, we found robust reductions in uncoupling protein 1 (Ucp1), PR domain containing 16 (Prdm16), and deiodinase, iodothyronine, type II (Dio2) transcripts in brown adipocytes upon treatment with chenodeoxycholic acid, whereas taurocholic acid led to the suppression of Dio2 transcript. This BA-mediated decrease in transcripts was alleviated by pharmacological activation of UCP1. Conclusions: High concentrations of BAs cause defective thermogenesis by reducing the expression of crucial regulators of mitochondrial function, including UCP1, which may explain the clinical features of hypothermia and fat loss observed in patients with cholestatic liver diseases. Impact and Implications: We uncover a detrimental effect of chronic bile acid overload on adipose mitochondrial function. Pathological concentration of different BAs reduces the expression of distinct genes involved in energy expenditure, which can be mitigated with pharmacological UCP1 activation.

Visceral adiposity index is a better predictor to discriminate metabolic syndrome than other classical adiposity indices among young adults.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been identified as a cardiometabolic risk marker in children and adolescents which reflects abdominal fat distribution. The aim of the present study was to evaluated the predictive capacity of VAI, a body shape index (ABSI), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and triglycerides and glucose index (TyG index) compared with classical anthropometric measurements to discriminate metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: This retrospective study included 1372 individuals. Anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical measurements were used to screen the prevalence of MetS components and to calculate VAI, ABSI, TyG index, and AIP. RESULTS: The discriminatory capacity among the variables was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC). VAI was the variable with the highest AUC with 0.932 CI 95% (0.917-0.948), followed by AIP with 0.914 CI 95% (0.897-0.931), and TyG index with 0.889 CI 95% (0.871-0.908). CONCLUSION: VAI is a promising tool to identify MetS in the late adolescence setting. Among the novel adiposity indexes VAI, AIP, TyG index are able to determine MetS presence, while ABSI is not capable.

[Distribution of triglycerides and glucose (TyG) index and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance for the evaluation of insulin sensitivity on late adolescence in Mexicans]. / Distribución del índice triglicéridos y glucosa (TyG) y el modelo homeostático para la evaluación de la resistencia a la insulina en la adolescencia tardía en mexicanos.

Introduction: Introduction: when peripheral tissues don't respond well to insulin action, it is defined as insulin resistance (IR). Many methods and indices are available for the estimation of IR, among them the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) involves fasting plasma glucose and insulin. Nevertheless, the TyG index has a methodological advantage over the HOMA-IR because it requires only measurements provided by routine laboratory tests. Aim: distribution asessment of the HOMA-IR and TyG indexes in the sample. Also, to determine the predictive capacity of HOMA-IR, using TyG cutoff point as IR-positive diagnostic test. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional analytical study with 1686 participants aged 18 to 21 years from the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Anthropometric assessment involves variables of weight and height. Fasting glucose, insulin and triglyceride concentrations were quantified. In addition, a questionnaire was carried out to know the hereditary family history and the presence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Student's t-test was used to assess the differences in mean statistics between males and females. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to examine the potential of HOMA-IR to identify IR. Results: 56 % of the study adolescents were females and 44 % were males; mean BMI was 22.62 ± 3.21 kg/m2. In the total sample mean serum glucose, insulin, and triglyceride concentrations were 89.48 ± 9.84 mg/dL, 6.26 ± 5.04 µU/mL, and 95.64 ± 55.78 mg/dL, respectively. A prevalence of 28.2 % of IR was determined, evaluated with the cut-off points for the TyG index. Subsequently, Receiver Operator Curves (ROC) were performed to evaluate the predictive capacity of HOMA-IR. The most outstanding cut-off value was 1.08 for the HOMA-IR index, reaching a sensitivity of 66 % and a specificity of 53 %. The prevalence of HOMA-IR greater than or equal to 1.18 was 47 % in the total population, 19.3 % in males and 28.5 % in females Conclusions: HOMA-IR and TyG can be useful diagnostic parameters for the assessment of IR in late adolescence. To provide a health guide for IR, we propose that a HOMA-IR target value ≤ 1.08 should be considered.

Introducción: Introducción: cuando los tejidos periféricos tienen una incapacidad para responder a la acción de la insulina se denomina resistencia a la insulina (RI). Existen diferentes métodos para la identificación de la RI; uno de estos es el índice HOMA-IR, que utiliza los parámetros de laboratorio, glucosa e insulina en ayunas. El índice triglicéridos y glucosa (TyG) presenta la ventaja de solo necesitar análisis de laboratorio de rutina. Objetivo: evaluación de la distribución de los índices HOMA-IR y TyG en la población, así como determinar la capacidad predictiva del índice HOMA-IR utilizando el TyG como prueba diagnóstica para la RI. Materiales y métodos: estudio analítico transversal con 1686 participantes de 18 a 21 años del estado de San Luis Potosí. Se tomaron variables antropométricas de peso y talla y se cuantificó la concentración de glucosa, insulina y triglicéridos en ayuno. Además, se realizó un cuestionario para conocer los antecedentes heredofamiliares y la presencia de enfermedades no transmisibles (ENT). Para la comparación entre mujeres y hombres se realizó una prueba de la t de Student y se realizaron curvas operador receptor (COR) para determinar los valores de corte del HOMA-IR. Resultados: el 56 % de la población fueron mujeres y el 44 % hombres; la media del IMC fue de 22,62 ± 3,21 kg/m2. En la población total de estudio, la media de la concentración sérica de glucosa, insulina y triglicéridos fue de 89,48 ± 9,84 mg/dL, 6,26 ± 5,04 µU/mL y 95,64 ± 55,78 mg/dL, respectivamente. Se determinó una prevalencia del 28,2 % de la RI evaluada con los puntos de corte para el índice TyG. Posteriormente se realizaron curvas operador receptor (COR) para evaluar la capacidad predictiva del HOMA-IR. El valor de corte más destacado fue de 1,08 para el índice HOMA-IR, alcanzando una sensibilidad del 66 % y una especificidad del 53 %. La prevalencia del HOMA-IR mayor o igual a 1,18 fue del 47 % en la población total, del 19,3 % en los hombres y del 28,5 % en las mujeres. Conclusiones: los índices HOMA-IR y TyG pueden ser parámetros de utilidad diagnóstica para la valoración de la RI en la adolescencia tardía. Con el objetivo de brindar una guía de salud para la RI, proponemos que se debe considerar como objetivo un valor de HOMA-IR ≤ 1,08.

Distribución del índice triglicéridos y glucosa (TyG) y el modelo homeostático para la evaluación de la resistencia a la insulina en la adolescencia tardía en mexicanos / Distribution of triglycerides and glucose (TyG) index and homeostasis model assessment insulin resistance for the evaluation of insulin sensitivity on late adolescence in Mexicans

Introducción: cuando los tejidos periféricos tienen una incapacidad para responder a la acción de la insulina se denomina resistencia a la insulina (RI). Existen diferentes métodos para la identificación de la RI; uno de estos es el índice HOMA-IR, que utiliza los parámetros de laboratorio, glucosa e insulina en ayunas. El índice triglicéridos y glucosa (TyG) presenta la ventaja de solo necesitar análisis de laboratorio de rutina. Objetivo: evaluación de la distribución de los índices HOMA-IR y TyG en la población, así como determinar la capacidad predictiva del índice HOMA-IR utilizando el TyG como prueba diagnóstica para la RI. Materiales y métodos: estudio analítico transversal con 1686 participantes de 18 a 21 años del estado de San Luis Potosí. Se tomaron variables antropométricas de peso y talla y se cuantificó la concentración de glucosa, insulina y triglicéridos en ayuno. Además, se realizó un cuestionario para conocer los antecedentes heredofamiliares y la presencia de enfermedades no transmisibles (ENT). Para la comparación entre mujeres y hombres se realizó una prueba de la t de Student y se realizaron curvas operador receptor (COR) para determinar los valores de corte del HOMA-IR. (AU)

Introduction: when peripheral tissues don't respond well to insulin action, it is defined as insulin resistance (IR). Many methods and indices are available for the estimation of IR, among them the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) involves fasting plasma glucose and insulin. Nevertheless, the TyG index has a methodological advantage over the HOMA-IR because it requires only measurements provided by routine laboratory tests. Aim: distribution asessment of the HOMA-IR and TyG indexes in the sample. Also, to determine the predictive capacity of HOMA-IR, using TyG cutoff point as IR-positive diagnostic test. Materials and methods: a cross-sectional analytical study with 1686 participants aged 18 to 21 years from the state of San Luis Potosí, Mexico. Anthropometric assessment involves variables of weight and height. Fasting glucose, insulin and triglyceride concentrations were quantified. In addition, a questionnaire was carried out to know the hereditary family history and the presence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Student's t-test was used to assess the differences in mean statistics between males and females. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to examine the potential of HOMA-IR to identify IR. (AU)

Cultural Influences on Family Mealtime Routines in Mexico: Focus Group Study with Mexican Mothers.

Mexico's obesity rates are alarming, and experts project drastic increases in the next thirty years. There is growing interest in understanding how remote acculturation and globalization processes influence health behaviors. The present study used focus group data from a central state, San Luis Potosí, in Mexico to explore mothers' perspectives on factors that influence family mealtime routines. Thematic analysis was used to identify barriers and facilitators to healthy mealtime routines and diet within families. Twenty-one mothers participated in the focus groups; 76% were full-time stay at home mothers, the majority were low-income (65%), and fewer than half reached a high school education. Three major themes emerged: (1) mothers do most of the visible work involving mealtime routines; (2) family meals are different today, and globalization is a contributing factor; and (3) family mealtimes are shifting to weekend events. Empowering mothers to negotiate diet with family members to build healthy routines, navigate challenges due to changing environments, and set family boundaries around technology use during mealtimes should be taken into consideration when promoting healthy behaviors with Mexican families.

Change in Employment Status Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, SNAP Participation, and Household Food Insecurity among Black and Latino Adults in Illinois.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in record-high unemployment rates. Black and Latino adults experienced disproportionately higher rates of unemployment. We aimed to examine associations between pandemic-related employment status change and household food insecurity among an economically diverse sample of Black and Latino adults in Illinois during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, we evaluated the significance of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participation to determine if it modified associations. We analyzed cross-sectional data collected from 1,809 Black and Latino adults in two waves: May 2020 and June/July 2020. Participants listed their change in employment status as "lost job entirely", "employed, but paid hours reduced", "employed, but anticipate job lost", or "no change". Participants self-reported their SNAP status and completed the USDA's six item U.S. Food Security Module to report household food security status. We used logistic regression to assess the significance of associations after controlling for socio-demographics. Approximately 15.5% of participants lost their job entirely, 25.2% were SNAP participants, and 51.8% reported low food security (LFS). All changes in employment were significantly associated with increased odds of LFS after adjusting for socio-demographics. SNAP participants who lost their job had higher odds of LFS (OR: 4.69; 95% CI: 2.69-8.17) compared to non-participants who lost their job (OR: 2.97; 95%: 1.95-4.52). In summary, we observed strong associations between changes in employment and household food insecurity, particularly among SNAP participants, which underscores the pandemic's impact on low-income and minority populations.

Reducing Obesogenic Eating Behaviors in Hispanic Children through a Family-Based, Culturally-Tailored RCT: Abriendo Caminos.

Family-based interventions that incorporate culturally-tailored multi-component curricula and are grounded on evidence-based information and theoretical frameworks can help reduce the prevalence of obesity among Hispanic children. Abriendo Caminos: Clearing the Path to Hispanic Health is a multi-site culturally-tailored randomized control trial that aims to reduce obesity rates in Hispanic families by delivering education on nutrition, family wellness, and physical activity. This study evaluated the effect of the Abriendo Caminos six-week intervention on dietary behaviors of Hispanic children (6-18 years). Mothers (n = 365) reported their child's eating behavior intake using the U.S. Department of Education's Early Childhood Longitudinal Study protocol (ECLS). Pre/post dietary changes were evaluated using separate generalized estimating equation models adjusted for site, child sex, and child age group. Findings indicate a reduction in the frequency of sugar-sweetened beverages (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35, 0.87, p = 0.01), French fries (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36, 0.86, p = 0.009), and fast food (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.36, 0.84, p = 0.006) consumption among children in the intervention arm. Additionally, children in the intervention arm increased their frequency of vegetable consumption (OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.08, 3.12, p = 0.03). The Abriendo Caminos intervention effectively improved four of eight eating behaviors in a short-term intervention.

Hispanic Parents' Views of Family Physical Activity: Results from a Multisite Focus Group Investigation.

Understanding parental views regarding family physical activity is essential to the development of family-focused physical activity interventions. Using a qualitative methodology with thematic analysis and a socio-demographic questionnaire, this study aimed to examine Mexican American and Puerto Rican parental views on child and family physical activity. Sixty-one parents (56 mothers, five fathers) from four sites (California, Illinois, Texas, and Puerto Rico) each participated in a single one-hour focus group session, which included an average of five parents. The findings of this study indicated that parents perceived themselves and their families to be physically active, while some parents believed their children were getting enough physical activity at school and afterschool programs. Walking, bicycling, and playing soccer were the most common physical activities that parents reported engaging in as a family. In addition, some parents shared their preference for exercising without their children. Time constraints along with unsafe neighborhood streets and parks were identified as the major barriers to being physically active as a family. Mothers reported that fathers' involvement in physical activity and combining a healthy diet with exercise were useful strategies for physical activity promotion. This study provides valuable information regarding Hispanic parental views concerning family physical activity relevant to the design of culturally family-based physical activity interventions for this population.

Association between birthweight, cardiovascular risk factors, and depression in young Mexican adults / Asociación entre peso al nacer, riesgo cardiovascular y depresión en adultos jóvenes mexicanos

Background: the aim of this study was to investigate the association between birthweight, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and depression in young Mexican adults. Methods: birthweight reports, family history of CVD and diabetes-related diseases, anthropometrics, serum lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], and very-low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [VLDL-C]), and depressive symptoms were measured in 778 subjects of the UP-AMIGOS cohort study. To investigate the association between birthweight categories and CVD risk factors and depression, a one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc test was performed of quantitative variables, and c2 test for qualitative variables. Results: mean age was 17.8 years and 469 (60.3 %) of patients were female (n = 469, 60.3 %). The percentage of patients with low birthweight (LBW) was 8.1 % (n = 63), and 3.3 % (n = 26) reported high birthweight (HBW). Young adults with HBW were associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and high weight and body mass index (BMI) when compared to LBW subjects, the difference being statically significant (p < 0.05). Birthweight had no significant association with depression (p > 0.67). Conclusion: the findings from this population-based study revealed a positive relation between birthweight categories and some CVD risk factors. Depression was not related to birthweight. (AU)

Introducción: el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre el peso al nacer, los factores de riesgo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) y la depresión en adultos mexicanos jóvenes. Métodos: se obtuvieron como variables el peso al nacer, los antecedentes heredofamiliares de ECV y diabetes, la antropometría, el perfil lipídico (colesterol total [CT], triglicéridos [TG], lipoproteína de alta densidad [C-HDL], lipoproteína de baja densidad [C-LDL] y lipoproteína de muy baja densidad [C-VLDL]) y los síntomas de depresión de 778 participantes del estudio de cohortes UP-AMIGOS. Se realizó un análisis de la varianza de 1 vía con pruebas post hoc para investigar la asociación entre las categorías de peso al nacer, riesgo ECV y depresión entre las variables cuantitativas; para las variables cualitativas se realizaron pruebas del c2. Resultados: la edad media fue de 17,8 años y 469 (60,3 %) de los participantes eran mujeres. El porcentaje de pacientes con bajo peso al nacer (BPN) fue del 8,1 % (n = 63) y el 3,3 % (n = 26) tenían elevado peso al nacer (EPN). Se encontró una asociación en el grupo de EPN con la elevación de la presión arterial diastólica (PAS), el peso y el índice de masa corporal (IMC) al compararlo con el grupo de BPN, con una diferencia significativa de p < 0,05. No se encontró ninguna asociación entre el peso al nacer y la depresión (p > 0,67). Conclusiones: se encontró una relación positiva entre las categorías de peso al nacer con algunos factores de riesgo de ECV. La depresión no se asoció con el peso al nacer según los resultados de este estudio poblacional. (AU)

Association between birthweight, cardiovascular risk factors, and depression in young Mexican adults.

INTRODUCTION: Background: the aim of this study was to investigate the association between birthweight, cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors, and depression in young Mexican adults. Methods: birthweight reports, family history of CVD and diabetes-related diseases, anthropometrics, serum lipid profile (total cholesterol [TC], triglycerides [TG], high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], and very-low density lipoprotein-cholesterol [VLDL-C]), and depressive symptoms were measured in 778 subjects of the UP-AMIGOS cohort study. To investigate the association between birthweight categories and CVD risk factors and depression, a one-way analysis of variance with post-hoc test was performed of quantitative variables, and 2 test for qualitative variables. Results: mean age was 17.8 years and 469 (60.3 %) of patients were female (n = 469, 60.3 %). The percentage of patients with low birthweight (LBW) was 8.1 % (n = 63), and 3.3 % (n = 26) reported high birthweight (HBW). Young adults with HBW were associated with elevated diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and high weight and body mass index (BMI) when compared to LBW subjects, the difference being statically significant (p < 0.05). Birthweight had no significant association with depression (p > 0.67). Conclusion: the findings from this population-based study revealed a positive relation between birthweight categories and some CVD risk factors. Depression was not related to birthweight.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: el objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la asociación entre el peso al nacer, los factores de riesgo de las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) y la depresión en adultos mexicanos jóvenes. Métodos: se obtuvieron como variables el peso al nacer, los antecedentes heredofamiliares de ECV y diabetes, la antropometría, el perfil lipídico (colesterol total [CT], triglicéridos [TG], lipoproteína de alta densidad [C-HDL], lipoproteína de baja densidad [C-LDL] y lipoproteína de muy baja densidad [C-VLDL]) y los síntomas de depresión de 778 participantes del estudio de cohortes UP-AMIGOS. Se realizó un análisis de la varianza de 1 vía con pruebas post hoc para investigar la asociación entre las categorías de peso al nacer, riesgo ECV y depresión entre las variables cuantitativas; para las variables cualitativas se realizaron pruebas del 2. Resultados: la edad media fue de 17,8 años y 469 (60,3 %) de los participantes eran mujeres. El porcentaje de pacientes con bajo peso al nacer (BPN) fue del 8,1 % (n = 63) y el 3,3 % (n = 26) tenían elevado peso al nacer (EPN). Se encontró una asociación en el grupo de EPN con la elevación de la presión arterial diastólica (PAS), el peso y el índice de masa corporal (IMC) al compararlo con el grupo de BPN, con una diferencia significativa de p < 0,05. No se encontró ninguna asociación entre el peso al nacer y la depresión (p > 0,67). Conclusiones: se encontró una relación positiva entre las categorías de peso al nacer con algunos factores de riesgo de ECV. La depresión no se asoció con el peso al nacer según los resultados de este estudio poblacional.

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in CD36 Are Associated with Macular Pigment among Children.

BACKGROUND: High macular pigment optical density (MPOD) has been associated with improved eye health and better cognitive functions. Genetic variations have been associated with MPOD in adults. However, these associations between genetic variations and MPOD have not been studied in children. OBJECTIVES: This was a secondary analysis of the FK2 (Fitness Improves Thinking in Kids 2) trial (n = 134, 41% male). The aim was to determine differences in MPOD among children (aged 7-9 y) based on genetic variants that either are biologically relevant to lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) accumulation or have been associated with MPOD in adults. METHODS: MPOD was measured using customized heterochromatic flicker photometry via a macular densitometer. DXA was used to assess whole-body and visceral adiposity. DNA was extracted from saliva samples and was genotyped for 26 hypothesis-driven single nucleotide polymorphisms and 75 ancestry-informative markers (AIMs). Habitual diet history was obtained via 3-d food logs completed by parents (n = 88). General linear models were used to compare MPOD between different genotypes. Principal component analysis was performed for the AIMs to account for ethnic heterogeneity. RESULTS: Children carrying ≥1 minor allele on ß-carotene-15,15'-monooxygenase (BCO1)-rs7501331 (T allele) (P = 0.045), cluster of differentiation 36(CD36)-rs1527483 (T allele) (P = 0.038), or CD36-rs3173798 (C allele) (P = 0.001) had significantly lower MPOD (range: 14.1%-26.4%) than those who were homozygotes for the major alleles. MPOD differences based on CD36-rs3173798 genotypes persisted after adjustment for dietary L and Z intake. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that genetic variations of CD36 and BCO1 contribute to MPOD in children. The influence of genetic variation in CD36-rs3173798 persisted after adjusting for variation in dietary intake.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01619826.

Persistent confusion in nutrition and obesity research about the validity of classic nonparametric tests in the presence of heteroscedasticity: evidence of the problem and valid alternatives.

The use of classic nonparametric tests (cNPTs), such as the Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, in the presence of unequal variance for between-group comparisons of means and medians may lead to marked increases in the rate of falsely rejecting null hypotheses and decreases in statistical power. Yet, this practice remains prevalent in the scientific literature, including nutrition and obesity literature. Some nutrition and obesity studies use a cNPT in the presence of unequal variance (i.e., heteroscedasticity), sometimes because of the mistaken rationale that the test corrects for heteroscedasticity. Herein, we discuss misconceptions of using cNPTs in the presence of heteroscedasticity. We then discuss assumptions, purposes, and limitations of 3 common tests used to test for mean differences between multiple groups, including 2 parametric tests: Fisher's ANOVA and Welch's ANOVA; and 1 cNPT: the Kruskal-Wallis test. To document the impact of heteroscedasticity on the validity of these tests under conditions similar to those used in nutrition and obesity research, we conducted simple simulations and assessed type I error rates (i.e., false positives, defined as incorrectly rejecting the null hypothesis). We demonstrate that type I error rates for Fisher's ANOVA, which does not account for heteroscedasticity, and Kruskal-Wallis, which tests for differences in distributions rather than means, deviated from the expected significance level. Greater deviation from the expected type I error rate was observed as the heterogeneity increased, especially in the presence of an imbalanced sample size. We provide brief tutorial guidance for authors, editors, and reviewers to identify appropriate statistical tests when test assumptions are violated, with a particular focus on cNPTs.

Evidence of misuse of nonparametric tests in the presence of heteroscedasticity within obesity research.

BACKGROUND: Classic nonparametric tests (cNPTs), like Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U, are sometimes used to detect differences in central tendency ( i.e., means or medians). However, when the tests' assumptions are violated, such as in the presence of unequal variance and other forms of heteroscedasticity, they are no longer valid for testing differences in central tendency. Yet, sometimes researchers erroneously use cNPTs to account for heteroscedasticity. OBJECTIVE: To document the appropriateness of cNPT use in obesity literature, characterize studies that use cNPTs, and evaluate the citation and public sharing patterns of these articles. METHODS: We reviewed obesity studies published in 2017 to determine whether the authors used cNPTs: (1) to correct for heteroscedasticity (invalid); (2) when heteroscedasticity was clearly not present (correct); or (3) when it was unclear whether heteroscedasticity was present (unclear). Open science R packages were used to transparently search literature and extract data on how often papers with errors have been cited in academic literature, read in Mendeley, and disseminated in the media. RESULTS: We identified nine studies that used a cNPT in the presence of heteroscedasticity (some because of the mistaken rationale that the test corrected for heteroscedasticity), 25 articles that did not explicitly state whether heteroscedasticity was present when a cNPT was used, and only four articles that appropriately reported that heteroscedasticity was not present when a cNPT was used. Errors were found in observational and interventional studies, in human and rodent studies, and only when studies were unregistered. Studies with errors have been cited 113 times, read in Mendeley 123 times, and disseminated in the media 41 times, by the public, scientists, science communicators, and doctors. CONCLUSIONS: Examples of inappropriate use of cNPTs exist in the obesity literature, and those articles perpetuate the errors via various audiences and dissemination platforms.

From culture to chromosomes: A mother-child dyadic study of acculturation, telomere lengths and body fat.

Studies suggest that telomere lengths, a biomarker of aging, could also capture the physiological weathering attributable to poor health behaviors and adverse experiences, particularly those experienced in early life. For these reasons, we propose that telomere lengths may be a pivotal biomarker for measuring the heightened susceptibility to illness resulting from the cumulative exposure to acculturation to the US culture. This binational study used an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model to test if maternal acculturation to the US moderates the cross-sectional associations of telomere lengths with percentage of body fat (PBF) among Mexican women, among their children, and the intergenerational associations of mother and children telomere lengths with each other's PBF. Low income Mexican child-mother dyads (n â€‹= â€‹108 dyads) were recruited to participate in this cross-sectional study in Mexico and the US. The pooled dataset included measurements of maternal acculturation to the US, mother and children's salivary telomere lengths, PBF measured through bioelectrical impedance, and demographic characteristics. Results showed that the influences of maternal acculturation in the associations of telomere lengths with PBF were different for mothers and their children: Among mothers with higher maternal acculturation to the US, longer salivary telomere lengths were associated with lower PBF. In contrast, among mothers with lower maternal acculturation to the US, salivary telomere lengths were not associated with PBF. There were no significant associations between children's salivary telomere lengths and PBF, and the null associations did not vary across different levels of maternal acculturation to the US. Future longitudinal studies are needed to determine whether acculturation to the US (experienced through immigration or remotely) influences the association of telomere length attrition with obesity risks among immigrant and non-immigrant Mexican children and adults.

Science dialogue mapping of knowledge and knowledge gaps related to the effects of dairy intake on human cardiovascular health and disease.

Dairy has been described as everything from a superfood to a poison; yet, arguments, assumptions, and data justifying these labels are not always clear. We used an issue-based information system, "dialogue mapping™," to summarize scientific points of a live panel discussion on the putative effects of dairy on cardiovascular diseases (CVD) from a day-long session among experts in nutrition and CVD. Dialogue mapping captures relations among ideas to explicitly, logically, and visually connect issues/questions, ideas, pro/con arguments, and agreements, even if discussed at different times. Experts discussed two propositions: for CVD risk, consumption of full-fat dairy products 1) should be minimized, in part because of their saturated fat content, or 2) need not be minimized, despite their saturated fat content. The panel discussed the dairy-CVD relation through blood lipids, diabetes, obesity, energy balance, blood pressure, dairy bioactives, biobehavioral components, and other putative causal pathways. Associations and effects reported in the literature have varied by fat content of dairy elements considered, study design, intake methods, and biomarker versus disease outcomes. Two conceptual topics emerged from the discussion: 1) individual variability: whether recommendations should be targeted only to those at high CVD risk; 2) quality of evidence: whether data on dairy-CVD relations are strong enough for reliable conclusions-positive, negative, or null. Future procedural improvements for science dialog mapping include using singular rather than competing propositions for discussion.

Mealtime resistance: Hispanic mothers' perspectives on making healthy eating changes within the family.

Several perceived barriers to healthy eating within the family (e.g., cost, lack of time, energy, accessibility) are documented. However, few studies have assessed Hispanic mothers' perceived barriers and strategies in implementing healthy eating changes in the family's meals. The primary goal of this qualitative study was to investigate Mexican and Puerto Rican mothers' barriers and strategies to creating healthy eating changes within the family at home. A sample of 46 Mexican-American and Puerto Rican mothers in California, Illinois, and Texas participated in this study. An average of 5 mothers participated in a focus group session in Spanish and completed a demographic survey. Focus group thematic analysis revealed that major barriers to implementing healthy eating changes within the family include child and spouse resistance as well as meal preparation time. The resistance mothers reported encountering magnify their meal preparation workload. Mothers shared that they sometimes prepared multiple meals in a single mealtime to please family members. Several strategies to promote healthy eating at home, including serving as role models, providing easy access to healthy food items at home, and not purchasing, or hiding, unhealthy food at home, were also discussed. The current study expands the existing literature by emphasizing the need to empower parents to make healthy changes within their family and the importance of taking fathers and children into account in programming so that the whole family is involved in making healthy changes.

Genetic Variants in Lipid Metabolism Pathways Interact with Diet to Influence Blood Lipid Concentrations in Adults with Overweight and Obesity.

INTRODUCTION: The effect of various types of dietary fat on cardiometabolic health continues to be debated, due in part to the high heterogeneity of results following clinical trials investigating the effects of saturated (SFA) and unsaturated fat intake. This variability may be due to genetic differences. Individuals with obesity are at an increased risk for adverse cardiometabolic health and dyslipidemia, and often present with the combined phenotype of elevated triglyceride (TG) and decreased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol concentrations. Studying genetic variants relevant to lipid and lipoprotein metabolism can elucidate the mechanisms by which diet might interact with genotype to influence these phenotypes. The objective of this study was to determine relationships of genetic variation, dietary fat intake, and blood lipid concentrations in adults with overweight and obesity. METHODS: Genomic DNA, blood lipid concentrations (HDL and TG), and 7-day diet records were obtained from 101 adults (25-45 years of age) with overweight or obesity. Resting energy expenditure (REE) was measured using indirect calorimetry and used to determine implausible intakes using a modified Goldberg method (kilocalories/REE). Genetic variants included 23 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 15 genes in lipid metabolism pathways. Variants were analyzed with dietary fat intake (total fat, SFA, monounsaturated fat [MUFA], and polyunsaturated fat [PUFA]) via regression analyses. All models were adjusted for age, sex, ancestry, visceral adipose tissue mass, and total kilocalorie intake. The Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparisons. RESULTS: Two interactions were detected for TG concentrations. Five gene-diet interactions were associated with HDL concentrations. There was a significant interaction detected between the rs5882 variant of cholesterol-esterase transfer protein (CETP) and MUFA intake to associate with TG concentrations (interaction p = 0.004, R2 = 0.306). Among carriers of the CETP-rs5882 major allele (G), TG concentrations were significantly lower in individuals consuming more than the median MUFA intake (31 g/day) than in those with an intake below the median. Total dietary fat intake interacted with the rs13702 polymorphism of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) to associate with HDL concentrations (interaction p = 0.041, R2 = 0.419), by which individuals with the risk allele (G) had significantly higher HDL concentrations when consuming a higher-fat diet (>92 g/day) than those with a lower-fat diet (56 ± 3 vs. 46 ± 2 mg/dL, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Interactions between dietary intake and genes in lipid metabolism pathways were found to be associated with blood lipid concentrations in adults with overweight and obesity. Fatty acid intake may not modulate blood lipid concentrations uniformly across all individuals. Additional research is needed to determine the biological causes of individual variability in response to dietary intake. Understanding the influence of nutrigenetic interactions on dyslipidemia can aid in the development and implementation of personalized dietary strategies to improve health.