Avocado consumption is associated with a reduction in hypertension incidence in Mexican women.

Avocado is a fruit rich in dietary fibre, potassium, Mg, mono and PUFA and bioactive phytochemicals, which are nutritional components that have been associated with cardiovascular health. Yet, despite the boom in avocado consumption, we lack evidence on its association with CVD risk in the general population. To estimate the prospective association between avocado consumption and incident hypertension in Mexican women, we estimated the association in participants from the Mexican Teachers' Cohort who were ≥ 25 years, free of hypertension, CVD and cancer at baseline (n 67 383). We assessed baseline avocado consumption with a semi-quantitative FFQ (never to six or more times per week). Incident hypertension cases were identified if participants self-reported a diagnosis and receiving treatment. To assess the relation between categories of avocado consumption (lowest as reference) and incident hypertension, we estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) and 95 % CI using Poisson regression models and adjusting for confounding. We identified 4002 incident cases of hypertension during a total of 158 706 person-years for a median follow-up of 2·2 years. The incidence rate of hypertension was 25·1 cases per 1000 person-years. Median avocado consumption was 1·0 (interquartile range: 0·23, 1·0) serving per week (half an avocado). After adjustment for confounding, consuming 5 + servings per week of avocado was associated with a 17 % decrease in the rate of hypertension, compared with non- or low consumers (IRR = 0·83; 95 % CI: 0·70, 0·99; Ptrend = 0·01). Frequent consumption of avocado was associated with a lower incidence of hypertension.

Dietary patterns, cooking methods and breast cancer risk in Mexico: An exploratory case-control study.

Background: Nutrition has an important influence on the risk of developing breast cancer (BC). Dietary patterns can capture the complex interplay of nutrients and cooking methods can contribute to the presence of heterocyclic amines, which are potent mammary carcinogens. Research on dietary patterns, cooking methods, and their association with BC in Mexican women is scarce. Aim: To evaluate the association of dietary patterns and cooking methods with BC risk among women from the Northwest region of Mexico. Methods: This case-control study included 120 women. Eligible cases (n = 60) were diagnosed and biopsy-confirmed in the past 2 years. Control subjects (n = 60) were hospital and population-based. Dietary intake and cooking methods were respectively assessed through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the National Cancer Institute survey. We obtained dietary patterns from a K-means cluster analysis (CA), and multivariate logistic regression tested the association of dietary patterns and cooking methods with BC risk. Results: Prudent and caloric dietary patterns were identified. The caloric pattern was associated with BC risk (Model 1: ORadj: 5.07, 95%CI:1.44-17.84, p = 0.011; Model 2: ORadj: 4.99 (95%CI:1.39-17.92, p = 0.014). Intense frying, meat grilling and poultry resulted in a significant BC risk (Model 1: ORadj: 5.54,95%CI: 2.13-14.41), p < 0.001; Model 2: ORadj: 5.12, 95%CI: 1.83-14.31, p = 0.002). At Oestrogen exposure of <32 years, there was an association between dietary patterns and BC risk (ORadj: 4.69, 95%CI: 1.01-21.92, p = 0.049). The relationship between BC risk and cooking intensity was found in both strata of exposure to oestrogens: <32 years (ORadj: 3.72, 95%CI:1.04-13.33, p = 0.044), and ≥32 years (ORadj: 6.06, 95%CI:1.34-27.42, p = 0.019). Conclusions: A caloric dietary pattern rich in refined carbohydrates and saturated fat, and intense meat product cooking may increase the risk of BC in Mexican women.

Epidemiology of Breast Cancer in Mexican Women with Obesity as a Risk Factor.

Purpose. Adipose tissue in overweight and obesity shows metabolic imbalance in the function of adipocytes and macrophages, this leads to altered regulation of hunger, lipid storage, and chronic inflammation possibly related to the development of breast cancer. Methods. The study was retrospective of 653 breast cancer patients treated at a tertiary care hospital. Histopathology, hormone receptors, grade, clinical stage, clinical biometry analysis, CEA and CA 15-3 antigens were analyzed. The analyses were performed at diagnosis and at the end of oncological treatments. Results. Mexican women studied and treated for breast cancer have an BMI of 29 from diagnosis and at the end of their cancer treatments. The average age was 52 ± 12 years, 54% in women older than 55 years. Cancer recurrence occurs in any molecular type; however, the common factor was overweight and obesity with 73% vs. 21% in normal weight patients. The most frequent tumor tissue in the population was positive hormone receptors of the luminal type (65%), HER2 (15%), and NT (15%). The analyses of macrophages/lymphocytes (M/L), CEA, and CA 15-3 antigens evaluated in women >55 and <55 years, with and without recurrence are elevated at the end of oncological treatments. Conclusions. The analysis of Mexican women with breast cancer showed a predominance of overweight and obesity at diagnosis and at the end of treatment. A relationship between obesity and cancer recurrence with a low response to treatment due to elevation in Ag CEA and CA 15-3 is suggested. The L/M ratio could be an indicator of inflammation related to adipose tissue since diagnosis.

Biomarkers of mammographic density in premenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: While mammographic density is one of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer, little is known about its determinants, especially in young women. We applied targeted metabolomics to identify circulating metabolites specifically associated with mammographic density in premenopausal women. Then, we aimed to identify potential correlates of these biomarkers to guide future research on potential modifiable determinants of mammographic density. METHODS: A total of 132 metabolites (acylcarnitines, amino acids, biogenic amines, glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, hexose) were measured by tandem liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry in plasma samples from 573 premenopausal participants in the Mexican Teachers' Cohort. Associations between metabolites and percent mammographic density were assessed using linear regression models, adjusting for breast cancer risk factors and accounting for multiple tests. Mean concentrations of metabolites associated with percent mammographic density were estimated across levels of several lifestyle and metabolic factors. RESULTS: Sphingomyelin (SM) C16:1 and phosphatidylcholine (PC) ae C30:2 were inversely associated with percent mammographic density after correction for multiple tests. Linear trends with percent mammographic density were observed for SM C16:1 only in women with body mass index (BMI) below the median (27.4) and for PC ae C30:2 in women with a BMI over the median. SM C16:1 and PC ae C30:2 concentrations were positively associated with cholesterol (total and HDL) and inversely associated with number of metabolic syndrome components. CONCLUSIONS: We identified new biomarkers associated with mammographic density in young women. The association of these biomarkers with mammographic density and metabolic parameters may provide new perspectives to support future preventive actions for breast cancer.

Pathological characteristics, survival, and risk of breast cancer associated with estrogen and xenobiotic metabolism polymorphisms in Mexican women with breast cancer.

Prolonged exposure to estrogens is the main factor associated with the risk and prognosis of breast cancer (BC). The genes involved in the biotransformation of estrogens and xenobiotics have allelic variants with modified enzymatic activities. We investigated the association of nine polymorphisms of some genes from the classical estrogen pathway with the risk of breast cancer and their role in the clinicopathological characteristics of poor clinical prognosis in a sample of Mexican women with BC. METHODS: We included 150 controls and 150 cases matched by age. To analyze the selected polymorphisms, TaqMan assays and high-resolution melting (HRM) analysis were used. RESULTS: The polymorphisms of the genes ERα, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, COMT, MGMT, and XRCC1 were positively associated with the BC risk. We found negative associations between CYP1B1G/G genotype and tumor size, and status of lymph node, estrogen receptor, triple negative, and survival. CONCLUSIONS: The polymorphisms included in this study are associated not only with the risk of BC, but also with some clinicopathological characteristics for poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer, highlighting the important role of CYP1B1 Leu432Val polymorphism.

The high methylation level of a novel 151-bp CpG island in the ESR1 gene promoter is associated with a poor breast cancer prognosis.

BACKGROUND: The ESR1 gene suffers methylation changes in many types of cancers, including breast cancer (BC), the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women that is also present in men. Methylation at promoter A of ESR1 is the worse prognosis in terms of overall survival; thus, the early detection, prognostic, and prediction of therapy involve some methylation biomarkers. METHODS: Therefore, our study aimed to examine the methylation levels at the ESR1 gene in samples from Mexican BC patients and its possible association with menopausal status. RESULTS: We identified a novel 151-bp CpG island in the promoter A of the ESR1 gene. Interestingly, methylation levels at this CpG island in positive ERα tumors were approximately 50% less than negative ERα or control samples. Furthermore, methylation levels at ESR1 were associated with menopausal status. In postmenopausal patients, the methylation levels were 1.5-fold higher than in premenopausal patients. Finally, according to tumor malignancy, triple-negative cancer subtypes had higher ESR1 methylation levels than luminal/HER2+ or luminal A subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that methylation at this novel CpG island might be a promising prognosis marker.

Performance of the Global Diet Quality Score with Nutrition and Health Outcomes in Mexico with 24-h Recall and FFQ Data.

BACKGROUND: The Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) is intended as a simple global diet quality metric feasible in low- and middle-income countries facing the double burden of malnutrition. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the GDQS with markers of nutrient adequacy and chronic disease in nonpregnant nonlactating (NPNL) Mexican women of reproductive age and to compare it with the Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010) and the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W). METHODS: We included NPNL women aged 15 to 49 y from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Surveys (2012 and 2016) with 24-h recall (n = 2542) or a FFQ (n = 4975) (separate samples). We evaluated the correlation of the GDQS with the energy-adjusted intake of several nutrients and evaluated its association with health parameters using covariate-adjusted linear regression models. RESULTS: The GDQS was positively correlated with the intake of calcium, folate, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B-12, zinc, fiber, protein, and total fat (rho = 0.09 to 0.38, P < 0.05) and was inversely correlated with the intake of added sugar (rho = -0.37 and -0.38, P < 0.05) using both instruments, and with total fat, SFA, and MUFA only with 24-h recall data (rho = -0.06 to -0.16, P < 0.05). The GDQS was inversely associated with serum ferritin, BMI, waist circumference, and serum total and LDL cholesterol using FFQ data (P < 0.05), and was positively associated with serum folate using 24-h recall data (P < 0.05). Similar correlations and associations were observed with the MDD-W (only with micronutrients) and the AHEI-2010 (only with chronic disease-related nutrients and health markers). CONCLUSIONS: In comparison to other diet metrics, the GDQS can capture both dimensions of nutrient adequacy and health markers related to the risk of chronic disease. The performance of the GDQS was satisfactory with either 24-h recall or FFQ.

Changes in the Global Diet Quality Score, Weight, and Waist Circumference in Mexican Women.

BACKGROUND: Evidence on concurrent changes in overall diet quality and weight and waist circumference in women of reproductive age from low- and middle-income countries is limited. OBJECTIVES: We examined the associations of changes in the Global Diet Quality Score (GDQS) and each GDQS food group with concurrent weight and waist circumference change in Mexican women. METHODS: We followed prospectively 8967 nonpregnant nonlactating women aged 25-49 y in the Mexican Teachers' Cohort between 2006 and 2008. We assessed diet using an FFQ of the previous year and anthropometric measures were self-reported. Regression models were used to examine 2-y changes in the GDQS and each food group (servings/d) with weight and waist circumference changes within the same period, adjusting for demographic and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: Compared with those with little change in the GDQS (-2 to 2 points), women with the largest increase in the GDQS (>5 points) had less weight (ß: -0.81 kg/2 y; 95% CI: -1.11, -0.51 kg/2 y) and waist circumference gain (ß: -1.05 cm/2 y; 95% CI: -1.62, -0.48 cm/2 y); likewise, women with the largest decrease in the GDQS (<-5 points) had more weight (ß: 0.36 kg/2 y; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.66 kg/2 y) and waist circumference gain (ß: 0.71 cm/2 y; 95% CI: 0.09, 1.32 cm/2 y). Increased intake of dark green leafy vegetables, cruciferous vegetables, deep orange vegetables, citrus fruits, and fish and shellfish was associated with less weight gain. In addition, deep orange vegetables, low fat and high fat dairy, whole grains, and fish were associated with less waist circumference gain within the 2-y period. CONCLUSIONS: Improvements in diet quality over a 2-y period reflected by an increase in the GDQS and changes in consumption of specific components of the GDQS were associated with less weight and waist circumference gain in Mexican women.

Ultraprocessed beverages and processed meats increase the incidence of hypertension in Mexican women.

Higher intake of ultraprocessed foods (UPF), which have undergone multiple processes and have poor nutrient quality, is associated with higher incidence of non-communicable diseases. Yet, its association with hypertension has scarcely been studied, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). We aimed to estimate the associations between consumption of UPF (total, liquid and solid) and UPF subgroups and incident hypertension in a prospective cohort study. We used data from the Mexican Teachers' Cohort including 64 934 disease-free women aged ≥25 years at baseline. We assessed baseline usual dietary intake using a validated FFQ, and each item was categorised according to NOVA, a degree of food processing classification system. UPF and UPF subgroups were categorised according to the distribution of their contribution to total energy intake. Hypertension was self-reported. We estimated incidence rate ratios (IRR) and their 95 % CI. During a median follow-up of 2·2 years, we identified 3752 incident cases of hypertension. Mean contribution of UPF to total energy intake was 29·8 (SD 9·4) % energy (23·4 (SD 8·9) % solid, 6·4 (SD 4·8) % liquid). Comparing extreme categories showed that higher total and solid UPF consumptions were not associated with incident hypertension (IRR 0·96, 95 % CI 0·79, 1·16; IRR 0·91, 95 % CI 0·82, 1·01, respectively). However, liquid UPF and processed meats were associated with increased hypertension (IRR 1·32, 95 % CI 1·10, 1·65; IRR 1·17, 95 % CI 1·01, 1·36, respectively). Addressing intake of liquid UPF and processed meats may help in managing hypertension in LMIC.

Changes in the eye contour signs due to age among Mexican women: Comparison with women of other ethnic origins.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the changes in certain ocular signs because of age, among Mexican women and to compare these with those previously obtained on women of other ethnicities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Photographs were taken of the faces of 203 Mexican women of different ages, under standardized conditions. These photographs allowed us to focus and define nine ocular signs, which were then graded by 15 experts and dermatologists, using standardized scales provided by a reference Skin Aging Atlas. Hence, the same protocol, previously used on 3240 women of four other ethnic origins (Caucasian: 600; Chinese: 990; Japanese: 1010; Indian: 300; African: 340), allowed us to compare the results obtained on Mexican women. RESULTS: The severity of crow's feet wrinkles for Mexican women shows a more intense progression with age than those of women from other ancestries. The lower eyelid wrinkles of Mexican women, that show weak or erratic changes with time, were however found to have higher and significant severity at a young age. Pigmentation disorders of their ocular area were found less pronounced as compared to those of Asian or Indian women. Eye bags were observed with similar slight changes in all five ancestries. CONCLUSION: The present work confirms that the clinical signs of age for the female eye area develop differently depending on the ethnic origins of the volunteer.

OBJECTIF: D'évaluer les variations avec l'âge de signes cliniques de la zone des yeux pour des femmes mexicaines et de les comparer avec des données précédemment acquises pour des femmes d'autres origines ethniques. MATERIEL ET METHODES: 203 femmes mexicaines, d'âges différents, ont été photographiées sous des conditions standardisées pour analyser neuf signes cliniques relatifs à la zone des yeux. Ces derniers couvrent des clusters cliniques de Rides/Texture, de Désordres pigmentaires ou de Ptose/relâchement et ont été évalués dans leurs sévérités respectives suivant les échelles éditées dans les Atlas cliniques du Vieillissement de référence par un groupe de 15experts et dermatologues. Ce même protocole a été utilisé précédemment sur 3240 femmes de 4 origines différentes (caucasiennes :600 ; chinoises : 990 ; japonaises : 1010 ; indiennes : 300 ; africaines : 340) et nous permet de pouvoir comparer ces résultats aux données obtenues sur les femmes mexicaines. RESULTATS: La sévérité des rides de la patte d'oie pour les femmes mexicaines présente une progression plus rapide avec l'âge que celles observées dans les autres ethnicités. Les rides de la paupière inférieure des femmes mexicaines, présentant des variations faibles ou erratiques avec l'âge, ont cependant été scorées avec une sévérité significativement supérieure pour les âges les plus jeunes. Les désordres pigmentaires pour la zone des yeux ont été trouvés comme moins prononcés en comparaison des femmes d'origine asiatique ou indienne. Les poches sous les yeux ont été observées avec des évolutions similaires avec l'âge quelle que soit l'origine ethnique. CONCLUSION: Ces travaux confirment que les signes cliniques de la zone des yeux présentent différentes évolutions avec l'âge en fonction des origines ethniques.

ADIPOQ single nucleotide polymorphisms and breast cancer in northeastern Mexican women.

BACKGROUND: Adiponectin gene (ADIPOQ) polymorphisms have been shown to affect adiponectin serum concentration and some have been associated with breast cancer (BC) risk. The aims of this study were to describe the frequency of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of ADIPOQ in Mexican women with BC and to determine if they show an association with it. METHODS: DNA samples from 397 patients and 355 controls were tested for the ADIPOQ gene SNPs: rs2241766 (GT) and rs1501299 (GT) by TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) was tested. Multiple SNP inheritance models adjusted by age and body mass index (BMI) were examined for the SNP rs1501299. RESULTS: We found that in the frequency analysis of rs1501299 without adjusting the BMI and age, the genotype distribution had a statistically significant difference (P = 0.003). The T allele was associated with a BC risk (OR, 1.99; 95% CI 1.13-3.51, TT vs. GG; OR, 1.53; 95% CI 1.12-2.09, GT vs. GG). The SNP rs2241766 was in HW disequilibrium in controls. In conclusion, the rs1501299 polymorphism is associated with a BC risk. CONCLUSIONS: Identification of the genotype of these polymorphisms in patients with BC can contribute to integrate the risk profile in both patients and their relatives as part of a comprehensive approach and increasingly more personalized medicine.

Gut Microbiota and Predicted Metabolic Pathways in a Sample of Mexican Women Affected by Obesity and Obesity Plus Metabolic Syndrome.

Obesity is an excessive fat accumulation that could lead to complications like metabolic syndrome. There are reports on gut microbiota and metabolic syndrome in relation to dietary, host genetics, and other environmental factors; however, it is necessary to explore the role of the gut microbiota metabolic pathways in populations like Mexicans, where the prevalence of obesity and metabolic syndrome is high. This study identify alterations of the gut microbiota in a sample of healthy Mexican women (CO), women with obesity (OB), and women with obesity plus metabolic syndrome (OMS). We studied 67 women, characterizing their anthropometric and biochemical parameters along with their gut bacterial diversity by high-throughput DNA sequencing. Our results indicate that in OB or OMS women, Firmicutes was the most abundant bacterial phylum. We observed significant changes in abundances of bacteria belonging to the Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, and Erysipelotrichaceae families and significant enrichment of gut bacteria from 16 different taxa that might explain the observed metabolic alterations between the groups. Finally, the predicted functional metagenome of the gut microbiota found in each category shows differences in metabolic pathways related to lipid metabolism. We demonstrate that Mexican women have a particular bacterial gut microbiota characteristic of each phenotype. There are bacteria that potentially explain the observed metabolic differences between the groups, and gut bacteria in OMS and OB conditions carry more genes of metabolic pathways implicated in lipid metabolism.

Association analysis of calpain 10 gene variants/haplotypes with gestational diabetes mellitus among Mexican women.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a metabolically complex disease with major genetic determinants. GDM has been associated with insulin resistance and dysfunction of pancreatic beta cells, so the GDM candidate genes are those that encode proteins modulating the function and secretion of insulin, such as that for calpain 10 (CAPN10). This study aimed to assess whether single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-43, SNP-44, SNP-63, and the indel-19 variant, and specific haplotypes of the CAPN10 gene were associated with gestational diabetes mellitus. We studied 116 patients with gestational diabetes mellitus and 83 women with normal glucose tolerance. Measurements of anthropometric and biochemical parameters were performed. SNP-43, SNP-44, and SNP-63 were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphisms, while the indel-19 variant was detected by TaqMan qPCR assays.  The allele, genotype, and haplotype frequencies of the four variants did not differ significantly between women with gestational diabetes mellitus and controls. However, in women with gestational diabetes mellitus, glucose levels were significantly higher bearing the 3R/3R genotype than in carriers of the 3R/2R genotype of the indel-19 variant (p = 0.006). In conclusion, the 3R/3R genotype of the indel-19 variant of the CAPN-10 gene influenced increased glucose levels in these Mexican women with gestational diabetes mellitus.

Body Image Dissatisfaction, Obesity and Their Associations with Breastfeeding in Mexican Women, a Cross-Sectional Study.

Introduction In Mexico the breastfeeding rate is low and the obesity rate is high. Body image concerns, particularly prevalent in obese women, are associated with low breastfeeding rate; however, this association has never been examined in Mexican women. To fill this need, we examined the association between body image dissatisfaction (BID) and breastfeeding across levels of maternal weight status in Mexican women. Methods A cross-sectional study was used, utilizing data from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (ENSANUT) for 2012. The breastfeeding (Never or breastfed less than 30 days, Still breastfeeding, Ever breastfed) of the last child (age ≤ 3 years), BID (Stunkard Figure Rating Scale), anthropometric (Body Mass Index, BMI), and associated characteristics were collected. Weighted-multinomial logistic regression models were utilized to examine the adjusted association between BID and breastfeeding and the effect modification of maternal weight status. Results Overall, 2422 women aged 20-49 years met the eligibility criteria. Of these, 247 (10.8%) had never breastfed or breastfed less than 30 days, 826 (32%) were still breastfeeding, and 1349 (57.2%) had breastfed. A total of 38.2% were overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30 kg m2) and 26.2% were obese (BMI ≥ 30 kg m2). In the adjusted model, while stratifying by maternal weight status levels, a greater BID was associated with a lower odds of sill breastfeeding (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.45-0.75) and having breastfed (OR 0.65, 95% CI 0.50-0.83) only among women with BMI ≥ 30 kg m2. Discussion The results highlight the potential relationship between body image concerns and breastfeeding in Mexican women with obesity. However, the causality of such relationship needs further investigation, ideally using a longitudinal study design.

Late Diagnosis Due to Missed Opportunities and Inadequate Screening Strategies in HIV Infected Mexican Women.

Late diagnosis of HIV remains a public health issue in Mexico. Most national programs target high-risk groups, not including women. More data on factors associated with late diagnosis and access to care in women are needed. In 2012-2013, Mexican women recently diagnosed with HIV were interviewed. Socio-cultural background, household-dynamics and clinical data were collected. Of 301 women, 49 % had <200 CD4 cells/mm3, 8 % were illiterate, 31 % had only primary school. Physical/sexual violence was reported by 47/30 %; 75 % acquired HIV from their stable partners. Prenatal HIV screening was not offered in 61 %; 40 % attended consultation for HIV-related symptoms without being tested for HIV. Seeking medical care ≥3 times before diagnosis was associated with baseline CD4 <200 cells/mm3 (adjusted OR 3.74, 95 % CI 1.88-7.45, p < 0.001). There were missed opportunities during prenatal screening and when symptomatic women seeked medical care. Primary care needs to be improved and new strategies implemented for early diagnosis in women.

Whole Blood ω-3 Fatty Acids Are Inversely Associated with Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Indigenous Mexican Women.

BACKGROUND: Long-chain ω-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. The association between n-3 PUFAs and cardiovascular disease may vary across different populations, and there is limited information on Hispanic individuals with mixed Amerindian and European origin. OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the cross-sectional relations between whole blood n-3 PUFAs and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) in Mexican women living in Mexico and assessed whether this relation was different in women who spoke an indigenous language compared with women who did not. METHODS: In 2012-2013, we assessed the association between blood n-3 PUFAs and IMT in 1306 women free of disease in Chiapas and Yucatan, Mexico. We categorized blood n-3 PUFAs (% of total FAs) in quartiles and adjusted linear regression models by age, indigenous language, site, socioeconomic status, education, smoking, menopause, diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, body mass index, physical activity, and diet. We stratified analyses by indigenous/nonindigenous language speakers (n = 315 of 991). RESULTS: Whole blood n-3 PUFAs (means ± SDs) were 3.58% ± 0.78% of total FAs. We did not observe a significant association between n-3 PUFAs and IMT in the overall study population. However, the adjusted mean difference of IMT was -6.5% (95% CI: -10.7%, -2.3%; P-trend < 0.0001) for indigenous women in the highest quartile compared with the lowest quartile of blood n-3 PUFAs. In nonindigenous women, we did not observe an association (-0.6%; 95% CI: -3.0%, 1.8%, comparing extreme quartiles; P-trend = 1.00). CONCLUSIONS: Overall, circulating n-3 PUFAs were not associated with IMT. However, we observed a strong statistically significant inverse association with IMT in indigenous Mexican women. Future studies should evaluate genetic markers that may reflect differences in n-3 PUFA metabolism across populations.

Levels of serum estradiol and lifestyle factors related with bone mineral density in premenopausal Mexican women: a cross-sectional analysis.

BACKGROUND: Many factors, such as heredity, ethnicity, nutrition and other lifestyle factors, have been related to bone mineral density in postmenopausal women. Additionally, bone mass has been significantly associated with decreased estrogen levels. However, fewstudies have been conducted on premenopausal women. The present study was designed to estimate the relationship between low bone mineral density and levels of serum estradiol and lifestyle factors in premenopausal Mexican women. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 270 women between 40 and 48 years of age who participate in the Health Workers Cohort Study. Information on socio-demographic and lifestyle factors were obtained through a self-administered questionnaire. Body mass index and serum estradiol were measured with standard procedures; bone mineral density was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were computed to evaluate the relationship between low bone mineral density and levels of serum estradiol and lifestyle factors. RESULTS: In linear regression analysis levels of estradiol, body mass index, physical activity, and vitamin D intake were positively related to bone mineral density. Age, cigarette smoking and caffeine were inversely associated with BMD. Finally, the odds of low bone mineral density increase significantly when the premenopausal women had low levels of serum estradiol (OR = 4.93, 95 % CI: 2.14, 11.37). CONCLUSION: These data support that low serum estradiol, advancing age, lower physical activity, lower vitamin D intake, cigarette smoking, and higher amount of caffeine intake are linked to low bone mineral density in premenopausal Mexican women.

Adherence to the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research cancer prevention recommendations and breast cancer risk in the Cancer de Màma (CAMA) study.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association between adherence to the recommendations of the World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) and breast cancer (BC) risk in the Cancer de Màma (CAMA) study in a Mexican population. DESIGN: Population-based case-control study. SUBJECTS: Incident BC cases (n 1000) and controls (n 1074) matched on age, region and health-care system were recruited. SETTING: In-person interviews were conducted to assess BC risk factors and habitual diet was assessed with an FFQ. Conformity to the WCRF/AICR recommendations was evaluated through a score incorporating seven WCRF/AICR components (body fatness, physical activity, foods and drinks that promote weight gain, plant foods, animal foods, alcoholic drinks and breast-feeding), with high scores indicating adherence to the WCRF/AICR recommendations. RESULTS: No statistically significant associations between WCRF/AICR score and risk of BC were observed. After excluding BMI from the WCRF/AICR score, the top quartile was associated with a decreased BC risk overall, with ORQ4-Q1=0.68 (95% CI 0.49, 0.92, P trend=0.03), and among postmenopausal women, with ORQ4-Q1=0.60 (95% CI 0.39, 0.94, P trend=0.03). Inverse associations were observed between BMI and risk of BC overall and among premenopausal women, with OR=0.57 (95% CI 0.42, 0.76, P trend <0.01) and 0.48 (95% CI 0.31, 0.73, P trend<0.01), respectively. Physical activity level was inversely associated with BC risk. CONCLUSIONS: The WCRF/AICR index was not related with BC risk in the CAMA study. A combination of six components excluding BMI showed strong protective associations, particularly in postmenopausal women. Further prospective studies are required to clarify the role of adherence to WCRF/AICR recommendations, particularly with respect to BMI, in the Mexican population.

Autoantibody Diversity Is Augmented in Women with Breast Cancer and Is Related to the Stage of the Disease.

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent malignant neoplasia and leading cause of cancer mortality for women. A timely diagnosis of BC is crucial to ensure the best chances of survival. Among the various screening tools for BC, antibodies directed towards self-antigens or tumor-associated antigens (autoantibodies) have emerged as an alternative to image-based screening modalities. However, little attention has been paid to the global diversity of autoantibodies. This work aimed to analyze the diversity of autoantibodies reactive to antigens expressed by the BC cell line T47D in the sera of Mexican women with BC, benign breast pathology (BBP), or without breast pathology (WBP). We found that the diversity of antibodies in the sera was higher in the BC and BBP groups than in the WBP group. Likewise, the diversity changed with the progression of BC. Our results show and measure the complexity of the antibody response in breast health and disease.

Sociodemographic and Personal Predictors of Exclusive Breastfeeding in Pregnant Mexican Women Using Public Health Services.

Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is a cost-effective healthy behavior for the mother-child dyad. Globally, rates of EBF are low. Little research has been conducted on the joint role of modifiable and nonmodifiable variables in pregnant women's decision-making. The aim was to develop and test a model that used personal and sociodemographic factors to predict whether pregnant women who use public healthcare services plan to breastfeed. In a nonprobabilistic sample of 728 pregnant Mexican women, self-efficacy, the planned behavior theory constructs, and the intention to breastfeed (BFI) were measured. A total 60% of the sample was randomly chosen to develop a predictive multivariate logistic regression model. The model was validated in the remaining 40%. Women in the highest tertiles of attitudes and self-efficacy had fourfold increased chances of having a high BFI (OR 4.2, 95% CI [2.4, 7.4]). Working was associated with a decreased intention to exclusively breastfeed (OR 0.61, 95% CI [0.37, 0.98]). The model predicted BFI with a sensitivity of 38.3% and specificity of 82.2%. While personal variables predict the BFI, working decreases women's chances of breastfeeding. The results can be utilized to develop primary prevention strategies to help mothers who use public health services to breastfeed.