Associations of the consumption of unprocessed red meat and processed meat with the incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality, and the dose-response relationship: A systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the associations of unprocessed red meat and processed meat consumption with cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality, and the dose-response relationship. METHODS: Published literature was retrieved through a structured search of 10 electronic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, SciELO, LILACS, ScienceDirect, Web of Science, Cochrane (CENTRAL), WHOLIS, PAHO and Embase, without language or year of publication restrictions. In addition, we searched the references of published studies. This systematic review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyzes: The PRISMA Statement. RESULTS: Twenty-one prospective cohort studies were included in the systematic review. The CVDs evaluated in the inserted studies were stroke, heart failure (HF) and coronary heart disease (CHD). Considering the heterogeneity found in the studies, for the meta-analysis, 9 articles were included. The results presented in the meta-analysis of the association of consumption of unprocessed red meat and CVD indicated that there was a significant association with total stroke incidence (RR 1.10; 95%; CI 1.01 to 1.19; p = 0.02). There was no association with Ischemic stroke incidence, nor CHD Mortality with consumption of unprocessed red meat. However, for Hemorrhagic Stroke Mortality the assessment in the consumption of unprocessed red meat showed an association of protection for women (RR 0.64; 95%; CI 0.45 to 0.91; p = 0.01). As for the results of the meta-analysis of the association between consumption of processed meat and CVD, they indicated that there was a significant association with total stroke incidence (RR 1.17; 95%; CI 1.08 to 1.26; p < 0.0001). There was no association with Ischemic stroke, nor with CHD Mortality with consumption of processed meat. Some studies that showed no association of risk, presented a significant linear trend dose response for the association of the consumption of unprocessed red meat (Bernstein et al. 2010; Nagao et al. 2012) or processed meat (Bernstein et al. 2012) and CVD. CONCLUSION: According to the results found in the meta-analysis, the consumption of unprocessed red meat and processed meat are associated with the incidence of stroke, however, no positive association was observed in relation to mortality from CVD. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol was registered on the PROSPERO (number: CRD42019100914).

Quality of life assessment instruments for adults: a systematic review of population-based studies.

BACKGROUND: Against a backdrop of population aging and improving survival rates for chronic noncommunicable diseases (CNCD), researchers are placing growing emphasis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to identify the QoL assessment instruments used in population-based studies with adults conducted around the world. METHODS: A systematic review of original research published in all languages between 2008 and 2018 was conducted. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses were excluded. RESULTS: Sixty-three articles (38.1% conducted in the Americas) fitted the eligibility criteria. Based on the AHRQ checklist for cross-sectional studies and the Newcastle-Ottawa scale for cohort studies, methodological quality was shown to be fair in the majority of studies (55.6%) and good in 44.4%. The country with the highest number of publications was Brazil (20.6%). Twelve types of generic instruments and 11 specific instruments were identified. The generic instrument SF-36 was the most frequently used measure (33.3% of studies). In-home interviewing was exclusively used by 47.6% of the studies, while 39 studies (61.9%) reported the use of self-administered questionnaires. Over two-thirds of the studies (34.9%) used questionnaires to investigate the association between chronic diseases and/or associated factors. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that the wide range of instruments and modes of questionnaire administration used by the studies may hinder comparisons between population groups with the same characteristics or needs. There is a lack of research on QoL and the factors affecting productive capacity. Studies of QoL in older persons should focus not only on the effects of disease and treatment, but also on the determinants of active aging and actions designed to promote it. Further research is recommended to determine which QoL instruments are best suited for population-based studies.

Pro-Inflammatory Diet Is Correlated with High Veillonella rogosae, Gut Inflammation and Clinical Relapse of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are chronic conditions arising from an intricate interplay of genetics and environmental factors, and are associated with gut dysbiosis, inflammation, and gut permeability. In this study, we investigated whether the inflammatory potential of the diet is associated with the gut microbiota profile, inflammation, and permeability in forty patients with IBD in clinical remission. The dietary inflammatory index (DII) score was used to assess the inflammatory potential of the diet. The fecal microbiota profile was analyzed using 16SrRNA (V3-V4) gene sequencing, while fecal zonulin and calprotectin levels were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We found a positive correlation between the DII score and elevated calprotectin levels (Rho = 0.498; p = 0.001), but not with zonulin levels. Although α- and ß-diversity did not significantly differ across DII quartiles, the most pro-inflammatory diet group exhibited a higher fecal abundance of Veillonella rogosae (p = 0.026). In addition, the abundance of some specific bacteria sequences showed an exponential behavior across DII quartiles and a correlation with calprotectin or zonulin levels (p ≤ 0.050). This included a positive correlation between sq702. Veillonella rogosae and fecal calprotectin levels (Rho = 0.419, p = 0.007). DII, calprotectin, and zonulin levels were identified as significant predictors of 6-month disease relapse (p ≤ 0.050). Our findings suggest a potential relationship of a pro-inflammatory diet intake with Veillonella rogosae and calprotectin levels in IBD patients in clinical remission, which may contribute to disease relapse.

Indices for measurement of sustainable diets: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: The current food system is associated with negative impacts on health, food insecurity and environmental harm. Sustainable diets have attracted increasing interest and novel proposals with a global scope have emerged. This scoping review aims to give an overview of the analysis of all the available evidence related to the sustainable diet indices that have been developed based on the EAT-Lancet Commission. METHODS: Searches were conducted in the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus and Science Direct databases. This review was conducted following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. The target population were studies addressed the use of an index or metric for assessing sustainable diets based on the EAT-Lancet Commission Summary Report were included. PCC acronym was used in the design of the study to describe eligibility criteria: P (Population)-Indexes; C (Concept)-Sustainable diets; C (Context)-Knowledge on the structure and applicability of measurement indices of sustainable diets based on EAT-Lancet recommendations available in the literature. Study eligibility criteria were restricted to papers published in English, from January 2019 through October 2022, with no population restriction. RESULTS: A total of 1,458 papers were retrieved, 14 of which were included in the review. Seven measures of sustainable diets were identified as follow: EAT-Lancet diet score (ELD-I), New EAT-Lancet diet score (EAT), Planetary Health Diet Index (PHDI), Sustainable Diet Index (SDI), Sustainable-HEalthy-Diet (SHED), novel Nutrient-Based EAT index (NB-EAT) and World Index for Sustainability and Health (WISH). Most studies were conducted in developed countries, where greater adherence to this type of diet was found. Estimated greenhouse gas emissions was the most reported indicator of sustainability, followed by diet quality and the benefits of sustainable diets with regards to health outcomes. DISCUSSION: We identified barriers that hinder progress towards sustainable diets, including the difficulty of comparing different indices and the tendency to neglect social aspects and the lack of common definitions and metrics. Despite being challenge, we highlight the importance of using indices that assess sustainable diets that harmonize various indicators, as recommended by the EAT-Lancet Commission, in order to promote positive changes towards a more sustainable future.

Social Determinants of Obesity and Stunting among Brazilian Adolescents: A Multilevel Analysis.

(1) Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of obesity and stunting among Brazilian adolescents and its associations with social determinants of health (individual, family, and school), grounded on the necessity of investigating the determinants of nutritional problems within this population. (2) Methods: A population-based survey was administered to 16,556 adolescents assessed by the 2015 National School Health Survey. Multivariate models of obesity and stunting were estimated from Multilevel Poisson Regressions. (3) Results: The prevalence of obesity among Brazilian adolescents (10.0%; 95% CI: 9.4-10.6) was associated directly with indifference or dissatisfaction with body image, with eating breakfast four or fewer days a week, living with up to four people in the household, studying in private schools, and being from the South region, and was inversely associated with being female, 15 years old or older, with having the highest nutritional risk eating pattern, dining at fast-food restaurants, and eating while watching television or studying. The prevalence of stunting (2.3%; 95% CI: 2.0-2.8) was directly associated with the age of 15 years or older, and inversely associated with the lower number of residents living in the household, maternal education-decreasing gradient from literate to college level education, studying in urban schools, and being from the South and Central-West regions. (4) Conclusions: Obesity in adolescence presented behavioral determinants. Stunting and obesity have structural social determinants related, respectively, to worse and better socioeconomic position among Brazilian adolescents.

Dietary and Nutritional Profiles among Brazilian Adolescents.

(1) Background: The present study analyzed the prevalence of dietary and nutritional profiles among Brazilian adolescents and their associations with social determinants of health. (2) Methods: A population-based survey was administered to 16,409 adolescents assessed by the 2015 National School Health Survey. A multivariate model of dietary and nutritional profiles was estimated from correspondence analysis. (3) Results: The dietary and nutritional profiles more prevalent among Brazilian adolescents were "lower nutritional risk dietary pattern and eutrophic" (42.6%), "lower nutritional risk dietary pattern and overweight" (6.8%), and "higher nutritional risk dietary pattern and overweight" (6.0%). Healthier profiles were associated with less urbanized territories, health-promoting behaviors, and families with worse material circumstances. The less healthy profiles were associated with more urbanized environments, health risk behaviors, and families with better material circumstances. (4) Brazilian adolescents have different dietary and nutritional profiles that are characterized by sociopolitical and economic contexts, family material and school circumstances, and the behavioral and psychosocial health factors of the individuals. All of this points to the social determination of these health problems among adolescents in Brazil.

The impact of essential and toxic elements on cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and older people.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Evidence suggests an association between essential and toxic elements and the worsening of cardiometabolic risk factors. This study aimed to investigate the concentrations of zinc, copper, selenium, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury and their relationship with cardiometabolic risk factors in adults and older people. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was carried out with 112 adults with a mean age of 59 (sd 14) years old and a BMI of 29.30 (sd 5.11) Kg/m2. The subject's weight and height were measured for body mass index (BMI) calculation, classified according to the cut-off points recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). We evaluated sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, waist circumference - WC, visceral adiposity index - VAI, glycemic lipid profile, blood pressure, and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). Cardiovascular risk was defined by The Global Risk Score (GRS) score. Plasma zinc, selenium, copper levels, urinary arsenic, cadmium, and mercury levels were measured using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry technique (ICP-MS). RESULTS: There was a negative association between urinary arsenic and VAI (ß - 0.03, p < 0.01), triglycerides (ß - 1.10, p < 0.01), and VLDL cholesterol (ß - 0.14, p = 0.02). Plasma copper and copper/zinc ratio were positively associated with fasting glucose and hs-CRP (ß 0.38, p < 0.01; ß 36.02, p = 0.01, ß 0.004, p < 0.01, ß 0.68, p < 0.001, respectively). Urinary arsenic (ß - 0.14, p = 0.04) and cadmium (ß - 36.42, p = 0.04) were negatively associated with systolic blood pressure. Also, urinary cadmium was negatively associated with diastolic blood pressure (ß - 21.55, p = 0.03), and urinary mercury showed an opposite behavior (ß 1.45, p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Essential and toxic elements in urine and plasma could be potential biomarkers for cardiovascular risk factors. A healthy lifestyle should be adopted; in addition, government policies should be developed to guarantee sustainable production and a safe environment.

A methodological proposal for assessing food insecurity from a multidimensional perspective. / Proposta metodológica para avaliação da insegurança alimentar sob a ótica de suas múltiplas dimensões.

The aim of this study was to develop a methodological proposal for the assessment of food and nutritional insecurity (FNiS) in adults and older adults (Vigi-FNiS). The proposal was developed using data from the BRAZUCA Natal survey, a cross-sectional study with 411 people living in Natal in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The association between sociodemographic, health and nutrition variables and food insecurity (FI) was tested using Poisson multiple regression. Overall prevalence of FI was 42.1% (37.4%-46.9%) and was higher in women (47.5%), adults (48.2%) and black people (52.7%). The following variables were included in the Vigi-FNiS: people aged <18 years living in the household (A) (AdjPR=1.3; 1.1-1.6); family income (B) in quintiles (Q1: AdjPR=5, 4; 2.5-11.7; Q2: AdjPR=4.8; 2.2-10.5; Q3: AdjPR=3.8; 1.8-8.5; Q4 AdjPR=2.2; 1.0-5.1); inadequate treatment of drinking water (C) (AdjPR=1.3; 1.1-1.5); presence of chronic non-communicable diseases (D) (AdjPR=1.3; 1.1-1.7); not eating fruit for breakfast (E) (AdjPR=1.7; 1.3-2.5);eating meals on the couch or in bed (F) (AdjPR=1.3; 1.1-1.6); and skipping either lunch or dinner or dinner (G) (AdjPR=1.4; 1.2-1.7). A cutoff point for FNiS of 2.3 was adopted (Kappa=0.47; sensitivity=0.82; specificity=0.67; PPV=0.64; NPV=0.83).

O objetivo deste artigo é desenvolver uma proposta metodológica para avaliar a insegurança alimentar e nutricional (INSAN) em adultos e idosos. A proposta metodológica Vigi-INSAN foi elaborada com dados do Brazuca Natal, um estudo transversal com 411 residentes de Natal-RN. O modelo preditivo foi desenvolvido por regressão múltipla de Poisson, analisando-se as variáveis sociodemográficas, de saúde e nutrição, e a insegurança alimentar (IA). A prevalência de IA foi 42,1% (37,4%-46,9%), sendo maior em mulheres (47,5%), adultos (48,2%) e pessoas de cor/raça preta (52,7%). O Vigi-INSAN foi composto por: presença de <18 anos no domicílio (A) (RPaj=1,3; 1,1-1,6), renda familiar (B) (em quintis) (Q1: RPaj=5,4; 2,5-11,7; Q2: RPaj=4,8; 2,2-10,5; Q3: RPaj=3,8; 1,8-8,5; Q4 RPaj=2,2; 1,0-5,1), tratamento inadequado da água de beber (C) (RPaj=1,3; 1,1-1,5), presença de DCNT (D) (RPaj=1,3; 1,1-1,7), não comer frutas no café da manhã (E) (RPaj=1,7; 1,3-2,5), realizar refeições no sofá da sala ou na cama (F) (RPaj=1,3; 1,1-1,6) e pular pelo menos o almoço ou o jantar (G) (RPaj=1,4; 1,2-1,7). Foi adotado o ponto de corte 2,3 (Kappa=0,47; Sensibilidade=0,82; Especificidade=0,67; VPP=0,64; VPN=0,83).

Social determinants of health associated with the experience of hunger among Brazilian adolescents. / Determinantes sociais em saúde associados à vivência da fome entre adolescentes do Brasil.

The aim of this study was to identify social determinants of health associated with the experience of hunger among school-age adolescents in Brazil. We conducted a cross-sectional study with a sample of 16,526 adolescents using data from the 2015 National School-based Student Health Survey. Experience of hunger was determined based on the answer to the question "In the last 30 days, how often have you been hungry because there wasn't enough food at home?" The social determinants of health were analyzed using Poisson regression with robust variance. The prevalence of the experience of hunger was 22.8% (95%CI: 21.9-23.7). The experience of hunger was directly associated with being male (PR = 1.12; 95%CI: 1.07-1.16); not being overweight (PR = 1.08; 95%CI: 1.04-1.13 ); irregular consumption of beans (PR = 1.20; 95%CI: 1.13-1.26), vegetables (PR=1.16; 95%CI: 1.09-1.22) and fruit (PR = 1.19; 95%CI: 1.13-1.24); body dissatisfaction (PR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.18-1.35); and not regularly eating lunch or dinner with parents or guardians (PR = 1.41; 95%CI: 1.32-1.52). An inverse association was found between the experience of hunger and maternal education level and living in the Mid-West, Southeast and South. The findings show that the experience of hunger among Brazilian adolescents coexists with risky eating behaviors, body dissatisfaction, and social inequality.

Objetivou-se identificar determinantes sociais em saúde associados à vivência da fome entre adolescentes escolares brasileiros. Foi realizado um estudo transversal com microdados de 16.526 adolescentes da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar 2015. A vivência da fome foi estimada considerando a frequência com que o adolescente havia ficado com fome por não ter comida suficiente em casa no mês anterior à pesquisa. Para a análise dos determinantes sociais em saúde foi realizada Regressão de Poisson com variância robusta. Verificou-se, no Brasil, que a vivência da fome foi de 22,8% (IC95%: 21,9-23,7) entre adolescentes. Essa associou-se diretamente ao sexo masculino (RP=1,12; IC95%: 1,07-1,16), a não ter excesso de peso (RP=1,08; IC95%: 1,04-1,13), ao consumo irregular de feijão (RP=1,20; IC95%: 1,13-1,26), de legumes e verduras (RP=1,16; IC95%: 1,09-1,22) e de frutas (RP=1,19; IC95%: 1,13-1,24), à insatisfação corporal (RP=1,26; IC95%: 1,18-1,35) e ao consumo irregular de almoço ou jantar com os responsáveis (RP=1,41; IC95%: 1,32-1,52); e inversamente ao gradiente de escolaridade materna, e às macrorregiões do complexo Centro-Sul. Os resultados indicam a coexistência da fome, comportamentos alimentares de risco nutricional, insatisfação corporal e condições de iniquidade social entre adolescentes brasileiros.

A Systematic Review on Processed/Ultra-Processed Foods and Arterial Hypertension in Adults and Older People.

The increase in the availability of processed and ultra-processed foods has altered the eating patterns of populations, and these foods constitute an exposure factor for the development of arterial hypertension. This systematic review analyzed evidence of the association between consumption of processed/ultra-processed foods and arterial hypertension in adults and older people. Electronic searches for relevant articles were performed in the PUBMED, EMBASE and LILACS databases. The review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines and the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The search of the databases led to the retrieval of 2323 articles, eight of which were included in the review. A positive association was found between the consumption of ultra-processed foods and blood pressure/arterial hypertension, whereas insufficient evidence was found for the association between the consumption of processed foods and arterial hypertension. The results reveal the high consumption of ultra-processed foods in developed and middle-income countries, warning of the health risks of such foods, which have a high energy density and are rich in salt, sugar and fat. The findings underscore the urgent need for the adoption of measures that exert a positive impact on the quality of life of populations, especially those at greater risk, such as adults and older people.

Dietary Environmental Footprints and Their Association with Socioeconomic Factors and Food Purchase Practices: BRAZUCA Natal Study.

The analysis of dietary environmental impacts has proven to be an important tool for guiding the adoption of healthier and more sustainable diets. This study aimed to estimate the dietary carbon (CF), water (WF), and ecological (EF) footprints of residents in the city of Natal, Brazil; the study also aimed to verify their association with socioeconomic factors and food purchase practices. This is a cross-sectional study that used dietary data from 411 adults and elderlies, which was collected via a questionnaire that applied to the respondents. The results showed that the dietary CF was 1901.88 g CO2 eq/day/1000 kcal, the WF was 1834.03 L/day/1000 kcal, and the EF was 14.29 m2/day/1000 kcal. The highest environmental footprint values showed an association (p ≤ 0.05) with the factors of male sex, white ethnicity, and higher income and schooling, whereas the lowest environmental footprint values were associated with social vulnerability variables such as female sex, non-white ethnicity, and lower income and schooling (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, people with lower environmental footprints consumed less fast food, had fewer meals at snack bars, and used food delivery services less often than those with higher footprints. The foods that most contributed to the CFs and WFs were beef and chicken, while fish and beef contribute the most to the EFs. The data in the present study show that a diet with a lower environmental impact is not always equal to a sustainable diet. This relationship is paradoxical and relates to food justice, as people with lower environmental footprint values are the same ones with worse socioeconomic conditions. In this sense, is it essential to consider the influence of the social context when assessing dietary environmental impacts and when assessing actions that promote healthier and more sustainable diets.

Environmental footprints of food consumption: Protocol for a systematic literature review.

Environmental footprints are indicators that can be used to estimate the impacts of diet on the environment. Since contemporary dietary practices are related to negative environmental impacts, this paper aims to describe a systematic review protocol to investigate the environmental footprints of food consumption by adults and elderly individuals worldwide. This protocol was developed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). Search strategies and records of evidence searched in previously defined electronic databases will be defined. Original, population-based articles investigating the environmental footprints of food consumption by adults and the elderly will be included. Two independent reviewers will conduct the study selection and data extraction steps. Critical appraisal of the included studies will be based on the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. For data synthesis, a narrative synthesis and, if possible, also a meta-analysis will be performed. The systematic review produced from this protocol will provide evidence for data synthesis of the environmental impact through environmental footprints of food consumption of the adult and elderly population from different territories and the footprint assessment tools used around the world. Therefore, it is a gap that needs to be filled because knowing these impacts will be important to inform the development of public policies that encourage healthy and sustainable food in the face of climate and epidemiological changes. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42021281488.

Care actions for newborns and factors associated with longitudinality in the follow-up care in the neonatal period: Care actions for the newborn.

As newborns are highly vulnerable, they require essential care for adequate child development. This study aimed to assess the care provided to newborns during the first 28 days of life and identify factors associated with adequate care. This was a longitudinal study conducted with 415 mothers and full-term newborns from 4 public maternity hospitals in Natal, Brazil, in 2019. Assistance, socioeconomic, and demographic data were collected 3 times: 48 hours, 7 days, and 28 days after birth. Pearson's chi-square and Poisson regression tests were used with a confidence interval of 95%. Most mothers were between 20 and 29 years old (46.5%), had a high school or higher education (65.3%), a partner (79%), an income of ≤ 1 minimum wage (64, 6%), and were multiparous (62.9%). A total of 29 actions performed in maternity hospitals and 11 in primary healthcare were evaluated. Among the first, 8 (27.6%) were satisfactory; 11 (37.9%), partially satisfactory; and 10 (34.5%), unsatisfactory. In primary care, 2 actions (18.2%) were considered satisfactory; 3 (27.3%) partially satisfactory; and 6 (54.5%) unsatisfactory. In the multivariate analysis of the composite indicators related to adequacy of care, women undergoing vaginal delivery, those who are multiparous, and maternity hospitals at usual risk were associated with better adequacy of care indicators (P ≤ .05). Maternity hospitals accredited to the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative had lower chances of the adequacy of promotion to exclusive breastfeeding. The sample loss rate was 13.7% in the first week and 16.6% at the end of the study period. There was inadequacy in the performance of care actions for newborns regarding access and comprehensiveness of care. These weaknesses highlight the need for reassessing skills and coordinating actions in the child's healthcare network.

Chronic diseases and emotional disorders are associated with low perception of quality of life in food insecurity/security.

Understanding individual perception of Quality of Life (QoL) can help combat social and health inequalities. We aimed to identify factors associated with Low Perceived Quality of Life (LPQoL) in 295 adults and older adults with food security and food insecurity, in the city of Natal, Brazil. A cross-sectional study was conducted from June to December 2019, with collection of data on socioeconomic demographic status, lifestyle information, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and risk factors, emotional disorders, food (in) security and quality of life. To assess food insecurity, the Brazilian Scale of Food Insecurity-EBIA was used, and the WHOQOL-Bref questionnaire was used to assess quality of life. Poisson's Regression was used to verify associations between variables and LPQoL, stratifying the sample into food secure (FS) and food insecure (FI) groups. In the FI group, being overweight, older adult, having no partner, drinking alcoholic beverages twice a week or more, and not having daily availability of water were associated with LPQoL, and in the FS group, having diabetes, monthly family income in the 1st and 2nd tertiles, and never having studied was associated with LPQoL. Reporting emotional disorders and sleeping < 7 h/day were associated with LPQoL in both FI and FS groups. LPQoL was associated with the occurrence of NCDs and risk factors, and emotional disorders, regardless of the food security measure. However, the lack of adequate access to water highlights the social vulnerability of the FI group.

Food Insecurity and Associated Factors in Brazilian Undergraduates during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Undergraduates may face challenges to assure food security, related to economic and mental distress, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to assess food insecurity and its associated factors in undergraduates during the COVID-19 pandemic. An online cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2020 to February 2021 with 4775 undergraduates from all Brazilian regions. The questionnaire contained socio-economic variables, the validated Brazilian food insecurity scale, and the ESQUADA scale to assess diet quality. The median age of the students was 22.0 years, and 48.0% reported income decreasing with the pandemic. Food insecurity was present in 38.6% of the students, 4.5% with severe food insecurity and 7.7% moderate. Logistic regressions showed students with brown and black skin color/race presented the highest OR for food insecurity; both income and weight increase or reduction during the pandemic was also associated with a higher OR for food insecurity, and better diet quality was associated with decreased OR for food insecurity. Our study showed a considerable presence of food insecurity in undergraduates. Policy for this population must be directed to the most vulnerable: those with brown and black skin color/race, who changed income during the pandemic, and those presented with difficulties maintaining weight and with poor diet quality.

Food frequency questionnaire for adults in the Brazilian Northeast region: emphasis on the level of food processing.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) for adults in the Northeast region of Brazil, in order to identify the frequency of consumption of foods considered to be of protection and risk for chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), grouping food items by processing level. METHODS: To develop the FFQ, data from 7,516 adults from Northeastern Brazil were used, extracted from the 2008-2009 Household Budget Survey. The food lists were elaborated according to the methodology of the relative contribution of each item, identifying foods with the highest relative contribution for macronutrients, fiber, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and potassium. All foods whose contribution sum was up to 90% composed such lists. The final structure of the FFQ organized the food items in order to respect the mental image of the meals. RESULT: The FFQ resulted in 83 food items, distributed in minimally processed, processed and ultra-processed. We chose the previous year as the time to estimate food consumption, and frequency options ranged from "never" to "10 times". The instrument includes guidelines for filling and collects data on serving sizes (small, medium, large and extra-large), as well as additional information on culinary preparations. There was a high percentage of people who were overweight (44.1%). CONCLUSION: The study culminated in an FFQ to identify the frequency of consumption of foods considered protective and risk for NCDs. The instrument can support epidemiological studies that evaluate outcomes related to the diet of adults considering the level of food processing, in accordance with the Guia alimentar para a população brasileira .

[Acceptance of school food by Brazilian adolescents: individual and school context determinants]. / Adesão à alimentação escolar por adolescentes brasileiros: determinantes individuais e do contexto escolar.

The scope of this study was to evaluate the acceptance of school food by Brazilian adolescents, taking individual and school context determinants into consideration. A total of 10,262 adolescents in public schools of the 2015 Brazilian National Survey of School Health (PeNSE 2015) were assessed. Multilevel regression was used to estimate the effect of variables of the individual context and the school environment on low acceptance of school food by adolescents. The prevalence of low acceptance (consumption of school meals ≤ 2 days/week) was 64.2% in this group. The explanatory model showed less acceptance of this practice among female adolescents (PR=1.09; CI: 1.03-1.14), among those aged 15 years or older (PR=1.08; CI: 1.02-1.14), those who regularly consumed soft drinks (PR=1.09; CI: 1.03-1.15), those who did not regularly have lunch and dinner with parents and guardians (PR=1.08; CI: 1.02-1.14), and those who lived in households with less than 4 people (PR=1.07; CI: 1.02-1.13). Concerning the school environment, studying in schools with more than 1,000 students (PR=1.22; CI: 1.12-1.33) and the presence of a cafeteria (PR=1.15; CI: 1.08-1.22) led to low acceptance. The results revealed the importance of the school context in determining the consumption of school meals by adolescents.

Objetivou-se avaliar a adesão à alimentação escolar por adolescentes brasileiros considerando determinantes individuais e do contexto escolar. Foram avaliados 10.262 adolescentes de escolas públicas da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar de 2015. Regressão multinível foi utilizada para estimar o efeito de variáveis do contexto individual e do ambiente escolar na ocorrência da baixa adesão à alimentação escolar por adolescentes. A prevalência dessa baixa adesão (consumo da alimentação escolar ≤2dias/semana) foi 64,2% nesse grupo. O modelo explicativo evidenciou menor adesão a essa prática entre adolescentes do sexo feminino (RP=1,09; IC: 1,03-1,14), entre aqueles com 15 anos ou mais de idade (RP=1,08; IC: 1,02-1,14), que tinham consumo regular de refrigerantes (RP=1,09; IC: 1,03-1,15), que não realizavam regularmente almoço e jantar com pais e responsáveis (RP=1,08; IC: 1,02-1,14), e que moravam em domicílios com menos de 4 pessoas (RP=1,07; IC: 1,02-1,13). Em relação ao ambiente escolar, estudar em escolas com mais de 1.000 alunos (RP=1,22; IC: 1,12-1,33) e com presença de cantina (RP=1,15; IC: 1,08-1,22) determinaram a baixa adesão. Os resultados demonstram importante efeito do contexto escolar na determinação do consumo da alimentação escolar por adolescentes.

Food and nutritional insecurity in Brazil and its correlation with vulnerability markers. / Insegurança alimentar e nutricional no Brasil e sua correlação com indicadores de vulnerabilidade.

This study aimed to analyze space-time distribution of the prevalence of food and nutritional insecurity (FNI) in the Brazilian Federative Units and their correlation with vulnerability markers. This is an ecological study, with data from the National Household Sample Survey (2004, 2009 and 2013) and Atlas Brazil (2010). A time analysis of the spatial distribution of FNI prevalence was performed. Moran's Index was used in bivariate spatial analysis. The prevalence of FNI have decreased along the years studied and showed a negative and moderate spatial correlation with the Human Development Index; a positive and moderate correlation with the percentage of the extremely poor, child mortality, social vulnerability index, human capital social vulnerability index; and positive and strong correlation with income and work social vulnerability index. We can conclude that there was a lower prevalence of FNI in the analyzed years and that the Brazilian territory showed two distinct patterns: territories with higher FNI prevalence and worse conditions as regards income, work and child health in the North and Northeast; and territories with lower FNI prevalence and lower vulnerability in the Midwest, Southeast and South.

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar a distribuição espaço-temporal da prevalência de IAN nas Unidades de Federação (UF) do Brasil e sua correlação com indicadores de vulnerabilidade. Estudo ecológico, com dados da Pesquisa Nacional Amostra de Domicílios (2004, 2009 e 2013) e do Altas Brasil (2010). Realizou-se análise temporal da distribuição espacial das prevalências de IAN. Na análise espacial bivariada foi utilizado o Índice de Moran. As prevalências de IAN diminuíram nos anos analisados e apresentaram correlação espacial negativa e moderada com o IDH; positiva e moderada com porcentagem de extremamente pobres, mortalidade infantil, índice de vulnerabilidade social, índice de vulnerabilidade social capital humano; positiva e forte com índice de vulnerabilidade social renda e trabalho. Conclui-se que houve diminuição da prevalência de IAN nos anos analisados e que o território brasileiro apresentou dois padrões distintos: territórios com maiores prevalências de IAN e piores condições de renda, trabalho e saúde infantil nas regiões Norte e Nordeste; e territórios com menores prevalências de IAN e menor vulnerabilidade nas regiões Centro-Oeste, Sudeste e Sul.

[Dietary patterns of the elderly in Brazil: National Heath Survey, 2013]. / Padrões alimentares de idosos no Brasil: Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde, 2013.

The study sought to identify dietary patterns and associated factors of elderly Brazilians. It involved a cross-sectional study based on data from the National Health Survey ("PNS/2013") of 11,177 elderly individuals, whose dietary patterns were identified by cluster analysis. Poisson regression with robust variance was used for the analysis of associated factors. The cluster analysis produced 2 clusters of dietary patterns, one healthy (55.4%), with greater consumption of raw and cooked vegetables and legumes, chicken, fruits, natural fruit juices and milk. And an unhealthy cluster (44.6%), with greater consumption of red meat and soft drinks or artificial juices. The prevalence of the healthy dietary pattern was greater for females (PR = 1.32, 95% CI 1.25- 1.40), Caucasian (PR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.15), elderly individuals with graduate or post-graduate degree (PR=1.56, 95% CI 1.41-1.72), living in the Southeast (PR = 1.54, 95% CI, 1.33-1.79) and South (PR = 1.51, 95% CI 1.30-1.76), non-smokers (PR = 1.19, 95% CI, 1.07-1.31) and physically active (PR = 1.24, 95% CI, 1.17-1.32). These results indicated an association between better social conditions and beneficial life habits with the consumption of healthy foods, reinforcing the hypothesis of social determination and the coexistence of health behaviors.

Objetivou-se identificar padrões alimentares de idosos brasileiros e seus fatores associados. Estudo transversal realizado a partir de dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS/2013) de 11.177 idosos, cujos padrões alimentares foram identificados a partir de análise de "cluster". Regressão de Poisson com variância robusta foi utilizada para a análise de fatores associados. A análise de "cluster" produziu 2 padrões alimentares, um saudável (55,4%), com maior consumo de verduras e legumes crus e cozidos, frango, frutas, sucos de frutas naturais e leite. E outro não saudável (44,6%), com maior consumo de carne vermelha e refrigerante ou suco artificial. As prevalências do padrão alimentar saudável foram maiores em idosos do sexo feminino (RP = 1,32; IC95% 1,25-1,40), cor/raça branca (RP = 1,09; IC95% 1,02-1,15), idosos com graduação ou pós-graduação (RP = 1,56; IC95% 1,41-1,72), residentes nas regiões Sudeste (RP = 1,54; IC95% 1,33-1,79) e Sul (RP = 1,51; IC95% 1,30-1,76), que não fumavam (RP = 1,19; IC95% 1,07-1,31) e que praticavam atividade física (RP = 1,24; IC95% 1,17-1,32). Esses resultados indicaram associação entre melhores condições sociais e hábitos de vida benéficos com o consumo de alimentos saudáveis, reforçando a hipótese da determinação social e da coexistência dos comportamentos de saúde.

FEEDING PRACTICES IN THE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE: CHALLENGES TO FOOD AND NUTRITION POLICIES.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feeding practices for infants under one year of age, according to food and nutrition policies. METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study based on secondary data from the Chamada Neonatal project (research on prenatal, childbirth, and infant care) in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. The sample analyzed comprised 837 mother/child (under one year of age) pairs. We found a prevalence of data on exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in the first hour of life - partial and total -, as well as on food consumed by children 24 hours prior to the interview. We estimated the probability of consumption according to the child's age in days using the probit analysis. RESULTS: Among the interviewed mothers, 64.8% (95%CI 62.4-70.8) declared breastfeeding in the first hour of life, and 60% (95%CI 56.41-63.07) of the children were still breastfed at the end of their first year of life. The median duration of EBF was 63 days (95%CI 60-67). Water or tea, dairy products, fruits, and vegetables were introduced early, with medians lower than 180 days. The probit analysis revealed that the consumption of breast milk tended to decrease and food intake to increase as the child gets older, with exponential growth in the "unhealthy food" group. CONCLUSIONS: Although most children were breastfed up to one year of life, few did so exclusively. Foods were introduced early, with increased consumption of unhealthy ones, resulting in inadequate dietary quality according to recommendations from food and nutrition public policies.