Birth weight and nutritional status in school-age children from Boane city, Mozambique.

BACKGROUND: Birth weight is considered an important marker of inadequate maternal nutrition, and it is a critical indicator of the newborn's health and development. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the influence of low birth weight (LBW) on body composition in 7-10-year-old school children from Boane City-Mozambique. METHODS: A total of 220 children (female = 122 and male = 98) were divided into two groups according to their birth weight (LBW, n = 41; and normal birth weight, NBW, n = 179). Anthropometric indicators of nutritional status were analyzed by the indices weight-for-age, height-for-age, BMI-for-age, and weight-for-height. RESULTS: LBW children showed reduced skinfolds, and weight-for-height when compared to NBW children. Birth weight was positively associated with all anthropometric variables, except for BMI, which was not associated with any other variable. The r2 value ranged from .09 (weight-for-age) to .72 (height-for-age). For body composition variables, older children had higher fat mass (ß = .26; 95% CI = 0.05-0.48) and fat-free mass (ß = 1.10; 95% CI = 0.71-1.48), and boys had lower fat percentage (ß = -3.49; 95% CI = -4.35 to -2.65) and fat mass (ß = -.92; 95% CI = -1.31 to -0.55) than girls. Birth weight was also positively associated with fat-free mass. CONCLUSION: LBW seems to influence some growth indicators of children living in Boane, however, current environmental factors seem to weaken this association. Our results suggest that public policies involving healthy nutrition and physical activity can reverse the effects of low weight in children from Boane.

Daily consumption of ultra-processed foods and cardiometabolic risk factors in children aged 7 to 10 years in Northeast Brazil.

Background: Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) consumption is associated with pediatric overweight and obesity. Aim: To evaluate the UPFs consumption in children classified either as eutrophic or with excess weight (overweight and obesity). It was also described the fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the correlation between UPFs consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors. Methods: A total of 139 children aged 7-10years of both sexes, living in Northeast Brazil were classified as eutrophic (n = 65) or excess weight (n = 62). Waist circumference (WC), percentage of body fatness (% BF), fat-free-mass and fat mass were evaluated. Fasting blood sample were collected for biochemical analysis. Food consumption was classified according to the degree of processing. Results: Children with excess weight had a reduction in plasma HDL concentration (45.00; IQR:36.00-54.50 mg/dL vs. 40.00; IQR:35.75-45.25 mg/dL; p = 0.021) and an increase in blood glucose (82.00; IQR:79.00-86.00 mg/dL vs. 86.00; IQR:81.00-90.00 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and TG (64.00; IQR:45.00-92.50 mg/dL vs. 81.00; IQR:57.50-111.75 mg/dL; p < 0.021) when compared with the eutrophic children. UPFs accounted for 43.43% of the total calories consumed by children. Children with excess weight had higher total energy consumption resulting from consumption of UPFs (714.30 ± 26.32 kcal vs. 848.06 ± 349.46 kcal; p = 0.011). The absolute consumption of the UPFs showed a positive correlation with WC (r = 0.202; p = 0.023) and %BF (r = 0.198; p = 0.026). Conclusion: UPFs consumption was higher for children with excess weight and positively correlated with two cardiometabolic risk factors, suggesting the need for strengthening public policies that discourage the consumption of these foods.

Food consumption habits, gestational age and birth weight are predictive for children with excess weight: An analysis based on artificial neural network.

The relationship between body weight gain and the onset of obesity is linked to environmental and behavioral factors, and may be dependent on biological predisposing. Artificial neural networks are useful predictive tools in the field of artificial intelligence, and can be used to identify risk factors related to obesity. The aim of this study is to establish, based on artificial neural networks, a predictive model for overweight/obesity in children based on the recognition and selection of patterns associated with birth weight, gestational age, height deficit, food consumption, and the physical activity level, TV time and family context. Sample consisted of 149 children (72 = eutrophic and 77 = overweight/obese). Collected data consisted of anthropometry and demographic characteristics, gestational age, birth weight, food consumption, physical activity level, TV time and family context. The gestational age, daily caloric intake and birth weight were the main determinants of the later appearance of overweight and obesity. In addition, the family context linked to socioeconomic factors, such as the number of residents in the household, had a great impact on excess weight. The physical activity level was the least important variable. Modifiable risk factors, such as the inadequate food consumption, and non-modifiable factors such as gestational age were the main determinants for overweight/obesity in children. Our data indicate that, combating excess weight should also be carried out from a social and preventive perspective during critical periods of development, such as pregnancy, lactation and early childhood, to reach a more effective strategy to combat obesity and its complications in childhood and adult life.

Exercise twice-a-day potentiates markers of mitochondrial biogenesis in men.

Endurance exercise begun with reduced muscle glycogen stores seems to potentiate skeletal muscle protein abundance and gene expression. However, it is unknown whether this greater signaling responses is due to performing two exercise sessions in close proximity-as a first exercise session is necessary to reduce the muscle glycogen stores. In the present study, we manipulated the recovery duration between a first muscle glycogen-depleting exercise and a second exercise session, such that the second exercise session started with reduced muscle glycogen in both approaches but was performed either 2 or 15 hours after the first exercise session (so-called "twice-a-day" and "once-daily" approaches, respectively). We found that exercise twice-a-day increased the nuclear abundance of transcription factor EB (TFEB) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) and potentiated the transcription of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-É£ coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα), and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor beta/delta (PPARß/δ) genes, in comparison with the once-daily exercise. These results suggest that part of the elevated molecular signaling reported with previous "train-low" approaches might be attributed to performing two exercise sessions in close proximity. The twice-a-day approach might be an effective strategy to induce adaptations related to mitochondrial biogenesis and fat oxidation.

Training Protocols and Specific Performance in Judo Athletes: A Systematic Review.

ABSTRACT: da Silva, LS, Neto, NRT, Lopes-Silva, JP, Leandro, CG, and Silva-Cavalcante, MD. Training protocols and specific performance in judo athletes: A systematic review. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2021-The aim of this systematic review was to describe different training protocols (e.g., resistance training, high-intensity interval training [HIIT], sprint IT, standard judo training [SJT], and aerobic training [AT]) used to improve neuromuscular adaptation and performance in specific tests with judo athletes. In addition, comparisons were made of the training protocols in the articles analyzed. The searches were conducted using the electronic databases PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Cochrane. This review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Search terms included martial arts, judo, physical endurance, physical conditioning, training, strength training, resistance training, IT, HIIT, adults, and young adult. A total of 9,230 articles were initially identified. Based on the inclusion criteria, 19 published studies were selected. Approximately 94.7% of studies analyzed used the traditional judo training method, and 57.9% of the articles analyzed introduced the high-intensity interval protocol, whereas 57.9% of the articles analyzed used strength training, and 31.5% of the articles analyzed used AT. Of the 19 studies analyzed, 3 contained female athletes in their samples, representing 15% of the studies, and 4.3% of the athletes who participated in the analyzed studies were women. In addition, some studies reported interventions with more than 1 training method used throughout the training program. It seems that the HIIT methods and SJT promoted greater effects on physiological and neuromuscular adaptations in judo athletes than other methods.

Myotube Protein Content Associates with Intracellular L-Glutamine Levels.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Skeletal mass loss is reported in several catabolic conditions and it has been associated with a reduced intracellular L-glutamine content. We investigated the association of intracellular L-glutamine concentration with the protein content in skeletal muscle cells. METHODS: We cultivated C2C12 myotubes in the absence or presence of 2 (reference condition), 8 or 16 mM L-glutamine for 48 hours, and the variations in the contents of amino acids and proteins measured. We used an inhibitor of L-glutamine synthesis (L-methionine sulfoximine - MSO) to promote a further reduction in intracellular L-glutamine levels. Amino acids contents in cells and media were measured using LC-MS/MS. We measured changes in phosphorylated Akt, RP-S6, and 4E-BP1contents in the absence or presence of insulin by western blotting. RESULTS: Reduced intracellular L-glutamine concentration was associated with decreased protein content and increased protein breakdown. Low intracellular glutamine levels were also associated with decreased p-Akt contents in the presence of insulin. A further decrease in intracellular L-glutamine caused by glutamine synthetase inhibitor reduced protein content and levels of amino acids generated from glutamine metabolism and increased bAib still further. Cells exposed to high medium glutamine levels did not have any change in protein content but exhibited increased contents of the amino acids derived from L-glutamine metabolism. CONCLUSION: Intracellular L-glutamine levels per se play a role in the control of protein content in skeletal muscle myotubes.

Biological and behavioral correlates of body weight status among rural Northeast Brazilian schoolchildren.

OBJECTIVES: The increase in the prevalence of overweight/obesity in youth is a public health problem worldwide; however, few studies have investigated its prevalence and correlates in children from the Brazilian Northeast region rural zone. The purpose of this study was (1) to estimate the prevalence of children's weight status according to sex, age, and birth weight categories; and (2) to investigate the links between biological and behavioral factors and weight categories. METHODS: The sample comprises 501 children (248 girls), aged 7-10 years, classified as low weight, normal weight, overweight, and obese using body mass index cut-points. Predicted variables included birth weight, percentage of body fat (%BF), fat free mass (FFM), physical fitness, and gross motor coordination. RESULTS: Data showed differences among weight groups for the predictor variables. Results of the logistic regression revealed that sex, age, %BF, FFM, physical fitness, and motor coordination seem to be relevant predictors of children's weight status, while no significant effect was observed for birth weight. CONCLUSION: Children with lower physical fitness levels as well as those with lower motor coordination quotient are more likely to be overweight and/or obese. No significant relationship was observed between birth weight and weight status in childhood. Strategies to reduce childhood obesity should consider biological, behavioral, and also environmental predictors.

Maternal voluntary physical activity attenuates delayed neurodevelopment in malnourished rats.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? In the present study, a reproducible model of maternal voluntary physical activity was developed to evaluate the adaptive response of physical activity by attenuating the effects of maternal undernutrition on physical features, reflex ontogeny and growth trajectory of offspring during development. What is the main finding and its importance? Maternal physical activity may induce neuronal maturation of sensorimotor connections impacting on the patterns of locomotor activity in malnourished offspring. Thus, physical activity should be considered as a therapeutic means of countering the effects of maternal undernutrition, by providing a useful strategy for enhancing the neuronal activity of children born to mothers who experience a restricted diet during pregnancy. This study evaluated the effects of maternal voluntary physical activity during pregnancy and lactation on somatic growth (SG), reflex ontogeny (RO) and locomotor activity (LA) of rats whose mothers were protein restricted. Virgin female Wistar rats were divided into the following six groups: control, normal protein (C-NP, n = 4); control, low protein (C-LP, n = 4); inactive, normal protein (I-NP, n = 8); inactive, low protein (I-LP, n = 7); very active, normal protein (VA-NP, n = 8); and very active, low protein (VA-LP, n = 6). Voluntary physical activity was recorded daily in dams. The LP groups were fed an 8% casein diet, whereas control groups were fed a 17% casein diet during pregnancy and lactation. Offspring were evaluated in terms of SG (body weight and length, latero-lateral skull axis and anteroposterior head axis) and RO (palmar grasp, righting, free-fall righting, negative geotaxis, cliff avoidance, auditory startle response and vibrissa placing). The LA was evaluated at 23, 45 and 60 days old in the open field. Voluntary physical activity was reduced during pregnancy and lactation independent of the maternal diet. Pups from LP dams showed delayed SG, reflex maturation and patterns of LA when compared with control pups. The C-LP and I-LP pups showed a delayed SG, RO and LA. Pups from VA-LP mothers showed no delay in SG and RO and presented a faster development of patterns of LA. Maternal voluntary physical activity attenuated the effects of LP diet on indicators of neurodevelopment and patterns of LA of offspring.

Effects of high-fat diet on somatic growth, metabolic parameters and function of peritoneal macrophages of young rats submitted to a maternal low-protein diet.

This study evaluated the effects of a post-weaning high-fat (HF) diet on somatic growth, food consumption, metabolic parameters, phagocytic rate and nitric oxide (NO) production of peritoneal macrophages in young rats submitted to a maternal low-protein (LP) diet. Male Wistar rats (aged 60 d) were divided in two groups (n 22/each) according to their maternal diet during gestation and lactation: control (C, dams fed 17 % casein) and LP (dams fed 8 % casein). At weaning, half of the groups were fed HF diet and two more groups were formed (HF and low protein-high fat (LP-HF)). Somatic growth, food and energy intake, fat depots, serum glucose, cholesterol and leptin concentrations were evaluated. Phagocytic rate and NO production were analysed in peritoneal macrophages under stimulation of zymosan and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)+interferon γ (IFN-γ), respectively. The maternal LP diet altered the somatic parameters of growth and development of pups. LP and LP-HF pups showed a higher body weight gain and food intake than C pups. HF and LP-HF pups showed increased retroperitoneal and epididymal fat depots, serum level of TAG and total cholesterol compared with C and LP pups. After LPS+IFN-γ stimulation, LP and LP-HF pups showed reduced NO production when compared with their pairs. Increased phagocytic activity and NO production were seen in LP but not LP-HF peritoneal macrophages. However, peritoneal macrophages of LP pups were hyporesponsive to LPS+IFN-γ induced NO release, even after a post-weaning HF diet. Our data demonstrated that there was an immunomodulation related to dietary fatty acids after the maternal LP diet-induced metabolic programming.

Deficits in anthropometric indices of nutritional status and motor performance among low birth weight children from Maputo City, Mozambique.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between low birth weight (LBW) and anthropometry, body composition, physical fitness, and gross motor coordination among schoolchildren from Maputo, Mozambique. METHODS: A total of 353 children aged 7 to 10 years old from both genders born in Maputo (Mozambique) were sampled. The sample was divided into two groups: LBW (n = 155) and normal birth weight (NBW, n = 198). Body composition measurements and indices weight-for-age, height-for-age, and weight-for-height were assessed. Physical fitness was assessed by handgrip strength, flexibility, agility, long jump, and running speed. Gross motor coordination was evaluated by using the Korper Koordination Test fur Kinder (KTK) battery. RESULTS: LBW children were lighter and smaller than NBW children with reduced indices for weight-for-age and height-for-age. They also showed a reduced performance in handgrip strength and sideways movement tests. These differences remained significant even after adjustment for age, gender, body size, and fatness skinfold thickness. CONCLUSION: LBW seems to be the major factor that influences anthropometry, and is a predictor of low muscle strength and low performance on sideways movement tests. This result suggests that growth faltering in LBW children is associated with adverse health consequences, even after controlling for gender, age, fatness, and body size.

Moderate physical training attenuates perinatal low-protein-induced spleen lymphocyte apoptosis in endotoxemic adult offspring rats.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of a moderate physical training (T) on the blood and splenic lymphocytes subsets and the rate of apoptosis in adult offspring submitted to perinatal low-protein (LP) diet. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided according to their mother's diet: control (C, 17 % casein) and undernourished (LP, 8 % casein). At the 60th day, pups were submitted to moderate physical training (8 weeks, 5 days week(-1), 60 min day(-1), at 70 % of VO2max). After T period, pups received an injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). B, NK, and TCD3+ lymphocytes subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry. Spleen lymphocytes apoptosis was evaluated by DNA fragmentation, phosphatidylserine externalization (PSE), and mitochondrial transmembrane depolarization (MTD) using a flow cytometer. Plasma TNF-α concentrations were analyzed by ELISA. RESULTS: LP + LPS pups showed a higher percentage of blood B, CD4+, and NK and a reduction in TCD3+, CD8+ than C pups. The percentage of NK and CD3+ was restored in LP + T + LPS pups. In the spleen, T normalized the percentage of NK in LP + LPS pups. LP + LPS pups showed a higher percentage of cells with PSE and MTD than C + LPS pups that was attenuated by T. The concentration of TNF-α was higher in LP + LPS than C + LPS, but it was attenuated in LP + T + LPS pups. CONCLUSION: Moderate physical training was able to revert the effects of perinatal LP diet on circulation lymphocytes subsets and attenuated splenic lymphocytes apoptosis and plasma TNF-α concentrations.

Short- and long-term effects of a maternal low-energy diet ad libitum during gestation and/or lactation on physiological parameters of mothers and male offspring.

PURPOSE: To investigate the short- and long-term effects of a maternal low-energy diet ad libitum during gestation and/or lactation on mothers and their offspring. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups according to their mother's diet: control [C (19.0% protein, 63.0% carbohydrates and 18.0% lipids, total energetic value (TEV) = 3.5 kcal/g) during gestation and lactation], low-energy diet (18% protein, 64% carbohydrates and 18% lipids, TEV = 2.3 kcal/g) during gestation (LE-G), low-energy diet during lactation (LE-L) and low-energy diet during gestation and lactation (LE-GL). Additional crude fibers (10% more purified cellulose and soluble fiber) and water (approximately 30% greater moisture) were added to the LE diet to decrease TEV. Mother's body weight, food intake and energy intake were recorded daily. Birth weight, growth rate, ontogeny of reflexes, physical features and biochemical parameters at 150 days old were evaluated in male offspring. RESULTS: Maternal low-energy diet during gestation did not affect maternal body weight and food intake. Physical features did not change but reflex ontogeny was delayed in pups from LE dams. LE-G offspring recovered body size (weight and length) while animals LE-L and LE-GL recovered their body length but remained lighter until adult life even with no change of food intake. LE-G and LE-GL showed lower plasma triglycerides and very-low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL). LE-L offspring showed hypertriglyceridemia, high VLDL-c and reduced glycaemia. CONCLUSION: Maternal low-energy diet shows discernible short- and long-term effects on offspring, and this is dependent on the time of perinatal period.

Birthweight, body composition, and motor performance in 7- to 10-year-old children.

AIM: The aim of this study was to analyse the influence of birthweight on motor performance and body composition in children. Further, we investigated whether associations between birthweight and motor performance changed after adjustment for current height, body mass index (BMI), fat-free mass (FFM), and % body fat. METHOD: A total of 483 children (251 males and 232 females) aged 7 to 10 years (mean 8.78, SD 1.0y) born in Vitória Santo Antão (northeast Brazil) were sampled. Motor performance was operationalized using different physical fitness components and gross motor coordination. Physical fitness was measured by handgrip strength, muscle endurance, explosive power, flexibility, agility, running speed, and maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max). Gross motor coordination was evaluated by means of the Körper Koordination Test für Kinder (KTK). RESULTS: Positive correlations between birthweight and height, BMI, and FFM were found. Birthweight was positively correlated with handgrip strength and negatively correlated with 20-meter sprint time, even after controlling for age, height, BMI, FFM, and % body fat. Birthweight was negatively associated with relative VO2max (mL/kg/min); however, the association was no longer significant after inclusion of BMI or FFM in the model. INTERPRETATION: Birthweight significantly predicted height, BMI, FFM, and performance in strength and velocity tests, but did not influence gross motor coordination.

Short- and long-term effects of a maternal low-protein diet on ventilation, O2/CO2 chemoreception and arterial blood pressure in male rat offspring.

Maternal undernutrition increases the risk of adult arterial hypertension. The present study investigated the short- and long-term effects of a maternal low-protein diet on respiratory rhythm, O2/CO2 chemosensitivity and arterial blood pressure (ABP) of the offspring. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to their mothers' diets during gestation and lactation: control (NP, 17% of casein) and low-protein (LP, 8% of casein) groups. Direct measurements of ABP, respiratory frequency (RF), tidal volume (V T) and ventilation (VE), as well as hypercapnia (7% CO2) and hypoxia (7% O2) evoked respiratory responses were recorded from the awake male offspring at the 30th and 90th days of life. Blood samples were collected for the analyses of protein, creatinine and urea concentrations. The LP offspring had impaired body weight and length throughout the experiment. At 30 d of age, the LP rats showed a reduction in the concentrations of total serum protein (approximately 24%). ABP in the LP rats was similar to that in the NP rats at 30 d of age, but it was 20% higher at 90 d of age. With respect to ventilatory parameters, the LP rats showed enhanced RF (approximately 34%) and VE (approximately 34%) at 30 d of age, which was associated with increased ventilatory responses to hypercapnia (approximately 21% in VE) and hypoxia (approximately 82% in VE). At 90 d of age, the VE values and CO2/O2 chemosensitivity of the LP rats were restored to the control range, but the RF values remained elevated. The present data show that a perinatal LP diet alters respiratory rhythm and O2/CO2 chemosensitivity at early ages, which may be a predisposing factor for increased ABP at adulthood.

Association between Childhood Overweight and Altered Concentrations of Circulating Amino Acids.

(1) Background: Dysregulated serum amino acids (AA) are known to be associated with obesity and risk of Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) in adults, and recent studies support the same notion in the pubertal age. It is, however, unknown whether childhood overweight may already display alterations of circulating AA. (2) Methods: We used liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-targeted metabolomics to determine plasma concentrations of AA and AA-related molecules in 36 children aged 7-12 years with normal weight or overweight. Clinical and anthropometric parameters were measured. (3) Results: Overweight in children is associated with an altered AA profile, with increased branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) and decreased glycine levels, with no clinically manifested metabolic conditions. Moreover, z-BMI was positively and negatively correlated with BCAA and glycine levels, respectively, even after adjustment for age and gender. We also found a correlation between the AA profile and clinical parameters such as lipids profile and glycemia. (4) Conclusions: A pattern of low glycine, and increased BCAA is correlated to z-BMI, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in overweight but otherwise healthy children. Our data suggest that, in childhood overweight, AA disturbances may precede other clinical parameters, thus providing an early indicator for the later development of metabolic disease.

Neural and Muscular Determinants of Performance Fatigability Are Independent of Work and Recovery Durations During High-Intensity Interval Exercise in Males.

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of two protocols of high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) on performance fatigability and its neural and muscular determinants. On different days, 14 healthy males performed two HIIE protocols with different work and recovery durations (matched for total duration, work and recovery intensities, and density): 1) 4 × 4 min at 90% HRpeak,180-s recovery at 70% HRpeak; and 2) 16 × 1 min at 90% HRpeak, 45-s recovery at 70% HRpeak. Pre- to post-HIIE reduction in maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) was used as marker of performance fatigability, while voluntary activation (VA) and potentiated quadriceps twitch force (Qtw) as markers of the neural (i.e. central fatigue) and muscular (i.e. peripheral fatigue) determinants, respectively. In addition, pre- to post-HIIE reduction in twitch force stimulated at 100 Hz (Qtw100) and 10:100 Hz ratio (Qtw10:Qtw100) were used as markers of high- and low-frequency performance fatigability, respectively. The MVIC, VA, Tw, Qtw100, and Qtw10:Qtw100 ratio decreased similarly from pre- to post-HIIE in both HIIE protocols (p < .05). The rating of perceived effort, blood pH, and plasma lactate responses were similar between HIIE protocols (p > .05), but the heart rate was higher in the longer HIIE protocol (p < .05). In conclusion, performance fatigability and its neural and muscular determinants seemed to be independent of the work and recovery durations of the HIIE, at least when HIIE protocols were matched for total work duration, work and recovery intensities, and density. Further, HIIE with long work and recovery might be preferable when the intention is to stress the chronotropic response.

The Similarity Degree of the Anthropometric and Body Composition Variables of Brazilian and Mozambican Schoolchildren: A New Approach Using the Smoothed Jaccard Index Surface.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Brazil and Mozambique face similar socioeconomic challenges, including common indicators of undernutrition and overnutrition among children. This study evaluated the similarity degree of the anthropometric and body composition variables of Brazilian and Mozambican children by using the Jaccard index. METHODS: A total of 1831 children of both genders aged 7-10 years from three Brazilian cities (Recife, Vitoria de Santo Antao, and Lagoa do Carro) and three Mozambican cities (Maputo, Boane, and Inhambane) participated in this study. Anthropometric (height, body mass, and waist circumference) and body composition (body fat percentage [%BF], lean mass, and fat mass) variables were measured and the Smoothed Jaccard Index Surface (SJIS) was used to evaluate the similarity degree. RESULTS: Brazilian children were taller and heavier and had a higher %BF and fat mass than Mozambican children. Children living in urban areas were taller than those living in rural zones in both countries. Brazilian and Mozambican children showed high similarity only between %BF and lean mass. Children from Recife and Maputo had high similarities among waist circumference, body mass, fat mass, height, and %BF. Finally, a high SJIS degree was observed among height and %BF for schoolchildren from rural and urban zones. CONCLUSION: Brazilian and Mozambican children exhibit differences in growth characteristics but a high degree of similarity when children from rural and urban zones are compared.

Programmed changes in the adult rat offspring caused by maternal protein restriction during gestation and lactation are attenuated by maternal moderate-low physical training.

The effects of maternal moderate-low physical training on postnatal development, glucose homeostasis and leptin concentration in adult offspring subjected to a low-protein diet during the perinatal period were investigated. Male Wistar rats (aged 150 d old) were divided into four groups according to maternal group: untrained (NTp, n 8); trained (Tp, n 8); untrained with a low-protein diet (NT+LPp, n 8); trained with a low-protein diet (T+LPp, n 8). The trained mothers were subjected to a protocol of moderate physical training over a period of 4 weeks (treadmill, 5 d/week, 60 min/d, at 65 % VO(2max)) before mating. At pregnancy, the intensity and duration of exercise was progressively reduced (50-20 min/d, at 65-30 % VO(2max)). The low-protein diet groups received an 8 % casein diet, and their peers received a 17 % casein diet during gestation and lactation. The pups' birth weight and somatic growth were recorded weekly up to the 150th day. Fasting blood glucose, cholesterol, serum leptin concentration, glucose and insulin tolerance tests were evaluated. The Tp animals showed no changes in somatic and biochemical parameters, while the NT+LPp group showed a greater abdominal circumference, hyperglycaemia, hypercholesterolaemia, glucose intolerance and lower plasma leptin. In the T+LPp animals, all of those alterations were reversed except for plasma leptin concentration. In conclusion, the effects of a perinatal low-protein diet on growth and development, glucose homeostasis and serum leptin concentration in the offspring were attenuated in pups from trained mothers.