Dairy versus other saturated fats source and cardiometabolic risk markers: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

To analyze the effects of dairy intake on cardiometabolic risk markers compared to other dietary fat sources in adults. Literature database and gray literature were searched for studies published up to October 2018. Two independent authors selected and extracted data from articles. Summary tables were constructed to present data for all outcomes. The intake of dairy appears to have a protective effect on some cardiovascular risk factors, or it is not worse than other SFA sources. The higher intake of dairy can decrease total cholesterol and reduce waist circumference and increase HDL cholesterol. However, it can also increase LDL and triglycerides, although those were small changes. It was observed that the effect of dairy on several serum lipids varied according to the type dairy product used on intervention. Dairy products seem to present a different effect on cardiometabolic risk factors than other fat sources, with evidence of improvement on metabolic parameters compared to another animal source of SFA.

Fruit and vegetable intake: Influence of perceived food environment and self-efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the effects of food environment and self-efficacy perceptions on fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a representative sample population from a public health service in a Brazilian city. Participants (3414) aged ≥20 years were recruited from 18 Health Academy Program centres via stratified cluster sampling. Perceptions of the food environment were measured by survey; participants indicated how confident they were about FV availability in their food environment. Statements about self-efficacy assessed three domains regarding perceived affordability, time, and cooking skills. In order to assess the combined effects of both perceptions of food environment and self-efficacy on FV consumption, a combined variable was created. RESULTS: Both perceptions of food environment and self-efficacy in addition to FV consumption were higher in older participants and those with higher incomes and educational levels. Analyses of the combined variables showed that the highest FV intake was found among individuals with better food environment perceptions and greater self-efficacy. After adjustments, the association of food environment perceptions with FV consumption was marginally significant (p = 0.062), while self-efficacy was more strongly associated (p < 0.001); a one standard deviation higher confidence score was associated with a 35.10 g higher FV intake. CONCLUSIONS: Among participants of low socioeconomic position, individuals' self-efficacy for promoting FV intake were more important to greater consumption than perceptions of food environments. In addition to public policies for tackling socioeconomic inequalities in restricted environments, it is possible that building capabilities among vulnerable individuals are fruitful pathways for enabling them to partially overcome the challenges of poor food environments.

Stages of change and self-efficacy are related to consumption of food markers among Brazilian adolescents and young adults.

Objective: This study aimed at analyzing the association between stages of change, consumption of food markers, and self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices, adjusted by nutritional knowledge, among Brazilian adolescents and young adults. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted with 347 individuals from schools in the Federal District, Brazil. They completed a self-administered questionnaire covering: consumption of food markers, stage of change, self-efficacy in the adoption of healthy eating practices, and nutritional knowledge. Adjusted logistic regression was conducted. Results: Participants in pre-contemplation (OR = 0.22), contemplation (OR = 0.19), decision (OR = 0.13) and action (OR = 0.40) stages have less chance to have healthy eating than those in maintenance, including fruits and vegetables [pre-contemplation (OR = 0.23), contemplation (OR = 0.19), and decision (OR = 0.09)]. Adolescents and young adults in pre-contemplation (OR = 0.29) and contemplation (OR = 0.37) had lower chances of having low consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages compared to those in maintenance (p < 0.05). Adolescents and young adults in pre-contemplation (OR = 0.38) and contemplation (OR = 0.36) were less likely to have high self-efficacy scores than those in maintenance (p < 0.05). Higher score of self-efficacy was associated with a lower chance of having a high consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (OR = 1.02; p = 0.032). Conclusion: Regardless of nutritional knowledge, individuals in the earlier stages of change are less likely to have an adequate consumption of healthy foods markers, including fruits and vegetables, and low sugar-sweetened beverages consumption. They are also less likely to have high self-efficacy scores than those in maintenance. Nutritional interventions to focus on enhancing self-efficacy among adolescents and young adults in earlier stages of change to improve dietary habits.

Age patterns in undernutrition and helminth infection in a rural area of Brazil: associations with ascariasis and hookworm.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nutritional status of individuals from a rural area of Brazil, and associations with helminth infections in an age-stratified sample. METHOD: A total of 1113 individuals aged from 6 months to 83 years from the rural community of Americaninhas in Minas Gerais were investigated. Assessments comprised anthropometric measurements of weight, height and body composition, examining faecal samples for helminth eggs, and peripheral blood assays for albumin, haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations. RESULTS: Ten percent of the participants were underweight, 12.8% were overweight and 28.3% of the children and adolescents were stunted. 11.6% had low lean body mass and 28.8% had low fat body mass. Hypoalbuminaemia was seen in 5.5%, anaemia in 12.5% and iron deficiency in 13.1%, although the prevalence of these two indices increased with age. Multivariate analysis showed that, after controlling for age, sex and socio-economic status, stunting was significantly associated with Ascaris lumbricoides infection among children and adolescents, whereas low body mass was significantly associated with hookworm infection among adults and the elderly. CONCLUSIONS: Helminth infections are associated with undernutrition in endemic populations, with important differences between the effects of hookworm and A. lumbricoides on age-related nutritional status.