Characteristics and correlation of body fat distribution and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in adults aged 20-59 years: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Fat distribution is closely related to vascular stiffness. This study aimed to investigate age and sex differences in fat distribution and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), and the association between fat parameters and baPWV. METHODS: A total of 10,811 participants aged 20-59 years were recruited. Measures included waist and hip circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), percentage body fat (PBF), subcutaneous fat area (SFA), visceral fat area (VFA), and baPWV. RESULTS: The results confirm that fat accumulates with age and that men tend to carry more abdominal fat than women in the same age group. The findings also indicate that baPWV increases with age and is significantly higher in men than in women in the same age group. In addition, WHR, VFA, and baPWV were more strongly correlated than baPWV and BMI, SFA, and PBF. Finally, the effects of age, PBF, WHR, and VFA on baPWV were greater for the higher quantiles. CONCLUSIONS: There are age and sex differences in fat distribution and baPWV. Abdominal obesity is more closely linked to arterial stiffness than overall obesity, and people with higher baPWV are more affected by obesity parameters.

Understanding the relationship between quality of life, anthropometric measures and mental health in individuals with obesity.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a chronic medical condition caused by an excessive accumulation of body fat that represents a major risk factor for public health. The relationship between obesity, quality of life (QoL) and mental health has been examined in some previous literature. However, the studies found have not linked anthropometric variables with QoL factors, as they have used generic questionnaires. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to analyse the influence of anthropometric variables on the QoL of people with obesity and examine its relationship with psychological variables. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study composed of 77 Spanish participants adults (M = 45.12 years; SD = 10.29) collected from two different research projects. The measurements were carried out in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Alicante (Spain), including sociodemographic variables, anthropometric data and psychological questionnaires. RESULTS: The finding demonstrated the relationship between anthropometric variables and all QoL factors. Also, individuals with lower QoL exhibit more symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress and are more prone to emotional eating. CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the necessity of integrating psychological support into obesity treatment strategies, as well as the importance of using QoL questionnaires specific to people with obesity.

Relationship between preoperative nutritional status assessed using anthropometric measures and postoperative complications in pediatric surgical patients.

AIM: To determine the relationship between preoperative nutritional status assessed using anthropometric measures and postoperative complications in pediatric surgical patients. METHODOLOGY: This prospective observational cohort study included 650 patients from 6 months to 18 years undergoing elective surgery at our institution. Elective surgery included procedures such as herniotomy, orchidopexy, urethroplasty, cystoscopy, PUV fulguration, pyeloplasty, ureteric reimplantation, stoma formation/closure, anorectoplasty, pull-through, choledochal cyst excision and repair, VP shunt insertion, lipomyelomeningocele repair, diastematomyelia excision and repair, and cyst excision. Nutritional status was standardized using Z scores for weight, length, and BMI. Patients were monitored for a month following surgery to detect any complications, and they were classified into five grades using the Clavien-Dindo classification. The duration of hospital stays and readmission within 30 days following discharge were secondary outcomes. RESULTS: There were 627 patients of both sexes involved in the study: 350 patients aged 6 months to 5 years (Group A), while 277 were aged between 5 and 18 years (Group B). Wasting status was 47.71% in Group A and 41.52% in Group B. In Group A, 40% of patients were stunted, while 83.75% were in Group B. Group A had 57.14% underweight patients. The complication rate was 39.14% in Group A and 38.99% in Group B. The incidence of postoperative complications was not significantly different in malnourished patients. The patients with prolonged duration of surgery (> 2 h) developed more complications in both groups (Group A-67.2%, Group B-82.6%; p < 0.0001). In addition, the patients who experienced complications had lengthier hospital stays (p < 0.001 in both groups) and increased readmission rates (p = 0.016 in Group A and p = 0.008 in Group B). CONCLUSION: In our study, half of the patients in Group A and nearly two-third in Group B were malnourished. The preoperative poor nutritional status based on anthropometric parameters is not associated with increased postoperative complications. Randomized control trials linking preoperative malnutrition based on anthropometric measures and clinical outcomes in pediatric surgery patients are necessary to provide more robust information on this subject.

Association of standardized liver volume and body mass index with outcomes of minimally invasive liver resections.

INTRODUCTION: While minimally invasive liver resections (MILR) have demonstrated advantages in improved post-operative recovery, widespread adoption is hampered by inherent technical difficulties. Our study attempts to analyze the role of anthropometric measures in MILR-related outcomes. METHODS: Between 2012 and 2020, 676 consecutive patients underwent MILR at the Singapore General Hospital of which 565 met study criteria and were included. Patients were stratified based on Body Mass Index (BMI) as well as Standardized Liver Volumes (SLV). Associations between BMI and SLV to selected peri-operative outcomes were analyzed using restricted cubic splines. RESULTS: A BMI of ≥ 29 was associated with increase in blood loss [Mean difference (MD) 69 mls, 95% CI 2 to 137] as well as operative conversions [Relative Risk (RR) 1.63, 95% CI 1.02 to 2.62] among patients undergoing MILR while a SLV of 1600 cc or higher was associated with an increase in blood loss (MD 30 mls, 95% CI 10 to 49). In addition, a BMI of ≤ 20 was associated with an increased risk of major complications (RR 2.25, 95% 1.16 to 4.35). The magnitude of differences observed in these findings increased with each unit change in BMI and SLV. CONCLUSION: Both BMI and SLV were useful anthropometric measures in predicting peri-operative outcomes in MILR and may be considered for incorporation in future difficulty scoring systems for MILR.

Maternal exposure to organochlorine pesticides and anthropometrics of newborns - a hospital-based cross-sectional study in rural and urban settings in Armenia.

The study objective was to determine a possible association between maternal exposure to organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and anthropometric measures at birth in group of postpartum women in urban and rural areas of Armenia. The anthropometric measures of infants were obtained from birth records and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (γ-HCH), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene, and dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane were measured in breast milk. Gas-liquid chromatography with electron capture detection was used to identify OCPs. Total OCPs and DDTs were calculated, and the anthropometrics were analyzed for sex and areas, and group differences were compared (Student's t-test). Both individual OCPs and total OCPs and DDTs were significantly higher in rural samples than in urban ones (P < 0.01-0.000), with lower and upper quartiles differing by 2.6-fold and 3.1-fold, respectively (P < 0.000). There was no association between the anthropometrics and OCPs levels in rural or urban areas. However, this does not rule out the possibility of OCPs impact on health later in life. To our knowledge, this was the first study addressing these issues in Armenia. The results obtained will provide data on the current situation regarding birth outcomes in terms of prenatal exposure to OCPs in Armenia and will contribute to the available results from previous studies.

Evaluating the association between anthropometric parameters and successful aging in older adults.

This study aimed to determine the relationship between successful aging (SA) and anthropometric parameters in older adults. We used body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference to reflect anthropometric parameters. SA was assessed by the following five aspects: self-rated health, self-rated psychological status or mood, cognitive function, activities of daily life, and physical activity. Logistic regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between anthropometric parameters and SA. Results showed that larger BMI, waist circumference, and calf circumference are related to a higher prevalence of SA in older women; greater waist circumference and calf circumference are associated with a higher rate of SA in old-old adults. These findings suggest that the greater BMI, waist circumference, hip circumference, and calf circumference are associated with a higher rate of SA in older adults, and the associations are influenced to some extent by the sex and age.

Insulin Resistance and Bone Metabolism Markers in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study on Females from the Islamic University Medical Center.

Background and Objectives: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) prevails in females in the 18-40-year-old age group and varies from 5-20% depending on the demographic and diagnostic standards. It is unknown how long passes between the onset of a specific symptom and the appearance of the disease. The three most significant characteristics of PCOS include irregular menstruation, a polycystic ovarian shape found by pelvic ultrasound, and hyperandrogenism, which could possibly delay menarche. This study's objective was to assess insulin resistance and bone bio-markers' metabolism-involved characteristics of females with PCOS. Materials and Methods: We present a cross-sectional study carried out on 100 female patients suffering from PCOS and 100 healthy female subjects as a control living in Saudi Arabia in the Al-Madinah Al-Munawara Region between May 2021 and March 2022. The age of the studied groups ranges from 20-40 years, and patients were categorized into three groups; group I (control, n = 100), group IIa (overweight or obese females with PCOS, n = 70), and group IIb (non-obese females with PCOS, n = 30). The diagnosis of PCOS was carried out as per Rotterdam criteria as recommended for adolescent and adult subjects. All the groups were subjected to physical examination, and anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, endocrine activity, and clinical parameters were determined. The data obtained were computerized and analyzed statistically using the SPSS program for range, mean, and standard deviation. ANOVA test with post hoc Tukey test was applied to assess the pattern and variation among the test and control groups. Results: In the present study, age, waist circumstances, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were reported enhanced in the PCOS over the control group. Additionally, anthropometric measures were reported slightly upregulated in group IIa over group IIb (p < 0.001). Biochemical parameters including glucose, insulin incidence, and lipids were reported higher in the PCOS over the control group, where group IIa showed slightly increased values compared to group IIb (p < 0.001). On the contrary, PTH, Ca+2, and 25(OH)D levels were reported lower in the PCOS over the control group. However, in the control groups, a slight variation was reported as higher in group IIa compared to group II. In the study, PTH and 25(OH)D were found associated with bone metabolism; a lower level of PTH and 25 (OH) D is linked with a decline in bone density. Conclusions: Lower serum levels of PINP and osteocalcin along with the 25(OH)D were associated with the PCOS compared to the control group, imposing a higher risk of the syndrome. On the contrary, an elevated level of NTx in groups IIa and IIb over the control group was associated with insulin resistance and bone metabolism.

Anthropometric and body composition parameters in adolescents with the metabolically obese normal-weight phenotype.

We aimed to investigate the anthropometric and body composition parameters associated with the metabolically obese normal-weight (MONW) phenotype. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 506 adolescents in Brazil (aged 10-19 y). The MONW phenotype was defined as normal-weight, according to BMI/age, and at least one metabolic alteration. Anthropometric measurements were obtained and the DEXA was used for body composition analysis. Crude and adjusted Poisson regression models with robust variance were used to estimate the associations. The phenotype was positively associated with waist circumference (male: prevalence ratio (PR) = 1·05; 95% CI 1·01, 1·09; female: PR = 1·06; 95% CI 1·02, 1·09), waist:height ratio (male: PR = 1·26; 95% CI 1·07, 1·49; female: PR = 1·29; 95% CI 1·07, 1·56) and android:gynoid fat ratio (male: PR = 1·25; 95% CI 1·03, 1·51; female: PR = 1·39; 95% CI 1·20, 1·62), in both sexes. Furthermore, there was a positive association of phenotype with waist:hip ratio (PR = 1·32; 95% CI 1·06, 1·65) and trunk:arm fat ratio (PR = 1·13; 95% CI 1·02, 1·24) only in males and with trunk:leg fat ratio (PR = 2·84; 95% CI 1·46, 5·53), BAIp (PR = 1·06; 95% CI 1·01, 1·12), fat mass index (PR = 1·24; 95% CI 1·10, 1·41) and regional indices of metabolic load and capacity (PR = 1·29; 95% CI 1·09, 1·53), in females. Anthropometric and body composition parameters indicative of central and total fat are associated with the MONW phenotype.

Prenatal exposure to heavy metal mixtures and anthropometric birth outcomes: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have suggested significant associations between prenatal exposure to heavy metals and newborn anthropometric measures. However, little is known about the effect of various heavy metal mixtures at relatively low concentrations. Hence, this study aimed to investigate associations between prenatal exposures to a wide range of individual heavy metals and heavy metal mixtures with anthropometric measures of newborns. METHODS: We recruited 975 mother-term infant pairs from two major hospitals in Israel. Associations between eight heavy metals (arsenic, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, lead, selenium, and thallium) detected in maternal urine samples on the day of delivery with weight, length, and head circumference at birth were estimated using linear and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) models. RESULTS: Most heavy metals examined in our study were observed in lower concentrations than in other studies, except for selenium. In the linear as well as the BKMR models, birth weight and length were negatively associated with levels of chromium. Birth weight was found to be negatively associated with thallium and positively associated with nickel. CONCLUSION: By using a large sample size and advanced statistical models, we could examine the association between prenatal exposure to metals in relatively low concentrations and anthropometric measures of newborns. Chromium was suggested to be the most influential metal in the mixture, and its associations with birth weight and length were found negative. Head circumference was neither associated with any of the metals, yet the levels of metals detected in our sample were relatively low. The suggested associations should be further investigated and could shed light on complex biochemical processes involved in intrauterine fetal development.

The characteristics of physical development of present-day students.

The problem of preserving health of students is of great public importance. In assessing state of health and morphofunctional state of human body, the most important aspect is level of physical development. The purpose of the study is to investigate indices of physical development of students of medical university and to implement their comparative evaluation. The assessment was carried out concerning physical development of students of the Pacific State Medical University (238 girls and 57 boys) in 2020, including anthropometric measurements, calculation of BMI and Pignet index. The factor analysis was performed. It was established that anthropometric indices of male and female students had statistically significant differences. The BMI assessment of students demonstrated that overweight and obesity more often observed in boys, as underweight in girls (p=0,026). The analysis of strength index of students physique established that insufficient development of skeletal muscles, requiring correction, was detected in 58,4% of girls and 33,3% of boys. The factor analysis of complex of factors determined that most completely explained relationship between criteria for physical development of students (p<0,001).

A randomized controlled trial of metformin in women with components of metabolic syndrome: intervention feasibility and effects on adiposity and breast density.

PURPOSE: Obesity is a known risk factor for post-menopausal breast cancer and may increase risk for triple negative breast cancer in premenopausal women. Intervention strategies are clearly needed to reduce obesity-associated breast cancer risk. METHODS: We conducted a Phase II double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of metformin in overweight/obese premenopausal women with components of metabolic syndrome to assess the potential of metformin for primary breast cancer prevention. Eligible participants were randomized to receive metformin (850 mg BID, n = 76) or placebo (n = 75) for 12 months. Outcomes included breast density, assessed by fat/water MRI with change in percent breast density as the primary endpoint, anthropometric measures, and intervention feasibility. RESULTS: Seventy-six percent in the metformin arm and 83% in the placebo arm (p = 0.182) completed the 12-month intervention. Adherence to study agent was high with more than 80% of participants taking ≥ 80% assigned pills. The most common adverse events reported in the metformin arm were gastrointestinal in nature and subsided over time. Compared to placebo, metformin intervention led to a significant reduction in waist circumference (p < 0.001) and waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.019). Compared to placebo, metformin did not change percent breast density and dense breast volume but led to a numerical but not significant decrease in non-dense breast volume (p = 0.070). CONCLUSION: We conclude that metformin intervention resulted in favorable changes in anthropometric measures of adiposity and a borderline decrease in non-dense breast volume in women with metabolic dysregulation. More research is needed to understand the impact of metformin on breast cancer risk reduction. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02028221. Registered January 7, 2014, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02028221.

Waist and hip circumference are independently associated with the risk of liver disease in population-based studies.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: While several anthropometric measures predict liver disease, the waist-hip ratio (WHR) has shown superiority in previous studies. We analysed independent and joint associations of waist circumference (WC) and hip circumference (HC) with liver disease and liver-related risk factors. METHODS: Cross-sectional study (n = 6619) and longitudinal cohort (n = 40 923) comprised individuals from Health 2000 and FINRISK 1992-2012 studies. Prevalent and viral liver diseases were excluded. Longitudinal cohort was linked with national healthcare registers for severe incident liver disease. Linear regression and Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyse anthropometric, lifestyle, metabolic and bioimpedance-related parameters; liver enzymes; and 59 liver-related genetic risk variants. RESULTS: WC and HC showed independent and opposite associations with both liver enzymes and incident liver disease among men (HR for liver disease: WC, 1.07, 95% CI 1.03-1.11; HC, 0.96, 95% CI 0.92-0.99; P-range .04 to <.001) and women (HR for liver diseases: WC, 1.06, 95% CI 1.02-1.10; HC, 0.93, 95% CI 0.89-0.98; P-range .005 to .004). HC modified associations between WC and liver enzymes, and between WC and incident liver disease, particularly among men. Liver enzymes and risk of liver disease increased with increasing WC, more so among individuals with high WHR compared to with low WHR. WC and HC jointly reflected both body fat distribution and muscle mass, which was largely mirrored by WHR. CONCLUSIONS: WC and HC exhibit independent and joint associations with liver disease, which are largely reflected by WHR. Both body fat distribution and muscle mass contribute to these anthropometric measures.

The effects of whole grain intake on anthropometric measures in overweight and obese children: a crossover randomised clinical trial.

Whole-grain foods have been reported to affect body weight and satiety. However, we are aware of no study in this regard among children. The present study aimed to determine the effects of whole grain consumption on anthropometric measures in overweight or obese children. In this randomised crossover clinical trial, forty-four overweight or obese girls participated. After a 2-week run-in period, subjects were randomly assigned to either intervention (n 44) or non-intervention (n 44) groups. Subjects in the intervention group were given a list of whole-grain foods and were asked to obtain half of their grain servings from these foods each day for 6 weeks. Individuals in the non-intervention group were asked not to consume any of these foods. A 4-week washout period was applied. Then, participants were crossed over to the alternate arm. The measurements were done before and after each phase. Mean age, weight and BMI of participants were 11·2 (sd 1·49) years, 51·2 (sd 10·2) kg and 23·5 (sd 2·5) kg/m2, respectively. Despite the slight reduction in weight and BMI, there were no significant differences in changes in these anthropometric measures. We found a significant effect of whole grain intake on waist circumference (-2·7 v. 0·3 cm, P = 0·04). No significant changes in hip circumference were observed. Changes in the prevalence of overweight, obesity and abdominal obesity were not significantly different. This study indicated a beneficial effect of whole-grain foods on waist circumference in overweight children; however, these foods did not influence weight and BMI.

Association between dairy product intake and body composition among South Asian adults from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America (MASALA) study.

South Asians, who are at a disproportionately greater risk of atherosclerotic CVD (ASCVD), represent a rapidly growing population in the USA. The relationship between dairy products, a major component of South Asian diets, and body composition - an established risk factor for ASCVD, is unclear. The aim of the present study was to examine associations between dairy intake and multiple measures of body composition (BMI, waist and hip circumference, waist:hip ratio, abdominal lean mass, subcutaneous, visceral, and intermuscular fat areas) among South Asian adults in the USA. A baseline analysis was conducted using existing data from the Mediators of Atherosclerosis in South Asians Living in America cohort. In women, the highest (>1·9 servings/d) v. lowest (<1 serving/d) tertile of dairy intake was associated with 53 % lower odds of a waist circumference >80 cm (95 % CI 0·25, 0·89, Pfor trend<0·05). No associations were observed between dairy intake and measures of body composition. However, >3 servings of low-fat yogurt/week was associated with a 9·9 cm2 lower visceral fat area (95 % CI -19·07, -0·72, P<0·05) and 2·3 cm2 lower intermuscular fat area (95 % CI -3·76, -0·79, P<0·05) as compared with those with three servings/week. Milk and cheese were not associated with body composition measures. These analyses suggest that higher consumption of low-fat yogurt is associated with lower visceral and intermuscular fat in the whole sample, and women with higher dairy intake have lower waist circumference. Our study supports dietary incorporation of dairy products, and recognises the utility of multidimensional measures of central adiposity.

Anthropometric measures and the risk of developing atrial fibrillation: a Swedish Cohort Study.

AIMS: Obesity is a risk factor for several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atrial fibrillation (AF). However, it is less clear whether overall fat or abdominal fat distribution are most important for risk of developing AF. This study investigates how different anthropometric measures correlate to the risk of developing clinical AF in the Malmö Diet and Cancer cohort (MDC-cohort). METHODS: The MDC-cohort (n = 25,961) was examined in 1991-1996. The endpoint was clinical AF diagnosed in a hospital setting, and retrieved via linkage with national registers. Hazard Ratios (HR) for incident AF was calculated in relation to quartiles of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist hip ratio, waist height ratio, body fat percentage, weight and height, using Cox regression with adjustment for age, biological (e.g. blood pressure, diabetes, blood lipid levels), and socioeconomic risk factors. RESULTS: After adjustment for multiple risk factors, the risk of AF was significantly increased in the 4th versus 1st quartile of weight (HR for men/women = 2.02/1.93), BMI (HR = 1.62/1.52), waist circumference (HR = 1.67/1.63), waist to hip ratio (HR = 1.30/1.24), waist to height ratio (1.37/1.39) and body fat percentage (HR = 1.21/1.45) in men/women. Measures of overall weight (BMI, weight) were slightly more predictive than measures of abdominal obesity (waist hip ratio and waist height ratio) both in men and women. CONCLUSION: All measures of obesity were associated with increased risk of developing AF. Both overall obesity and abdominal obesity were related to incidence of AF in this population-based study, although the relationship for overall obesity was stronger.

The risk of chronic kidney disease in relation to anthropometric measures of obesity: A Swedish cohort study.

BACKGROUND: It has been shown that individuals with obesity have a higher risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it is unclear which measure of obesity is most useful for prediction of CKD in the general population. The aim of this large prospective study was to explore the association between several anthropometric measures of obesity, i. e., body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist circumference to height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), percentage of body fat (BF%), weight, height and incidence of hospitalizations due to CKD, in a population-based cohort study. METHODS: The 'Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS)' cohort in Sweden was examined during 1991 to 1996. A total of 28,449 subjects underwent measurement of anthropometric measures and blood pressure and filled out a questionnaire. Incidence of in- and outpatient hospital visits for CKD was monitored from the baseline examination over a mean follow-up of 18 years. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to explore the association between anthropometric measures and incidence of CKD, with adjustments for risk factors. RESULTS: The final study population included 26,723 subjects, 45-73 years old at baseline. Higher values of BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR and weight were associated with an increased risk of developing CKD in both men and women. Only in women, higher values of BF% was associated with higher risk of CKD. Comparing the 4th vs 1st quartile of the obesity measure, the highest hazard ratio (HR) for CKD in men was observed for BMI, HR 1.51 (95% CI: 1.18-1.94) and weight (HR 1.52 (95% CI: 1.19-1.94). For women the highest HR for CKD was observed for BF%, HR 2.01 (95% CI: 1.45-2.78). CONCLUSIONS: In this large prospective study, all anthropometric measures of obesity were associated with a substantially increased incidence of CKD, except for BF% in men. Some measures were slightly more predictive for the risk of CKD than others such as BMI and weight in men and BF% in women. In clinical daily practice use of all anthropometric measures of obesity might be equally useful to assess the risk of developing CKD. This study supports the strong evidence for an association between obesity and CKD.

Association between Dietary Antioxidant Quality Score and Anthropometric Measurements in Children and Adolescents: The Weight Disorders Survey of the CASPIAN-IV Study.

BACKGROUND: Limited experience exists on the relationship between anthropometric measures and dietary antioxidant intake in the pediatric age group. We aimed to investigate the association of dietary antioxidants intake and anthropometric measurement in children and adolescents. METHODS: This nationwide study was conducted in 4270 children and adolescents, aged 6-18 years. Demographic and anthropometric data were assessed. Children and adolescents were classified as underweight, healthy weight or overweight/obese based on body mass index percentiles. Dietary intake was obtained by a 168-item semi-quantitative validated food frequency questionnaire. Energy and nutrients intake was estimated using the Nutritionist IV software. Dietary antioxidant quality score (DAQS) was calculated based on the daily dietary intake of selenium, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E compared with daily recommended intake. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, gender, living area (rural or urban), energy intake and physical activity level, DAQS was positively associated with waist circumference (WC), hip circumference and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in under-weight children and adolescents (B = 1.614, 1.634 and 0.01, respectively; all ps < 0.05). Increased DAQS was significantly associated with higher WC and WHtR in normal-weight children and adolescents (B = 0.536 and 0.003, respectively; all ps <0.05). CONCLUSION: Dietary intakes of some antioxidants were higher in children and adolescents with excess weight. DAQS was correlated with some anthropometric measurements in under-weight and normal-weight subjects. It can provide a novel approach to assess the role of antioxidant intake on health promotion and diet-based therapies in under-weight and normal-weight children and adolescents.

Is breast milk iodine concentration an influential factor in growth- and obesity-related hormones and infants' growth parameters?

Iodine, a key constituent of thyroid hormones, plays an indirect role in prenatal and postnatal growth. This study aimed to investigate whether breast milk iodine concentration (BMIC) is associated with growth- and obesity-related hormones and subsequently the infants' anthropometric measures. In present study conducted in Tehran (Iran), 94 lactating mothers and healthy infants who were exclusively breastfed were included. Concentrations of iodine, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), adiponectin (AD) and leptin (LP) were measured in breast milk samples collected during 3- to 5-day postpartum. Anthropometric measures of infants were assessed at 6 months of life, and age- and sex-specific z-score values were calculated using the World Health Organization growth standards. The median (interquartile range) iodine, IGF-1, AD and LP concentrations were 232.5 (157.5-296.0) µg L-1 , 15.7 (11.9-21.1) ng ml-1 , 13.2 (5.1-29.8) mg L-1 and 1.16 (0.86-1.70) ng ml-1 in breast milk, respectively. No significant correlations were found between BMIC and IGF-1, AD and LP concentrations during the first few days postpartum. In adjusted regression model, BMIC was positively associated with weight-for-length z score of infants. In the presence of IGF-1, AD or LP, the coefficients of BMIC for weight-for-length z score of infants were ß = .003 (P = .021), ß = .002 (P = .028) or ß = .003 (P = .013), respectively. No other anthropometric measurements were associated with iodine or growth- and obesity-related hormones in breast milk. Our findings indicate that BMIC is a potential contributor to infants' growth status, independent of IGF-1, AD or LP concentrations in breast milk. The underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Nurse effects on measurement error in household biosocial surveys.

BACKGROUND: Biosocial survey data are in high demand, yet little is known about the measurement quality of health measures collected by nurses in respondents' homes. Our objective was to analyze the degree to which nurses influence measurement in anthropometric and physical performance indicators collected from respondents in two nationally-representative UK biosocial surveys. METHODS: The English Longitudinal Survey of Ageing and the UK Household Longitudinal Study - Understanding Society were used to analyze fourteen anthropometric and physical performance measures covering weight, height, pulse, grip strength, and lung capacity. Cross-classified multilevel models were used to estimate "nurse effects" on measurement error. RESULTS: Overall, there is a medium effect of nurses on measurement. Across all measures collected in both studies, nurses explain around 13% of all measurement variation. Variation in specific measures range between approximately 2 and 25%. Grip strength and lung capacity are more heavily influenced by nurses than are height, weight, and pulse. Lastly, nurse characteristics explain only a very small proportion of nurse measurement variation. CONCLUSION: Objective health measures collected by nurses in household biosocial surveys are susceptible to non-trivial amounts of measurement variation. Nurse ID numbers should be regularly included in biosocial data releases to allow researchers to account for this unnecessary source of variation. Further, researchers are advised to conduct sensitivity analyses using control variables that account for nurse variation to confirm whether their substantive findings are influenced by nurse measurement effects.

Childhood growth prior to screen-detected celiac disease: prospective follow-up of an at-risk birth cohort.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the association between childhood growth prior to the development of celiac disease (CD) and CD autoimmunity (CDA) identified by periodic serological screening. STUDY DESIGN: The Diabetes Autoimmunity Study in the Young cohort includes 1979 genetically at-risk children from Denver, Colorado, with annual growth measurements from age nine months until ten years. Between 1993 and February 2019, 120 children developed CDA defined by persistent positive tissue transglutaminase autoantibodies (TGA); among these, 71 met our criteria for CD based on histopathological findings or high TGA levels. Age- and sex-specific z-scores of weight, body mass index (BMI), and height prior to seroconversion were derived using US reference charts as standards. Joint modeling of serial growth measurements was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) accounting for celiac-associated human leukocyte antigens, early-life feeding practices, and socio-demographics. RESULTS: In the first 10 years of life, there were no significant associations between the child's current weight, BMI and height and the risk of screening-detected CDA or CD, neither was the weight nor BMI velocity associated with CDA or CD as identified by screening (all aHRs approximated 1). Increased height velocity was associated with later CD, but not CDA, development (aHR per 0.01-z score/year, 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-1.38 and 1.03; 0.97-1.09, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: In the first 10 years of life, from prospectively collected serial growth measurements, we found no evidence of impaired childhood growth before CD and CDA development as identified through early and periodic screening.