Health outcomes of the Bolsa Família program among Brazilian Amazonian children

OBJECTIVE: One of the primary objectives of Brazil’s conditional cash transfer program, Bolsa Família, is to break the intergenerational transmission of poverty by improving human capital via conditionalities. In this study, we hypothesized that health indicators of Bolsa Família participants would be comparable to those of other local children who were nonparticipants after two years of follow-up in the city of Acrelândia, Acre state, Western Brazilian Amazon. METHODS: Data from a population-based longitudinal study were analyzed to examine school enrollment, vaccination coverage, height and body mass index for age z-scores, and biomarkers of micronutrient deficiencies (iron and vitamin A) between Bolsa Família participants (n = 325) and nonparticipants (n = 738). RESULTS: Out of 1063 children 10 years and younger included in the 2007 baseline survey, 805 had anthropometric measurements and 402 had biochemical indicators in the 2009 follow-up survey. Prevalence rate ratio (PRR) for non-enrollment in school at 4 years of age was 0.58 (95%CI: 0.34–1.02) when comparing Bolsa Família participants with nonparticipants. No difference was found for vaccination coverage, which was insufficient for most vaccine-preventable diseases. Bolsa Família participants were less likely to show a positive change in body mass index for age z-scores compared with nonparticipants (PRR = 0.81, 95%CI: 0.70–0.95), while a positive change in height for age z-scores was similar in the groups. No differences in micronutrient deficiencies were found between groups after 2 years. CONCLUSIONS: Early school enrollment and consistent nutritional indicators between Bolsa Família participants and nonparticipants suggest Bolsa Família was facilitating similarities between groups over time

Obesity and cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents attending public schools

BACKGROUND: Overweight in adolescence is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. OBJECTIVE: To study the association of cardiovascular risk factors (CRF) in overweight and normal-weight adolescents of both genders aged from 14 to 19 years, attending public schools. METHODS: Case-control study including 163 overweight and 151 normal-weight adolescents. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between overweight and CRF (lipid profile, blood pressure and baseline insulin level). A set of CRF was defined for each individual, ranging from 0 (no risk factors) to 6 (all risk factors present). RESULTS: Overweight adolescents (body mass index > 85th percentile) presented a higher frequency of CRF in comparison to the normal- weight group. The CRF associated with overweight were HDLc 150 mg/dl (OR = 3.04; CI: 1.01-9.13), abnormal baseline insulin levels > 15 µU/ml (OR = 8.65; CI: 4.03-18.56) and abnormal blood pressure (OR = 3.69; CI: 1.76-7.72). Among overweight adolescents, 22.09% had more than three risk factors, whereas this percentage dropped to 6.12% among normal-weight adolescents. CONCLUSION: Overweight adolescents presented risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. The need for programs and policies targeted at the diagnosis and treatment of this condition is pointed out in order to reduce the risks of morbidity and mortality in adulthood.FUNDAMENTO: O excesso de peso na adolescência é fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares na vida adulta. OBJETIVO: Estudar a associação dos fatores de risco cardiovascular (FRC) em adolescentes com excesso de peso e eutróficos, de ambos os sexos, de 14 a 19 anos em escolas públicas. MÉTODOS: Estudo caso-controle com 163 adolescentes com excesso de peso e 151 eutróficos. Análise de regressão logística múltipla foi utilizada para avaliar as associações entre excesso de peso e os FRC (perfil lipídico, pressão arterial e insulina basal). Um conjunto de FRC foi definido para cada indivíduo, variando de 0 (nenhuma das condições) até 6 (presença de todas essas condições). RESULTADOS: Adolescentes com excesso de peso (índice de massa corporal > percentil 85) apresentaram maiores frequências dos FRC quando comparados ao grupo de eutróficos. Os FRC associados ao excesso de peso foram HDLc 150 mg/dl (OR = 3,04; IC: 1,01-9,13), insulina basal alterada > 15 µU/ml (OR = 8,65; IC: 4,03-18,56) e pressão arterial alterada (OR = 3,69; IC: 1,76-7,72). Entre os adolescentes com excesso de peso, 22,09% tinham mais do que três fatores de risco, enquanto que entre os eutróficos, este percentual foi de 6,12%. CONCLUSÃO: Adolescentes com excesso de peso apresentaram fatores de risco para doenças cardiovasculares. Ressalta-se a necessidade de programas e políticas de diagnóstico e de tratamento, a fim de reduzir os riscos de morbimortalidade na idade adulta.Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)UNIFESPSciEL

Precisión del diagnóstico de obesidad en adolescentes brasileños: comparación de los criterios de COLE y cols. y de MUST y cols. con el porcentaje DXA sobre masa grasa

Objectives: to assess the accuracy of the two most used anthropometric criteria: Must and Cole to diagnose obesity in adolescence comparing with percentage of fat mass determined by DXA.Methodology: cross-sectional study with 418 adolescents (52.4% males) attending a private school in Se Paulo/Brazil. Anthropometric measures of height and weight were taken and BMI was calculated. Analysis of body composition was performed using the DXA to detect percentage of fat mass. Using the method proposed by Ellis & Wong (ERM) two sex-specific linear regression models of fat percentage for age in years were fitted. The comparison between the methods was carried out through the analyses of specificity and sensitivity with two residual percentiles as cutoff points (ERM85(th) and ERM95th) as standards. A logistic model was fitted to estimate the probability curves of obesity classification.Results: the comparison of the two classic criteria for the diagnosis of obesity with the ERM85(th) and ERM 95(th), yields for females the same sensitivities of 0.50 and 0.20 for both criteria. For males sensitivities for ERM 85(th) were 0.61(Must) and 0.49 (Cole); while for ERM95(th) the sensitivities were 0.81 (Must) and 0.64 (Cole). Therefore, there are high probabilities that those criteria diagnose adolescents as obese, when actually they are not.Conclusion: the Must and Cole criteria were similar and present flaws for the diagnosis of obesity. In clinical practice and field studies anthropometric criteria should be evaluated as to the diagnostic accuracy along with other clinical parameters and, when feasible, the analysis of fatness percentage. However, the anthropometric criteria evaluated are efficient in the identification of nonobese adolescent in the two cutoff points considered.UNIFESP, EPM, Depto Pediat, Disciplina Nutrol, BR-04040032 Sao Paulo, BrazilState Univ Rio de Janeiro, Dept Nutr, Rio De Janeiro, BrazilUNISINUS, Dept Nutr, Porto Alegre, RS, BrazilUNIFESP, EPM, Depto Pediat, Disciplina Nutrol, BR-04040032 Sao Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Levels, BsmI Polymorphism and Insulin Resistance in Brazilian Amazonian Children

Vitamin D is associated with a wide range of other functions beyond bone development. We evaluated the factors associated with 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels in 974 children aged ≤10 years and the impact of BsmI polymorphism of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene (rs1544410) on metabolic parameters in a subsample (n: 430) with a follow-up 2 years later from the initial population-based cross-sectional study. Multiple linear regression models were used in the analyses. The prevalence (95% CI) of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency and sufficiency of children was 11.1% (9.2–13.2), 21.8% (19.2–24.5) and 67.2% (64.1–70.1), respectively. Overall, 23% of the variation in serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations was accounted for by BsmI polymorphism β = −0.053 (95% CI) (−0.100, −0.006), maternal schooling (≥9 years) β = 0.100 (0.039, 0.161), serum vitamin E β = 0.478 (0.381, 0.574), total cholesterol concentration β = 0.232 (0.072, 0.393) and serum folate β = 0.064 (0.013, 0.115). BsmI polymorphism was positively associated with HOMA-IR β = 0.122 (0.002, 0.243) and fasting glucose concentration β = 1.696 (0.259, 3.133). In conclusion, variables related to socioeconomic level, the presence of the allele risk for BsmI and other nutrient concentrations were associated with serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations. Our results suggest that BsmI polymorphism is correlated with metabolic outcomes

Densidade mineral óssea de adolescentes com sobrepeso e obesidade Bone mineral density in overweight and obese adolescents

OBJETIVO: Estudar a densidade óssea como fator concomitante da obesidade em adolescentes pós-púberes, controlando outras variáveis que possam interferir nessa relação. MÉTODOS: Estudo com 83 sobrepesos e obesos (IMC > P85) e 89 não obesos (P5 < IMC < P85). Casos e controles foram selecionados entre 1420 estudantes (14-19 anos) de escola pública na cidade de São Paulo. A densidade mineral óssea de coluna (L2-L4 em g/cm²) foi avaliada por meio de densitometria de duplo feixe de raios X (LUNAR® DPX-L). A variável densidade óssea foi categorizada utilizando a mediana 1,194 g/cm² como ponto de corte. Foram realizadas análises bivariadas, observando-se a prevalência de sobrepeso e obesidade. Em seguida, procedeu-se à análise multivariada (regressão logística), de acordo com um modelo conceitual hierárquico. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de densidade óssea acima da mediana foi duas vezes mais freqüente entre os casos (69,3%) do que entre os controles (32,1%). Na análise bivariada, tais prevalências resultaram em odds ratio (OR) de 4,78. O modelo de regressão logística mostrou que a associação entre obesidade e densidade mineral é ainda mais intensa com OR de 6,65, após o controle das variáveis relacionadas ao sedentarismo e ao consumo de leite e derivados. CONCLUSÃO: Observou-se, neste estudo, que adolescentes com sobrepeso e obesidade nos estadios finais da maturação sexual apresentaram maior densidade mineral óssea com relação aos seus pares eutróficos. No entanto, estudos de coorte serão necessários para avaliar a influência dessa característica sobre a resistência óssea na vida adulta e, conseqüentemente, sobre a incidência de osteopenia e osteoporose em faixas etárias mais avançadas.<br>OBJECTIVE: to study bone density as a concomitant factor for obesity in post-pubertal adolescents, controlling for other variables that may interfere in such a relation. METHODS: Study comprising 83 overweight and obese adolescents (BMI > P85) and 89 non obese ones (P5 < BMI < P85). Cases and controls were selected out of 1,420 students (aged 14-19) from a public school in the city of São Paulo. The bone mineral density of the lumbar spine (L2-L4 in g/cm²) was assessed by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (LUNAR&trade; DPX-L). The variable bone density was dichotomized using 1.194 g/cm² as cutoff point. Bivariate analyses were conducted considering the prevalence of overweight and obesity followed by multivariate analysis (logistic regression) according to a hierarchical conceptual model. RESULTS: The prevalence of bone density above the median was twice more frequent among cases (69.3%) than among controls (32.1%). In the bivariate analysis such prevalence resulted in an odds ratio (OR) of 4.78. The logistic regression model showed that the association between obesity and mineral density is yet more intense with an OR of 6.65 after the control of variables related to sedentary lifestyle and intake of milk and dairy products. CONCLUSION: Obese and overweight adolescents in the final stages of sexual maturity presented higher bone mineral density in relation to their normal-weight counterparts; however, cohort studies will be necessary to evaluate the influence of such characteristic on bone resistance in adulthood and, consequently, on the incidence of osteopenia and osteoporosis at older ages