Hábitos alimentarios, estado nutricional y estilos de vida en una población de mujeres menopáusicas españolas Dietary food habits, nutritional status and lifestyle in menopausal women in Spain

Objetivo: Conocer la dieta y los hábitos alimentarios, a partir de un cuestionario de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos, de una muestra de 1.218 mujeres españolas en estado de menopausia-perimenopausia y edades comprendidas entre 40 y 77 años, procedentes de todas las Comunidades Autónomas. Resultados: La dieta de la muestra de estudio es equivalente a la dieta media de la población española, destacando los productos lácteos, que son consumidos en mayor cantidad por las mujeres participantes (aproximadamente 4 raciones/ día). La ingesta energética, de proteínas y de colesterol es elevada, así como de la mayoría de vitaminas y minerales. Únicamente se han encontrado ingestas deficitarias moderadas para el ácido fólico y la vitamina D. Las mujeres de mayor edad (> 60 años) consumen menos alimentos del grupo de huevos, dulces y azúcar y varios y, por tanto, de lípidos y colesterol, aunque también de vitamina D. Un IMC elevado (IMC > 25; 61% de la población) está asociado con un mayor consumo de carnes, pescados y huevos y, por tanto, de energía. Una dieta más adecuada (mayor consumo de lácteos, frutas, verduras, legumbres, cereales y pescados) está asociada a un estilo de vida más saludable (no fumar, practicar ejercicio físico) y a la ingesta de alimentos fortificados (52,7% de la muestra total) y suplementos vitamínicos y minerales (22,8% de la muestra total), aun cuando el aporte de los micronutrientes es suficiente a través de la dieta habitual. Conclusiones: En conjunto, la dieta de nuestra población de estudio se adecúa a los patrones de dieta saludable y actividad física, reflejo de la preocupación por la salud de la mujer en la etapa de la menopausia.Aim: To analyse the diet and the dietary food habits in a sample of 1,218 Spanish women, aged 40 to 77 years, in the menopausal or perimenopausal condition. Women were recruited nationwide and the diet was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire. Results: Diet in our population group was close to the representative dietary habits of the Spanish population, except for dairy products. These were highly consumed (approximately 4 servings/day) by menopausal women. Energy, protein and cholesterol intakes, as well as most vitamins and mineral intakes, were very high, as compared to recommended dietary allowances. We only found marginal deficient intakes for folate and vitamin D. Women over 60 years consume less eggs, sweats, sugar and miscellany, and therefore less lipids and cholesterol, as well as vitamin D, than younger women. A high rate (61%) of overweight and obesity (BMI > 25) was present in our population group and was associated with a higher intake of meat, fish and eggs, as well as energy. A healthier diet (high intake of dairy products, fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, cereals and fish) was associated with a healthier lifestyle (no smoking, physical exercise) and the use of fortified foods and vitamin/mineral supplements. A high percentage of women regularly consumed fortified food (52,7%) and micronutrient supplements (22,8%) although diets provided enough vitamins and minerals. Conclusion: Diet in our study group is in accordance to healthy dietary habits and physical activity recommendations. This is probably due to a greater concern for health in women close to the menopause condition

Folic Acid and Epilepsy

Folic acid has been a topic of discussion within the epilepsy community for several decades. Folic acid was initially suspected to be epileptogenic 1, but that concern has been resolved, as research has demonstrated that folic acid in less than supraphysiologic concentrations does not promote seizures. Epileptologists are now concerned that folic acid may be too low in persons with epilepsy taking some antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Low serum and red blood cell levels of folic acid in women of childbearing potential increase the risk of fetal birth defects. For men and women, low levels of folic acid are associated with elevated homocysteine and an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. A convincing argument now develops that routine folic acid supplementation is important for women and men receiving AEDs

The glucocorticoid receptor gene exon 1-F promoter is not methylated at the NGFI-A binding site in human hippocampus

Recent research has demonstrated that early life experience, such as variation in maternal care, can have a profound impact on the physiological and endocrine stress response of Rattus norvegicus. Low maternal care resulted in increased methylation of the nerve growth factor-inducible protein A (NGFI-A, EGR1) binding site located in the hippocampal glucocorticoid receptor gene (Nr3c1) exon 17 promoter, leading to decreased Nr3c1 expression, which results in a reduced efficiency of glucocorticoid-mediated negative feedback on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis activity. The human glucocorticoid receptor gene (NR3C1) has a highly similar 5’ structure compared to the rat, and the human alternative exon 1-F is the orthologue to the rat exon 17. Based upon the evidence from rats, and the high sequence identity of the regulatory sequences, we examined the methylation pattern of the corresponding NGFI-A binding site in the human glucocorticoid receptor exon 1-F specific promoter in post-mortem hippocampal tissue. In contrast to the findings in rats, neither of the two CpG motifs within the NGFI-A binding site was methylated in the 32 subjects investigated. These observations might reflect different promoter methylation patterns in humans and rats