The association between consumption of breakfast cereals and BMI in schoolchildren aged 12-17 years: The VYRONAS study

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether consumption of breakfast cereals is associated with BMI in a sample of Greek adolescents. Design A cross-sectional health and nutrition survey. Setting and subjects During 2004-5, 2008 schoolchildren aged 12-17 years were selected from twelve schools located in Vyronas region (Athens metropolitan area). Height and weight were measured and BMI was calculated. A semi-quantitative FFQ was applied and multiple logistic regression analysis was used. Results Overall, 4·7 % of boys and 1·7 % of girls were obese, whereas 19·4 % of boys and 13·2 % of girls were overweight. Only 20·7 % of boys and 15·5 % of girls reported that they consume cereals as a first choice for breakfast. Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI in boys (P = 0·08) and girls (P = 0·019), irrespective of age and physical activity status. More prominent results were observed for daily cereal consumption or for more than two daily servings of cereals consumed for breakfast. Consumption of pre-sweetened breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI compared with non-pre-sweetened or no intake of cereals, in both genders (P < 0·001). Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with 33 % (95 % CI 14 %, 48 %) lower likelihood of overweight/obesity, irrespective of age, sex and physical activity status. Conclusions Consumption of breakfast cereals was associated with lower BMI levels and a lower likelihood of overweight/obesity in both genders; thus a solid basis for public health professionals could be built when issuing advice on weight managemen

Acute Effects of Electronic and Tobacco Cigarette Smoking on Sympathetic Nerve Activity and Blood Pressure in Humans

Acute tobacco cigarette (TC) smoking increases blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity, whereas there are scarce data on the impact of electronic cigarette (EC) smoking. We assessed the acute effects of TC, EC and sham smoking on blood pressure, heart rate and sympathetic nervous system. Methods: We studied 12 normotensive male habitual smokers (mean age 33 years) free of cardiovascular disease. The study design was randomized and sham controlled with three experimental sessions (sham smoking, TC smoking and EC smoking). After baseline measurements at rest, the subjects were then asked to smoke (puffing habits left uncontrolled) two TC cigarettes containing 1.1 mg nicotine, EC smoking or simulated smoking with a drinking straw with a filter (sham smoking), in line with previous methodology. Results: EC smoking at 5 and 30 min compared to baseline was accompanied by the augmentation of mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (p &lt; 0.001 for all). The muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) decrease was significant during both TC and EC sessions (p &lt; 0.001 for both comparisons) and was similar between them (&minus;25.1% &plusmn; 9.8% vs. &minus;34.4% &plusmn; 8.3%, respectively, p = 0.018). Both MSNA decreases were significantly higher (p &lt; 0.001 for both comparisons) than that elicited by sham smoking (&minus;4.4% &plusmn; 4.8%). Skin sympathetic nerve activity increase was significant in both TC and EC groups (p &lt; 0.001 for both comparisons) and similar between them (73.4% &plusmn; 17.9% and 71.9% &plusmn; 7%, respectively, p = 0.829). Conclusions: The unfavorable responses of sympathetic and arterial pressure to EC smoking are similar to those elicited by TC in healthy habitual smokers