Levels of oxidative stress in serum and dietary behavior in adults in a rural area of Jalisco, Mexico [Indicadores de estr�s oxidativo en suero y comportamiento alimentario en adultos de una zona rural de Jalisco, M�xico]

Introduction: The feeding behavior establishes a relation of humans with food, includes food habits that could be involved with oxidative stress. Objective: To evaluate the relation of indicators of oxidative stress (lipid peroxides) and antioxidant (ascorbic acid, catalase, superoxide dismutase) with feeding behavior in adults of Teocuhitatlan Corona, Jalisco, Mexico. Method: Study observational, descriptive, cross-sectional of 44 adults with 43 to 88 years, was used a instrument of feeding behavior. The questionnaire were related to indicators of oxidative stress. Were used descriptive statistics, frequency distribution and analysis of covariance with adjustment variables, was considered significant p <0.05. Results: The values of serum lipid peroxides were related to behaviors: consider the nutritional content as most important when choosing food (p = 0.042), dislike milk (p = 0.027), intake of sweets between meals (p = 0.001), habitual inclusion of vegetables and salads in main meal (p = 0.018). We do not found association in to values of ascorbic acid, cholesterol in low density lipoproteins and enzymatic activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase with food behaviors. Discussion: The feeding behaviors analyzed in this study may be involved with development of oxidative stress and could be have protective or harmful effect in development to complications of chronic non-com-municable diseases and aging in this population. This suggests to analyze demographic and socio-cultural aspects of region and besides analyzing the consumption and metabolic markers related to food. � 2015, Grupo Aula Medica S.A. All rights reserved

Oxidative stress increased in pregnant women with iodine deficiency

Iodine is an essential element trace for the synthesis of maternal thyroid hormones needed to support normal fetal development; it also acts as an antioxidant directly or induce antioxidant enzymes indirectly. Iodine deficiency and oxidative stress are associated with pregnancy complications. This study aimed to assess the urinary iodine concentration and its relationship with the antioxidant and oxidative stress status during gestation. Pregnant women were consecutively recruited from an obstetric clinic during all gestation trimesters, and urinary iodine concentration, antioxidant, and oxidative stress were determined. Results showed that 70 % of pregnant women have optimal iodine levels (150-200 μg/L), while approximately 30 % showed mild iodine deficiency (50-99 μg/L). Oxidative stress was significantly higher, and the antioxidant status was also compromised as evidenced by decreased total antioxidant status and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in pregnant women with mild iodine deficiency than pregnant women with optimal iodine levels. Significant positive correlations were noted between optimal iodine levels and total antioxidant status. Oxidative stress was significantly correlated with mild iodine deficiency. However, no significant correlation was found between iodine levels and SOD and catalase activities. In conclusion, for the first time, these data suggest a correlation between iodine levels and the antioxidant status during pregnancy. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

France and the United Kingdom: demographic stability on the continent, stop-and-go across the Channel

International audienceIn the mid-eighteenth century, the population of France was four times larger than that of the United Kingdom (around 25 million versus 6 million). In the late eighteenth and nineteenth century, population growth was much weaker in France than in the UK, and by 1918 the two populations were the same size (nearly 40 million inhabitants). The UK population then continued to grow, so that by 1944 it was larger than France’s by 10 million (49 million versus 39 million). After World War II, France’s population gradually recovered, and since the mid-1990s, the two populations have remained fairly similar in size and increased at the same pace. However, recent population growth has been more regular in France and is due primarily to natural increase (births minus deaths), whereas in the UK net migration (the difference between migrant entries and departures) is the main growth factor