Intake of Vitamin E and C in Women of Reproductive Age: Results from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (ELANS)

Vitamin E was identified as a lipophilic compound essential to maintain rat pregnancy. Low vitamin E intake during early pregnancy associates with congenital malformations and embryonic loss in animals and with miscarriage and intrauterine growth restriction in humans. Vitamin E protects cell membranes from lipoperoxidation and exerts non-antioxidant activities. Its function can be restored by vitamin C; thus, intake and circulating levels of both micronutrients are frequently analyzed together. Although substantial vitamin E inadequacy was reported worldwide, its consumption in Latin America (LatAm) is mostly unknown. Using data from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (Estudio Latinoamericano de Nutrición y Salud, ELANS), we evaluated vitamin E and C intake in women of reproductive age (WRA) from eight LatAm countries and identified their main food sources. Two non-consecutive 24-h dietary recalls in 3704 women aged from 15 to 49 years and living in urban locations showed low average intake of vitamin E (7.9 mg/day vs. estimated average requirement (EAR) of 12 mg/day) and adequate overall vitamin C consumption (95.5 mg/day vs. EAR of 60 mg/day). The mean regional inadequacy was 89.6% for vitamin E and 36.3% for vitamin C. The primary food sources of vitamin E were fats and oils, as well as vegetables. Vitamin C intake was explained mainly by the consumption of fruit juices, fruits, and vegetables. Combined deficient intake of both vitamins was observed in 33.7% of LatAm women. Although the implications of low antioxidant vitamins' consumption in WRA are still unclear, the combined deficient intake of both vitamins observed in one-third of ELANS participants underscores the need for further research on this topic.Coca Cola Company///Estados UnidosHospital Infantil Sabará///BrazilInternational Life Science Institute//ILSI/ArgentinaUniversidad de Costa Rica//UCR/Costa RicaPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile///ChilePontificia Universidad Javeriana///ColombiaUniversidad Central de Venezuela//UCV/VenezuelaUniversidad San Francisco de Quito///EcuadorInstituto de Investigación Nutricional de Perú///PerúUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de Medicin

Association between built environment and physical activity in Latin American countries: a multicentre cross-sectional study

Abstract Objective: To assess the association between the physical activity level and the built environment by accessibility, microinfrastructure and security in Latin America (LA). Design: We conducted a multicentre cross-sectional study to collect physical activity and built environment data. The levels of physical activity were calculated through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire survey. Using the Neighbourhood Environment Walkability Scale-Abbreviated, characteristics of the built environment were measured through three domains: accessibility, microinfrastructure and security. To estimate the association of the built environment and physical activity, we used mixed effects logistic regression analysis. In addition, likelihood ratio test to account for clustered effect within countries and/or cities was used. Setting: Eight countries in LA. Participants: Adults aged 15-65 years (n=9218) living in urban areas and consented to participate of the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health. Results: Most of the population in LA had access to a grocery store (97.2%), public transport stop (91.5%) and children's playground (81.6%). Metropolitan parks were more accessible in Ecuador (59.8%) and Colombia (59.2%) than in Venezuela (33.5%). Individuals located within 20 min of walking from sport facilities or children's playground areas were more likely to perform moderate-to-high physical activity OR 1.20 (95% CI 1.06 to 1.36) and OR 1.25 (95% CI 1.02 to 1.53), respectively. Only 14.5% of the population from the region considered that their neighbourhood had an adequate design for walking or cycling. Likewise, among adults living in LA, only 39.75% had the perception of living in a safe neighbourhood. Conclusions: This multicentre study shows that currently, LA built environment does not promote physical activity in the region. Our findings provide the rationale to push forward, at regional and national levels, policies and interventions that will help to achieve a safe, healthy and friendly built environment to encourage participation in active recreation and sports in leisure time.Coca Cola Company/[]//Estados UnidosHospital Infantil Sabará/[]//BrazilInternational Life Science Institute/[]/ILSI/ArgentinaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[]/UCR/Costa RicaPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile/[]//ChilePontificia Universidad Javeriana/[]//ColombiaUniversidad Central de Venezuela/[]/UCV/VenezuelaUniversidad San Francisco de Quito/[]//EcuadorInstituto de Investigación Nutricional de Perú/[]//PerúUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de Medicin

Perceived Neighborhood Safety and Active Transportation in Adults from Eight Latin American Countries

Neighborhood built environment is associated with domain-specific physical activity. However, few studies with representative samples have examined the association between perceived neighborhood safety indicators and domain-specific active transportation in Latin America. This study aimed to examine the associations of perceived neighborhood safety with domain-specific active transportation in adults from eight Latin American countries. Data were obtained from the Latin American Study of Nutrition and Health (n = 8547, aged 18–65). Active transportation (walking and cycling) was assessed using the long form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Specifically, traffic density and speed as well as street lightening, visibility of residents regarding pedestrians and bicyclists, traffic lights and crosswalks, safety of public spaces during the day and at night, crime rate during the day and at night were used to evaluate perceived neighborhood safety. Slow traffic speeds, unsafe public spaces during the day, and crime during the day were associated with ≥10 min/week vs. <10 min/week of walking. Furthermore, drivers exceeding the speed limit and crime rate during the day were associated with reporting ≥10 min/week vs. <10 min/week of cycling. These results indicate a stronger association of the perceived neighborhood safety with walking compared to cycling.Coca Cola Company///Estados UnidosHospital Infantil Sabará///BrazilInternational Life Science Institute//ILSI/ArgentinaUniversidad de Costa Rica//UCR/Costa RicaPontificia Universidad Católica de Chile///ChilePontificia Universidad Javeriana///ColombiaUniversidad Central de Venezuela//UCV/VenezuelaUniversidad San Francisco de Quito///EcuadorInstituto de Investigación Nutricional de Perú///PerúUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Medicina::Escuela de Medicin