School feeding as a protective factor against insulin resistance : the study of cardiovascular risks in adolescents (ERICA)

The objective of this study was to use ERICA data from adolescents from Brazilian public schools to investigate the role of school feeding in insulin resistance markers. Public school students (12–17 years old) with available biochemical examinations were selected. Adolescents answered a self‐administered questionnaire, and contextual characteristics were obtained through interviews with principals. A multilevel mixed‐effects generalized linear model was performed at the contextual and individual levels with each insulin resistance marker (fasting insulin, HOMA‐IR, and blood glucose levels). A total of 27,990 adolescents were evaluated (50.2% female). The prevalence of (1) altered insulin was 12.2% (95% CI; 11.1, 13.5), (2) high HOMA‐IR was 24.7% (95% CI; 22.8, 26.7), and (3) high blood glucose was 4.6% (95% CI; 3.8, 5.4). School feeding was positively associated with an insulin resistance marker, decreasing by 0.135 units of HOMA‐IR (95% CI; −0.19, −0.08), 0.469 μU/L of insulin levels (95% CI; −0.66, −0.28), and 0.634 mg/dL of blood glucose (95% CI; −0.87, −0.39). In turn, buying food increased blood glucose by 0.455 mg/dL (95% CI; 0.16, 0.75). School feeding was positively associated with insulin resistance variables, demonstrating the potential of planned meals in the school environment to serve as a health promoter for the adolescent population

Aleitamento materno exclusivo e baixo peso em crianças de zero a seis meses acompanhadas na atenção básica no Brasil, 2017

Objetivo: Descrever as prevalências de baixo peso e aleitamento materno exclusivo (AME) em crianças de zero a seis meses acompanhadas na Atenção Básica no Brasil em 2017, identificando sua distribuição espacial. Métodos: Tratou-se de um estudo observacional, descritivo e ecológico a partir da análise de dados do Sistema de Vigilância Alimentar e Nutricional. A distribuição de registros obtidos foi comparada às estimativas populacionais do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (IBGE). Para avaliação do AME, equipes da Atenção Básica utilizaram marcadores de consumo alimentar do dia anterior. Quanto ao baixo peso, usou-se: estatura/idade (E/I), peso/ idade (P/I) e índice de massa corpórea (IMC)/idade (IMC/I), conforme referências da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Foram calculados os intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) para prevalências obtidas, sendo plotadas em mapas, por Unidade da Federação (UF). Resultados: Obteve-se dados de 88,7 e 32,2% dos municípios brasileiros em relação à antropometria e ao consumo alimentar, correspondendo a 167.393 e 66.136 crianças, respectivamente. Em comparação à distribuição populacional, o número de registros esteve subestimado nas regiões Norte e Nordeste para antropometria/consumo e com proporções distintas na região Sul para antropometria e na região Sudeste para consumo. As prevalências encontradas foram: AME – 56,6% (IC95% 56,2– 56,9); baixa E/I – 10,6% (IC95% 10,5–10,8); baixo P/I – 9,0% (IC95% 8,9–9,1); e baixo IMC/I – 5,8% (IC95% 5,7–6,0).Objective: To describe the prevalence of underweight and exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) in children aged zero to six months followed by Primary Care in Brazil in 2017, identifying their spatial distribution. Methods: This was an observational, descriptive and ecological study based on data analysis of the Food and Nutrition Surveillance System. The distribution of records obtained was compared to the population estimates of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). In order to evaluate the EBF, Primary Health Care teams used food ingestion from the previous day. As for underweight, we used: Length-for-age (L/A), Weight-for-age (W/A) and BMI-for-age (BMI/A), according to World Health Organization (WHO) references. Confidence Intervals were calculated 95% (95%CI) for prevalences obtained, being plotted on maps by Federation Unit. Results: Data were obtained from 88.7 and 32.2% of Brazilian municipalities regarding anthropometry and food consumption, corresponding to 167,393 and 66,136 children, respectively. Compared to population distribution, the number of records was underestimated in the North and Northeast for anthropometry/ consumption, with distinct proportions in the South for anthropometry and Southeast for consumption. The prevalences found were: EBF – 56.6% (95%CI 56.2–56.9); under L/A – 10.6% (95%CI 10.5–10.8); under W/A – 9.0% (95%CI 8.9–9.1); and under BMI/A – 5.8% (95%CI 5.7–6.0). Conclusions: The estimate of EBF in Brazil was similar to previous studies, but food consumption data still have low coverage, compromising the estimate in some locations. Regarding anthropometry, high rates of low L/A, W/A and BMI/A stood out in some states, considerably above the previous national estimate. Conclusões: A estimativa de AME no Brasil aproximou-se de estudos anteriores, mas dados de consumo alimentar ainda possuem baixa cobertura, comprometendo a estimativa em algumas localidades. Referente à antropometria, destacaram-se elevadas taxas de baixos E/I, P/I e IMC/I em alguns Estados, consideravelmente acima da estimativa nacional anterior

Maternal consumption of ultra-processed foods-rich diet and perinatal outcomes : a systematic review and meta-analysis

The consumption of ultra-processed food (UPF)-rich diets represents a potential threat to human health. Considering maternal diet adequacy during pregnancy is a major determinant for perinatal health outcomes, this study aimed to systematically review and meta-analyze studies investigating the association between maternal consumption of a UPF-rich diet and perinatal outcomes. Conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, five electronic databases and gray literature using Google Scholar and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global were searched up to 31 May 2022. No restrictions were applied on language and publication date. Two reviewers independently conducted the study selection and data extraction process. Meta-analysis was conducted according to the random-effects model. In total, 61 studies were included in the systematic review and the overall population comprised 698,803 women from all gestational trimesters. Meta-analysis of cohort studies showed that maternal consumption of UPF-rich diets was associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (odds ratio (OR): 1.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.17, 1.87) and preeclampsia (OR: 1.28; 95% CI: 1.15, 1.42). Neonatal outcomes showed no association. The overall GRADE quality of the evidence for the associations was very low. The findings highlight the need to monitor and reduce UPF consumption, specifically during the gestational period, as a strategy to prevent adverse perinatal outcomes

Weight misperception and substance use : Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA)

Background: Adolescence is a crucial period for body image formation. Weight misperception is the discrepancy between individuals’ body weight perception and their actual nutritional status. Both weight concerns and substance use are common among adolescents, and there is evidence of an associations between these two variables. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the association between weight misperception and substance use (smoking and alcohol) in a national sample of normal weight Brazilian adolescents. Methods: Data were obtained from the Brazilian Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), a cross-sectional, multicenter, national, school-based survey, carried out in 124 municipalities with more than 100,000 inhabitants from Brazil. The sample included adolescents aged 12–17 years, classifed as normal weight by nutritional status evaluation. The following measures were collected: weight underestimation and overestimation (exposure); having tried cigarette smoking, current smoking, current alcohol consumption, binge drinking and current smoking and alcohol consumption(outcomes); macro-region, sex, type of school, and excessive screen time (confounders). The frequency of variables was calculated with 95% confdence intervals (CI). Poisson regression models were used to estimate prevalence ratios (PR). Results: In total, data from 53,447 adolescents were analyzed. Weight misperception was present in a third of the adolescents, with similar prevalence of weight underestimation and overestimation. In adolescents aged 12–14 years, weight underestimation and overestimation were associated with having tried cigarette smoking (PR: 1.18 and 1.43, respectively), current alcohol consumption (PR: 1.33 for both weight misperception categories), and binge drinking (PR: 1.96 and 2.01, respectively). Weight underestimation was associated with both having tried cigarette smoking and current alcohol consumption in boys (PR: 1.14 and 1.16, respectively) and girls (PR: 1.32 and 1.15, respectively). In girls, weight overestimation was associated with all substance use variables (PR between 1.19 and 1.41). Conclusions: Our results showed an association between weight misperception and having tried cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and binge drinking in younger adolescents. In addition, weight overestimation was associated with all substance use indicators in girls. Based on our fndings, interventions aimed to improve weight perception in normal weight adolescents may contribute to the reduction of substance use in this population

Polycystic ovary syndrome and intervening factors in adolescents from 15 to 18 years old

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the factors related to the presence of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in adolescents.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study, with female adolescents from 15 to 18 years old, divided into: group 1 (with a medical diagnosis of PCOS) and group 2 (not diagnosed with PCOS). The height-for-age index and the body mass index were used for classifying the nutritional status, and a semi-structured questionnaire was applied. The Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's exact test, Spearman correlation coefficients, and logistic regression were used.ResultsThis study evaluated 485 adolescents with an average age of 16.3±0.9 years old. The prevalence of PCOS was 6.2%. No difference was found between the groups regarding anthropometric parameters and period of contraceptive use; however, there were differences regarding the age at menarche (p<0.004). Older age at menarche was a protection factor against the syndrome.ConclusionAn association was found between younger age at menarche and the development of the PCOS in adolescents

Common mental disorders prevalence in adolescents : a systematic review and meta-analyses

An increasing number of original studies suggest the relevance of assessing mental health; however, there has been a lack of knowledge about the magnitude of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) in adolescents worldwide. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of CMD in adolescents, from the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Only studies composed by adolescents (10 to 19 years old) that evaluated the CMD prevalence according to the GHQ-12 were considered. The studies were searched in Medline, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Lilacs, Adolec, Google Scholar, PsycINFO and Proquest. In addition, the reference lists of relevant reports were screened to identify potentially eligible articles. Studies were selected by independent reviewers, who also extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Meta-analyses were performed to summarize the prevalence of CMD and estimate heterogeneity across studies. A total of 43 studies were included. Among studies that adopted the cut-off point of 3, the prevalence of CMD was 31.0% (CI 95% 28.0–34.0; I2 = 97.5%) and was more prevalent among girls. In studies that used the cut-off point of 4, the prevalence of CMD was 25.0% (CI 95% 19.0–32.0; I2 = 99.8%). Global prevalence of CMD in adolescents was 25.0% and 31.0%, using the GHQ cut-off point of 4 and 3, respectively. These results point to the need to include mental health as an important component of health in adolescence and to the need to include CMD screening as a first step in the prevention and control of mental disorders

Does probiotic consumption enhance wound healing? a systematic review

The use of probiotics is one of the emerging lines of treatment for wound healing. This systematic review aimed to summarize currently available evidence on the effect of oral or enteral probiotic therapy on skin or oral mucosal wound healing in humans. To verify the developments in this field and the level of available scientific evidence, we applied a broad search strategy with no restrictions on wound type, target population, probiotic strain, or intervention protocol used. This review included seven studies involving 348 individuals. Four studies reported positive outcomes for healing improvement after probiotic therapy, and none of the studies reported adverse effects or a marked increase in wound healing time. The positive or neutral results observed do not generate strong evidence regarding the effectiveness of probiotics for wound healing. However, they suggest a promising field for future clinical research where the probiotic strains used, type of wounds, and target population are controlled for

Effect of physical exercise on muscle strength in adults following bariatric surgery : a systematic review and meta-analysis of different muscle strength assessment tests

Individuals following bariatric surgery are considered at high risk for the development of sarcopenic obesity (excess fat mass, low muscle mass and low physical function), and exercise may play an important role in its prevention and treatment. We systematically reviewed 5 scientific databases (Embase, Medline, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science) and 2 grey literature databases (ProQuest and Google Scholar) for clinical trials that evaluated the effect of exercise on muscle strength in adults following bariatric surgery and conducted a separate meta-analysis for studies that used different muscle strength tests. Random-effect models, restricted maximum likelihood method and Hedges’ g were used. The review protocol was registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) database (CRD42020152142). Fifteen studies were included (638 patients), none had a low risk of bias, and all were included in at least 1 of the 5 meta-analyses (repetition maximum [lower and upper limbs], sit-to-stand, dynamometer, and handgrip tests). Exercise interventions improved both upper (effect size, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.41–1.01; I 2 = 0%) and lower (effect size, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.84–1.91; I2 = 46.14) limb muscle strength, as measured by repetition maximum tests. Results were similar for the sit-to-stand (effect size, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.20–1.01; I2 = 68.89%) and dynamometer (effect size, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.06–0.87; I2 =31.03%), but not for the handgrip test (effect size, 0.11; 95% CI, -0.42–0.63; I2 = 73.27%). However, the certainty level of the meta-analyses was very low. Exercise with a resistance training component performed post bariatric surgery may improve muscle strength, which is related to sarcopenic obesity, functional capacity, and mortality risk, therefore should be included in the follow-up