Can the complementary feeding method be a strategy to reduce the offer of ultra-processed foods?

Objective: To verify the prevalence of the offer of ultra-processed foods (UPFs), and to analyze their associated factors in the child's first year of life. Methods: Cross-sectional study with 119 mother-infant pairs. At 5.5 months of the child, the mothers received guidance on complementary feeding (CF) according to three methods: Parent-Led Weaning (PLW), Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS), or mixed (a combination of PLW and BLISS). At nine and 12 months, the mothers answered a questionnaire about the offer of UPFs. The NOVA classification, which classifies foods according to the nature, extent, and purposes of the industrial processes to which they are subjected, was used to list the UPFs. Descriptive statistics and multivariate Poisson regression, following a multilevel hierarchical model according to the proximity to the outcome, were used to estimate the association between dependent and independent variables. Results: The prevalence of UPF consumption was 63% (n = 75) in the first year of life. Receiving guidance on healthy CF in the BLISS method showed to be a protective factor for offering UPFs (RR 0.72; CI95 0.52-0.99). Attending less than six prenatal consultations was a risk factor for the UPFs provision (RR 1.39; CI95 1.07-1.80). Conclusion: The prevalence of UPFs offered in the first year of life in this study can be considered high, and future interventions aimed at avoiding UPFs offered in this population should consider the CF method

Síntomas de estreñimiento funcional y métodos de alimentación complementaria : ensayo clínico aleatorizado

Introduction The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of different complementary feeding methods on the prevalence of functional constipation symptoms in infants at 12 months of age. Material and methods Randomized clinical trial in mother–infant dyads that underwent the intervention at 5.5 months post birth, randomly allocated to one of three complementary food introduction methods: PLW (parent-led weaning), Baby-led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) and a mixed approach. The symptoms of constipation were assessed at 12 months with an online questionnaire based on the Rome IV diagnostic criteria and adapted to our sample. The data were summarised as absolute frequencies and percentages and compared by means of the χ2 test. The project was approved by the ethics committee of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre under number 2019-0230. Results We analysed data corresponding to 135 infants, 45 allocated to PLW, 48 to BLISS and 42 to the mixed approach. The prevalence of constipation symptoms was 49.6% in the overall sample (n = 67), 60% (n = 27) in the PLW group, 47.9% (n = 23) in the BLISS group and 40.5% (n = 17) in the mixed approach group. We found no association between functional constipation symptoms and the method used to introduce complementary foods (P = .183). Conclusions The prevalence of functional constipation symptoms was high in the study population. The presence of constipation symptoms was not associated with the complementary feeding approach.Introducción El objetivo del estudio fue investigar el impacto de diferentes métodos de alimentación complementaria en la prevalencia de síntomas de estreñimiento funcional en lactantes a los 12 meses de edad. Materiales y métodos Ensayo clínico aleatorizado realizado en díadas madre-lactante sometidas a intervención a los 5,5 meses del nacimiento, con asignación aleatoria a uno de los tres métodos de introducción de sólidos: destete dirigido por la madre, o parent-led weaning (PLW), método Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) dirigido por el lactante, y mixto. Los síntomas de estreñimiento se evaluaron a los 12 meses mediante un cuestionario en línea basado en los criterios diagnósticos de Roma IV y adaptado a la muestra. Los análisis se realizaron mediante la prueba χ2 y los datos se expresaron como frecuencias absolutas y porcentajes. El proyecto fue aprobado por el comité de ética del Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre con el número 2019-0230. Resultados Se analizaron los datos de 135 lactantes, 45 asignados al método PLW, 48 al BLISS y 42 al método mixto. La prevalencia de síntomas de estreñimiento fue del 49,6% en la muestra global (n = 67), siendo del 60% (n = 27) en el método PLW, 47,9% (n = 23) en el BLISS y 40,5% (n = 17) en el mixto. No hubo asociación entre los síntomas de estreñimiento funcional y el método de introducción de la alimentación complementaria (p = 0,183). Conclusiones La prevalencia de estreñimiento y sus síntomas fue alta en la población estudiada. La prevalencia de los síntomas de estreñimiento funcional no se asoció con el método de alimentación complementaria

Spurious infection by Calodium hepaticum (Bancroft, 1983) Moravec, 1982 and intestinal parasites in forest reserve dwellers in Western Brazilian Amazon

Subsistence hunting is the main source of protein for forest reserve dwellers, contributing to the development of spurious infections by Calodium hepaticum, frequently associated with the consumption of the liver from wild mammals. The prevalence of infections by soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and intestinal protozoa is considered an indicator of the social vulnerability of a country, besides providing information on habits, customs and quality of life of a given population. Intestinal parasites mostly affect poor rural communities with limited access to clean water and adequate sanitation. This study reports the results of a parasitological survey carried out in 2017 and 2019, in two municipalities (Xapuri and Sena Madureira) in Acre State. Stool samples were collected from 276 inhabitants. Upon receipt, each sample was divided into two aliquots. Fresh samples without preservative were processed and examined by the Kato-Katz technique. Samples fixed in 10% formalin were processed by the spontaneous sedimentation and the centrifugal sedimentation techniques. Calodium hepaticum eggs were found in three stool samples. The overall STH prevalence was 44.9%. The hookworm prevalence (19.2%) was higher than that of Ascaris lumbricoides (2.5%) and Trichuris trichiura (0.7%), an unexpected finding for municipalities belonging to the Western Brazilian Amazon. When considering parasites transmitted via the fecal-oral route, Endolimax nana and Entamoeba coli showed the highest positivity rates, of 13% and 10.9%, respectively. This study is the first report of spurious infection by C. hepaticum among forest reserve dwellers that consume undercooked liver of lowland pacas. Additionally, this is the first report of Blastocystis sp. in Acre State

Infant processed food consumption and their interaction to breastfeeding and growth in children up to six months old

Background: Evidences suggest that early processed food (PF) consumption may cause harm to infant health. During the first 6 months of life, it is not known whether the timing and quantity of this food group can impact breastfeeding and growth. The aim of the study was to analyze the associations between time of introduction and quantity of infant PF consumption with duration of breastfeeding and infant growth at 6 months of age. Methods: Data were longitudinally collected in six interviews, from birth to 6 months, in a sample of Brazilian newborns with adverse intrauterine environments. PF consumption was calculated by gravity score of processed foods (GSPF) in relation to feeding supply quality and time. For the analysis, the scores were divided into tertiles, making scores severities: Null, Mild, Moderate, and Severe. The interaction between GSPF and breastfeeding (exclusive and non-exclusive) and growth parameters (analyzed in Z-scores, by weight for height, weight for age, and body mass index for age) was tested. Results: A total of 236 infants were included in the study. Greater GSPF were associated with better rates of breastfeeding practices and higher growth indicators scores in the sixth month of infants. These findings were confirmed after adjustment for family income, maternal age, pre-gestational body mass index, and growth z scores at birth. Conclusion: The harms of eating PF in relation to breastfeeding and infant growth are more evident the greater and earlier they are consumed. Future studies should explore interventions to reduce and delay the consumption of these foods to prevent adverse health outcomes in later life

Complementary feeding methods in the first year of life: a study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

Background: The traditional spoon-feeding approach to introduction of solid foods during the complementary feeding period is supported by consensus in the scientific literature. However, a method called Baby-Led Introduction to SolidS (BLISS) has been proposed as an alternative, allowing infants to self-feed with no adult interference. To date, there have been no trials in the Brazilian population to evaluate the effectiveness of BLISS in comparison to the traditional approach. Methods/design: To evaluate and compare three different complementary feeding methods. Data on 144 mother child pairs will be randomized into intervention groups by methods: (A) strict Parent-Led Weaning; (B) strict Baby Led Introduction to SolidS; and (C) a mixed method. Prospective participants from Porto Alegre, Brazil, and nearby cities will be recruited through the Internet. The interventions will be performed by nutritionists and speech therapists, at 5.5 months of age of the child, at a private nutrition office equipped with a test kitchen where meals will be prepared according to the randomized method. The pairs will be followed up at 7, 9, and 12 months of age. Data will be collected through questionnaires designed especially for this study, which will include a 24h child food recall, questionnaires on the child’s and parents’ eating behavior, oral habits, eating difficulties, and choking prevalence. At 12 months of age, children will undergo blood collection to measure hemoglobin, ferritin, and C reactive protein, saliva collection for analysis of genetic polymorphisms, and oral examination. Anthropometric parameters (child and maternal) will be measured at the baseline intervention, at a 9 month home visit, and at the end-of-study visit at the hospital. The primary outcome will be child growth and nutritional status z-scores at 12 months; secondary outcomes will include iron status, feeding behavior, acceptability of the methods, dietary variety, choking, eating behaviors, food preferences, acceptance of bitter and sweet flavors, suction, oral habits, oral hygiene behavior, dental caries, gingival health status, and functional constipation. Discussion: The trial intends to ascertain whether there are potential advantages to the BLISS complementary feeding method in this specific population, generating data to support families and healthcare providers

Avaliação da capacidade preditiva da bioimpedância tetrapolar segmentada vertical na detecção do excesso de peso em adolescentes

-Objetivo: Analisar a capacidade preditiva da bioimpedância tetrapolar segmentada vertical na detecção do excesso de peso em adolescentes com o uso da bioimpedância tetrapolar horizontal como referência. Métodos: Estudo transversal feito com 411 alunos de 10 a 14 anos, de ambos os sexos, matriculados em escolas públicas e privadas, selecionados por processo amostral aleatório simples e estratificados de acordo com sexo, idade e proporção em cada instituição. Foi feita avaliação antropométrica e analisada a composição corporal por meio das bioimpedâncias bipolar vertical, tetrapolar horizontal e tetrapolar segmentada vertical. Foram construídas as curvas ROC com base nos cálculos de sensibilidade/especificidade para cada ponto das diferentes medições possíveis de gordura corporal do equipamento em questão. Posteriormente, foram executados os seguintes testes estatíticos: t de Student, correlação de Pearson e qui-quadrado de McNemar. Para a interpretação das variáveis, usou-se o software SPSS 17.0. Resultados: A amostra foi composta por 53,7% meninas e 46,3% meninos. Do total, 20% e 12,5% exibiram, respectivamente, sobrepeso e obesidade. Os gráficos das medidas dos segmentos corporais refletiram-se em altos valores de sensibilidade e especificidade, além de elevadas áreas sob a curva ROC, que variaram de 0,83 a 0,95 para meninas e de 0,92 a 0,98 para meninos, o que sugere um desempenho levemente superior para o sexo masculino. O percentual de gordura total foi apontado como o critério mais eficiente do equipamento para a detecção do excesso de peso, enquanto a gordura segmentar do tronco apresentou-se como um indicador de precisão inferior. Conclusão: A aparelho comportou-se satisfatoriamente na predição do excesso de peso