Beatriz Navia

Vitamin D in Overweight/Obese Women and Its Relationship With Dietetic and Anthropometric Variables

Overweight/obese persons usually have an inadequate vitamin D status, a situation commonly made worse by an inadequate intake of this vitamin. For this reason, the aim of this study was to analyze dietetic and anthropometric differences in a group of young, overweight/obese Spanish women with respect to their vitamin D status. The study subjects were 66 white Spanish women (aged 20–35 years) with a BMI of 24–35 kg/m2. Dietetic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected. Women were divided into two groups depending on their serum vitamin D concentrations: LD (women with <90 nmol/l 25(OH)D) and HD (women with ≥90 nmol/l 25(OH)D). The intakes of vitamin D, calcium, and supplements were similar in both groups. The body weight, BMI, and waist circumference of the HD subjects were smaller than those recorded for the LD subjects (68.6 ± 4.2 kg, 26.0 ± 1.3 kg/m2, and 79.4 ± 3.4 cm compared to 76.2 ± 9.8, 28.6 ± 3.2 kg/m2, and 86.2 ± 9.3 cm, respectively; P < 0.05). The hip circumference and the waist/hip ratio were similar in both groups. A BMI of <27.7 kg/m2 (P50) was associated with serum vitamin D concentrations of ≥90 nmol/l (odds ratio = 0.1313; confidence interval: 0.0149–1.1599; P < 0.05). Overweight/obese women are at higher risk of vitamin D deficiency, largely due to excess adiposity rather than inadequate intake.

Influence of the desire to lose weight on food habits, and knowledge of the characteristics of a balanced diet, in a group of Madrid university students.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the desire to lose weight in a group of university students, and to analyse the influence of this desire on declared food habits. The degree of knowledge on what constitutes a balanced diet was also determined.Design: Cross-sectional population survey.Subjects: The study subjects were 234 university students (48 males and 186 females) aged 22.3±1.5 y. The weight and height of each were recorded. All subjects were questioned on their desire to lose weight, habitual food intake frequencies, and about what they considered to constitute a balanced diet.Results: Approximately half the population (47.9%), both male (47.8%) and female (47.9%), expressed a desire to lose weight, even though the percentage of overweight students was low (11.1% overall, although much greater among male students [39.6%] than female students [3.8]). The body mass index (BMI) of those who wanted to lose weight was greater than that of those who did not. Nonetheless, the majority of subjects (especially females) showed BMIs within the normal range (18–25 kg/m2). Among those who wished to lose weight, the consumption of sweet foods was lower — although these subjects believed they ought to consume even less. It was also thought necessary that egg consumption be reduced, although no differences were recorded in declared consumption between those who wished to lose weight and those who did not.Conclusions: The results show that there is great concern over body weight, although no great differences were seen in the food habits and nutrition knowledge of those who wished to lose weight and those who did not.

The Importance of Breakfast in Meeting Daily Recommended Calcium Intake in a Group of Schoolchildren

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the breakfast intake of calcium and milk products and to determine whether these correlate with total intake of both calcium and milk products. METHODS Food taken at breakfast and throughout the day was recorded using a 7 consecutive day food record in 200 schoolchildren aged between 9 and 13 years. RESULTS 65.3% of boys and 80.5% of girls showed intakes of calcium which were lower than recommended. Milk products were the foods most frequently included in breakfast (95.5% of subjects included them in this meal). A relationship was seen between energy provided by breakfast and the quantities of milk products (r = 0.5735) and calcium (r = 0.6908) taken at this meal. A relationship was also seen between energy provided by breakfast and daily intake of milk products (r = 0.4633) and calcium (r = 0.4954). The percentage of intakes of calcium lower than those recommended decreased when breakfast provided > or = 20% of total energy intake, and when the consumption of milk products at breakfast was greater than the 50th percentile (200 ml). Subjects with breakfast milk product intakes > or = 200 ml showed higher intakes of the same over the rest of the day (233.3 +/-140.4 g) than did those who took lesser quantities of these foods at breakfast (161.5 +/- 100.6 g). Further, those who took > or = 25% of the recommended intake of calcium at breakfast showed greater intakes of the same over the rest of the day (600.4 +/- 213.8 mg compared to 510.8 +/- 200.7 mg in subjects with lower calcium intakes). CONCLUSIONS The intake of milk products (r = 0.7587) and calcium (r = 0.7223) at breakfast correlates with the consumption of these foods in the whole diet. However, the total daily intake of milk products and calcium does not depend solely on breakfast intake. Subjects with the greatest intakes at breakfast also showed greater intakes over the rest of the day (r = 0.3953 for milk products and r = 0.4122 for calcium).

Relationship between habitual breakfast and intellectual performance (logical reasoning) in well-nourished schoolchildren of Madrid (Spain)

Objective: To determine the relationships between habitual breakfast habits and performance in verbal aptitude, logical reasoning and mathematical tests in a group of well-nourished scholars from Madrid.Design: The study subjects were 180 children between 9 and 13 y of age. A dietetic study was undertaken using a 7-day food record. Scholastic aptitude was examined using the scholastic aptitude test (SAT-1) test.Results: Breakfast made up 19.1% of total daily intake. No differences were found between subjects in terms of personal data or total diet with respect to whether they habitually took adequate breakfasts (AB) (ie, more than 20% of daily energy being provided by this meal) or inadequate breakfasts (IB) (less than 20%). However, AB subjects achieved better reasoning scores in the SAT-1 test.Conclusions: The normal breakfast habits of schoolchildren should be taken into account when studying diet–mental function relationships, even when studying well-nourished populations.Sponsorship: This study was performed with help from Danone España S.A.

Influence of the Intake of Fortified Breakfast Cereals on Dietary Habits and Nutritional Status of Spanish Schoolchildren

A study was performed on the breakfast habits of 200 schoolchildren between 9 and 13 years of age. The subjects were classified into two groups: group C, children who consumed fortified breakfast cereals (65 boys and 35 girls), and group NC, children who did not (64 boys and 36 girls). The different dietary habits and the nutritional status of the two groups were analyzed. Haematological, biochemical, anthropometric, and dietary data were collected, the latter involving a 5-day food record. The children of the C group were found not only to have a more complete and nutritive breakfast, but also showed better dietary patterns for the rest of the day. Their lipid intake (% kJ) was lower and the carbohydrate intake (g/d and % kJ) higher than in the NC children. The intakes of thiamine, pyridoxine, folates, and beta-carotenes were also higher in group C. Better dietary habits were reflected in higher blood levels of some important compounds. Group C children had higher retinol, serum folate, and riboflavin levels than NC children. The percentage of children with hypercholesterolaemia (serum cholesterol > 4.5 mmol/l) was higher amongst those of the NC group: 37% as compared with 18% of the C children.

Smoking and passive smoking as conditioners of folate status in young women.

Objective: For women of fertile age, an adequate supply of folate is important for preventing a range of health problems, especially congenital malformations in their offspring. Since congenital deformities are more common in children of mothers who smoke, the objective was to analyse the folate status of smokers, passive smokers and non-smokers. Methods: Folate intake was monitored in 319 women aged 18–35 (112 smokers, 100 passive smokers and 107 non-smokers) using a three day food record. Serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations were measured by radioimmunoassay. Exposure to tobacco smoke was established by a questionnaire on present and past tobacco consumption, the number of hours in contact with smokers, and by assessing urine cotinine concentrations. Results: The folate intake of smokers (S) (159.1 ± 65.7 μg/day) and passive smokers (PS) (165.2 ± 66.6 μg/day) was lower than that of non-smokers (N) (181.7 ± 72.4 μg/day) (p < 0.05 between S and N). No subject fully met the recommended intake of the vitamin, but S and PS subjects both took less than N subjects (39.8 ± 16.4% and 41.3 ± 16.6% compared to 45.4 ± 18.1% respectively). Serum folate concentrations were also lower in S and PS subjects grouped together (16.6 ± 5.9 nmol/L) compared to N subjects (18.4 ± 6.7 nmol/L) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: None of the studied women took the 400 μg/day of folate recommended. 6.7% had serum folate concentrations of <9.2 nmol/L. The situation was worse in S and PS subjects, which might contribute to an increased risk of developing certain diseases and to giving birth to children with congenital deformations.

Influence of maternal education on food consumption and energy and nutrient intake in a group of pre-school children from Madrid

A study was conducted on the influence of maternal education level on food consumption, energy and nutrient intake, and dietary adequacy in 110 pre-school children from Madrid, Spain. With increasing maternal education, children consumed more sugar(p < 0.05), fruit (p < 0.05), and fish (p < 0.05). Snacking was more frequent with decreasing maternal education (p < 0.05). Though statistical significance was not reached, the consumption of pre-cooked foods was greater among children of mothers educated to a higher level, a phenomenon probably related to the work situation of these women. With respect to dietary composition, no significant differences were found between groups for macronutrient, fiber and energy intakes, except for energy supplied by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), which was greater in the children of less educated women (p < 0.01). This is probably due to their greater consumption of sunflower seed oil. The diets of children belonging to well-educated mothers came closer to meeting the recommended intakes for folate, vitamin C, and iodine. It would seem that maternal educational level influences the food habits of children. Mothers with less education may require special advice in this area.

The Age at which Meat is First Included in the Diet Affects the Incidence of Iron Deficiency and Ferropenic Anaemia in a Group of Pre-school Children from Madrid

A study was made into the effect of the age at which meat was first included in the diet on a series of haematological parameters and biochemical indicators of iron status in 94 pre-school children (aged 2-6 years) from Madrid (Spain). Those children who first took meat during their eighth month of life or earlier (Group A) showed better iron status that did those who were introduced to meat later (Group B). Significant differences were found in hemoglobin levels (P < 0.01), mean corpuscular haemoglobin (MCH) (P < 0.05), serum ferritin (P < 0.05), transferrin levels (P < 0.05) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) (P < 0.001). Some 13.8% of all subjects showed iron deficiency and 5.3% showed ferropenic anaemia. These latter subjects were the last to have meat included in their diets (9.3 +/- 1.2 months compared to 7.4 +/- 2.0 months in those without ferropenic anaemia) (P < 0.05). It would appear that the age at which meat is included in the diet has an important effect on iron status in pre-school children. Delaying its inclusion beyond the age of eight months seems to be associated with an impairment of later iron status.

Young children with excess of weight show an impaired selenium status.

People who are overweight/obese commonly experience poorer antioxidant protection. The aim of the present study was to determine whether overweight/obesity is associated with childrens selenium status. The study subjects were 573 Madrid schoolchildren aged 8 - 13 years. Their selenium intake was monitored via a three-day food record. Serum selenium concentration and blood glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity of each subject was also determined, as was body mass index (BMI). Children with excess of weight (BMI>P85) had lower serum selenium concentrations than those of normal weight (64.6 ± 16.8 µg/L compared to 75.3 ± 12.2 µg/L; p < 0.001). Their selenium intake was also lower (1.99 ± 0.62 µg/kg compared to 2.73 ± 0.88 µg/kg; p < 0.001). A positive correlation was found between serum selenium and selenium intake (the best being obtained when intake was measured in µg/kg/day, r = 0.338, p < 0.05), while a negative relationship was seen between serum selenium and all the anthropometric variables recorded (the strongest correlation was seen between serum selenium and BMI, r = -0.390, p < 0.05). Logistic regression showed the risk of selenium deficiency (<70 µg/L) to increase with BMI [OR = 1.5031 (1.3828 - 1.6338)] and to decrease with selenium intake [OR = 0.9862 (0.9775 - 0.9949)] and age [OR = 0.6813 (0.5434 - 0.8542)] (p < 0.001). A correlation was also detected between serum selenium and GPx activity (r = 0.177; p < 0.05) but there were no significant relationships between GPx activity and any anthropometric variables, excluding the correlation with waist/hip ratio (r = -0.298; p < 0.01). Children with excess of weight have a poorer selenium status than children of normal weight, which can contribute to poor antioxidant protection. This situation could be more evident in children with central adiposity.

The Relationship between Breakfast and Whole Diet Energy Profiles in a Group of Preschool Children

The energy profile of the diet of the Spanish population is imbalanced, showing excessive intake of fats and protein and insufficient intake of carbohydrates. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether this imbalance also existed in 110 preschool children between 2 and 6 years of age, and to examine the relationship between their breakfast and whole diet energy profiles. The results obtained show that subjects who consumed less carbohydrate (< 50% of energy intake) or more fat (> 35% of total intake) at breakfast showed poorer energy profiles and poorer fat quality over their whole diet. Significant and positive correlations were found between energy supplied at breakfast by protein, fats, carbohydrates, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, and the same parameters measured for the whole diet.