Lionel Lafay

Possible protective effect of bread and dairy products on the risk of the metabolic syndrome

Abstract Several studies suggest that markers of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome (the cluster of cardiovascular risk factors with insulin resistance) are related to the dietary intakes. Most of these investigations were focused on nutrient intake. We examined whether specific types of food were associated with the presence of the metabolic syndrome. Habitual intake of meat, fish, bread and dairy products was assessed in 2537 women and 2439 men by a food frequency questionnaire. The metabolic syndrome was defined by the presence of at least two of the following factors in the upper (or lower in the case of HDL cholesterol) sex-specific quartile: fasting glucose, serum triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and diastolic blood pressure. There was no association between the intake of meat or fish and the metabolic syndrome. Bread and dairy intake were both inversely related to the frequency of the metabolic syndrome in men, but not in women. Men who ate more than 50 g of bread per day or more than 1 portion of dairy products per day had at least a 40% lower prevalence of the metabolic syndrome. In conclusion the results of our study suggest that in men, a high consumption of bread or dairy products may be related to the risk of the metabolic syndrome.

Gender differences in the relation between food cravings and mood in an adult community: Results from the Fleurbaix Laventie Ville Santé Study

OBJECTIVEnThe aim of this survey was to study food cravings and its indulgence in community adults (538 women and 506 men) and to compare nutritional parameters, weight preoccupations, and weight history between cravers and noncravers.nnnMETHODnCravers experienced a strong urge to eat specific foods more than once a week during the past 6 months. Food intake was estimated by a 3-day food record.nnnRESULTSn28% of women and 13% of men were food cravers. Cravers, especially women, were more frequently concerned about their weight than noncravers. Energy intake during snacks was higher in cravers. Less than 40% of cravers reported being hungry when they experienced cravings. Women cravers indulged their cravings as often as men. They reported more frequently negative feelings, whereas men reported more frequently positive feelings.nnnDISCUSSIONnThis study shows that food craving episodes are strongly associated with mood but in a different way in women and men.

Time trend in height, weight, and obesity prevalence in school children from Northern France, 1992–2000

OBJECTIVEnThe aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in height, weight and in the prevalence of overweight and obesity between 1992 and 2000 in children living in two towns of northern France.nnnMETHODSnTwo cross-sectional studies were performed in every pre-school (last section) and primary schools of the two towns in 1992 (383 girls and 421 boys enrolled) and 2000 (296 girls and 305 boys). Children were 5 to 12 year old in both studies.nnnMEASUREMENTSnBody height and weight were measured, and BMI was calculated (weight/height(2)). Prevalence of overweight and obesity was determined according to the gender- and age- specific cut-offs of the new international reference (IOTF). We also used the 90(th) and the 97(th) percentiles of the French reference gender- and age-specific BMI curves to define two grades of overweight.nnnRESULTSnAfter adjustment for age, boys were on average 1.5 cm taller in 2000 than in 1992 (p<0.001), and the same trend was observed in girls (+ 0.9 cm, p<0.075). Height-adjusted or age-adjusted weight and BMI were significantly higher in 2000 than in 1992. In girls, obesity defined by IOTF criteria increased from 1.6 to 4.4% (p<0.03) and overweight from 14.1 to 18.6% (p<0.11). In boys, the change in prevalences was significant only when the less stringent criteria (i.e. the 90(th) percentile of French references) was used (13.8% in 1992 vs 20% in 2000, p=0.03).nnnCONCLUSIONnOver an 8 years period, there was an increase in height and BMI in both boys and girls. These results show that the increase in the prevalence of obesity is accompanied by a global trend of accelerated growth.

Reproducibility and relative validity of a food-frequency questionnaire among French adults and adolescents

Objective:Our aim was to evaluate the reproducibility of a food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) developed in a French population, and its validity against four 24-h dietary recalls (24-HRs).Methods:A total of 57 adults (aged 18–63), 17 adolescents (aged 14–18) and 20 children (aged 10–14) completed four 24-HRs (one per season) and two FFQs over a 1-year interval. Reproducibility of the FFQ was estimated by intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The validity of FFQ was assessed by comparison with the four 24-HRs.Results:For most nutrients, the first FFQ measurements gave higher mean values than the second FFQ. The ICCs for nutrients ranged from 0.39 for total protein to 0.83 for alcohol. The ICCs were higher for food items consumed daily such as milk (0.80) or sugars and confectionery (0.65), and lower for rarely eaten food such as inner organs (0.11). Nutrient intakes as assessed by FFQs were higher than those from the 24-HRs, except for alcohol. The de-attenuated Pearsons correlation coefficient for nutrients varied from 0.25 (dietary fiber) to 0.90 (alcohol), but the adjustment for energy did not improve these coefficients. When nutrient intakes were categorized into quintiles, FFQ and 24-HRs produced agreement rates (same or adjacent quintile) between 55% (for PUFA) and 95% (for alcohol), while misclassification to an extreme quintile was rare (<5%).Conclusion:The FFQ developed for the FLVS II Study can be used to classify adults or adolescents according to their nutrients and food intakes over a 1-year period.

Family Dietary Coaching to Improve Nutritional Intakes and Body Weight Control: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVEnTo test the hypothesis that family dietary coaching would improve nutritional intakes and weight control in free-living (noninstitutionalized) children and parents.nnnDESIGNnRandomized controlled trial.nnnSETTINGnFifty-four elementary schools in Paris, France.nnnPARTICIPANTSnOne thousand thirteen children (mean age, 7.7 years) and 1013 parents (mean age, 40.5 years).nnnINTERVENTIONnFamilies were randomly assigned to group A (advised to reduce fat and to increase complex carbohydrate intake), group B (advised to reduce both fat and sugar and to increase complex carbohydrate intake), or a control group (given no advice). Groups A and B received monthly phone counseling and Internet-based monitoring for 8 months.nnnOUTCOME MEASURESnChanges in nutritional intake, body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), fat mass, physical activity, blood indicators, and quality of life.nnnRESULTSnCompared with controls, participants in the intervention groups achieved their nutritional targets for fat intake and to a smaller extent for sugar and complex carbohydrate intake, leading to a decrease in energy intake (children, P < .001; parents, P = .02). Mean changes in body mass index were similar among children (group A, + 0.05, 95% confidence interval [CI], - 0.06 to 0.16; group B, + 0.10, 95% CI, - 0.03 to 0.23; control group, + 0.13, 95% CI, 0.04-0.22; P = .45), but differed in parents (group A, + 0.13, 95% CI, - 0.01 to 0.27; group B, - 0.02, 95% CI, - 0.14 to 0.11; control group, + 0.24, 95% CI, 0.13-0.34; P = .001), with a significant difference between group B and the control group (P = .01).nnnCONCLUSIONSnFamily dietary coaching improves nutritional intake in free-living children and parents, with beneficial effects on weight control in parents. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00456911.

Infant-feeding patterns are related to blood cholesterol concentration in prepubertal children aged 5-11 y: the Fleurbaix-Laventie Ville Santé study.

Objective: Several studies, mainly in animals, but also in humans, have shown that diet in infancy is associated with differences in blood cholesterol concentrations later in life. The objective was to examine this relationship in children aged 5–11u2005y after taking into account their current diet and parental hypercholesterolemia.Setting and subjects: 251 prepubertal boys and 223 prepubertal girls enrolled in the schools in two little towns in northern France.Design and methods: Cross-sectional evaluation including measurements of cholesterol concentrations on capillary blood and a single weekday food intake record. Infant feeding patterns were obtained by questionnaire given to the mothersResults: 50% of the children had been breast-fed for a median duration of less than 2 months. Cow’s milk was introduced in the diet as whole milk for 33% of the children. After adjustment for age, height, and sibship, capillary cholesterol concentration was lower in boys who had been breast fed (geometric mean: 4.4, 95% confidence interval of the mean: 4.2–4.6u2005mmol/L) than in those fed with formula (4.7, 4.5–4.8u2005mmol/L, P<0.03). In girls, breastfeeding had no significant effect on blood cholesterol concentration, which was associated with the type of cow’s milk given in infancy: whole milk: 4.9u2005mmol/L (4.7–5.2); totally or partially skimmed milk: 4.5u2005mmol/L (4.2–4.6), P<0.008. The current saturated fat and cholesterol intakes and parental hypercyholesterolemia were associated with current blood cholesterol concentration in children, but did not modify its relationship with infant feeding patterns.Conclusion: Results of the present study suggest that diet in infancy may have longstanding effect on lipid metabolism.Sponsorship: The study was supported by funds from Eridania Béghin-Say, Groupe Fournier, Lesieur and Nestlé France, Roche Diagnostic and of the MGEN (Mutuelle Générale de l’Education Nationale, contract INSERM-MGEN #9158) and a grant from the Association de Langue Française pour l’Etude du Diabète et du Métabolisme (ALFEDIAM).European Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2000) 54, 114–119