R M Ortega

Differences in dietary intake and activity level between normal-weight and Overweight or obese adolescents

BACKGROUND To investigate the prevalence of overweight and obesity in an adolescent group representative of a rural Mediterranean area and to determine possible associations with energy and nutrient intakes and levels of physical exercise. METHODS A representative sample of adolescents was drawn from the secondary school of Torre Pacheco (Murcia), a rural Mediterranean area located in the southeast of Spain. The population selected (331 adolescents aged 14-18 years), was divided into two groups: normal-weight subjects with a body mass index less than 23 kg/m2 and overweight or obese subjects with a body mass index of 23 kg/m2 or more. Weight, height, abdominal and hip perimeters, triceps skinfold, and upper arm circumference were measured. A prospective 7-consecutive-days food record and physical activity questionnaire were completed. RESULTS Overweight boys and girls had an apparently lower energy intake (P = 0.001 and P = 0.042, respectively), and carbohydrate intake (P = 0.000, P = 0.032) than their normal-weight counterparts, but they tended to underreport more often. Overweight boys derived a greater percentage of their energy from fat (P = 0.049) and less from carbohydrate (P = 0.016) than their normal-weight counterparts. Among girls, the percentage of energy derived from fat increased with body mass index (r = 0.210, P = 0.008), whereas fiber intake decreased (r = -0.145; P = 0.041). Overweight and obesity were negatively related to physical activity level only among boys (P = 0.033). CONCLUSION There is a high prevalence of overweight and obesity in the adolescent population studied (48.2% in boys and 30.7% in girls). The study shows an association between overweight and obesity and nutrient intake and activity level.

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).

Zinc levels in maternal milk: the influence of nutritional status with respect to zinc during the third trimester of pregnancy

Objective: To study the relationship between nutritional status with respect to zinc during the third trimester of pregnancy and levels of the same mineral in transition milk (days 13 and 14 of lactation) and mature milk (day 40 of lactation).Design: Longitudinal study.Subjects: A group of 57 healthy, lactating mothers aged between 18 and 35 y (27±3.7) whose pregnancy and labour were attended by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Cuenca INSALUD Hospital, Spain.Interventions: Zinc intake during the third trimester was determined by recording the consumption of foods over a five day period and by registering zinc provided by dietary supplements. Zinc levels in maternal serum during this stage of pregnancy, and in transition and mature milk, were determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy.Results: During pregnancy all subjects showed zinc intakes lower than those recommended. Only one pregnant subject took a supplement that provided extra zinc (1 mg/d). Subjects with an intake of lower than 50% of that recommended (L) (43.9%) showed significantly lower serum and mature milk zinc levels than did those with higher intakes (H) (56.1%) [12.0±1.5 µmol/L and 28.7±6.2 µmol/L compared to 13.3±2.6 µmol/L and 33.1±8.0 µmol/L respectively]. 56% of L subjects and 28.6% of H subjects showed serum zinc levels of less than 12.2 µmol/L. 8% of L subjects and no H subjects showed less than 11.5 µmol/L of zinc in maternal milk.Conclusions: The diet conditions maternal serum zinc levels during pregnancy and those of milk during lactation. Though all subjects showed intakes clearly below those recommended, low levels in serum or milk were much rarer. These results support the idea that there is a need to reset the limits of normality for serum and milk zinc levels. Further work in this area may confirm that the present recommended intakes of zinc be modified.Sponsporship: This work was supported by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias de la Seguridad Social (FISss).

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 Calcium Intake on Gestational Hypertension

Calcium intake during the third trimester of pregnancy was determined in 82 pregnant women by recording the consumption of foods over a 5-day period and by calculation of the quantity of this element provided by dietary supplements. For each subject, blood pressures were measured once per week using an aneroid sphygmomanometer, to detect and analyze differences in calcium intake between those with normal blood pressure and those suffering from gestational hypertension (7.3%). Calcium intake was significantly lower amongst subjects with high blood pressure (757.7 ± 154.5 compared to 986.4 ± 502.3 mg/day in normotensive subjects). The relationship between calcium intake and blood pressure was independent of other variables such as body mass index, number of previous pregnancies, weight gain, subject age or hematocrit levels. Though further investigation is needed, the results obtained seem to support the idea that pregnant women should try to maintain an optimal calcium intake.

Influence of dietetic and anthropometric factors and of the type of sport practised on bone density in different groups of women

Objective: The aim of this work was to analyse the influence of dietetic and anthropometric data, as well as the sport practised, on the bone density of different groups of sportswomen.Subjects and methods: Dietetic, anthropometric and bone density data were collected from 74 women who practised different sports (15 skiers, 26 basketball players and 33 ballet dancers), and compared to those of 90 women who led sedentary lifestyles.Results: The sportswomen had higher bone mineral contents and bone densities than controls. However, the dancers showed similar spinal and hip values as those of controls, and lower forearm values. Low body weight and body mass index, and insufficient energy intake–characteristic of the dancers–were associated with poorer bone mineralisation status. Increased energy, protein, vitamin D, calcium, zinc and magnesium intakes were associated with greater bone density and mineral content at different sites.Conclusions: The worst bone density status was that of the dancers, who, as a group, displayed characteristics that have negative impacts in this respect (low energy intakes and low body weight). Dancers should therefore take steps to avoid suffering fractures and skeleto-muscular lesions which could negatively influence their health and physical performance. The greater consumption of milk products and calcium and better Ca/P ratio seen in the dancers could help this group to avoid bone deterioration.Sponsorship: This research was supported by the Ministerio de Trabajo y Asuntos Sociales, Instituto de la Mujer, III Plan de Investigación Científica y Desarrollo Tecnológico.

Eating Behavior and Energy and Nutrient Intake in Overweight/Obese and Normal-Weight Spanish Elderly

Dietary patterns were studied in 122 Spanish elderly people divided into two groups: overweight/obese subjects (O) (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2), and normal-weight subjects (NW) (BMI < 25). O subjects ate less fruit and more meat than NW subjects. No differences were found between NW and O subjects with respect to energy intake, but O elderly obtained more of their energy from proteins and less from carbohydrates. Further, O subjects showed a higher cholesterol intake per MJ than NW subjects. The existence of the dietary imbalances seen in the diet of the O elderly may damage their health.

Riboflavin Levels in Maternal Milk: The Influence of Vitamin B2 Status during the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present investigation was to study the relationship between riboflavin status during the third trimester of pregnancy and levels of this vitamin in transition milk (days 13 to 14 of lactation) and mature milk (day 40 of lactation). METHODS The pregnancies and lactation periods of 57 healthy women between 18 and 35 years of age (27+/-3.7 years) were monitored, vitamin intake during the third trimester was determined by recording the consumption of foods over five days and by registering the quantities provided by dietary supplements. Riboflavin status during this stage of pregnancy was determined via the measurement of the activation of erythrocyte glutathione reductase (EGR) by flavine adenine dinucleotide (FAD). Milk riboflavin levels were determined by fluorometry. RESULTS Those subjects with riboflavin intakes below recommended (1.6 mg/day) (Group L) showed lower consumption of milk products (305.2+/-88.5 g/day) than did those with greater intakes (Group H) (507.9+/-137.2 g/day). The consumption of riboflavin containing supplements was very low and was seen only in two H subjects. Transition and mature milk riboflavin levels were significantly higher in H subjects (948.1+/-700.1 nmol/L for transition milk and 993.8+/-436.6 nmol/L for mature milk) than L subjects (574.9+/-258.7 nmol/L for transition milk and 725.4+/-254.3 nmol/L for mature milk). Subjects with alpha-EGR coefficients over 1.2 in the third trimester showed significantly lower mature milk riboflavin levels (704.1+/-241.8 nmol/L) than did subjects with more satisfactory alpha-EGR coefficients (996.4+/-302.9 nmol/L). CONCLUSION The influence of maternal vitamin B2 status during pregnancy on breast milk riboflavin levels was confirmed.

The female Spanish population: a group at risk of nutritional iron deficiency

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional problems in the world. It is frequent in both developed and developing countries and mainly affects women of childbearing age. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of iron deficiency in a group of young women from Madrid, Spain. The study subjects were a group of 130 women aged between 19 and 35 (24.53 +/- 0.24 years). Measurements were made of iron intake and also of the haematological and biochemical indicators of iron status. 10.7% of subjects showed iron deficiency (defined as the recording of at least two indicator parameters with values below normal). The high incidence of iron deficiency at blood level (10.7%) coincided with the low iron intake of these subjects (11.08 +/- 2.98 mg/day). 98.3% of subjects showed intakes below recommended. Observed intake covered only 61.6% of recommended intake. 3.9% of subjects presented ferropenic anaemia, i.e. they showed both iron deficiency and low haemoglobin levels.