Central Obesity and Health-related Factors among Middle-aged Men: a Comparison among Native Japanese and Japanese-Brazilians Residing in Brazil and Japan

A Critical Review on New Approaches for Chronic Disease Prevention in Brazil and Canada: From Wholistic Dietary Guidelines to Physical Activity Security

In light of new evidence on the prevention of chronic diseases and the elevated rates of overweight and obesity in Brazil and Canada, this critical review aims to interpret and synthesize current aspects regarding dietary and physical activity initiatives in both countries and make future recommendations. The pioneering work presented in the last Brazilian dietary guidelines has been called a model that can be applied globally, given its conceptualization of healthy eating that translates easily to practical guidance. The new Canadian Food Guide has incorporated similar aspects, also putting the country as a leader in dietary guidance. With these new recommendations, citizens in both Brazil and Canada have access to impactful evidence-informed nutritional guidelines. Both documents propose eating patterns that focus not only on health benefits, such as chronic disease prevention, but also incorporate well-being concerning cultural, economic, sociodemographic, biological, and ecological dimensions. A similar approach is required for physical activity to allow individuals to have attainable health and life goals and thereby fully enjoy their lives, regardless of geographical location, health status, and socioeconomic condition, a concept recently described as physical activity security. The wholistic dietary guidelines from both countries represent a change in paradigm in public health. Likewise, national evidence-based policies are warranted to reduce disparities in physical activity, allowing healthier and more active lifestyles for everyone.

Epigenetic modification by dietary factors: Implications in metabolic syndrome

Dietary factors play a role in normal biological processes and are involved in the regulation of pathological progression over a lifetime. Evidence has emerged indicating that dietary factor-dependent epigenetic modifications can significantly affect genome stability and the expression of mRNA and proteins, which are involved in metabolic dysfunction. Since metabolic syndrome is a progressive phenotype characterized by insulin resistance, obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, or type 2 diabetes, gene-diet interactions are important processes involved in the initiation of particular symptoms of metabolic syndrome and their progression. Some epigenetic risk markers can be initiated or reversed by diet and environmental factors. In this review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the interactions between dietary factors and epigenetic changes in metabolic syndrome. We discuss the contribution of nutritional factors in transgenerational inheritance of epigenetic markers and summarize the current knowledge of epigenetic modifications by dietary bioactive components in metabolic diseases. The intake of dietary components that regulate epigenetic modifications can provide significant health effects and, as an epigenetic diet, may prevent various pathological processes in the development of metabolic disease.

[Food consumption and dietary factors involved in health and disease in Nikkeis: systematic review]

OBJECTIVE

To analyze food consumption and dietary factors involved in the Nikkei population's health and disease processes

METHODS

A systematic review of observational studies that described Nikkeis' food intake was carried out in electronic databases Lilacs, SciELO and PubMed/Medline databases, from 1997 to 2012. Initially, 137 titles and abstracts were analyzed, excluding intervention studies, those which only presented metabolite and vitamin plasma levels and those which did not meet the objective of this study. Of these, 38 studies were selected and evaluated using a method based on Downs & Black (1998), adapted for observational studies, leaving 33 studies to be analyzed.

RESULTS

Few studies about Nikkei food intake were found outside of Hawaii, in the United States, and Sao Paulo (mainly in the city of Bauru) in Brazil. The total energy intake of Japanese-Brazilians had an elevated fat contribution, decreasing carbohydrate and protein intake. In the United States, the prevalence of Japanese-Americans who consumed high density energy food was elevated. The Niseis (children of immigrants) presented, on average, higher intake of Japanese food products, while the Sanseis (grandchildren of immigrants) showed more Westernized dietary habits.

CONCLUSIONS

Although some Japanese food habits have been maintained, the Nikkeis' dietary intake reveals a high prevalence of typical Westernized food intake (high in processed food, fat and sodium, and poor in fiber), that may be contributing to the increasing development of chronic disease in this population.

Fatores preditores do alcance das metas de um programa de intervenção em nipo-brasileiros

Identificar fatores da linha de base preditores do alcance das metas do programa de intervenção no estilo de vida após 12 meses em população de nipo-brasileiros, empregando-se modelos de regressão logística ajustados. Em 2005, 321 participantes eram portadores de excesso de peso e houve maior chance [OR (IC95%)] de alcance da meta de perda de peso após 12 meses entre mulheres [2,45 (1,33; 4,13)], indivíduos de maior idade [1,03 (1,00; 1,06)] e menor chance entre portadores de morbidades no início do estudo [0,33 (0,14; 0,77)]. Dos 261 indivíduos sedentários, o alcance da meta de atividades físicas foi inversamente relacionado ao exercício de atividades profissionais [0,40 (0,17; 0,95)]. Não se verificou fatores da linha de base associados ao alcance das metas do consumo de legumes, verduras e frutas e gorduras saturadas da dieta após 12 meses. Indivíduos de maior idade, mulheres, não portadores de morbidades e sem exercício de atividades profissionais na linha de base apresentaram maior chance de alcance das metas após 12 meses de intervenção no estilo de vida.