The Role of Dairy Products in Healthy Weight and Body Composition in Children and Adolescents

Association between milk and dairy consumption and executive functioning: A cross-sectional survey based on rural Chinese adolescents

BACKGROUND

Milk and dairy product consumption continue to increase in developing countries, with positive effects on adolescent physical and mental health. However, the effect of milk and dairy product consumption on executive function of adolescents has been less reported. This study aimed to analyze the status of milk and dairy product consumption and its association with executive function among adolescents in rural areas of China. The study aims to contribute to the healthy development of adolescents in rural areas of China.

METHODS

A three-stage stratified whole-group sampling method was used to investigate the milk and dairy product consumption status and executive function of 1360 adolescents in rural areas of China. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square test was used to compare the milk and dairy product consumption of different categories of adolescents. Linear regression analysis and logistic regression analysis were used to analyze the association between milk and dairy product consumption and executive function.

RESULTS

The proportions of adolescents in rural China with milk and dairy product consumption ≤1 t/w, 2-4 t/w, and ≥5 t/w were 39.26%, 45.07%, and 15.66%, respectively. After adjusting for relevant confounding variables, logistic regression analysis showed that compared to adolescents with milk and dairy product consumption ≥5 t/w, milk and dairy product consumption 2-4 t/w (OR = 2.115,95% CI: 1.265, 3.533) and ≤1 t/w (OR = 5.929,95% CI: 3.552,9.895) had a higher risk of inhibit control dysfunction (p < 0.05). Compared to adolescents with milk and dairy product consumption ≥5 t/w, adolescents with milk and dairy product consumption ≤1 t/w (OR = 2.141,95% CI: 1.110,4.129) had a higher risk of conversion the risk of flexibility dysfunction was also higher in adolescents with milk and dairy product consumption ≤1 t/w (OR = 2.141,95% CI: 1.110,4.129).

CONCLUSION

Milk and dairy product consumption among adolescents in rural areas of China is inadequate and has a positive association with executive function. In the future, we should increase milk and dairy product consumption and improve executive function of adolescents in rural areas of China in order to promote healthy physical and mental development.

Oral calcium and vitamin D supplements differentially alter exploratory, anxiety-like behaviors and memory in male rats

Oral calcium and calcium plus vitamin D supplements are commonly prescribed to several groups of patients, e.g., osteoporosis, fracture, and calcium deficiency. Adequate and steady extracellular calcium levels are essential for neuronal activity, whereas certain forms of calcium supplement (e.g., CaCO3) probably interfere with memory function. However, it was unclear whether a long-term use of ionized calcium (calcium chloride in drinking water ad libitum), vitamin D supplement (oral gavage) or the combination of both affected anxiety and memory, the latter of which was probably dependent on the hippocampal neurogenesis. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of calcium and/or vitamin D supplement on the anxiety- and memory-related behaviors and the expression of doublecortin (DCX), an indirect proxy indicator of hippocampal neurogenesis. Eight-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, i.e., control, calcium chloride-, 400 UI/kg vitamin D3-, and calcium chloride plus vitamin D-treated groups. After 4 weeks of treatment, anxiety-, exploration- and recognition memory-related behaviors were evaluated by elevated pulse-maze (EPM), open field test (OFT), and novel object recognition (NOR), respectively. The hippocampi were investigated for the expression of DCX protein by Western blot analysis. We found that oral calcium supplement increased exploratory behavior as evaluated by OFT and the recognition index in NOR test without any effect on anxiety behavior in EPM. On the other hand, vitamin D supplement was found to reduce anxiety-like behaviors. Significant upregulation of DCX protein expression was observed in the hippocampus of both calcium- and vitamin D-treated rats, suggesting their positive effects on neurogenesis. In conclusion, oral calcium and vitamin D supplements positively affected exploratory, anxiety-like behaviors and/or memory in male rats. Thus, they potentially benefit on mood and memory in osteoporotic patients beyond bone metabolism.

Describing the longitudinal breakfast quality index trajectories in early childhood: results from Melbourne InFANT program

BACKGROUND

Breakfast quality in early childhood remains understudied. This study describes the changes in breakfast quality index (BQI) (i.e. trajectory) in early childhood and assesses its associations with obesity outcomes.

METHODS

Data from children who participated in the Melbourne InFANT Program were used (n = 328). The Melbourne InFANT Program was a 15-month early obesity prevention intervention conducted from 2008 to 2013. Dietary intakes at ages 1.5, 3.5 and 5.0 years were assessed using three parent-proxy reported 24 h recalls. A revised nine-item BQI tool developed based on Australian dietary recommendations for young children was used to calculate BQI scores. Group-based trajectory modelling identified BQI trajectory groups. Multivariable linear and logistic regression examined the associations between identified BQI trajectory groups and obesity outcomes at age 5 years.

RESULTS

Mean BQI at ages 1.5, 3.5 and 5.0 years was 4.8, 4.8, 2.7 points, respectively. Two BQI trajectory groups were identified, and both showed a decline in BQI. The mean BQI of most children (74%) decreased from 5.0 to 4.0 points from ages 1.5 to 5.0 years (referred as "High BQI" group). The remaining children (26%) had a mean BQI of 4.8 and 1.2 points at age 1.5 and 5.0 years, respectively (referred as "Low BQI" group). The "Low BQI" group appeared to show higher risk of overweight (OR:1.30, 95% CI: 0.60, 2.81, P = 0.66) at age 5 years than the "High BQI" group. No difference in body mass index (BMI) z-score was found between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Two BQI trajectory groups were identified. Both groups showed a decline in breakfast quality from ages 1.5 to 5.0 years. Our study highlights the need for early health promotion interventions and strategies to improve and maintain breakfast quality across early childhood.

High dietary calcium intake and low adiposity: findings from a longitudinal study in Brazilian adolescents

Epidemiological studies have supported the hypothesis that dietary calcium intake is protective for adiposity. This study aimed to estimate the association of dietary calcium with adiposity indicators during adolescence. This is a cohort study with high school adolescents (n = 962) from selected schools of the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which were followed from 2010 to 2012. Calcium intake was assessed by a validated self-reported food frequency questionnaire. Cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses of dietary calcium intake were performed regarding body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), body fat percentage (%BF), fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), fat mass index (FMI), and fat-free mass index (FFMI). The analysis of variance was used for cross-sectional analysis with baseline data and linear mixed models applied to assess changes across the follow-up. At baseline, BMI, %BF, fat mass, and FMI (p for trend < 0.05) had lower means at the highest quintile of calcium intake whereas FFM and FFMI had higher means (p for trend < 0.05), especially for boys. During follow-up, boys had decreased FMI at the 4th and 5th quintiles of calcium intake (p < 0.05); among girls, only WC was significantly lower at the 4th quintile than in the 1st. These results support the hypothesis that low calcium intake increases adiposity among adolescents.

Associations between Frequency of Dairy Intake with Body Composition and Excess Adiposity in Preschool Children from Poland

Evidence suggests there has been a decrease in childhood dairy consumption. There is a need for further studies to evaluate the types of dairy products in relation to the risk of obesity in pediatric population. The aim of the study was to determine the associations between the frequency of consumption of different types of dairy products and body composition and excess adiposity in preschool children from Poland. A cross-sectional study of 1172 children aged 5–6 years was conducted using a bioelectrical impedance analysis for body composition estimation and a modified food frequency questionnaire (FFQ-6) to assess the habitual diets of the participants. Among the analyzed dairy products, milk was consumed most often, followed by fruit yoghurts, yellow cheese, and cottage cheese, and natural yoghurt was the least common. Participants that consumed fruit or natural yoghurt more frequently had higher adipose tissue content. The logistic regression analysis by the method of forward selection showed that more frequent consumption of fruit yoghurt significantly increased the risk of excess adiposity among the total sample (OR = 1.20, p < 0.001). This study revealed that higher consumption of fruit yoghurt could be significant determinant of excess adiposity in Polish preschool children.

Total dairy consumption in relation to overweight and obesity in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional and prospective cohort studies was conducted to assess the associations between total dairy consumption and its different subtypes with the prevalence and incidence of overweight, obesity, and overweight/obesity in children and adolescents. A literature search was conducted in Medline through PUBMED and Cochrane Library databases until October 18, 2021. Articles reporting the risk estimates as odd ratios (OR), risk ratios (RR), or hazard ratios and their corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between dairy product consumption and the risk of overweight and/or obesity were included. In the meta-analysis from cross-sectional studies, results showed an inverse association between total dairy consumption and obesity prevalence (OR (95% CI): 0.66 (0.48-0.91). No significant associations were found between milk or yogurt and obesity prevalence risk. Regarding prospective studies, total milk consumption was positively associated with overweight prevalence (OR (95% CI): 1.13 (1.01-1.26)) and incidence (RR (95%CI): 1.17 (1.01-1.35)) risk. Evidence from pooled analysis of cross-sectional studies suggested an inverse association between total dairy consumption and obesity. However, there is limited and no conclusive evidence to confirm an inverse relationship from pooled analysis of prospective studies in children and adolescents.

Composition and structure elucidation of bovine milk glycosaminoglycans and their anti-adipogenic activity via modulation PPAR-γ and C/EBP-α

The structure function relation of Glycosaminoglycans from bovine milk (bmGAGs) has not been studied in detail. In the present study bmGAGs was isolated and structurally characterized. Chondroitin sulphate was one of the major GAGs present and had 65% of ΔDi-diSB (GlcA(2S)-GalNAc(4S)), followed by 18% of ΔDi-4S(Δ4,5HexUAα1 → 3GalNAc). Further, bmGAGs exhibited a marked anti-adipogenic effect in 3 T3-L1 cells without affecting cell viability at the concentration used. The triglyceride content treated with bmGAGs was significantly decreased as assessed by Oil-Red O staining. Peroxisome proliferator activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPα) the critical transcription factors in adipogenesis showed significant decrease in both gene and protein levels. Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) that promotes the adipocyte differentiation by enhancing the activity of PPAR-γ was inversely affected by bmGAGs and the fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression was modulated. Thus, the present work is among the firsts to demonstrate an anti-adipogenic activity of bmGAGs by modulating the adipogenesis-related marker proteins and hence bmGAGs may be used as a supplement/therapeutic in the management of obesity.

Gut Microbiome Diversity and Composition Are Associated with Habitual Dairy Intakes: A Cross-Sectional Study in Men

BACKGROUND

At a population level, the relation between dairy consumption and gut microbiome composition is poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to study the cross-sectional associations between individual dairy foods (i.e., milk, yogurt, and cheese), as well as total dairy intake, and the gut microbiome composition in a large, representative sample of men living in south-eastern Australia.

METHODS

Data on 474 men (mean ± SD: 64.5 ± 13.5 y old) from the Geelong Osteoporosis Study were used to assess the cross-sectional association between dairy consumption and gut microbiome. Information on dairy intake was self-reported. Men were categorized as consumers and nonconsumers of milk, yogurt, cheese, and high- and low-fat milk. Milk, yogurt, and cheese intakes were summed to calculate the total dairy consumed per day and categorized into either low (<2.5 servings/d) or high (≥2.5 servings/d) total dairy groups. Fecal samples were analyzed using bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing. After assessment of α and β diversity, differential abundance analysis was performed to identify bacterial taxa associated with each of milk, yogurt, and cheese consumption compared with nonconsumption, low compared with high total dairy, and low- compared with high-fat milk consumption. All analyses were adjusted for potential confounders.

RESULTS

α Diversity was not associated with consumption of any of the dairy groups. Differences in β diversity were observed between milk and yogurt consumption compared with nonconsumption. Taxa belonging to the genera Ruminococcaceae UCG-010 and Bifidobacterium showed negative and weak positive associations with milk consumption, respectively. A taxon from the genus Streptococcus was positively associated with yogurt consumption, whereas a taxon from the genus Eisenbergiella was negatively associated with cheese consumption. No specific taxa were associated with low- compared with high-fat milk nor low compared with high total dairy consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

In men, community-level microbiome differences were observed between consumers and nonconsumers of milk and yogurt. Bacterial taxon-level associations were detected with milk, yogurt, and cheese consumption. Total dairy consumption was not associated with any microbiome measures, suggesting that individual dairy foods may have differential roles in shaping the gut microbiome in men.

Is High Milk Intake Good for Children's Health? A National Population-Based Observational Cohort Study

Milk is widely considered as a beneficial product for growing children. This study was designed to describe the milk consumption status of Korean children aged 30–36 months and to investigate its association with the risk of obesity and iron deficiency anemia (IDA). This nationwide administrative study used data from the Korean national health insurance system and child health screening examinations for children born in 2008 and 2009. In total, 425,583 children were included, and they were divided into three groups based on daily milk consumption: low milk group (do not drink or drink <200 mL milk per day, n = 139,659), reference group (drink 200–499 mL milk per day, n = 255,670), and high milk group (drink ≥500 mL milk per day, n = 30,254). After adjusting variable confounding factors, the consumption of a large amount of milk of ≥500 mL per day at the age of 30–36 months was associated with an increased risk of obesity at the age of 42–72 months and IDA after the age of 30 months. These results may provide partial evidence for dietary guidelines for milk consumption in children that are conducive to health.

Vitamins in Human and Donkey Milk: Functional and Nutritional Role

BACKGROUND

Whole milk is a good source of all the nutrients, and it also contains a sufficient number of vitamins to permit regular the growth of the neonate. Dairy cow milk can create allergy in infants less than 12 months old because of the high caseins and β-lactoglobulin content. In these circumstances, donkey milk can represent a good replacement for dairy cows' milk in children affected by Cow Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA) because of its close chemical composition with human milk, mainly due to its low protein and low mineral content. Milk vitamin content is highly variable among mammalian species and it is strictly correlated with the vitamin status and the diet administered to the mother. Fat-soluble vitamins content in donkey milk is, on average, lower compared to ruminants' milk, while vitamin C content determined in donkey milk is higher compared to dairy cows' milk, showing a great similarity with human milk. In donkey milk, the content of vitamins of the B-complex such as thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, and folic acid is higher compared to human milk. The use of donkey milk as a new functional food must be further evaluated in interdisciplinary clinical trials in which pediatricians, dietitians, and food scientists must be involved to deepen the knowledge about the positive health impact of donkey milk in different sensitive people, especially children and the elderly.

Milk consumption in childhood and adulthood and its effect on body composition

Throughout their life, people are exposed to many different types of milk. First, it is breast milk if infants are breastfed or special formula based on cow milk with modified composition if they are not breastfed. Later in life, it is recommended that humans consume the milk of other mammals as a source of highly valuable protein, calcium, and phosphorus. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of methods and duration of feeding in infancy and consumption of milk or milk alternatives in adulthood on body composition. We used a questionnaire of 21 specific questions to obtain information on breastfeeding and milk consumption. All 84 participants (18 men, 66 women; age 23.26 ±1.36) underwent measurement of body composition, using BIA methods (InBody 720). A comparison of the information from the questionnaire with the information from the body composition measurement was made. Significant differences were observed in visceral fat area (p = 0.048) and waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.022) according to duration of breastfeeding. Participants who were fed formula for a shorter time than 1 year (until 12 months of age) showed a higher percentage of body fat (p = 0.047). The fat percentage of milk was a significant factor for the waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.026). Participants consuming plant-based milk alternatives showed significant differences in waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.031) and body mass index (p = 0.015) and highly significant differences in weight (p <0.001) and fat-free mass (p <0.001). In conclusion, results show that the duration of breastfeeding may prevent the development of overweight and eventually obesity. Usage of infant formulas as an alternative to breast milk should be limited to those who are unable to breastfeed. The current consumption of milk indicates the benefits of whole milk in the diet but also shows increasing interest in the advantages of plant-based milk.

The Associations between Dairy Product Consumption and Biomarkers of Inflammation, Adipocytokines, and Oxidative Stress in Children: A Cross-Sectional Study

The association between dairy product consumption and biomarkers of inflammation, adipocytokines, and oxidative stress is poorly studied in children. Therefore, these associations were examined in a representative subsample of 1338 schoolchildren with a mean age of 11.5 (±0.7) years in the Healthy Growth Study. Information on dairy product consumption was collected by dietary recalls. Total dairy consumption was calculated by summing the intake of milk, yogurt, and cheese. Inflammatory markers, i.e., high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and adipocytokines, i.e., leptin, adiponectin, and the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were analysed. Due to the skewed distribution hs-CRP, IL-6, and leptin were log transformed. Multivariable regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, energy intake, physical activity, parental education, Tanner stage, and fat mass were used to assess the associations between consumption of total dairy, milk, yogurt, cheese, and markers of inflammation, adipocytokines, oxidative stress, and adiponectin-leptin ratio. Our results showed that milk consumption was inversely associated with leptin (β: -0.101; 95% CI: -0.177, -0.025, p = 0.009) and positively associated with the adiponectin-leptin ratio (β: 0.116; 95% CI: 0.020, 0.211; p = 0.018), while total dairy, cheese, and yogurt consumption were not associated with inflammatory, adipocytokine, or antioxidant markers. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these results.

Dairy Consumption and Metabolic Health

Milk and dairy foods are naturally rich sources of a wide range of nutrients, and when consumed according to recommended intakes, contribute essential nutrients across all stages of the life cycle. Seminal studies recommendations with respect to intake of saturated fat have been consistent and clear: limit total fat intake to 30% or less of total dietary energy, with a specific recommendation for intake of saturated fat to less than 10% of total dietary energy. However, recent work has re-opened the debate on intake of saturated fat in particular, with suggestions that recommended intakes be considered not at a total fat intake within the diet, but at a food-specific level. A large body of evidence exists examining the impact of dairy consumption on markers of metabolic health, both at a total-dairy-intake level and also at a food-item level, with mixed findings to date. However the evidence suggests that the impact of saturated fat intake on health differs both across food groups and even between foods within the same food group such as dairy. The range of nutrients and bioactive components in milk and dairy foods are found in different levels and are housed within very different food structures. The interaction of the overall food structure and the nutrients describes the concept of the 'food matrix effect' which has been well-documented for dairy foods. Studies show that nutrients from different dairy food sources can have different effects on health and for this reason, they should be considered individually rather than grouped as a single food category in epidemiological research. This narrative review examines the current evidence, mainly from randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses, with respect to dairy, milk, yoghurt and cheese on aspects of metabolic health, and summarises some of the potential mechanisms for these findings.

Eating Habits of Children Born after Maternal Bariatric Surgery

Mothers who underwent bariatric surgery (BS) before pregnancy have worrisome eating habits, but little is known about the eating habits of their offspring. EFFECTOR is a cross-sectional, long-term follow-up study of 4-11-year-old children born from mothers that underwent bariatric surgery before pregnancy (n = 36), mothers with overweight/obesity (OW/OB) in a control group (n = 71), and mothers with a normal weight (NW) in a second control group (n = 35). Data on anthropometry and on eating habits obtained through a Food Frequency Questionnaire were collected prospectively. The children's body mass index (BMI) scores significantly correlated with maternal pre-pregnancy BMI. The prevalence of overweight and obesity was the highest in children of the BS group (38.9% vs. 15.5% for children of the OW/OB group and 5.7% for those of the NW group; p = 0.004). Meal-skipping behavior was comparable between the groups. There was no difference in fruit and vegetable consumption. The BS group consumed more low-calorie sweetened beverages compared to the NW group (p = 0.01) but less fruit juice compared to the NW and OW/OB groups (p = 0.01). Our results may indicate a sugar-avoiding behavior in children of the BS group, fitting dietary maternal habits in a strategy to prevent dumping syndrome. In conclusion, maternal pre-pregnancy bariatric surgery does not alter unhealthy eating behaviors and the risk of development of overweight during childhood in their children.

Dietary Intake of Vitamin D from Dairy Products Reduces the Risk of Osteoporosis

Background: Vitamin D and calcium are important dietary compounds that affect bone mass, even if other minerals (potassium, zinc, etc.) and vitamins (A, C and K) are also involved. Vitamin D and certain minerals, in fact, play an important role in calcium homeostasis and calcium absorption. Hip fracture incidence is higher in Europe and the United States, where calcium is frequently included in the human diet; while the occurrence of these fractures is lower in developing countries, where diets are often poor in calcium. This condition is named the “calcium paradox”, and may be partially explained by phosphate toxicity, which can negatively affect mineral metabolism. It is important to maintain correct dietary calcium-phosphate balance in order to have a healthy life, reducing the risk of osteoporotic fractures in older people. Vitamin D can also act as a hormone; vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) is derived from the UV-B radiation of ergosterol, the natural vitamin D precursor detected in plants, fungi, and invertebrates. Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is synthesized by sunlight exposure from 7-dehydrocholesterol, a precursor of cholesterol that can also act as provitamin D3. Dietary intake of vitamin D3 is essential when the skin is exposed for short periods to ultraviolet B light (UV-B), a category of invisible light rays such as UV-A and UV-C. This can be considered the usual situation in northern latitudes during the winter season, or the typical lifestyle for older people and/or for people with very white delicate skin. The actual recommended daily intake of dietary vitamin D is strictly correlated with age, ranging from 5 μg for infants, children, teenagers, and adults—including pregnant and lactating women—to 15 μg for people over 65 years.

Dairy Consumption at Snack Meal Occasions and the Overall Quality of Diet during Childhood. Prospective and Cross-Sectional Analyses from the IDEFICS/I.Family Cohort

There is scarce information on the influence of dairy consumption between main meals on the overall diet quality through childhood, constituting the main aim of this research. From the Identification and prevention of Dietary- and lifestyle induced health EFfects In Children and infantS (IDEFICS) study, and based on the data availability in each period due to drop outs, 8807 children aged 2 to 9.9 years from eight European countries at baseline (T0: 2007-2008); 5085 children after two years (T1); and 1991 after four years (T3), were included in these analyses. Dietary intake and the Diet Quality Index (DQI) were assessed by two 24 hours dietary recalls (24-HDR) and food frequency questionnaire. Consumption of milk and yogurt (p = 0.04) and cheese (p < 0.001) at snack meal occasions was associated with higher DQI scores in T0; milk and yogurt (p < 0.001), and cheese (p < 0.001) in T1; and cheese (p = 0.05) in T3. Consumers of milk (p = 0.02), yogurt (p < 0.001), or cheese (p < 0.001) throughout T0 and T1 at all snack moments had significantly higher scores of DQI compared to non-consumers. This was also observed with the consumption of cheese between T1 and T3 (p = 0.03). Consumption of dairy products at snack moments through childhood is associated with a better overall diet quality, being a good strategy to improve it in this period.

High-fat diet-induced metabolic syndrome and oxidative stress in obese rats are ameliorated by yogurt supplementation

The main objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of yogurt supplementation on fat deposition, oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis in the liver of rats with high-fat (HF) diet-induced obesity. Male Wistar rats were used in this study and were separated into the following four different groups: the control, control + yogurt, high fat and high fat+ yogurt groups. The high fat groups received a HF diet for eight weeks. A 5% yogurt (w/w) supplement was also provided to rats fed the HF diet. Yogurt supplementation prevented glucose intolerance and normalized liver-specific enzyme activities in the HF diet-fed rats. Yogurt supplementation also significantly reduced the levels of oxidative stress markers in the plasma and liver of HF diet-fed rats. Moreover, inflammatory cell infiltration, collagen deposition and fibrosis in the liver of HF diet-fed rats were also prevented by yogurt supplementation. Furthermore, yogurt supplementation normalized the intestinal lining and brush border in HF diet-fed rats. This study suggests that yogurt supplementation potentially represents an alternative therapy for the prevention of metabolic syndrome in HF diet-fed rats.

Early Eating Patterns and Overweight and Obesity in a Sample of Preschool Children in South-East Poland

The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a child's diet in the first year of life (breastfeeding duration, introduction of solid meals to the diet, the time of starting nutrition consistent with an adult diet) on the prevalence of overweight and obesity in preschool age. Three-hundred children aged 4-6 were included in the analysis. The children's height and body weight were assessed and their body mass category was determined based on the BMI (Body Mass Index) percentile. Parents provided a photocopy of the child's health book (with information concerning breastfeeding period, start of eating the same meals as the rest of the family, etc.). Obese children were breastfed for the shortest time, cow's milk was introduced to their diets the earliest, they started eating the same food as the rest of the family the earliest, and they received vegetables, fruits, cereals, and meat products in their diet the latest. The results of this study suggest that extending the breastfeeding period beyond 6 months, starting to feed the child the same meals as the rest of the family after 12 months of age, and later introduction of cow's milk to the diet would reduce the risk of the occurrence of excessive body weight in preschool children.

Lean body mass accretion is elevated in response to dietary vitamin D: A dose-response study in female weanling rats

Vitamin D status positively relates to lean body mass in infants. This study tested the effect of vitamin D on body composition and growth-related hormones. It was hypothesized that low vitamin D status programs for higher fat mass accretion. Female weanling Sprague-Dawley rats (4 weeks; n = 6/diet) were randomized to AIN-93G diets with modified vitamin D contents for 8 weeks: group 1 (1 IU vitamin D₃/g diet), group 2 (2 IU vitamin D₃/g diet), and group 3 (4 IU vitamin D₃/g diet). At week 0, 4, and 8 of study, measurements included: serum 25(OH)D₃, IGF-1, IGFBP3, leptin, and whole body composition assessed with DXA. Differences among groups were tested using mixed model ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc t-tests. No differences were observed in baseline body composition and biomarkers, nor did body weight and food intake differ over the study. At week 8, serum 25(OH)D₃ in group 3 was higher (P < .0001) compared to groups 1 and 2. At 8 weeks, lean mass (P < .05) and lean mass accretion (P < .05) were significantly higher in groups 2 and 3 compared to group 1. Serum IGF-1 concentration declined over time (P < .001) with smaller declines at week 8 in group 3 (P < .05). Serum IGFBP3 concentration was lower at week 4 in group 2 compared to groups 1 and 3. Serum leptin concentration and fat mass were not affected by diet. These results suggested that the achievement of higher vitamin D status may support a lean body phenotype without altering weight gain.

What Do We Know about Diet and Markers of Cardiovascular Health in Children: A Review

Chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the main health concerns in the 21st century, with CVD as the number one cause of mortality worldwide. Although CVD hard endpoints such as stroke or heart attack do not usually occur in children, evidence shows that the manifestation of CVD risk factors begins in childhood, preceding clinical complications of CVD in adulthood. Dietary intake is a modifiable risk factor that has been shown to make a substantial contribution to the risk of CVD in adulthood. However, less is known about the association between dietary intake and markers of cardiovascular health in children. This review summarises the current evidence on the relationship between dietary intake and markers of cardiovascular health including traditional CVD risk factors, physical fitness, and indices of arterial stiffness and wave reflection in children. Original research published in English, between January 2008 and December 2018 fulfilling the objective of this review were screened and included. Findings show that adaptation of a healthy lifestyle early in life can be beneficial for reducing the risk of CVD later in life. Furthermore, keeping arterial stiffness low from a young age could be a potential CVD prevention strategy. However, limited studies are available on diet-arterial stiffness relationship in children, and future research is required to better understand this association to aid the development and implementation of evidence-based strategies for preventing CVD-related complications later in life.

Adequacy of dairy product intake among children in Kuwait using a short dietary assessment questionnaire

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the consumption of dairy products in Kuwaiti children, and develop and validate a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire to measure dairy product consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

This cross-sectional study was based on a sample of child–parent dyads (n= 150). A dietary assessment questionnaire on local dairy products consumed by preschool and preadolescent children was developed. Serving and portion sizes were evaluated on the basis of the guidelines of the United States Department of Agriculture and the American Academy of Pediatrics to calculate median intake levels of three age groups (3-5, 6-8 and 9-11 years).

Findings

All children met or exceeded the recommended daily servings of dairy products for their age and sex. Dairy product intake was often from processed dairy including milk-based desserts, flavored milk and cheese. Compared to boys, girls consumed more yogurt (15.5 per cent vs 14.2 per cent,p= 0.001) and milk-based desserts (15.5 vs 14.3,p= 0.001). In boys, flavored milk contributed more to the total dairy intake than in girls, especially in 6-8-year-olds (21.8 per cent vs 18.9 per cent,p= 0.021). Weight status was not associated with dairy product intake in either sex.

Originality/value

This is the first study that quantifies dairy product consumption in Kuwaiti children and provides insight into sex-specific trends in dairy product selection. The findings of this study may help in investigating relationships between dairy product consumption in children and disease risk factors, and are important for the development of local dietary guidelines for children.

Dietary Intake Among Head Start Preschooler-caregiver Dyads

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Head Start preschooler-caregiver dyad's dietary intake and factors influencing dietary intake.

DESIGN AND METHODS

A cross-sectional, correlational design was used. Height and weight were measured. Caregivers completed an online survey assessing demographics, dietary intake, feeding practices, and psychosocial factors.

RESULTS

Seventy dyads, recruited from two urban Head Start centers in the Midwestern U.S., participated. The mean age for preschoolers and caregivers was 3.90 (63% female) and 28.97 years (94% female), respectively. About 43% of preschoolers and 81% of caregivers were overweight/obese. Sixty-seven percent of caregivers, but only 9% of preschoolers, met the fruit/vegetable (F/V) recommendation. Preschoolers' F/V intake was not significantly correlated with their caregivers' F/V intake after adjusting for demographics and psychosocial factors (B = 0.05, p = .607). Caregiver race (B = -0.71, p = .05), nutrition knowledge (B = -0.35, p = .017), perceived caregiver weight (B = -0.85, p = .035), perceived child weight (B = 1.09, p = .029), and concerns of preschoolers' weight (B = 0.79, p = .004) were significantly correlated with preschoolers' F/V intake, after adjusting for demographics, caregiver F/V intake, and other psychosocial factors.

CONCLUSIONS

The study findings indicate the critical need to improve preschoolers' dietary intake and the important influence of caregivers on their preschoolers' dietary intake. Given the few limitations of the study (e.g., small sample size, food frequency questionnaire), interpretation and application of the study's findings warrant caution.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Pediatric practitioners and researchers need to design effective programs to improve low-income Head Start preschoolers' dietary intake, thereby helping to curb the current childhood obesity epidemic.

Influence of Calcium and Vitamin D Intakes on Body Composition in Children and Adolescents

Identifying nutritional strategies to maintain a healthy body weight and reduce the comorbidities associated with obesity is extremely important. We aimed to investigate whether calcium and vitamin D intakes are associated with body composition measurements in a population of children and adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 1,060 children and adolescents (65.8% females; 34.2% males) aged 9 to 19 years. Fat mass, percentage of fat mass, and fat-free mass were measured using a body composition analyzer (TANITA BC-418MA®). The mean dietary calcium and vitamin intakes were 829.66 ± 328.34 mg/day and 200.78 ± 400.91 IU/day. Linear regression analysis revealed a lack of significant association between daily calcium and vitamin D intakes and body composition measurements, after adjusting the model for age, sex, maturation status, and energy intake. Dietary calcium and vitamin D intakes do not appear to be associated with higher adiposity measurements in children and adolescents.

Dairy Fats and Cardiovascular Disease: Do We Really Need to be Concerned?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain a major cause of death and morbidity globally and diet plays a crucial role in the disease prevention and pathology. The negative perception of dairy fats stems from the effort to reduce dietary saturated fatty acid (SFA) intake due to their association with increased cholesterol levels upon consumption and the increased risk of CVD development. Institutions that set dietary guidelines have approached dairy products with negative bias and used poor scientific data in the past. As a result, the consumption of dairy products was considered detrimental to our cardiovascular health. In western societies, dietary trends indicate that generally there is a reduction of full-fat dairy product consumption and increased low-fat dairy consumption. However, recent research and meta-analyses have demonstrated the benefits of full-fat dairy consumption, based on higher bioavailability of high-value nutrients and anti-inflammatory properties. In this review, the relationship between dairy consumption, cardiometabolic risk factors and the incidence of cardiovascular diseases are discussed. Functional dairy foods and the health implications of dairy alternatives are also considered. In general, evidence suggests that milk has a neutral effect on cardiovascular outcomes but fermented dairy products, such as yoghurt, kefir and cheese may have a positive or neutral effect. Particular focus is placed on the effects of the lipid content on cardiovascular health.

Serum Lipid Levels in Relation to Consumption of Yogurt: The 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum lipid levels in Korean adults after consumption of different types of yogurt.

Methods

Study subjects were 3,038 individuals (≥19 years of age) who participated in the 2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Yogurt intake was assessed with a food frequency questionnaire by using the 24-hour recall method. We conducted complex samples general linear analysis with adjustment for covariates.

Results

The serum triglyceride levels in the group consuming viscous yogurt were lower than those in the group consuming non-viscous yogurt.

Conclusion

Consumption of viscous yogurt is associated with low serum triglyceride levels in Korean adults.

The effect of increasing dairy calcium intake of adolescent girls on changes in body fat and weight

Background: Overweight is epidemic in adolescents and is a major concern because it tracks into adulthood. Evidence supports the efficacy of high-calcium, high-dairy diets in achieving healthy weight in adults. However, no randomized controlled trials of the effect of dairy food on weight and body fat in adolescents have been reported to our knowledge.Objective: The aim was to determine whether increasing calcium intake to recommended amounts with dairy foods in adolescent girls with habitually low calcium intakes would decrease body fat gain compared with girls who continued their low calcium intake. Participants had above-the-median body mass index (BMI; in kg/m²).Design: We enrolled 274 healthy postmenarcheal 13- to 14-y-old overweight girls who had calcium intakes of ≤600 mg/d in a 12-mo randomized controlled trial. Girls were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to 1 of 2 groups within each of 3 BMI percentiles: 50th to <70th, 70th to <85th, and 85th to <98th. The assignments were 1) dairy, which included low-fat milk or yogurt servings providing ≥1200 mg Ca/d or 2) control, which included the usual diet of ≤600 mg Ca/d.Results: We failed to detect a statistically significant difference between groups in percentage of body fat gain over 12 mo (mean ± SEM: dairy 0.40% ± 0.53% > control; P < 0.45). The effect of the intervention did not differ by BMI percentile stratum. There was no difference in weight change between the 2 groups.Conclusion: Our findings that the dairy group gained body fat similar to the control group provide no support for dairy food as a stratagem to decrease body fat or weight gain in overweight adolescent girls. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT01066806.

The impact of doubling dairy or plant-based foods on consumption of nutrients of concern and proper bone health for adolescent females

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of increasing plant-based foods v. dairy foods on energy and nutrients of concern in adolescent females via diet modelling exercises.

DESIGN

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were used to compare nutrient intakes from usual diet with those from three dietary scenarios that increased current intakes by 100 % of the following: (i) plant-based foods; (ii) protein-rich plant-based foods; and (iii) milk, cheese and yoghurt. The first two scenarios had commensurate reductions in animal products.

SETTING

What We Eat in America, NHANES 2007-2010.

SUBJECTS

Female adolescents (n 1594) aged 9-18 years.

RESULTS

When currently consumed plant-based foods were increased by 100 %, there were increases in dietary fibre, added sugar, vitamin E, Fe and folate intakes. These increases were accompanied by decreases in total fat, saturated fat, Zn, vitamin D, Ca and protein intakes. Protein-rich plant foods are consumed in very low quantities in this population such that doubling their intake resulted in no real nutritional impact. When dairy products were increased by 100 % there were increases in intakes of vitamin D, Mg, Zn, Ca, K, energy, saturated fat and protein.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-specific recommendations to increase plant foods can lead to unintended nutritional consequences. For adolescent girls, meeting the dietary recommendation of three daily servings of dairy improved the intake of the identified nutrients of concern while simultaneously providing adequate nutrients essential for proper growth and bone health critical during the adolescent phase.

Associations between Consumption of Dairy Foods and Anthropometric Indicators of Health in Adolescents

Childhood obesity is associated with a greater chance of a lifetime of obesity. Evidence suggests dairy at recommended levels could be beneficial in maintaining normal weight and body composition. We assessed whether dairy consumption is associated with anthropometric indicators of health (z-scores for weight-for-age (WAZ); height-for-age (HAZ) and body mass index (BMIZ); waist-to-height ratio (WHtR); fat-free mass (FFM); and fat mass (FM)) in adolescents. In a cross-sectional study, 536 males and females ages 12–18 completed a 151-item semi-quantitative web-based food frequency questionnaire that included 34 dairy-containing foods. Dairy foods were categorized into milk, cheese, sweetened dairy, and total dairy. Anthropometrics were measured during school visits. Total dairy intake was associated with WAZ (β = 0.25 (95% CI: 0.01, 0.49), p = 0.045) and HAZ (β = 0.28 (95% CI: 0.04, 0.52), p = 0.021). In boys, total dairy was associated with WHtR (β = 0.02 (95% CI: 0.00, 0.04), p = 0.039), FFM (β = 4.83 (95% CI: 1.79, 7.87), p = 0.002), and FM (β = 3.89 (95% CI: 0.58, 7.21), p = 0.021), and cheese was associated with FFM (β = 4.22 (95% CI: 0.98, 7.47), p = 0.011). Dairy consumption seems to influence growth in both genders, and body composition and central obesity in boys. Prospective studies are needed to identify how types of dairy relate to growth, body composition, and central obesity of adolescents.

The Effectiveness of A School-Based Nutrition Intervention on Children's Fruit, Vegetables, and Dairy Product Intake

BACKGROUND

Most Canadian children do not meet daily recommendations for consumption of vegetables and fruits (V/F) and dairy products (DP). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Team Nutriathlon on V/F and DP consumption of children.

METHODS

Participants were 404 children from grades 5 and 6 (intervention group [IG] N = 242, control group [CG] N = 162). Teams of children were guided to increase their consumption and variety of V/F and DP over an 8-week period. Daily servings of V/F and DP were compared between groups at 4 time points: baseline (week 0), during (week 6), immediately after (week 9 or 10), and a follow-up 10 weeks after (week 20) the intervention.

RESULTS

During and after the program and at follow-up, children in the IG consumed more servings of V/F and DP compared to the CG (group × time, p < .0001). Sex, baseline consumption levels, and school socioeconomic status did not influence the results (p > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

Team Nutriathlon is an innovative school-based nutrition program that can help to increase the V/F and DP consumption of children.

Associations between yogurt, dairy, calcium, and vitamin D intake and obesity among U.S. children aged 8-18 years: NHANES, 2005-2008

The aim of this study was to investigate associations of yogurt and dairy consumption with energy, macronutrient, calcium, and vitamin D intakes, and associations with indicators of overweight/obesity in U.S. children in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2005–2008). Using 24-hour recall data, children 8–18 years of age were classified to dairy consumption groups of <1, 1 to <2, or 2+ dairy servings, and yogurt consumers were those who reported eating yogurt during at least one of two dietary intake interviews. NHANES anthropometric measurements were used, and BMI and BMI-for-age percentiles were calculated. Yogurt and dairy consumption were associated with higher intakes of calcium, vitamin D and protein. Yogurt intake was associated with lower total fat and saturated fat intakes and body fat as measured by subscapular skinfold thickness. This study supports consumption of yogurt and higher amounts of dairy as eating patterns associated with greater intake of specific shortfall nutrients, and lower body fat in U.S. children.

Adolescent dietary intakes predict cardiometabolic risk clustering

PURPOSE

To prospectively examine the relation between adolescent dietary intake and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) clustering at the end of adolescence.

METHODS

Data from the NHLBI Growth and Health Study on 1369 girls enrolled at ages 9-10 in 1987-1988 and followed for 10 years were used to estimate the relative risk of having multiple (≥2 or ≥3) risk factors in late adolescence associated with usual food intake patterns from 9 to 17 years of age. Mean food intakes were derived from multiple 3-day diet records and CMR factors included larger waist circumference, insulin resistance, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglycerides, and elevated systolic or diastolic blood pressures.

RESULTS

Of 1369 subjects, 18.4 % girls had 3-6 prevalent risk factors by the end of adolescence and 35.0 % had at least two. Higher intakes of fruit and non-starchy vegetables, dairy, and grains were independently associated with having fewer risk factors as were eating patterns characterized by higher combined intakes of these food groups. After adjusting for age, race, socio-economic status, height, physical activity, and television watching, girls with high intakes of dairy and fruits and non-starchy vegetables (vs. those with lower intakes of both) were nearly 50 % less likely to have three or more CMR factors in late adolescence; girls with higher intakes of grains plus fruits and non-starchy vegetables were nearly 60 % less likely.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that healthy food consumption patterns during adolescence may prevent accumulation of cardiometabolic risk.

Food consumption, physical activity and socio-economic status related to BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio in adolescents

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between obesity and food group intakes, physical activity and socio-economic status in adolescents.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study was carried out in 2008. Cole's cut-off points were used to categorize BMI. Abdominal obesity was defined by a waist circumference at or above the 90th percentile, as well as a waist-to-height ratio at or above 0·500. Diet was evaluated using an FFQ, and the food group consumption was categorized using sex-specific tertiles of each food group amount. Physical activity was assessed via a self-report questionnaire. Socio-economic status was assessed referring to parental education and employment status. Data were analysed separately for girls and boys and the associations among food consumption, physical activity, socio-economic status and BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio were evaluated using logistic regression analysis, adjusting the results for potential confounders.

SETTING

Public schools in the Azorean Archipelago, Portugal.

SUBJECTS

Adolescents (n 1209) aged 15-18 years.

RESULTS

After adjustment, in boys, higher intake of ready-to-eat cereals was a negative predictor while vegetables were a positive predictor of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity. Active boys had lower odds of abdominal obesity compared with inactive boys. Boys whose mother showed a low education level had higher odds of abdominal obesity compared with boys whose mother presented a high education level. Concerning girls, higher intake of sweets and pastries was a negative predictor of overweight/obesity and abdominal obesity. Girls in tertile 2 of milk intake had lower odds of abdominal obesity than those in tertile 1. Girls whose father had no relationship with employment displayed higher odds of abdominal obesity compared with girls whose father had high employment status.

CONCLUSIONS

We have found that different measures of obesity have distinct associations with food group intakes, physical activity and socio-economic status.

Overweight and Obesity among Children (10-13 years) in Bahrain:A comparison between Two International Standards

Objective: Obesity has become one of the main public health problems worldwide. Childhood obesity rate is growing very fast in both developed and developing countries. This paper aimed to explore the prevalence of overweight and obesity among school children aged 10-13 years in Bahrain, and to find out the difference in this prevalence when using two international standards.

Methods: A multistage stratified sampling procedure was used to select 2146 students (1068 males, 1078 females) from public schools in Bahrain. Weight and height were measured and Body Mass Index for age and sex was calculated to determine the obesity levels. Both International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and World Health Organization (WHO) references were used to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity.

Results: The findings revealed that the prevalence of overweight and obesity ranged from 15.7% to 28.9% among males and from 21.1% to 30.7% among females. The WHO reference standard provided higher prevalence of overweight and obesity than IOTF reference.

Conclusion: The study confirmed that obesity is a problem of concern in Bahraini school children and calls for intervention programme to combat obesity in schools. However, the standard used to determine obesity levels should be carefully selected and interpreted.

The Relationship between Intake of Dairy Products and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Women Who Referred to Isfahan University of Medical Science Clinics in 2013

BACKGROUND

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive women. Nearly 10% of young women in this period involved. Although factors such as Insulin Resistance, hyper insulinemia, obesity and dietary are suggested to be associated with PCOS, cause of PCOS is not completely understood. Dairy products (a key component of the usual diet) of participants can also affect the factors of this disease and may have beneficial effects on treatment of PCOS. However, research in this area is scarce. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between dairy products consumption and PCOS.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional study of 400 women was conducted in Shahid Beheshti Hospital of Isfahan University of Medical Science, Iran. Dietary intake was evaluated by validated food frequency questionnaire. Other variables such as ovarian disease, inherited predisposition, age at menarche, physical activity and history of other diseases were evaluated using questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by a logistic regression test using SPSS software version 15 Predictive analytics software and solutions.

RESULTS

There were a significant association between PCOS and ovarian disease (P < 0.001), age (P < 0.001) and using medication (P = 0.001). Body mass index (BMI) was inversely associated with PCOS, but it was not significant (P = 0.068). There was a significant direct relationship between milk consumption and risk of PCOS after adjusting for confounding factors (P = 0.028).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this study indicated that ovarian disease and medication use is directly linked to PCOS. Dairy consumption was not significantly correlated with PCOS. However, after adjustment for confounders, there was an direct relationship between milk consumption and risk of PCOS.

Eating habits, inactivity, and sedentary behavior among adolescents in Iraq: sex differences in the hidden risks of noncommunicable diseases

BACKGROUND

Noncommunicable diseases have become the main causes of death in several developing countries. There is a severe shortage of information about the risk factors for these diseases in Iraq.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the eating habits, physical activity, and sedentary behaviors of adolescents in Mosul City, Iraq, as risk factors for noncommunicable diseases.

METHODS

A multistage stratified sampling method was carried out on adolescents aged 15 to 18 years in Mosul City, Iraq. A pretested and validated questionnaire was used to obtain information on frequency of intake of certain foods, physical activity, and screen time (television, video, and computer). Weight and height were measured to obtain the body composition status. The total sample included 723 adolescents (350 boys and 373 girls).

RESULTS

There were significant differences between boys and girls in most eating habits and activity behaviors. The frequency of skipping breakfast and the intakes of fruits and vegetables, french fries, and sweets and chocolates were significantly higher among girls than boys (p < .001). Boys were significantly more likely to consume fast foods, sugar-sweetened drinks, and energy drinks than girls. Boys spent more time in physical activity (p < .001) and looking at screens than girls.

CONCLUSIONS

The health authorities of Iraq should focus not only on interventions for undernutrition among adolescents, but also on behavioral risk factors for diet-related noncommunicable diseases.

Yogurt consumption and impact on health: focus on children and cardiometabolic risk

An accumulating body of epidemiologic data, clinical trials, and mechanistic studies suggests that yogurt consumption as part of a healthy diet may be beneficial to cardiometabolic health. This brief review focuses on children and adolescents, introducing new concepts underlying the effect of yogurt consumption on body weight maintenance and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases. Specific properties of yogurt are discussed, which highlight that yogurt is an easy-to-digest, nutrient-dense, and satiating food that contains high-quality protein and specific amino acids. Moreover, the role of yogurt as a modulator of the gut microbiota in infancy is explored. We also propose the idea that the specific matrix of yogurt has bioavailability and metabolic properties that can be exploited to increase the functionality of this dairy product.

Relationship of milk intake and physical activity to abdominal obesity among adolescents

What is already known about this subject Diet and physical activity (PA) are recognized as important factors to prevent abdominal obesity (AO). Studies have found an inverse relationship between milk intake or milk products and body weight and/or body fat in children and adolescents. Evidence suggests that low levels of PA are associated with AO in youth. What this study adds Our study explored the combined association of milk intake and PA on AO in adolescents, which are most often studied in isolation. Our findings suggested that adolescents with high milk intakes, regardless of whether they were active or low active, were less likely to have AO. Our findings could have a great epidemiological interest and bring important evidence in the field of AO management among adolescents.

BACKGROUND

Diet and physical activity (PA) are recognized as important factors to prevent abdominal obesity (AO), which is strongly associated with chronic diseases. Some studies have reported an inverse association between milk consumption and AO.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the association between milk intake, PA and AO in adolescents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1209 adolescents, aged 15-18 from the Azorean Archipelago, Portugal in 2008. AO was defined by a waist circumference at or above the 90th percentile. Adolescent food intake was measured using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire, and milk intake was categorized as 'low milk intake' (<2 servings per day) or 'high milk intake' (≥2 servings per day). PA was assessed via a self-report questionnaire, and participants were divided into active (>10 points) and low-active groups (≤10 points) on the basis of their reported PA. They were then divided into four smaller groups, according to milk intake and PA: (i) low milk intake/low active; (ii) low milk intake/active; (iii) high milk intake/low active and (iv) high milk intake/active. The association between milk intake, PA and AO was evaluated using logistic regression analysis, and the results were adjusted for demographic, body mass index, pubertal stage and dietary confounders.

RESULTS

In this study, the majority of adolescents consumed semi-skimmed or skimmed milk (92.3%). The group of adolescents with high level of milk intake and active had a lower proportion of AO than did other groups (low milk intake/low active: 34.2%; low milk intake/active: 26.9%; high milk intake/low active: 25.7%; high milk intake/active: 21.9%, P = 0.008). After adjusting for confounders, low-active and active adolescents with high levels of milk intake were less likely to have AO, compared with low-active adolescents with low milk intake (high milk intake/low active, odds ratio [OR] = 0.412, 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.201-0.845; high milk intake/active adolescents, OR = 0.445, 95% CI: 0.235-0.845).

CONCLUSION

High milk intake seems to have a protective effect on AO, regardless of PA level.

Beverage intake in early childhood and change in body fat from preschool to adolescence

BACKGROUND

Childhood obesity is closely associated with adult obesity, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. This study's aim was to determine the effects of beverage intake patterns on body composition from early childhood into adolescence in the Framingham Children's Study.

METHODS

Multiple sets of 3-day records were used to assess diet over 12 years, beginning in 1987, in 103 non-Hispanic white boys and girls. BMI, waist circumference, and four skinfolds (triceps, subscapular, suprailiac, and abdominal) were measured yearly. Percent body fat was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at end of follow-up. Analysis of covariance and longitudinal mixed modeling were used to control for potential confounding by age, baseline body fat, percent of energy from fat, television/video viewing time, other beverage intakes not included in exposure group, mother's education, and BMI.

RESULTS

Children with the lowest milk intakes in early childhood had 7.4% more body fat in later adolescence than those with higher intakes (30.0% body fat in tertile 1 vs. 22.6% in tertile 3; p=0.0095). Fruit and vegetable juice was similarly protective-those in the highest tertile of fruit and vegetable juice intake during childhood had an 8.0-cm smaller waist circumference at 15-17 years of age, compared with those in the lowest tertile (p=0.0328). There was no relation between sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and percent body fat (p=0.9296) or other outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that adequate intakes of milk and fruit and vegetable juice may reduce the risk of excess body fat in later childhood and adolescence. Further, modest intakes of SSBs in early childhood may not adversely affect body fat change.

Intake of milk, but not total dairy, yogurt, or cheese, is negatively associated with the clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors in adolescents

Epidemiologic studies have reported an inverse association between dairy product consumption and cardiometabolic risk factors in adults, but this relation is relatively unexplored in adolescents. We hypothesized that a higher dairy product intake is associated with lower cardiometabolic risk factor clustering in adolescents. To test this hypothesis, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 494 adolescents aged 15 to 18 years from the Azorean Archipelago, Portugal. We measured fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, systolic blood pressure, body fat, and cardiorespiratory fitness. We also calculated homeostatic model assessment and total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio. For each one of these variables, a z score was computed using age and sex. A cardiometabolic risk score (CMRS) was constructed by summing up the z scores of all individual risk factors. High risk was considered to exist when an individual had at least 1 SD from this score. Diet was evaluated using a food frequency questionnaire, and the intake of total dairy (included milk, yogurt, and cheese), milk, yogurt, and cheese was categorized as low (equal to or below the median of the total sample) or "appropriate" (above the median of the total sample).The association between dairy product intake and CMRS was evaluated using separate logistic regression, and the results were adjusted for confounders. Adolescents with high milk intake had lower CMRS, compared with those with low intake (10.6% vs 18.1%, P = .018). Adolescents with appropriate milk intake were less likely to have high CMRS than those with low milk intake (odds ratio, 0.531; 95% confidence interval, 0.302-0.931). No association was found between CMRS and total dairy, yogurt, and cheese intake. Only milk intake seems to be inversely related to CMRS in adolescents.

Estimation of psychological stress in humans: a combination of theory and practice

Stress has long been known to increase susceptibility to health disorders. In 2009, American Psychological Association further established association of stress to serious health problems. However, a quantitative and accurate way to evaluate and estimate stress status of individuals is still a big challenge. It has been shown, in large animal models using cattle, that psychological stress can be quantified as well as disease susceptibility could be predicted through biomarker discovery. Taking cue from those studies, we have evaluated and estimated psychological stress level of individuals theoretically and validated experimentally. Various biomarkers have also been identified which can be associated to psychological stress to predict stress status of unknown individuals.

The lactase persistence -13910C>T polymorphism shows indication of association with abdominal obesity among Portuguese children

AIM

The -13910C>T single nucleotide polymorphism located upstream of the lactase gene (LCT) was found tightly associated with lactase persistence in European populations. Recently, it was also associated with body mass index (BMI) and obesity in European adults. The aim of this study was to test the association of -13910C>T polymorphism with obesity-related traits and risk of obesity in children.

METHODS

We genotyped 580 Portuguese children (6-12-year-olds) for the -13910C>T polymorphism using TaqMan probes by real-time PCR. Anthropometric measurements were assessed in all children. Obesity was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) cut-offs and abdominal obesity using the sex and age-specific ≥90th waist circumference percentile.

RESULTS

We found indication for an association between the-13910*T allele and children abdominal obesity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 1.03-1.94; p = 0.030). Under the dominant model, the indicative association was observed between the LCT-13910 CT/TT genotypes and abdominal obesity, remaining significant after adjustment for age and gender (OR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.04-2.60; p = 0.029). No association was detected with the risk of obesity (p = 0.350).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the -13910C>T polymorphism may predispose to abdominal obesity in Portuguese children. The association with BMI or risk of obesity, previously observed in adults, was not confirmed.

Australian children who drink milk (plain or flavored) have higher milk and micronutrient intakes but similar body mass index to those who do not drink milk

In Australia, 60% of children (9-16 years) are not meeting the estimated average requirement (EAR) for calcium, and milk is an important dietary source of calcium. We hypothesized that milk drinking (plain or flavored) would be associated with higher milk and nutrient intake among Australian children. Nutrient intakes reported via 24-hour recalls and anthropometric measurements collected from the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey were analyzed. Children and adolescents (cross sectional, n = 4487, 2-16 years) were classified into 4 categories according to milk intake: (i) exclusively plain milk drinkers, (ii) flavored (flavored and plain) milk drinkers, (iii) nondrinkers of milk (no plain or flavored milk as beverage), and (iv) nonconsumers of milk (total milk intake is 0 g). Total daily milk, energy and nutrient intake, body mass index, and waist circumference were compared between categories of milk drinking by analysis of variance models. Results of this study show that milk drinkers (plain or flavored) had a significantly higher total milk intake than did nondrinkers of milk. Milk drinking was associated with higher intakes of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, and iodine in comparison with nondrinkers of milk and nonconsumers of milk (P < .05). Milk drinkers (exclusively plain or flavored) were more likely to meet the EAR for calcium than nondrinkers and nonconsumers of milk, whereas flavored milk drinkers were more likely to meet the EAR for calcium than exclusively plain milk drinkers. In particular, among children aged 9 to 16 years, flavored milk drinkers were 1.7 times more likely to meet the EAR for calcium than plain milk drinkers (P < .001). Although flavored milk drinkers had higher total sugar and energy intakes than did exclusively plain milk drinkers and nonconsumers of milk (P < .05), no between-group differences were observed in body mass index, waist circumference, or physical activity level. In conclusion, drinking milk was associated with higher total milk and micronutrient intake, and drinking both plain and flavored milk may help children meet their calcium requirements without negatively impacting body weight measures.

Association of beverage consumption with obesity in Mexican American children

OBJECTIVE

To determine the association of beverage consumption with obesity in Mexican American school-aged children.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study using the baseline data from a cohort study. Mothers and children answered questions about the frequency and quantity of the child's consumption of soda, diet soda, other sugar-sweetened beverages, 100% fruit juice, milk and water. The questions were adapted from the Youth/Adolescent FFQ. Children were weighed and measured. Data were collected on the following potential confounders: maternal BMI, household income, maternal education, maternal occupational status, maternal acculturation, child physical activity, child screen time and child fast-food consumption. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between servings (240 ml) of each beverage per week and obesity (BMI ≥ 95th percentile).

SETTING

Participants were recruited from among enrolees of the Kaiser Permanente Health Plan of Northern California. Data were collected via an in-home assessment.

SUBJECTS

Mexican American children (n 319) aged 8-10 years.

RESULTS

Among participants, 20% were overweight and 31% were obese. After controlling for potential confounders, consuming more servings of soda was associated with increased odds of obesity (OR = 1·29; P < 0·001). Consuming more servings of flavoured milk per week was associated with lower odds of obesity (OR = 0·88; P = 0·004). Consumption of other beverages was not associated with obesity in the multivariate model.

CONCLUSIONS

Discouraging soda consumption among Mexican American children may help reduce the high obesity rates in this population.