Vera Elizabeth Closs

The purpose of this study was to define the Healthy Eating Index (HEI) of the elderly of Southern Brazil and its association with energy, macronutrients and micronutrients intake. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 186 elderly aged 60 and older of the Geriatric Service of São Lucas Hospital, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Dietary data were collected by two 24-hour recalls, and diet quality was assessed by HEI adapted to the Brazilian population. The HEI total score was divided into three categories: inadequate diet (below 51 points), diet needs improvement (between 51 and 80 points), and healthy diet (over 80 points). The results showed that the mean HEI score was 58.8±10.5 points (ranging from 31.4 to 79.8). Most elderly (74.2%) showed a diet that needed modification and no elderly individual had a healthy diet. The quality of the diet was associated with greater intake of carbohydrates, and lower intake of total lipids, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and sodium. Consumption of vitamins C and D and calcium was shown to be positively correlated with the quality of the diet. Less than 1.1% of the elderly consumed a varied diet. The findings suggest that the diet of the majority of the elderly needs improvement, reinforcing the importance of care in relation to adequate nutrition in this population, and can help in guiding the activities and programs of nutritional education and public policies that stimulate increasingly healthy eating.

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in older Brazilian adults. Design: Systematic review and meta-analysis. The search explored the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and LILACS platforms. Clinical and observational studies published before November 9, 2022, were included. The review was registered in PROSPERO No. 74,732 and evaluated using the adapted Loney scale. The search strategy identified 1,169 articles, of which 26 met the inclusion criteria, totaling 9,606 older adults. The vitamin D deficiency prevalence was 34.2% (95%CI: 25.0-44.6), and the insufficiency prevalence was 35.2% (95%CI: 31.0-39.5). The highest prevalence found was in the southern region (86.3% deficiency) and the southeast (51.4% insufficiency). Cross-sectional studies have shown a similar prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency to the overall prevalence (34.2% and 33.7%). A statistically significant difference was found in the studies’ risk of bias assessment (insufficiency subgroup). The results show a high prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency in older Brazilian adults, pronounced even in places with higher incidences of sunlight.

Objective: To analyze the lipid profile and cardiovascular risk of overweight and obese adolescents and correlate the findings with anthropometric measurements. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study on overweight and obese adolescents of both sexes (aged 14 to 18 years old). The collected variables were sex, weight, height, age, total cholesterol, triglycerides, High-density lipoprotein (HDL) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). The Atherogenic Index of Plasma and Castelli Risk Indices I and II were calculated. These indices were classified into cutoff points to stratify cardiovascular risk. The anthropometric profile was evaluated by Z score according to Body Mass Index for age. Significance level was considered as p≤0.05. Results: A total of 146 adolescents participated in the study; the mean age was 16.4±1.1 years and most of them were girls (74.7%) and obese (52.7%). The prevalent dyslipidemias were high triglycerides (47.9%), LDL (26.7%), total cholesterol (37.7%), and low HDL (46.6%). Most adolescents presented increased atherogenic risk according to the Atherogenic Index of Plasma (55.5%); 15.1% presented high cardiovascular risk according to Castelli Risk Index I; and 13.7%, according to Castelli Risk Index II. Boys presented higher values of anthropometric measurements and Castelli Risk Indices I and II in relation to girls — who, conversely, presented higher values of HDL. There was a positive correlation of the Z score with Atherogenic Index of Plasma and a negative correlation with HDL. Conclusions: The adolescents of the study presented high prevalence of cardiovascular and atherogenic risk according to the evaluated indices. In addition, the increased cardiovascular risk was correlated with higher Body Mass Index.

Este estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito da intervenção interdisciplinar com abordagem motivacional sobre o consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados em adolescentes com sobrepeso ou obesidade. O método utilizado foi um ensaio clínico randomizado no qual os participantes distribuíram-se em grupo controle (GC) e grupo intervenção (GI). A coleta de dados do consumo alimentar ocorreu mediante o recordatório de 24 horas, obtido no início e ao final das intervenções. Os alimentos consumidos foram categorizados nos quatro grupos da classificação alimentar NOVA conforme o grau de processamento a qual são submetidos. Participaram 42 adolescentes com média de idade de 16,5±1,3 anos, a maioria do gênero feminino (69%). No GI, a média de quilocalorias de alimentos ultraprocessados diminuiu 37,5% após a intervenção; em contrapartida, aumentou o consumo de alimentos processados em ambos os grupos. Concluiu-se que a intervenção interdisciplinar com abordagem motivacional foi eficaz na redução do consumo de alimentos ultraprocessados na população estudada.

Studies suggest that redox imbalance may be closely associated with pathological aging, contributing effectively to the genesis of several chronic diseases. One of the major defense enzymes against oxidation is Manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) that acts within the mitochondria. The gene encoding this enzyme is polymorphic and Val16Ala variant is one of its most investigated polymorphisms regarding aging and oxidative stress. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of the MnSOD Val16Ala gene polymorphism association with markers of REDOX metabolism in the elderly of primary health care. A cross-sectional study was performed. The sample consisted of 270 elderly individuals from Family Health Strategy in the city of Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (EMISUS). The following variables were investigated in all subjects: sociodemographic: gender, age, marital status, schooling and income; Anthropometric: weight, height, body mass index (BMI); REDOX markers: Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), ischemia-modified albumin (IMA), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and malondialdehyde (MDA), MnSOD Val16Ala gene polymorphism. Val16Ala gene polymorphism was evaluated by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Statistically significant associations were observed in the elderly with AA genotype compared to those with VV genotype, concerning AOPP (p = 0.023) and FRAP (p= 0.027) quartile frequencies, respectively. No statistically significant differences were observed between MnSOD genotypes with MDA, NOx and IMA oxidative markers. Val16Ala gene polymorphism is associated with AOPP and FRAP quartiles frequencies in the elderly of primary health care.

Objetivo: Avaliar a qualidade da dieta segundo o escore da dieta mediterrânea alternativo (EDM-A) em indivíduos com síndrome metabólica.Materiais e Métodos: Estudo transversal, realizado a partir da análise de dados coletados no Grupo de Pesquisa Modificação de Estilo de Vida e Risco Cardiovascular (MERC). Foram utilizados os registros alimentares de dois dias e o recordatório alimentar de 24h para avaliar o consumo. Para avaliar a qualidade da dieta dos participantes foi utilizado o EDM-A. Após a classificação, os dados foram armazenados em banco de dados Excel e analisados por meio de estatística descritiva (frequência, média e desvio padrão da média).Resultados: Foi analisada a qualidade da dieta de 54 indivíduos. A classificação indicando baixa qualidade da dieta segundo o EDM-A foi a mais prevalente (74,07%), seguida da classificação baixa-moderada (19,10%) e da moderada alta (5,55%). As classificações alta e muito alta foram as menos atingidas 1,23% e 0%, respectivamente.Conclusão: A população estudada apresentou baixa qualidade da dieta segundo o EDM-A. Considerando essa afirmação são necessárias ações de promoção à saúde e programas que incentivem a adesão a uma dieta saudável, já que esta pode contribuir substancialmente para redução do risco cardiovascular em indivíduos com diagnóstico de síndrome metabólica.

Resumo Introdução O tabagismo constitui a principal causa de morte evitável no mundo e é considerado um importante fator de risco para as doenças cardiovasculares (DCV). Objetivo Verificar a associação do tabagismo com sexo, metabolismo redox e fatores de risco cardiometabólicos de 381 idosos da Estratégia Saúde da Família de Porto Alegre/RS. Método Para categorizar o tabagismo, seguiram-se as recomendações do Center of Diseases Control (CDC). Os marcadores de estresse oxidativo investigados foram: produtos avançados da oxidação proteica (AOPP), metabólitos do óxido nítrico (NOx), capacidade antioxidante medida por meio do ensaio ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP). Fatores de risco cardiometabólicos também foram avaliados. Resultados Em relação ao sexo/fumo, foram mais frequentes as mulheres não fumantes (P = 0,001). Os homens ex-tabagistas apresentaram maiores concentrações de FRAP (P = 0,001), e os tabagistas, maior concentração de NOx, (0,012), menores médias de circunferência de cintura-CC (P = 0,017) e de índice de massa corporal-IMC (P = 0,003) e maior HDL-c (P = 0,003). Não foram verificados resultados significativos entre as mulheres. Conclusão Os idosos do sexo masculino tabagistas apresentaram menores valores de CC, IMC e HDL-c, porém os tabagistas apresentaram aumento da concentração do NO x, o qual é um biomarcador de estresse oxidativo associado a doenças cardiovasculares. Portanto, é preciso destacar a importância na prevenção e adesão à cessação de tabagismo para evitar comorbidades cardiovasculares.

Human evolution and lifestyle changes caused by the agricultural and industrial revolutions have led to great advances in medicine and increased life expectancy, whilst also profoundly altering the ecological relationships and disease patterns of populations. Studies involving populations that still enjoy a rural way of life and with traits similar to the Paleolithic period reveal them to present a more robust, resistant and diverse gut microbiota, in comparison to highly industrialized civilizations. The human diet has expanded and broadened to include the consumption of high-calorie foods, particularly from animal sources such as game meat and eggs. For some time, authors have been alert to the fact that a modern lifestyle leads to reduced intake of beneficial bacteria, suggesting that nonpathogenic bacteria are being eradicated. Furthermore, therapeutic procedures, including the use of probiotics and prebiotics, have been proposed to lead to recovery of this microbiota, which is altered due to both the ageing process and lifestyle related aspects. Accordingly, this article aims to review the impact of human aging and modern lifestyle on gut microbiota, within an evolutionary, ecological, epidemiological and therapeutic context.