Relationship among nocturnal sleep deficit, excess weight and metabolic alterations in adolescents.

Introduction: Sleep modulates neuroendocrine function and metabolism; therefore, changes in sleep duration may lead to developing obesity during adolescence.

Objective: To assess the possible association among nocturnal sleep duration, the presence of overweight and metabolic alterations in a group of adolescents.

Population And Methods: Cross-sectional, analytical study conducted at a school in Valencia, Venezuela, during the 2012-2013 school year.

[Reference values of fats for the Venezuelan population].

The present work is a review of the available intormation in the scientific literature in food and human nutrition related to fats and oils, in order to bring a range of guidance on nutritional requirements in pregnancy, infancy, childhood and adulthood, in improving the health and nutritional well-being. Topics include: Characteristics of fatty acids, nomenclature, requirements and recommendations regarding their consumption and its impact on the health situation in Venezuela and recommendations. We present recommendations for total fat requirements and the different fatty acids for different age groups and biological conditions.

[The level of knowledge concerning cardiovascular risk factors in people living in Naguanagua, Venezuela].

Objective: Associating the level of awareness concerning cardiovascular risk factors related to changes in clinical, anthropometric and biochemical markers regarding cardiovascular risk in people living in Naguanagua, Venezuela.

Method: 205 patients aged 18 to 77 years were evaluated; weight, height, waist circumference, blood pressure, glucose and serum lipid profile were measured. A survey assessed the patients' level of awareness regarding cardiovascular risk factors.

[Cardiovascular risk factors and apolipoproteic profile in a group of adults treated in a public health center in Carabobo state, Venezuela].

Objectives: To compare serum levels of apolipoproteins A-I and B as well as Apo B/Apo A-I and HDL cholesterol/Apo A-I ratios by age, gender and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals treated at a Venezuelan public health center.

Materials And Methods: We determined in 221 individuals (44.0 ± 15.

[C-reactive protein is asociated to carotid intima media thickness in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia].

Studies have shown that high concentrations of total cholesterol at the expense of LDL cholesterol and markers of inflammation are linked with subclinical atherosclerosis. This study was aimed to associate the carotid intima media thickness (IMT) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia. The investigation was descriptive, transverse and included 100 patients divided into a control group (normocholesterolemic) and a study group (hypercholesterolemic).

[Behavior of serum zinc levels during pregnancy].

The zinc intervenes in the growth and development, being of vital importance in the pregnancy. In order to determine the behavior of the serum zinc levels during the pregnancy associating it to the anthropometric nutritional status and dietary intake, 108 pregnants were assessed longitudinally, between March 1998 and December 1999, in the 12, 22 and 33 week pregnancy. Anthropometric parameters, serum zinc and albumin, and dietary intake of energy, proteins, zinc and fiber were determined.