Publications by authors named "Parra-Soto S"
In recent decades, Latin America and the Caribbean region have experienced accelerated aging. However, despite the significant progress of gerontology in the region, the number of geriatricians and professionals trained in the field is low; a notable gap in the training related to the assessment of older adults can also be observed. Therefore, in this literature review, we update the concept of Comprehensive Gerontological Assessment (CGA) for its application in the region.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUnlabelled: There is a divergence in the results of studies that have explored the association between body mass index (BMI) and health outcomes in different contexts.
Aim: This study investigated the association between BMI and all-cause mortality in older Chilean people.
Methods: 1.
Article Synopsis
- Researchers studied the visceral adiposity index (VAI), which helps measure belly fat and its link to diseases like cancer.
- They looked at 385,477 people from the UK over about 8 years and found that those with higher VAI levels had a greater risk of developing certain cancers.
- Specifically, higher VAI was connected to increased risks of cancers like uterine, kidney, and breast cancer, indicating that belly fat could play a role in cancer risk.
Article Synopsis
- The study explored the link between sedentary behavior, the FTO gene, and obesity markers in a Chilean population, focusing on how sedentary time might affect genetic predisposition to obesity.
- Data was gathered from 409 participants, measuring adiposity markers like body weight and BMI, while sedentary behaviors were tracked using accelerometers.
- Findings showed that higher sedentary time is more strongly associated with increased body weight and waist circumference in individuals carrying the risk variant of the FTO gene compared to non-risk carriers.
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- This study investigates the cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels among Chileans with and without cancer, using data from a large health survey.
- The findings show that individuals diagnosed with cancer had lower CRF compared to those without a diagnosis, particularly among those with colorectal, breast, and uterine cancer.
- The research suggests that CRF tends to decline further as the years since diagnosis increase, highlighting the importance of addressing fitness in cancer care.
Article Synopsis
- A Body Shape Index (ABSI) is a new obesity measurement that focuses on body volume and might be better than BMI in predicting health risks related to obesity, especially regarding chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes.
- This study analyzed data from 4,874 Chilean adults to see how ABSI correlates with blood sugar levels, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and self-reported type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
- Results showed that higher ABSI scores were strongly linked to increased glycemia, higher HbA1c levels, and greater odds of having T2DM, suggesting ABSI could serve as a useful tool for assessing obesity-related metabolic risks
Background: The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic confinement has an impact on stress levels, which causes changes in food purchase and consumption behaviors. The objective of this study is to associate food purchase prioritization with stress level during the COVID-19 pandemic confinement.
Methods: Multicenter, observational and cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire that included data on sociodemographic variables, stress factors and food purchase prioritization was disseminated through digital platforms and social networks.
Introduction: Understanding how socioeconomic markers interact could inform future policies aimed at increasing adherence to a healthy diet.
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 437,860 participants from the UK Biobank. Dietary intake was self-reported.
Article Synopsis
- - The Eatwell Guide is the UK government's recommendation for a balanced diet, but its specific link to dementia risk hasn't been studied until now.
- - Analysis of data from 517 participants showed no significant correlation between Eatwell Guide scores and Alzheimer's disease risk, but higher scores were linked to lowered blood pressure and BMI.
- - While the Eatwell Guide didn’t directly affect dementia risk, it may help in preventing it by managing hypertension and obesity, which are known risk factors. Future research is suggested to explore these relationships further.
Article Synopsis
- Clinical nutritionists in Latin America are essential for patient recovery in hospitals, but previous studies on their roles and performance factors have been lacking.
- A study surveyed 1,222 nutritionists across 13 Latin American countries to assess their daily activities and established a Professional Activities Score (PAS).
- Key findings showed that while essential activities like nutritional intervention and counseling were frequently performed, teaching and research were less common, and factors such as professional experience and specialties influenced their performance levels.
Article Synopsis
- The World Health Organization defines collective violence as violence used by groups aiming for political, economic, or social goals; this was evident during Chile's "Social Outbreak" starting October 18, 2019, fueled by socioeconomic and political issues.
- The study aimed to assess the outbreak's impact on health and quality of life, using data from a national survey conducted between November 2019 and March 2020, with 2,651 participants, mostly female and averaging 35 years old.
- Findings revealed that higher exposure to disturbances, such as protests and alarm sounds, significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing biological and psychological issues, especially for those living or working near the affected areas, with social media being a key source of
Article Synopsis
- - The study aimed to explore how a lifestyle score, based on seven modifiable behaviors, affects all-cause mortality in the Chilean population.
- - Participants were assigned scores ranging from 0 (less healthy) to 7 (healthiest) based on their habits, and results showed that those with lower scores had a significantly higher mortality risk over a 10.9-year follow-up period.
- - It concludes that promoting healthier lifestyle choices through public health strategies could reduce mortality risk among Chileans, as less healthy individuals had a mortality risk 2.55 times greater than the healthiest group.
Background: The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Cancer Prevention Recommendations are lifestyle-based recommendations which aim to reduce cancer risk. This study investigated associations between adherence, assessed using a standardised scoring system, and the risk of all cancers combined and of 14 cancers for which there is strong evidence for links with aspects of lifestyle in the UK.
Methods: We used data from 94,778 participants (53% female, mean age 56 years) from the UK Biobank.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore the relationship between five common dietary scores and the risk of developing severe non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) among UK Biobank participants.* -
- A total of 162,999 participants were analyzed over an average follow-up of 10.2 years, with 1,370 diagnosed with severe NAFLD; specific dietary scores like MEDAS-14, RFS, and HDI showed a consistent association with a lower risk of NAFLD.* -
- The findings suggest that adhering to a healthy diet, as indicated by these scores, can significantly reduce the risk of developing severe NAFLD, highlighting the importance of nutrition in liver health.*
Background: The 2018 (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Cancer Prevention Recommendations are evidence-based lifestyle recommendations which aim to reduce the risk of cancer worldwide. Sociodemographic factors modulate lifestyle behaviours, and both cancer incidence and survival are socio-economically patterned. We investigated adherence to these recommendations and examined patterns of adherence across sociodemographic subgroups in the UK Biobank cohort.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdherence to healthy dietary patterns can prevent the development of non-communicable diseases and affect life expectancy. Here, using a prospective population-based cohort data from the UK Biobank, we show that sustained dietary change from unhealthy dietary patterns to the Eatwell Guide dietary recommendations is associated with 8.9 and 8.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF)/American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Cancer Prevention Recommendations are lifestyle-based guidelines which aim to reduce cancer risk. This study investigated, in the UK Biobank, associations between an abbreviated score to assess adherence to these Recommendations and the risk of all cancers combined and of 14 cancers for which there is strong evidence for links with diet, adiposity, and physical activity.
Methods: We used data from 288,802 UK Biobank participants (mean age 56.
Article Synopsis
- A study conducted in Chile aimed to assess adherence to Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (GABA) among adolescents aged 15-19, focusing on their diet and its relationship with health metrics.
- Only 5.6% of participants met three or more GABA recommendations, with higher compliance in water and legumes consumption, and notable differences in dietary habits between genders.
- The findings indicate that many adolescents struggle to follow GABA guidelines, which can negatively impact their overall health and lifestyle.
A clinical nutritionist (CN) is a university-educated professional trained to perform preventive and recovery functions in the health of patients. The actions of these professionals, both worldwide and in Latin America, may face barriers and opportunities that require careful identification and examination. The main objective of this study is to identify the most important barriers and opportunities for the clinical nutritionist in 13 Latin American countries.
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- A study with 364,856 participants from the UK Biobank explored the link between dietary fiber (DF) and the risk of 17 types of cancer, finding that higher DF intake is associated with lower cancer risk overall.
- Over an average follow-up period of 8.8 years, participants who consumed the most partial dietary fiber (≥19.1 g/day) had a 10% reduced risk of cancer compared to those with the lowest intake (<9.6 g/day), with notable reductions in risks for specific cancers like cervical, esophageal, and lung.
- The research highlights that higher intake of cereal fiber and fiber from fruits and vegetables in particular contributes to a significant decrease in risk for various cancers, especially among
Objective: To associate breakfast consumption frequency with self-reported nutritional status and dietary patterns of Latin American university students by human development.
Material And Methods: This was a cross-sectional, multicenter observational study. University students from 11 Latin American countries (Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Panama and Uruguay) were invited to participate by answering an online self-administered questionnaire on food consumption and sociodemographic indicators, associations were investigated using logistic regression.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore the link between 11 body measurements and the development of type 2 diabetes among UK Biobank participants, focusing on their predictive capabilities.
- A total of 161,127 individuals were followed for about 10 years, with findings indicating that most body measurements, except for height and hip index, were associated with an increased risk of developing diabetes, particularly waist to height ratio (WHtR).
- WHtR and the anthropometric risk index outperformed BMI in predicting diabetes risk, suggesting WHtR could be a better tool for clinical assessments.*
Background: Weight changes in adults have strong repercussions on people's health status. During the COVID-19 pandemic, these changes could be more evident due to the mandatory confinement, as well as eating habits and lifestyle. In this study, changes in diet and body weight in Mexican population at the beginning of COVID-19 lockdown period (weeks 4-7) were evaluated using an online survey.
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