Early ultra-processed foods consumption and hyperactivity/inattention in adolescence.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between childhood consumption of ultra-processed foods and symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention in adolescents from São Leopoldo, a city in southern Brazil.

Methods: Data were collected at four distinct stages: when participants were 12-16 months old in 2001 and 2002 and later when they were 3-4, 7-8, and 12-13 years old. During the interview at 12-16 months, mothers were asked about the introduction of sugar in their child's diet.

Impact of maternal dietary counseling in the first year of life on DNA methylation in a cohort of children.

Epigenetic modifications established during prenatal and early life, including DNA methylation, have been suggested as potential mediators of the interaction between environmental exposures during the perinatal period and adult metabolic health adverse outcomes, especially cardiometabolic complications and overweight. The effect of a dietary intervention in the first year of life on global methylation levels in leukocyte samples from a cohort of children born between 2001 and 2002 in southern Brazil was examined. Overall methylation measurements were performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays on DNA samples from 237 children at 4 years old.

Evaluation of association of DRD2 TaqIA and -141C InsDel polymorphisms with food intake and anthropometric data in children at the first stages of development.

The reward sensation after food intake may be different between individuals and variants in genes related to the dopaminergic system may indicate a different response in people exposed to the same environmental factors. This study investigated the association of TaqIA (rs1800497) and -141C InsDel (rs1799732) variants in DRD2/ANKK1 gene with food intake and adiposity parameters in a cohort of children. The sample consisted of 270 children followed until 7 to 8 years old.

Evaluation of the association between the TAS1R2 and TAS1R3 variants and food intake and nutritional status in children.

Taste perception plays a key role in determining individual food preferences and dietary habits and may influence nutritional status. This study aimed to investigate the association of TAS1R2 (Ile191Val - rs35874116) and TAS1R3 (-1266 C/T - rs35744813) variants with food intake and nutritional status in children followed from birth until 7.7 years old.

Biallelic and triallelic approaches of 5-HTTLPR polymorphism are associated with food intake and nutritional status in childhood.

Background: The 5-HTT gene contains polymorphisms in its promoter region, the insertion/deletion (5-HTTLPR) that creates long (L) or short (S) alleles (biallelic approach) and SNP (rs25531) in L allele (triallelic approach).

Objectives: The aim of this study is to investigate the association of the 5-HTTLPR and rs25531 polymorphisms, using bi- and triallelic approach, with dietary intake and anthropometric parameters in children followed until 8 years old.

Methods: The sample were 303 children who were recruited at birth and examined at 1, 3 to 4 and 7 to 8 years old.

Effect of maternal dietary counselling during the 1st year of life on glucose profile and insulin resistance at the age of 8 years: a randomised field trial.

Education interventions that stimulate complementary feeding practices can improve the nutritional status of children and may protect against future chronic diseases. We assessed the long-term effectiveness of dietary intervention during the 1st year of life on insulin resistance levels, and investigated the relationship between insulin resistance and weight changes over time. A randomised field trial was conducted among 500 mothers who gave birth to full-term infants between October 2001 and June 2002 in a low-income area in São Leopoldo, Brazil.

DRD4 and SLC6A3 gene polymorphisms are associated with food intake and nutritional status in children in early stages of development.

Variants of dopamine system genes such as the DRD4 and the SLC6A3 genes may be involved in food intake regulation because the dopaminergic system influences food reward. We investigated an association of polymorphisms in the DRD4 (exon 3 VNTR) and SLC6A3 (3'UTR VNTR, rs2550948, rs2652511 and rs1048953) genes with food intake and nutritional status in children. This prospective cohort study recruited 359 children at birth.

SLC6A14 and 5-HTR2C polymorphisms are associated with food intake and nutritional status in children.

Background: Serotonin plays a critical role in the regulation of food intake. The solute carrier family 6 member 14 (SLC6A14) and serotonin receptor 2C (5-HTR2C) genes are involved in the bioavailability and action of this neurotransmitter.

Objective: Evaluation of the association of six polymorphisms in these genes with food intake and nutritional status in children followed to 7-8years of age.

Polymorphisms in LEPR, PPARG and APM1 genes: associations with energy intake and metabolic traits in young children.

Objective: To assess the association of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in five genes - leptin, leptin receptor (LEPR), adiponectin (APM1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARG) and uncoupling protein 1 - with anthropometric, metabolic, and dietary parameters in a Southern Brazilian cohort of 325 children followed up from birth to 4 years old.

Materials And Methods: SNPs were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-based procedures, and their association with phenotypes was evaluated by t-test, analysis of variance, and general linear models.

Results: LEPR223Arg allele (rs1137101) was associated with higher daily energy intake at 4 years of age (P = 0.

Risk factors for high blood pressure in low income children aged 3-4 years.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary sodium intake on blood pressure among low income children aged 3-4 years. Data were collected during a randomized trial conducted in São Leopoldo, Brazil, with 500 mother-child pairs recruited from the maternity ward of a local hospital. Breastfeeding data were obtained during the children's first year of life.

Association between a frequent variant of the FTO gene and anthropometric phenotypes in Brazilian children.

Background: Our goal was to analyze the association of the fat mass and obesity- associated (FTO) gene rs9939609 variant (T/A) with the anthropometric and dietary intake phenotypes related to obesity in Brazilian children.

Methods: We analyzed the association of this single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) with phenotypes related to the accumulation of body mass in a cohort of 348 children followed from the time of birth until 8 years old and then replicated the main findings in an independent schoolchildren sample (n = 615).

Results: At the age of 4, we observed a significant association between the A/A genotype and a higher mean BMI Z-score (P = 0.

Sleep duration and body mass index among southern Brazilian preschoolers.

Prevention and treatment of overweight are particularly complex, reinforcing the importance of studies aimed at clarifying their range of causes and effects. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between night sleep duration and anthropometric measurements. A cross-sectional analysis was performed from data from 348 children aged 3 and 4 years in São Leopoldo/RS.

Long-term effectiveness of maternal dietary counseling in a low-income population: a randomized field trial.

Objective: To assess the impact of dietary counseling given to mothers during the first year of infants' lives on food consumption, nutritional status, and lipid profile of the children up to 7 to 8 years old.

Methods: The randomized trial was conducted with 500 mothers who gave birth to full-term infants with birth weight ≥ 2500 g between October 2001 and June 2002 in São Leopoldo, Brazil. Mothers were randomly assigned to intervention (n = 200) and control groups (n = 300) and those in the intervention group received counseling on breastfeeding and complementary feeding by 12 fieldworkers on 10 home visits during the first year of children's lives.

Maternal dietary counseling reduces consumption of energy-dense foods among infants: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a dietary counseling in reducing the intake of energy-dense foods by infants.

Design: A randomized controlled trial.

Setting And Participants: São Leopoldo, Brazil.

Association of MAOA and COMT gene polymorphisms with palatable food intake in children.

Several studies have implicated dopamine (DA) in appetite regulation. The enzymes catechol-o-methyltransferase (COMT) and monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) control DA availability and their genes have well-characterized functional variants. In this study, we examined three polymorphisms in these genes, T941G and MAOAu-VNTR in the MAOA gene and Val158Met in the COMT gene, to investigate how heritable variations in enzymes that determine DA levels might influence food intake and nutritional status.

Waist-to-height ratio as a screening tool for children with risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Background: Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) has been recommended as a tool for predicting cardiovascular risk in children. However, there is little evidence about the accuracy of using WHtR as a predictor of disease risk in pre-school children.

Aims: To assess the accuracy of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference (WC) and body mass index (BMI) as well as to determine the optimal cut-off values for each of these measures in order to identify pre-school children with cardiovascular risks.

Maternal dietary counseling in the first year of life is associated with a higher healthy eating index in childhood.

Food preferences are established in early childhood and track later in life. Therefore, it is important to promote healthy feeding practices as early as possible. A randomized field trial was conducted with 500 mother-child pairs from a low-income area of São Leopoldo, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, to evaluate the impact of a nutritional intervention in the first year of life on the dietary quality of 3- to 4-y-old children.

Frequency of public child care service use and associated factors.

Objective: Assess the maternal socio-demographic factors associated with the frequency of use of child care services by low income families.

Methods: Cross-sectional analysis of 393 children between 12 and 16 months old who participated in a randomized field trial during their first year of life in a program of nutritional intervention. The study began in the Brazilian Unified Health System (Sistema Unico de Saúde, SUS) of the maternity hospital in the city of São Leopoldo, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Some risk factors associated with overweight, stunting and wasting among children under 5 years old.

Objective: To explore whether socioeconomic and sanitary conditions, maternal and child factors are associated with overweight, stunting, and wasting in children under five year old in the city of São Leopoldo, southern Brazil.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 3,957 children aged 1 month to 5 years conducted in all primary care services of the city during the National Children's Vaccination Day in 2002. Maternal and child factors were assessed by a questionnaire.

[Evaluation of two classifications for overweight among Brazilian adolescents].

A cross-sectional study carried out among 418 adolescents between ten and 19 years old at a private school in the city of São Paulo in 1998. The objective of the study was to evaluate the proposed thresholds for diagnosing overweight among Brazilian adolescents. The percentage body fat was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry.

Factors associated with risk of low dietary fiber intake in adolescents.

Objective: To evaluate dietary fiber intake among adolescents and to analyze factors associated with the risk of insufficient consumption of this nutrient.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 722 adolescents from the town of São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil. Sampling was by clusters, with a systematic randomization of 40 census sectors and residences, including all individuals aged 10 to 19 years.

Factors associated with risk of low folate intake among adolescents.

Objective: To evaluate factors associated with the risk of low folate intake among adolescents.

Methods: We employed cluster sampling, using a random selection of 40 representative census sectors and households within those sectors, including all individuals between 10 and 19 years of age. The weight, height and skin folds of subjects were measured and socioeconomic data on their families were collected.