Determinants of obesity in Latin America.

Obesity rates are increasing almost everywhere in the world, although the pace and timing for this increase differ when populations from developed and developing countries are compared. The sharp and more recent increase in obesity rates in many Latin American countries is an example of that and results from regional characteristics that emerge from interactions between multiple factors. Aware of the complexity of enumerating these factors, we highlight eight main determinants (the physical environment, food exposure, economic and political interest, social inequity, limited access to scientific knowledge, culture, contextual behaviour and genetics) and discuss how they impact obesity rates in Latin American countries.

Gut bacterial markers involved in association of dietary inflammatory index with visceral adiposity.

Objective: To deepen the understanding of the influence of diet on weight gain and metabolic disturbances, we examined associations between diet-related inflammation and body composition and fecal bacteria abundances in participants of the Nutritionists' Health Study.

Methods: Early-life, dietary and clinical data were obtained from 114 women aged ≤45 years. A validated food frequency questionnaire was used to calculate the energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII).

Short-chain fatty acids are associated with adiposity, energy and glucose homeostasis among different metabolic phenotypes in the Nutritionists' Health Study.

Background And Aims: The gut microbiome is associated with obesity, mainly mediated by bacteria-produced short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). It is unknown how SCFA concentrations are associated with the phenotypes metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), metabolically healthy obese/overweight (MHO), and metabolically unhealthy obese/overweight (MUO). We compared plasma and fecal SCFA concentrations among adult women categorized according to the metabolic phenotypes mentioned above and examined associations between SCFA and adiposity and components of energy and glucose homeostasis.

Associations of prematurity and low birth weight with blood pressure and kidney function in middle-aged participants of the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health: ELSA-Brasil.

Background: An adverse intrauterine environment reflected by low birth weight (LBW) and prematurity may induce fetal programming that favors kidney dysfunction in adulthood. We examined the association of LBW and prematurity with blood pressure (BP) and kidney function markers in non-diabetic, middle-aged adults without kidney disease from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis of 768 subjects aged 35-54 years was conducted.

The gut microbiome of obese postpartum women with and without previous gestational diabetes mellitus and the gut microbiota of their babies.

Background: The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide, and has been associated with some changes in the gut microbiota. Studies have shown that the maternal gut microbiota pattern with hyperglycemia can be transmitted to the offspring. The study aimed to evaluate the gut microbiota of obese postpartum women with and without previous GDM and their offspring.

Parental body mass index and maternal gestational weight gain associations with offspring body composition in young women from the Nutritionists' Health Study.

Objective: Intrauterine environment can induce fetal metabolic programming that predisposes to adiposity-related chronic diseases in its lifespan. We examined the associations of parental nutritional status and gestational weight gain with offspring body composition in early adulthood.

Methods: This is cross-sectional analysis of female participants of the NutriHS who were submitted to questionnaires, clinical examinations and body composition assessed by DXA.

Gut Microbiota across Normal Gestation and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Cohort Analysis.

The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a global public health concern. The mechanism that leads to glucose tolerance beyond normal physiological levels to pathogenic conditions remains incompletely understood, and it is speculated that the maternal microbiome may play an important role. This study analyzes the gut microbiota composition in each trimester of weight-matched women with and without GDM and examines possible bacterial genera associations with GDM.

Brown fat triglyceride content is associated with cardiovascular risk markers in adults from a tropical region.

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is regarded as an interesting potential target for the treatment of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases, and the detailed characterization of its structural and functional phenotype could enable an advance in these fields. Most studies evaluating BAT structure and function were performed in temperate climate regions, and we are yet to know how these findings apply to the 40% of the world's population living in tropical areas. Here, we used F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography - magnetic resonance imaging to evaluate BAT in 45 lean, overweight, and obese volunteers living in a tropical area in Southeast Brazil.

Associations of Genus With Early-Life Events and Later Phenotype in the NutriHS.

Introduction: Early-life events are associated with the risk of obesity and comorbidities later in life. The gut microbiota-whose composition is influenced by genetics and environmental factors-could be involved. Since the microbiota affects metabolism and fat storage, early-life insults could contribute to the occurrence of obesity driven, in part, by microbiota composition.

Low Birth Weight, β-Cell Function and Insulin Resistance in Adults: The Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health.

Background: Adverse intrauterine environment-reflected by low birth weight (LBW)-has been linked to insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes later in life. Whether β-cell function reduction and insulin resistance could be detected even in middle-aged adults without overt diabetes is less investigated. We examined the association of LBW with β-cell function and insulin sensitivity in non-diabetic middle-aged adults from the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Menopause Is Associated with Coronary Artery Calcium Score: Results from the ELSA-Brasil.

Menopause and aging deteriorate the metabolic profile, but little is known about how they independently contribute to structural changes in coronary arteries. We compared a broad cardiometabolic risk profile of women according to their menopausal status and investigated if menopause is associated with presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) in the ELSA-Brasil. All participants, except perimenopausal women, who had menopause <40 years or from non-natural causes or reported use of hormone therapy were included.

Branched-chain amino acids predict incident diabetes in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health - ELSA-Brasil.

Aims: To evaluate the role of branch chain amino acid (BCAA) concentrations as a predictor for incident type 2 diabetes (DM).

Methods: Participants from ELSA-Brasil without diabetes at baseline and followed for 3.9 ± 0.

Pre-pregnancy BMI is associated with offspring body composition in adulthood before adiposity-related disorders: a retrospective cohort.

Objective: To investigate the association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and offspring body composition in adulthood.

Design: Retrospective cohort. Undergraduates of nutrition or nutritionists were recruited at the baseline of the Nutritionists' Health Study between 2014 and 2017.

Maternal and paternal obesity are associated with offspring obestatin levels in the Nutritionists' Health Study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine whether paternal and maternal body mass indexes (BMIs) were independently associated with obestatin and visfatin levels in adult offspring.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 124 women who participated in the Nutritionists' Health Study (NutriHS) at baseline. Early life events, anthropometry, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry-determined body composition and blood sample were obtained.

Probiotics supplementation and insulin resistance: a systematic review.

Background: Research on intestinal microbiota has grown considerably, as well as the interest on probiotics' supplementation effects on metabolism. Considering high prevalence rates of metabolic diseases linked by insulin resistance, we performed a systematic review of existing literature which addressed the role of probiotics in modulating insulin sensitivity in animals and humans.

Methods: This systematic review was based on PRISMA guidelines.

Short Dietary Intervention with Olive Oil Increases Brown Adipose Tissue Activity in Lean but not Overweight Subjects.

Background: The brown adipose tissue (BAT) is a potential target for the treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders. Its activation by cold exposure or adrenergic drugs can increase systemic insulin sensitivity and improve lipid metabolism; however, little is known about the effects of specific dietary components on BAT activity.

Objectives: We asked if a short-term (4 weeks) dietary intervention with olive oil could modify BAT activity in lean and overweight/obese volunteers.

Diabetes and covid-19: more than the sum of two morbidities.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) pandemic has caused a public health emergency worldwide. Risk, severity and mortality of the disease have been associated with non-communicable chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus. Accumulated evidence has caused great concern in countries with high prevalence of this morbidity, such as Brazil.

Breastfeeding may have a long-term effect on oral microbiota: results from the Fin-HIT cohort.

Background: Breastfeeding contributes to gastrointestinal microbiota colonization in early life, but its long-term impact is inconclusive. We aimed to evaluate whether the type of feeding during the first six months of life was associated with oral microbiota in adolescence.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional sub-study using baseline information of 423 adolescents from the Finnish Health in Teens (Fin-HIT) cohort.

Birth weight associated with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry-determined muscle-bone unit in young healthy women from the Nutritionists' Health Study.

Muscle and bone have been considered a functional unit that grows together early in life, deteriorates with aging, and can cause osteosarcopenia. Due to its importance in public health, detecting risk factors in early life is desirable. This study examined whether birth weight (BW) was associated with muscle-bone unit using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) parameters in young women from the Nutritionists' Health Study (NutriHS), a cohort study of undergraduates and Nutrition graduates.

Changes in lipoprotein subfractions following menopause in the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Introduction: It is unclear how aging and menopause-induced lipid changes contribute to the elevated cardiovascular risk in menopausal women. We examined the association between lipid profiles and menopausal status and duration of menopause in the Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil).

Methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from women in the ELSA-Brasil, stratified by duration of menopause into 5 groups: pre-menopause, <2 years, 2-5.

Early life feeding and current dietary patterns are associated with biomarkers of glucose and lipid metabolism in young women from the Nutritionist's Health Study.

Background/objectives: We investigated if breastfeeding duration and current dietary patterns (DP) were associated with glucose and lipid metabolism biomarkers in women from the Nutritionist's Health Study.

Subjects/methods: This is a cross-sectional analysis of 200 healthy undergraduates and nutrition graduates aged ≤45 years. Total [<6; ≥6 months] and predominant [<3; ≥3 months] breastfeeding were recalled using questionnaires.

Breastfeeding duration is associated with offspring's adherence to prudent dietary pattern in adulthood: results from the Nutritionist's Health Study.

Little is known about the long-term effect of breastfeeding on dietary habits. We examined the association between breastfeeding duration and adherence to current dietary patterns of young women. This was a cross-sectional analysis of 587 healthy women aged ≤45 years, undergraduates or nutrition graduates.

Cardiometabolic diseases.

Introduction: Cardiometabolic diseases are prevalent in populations and are among the leading causes of death. Objective: This sub-study of the Health, Well-being and Aging (SABE) study describes the self-reported prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM), hypertension, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (CVD) for its three waves (2000, 2006, and 2010). It also analyses the associations with selected risk factors.

Utility of combined inflammatory biomarkers for the identification of cognitive dysfunction in non-diabetic participants of the ELSA-Brasil.

Introduction: Insulin resistance and low-grade inflammation are pathophysiological mechanisms shared by type 2 diabetes and dementia. A cluster of biomarkers that could help diagnosing cognitive dysfunction prior to the installation of insulin resistance is desirable. This ELSA sub-study examined whether a cluster of selected inflammatory biomarkers was associated with worse cognitive scores in non-diabetic participants.

Association of adiponectin with cognitive function precedes overt diabetes in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health: ELSA.

Background: Adiponectin is an insulin-sensitizer adipocytokine endowed with neuroprotective actions. Whether adiponectin regulates neuronal functioning toward delaying cognitive decline independently of the glucose metabolism disturbance has been poorly explored. This study evaluated if the performance in cognitive tests was associated with adiponectin levels prior the development of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged individuals.