Associations between Dietary Intake, Blood Levels of Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids and Reading Abilities in Children.

Lower levels of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been described in individuals with reading difficulties, but the degree and the nature of such deficiencies as well as the role of nutrition are a matter of debate. The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between PUFA blood levels, nutritional status, and reading/writing/phonological awareness performances in 42 school-age children with varying levels of reading ability. Significant correlations were found between PUFA levels (specific omega-6/omega-3 ratios), the ratio of omega-6-derived calories to the total amount of calories and reading scores.

Prevalence and Correlates of Overweight and Obesity in 12 European Countries in 2017-2018.

Introduction: Using data from the TackSHS survey, we aim to provide updated estimates on the prevalence and determinants of overweight and obesity in Europe.

Methods: A face-to-face survey was conducted in 2017-2018 in 12 European countries (Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain). Overall, 10,810 participants, representative in each country of the general adult population, provided information on self-reported height and weight.

Nutritional Habits and Interventions in Childhood.

The present Special Issue of aims to host scientific articles contributing to enriching the knowledge in the field of nutritional habits and intervention in childhood [...

Prevalence and Correlates of Overweight, Obesity and Physical Activity in Italian Children and Adolescents from Lombardy, Italy.

Investigating pediatric overweight and physical activity correlates is essential to design effective preventive programs. We used regional data (Lombardy, northern Italy) from the 2019 survey "OKKio alla Salute" (3093 children aged 8-9 years with measured anthropometric data), and from the 2018 wave of the "Health Behaviour in School-aged Children" survey (2916 adolescents aged 11-15 years with self-reported anthropometric data). In both the surveys, a cluster sampling methodology was used.

Effect of Vitamin D and Docosahexaenoic Acid Co-Supplementation on Vitamin D Status, Body Composition, and Metabolic Markers in Obese Children: A Randomized, Double Blind, Controlled Study.

Obese children are at high risk of developing vitamin D deficiency. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and their derivatives might have a beneficial effect on vitamin D status of obese children, due to their anti-inflammatory action, and increasing its absorption. This multicenter, randomized, double-blind controlled study aims to investigate the effect of vitamin D and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) co-supplementation for six months on vitamin D status, body composition, and metabolic markers of obese children with vitamin D deficiency.

Towards a More Sustainable Nutrition: Complementary Feeding and Early Taste Experiences as a Basis for Future Food Choices.

The concept of sustainable nutrition considers different fields: from human health to environmental, economic and socio-cultural aspects. Currently, in Europe, the diets that reflect the assumptions of the sustainable diet are the Mediterranean Diet and the New Nordic Diet. They both encourage the consumption of vegetable, organic and minimally processed foods, as well as regional, seasonal and Fair-Trade products, reducing the ecological impact of the production chain.

Food advertising during children's television programmes in Italy.

Objective: Previous studies from European countries noted that food products promoted on TV for children did not comply with international guidelines, including the World Health Organization European Nutrient Profile Model (WHO-ENPM) and the EU Pledge Nutrition Criteria (EU-PNC, an initiative developed by leading food companies). We aim to provide new data from Italy.

Design: Evaluation of Italian TV advertisements.

Prediction of Resting Energy Expenditure in Children: May Artificial Neural Networks Improve Our Accuracy?

The inaccuracy of resting energy expenditure (REE) prediction formulae to calculate energy metabolism in children may lead to either under- or overestimated real caloric needs with clinical consequences. The aim of this paper was to apply artificial neural networks algorithms (ANNs) to REE prediction. We enrolled 561 healthy children (2-17 years).

Nutrient intake in aging infants and toddlers: 3-year follow-up of the Nutrintake study.

We performed a 3-year follow-up of the children enrolled into the Nutrintake Study to evaluate the changes of anthropometry and nutrient intake in aging infants and toddlers. Nutrient intake was assessed using a 7-day weighted food-diary. Of the 390 Nutrintake children, 164 (42%) participated in the present study.

Snacking in nutrition and health.

Many studies suggest that distributing energy and nutrient intake across 4-5 eating occasions/day (rather than across three standard meals) could favourably affect human health. The inclusion of 1-2 snacks in the daily pattern alleviates the potential digestive and metabolic overload caused by fewer heavier meals and might contribute to meet recommendations for food groups (e.g.

Factors Influencing Children's Eating Behaviours.

Relevant factors involved in the creation of some children's food preferences and eating behaviours have been examined in order to highlight the topic and give paediatricians practical instruments to understand the background behind eating behaviour and to manage children's nutrition for preventive purposes. Electronic databases were searched to locate and appraise relevant studies. We carried out a search to identify papers published in English on factors that influence children's feeding behaviours.

Early Taste Experiences and Later Food Choices.

Background: Nutrition in early life is increasingly considered to be an important factor influencing later health. Food preferences are formed in infancy, are tracked into childhood and beyond, and complementary feeding practices are crucial to prevent obesity later in life.

Methods: Through a literature search strategy, we have investigated the role of breastfeeding, of complementary feeding, and the parental and sociocultural factors which contribute to set food preferences early in life.

Sex differences in the endocrine system in response to protein intake early in life.

Background: Nutritional factors during a sensitive period can influence child development in a sex-related manner.

Objective: Our aim was to investigate whether sex modulates the responses of relevant biochemical parameters and growth to different protein intakes early in life.

Design: In a randomized controlled trial, formula-fed infants were assigned to receive formula with higher protein (HP) or lower protein (LP) content.

Determinants of children's eating behavior.

Parents have a high degree of control over the environments and experiences of their children. Food preferences are shaped by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. This article is a review of current data on effective determinants of children's eating habits.

The introduction of solid food and growth in the first 2 y of life in formula-fed children: analysis of data from a European cohort study.

Background: Early introduction of solid food has been suspected to induce excessive infant energy intake and weight gain.

Objective: The objective of this study was to test whether introduction of solid foods influences energy intake or growth.

Design: Healthy, formula-fed infants who were recruited in 5 European countries were eligible for study participation.

Milk protein intake, the metabolic-endocrine response, and growth in infancy: data from a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Protein intake in early infancy has been suggested to be an important risk factor for later obesity, but information on potential mechanisms is very limited.

Objective: This study examined the influence of protein intake in infancy on serum amino acids, insulin, and the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) axis and its possible relation to growth in the first 2 y of life.

Design: In a multicenter European study, 1138 healthy, formula-fed infants were randomly assigned to receive cow-milk-based infant and follow-on formulas with lower protein (LP; 1.

Introduction of potentially allergenic foods in the infant's diet during the first year of life in five European countries.

Background: Little information is available on infants' age at first introduction of potentially allergenic foods as part of complementary feeding. We aimed to analyze age at the introduction of potentially allergenic foods in healthy term infants relative to recommendations in 5 European countries.

Method: Recruitment was conducted from October 2002 to June 2004.

Methodology for longitudinal assessment of nutrient intake and dietary habits in early childhood in a transnational multicenter study.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe developed methods for repeated longitudinal assessment of feeding habits and nutrient intakes of children in a multicenter trial in different European countries and to assess feasibility.

Patients And Methods: Nutrient intake and dietary habits of formula-fed and breast-fed infants were assessed in 5 European countries (Belgium, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain). Prospective age-adapted 3-day weighed food records were used from birth to 2 years of age (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months).

Intake of energy providing liquids during the first year of life in five European countries.

Background: Intake of energy providing liquids (EPL) other than breast milk or formula to infants is discouraged because it may displace milk intake. Data on actual practice is lacking.

Aim: To describe the current practice of EPL supply to infants in five European countries.

Liver fat change in obese children after a 1-year nutrition-behavior intervention.

Objectives: To evaluate whether a 1-year nutrition-behavior intervention based on normocaloric balanced diet and physical exercise may reduce liver fat in obese children.

Patients And Methods: Twenty-six obese children (11 boys and 15 girls), aged 6 to 14 years, underwent anthropometric, nutritional, metabolic, and liver magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations at baseline and after a 1-year nutrition-behavior intervention. Anthropometry included weight, height, waist and hip circumference, and total upper arm area.

Introduction of complementary feeding in 5 European countries.

Objectives: Little is known about the practice of introducing complementary feeding across Europe. We aim at describing times of solid introduction in healthy infants in 5 European countries.

Materials And Methods: Between October 2002 and June 2004, 1678 healthy term infants were either breast-fed (BF) for at least 4 months (n = 588) or study formula-fed (FF) (n = 1090) with different protein contents.

The relationship of insulin resistance with SNP 276G>T at adiponectin gene and plasma long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in obese children.

This study examined the association of insulin resistance with single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) 276G>T at adiponectin gene and the plasma long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFAs) profile in obese children. One hundred thirty-one normolipidaemic obese children aged 8-13 y (53 girls and 68 boys) entered the study. The prevalence of T allele carriers at SNP276 was 48.

Infant feeding and later obesity risk.

Some 30 years ago, Günter Dörner proposed that exposure to hormones, metabolites and neurotransmitters during limited, sensitive periods of early development exert programming effects on disease risk in human adults. Early programming of long term health has since received broad scientific support and attention. For example, evidence increases for programming effects of infant feeding choices on later obesity risk.