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The Mediterranean Diet in Osteoporosis Prevention: An Insight in a Peri- and Post-Menopausal Population.
Quattrini, S, Pampaloni, B, Gronchi, G, Giusti, F, Brandi, ML
Nutrients. 2021;13(2)
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Osteoporosis (OP) is a public health problem in western countries and steadily increasing worldwide. Management and prevention of osteoporosis starts with lifestyle, and diet is of critical interest because it is one of the few safely modifiable risk factors. Several different nutrients, especially calcium are essential for bone and mineral metabolism. It has been observed that the incidence of OP is lower in the Mediterranean area. This prospective observational study looks at the relationship between Mediterranean diet (MD), calcium intake and bone health. Two hundred peri- and post-menopausal women aged 30-80 years, took part. Their adherence to the MD and dietary calcium intake were evaluated by a first visit and a follow-up visit, through questionnaires. Although not statistically significant, in both visits a slight increase in calcium intake was observed for high adherence to MD diet. However, it did highlight the importance of preventive action such as a 15–20 min nutritional conversation to improve lifestyle habits. A cause-effect relationship between MD adherence and calcium intake could not be established by this study, a randomized controlled trial would be useful to gather more data.
Abstract
Osteoporosis represent a widespread public health problem. The management and prevention of osteoporosis and related low energy fractures start with a correct lifestyle and proper nutrition. Several different nutrients are essential for bone and mineral metabolism, especially calcium. Nevertheless, a well-balanced nutrition, such as Mediterranean diet (MD), proved to be beneficial for several chronic diseases and also fragility fractures resulted lower in the Mediterranean area. A prospective observational study in a population of two hundred peri- and post-menopausal women (aged 30-80 years) was developed at Careggi hospital, Florence. Both MD adherence and dietary calcium intake were evaluated in occasion of a "first visit" and a "follow-up" visit, through validated questionnaires. From a descriptive point of view, although not statistically significant, in both visits a slight increase in calcium intake was observed for high adherence to MD diet. Moreover, a short nutritional interview (20 min) was applied in our population and demonstrated to be sufficient to significantly improve MD adherence level (mean score at T0 = 6.98 ± 1.74 and T1 = 7.53 ± 1.68), opening promising paths in osteoporosis prevention.
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Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Lifestyle Behaviors in Children with Obesity Living in Verona, Italy: A Longitudinal Study.
Pietrobelli, A, Pecoraro, L, Ferruzzi, A, Heo, M, Faith, M, Zoller, T, Antoniazzi, F, Piacentini, G, Fearnbach, SN, Heymsfield, SB
Obesity (Silver Spring, Md.). 2020;28(8):1382-1385
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had far reaching health, social, and economic implications. Among them is the abrupt cessation of school programs for children and adolescents in Italy. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that factors contributing to weight gain among children and adolescents with overweight and obesity are exacerbated during a pandemic-associated lockdown. This study is a longitudinal clinical trial which enrolled non-adult participants (n=41) with obesity as controls in the ongoing longitudinal observational OBELIX Study in Verona, Italy. Results indicate that eating, activity, and sleeping behaviours changed in an unfavourable direction just after three weeks into their confinement during the national lockdown. Thus, findings support the hypothesis that lockdown appears to create an unfavourable environment for maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviours Authors conclude that recognition of the lockdown phenomenon is the first step in taking preventive measures.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that youths with obesity, when removed from structured school activities and confined to their homes during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, will display unfavorable trends in lifestyle behaviors. METHODS The sample included 41 children and adolescents with obesity participating in a longitudinal observational study located in Verona, Italy. Lifestyle information including diet, activity, and sleep behaviors was collected at baseline and 3 weeks into the national lockdown during which home confinement was mandatory. Changes in outcomes over the two study time points were evaluated for significance using paired t tests. RESULTS There were no changes in reported vegetable intake; fruit intake increased (P = 0.055) during the lockdown. By contrast, potato chip, red meat, and sugary drink intakes increased significantly during the lockdown (P value range, 0.005 to < 0.001). Time spent in sports activities decreased by 2.30 (SD 4.60) h/wk (P = 0.003), and sleep time increased by 0.65 (SD 1.29) h/d (P = 0.003). Screen time increased by 4.85 (SD 2.40) h/d (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Recognizing these adverse collateral effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic lockdown is critical in avoiding depreciation of weight control efforts among youths afflicted with excess adiposity. Depending on duration, these untoward lockdown effects may have a lasting impact on a child's or adolescent's adult adiposity level.
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Relationship between screen time and nutrient intake in Japanese children and adolescents: a cross-sectional observational study.
Tsujiguchi, H, Hori, D, Kambayashi, Y, Hamagishi, T, Asakura, H, Mitoma, J, Kitaoka, M, Anyenda, EO, Nguyen, TTT, Yamada, Y, et al
Environmental health and preventive medicine. 2018;23(1):34
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Literature indicates that sedentary behaviours are linked to adverse health outcomes. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between screen time, including personal computer and mobile phone use, and nutrient intake among children and adolescents. The study used cross-sectional data from the Shika study which recruited Japanese children aged between 6 to 15 years of age. Results indicate a relationship between longer television viewing times and less protein, minerals, vitamins, and total dietary fibre intake. A relationship was also found between personal computer use in boys and less minerals and vitamins intake. Authors conclude that children and adolescents need to reduce the amount of time they spend watching television as well as the frequency of eating in front of the television screen in order to reduce health risk.
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sedentary behaviors have recently become an important public health issue. We aimed to investigate the relationship between screen time and nutrient intake in children and adolescents. METHODS The present study was conducted in 2013. Data were collected from children and adolescents aged between 6 and 15 years old in Shika town. Questionnaires were distributed to 1459 subjects, 1414 of whom participated in the study (96.9%). Sedentary behaviors were assessed based on participants' screen behaviors (television (TV) viewing, personal computer (PC) use, and mobile phone (MP) use). The main outcomes were the intake of nutrients from a validated food frequency questionnaire. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to examine the significance of differences in nutrient intake estimates. Multivariate linear regression analyses, adjusting for age, BMI, and physical activity, were used to provide parameter estimates (β) and 95% CI for the relationship between screen time and nutrient intake. RESULTS In boys, longer TV viewing times correlated or tended to correlate with a lower intake of protein, potassium, calcium, iron, vitamin K, vitamin B-2, and total dietary fiber. In girls, longer TV viewing times correlated with a lower intake of protein, sodium, calcium, vitamin D, and vitamin B-2. Longer TV viewing times correlated with a higher intake of n-6 fatty acids in girls. PC use was related or tended to be related to a lower intake of potassium, iron, vitamin K, and folic acid in boys, but not in girls. A relationship was observed between MP use and a lower intake of vitamin K in boys, and MP use and a higher intake of vitamin D in girls. CONCLUSIONS The present results revealed that longer TV viewing times are associated with less protein, minerals, vitamins, and total dietary fiber intake in children and adolescents. It was also revealed that boys with PC use have less minerals and vitamins. These results support the need to design intervention programs that focus on decreasing TV viewing time in both sexes and PC use in boys while encouraging adherence to dietary guidelines among children and adolescents.