Background:  An association between low blood levels of folate, vitamins B6 and B12 and a higher prevalence of depressive symptoms has been reported in several epidemiological studies. The present study aimed to assess the association between folate, vitamins B6 and B12 intake and depresion prevalence in the SUN cohort study. Methods:  The study comprised a cross‐sectional analysis of 9670 participants. A validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to ascertain vitamin intake. The association between the baseline intake of folate, vitamins B6 and B12 categorised in quintiles and the prevalence of depression was assessed. The analyses were repeated after stratifying by smoking habits, alcohol intake, physical activity and personality traits. Results:  Among women, odds ratios (OR) [95% confidence interval (CI)] for the third to fifth quintile for vitamin B12 intake were 0.58 (0.41–0.84), 0.56 (0.38–0.82) and 0.68 (0.45–1.04), respectively. Among those men with a low level of anxiety and current smokers, a significant positive association between low folate intake and the prevalence of depression was found. The OR (95% CI) for the first quintile of intake was 2.85 (1.49–5.45) and 2.18 (1.08–4.38), respectively, compared to the upper quintiles of intake (Q2–Q5) considered as a group. Conclusion:  Low folate intake was associated with depression among currently smoking men and men with low anxiety levels. Low intake of vitamin B12 was associated with depression among women. No significant associations were found for vitamin B6 intake.

Objective: The adherence to a Mediterranean Dietary Pattern ensures an adequate intake of B vitamins and w-3 fatty acids. A protective role on depression has been suggested for both nutrients. Design: Cross-sectional analysis from the SUN (Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra) prospective cohort study. Data from 9670 participants (4211 men and 5459 women) were analised. Logistic regression analyses were fitted to assess the association between B-vitamins and w-3 fatty acids intake (quintiles) and the prevalence of depression.

The prevalence of childhood obesity, as with that of adulthood, has increased considerably over the past few years and has become a serious public health problem. Once established, its treatment is very difficult and, hence, prevention of childhood obesity using different types of intervention appears promising. The objective of this present report is to review interventions that had been conducted over the past 11 years in the environment of the family, schools and community, and directed towards the prevention of childhood obesity. We reviewed the different strategies employed, the different criteria used in defining weight status, the evaluation and follow-up methods, and the degree of effectiveness. Benefits other than reduced weight gain were assessed, as well. In our review, we selected 14 intervention studies. The differences in design, duration and outcome assessments make direct comparison difficult. Nevertheless, it seems that nutritional education and promotion of physical activity together with behaviour modifications, decrease in sedentary activities and the collaboration of the family could be the determining factors in the prevention of childhood obesity. Other important benefits regarding healthy habits apart from the changes in weight status were pursued in the majority of the studies reviewed. The need for well-designed studies that examine a range of interventions remains a priority.

Back ground: Breast cancer mortality and incidence rates in the Canary Islands, and particularly in Gran Canaria, are higher than those in the rest of Spain. Objectives and design: A case -control study was designed to assess the role of differential fatty acid intakes and olive oil consumption on breast cancer risk in the Canary Islands. The study was conducted between 1999 and 2001, including a total of 755 women: 291 incident cases with confirmed breast cancer and 464 controls randomly selected from the Canary Island Nutrition Survey (ENCA). A semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire was completed and potential confounders were adjusted using unconditional logistic regression. Results: Compared to the first quintile of intake, the highest quintile of monounsaturated fat intake was significantly related to a lower risk of breast cancer (odds ratio ¼ 0.52; 95% CI 0.30-0.92). Regarding olive oil, the odds ratio for women in the three upper quintiles of consumption ($ 8.8 g/day) was 0.27 (95% CI 0.17-0.42). Conclusion: Our results support the protective role of olive oil consumption on breast cancer among Canaries women.

Objective: We sought to define plasma homocysteine reference values in healthy individuals in the Canary Islands and to determine its relations to folate and vitamin B12 intakes and concentrations. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Population-based representative sample of 557 participants, aged 18-65 years, from the Canary Islands Nutrition Survey (ENCA). Subjects: All participants completed two 24-h dietary recalls and a general questionnaire collecting socio-demographic and health-related lifestyle information. Interventions: Plasma homocysteine and serum vitamin B12 levels were measured by immunoassay, whereas folate levels through an automated ionic capturing method. Results: Median plasma homocysteine was 11.9 mmol/l, higher in men (13.1 mmol/l) than in women (10.9 mmol/l) (Po0.001) and positively associated with age in both sexes (Po0.001). The prevalence of hyperhomocysteinaemia (X15 mmol/l), 21.4%, was also greater in men (32.2%) than in women (13.4%). There were significant negative correlations between plasma homocysteine and serum (r ¼ À0.32, Po0.001) and erythrocyte (r ¼ À0.26, Po0.001) folate, as well as serum vitamin B12 (r ¼ À0.28, Po0.001) concentrations. When divided in quartiles of vitamin intakes or concentrations, men with the lowest vitamin B12 and folate serum values had significantly higher plasma homocysteine concentrations than those in the other three quartiles. In women, hyperhomocysteinaemia was higher in the lowest quartiles of folate intake and serum and erythrocyte folate concentrations. Conclusions: These data provide further evidence that hyperhomocysteinaemia is a sensitive marker of inadequate folate and vitamin B12 status, allowing for the identification of those with greatest need for nutritional interventions.