We conclude that radiographically ascertained vertebral fractures are common in Latin America. Health authorities in the region should be aware and consider implementing measures to prevent vertebral fractures.

The role that diet plays in the origin of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is not completely understood. Certain foods and nutrients have been established as dietary risk factors for MetS. However, the dietary patterns associated with MetS risk have been minimally studied with factor analysis. Our objective in this study was to use exploratory factor analysis to examine whether particular dietary patterns are related to risk of MetS in Mexican adults. We characterized the dietary patterns among 5240 men and women aged 20-70 y in the Health Workers Cohort Study. Information on participants' sociodemographic conditions and physical activity was collected via self-administered questionnaires. We also obtained anthropometric and clinical measurements and fasting blood samples for biochemical analyses. In a cross-sectional analysis, we examined dietary patterns in relation to MetS, defined using criteria from the Adult Treatment Panel III. Factor analysis revealed 3 major dietary patterns: prudent, Western, and high protein/fat. The prevalence of MetS was 26.6%. After adjustment for potential confounders, compared with participants in the lowest tertile of the Western pattern, those in the highest tertile had higher odds ratios (OR) for high fasting glucose (OR, 1.67; 95% CI: 1.36-2.06), low serum HDL cholesterol (OR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.31-1.83), and MetS (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.31-1.88). However, we found no significant associations between other patterns and MetS. In summary, a diet high in soft drinks, refined grains, corn tortillas, pastries, seafood, and whole grains was associated with MetS risk. This result emphasizes the importance of preventive nutrition interventions.

Our study can offer new insights into disease mechanisms and prevention through the analysis of risk factor information in a large sample of Mexicans.

Virus-like particles (VLPs) can be rapidly developed from influenza virus genetic sequences in order to supply vaccine after the onset of a pandemic. The safety and immunogenicity of one or two doses of a recombinant A (H1N1) 2009 influenza VLP vaccine was evaluated in a two-stage, Phase 2, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study conducted in 4563 healthy adults, 18-64 years of age, during the H1N1 2009 pandemic in Mexico. In Part A, 1013 subjects were randomized into four treatment groups (5 μg, 15 μg, or 45 μg hemagglutinin [HA] VLP vaccine or placebo) and vaccinated 21 days apart, with sera collected on Days 1, 14 and 36 for hemagglutination inhibition (HAI) testing. After review of safety and immunogenicity data from Part A, additional subjects were immunized with a single dose of 15 μg VLP vaccine (N=2537) or placebo (N=1011) and assessed for safety in Part B. Results showed the H1N1 2009 VLP vaccine was safe and well-tolerated. Systemic solicited events were similar between placebo and VLP vaccinated groups with no vaccine-related serious adverse events. Dose response trends for solicited local adverse events were observed, with higher incidences of local pain, swelling, tenderness, and redness reported in the higher VLP dose groups (15 μg and 45 μg) compared to the placebo and 5 μg VLP groups following both vaccinations. Although the majority of local AEs were mild in severity, a dose trend in events of moderate or greater severity was also noted for these solicited events. The VLP vaccine groups demonstrated robust HAI immune responses after a single vaccination, with high rates of seroprotection (≥ 40 HAI titer) in 82-92% of all subjects and in 64-85% of subjects who were seronegative at the time of immunization. HAI geometric mean titers (GMTs), geometric mean ratios (GMRs) and seroconversion rates were also all statistically higher in the VLP groups compared to placebo for both post-baseline time points. Based on these data, additional clinical trials are in development to evaluate influenza vaccine candidate antigens manufactured using Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf9)/baculovirus-based VLP technology.

The MAR is the largest and first non-European registry of the disease. Our findings highlight important within-country differences in treatment choice due to variations in the availability of resources.

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Objective: To examine the relationship between sweetened beverage consumption and components of the metabolic syndrome in a Mexican population. Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data from selected adults participating in the baseline assessment of the Health Workers Cohort Study. Information on participants' sociodemographic characteristics, dietary patterns and physical activity were collected via self-administered questionnaires. Sweetened beverage consumption was evaluated through a validated semi-quantitative FFQ. Anthropometric and clinical measures were assessed with standardized procedures. The definition of metabolic syndrome was determined using criteria from the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III. The associations of interest were evaluated by means of linear and logistic regression models. Setting: The Mexican states of Morelos and Mexico. Subjects: A total of 5240 individuals aged 20 to 70 years (mean 39?4 (SD 11?5) years) were evaluated. Results: Overweight/obesity prevalence was 56?6 %. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this sample was 26?6 %. We found that for each additional daily sweetened beverage serving consumed, participants experienced an average increase of 0?49 mmol/l in TAG and a decrease in HDL cholesterol of 0?31 mmol/l. Subjects consuming more than two servings of sweetened beverages daily were at 2?0 times greater risk of metabolic syndrome than those who did not consume sweetened beverages. We also observed that higher sweetened beverage consumption increased the risk of all components of the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: Our data support the hypothesis that sweetened beverage consumption increases the risk of metabolic syndrome in Mexican adults, possibly by providing excess energy and large amounts of rapidly absorbable sugars. Keywords Sweetened beveragesMetabolic syndrome Mexican populationMetabolic syndrome (MS) comprises of a cluster of risk factors for CVD that includes central obesity, dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and hypertension (1,2) . The prevalence of MS is increasing and it now affects 27 % of the US population (3) . This epidemic correlates with pronounced changes in the environment, behaviours and lifestyles, and is considered one of the main threats to human health worldwide (4) . Underdeveloped countries are also facing high levels of MS; 26 % of the adult Mexican population suffers from this syndrome (5) . Mexico is also facing epidemic levels of CVD and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), illnesses associated with MS. Ford and colleagues have estimated that the population-attributable fraction associated with MS is ,6-7 % for all-cause mortality, 12-17 % for CVD and 30-52 % for T2DM (6) . Several public health studies have linked sweetened beverage intake and negative health outcomes (7) , including serious metabolic disorders such as obesity (8)(9)(10)(11) , T2DM (8,12) , CVD (12) and hypertension (13) . Since Mexico has the third highest rate of sweetened beverage consumption in the world, and 20 % o...

Our objective was to evaluate the relationships between dietary patterns and obesity, abdominal obesity, and high body fat proportion (measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; >25% in men and >35% in women) in an urban Mexican population. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis with the baseline data from 6070 men and women aged 20-70 y participating in the Health Workers Cohort Study, including information on participants' socio-demographic status and physical activity collected via self-administered questionnaires. Dietary intake was evaluated using a 116-item FFQ. Anthropometric measures were obtained using standardized procedures. We used factor analysis to identify 3 major dietary patterns: prudent, Westernized, and high animal protein/fat. We found that participants in the highest quintile of the prudent pattern were less likely to have high-body fat proportion (OR, 0.82; 95% CI: 0.70-0.98) and that participants in the highest quintile of the Westernized pattern had greater odds for obesity (OR, 1.46; 95% CI: 1.23-1.73), abdominal obesity (OR, 1.64; 95% CI: 1.37-1.96), and high-body fat proportion (OR, 1.17; 95% CI: 1.01-1.35). Additionally, participants in the upper quintile of the high-animal protein/-fat pattern had greater odds of being obese (OR, 1.23; 95% CI: 1.06-1.42). These results indicate that the dietary patterns of Mexican adults are associated with different levels of adiposity and obesity. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these associations.