The food frequency questionnaire analyzed has good validity and reproducibility for estimating the food consumption of adults in São Paulo compared to the reference method, so it is an appropriate instrument to be used in epidemiological studies on similar populations. Estimates of polyunsaturated fat and folate should be interpreted with caution.

BackgroundWomen’s health during their reproductive years and whilst pregnant has implications for their children’s health, both in utero and during childhood. Associations of women’s pre-pregnancy dietary patterns (DP) with maternal socio-demographic characteristics and nutrient intake were investigated in ProcriAr cohort study in São Paulo/Brazil, 2012.MethodsThe DPs of 454 women were investigated by principal component factor analysis, using dietary information from a validated 110-item food frequency questionnaire. Multiple linear regression models identified independent associations between DPs and maternal socio-demographic characteristics and Spearman’s correlation determined associations between DPs and nutrients intake.ResultsParticipants’ mean age was 26.1 years (standard deviation = 6.3), 10.3% had more than 8 years of formal education, 30% were migrants from outside of the Southeast of Brazil, 48% were employed, 13% were smokers, and 51% were overweight/obese. Four DPs were derived: ‘Lentils, whole grains and soups,’ ‘Snacks, sandwiches, sweets and soft drinks,’ ‘Seasoned vegetables and lean meats,’ and ‘Sweetened juices, bread and butter, rice and beans’. The ‘Lentils, whole grains and soups’ score was positively related to maternal age, being non-smoker and born in the South, North or Midwest of Brazil. The ‘Snacks, sandwiches, sweets and soft drinks’ score was positively related to higher maternal education, and negatively related to age, lack of formal work and being born in the Northeast region. The ‘Seasoned vegetables and lean meats’ score was positively related to higher maternal education. The ‘Sweetened juices, bread and butter, rice and beans’ score was positively related to unemployment and to no family history of hypertension, and negatively related to maternal overweight and obesity. Dietary intake of fruits and vegetables, foods that require preparation, nutrients from one-carbon metabolism, protein, iron, calcium and vitamin D were correlated with the ‘Seasoned vegetables and lean meats’. Dietary intake of sugar-sweetened and alcoholic beverages, industrialized and takeaway foods, and foods rich in sugar, energy, fat, and synthetic folate were correlated with the ‘Snacks, sandwiches, sweets and soft drinks’.ConclusionsFindings from this study add perspectives to be considered in the implementation of health interventions, which could improve women’s nutritional status and provide an adequate environment for the developing fetus.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-018-5184-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Objective: To describe the patterns of food intake for breakfast, the prevalence of omission of this meal, its relative share in the total intake of energy and nutrients, and the factors associated with its omission. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study (ISA-Capital) with 795 adolescents. The prevalence of omission of breakfast was analyzed using Chi-square test and Poisson regression considering a significance level of 5%. Differences in the intake of energy and nutrients among adolescents who omit and have breakfast was determined by the Student's t-test and differences in the relative share of breakfast were verified by the test of proportion. The pattern of consumption of breakfast was investigated by factor analysis. Results: The prevalence of omission of breakfast was 38%, higher among female adolescents. The energy contribution of breakfast was 23%, with contribution in vitamins ranging from 17% in vitamin C, for males, up to 37% in vitamin A and D, for females. Through factor analysis, 12 food groups consumed for breakfast were characterized in five factors that demonstrate a pattern of consumption. Conclusion: The results show the need for actions that promote regular consumption and selection of appropriate food for this meal.

OBJECTIVE To validate the self-reported diabetes mellitus in adults and older adults living in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.METHODS We have used data of 569 subjects (284 adults and 285 older adults), participants of the population-based cross-sectional study Inquérito de Saúde do Município de São Paulo (Health Survey of São Paulo). Fasting glucose ≥ 7.0 mmol/L (126 mg/dL) and/or use of drugs (oral hypoglycemic and/or insulin) defined the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. We have validated the self-reported diabetes mellitus by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values. We have used Poisson regression with robust variance to verify the factors associated with the sensitivity of the self-reported datum. For all analyses, we have considered the sample design of the study.RESULTS The sensitivity of self-reported diabetes mellitus was 63.8% (95%CI 49.2–76.3), specificity was 99.7% (95%CI 99.1–99.9), positive predictive value was 95.5% (95%CI 84.4–98.8), and negative predictive value was 96.9% (95%CI 94.9–98.2). The correct reporting of diabetes mellitus was more prevalent among older adults (PR = 2.0; 95%CI 1.2–3.5) than among adults.CONCLUSIONS The use of the datum of self-reported diabetes mellitus is valid, especially among older adults living in the city of São Paulo. The results highlight the need to track diabetes mellitus in asymptomatic subjects who have one or more risk factors for it, mainly in the adult population of this city.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a common sexually transmitted disease. Although often transitory, persistent oncogenic HPV infection may progress to a precursor lesion and, if not treated, can further increase the risk of cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between dietary intake and HPV persistent infection in men of a Brazilian cohort. The study population consisted of 1,248 men from the Brazilian cohort of the HIM (HPV in Men) Study, ages 18 to 70 years, who completed a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. U Mann-Whitney test was used to assess differences in median nutrient intake of selected nutrients. The association of dietary intake and persistent HPV infection was assessed in multivariate logistic models. The prevalence of any HPV infection at baseline was 66.6%. Of 1,248 participants analyzed, 1,211 (97.0%) were HPV positive at one or more times during the 4 years of follow-up and 781 (62.6%) were persistently HPV positive. Men with nonpersistent oncogenic HPV infections had higher median intake of retinol (p = 0.008), vitamin A (p < 0.001) and folate (DFE; p = 0.003) and lower median intake of energy (p = 0.005) and lycopene (p = 0.008) in comparison to men with persistent oncogenic infections. No significant association was found between selected nutrients and persistent oncogenic HPV infection. For nononcogenic persistent infections, only vitamin B12 intake was significantly associated (p = 0.003, test for trend). No association was observed between dietary intake and persistent oncogenic-type HPV infection; however, vitamin B12 intake was inversely associated with nononcogenic HPV persistence.

Using data from a nationally generalisable birth cohort, we aimed to: (i) describe the cohort’s adherence to national evidence-based dietary guidelines using an Infant Feeding Index (IFI) and (ii) assess the IFI’s convergent construct validity, by exploring associations with antenatal maternal socio-demographic and health behaviours and with child overweight/obesity and central adiposity at age 54 months. Data were from the Growing Up in New Zealand cohort (n 6343). The IFI scores ranged from zero to twelve points, with twelve representing full adherence to the guidelines. Overweight/obesity was defined by BMI-for-age (based on the WHO Growth Standards). Central adiposity was defined as waist-to-height ratio > 90th percentile. Associations were tested using multiple linear regression and Poisson regression with robust variance (risk ratios, 95 % CI). Mean IFI score was 8·2 (sd 2·1). Maternal characteristics explained 29·1 % of variation in the IFI score. Maternal age, education and smoking had the strongest independent relationships with IFI scores. Compared with children in the highest IFI tertile, girls in the lowest and middle tertiles were more likely to be overweight/obese (1·46, 1·03, 2·06 and 1·56, 1·09, 2·23, respectively) and boys in the lowest tertile were more likely to have central adiposity (1·53, 1·02, 2·30) at age 54 months. Most infants fell short of meeting national Infant Feeding Guidelines. The associations between IFI score and maternal characteristics, and children’s overweight/obesity/central adiposity, were in the expected directions and confirm the IFI’s convergent construct validity.

In New Zealand, current use of FAS during pregnancy potentially exposes pregnant women and their unborn children to too little or too much folic acid. Further policy development is necessary to reduce current socio-economic inequities in the use of FAS.

The objective of this study was to assess the quality of lunch consumed by adults in Brazil and its sociodemographic determinants in each Brazilian region. A cross-sectional study was carried out and a representative sample of regional populations was used. The sample comprised of 16,096 adults from the Brazilian National Dietary Survey, part of the Brazilian Household Budget Survey (POF). The lunch quality was evaluated by applying the main meal quality index (MMQI), comprised of 10 items of equal weights that resulted in a score that ranged from zero to 100 points. Linear regression models measured the association between lunch quality and sociodemographic factors. The average energy consumption at lunch was 704kcal (SD = 300), and the meal quality score mean was 57 points (SE = 0.30). The North Region had the worst MMQI score (56 points, SE = 0.07), while the Central had the best MMQI adjusted score (59 points, SE = 0.05). The MMQI final score was positively associated with male gender and ages between 20-39 years, and was inversely associated with having eight years or more of education, per capita income of at least three minimum wages, and with the consumption of meals prepared away from home. Despite differences among sociodemographic factors, all Brazilian regions had a lunch composed of foods rich in sugars and fats, with insufficient portions of fruits and vegetables, resulting in a low meal quality.