Background/Aims: Cutaneous sun exposure and dietary vitamin D intake are important determinants of vitamin D status. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the vitamin D status of a group of healthy adolescent students living in Brazil. Methods: One hundred and thirty-six adolescents, 64 boys and 72 girls, aged 16–20 years old, living in a rural town in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, participated in this study. Results: The mean dietary vitamin D intake was 140 (120–156) IU/day [3.5 (3.0–3.9) μg/day]. Only 14.9% of the students met the daily adequate intake recommendation of vitamin D. Only 27.9% practice physical activity outdoors and 17.6% of the adolescents apply sunscreen daily. The mean 25(OH)D concentration was 73.0 (22.0) nmol/l [29.2 (8.8) ng/ml]. Vitamin D insufficiency was observed in 60% of adolescents. Conclusions: The present study suggests that even in a sunny climate like Brazil the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in adolescents is high. Most likely this is due to low intakes of vitamin D in this group. Due to the limited extent of natural dietary sources of vitamin D, a policy of vitamin D food fortification should be considered in the future, and in the meantime greater use of vitamin D supplements in this population group should be encouraged to provide the increased amounts of this essential nutrient for optimal health.

Práticas educativas segundo os "Dez passos para o sucesso do aleitamento materno" em um Banco de Leite HumanoEducational practices in accordance with the "Ten steps to successful breastfeeding" in a Human Milk Bank

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The present study aimed to investigate counseling content provided by healthcare professional for primary healthcare users, as well as users' difficulties in adhering to the counseling, through a cross-sectional study design. Interviews were conducted with 499 users at a primary healthcare unit and 59.3% of them said that counseling had been provided especially by physicians (93.6%), and it was based on healthy nutrition and physical activity practice (48.9%). Counseling was more frequently to users with greater numbers of morbid conditions (p = 0.001). The main factors that made adherence difficult for users were lack of time (27.5%) and the need to change habits (23%). It was identified that counseling is still at initial stage within primary care, and there is a need for healthcare professionals, especially the nurse of the family health team to be more proactive in this process,focusing mainly on health promotion.

Although some studies have investigated the role of nutritional intervention on migraine, they had focused on triggers or on weight change and, to the best of our knowledge, none studied diet quality. Objective To investigate whether nutritional intervention focused on improving diet quality and healthy weight can promote improvement in clinical parameters of women with migraine. Methods Non-controlled and non-randomized intervention study conducted for 90 days. Women received an individualized diet meal plan and nutritional orientation according to their nutritional diagnosis. Anthropometric, clinical and nutritional data were measured once a month. Diet energy content and macronutrients were evaluated using 24-hour dietary recall. Diet quality was assessed through the Brazilian Healthy Eating Index–Revised (BHEI-R). The Migraine Disability Assessment and Headache Impact Test version 6 were used to assess the severity of migraine, and the Beck Depression Inventory evaluated depressive symptoms. Results Fifty-two women aged 44.0 ± 13.0 years were enrolled. Anthropometric characteristics, energy, macronutrients and fiber intake did not change after intervention. However, the BHEI-R scores improved after 60 and 90 days of intervention. Concurrent to this, the Beck Depression Inventory scores and Headache Impact Test scores decreased after 60 and 90 days, respectively. The change in the BHEI-R score was negatively correlated with the migraine severity as assessed by the Headache Impact Test at the end of the intervention. Conclusions We concluded that the management of diet quality may be a good strategy for improving migraine severity, regardless of the nutritional status and weight change.

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The aim of this study was to assess the changes promoted by a multidisciplinary therapy in ghrelin and leptin concentrations, visceral adiposity and non-alcoholic fat liver disease-NAFLD, in obese adolescents. A total of 28 obese adolescents, 16 girls (BMI 34.58 ± 3,86 wt /ht 2 ) and 12 boys (BMI 37.08 ± 3.17 wt /ht 2 ), aged between 15 and 19 years old, was evaluated to leptin, ghrelin and insulin concentrations, visceral adiposity and NAFLD through ultrasonography. The results showed a significant decrease in ghrelin, leptin concentrations and visceral adiposity (p < 0.01). Moreover, a decrease in the NAFLD prevalence was observed. It is an important result, since this disease can progress to cirrhosis, not only in children but also in obese adolescents. This kind of treatment can be efficient to improve metabolic and hormonal profile, as well as, to control obesity and related co-morbidities in obese adolescents.

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the prevalence of self-reported osteoporosis (with previous medical diagnosis) and the associated risk and protection factors. METHODS:A cross-sectional study was carried out, based on data from the system Vigilância de Fatores de Risco e Proteção para Doenças Crônicas por Inquérito Telefônico (VIGITEL -telephone-based surveillance of risk and protective factors for chronic diseases). A total of 54,369 individuals aged ≥ 18 years living in homes served by at least one fi xed telephone line in Brazilian state capitals and the federal district in 2006 were interviewed. Estimates of osteoporosis in relation to socioeconomic and behavioral factors and the body mass index were stratifi ed according to sex. The risk of occurrence of osteoporosis was calculated for each variable separately and through a multivariate model, taking the odds ratio to be a proxy for the prevalence ratio. RESULTS:The reported prevalence of osteoporosis was 4.4%, predominantly among women (7.0%) ≥ 45 years of age whose marital status was not single and who were former smokers. Among men, age > 65 years, married or widowed status and sedentarism were positively associated with this outcome. CONCLUSIONS:Among the factors associated with osteoporosis, modifi able characteristics relating to disease prevention were highlighted, such as physical activity and smoking habits. The aging of the Brazilian population is refl ected in the current total of more than 16 million individuals over the age of 60 years. This number is projected to exceed 50 million in 2050. DESCRIPTORS:a Consequently, the chances of occurrences of age-related diseases among the population, such as osteoporosis, are increasing.Racial and genetic, anthropometric, sociocultural, economic, nutritional and lifestyle differences, along with the way in which public healthcare resources are used in different countries around the world, contribute towards explaining the divergences in the incidence and prevalence of osteoporosis.A survey conducted in Latin America estimated that the prevalence of osteoporosis in the vertebrae was between 12% and 18% and in the proximal femur, between 8% and 22%, among women over the age of 50 years.9 Clark et al 6 estimated a prevalence of vertebral fractures of 11.2% in a random sample of 1,922 women over the age of 50 years, in fi ve Latin American countries, including Brazil.In São Paulo, in a study on 301 individuals over the age of 70 years, the prevalence of osteoporosis was found to be between 22% and 33% among women and between 6% and 16% among men.3 Among the risk factors most associated with low bone density, advanced age, low consumption of dairy products and daily consumption of alcoholic drinks have been highlighted. On the other hand, high body mass index (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m 2 ) and daily physical activity lasting more than 30 minutes perform a protective role. b However, the prevalence of osteoporosis and factors associated with it among the Brazilian population have not been fully clarifi ed.The aim of the pres...