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Exploration of cardiometabolic alterations in the pre-adolescent stage is necessary to characterize possible patterns for matabolic syndrome (MetS) in the earliest stages of the life. However, defining specific cutoff points for metabolic and vascular markers represents a complex task in pre-adolescent populations. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MetS and its components in children aged 5-9 years old by using the MetS definition for adolescents with the lowest cut-off points, and evaluate its relationship with overweight and socio-demographic determinants. A total of 494 children were evaluated. Multivariate models with filtered variables in preliminary univarite analyses were built to find predictive factors of MetS and its components. The prevalence of MetS was 8.7% in the studied children. Multivariate models showed that age, overweight and low socioeconomic stratum were associated with MetS; low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was not significantly associated with any variable; high triglycerides were positively associated with age, overweight and inversely associated with kilocalories/day; female gender was the only variable significantly associated with high fasting glucose (inverse association); and age, gender and overweight were significant factors for increased waist circumference. In the case of high blood pressure, no variable was classified to the multivariate analysis. This study showed disturbing figures regarding cardiometabolic risk in the children based on comparisons with studies in adolescents. Further studies are needed to confirm the utility of the de Ferranti Mets definition in children.

Scope Very few studies have evaluated serum hepcidin in patients with type 2 diabetes and they have reported conflicting results. In addition, the effect of antidiabetic drugs on circulating hepcidin has not been explored so far. The aims of the study were to evaluate hepcidin concentrations and hepcidin/ferritin ratio in type 2 diabetes subjects and healthy non-diabetic controls and to evaluate the effect of metformin on hepcidin concentrations. Methods and results Study 1: Cross-sectional multivariate study of 239 non-diabetic individuals and 65 people with type 2 diabetes. The multivariate analysis included covariates of chronic inflammation, BMI, pharmacological treatment, menopausal status and insulin resistance. Study 2: Randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled 4-month trial metformin compared to placebo among 36 type 2 diabetic patients. In both groups diet was controlled by maintaining a hypocaloric intake across the trial. Hepcidin levels were significantly lower in patients with type 2 diabetes than in non-diabetic individuals either in crude or adjusted regression models (P

Introduction: The metabolic syndrome, a set of metabolic anomalies that include insulin resistance, central obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and inflammation, is an important tool to explore factors associated to cardiometabolic disease. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of the levels of self-reported physical activity and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire items and the metabolic syndrome and the variables related to cardiovascular risk in 89 women . Materials and methods: The short version of International Physical Activity Questionnaire was applied to classify participating subjects into three categories: insufficient, sufficient and very active physical activity. The metabolic syndrome was assessed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Biochemical and anthropometrical parameters were measured . Results: Twenty-two participants (23%) presented metabolic syndrome and 66 women (74.2%) were classified in the insufficient physical activity category. No association was found between insufficient physical activity and metabolic syndrome . Inverse correlations were found among the days and minutes per week of physical activity of moderate-intensity, waist circumference ( r =-0.327, and r =-0.313, p

Objective To evaluate the relationship between nutrients intake in the first trimester of pregnancy and blood levels of lead and cadmium during the first and third trimesters of gestation. Methods A total of 381 pregnant women were enrolled. Blood lead and cadmium were measured using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, and dietary intake was assessed using 24-h recall questionnaire. Results Lead levels in the first trimester were negatively correlated with cadmium levels in the two trimesters, and levels of both metals correlated positively in the third trimester. Zinc and calcium intakes were negatively associated with blood lead during third trimester. Thiamine and folic acid intakes were negatively and positively associated (respectively) with blood lead at third trimester with marginal significance. Fat, niacin, and vitamin B12 intakes were significantly and positively associated with blood cadmium at first trimester. Folic acid and zinc intakes showed positive and marginally significant associations with blood cadmium without adjustments. At third trimester, blood cadmium was negatively associated to ascorbic acid intake, and positively associated with iron intake with a marginal significance. Conclusions Possible acute and late effects of nutrients intake in blood lead and cadmium levels could be related with associations exclusively observed in the first and third trimester. This study represents the first exploration of relationships among a wide range of nutrients intake in the first trimester of pregnancy with blood lead and cadmium in first and third trimester of gestation. Further studies are required to confirm the findings mentioned herein. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 25:344–350, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Background: Today, scientific evidence has supported the popular belief that physical activity is associated with biological health in pregnant women. A randomized controlled trial was used to assess the benefits of physical exercise during pregnancy on maternal lipids in low-income Latina women. Methods: The study included 67 nulliparous low-income Latina women in gestational weeks 16–20, randomly assigned into one of two groups: 1) The exercise group, which took part in aerobic and resistance exercise for 60min, three times a week for 12 weeks, 2) The control group, which undertook their usual physical activity and prenatal care. The primary outcomes were changes in maternal blood lipids after intervention. Obstetrical and neonatal outcomes measured were type of delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, newborn and/or maternal complications’, gestational age, weight gain, birth weight, foetal growth, and Apgar score. Results: Fifty women completed the study. At the end of the intervention, there were differences between groups in low-density lipoprotein levels (mean change: −8 mg/dL, 95%CI -3 to −29; P < 0.001) and triglycerides (mean change: −6 mg/dL, 95%CI -1 to −11; P = 0.03). Also, compared with women who remained in the control group, active women showed lower complications during delivery (moderate postpartum haemorrhage) (58% compared with 75%; P < 0.05) and lower complications in newborns (e.g. cyanosis or respiratory distress) (21% compared with 46%; P < 0.001). Conclusions: An exercise programme during the second and third trimester favours less gain in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides fewer delivery and neonatal complications. The authors would like to acknowledge Universidad del Valle for the financial support to the Nutrition Group (Grant N. CI 1575) and Instituto Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la Tecnología “Francisco José de Caldas” (Grant N. 656,640,820,391). Robinson Ramírez-Velez received a grant from Instituto Colombiano para el Desarrollo de la Ciencia y la Tecnología “Francisco José de Caldas” to do a doctorate and received a grant from American College Sport Medicine to the Fellow in CDC Atlanta (RAFA-PANA Scholarship).

Introduction and objectives To examine the relationships between of four measures of adiposity, namely waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and subscapular and abdominal skinfolds, with different cardiovascular risk factors in prepubertal children. Methods Four hundred and ninety-four prepubertal children aged 6–10 years participated in this cross-sectional study. The subscapular and abdominal skinfolds, WC, and BMI were measured to assess adiposity, and cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs) were assessed by measuring systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressures (DBP), glucose, triglycerides (TG), and high density (HDL-C) and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Dichotomous variables were created based on whether or not the subjects were in the upper quartile (Q4) for the WC, BMI, and skinfold variables. Results No CVRF was found in 52.8% of children, 33.4% had one factor, and 10.9% and 2.8% had 2 and 3 factors respectively. An adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that being in Q4 of anthropometric variables and CVRFs was associated to TG levels ≥ 100 mg/dL. Glucose levels ≥96 mg/dL were associated to Q4 and abdominal fold. Presence of 2 or more CVRFs was significantly associated to Q4 in all anthropometric variables despite adjustment for age, gender, and calorie intake. The subscapular skinfold was the adiposity marker associated to the highest risk. Conclusions Children with a more unfavorable adiposity profile tend to have a greater cardiovascular risk in the prepubertal stage.

Copper and calcium are essential for human growth and development. The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between calcium and copper levels, as well as their relationship to age and anthropometry in 180 preschool children ages 2-5 years old. Serum copper levels were inversely correlated with age (r = -0.184, P = 0.032) and height (r = -0.175, P = 0.043) in the whole group and with height for age Z score only in male children (r = -0.291, P = 0.016). The correlation with age is not maintained when it is analyzed for gender. Serum calcium values in the total group were inversely correlated with weight (r = -0.153, P = 0.044) and weight for height Z score (r = -0.246, P = 0.001). No differences were found for gender in the levels of both metals. A negative relationship between serum calcium and copper was found only in male children (r = -0.339, P = 0.005). Studies are required in other populations and experimental designs that can explain an inverse relationship between serum calcium and copper levels.

Objetivo: evaluar el efecto del ejercicio aerobico regular sobre la funcion endotelial y la aptitud cardiorrespiratoria en mujeres embarazadas . Metodo: Este fue un ensayo clinico aleatorizado, doble ciego, controlado de 64 mujeres primigestas sanas entre las 16 y las 20 semanas de gestacion. El grupo experimental participo en ejercicio aerobico a una intensidad del 50-65% de su frecuencia cardiaca maxima durante 60 minutos, tres veces por semana durante 16 semanas. El grupo de control realizo su actividad fisica habitual. Los resultados fueron la funcion endotelial evaluada mediante dilatacion mediada por flujo y aptitud cardiorrespiratoria evaluada mediante el consumo maximo indirecto de oxigeno (VO 2 max. ) En una prueba de caminata de 6 minutos. Resultados: Inicialmente, no se encontraron diferencias entre los grupos en ninguna de las variables. Al final de la intervencion, los participantes que realizaron ejercicio mostraron una mayor aptitud cardiorrespiratoria, medida por la distancia caminada en la prueba de caminata de 6 minutos ( P ?= 0.014) y por el VO 2 max. ( P ?= 0.014). Ademas, el grupo de ejercicio mostro una frecuencia cardiaca mas baja en reposo y una dilatacion mediada por el flujo mas alta que el grupo control ( P ?= 0.02). Conclusiones: el ejercicio aerobico regular mejora la vasodilatacion dependiente del endotelio en el embarazo. Esta intervencion puede ser una alternativa temprana y efectiva para fortalecer la prevencion de los trastornos asociados a la disfuncion endotelial.

Background and objective Reference data for anthropometric parameters are not available for adolescents in Cali (Colombia). This study aimed to develop representative age- and sexspecific percentiles for anthropometric indicators [fat percentage, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference] in urban adolescents aged 10–16 years in Cali. Methods The sample (n = 1,773) consisted of 865 boys and 908 girls from the descriptive, cross-sectional population-based IFRECNTEC study (Identification of Risk Factors for Noncommunicable Chronic Diseases in Adulthood in a Population aged 6 to 18 years old attending School in the Municipality of Cali, Colombia). Data on anthropometric variables were recorded. Smoothed age- and sex- specific 5th, 25th, 50th, 75th, 90th and 95th centiles were derived using the least mean squares (LMS) regression method. Results In most ages, anthropometric indicators were higher for girls than for boys. The BMI p50 ranged from 16.8 to 19.9 kg/m2 in boys and from 16.7 to 21.1 kg/m2 in girls. Fat percentage in boys in the p50 varied from ≈12% at the ages of 10 and 11 years to ≈13% at the age of 16 years; for girls, these percentages varied from ≈13% in the earliest ages to ≈16% in older ages. Waist circumference was lower in girls than in boys in most ages. Conclusion The results of this study could be used to identify adolescents with an elevated risk of developing obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension and cardiovascular disorders in adulthood, to plan and implement preventive policies, and to study temporal trends. The introduction of centile values will help to classify adolescents from Cali and compare their anthropometric indicators with those of a reference population.

Question Does supervised aerobic exercise during pregnancy improve health-related quality of life in nulliparous women? Design Analysis of secondary outcomes of a randomised trial with concealed allocation, blinded assessors, and intention-to-treat analysis. Participants 64 nulliparous, pregnant women attending for prenatal care at one of three tertiary hospitals. Intervention The experimental group completed a 3-month supervised exercise program, commencing at 16 to 20 weeks of gestation. Each session included walking (10 min), aerobic exercise (30 min), stretching (10 min), and relaxation (10 min). The control group continued usual activities and performed no specific exercise. Outcome measures The primary outcome was health-related quality of life assessed by the Colombian version of the Medical Outcome Study Short-Form Health Survey at baseline and immediately after the 3-month intervention. Results Fifty women completed the study. After the 3-month intervention, the experimental group had improved their health-related quality of life more than the control group in the physical component summary of the questionnaire by 6 points (95% CI 2 to 11), the physical function domain (7 points, 95% CI 0 to 14), the bodily pain domain (7 points, 95% CI 1 to 13) and the general health domain (5 points, 95% CI 1 to 10). Conclusions A supervised 3-month program of primarily aerobic exercise during pregnancy improves health-related quality of life. Trial registration NCT00741312.

Very few large studies in Latin America have evaluated the association between waist:height ratio (W-HtR) and cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents. Further, multivariable analyses verifying the independence of located subcutaneous fat have not been conducted so far. The aim of this study was to evaluate the associations of W-HtR and waist circumference (WC) with metabolic syndrome abnormalities and high LDL-cholesterol levels in schooled adolescents before and after adjusting for trunk skinfolds and BMI. The sample consisted of 831 boys and 841 girls aged 10–17 years. Biochemical, blood pressure and anthropometrical variables were measured. Age- and sex-specific quartiles of W-HtR and WC were used in Poisson regression models to evaluate the associations. High WC values (highest quartilev. quartiles 1–3) were associated with high TAG levels in both sexes (prevalence ratio, boys: 2·57 (95 % CI 1·91, 3·44); girls: 1·92 (95 % CI 1·49, 2·47);PPPP>0·05). High W-HtR (highest quartilev. quartiles 1–3) was only independently associated with high TAG in female adolescents (1·99 (95 % CI 1·55, 2·56);P

Objectives Evidence about the relationship between familial history (FH) of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Latin American populations is scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of FH of CMD and of dyslipidemia and obesity with MetS in healthy men. Methods One-hundred-twenty one individuals were recruited. Waist circumference and blood pressure were measured by a trained researcher using standard techniques. Glycemia and lipid profile were determined by colorimetric assays. A survey to record personal data and family antecedents in siblings, aunts/uncles, parents, and grandparents was conducted by trained interviewers. Results Individuals having three or more familial antecedents were associated with high triglycerides level even after adjusting by age, sedentarism, fat and carbohydrates intake, and alcohol consumption. After adjusting for the same variables, FH of dyslipidemia and hypertension was also associated with high triglycerides levels and elevated waist circumference, respectively. The FH of stroke was associated with high blood pressure after adjusting for the rest of familial antecedents, and with MetS in all adjustment models. Discussion the findings of association of this study together with the previous reports are evidence of the importance of hereditary component as independent predictor of cardiovascular risk factors and its clustering, as well as of possible specific association patterns between FH of CMD and MetS depending on evaluated population in terms of ethnic groups and geographic region. Further studies are required in other populations, as well as exploration of genetic markers of CMD regarding to MetS. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 25:228–230, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Objective To determine the effects of combined aerobic and resistance exercise training during the second half of pregnancy on endothelial NOS expression (eNOS), nitric oxide (NO) production and oxygen metabolism in human placenta. Methods The study included 20 nulliparous in gestational week 16–20, attending prenatal care at three tertiary hospitals in Colombia who were randomly assigned into one of two groups: The exercise group (n?=?10) took part in an exercise session three times a week for 12 weeks which consisted of: aerobic exercise at an intensity of 55–75% of their maximum heart rate for 60 min and 25 mins. Resistance exercise included 5 exercise groups circuit training (50 repetitions of each) using barbells (1–3 kg/exercise) and low-to-medium resistance bands. The control group (n?=?10) undertook their usual physical activity. Mitochondrial and cytosol fractions were isolated from human placental tissue by differential centrifugation. A spectrophotometric assay was used to measure NO production in cytosolic samples from placental tissue and Western Blot technique to determine eNOS expression. Mitochondrial superoxide levels and hydrogen peroxide were measured to determine oxygen metabolism. Results Combined aerobic and resistance exercise training during pregnancy leads to a 2-fold increase in eNOS expression and 4-fold increase in NO production in placental cytosol (p?=?0.05). Mitochondrial superoxide levels and hydrogen peroxide production rate were decreased by 8% and 37% respectively in the placental mitochondria of exercising women (p?=?0.05). Conclusion Regular exercise training during the second half of pregnancy increases eNOS expression and NO production and decreases reactive oxygen species generation in human placenta. Collectively, these data demonstrate that chronic exercise increases eNOS/NO production, presumably by increasing endothelial shear stress. This adaptation may contribute to the beneficial effects of exercise on the vascular and antioxidant system and in turn reduce the risk of preeclampsia, diabetes or hypertension during pregnancy.

Introduction: Atherosclerosis is an asymptomatic chronic disease, which begins at early age and is difficult to detect during this stage. Prospective studies suggest a causal relationship between total serum cholesterol levels during childhood and early adolescence and the development of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of early atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta artery of children and its relationship with post-mortem serum cholesterol levels. Material and methods: Post-mortem samples of blood and aorta were taken from 43 subjects aged less than 17 years old. Histopathological analysis (intimal thickening and inflammatory infiltrates) of the thoracic aorta and measurement of total serum cholesterol were performed. Results: The analysis showed thickening of the intima and lymphocyte infiltrates in 93% of children, and macrophage infiltrates in 79.1% of cases. A relationship between the highest terciles of total serum cholesterol levels and the presence of multiple lesions in the aorta wall was found ( P

Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of tricipital (TS), abdominal (AS), subscapular (SS), and suprailiac (SIS) skinfolds, Body Mass Index (BMI), and Waist Circumference (WC) with 1) variables related to cardiovascular risk (CVR) and 2) the clustering of cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) – referenced pediatric cut-off points – in a multivariate analysis. Materials/Methods The sample was 1672 adolescents. Glucose, lipid profile, blood pressure and anthropometric variables were measured. Results Adjusting for age, gender, and caloric intake, the highest quartile (Q4) of adiposity markers was associated to Q4 of biochemical and blood pressure variables. However, the association was not found for WC, SS and TS with glucose, and for diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with TS, SS, and SIS. Triglycerides Q4 was related to Q4 of SS, AS, and SIS after further adjustments, as well as HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) Q1 with Q4 of SS and AS. Glucose Q4 was associated to BMI, AS (Not adjusting for BMI and SIS), and SIS Q4 (Not adjusting for BMI and TS). LDL-Cholesterol (LDL-C) Q4 was associated to TS and SS Q4. The associations of LDL-C Q4 and HDL-C Q1 with WC Q4 were not significant after further adjustments. All the adiposity markers, except WC and TS, were associated to CVRF clustering in all the adjustments. Conclusions In the adolescents, subcutaneous fat from the trunk (SS, AS, SIS) was better and independently associated to CVR variables and with CVRF clustering than visceral fat (WC). Further research is required to explain the specificity in the described associations.

The aim of this study was to evaluate body iron stores as predictors of insulin resistance. We developed a cross-sectional study among 123 men, 25–64 years of age and determined fasting plasma glucose, insulin, serum ferritin, and C-reactive protein levels. A survey was performed to record personal antecedents and family history of non-transmissible chronic diseases. Log-transformed ferritin levels was an independent predictor for log-transformed insulin resistance index assessed by homeostatic model assessment when body mass index or waist circumference were not included in multiple linear regression models. Sedentarism, heart attack family history, and log-C reactive protein levels were also significant predictors for insulin resistance. In conclusion, documented anthropometric predictors affect the significance of ferritin as a potential prediction variable for insulin resistance. Mechanisms of how body fat could influence ferritin levels should be evaluated. To our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of the relationship between body iron stores and insulin resistance in a Latin American population.

Objetivo: evaluar, en mujeres primigestantes saludables, el efecto del ejercicio aeróbico sobre el consumo de oxígeno.Materiales y métodos: estudio clínico aleatorizado en 64 mujeres saludables, primigestantes, entre 16 y 20 semanas de gestación. Grupo de intervención: ejercicio aeróbico entre el 50% y 65% de la frecuencia cardíaca máxima, durante 45 min, 3 veces por semana durante 16 semanas. Grupo control: actividad física habitual. Mediciones: consumo de oxígeno VO2max por prueba de caminata de seis minutos y antropometría para peso, talla y ganancia relativa de peso.Resultados: en las mediciones iniciales, no se encontraron diferencias entre grupos en ninguna de las variables. Al finalizar la intervención, las participantes que realizaron ejercicio presentaban una mayor capacidad física, medida por la distancia recorrida en el test de caminata (p=0,043) y por el VO2max (p=0,023). No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos en las variables antropométricas.Conclusión: la práctica regular de ejercicio aeróbico y controlado, mejora la capacidad física en mujeres gestantes. Por esta razón, intervenciones como esta podrían ser una alternativa temprana y efectiva para fortalecer la prevención de patologías durante el embarazo asociadas al sedentarismo.

Background The World Health Report 2002 of the World Health Organization estimated that physical inactivity is one of the 10 main causes of morbidity and mortality and that the proportion of people whose health is at risk due to a sedentary lifestyle is approximately 60%. Objective To assess the relationship of physical activity level with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in 61 healthy men. Methods The short version of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) recommended by the World Health Organization was used as a valid measure to estimate two categories of physical activity, low (insufficient and sedentary) and vigorous (moderate and very active). Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome were defined using the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program of the United States and the International Diabetes Federation respectively. Serum levels of C-reactive protein and ferritin were also measured, and insulin sensitivity was estimated using the Homeostatic Model Assessment-Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). Results Mean population age was 47.1 ± 6.9 years. Seventeen participants (28%) had metabolic syndrome. There were no differences between the categories of low and vigorous physical activity, nor a relationship with total physical activity (MET x week). No association was observed between low levels of physical activity and metabolic syndrome criteria. Conclusions The high prevalence of physical inactivity found in study participants using the IPAQ questionnaire was not associated with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome.

Background Many studies have suggested a relationship between metabolic abnormalities and impaired fetal growth with the development of non-transmissible chronic diseases in the adulthood. Moreover, it has been proposed that maternal factors such as endothelial function and oxidative stress are key mechanisms of both fetal metabolic alterations and subsequent development of non-transmissible chronic diseases. The objective of this project is to evaluate the effect of micronutrient supplementation and regular aerobic exercise on endothelium-dependent vasodilation maternal and stress oxidative of the newborn. Methods and design 320 pregnant women attending to usual prenatal care in Cali, Colombia will be included in a factorial randomized controlled trial. Women will be assigned to the following intervention groups: 1. Control group: usual prenatal care (PC) and placebo (maltodextrine). 2. Exercise group: PC, placebo and aerobic physical exercise. 3. Micronutrients group: PC and a micronutrients capsule consisting of zinc (30 mg), selenium (70 μg), vitamin A (400 μg), alphatocopherol (30 mg), vitamin C (200 mg), and niacin (100 mg). 4. Combined interventions Group: PC, supplementation of micronutrients, and aerobic physical exercise. Anthropometric measures will be taken at the start and at the end of the interventions. Discussion Since in previous studies has been showed that the maternal endothelial function and oxidative stress are related to oxidative stress of the newborn, this study proposes that complementation with micronutrients during pregnancy and/or regular physical exercise can be an early and innovative alternative to strengthen the prevention of chronic diseases in the population. Trial registration NCT00872365.