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Objectives: To investigate whether fruit and vegetable (F&V) intake in 11-year-olds, and social-environmental correlates of F&V intake such as parental modelling and encouragement, family food rules and home availability, differ according to general parenting styles in Belgium, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain.Design: Cross-sectional study.Setting: Primary schools in four countries.Subjects: Pupils and one of their parents completed questionnaires to measure F&V intake, related social-environmental correlates and general parenting styles. The sample size was 4555 (49.3 % boys); 1180 for Belgium, 883 for The Netherlands, 1515 for Portugal and 977 for Spain. Parenting styles were divided into authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent and neglectful.Results: No differences were found in F&V intake across parenting styles and only very few significant differences in social-environmental correlates. The authoritarian (more parental encouragement and more demands to eat fruit) and the authoritative (more availability of fruit and vegetables) parenting styles resulted in more favourable correlates.Conclusion: Despite earlier studies suggesting that general parenting styles are associated with health behaviours in children, the present study suggests that this association is weak to non-existent for F&V intakes in four different European countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kidney transplant (Tx) restores renal filtration, but it does not achieve the function of two native kidneys, and with time it may slowly involute back to chronic renal failure. We hypothesised that the study of body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) might highlight differences for body compartments among Tx with good, borderline and bad filtration rates. Methods: Thirty Tx patients (19 males, 11 females) were studied at 62.4 ± 26.6 months post-surgery and divided into three groups depending on creatinine clearance (crCl): good (crCl > 65.0), borderline (35.0 < crCl < 65.0) and bad (crCl < 35.0). BIA was assessed three times in a year, and the hemodialysis (HD) group (n = 11) was evaluated both pre- and post-HD session. Total body water, extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), Nae:Ke exchange rate (Nae:Ke) and phase angle were studied. A healthy group (n = 11) was studied too. Results: BIA showed no differences between healthy controls and good Tx while both borderline and bad Tx presented a significantly higher ECW and Nae:Ke and lower ICW than either good Tx or normal controls. Also, borderline and bad Tx was not different from pre-HD session. Conclusions: A good graft kidney manages to restore and maintain normal body composition, overcoming potential CsA and corticosteroids side-effects. On the contrary, even at mild renal dysfunction level, a change in body compartments is already observed, which approaches the composition of chronic renal failure patients with further graft filtration deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Phase angle studied by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) correlates with morbidity and mortality among hemodialysis (HD) patients, and intracellular water (ICW) volume is a reliable surrogate of protein metabolism. While chronic renal failure patients present a significantly disturbed body water composition, no studies have been done on its behaviour following kidney grafting. We report the changes associated with a successful kidney transplant (Tx) on body composition evaluated by BIA, during first months post-surgery. Methods: Twelve Tx patients (7 males, 5 females) were studied. Each patient received triple-drug immuno-suppressive therapy. BIA was assessed before Tx, at month 1 post-Tx and at month 3 post-Tx. Total body water (TBW), extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), Na:K exchange rate (Nae:Ke) and phase angle (PA) were studied. An healthy group and a HD group were evaluated three times in a year interval, and HD group was evaluated both before and after a dialysis session. Results: When we compared body composition before Tx with month 1 post-Tx, TBW, ECW and Nae:Ke increased, while ICW and PA decreased significantly. When we compared month 1 with month 3 post-Tx, we observed that ECW decreased, while ICW and PA increased. On comparing month 1 post-Tx with the healthy group, Nae:Ke was greater and PA was lower at month 1; at month 3, only TBW was greater among Tx patients. Conclusions: Our study shows that following successful grafting, kidney transplant recipients reach a new body water composition equilibrium, which is rapidly attained during the first period post-surgery. More importantly, BIA showed that the different body water compartments of kidney transplant recipients quickly match the constitution of normal individuals, overcoming both potential drug therapy side-effects and a suboptimal glomerular filtration as compared to two-kidney healthy controls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic renal failure is associated with metabolic derangements, affecting protein, amino acids and lipids, and usually, these patients follow a restricted diet. Kidney transplant (Tx) patients enjoy a recovery of renal function, but their therapeutics may entail significant changes on general metabolism. We present the anthropometrics results during the first three months after successful Tx, for males and females, and we compared them with a healthy group. Methods: Eighteen patients (11 males and 7 females) were studied. Anthropometry was assessed before Tx, at month 1 and at month 3 post-Tx. Body weight (Wt), body mass index (BMI), triceps (TSF), biceps (BSF), subscapular (SCSF) and suprailiac skinfolds (SISF), midarm circumference (MAC), midarm muscle circumference (MAMC), corrected arm muscle area (CT.AMA), total body muscle mass (MM), body density (D), fat-mass (FM) and fat-free mass (FFM) were studied. The healthy group was evaluated three times in a year interval. Results: Pre-Tx, males presented lower Wt, BMI, TSF, BSF, SCSF, SISF, MAC, MAMC, CT, AMA, MM, FM and FFM than controls while females displayed no differences. By the third month, males showed only a partial recovery and females displayed higher TSF and SCSF than controls. Conclusions: Uremic males before Tx displayed undernutrition indexes. During the first three months post-Tx males showed an incomplete recovery of anthropometric parameters. Quite differently, females started at pre-Tx close to normal, but they significantly increased body weight and fat content. We suggest that nutritional requirements postkidney grafting may be significantly different in males as compared to females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Growth trends have never been studied in adolescents of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal., Aims: To analyse growth trends in weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) and triceps skin-fold thickness (TST) of adolescents (10-17 years old) of the Autonomous Region of Madeira between 1996-1998 and 2007-2009., Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between 2007-2009, including 4314 adolescents, 2237 girls and 2077 boys (10-17 years old). To study secular growth trends, data were compared with a sample from 1996-1998, comparing the means for each anthropometric variable by age and sex using the independent-sample t-test., Results: An average increase was found in weight of 5.8 kg in boys and 6.3 kg in girls; in height of 3.0 cm in boys and 3.7 cm in girls; in BMI of 1.5 kg/m(2) in boys and 1.7 kg/m(2) in girls; in WC a difference of 5.6 cm and 4.9 cm for boys and girls, respectively, and for MUAC a difference of 2.7 cm in boys and 2.0 cm in girls. No differences were found in TST in boys, but in girls an increase of 1.2 mm was observed., Conclusions: A general increase in anthropometric measurements, more marked in weight, BMI, WC and MUAC and at younger ages, was observed.

The methodological approach used for the development of a new food guide for the Portuguese population is discussed. The new food guide, composed of seven groups, was achieved with the assistance of an expert panel, using existing international recommendations and nutrient composition tables. A range of recommended food portions was established for the groups of fats and oils; milk and dairy products; meat, fish, seafood, and eggs; pulses; potatoes, cereals, and cereal products; vegetables; and fruits. Posters and leaflets were produced and presented to the media with the support of health authorities and the scientific community. The dissemination materials were freely distributed to institutions and professionals responsible for health promotion.

Background: Kidney transplant (Tx) restores renal filtration, although it does not achieve the function of two native kidneys, and with time it may variably involute back to chronic renal failure. We hypothesized that bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) might highlight differences for body compartments among Tx with different filtration rates, and we compared them with healthy controls., Methods: 38 Tx patients (25 males, 13 females) were studied at 75.9 +/- 37.8 months postsurgery and divided into three groups: good creatinine clearance (CrCl, ml/min/1.73 m2; > 65.0), borderline (35.0 < CrCl < 60.0) and bad (CrCl < 35.0). BIA was assessed three times in a year. Total body water, extracellular water (ECW), intracellular water (ICW), Na:K exchange rate (Nae:Ke) and phase angle were studied. Healthy (n = 11) and hemodialysis (n = 11) groups were also studied., Results: BIA showed no differences between healthy controls and good Tx while both borderline and bad Tx presented a significantly higher ECW and lower ICW than either good Tx or normal controls. Only good CrCl was different from predialysis., Conclusions: A good kidney graft manages to restore and maintain normal body composition, even with potential disturbances brought about by steroids and cyclosporine. With mild renal dysfunction a change in body compartments was observed, moving towards the composition of that with chronic renal failure patients., (Copyright 2006 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objective: Chronic renal failure is associated with metabolic derangements, affecting proteins, amino acids, and lipids. Usually these patients follow a restricted diet. Kidney transplant patients enjoy a recovery of renal function, but their therapeutics may entail significant changes in general metabolism. We compare the anthropometric results during the first 3 months after successful transplant for male and female patients versus a healthy group., Methods: Eighteen patients (11 men and 7 women) were studied. Anthropometry was assessed before and at month 1 and month 3 posttransplant including body weight (Wt), body mass index (BMI), triceps (TSF), biceps (BSF), subscapular (SCSF), and suprailiac skinfolds (SISF), midarm circumference (MAC), midarm muscle circumference (MAMC), corrected arm muscle area (CT.AMA), total body muscle mass (MM), body density (D), fat mass (FM), and fat-free mass (FFM). The healthy group was evaluated three times in the first year., Results: Pretransplant men showed lower Wt, BMI, TSF, BSF, SCSF, SISF, MAC, MAMC, CT.AMA, MM, FM and FFM than controls, while women displayed no differences from controls. By the third month, men showed only a partial recovery and women higher TSF and SCSF than controls., Conclusions: Uremic men before transplant displayed undernutrition indices. During the first 3 months posttransplant men showed an incomplete recovery of anthropometric parameters. Quite differently, women started close to normal and had significantly increased body weight and fat content posttransplant. We suggest that nutritional requirements post-kidney grafting may be significantly different among male compared to female patients.

The main objective of this study was to determine the association between cognitive restraint, nutritional intake and eating patterns in free-leaving subjects. We administered a questionnaire that included information about eating behaviour (restraint, disinhibition, and hunger), dietary intake, and physical activity; 380 students (60% female) completed the study. The association of restraint (low/high) and disinhibition (low/high) with dietary intake was tested using MANOVA in a 2x2 factorial design. Statistically significant main effects were further analyzed using ANOVAs. To identify eating patterns, factorial analysis was employed. Among women, high restrainers reported lower consumption of energy, pastry, and starchy foods, and higher consumption of vegetables, and fish, than low restrainers. In male subjects, high restrainers consumed significantly more vegetables than low restrainers. The major food pattern in female restrainers aggregate: higher consumption of legumes and fruit intake; and lower consumption of pastry, sugar, and starchy foods. In restrained men, the more important food pattern consists of vegetable soup, fruit, milk, and eggs. These differences should be considered in clinical interventions for individuals seeking a better body weight control.