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Background: More than 70% of pregnant adolescents in developing countries experience inappropriate gestational weight gain (GWG). Objective: To determine the association of the number of antenatal care visits (ANC) with GWG, birth weight, and their differences between two countries. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in two cohorts of adolescents, one from Mexico and one from Colombia. The study calculated pregestational body mass index (BMI), obtained GWG and birth weight, and collected socioeconomic characteristics. Birth weight was categorized according to gestational age. A total of 690 mother-child pairs were included, of which 42.6% were Colombian and 57.4% Mexican. Results: The study found no association between socioeconomic characteristics and GWG or birth weight. Colombian adolescents were more likely to experience insufficient GWG (68%), compared with 36% of Mexican adolescents. Colombian adolescents who attended fewer than eight ANC visits were at increased risk of insufficient GWG, whereas Mexican adolescents were at increased risk of excessive GWG. Mexican adolescents who began their pregnancies overweight or obese were at increased risk of excessive GWG. Fewer than eight ANC visits were associated with small for gestational age (SGA) in the Mexican cohort. Conclusions: Inadequate numbers of ANC visits were associated with excessive and insufficient GWG, and SGA. Promoting ANC in adolescent pregnancy is essential to prevent suboptimal GWG and SGA. This study highlights the need for interventions targeting pregnant adolescents from low socioeconomic backgrounds, prioritizing early initiation of prenatal care (first trimester) and a drastic reduction in the high rates of cesarean sections in this group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent and chronic inflammatory disease affecting up to 10% of women. It is the result of a combined interaction of genetic, epigenetic, environmental, lifestyle, reproductive and local inflammatory factors. In this study, we investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) mapping to TNF-alpha (TNF, rs1800629) and IL-1beta (IL1B, rs1143634) and variable number tandem repeat polymorphism mapping to IL1-Ra (IL1RN intron 2, rs2234663) genetic loci are associated with risk for endometriosis in a Mexican mestizo population.Methods: This study included 183 women with confirmed endometriosis (ENDO) diagnosed after surgical laparoscopy and 186 women with satisfied parity and without endometriosis as controls (CTR). PCR/RFLP technique was used for genotyping SNPs (rs1800629 and rs1143634); PCR for genotyping rs2234663.Results: We found no statistical differences in age between groups nor among stages of endometriosis and the CTR group. We observed no difference in genotype and allele frequencies, nor carriage rate between groups in none of the three studied polymorphisms. The prevalence of TNF*2-allele heterozygotes (p = 0.025; OR 3.8), TNF*2-allele (p = 0.029; OR 3.4), IL1B*2-allele heterozygotes (p = 0.044; OR 2.69) and its carriage rate (p = 0.041; OR 2.64) in endometriosis stage IV was higher than the CTR group. Surprisingly, the carriage rate of IL1RN*2-allele (ENDO: p = 0.0004; OR 0.4; stage I: p = 0.002, OR 0.38; stage II: p = 0.002, OR 0.35; stage III: p = 0.003, OR 0.33), as well as the IL1RN*2-allele frequencies (ENDO: p = 0.0008, OR 0.55; I: p = 0.037, OR 0.60; II: p = 0.002, OR 0.41; III: p = 0.003, OR 0.38) were lower than the CTR group. Women with endometriosis stage IV (severe) had frequencies more alike to the CTR group in the IL1RN*2 allele frequency (31.2% vs. 27.2%) and carriage rate (37.5% vs. 41.9%).Conclusion: Although these polymorphisms are not associated with the risk of endometriosis, Mexican mestizo women with severe stage of endometriosis have higher frequencies of TNF*2-, IL1B*2- and IL1RN*2-alleles, which may explain a possible correlation with disease severity rather than predisposition or risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition during the first 1000 days of life represents a window of opportunity to reduce the risk of metabolic dysfunctions later in life. Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) and adequate introduction of solid foods are essential to promote metabolic and nutritional benefits. We evaluated the association of infant feeding practices from birth to 6 months (M) with adiposity indicators at 12 M. We performed a secondary analysis of 106 healthy term infants born from a cohort of healthy pregnant women. Type of breastfeeding (exclusive or nonexclusive), the start of complementary feeding (CF) (before (<4 M) or after (≥4 M)), and adiposity (body mass index – BMI, body mass index-for-age – BMI/A, waist circumference – WC, and waist circumference–length ratio – WLR) were evaluated at 12 M using descriptive statistics, mean differences, X2, and linear regression models. During the first 6 M, 28.3% (n = 30) of the infants received EBF. Early CF (<4 M) was present in 26.4% (n = 28) of the infants. Children who started CF < 4 M were less breastfed, received added sugars as the most frequently introduced food category, and showed higher BMI, BMI/A, WC, and WLR; those who consumed added sugars early (<4 M) had a higher WC. Starting CF < 4 M was the main factor associated with a higher WC at 12 M. Unhealthy infant feeding practices, such as lack of EBF, early CF, and early introduction of sugars, may be associated with higher adiposity at 12 M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Oxidative stress has been identified in the peritoneal fluid and peripheral blood of women with endometriosis. However, there is little information on the antioxidant intake for this group of women. The objectives of this work were 1) to compare the antioxidant intake among women with and without endometriosis and 2) to design and apply a high antioxidant diet to evaluate its capacity to reduce oxidative stress markers and improve antioxidant markers in the peripheral blood of women with endometriosis. Methods Women with (WEN, n = 83) and without endometriosis (WWE, n = 80) were interviewed using a Food Frequency Questionnaire to compare their antioxidant intake (of vitamins and minerals). Then, the WEN participated in the application of a control (n = 35) and high antioxidant diet (n = 37) for four months. The high antioxidant diet (HAD) guaranteed the intake of 150% of the suggested daily intake of vitamin A (1050 μg retinol equivalents), 660% of the recommended daily intake (RDI) of vitamin C (500 mg) and 133% of the RDI of vitamin E (20 mg). Oxidative stress and antioxidant markers (vitamins and antioxidant enzymatic activity) were determined in plasma every month. Results Comparison of antioxidant intake between WWE and WEN showed a lower intake of vitamins A, C, E, zinc, and copper by WEN (p < 0.05, Mann Whitney Rank test). The selenium intake was not statistically different between groups. During the study, the comparison of the 24-hour recalls between groups showed a higher intake of the three vitamins in the HAD group. An increase in the vitamin concentrations (serum retinol, alpha-tocopherol, leukocyte and plasma ascorbate) and antioxidant enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase) as well as a decrease in oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde and lipid hydroperoxides) were observed in the HAD group after two months of intervention. These phenomena were not observed in the control group. Conclusion WEN had a lower intake of antioxidants in comparison to WWE. Peripheral oxidative stress markers diminished, and antioxidant markers were enhanced, in WEN after the application of the HAD.

The aim of this study was to examine the efficacy of intensive medical nutrition therapy (MNT) plus metformin in preventing gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) among high-risk Mexican women. An open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted. Inclusion criteria were pregnant women with three or more GDM risk factors: Latino ethnic group, maternal age >35 years, body mass index >25 kg/m2, insulin resistance, and a history of previous GDM, prediabetes, a macrosomic neonate, polycystic ovarian syndrome, or a first-degree relative with type 2 diabetes. Women before 15 weeks of gestation were assigned to group 1 (n = 45): intensive MNT-plus metformin (850 mg twice/day) or group 2 (n = 45): intensive MNT without metformin. Intensive MNT included individual dietary counseling, with ≤50% of total energy from high carbohydrates. The primary outcome was the GDM incidence according to the International Association of Diabetes Pregnancy Study Groups criteria. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics and adverse perinatal outcomes between the groups. The GDM incidence was n = 11 (24.4%) in the MNT plus metformin group versus n = 7 (15.5%) in the MNT without metformin group: p = 0.42 (RR: 1.57 [95% CI: 0.67–3.68]). There is no benefit in adding metformin to intensive MNT to prevent GDM among high-risk Mexican women. Clinical trials registration: NCT01675310. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To evaluate the differences in inflammation markers and cardiovascular risk factors in a group of school-aged children with and without excessive adiposity. To examine the relationship between adiposity, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk factors., Methods: Cross-sectional study of 285 school children (8-12 years old). Adiposity (body mass index, BMI, total body fat, TBF, and waist circumference), inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP], interleukin 1β [IL-1β], interleukin 6 [IL-6], and tumor necrosis factor-a [TNF-α]) and cardiovascular risk factors were analyzed. Mean differences were calculated and multiple regression models were made., Results: Obese children had higher concentrations of CRP and IL-1β; children with abdominal obesity also had higher CRP levels. A higher BMI was associated with higher blood pressure, and higher total cholesterol, triglycerides-TAG, and insulin concentrations, and with lower HDL-cholesterol. The CRP and IL-1β concentrations correlated significantly with the three adiposity indices. The IL-6 concentrations were associated with TAG, and IL-1β with HDL-cholesterol concentration, after adjustment by BMI., Discussion: In a group of school-aged Mexican children, obesity increases cardiovascular risk and inflammation. Both IL-6 and IL-1β appear to be factors involved in lipid alterations in these children. More research is needed in order to explore the role of subclinical inflammation in the development of cardiovascular alterations that have already been described in Mexican children with obesity.

Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant intake and the lipoperoxidation status in plasma and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis., Patients and Methods: The study was carried out in 48 women with endometriosis obtained at the Sterility Clinic from the National Institute of Perinatology. The antioxidant intake was evaluated applying the Questionnaire Assessment of Antioxidants and Retinol Intakes in Mexican women validated by the National Institute of Public Health. The lipoperoxidation status was determined in plasma and peritoneal fluid with the malondyaldehyde method. Results were analyzed by ANOVA of Kruskal-Wallis., Results: The antioxidant intake (vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and zinc) of women with endometriosis showed a significative statistical difference when data was compared with the control group, including total group and those stratified in pathology stages. The lipoperoxidation status in plasma and peritoneal fluid of women with endometriosis, analyzed in group, did not show statistical difference versus healthy women. When data was stratified according to the pathology severity, the percentage of lipoperoxidation status increased in plasma in the severe grade of endometriosis and in peritoneal fluid in the moderate and severe grades., Conclusions: The antioxidant intake in women with endometriosis showed an inverse correlation with the pathology intensity. As endometriosis severity intensifies, a less intake of antioxidants is present. There is a positive association between the pathology development and the lipoperoxidation status.