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This study aimed to assess the relative validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), previously validated to measure usual intakes in adults, for measuring dietary intakes in children 5 to 10 y of age. Dietary intakes were measured using an FFQ and a 3-d dietary record. Healthy children, 5 to 10 y old ( n = 151), were recruited from public schools and asked to answer the questions in the FFQ and to provide non-consecutive 3-d dietary records based on reported estimated portion sizes. Paired sample t tests and Pearson's correlation coefficients were conducted to determine whether the two instruments reported similar values for energy and nutrients. The agreement of quartile categorization between the two instruments was also examined. Estimated energy and nutrient intakes derived from the FFQ were significantly higher than those derived from 3-d dietary records. As expected, Pearson's correlations increased after adjusting for residual measurement error, presumably due to exclusion of the high within-person variability in intake of these nutrients. Moderate to high ( r > 0.50) correlation coefficients were verified for some nutrients such as calcium, folate, vitamin B2, vitamin A, and vitamin C. This FFQ, originally developed for use in adults, appears to overestimate usual energy and nutrient intakes in children 5 to 10 y of age. Further work is necessary to conduct a calibration study to establish adequate portion sizes before instrument adoption in this population.

To calibrate the food list and relative portion sizes of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for application to a free-living, healthy, elderly population. Cross-sectional study. One hundred free-living, healthy participants, aged from 60 to 75 y, randomly selected from among individuals in the area served by the Family Health Program, School of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, University of São Paulo. A Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and a Diet History Questionnaire (DH) were applied by trained dietitians. Each food item of the FFQ had its portion size recalculated according to the percentiles referenced by the volunteers in the DH (25th = small, 50th = medium, and 75th = large). The list of foods and portion sizes of the original FFQ and those obtained by the application of the DH were compared. The percent contribution of energy, protein, fat, carbohydrate, folic acid, vitamin C, calcium, and fiber of each food item mentioned in the FFQ was determined from the data obtained by the application of the DH. FFQ, as compared with the DH, provided good estimation of the intake of protein, calcium, folic acid, and fiber (paired t test P < 0.05). Portion sizes of the FFQ differed from those obtained by the application of the DH (−23% to 300%). Adjustments to the FFQ in particular, new portion sizes and a reduction of the food list were found to be appropriate for application to healthy, urban, free-living elderly people in Ribeirao Preto, Brazil.

Background Evidence from observational studies suggests that a greater intake of ultra-processed foods during pregnancy is associated with a higher chance of obesity, increased gestational weight gain, and neonatal adiposity. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods and the practice of physical activities for appropriate weight gain in overweight, adult, pregnant women. Additionally, the effect of the intervention on pregnancy outcomes, neonatal adiposity, and the child’s weight and height will be investigated. Methods This is a two-armed parallel randomized controlled trial that will be conducted at primary health units in Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. Adult pregnant women who are overweight and receiving prenatal care in the public health system will be included. The women will be randomly allocated into control (standard care) or intervention groups. Those enrolled in the intervention group will participate in three individualized nutritional counselling sessions based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods and the practice of physical activities. The recruitment of the participants will be carried out at seven health facilities over 12 months, with a sample of 300 women expected. Maternal anthropometric, sociodemographic, blood pressure, biochemical, and lifestyle data will be obtained at baseline (up to the 16th week of gestation), and during a second assessment (34th to 36th gestational week). The neonate body composition will be estimated after birth, and data on pregnancy outcomes, weight and height of children at 6, 12 and 24 months of age will be further obtained from medical records. Discussion This will be the first randomized controlled trial to test the effectiveness of a nutritional intervention based on encouraging the consumption of unprocessed and minimally processed foods and the practice of physical activities for appropriate weight gain in adult, overweight, pregnant women. Furthermore, the effect of the intervention on pregnancy outcomes, neonatal adiposity and the child’s weight and height will be evaluated. Trial registration Registro Brasileiro de Ensaios Clínicos (Rebec) RBR-2w9bhc July 30th 2018 ( http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/?q=RBR-2w9bhc+ ), and RBR-7yx36h June 4th 2019 ( http://www.ensaiosclinicos.gov.br/rg/?q=RBR-7yx36h+ 0.

Although the evidence for a protective effect of high total dietary fiber intakes on diabetes appears to be strong, the role of food sources of dietary fiber in etiology of impaired glucose disturbances is poorly understood. Epidemiological studies suggest that high intakes of whole grain foods and vegetables may prevent diabetes. Here, Sartorelli et al evaluate the relationship between fiber-related dietary factors and the risk impaired fasting glucose and impaired glucose tolerance among Japanese Brazilians.

Background/Objectives Studies suggest that greater maternal adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet reduces the risk of both maternal and fetal adverse health outcomes. The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between adherence to the DASH diet during pregnancy and the classification of birth weight according to gestational age. Subjects/Methods Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of 601 mother and child pairs who attended primary healthcare in a Brazilian municipality. Dietary intake was estimated based on 24 h recall and a Food Frequency Questionnaire. Data on gestational duration, birth weight, and newborn sex were obtained from the Live Birth Information System. The relationship between adherence to the DASH diet and birth weight categories was investigated using logistic regression models adjusted for confounding factors. Results In total, 10.3% of newborns were classified as small for gestational age (SGA), and 13.3% as large for gestational age (LGA). There was low adherence to the healthy components of the DASH diet. However, it was observed that pregnant women classified in the third tertile of the DASH diet score had a lower chance of having LGA newborns [OR 0.51 (95% CI 0.28; 0.94), p  = 0.03]. There was no association between adherence to the DASH diet and SGA newborns [OR 0.87 (95% CI 0.42; 1.84), p  = 0.65]. Conclusion Despite the low adherence to the DASH diet between Brazilian pregnant women, higher adherence scores in its components had a lower chance of having LGA newborns.

•A higher intake of n-3 and n-6 fatty acids during pregnancy reduced the chance of large-for-gestational-age babies.•Indices of dietary fat quality for pregnant women influenced the chance of large-for-gestational-age infants.•Pregnant women with better-quality dietary fat were less likely to give birth to large-for-gestational-age babies. We sought to investigate the relationship between the usual intake of fatty acids and indices of dietary fat quality in pregnant women and the birth-weight categories of their newborns. This prospective cohort study was conducted with 734 mother–infant pairs in Brazil. Dietary intake was estimated through 24-h dietary recalls. Secondary data on birth weight, sex of the newborn, and pregnancy duration were obtained. The relationship of fatty acids and indices with birth-weight categories were investigated using logistic regression models adjusted for confounding factors. We considered P values < 0.05 significant. The median (interquartile range) maternal age was 27 (23–31) y; 46.2% of the pregnant women had pregestational body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2, 18.1% had gestational diabetes mellitus, and 11.2% had hypertension. Regarding the newborns, 68 (9.3%) were classified as small for gestational age, 545 (74.2%) as appropriate size for gestational age, and 121 (16.5%) as large for gestational age. In adjusted logistic regression models, a lower chance of being large for gestational age was observed among the children of women classified in the third tertile (versus the first tertile) for intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (odds ratio [OR], 0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.31–0.89; P = 0.02), ω-3 fatty acids (OR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28–0.80; P = 0.005), and ω-6 fatty acids (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.33–0.96; P = 0.04) and for ratios of polyunsaturated to saturated fatty acids (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32–0.92; P = 0.03) and hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.30–0.87; P = 0.01). The data suggest that better-quality fat in the maternal diet can reduce the chance of a large-for-gestational-age newborn.

Background/Objectives Human studies suggest that fathers with obesity influence infant growth and development. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between paternal body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) with neonatal anthropometry and adiposity. Methods This study is a cohort nested in a randomized controlled clinical trial of nutritional counseling for pregnant women with overweight. In total, 89 partner-pregnant woman-neonate triads were included. Paternal anthropometric measurements were taken at the time of the interview. Secondary data related to birth were obtained through access to the health information systems. Neonatal skinfold thickness was assessed and the adiposity was estimated using a predictive anthropometric model. Pearson’s correlation and adjusted multivariate linear regression models were employed to evaluate the relationship between paternal BMI and WC with neonatal anthropometric measurements and adiposity. Results In total, 57.0% of the fathers presented a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m² and 14.6% a waist circumference ≥102 cm. The mean ± SD birth weight of the newborns (g) was 3357 ± 538. Paternal BMI and WC were inversely correlated with head circumference at birth [ r  = −0.31 ( p  = 0.004), r  = −0.23 ( p  = 0.03), respectively]. Paternal BMI was also inversely correlated with the birth weight standardized by gestational age ( z -score) [ r  = −0.23 ( p  = 0.03)]. In adjusted multivariate linear regression models, the paternal BMI (kg/m²) was inversely associated with the head circumference at birth (cm) [ β  = −0.07 (95% CI −0.15; −0.001) p  = 0.04]. Conclusion The data suggest that paternal excessive weight have a negative effect on fetal development, as assessed by anthropometric measurements. The inverse association between paternal BMI and the head circumference at birth was independent of confounders. Future studies with larger sample sizes are necessary to confirm or refute such hypotheses.

•Pregnant women with higher consumption of legumes had lower levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.•In pregnancy, the consumption of legumes influenced the level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.•Of the pregnant women, 87% achieved the maximum score for legume components. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the Adapted Diet Quality Index for Pregnant Women (IQDAG) and the biochemical profile of overweight pregnant adult women. This was a cross-sectional study, using baseline data from a randomized controlled clinical trial conducted with 239 pregnant women in Brazil. The usual diet was obtained through two dietary recalls and the Multiple Source Method. Diet quality was assessed using the IQDAG, which has nine components: eight for adequacy and one for moderation. Fasting blood glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, triacylglycerols, and C-reactive protein were measured to evaluate the biochemical profile. Adjusted linear regression models were used to evaluate the association between the score of the IQDAG (and its components) and the biochemical profile. The significance level considered was P ≤ 0.05. The mean index score was 75.4 points. An inverse association was observed between the consumption of legumes and total cholesterol level (β = –4.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], –9.16 to –0.35; P = 0.03) and low-density lipoprotein (β = –4.13; 95% CI, –7.56 to –0.69; P = 0.02), and a direct association between calcium intake and total cholesterol (β = 0.02; 95% CI, 0.002–0.41; P = 0.03). No other associations were observed between the investigated variables. The data from the present study suggest that higher consumption of legumes is associated with lower levels of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein. A higher intake of calcium was directly associated with total cholesterol . Further research is required to fully understand how diet quality affects pregnant women's biochemical profiles and what that means for the health of the mother and the fetus.

•Pregnant women with a high adherence to a dietary pattern that correlated positively with fiber density and negatively with the Thrombogenicity Index had a 42% lower chance of gestational diabetes mellitus.•These data highlight the joint importance of the quality of dietary carbohydrates and fats during pregnancy for the occurrence of gestational diabetes mellitus. Evidence for the combined association of the quality of dietary carbohydrates and fats during pregnancy with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is scarce. The aim of this study was to identify dietary patterns during pregnancy, derived by the reduced-rank regression (RRR) model, associated with fiber density (g/1000 kcal) and the Thrombogenicity Index (TI) and to investigate their relationship with GDM. This was a cross-sectional study conducted with 785 pregnant women at gestational weeks 24 to 39. The diagnosis of GDM was based on the World Health Organization criteria. One 24-h dietary recall was obtained from all women and a second measurement from 73% of the sample, with the multiple source method used to estimate the usual diet. The patterns were determined by RRR, and the relationship with GDM was investigated using adjusted logistic regression models. The mean (standard deviation) age of the women was 28 y and 17.7% had GDM. Dietary pattern 1 (high rice, beans, and vegetables, with low full-fat dairy products, biscuits, and sweets) correlated positively with fiber density and negatively with TI and was inversely associated with GDM after multiple adjustments (odds ratio [OR], 0.58; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.36–0.95; P = 0.03). Dietary pattern 2 (high red meats, full-fat dairy products, chocolate powder and fruits, with low chicken and margarine) correlated positively with both TI and fiber density, with no association with GDM found (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 0.91–2.40; P = 0.11). These data highlight the joint importance of the quality of dietary carbohydrates and fats in the dietary patterns of pregnant women in relation to the risk for developing GDM.