1. |
- Gracia-Marco, Luis A., et al.
(author)
-
Seasonal variation in physical activity and sedentary time in different European regions. The HELENA study
- 2013
-
In: Journal of Sports Sciences. - : Routledge. - 0264-0414 .- 1466-447X. ; 31:16, s. 1831-1840
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This report aims (1) to examine the association between seasonality and physical activity (PA) and sedentary time in European adolescents and (2) to investigate whether this association was influenced by geographical location (Central-North versus South of Europe), which implies more or less extreme weather and daylight hours. Valid data on PA, sedentary time and seasonality were obtained in 2173 adolescents (1175 females; 12.5-17.5 years) included in this study. Physical activity and sedentary time were measured by accelerometers. ANCOVA was conducted to analyse the differences in PA and sedentary time across seasons. Results showed that girls had lower levels of moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and average PA, and spent more time in sedentary activities in winter compared with spring (all P < 0.05). Stratified analyses showed differences in PA and sedentary time between winter and spring in European girls from Central-North of Europe (P < 0.05 for sedentary time). There were no differences between PA and sedentary time across seasonality in boys. In conclusion, winter is related with less time spent in MVPA, lower average PA and higher time spent in sedentary activities in European adolescent girls, compared with spring. These differences seem to mainly occur in Central-North Europe.
|
|
2. |
|
|
3. |
- Nishi, Stephanie K., et al.
(author)
-
Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND Dietary Patterns and Cognitive Function : The 2-Year Longitudinal Changes in an Older Spanish Cohort
- 2021
-
In: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience. - : Frontiers Media SA. - 1663-4365. ; 13
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background and Aims: Plant-forward dietary patterns have been associated with cardiometabolic health benefits, which, in turn, have been related to cognitive performance with inconsistent findings. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between baseline adherence to three a priori dietary patterns (Mediterranean, DASH, and MIND diets) with 2-year changes in cognitive performance in older adults with overweight or obesity and high cardiovascular disease risk. Methods: A prospective cohort analysis was conducted within the PREDIMED-Plus trial, involving 6,647 men and women aged 55–75 years with overweight or obesity and metabolic syndrome. Using a validated, semiquantitative 143-item food frequency questionnaire completed at baseline, the dietary pattern adherence scores were calculated. An extensive neuropsychological test battery was administered at baseline and 2-year follow-up. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were used to assess associations between 2-year changes in cognitive function z-scores across tertiles of baseline adherence to the a priori dietary patterns. Results: Adherence to the Mediterranean diet at baseline was associated with 2-year changes in the general cognitive screening Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE, β: 0.070; 95% CI: 0.014, 0.175, P-trend = 0.011), and two executive function-related assessments: the Trail Making Tests Part A (TMT-A, β: −0.054; 95% CI: −0.110, − 0.002, P-trend = 0.047) and Part B (TMT-B, β: −0.079; 95% CI: −0.134, −0.024, P-trend = 0.004). Adherence to the MIND diet was associated with the backward recall Digit Span Test assessment of working memory (DST-B, β: 0.058; 95% CI: 0.002, 0.114, P-trend = 0.045). However, higher adherence to the DASH dietary pattern was not associated with better cognitive function over a period of 2 years. Conclusion: In older Spanish individuals with overweight or obesity and at high cardiovascular disease risk, higher baseline adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern may be associated with better cognitive performance than lower adherence over a period of 2 years.
|
|
4. |
- Ruiz, Jonatan R., et al.
(author)
-
Relations of total physical activity and intensity to fitness and fatness in children : the European Youth Heart Study
- 2006
-
In: American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. - : Elsevier BV. - 0002-9165 .- 1938-3207. ; 84:2, s. 299-303
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: It is unclear how the amount and intensity of physical activity (PA) are associated with cardiovascular fitness (CVF) and body fatness in children.Objective: We aimed to examine the associations of total PA and intensity levels to CVF and fatness in children.Design: A cross-sectional study of 780 children aged 9–10 y from Sweden and Estonia was conducted. PA was measured by accelerometry and was expressed as min/d of total PA, moderate PA, and vigorous PA. CVF was measured with a maximal ergometer bike test and was expressed as W/kg. Body fat was derived from the sum of 5 skinfold-thickness measurements. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the degree to which variance in CVF and body fat was explained by PA, after control for age, sex, and study location.Results: Lower body fat was significantly associated with higher levels of vigorous PA, but not with moderate or total PA. Those children who engaged in >40 min vigorous PA/d had lower body fat than did those who engaged in 10–18 min vigorous PA/d. Total PA, moderate PA, and vigorous PA were positively associated with CVF. Those children who engaged in >40 min vigorous PA/d had higher CVF than did those who accumulated <18 min vigorous PA/d.Conclusions: The results suggest that PA of vigorous intensity may have a greater effect on preventing obesity in children than does PA of lower intensity, whereas both total and at least moderate to vigorous PA may improve children's CVF.
|
|
5. |
|
|
6. |
- Vandevijvere, Stefanie, et al.
(author)
-
Evaluation of food and nutrient intake assessment using concentration biomarkers in European adolescents from the HELENA study
- 2013
-
In: British Journal of Nutrition. - 0007-1145 .- 1475-2662. ; 109:4, s. 736-747
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Accurate food and nutrient intake assessment is essential for investigating diet-disease relationships. In the present study, food and nutrient intake assessment among European adolescents using 24 h recalls (mean of two recalls) and a FFQ (separately and the combination of both) were evaluated using concentration biomarkers. Biomarkers included were vitamin C, β-carotene, DHA+EPA, vitamin B12 (cobalamin and holo-transcobalamin) and folate (erythrocyte folate and plasma folate). For the evaluation of the food intake assessment 390 adolescents were included, while 697 were included for the nutrient intake assessment evaluation. Spearman rank and Pearson correlations, and validity coefficients, which are correlations between intake estimated and habitual true intake, were calculated. Correlations were higher between frequency of food consumption (from the FFQ) and concentration biomarkers than between mean food intake (from the recalls) and concentration biomarkers, especially for DHA+EPA (r 0·35 v. r 0·27). Most correlations were higher among girls than boys. For boys, the highest validity coefficients were found for frequency of fruit consumption (0·88) and for DHA+EPA biomarker (0·71). In girls, the highest validity coefficients were found for fruit consumption frequency (0·76), vegetable consumption frequency (0·74), mean fruit intake (0·90) and DHA+EPA biomarker (0·69). After exclusion of underreporters, correlations slightly improved. Correlations between usual food intakes, adjusted for food consumption frequency, and concentration biomarkers were higher than correlations between mean food intakes and concentration biomarkers. In conclusion, two non-consecutive 24 h recalls in combination with a FFQ seem to be appropriate to rank subjects according to their usual food intake
|
|
7. |
- Wärnberg, Julia
(author)
-
Inflammatory status in adolescents : the impact of health determinants such as overweight and fitness
- 2006
-
Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- Overweight prevalences are rising among youth and the prevention of associated chronic diseases is priority concern in public health. Inflammatory processes are involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and may also play an important initiating role in the development of the cardiovascular lesion. The overall aim of this thesis was to establish reference values of body fat composition in adolescence and to investigate the association between chronic low-grade inflammation and overweight, and further to examine if fitness counteracts this possible association. In total 2160 13 to 18 year-old Spanish adolescents were studied and a subsample of 493 subjects were randomly selected for blood sampling and the study of inflammatory status. Studied parameters were: detailed anthropometry, fitness and for the evaluation of inflammatory status, serum acute phase proteins (C-reactive protein, ceruloplasmin and complement factors C3 and C4), as well as in vitro production of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-cc by peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The main result of this thesis was that overweight adolescents had moderately raised inflammatory markers, which indicates that this population is in a state of chronic low-grade inflammation. Correlations between most body fat estimates and acute phase proteins suggest a proinflammatory action of the adipose tissue. Moreover, central obesity seems to be an independent determinant of C3 concentrations. Overweight was associated with low-grade inflammation independently of fitness status, suggesting that the modulation is mediated by body fat rather than fitness status. C3 however, was independently associated with fitness and could be a new biomarker or involved in the mechanisms of the health benefits of fitness. Whether low-grade inflammation is predicting future diseases or is merely a practical marker of body fat, is beyond the possible answers of this thesis, but nevertheless, this outcome points to the importance of maintaining an appropriate body weight to keep inflammatory status low which could eventually contribute to improve the health status of the next generation's adult population.
|
|