Sodium intake according to NOVA food classification in Brazil: trends from 2002 to 2018

Excessive sodium intake is a major global public health issue and the identification of dietary sources and temporal trends in its consumption are a key to effective sodium reduction policies. This study aims to update estimates of sodium intake and its dietary sources in Brazil according to the NOVA food classification system. Records of 7-day food purchases of households from the Brazilian Household Budgets Survey of 2002-2003, 2008-2009, and 2017-2018 were converted into nutrients using food composition tables and the mean availability was estimated per 2,000kcal/day. Mean daily sodium available for consumption in Brazilian households has increased from 3.9 to 4.7g per 2,000kcal, from 2002-2003 to 2017-2018, over twice the recommended levels of sodium intake. From 2002-2003 to 2017-2018, the processed culinary ingredients, including table salt, represented the largest dietary source of sodium, although their participation in dietary sodium was reduced by 17% (66.6% to 55%), while the percentage of dietary sodium from processed foods increased by 20.3% and from ultra-processed foods increased by 47.6% (11.3% to 13.6% and 17% to 25.1%, respectively). In conclusion, the total household sodium availability remains high and has increased over time in Brazil, yet the participation of different dietary sources of sodium have gradually changed.

How many meals and snacks do Brazilians eat a day? Findings from the 2017-2018 Brazilian National Dietary Survey

The habit of eating specific meals has been addressed in several studies, but the evaluation of meal patterns has received less attention. This study aimed to describe the meal patterns of the Brazilian population. A complex sampling design was used to select the 46,164 ≥ 10-year-old individuals examined in the Brazilian National Dietary Survey. Food consumption was assessed by two non-consecutive 24-hour recalls applied throughout a one-week period. The exploratory data analysis approach was used to determine the meal patterns, i.e., how individuals combined the main meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) and snacks (morning, afternoon, evening/night) throughout the day. The most common meal patterns were three main meals + one snack, reported by 25.1% of the individuals, and three main meals + two snacks (24.6%). Other meal patterns identified were: three main meals + three snacks (18.5%); three main meals and no snacks (10.9%); one or two main meals + two snacks (7.4%); one or two main meals + one snack (6.9%); one or two main meals + three snacks (4.2%); and one or two main meals and no snacks (2.3%). Meal patterns varied according to gender and age group, and on typical versus atypical food consumption days. We found that eight patterns characterized the daily meal consumption in Brazil. Furthermore, around 80% of the population had three main meals every day and about 13% did not report having any snacks. The characterization of meal habits is important for tailoring and targeting health promotion actions.

Eating habits: what foods do children between 12 and 36 months consume?

OBJECTIVE

to identify toddlers' eating habits.

METHOD

a cross-sectional study of quantitative analysis, with a sample of 808 toddlers who attended day care centers in the district of Viseu, Portugal, between November 2018 and September 2019. Data were collected using a questionnaire directed at parents.

RESULTS

the prevalence of children who ate six meals a day was 42.8%, and 42.5%, those who ate five meals. It was found that 2.0% of children consumed chocolates, 1.0%, desserts, and 0.4%, carbonated beverages, daily. On average, dairy product (M=5.61; SD=2.62) and meat/fish/egg (M=4.80; SD=3.57) consumption was higher than recommended, while fat (M=0.48; SD=0.40), legume (M=0.49; SD=0.45), vegetable (M=1.18; SD=0.87) and water (M=0 .51; SD=0.29) consumption was lower.

CONCLUSIONS

there was a higher or lower consumption than recommended for some foods, highlighting the need to implement nursing intervention programs aimed at promoting healthy eating habits in toddlers and families.

Risk factors for esophageal cancer in a low-incidence area of Brazil

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVES Esophageal cancer is the eighth commonest type of cancer worldwide, occupying sixth place in terms of mortality. Smoking and alcohol use are known risk factors for this type of cancer. The aim here was to evaluate the risk factors for esophageal cancer in a low-incidence area. DESIGN AND SETTING Case-control study in Goiânia, with 99 cases of esophageal cancer and 223 controls. METHODS The variables were sociodemographic, dietary, occupational and lifestyle data. The sample was analyzed using the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney test and Mantel-Haenszel approach for multivariate analysis. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated with 5% significance and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS The risk of esophageal cancer was higher in patients ≥ 55 years (OR = 1.95; P < 0.001). Patients from rural areas were at greater risk of esophageal cancer (OR = 4.9; P < 0.001). Smoking was a risk factor among the cases (OR = 3.8; P < 0.001), as was exposure to woodstoves (OR = 4.42; P < 0.001). The practice of oral sex was not a risk factor (OR = 0.45; P = 0.04). Consumption of apples, pears, vegetables, cruciferous vegetables and fruit juices were protective against esophageal cancer. CONCLUSION In a region in which the incidence of esophageal cancer is low, the most significant risk factors were exposure to woodstoves, smoking and living in rural areas.