Dietary diversity, an important component of diet quality, is associated with an increased probability of adequate micronutrient intake. Women of childbearing age (WCA) are particularly vulnerable to micronutrient inadequacy. The Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women (MDD-W) has been used widely as a proxy measurement of micronutrient adequacy. This study aimed to assess the association between MDD-W and nutrients adequacy among WCA of eight Latin American countries. Nutrient intakes from 3704 WCA were analyzed with two 24-hour dietary recalls. Dietary diversity was calculated based on ten food groups with a cut-off point of intake ≥5 groups. The mean dietary diversity score was 4.72 points, and 57.7% of WCA achieved MDD-W. Vitamin D and E showed a mean Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR) of 0.03 and 0.38, respectively. WCA with a diverse diet (MDD-W > 5) reported a significantly higher intake of most micronutrients and healthy food groups with less consumption of red and processed meats and sugar-sweetened beverages. MDD-W was significantly associated with the mean adequacy ratio (MAR) of 18 micronutrients evaluated. Nevertheless, even those women with a diverse diet fell short of meeting the Estimated Average Requirements (EAR) for vitamins D and E. MDD-W is an appropriate tool to evaluate micronutrients adequacy in WCA from Latin America, showing that women who achieved the MDD-W reported higher adequacy ratios for most micronutrients and an overall healthier diet.

Poor health and diet quality are associated with living within a low socioeconomic status (SES). This study aimed to investigate the impact of SES on diet quality and body mass index in Latin America. Data from the “Latin American Health and Nutrition Study (ELANS)”, a multi-country, population-based study of 9218 participants, were used. Dietary intake was collected through two 24 h recalls from participants of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Diet quality was assessed using the dietary quality score (DQS), the dietary diversity score (DDS) and the nutrients adequacy ratio (NAR). Chi-squared and multivariate-variance analyses were used to estimate possible associations. We found that participants from the low SES consumed less fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fiber and fish and seafood and more legumes than those in the high SES. Also, the diet quality level, assessed by DQS, DDS and NAR mean, increased with SES. Women in the low SES also showed a larger prevalence of abdominal obesity and excess weight than those in the middle and high SES. Health policies and behavioral-change strategies should be addressed to reduce the impact of socioeconomic factors on diet quality and body weight, with gender as an additional level of vulnerability.

Alcohol consumption is a modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This study aimed to characterize alcohol consumers at the nutritional, anthropometric, and sociodemographic levels. Data from 9218 participants from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela participating in “Latin American Health and Nutrition Study (ELANS)”, a multi-country, population-based study, were used. Dietary intake was collected through two, 24 h recalls. Participants were classified into consumers (n = 1073) and non-alcohol consumers (n = 8145) using a cut-off criterium of ≥15 g/day of alcohol consumption calculated from the estimation of their usual daily intake. Among alcohol consumers, the mean alcohol consumption was 69.22 ± 2.18 grams (4.6. beverages/day), contributing to 484.62 kcal, which corresponded to 16.86% of the total energy intake. We found that the risk of alcohol consumption was higher in young and middle-aged men from low and middle socioeconomic status. Argentine, Brazil, and Chile had the highest percentage of consumers, while Ecuador showed the highest alcohol consumption. Alcohol drinkers were characterized by having higher body weight and wider neck, waist, hips circumferences. Alcohol drinkers had a higher energy intake, with macronutrients providing relatively less energy at the expense of the energy derived from alcohol. Alcohol drinkers showed lower and higher consumptions of healthy and unhealthy food groups, respectively. In addition, adequacy ratios for all micronutrients assessed were lower in alcohol consumers. All these deleterious effects of alcohol on nutritional and anthropometric parameters increased with the number of alcoholic beverages consumed daily. Altogether, these findings suggest that limiting alcohol consumption can contribute to reducing the risk of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and diet-related diseases.

Revista de Nutrición Clínica y Metabolismo

La inadecuación de micronutrientes es frecuente en los países en vías de desarrollo. En Costa Rica existe poca información acerca de la ingesta de micronutrientes y del impacto de los programas de fortificación obligatoria de alimentos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la ingesta de vitaminas y minerales y el aporte de la fortificación de alimentos a la ingesta total de micronutrientes en la población urbana costarricense. Se analizó el consumo de alimentos en una muestra de la población urbana costarricense, participantes del Estudio Latinoamericano de Nutrición y Salud (ELANS). El riesgo de ingesta inadecuada se estimó según sexo y grupo de edad, utilizando el método de punto de corte del Requerimiento Medio Estimado (EAR). Para el hierro, se utilizó el método de aproximación probabilística. Más del 85% de la muestra presentó riesgo de ingesta inadecuada para vitamina E, calcio y vitamina D. Una menor prevalencia de riesgo de ingesta inadecuada se presentó para la niacina, tiamina, folatos, hierro y selenio. La fortificación de alimentos tiene un efecto notorio en la ingesta de micronutrientes, especialmente de hierro, niacina, tiamina y folatos. La ingesta de calcio, vitamina D y vitamina E es preocupantemente inadecuada, siendo las mujeres y las personas mayores de 50 años los grupos más afectados. Resulta fundamental el establecimiento de programas y políticas públicas para asegurar el cumplimiento del requerimiento establecido para los diferentes micronutrientes. Micronutrient deficiencies are still very common in developing countries. In Costa Rica there is little information on micronutrients intake and the impact of food fortification.This study aimed to determine the contribution of food fortification to the total intake, and to estimate the risk of inadequate intake of vitamins and minerals in an urban Costa Rican population. As a part of the Latin American Nutrition and Health Study, we analyzed data from a nationally representative sample of 798 urban residents from Costa Rica (15-65 years old) whom provided two 24-h dietary recalls. The prevalence of inadequate micronutrient intake was estimated according to the EAR cut-point method. Iron was analyze using the probability approach. We observed a 100% of the sample are at risk of inadequate intake of vitamin D, and similar percentages were obtained for calcium and vitamin E, ranging from 92.9 to 100% and 85.5 to 99.2% respectively. A lower risk of inadequate intake was observed for niacin, thiamin, folate, iron and selenium. Food fortificationmakes an important contribution to folate, thiamin, iron and niacin intake. Despite the efforts that have been made to ensure adequate micronutrient intake in Costa Rica, the intake of calcium, vitamin D and vitamin E is still very low, especially among women and people over 50 are the most affected. Based on the above, it is recommended to promote a healthy diet through nutritional education as part of public health policies, in order to facilitates compliance to nutritional requirement.

Introducción: El consumo suficiente de frutas y vegetales ha sido ampliamente asociado con diversos beneficios para la salud, entre ellos, el actuar como factor protector contra el desarrollo de enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, cáncer y enfermedades mentales. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) recomienda un consumo diario de 400 gramos entre frutas y vegetales. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo la caracterización del consumo de frutas y vegetales, según variables sociodemográficas en la población costarricense y el cumplimiento de la recomendación de la OMS. Metodología: Los datos se obtuvieron del Estudio Latino Americano de Nutrición y Salud (ELANS)-Costa Rica. Se reclutaron 798 sujetos de 15 a 65 años, residentes en zonas urbanas del país, y se evaluó el consumo de alimentos mediante dos recordatorios de 24 horas. El consumo de frutas y vegetales se analizó según el sexo, el grupo de edad y el nivel socioeconómico. Resultados: Se encontró un consumo promedio de frutas y vegetales de 220g/d/p; el cual incrementó con la edad (p=0.035 entre el grupo de 15 a 19 años y el grupo de 50 a 65 años) y con el nivel socioeconómico (p=0.004 entre el NSE bajo y medio). Sin asociación con el sexo y al nivel educativo (p>0.05). Solamente el 12.0 % de la población urbana costarricense cumple con la recomendación de la OMS. Conclusiones: Los datos obtenidos ponen en evidencia la necesidad de la implementación de programas e intervenciones adaptados a las características y preferencias de la población costarricense para la promoción del aumento en el consumo de frutas y vegetales. Es necesario extender estos estudios a la población rural de Costa Rica, pues el consumo y los factores asociados a este, podría ser diferente entre regiones.