Alejandra González

Dr. Alejandra González

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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10 November 2022 in Annals of Hepatology
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
DCDaniela Contreras
Daniela Contreras
AGAlejandra González
Alejandra González
PCPatricia Clark
Patricia Clark
SBSimón Barquera
Simón Barquera
EDEdgar Denova-Gutiérrez
Edgar Denova-Gutiérrez
Fatty liver disease is an important public health problem. Early diagnosis is critical to lower its rate of progression to irreversible/terminal stages. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of non-invasive prediction scores for fatty liver disease (NAFLD and NASH) diagnosis in adults. A search was conducted in 10 databases, a qualitative synthesis of 45 studies, and quantitative analysis of the six most common scores. There were 23 risk scores found for NAFLD diagnosis and 32 for NASH diagnosis. The most used were Fatty Liver Index (FLI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) to Platelet Ratio Index, Fibrosis-4 Index (FIB-4), AST/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, BARD score, and NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS). The results from the meta-analysis for FLI: Area under the curve (AUC) of 0.76 (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.73, 0.80), sensitivity 0.67 (CI 95% 0.62, 0.72) and specificity 0.78 (CI 95% 0.74, 0.83). The AST to Platelet Ratio Index: AUC 0.83 (CI 95% 0.80, 0.86), sensitivity 0.45 (95% CI 0.29, 0.62), and specificity of 0.89 (95% CI 0.83, 0.92). The NFS: AUC of 0.82 (CI 95% 0.78, 0.85), sensitivity 0.30 (CI 95% 0.27, 0.33) and specificity 0.96 (CI 95% 0.95,0.96). The FLI for NAFLD and AST to Platelet Ratio Index for NASH were the risk scores with the highest prognostic value in the included studies. Further research is needed for the application of new diagnostic risk scores for NAFLD and NASH.

2 February 2023 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EDEdgar Denova-Gutiérrez
Edgar Denova-Gutiérrez
AGAlejandra González
Alejandra González
LMLucía Méndez-Sánchez
Lucía Méndez-Sánchez
BABerenice Araiza-Nava
Berenice Araiza-Nava
NBNydia Balderas
Nydia Balderas
JDJuan A. Rivera Dommarco
Juan A. Rivera Dommarco
(1) Background: The importance of studying the health interventions used to prevent and treat overweight and obesity in school-aged children is imperative. This overview aimed to summarize systematic reviews that assess the effects of school-based, family, and mixed health interventions for preventing and treating overweight and obesity in school-aged children. (2) Methods: The Cochrane Collaboration methodology and PRISMA statement were followed. A search was conducted using terms adapted to 12 databases. Systematic reviews reporting interventions in children from six to 12 years old with an outcome related to preventing or treating obesity and overweight were included. Studies with pharmacological or surgical interventions and adolescents were excluded. (3) Results: A total of 15,226 registers were identified from databases and citation searching. Of those, ten systematic reviews published between 2013 and 2022 were included. After the overlap, 331 interventions for children between 6 and 12 years old were identified, and 61.6% involved physical activity and nutrition/diet intervention. Multicomponent intervention, combining physical activity with nutrition and behavioral change, school-based plus community-based interventions may be more effective in reducing overweight and obesity in children. (4) Conclusions: Plenty of interventions for childhood overweight and obesity aimed at prevention and treatment were identified, but there is a gap in the methodological quality preventing the establishment of a certain recommendation.

13 August 2022 in Systematic Reviews
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
EDEdgar Denova-Gutiérrez
Edgar Denova-Gutiérrez
LMLucía Méndez-Sánchez
Lucía Méndez-Sánchez
BABerenice Araiza-Nava
Berenice Araiza-Nava
AGAlejandra González
Alejandra González
TLTeresa Shamah Levy
Teresa Shamah Levy
JDJuan A. Rivera Dommarco
Juan A. Rivera Dommarco
Background: Childhood overweight and obesity is a global public health issue. Although there is evidence of a reduced prevalence in some countries, there is still much controversy about the efficacy of health interventions that aim to prevent and treat obesity in this specific population. The objective of the present study is to develop an overview of systematic reviews (OSRs) that assesses the effects of school-based, family, and multi-component health interventions for the prevention and treatment of obesity, change in physical activity, dietary, and/or hydration behaviors, and change in metabolic risk factors in school-aged children. Methods: This protocol was developed using the methodology proposed by Cochrane. It outlines a comprehensive search in 12 electronic databases to identify systematic reviews of health interventions, including studies that evaluate and how to prevent and/or treat overweight and/or obesity in children aged 6 to 12 years. The risk of bias of the included Systematic Reviews will be assessed with the ROBIS tool. Discussion: Since the OSRs methodology’s purpose is only to harmonize evidence from open access publications, ethical consent is not necessary for the present protocol. In terms of diffusion, a paper will be submitted for publication in a scientific journal to describe the main results obtained through the OSRs. Trial registration: The present overview of the systematic review protocol has been registered in PROSPERO (ID number 218296).

29 April 2024 in Salud Pública de México
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
AGAlejandra González
Alejandra González
MRMARIA ARACELI ORTIZ RODRIGUEZ
MARIA ARACELI ORTIZ RODRIGUEZ
BSBrenda Liliana Salazar-Torres
Brenda Liliana Salazar-Torres
PMPaloma Muñoz-Aguirre
Paloma Muñoz-Aguirre
BABrianda Ioanna Armenta-Girado
Brianda Ioanna Armenta-Girado
EDEdgar Denova-Gutiérrez
Edgar Denova-Gutiérrez
Objective. To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its association with sociodemographic factors in Mexican older adults (OA). Materials and methods. This study analyzes data from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey 2016. We incorporated data from 804 participants aged 60 years or older. Information on sex, age, body mass index, scholar level, ethnicity, smoking status, geographic region, socioeconomic status, and alcohol consumption was analyzed. For MetS, the International Diabetes Federation harmonized definition was used. Multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI) between sociodemographic factors and MetS. Results. The prevalence of MetS was 77.4% (95%CI 72.2,81.9), 71.2% for men, (95%CI 63.2,78.9) and 83.7% for women (95%CI 77.9,88.2). The OA presented higher odds of MetS when they lived with overweight, obesity, and those who had more years of education. Conclusion. The prevalence of MetS among Mexican OA is substantial. Moreover, individuals living with obesity exhibit a heightened odd of experiencing elevated Fasting Plasma Glucose and high blood pressure. This study provides a comprehensive perspective underscoring the imperative for policies aimed at mitigating obesity and addressing other chronic conditions within this population.

16 December 2025 in Nutrients
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
BVBrenda Rosario Valle Valdez
Brenda Rosario Valle Valdez
XTXochitl Terrazas-Lopez
Xochitl Terrazas-Lopez
AGAlejandra González
Alejandra González
HAHumberto Astiazaran-Garcia
Humberto Astiazaran-Garcia
BABrianda Ioanna Armenta-Guirado
Brianda Ioanna Armenta-Guirado
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a long-chain omega-3 fatty acid essential for neurodevelopment, immune regulation, and key physiological functions during early life. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), limited access to DHA-rich foods contributes to disparities in intake and health outcomes. This narrative review describes the current evidence on dietary patterns of DHA intake and supplementation from pregnancy through childhood in LMICs and highlights the implications of these patterns for child health. The review is based on a systematic search conducted in PubMed using Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms related to DHA, dietary patterns, health outcomes, and LMICs. Studies published between 2014 and 2025 were screened using Covidence software. Eligible studies included observational, interventional, and review designs that reported DHA through dietary intake, supplementation, or measurement in biological samples during pregnancy, lactation, infancy, or childhood. Data extraction followed the PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, Study Design) framework. A total of 76 studies were included. Across LMICs, DHA intake was consistently insufficient among pregnant and lactating women, infants, and children. Reported dietary sources were generally low in DHA content. Intake or supplementation was associated with neurodevelopment, immune response, pregnancy outcomes, and cardiometabolic health, although findings were sometimes mixed or modified by gene–environment interactions. Results varied by study design, contextual factors, income level, and geographic access. Large gaps remain in nationally representative intake data. Despite its physiological relevance, DHA intake remains inadequate in LMICs during early life. This review underscores the importance of improving DHA intake in vulnerable populations and identifies evidence gaps to guide future research and inform context-specific nutrition strategies.

1 May 2026 in Advances in Nutrition
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
SPSelene Pacheco-Miranda
Selene Pacheco-Miranda
EKEdith Kim-Herrera
Edith Kim-Herrera
RPRafael Peréz-Escamilla
Rafael Peréz-Escamilla
EDEdgar Denova-Gutiérrez
Edgar Denova-Gutiérrez
HRHortensia Reyes-Morales
Hortensia Reyes-Morales
ABAnabelle Bonvecchio-Arenas
Anabelle Bonvecchio-Arenas
Malnutrition during pregnancy is a public health concern. Interventions implemented through the health sector can prevent maternal malnutrition. Our aim was to identify implementation strategies for delivering nutritional interventions through primary health care to prevent malnutrition in all its forms during pregnancy. We followed the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews and PRISMA guidelines. A search strategy was developed for 5 databases. The information was systematized using the Template for Intervention Description and Replication. Meta-analyses were performed using a random-effects model. We used the Risk of Bias (RoB) and the Nonrandomized Studies of Interventions tools, and the certainty of the evidence followed the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation guidelines. We included 51 studies conducted across high-, middle-, and low-income countries. Multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) was more effective than iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation alone in improving hemoglobin concentrations and other anemia-related indicators, when initiated during the first or second trimester of pregnancy and delivered with in-person, individualized counseling and follow-up. Our meta-analysis confirmed that MMS improved maternal anemia compared with IFA with a moderate certainty of the evidence. Healthy eating counseling, physical activity, and weight-gain monitoring, when combined, were effective in achieving weight gain when the interventions were guided by prenatal care protocols and included materials and resources to support. Our meta-analysis showed a nonsignificant reduction in excessive weight gain with very low certainty, no meaningful effect on low weight gain with low certainty, and a potentially meaningful increase in the likelihood of gaining weight within the recommended range with very low certainty. A coordinated package of health system-delivered interventions, including MMS, behavioral counseling, and monitoring of maternal weight gain, should be implemented within primary health care, beginning in the first or second trimester, to prevent all forms of malnutrition during pregnancy. Effective implementation strategies to provide these interventions can be adapted to local contexts. The protocol for this review was registered at PROSPERO as CRD 4202460299.