To assess the correlation between vitamin D status and body composition variables in adult women of childbearing age, a cross-sectional study was conducted involving women aged 20–49 years. The participants were categorized based on their vitamin D status and further divided according to body mass index (BMI). Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected to compute body composition indices, specifically body fat and muscle mass. The sample included 124 women, with 63.70% exhibiting vitamin D inadequacy. Women with inadequate vitamin D status demonstrated a higher waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and body adiposity index (BAI), along with a lower BMI-adjusted muscle mass index (SMI _BMI), compared to those with adequate levels of vitamin D (p = 0.021; p = 0.019; and p = 0.039, respectively). A positive correlation was observed between circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D and SMI _BMI, while a negative correlation existed between circulating concentrations of 25(OH)D and waist circumference (WC), WHtR, conicity index (CI), fat mass index (FMI), body fat percentage (% BF), and fat-to-muscle ratio (FMR). These findings suggest that inadequate vitamin D status may impact muscle tissue and contribute to higher body adiposity, including visceral adiposity. It is recommended that these variables be incorporated into clinical practice, with a particular emphasis on WHtR and SMI _BMI, to mitigate potential metabolic consequences associated with vitamin D inadequacy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between dietary practices and household food insecurity (HFI) status among high-risk children during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 children aged 1 to 9 attending at three reference health centers in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Diet quality data was assessed using Healthy Eating Indices. The Brazilian Scale of Food and Nutrition Insecurity measured HFI status. Associations between HFI and dietary practices were assessed using logistic regression models. Almost half of the children lived with food insecurity (47.6%). HFI was associated with deteriorated diet quality, evidenced by the increased weekly frequency of consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF), such as sugar-sweetened beverages and processed meats, and reduced frequency of fruits and vegetables. Parents perceived a reduction in meat and milk consumption and an increase in the intake of UPF among households of children in HFI throughout the pandemic. Our results suggest that HFI status was associated with deterioration in diet quality during the critical phase of social isolation.

Análise da rotulagem de alimentos industrializados destinados ao público infantil à luz da proposta de semáforo nutricional