Objective: To analyze the nutritional status and plasma levels of vitamins and minerals in a cohort of Chilean children between 4 and 14 years old from three cities in Chile (Santiago, Antofagasta, and Concepcion). Design: This is a descriptive analysis of micronutrient levels in Chilean children as it relates to obesity and food consumption. Setting: This study included 1235 children from schools in Santiago (central area), Antofagasta (northern area), and Concepcion (southern area) in Chile. Results: Plasma levels of micronutrients revealed deficiencies in children from all these cities. Copper (26.4%) and calcium (33.0%) deficiencies were found in the children from Antofagasta, whereas iron (26.7%) and zinc (20.8%) deficiencies were found in the children from Concepcion and Santiago, respectively. The percentage of children with vitamin D deficiencies was exceptionally high in all cities (over 78%). The analysis of micronutrients and nutritional status revealed that vitamin D deficiencies were significantly higher (p = 0.02) in overweight children, particularly in Antofagasta. In the analysis of the nutritional status of children and their food consumption habits, the proportion of overweight and obesity was significantly higher (p = 0.001) in children that skipped breakfast compared to children that did not. Finally, children from low socioeconomic levels were significantly more overweight and obese compared to children from high socioeconomic levels (p < 0.05). Conclusions: this is the first study to describe plasma levels of micronutrients in Chilean children and adolescents. High percentages of obesity, overweight, and vitamin D deficiency were detected in children. These results are of significant relevance to future public health policies in Chile.

Infants and children are a risk group in terms of developing healthy habits, an important aspect if we consider that many of them were born during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our objective was to evaluate compliance with lifestyle recommendations proposed at the national and international levels in children aged 0 to 23 months during confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and 211 online questionnaires were completed with sociodemographic and lifestyle information of children. Our results show high compliance with the recommendations on breastfeeding intake (78.3% and 69.5% in 0–5-month-old and 6–23-month-old children, respectively); age of starting complementary feeding (87.4%); non-consumption of salt and sugar (80.1%), non-caloric sweeteners (90.7%), and sweet and salty snacks (68.9%); and hours of physical activity (66.8%) and sleep (65.4%). However, we observed low compliance with the recommendations on the age of introduction of dinner (58.0%), eggs (23.0%), legumes (39.2%), and fish (35.1%); low consumption of legumes (43.4%) and fish (20.5%); and low compliance with the recommendations on screen use during meals (59.2%) and daily screen hours (41.2%). In conclusion, feeding behavior, physical activity, use of screens, and hours of sleep in children were altered by confinement during the pandemic, harming the development of healthy lifestyles.

Lipids are one of the biomolecules and/or macronutrients that make up the food matrix of most products and foods available on the market today (Wang and Hu 2017). They have various functions in the...

Obesity leads to an increase in chronic non-communicable diseases. Adipose tissue transdifferentiation opens a treatment possibility against obesity through white adipose tissue (WAT) browning related with uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1). Some foods have a browning effect, which is characterized by their high amounts of polyphenols. Polyphenol-rich fruit extracts have been shown potential browning-inducing effects on WAT. Different food matrixes have been used as treatment for obesity without success in characterizing a particular compound responsible for these effects. The aim of this study is to determine that phenylacetic acid (PAA) has browning activity in mature adipocytes. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were differentiated and stimulated for 24 h with PAA and later thermogenic genes were evaluated. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) was used as a positive control. PAA was able to induce an increase in UCP1 gene expression levels. New studies are needed to evaluate the timing of PAA treatment in mature adipocytes to elucidate if there are different thermogenesis stimulation pathways.

Introducción: El Observatorio Nutricional Nestlé –Universidad Finis Terrae surge como respuesta a la limitada información disponible sobre la alimentación, nutrición y estilos de vida en niños, niñas y adolescentes (NNA) chilenos. Objetivo: Describir las características del observatorio nutricional Nestlé-Finis Terrae y los principales hallazgos del período 2022-2024. Sujetos y métodos: A través de encuestas telefónicas estructuradas a personas adultas que se identifican como padres o madres de niños, niñas y adolescentes entre 2 y 15 años, residentes en Chile, se ha monitoreado desde el año 2022 el comportamiento alimentario y estilos de vida de padres, cuidadores y sus hijos. Resultados: Entre los principales hallazgos destaca una elevada percepción de alimentación equilibrada a nivel familiar, con valores relativamente estables entre 2022 y 2024: 57% (intervalo de confianza del 95%, IC 95%: 52,9–61,0) en 2022, 51% (IC 95%: 46,9–55,1) en 2023 y 56% (IC 95%: 51,9–60,0) en 2024. Se observó un aumento sostenido de la improvisación alimentaria, desde 51% en 2022 a 60% en 2024. La preocupación por los precios de los alimentos también creció, de 17% en 2023 a 25% en 2024. En 2023 se registró el mayor nivel de percepción de alergias e intolerancias no diagnosticadas (33%, IC 95%: 29,2–36,9). Además, se identificó una subestimación del estado nutricional real de los hijos y bajo cumplimiento de las recomendaciones sobre actividad física y uso de pantallas. Conclusión: El observatorio se caracteriza por una metodología estandarizada y la continuidad anual en la recolección de datos, lo que permite disponer de información consistente sobre percepciones en salud y nutrición infantil. Aunque el uso de datos autorreportados representa una limitación, los resultados obtenidos constituyen un insumo relevante para el diseño de políticas públicas y estrategias educativas orientadas a promover hábitos de vida más saludables en la infancia y adolescencia chilena.

Vitamin D deficiency is a widespread global health concern driven by limited dietary sources, reduced sun exposure, and lifestyle changes. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the rationale, technologies, efficacy, and public health implications of vitamin D fortification of dairy products. A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus for English-language studies, including original research, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and relevant regulatory or technical documents. The literature examined vitamin D metabolism, the structural properties of dairy matrices that may enhance vitamin D stability and absorption, technological strategies for fortification, global regulatory frameworks, and clinical studies evaluating fortified dairy products. The evidence suggests that the lipid and protein components of milk, yogurt, and cheese can help protect vitamin D from degradation and enhance its bioavailability. Technological advances, including microencapsulation, nanoemulsions, and protein-based delivery systems, may further improve stability during processing and storage. Countries with mandatory fortification policies appear to achieve higher population vitamin D intakes than those relying on voluntary practices. Randomized controlled trials generally show that fortified dairy products can increase serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations in children, adults, and older populations, although the magnitude of the response varies across studies. Overall, dairy-based vitamin D fortification appears to be a useful strategy to improve vitamin D status, although broader and more coordinated approaches are still needed to address global deficiency.