Associação entre o consumo de ácidos graxos saturados e trans e a presença de síndrome metabólica em adolescentes brasileiros: Projeto ERICA.

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome (MS) represents a set of risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, already present in the earliest stages of life. Evidence shows that inadequate food consumption is an important factor in the genesis of MS. Recent research has demonstrated a frequente consumption of foods sources of saturated and trans fatty acids that promote weight increase, lipemic alterations and induce insulin resistance among adolescents. The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between saturated and trans fatty acids consumption and MS in Brazilian adolescents. A total of 36,650 adolescents, aged 12 to 17 years, participated in the Study of Cardiovascular Risks in Adolescents (ERICA), conducted in 2013/2014. This is a school-based cross-sectional study in a sample of adolescents from counties with more than 100,000 habitants with national, regional and capital representation. Data regarding the sociodemographic characteristics, sex, age, skin color and referred morbidity, as well as measurements of weight, height, waist circumference and blood pressure were collected. The consumption of saturated and trans fatty acids was evaluated through the application of a 24 hour food recall. Prevalences of inadequacy of consumption were estimated considering inadequate consumption of more than 10% of the total energy value for saturated and above 1% for trans. Blood collection was performed at national level and the samples were analyzed in a unique laboratory. MS was diagnosed using the criteria of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF, 2007), with blood pressure adjustment according to the curves for adolescents, according to sex, age and height. Inadequacy in the components of MS was also evaluated. The data were evaluated in the STATA software, version 14, with a complex sample survey module. MS was present in 2.6% of the studied population, being mostly adolescents with overweight, students of the public school system, with school location in the capital and belonging to the Southeast region. The components of MS that presented the most alteration in Brazilian adolescents were HDL-c (32.5% [95% CI 30-35]), followed by waist circumference (12.7% [95% CI 11.6-13.8 ]). The analysis of food consumption showed that private schools consume more saturated and trans fatty acids in relation to public schools. The South region of Brazil presented the highest percentage of trans fatty acid (1.3% [95% CI 1.2-1.4]). It was observed that the consumption of saturated fatty acids by Brazilian adolescents is higher than the recommended maximum limit of 10% of the total energy value. Overweight adolescents consume such fats in more inadequate amounts, compared to eutrophics. There was no association between saturated and trans fatty acids consumption and MS (saturated fatty acid: OR 0.91 [95% CI 0.66-1.26]; trans fatty acid: OR 0.99 [95% CI 0.73-1.33]) and / or alteration in its components, however, it was seen that girls, adolescents from private schools and with excess weight, had a greater chance of inadequate intake of both saturated and trans fatty acids.