Abstract Objective: To evaluate vitamin D status and deficiency in Mexican children and related factors, with updated data from a representative national survey. Materials and methods: Data and serum samples of child participants were collected in the Ensanut 2018-19. The measurement 25-(OH)-D was obtained through chemiluminescence. Height and weight, as well as dietary information, were measured using a semi-quan- titative food frequency questionnaire and sociodemographic information. Results: Data of 4 691 children aged 1-11 years were analyzed. Vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-D70% of vitamin D intake. Conclusions: Vitamin D deficiency is important in Mexican children. Actions and programs to fight this deficiency are required.

Resumen Objetivo: Evaluar el estado y la deficiencia de vitamina D en niños mexicanos, así como los factores relacionados, con datos actualizados de una encuesta nacional representativa. Material y métodos: Los datos y muestras de suero de niños participantes se recolectaron en la Ensanut 2018-19. La medición de 25- (OH)- D se realizó mediante quimiolu- miniscencia. Se obtuvo estatura, peso e información dietética a través de un cuestionario semicuantitativo de frecuencia alimentaria e información sociodemográfica. Resultados: Se analizaron datos de 4 691 niños entre 1 y 11 años. Se observó deficiencia de vitamina D (25-OH-D 70% de la ingesta. Conclusiones: La deficiencia de vitamina D es considerable en los niños mexicanos. Se requieren acciones y programas para combatirla.

Abstract Objective: To describe the current status of anemia and iron deficiency (ID), as well as associated sociodemographic characteristics, in older adults (OA). Materials and methods: Serum and capillary blood samples from a sample of OA participants (n=2 902) from the Ensanut 2018-19 were analyzed. ID was defined as s-ferritin<15 μg/L, and anemia was defined according to World Health Organization standards. Logistic regression models were used to associate the characteristics of OA with anemia and ID. Results: Of the OA analyzed, anemia was present in 28.4%, ID in 5% and iron deficiency anemia in 2.07%. Diabetes (OR=2.14), renal insufficiency (OR=10.4), higher age, and urban dwelling (OR=1.35) were conditions associated with higher odds for anemia (p<0.05). Belonging to the 70-79 year age group was the only condition associated with higher odds for ID (OR=1.86, p<0.05). Conclusions: Anemia affects a high proportion of OA, and ID is not the main contributor to anemia. Chronic comorbidities help explain the anemia problem in OA.

Resumen Objetivo: Describir la situación actual de deficiencia de hierro (DH), anemia y características asociadas en adultos mayores (AM). Material y métodos: Se analizó información de 2 902 AM de la Ensanut 2018-19. Deficiencia de hierro se definió: s-ferritina<15 μg/L y anemia de acuerdo con el criterio de la Organización Mundial de la Salud. Se emplearon modelos de regresión logística para identificar las características asociadas con la DH y anemia en los AM. Resultados: La prevalencia de anemia fue de 28.4%, DH 5% y anemia por DH 2.07%. Diabetes (RM=2.14), insuficiencia renal (RM=10.4), la mayor edad y habitar en localidades urbanas (RM=1.35) se asociaron a mayor momio para anemia (p<0.05). El grupo de edad de 70-79 años fue la única característica asociada a mayor probabilidad de DH (RM=1.86, p<0.05). Conclusiones: La anemia afecta a una proporción de los AM sin tener como principal causa a la DH. Algunas comorbilidades crónicas explican el problema de la anemia en esta población.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between dietary patterns, stunting, and overweight among Mexican preschoolers. METHODS This study was conducted with anthropometric (weight, height/length), sociodemographic (age, gender, education level of household head, socioeconomic status, country region and area, ethnicity, and beneficiary of social programs), and dietary data (Semiquantitative-food frequency questionnaire) on children aged from 1 to 4 years collected from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey-2012. Dietary patterns were derived by principal components analysis. The association between dietary patterns, stunting, and overweight was assessed by prevalence ratios (PR), estimated by Poisson regression. RESULTS In total, 1,112 preschoolers (mean age 3.06 years, SD = 1.08 years; 48.8% females) were included in the study; 11.9% of whom presented stunting, and 6.7% overweight. We identified four dietary patterns: Fruits and Vegetables [F&V], Western [W], Traditional [T], and Milk and Liquids [M&L]. Considering the lowest tertile of each dietary pattern as reference, the prevalence of stunting was 2.04 times higher [95%CI: 1.17–3.56] among children in the highest tertile of the “F&V” pattern. The prevalence of stunting was lower among children in the highest tertile of the “W” pattern [PR = 0.48; 95%CI: 0.27–0.85]. Overweight was negatively associated with the “F&V” dietary pattern [PR = 0.37; 95%CI: 0.16–0.85 for its highest tertile], and children whose consumption was mostly equivalent to the “T” pattern showed higher prevalence of stunting [PR = 1.74; 95%CI: 1.01–3.00]. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of stunting and overweight in a nationwide sample of Mexican preschoolers was associated with dietary patterns.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between dietary patterns, stunting, and overweight among Mexican preschoolers. METHODS This study was conducted with anthropometric (weight, height/length), sociodemographic (age, gender, education level of household head, socioeconomic status, country region and area, ethnicity, and beneficiary of social programs), and dietary data (Semiquantitative-food frequency questionnaire) on children aged from 1 to 4 years collected from the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey-2012. Dietary patterns were derived by principal components analysis. The association between dietary patterns, stunting, and overweight was assessed by prevalence ratios (PR), estimated by Poisson regression. RESULTS In total, 1,112 preschoolers (mean age 3.06 years, SD = 1.08 years; 48.8% females) were included in the study; 11.9% of whom presented stunting, and 6.7% overweight. We identified four dietary patterns: Fruits and Vegetables [F&V], Western [W], Traditional [T], and Milk and Liquids [M&L]. Considering the lowest tertile of each dietary pattern as reference, the prevalence of stunting was 2.04 times higher [95%CI: 1.17–3.56] among children in the highest tertile of the “F&V” pattern. The prevalence of stunting was lower among children in the highest tertile of the “W” pattern [PR = 0.48; 95%CI: 0.27–0.85]. Overweight was negatively associated with the “F&V” dietary pattern [PR = 0.37; 95%CI: 0.16–0.85 for its highest tertile], and children whose consumption was mostly equivalent to the “T” pattern showed higher prevalence of stunting [PR = 1.74; 95%CI: 1.01–3.00]. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of stunting and overweight in a nationwide sample of Mexican preschoolers was associated with dietary patterns.

Objective. To determine the prevalence of lactation, the use of industrialized milk and weaning, and the factors related to lack of breast-feeding and early weaning in young infants of rural communities. Material and methods. Transversal study performed by last year medical students doing Social Service in 222 rural communities in Mexico who applied structured interviews to 5 409 families with children younger than 1 year of age. Results. The percentages of children who were never breast-fed were: in the north (N) 21.4%, in the center (C) 7.6% and in the south (S) 5.3%. Children who were still being breast-fed, either exclusively or with mixed feeding by the third trimester were 35.6% (N), 67.6% (C) and 77.5% (S); in the second trimester, 67.2% (N), 40.9% (C) and 51.6% (S) had been weaned. In the N region it was observed that lack of breast-feeding was associated to the health personnel who attended delivery, mothers with six or more years of education and less than four children, dwellings with permanent material floors, two or more household commodities and a head of the family different from the father. Early weaning was essentially associated to the same factors; additionally, to the child being taken care of by someone different from the mother, artificial lactation by parental decision or due to medical recommendation and the use of health services provided by social security or private physicians. Conclusions. Artificial lactation and early weaning are typical of small families, with high educational level of the mother, better living conditions and contact with medical personnel, especially in the N of the country. Children are weaned before the second semester of life and it is therefore deemed necessary to implement health programs which promote breast-feeding and gradual weaning after the sixth month of life among the infant population of Mexican rural communities.

Objetivo. Determinar las prevalencias de lactancia humana, uso de leches industrializadas y ablactación así como los factores asociados a la falta de alimentación al seno materno y al destete temprano. Material y métodos. Estudio transversal realizado por pasantes de medicina en Servicio Social en 222 localidades rurales de México, mediante entrevistas estructuradas en 5 409 familias con niños menores de un año. Resultados. Las proporciones de niños que nunca recibieron lactancia al seno materno fueron: en la zona norte (N) de 21.4%; en la centro (C) de 7.6% y la sur (S) de 5.3%. Entre los niños que recibieron lactancia al seno materno, ésta continuó en forma exclusiva o mixta hasta el tercer trimestre de vida en 35.6% (N), 67.6% (C) y 77.5% (S); en el segundo trimestre de vida ya habían sido ablactados 67.2% (N), 40.9% (C) y 51.6% (S). En la región N se encontró que la falta de alimentación al seno materno se asoció con la atención médica del parto, madres con escolaridad mínima de primaria o con menos de cuatro hijos, casa con piso de material permanente, dos o más enseres domésticos mayores y que el sostén económico no fuera el padre. El destete temprano se asoció con los mismos factores, incluyendo que el niño estuviera al cuidado de una persona distinta a la madre, la lactancia artificial decidida por los padres o por recomendación médica, la ablactación temprana y el uso de servicios médicos de seguridad social y/o privados. Conclusiones. La alimentación con sucedáneos de la leche y el destete temprano son propios de familias pequeñas, con mayor educación materna, mejores condiciones de la vivienda y la influencia de los médicos, sobre todo en el norte del país. Además, la ablactación se efectúa antes del segundo semestre de vida, por lo que es recomendable elaborar programas que promuevan la alimentación al seno materno y la ablactación correcta en la población infantil de las comunidades rurales de México.