ABSTRACT Objective: Intrauterine environment can induce fetal metabolic programming that predisposes to adiposity-related chronic diseases in its lifespan. We examined the associations of parental nutritional status and gestational weight gain with offspring body composition in early adulthood. Materials and methods: This is cross-sectional analysis of female participants of the NutriHS who were submitted to questionnaires, clinical examinations and body composition assessed by DXA. Association of pre-conception parental BMI and maternal gestational weight gain (exposures) with body composition measurements (outcomes) were analyzed using multiple linear models adjusted for Directed Acyclic Graphs-based covariables (maternal and paternal educational level, maternal age, and tobacco, alcohol and/or drugs use). The sample included 124 women (median 28 (24-31) years) with a mean BMI of 25.4 ± 4.7 kg/m2. Results: No association between previous paternal BMI and offspring’s body composition was detected. In the fully adjusted linear regression model, maternal BMI was associated with offspring’s total lean mass (β = 0.66, p = 0.001), appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI) (β = 0.11, p = 0.003) and fat mass index (FMI) (β = 0.03, p = 0.039). Gestational weight gain was associated with increased offspring’s BMI (OR 1.12 [95% CI 1.02-1.20], p = 0.01). The linear regression model adjusted for maternal age and maternal and paternal education levels showed associations of gestational weight gain with offspring’s ASMI (β = 0.42, p = 0.046), FMI (β = 0.22, p = 0.005) and android-to-gynoid fat ratio (β = 0.09, p = 0.035). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that preconception maternal BMI could influence lean mass and general adiposity of young adult female offspring and that gestational weight gain could be useful for predicting centrally distributed adiposity.

RESUMO CONTEXTO: A síndrome do intestino irritável é uma desordem gastrointestinal crônica e funcional que pode causar dor abdominal e alteração do hábito intestinal, afetando o estado nutricional e a qualidade de vida. Sua prevalência é alta, acomete cerca de 10% a 15% da população geral em países desenvolvidos, sendo mais prevalente em mulheres do que em homens na proporção 2:1. OBJETIVO: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar o perfil de adiposidade corporal, os hábitos de vida e a qualidade de vida de indivíduos portadores da síndrome do intestino irritável com um grupo controle saudável. MÉTODOS: Estudo caso-controle com 70 mulheres, 34 com a síndrome do intestino irritável e 36 saudáveis. Foi aplicado o Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life Questionnaire para avaliação da qualidade de vida. A adiposidade corporal foi avaliada a partir do índice de massa corporal, circunferência da cintura e relação cintura-quadril. Foi investigado o auto-relato de sintomas gastrointestinais de alimentos considerados problemáticos para portadores da síndrome do intestino irritável e a presença de comorbidades típicas. A análise do estilo de vida incluiu a prática de atividade física, alcoolismo, tabagismo, sonolência diurna e exclusão de alimentos. Para análise estatística foi utilizado o programa IBM SPSS, com o nível de significância de 5%. RESULTADOS: Houve maior acúmulo de adiposidade central e periférica no grupo caso em comparação ao grupo controle (P<0,05). Os casos apresentaram maior chance de desenvolver comorbidades associadas à síndrome do intestino irritável (P<0,05). Cerca de 80% dos pacientes com a síndrome do intestino irritável excluíram algum alimento da dieta (P<0,01) e o total de alimentos problemáticos pode variar de 7 a 21 alimentos (P<0,01). Grupo caso apresentou pior qualidade de vida para o escore geral e para todos os domínios avaliados (P<0,05). CONCLUSÃO: Em comparação aos controles, as mulheres portadoras da síndrome do intestino irritável apresentaram maior adiposidade corporal, maior frequência de comorbidades, maior restrição ao consumo de alimentos considerados problemáticos e pior qualidade de vida.

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome is a functional and chronic gastrointestinal disorder that may cause abdominal pain and altered bowel habits, affecting the nutritional status and quality of life of its carriers. Its prevalence is high, affecting about 10% to 15% of the general population in developed countries, being more prevalent in women than in men in the proportion 2:1. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to compare the profile of body adiposity, life habits, and the quality of life of women with irritable bowel syndrome with a healthy control group. METHODS: Case-control study on 70 women, 34 with irritable bowel syndrome and 36 healthy. We applied the “Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life Questionnaire”to assess quality of life. Body adiposity was assessed from body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. We investigated the self-reporting of gastrointestinal symptoms with food deemed as problematic for carriers of irritable bowel syndrome and the presence of typical comorbidities. Assessment of life habits included: practice of physical activities, alcoholism, smoking, daytime sleepiness, and exclusion of foods from the feeding routine. For statistical analysis we used the IBM SPSS program, with a significance level at 5%. RESULTS: There was higher volume of central and general adiposity in the case group compared with the control group (P<0.05). Cases presented a higher chance of developing IBS-related comorbidities (P<0.05). About of 80% of patients with irritable bowel syndrome have excluded some food from the diet (P<0.01) and the total amount of troublesome foods varied from 7 to 21 (P<0.01). The case group featured worse quality of life compared with the control (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to the control group, women with irritable bowel syndrome showed greater body adiposity, higher frequency of comorbidities, greater restriction on the consumption of problematic foods and worse quality of life.