Food habits and risk of cardiovascular disease in schoolchildren from Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between food habits and risk factors for cardiovascular disease in schoolchildren of the city Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a population-based sample of 738 schoolchildren aged 6-14 years. A semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting demographic, socioeconomic, biochemical, clinical, and anthropometric data. Food intake was determined by a food-frequency questionnaire. Food habits were evaluated according to the adapted Recommended Food Score. Multiple linear regression models were constructed to assess how food consumption was associated with cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS: The schoolchildren presented a dietary pattern characterized by low consumption of healthy foods. Association of cardiovascular risk factors showed that the consumption of foods according to the adapted Recommended Food Score was negatively and significantly associated with tetrapolar percentage of body fat (p=0.030) and systolic blood pressure (p=0.049) in children aged 6-9 years. CONCLUSION: Children's dietary patterns proved to be an important determinant of some of the cardiovascular risk factors studied. Thus, food intake assessment is a primary tool for the prevention and early intervention on cardiovascular risk factors during childhood.

研究目的：探究米纳斯吉拉斯州欧鲁普雷图市学龄儿童的饮食习性与心血管疾病危险因素之间的关联。
研究方法：本研究采用基于人群的抽样方法，纳入738名6~14岁学龄儿童开展横断面研究。通过半结构化问卷收集人口统计学、社会经济学、生化指标、临床指标及人体测量学相关数据；借助食物频率问卷（food-frequency questionnaire）评估儿童的食物摄入情况，并依据改良推荐食物评分（adapted Recommended Food Score）对其饮食习性进行评价。构建多重线性回归模型，分析食物摄入与心血管疾病危险因素之间的关联情况。
研究结果：本次纳入的学龄儿童呈现出健康食物摄入不足的饮食模式。针对心血管危险因素的关联分析显示，在6~9岁儿童群体中，符合改良推荐食物评分的食物摄入与四极体脂百分比（p=0.030）及收缩压（p=0.049）呈显著负相关。
研究结论：儿童的饮食模式是本研究涉及的部分心血管疾病危险因素的重要影响因素。由此可见，食物摄入评估可作为儿童时期心血管疾病危险因素预防与早期干预的核心工具。