Food Consumption and Body Composition Are Associated With Metabolic Syndrome Score in Children

Abstract INTRODUCTION/OBJECTIVE: Risk factors for metabolic disorders in childhood are likely to persist into adulthood. It is, therefore, important to identify these factors early to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular outcomes. Thus, this study evaluated the following factors associated with MS in children aged four to seven years: sociodemography, lifestyle, food consumption and nutritional status. METHODS: The study is a cross-sectional study conducted with 397 children (4-7 years) who were monitored during their early months of life via the Lactation Support Program (PROLAC). The continuous risk score for MS was assessed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the MS risk factors used to calculate the score were Waist circumference (WC), High Density Lipoprotein (HDL), Triglycerides (TG), Mean Arterial Pressure (MAP) and blood sugar. In order to evaluate the continuous score’s cut-off point capable of predicting MS risk, a Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve was employed. The factors associated with MS were analyzed by multiple logistic regression analysis with the addition of variables by levels according to the hierarchical theoretical model. RESULTS: The chance of MS was 1.58 times higher among overweight children (OR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.07 - 2.32). A higher calorie intake (OR: 1.0005; 95%CI: 1.0002 - 1.0008) was found to increase the chance of MS. Also, a higher percentage of lean body mass reduced the chance of presenting MS among the children (OR: 0.96; 95%CI: 0.94 - 0.98). CONCLUSION: In children, higher calorie intake, excess weight and lower percentage of lean mass were associated with a greater chance of MS.