Context Zinc is an essential trace mineral required for the function of brain and neural structures. The role of zinc supplementation in the prevention and treatment of depression has been suggested in clinical studies that reported a reduction in depressive symptoms. Objective The aim of this review was to determine whether zinc supplementation vs placebo can prevent or improve depressive symptoms in children, adolescents, or adults. Data Sources Five electronic databases were searched, and studies published until September 2019 were included without language restriction. Study Selection Randomized, controlled, crossover trials that evaluated the effect of zinc supplementation vs a comparator for prevention or improvement of depressive symptoms in children, adolescents, or adults were eligible for inclusion. Data Extraction Two authors independently performed data extraction and risk-of-bias assessment. Results The initial search identified 12 322 studies, 5 of which were eligible for meta-analysis. The standardized mean difference (SMD) showed an average reduction of 0.36 point (95%CI, −0.67 to −0.04) in the intervention group compared with the placebo group. Forstudies in which the mean age of participants was ≥ 40 years, the SMD was reduced by 0.61 point (95%CI, −1.12 to −0.09) in the intervention group vs the placebo group. The meta-analysis by sample size (< 60 individuals and  ≥ 60 individuals) did not show an effect of zinc supplementation in reducing depressive symptoms (SMD −0.28; 95%CI, −0.67 to −0.10; and SMD −0.52; 95%CI, −1.10 to 0.06). Conclusion Zinc supplementation may reduce depressive symptoms in individuals treated with antidepressant drugs for clinical depression. Systematic Review Registration PROSPERO registration number CRD42018081691.

BackgroundThe hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTW) phenotype is defined as the simultaneous presence of increased waist circumference (WC) and serum triglycerides (TG) levels and it has been associated with cardiometabolic risk in children and adolescents.ObjectiveThe objective was to evaluate the influence of HTW phenotype in the fasting glycemia and blood pressure in children and adolescents over one-year follow-up period.MethodsIt is a cohort study involving 492 children and adolescents from 7 to 15 years old, both genders, who were submitted to anthropometric, biochemical and clinical evaluation at the baseline, and also after 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models were calculated to evaluate the longitudinal influence of the HTW phenotype in the glycemia and blood pressure over one-year.ResultsIt was observed a prevalence of 10.6% (n = 52) of HTW phenotype in the students. The GEE models identified that students with HTW phenotype had an increase of 3.87 mg/dl in the fasting glycemia mean (CI: 1.68-6.05) and of 3.67mmHg in the systolic blood pressure (SBP) mean (CI: 1.55-6.08) over one-year follow-up, after adjusting for confounding variables.ConclusionsThe results of this study suggest that HTW phenotype is a risk factor for longitudinal changes in glycemia and SBP in children and adolescents over one-year follow-up period.

Anorexia nervosa (AN) and restrained eating behavior (REB) are characterized by reduced food intake to achieve body weight loss. This scope review aimed to describe the existing evidence on the association between anorexia nervosa, restrictive eating behavior and food consumption. Studies with children and adolescents of both sexes of all races and ethnicities were included. Experimental and observational studies, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, case reports or series, conference abstracts, dissertations and theses were also included. The search was conducted in ten electronic databases and gray literature without language restriction on November 14, 2020. Twenty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies included girls and identified lower intake of calories, fat and certain micronutrients. There was also a higher intake of caffeine, fiber, vegetables, legumes and fruits and a lower intake of low-quality snack, fast food, sweets and foods with high carbohydrate and fat contents. The need to improve the quality of the diet among study participants was also identified. Thus, it is recommended that the evaluation of food consumption be careful to develop effective prevention strategies for the development of AN/REB and minimize nutritional deficiencies in these individuals.