Soto-Méndez MJ, Campos R, Hernández L, Orozco M, Vossenaar M, Solomons NW. Food variety, dietary diversity, and food characteristics among convenience samples of Guatemalan women. Salud Publica Mex 2011;53:288-298. AbstractObjective. To compare variety and diversity patterns and dietary characteristics in Guatemalan women. Material and Methods. Two non-consecutive 24-h recalls were conducted in convenience samples of 20 rural Mayan women and 20 urban students. Diversity scores were computed using three food-group systems. Variety and diversity scores and dietary origin and characteristics were compared between settings using independent t-test or Mann-Whitney-U-test. Results. Dietary variety and diversity were generally greater in the urban sample when compared to the rural sample, depending on the number of days and food-group system used for evaluation. The diet was predominantly plant-based and composed of non-fortified food items in both areas. The rural diet was predominantly composed of traditional, non-processed foods. The urban diet was mostly based on non-traditional and processed items. Conclusion. Considerations of intervention strategies for dietary improvement and health protection for the Guatemalan countryside should still rely on promotion and preservation of traditional food selection. Soto-Méndez MJ, Campos R, Hernández L, Orozco M, Vossenaar M, Solomons NW. La variedad, diversidad y características de la dieta en muestras de conveniencia de mujeres guatemaltecas. Salud Publica Mex 2011;53:288-298. 289 salud pública de méxico / vol. 53, no. 4, julio-agosto de 2011 Food variety and diversity in Guatemalan women Artículo originAl * Doak C M, Hamelinck V, Vossenaar M, Panday B, Soto-Méndez MJ, Campos-Ponce M. Evaluating food menus from day care centers in Guatemala City: Descriptive and analytical approaches. Nutrition 2011 (in press).

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Objective: To describe and compare urine oxidative stress biomarkers and erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes activity, in preschoolers from 3 daycare centers in Guatemala Methods: 74 (2‐6 y/o) children (36 F / 38 M) attending 3 government‐subsidized daycare centers identified by location, coded as Center (C) and as to unique location: A (semi‐urban n=19); B (marginal‐urban n=23); and C (rural n=32) enrolled to measure oxidative damage to DNA (8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine {8‐OHdG}) and lipid (15‐Isoprostane F2t {F2‐Iso}) and the erythrocyte activity of Catalase (CAT), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), and Glutathione Reductase (GSHR) and Peroxidase (GPx) Results: 8‐OHdG and F2‐Iso median values were different between sexes (p=0.03 and p=0.04, respectively), even when calculating the total amount excreted per day and adjusting to weight. GPx also differed by sex (p=0.01). According to location 8‐OHdG and F2‐Iso were different between CA and CB (p<0.01 and p<0.01, respectively). CAT and GSHR were different in CB when compared to CA and CC (p<0.01 in both cases). SOD activity was different among all 3 centers (p<0.01), whereas GPx was different between CB and CC (p=0.02) Conclusion: Differences in oxidative biomarkers between sexes, especially those biomarkers that are involved in lipid oxidation (F2‐Iso and GPx), are seen. Funded by: Fundación Iberoamericana de Nutrición (FINUT), Spain and The Hildegard Grunow Foundation (HGF), Germany Grant Funding Source: Supported by Fundación Iberoamericana de Nutrición (FINUT) and The Hildegard Grunow Foundation (HGF)

BackgroundWith the exception of a dietary survey in schoolchildren showing lower‐than‐recommended intakes of essential fatty acids (EFAs), little is known about EFAs status in Guatemala.ObjectiveTo assess FA profiles in red cell membranes from adult women and school children in villages on the southern coastal plain of Guatemala.MethodsBHT‐protected red cell samples were prepared at the follow‐up collection period of an intervention study of a fat‐free fortified beverage from 158 women aged 15–49 y and 135 schoolchildren aged 6–11 y. Fatty acids were identified and quantified using gas‐liquid chromatography and reported in weight percent (Wt%).ResultsWith respect to the EFAs, children were significantly lower than the women in RBC membrane content for 20:3n6, 22:4n6 and 20:5n3, but had higher levels of 18:2n6, 20:4n6, 22:5n6, 22:5n3 and 22:6n3. The overall median omega‐3 proportion (EPA + DHA asWt%) was 3.58 Wt%, with 3.37 in women and 3.77 in children (p<0.05).ConclusionSpecifically for PUFAs, the indicators point to a less than optimal status for the n‐3 series in both subsamples.Funded by Cabcorp, Guatemala, Sight & Life, Basel and DSM Nutritional lipids of Columbia, MD.