Evidence of the role that dietary carbohydrates (total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, total sugars, dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL)) exerts on insulin levels in adolescents is controversial. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the association between dietary carbohydrates and insulin resistance in adolescents from Chiapas, México. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 217 adolescents. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary and biochemical data were obtained. Total carbohydrates, dietary fiber, total sugars, dietary GI and GL were calculated from 24 h recalls. Two validated cut-off points for the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were used as surrogates of insulin resistance. Fasting insulin levels ≥ 14.38 μU/mL were considered as abnormal. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to assess the association between tertiles of dietary carbohydrates and insulin resistance or hyperinsulinemia. In our study, adolescents with the highest dietary fiber intake had lower odds of HOMA-IR > 2.97 (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.13–0.93) when adjusted for sex, age, body fat percentage and saturated fatty acids intake. No significant associations were found for the rest of the carbohydrate variables. In summary, high-fiber diets reduce the probability of insulin resistance in adolescents from marginalized areas of Chiapas, México.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among different sociodemographic and geographic areas of adolescents from indigenous areas of Chiapas, Mexico. Design: A cross-sectional study. Setting: Communities in the Totzil - Tseltal and Selva region of Chiapas, Mexico, were studied. Urban and rural areas of high marginalization according to the Human Development Index. Participants: 253 adolescents were studied, of which 48.2% were girls and 51.8% were boys. Primary and secondary outcome measures: a descriptive analysis of the quantitative variables was performed through central tendency and dispersion measures. Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), stratified by sex, geographic area (rural/urban), schooling and ethnicity of mothers were estimated. Results: the predominant risk factor in the study population was low HDL-c (51%). Higher prevalences of abdominal obesity and high triglycerides in girls were found and abnormal diastolic blood pressure in boys was identified. In urban areas were found greater prevalences of overweight/obesity and of insulin resistance while abnormal blood pressure levels were more prevalent in rural areas. Differences were found in the educational levels and ethnicity of the adolescents' mothers. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 10% according to NCEP-ATPIII. Conclusions: In this study, sociodemographic and geographical disparities were found in cardiovascular risk factors. Prevalence of risk factors was high, affecting mostly girls and urban population. Thus, there is a great need to promote healthy lifestyles and health, social and economic interventions to prevent chronic diseases in adulthood.