Status de vitaminas A, E, C, betacaroteno, composição corporal, atividade física e estresse oxidativo em escolares com sobrepeso.

Abstract

Studies show that there is an increase of the oxidative stress, inflammation and a decrease in serum antioxidant vitamins in obese children, however there are few data reporting overweight children.The goal of this study was to verify the influence of the overweight in the serum levels of inflammatory markers (C-reactive Protein CRP), oxidative stress (malondialdehyde MDA and reduced glutathione GSH), lipid profile and antioxidant vitamins (A, E, C and beta-carotene). All students with overweight, between 8 and 10 years old have participated in this research, from three public schools in Uberaba, Minas Gerais State, matched for age and gender with a simple random sample of schoolchildren with normal body mass index. The sample was constituted of two matched groups: forty overweight schoolchildren and forty ones with normal body mass index. It was observed that 67.5% of the children with normal body mass index and 67.5% of the overweight ones were considered sedentary and that the average number of hours in front of the TV was four hours for both groups. According to the diet, the normal body mass index ones presented higher average for vitamin A and E intake and the overweight schoolchildren presented higher average intake of vitamin C. The average number of meals eaten per day was three, in both groups. There was no correlation between the intake of vitamins and serum concentrations. Comparing serum concentrations of antioxidant vitamins, MDA, GSH, triglycerides and total cholesterol, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups. It was found a statistically significant difference among the CRP and the groups, that is, the overweight group presented increased concentrations related to the healthy weight group. It was related to the vitamin deficiencies in both groups. There was statistically significant correlation between the intake of vitamin C and serum concentrations of GSH in overweight group. There was positive statistically significant correlation between the level of physical activity and serum concentration of GSH in eutrophic group. However, professionals should orientate about healthy eating and regular physical activity so that these schoolchildren will not be obese, what could provoke an immune imbalance, decreasing the concentrations of these vitamins and GSH and increasing the concentrations of MDA, CRP, TG and CT. Data from this study point to a reflection about the overweight schoolchildren, which is not commonly found in literature and for the healthy weight schoolchildren, who are eating inappropriately and do not have a very active life just like the overweight ones.