Papers by Margarita Teran
Cuadernos De Nutricion, 2006
The FASEB Journal
Picky eating behavior may have both biological and environmental determinants. We tested the hypo... more Picky eating behavior may have both biological and environmental determinants. We tested the hypothesis that variation in genes that affect taste perception would influence picky eating behavior and body mass index (BMI) by exploring associations with nine genetic variants in six chemosensory-related genes (TAS2R19, TAS2R38, CA6, TAS1R1, TAS1R2, and TAS2R1). Cross-sectional analysis was conducted on data from 144 non-Hispanic white preschoolers (2-5 years) and their parents enrolled in the STRONG Kids program. Participants responded to survey questions about their children's eating habits, including picky eating. Height and weight were measured and saliva was collected for genotyping. Generalized linear models were used to examine differences in picky eating behaviors and BMI z-scores associated with selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Only two polymorphisms on the CA6 gene were associated with picky eating behavior. Both SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and ...
Objectives: Explore whether weight changes during childhood and adolescence were associated with ... more Objectives: Explore whether weight changes during childhood and adolescence were associated with metabolic syndrome (MS) risk factors in Mexico. Methods: Participants 18- to 25-years-old (n=4,076), Mexican college applicants in 2009, underwent a health screen and filled out questionnaires. Four major weight change categories were identified based on self-reported weight during childhood, adolescence, and currently: constantly normal (CN), weight gain who became overweight or obese (WG), constantly overweight/obese (COO), and constantly underweight (CUW). MS risk factors included systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), waist circumference (WC), fasting-glucose (FG), triglycerides (TG) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Non-parametric and regression analyses were used. Results: There were differences across weight change categories in SBP, DBP, WC, FG and TG, but not on HDL (p<0.01). Regression analyses controlling for age and sex indicated that WG and COO categories we...
The FASEB Journal
Childhood obesity rates have risen dramatically in recent decades, compelling researchers to anal... more Childhood obesity rates have risen dramatically in recent decades, compelling researchers to analyze the changing environment surrounding this weight gain. Our goal was to assess parent’s knowledge of food guides and nutrition labels. Parents (n=407) of preschoolers (age 3-5) reported that moms and grandparents were primarily responsible for selecting meals. Overweight parents had 1.86-times higher odds of having overweight children (95% CI 1.15-2.99, p=0.01). Parents of children who were overweight (>85th BMI percentile) had a higher average BMI than parents of children who were normal weight (29.6 vs. 26.6 kg/m2; p=0.0001). Parents’ ability to choose healthy foods may be limited by the way nutrition information is presented. On a nutrition fact label, 35% of parents were unable to correctly complete calculations necessary to interpret nutrition facts. Although 56% of parents attained a Bachelor’s degree or higher, only 32.2% could identify the current USDA food guide. Older and...
The FASEB Journal
Circulating AHSG binds saturated fatty acids (SFA) and increases pro-inflammatory signal cascade ... more Circulating AHSG binds saturated fatty acids (SFA) and increases pro-inflammatory signal cascade via toll-like-4 receptor activation. The gene-nutrient interaction between SFA intake and polymorphisms in AHSG could contribute to the physiopathology of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS). We aim to identify if variations in AHSG relate to biomarkers of metabolic disease and SFA intake. Subjects were college applicants to the UASLP (18-25 years, n=414). Fasting blood was collected for analysis of biomarkers and genotyping. Dietary and health surveys were collected. HOMA-IR was calculated using glucose and insulin levels. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in AHSG were genotyped (rs2518136 and rs4917). Both SNPs were in HWE and had minor allele frequencies greater than 10%. Mean HOMA-IR was lower in AHSG-rs2518136 T-allele carriers when compared to non-carriers (P<0.05, respectively). There was no interaction with AHSG SNPs and SFA intake. Neither SNPs were associated with BMI. Lower ...
The FASEB Journal
Retinoic acid and retinol are important mediators of a multitude of metabolic processes in the hu... more Retinoic acid and retinol are important mediators of a multitude of metabolic processes in the human body, including lipid metabolism. Major dietary precursors of retinoids include the pro-vitamin A carotenoids. Beta-carotene, which is cleaved by the enzyme BCMO1, can be a principle source of retinoic acid in the diet. Within the BCMO1 gene, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs6564851 and rs10048138) have been found to affect activity of this enzyme. Previously, associations between these SNPs and plasma lipid levels have been observed in U.S. cohorts but have not been replicated in the Mexican population. Our objective was to examine the association between differences in genotype of BCMO1-rs6564851 and rs10048138 and plasma lipid levels in a cohort of young Mexican adults (n=374). DNA was obtained from whole blood and was genotyped using the Taqman system. General linear models were used to systematically analyze associations. Both SNPs were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium wit...
Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health, 2015
Immigrant Latinos face conditions which over time negatively impact their nutritional behaviors a... more Immigrant Latinos face conditions which over time negatively impact their nutritional behaviors and health outcomes. Our objective was to evaluate associations between environmental and lifestyle factors and both protective dietary patterns (e.g., intake of fruits and vegetables) and harmful dietary patterns (e.g., consumption of salty snacks and fast food). Surveys were individually and orally administered to 105 foreign-born Latina mothers living in rural locations in a Midwestern state. Principal component analysis created composite variables for each construct and Spearman correlations were conducted to determine associations. Protective dietary patterns were positively associated with access to food and information (ρs = 0.21) and language acculturation (ρs = 0.24), and negatively associated with family challenges (ρs = -0.31). Food insecurity was negatively associated with harmful dietary patterns (ρs = -0.24). Findings suggest that rural Latino dietary interventions should be complemented with comprehensive strategies addressing environmental and lifestyle factors across ecological domains.
Open Journal of Genetics, 2013
Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2013
British Journal of Nutrition, 2012
Sulforaphane (SF) is a chemopreventive isothiocyanate (ITC) derived from glucoraphanin (GRP) hydr... more Sulforaphane (SF) is a chemopreventive isothiocyanate (ITC) derived from glucoraphanin (GRP) hydrolysis by myrosinase, a thioglucoside present in broccoli. The ability of broccoli powders sold as supplements to provide dietary SF is often of concern as many supplements contain GRP, but lack myrosinase. In a previous study, biomarkers of SF bioavailability from a powder rich in GRP, but lacking myrosinase, were enhanced by co-consumption of a myrosinase-containing air-dried broccoli sprout powder. Here, we studied the absorption of SF from the GRP-rich powder used in the previous study, but in combination with fresh broccoli sprouts, which are commercially available and more applicable to the human diet than air-dried sprout powder. A total of four participants each consumed four meals (separated by 1 week) consisting of dry cereal and yogurt with sprouts equivalent to 70 μmol SF, GRP powder equivalent to 120 μmol SF, both or neither. Metabolites of SF were analysed in blood and urin...
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Papers by Margarita Teran