Association between trans fatty acid intake and overweight including obesity in 4 to 5-year-old children from the INMA study

Background: Trans fatty acid (TFA) intake has been positively associated with obesity in adults, although the evidence in children is scarce. There is growing evidence that TFA of industrial or natural origin may have different effects. Objectives: We aimed to explore the association between total, industrial, and natural TFA intake and overweight including obesity in 4 to 5‐year‐old Spanish children. Methods: We cross‐sectionally analyzed data of 1744 children aged 4 to 5 from the INMA study, a prospective mother‐child cohort study in Spain. We estimated the intake of total, industrial, and natural TFA in grams per day (g/day) using a validated food frequency questionnaire and expressed it as quartiles. Overweight including obesity was defined according to the International Obesity Task Force criteria. We used multiple logistic regression to estimate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and confidence intervals (95%CI). Results: After adjusting for major risk factors, the highest quartile of industrial TFA intake (>0.7 g/day) was positively associated with overweight including obesity (OR 1.57, 95%CI 1.13‐2.21, P trend for quartiles 0.01). No significant associations were observed between natural TFA intake and overweight including obesity. Conclusions: In 4 to 5‐year‐old Spanish children, higher intake of industrial but not natural TFA was positively associated with overweight including obesity.

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