Iberoamerican University

Introduction: Added sugar (AS) intake has been linked to chronic diseases, yet evidence in children under 2 years remains limited. Aim: Characterise AS intake in children ≤ 2 years with associated appetite, satiety, growth, adiposity, and breastfeeding duration. Methods: We analysed data from 248 mother-child pairs from the MAS-Lactancia birth cohort. Intake of AS and energy was estimated using data from 24 h dietary recalls. AS intake was classified in tertiles as low (0 g), medium (0.01-6.96 g), and high (>6.96 g). Major food group contributors to AS intake were identified. Appetite and satiety indicators were measured using the Child Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. Adiposity was evaluated using body mass index-for-age Z score, waist circumference, and skinfold thickness. Growth was assessed using length-for-age Z score (ZLA). Linear mixed-effects models were fitted. Results: AS intake and its contribution to total energy increased with age. Major contributors to AS intake were infant formulas, table sugars, and sweet baked goods. Longer exclusive and continued breastfeeding were associated with lower AS intake. Compared to low intake, children with high AS intake had higher scores for emotional overeating (β = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.04, 1.12) and food fussiness (β = 1.45, 95% CI: 0.38, 2.53). High AS intake was also associated with lower ZLA (β = -0.17 z, 95% CI: -0.32, -0.01) and higher waist circumference (β = 2.02 cm, 95% CI: 1.32, 2.73). Conclusions: Among children ≤ 2 years, AS intake ≥ 7 g/d was associated with suboptimal growth, central adiposity, and less favourable eating behaviours. Longer breastfeeding duration may protect against AS exposure.

BACKGROUND:Osteosarcopenia-the coexistence of osteopenia/osteoporosis and sarcopenia-is associated with numerous adverse health outcomes, but its association with intrinsic capacity (IC) remains unknown. We aimed to explore the associations of osteosarcopenia with IC and all-cause mortality in older adults. METHODS:We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of IC and a prospective analysis of all-cause mortality in 1142 participants from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging (75.1 ± 6.0 years, 53.1% women). Participants were classified as having no musculoskeletal disorders, osteopenia/osteoporosis, sarcopenia, or osteosarcopenia (DXA- and EWGSOP2-based criteria). IC was operationalized as a composite score integrating locomotion, cognition, psychological, vitality, and sensory domains. RESULTS:Older adults with osteosarcopenia exhibited lower total IC (76.6 ± 1.1 points) than those without musculoskeletal disorders (83.7 ± 0.5 points; p < .001) or with osteopenia/osteoporosis (81.3 ± 0.3 points; p < .001), with significant differences also found between the latter groups (p < .001). Specifically, osteosarcopenia was associated with poorer results in the locomotion, cognition, vitality, and sensory domains (all p < .01), but not in the psychological domain. Over a median 6.2-year follow-up, osteosarcopenia-but not osteopenia/osteoporosis-was associated with a higher risk of mortality compared to those without musculoskeletal disorders [HR (95% CI)=1.96 (1.02-3.77); p = .045]. In joint analyses with IC status (high vs low, segregated by the median), this association was specifically observed among participants with osteosarcopenia and low IC [HR = 2.55 (1.31-4.96); p = .004]. CONCLUSIONS:Osteosarcopenia is associated with lower total IC and impairments across most IC domains. This finding is of clinical relevance, as the combination of this condition and low IC is associated with an increased mortality risk.

The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), along with its predecessor, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), has established economic interdependence among the United States, Mexico, and Canada by integrating their food and energy sectors. This study seeks to critically evaluate the risks this interdependence poses to the economic security of these na-tions, particularly with regard to the availability and accessibility of food and energy resources in today’s global context. Additionally, the study investigates the recent adoption of protectionist policies by USMCA member states, aimed at securing food and energy resources, and illustrates their incompatibility with the existing USMCA legal framework. The analysis further address-es the implications of these protectionist measures on the review of the agreement on July 2026 and their broader impact on the future (dis)integration within the North American Free Trade Area. Employing an empirical quantitative methodology, the research conducts a comprehensive analysis of treaties, domestic laws, regulations, and pertinent state practices, adopting a multidisciplinary approach that encompasses international economics, politics, and law.

OBJECTIVES:Circadian disruption has been linked to adverse metabolic health. Adolescents are particularly susceptible to circadian disruptors, such as delayed sleep onset and social jetlag, which may have sex-specific effects. However, evidence linking these disruptors with circadian gene expression and subsequent cardiometabolic risk remains limited. METHODS:Our study included 203 adolescents (53% females, median age 13.6 years) from the ELEMENT cohort in Mexico City. Sleep was assessed via 7-day wrist actigraphy. A fasting venipuncture blood sample was collected between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. RNA was isolated from blood leukocytes and sequenced to determine the relative expression of genes. We conducted differential gene expression analysis for 12 core clock genes in relation to sleep midpoint and social jetlag, adjusting for sleep duration and other potential confounders. We further evaluated how circadian gene expression associated with changes in adiposity, glucose metabolism, blood pressure, and lipid profiles over two years using linear regression. RESULTS:Later sleep midpoint (per 1-h increase) was associated with reduced mid-morning expression of four circadian genes: RORA (log2 fold change [LFC]: -0.190; P value: 0.001), RORC (LFC: -0.147; P value: 0.039), CLOCK (LFC: -0.141; P value: 0.019), and NR1D2 (LFC: -0.093; P value: 0.029). Additionally, expression levels of several clock genes (CRY1, NR1D2, BMAL1, and PER1-3) were associated with changes in metabolic biomarkers over two years in sex-specific patterns. For instance, NR1D2 showed a negative association with fasting glucose among females (β: -0.0012; P value: 0.020), while demonstrating positive associations with LDL cholesterol (β: 0.0023; P value: 0.002) and total cholesterol (β: 0.0016; P value: 0.028) among males. CONCLUSIONS:Expression of core clock genes was linked to circadian disruption and changes in cardiometabolic risk factors in a sex-specific manner among adolescents. Our findings provide novel insights into potential biological mechanisms underlying associations of circadian disruption with cardiometabolic health.

Organizational well-being and workplace happiness are essential pillars for productivity and organizational sustainability. This study presents an integrative literature review of theoretical models on workplace well-being, aiming to provide a holistic framework applicable to organizational context. Contributions from positive psychology, human talent management, and organizational culture were analyzed, highlighting the critical role of mental, emotional and social health as core components of well-being. Findings indicate that sustained practices of active participation, recognition, effective communication, and emotional management enhance job satisfaction, intrinsic motivation and organizational performance. Based on this synthesis, an intervention model is proposed to foster healthy, inclusive and resilient work environments. Overall, the study demonstrates that integrating well-being as strategic organizational focus not only promotes human development and strengthens organizational culture but also contributes to achieving sustainable outcomes and consolidating competitive, people centered organizations.