Table 1.
Participants’ characteristics.
| Females (n = 71) | Males (n = 79) | Total (n = 150) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 9.0 (8.0; 9.0) | 9.0 (8.0; 10.0) | 9.0 (8.0; 9.0) * |
| Parental education level (years) 1, n (%) | |||
| ≤9 | 21 (36.84) | 27 (40.30) | 48 (32.0) |
| ≥10 and ≤12 | 17 (29.82) | 23 (34.33) | 40 (26.7) |
| >12 | 19 (33.33) | 17 (25.37) | 36 (24.0) |
| Nutritional supplementation 2, n (%) | 12 (16.90) | 8 (10.13) | 20 (13.3) |
| BMI categories 3, n (%) | |||
| Underweight | 4 (5.63) | 5 (6.33) | 9 (6.0) |
| Normal weight | 31 (43.66) | 32 (40.51) | 63 (42.0) |
| Overweight | 23 (32.39) | 17 (21.52) | 40 (26.7) |
| Obese | 13 (18.31) | 25 (31.65) | 38 (25.3) |
| Asthma 4, n (%) | 27 (38.03) | 25 (31.65) | 52 (34.7) |
| Energy (kcal/day) | 2011.30 (1719.50; 2395.65) |
229.21 (1998.35; 2665.99) |
2186.07 (1822.60; 2555.45) ** |
| Nutrient intake | |||
| Protein (g/day) | 98.76 (87.42; 106.68) | 93.64 (84.91; 105.42) | 95.43 (85.26; 108.83) |
| Phosphorus (mg/day) | 1469.09 (1305.62; 1653.26) |
1415.49 (1203.78: 1640.03) |
1443.84 (1250.23; 1640.03) |
| Potassium (mg/day) | 3187.89 (2557.04; 3791.68) |
2969.85 (2589.47; 3502.07) |
3155.24 (2577.85; 3675.95) |
| Magnesium (mg/day) | 282.33 (244.43; 310.37) | 263.32 (2.32.71; 316.83) | 269.41 (239.94; 310.36) |
| Calcium (mg/day) | 1002.81 (667.37; 1251.74) |
993.10 (779.56; 1268.17) |
998.38 (718.56; 1260.81) |
| Dietary Acid Load (mEq/day) | |||
| PRAL | |||
| Low (<14.43) | 33 (46.48) | 42 (53.16) | 75 (50.0) |
| High (≥14.43) | 38 (53.52) | 37 (46.84) | 75 (50.0) |
| NEAP | |||
| Low (<55.79) | 35 (49.30) | 40 (50.63) | 75 (50.0) |
| High (≥55.79) | 36 (50.70) | 39 (50.63) | 75 (50.0) |
| MiRNAs | |||
| miR-21-5p | |||
| Low (<2.79) | 35 (49.30) | 40 (50.63) | 75 (50.0) |
| High (≥2.79) | 36 (50.70) | 39 (49.37) | 75 (50.0) |
| miR-126-3p | |||
| Low (<0.0568) | 36 (50.70) | 39 (49.37) | 75 (50.0) |
| High (≥0.0568) | 35 (49.30) | 40 (50.63) | 75 (50.0) |
| miR-133a-3p | |||
| Low (<0.0164) | 32 (45.07) | 43 (54.43) | 75 (50.0) |
| High (≥0.0164) | 39 (54.93) | 36 (45.57) | 75 (50.0) |
| miR-145-5p | |||
| Low (<0.58) | 31 (43.66) | 44 (55.70) | 75 (50.0) |
| High (≥0.58) | 40 (56.34) | 35 (44.30) | 75 (50.0) |
| miR-146a-5p | |||
| Low (<0.000665) | 47 (66.20) | 45 (56.90) | 92 (61.3) |
| High (≥0.000665) | 24 (33.80) | 34 (43.04) | 58 (38.7) |
| miR-155-5p | |||
| Low (<0.000119) | 53 (74.65) | 61 (51.90) | 114 (76.0) |
| High (≥0.000119) | 18 (25.35) | 18 (22.78) | 36 (24.0) |
| miR-221-3p | |||
| Low (<0.0831) | 34 (47.89) | 41 (51.90) | 75 (50.0) |
| High (≥0.0831) | 37 (52.11) | 38 (48.10) | 75 (50.0) |
| miR-328-3p | |||
| Low (<0.50) | 33 (46.48) | 42 (53.16) | 75 (50.0) |
| High (≥0.50) | 38 (53.52) | 37 (46.84) | 75 (50.0) |
| miR-423-3p | |||
| Low (<0.00107) | 51 (71.83) | 49 (62.03) | 100 (66.7) |
| High (≥0.00107) | 20 (28.17) | 30 (37.97) | 50 (33.3) |
Data are expressed as medians (25th-75th percentile), while categorical ones are described as counts and proportions. * p-value < 0.05; ** p-value < 0.01 1 Number of successfully completed years of formal schooling; 2 child took nutritional supplement in the previous 12 months; 3 According to US Centers for Disease Control; 4 Positive bronchodilation (defined by at least a 12% and over 200 mL increase in forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) after bronchodilation) or self-reported asthma diagnosed by a physician with reported asthma symptoms (wheezing, dyspnea, or dry cough) occurring in the previous 12 months. Abbreviations: PRAL: Potential renal acid load. NEAP: net endogenous acid production.