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Frecuencia del polimorfismo C677T de la 5, 10-metilentetrahidrofolato reductasa (MTHFR) en mujeres chilenas madres de afectados con espina bífida y en controles normales

Background: Several population studies have shown that patients with neural tube defects (NTD), have a higher frequency of a genetic mutation related with thermolability of the enzyme 5,10-metylentetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). There are regional and ethnic variations in the genotypic or allelic frequency of this mutation and its possible relationship with NTD and others congenital anomalies. Aim: To estimate the frequency of the C677T polymorphism of MTHFR in control women and mothers of spina bifida cases. Patients and Methods: We analyzed 58 blood samples from mothers who had a child diagnosed with spina bifida. A group of 184 healthy mothers matched by age and with no NTD offspring served as controls. We determined the C677T polymorphism on the MTHFR gene by means of PCR and the analysis of the digestion pattern of HinfI restriction enzyme. Results: The genotypic frequencies showed concordance with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, in controls (p=0.35), and in mothers of the cases (p=0.95). The odds ratio to the TT genotype compared with the CC genotype (reference category) was estimated as 1.54 (IC 95%: 0,66-3,61), while the odds ratio for the TC genotype compared with CC genotype was 1.06 (IC 95%: 0,48-2,33). Conclusion: No differences in the C677T polymorphism of the MTHFR were observed between mothers who had a child diagnosed with spina bifida and control mothers (Rev Med Chile 2003; 131: 1399-404).

Frecuencia de los defectos de cierre del tubo neural en las maternidades públicas de Santiago durante el año 1999

Background: Fortification of wheat flour with folic acid in Chile, started in January 2000. This fortification should decrease the incidence of neural tube defects. Aim: To study the incidence of neural tube defects among Chilean newborns, during 1999. Material and methods: The records of all newborns and stillbirths with a birth weight over 500 g from 9 public maternity hospitals in Santiago in 1999, were reviewed. All neural tube defects, associated or not to other malformations were taken into account. Results: During the study period, 59.627 newborns and 455 stillbirths were analyzed. The global incidence of neural tube defects was 1.56 per 1.000 born (57% women, 42% men and 1% ambiguous sex). Spina bifida was the most frequent neural tube defect found. Conclusion: These baseline data will be useful to assess the impact of folic acid fortification of wheat flour. (Rev Med Chile 2001; 129: 277-84).

EVALUACIÓN DE UN PROGRAMA DE INFORMACIÓN EN NUTRICIÓN AL CONSUMIDOR

El objetivo fue evaluar la efectividad de una accion de promocion de salud, consistente en la entrega de informacion nutricional, en forma de folletos, a consumidores de 10 supermercados de Santiago. El proceso de entrega del material educativo se evaluo mediante una encuesta a 898 consumidores que recibieron informacion nutricional. Se aplico una pauta estructurada para describir el espacio fisico y a los actores involucrados. Para evaluar la retencion de la informacion nutricional y la posible actitud de cambio en la conducta alimentaria del consumidor se realizo un seguimiento telefonico a 495 personas. Parte del material educativo entregado fue validado en grupos focales (cartillas: «Guia de alimentacion para una vida mas sana» y «Guias de alimentacion del preescolar, del escolar y del adolescente». Los consumidores que respondieron la encuesta (n=898) presentaron una buena disposicion; algunas razones para llevarse el material educativo fueron mejorar la nutricion familiar (42%) y el autocuidado (20%), entre otras. Solo un 30% respondio conocer las guias alimentarias y un 60% la piramide alimentaria. Se contactaron 407 personas en el seguimiento telefonico, de los cuales el 80% leyo el material y un 97% indico su intencion de aplicar los contenidos. La mayoria indico que deseaba aumentar el consumo de verduras y frutas. Esta predisposicion al cambio es un primer paso para mejorar los habitos alimentarios. La comprension de las cartillas validadas fue buena. Conclusiones: el supermercado es un lugar apto para entregar informacion nutricional y los consumidores estan interesados en el tema. Se sugiere continuar con este tipo de intervencion educativa en los supermercados

Nutrición de hierro en lactantes mapuches alimentados con leche materna (2a- etapa).

Blood hemoglobin, serum iron, total iron binding capacity (TIBC) and serum ferritin were measured in 140healthy rural mapuche (southern Chiles indigenous ethnic group) infants aged 8 to 15 months: 90 had been ex-clusively breast fed for the first 5 or 6 months of life, then solid foods were introduced but cows milk was nevergiven to them. The remaining 50, which were all weaned at nearly 4 months of age and then given cows milk andsolid foods at the corresponding age, were designated as controls. Anemia was detected in 4.5% of breast fedinfants and in 38% of controls. Evidence of iron deficient erythropoyesis was found in 5% and 81% of cases andcontrols, respectively. Human milk apparently protects this ethnic group from iron deficiency anemia and thisprotection seems to be better in mapuche infants than in other groups of Chilean infants, because these late haveshowTi 30% incidence of anemia around the first year of life in other studies. More studies on differences in ironnutritional state among mapuche and non mapuche are needed and are under way.(Key word*: iron nutrition, iron defficiency, anemia, breast feeding, cows milk, mapuche.)

Consumo y valoración social de la leche purita fortificada y cereal del Programa Nacional de Alimentación Complementaria (PNAC) en Chile

Resumen es: Introduccion: El Programa Nacional de Alimentacion Complementaria (PNAC), es considerado la mayor intervencion nutricional en Chile. Objetivo: Evaluar el...

Nueva formula Láctea: biodisponibilidad del hierro y efecto en la prevención de su deficiencia en lactantes.

Iron bioavailability from a modified cow milk, formula (LPM) (which included additional iron as 5 mg/l ferrous sulfate and ascorbic acid, 50 mg/l) was examined in 11 adult women using the extrinsic radioactive tag method. The geometric mean absorption from LPM was 13% (reference dose absorption = 26%). The effect of this formula on iron nutrition of infants was studied in 43 healthy term infants weaned spontaneously before 3 months of age which were given LPM until 9 months of age. Another 45 infants (controls) were fed full fat, non fortified powdered cows milk (LP) as delivered through the National Complementary Food Program (PNAC-Chile) and additional 45 infants were given fortified a cows milk formula (LF) with ferrous sulfate (iron: 15 mg/l and ascorbic acid: 100 mg/l). Solid foods (vegetables and meat) were introduced to all these babies from age 4 months. At 9 months of age 4% infants fed LPM had evidence of anemia vs. 2% and 20% of infants given LF and LP formulae respectively. This results suggests that LPM is effective in preventing iron deficiency anemia in infants.