ongpaew P

Relationship of tobacco smoking with serum vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological indices in healthy adults.

OBJECTIVES To investigate the effects of tobacco smoking on serum vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological parameters in healthy Thai smokers and non-smokers. DESIGN Cross-sectional study of smokers and non-smokers in a military unit in Bangkok, Thailand. SETTING A military unit in Thailand. SUBJECTS One hundred and twenty-three male smokers from a military unit in Bangkok, who participated voluntarily in the study, were investigated. Sixty-six male non-smokers from the same unit were selected as controls. Fasting blood samples were collected for investigation of vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological variables. RESULTS The serum folic acid concentration of smokers was lower than that of non-smokers, but was not statistically significantly different. Haemoglobin was lower in smokers than in non-smokers; 16.3% of smokers were anaemic compared with only 3.0% of non-smokers. Anaemia was not related to folate deficiency. The white blood cell count was found to be higher in smokers than in non-smokers. CONCLUSION The results of this study suggest that there were low serum folic acid concentrations in smokers compared with non-smokers, which might contribute to the development of vascular and cardiovascular diseases. The higher white blood cell count might be indicative alterations in the immune functions of smokers.

FLOW RATE AND COMPOSITION OF WHOLE SALIVA IN CHILDREN FROM RURAL AND URBAN THAILAND WITH DIFFERENT CARIES PREVALENCE AND DIETARY INTAKE

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of dental caries, dietary composition and whole salivary flow rates together with some of the components of saliva between two groups of children aged 12-16 years, one group from an urban area and the other from a rural area of Thailand. A stratified random samples were taken by class from one schools in each area. The children who had mixed dentition and/or who had migrated from other area of Bangkok and 138 students were selected from a school in a rural area of Khon Kaen in northeast Thailand. Results of completed 24-hour dietary recalls for three consecutive days examining the average nutrient intake were compared looking for differences, if any, between these two groups of children. Dental examinations and whole salivary sampling were also undertaken and possible relationships between some nutrients and certain salivary factors were explored. The prevalence of dental caries was found to be higher in the students living in the urban area. The children in the rural area consumed a higher load of carbohydrate, which came mainly from sticky rice. There was no difference in the protein consumption between the two groups, although the children in the rural area consumed more protein from vegetable sources. The salivary flow rate and the concentrations of fluoride, calcium and phosphate were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group from the rural area, while the salivary pH, buffer capacity, concentrations of total protein and urea were higher in the urban area. There was no correlation between nutrient intake and salivary composition in the children from these two areas, which may suggest that dietary nutrients may not have a direct effect on salivary compositions but it was noted that salivary flow rate correlated with salivary urea, albumin and buffer capacity in both areas.

Serum Homocysteine, B12 and Folic Acid Concentration in Thai Overweight and Obese Subjects

This study investigated levels of serum homocysteine, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin B6 and vitamin C, in 37 male and 112 female overweight and obese Thai volunteers (body mass index; BMI > or = 25.00), and 23 male and 90 female normal-weight Thai volunteers, who came for a physical check-up at the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok from March to October of 2000. Data included anthropometric measurements and waist/hip ratios. All anthropometric variables, except height, were significantly higher for the overweight subjects than for the normal subjects. Statistically significantly higher levels of serum homocysteine were found in the overweight subjects. Serum homocysteine concentrations in overweight and obese males were significantly higher than in overweight and obese females. Serum folic acid and vitamin C in the overweight and obese were found to be statistically significantly lower than in the control subjects. No statistically significant difference in vitamin B12 was found in the overweight and obese subjects compared with the normal control subjects. The medians of serum folic acid and vitamin C concentrations for the overweight and obese males were significantly lower than those of the overweight and obese females. A negative correlation was found between serum folic acid and homocysteine concentrations in all overweight and obese subjects. A significant negative correlation between serum folic acid and vitamin B6 was observed in both male and female overweight and obese subjects. The results of the investigation suggest that homocysteine levels in overweight and obese subjects seem to be caused by insufficient dietary folic acid intake and probably not by B12 deficiency.

Leptin, Soluble Leptin Receptor, Lipid Profiles, and LEPR Gene Polymorphisms in Thai Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the relationships between leptin, soluble leptin receptor, lipid profiles, and LEPR gene polymorphisms in child and adolescent Thai subjects. DESIGN Cross-sectional study of Thai children and adolescents. SUBJECTS 116 male and 65 female at risk for overweight/overweight child and adolescent Thai subjects, and 33 male and 62 female healthy child and adolescent Thai subjects (age: 5-19 years). MEASUREMENTS Leptin levels, soluble leptin receptor levels, lipid profiles, LEPR gene polymorphisms. RESULTS Significantly higher levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and leptin levels were observed in at risk for overweight/overweight group. On the other hand, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and soluble leptin receptor levels were significantly lower in the same group. Serum soluble leptin receptor levels were significantly negatively correlated with leptin. The at risk for overweight/overweight subjects with the Lys656Lys homozygous wild type LEPR gene had significantly higher cholesterol and LDL-C levels than those with Lys656Asn heterozygous and Asn656Asn homozygous mutant type. In contrast, subjects with Lys656Lys homozygous wild type had significantly lower leptin levels than those with Lys656Asn heterozygous and Asn656Asn homozygous mutant type. There was a statistically significant association between body mass index (BMI) and hyperleptinemia (odds ratio; OR = 2.49, p = 0.000) and females had more increased risk of hyperleptinemia than males (OR = 15.74, p = 0.004) in adolescent Thai subjects. CONCLUSION The present study is the first report of Lys656Asn polymorphism of the LEPR gene associated with cholesterol, LDL-C, and leptin levels in Thai children and adolescents. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in the at risk for overweight/overweight. In contrast, there were significantly lower soluble leptin receptor levels in the same group. In addition, there was a statistically significant association between BMI, sex, and hyperleptinemia in adolescent Thai subjects.

Proteinase inhibitors and other biochemical criteria in infants and primary schoolchildren from urban and rural environments

1. Preschool children and schoolchildren from a rural area in the northeast of Thailand were compared with children from urban areas for prealbumin, albumin, transferrin, alpha 1 B-glucoprotein, the acute-phase reactants alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin, haptoglobin and the proteinase inhibitors alpha 1-protease inhibitor (A1PI) as well as alpha 2-microglobulin (alpha 2M). Urinary urea nitrogen:creatinine (U-C) as well as haemoglobin were also determined. Village preschool children were grouped according to their SD score for weight-for-height based on the (US) National Center for Health Statistics (1976) standard into a normal group with SD scores of greater than or equal to --1.99 and an undernourished group with SD scores of less than or equal to --2.00. 2. There was no significant difference between the normal and the undernourished groups of preschool children for any of the factors measured. 3. Haemoglobin and prealbumin concentrations of preschool children were lower in the rural children than in the urban preschool children from Bangkok. 4. In rural schoolchildren haemoglobin was lower but albumin, transferrin, alpha 1B-glycoprotein and haptoglobin were higher than in urban schoolchildren from the provincial town of Khon Kaen. 5. Serum concentrations of the proteinase inhibitors A1PI and alpha 2M were significantly higher in the rural children than in the urban children. 6. U-C values were lower in rural schoolchildren compared with urban schoolchildren.

Activity, dietary intake, and anthropometry of an informal social group of Thai elderly in Bangkok

Socio-demographic, anthropometric assessment, dietary pattern, lifestyle of 384 Thai elderly (55 males and 329 females) aged 60-94 years, who were members of an informal social activity group, were investigated. The 3-day dietary record was determined with the help of food models by random sampling of the group (seven males and 25 females). Most of the males investigated were married (88.9%), whereas 42.9% of the females were widowed. Nearly all of the elderly investigated lived with their relatives. Only 3% of the elderly had never attended school. More elderly males than females smoked or had smoked in the past, and this applies also to their drinking habits. The health situation of the individuals investigated seemed to be satisfactory. The most frequent diseases found among the elderly were chronic diseases, such as hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus. No statistically significant difference in body mass index (BMI), arm circumference (AC), and hip circumference was found between males and females. Weight, height, mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), arm span, waist, waist/hip ratio and blood pressure of the males were significantly higher than those of the females. Tricep skin-fold thickness (TSF) and subscapular skin-fold thickness (SST) were lower for males than for females. A total of 54.5% of the males and 50.5% of the females were found to be over-nourished. Less than 2% of all the individuals investigated were undernourished. No significant differences were observed for all nutrients between the males and females. Intake of dietary energy from food for males and females was 69.8 and 75.5%, respectively, compared with the Thai RDA. When calculating the intake of macro-nutrients as percentage of total calorie intake, about 17% of the total calorie intake was attributed to fat, 13% to protein and 70% to carbohydrate for the males. For the females, the figures were 17, 15, and 68%, respectively. Intake of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin B1, B2 and niacin seem to be inadequate for both sexes.

Serum Leptin and Lipid Profiles in Thai Obese and Overweight Subjects

The weight, height, body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio, serum leptin and lipid profiles of 48 overweight (BMI > or = 25.00). Thai males and 166 overweight Thai females, compared with 26 males and 81 females in a control group (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2), were investigated. Subjects for the study were those persons who turned up regularly for physical check-ups at the out-patient department, general practice section of the Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok. The study was conducted between March-October, 1998. Statistically significantly higher levels of serum leptin, cholesterol, LDL-C, LDL-C/HDL-C ratio and triglyceride were found in the overweight compared with the control subjects. The median serum leptin concentration in overweight subjects was 19.6 (2.0-60.0 ng/ml) compared with 9.0 (range 1.0-30.0 ng/ml) in the control subjects (p < 0.001). The median values of leptin serum concentrations in the overweight and obese males were significantly higher than those of the overweight and obese females. A total of 66.7% (32 out of 48) of the overweight and obese males had elevated leptin levels, while elevated leptin levels were found in 87.3% (145 out of 166) of the overweight and obese females. A total of 18.8% and 21.1% of the overweight and obese males and females respectively had cholesterol concentrations of > or = 6.48 mmol/l. However, the prevalence of low HDL-C (HDL-C < or = 0.91 mmol/l) was found to be 41.7% in the overweight and obese males and 4.2% in the overweight and obese females. Statistically significant associations were found between weight, height, BMI, waist, hip, waist/hip ratio, HDL-C, and serum leptin in both overweight male and female subjects. A negative correlation was found between serum leptin and LDL-C/HDL-C ratio in both the overweight and obese subjects.

An investigation of the health and nutritional status of the population in the Nam Pong Water Resource Development Project, northeast Thailand

The prevalence of gastro-intestinal parasites, the haemoglobin level, nutritional status (from anthropometric measurements), urinary urea-N creatinine (U-C) ratio and levels of vitamin B1, and B2, were studied in populations living around a man-made lake, in a resettlement area and nearby irrigation area and in traditional villages in northeast Thailand. The hydroxyproline (HOP) index was also determined.The intensity of parasitic infection was generally low, but Opisthorchis viverrini had the highest prevalence rate in the irrigation area and hookworm, Necator americanus, in the resettlement area. Despite a high average annual income per household in the irrigation area, no significant difference in the nutritional status was found, as judged by anthropometric measurements. The U-C ratio was highest in children around the lake. Anaemia was common in about 30% of the total population in the areas surveyed. The HOP index was similar in all areas. For vitamin B1, and vitamin B2 1·7–10·9% and 1·9–10·0% of th...

Serum proteinase inhibitors and other serum proteins in protein-energy malnutrition.

1. The concentrations of serum protein albumin, prealbumin and transferrin were determined in twenty-eight cases of protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) with infection, together with the levels of serum proteinase inhibitors (PI), alpha1-antitrypsin (AT), alpha1-antichymotrypsin (Ach), alpha2-macroglobulin (alpha2M) and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor (IalphaI). 2. Albumin, prealbumin and transferrin concentrations, as well as the levels of PI, IalphaI and alpha2M were found to be lower in cases of PEM associated with infection than the corresponding values for a group of healthy Thai preschool children and a group of newborn Thai children, but despite starvation AT and Ach values generally were increased. 3. The results provide support for the hypothesis that PI, especially AT and Ach might limit the synthesis of albumin, prealbumin and transferrin in PEM associated with infection, via the inhibition of the mobilization of bodys own protein.

Alpha-1-protease inhibitor phenotypes and serum concentrations in Thailand

SummaryAlpha-1-protease inhibitor (A1PI) Pi phenotypes were determined in 429 individuals from Bangkok and 423 from the rural area of the northeast of Thailand by isoelectric focusing on thin-layer polyacrylamide gel. Variation was more marked in the Bangkok population. In the rural area, with an exclusively northeastern Thai population the Pi-alleles M, S and Z were detected. A1PI serum concentrations measured by electroimmunoassay were slightly higher in Thai than the values reported from European countries; children with PiM from rural areas had slightly higher A1PI serum concentrations than PiM children from Bangkok.