Venus Supawan

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.

Riboflavin supplementation in a resettlement village in north-east Thailand.

I. A high prevalence of biochemical ariboflavinosis was shown to be present in the preschool children and a small group of adults in a village in north-east Thailand using an in vitro test based on erythrocyte glutathione reductasc (EGR) activity. z. A riboflavin supplement of 10 mgld mas given to all subjects for 7 d. 3. It was demonstrated that the riboflavin supplement cured the biochemical ariboflavinosis and the results supported the prcvious suggestion that a stimulation 3 20 % of the in vitro EGR activity was a good indicator of ariboflavinosis. 4. A dietary survey carried out on twenty preschool children during the experimental period showed riboflavin intake to be low, 0.18 2 0.06 mg/Mcal. 5 . No glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD)-deficient subjects were shown to be deficient in riboflavin by the in vitro test. The possibility of using in vivo stimulation of EGR activity by riboflavin is discussed as a possible way of demonstrating ariboflavinosis in G-6PD-deficient subjects.

Serum proteins and nutritional status of free-living Thai elderly

Fifty-six Thai males and 146 Thai females aged 60 years and above visiting a special clinic for the elderly were investigated. The serum protein and immunoglobulin of these elderly were assessed. Anthropometric measurements were also taken. From a random sample of the group, the dietary intake of main nutrients was determined by a 24 h recall method with the help of food models. Weight, height and mid-arm muscle circumference of males were greater than those of females. Triceps skinfold thickness was less in the males than in the females. Forty-seven per cent of the individuals investigated had alpha1-antitrypsin levels below 200 mg/dl and 25.4% had IgG levels of 200 mg/dl and 39% IgA levels above 450 mg/dl. The males tend to consume more calories in the form of carbohydrates than the females. The nutritional density of fat was less than 20% in the males. A negative correlation between serum albumin and height and a positive correlation between serum IgG and tricep skinfold thickness were found. Weight was found to have a positive correlation with calories, carbohydrates and fat. Height correlated positively with calories, protein and carbohydrates. Serum prealbumin correlated with fat intake. It is concluded that, except for alpha1-antitrypsin, IgA, serum proteins are found in a range normally detected also in elderlies in western countries. Body composition does not relate to level of protein intake.

Pregnancy, nutrition and parasitic infection of rural and urban women in northeast Thailand

Abstract Outcome of pregnancy as well as nutritional status and intake, haemoglobin, albumin and parasitic infection rate of pregnant women from the villages and of women in a high socio-economic class from the urban sector in Northeast Thailand were investigated. Females in the rural areas get pregnant at a younger age. Generally, the nutritional status of urban women is better than that of their rural counterparts. Differences in haemoglobin between the groups could only be observed at the onset of pregnancy because pregnant rural women were treated frequently with iron tablets. No difference in the albumin level could be observed between groups. Total energy intake was the same in both groups but higher intakes of fat, protein, vitamins and trace elements were found in the group of urban women. Liver fluke infection was associated with lower maternal weight gain in the rural women. 52.3% of the women in the villages had insufficient maternal weight gains below 7 kg, as compared to only 11.5% of the urban women. 15.8% of the babies delivered by the village women and 5.4% by the urban women had low birth weights. In the rural women, the risk of delivering low birth weight babies was more than 3, and of insufficient weight gain, more than 6 times higher than in the urban women.

Anthropometry, cholesterol, HDL and LDL in relation to alpha-2-macroglobulin in thai construction site workers

Abstract The serum proteinase inhibitor (PI) alpha-2-macroglobulin ( α 2 M) has been reported to play a role in influencing the nutritional status by adapting metabolism to nutrient intake. This was tested among hardworking male and female construction site workers. In addition cholesterol, HDL and LDL was determined in order to test the effect of hard physical work on these lipids in relation to α 2 M. A statistically significant negative correlation between α 2 M as dependent and age, anthropometric measurements as well as HDL as independent variables was found only for the males. No correlation was observed between α 2 M as dependent variable and cholesterol as well as LDL as independent variables. The paper discusses possible reasons for the observed differences between male and females, as well as the hypothesis that an increase of α 2 M in the course of heavy work load and exercise might help to protect against the development of cardio vascular diseases and cancer.