Pyridoxine status in preschool children in northeast Thailand: a community survey.

Pyridoxine status was investigated in four hundred and twenty-four village preschool children aged 1-60 months in Khon Kaen, and Nakorn Rachseema, Northeast Thailand using the erythrocyte aspartate aminotransferase (EAST) test and pyridoxal-5-phosphate activation coefficient (AC). Twenty-two percent of the children had pyridoxine deficiency, of which 15 percent had an AC greater than or equal to 3.37 and 7 percent had border-line deficiency (AC between 3.08-3.36). The prevalence of pyridoxine deficiency increased with age from 11 percent in the first year to 31 percent in the age range of 49-60 months.

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.

Serum lipid pattern in urban and rural Thai population.

Serum cholesterol, triglyceride, phospholipid, total lipid and weight to height ratio were studied in 172 individuals from Bangkok, mainly university staff, and in 247 individuals from rural areas of northeast Thailand. Total lipid and phospholipid levels were statistically significant higher and triglyceride lower in the Bangkok group compared with the group from the rural areas. A cholesterol level did not differ significantly between the groups. The results are discussed in respect of a possible difference in the nutritional status between the individuals from the urban and rural area.

Lipid profile, anthropometry and dietary intake of 132 Thai vegetarians.

The anthropometric measurements, lipid pattern and dietary intake of 64 male and 68 female Thai vegetarians (mostly lacto-vegetarians) were investigated. 32 males and 36 females on an ordinary Thai diet served as controls. Nutritional anthropometric variables and serum lipid concentrations, which the exception of triglycerides, were found to be lower in the vegetarian group than in the control group. The vegetarians consumed more energy than the controls. No difference in the protein intake was observed in both groups. Fat intake was, however, lower and carbohydrate intake higher in the vegetarian group. Also in the vegetarian group, HDL-cholesterol fraction correlated negatively with anthropometric measurements. Other fractions show only a weak correlation, if at all, in this group. A good correlation to all serum lipid variables determined to anthropometric measurement was observed in the control group.

Anthropometry, lipid- and vitamin status of 215 health-conscious Thai elderly.

A survey was carried out on 59 males and 146 females aged 60 years and above from a special clinic for the elderly in Bangkok. All of these subjects had no major complaints of ill health and, judging by their appearance, they seemed to be apparently healthy. 6.8% of the males and 11% of the females were found to be over-nourished. Less than 15% of all the individuals under investigation were suffering from hypertension, hyperglycaemia and hyperuricaemia. 35% of the males but only 13% of the females were anemic. The lipid status of the females was generally worse with statistically higher median values for total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides than the males. There was no significant difference in the variation of HDL-cholesterol between the sexes. High vitamin C, B2 and B6 deficiency rates were observed in both the males and the females.

Vitamin B1, B2 and B6 during the course of pregnancy of rural and urban women in northeast Thailand.

The vitamin B1, B2 and B6 status was investigated in a group of rural and urban pregnant women in the northeast of Thailand during the course of pregnancy. The vitamin status of all three vitamins did not change during the course of pregnancy even for the group of rural women. Differences between the group of village women and those females from a high socio-economic urban fraction of the population were only observed for the vitamin B2 status. The B2-dependent enzyme activation coefficient varies between 46.5 up to 56.7% for the rural and between 8.9 to 18.5% for the urban women. Vitamin B6 deficiencies as measured by the activation coefficient varied above 30% up to 40% and more for both groups of women. A functional significance could only be established for vitamin B2 deficiency. The increase of the activation coefficient correlated with an increase in the serum concentration levels of transferrin. Transferrin in turn was inversely correlated with haemoglobin.

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.

Urinary excretion of thiamine in pre-school children in Northeast Thailand.

Urine samples of 85 Thai pre-school children ages below 5 years were taken for thiamine determination related to creatinine. The thiamine status of these children investigated was found to be normal. No difference in the urinary thiamine levels was observed between male and female subjects.

Serum protease inhibitors in opisthorchiasis, hepatoma, cholangiocarcinoma, and other liver diseases.

Serum alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 1-antichymotrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin increased significantly in patients suffering from liver diseases: hepatoma, amoebic liver abscess, hepatitis, hepatic cirrhosis, cholangiocarcinoma, carcinoma of the head of pancreas including liver fluke infection (opisthorchiasis). Marked increase of alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 1-antichymotrypsin were found in cholangiocarcinoma, carcinoma of the head of pancreas, amoebic liver abscess, hepatic cirrhosis and hepatoma. alpha 2-macroglobulin increased markedly in hepatic cirrhosis. The concentrations of protease inhibitors found in opisthorchiasis were only moderately elevated.

Erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes and blood pressure in relation to overweight and obese Thai in Bangkok.

The specific activities of antioxidant enzymes, [eg superoxide dismutases (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT)], anthropometric measurements, including waist/hip ratio of 48 male and 167 female overweight persons (body mass index (BMI) > or = 25.0 kg/m2) compared with a 26 male and 80 female control group (BMI = 18.5-24.9 kg/m2) of Thai volunteers who attended the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok, for a physical check-up during March-October, 1998, were investigated. There was a slightly significant difference between the median age of the sexes. The medians of height, weight, and waist/hip ratio in males were significantly higher than those in female overweight and obese subjects. The median of arm circumference (AC), mid arm muscle circumference (MAMC) in males was significantly higher than those in female overweight and obese subjects (p < 0.05). The prevalences of hypertension based on systolic and diastolic blood pressure of > or = 160/> or = 95 mmHg, were 8.3% and 37.5% for males and 5.4% and 18.6% for females, respectively. There was no significant difference between the median of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, GPX and CAT) between the sexes. No significant differences in the antioxidant enzymes in male overweight/obese persons and normal controls were presented, whereas antioxidant enzymes in female overweight/obese persons were statistically lower than in control females (p < 0.05). A significantly higher SOD, GPX, and CAT status was observed in normal subjects compared with overweight/obese subjects (p < 0.01). A higher prevalence of SOD < or = 2,866 U/gHb, GPX (< or = 15.96 U/gHb in females was found, compared with males. A high percentage of lower catalase (CAT < or = 19.2x10(4) IU/gHb) was found in both sexes (64.5% in males and 64.5% in females). In obese subjects (BMI > or = 30.0 kg/m2), there were significantly positive relationships between systolic and diastolic blood pressure, systolic blood pressure and waist/hip ratio, and SOD could be related to weight, BMI as well as GPX and CAT, whereas the opposite result was observed for age and SOD.

The urinary sulfur/creatinine ratio in the assessment of protein nutritional status.

The urinary sulfur/creatinine ratio and urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio of Thai soldiers and schoolchildren from Nakhon Nayok, 100 km northeast of Bangkok, the Lam-takong resettlement area and the Kohn Kaen resettlement and irrigation area northeast of Thailand were determined. As reference group healthy children from the University school in Khon Kaen were selected. The urinary urea N/creatinine ratio was significantly lower for the children from Nakhon Nayok, the Lam-takong resettlement and the Khon Kaen resettlement and irrigation area when compared with the reference group. The ratio values of the soldiers was significantly lower than the ratio of every group of children. The urinary sulfur/creatinine ratio for the children in Nakhon Nayok was lower and for the children in the Lam-takong and Khon Kaen resettlements were significantly lower than the ratio of the reference group. For the reference group the normal range for urea N/creatinine ratio was between 4.8 and 14.5 and for sulfur/creatinine ratio between 0.40 and 1.40.

Leptin concentration in relation to body mass index (BMI) and hematological measurements in Thai obese and overweight subjects.

The weight, height and body mass index (BMI), including waist/hip ratio, serum leptin and hematological parameters of 48 male and 166 female overweight (BMI > or = 25.00) Thai volunteers who came for a physical check-up at the Out-patient Department, General Practice Section, Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok during the period March-October 1998, were investigated. There were statistically significantly higher levels of serum leptin, mean corpuscular mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) in the overweight than in 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 medians of leptin in overweight and obese males were significantly higher than those of overweight and obese females. 66.7% (32 out of 48) of overweight and obese males were found to have elevated leptin levels, while 87.3% (145 out of 166) were found in overweight and obese females. Anemia was found in 18.7% of female overweight and obese subjects, using hemoglobin as an indicator. Significant associations were found between weight, height, BMI, waist, hip, waist/hip ratio, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and serum leptin in both male and female overweight subjects. A negative correlation was found between serum leptin and hemoglobin, and hematocrit in both overweight and obese subjects.

Quetelet index, hemoglobin and parasitic infection of rural women in northeast Thailand.

The Quetelet index, hemoglobin and parasitic infection rates of adolescent and young women from 21 villages in Northeast Thailand were assessed. Data were collected in the hot, rainy and cold seasons of the year. The proportion of undernourished females varied between 10 and 15% when a cut-off point of 18.7 of the Quetelet index was chosen. 23 to 33% of the women had hemoglobin levels below 12 g%. Parasitic infection rates with various intestinal helminths were high but not related to the nutritional status or anemia.

Nutritional status of school children in an endemic area of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) after one year of iodine supplementation.

To improve the health and nutritional status of school children in an area of iodine deficiency disorders (IDD) by means of different iodine fortifications in salt, fish sauce and drinking water, anthropometric assessment for nutritional measurement, including hematological status, were performed. There was a significant difference in the weight and height of the children from the four schools investigated, before and after supplementation in each school. The prevalence of anemia (as indicated by hematological measurement) and iodine deficiency (as indicated by urinary iodine concentration in the children from the four schools) were assessed and compared before and after iodine supplementation; a decrease in prevalence was found in all school children, however, serum ferritin did not change before and after supplementation.

Parasitic infection and socio-demographic characteristics of urban construction site workers.

The socio-demographic characteristics and prevalence of parasitic infection of 117 (96 males and 21 females) construction site workers were investigated by means of questionnaires and stool examinations. The age characteristics of the individuals investigated varied widely from 15-60 years with a high percentage in the 21-30 years age range, no sex differences were discovered. Most of the workers received primary education even though some of them did not complete it. The percentage of illiteracy in females was quite high (9.5%) compared with males (2.1%). About 60% and 20% of these construction site workers migrated from the northeastern and northern regions of Thailand, respectively. 79.3% of male and 94.7% of female workers were found to be infected with parasites. Hookworm and Opisthorchis were predominant parasites.

Effect of oral contraceptive agents on thiamine status.

PIP: This study aimed to determine the effect of oral contraceptives (OCs) on thiamine status in 112 women aged 19-37 years. Subjects were divided into 2 groups by socioeconomic level (low and upper) and matched on the basis of social class to non-OC using controls. The duration of OC use in both experimental groups exceeded 6 months. Determinations of urinary thiamine excretion/gm creatinine were made. None of the study participants had thiamine deficiency. However, 15.2% of subjects in the lower socioeconomic OC group compared to 10.5% of women in the lower socioeconomic non-OC users group and 5.9% of subjects in the upper socioeconomic OC group compared to none of those in the upper socioeconomic non-OC users group had thiamine excretion values considered low (33-96 mcg/g). These findings tend to support the observation that OCs influence vitamin metabolism.^ieng

Nutritional health and parasitic infection of rural Thai women of the child bearing age.

The nutritional and health status of non-pregnant women of child bearing age from 20 villages of two districts in Maha Sarakham Province, approximately 500 km northeast of Bangkok, were investigated in April 1987. About 12 per cent of the studied women had a body mass index below 18.7 which is used as a cut-off point of being undernourished. Fat stores and muscle mass were smaller when compared to western females. Only two per cent of the women investigated had low serum albumin, indicating a severe deprivation in the nutritional status. A relatively high prevalence of anaemia was also found. Iron deficiency and haemoglobinopathy are common causes of anaemia. In addition, vitamin B2 depletion also contributes to the high rate of anaemia. Gastrointestinal parasitic infection rates were high with liver fluke, hookworm and echinostomiasis. Hookworm infection had no effect on the rate of anaemic, most probably the worm load in the women infected was rather low. It is recommended that the nutritional health of rural adolescents and young women should be enhanced by generally improving dietary habits and the quality of nutrient intake especially through protein, vitamins and micronutrient. Public health programmes focused on preventive activities should be aimed at this group in order to reduce the prevalent rate of undernutrition, anaemia and parasitic infection.

Compliance of population groups of iodine fortification in an endemic area of goiter in northeast Thailand.

Methods of iodine fortification were tested among women of child bearing ages in four villages of Khon Kaen province, an endemic area of goiter in northeast Thailand, Ban Wang Pa Dum, Ban Pa Klauy and Ban Non Chart received iodine fortified in fish sauce, salt and drinking water respectively, whereas, Ban Non Sa-aad served as a control village. Urine iodine concentrations were investigated before supplement and after three and six months of the experimental period. Three months after supplement, urine iodine levels of villagers from Ban Non Chart and Ban Non Sa-aad were higher than those of Ban Wang Pa Dum and Ban Pa Klauy. Six months later, subjects from Ban Wang Pa Dum and Ban Pa Klauy who had received fortified fish sauce and iodinated salt respectively had significantly higher urine iodine concentrations than those of the other two villages. The result implied that fortified fish sauce and iodinated salt were well accepted by the villagers. However, fortified fish sauce might be the best and most feasible method because villagers use fish sauce more constantly in cooking and salting dishes.

Vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological status in elderly Thais.

Serum vitamin B12, folic acid and haematological data from 147 elderly people (55 males and 92 females) who visited the special clinic for the elderly at Rajvithi Hospital, Bangkok between July and November 1989 were investigated. The individuals studied came from a health-conscious group of the middle socio-economic class in Bangkok. All of them were fairly well except for minor ailments and typical diseases of elderly people such as hypertension, mild to moderate degree coronary heart diseases and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. There was a statistically significant difference in haemoglobin concentrations between males and females. According to the standard haemoglobin cut-off point values of 13 g/dl for males and 12 g/dl for females, anaemia was detected in 22 (15%) of the 147 subjects. The percentage of folic acid deficiency was found to be 20.6 per cent (30 of the 147 cases). Vitamin B12 insufficiency was found in only 6.9 per cent (10 of the 147 cases). No statistically significant correlation between haemoglobin, folic acid and vitamin B12 was found. However, when the data were grouped according to different intervals of increasing haemoglobin concentrations, for females there was a tendency for serum vitamin B12 to decrease, and serum folic acid to increase in both males and females. The results of this study suggest that folate deficiency may play a role in the occurrence of anaemia in elderly people, and therefore, dietary counselling and supplementation of folic acid are recommended.

Urine iodine concentration and prevalence of goiter among rural women of child bearing ages in Northeast Thailand.

Iodine deficiency was investigated in 575 women from 12 villages of Pupaman, Si Chomphu and Amphoe Chum Phae in Khon Kaen province in a project survey under Thai-German cooperation entitled "Promotion of Health and Nutrition Status of Rural Women in Northeast Thailand". The prevalence of goiter (grades 1A, 1B, 2 and 3) were 71.6 per cent in Pupaman, 58.4 per cent in Amphoe Si Chomphu and 35.1 per cent in Amphoe Chum Phae. However, the percentage of urine iodine deficiency of the women from these districts, is reversely with the palpation grading of thyroid gland. The high prevalence of goiter in Pupaman might occur due to goitrogenic effects, although the urine iodine concentration was lower than other districts. Further study about the determination of thiocyanate should be suggested in the high prevalence of goiter.