Micronutrient deficiencies in normal and overweight infants in a low socio-economic population in north-east Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Micronutrient deficiencies are the most prevalent form of malnutrition worldwide. Although commonly related to underweight, micronutrient deficiencies can occur in both normal and overweight children in medium- and low-income populations undergoing nutritional transition. OBJECTIVE: To describe haemoglobin and micronutrient levels in infants from a low-income area in Brazil in relation to their weight-for-length Z-score. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken of 2-11-month-old infants in Laranjeiras, a small urban community in North-east-Brazil between April 2009 and February 2010. Anthropometry and assays for haemoglobin, ferritin, plasma zinc, copper and selenium and erythrocyte zinc and copper concentrations were investigated. RESULTS: The total number of full-term infants born in the study period was 222, of whom 153 were available for the study. Three (2%) children were wasted, 98 (66%) were of normal weight, 37 (25%) were at risk of overweight and 11 (7%) were overweight or obese. Nearly all (97%) children had at least one micronutrient deficiency, 102 (67%) had anaemia, 86 (58%) and 100 (67%) had plasma and erythrocyte zinc deficiency, respectively, and 7 (5%) and 113 (76%) had plasma and erythrocyte copper deficiency, respectively. 138 (91%) children had selenium deficiency. Except for plasma zinc, the proportion of infants with micronutrient deficiencies did not differ by weight-for-length status. CONCLUSIONS: The increased risk of overweight and micronutrient deficiencies in this population highlights the need to address the double burden of excess weight with micronutrient deficiencies in medium- and low-income settings.

Study of Protein Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Vitamins and Inflammation in Patients Undergoing either Hemodialysis or Peritoneal Dialysis.

BACKGROUND: The influence of dialysis modality on oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation is not yet clear. Elucidating this influence could provide novel therapy concepts for cardiovascular diseases. AIM: To compare protein OS, antioxidant vitamins and inflammation in patients undergoing either hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 19 PD and 21 HD patients treated for ≥ 6 months. The control group was composed of 17 healthy individuals. Advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), vitamins C, A and E, C-reactive protein and interleukin 6 were measured in plasma samples. RESULTS: OS was higher in the dialysis group when compared with controls, but HD patients showed higher AOPP compared with PD (HD:141.9 ± 75.2 µmol/L; PD: 112.5 ± 69.3 µmol/L, P< 0.01) and AGEs (HD: 32.2 ± 10.6 AU x10³; PD: 26.6 ± 4.9 AUx10³, P< 0.05). There was no difference in inflammation and vitamin levels among dialysis patients. In HD patients, AGEs correlated moderately with serum vitamin C (r = 0.46; P< 0.05). CONCLUSION: The dialysis modality adopted influences protein OS, but it has no effect on antioxidant status or inflammation. Hemodialysis probably exacerbates OS due to the increased bioincompatibility of the dialysis procedure, and this scenario seems to be related to the intravenous supplementation of vitamin C. Peritoneal dialysis allows for a better oxidative balance, which may reduce cardiovascular risk.

Intestinal permeability and oxidative stress in patients with alcoholic pellagra.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Increased intestinal permeability is one of the grastointestinal changes observed in alcoholic patients. However, there are no objective definitions as yet of how alcohol induces pathological changes in the various organs. The action of oxygen-free radicals during ethanol metabolism has been considered a determinant factor of these alterations. The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of niacin supplementation on intestinal permeability and oxidative stress in patients with alcoholic pellagra. METHODS: The study was divided into two phases: in Phase 1 we studied ten patients with pellagra before treatment with niacin, and in Phase 2 we studied the same patients after 27 days of treatment with niacin. Intestinal permeability was assessed by the (51)CrEDTA test and the antioxidant action of niacin supplementation was assessed by the determination of lipid peroxidation (plasma malondialdehyde, MDA), protein oxidation (plasma carbonyl group) and of the antioxidants plasma vitamin E and erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase. RESULTS: Comparison of intestinal permeability by the (51)CrEDTA test before and after niacin treatment showed a significant decrease in permeability from 4.29+/-1.92% to 1.90+/-1.19% (P<0.05). Assessment of oxidative stress showed a significant decrease (P<0.05) in lipid and protein peroxidation (MDA: 1.19+/-0.40-0.89+/-0.27 micromol/l; carbonyl groups: 2.22+/-0.36-1.84+/-0.40 nmol/mg protein). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that niacin and vitamin E deficiency in patients with pellagra could be important factors in increased intestinal permeability and decreased antioxidant conditions, recovering to normal values after treatment with niacin, associated to alcohol abstinence and a balanced diet.