Daily physiological iron requirements in children.

Median daily iron absorption was determined in iron-replete males and females between 2 and 19 years of age from the upper and lower socioeconomic strata of the Venezuelan population. A comparison was made with iron absorption of well-nourished children, on the basis of hematological and anthropometric reference values from the U.S. The median absorption level, which was calculated from the increase in total body iron due to growth and the daily losses through exfoliation and menstruation, was also used to estimate the requirements of 95% of the population. When the requirements were expressed in terms of body weight, no significant difference in iron absorption was observed between the three Venezuelan and one U.S. groups, ranging from about 30 to 38 micrograms/kg/day in both sexes between 4 and 16 years of age. However, when the requirements were expressed without division by the weight factor, the requirements of the better nourished groups were somewhat higher than those of the Venezuelan lower socioeconomic population with, in addition, a threefold variation over the 5 to 16 year age range. These findings suggest that the total iron requirements of children at a certain age may be most adequately expressed in terms of the optimal body weight for that age.

[Comparative study of height and age at menarche according to the socioeconomic level in Venezuela]. / Estudios comparados de la estatura y edad de la menarquia según estrato socioeconomico en Venezuela.

This is a retrospective study based on growth and development data published in Venezuela by various authors in the period 1936-1978. The data on height for males of the middle and high socioeconomic strata show growth curves which are very similar to the standards for British children. Likewise, the girls of the same socioeconomic condition follow the British standards, but only up to about 10-12 years of age. After that age, the girls studied by the Venezuelan authors, show a pattern of early maturation with a corresponding lower adult height compared with their British counterparts. There were differences in the growth curves according to the socioeconomic strata. These differences were more marked in the girls data. A secular increase for height was discerned, from the published data, in all socioeconomic strata and in both sexes. The data on sexual maturation showed a tendency for progressively early menarche in Venezuelan girls. These changes in growth in height and age of menarche were more notorious and came about at an earlier age in the upper socioeconomic strata. They were less marked, not constant, and came about later in the lower socioeconomic groups. The secular changes in height and sexual maturation apparent from these data, could be explained by an improvement in the environmental conditions, especially nutrition and hygiene of the population, and also be genetic heterosis from European immigration and with improvement in communications.

PIP: A review of trends in height and weight at menarche in Venezuela is presented using data from studies published during the period 1936 to 1978. Variations by socioeconomic status are identified and discussed. (summary in ENG)

[Adiposity and fat distribution in preschool children from low socioeconomic levels in Caracas]. / Adiposidad y patrón de distribución en un grupo de preescolares de estratos socioeconómicos bajos de Caracas.

Epidemiological studies suggest that body fat distribution in adults is associated with chronical nontransmissible diseases, less is known during the growing years. The current study was undertaken to explore the relationship between level of fatness, fat patterning and some socioenvironmental variables in a group of 449 children aged 3 to 6, living in Caracas, who belong to the poorest Venezuelan socio-economic stratum. Data was analyzed taking nutritional status (weight-for-age), an index of socioeconomic conditions (ICSA), sex and age, as control variables. Using a multivariate analysis we derived first, two groups of households (G1 and G2) as determined by socioeconomic variables, to which principal component analysis was applied to elicited fatness and relative fat patterning through six skinfolds. First component identify level of adiposity, second extremity/trunk fatness, and third upper/lower pattern. Comparison of normal children with those of low weight-for-age showed differences in adiposity and in the upper/lower patterning as detected by the skinfolds involved in the differences: subscapular (-0.53) and supraspinale (0.32) in children with low weight-for-age; triceps (-0.46) and thigh (0.29) in those classified as normal. We found that gender, nutritional condition, environmental variables and age, were significant predictors of the differences in adiposity level; while age and households conditions, appear to be related to upper/lower patterning. The data equally suggests that body fat is more centrally distributed in boys with low weight-for-age. Since these patterns are indicators of risk in the ongoing years, we call tha attention about environmental circumstances.

[Requirements of nutrients which participate in erythropoiesis]. / Requerimientos de nutrientes que participan en la eritropoyesis.

Proteins, some minerals and vitamins, play important roles in erythropoiesis and the survival of the red blood cell. This article deals specifically with the physiological requirements and recommended intakes of iron, folate and vitamin B12. A comparison of the physiologic iron requirements according to age and sex, and the amount of iron which is actually absorbed from the diets consumed by the lower socioeconomic strata of the Venezuelan population; indicates that these diets do not satisfy the requirements at all ages. Such disparity is most marked in children below three years of age, in adolescents and in women during their reproductive age. Failure to do so leads to varying degrees of iron deficiency. This low bioavailability of the Venezuelan diet is also observed in other Latin American diets consumed by the same low socioeconomic strata, which explains the high prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in the vulnerable groups. The low intake of fruits and vegetables by the lower socioeconomic strata of the Latin American population prevents these sectors from consuming an adequate intake of folate, failing to fulfill the daily recommended intake (3.3 - 3.6 micrograms/kg body weight). This situation is aggravated in pregnant and lactating women who require an additional intake of 300 micrograms and 100 micrograms, respectively. Prevalence of folate deficiency in the first stage may be in the order of 30% in some regions. In the second stage of deficiency, characterized by megaloblastic changes in the bone marrow and an erythrocyte folate concentration of less than 50 micrograms/lt, it could be as high as 40% in pregnant women. Nutritional vitamin B12 deficiency does not constitute a health problem in Latin America. Various surveys in the lower socioeconomic strata have reported normal or higher than normal serum B12 concentrations, compared to well-nourished populations.

[Adiposity distribution in adolescents by conicity index]. / Distribución de la adiposidad en adolescentes mediante el indice de conicidad.

Body regional fat distribution has been linked with a metabolic atherogenic risk profile, that starts early in life. Data from a cross-sectional sample of 394 boys and girls, 11 to 16 years, who inhabit a slum sector of Caracas, Venezuela was studied using Conicity Index (C): [equation: see text] by means of Box-plot diagram, Levene, ANOVA, and Scheffé tests. The accepted level of significance was p < 0.05. Results showed significant differences in body fat distribution between age groups. Height and body mass index were used as control variables. C values ranged between (1.02-1.18) in boys and (0.99-1.14) in girls. Boys attained higher mean values. All groups showed variance homogeneity (p value > 0.05) and sexual dimorphism was found at 11, 12 and 13 years, that were removed after controlling for height and body mass index. Differences according to age groups in boys, were removed after controlling for height. Results found conicity index as an alternative method to assess abdominal fat distribution during adolescents years.

Iron bioavailability from diets consumed by different socioeconomic strata of the Venezuelan population.

The iron bioavailability from three typical diets consumed by socioeconomic stratum IV (SES IV--working class) of the Venezuelan population was determined by the extrinsic label method. Although the iron content of the SES IV diets was about the same (250 mumol/d) as that of upper (SES I-III) and lower (SES V) socioeconomic strata diets, iron-replete subjects absorbed 43 and 61% more iron from the SES I-III diets than from the SES IV and V diets, respectively, and absorption from the main meal of the SES I-III diets was 100% greater. However, iron deficient subjects absorbed about the same amount of iron (45 mumol/d) from the SES IV diets as from the SES I-III diets. The SES I-III diets contained more iron absorption enhancers (ascorbic acid and meat protein) and less of the inhibitor phytate, than the SES IV and V diets. Iron absorption from the meals of four diets consumed at different times during the day was also measured. There was no significant difference in the percentage iron absorption from the same meals eaten in the morning after an overnight fast, and when eaten at the customary time of day.

Nutrición y participación comunitaria en las acciones de la Fundación Bengoa / Nutrition and community participation in the action of Fundación Bengoa

El programa de nutrición comunitaria de la Fundación Bengoa consiste en desarrollar y fortalecer capacidades y actitudes en alimentación y nutrición, con la finalidad de formar líderes y multiplicadores en defensa de los derechos a la alimentación y la salud. Se desarrolla mediante proyectos sociales en comunidades de escasos recursos. Esto es posible mediante la articulación con instituciones, organizaciones y empresas que asumen el compromiso de trabajar con, para y desde la comunidad. El programa tiene varios componentes: educación alimentaria y nutricional, vigilancia nutricional, participación, seguridad alimentaria, gerencia de servicio, ambiente y articulación institucional, los cuales se ejecutan de acuerdo a la modalidad del proyecto. El núcleo central de formación y capacitación es la educación alimentaria y nutricional. La Fundación Bengoa ha desarrollado 16 proyectos en más de 80 comunidades venezolanas en 9 años. Con uno de sus aliados, Farmacia SAAS, tiene un programa de educación contra la malnutrición desde hace 4 años, que ha producido 6 anuncios en televisión y guías impresas de orientación nutricional a las comunidades. Las iniciativas comunitarias son efectivas para modificar ciertas realidades pero, fundamentalmente, permiten sensibilizar a todos los actores comunitarios en el uso de estrategias y herramientas que brindan las nuevas tecnologías, para estimular los procesos educativos y generar cambios de hábitos que fomenten una vida sana(AU)

The aim of the Community Nutrition Foundation Bengoa program is to develop and strengthen skills and attitudes in food and nutrition in order to train leaders and multipliers in defence of the rights to food and health. It is developed through social projects in poor communities. This is possible through the joint institutions, organizations and companies who are committed to working with, to and from the community. The programme has several components: food and nutrition education, nutritional surveillance, participation, food security, environment, institutional coordination, and service management which are executed according to the mode of the project. The core training is the food and nutrition education. The Bengoa Foundation in nine years, has developed 16 projects in more than 80 Venezuelan communities. With one of his allies, pharmacy SAAS, for the last four years has been running a programme of education against malnutrition, which has produced six pieces of television and printed nutritional guidelines to communities. The community initiatives are effective to modify certain realities but essentially allow to increase awareness among all relevant stakeholders in the community, increase competence in the use of strategies and tools, provide new technologies to stimulate educational processes and generate changes that promote healthy living habits(AU)

Patrones de crecimiento de los venezolanos; dimorfismo sexual y ritmo de maduración / Patterns of growth of the venezuelan sexual dismorphism and rhythm of maturers

Se presentan algunos resultados del Proyecto Venezuela (1981-1987) y del Estudio Longitudinal del Area Metropolitana de Caracas (1976-1983). Las niñas iniciaron el brote puberal (BP) en talla y peso a los 9 1/2 años y alcanzaron la edad del punto de velocidad máxima (EPVM) a los 11 1/2 y 12 años, respectivamente, e iniciaron el desarrollo sexual (GM2) más de 1 año antes que el de los varones (G2:11 1/2 años). Las niñas resultaron más altas y pesadas entre los 11 y 13 años predominio puberal precoz debido al tempo rápido de las venezolanas- los hombres terminaron 12 1/2 cm y 8 Kg más altos y pesados a los 19 años. La secuencia de eventos: EPVM talla