Calidad nutricional y precio de alimentos en el marco de estrategias de seguridad alimentaria y alimentación saludable / Nutritional quality and food price in the framework of food security strategies and healthy food

INTRODUCCIÓN Existen antecedentes relacionados con el derecho a la seguridad alimentaria y una alimentación saludable de la población, en general, y los sectores más vulnerables, en particular. Las intervenciones gubernamentales deben identificar los alimentos más convenientes y el diferencial de precio entre productos de diferente calidad o densidad de nutrientes. OBJETIVOS Desarrollar y aplicar un indicador que permita identificar los productos más convenientes en términos de calidad nutricional y precio en todas las categorías de alimentos y bebidas que integran la dieta promedio de la población argentina. MÉTODOS Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, transversal, cuantitativo y observacional, que analizó la calidad nutricional de los alimentos y bebidas y su precio. La descripción se basó en registros por observación directa de ambas variables. RESULTADOS Los dos quintiles de mejor calidad nutricional se conforman con hortalizas, frutas, carnes magras, legumbres, leche y yogur, huevos, cereales integrales y pan fresco. El tercer quintil, de calidad intermedia, se integra con panes envasados, cereales refinados y quesos. El segundo quintil, de calidad regular, con carnes procesadas, postres lácteos, aceites y grasa de origen animal y galletitas. El quintil de calidad mínima está conformado por galletitas y panificados dulces, carnes procesadas, aderezos, azúcar y dulces. El 82,6% de los productos de mejor calidad nutricional vuelven a ubicarse en los mismos quintiles de calidad/ precio. El valor de 100 kcal de una alimentación saludable es de $4,25. DISCUSIÓN Los resultados aportan un instrumento que permite evaluar integralmente la calidad nutricional y el precio de los alimentos. Hacer efectiva una alimentación saludable implica destinar no menos del 80% del gasto en alimentos a productos de los quintiles más altos de calidad nutricional/precio. Según el registro de precios realizado en este trabajo, ese valor es de $5800 por mes para una familia de cuatro personas.

¿Es la ingesta de sodio una barrera al consumo de agua en una alimentación saludable? / Is sodium intake a barrier to water consumption in a healthy diet?

La preocupación por una elevada ingesta de sodio a través del consumo de alimentos y bebidas deriva en varias ocasiones en recomendaciones restrictivas de productos que no se caracterizan por ser fuente del mismo, como es el caso de las aguas envasadas. La población argentina (promedio) consume diariamente un volumen de líquidos ajustado a las recomendaciones definidas por grupos de expertos. Sin embargo, el perfil de calidad no es el mejor, no a causa del sodio sino, a la alta proporción de azúcar incorporada a las bebidas. A la vez, algunos profesionales de salud y nutrición manifiestan confusión acerca de los criterios de rotulación y declaración de propiedades relativas al sodio, factor que puede incidir en recomendaciones erróneas a la población. Por último, el propio Código Alimentario Argentino propicia esta confusión ya que prescribe un tratamiento diferencial para la rotulación y declaración de contenido de sodio entre aguas envasadas y bebidas.(AU)

¿Es la ingesta de sodio una barrera al consumo de agua en una alimentación saludable? / Is sodium intake a barrier to water consumption in a healthy diet?

La preocupación por una elevada ingesta de sodio a través del consumo de alimentos y bebidas deriva en varias ocasiones en recomendaciones restrictivas de productos que no se caracterizan por ser fuente del mismo, como es el caso de las aguas envasadas. La población argentina (promedio) consume diariamente un volumen de líquidos ajustado a las recomendaciones definidas por grupos de expertos. Sin embargo, el perfil de calidad no es el mejor, no a causa del sodio sino, a la alta proporción de azúcar incorporada a las bebidas. A la vez, algunos profesionales de salud y nutrición manifiestan confusión acerca de los criterios de rotulación y declaración de propiedades relativas al sodio, factor que puede incidir en recomendaciones erróneas a la población. Por último, el propio Código Alimentario Argentino propicia esta confusión ya que prescribe un tratamiento diferencial para la rotulación y declaración de contenido de sodio entre aguas envasadas y bebidas.

Análisis de la alimentación en el ámbito escolar / Child feeding analysis in the school setting

INTRODUCCIÓN El diseño de las políticas de alimentación escolar incide en el perfil epidemiológico nutricional, OBJETIVOS Caracterizar el entorno alimentario y evaluar la calidad nutricional de las prestaciones alimentarias ofrecidas y la ingesta total (hogar y escuela) de energía y nutrientes críticos (grasas saturadas, sodio y azúcares agregados), MÉTODOS Se realizaron entrevistas y mediciones de las prestaciones alimentarias en una muestra de 50 escuelas pertenecientes a 5 jurisdicciones urbanas de Argentina. El estudio incluyó observación y registro de la oferta de alimentos en 24 kioscos escolares, encuestas sobre ingesta de energía y nutrientes críticos (recordatorios de 24 horas) y autorregistro de alimentos adquiridos en kioscos en una muestra de 811 escolares. RESULTADOS En el conjunto de la muestra, se observó una ingesta energética (mediana) de 1954 kcal. Un 28% del aporte promedio de energía y nutrientes críticos se origina en el comedor escolar, 12% en el kiosco y 69% en la dieta hogareña. Las mayores inadecuaciones de la dieta se concentran en las ingestas altas de kcal dispensables (97% de los escolares), azúcares agregados (79%) y grasas saturadas (74%). La dieta tiende a ser monótona, y las prestaciones escolares refuerzan (en lugar de atenuar) esa monotonía. El perfil de los alimentos adquiridos en los kioscos escolares es de una alta carga en azúcares agregados. No hay diferencias significativas entre las características del entorno alimentario escolar y los resultados de la calidad de la dieta. DISCUSIÓN Se identifican tres áreas de recomendaciones intervenciones de educación alimentaria con foco en las principales inadecuaciones de la dieta; rediseño de metas y contenidos de las prestaciones alimentarias; y regulación de la oferta de kioscos escolares para fomentar un mejor perfil nutricional, en especial por disminución de vehículos de azúcares agregados.

[Blood lead levels in children of Cordoba City]. / Niveles de plomo en sangre en niños de la ciudad de Córdoba.

Exposure to environmental lead is a major hazard to public health. International Environmental Agencies have assessed that blood lead concentrations of 10.0-15.0 micrograms/dl or even lower may be a risk factor for children. This survey focussed on environmental lead contamination and tried to provide information about blood lead levels in the children population of Cordoba City. A total of 172 children between 6 months and 9 years of age assisted in health centers and hospitals from December 1995 to December 1996 were surveyed. Lead assessment was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with graphite furnace. Results revealed that 73.3% of the children population studied exhibited blood lead levels lower than 10.0 micrograms/dl; 19.2% evidenced risk concentration levels (10.0-14.9 micrograms/dl) and 7.6% showed concentrations higher than 15.0 micrograms/dl. It was confirmed that children with elevated concentrations lived in areas where numerous car repair shops are located. Three of the subjects lived in slums. From the group with low blood lead levels (< 10.0 micrograms/dl), 25 children lived downtown or near main avenues of heavy traffic and belonged to middle class families. Our survey showed a high occurrence of children with lead levels higher than 15.0 micrograms/dl (7.6%) whose etiology risk factors have been identified. Prevention should be able to cut down this occurrence through a safe control of environmental lead sources.

Niveles de plomo en sangre en niños de la ciudad de Córdoba. / [Blood lead levels in children of Cordoba City]

Exposure to environmental lead is a major hazard to public health. International Environmental Agencies have assessed that blood lead concentrations of 10.0-15.0 micrograms/dl or even lower may be a risk factor for children. This survey focussed on environmental lead contamination and tried to provide information about blood lead levels in the children population of Cordoba City. A total of 172 children between 6 months and 9 years of age assisted in health centers and hospitals from December 1995 to December 1996 were surveyed. Lead assessment was performed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry with graphite furnace. Results revealed that 73.3

of the children population studied exhibited blood lead levels lower than 10.0 micrograms/dl; 19.2

evidenced risk concentration levels (10.0-14.9 micrograms/dl) and 7.6

showed concentrations higher than 15.0 micrograms/dl. It was confirmed that children with elevated concentrations lived in areas where numerous car repair shops are located. Three of the subjects lived in slums. From the group with low blood lead levels (< 10.0 micrograms/dl), 25 children lived downtown or near main avenues of heavy traffic and belonged to middle class families. Our survey showed a high occurrence of children with lead levels higher than 15.0 micrograms/dl (7.6

) whose etiology risk factors have been identified. Prevention should be able to cut down this occurrence through a safe control of environmental lead sources.

Prenatal nicotine exposure induces cardiac adrenergic subsensitivity in adult rats.

Adult offsprings of Wistar female rats treated during pregnancy (days 1-20) with nicotine (1 mg/kg s.c.,b.i.d.), were tested in order to detect possible alterations in the reactivity of the cardiovascular system to sympathetic agonists. Dose-response curves to the pressor response of noradrenaline (NA) did not show any differences between control and experimental animals. However, cumulative dose-response curves to the chronotropic effect of NA on isolated atria were significantly shifted to the right in nicotine prenatal treated rats than in controls. Accordingly, 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding was significantly reduced in hearts of experimental animals as compared with controls, without any change in affinity. These data demonstrate long lasting deleterious effects induced by prenatal nicotine exposure, probably resulting from alterations in the sympathetic system during the developing stage.

Prenatal nicotine exposure induces cardiac adrenergic subsensitivity in adult rats.

Adult offsprings of Wistar female rats treated during pregnancy (days 1-20) with nicotine (1 mg/kg s.c.,b.i.d.), were tested in order to detect possible alterations in the reactivity of the cardiovascular system to sympathetic agonists. Dose-response curves to the pressor response of noradrenaline (NA) did not show any differences between control and experimental animals. However, cumulative dose-response curves to the chronotropic effect of NA on isolated atria were significantly shifted to the right in nicotine prenatal treated rats than in controls. Accordingly, 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding was significantly reduced in hearts of experimental animals as compared with controls, without any change in affinity. These data demonstrate long lasting deleterious effects induced by prenatal nicotine exposure, probably resulting from alterations in the sympathetic system during the developing stage.

Prenatal nicotine exposure induces cardiac adrenergic subsensitivity in adult rats.

Adult offsprings of Wistar female rats treated during pregnancy (days 1-20) with nicotine (1 mg/kg s.c.,b.i.d.), were tested in order to detect possible alterations in the reactivity of the cardiovascular system to sympathetic agonists. Dose-response curves to the pressor response of noradrenaline (NA) did not show any differences between control and experimental animals. However, cumulative dose-response curves to the chronotropic effect of NA on isolated atria were significantly shifted to the right in nicotine prenatal treated rats than in controls. Accordingly, 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding was significantly reduced in hearts of experimental animals as compared with controls, without any change in affinity. These data demonstrate long lasting deleterious effects induced by prenatal nicotine exposure, probably resulting from alterations in the sympathetic system during the developing stage.

Prenatal nicotine exposure induces cardiac adrenergic subsensitivity in adult rats

Adult offsprings of Wistar female rats treated during pregnancy (days 1-20) with nicotine (1 mg/kg s.c.,b.i.d.), were tested in order to detect possible alterations in the reactivity of the cardiovascular system to sympathetic agonists. Dose-response curves to the pressor response of noradrenaline (NA) did not show any differences between control and experimental animals. However, cumulative dose-response curves to the chronotropic effect of NA on isolated atria were significantly shifted to the right in nicotine prenatal treated rats than in controls. Accordingly, 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding was significantly reduced in hearts of experimental animals as compared with controls, without any change in affinity. These data demonstrate long lasting deleterious effects induced by prenatal nicotine exposure, probably resulting from alterations in the sympathetic system during the developing stage.

Prenatal nicotine exposure induces cardiac adrenergic subsensitivity in adult rats

Adult offsprings of Wistar female rats treated during pregnancy (days 1-20) with nicotine (1 mg/kg s.c.,b.i.d.), were tested in order to detect possible alterations in the reactivity of the cardiovascular system to sympathetic agonists. Dose-response curves to the pressor response of noradrenaline (NA) did not show any differences between control and experimental animals. However, cumulative dose-response curves to the chronotropic effect of NA on isolated atria were significantly shifted to the right in nicotine prenatal treated rats than in controls. Accordingly, 3H-dihydroalprenolol binding was significantly reduced in hearts of experimental animals as compared with controls, without any change in affinity. These data demonstrate long lasting deleterious effects induced by prenatal nicotine exposure, probably resulting from alterations in the sympathetic system during the developing stage.

Prenatal nicotine exposure increased susceptibility to electroconvulsive shock (ECS) in adult rats.

Female rats were treated during pregnancy (days 1-20) with nicotine (1 mg/kg SC, b.i.d.). When some aspects of maternal behavior and developmental parameters were recorded in mothers and pups, respectively, no changes were detected in the experimental group as compared with controls. However, adult offspring of nicotine-treated rats showed an increased susceptibility to ECS. These results demonstrate long-lasting deleterious effects induced by nicotine exposure during fetal life.

Latin America: actions for the prevention and treatment of malnutrition.

The stagnation of the social and economic progress of Latin America in the 1980s is an aftermatch of its enormous external debt and of the drop in the international price of agricultural goods which are its main exports. Today in LA more people is malnourished and live under the line of poverty than in the 1970s. Programs for the prevention of malnutrition and for the rehabilitation of malnourished children have been enforced in most countries in order to mitigate the effects of the crisis. Such actions are briefly discussed.

Experimental autoimmune damage to rat male accessory glands. I. Transfer of autoimmune response by spleen cells.

Spleen cells obtained 30 days after the first immunization of rats isoimmunized with an extract of male accessory glands (MAG) were capable of adoptively transferring specific cell-mediated immunity to normal syngenic recipients. Humoral and cell-mediated immune responses were investigated in donor and in the recipient rats that were killed 7 days after intravenous (IV) injection of the cells. In recipient rats the cell-mediated immunity showed multiple ways of expression and in some cases this was exemplified by a sharp increase in regard to the donor's response. Furthermore, a widespread reactivity in the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus cells was detected. On the contrary, no circulating antibodies to MAG antigens were demonstrated after the spleen cell transfer. Cell separation studies showed that a nylon wool-nonadherent cell was responsible for the transfer of the cell-mediated immune response. This was abrogated by depletion of T lymphocytes and treatment with antirat thymocytes serum and complement. The mechanism of transfer and development of the cell-mediated immunity in recipient rats is discussed.