[Addition of vitamins and minerals to corn and wheat flour in Mexico]. / Adición de vitaminas y minerales a harinas de maíz y de trigo en México.

In Mexico, marginal micronutrient deficiency is widespread and affects the health status and function of many Mexicans. A program to add nutrients to corn and wheat flour has been promoted by the Ministry of Health. This document describes the scientific and technological bases of the program. The main objective is to restore the nutrients which are lost during cereal processing to obtain flour and food products. Also, certain nutrients which are known to be deficient in a high proportion of Mexicans, and which should be supplemented in the diet for the benefit of the population are also included. In the definition of the formula to be added to flours various other factors were considered such as the absorption levels of the nutrients, potential interactions among them and a wide range of security to eliminate the risk of an adverse effect on health even at the highest level of food intake. Finally, the most appropriate compounds to be added to flours are suggested considering their reactivity and their possible negative effects on the stability of flour, as well as the bioavailability, market availability and cost. The recommended compounds were 5 mg/kg of thiamine (thiamine mononitrate), 3 mg/kg of riboflavin (riboflavin hydrochlorhidrate), 35 mg/kg of niacine (nicotinamide), 30 mg/kg of iron (extrafine reduced iron) and 20 mg/kg of zinc (Zinc oxide) for both types of flour, as well as 2 mg/kg and 0.5 mg/kg of folic acid for wheat and corn flour, respectively.

[Mortality among the workers of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social from 1983 to 1987]. / La mortalidad de los trabajadores del Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social de 1983 a 1987.

A study on mortality of 2,268 workers of the Mexican Social Security Institute was done during 1983-1987 in order to obtain accurate information to specifically determine to those, activities which promote the health and improve the life conditions of the workers of the aforementioned institution. This information relates to the first step of the study, so it doesn't lead us to value judgements, because it would fall into speculations. However, it creates an important data to subsequently explore, by means of further studies, in the casualty of the existing results.