Relative effectiveness of iron bis-glycinate chelate (Ferrochel) and ferrous sulfate in the control of iron deficiency in pregnant women.

The relative effectiveness of daily supplementation of iron deficiency during pregnancy using 15 mg/day of iron from iron-bis-glycinate chelate (71 pregnant women), or 40 mg iron from ferrous sulfate (74 pregnant women) was evaluated by measuring hemoglobin, transferrin saturation and serum ferritin, at the beginning of the study (< 20 weeks of pregnancy) and at 20-30 weeks and 30-40 weeks thereafter. Ingestion for 13 weeks or more was considered adequate. Seventy three percent of the Ferrochel consuming group and 35% of the ferrous sulfate consuming group were considered to have taken the treatment adequately. The decrease in levels of all the measured parameters was significantly less pronounced in the group that consumed Ferrochel in spite of the lower treatment dose. Iron depletion was found in 30.8% of the women treated with Ferrochel and in 54.5% of the women than consumed ferrous sulfate. Of the factors responsible for non compliance taste was reported in 29.8% of the ferrous sulfate consumers and none in the groups that consumed Ferrochel. It is concluded that daily supplementation with Ferrochel was significantly more effective, in spite of the lower dose, than supplementation with ferrous sulfate.

[Changes in nutritional status of pregnant women assisted at the basic health network, Santo Andre, Brazil]. / Evolución del estado nutricional de embarazadas atendidas en la red basica de salud, Santo Andre, Brasil.

Nutritional conditions in the pre-gestacional period and during pregnancy were evaluated in 372 pregnant women based on the body mass index and Rosso's Graph. Approximately half (51%) the pregnant women presented normal pre-gestacional weight; however, 17.7% were underweight and 31.3% overweight. In the third trimester, 18.8% were underweight and 28.2% overweight. The weight at birth increased as nutritional conditions during pregnancy improved. These results show the importance of appropriate anthropometric control in order to prevent a bad neonatal prognosis and reaffirms the importance of such activity during the whole routine of pre-natal control.

[Rice and bean diets increase hepatic and plasmatic activity of gammaglutamyltranspeptidase in young rats]. / Dietas à base de arroz e feijão aumentam a atividade plasmática e hepática da gama-glutamiltranspeptidadase em ratos jovens.

The effect of feeding rice and bean diets in both hepatic and plasmatic activity of gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase-(GGT-EC 2.3.2.2) activity was evaluated in growing-rats (Experiment A) and mature rats (Experiment B). During 28 days, the animals were fed with isocaloric-diets composed by tree levels of rice, bean or rice-and-bean protein. Similarly with the aproteic group, a significant increase on both the hepatic and plasmatic GGT activity were showed with the lowest levels of protein, when compared with 25% casein control group. This rise was more effective in growing-rats fed on legume-based diets (as bean or rice-and-bean diets), making evident a differential effect of age and an exacerbated effect of the protein restriction with the lowest sulfur amino acids disposal. These alterations suggest a metabolic adaptation of GGT to both the inadequate protein and sulfur-amino acid levels, thus supporting the hypothesis that the Glutathione levels may be reduced by these legume-based diets.

[Iron nutritional status in pregnant adolescents, São Paulo, Brazil]. / Estado nutricional del hierro de gestantes adolescentes, São Paulo, Brasil.

The frequency of anemia, iron deficiency and iron body stores was assessed in 155 pregnant teenagers of low socioeconomic status in a prenatal care unit of a beneficent hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. By the criterion of the World Health Organization (Hb < 12 g/dL) 14.2% of the pregnant adolescents had anemia. The iron deficiency diagnostic by saturation of transferrin < 16% and zinc protoporphyrin concentration > 60 (mol/mol heme were 45.8 and 42.6%, respectively. The iron body store (serum ferritin < 12 micrograms/L) was depleted for 48.4% of adolescents. It is concluded that the iron nutritional status of these adolescents were characteristics of the pregravidic inadequate iron store. Despite low percentage of the anemia, the high frequency of iron deficiency and depleted iron stores suggest a practical procedure to detect iron deficiency and the use of iron supplementation in teenagers.

DL-methionine supplementation of rice-and-bean diets affects gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity and glutathione content in livers of growing rats.

Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT-EC 2.3.2.2) activity and glutathione (GSH) content were measured in livers of female weanling Wistar rats (N = 5-18), submitted to rice-and-bean diets (13 and 6% w/w protein), both supplemented or not with DL-methionine (0.5 and 0.23 g/100 g dry diet, respectively). After 28 days, the rats on the rice-and-bean diets showed significantly higher levels (four times higher) of liver GGT activity and a concomitant 50% lower concentration of liver GSH in comparison with control groups feeding on casein. The addition of DL-methionine to rice-and-bean diets significantly increased the liver GSH content, which reached levels 50% higher than those found in animals on casein diets. The increase in GSH was accompanied by a decrease in liver GGT activity, which did not reach levels as low as those observed in the control groups. No significant correlation could be established between GGT and GSH changes under the present experimental conditions. Linear correlation analysis only revealed that in animals submitted to unsupplemented rice-and-bean diets GSH concentration was positively associated (P < 0.05) with weight gain, food intake and food efficiency. GGT, however, was negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with food intake only, and exclusively for supplemented rice-and-bean diets. The high levels of GGT activity observed in the present study for rats receiving a rice-and-bean mixture could be a result of the poor quality of these diets associated with their deficiency in sulfur amino acids. The results also suggest that diet supplementation with methionine could be important in the reduction of the deleterious effects of GSH depletion by restoring the intracellular concentration of this tripeptide.

DL-methionine supplementation of rice-and-bean diets affects gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity and glutathione content in livers of growing rats

Gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT-EC 2.3.2.2) activity and glutathione (GSH) content were measured in livers of female weanling Wistar rats (N = 5-18), submitted to rice-and-bean diets (13 and 6 per cent w/w protein), both supplemented or not with DL-methionine (0.5 and 0.23 g/100 g dry diet, respectively). After 28 days, the rats on the rice-and-bean diets showed significantly higher levels (four times higher) of liver GGT activity and a concomitant 50 per cent lower concentration of liver GSH in comparison with control groups feeding on casein. The addition of DL-methionine to rice-and-bean diets significantly increased the liver GSH content, which reached levels 50 per cent higher than those found in animals on casein diets. The increase in GSH was accompanied by a decrease in liver GGT activity, which did not reach levels as low as those observed in the control groups. No significant correlation could be established between GGT and GSH changes under the present experimental conditions. Linear correlation analysis only revealed that in animals submitted to unsupplemented rice-and-bean diets GSH concentration was positively associated (P<0.05) with weight gain, food intake and food efficiency. GGT, however, was negatively correlated (P<0.05) with food intake only, and exclusively for supplemented rice-and-bean diets. The high levels of GGT activity observed in the present study for rats receiving a rice-and-bean mixture could be a result of the poor quality of these diets associated with their deficiency in sulfur amino acids. The results also suggest that diet supplementation with methionine could be important in the reduction of the deleterious effects of GSH depletion by restoring the intracellular concentration of this tripeptide.

[Nutritional status of adolescent pregnancy in São Paulo, Brazil]. / Estado nutricional de gestantes adolescentes en São Paulo, Brasil.

Several anthropometric patterns were used to evaluate the nutritional status of 155 pregnant teenagers of low socioeconomic status in a prenatal care unit of a beneficent hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. Using the body mass index 25.2% of them were classified as underweight before pregnancy and 3.3% during pregnancy. The Siqueira's et al curve and the Rosso's normogram showed higher percentages of underweight, as well as of overweight and obesity. The results indicated the necessity to review the anthropometrics patterns that classify specifically the nutritional status of pregnant adolescents.

[Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in female adolescents in Taboaoa da Serro, SP. Brazil]. / Prevalência de anemia e deficiência de ferro em adolescentes do sexo feminino-Taboão da Serra, SP, Brasil.

It was studied an equiprobabilistic sample of 262 female teenagers living in the city of Taboão da Serra, Brazil, with the aim of evaluating the prevalence of anemia and iron-deficiency. Anemia was identified by the hemoglobin level and the prevalence of iron-deficiency was determined through the concentration of free erythrocyte protoporphyrin. It was observed a prevalence of 17.6% of anemia, and its occurrence was inversely related to factors indicative of the economic-social level: income, schooling of parents and home's characteristics. The presence of anemia was higher in the group that did not have reached menarche, and its occurrence did not show relation with the interval between menstrual cycle. The prevalence of iron-deficiency was of 29,4% and it was not verified correlation between the bloody hemoglobin and the free erythrocyte protoporphyrin, except in severe cases of anemia.

Determination of rare earth elements in blood serum reference sample by chelating resin preconcentration and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Rare earth elements (REEs) in a blood serum reference sample, which is a freeze-dried sample issued from the National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan, have been determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) after sample digestion and concentration pretreatment. The freeze-dried serum sample (ca. 0.8 g), which corresponded to 10 ml of original blood serum, was digested with HNO3 with heating on a hot plate. The digested sample was then diluted with 100 ml of 0.1 M HNO3, and REEs in the diluted solution were adsorbed on chelating resin (Chelex 100). The resin was then filtered with a glass filter. Finally, REEs on the resin were dissolved with 10 ml of 2 M HNO3 aqueous solution, and the sample solution was analyzed by ICP-MS. The concentrations of all the REEs were successfully determined by the present method. The recovery values of REEs were in the range of 70-80%, and the relative standard deviation of the recovery values in repeated experiments (n = 3) was less than 5% for all REEs. In addition, 20 other elements were also determined by ICP-MS and ICP-AES.

[Nutritional and disease diagnosis in institutionalized children. Day care center Elisio Teixeira Leite, Perus, SP 1993]. / Diagnóstico nutricional e de saúde de crianças institucionalizadas - creche Elísio Teixeira Leite, Perus, SP, 1993.

As a part of one survey about health conditions in institutionalized children, the nutritional status were evaluated. Data were obtained through antropometric assessment in a sample of 111 pre-school children matriculated in a small official day-care center in Perus-SP. According to Gomez, 50.0% of all that children were classified as malnourished, 23.4% of them in the I degree; 22.4% in II degree and only 4.3% in III degree. Taking into account the Waterlow's classification there was a highest frequency of cronic-actual malnutrition (30.8%) concentrated in children between 12-48 months of age. Additionally, these children presented highest incidence of infective-respiratory and intestinal diseases. These evidences lead on to the improvement of the follow-up of children growth and food consumption, specially that under 24 meses, to attempt for an early identification of malnutrition, thus increasing the chance of nutritional recuperation.

[Nutrition evaluation of female university students]. / Avaliação nutricional de estudantes universitários do sexo feminino.

The self-evaluation of nutritional status, utilized as a teaching strategy of introductory nutrition course at Nursing School (São Paulo's University), gave a subsidy to this work. With this purpose, 50 female university students 3rd'semester (mean age was 21.7) were required to complete a three days food record and report their approximate height and weight. The analysis of food intake adequacy indicated that 98% of the students had insufficient intake (less than 90% of recommended of National Research Council-1980) of, at least, one of the nutrients (protein, calcium, iron, vitamin A, B1, B2, C and niacin). It was evidenced an inadequate intake (less than 90% of RDA) of calcium (80% of the students), vitamin A (72%), iron (64%), vitamin B1 (74%), vitamin B2 (56%) and vitamin C (34%). The inadequate intake was more frequently and serious (less than 60% RDA) for calcium (42%), vitamin A (20%) and iron (16%) showing a vitamins and minerals deficient diet.

Protein-losing enteropathy and pancreatic involvement in a case of connective tissue disease.

A patient with connective tissue disease presenting with both protein-losing enteropathy and pancreatic involvement is reported. A 52-year-old female was admitted because of mild epigastralgia, anasarca and ascites. Serum albumin, transferrin and zinc, showed low levels. An Upper G.I. series and endoscopy showed thickened folds of the duodenum and the jejunum. Biopsy specimens revealed lymphangiectasia in edematous villi. 99mTc-labeled human serum albumin scintigram showed abnormal radioactivity in the small intestine 90 minutes after intravenous injection, indicating protein-losing enteropathy. Hypoalbuminemia was ameliorated by glucocorticoid therapy, but recurred twice when glucocorticoid treatment was tapered. Hypoalbuminemia has not occurred since intestinal lymphangiectasia was improved with glucocorticoid treatment. Levels of elastase 1 and lipase were high in serum and ascites on admission. Endoscopic retrograde pancreatogram showed no abnormalities. Serum pancreatic enzymes were also ameliorated by glucocorticoid therapy, but slightly high levels continued for about one year and a half. This case might have been diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus although mixed connective tissue disease was also suspected. There are few reports of protein-losing enteropathy and pancreatic involvement associated with connective tissue diseases. Protein-losing enteropathy and pancreatic involvement were ameliorated with glucocorticoid treatment, suggesting participation of immunological mechanisms.

Cross-linking and fluorescence changes of collagen by glycation and oxidation.

The non-enzymatic glucosylation of collagen in vivo and in vitro produces blue-fluorescent cross-links very slowly. The mechanism of their formation is unknown. We investigated the role of oxidation in glycation. When native fluorescent collagen from old-rat tail tendon and its CNBr peptides were oxidized by chemically generated singlet oxygen, cross-linking occurred immediately, and the cross-linked products showed an increased blue fluorescence. Further cross-linking and development of blue fluorescence also were accelerated by singlet oxygen when oxidizing in vitro glucosylated collagen CNBr peptides. It was noted that the blue fluorescence developed at the expense of a near-UV fluorescence. This near-UV fluorophore, which is also present in native collagen, was found to be produced by the in vitro glucosylation of collagen and during the cross-linking by glucosylation was slowly converted to the blue fluorophore. These changes indicate the autoxidation of near-UV fluorescent intermediates to blue fluorescent cross-links during glucosylation. Non-enzymatic fructosylation, which occurs in vivo in certain proteins, was more effective than glucosylation in forming fluorophores and cross-links with collagen in vitro. Fructosylated fluorophores were found different from glucosylated products in their oxidation reactivities with singlet oxygen.

Cross-linking of collagen CNBr peptides by ozone or UV light.

Insoluble collagen from rat tail tendon was digested with cyanogen bromide. The resultant peptides were dissolved in 0.1% SDS solution and separated by gel filtration and gel electrophoresis. Cross-linking occurred in CNBr-cleaved peptides when they were exposed to ozone or biologically effective UV (300 nm) radiation. The enhancement of a blue fluorescence at 430 nm (excited at 350 nm) was found to be associated with oxidized, cross-linked peptides. Polymeric peptides, formed in collagen with aging, also exhibited enhanced blue fluorescence.