Practical Application of Linear Growth Measurements in Clinical Research in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Developmen

Yogurt consumption is associated with healthy behavior in postmenopausal women

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine lifestyle and health patterns of yogurt consumers in order to enhance the analysis between yogurt consumption and health outcomes. Methods: We assessed the socio-cultural and behavioral characteristics of 2,173 consumers and 1,223 nonconsumers of yogurt in a sample of postmenopausal women participating in the Observational Study (OS) of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI). Results: Mean yogurt consumption was 1.3 cups/week (standard deviation, 2.0). Thirty-six percent of the sample did not consume yogurt. Yogurt consumers were, on the average, younger, taller, lighter, wealthier, better educated, and were more likely to be white and married than nonconsumers. They also exhibited healthier behavior including being more physically active, having a lower rate of smoking, and consuming a healthier diet, notably a significantly higher intake of calcium, fiber, vitamins A and D, lycopene, fruits, and vegetables and lower intake of total and saturated fats. Conclusions: This study found significant differences between yogurt consumers and nonconsumers-notably younger age, higher level of income and education, and overall healthier lifestyle. These characteristics should be considered when investigating the relationship of yogurt consumption to overall health. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved

Níveis séricos de hemoglobina em adolescentes segundo estágio de maturação sexual Hemoglobin serum levels in adolescents according to sexual maturation stage

A adolescência constitui etapa de risco para o desenvolvimento da anemia ferropriva, uma vez que ocorre aumento da necessidade de ferro decorrente do crescimento estatural e da maturação biológica. Estudaram-se 130 adolescentes, de ambos os sexos, para verificar os valores de hemoglobina sérica em diferentes fases de maturação sexual. Utilizou-se o método de fotometria para dosar a hemoglobina sérica e realizou-se auto-avaliação do estágio de maturação sexual com base nos critérios de Tanner. Os níveis médios de hemoglobina foram semelhantes entre sexos, bem como entre meninas que menstruavam ou não. O nível médio de hemoglobina foi de 13,3g/dL tanto para os meninos como para as meninas (p=0,64), com desvios-padrão de 1,12 e de 0,83, respectivamente. Entre os adolescentes estudados, 7,7% tinham anemia ferropriva. Recomenda-se atenção ao grupo de adolescentes, devido ao aumento da necessidade de ferro durante o estirão de crescimento, principalmente entre as meninas, aumentando a suscetibilidade à anemia.<br>During adolescence, the risk of development of iron-deficiency anemia is higher because of the growth spurt and the sexual maturation which increase the iron requirement. One hundred and thirty adolescents (males and females) were studied, in order to assess the serum hemoglobin values in different sexual maturation stages. The photometric method was used and a self-evaluation of the sexual maturation stage based on Tanner's criteria was applied. The average hemoglobin values were similar for both sexes, as well for girls who had menstruated or not. The average hemoglobin values were 13.3 (s.d. 1.12)g/dL for males and 13.3 (s.d. 0.83)g/dL for females (p=0.64). Among the studied adolescents, 7.7% had iron-deficiency anemia. Due to the iron requirement increase during the growth spurt, mainly in females, and the higher susceptibility to iron deficiency anemia, special attention to the adolescents is recommended