The snacking habits of white preschool ·children

Three-day estimated dietary records were kept for 194 white 3- and 4-year-old children to deterMine and evaluate the extent, nature and quality of their snacking. All but 1 child ate between meals, with morning and afternoon snacking being favoured in terms of frequency and quantity. Soft drinks were .consumed most frequently, followed by fresh fruits and fruit juices, sweets and chocolates, milk and sugar. Between-meal eating contributed more than one-third of the average day's energy and approximately one-quarter of most vitamins and minerals to the children's diets. Foods eaten between meals were, however, significantly less nutrient-dense than mealtime foods. Non-basic foods supplied more energy to the diet than _ any of the five basic food groups, but minimal quantities of micronutrients. Sugar consumption, mostly in the form of sugary foods and drinks, was high, but was not consumed exclusively between meals. Such children should be encouraged to make more use of basic commodities, particularly when snacking

Health actions and disease patterns related to coronary heart disease in the coloured population of the Cape Peninsula

The health-related behaviour of the Cape Peninsula coloured population, which has been shown to have an adverse coronary heart disease (CHO) risk factor profile, is reported. Private medical services were used most often by participants: 54,1% and 51,6% of males and females respectively had made use of these services during the preceding year. Only 17,9% and 21,8% of males and females respectively had attended day hospitals during the year. Blood pressures were measured in 43,8% and 57,1% of male and female participants respectively during the year preceding the study. The results indicated the need for the measurement of blood pressure to determine the true prevalence of hypertension, since patient reporting of the condition was inaccurate. Attempts to give up smoking had been made by 44,4% of male and 47,1% of female smokers. About 75% of the participants were found to have hypercholesterolaemia, yet their knowledge of the prudent diet was poor and few reported appropriate dietary modifications to protect against CHO. Frequent reporting of hypercholesterolaemia, hypertension and constipation by the study population highlights the need for dietary education. Mortality rates (MRs) for CHO and cerebrovascular disease (CVO) for the coloured and the white populations were compared. In all age groups white males had higher MRs for CHO than coloured males, while coloured females older than 34 years had higher rates than their white counterparts. The coloured population had MRs for CVO that were higher than those of whites.S Afr Med J 1990; 78: 73-7

Nutrition Counselling Study Among White People in Robertson, Swellendam and Riversdal, 1979, 1983 and 1987

Research on the eating habits of children was based on the assumption that coronary heart disease was largely due to incorrect eating habits acquired at an early age. Attention was focused on (1) the eating habits of babies and toddlers; (2) the knowledge and attitudes of married women with children and childless married women regarding the nutrition of pregnant women, babies and children; and (3) the communication media from which the women obtained information on nutrition, as well as their media preferences

Risk factors for coronary heart disease in the black population of the Cape Peninsula The BRISK study

A cross-sectional study of risk factors for ischaemic heart disease (IHO) in a random sample of 986 black people aged 15 - 64 years living in the Cape Peninsula revealed a population at lower risk for IHO than other South Africans. Blood pressures of 140/95 mmHg or above were found in 14,4% of males and 13,7% of females. Fifty-two per cent of males and 8,4% of females smoked, while 16,5% of males and 25,8% of females had a total cholesterol (TC) level imparting risk for developing IHO. In this population the TC level is not a good surrogate measure for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol because of the high level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HOLC) found in this population. A protective HOLC/TC ratio of 20% was found in 96% of males and 96,1% of females. When considering the three major reversible IHO risk factors at a high level of risk, 30,8% of males and 12,5% of females had at least one such a risk factor. The population was frequently exposed to the media, with 80% listening to the radio every day and 55% watching television at least once a week. This suggests that a healthy lifestyle could be promoted successfully by means of these media. In addition, schools should promote a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases should be incorporated into the evolving primary health care services in South Africa

Growth and weight status in treatment-naïve 12-16 year old adolescents with Alcohol Use Disorders in Cape Town, South Africa

The original publication is available at http://www.nutritionj.com/Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.Abstract: Background Heavy alcohol consumption during adolescence has many known harmful health and social consequences and is strongly associated with numerous health risk behaviours. The consequences of heavy alcohol use during adolescence on nutritional status, specifically growth and weight status are largely unknown at this time. Methods Substance use, anthropometric indices of growth and weight, dietary energy intake and physical activity in heavy drinking adolescents (meeting DSM-IV criteria for alcohol use disorders) and matched light/non-drinking control adolescents were assessed. Results Lifetime alcohol dose, measured in standard drinks of alcohol, was orders of magnitude higher in adolescents with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) compared to controls. The AUDs group was selected to represent relatively 'pure' AUDs, with minimal other drug use and no psychiatric diagnoses. The growth and weight status of adolescents with AUDs were generally comparable to that of controls, and is in line with the growth and weight status of the South African adolescent population. A greater proportion of overweight/obese females was found in both groups, with this percentage tending to be greater, although not significantly so, in the AUDs group. Adolescent females with AUDs had increased odds of being overweight/obese compared to controls, after adjustment for smoking, physical activity and energy intake. Conclusion Anthropometric indices of growth and weight status of participants in the Control and AUD groups were generally comparable. Female adolescents with AUDs may have an increased risk of being overweight/obese compared to adolescent females without AUDs. The presence of an AUD in our adolescent sample was associated with higher energy intake. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the effects of heavy alcohol use on energy balance, growth and weight status in adolescents as they age. Nonetheless, the current study contributes to our understanding of the impacts of heavy alcohol consumption on important aspects of adolescent development.Publishers' versio

Failure to thrive and its relationship to serum vitamin A levels and diet

CITATION: Donald, P. R. et al. 1995. Failure to thrive and its relationship to serum vitamin A levels and diet. South African Medical Journal, 85:373-377.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaSerum vitamin A and retinol-binding protein (REP) levels were determined in a group of 34 children between 1 and 4 years of age with failure to thrive and in 34 age- and sex-matched controls. Both groups of children were also assessed in respect of anthropometry and diet. Vitamin A levels in patients (0-32,2 μg/100 ml; median 16,9 μg/100 ml) did not differ significantly from controls (6,4-47,2 μg/100 ml; median 16,1 μg/100 ml). Fourteen patients (42%) and 4 controls (12%) had vitamin A levels below 10 μg/100 ml. RBP levels in patients (0.45-3,50 mg/100 ml; median 2,17 mg/100 ml) also did not differ significantly from those in controls (1,21-3,66 mg/100 ml; median 2.06 mg/100 ml). No clinical features of vitamin A deficiency were detected. Weight and height for age, weight for height, mid-upper arm circumference and head circumference differed significantly between patients and controls (P < 0.0001 in each instance). Although within the recommendations for intake, patients had a significantly lower intake of the essential fatty acid C 18:2 (N=6) (linoleic acid) and vitamin A. In view of the current proposed relationship between vitamin A status and infectious diseases, the prevalence of biochemical vitamin A deficiency in children in the Cape Town community studied may contribute to the morbidity and mortality associated with infectious diseases in the area to a greater degree than has been suspected.Publisher’s versio

Recurrent LDL-receptor mutation causes familial hypercholesterolaemia in South African coloureds and Afrikaners

CITATION: Kotze, M. J. et al. 1995. Recurrent LDL-receptor mutation causes familial hypercholesterolaemia in South African coloureds and Afrikaners. South African Medical Journal, 85(5):357-361.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaThree low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene mutations were previously shown to cause familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) in up to 90% of affected Afrikaners. Association of each mutation with a single chromosomal background provided molecular genetic evidence that the proposed 'founder gene effect' was responsible for the high prevalence of FH among white Afrikaners. In this study we report the identification of the FH Afrikaner-2 (FH2) mutation, Val408 to Met, in the so-called coloured population of South Africa, a people of mixed ancestry, with rapid non-radioactive methods for mutation detection. Haplotype analysis with polymorphisms on both sides of the FH2 mutation indicated that the identical LDLR gene mutations found in two different South African population groups were caused by independent events at a potential CpG mutational 'hot spot'. The allelic variation giving rise to the different chromosomal backgrounds of the FH2 mutation does not affect the properties of the abnormal LDLR protein product which causes FH in these subjects. This mutation is thus expected to cause the same severe form of FH in affected coloureds as was previously demonstrated in Afrikaners. Detection of mutant LDLR gene alleles in polymerase chain reaction products, directly after gel electrophoresis, now allows accurate presymptomatic diagnosis of the FH2 mutation in FH patients from two different South African population groups.Publisher’s versio

The identification of two low-density lipoprotein receptor gene mutations in South African familial hypercholesterolaemia

CITATION: Kotze, M. J. et al. 1989. The identification of two low-density lipoprotein receptor gene mutations in South African familial hypercholesterolaemia. South African Medical Journal, 76:399-401.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaTwo point mutations were discovered in the low-density lipoprotein genes of patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH). Defective genes were cloned and/or amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and the DNA sequences determined. A guanine to adenine base transition in exon 4 was found to be the molecular defect in 20% of cases of FH in the Afrikaner population. A second mutation, a guanine to adenine base substitution in exon 9, was identified in two homozygous FH individuals. Restriction enzyme analysis of PCR-amplified DNA from blood and tissue samples now permits accurate diagnosis of these mutations.Publisher’s versio

Nutritional composition of South African eggs

CITATION: Herselman, M. G. et al. 1994. Nutritional composition of South African eggs. South African Medical Journal, 84:115-116.The original publication is available at http://www.samj.org.zaWe congratulate Van Niekerk and Van Heerden on their excellent study on the nutritional composition of South African eggs,' in which they show that the cholesterol content of South African eggs is 23,5% lower than the values listed in the NRlND Food Composition Tables. The anicle raises a number of imponant issues that should be addressed.Publisher’s versio