The association between dyslipidemia and anthropometric indicators in black and white adolescents residing in Tlokwe Municipality, North-West Province, South Africa: the PAHL study

Background: The dyslipidemia associated with excess weight is a risk for cardiovascular disease. Worldwide and in South Africa adolescent obesity has been reported.Objectives: To determine the association between dyslipidemia and anthropometric indices in black and white adolescents.Methods: The study involved 129 black and 69 white adolescents aged 12 to 16 years. Data collected included height, weight, waist circumference (WC) and skinfolds, blood pressure and blood for glucose, insulin, total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL), triglycerides (Trig) and C - reactive protein (CRP).Results: WC correlated negatively with HDL in both blacks (p=0.042) and whites (p=0.008) and in whites it correlated positively with LDL (p=0.006); TC/HDL (p=<0.001) and LDL/HDL ratio (p<0.0001). WC/Hgt correlated negatively with HDL (p=0.028) and positively with LDL/HDL (p=0.026 and p<0.0001) in both races. In whites positive correlations were between WC/Hgt and TC (p=0.049); LDL (p=0.003) and TC/HDL (p<0.0001). BAZ correlated positively with TC/HDL ratio (p=0.004) and LDL/HDL ratio (p=0.002). The most common abnormalities were HDL and LDL.Conclusion: Whites exhibited more associations between dyslipidemia and anthropometric indicators as compared to Blacks, suggesting that there might be differences in the lipid metabolism or even susceptibility to risk factors in adolescents.Key words: dyslipidemia, anthropometry, adolescent

Iron status and cardiovascular disease risk in black South African women: the PURE study

Objective: To examine the associations between measures of iron status and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in South African women.Method: In a cross-sectional study, demographic information and health history were obtained during individual interviews using validated questionnaires in the North West Province, South Africa. Anthropometric indices, iron indices, blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid profiles were measured using standard procedures in 1 262 apparently healthy black South African women aged 35 years or older. Iron status was assessed using serum concentrations of ferritin, transferrin receptor (TfR) and TfR:ferritin ratio.Results: Associations between iron status parameters and CVD risk factors were generally weak (r < 0.3, p < 0.01) and were not retained when adjustment was made for age, body mass index, smoking, alcohol consumption and C-reactive protein in the analysis. Waist circumference (WC) and waist:hip ratio (WHR) were higher in the fourth quartile of serum ferritin than in the third quartile, and also in the third quartile compared to the second quartile (P < 0.05). Based on WC and WHR respectively, 31% and 52% of the women had excess abdominal obesity. The mean (95% confidence interval) serum TfR concentration was high, at 9.09 μg/ml (8.77, 9.44), indicating risk of iron deficiency. The mean (95% confidence interval) concentrations of lipids [total cholesterol 4.78 mmol/l (4.64, 4.93), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol 1.45 mmol/l (1.39, 1.52), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 1.65 mmol/l (1.53, 1.78), triglyceride 1.12 mmol/l (1.07, 1.18)] were within reference ranges.Conclusion: No significant association was found between iron status parameters and established CVD risk factors. However, excessive abdominal adiposity indicated by high WC and WHR contributes significantly to increased serum ferritin concentration in this population.Keywords: iron status, cardiovascular disease, African women, PURE stud

Is Overweight in Stunted Preschool Children in Cameroon Related to Reductions in Fat Oxidation, Resting Energy Expenditure and Physical Activity?

Recent studies suggest that early modifications in metabolic pathways and behaviour, leading to energy conservation and reduced linear growth, could represent adaptations to nutritional constraints during foetal life and infancy. Impaired fat oxidation, low resting energy expenditure and reduced physical activity, resulting from these adaptations, could facilitate fat storage and development of overweight in growth-retarded children that consume more energy-dense food. This study aims at assessing whether: (1) dual-burden preschool children (simultaneously stunted and overweight) of Yaounde (Cameroon) have low birth-weight (indicator of foetal undernutrition) and reductions in fat oxidation, resting energy expenditure (REE) and physical activity, (2) fat oxidation, REE and physical activity are associated with foetal growth.162 children (24-72 months) were considered: 22 stunted-overweight (SO), 40 stunted (S), 41 overweight (O), and 59 non stunted-non overweight (NSNO). Nutritional status and body composition were assessed using anthropometry and multifrequency bioimpedance analysis. Fasting respiratory quotient (RQ) and REE were measured by indirect calorimetry. Physical activity was determined using accelerometers, food questionnaires were used for diet assessment and birth-weight was noted. Mean RQs and REE (weight adjusted) did not differ between stunted children (SO and S) and non-stunted children (O and NSNO). SO and S children spent more time in sedentary activities than O children (p = 0.01 and p = 0.02, respectively) and less time in moderate-to-vigorous activities than NSNO children (p = 0.05 and p = 0.04, respectively). SO children's diet was less diverse (p = 0.01) with less animal products (p = 0.006). Multiple linear regressions model revealed that birth-weight is predictive of RQ (β = 0.237, p<0.01, R(2) = 0.08).This study showed that growth retardation in stunted-overweight children could be associated with postnatal nutritional deficiencies. Overweight in stunted children could be associated with reduced physical activity in the context of nutrition transition. High birth-weight was a predictor of reduced lipid oxidation, a risk factor of fat deposition

Malaria and Under-Nutrition: A Community Based Study Among Under-Five Children at Risk of Malaria, South-West Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: The interaction between malaria and under-nutrition is not well elucidated in Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to assess the magnitude of under-nutrition and its correlation with malaria among under-five children in south-west Ethiopia. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was undertaken during March-February, 2009 as part of the baseline assessment of a cluster randomized trial around Gilgel Gibe Hydroelectric dam, south-west Ethiopia. A total of 2410 under-five children were included for anthropometric measurement and blood investigation for the diagnosis of malaria and anemia. The nutritional status of children was determined using the International Reference Population defined by the U.S National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). Blood film was used to identify malaria parasite and haemoglobin concentration was determined by Hemo Cue analyzer (HemoCue Hb 301, Sweden). RESULTS: Significant proportion (40.4%) of under-five children were stunted (height-for-age<-2SD). The prevalence of under-weight was 34.2%. One third and one tenth of the children had anemia and malaria parasite respectively. Older children were more likely to have under-nutrition. There was no association between malaria and under-nutrition. Children who had malaria parasite were 1.5 times more likely to become anaemic compare to children who had no malaria parasite, [OR = 1.5, (95% CI: 1.1-2.0)]. CONCLUSION: In this study, there is no association between malaria and under-nutrition. Children who have malaria are more likely to be anaemic. Malaria prevention and control program should consider nutrition interventions particularly anemia

Social circumstances and cultural beliefs influence maternal nutrition, breastfeeding and child feeding practices in South Africa:

Maternal and child undernutrition remain prevalent in developing countries with 45 and 11% of child deaths linked to poor nutrition and suboptimal breastfeeding, respectively. This also has adverse effects on child growth and development. The study determined maternal dietary diversity, breastfeeding and, infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and identified reasons for such behavior in five rural communities in South Africa, in the context of cultural beliefs and social aspects

Folate and iron status of South African non-pregnant rural women of childbearing age, before and after fortification of foods

No Abstract. South African Journal of Clinical Nutrition Vol. 20 (3) 2007: pp. 89-9